Comfort. A Finished Scarf.

Just a note:

My posts will be short and minus the Philippians Bible Study for a while.  I'm recovering from cataract surgery and I'm finding the computer is hard on my eye!  

I'm trying my surgery sunglasses and they seem to be helping!  :)

I'm blessed to be recovering in the comfort of my home and oh so loving family and friends!

Comfort

https://img.clipartfest.com/106ed6192fccccf5bb1ab8048b7b9445_80d076e622f3444bd1a0145d1d88ec-friends-hugging-each-other-clipart_500-478.jpeg

Isn't is so humbling how the Lord 

cares for us, 

loves us each individually 

with all our quirks and faults.  

He rejoices over us, 

He provides for us, He comforts us. 

I am so blessed!

A Crocheted Finish!

Well, I finished this scarf that I started last week.  It's so pretty!  I love it!  Naturally, I lost the pattern on my Pinterest Board! But, I'll update this post when I find it!  :)

I'm linking up to

Oui Crochet Community

Linky Tuesday at

Freemotion by the River 

Hookin’ On Hump Day at

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

Philippians 2:9. Green Chile Stew. Crazy Quilt Squares.

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 2:9

OBSERVATION

Therefore........... Consequently, as a result of His obedience,

God exalted Jesus! 

Not only exalted him – but exalted him to the highest place.

Plus He gave Him the name that is above EVERY name!

APPLICATION

There is a reward for obedience.

We please God.

If we can obey Him in the smallest of requests, He knows He can trust us with more – and our own faith is built up.

I’m learning to listen to His voice,

and respond to the needs of those around me

when HE wills it.

Green Chile Stew

Yesterday my husband asked me to make him Green Chili Stew.  Yum!

He loved it so I decided to share my recipe!  It's perfect for cold, wintry days with beans and flour tortillas or homemade bread.  Are you hungry yet?  Is your mouth salivating?  I've changed the recipe a bit from the original, so here's my new one in a PDF file!  This is a first for me, so please let me know if there are any hiccups!  :)  Also, I used a translator to translate it into Spanish.  I haven't translated since I left the classroom, so please forgive any errors!  Enjoy!

Crazy Quilt Squares

I made these squares for a friend for Christmas.  I had made her a set before, but when our waitress admired them, she generously gave her one.  She has mourned her lost square for years.  So, I made her two more!

This was the beginning of one square.  They always look so funky at this stage!

                  I'm linking up to

Main Crush Mondays

at Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday 

at Em’s Scrapbag

Philippians 2:8. Covered in Love.

SCRIPTURE

OBSERVATION

Christ humbled himself even more by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross – which was reserved for criminals.

APPLICATION

Doesn’t that make the entire passage even more meaningful?

Somehow these Scriptures put a new perspective on my own petty points of view, my supposed “right” to not take any guff from anyone.  I want to be more of a servant and less of me. 

The phrase “dying to self” comes to mind.  A quick internet search brought me to this page and these verses:

These are difficult lessons.  Again, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when serving others, when trying to achieve unity in our work places, churches, families - wherever! 

Even when going about our day to day lives, let’s consider: 

What works for us? 

What is God telling us? 

Are we enabling or supporting? 

Are we becoming less?

PRAYER

Father God,

As I meditate and saturate in these verses and the Holy Spirit’s voice, I find myself becoming slower to speak and respond.  I find myself seeing life from a different perspective.  I hope I am becoming gentler, wiser, kinder to others – and to myself.

Help me to see the lessons here and to incorporate them in to my life.  Help me to know boundaries.  Help to know when help others and when to lovingly detach.

I praise You for these lessons, difficult as they may be!

Amen!

Dear Friend, this is my truth!

Covered In Love

I was able to make some charity blocks last month for Covered In Love!  These were new for me, but Kat's tutorial was awesome!

Here's the blocks I made for January!  

I'm linking up to 

Moving It Forward Monday at Em’s Scrapbag

Philippians 2:7 (Part 1). To Do Tuesday.

Philippians 2:7 Part 1

SCRIPTURE 

(I am including v. 7 in context as well.)

OBSERVATION

RATHER…..

rather than claim His position as the Son of God – Jesus made himself

NOTHING.

Did that really sink into your spirit?

JESUS MADE HIMSELF NOTHING.

Let’s look at the Amplified version:

He emptied Himself, BUT DID NOT renounce His deity.  

He gave His all, but maintained His identity.

I can only be in awe of my Jesus. 

(To be continued in the next post.)

To Do List for 1/17-24/17




HANDSEWING
- work one hour on my Embroidery Around the House project






QUILTING:  CAL's
- Make my $7.50 block
- Make 5 more blocks for the Simple Scrappy Sampler
- pull purple fabric for the RSC
- pull fabric for a Snail Quilt (more about that later!)


