Simply an update on Daddy 6

Well, we made it home.  God worked a miracle and Daddy came home catheter free!      This is huge!  He is weak and emotionally drained.  He’s broken down a few times.  As I said before, my own journey through cancer has given us a special bond.

He should follow up with the surgeon in two weeks.  His PSA will count as a tumor marker and will play a huge role in deciding our next steps.  He so brave and courageous.  I love him so much.
Take good care,
Blessings and sweet dreams!

Simply an Update on Daddy 2

Almost 3:00 in the morning.  Slept in a rollaway with my sister.   Who really sleeps in a hospital.  Daddy comfortable and sleeping.   We’ve all had some good conversations.    “Words I Would Say “ by Sidewalk Prophets is on my heart.  Here’s the link:   https://youtu.be/1bItzgw7OAU

Take good care, Everyone!

Dad - an update. Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching Sunday. Stash Report.

Update on Dad and Saturday's Song

I mentioned here that my family is on yet another journey with cancer.  Dad has Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer that is treatable.

That.

Is.
Treatable.
God has the last Word - regardless of the "Little c", the Big C has our back.  
Tomorrow is his surgery, so I asked him if I could move back home to spend a bit of time with him as he recovers.  He smiled and said, "Of course!"  I promised him I wouldn't be sneaking out of the windows (as I may or may not have done as a teenager)!  
My sister and I are so united and our husbands are the best, so Dad and Mama are surrounded by love.  
Hence today's song.  

Amen?  Amen!
"My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in Your love!"

Slow Stitching

I'm trying to keep up with the Hand Pieced QAL dual hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin at Simple. Handmade. Everyday.  

I'm also making blocks from this QAL which Erin at Why Not Sew?  hosted back in 2012.  

Here are two more blocks to share!

This is Jacob's Ladder - which I love!  

How cool is this ladder?
UPDATE:  Yup.  I just say my error on this Jacob's Ladder.  To fix or not to fix?  :)

This Flying Geese block was too fun!  

I used an animal theme!

  
Sunday Stats
I finally have a finish - a late Valentine table topper -  which I'll be sharing soon!  I enlarged the pattern, so, along with my extra squares, I used 3.2 yards.  My Robert Kaufman quilting calculator said it would use 2.5 yards of backing, but we'll see after my daughter kindly pieces the backing.   and quilting it for me. 
fabric usage - 6.65/100 yards  (same as last week)

yarn usage - 12/100 ounces

Maybe you've noticed that my posts aren't as regular and comments are going unanswered.  
I'm so sorry.  I drive a three hour round trip to see Daddy, not including the errands we accomplish.  It's exhausting for this cancer thriver. However, we do manage to laugh a bit during our time together.   :)  

I'm linking up to:
A Spirit of Simplicity
Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts
Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create

Wednesday's Word. I Like.

Wednesday's Word
As I reread Don't Throw in the Towel, Hope Again!, by Jana Alcorn, I thought of  my dad.  We heard the "official" diagnosis:  Stage 4 Prostate Cancer with metastasis to most of his bones and to his lymph nodes with a life expectancy of 18 months if he responds well to treatment.  
Quite a mouthful.
But,
God
is 
bigger
than
cancer.
He knows and holds my dad and all of us in the palm of His hands.  I respect, value and even love most of  my doctors, but my faith is in Jesus Christ.  

I trust Him unequivocally.  

There are many situations in my life and my friends' lives right now that are heartbreaking.  Then, as I read and rewrote my daily Scripture, I was encouraged.  

My own experience with cancer has a purpose and it has been revealed to me: to now minister to my dad as he faces his own journey with cancer.

His ways are higher than our ways.  I am strengthened, even as I weep, by my precious LORD and Savior.  He knows the way we take and has prepared the way ahead of us.  His love is indeed like a waterfall!




I Like
I like linking up to Lee Anna's I Like Thursdays! (@ Not Afraid of Color)!  

We took a quick trip to Santa Fe and found tons of eye candy!

 The Express Train that runs between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

 A wall mural of a dinosaur popping out of the wall.  This looks 3D, but is actually painted flat on the wall!  Such talent!

