Isaiah 40:11, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

  

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping by!  I've decided to conclude our study of verses for those with faltering faith this week and begin our study of Darien Cooper's devotional written for Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard's next week.  The intorduction and especially the preface alone were so encouraging!

As we've been traveling, many of my fiber and reading goals have been set aside.  Mama is doing as well as can be expected.  We are all supporting each other through this difficult time.  Thank God, we are a unified family filled with love.  

 

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here, I will share a Scripture about these topics. No judgement, only love.  

I highly recommend reading Isaiah 40 in it's entireity as it is a wonderfully and comforting book.   

When we are in the desert, we may question our faith and even the existence of God.  But, my dear one, deep in our hearts, we know He exists.  Despite our pain, confusion, anger and hurt, we long for His care.  As we work through these emotions, God is there beside us waiting patiently to gather us in His arms and carry us close to His heart.  Can you imagine being held in His arms against His heart listening to the very heartbeat of the One who loves us so very much?  

As our perfect Shepherd, He longs to gently lead us to Him - to His Son.

Those of you with young ones are especially in His heart.  

In our pain we might be unable or even unwilling to pray.  At times all we can pray is:  "Help!  If You exist, help me!" 

His timing is perfect.  Don't give up.  Just sincerely, with your entire heart, cry out, "Help!" and He will carry you close to His heart and gently lead you through your darkness and pain.

Oh, you may not feel Him doing so, believe me, as one who has traversed this journey, He is there.  

I pray for you to be restored, healed and know this:  

You are loved.  You are not alone.  You are being lovingly prayed for.

FIBER FUN

I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  

 - FOF:  Fields of Fancy BOM (USING Liberty of London Lawn fabrics) 

 - FFB:  Flower Box Friends BOM (hosted by Marsha at Be Sew Creative) 

Last Week's List

1.  Finish

- accent some adult bibs and make a pillow case for Mama Done!  My daughter made the dishtowels, and I made the pillowcase. We used dog motifs since my mom loves dogs.

2.  Focus

- FoF BOM Applique one prepped hexie and bind another Acufactum hexie. Partially done. The appliqué hexagon is almost finished.

- Bleeding Heart block start stitching This goal will be moved next week. 

- my granddaughter's Christmas ornament I'm sharing progress on my private Instagram account.  No progress this week.

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Sandy's Quilt - finish seam ripping and pressing and cutting the found blocks 

Partially finished.  My granddaughter, again, quite graciously agreed to complete this task for me.   

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!

 

Next Week’s List

1.  Finish - I’m not planning any finishes for this week.

2.  Focus

- FoF BOM Applique one prepped hexie and bind another Acufactum hexie

- my granddaughter's Christmas ornament I'm sharing progress on my private Instagram account.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit

 -  Attach the pieces of the FOF to the backing fabric

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!

LITERARY LIFE   

I'm applying "Finish, Focus and Prep" methodology from my Fiber Arts to my literary life with a bit of a twist.  These categories will be:   "Finish and Next" plus book reviews of finished books.  I want to finally read my "Backburner Reads" - books I enjoyed but set aside.  

Finish (audio)

Will be moved to next week. 

Next (eBook)

Finished (eBook)

***** This is the third book bt Patti Callahan Henry, A Christy Award recipient, that I have had the immense pleasure to enjoy.  It is a historial, literary mtystery about a lost author and the child who seeks her for 25 years.  Now 33, Clara has a lovely, wise daughter of her own.  Together they travel to London, experience the Great Smog and ther adventures.  Again, like The Girls of Good Fortune, family, legacy and love combine to create a novel that will touch your heart long after you've read the last page.  Highly Recommend this book as well as the author.  

**** Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth was such a delight to read due to Mabel's toasted marshmallow personality, themes of friendship and loyalty and Persephone who is determined to befriend Mable.  I fell in love with Mabel just by reading the first few pages.  She is crunchy on the outside, but soft on the inside.  Life's hard knocks have made her wary of trusting and loving others, though she longs to do so.  As I read her story, I was at once captivated by Mabel and surprised by the multiple aspects of her life shared throughout the book.  Her loyal friend, Daphne, is one we probably all would love.  Persephone is deteremined to love and be loved by Mabel.  

While there are a few instances of cursing, they are not so frequent as to discourage me from re-reading this excellent novel.  Highly Recommend. Thank you, St Martin's Press, for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

SLOW READS

are usually daily devotionals that may take months or even a year to finish. We're almost finished with Ann Spanglers' The Names of God. For my personal devotional, I will be reading The Original and Complete Allegory with a Devotional for Women. Perhaps you'll join me?

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share new reads from the previous week.  I haven't picked up any books this week, but I did find some freebies from ereaderiq.com!

FINDING JOY 

    LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in everyday life.  She also provides a fun weekly prompt for us to use.  This week's prompt is:  Did you take your lunch and did you use a little brown bag or have a lunch box? What meals did you look forward to?
    I would do a combination of taking my lunch in my lunchbox as well as buying lunch. I remember loving the act of opening the lunchbox and organizing my meal before eating it - no surprise there, right? I loved my sandwiches and the school's spaghetti!  

In my sister's guest bathroom!  

My granddaughter sent me this beautiful photo

I love this lady's work

Books I found in one of Tucson's libraries

Road trip sewing station

Finally picked up my Bee Humble project again!

A dear friend in my sewing group finished all of these blocks by Sue Spargo!

Enjoyed this post?

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday  @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Fridays

Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Art...Quilts...Whatever