Weekly Word: Psalm 25:2 + Books, Stitching and Gratitude!

Hello There,

Thank you to all who stopped by last week and commented on my grandson's cooking.  He was so tickled to read your comments!  

After a wonderful two weeks of Spring Break sharing time with my grandkids with their paternal grandpa, it's time to find my rhythm again.  

Weekly Word: Encouragement + Books, Stitches and Gratitude!

 Hello There, 

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you are doing well!  This week has been for us with highs in the 50's and lows in the 20's!  Between RSV, the flu and COVID numbers going up, I've been hibernating except for essential errands.  The winter storms are certainly causing havoc across the nation, aren't they?  I hope you all are safe and warm today/tonight!

I hope you enjoy this post, especially my Slow Stitching squirrel:  crocheted Christmas ornaments, some fun Christmas audiobooks I've been listening to and a fun song to get you up and dancing!  

Both Christmas and New Year's Eve fall on a weekend.  As I usually post on the weekend, I'll be taking a break until 2023.  However, I will be active on my Instagram account @miaismine22.   Please just request to follow me as it is a private account.  

Until I see you again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here's is an index should you have a special interest you like to read first!  

The Weekly Word - is a short devotional that sometimes becomes a Bible Study series.  

My Reading Life - is filled with current, completed and upcoming reads as well as an occasional short review.      

Stash Report and To Do Tuesday is where I'll share share stats regarding my fiber usage and acquisitions, Slow Sunday Stitching projects, goals met/lack thereof and photos of my projects. 

Gratitude Journal - Sometimes I get lost in my own stinky thinking.  This digital journal reminds me to count my blessings!    

 Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer - - Here you will find updates on life after Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  I was diagnosed in November of 2014 and my last day of treatment was in November 2015. 

The Weekly Word

The holidays are such a joyous time for so many of us.  Yet, for some of us, they are lonely and difficult.

I have a sense that some of you reading this are hurting right now.  You are not alone.  

As we face our current challenges and those to come, I pray that these words from The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere will come to mind.   

"Time in the valley will teach you to be a man, Nathan," she had said.  "It's where your character will form.  I hope you go through the valley so that you'll learn so that you'll learn how to love and feel and understand.  And when life wounds you, I hope it is because you loved people, not because you mistreated them."  It was a blessing of sorts, a blessing that forges love in the darkest places.  

There have been times, especially during those early years without her, that I thought time in the valley was anything but a blessing, but now I know otherwise.   As I grew, I began to understand what my mother meant:  It is those times of struggle and pain that teach us how to live.  It's not really living until you've thrown your heart and soul on the line, rising failure and suffering loss.  And I have come to realize that we're never alone; everyone has been through their own valley or is walking through it now...

There were times when the grief in my life made it impossible to believe that God was alive and working, or the doubts were so great it  seemed hopeless to believe anything at all, but as I look at the faces in the seats before me I now once again that we're all hear for a reason, a purpose that is often beyond us.

-The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLeire

My time listening to Donna VanLeiere's books was such encouragement.  I was reminded of two facts:  

1.  We. Are. Not. Alone. 

Even if it feels like we are, God is with us!  

FEELINGS ARE NOT FACT.

The fact is:  God is always with us - even if we are angry with Him or overcome by grief.  

https://bibleversestogo.com/products/hebrews-13-5-i-will-never-leave-you

2.  We. Are. Here. For. A. Reason.

In 2023,let us prayerfully seek out the reason for our existence and live it fully.  

Someone needs each one of us.  It could be a perfect stranger or a dear loved on.  But, someone is out there who needs us.  

In 2023, let our antennas be up and sensitive to how we can contribute to making our surroundings a softer, kinder place to be.  

Once we focus on God's presence in our lives and on helping others, everyone's lives will be enriched.

My Reading Life

Last week I shared the 2023 Reading Challenges I'm planning to participate in,  however, I may be adding this one if my grandbabies decided to participate!  

Currently Reading

Finished Reading

*****I highly recommend all three of these books by Donna VanLiere!  

Stash Report

Yarny Numbers

I used all but 2 ounces of the yarn that came in last week plus some scraps!  

I was wondering how in the world I was in the negative last week after using and donating so much yarn:  a simple coding error!  Ug.  

I'm learning to think analytically though!  So yea for errors!  

Fabric numbers - No fabric has come in or out this week!

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1.  Slow Stitching  

- Finish block two of the Bee Humble Sew Along.  NOT DONE.  I am really focusing on Christmas preparations, so this one is taking a back seat for now.   

- Make progress on tea towel #3! DONE!  It's looking pretty good!

- continue with the ornaments DONE!  Just in case you decide to make these, one skein of yarn made 17 ornaments and have proving quite popular with the recipients thus far!

2. Machine Sewing:  

- stuff the Christmas puppies for the grandbabies NOT DONE - YET!  

- I actually got a couple of "To Do's" finished from last week's "On the Radar" !

- Make the five 6.5" blocks for the $15 Sampler quilt.  DONE!

I actually stitched them up in a day!  Rechecking the cut pieces a few times times and reducing my sewing speed, I only lost a few points!  

