Monday's Strength. Scrappy Love. Pressing On. Book Date.

Monday's Strength:

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. 

Monday's Strength: John 14:1-4. Machine Embroidery: You're as Sweet as Can Bee! Book Date Reads!

 Monday’s Strength:  Psalm 27 and Isaiah 40

Lynn Austin continued with her them of finding a home in Until We Reach Home.  This verse has always brought me comfort in times of trouble.

The next two verses are encouraging reminders that we are never alone.  He will guide us and show us the way.

Wednesday's Word. Pressing On. Wednesday's Wrap Ups. I Like....My Daughter, Bags and Pouches!

Wednesday's Word. 

Many of us take refuge in the Lord, especially during times of trials.  Yes, how many times do we hear an internal voice whispering these or similar discouraging words to our spirit?  And how many times do these words hit their mark and drive us to despair?  

Jesus Asked It #13. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Jesus Asked It #13
Jesus Asked Series: 1,  2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 
I have various Bible studies on my blog.  I've decided to focus on one - the Jesus Asked It series.  I hope you are enjoying it!
This verse is a tough one - giving our kids what they ask for.  

In context, this verse is saying that of course, when we seek the Lord and His will, He will respond with the appropriate answer.  
 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Matthew 7:7-8
I also read the Bible as a my own personal love letter from Jesus.  I sometimes take it quite literally, such as in this case.  In each alternative gift mentioned above, they were inappropriate (the stone) or even harmful (the snake).  
My dear loved one, sometimes, when we see our loved ones suffering via their own decisions, we want to help, we want to rescue.  But as I learned long ago, and am still learning, when we get between our loved one and their pain, we get between them and God.  
Sometimes, the best gift we can give is lovingly giving them the dignity to live with their own successes and/or failures.  All the while praying that our Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask Him.  Matthew 7:11
Believe me, I know how heart breaking this can be and my love, compassion and prayers go out to those of you going through this.  I've learned and continue to learn that as long as I rescue, I become that person's God.  I need to let God be God in my loved one's lives.  

Wednesday Wrap Ups 
This is kinda funny.  I finished this quilt top, my LAQ did a fabulous job quilting it and then I bound it using a scrappy binding.  But, did I take a picture of the finished product before I gifted it?  Nope.  Silly me.  Anyway, here is the finished flimsy!

I also finished quilting Pat's quilt.  As I mentioned before, Pat's mother-in-law pieced it, began quilting it, but passed before she could complete it.  I was honored to finish it up for the family.    

I machine bound it - a first for me.  

Pressing On
Last time my goals were:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama. ✔
2. Continue to work towards a new normal.✔
This appears to be changing every day.  My health/limitations/successes change every day.  Flexibility and acceptance are my new words.  

This Week's Goals
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.
2.  Write at least two blog posts.
3.  Finish up this month's Stitcher's Garden block and finish up one "tardy" block.
I wonder, do you set weekly goals for your personal, blog and crafty life?

Check out these fun parties!

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication  
To Do Tuesday @ Home Sewn By Us

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

UPDATE:  My husband send me this link to the story behind the above mural

 created by:  Gabe Vasquez and Justin Martinez

July was such a fun month...filled with birthdays (three of them!), holiday celebrations, celebrating the signing of the Korean War Armistice with my parents as well attending a ceremony unveiling a wall placed in the County Courthouse honoring all veterans from all the military branches.  Daddy is a proud Korean War veteran.  And I am proud of him.  

Then came August 3 and the mass shooting in El Paso and Dayton.  I am El Paso born and raised and my family lives there still.  Emotions are running high.  I'm making even more trips home to give comfort to my elderly parents and the rest of my small family.  I'm emotionally drained, but still trying to live life to the fullest.
I can do this because of a word God gave me many years ago when I was totally broken before Him:

I pray these words give comfort to those who are hurting around the world.

Wednesday Wrap Ups
I had started this wall hanging by Suzn Quilts.  The mini Dresden plates are complete and I am now hand appliqueing them onto their squares.  

