Ezekiel 36:26, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you've had a fabulous week!  It's so much fun for me to imagine you all reading this weekly post in a comfy chair with your favorite beverage!  This week I was very active with doctor appointments, a sit and sew with my Colcha Embroidery group, a fabulous meeting with my Latinx Book Club, lunch with friends, and I even had a hair appointment!  I've met some of my reading and stitching goals, finished some behind-the-scenes goals and rested!  Please let me know how your week was in the comments!  

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

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

HERE'S A WORD

A New Heart, A New Spirit

During our Friday morning Bible Study, I was deeply moved by Ezekiel 36:26. I know this verse speaks of the New Covenant, but it gave me hope — not just for eternity, but for today.

As I reread it, something stirred within me. Could it really be? The LORD will give us a new heart? Yes! In my limited understanding, this is what I see: when we ask Him to be our LORD, He promises transformation.

If your heart is weighed down by sin:  He will give you a new heart.
If your heart is burdened by trauma: He will give you a new heart.
If your heart is broken by grief : He will give you a new heart.

But He doesn’t stop there. He also gives us a new Spirit.

Can you imagine that? Whatever chains us, sin, fear, shame, pain can be broken by the power of a new heart and a new Spirit. If our heart has turned to stone, He promises to replace it with a heart of flesh that is tender, alive, responsive  to Him!  It's like we are being renewed from within by His merciful hand!  

So as we face life’s many trials, big or small, let us remember this:  

God offers us a new heart. A new Spirit. A new hope.

Please 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 represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  FBF represents the Flower Box Friends BOM

Last Week's List

1.  Finish

- my granddaughter's Christmas ornament Done!  I'll be posting the finish on my 

Instagram account

2.  Focus

- FoF BOM Applique one prepped hexie and bind another Acufactum hexie Not done, but I'm working on it

- my eldest grandson's ornament; I'm sharing progress on my private Instagram account. 

- FBF: Continue stitching the pieces of the Bleeding heart block onto background. Done! It's sewn to the background and I finished the flowers!  The leaves are next.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Secret Sewing Projects  

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

This Week's goals

1.  Finish

- at least one of the vertical organizers

2.  Focus

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

- FBF: Finish appliquéing the leaves on Bleeding heart block onto background.   

3.   Prepare/make a kit- 

- I have picked up an ornament panel at Be Sew Creative. I'd like to prep at least 6 ornaments

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

LITERARY LIFE   

I love how my focus has increased with the "Finish, Focus and Prep" methodology I use with my Fiber Arts.  Consequently, I'm going to apply that to my reading life with a bit of a twist.  The categories will be "Finish, Focus and Next".  

This should help with my "Backburner Reads" which are books I started, enjoyed, but lost focus.  

Here are my new reading goals.  

Finish 

Next 

The Crackes We Bear by Catalina Infante

and 

Finished 

The Luckiest is a raw retelling of Kelly Cervantes' to include "luckiest moments" and the "asteroids" that imploded her life.  It gives the reader insight into nursing and mothering a disabled child and all the emotions and processes involved.  This book provides transparent insight into the immensity and joys of caring for a disabled child, where to find help, grief and finding a new path forward. 

Reading about taking care of Adelaide gives the reader a new appreciation for the families taking care of a disabled person.  The Luckiest is a raw description of this author's experience filled with deep frustration and pain that will deeply touch the reader's heart. Conversely, her moments of joy experienced with Adelaide will stay with this reader for years to come. Cervantes writes about how hope is powerful in creating a new life. The language can be raw, but to do otherwise would take away from the transparency and truth of the author's experience.  

Cervantes' narration of her own words was powerful.  Her voice drew me into her life with such force that I was reluctant to stop listening until I finished the audiobook.  It's due out for publication on Nomber 4, 2025. Highly recommend.

I was so pleased to receive this audiobook from Brillance Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they

added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.

I haven't picked up any books this week, but I did find some more freebies at ereaderiq.com!↓↓

This book came in from a reader at PaperbackSwap, a nationwide book exchange. 

FINDING JOY

What dish would you take to a fall gathering? Which dish at a fall gathering would you reach for first?  Once I discovered roasted vegetables I thought, "Where have you been all my life?  This recipe from Sarah at Real Foods with Sarah  sounds tasty!  Roasted veggies are my go-to fall dish, though admittedly, I’ll happily make them any time of year. They are the perfect compliment to various fish dishes.  Along with a salad, you have an easy meal!  At fall gatherings, roasted veggies are always the first thing on my plate, and when Thanksgiving rolls around, stuffing becomes my top pick.

My eldest grandson love Legos and Star Wars so much that it's the chosen theme for his room.  He's added lighting to his shelves and to many of his Lego models.  We gifted him this RDD2 Lego model for his birthday.  It took him less than an hour to make!

   

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