I discovered a new to me favorite artist!  Here is her webpage!  Everything she creates is stitched up on a vintage sewing machine!  This video may interest you.

"Feeling Sorry for Pluto" 

A sail boat sail with its sail made out of vintage gloves.

 

This bird is all stitched up!

Of course, I picked up a bit of fabric!

Some is mine or will be gifted, 

 some will be sewn up into a gift, 

 some will make my daughter so happy!

Take good care, dear ones!

I Like Thursdays @ Not Afraid of Color

I have been a bit overwhelmed with life in general, but I so enjoy your comments.  I will get back to you!  Thank you for you love and support!

Monday's Strength. Book Date. Pressing On.

Monday's Strength
God's timing is perfect.  His ways are higher than our ways.  I realizes this even more when remembered sharing  this verse not long ago.   

Two days later, I leaned on it - hard.

My dad has been diagnosed with METS - metastatic cancer.  You can read more about it here.  
So, yes, I am leaning on this verse as well as many others.  My daughter sent me this song.  


God is good - all the time.  All the time, God is good.  We can indeed trust Him.

Book Date

There hasn't been a lot of changes on the reading front.  I am still enjoying Greater Love, though.  

Slow Reads

The Story continues to bless me.

                                     Current Reads

Anxious For Nothing by Max Lucado.  

Current Audiobooks

Greater Love

Finished
No finishes this week!  :)

Pressing On!
I press on toward the goal...Philippians 3:14a 
Here are last week's Pressing On goals:  

1.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth. ✔  I finished 4 of them.  I'm sticking to the same pattern and they're coming out faster.  

2.  Here's an ambitious one:  Finish the Prayer Afghan.   X At this point, I believe portable projects are best for me.  

3.  Sew the first two Morning Glory Blocks together.  ✔

4.  Slow Stitching on my GFG and a new QAL that I couldn't resist:  the Hand Pieced QAL over with Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin at Simple. Handmade.  Everyday.   ✔  For a variety of reasons, the blocks I shared last week became practice blocks .  Here are the "real" ones that I shared on yesterday's Slow Stitching Sunday post.  

 Blocks 1 (below)  and 2 (above)

Here are this week's Pressing On goals:  

1.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth. 
2.  Sew the third Fall Into A Quilt QAL block.
3.  Sew the third Hand Pieced QAL  block.   

With my Dad's diagnosis, I will keep my goals short and sweet.

Monday's Link Ups

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading? @Book Date
Main Crush Mondays @ Cooking Up Quilts
Monday Making @Love, Laugh, Quilt

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

Tuesday's Link Ups

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Thank God For My Cancer Diagnosis. Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stats

Thank God For My Cancer Diagnosis

Yes, you read correctly:  Thank God for my cancer diagnosis.  There's a verse that I remember when I am confused about my journey:  Isaiah 55:8-9.  When life hits, this is my go-to verse, my anchor.  Life has hit.  Dad has been diagnosed with METS (metastatic cancer).  He has advanced stage prostate cancer that metastasized to his bones.  In November 2018 his CT scan was clear, now it's not.  
We are very close - his role throughout my life has been both mother and father.  I thank God that I have been down this road, because I "get it" and understand him.  He also has tons of support from the rest of the family. 
This week I've leaned on my faith and family like never before.  A line from Praying Through Cancer: Set Your Heart Free from Fear: A 90-Day Devotional for Women by  Susan Sorensen blessed me during my journey:

The Big "C" is bigger than the Little "c".

I'm indeed "gracefully broken", but not destroyed.  Amen?  Amen!

Saturday's Song


Slow Stitching
As I'm spending time with Daddy (Yes, at the age of 56, he's still "Daddy" to me!), my Grandmother's Flower Garden has been put on hold as I work on portable hand stitching projects.
One is a Hand Pieced QAL dual hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin at Simple. Handmade. Everyday.  

Here's my blocks thus far.

 Practice Blocks 1 and 2

Block 1

Block 2

I found this older QAL at hosted by Erin at Why Not Sew? 
I've prepped a few of Erin's blocks.  This is my "Year of the QALs and BOMs".  I needed a way to organize my fabrics and patterns.  Enter the 3-ring binder and page protectors!