 This one is made from my left very "leaves".  Is that what they're called?  

Pressing On
Last time my goals were:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama for an overnight.✔ Instead of overnights, I am making more frequent trips to see them.  
2.  Finish up the two  Month 4 blocks for my Stitchers' Garden. ✔ 
3.  Quilt 15 minutes a day on a friend's quilt.
X
This week's goals:
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.
2. Continue to work towards a new normal.


Check out these fun parties!

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication 

To Do Tuesday @ Home Sewn By US
(This linky used to be hosted over at Stitch All The Things and is now hosted by Roseanne and Sue of Home Sewn By Us)

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? @ Confession of a Fabric Addict (on Fridays) 

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

"...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...."

Whom will we serve?  It's our choice.  During a sermon on loving our family on purpose, Pastor was sharing wonderful parenting tips.  As an adult survivor of child abuse as well as a parent who has made mistakes, I wondered if some of those listening may be 1) wishing they had parents such as the ones he was teaching about or 2) were parents who are burdened by mistakes they have made.  I fit into both categories.  

Before the defeated one could tangle me up, I recalled Joshua 24:14-15 - choose this day who I will serve.  I modified it to fit my needs for today by telling God and myself that I will  choose this day whom I will serve, 

the demons of my past 

or

the God of my future.  

I choose to forget what is behind - yet keep the lessons learned.

I chose to strain toward what is ahead.  

I wonder if you are living life constrained by the demons of your past, as I was?  

It doesn't have to be that way, not at all.  

Join me in taking steps toward a freeing, joyful life in serving the God of our future!  

It's so liberating!

Wednesday Wrap Ups
Tada!  Here is my finished Morning Glory flimsy!  I absolutely love it!

I'm pressing the top and using a fat back for the backing.  Then it'll be off to my LAQ!  I'm thinking about using a scrappy binding.  We'll see!  
Pressing On
Last week's goals were:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama for an overnight and maybe even this weekend.  ✔
2.  Add the sashing to the Morning Glory blocks. ✔
3.  Finish up two blocks for my Stitchers' Garden. X

This week's goals:
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama for an overnight.
2.  Finish up the two  Month 4 blocks for my Stitchers' Garden.
3.   Quilt 15 minutes a day on Pat's Quilt.

Check out these fun parties!

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? @ Confession of a Fabric Addict (on Fridays) 

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

I was so blessed by last Sunday's sermon.  My faith was renewed and I am claiming victory again, in situations where I had once lost hope!
Pastor Dale stated: "When you have a prophetic word, it trumps everything the enemy is trying to throw at you."
Amen!  

Let us hold fight the battle well, holding onto our faith instead of allowing it to become shipwrecked!  


Wednesday Wrap Ups
I made another sewing kit....and a little needle book.....guess I hooked on them!  Here's the first kit.  
Here's the new one!

 Of course I made the vinyl pouch!  According to my nail tech, with a few changes, these would make great purses for those who attend sporting events in which the security personnel need to search purses and such!  Just sayin'!  
Yes, my furniture is naked!  Kitty would love to lay on it and rub her claws all over it, we take  off the cushions/cover them up!    :)

 This is the second one I've made using Amy's fantastic tutorial at Lots of Pink Here.  Of course, I made a few changes.  :)

 This "Teeny Simple Needle Cases for Friendship Group", (pattern by Natalie Barnes of Beyond The Reef)  was inspired by Nancy's post over at Grace and Peace Quilting.  She made them for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes  back in 2017.  Here's my version:

Pressing On
Last week's goals were:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.  ✔  I was supposed to head home at midday for my sewing class....but we were having so much fun that I invited them to "ditch class" with me!  We had a great day!
2.  Finish up the last few blocks of Morning Glory. ✔ Will be sharing the last block and sashing soon!
3.  Finish up two blocks for my Stitchers' Garden. X and not a single regret.  Spending time with my parents was my first priority.  I also took time to have lunch with a friend.  Sewing and such will always be there.  