- Prep Row 12 of the Pieces in the Garden QAL.  DONE and stitched up!  This beginner friendly block is so fun that I found this pattern for making it in 12" squares!  

Next Week's List 

1.  Slow Stitching  

- Make progress on tea towel #3! 

- continue with the ornaments

2. Machine Sewing:  

- stuff the Christmas puppies for the grandbabies 

- pick and prep the next Christmas quilt.  I am making my way through my Christmas stash and looking at which "genre" of fabric to stitch through next!

On the radar

- Stitch up a baby quilt that I've prepped.

- Finish up my daughter's crocheted dishcloths.

- Prep kits for January 2023 

Gratitude Journal

Good Feeling by Austin French is sure to get your toes tapping and your body dancing as you lift your hands in praise to our heavenly Father!  Here is the cute story behind the song.  

At one point I started saving Songs from the blog on YouTube.  I've made a note to do this every week.  You can enjoy these songs as a sort of "radio station" any time you like!  

This week LeeAnne had a bunch of suggestions regarding Christmas music.  I have loved O Come All Ye Faithful since childhood!  It has always touched my heart as I praised Him for whom the season is for.  Even today I sing it in hopes that all will come to adore and love Jesus Christ!  

It's the Holiday Season makes me dance!  I love to play it first when we begin to decorate the tree!

My least favorite song is Baby, It's Cold Outside.  

Pre-pandemic I loved attending our church's Christmas pageants.  Now we go to El Paso and enjoy walking through the beautifully decorated downtown plaza!

As I child, I enjoyed participating in our elementary school Christmas programs and loved singing as loud as I could (despite my off-key voice!).  LOL!  

Now to my recent likes on Instagram!

This account, @healthtips.247 posted that Charlie Chaplin left us with the following quotations.

                                                      

Isn't this true?🠇

If you like photography, this account is a great one to follow!

I've begun taking more chances this week 

and am enjoying the results!  Fear - be gone!

This camel saw snow for the first time,

ran to get his/her friends

to make sure they saw it!

Please, even if you pay a bit more,

support your independent bookshops!

I personally support @coasbooks (website), @barriobooks520 (website),  @libeula_books_co (website).  

These ship nationwide!    

Let's support our local bookshops, quilt shops, 

and small business owners as much as possible! 

Please share the names of the indie bookstores 

you support in the comments!

This quote reminded me of the Bible Study series I wrote 

inspired by Matthew West's song, Truth Be Told.  

@Tobymacspeaklife account always gives me food for thought.

This last week my husband found the belt 

he made me when we were in high school!

My favorite like is my constant companion, Mia, 

for whom this blog is named.  

Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed the day before we were to host our family Thanksgiving dinner in 2014.  It was tough.

That holiday season was filled with the stress of scheduling tests around doctors and medical offices taking their well-earned holiday breaks.

Less than a handful of years later, a close family member passed away the day after Thanksgiving.  

Yup.

 But, that was then, this is now.

Now, we are extra loving to each other, supportive and patient.    

Now, I still remember, but am filled with gratitude, love and an extra measure of joy.  I believe this very much:   Tough times make us more empathetic, more tender.  

To those of you who are dealing with crisis this holiday season, please know you are in our prayers.  Your pain is in my heart.  When I say we are praying for you, we are.  You are not forgotten.  

I look forward to touching base with you again in the New Year!

Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following this blog!

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 some blogs I sometimes link up to!

Sunday Salon @ Readerbuzz

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

Sew and Tell @ Melva Loves Scraps (Mondays)

To Do Tuesday @ Texas Quilt Gal

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication (Wednesdays)

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color (Thursday)

Weekly Word: Honoring Our Veterans + Books, Stitches and Gratitude!

 Hello There, 

Happy Veterans’ Day to all of our veterans who so faithfully and heroically served our country with courage and determination!  A special hug to my Dad, father-in-law, husband, friends and many family members who served.  

Here's is an index should you have a special interest you like to read first!  

The Weekly Word - is a short devotional that sometimes becomes a Bible Study series.  

My Reading Life - is filled with current, completed and upcoming reads as well as an occasional short review.      

Stash Report and To Do Tuesday is where I'll share share stats regarding my fiber usage and acquisitions, goals met/lack thereof and photos of my projects. 

Gratitude Journal - Sometimes I get lost in my own stinky thinking.  This digital journal reminds me to count my blessings!    

Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer - - Here you will find updates on life after Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  I was diagnosed in November of 2014 and my last day of treatment was in November 2015. 

The Weekly Word

As we spent this weekend honoring our veterans, I would simply like to remind myself and, you, my precious readers, of these beautiful songs that surely fill our hearts with patriotic joy when we sing them.

Enjoy them and remember to thank a veteran every day, not just on Veterans' Day.  

My Reading Life

Currently Reading

Finished

★★★★Booked for Trouble and The Spook in the Stacks  by Eva Gates is the second and fourth titles in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series.  I started this series in the middle and am backreading through Gate's fun cozy mystery.   

★★★★★The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is one of those book I cannot recommend enough!  The twists and turns kept me involved and left me eager for a part two!  

