This past week has had a few more challenges than usual. I know I'm not the only blogger who faces challenges in life, but wow! I sure admire those of you who can blog consistently despite life's curve balls! My hat is off to all you!
However, I must make changes to meet these unpredictable challenges. After much thought, I've decided to write one post a week and continue linking up to all my usual parties.
Another change is I will be posting daily on my Instagram account (user name: miaismine22). This account is private, but please just request to follow me and you're in! (As this account is private, it will also have a bit more personal posts with "behind the scenes" details!)
So, please, pull up a chair, serve your favorite drink and enjoy the journey with me!
In my last post we read about learning and praying the promise of God. I bet many of you pray them over your loved ones' lives, but do you pray them over your own life? I know I struggle to pray for myself, but I'm working on that.
I've featured this song before yet I've felt compelled to share it again. In fact, I will be sharing a mini series based on Glorious Unfolding by Steven Curtis Chapman.
Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don't try to figure it out
Just listen to what I'm whispering to your heart
'Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it's just not true
There's so much of the story that's still yet to unfold
- Glorious Unfolding
Is it time for you to take a rest from the fight? to stop carrying your burden and give it to God?
These lyrics are so very true! Even when we don't feel God's comfort and nearness, He is with us! In fact, He goes before us - before that trial even started, He was there!
How I've missed you all! Unexpected events popped up which took over our lives for a bit. Now, thankfully, everyone is fine and we are all adjusting to a new normal.
One of our adjustments is a low-fat diet - which I'm loving! Full disclosure: I do treat myself to the occasional donut from Krispy Kreme when I visit my parents!
Another change is that I have dived a bit more into scrapbooking planning with the Happy Planners. It's been fun sharing memories as well as recording new events with my family. I'm also enjoying playing with paper and stickers. You can see the fun I'm having on my Instagram account!
Yet another change my leap into a new computer using Windows 10. Yikes! I'm learning from the best - my hubby. Thankfully, he can answer many of my questions!
On more change is two new additions to my sewing room: a Bernina 790 and Bernina 480!
The learning curve, I had a 350, is not too bad, more oblique than vertical. Our local quilt shop, Be Sew Creative, offers not only mastery classes for their machines, but also sewing and embroidery classes - all via Zoom! Another source of support for me is my daughter who has a Bernina 880 and is a fabulous teacher!
I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you and rejoining Bloglandia!
Without further ado, let's roll!
Saturday's Song: Only Jesus
Like many of you, we've lost loved ones and friends to COVID, cancer and tragic circumstances. I heard this song and thought how true these lyrics are:
And I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let very second point to Him
Only Jesus
And I,
I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me,
Only Jesus
How true. Many times, we wonder, "Who will I leave my home to? Who will I leave my jewelry to?"
It doesn't matter, really it doesn't.
Let's leave a legacy of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend.
In Psalm 14, much focus is on the situation of the people. I decided to focus on God's actions instead. It appears that David feels surrounded by an evil, sin-filled environment. However, I believe God remains hopeful as He is seeking those who understand Him, who seek Him.
Are you feeling overwhelmed with dread? It's quite understandable if you are.
Now that we've finished the verses from Until We Reach Home, I was wondering where to go from here. For now, I want to share this verse that speaks of gratefulness.
You see, we, my husband and I, had a COVID scare, but thankfully we both tested negative!
As you can well imagine, it’s been hard to find time or even enough focus to blog or craft.
Continued study of some of the verses shared in Lynn Austin's Until We Reach Home. When I was but a young girl, I asked Grandpa about married life. I was curious because I knew Daddy had been born during The Great Depression. I wanted to know how Grandpa had managed as not only was he supporting Grandma with a baby on the way (Daddy); he was helping to support his mother and siblings.
Monday's Strength This week’s post will be a bit different. Mary from Hill Country Quilter I had a question about the Box of Hope I mentioned in last week’s post, so here’s a mini tutorial on how to make one along with my verse of the week.
As promised, here is another tool that I'm using to encourage myself. It is a theme based Scripture writing plan by Shannon over at Sweet Blessings. April's theme was "But God" I first heard about "But God" verses in a sermon by Pastor Dale. He said to pay attention when we read/hear "But God". Then, last week, I found Shannon's amazing Scripture writing plan. Talk about a God wink!
Romans 15:13 is my prayer as we follow His will. Sometimes, as we grow and mature, we change. Change can be hard, painful. Yet, as we go through these changes, I pray we overflow with hope as we follow His leading. Stitcher's Garden I'm slowly catching up on my Stitcher's Garden Blocks. Here is the latest one.
To me, it's a departure of color from my other blocks.....but I'm coming to like it. This month's lesson was making piping. The red piping really pops and the lavender one quietly says, "Hello!" Here's what they look like all together. This isn't the final layout at all. They are just up on my design board. I wonder if any of you have made a Stitcher's Garden quilt?