This week's goals:
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama for an overnight and maybe even this weekend.  
2.  Add the sashing to the Morning Glory blocks.

3.  Finish up two blocks for my Stitchers' Garden. 

I'll be linking up to:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? @ Confession of a Fabric Addict (on Fridays) 

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word
Every New Year I pray for a Scripture for the coming year.  This year we were quite busy with Daddy and, to be honest, I forgot about this tradition.

Then, as I was writing Monday's post, I remembered a section of this verse, looked up the full verse and my heart started racing!  This was my verse!  I love it!  I am filled with joy and gratitude for my LORD and Savior!  I pray it touches your heart as well!
To be joyful in hope is wonderful as the "joy of the LORD is our strength!"  As we walk through out trials with joy and hope, patience in our afflictions comes easier.  I don't mean we walk around laughing and joking during our afflictions, but we are patiently waiting with confidence that our God will work through our pain as we faithfully pray.   We are remembering that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!  Romans chapter 8 is filled with promises and can be of great comfort in our afflictions.  Perhaps you can take a few moments to read it and be encouraged.  

Wednesday Wrap Ups
My next quick wrap up is this vinyl pouch with needle case.  It's been a while since I've sewn with zippers or vinyl.  My Bernina foot made it a breeze to sew with the vinyl.   

 Here is the little needle book I made along with the detachable mini pincushion.  

 I made this little pouch for carrying little extras.  If I gently pull on the lamb's tail, out comes a tape measure!  This was a gift from a dear friend.  

I use this portable sewing kit for my embroidery projects.  Yup, I am finally returning to the first craft I learned as a child.  More on that much later.  

Pressing On
Last week's goals were:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama. ✔  We had an awesome time together!  Daddy said it felt like a "California Day".  He was referring to our recent fun-filled trip to San Diego.  Even though I missed a sewing class by extending my time with them, I have no regrets.  :)  

2.  Fix Block 5 from last week - thank you for 
your comment, Donna! ✔

3.  Finish up the Fireman Place Mat. ✔            Ok. Confession time:  it only took 20 minutes tops to finish this SEVEN YEAR UFO!  Seriously?  😊  I cannot be the only person who has been such a procrastinator!  Please feel free to share your procrastination story in the comments!  

4.  Finish quilting the new living room pillow. ✔

I had shared this before, but just had to share it one more time!  :)

This week's goals are:
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.
2.  Finish up the last few blocks of Morning Glory. 
3.  Finish up two blocks for my Stitchers' Garden.

I'll be linking up to:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word and Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

Many years ago, my family lived in Okinawa, Japan.  One of the missionaries, Majetta Morris, shared this with me:  "There is no safer place to be than waiting on the will of God."

I cannot tell you how many times her words from so many years ago have blessed, strengthened and encouraged me.  Thank you, Majetta.  Thank you, LORD, for sending her into my life!

Wednesday Wrap Ups
I have a ton of UFO's (unfinished projects) that are taking up too much space in my studio, not to mention by brain.  I've decided to challenge myself to finish one a week - two weeks at the most.  These are small projects that just need a bit of time.  I would also like to finish them using my stash only.  

Here are my first two projects:
This place mat was started at least 5 years ago and is on my To Do Tuesday list for this week.  

I am turning this "accidental" orphan block into another living room pillow!   

It was a $7.50 block, but it came out too small.  I decided to quilt the top, so it should done next week as well.  

Pressing On
Last week's goals were:

1.  Make 1-2 more Morning Glory Blocks. X

2.  Stitch up a hand pieced block. ✔

3.  Make progress on the latest prayer shawl. X

This week's goals are:

1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.

2.  Fix Block 5 from last week - thank you for 
    your comment, Donna!

3.  Finish up the Fireman Place Mat.
4.  Finish quilting the new living room pillow.

I'll be linking up to:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication 
To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. There Are No Accidents. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

I refuse to give up.  

