Psalm 13:5 God's Devotion, Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello there!

Happy Fourth of July to all of you who celebrate!  It has been a quiet week as I continue to recover from surgery nine days ago.  I have spent much of my time crocheting some cowls, reading a couple of books,  sleeping and occasionally watering our garden.  I've been eating comfort foods, but, starting today it's back to healthy eating.  

I hope you all have had a fabulous week and are ready to move onto a new week!  Here's a song to enjoy as you read this new post!

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

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

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible and make a list of them in my journal.  I'll follow the same format here. 

How Long, O LORD?

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?

2How long must I wrestle in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart each day?

How long will my enemy dominate me?

3Consider me and respond, O LORD my God.

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes rejoice when I fall.

5But I have trusted in Your loving devotion;

my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

6I will sing to the LORD,

for He has been good to me.

Psalm 13

• He remembers us.
• He considers us.
• He responds to us.
• He gives light to our eyes.
• He's trustworthy.
• He's devoted to us.
• He saves us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
• He is good to us.

Last week we talked about how, even if we feel like God has forgotten us, feelings are not facts. Though we may feel abandoned, He is always with us. In verses five and six, David joyfully writes that he has trusted God's loving devotion! Webster shares that the Latin root for devotion means "one's commitment to another through love and loyalty."

Wow. Stop for a minute and realize God is lovingly devoted to us. God is lovingly devoted to us. That thought is so humbling.

His devotion is such that He desired to find a way for us to be together, despite our sin: He offered the life of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sin. Thank you so much, Jesus! May we live a life worthy of such a sacrifice! Amen?  

 

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 was simply to focus on recovery from surger.  This week's goals will remaing the same.  

But you know I did some stitching, right?  I enjoyed  playing with crochet stitches to desing a few more cowls for Christmas gifts.  

This one is a nod to my grandmother-in-law.  She called it "ventinitas" (little windows).  

I think using the scrap yarn to break up a solid color looks pretty good!

I followed Jessica's at Mama in a Stitch tutorial to create a mesh pattern for 

the cowl I'm currently working on.  

The Fields of Fancy project was not left out as I also finished this hexie.  

I'm looking forward to this week as I stitch my way to recovery!  

15 MINUTES TO STICH

I’m joining the Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch' challenge at Life in Pieces  .  This was a slower week, but I did stitch a bit every day.  How could I not?  

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

"God's heart is broken as His people look to other things for satisfaction, joy and peace. He is not willing to let them go. He relays His anguish through Hosea, the broken hearted prophet. In this prophetic book lies the core speaking of God to the Western world. Wrought with divine nostalgia, God calls His people to solitude with Him that He may whisper into their ears and be their deliverance and all satisfying lover. Though others cried, "injustice" Hosea cries, "You don't love me anymore.""

"

The Complete Heart-Healthy Air Fryer Cookbook unlocks a world of flavor with air-fried goodness. This all-in-one guide empowers you to create tasty dishes packed with flavor and good-for-you ingredients."

**** The Bookshop of 99 Doors  by Jamie Jo Wrigh tis described as a "Christian Gothic Mystery and Suspense Novel", a genre I've not heard of before, but certainly enjoyed.  She used a dual timeline as she addressed themes of ghosts, secrets of the past, PTSD and addition.  This may seem like a lot of topics to write about, but Wright  skillfully weaves these themes into a wonderful tale.  Recommend.

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use such as this week's:  Describe a particularly memorable July 4th celebration.  My memoriable July 4th celebration was many years ago.  Our family was enjoying setting off our fireworks in the desert.  Our joyous laughter filled the night sky as we lit the various  fireworks.  

Years ago, I started a little book of scriptures.  I've decided to make another one.  I keep it pretty simple as the idea is to focus on the Word, not the decor.  If you're intrested, this is all you'll need to make your own: 

• a Bible
• a spiral bound 3X5" notecard notebook 
• a pen
• optional:  any other stickers or scrapbooking supplies you choose.  

I include Scriptures from my devotional and Bible study times.  Sometimes throughout the day, the Holy Spirit reminds me of verses to include.  

On the flip side of the page, I simply write the Scripture reference thus

making this notebook a fabulous way to memorize Scripture.  

My daughter introduced me to Corn Wagon Quilt Company.  Oh my!  They have a great selection of all things quilty, but their wool kits and supplies caught my eye.  

Your comments are so appreciated! 

 🎶Here is a list of many of the songs🎶

I've shared on this blog.

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Stitching Stuff at Kate's Life in Pieces

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

Psalm 13:3 "Consider me and respond, O LORD...", Fiber Fun, Literary Living

Hi there!