A few hours dedicated to prepping blocks - choosing, pressing and cutting the fabrics - yields to optimized sewing time.  

When I'm home, I pull the sleeves and sew away on my machine.  I use this same system to have my machine embroidery projects ready.  That way, as I'm sewing one one machine, my machine embroidery sewing machine is hard at work as well.  It's the perfect 2 for 1!  

If I'm going portable, I take the prepped fabrics in my hand sewing kit.  A screen shot of tutorials guarantees I'll have access to the pattern regardless of WiFi connect-ability.  (Is that a real word?)

Being that I'll probably be spending time away from home, these hand piecing QALs are a special blessing to me.  God always prepares our path.  I'll be forever grateful to these hard-working hostesses of the hand piecing blogs.  

Sunday Stats
I want to thank those wonderful ladies have sent in ideas on how to figure out my fabric usage for BOMs.  I've fallen behind in commenting and fully reading comments, but am trying to catch up.  Therefore, fabric usage is the same.  
fabric usage - 3.45/100 yards  (same as last week)

yarn usage - 12/100 ounces 
I've made several dishcloths, so those numbers have gone up!  Yea!

This year I've decided to use the same basic pattern.  Thus far, my favorite yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton!  

I'm linking up to:
A Spirit of Simplicity
Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Scripture Blessings 

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create

Monday's Strength. Book Dating. Pressing On.

Monday's Strength

When we are weak, He is strong.  In our times of pain, we can count on God.  Always.  

I took a walk with God this evening.  I needed Him.  My heart is breaking bit by bit as I see my Daddy grow weaker and weaker due to some unknown, un-diagnosed ailment.  

As I prayed, I played my "Gentle Praise" playlist.  This song blessed me.  

         
When I am weak, He is strong.  In my times of pain, I can count on God.  Always.  And so can you.

Will you join me in believing?

Book Dating

Have you heard of Slow Stitching Sunday?  It's a linky party hosted by Kathy at Kathy's Quilts that encourages us to slow down and enjoy a day of slow stitching.  Naturally these projects take a long time, years even. 

Taking inspiration from Kathy, I have decided to add a category to Book Dating - Slow Reads.  Books that long for me to spend time with them, that ask me to think about them, journal on them, learn from them.  Do you have some Slow Reads you enjoy?  Here is mine:

Slow Reads

The Story continues to bless me.

Ebook Reading

The Six-Day Hero b Tammar Stein

Current Audiobook

I'm enjoying the 2nd book in Robert Whitlow's Tides of Truth series, Higher Hope.  

Finished

Doing Busy Better was a Slow Read.  I did learn from this book, however, I learned that I'm not that into time management books as I thought I would be.  

Deeper Waters was pretty good - 4.5 stars.  I agree that Robert Whitlow compares to John Girsham.

Pressing On!
I press on toward the goal...Philippians 3:14a 
I've been linking up to Christine's fabulous linky party To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things.  It's been instrumental in keeping me focused as well as upped my crafting productivity.  Previously, I used her name - To Do Tuesday - for my posts, but this year "Pressing On" came to me and and just felt right.  So, Pressing On with an encouraging Scripture was born.  

Here are last week's Pressing On goals:  

1.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth.✔

I experimented with the design using tulle and yarn.  I'm eager to hear my daughter's opinion on how these new patterns work out.  

With the last bit of yarn, I made this small coaster.  

2.  Make progress on the Prayer Afghan.  ✔
If my hands hold out, this baby should be done by Friday!  

3.  Sew the $7.50 blocks in the 30's fabric. X  I have finished 1 of the 4 squares though!

4.   Relax on Sunday with Slow Stitching on my GFG. ✔

You can see my progress on this post.  

This week's Pressing On goals will be similar:

1.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth.

2.  Make even more progress on the Prayer Afghan.  

3.  Sew the $7.50 blocks in the 30's fabric.

4.   Relax on Sunday with Slow Stitching on my GFG.

Monday's Link Ups

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading? @Book Date
Main Crush Mondays @ Cooking Up Quilts
Monday Making @Love, Laugh, Quilt

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

Tuesday's Link Ups

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things