We can chose faith, trust, hope and victory.

Jesus has been 

my strength and hope thus far, 

so I chose the above with confidence in 

my LORD and Savior!

There Are No Accidents
I was working on the third block of my Stitcher's Garden and noticed a mistake.  I was almost finished with the block and didn't want to toss it...so I turned it into a pillow cover! 

It gives my living room a fresh new look!  I believe the rest of the pillows in my living room may be getting a new look as well!

Pressing
Last week's goals were:

1.  Spend an overnight with my parents.  ✔  I actually spent 2 nights with them!  Oh, how we enjoy each other's company!

2.  Make 1-2 Morning Glory Blocks. ✔

3.  Make progress on the latest prayer shawl. ✔

4.  I'm hoping to make progress on my hand pieced blocks.  ✔
This week's goals are:

1.  Make 1-2 more Morning Glory Blocks.

2.  Stitch up a hand pieced block. 

3.  Make my $7.50 blocks of the month.

I'll be linking up to:

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework!

To DoTuesday @ Stitch All Things

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Wednesday's Word. BOM's Away. Lost in the Crowd. Pressing On.

Wednesday's Word

Amen and amen.  I will not fear.  And if I do:  read, believe, repeat.

BOM's Away - Morning Glory Block 7
I finished another block - Block 7/12!  

My daughter gave me a fantastic tip about this cool pattern!  She told me to cut out all the pieces for each block and "kit" them as I did the "Jingle all The Way" quilt.  Then, when I have a few minutes, pull a kit and sew them up!

Lost in the Crowd

I've also been enjoying some mindless scrap sewing as I work on my "Lost in the Crowd" quilt inspired by Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.  I've made almost 100 more 2.5" squares!

Pressing On
Last week's goals were:

1.  Help Daddy and Mama put their home together after a major leak led to repairs and a new carpet. ✔

2.  Make 1-2 Morning Glory Blocks. ✔

3.  Make progress on the latest prayer shawl. ✔

This week's goals will be similar:

1.  Spend an overnight with my parents.  
2.  Make 1-2 Morning Glory Blocks. 

3.  Make progress on the latest prayer shawl. 

4.  I'm hoping to make progress on my hand pieced blocks.  

I'm linking up to:

MidweekMakers @ Quilt Fabrication

I May Have a Scrap Problem @ Confession of a Fabric Addict

To DoTuesday @ Stitch All Things

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Monday's Strength. Book Date. Valentine Topper.

Monday's Strength
The day Daddy went into surgery I remembered this old, familiar hymn.  
 

I just knew that, whatever the outcome, with Christ, I could face tomorrow.  God has infused me with an incredible peace and serenity.  Not to say that this process hasn't hurt or that tears have not flooded my eyes.  It's just that with His presence, I am serene in the midst of chaos.  And then I cry!  :)  And then I lean on Him and find peace again.  Isn't He good?  

Book Date

Current Reads

The Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird

Educated by Tara Westover

                                                            

Quiltfolk is a magazine, but it reads  like a book and I love it!

Current Audiobooks

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Finished

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart

★★★★★

I highly recommend this book!  The last lines blessed me and reminded me of my strength.

“And the Sanford girls were fierce and determined, tenacious and brave. The sort of women who refused to give up. Who knew that all the loveliest things were broken. And in all the broken places they were strong.”  

My dear reader, in your broken places, you are strong.  Don't give up.  Don't give in.  

We are strong.

Greater Love ★★★★

Shelved For Now Reads

I lost my copy of this great book!  :(

Anxious For Nothing by Max Lucado. 

A Much Needed Finish

Before Daddy's surgery, I actually had a finish!  Yes, it's late in the season, but I dropped everything and made this Valentine table topper inspired by Connie at Freemotion by the River!  

The middle is her design and I added a bit more.  After my daughter quilts it, it will be all done!  

Linking up to:

MondayMaking @ Love, Laugh, Quilt
Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

It’sMonday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)