I recently discovered the art of Colcha Embroidery. Naturally, I've been researching it and this book was a fabulous introduction. The author provided a detailed history of the introduction Colcha Embroidery to Northern New Mexico in the 1600's. It went on to describe it's near extinction and how Maria Teofila Ortiz de Lujan started it's revival. Her daughter, Esther Lujan Vigil, has continued in her mother's footsteps.
I gave this social justice book to my grandson in hopes to continue his mother's teaching regarding such issues. You can learn more about this book here (not an affiliate link) and about Luis Soriano's work here.
🌠🌠🌠🌠ðŸŒ
The Dog Lived (and So Will I) (audiobook) This is a fabulous book for all types of cancer patients, thrivers and their families, as well as dog lovers! 🌠🌠🌠🌠ðŸŒ
As you can see, I've been a bonafide bookworm lately! :) I'm off to the link ups to see what you, my friends, have been up to! ;)
Monday's Strength Lately I've been enjoying reading Colossians very slowly and journaling about it in my Happy Planner Faith Edition. I was struck by how similarly Paul began his letters to the Colossians and the Philippians.
He tells them that he thanks God for them when he remembers/prays for them and why he is grateful for them. He then goes onto say how he is praying for them. This pattern is followed in many of his other letters to various groups. I wonder how our world would change if we greeting each other by sharing how grateful we are for them and why, as well as how we are praying for them? Powerful stuff there. Let it begin with me. Update on Mia Mia is doing better - she's home. Apparently she has pancreatitis. Her numbers were really high, but we're hoping her hospitalization helped. They ran some blood work, so I'm expecting the results via phone tomorrow. She's on B12, pancreas medication, pain medication, exercise and a special low-fat dog food. We napped together all afternoon. My heart is more peaceful. Mini Dresden Wall Hanging I'm almost finished appliqueing the Dresdens - one more to go! Next I'll be prepping and appliqueing the solid black centers using "Perfect Circles" by Karen Kay Buckley. Here's a You Tube Video on how to use them. (no affiliate link)
A friend recommended framing them with black fabric vs. no frame.
I'm learning that no decisions need to be made....it's a step at a time. The quilt will speak to me. Book Date: Current Reads
Into the Beautiful North: A Novel
New Mexico Colcha Club:
Spanish Colonial Embroidery &
the Women Who Saved It
Finished 🌠🌠🌠🌠ðŸŒ
I so enjoyed reading this book! A few have asked if I plan to make the quilt. Of course I plan to make the quilt - and I hope I do. In fact, I'm making plans to start it in 2020. You can see I've already marked my favorite blocks!
Monday's Strength Lately I've been enjoying reading Colossians very slowly and journaling about it in my Happy Planner Faith Edition. I was struck by how similarly Paul began his letters to the Colossians and the Philippians.
He tells them that he thanks God for them when he remembers/prays for them and why he is grateful for them. He then goes onto say how he is praying for them. This pattern is followed in many of his other letters to various groups. I wonder how our world would change if we greeting each other by sharing how grateful we are for them and why, as well as how we are praying for them? Powerful stuff there. Let it begin with me. Stitcher's Garden Blocks As you may have read, these last weeks have been very active, leaving little time for sewing. I've decided to postpone starting the Garden Snail Quilt until I get caught up with my BOMs! Here are three more blocks from my Stitcher's Garden. I'm not sure if they need another border, so I'll be asking my teacher on Wednesday.
Monday's Strength At my church, Heart for the World, Pastor Dale has some really cool sayings that I have begun to call "Daleisms". When I told him about them, he laughed and said he'd never heard of them before. I've decided to share a few from the June 23rd service which is part of a series titled "Loving Your Family On Purpose". "Success is having the love and respect of those who know you the best." At the times all is right in his marriage, he feels like he can "charge hell with a water pistol!" "When your purpose is bigger than you problems, your purpose overcomes your problems. When your problems are bigger than your purpose, your problems overcome your purpose."
Let us go to our LORD and Savior that we may do all things through Christ! As we lean on Him and work with Him we become more than conquerors in Him!
Oh LORD, help us to remember to put You first that we may achieve the purpose You have for us! Help us to lean on You, work with You and go forward with You leading our way!
Morning Glory Quilt My Morning Glory Quiltblocks are now finished! Soon I'll be posting the finished flimsy! I used two fat eighth bundles from Kate Spain's Early Bird collection. I am excited that I have enough fabric to make this quilt, Garden Snails, in a twin size!
For now, I'm cutting out the fabrics and laying them out on my trays.
But first, I am going to quilt (gulp!) this quilt for a friend.
Her late mother-in-law made it, but passed away before she could quilt it. It seems that she did a stitch in the ditch. I'm nervous as I rarely - if ever- quilt my own quilts. I've been practicing...so fingers crossed it will go well!
