Psalm 13:1 "How Long, O LORD?", Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There!

Thank you for stopping by! Whether you are enjoying summer or a completely different season across the globe, I hope you are staying comfortable. Here in Southern New Mexico, the heat is no joke. I’ve been fleeing the heat by going indoors by 10:00 AM, stepping out only for my absolute favorite things: my reading and fiber arts groups.  Well, I also step out for my responsibilities like medical appointments and purchasing fresh produce. I’m drinking so much water I feel like my eyeballs are floating!

Weekly Word, My Reading Life, Stash Report, To Do Tuesday, Gratitude Journal, FT&BC

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Hello There,

Happy Fourth of July to all of you who celebrate!  I hope you have fun and are all safe this weekend! 

Thank you all for your prayers for Elisa.  She passed away about 10 days ago surrounded by her loving family.  Please remember to pray for her family as services will be in about a week.  

Since February, our family and close friends have been experiencing great difficulties ranging from deaths, illnesses, crises and life threatening situations.  We have been supporting each other with love and I dearly want to continue supporting these precious ones free from time constraints.  I also need to find time to rest beside the still waters.  Alas, I am learning that I cannot do it all.  

  

The Lord is calling me to rest beside the still waters for a season. 

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
Does it feel like your're facing another heartbreak day?

Here's the lyrics if you'd like to reflect more on them.
Keep moving on my Dear Reader.  
Let me be honest.  
This. Quaratnine. Is. Tough. 
I'm struggling just like you are.
  
I have days that I all I can do is sleep. 
I bet you have, too.
I have days that I cry.
I bet you have, too.
I have lonely days.
I bet you have, too.
I have days that I am close to losing hope.
I bet you have, too.
My family has experienced great loss alone during this time.
I bet some of you have as well.

But God is faithful.  He is here.  He is trying to grow a new thing, a new me, a new you, a new world.  

The LORD is working through my church's sermons to keep me moving.  Today's sermon  made a few good points.  Here is one of my takeaways.    
Whose voice will I listen to?  Will I be like the person Pastor talked about who read the newspaper with the Bible next to them?  They didn't let the newspaper tell them what was going to happen, instead they read what God had to say about the future.  But God says....
Will I view circumstances through the lens of hope/hoplessness? 

His sermon as well as his sermon notes are a huge part of my victorious journey via these times.  
Let's reach out and share what is getting us through this journey.  Let's move toward victory and growth together.  
Let's move toward our LORD Jesus Christ.  

This week I will be sharing how God gave me one amazing tool that led to another amazing tool.  Let's listen to Him and move with Him!  Amen?

Slow Stitching
This week's slow stitching has been a mix of crochet and embroidery. 
The yarn is Mini Moochi by Crystal Palace Yarns and is color 105.  I don't know the name, but I'll call it beautiful! It also has a special memory - my husband and I went on a special "buy what you want" visit to a yarn boutique.  And, boy, did I ever indulge!     

Stash Report

Fabric in

This week:  no change

This year: (since April 1) 7.5 yards

Fabric out

This week:  no change

This year: (since April 1) 20.56

Yarn In

This week:  0 ounces

This year (since April 1) : 0 ounces

Yarn out

This week:  0 ounces

This year: 42 ounces

Blessings to all!

Linking up!  

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create
Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad
A Spirit of Simplicity

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

Today's word is for those of us who love people who make/have made hurtful choices.  First of all, you are not alone.  I'll say it again, you are not the only one who loves someone who makes hurtful choices.  I write from personal experience.
God gave me three points to write about:
1) Let go of the guilt.  You did not cause the situation, you cannot control the person and you can't cure them.  You can only take care of yourself.  
2) Rebuke those who judge and make insensitive remarks about your loved one.  I saw this on  @tobymacspeaklife Instagram account:

It gave me a new perspective not only on the words spoken to me, but more importantly on the words I chose to speak.
3) Look for the blessings your loved ones have brought into your life!  Not only look for them, but make a list of these blessings and share it with them and others!
4) Remember Romans 8:28:

All Things.  Everything. Period.

That one is a tough one, but it's true.

Alcohol abuse.

Drug abuse.

Arrests. 

Cancer. 

Abuse. 

Pain. 

Brokeness.

All. Things.

Dear one, Sometimes our blessings come through tears, yes?   Hold on to your faith, your love, your God.  Fight the good fight!  Toby Mac's "Elements" video is powerful!

Here is a video with the lyrics as well.  

So, Dear One, hold your head high, have faith in the all-powerful, loving, wise God that we serve, love your special person without rescuing them as you believe God will be there for them!



Wednesday Wrap Ups 
My finish this week is an gift for a dear friend's daughter who is an arts major, a theater arts major I believe.  I knew she would love something colorful and eclectic - and something that breaks all the rules.  
With the closure of craft stores, I used what I had on hand an prayed for the best.  I also stitched as I went along.  No one panel is exactly the same!  But somehow, it all came together, just barely covering a queen sized bed.
This beauty is called  "A Beautiful Hot Mess".  I love how it turned out almost as much as I love the recipient!  Enjoy, my dear one!

Pressing On

Last time my goals were:
1.  Visit with Daddy and Mama via FaceTime. ✔
2.  Garden ✔
3.  Make more face masks ✔
4.  Sew for fun. ✔
This Week's Goals
1.  Visit with Daddy and Mama via FaceTime. 
2.  Garden 
3.  Finish compensating strips for my 30's $7.50 quilt.  Yup, it needs some help.  
4.  Read - I want to read again!  Yea!