REGULAR SEWING
- make the last of the grey handwarmers







CROCHET
Work at least one hour on the Hexagon Afghan





There you have it!  This should be enough to keep me out of trouble....yeah, right!

https://onsizzle.com/i/me-bad-never-itd-like-to-think-of-it-as-2812976

I’m linking up to

Kathleen's Sharing Sundays

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt,

Main Crush Mondays

To Do Tuesday at Stitch All Things

Philippians 2:5. Guess What?!! One Monthly Goal

Philippians 2:5 
SCRIPTURE

OBSERVATION

How can we achieve the sometimes difficult goal of living out JOY?

Thank goodness Paul gives us guidance in this verse:

Have the same mindset of Christ Jesus.

APPLICATION

As we recall, Paul is referring to dissension in the church at Philippi.  However, this can also be applied to our daily life at home, at work – in all our relationships.

Remember Philippians 2:1?  It’s not hard to achieve unity:  If you have any of these it can be done.

Crawling leads to walking, 

walking to running – 

baby steps of faith 

are all that is needed 

to learn and develop 

the mindset of Christ Jesus.

I must say this, however.  Putting others’ interest first DOES NOT mean being a doormat and solving their problems.  If it’s not in your back yard, it’s not your problem.  There is a fine line between being a servant and being an enabler.  Be cautious.

That being said, if each of us (Philippians 2:4) are looking out for the interests of others, we are in fact taking care of each other. 

I’m so grateful Paul goes onto provide much needed guidance regarding this mindset.  

Dear Friend, this is my truth!  :)

Guess What?!!!
OH
MY
GOSH!
I'm am so flying high!  
I was featured for the first time!!  
Can you hear my squeals of joy?
Can you see my dance of happiness?
Hmmm!  It's probably best you can't see that one!  :)

First I was featured on Midweek Makers for these coasters!  Thank you, Susan!

My daughter asked me to please write a tutorial for these, so I will be doing that soon!
Then, today I saw that Beth from Cooking Up Quilts mentioned my Pinwheel Quilt!  

I am beyond excited about these happenings!  Thank you so much Susan and Beth!  Thank you!

One Monthly Goal

 I am in the process of writing a rather ambitious 2017 craft goals.  One way I plan to complete these lofty goals is to link up to One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.  I'm hoping to finish a flimsy a month and get it to my cherished longarm quilter.  This month I missed the link up deadline, but I'm still presenting my OMG!  

Without further ado, here is my One Monthly Goal Quilt!

Well, if I squint and use my imagination, it looks like a real quilt!  :)

I started this Clover and Violet Simple Scrappy Sampler  back in 2014.  The blocks are made from a combination of Happy Tones distributed by Michael Miller and a variety of white on white fabrics.

After making these few blocks, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Then my focus was on surviving chemo and radiation.  

I'm back on the saddle and raring to ride and finish the many UFOs me and my chemo started and forgot about!  So, 2017 is my year!  

Let's have fun

clearing out our UFO's in 2017!

I'm linking up to:

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt

Main Crush Mondays at Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday at Em’s Scrapbag

Linky Tuesdays at Freemotion by the River

Philippians 2:3-4 . Complete! Baby M2's Afghan!

Philippians 2:3-4

SCRIPTURE

OBSERVATION

Paul is referring to the dissension in the church in Philippi.  He gives solutions to dissension:

APPLICATION

I recall a conversation with a non-believer who was confused about a teaching about the acronym J.O.Y. 

By placing Jesus first, we are in tune with His will for our lives.  Consequently we can live our lives confident of His guidance.

By placing others’ interest above our own we become better listeners.

What is this person truly saying?

What truly is their need?

These verses are saying,

“Let go of your own agenda.

Really listen to others.”

When we ensure that those around us know that their voice is being heard,

stress and tension are eased.

Then, the peace of God that passes all understanding enters.

PRAYER

LORD, as we go into 2017, help us to listen –really hear - the needs of those around us – even if they drive us nuts.  Give us discernment and understanding that we may meet needs that are deeper than the surface issues. 

Let us become humble servants to all Your children. 

By the way, LORD, if I am one of those who drive others nuts, help me to learn grace!  

Dear Friends, this is my truth!

Complete! Baby M2's Afghan!
I finally finished Baby M2's afghan!  
Here is a bit of the journey.
Step One:  a row of dots


Step Two:
Connect the dots!  LOL!

Step Three:  Connect more dots and add a a mini border

Step Four:  Search my go to border book for a cute border.

Step Five:  Make a bunch more dots!

Step Six:  Attache said dots to the afghan and wala!  

I used Teresa Chorzepa's Dotty Dots Afghan pattern that can be found on Ravelry with Lion Brand Modern Baby yarn and I loved it so much that the extra skeins will become another afghan....one day!

UPDATE:  1/5/17

I forgot the Linky Parties!

I'm linking up to Hookin' on Hump Day which is hosted by two sites - 

Petals to Picots and Moogly!

Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River 

To Do Tuesday atStitch All Things