I hope you've all had a fabulous week! Yes, I actually had my surgery yesterday, but I was able to post this because most of it was pre-written. Luckily, the surgery was done laparoscopically, so recovery is fairly easy. I'm hopeful it stays that way.

A Mini Post: Psalm 8:4 Who is man that You are mindful of him?

 Hello There!

Surprise! Here is a mini-post! A funny thing happened this morning as I was reading my daily devotionals. In Tozer on the Holy Spirit, I read about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and following His leading. Then, while reading today's passage from Healing After Loss, I felt led to share it with you. Hence, here I am popping into your email today!

The author mentioned that many of us find "peace of heart and mind" by gazing at the ocean. He reminded us that while we may not always have that opportunity, God created the sky for us as well. We can find just as much comfort in that.

Whenever I was in New Mexico, I used to say, "When I go back to San Diego, I'll go to the ocean and find comfort and healing." But on my last trip, I could not bring myself to gaze upon the sight that Daddy loved so much. When I went home, I thought, I'll just go to the beach next time.

Today I realized that even when I am inland, I still have a vast "ocean" to find comfort in. No matter where we are, we always have the beautiful sky to gaze upon. To do so, however, we must look up, not down. When we look at God's wondrous creation in the heavens and find comfort, we also find Him—the One who has our names engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16), collects our every tear in His bottle, and records each one in His book (Psalm 56:8).

So, let's look up today!  Even through our pain, grief and tears, we can find His comfort.  

Psalm 13:1 "How Long, O LORD?", Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

Thank you for stopping by! Whether you are enjoying summer or a completely different season across the globe, I hope you are staying comfortable. Here in Southern New Mexico, the heat is no joke. I’ve been fleeing the heat by going indoors by 10:00 AM, stepping out only for my absolute favorite things: my reading and fiber arts groups.  Well, I also step out for my responsibilities like medical appointments and purchasing fresh produce. I’m drinking so much water I feel like my eyeballs are floating!

Psalm 12:6-7 , Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello There!  

Wow, it has been two whole weeks since my last post! I honestly thought I’d be blogging while in San Diego, but we were just too busy making memories. From exploring local gems with Mama—complete with a perfect afternoon sharing cheesecake at her home—to discovering new spots with my DH, we completely immersed ourselves in the local scene.

Psalm 12:5, Fiber Fun and a Finish, Literary Living, Finding Joy

 Hello There,

Welcome!  I hope you've had a fabulous week!  I wanted to share a couple of blogging tips I've learned the hard way.  I've lost so much time when I somehow make the post/s I'm working on disappear.  Now I regularly create a backup for these posts as I'm writing them.

Perhaps some of you work on your phone and computer as you write your posts.  Make sure to close your posts before you use your other devices.  Otherwise, the post might disappear.  Ask me how I know.   

Psalm 12:3, Fiber Fun and a video! Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Welcome!  I hope you are doing well today!  This past week was so busy! I had a couple of gatherings with friends and a few doctor appointments. The friends were fun; the doctors... not so much.

Psalm 12:1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    I hope you're having a blessed day with joy, peace and love!  My week has been filled with writing, studying, playing with fiber arts, reading and a bit of time with friends.  I did have a different kind of day on Tuesday.

    Our school district honors bilingual students by offering them the opprotunity to graduate with a Bilingual Seal added to their diploma. 

Psalm 11: Faith Over Fear, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, and Finding Joy

Hello There,

    I hope you've had a fabulous week!  Happy Mothers' Day to all who are a mom in once capacity or another.  For some, this day is bittersweet.  To you, whoever you are, hugs of comefort and understanding.  

    Our weather has been strange, to say the least.  Last month we were in the 90's and Thursday it was so crisp we needed jackets and blankets to watch our grandson's baseball game!  Our dry desert welcomed almost 24 hours of intermittent rain that Thursday and Friday.  

    My sewing room is coming along nicely. 

Psalm 10, Fiber Fun - or not? Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

I hope you had an amazing week!  We're going to several of my grandson's baseball games each week.  This weekend will be filled with his basketball games.  I love having this time with my family while the weather is still cool enough to attend.  Heat is my kryptonite, so soon I'll just be hearing about his baseball games rather than attending.  

I finally had some time at home to play with fibers and read. 

Psalm 9: 13-14, Literary Living, Fiber Fun, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Thank you to everyone who stopped in last week!  It was fun to guest host Melva's Link Up and meeting so many wonderful people!  Thank you, Melva, for this wonderful opprotunity!  And thank you to all of you who linked up!    

