Faith, Trust and Breast Cancer

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Philippians 4:22. I Like! Abbey Bag Finish!

Philippians 4:22
Scripture

Observation
I love how this sentence opens: "All God's people". We, too, are God's people!

According to my main reference for this study, The Layman's Bible Commentary, those belonging to Caesar's household servants - both slave and freemen. Again, can you imagine their joy upon hearing those words as they circled around the one reading the letter?

Application

I am deeply humbled by the words, "All of God's people", especially as I realize I am one of God's people. I am His.

His child.

So are you, dear reader.

And

whatever we have gone through,

whatever mistakes we have made,

whatever traumas we have been through,

We. Are. God's. Child.

Period.

Prayer

LORD, thank you for adopting me as Your child, for sending Your love for me. Regardless of ANY AND ALL circumstances, I know I have a Father who loves me - and my readers.

Abba, please make this knowledge real to them as well!

I Like!
Truly stop and visit LeeAnn at Not Afraid of Color to see the most interesting pictures and meet some amazing people!
This first picture is from an "I Like" post I started last year! Glad I found it!

I don't often name my pictures, but I'm calling this one "Potential". I just love the potential these grape tomato flowers are offering. It could be a metaphor for life - we are all beautiful creations of God bursting with potential!

I love taking walks with my grandchildren. One is 8 and the other is 7. I told them about LeeAnn's "I Like" Thursdays, and they wanted to participate! Here are their likes!

Autumn leaves

hanging around till now.

A tree encircled by rocks.

A cactus waiting

for water and Spring time!

A kind neighbor

puts out fresh water

for all the doggies

who are walking their humans.

Mia usually takes a long drink
when we pass by her house.

The ramp on this house caught

my grandson's attention.

I've noticed that he

immediately notices

unique features in homes.

Now, my three-year-old

grandson wanted in

on the action as well.

He wanted you to see

his motorcycle

and the flower

that he picked for me!

Here's a like of my own!

I made this cute little Abbey Bag at my sewing group on Saturday! It's a great little pincushion, scrap bag and mini tool holder all in one! The pattern is from Abbey Lane Quilts.

Now I have one on my sewing table and one on my cutting table.

Won't you join me at these linkups?

Midweek Makers @Quilt Fabrication

Needle and Thread Thursday

@ My Quilt Infatuation

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color

Faith on Fire @

Fuel For A Wildfire Faith

Thank you for visiting & commenting!

I so love reading and responding

to them!

In fact,

I find myself smiling

as I read them and write responses!

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Stash Report. Sunday Slow Stitching. One Year of Stitches. Saturday Song.

Stash Report

This week was a crafting bust due to pain...but I'm learning to stop and take care of myself. Funny - pain seems to be my companion more after chemotherapy....I wonder if I will ever have a week - heck - even a day without pain? I wonder if other survivors who had fibromyalgia pre-chemotherapy also experience increased pain?

I finished an Abbey Bag which used a bit of yardage. You'll be seeing it this week. I also finished Prayer Shawl #7! Yea! My yarn numbers are starting to go in the right direction!

Fabric used this week	1.57
Previous total	36.00
To Date used	37.57

Fabric in this week	0
Previous total	38.50
To Date in	38.50
Net in the red (more bought than used!)	-0.93
Yarn used this week	18.10
Previous total	0
To Date used	18.10

Yarn in this week	0
Previous total	166.80
To Date in	166.80
Net in the red (more bought than used!)	-148.70

Sunday Slow Stitching
My hopes for Sunday are to finally complete the Felt Advent Calendar. All that's needed is the stitch the numbers on and sew the fronts to the backs! Yea!

If that gets done, I'll also be pulling stitches from the #1 Year of Stitches (see below).

Then, if there's time, I'd love to bind this CIL square turned potholder/hot pad. I squared it too small, so now it has a new life!

One Year of Stitches.
I've been completely unmotivated to stitch on this project and today I realized why: the red words in the stem stitch. simply look messy to me. I prefer the clarity of the back stitch. So, I'll be redoing them.

Can you see me smiling? I love when I can figure out what's bothering me about a project!

Saturday's Song
As you know, this week we will probably be wrapping up our almost two year study of the book of Philippians. My first post on Philippians was on July 20, 2016! Wow!

Lately I've been seeking God for a new direction for this blog. He is faithful and has clearly led me to begin a study for those of us who have loved ones in our lives who are struggling with alcoholism, addiction and other life issues. It ties in with my Scripture for 2018:

My #1 Year of Stitches also began with this verse. A dear friend and I were talking and I told her how my #1 Year of Stitches calms me as I focus on God's Word. As the storm swirls about me, I'm learning to sit still and stitch, reminding myself that all I can do is be still and know He is God. She came up with the title for this new series:

Still Stitching

For now, let's remember

that He is the God

of the hills and valleys,

dear reader.

Linking up to

Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

Sunday Slow Stitching
@ Kathy’s Quilts

update: a new link up-

Sunday Scripture Blessings
@ Peabea's Scribles

You make my day with your comments!

I love reading and responding to them!

Friday, March 9, 2018

Philipppians 4:21. To Do Tuesday on a Friday!