★★★★ Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson was a delight read that addresses returning to our cultural  roots. Quintana Albertson’s description of Barrio Logan and Chicano Park’s murals led me to research the history of this beloved community!  I’m looking forward to visiting Chicano Park and Barrio Logan on my next trip to San Diego. 

Though there was some colorful language and sex scenes that, in my mind, did not add to the story line, the theme of returning to our cultural roots out-weighed this, so I'll try the next book in the series when it comes out. 

Did Not Finish

★★★★★

I love the Netflix series, Call the Midwife, which is amazingly accurate to the book.  However, the act of reading the book deeply affected me emotionally so much that I just could not finish it at this time.  The difficult times the ladies in the East End of London endured broke my heart.  Their attitudes inspire me to be a better person.  I hope to re-read and then finish this wonderful series at another time.  Highly recommend.

Stash Report

Yarny Numbers:  Last week you read about the projects I finished, as well as yarn that was donated.  This week I remembered to include the graphic!  😂I was grateful to find these yarns needed for my Fall Granny Square Afghan!  (Picture in next section)

  

Fabric numbers:  Ok, so my Granny Square Christmas quilt did not work out.  I'm not sure what I did wrong, but when I squared up the blocks, they became wavy and definitely not squared up.  

Being that time is short as we are soon heading to San Diego, I decided to ask my daughter to look at them and we'll decide if they are worth the effort to fix them.  Life is too short to work on frustrating projects, so, for now, they are declared "Did Not Finish" objects!  😎

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1.  Slow Stitching - There are two projects I'm working on, a Bee Humble sew along from Be Sew Creative and a set of tea towels for my "Golden Girls" group.  

a.  Make progress on my 2/4 tea towels! DONE!  It was a wee bit of progress due to my work on the Bee Humble project.  

b.  Finish block one for the Bee Humble Sew Along. 95% DONE! I've even almost finished prepping Block Two!  

  2. Machine Sewing:

a. Continue progress on the granny square Christmas quilt. DONE!  Though it was a bust, it's still done!  :)

b.  Join the blocks for the Pieces in the Garden SAL as a leader/ender project.   DONE!  I have a pretty stack of rows to join!  

3.  Crochet:   

a.  Continue working on my Fall Granny Square Afghan.  I'm borrowing an idea from quilting and using a 16-patch block pattern.  DONE! 

This Week's List  is pretty much the same as last week's list.   

1.  Slow Stitching   

a.  Make progress on the 2/4 tea towels! 

b.  Finish prepping block two of the Bee Humble Sew Along. 

2. Machine Sewing: 

a.  Stitch up this month's blocks for the $15 Sampler Quilt from Bee Sew Creative.

3.  Crochet:   

a.  Continue working on my Fall Granny Square Afghan.  

On The Radar...

1.  Stitch up a baby quilt that I've prepped.

2.  Finish up my daughter's crocheted dishcloths.

3.  Prepping kits for January 2023

4.  Join the Pieces in the Garden rows.  

5.  Stitch the Row 11 of the Pieces in the Garden  QAL.    

Gratitude Journal

There are times when we are broken, utterly and completely broken.  Those are the times when, if we turn to God, we give Him the opportunity to achieve His greatest healing and work in our lives.  Sometimes we are so shattered, all we can pray is, “Help me!”  That’s all it takes for our loving Abba Father to come to our aid! 

Here is the story behind Zach Williams’ song, Heaven Help Me.  

This coming week's prompt from Leeanna's Thursday's I Like link up party is to share our favorite Thanksgiving dish.  

Mine is following the Stove Top stuffing recipe and adding tons of sautéed celery, carrots and a bit of onion.  I use olive oil to sauté the veggies and, if I have it on hand, homemade chicken broth.    

Our menu is pretty traditional albeit we have now added carne de puerco con chili colorado (pork and red chili).  This tradition was introduced to us by my much-loved son-in-law.  

I really liked this post by Toby Mac.  

We saw the previews of this true story about two Korean War pilots.  I was able to score the book at our locally own used bookstore for my Dad.  The moving releases November 23rd I believe.  

Our local library now has hoopla and I'm in love, totally and completely in love!  Their selection is fabulous, and features are top notch!   

Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer

Thankfully, it’s a quiet life on the health front.  I’m staying the course with my knee exercises.  According to my surgeon, this will be a new life-long habit. 

I’m also working on strengthening my core by sitting on the sofa, leaning back, but not quite touching the back, raising my legs and pedaling.  Yup, it’s challenging, but effective.

I believe I’ve had a handicap parking placard shortly after treatment for Triple Negative Cancer.  The other day, we were lucky to find a parking at an extremely crowded venue.  I said, “Thank you, Cancer, for this parking.” 

Perhaps it’s time to look for the gifts cancer gave me, instead of the negative effects chemotherapy had on my health!  😊

I hope you have a great week!  

Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following this blog!

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 some blogs I sometimes link up to!

Sunday Salon @ Readerbuzz

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

To Do Tuesday @ Texas Quilt Gal

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication (Wednesdays)

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color (Thursday)