    This week was jampacked with obligations every day - sometimes two or three in a day!  This weekend will also be full.  Thank God, most of these activities were fun!  As I wrote this post, I was surprised how much I did accomplish.  Usually things look worse in my head than the actually are.           

Psalm 9: Part 3, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

    Welcome, and thank you so much for stopping in! Has Spring sprung in your neck of the woods? Here in Southern New Mexico, we have had a mix of hot, cool, and perfect temperatures.  I'm finding recovery slow going, probably due to a sinus infection developing a few days after I was diagnosed with strep.  Talk about a 2 for 1!

    This week, I am happy to guest host Melva’s (from Melva Loves Scraps) Sew and Tell link-up. You will find the link at the bottom of this post.

Psalm 9, Part 2, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you so much for stopping in!  I sure hope you all are doing better than I am.  It's my birthday weekend and strep throat decided to crash the party.  I've been miserable, but am hopeful the coming week will be better.  My husband, who is an amazing cook, made me a big pot of delicious chicken/vegetable soup!  It's so soothing to my throat.  Thank You, God for antibiotics, my wonderful husband and chicken soup!   

Psalm 9: Part 1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

     Thank you for stopping in for a visit!  I hope you enjoyed last week's Parade of Behind-the Scene-Projects!  Every so often, I'll take a break from "our regularly scheduled programming" to bring you updates on those projects.  For now, I'll be sharing on Psalm 9 and a finished flimsy!  You'll also find a book review and some joy.  

Psalm 8, Part 2, Fiber Fun: Parade of Behind-the-Scenes- Projects, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

   From 2020 to 2025, much of my life was split between New Mexico and San Diego as we visited my parents. My father sadly passed away last fall. Now that the sharp bite of grief is a bit dulled, I'm ready to begin my 'New Mexico' life again.

     As I settle back into my rhythm, I’ve found that one of the most healing things I can do is simply return to my sewing room—and, in the process, face those projects that have been waiting patiently for my attention.

Psalm 8 Part 1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in today!  Lately I've noticed a change in my mindset. While I enjoy my current fiber projects, there are so many hidden gems and long-lost UFOs I am also working on and want to share with you!   

Next week, you’re invited to a 'Parade of Behind-the-Scenes Projects' to see my hidden fiber arts collection!   I'll share my progress via an occassional "break from the routine" posts.

Psalm 7, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you all for you sweet comments on my new header.  I was playing with blogger's layout and decided to go for it! 

Psalm 6, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in! I hope your week was fabulous and that the coming week is even better. I was quite productive this week and even finished two books! It feels like I am finally getting my "land legs" back after my father's passing. Though I’m a bit late, I’m ready to set my goals for the year:

Psalm 5, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thanks for stopping by! I hope your week was fabulous and your weekend is both fun and restful (if that’s not an oxymoron!).

I was invited to join a lovely group of stitchers for a "Sunday Sew Day." It was so fun chatting with friends and making new ones. Our hostess' husband made a cheesecake that was so delicious—no Mediterranean diet today!

This week was also another "organizational event," similar to my sewing room refresh. We tackled the tiny pantry, braved the "dungeon" (aka the laundry room), and scrubbed the fridge. This over-the-door organizer was a total game-changer for our pantry! Fingers crossed it stays tidy for more than a week. One of us is a bit messier than the other... but I’ll never tell who!

Are you doing any spring cleaning or freshening up your space lately?

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

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

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible.  Then I make a list of them.  I'll follow the same format here. As usual, I copied and pasted the Psalm from Bible Hub.

  Psalm 5 ^a

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

1Listen to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.

2Hear my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

3In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

4For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil people are not welcome.

5The arrogant cannot stand

in your presence.

You hate all who do wrong;

6you destroy those who tell lies.

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

7But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down

toward your holy temple.

8Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies—

make your way straight before me.

9Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongues they tell lies.

10Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

for they have rebelled against you.

11But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Wow, there's so much packed into this Psalm.  This appears to be King David's morning prayer.  What a great way to start off our day:  with praise and prayers!  First, let's praise God for all He does for His children!

• listens to us
• hears our cries for help
• hears our voices
• has a great love for us
• leads us in His rightousness
• makes our path straight before Him
• provides refuge for us
• spreads protection over us
• blesses us

He listens, hears, loves, leads, goes before us, provides refuge, protects and blesses us.  I am in humbled and deeply touched by all my precious LORD and Savior does for me, for all us if only we would maintain an open heart towards Him.  

Additionally, we need not worry about the wicked and liars or our enemy!  Look at this list!  