Philippians 4:21
Scripture

Observation
To greet all of God's people...so loving to let them know Paul is thinking of them. Also, can you imagine the brothers and sisters who are with Paul, perhaps even listening as he may have dictated his letter?

I wonder if many of these had family who heard the greetings? Greetings filled with love sent via the pages of a letter. Beautiful.

Application
In this age of technology, we seem to be losing the art of letter writing. Perhaps I need to pick it up again....

Also, I've noticed that whenever I'm on the phone with loved ones, especially my parents, we end our conversations sending greetings to everyone in our two homes - as well as saying, "I love you." In fact, during my daily calls to Dad, "I love you," are the last words we say to each other. Greetings filled with love.

Prayer
Father God, thank you for the word "greetings"! I love envisioning Paul sending his greetings as well of those of the brothers and sisters who are with him. I'm so grateful that I can still share greetings of love with my parents. Thank you, Abba, for that gift. Amen.

To Do Tuesday
Last Week's List

1) Even though I'm working more this week, I think I'll be able to finish the second Tumbling Blocks prototype. This one is going much better! Done!

2) Finish crocheting five blue and yellow flowers of the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet ! I wonder if adding starting to join them is too much for my hands? We'll see...... Done!

3) Use up the rest of the strings for the CIL blocks. Done!

4) Make progress on Prayer Shawl #7. This week our Cancer Care Group meets, so I'll be able to work on this one. I usually reserve this project for this meeting night. Done!

5) Pray my prayer and memorize Genesis 50:20a A friend at church recommended using Post-It notes all around the house to memorize Scripture. I'm going to try that. LORD knows I have enough of them! Done!

This Week's List
Being that my last To Do Tuesday was 2 1/2 weeks ago - of course it got finished - thankfully!
Here's my new list which will be short because Tuesday is just around the corner!

1) Do a fabric pull for the new Y-seams Tumbling Blocks prototype with my new Accuquilt Die.

2) Finish joining Row 2 of the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet.

3) Do a fabric pull for the new CIL block drive.

4) Finish the Felt Nativity Calendar.

I only need 3 more ornaments!

I hope you check out these fun link ups!

To Do Tuesday

@ Stitch All Things

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

@Confessions of a

Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday

@ Busy Hands Quilts

Finish It Up Friday

@ Crazy Mom Quilts

Crystal Twaddell’s

Fresh Market Friday

Thursday, March 8, 2018

I Like Thursday! Finished Prayer Shawl!

I Like! Thursdays

You may want to have a cup of coffee or tea for these "I Likes" that are centered around one of my favorite restaurants - Le Rendezvous - a locally owned restaurant/French pastry shop.

These decorations always draw my eye....

but oh!

Their pastries are beyond delicious!

Here's what we ended up taking home....

And yes, we enjoyed every bite!

Prayer Shawl #7

I finally finished Prayer Shawl #7!

I love the texture of the stitch!

My husband cuddled up with it before I washed it and gave his stamp of approval for "snuggliness"!

I used a 2 1/2 skeins of Caron Cakes yarn. I like how the shawls come out with this yarn using a horizontal pattern.

I'm linking up to

Fiber Tuesday at

The Quilting Roomwith Mel

and

Oui Crochet Community

Hookin’ On Hump Day @

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Saturday Song. Sunday Slow Stitching. Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
As I get ready every morning, I usually call my sister-in-law. Lately, however, God has been speaking to me about beginning my mornings with Him. So, I play praise and worship music every morning as I get ready for the day.

What a wonderful way to begin the morning - praising Jesus Christ, my LORD and Savior followed by a sisterly phone call! I hope you are blessed by this week's Saturday Song!

Sunday Slow Stitching
I'll be working on Prayer Shawl #7 today.

The recipient is a very special lady who is quite ill. Her faith is shaken - almost broken. I wonder, would you pray for her?
The pattern is in The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion.

One Year of Stitches.

Not a lot of stitching was happening. My poor husband was sick and, though he's an easy patient, crafting took a back seat to him. After 14 years, we also had to put our poodle, Sammy, to sleep.

My #1yearofstitches looks about the same. You can follow my progress on my Instagram account. I'm considering restitching the red stitches. I experimented with the stem stitch, but it didn't come out as nice as I would have like.....

Did you notice the painting in the back of a Native American warrior? He is my reminder to pray for an extremely special young man in my life who is battling emotionally and spiritually.

Stash Report
I've purchased 1.5 yard cuts of each of Marsha's at Bernina Sewing and Design Shop reduced 30's and 40's prints.

This bottom one is supposed to read Back Porch Prints.

Back Porch Prints by
Kay England

Everything But
The Kitchen Sink
from RJR Fabrics

30's Playtime by Chloe's Closet for Moda

Quillin Fiber Arts closed on Friday, so sad.

I've never crocheted with ribbon yarn, so I decided to give it a go with Deco-Ribbon (8.8 oz) by Crystal Palace Yarns. I found this red Cascades Sunseeker (3.5) quite by accident. When I got home, I realized they go together quite well, so I'll give it a shot - one day.... :)