Take care my dear Reader, take good care!

Check out these fun parties!

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication  
To Do Tuesday @ Home Sewn By Us
Hookin' on Hump Day @ Moogly
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!  :)

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
The ending of this morning's service at our church, online of course, reminded me that we can remember who we are!  We are God's children - we are victorious. 
Naturally, we will have bad days.  During this time of isolation, the defeated one will try to attack us via our weaknesses.  But sing this song back to him and remind him who you are in Christ!  

We are children of the one true King!
Yes, we will have sad, difficult days.  Absolutely.  But when the defeated one whispers trash in our ear, let's shout our victory in his ear!  Amen?

Slow Stitching
I've had a weekend of slow stitching.  Of course, work continues on my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  

Today, I decided to pick up my long lost project, my crocheted selvage throw rug.  

I first read about it in August of 2019 at Nancy's blog, Grace and Peace Quilting and loved the concept!  So far, here's my progress.  

It measures roughly 50" by 6" and its future home will be by my cutting table.  I've already stepped on it and it feels so comfortable.  The selvages from the masks I've been making as well as donations from my sweet daughter and a sewing friend have helped this little project along.   

Stash Report

Fabric in

The last 2 weeks:  6 yards

This year: (since April 1) 7.5 yards

Fabric out

The last 2 weeks:  13.90

This year: (since April 1) 20.56

I've finished a scrappy, very scrappy (to me)  baby quilt, many pleated masks and some special order masks as well.  

The last 2 weeks:  0 ouncesYarn in

This year (since April 1) : 0 ounces

Yarn out

This week:  42 ounces I finished an afghan which I'll be sharing later this week.  Update:  Here it is!  

This year (since April 1) : to be honest, I haven't kept track, so I'll begin with this week's numbers.  :)

Blessings to all!

Linking up!  

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create
Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad
A Spirit of Simpicity

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

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

Wednesday's Word. Pressing On! BOMs Away!

Wednesday's Word

I also enjoy the NIV version of this Romans 15:13 - 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace 

as you trust in Him, 

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

- Romans 15:13

As we believe and trust in God, He will move.  

Pressing On!

I press on toward the goal...Philippians 3:14a  

Oh my!  The many BOMs I'm working on are definitely changing the way I organize my crafting time.  It looks like I didn't get much crossed off my list, but I accomplished so much! 

Last week's list:

1.  Stitch up some more squares for my Scrappy Four Patch!  X

2.  Prep kits for my BOMs and for a Valentines' table topper.  ✔  

I spent most of the week cutting the fabric for each of my five BOMs described in last week's post.  I ended up cutting enough fabric for 10 blocks!  

They are all in sheet protectors hanging on my design wall except for those Valentine's strips that will become a table topper using this tutorial by Connie at Freemotion by the River!  

 Did you know you can put a pin through the back of a Wonder Clip to hang up projects?

I actually made an entire kit for my Jingle All the Way quilt by Kimberbell - which took several days.  I really like using page protectors and three ring binders - a carry over from my teaching days.

 I made two binders - the one below holds the pattern book and the fabric for the 
twelve sections of the quilt.

 This second binder holds 
the leftover fabric used in the quilt.  

Here's the the fabric cut for my 

Fall Into A QAL! 

3.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth. ✔  I made 2!

4.  Make progress on an afghan for a special lady.  X

5.  With all my BOM goals, I seriously doubt I'll be able to keep up with American Patchwork's UFO Challenge 2019.  I'll try, but I will be very gentle with myself if it's not possible.  There's always next year!  X

6.  On Sundays I Slow Stitch - hand sew.  For now, I'm working on my GFG.  X 

Here's this week's Pressing On List.  
1.  Finish one crocheted dishcloth.

2.  Make 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.  

Linking up to:

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River 

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

via GIPHY

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching Sunday. A Few Finishes. Sunday Stats.

Saturday's Song.
Events late in 2017 led me to practice surrendering my will to God's with trust and hope in 2018.  It's been a journey of growing faith, personal victory, stronger faith, joy, peace, surrender, steadfast faith, perseverance, building of character, strength - so many blessings from one mere trial!  Additionally, unbeknowest to me, God worked through 2018 to strenghthen me for 2019 as my dad, who has been both mother and father to me, has sudden, new health issues.  

Regardless of the challenges that 2019 may bring, let us choose to go forth with the LORD's joy, confidence, faith, trust and hope into 2019.  

God's Word stands true and steadfast!  

Let's remember:

Slow Stitching Sunday

For the foreseeable feature, I'm planning on working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  It's about halfway put together.  Maybe this will be the year it graduates from pieces to a flimsy! 

Here is my dinosaur that was gifted to my grandson....his daddy had fun trying to work out this brainteaser pull-apart ball!  It goes from this

 

to this!

(The pattern was found in this book.)

Here's a few more dishcloths that were given out this Christmas! 

Sunday Stats

Even though I lost track of stats when I became ill, I'm still linking up to the Stash Report at Quilt, Paint, Create just to say, "Hello there!"  I'll start keeping track of fiber used with the New Year!

Progress

on #1stitchaday #1yearofstitches

Happy New Year, My Dears!

Linking up to:

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad

Spiritual Sundays

Hookin’ On Hump Day @ Petals to Picot And Moogly (Wednesdays)