• not pleased with wickedness
• hates all who do wrong
• declares the liars guilty
• banishes them

Reading through Psalm 5, it’s clear David prioritized a thoughtful morning of worship. It makes me wonder: "Do I do the same?" No, not consistently.  

I'm praying to accopmplish the same routine David appears to have had.  My husband and I talked about having our "office hours" from morning until noonish.  This will certainly allow for a more deliberate time with God.  It doesn't stop there.  I am so grateful we can converse with God all day long. These "micro-prayers" guide my steps and act as a guard against "stinky thinking"  and hasty responses.  Imagine how the tone in our lives would change with deliberate micro-prayers before responding to a situation!  With God's help, hopefully we can be more Christ-like throughout the day.  

Also, Psalm 5 feels like a dance between God's actions toward the wicked and His love and grace to His children. It's interesting to note how David spends so much more time on God’s goodness than on his enemies' malice.  It reminds me to focus on God, not the problem. He is always bigger than the challenges we may face!  As one dear teenager in our Youth Group said, "God is bigger than the boogeyman!"

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

 - Finally complete the ornaments for my grandchildren!  Done!  They were tickled to receive them last night!  

Here is the information to the various designs:

Charizard Dragon:  HoneyKittenShop

Gengar:  ChaosKittensCrafting 

Llamas:  by Stitcher's Revolution pattern #31 "Llama Drama"

Yoda:  GeoCreationsUK

Spiderman:  OutlawStitching

Some cross-stitch patterns appeared to be similar to other sellers' designs, so now I only order from cross-stitch designers that provide BOTH a black and white chart and a color chart. 

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie and start appliquéing the next Partially Done!  They are really coming along!  This one EPP piece is a challenge as there are so many pieces to join.  I'm enjoying the outcome thus far.    

- QAYG quilt - continue to find the loose joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish Done!  I'm now joining another row to the main piece!

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  sew the rows into blocks and press them. Done!   The blocks are pressed and completed! Now comes the fun part of a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt. I get to cut the blocks and place them in a new design!  

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Christmas Ornament for grandchild #1: For now, he likes all things Star Wars, especially Darth Vader, so I picked this cross-stitch design  at RinaStitchesPatterns for his 2026 ornament.  It's easy preparation as there are only three colors in the design.  I'll be stitching on 16 ct. Aida cloth, so it should be slightly smaller than described below.  

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

This Week's goals

1.  Finish - I am once again pulling projects from my little pink plastic case.  These little projects should be fast finishes.  

 - patch up Chloe's toys and Grandson #4's crocheted airplane

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie; finish the EPP sewing and bind the above hexie

- Complete at least 15% of the Darth Vader ornament

- QAYG quilt - continue join the row to the main piece

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  cut up the nine patch and begin sewing the new squares together

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #2's cross stitch ornament using this pattern for Blastoise from BixoStitch.  To ensure I am getting an original pattern, I only purchase cross stitch patterns that include the color AND black and white patterns.    

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

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.

Libby:  

I'm surprised to note that I haven't finished any books this week!  I am, however, very much enjoying listening to The Let Them Theory. I'm also learning so much from my weekly Bible study, Tozer on the Holy Spirit. Our discussions take the material to a much deeper level, as everyone brings a different perspective to the readings.  

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  Here is this week's prompt:  what was your favorite subject in school... elementary, high school, or college... or did your favorite subject change over time? what was the teacher like? do you still have an interest in that subject? My favorite subject in school was in the filed of Language Arts - reading and writing.  No surprise there. In college I was very interested in my Bilingual Education and Multicultural courses.  One fact surprised me:  The Untited States is the ONLY country in the WORLD that does not reauire their students to become at a minimum bilingual.  My precious professors introduced me to Latinx authors.  This continues to be an area of interest for me.  

Here's some other things that have brought me joy this week.    

Don't you just love finding ideas on blogs?  Joy from Days Filled with Joy shared this tutorial for a thumb/finger pincushion that I thought you all might like.  The photo is from Days Filled with Joy.  I just love Joy's concept.  

During an email conversation, Deb from Readerbuzz mentioned this book to me.  After just a few days of reading, I quickly came to the conclusion that it's a treasure.  Thank you so much, Deb!

My husband snapped a photo of this sticker we saw in our local bookstore.

I love this song by one of my favorite artists, 

Comeback Kid by the late Mandisa.

Perhaps you know a comeback kid?

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

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

Last Week's List

1.  Finish

 - no finishes planned

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie and start appliquéing the next 

- Gengar cross stitch - fingers crossed - finish another 15%  

- QAYG quilt - continue to find the loose joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  start making the blocks

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- continue re-organzing my sewing room