Consequently, I
achieved very little progress on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt. But, I’m really trying to have a positive
attitude and be grateful for whatever progress I did make. Despite all this, I’m still linking up over
at Kathy’s Quilts Slow Stitching Sundays.
Hop on over and have a gander! In fact, my experience lines up perfectly with her message today!
I sense God moving me in a different direction regarding Proverb of
the Day. I feel like it may be more a
Verse For This Day, or something along those lines. Either way, it’s an exciting time!
http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/825.html
UFO Update
I changed the format of my mind map from Simple Minds to a cleaner look - and I love it! I also changed my completion rate to a percentage vs. a basic fraction. This method encourages me as well, especially when pain and fatigue decide to visit. Last week I pulled everything out of my storage space under my cutting table and discovered several more UFO's.....oh well. You know what's interesting? I can be hurting, but when I go into my sewing studio, the pain lessons.....It's wonderful.
Health Update So, I'm late for m 6 month follow up with my oncologist. But, the stars have aligned and I now have insurance authorizations and appointments for all the tests we need done. I hope to have results and my oncologist's opinions on the next steps by the middle of the month.
http://created4health.org/the-health-of-waiting/
Meanwhile, Pain and Fatigue remain my companions. However, I did have ten pretty good days in a row for which I am extremely grateful!
As I stated here, I am saving hand stitching for the weekends, for the most part. I worked all week on this binding and tada! I finished it today - all 296 inches of it! I even got the label made and sewn on! Therefore, according to my mind map, it counts as two finished UFO's! I can share the whole quilt later, after the recipient receives it. Shhhh! It'a a surprise! I can tell you it's a Take Five On Point. I picked up the pattern at my local Bernina quilt shop! Here's what it looks like, though! It's truly a labor of love. You see, I bought the pattern and fabric in the Fall of 2014. If I remember correctly, I was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly afterwards. My kind daughter offered to piece the quilt for me. I spent 2015 in chemo, radiation and recovering from various surgeries. Finally, it's quilted, bound, labeled and washing as I type. Tomorrow, it's off to it's recipient! And, for the first time, I'm linking up to Kathy's Quilts Slow Sunday Stitching! What Fun!
How many of you have begun a Bible Reading Plan to read through
the Bible in a Year or something similar?
How many of you actually completed it?
I know, it’s hard to admit how many times I’ve started a plan and
stopped. The reasons are many:
I fell behind and just gave up.
I would detoured by a scripture, then stop everything to study
it and not continue the plan.
I just didn’t do it.
This time is different for me.
Even if I fall behind, I just pick up where I left off.
If a scripture catches my eye, I read up on it very briefly, and
then continue with my daily reading without journaling. I know God will bring it to my remembrance
again.
I make sure I don’t “just not do it”. I have a goal: to read through the Bible. I am determined to reach my goal!
To track my progress I’m using the Bible Study Tools app which
downloads to a smart phone or I can use the website. I chose the chronological plan.
Now, this is not my
Bible study time, this is my leisurely reading time, reading for pleasure. So, I switched to the Life Recovery Bible in
the NLT version on my Nook. It’s an easy
read, portable and extremely easy to maneuver.
Now, I am highlighting verses which catch my eye, so I can go back for a
more in depth study. I love that there are links to notes regarding
character studies with additional links to take me right back to where I
was.
And now, the point of this whole topic:
God Saw US Then and He Still Does
I was innocently reading along in Genesis, when I came upon
Abram, Sarai and Hagaar. You can read
about them here.
My Nook gave me a version to click on called “No-Win Situations”. It talked about how Hagaar was definitely in
a no-win situation: completely powerless
and trapped. Yet, at her lowest point,
and Angel of the LORD says,
11 And the
angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to
name him Ishmael (which means ‘God
hears’), for theLordhas heard your cry of distress. Genesis
16:11
Now, I’m not saying what happened to Hagaar was right – it wasn’t. It wasn’t God’s plan. But, we all have free will and we all sin.
Others have sinned.
Others have sinned against us.
Others have sinned greatly
against us.
And it hurt a lot.
It still
does.
I know.
I’ve been there.
Many times.
Today, this scripture gave me great hope and comfort. Because, now, many years later,
I can see how those hurts (EDITED June 21, 2016 3:34 p.m.) it wasn't the hurts that made these great changes in my life - It was God's presence in my life during those hurts. It was His grace that allowed me to chose to be have made me
a better person who has more compassion and less judgement,
a more insightful teacher who was able to recognize my hurting students and nurture
them,
a person who is becoming a better instead of bitter,
someone
who writes this blog in the hopes of bringing God, healing and hope in Jesus' name to hurting
people. EDITED June 21, 2016 I heard the last bit of "You Come Running" by Travis Ryan. Though I couldn't find a full video of it, here's the chorus: You coming running Into all my brokenness Into all my hopelessness I am not alone You come running Even when I hide from You There is nothing I can do to keep me from Your love ‘Cause You come running, running You come running
Merriam
Webster’s definition of “poor” is just what I thought it would be: minimal material possessions, one’s
circumstances incites pity or one who is humbled. When one of our poor brother’s or sister’s
cry out or our LORD points out their silent cry, we must hear and be sensitive
to their cry! As human beings, we must
do this. Not only because if we don’t
our LORD won’t hear our own cries of poverty – whatever they may be – but because
we are human beings. We know better.
Application:
And when we do this, we need to remember that a relationship
begins. We need to continue it! It will bless us beyond belief to see this
once “poor” person rise to the point where they, in turn, will be able to stand
in God’s grace and help other “poor” people.
Prayer
LORD, thank you for this gentle reminder. Help me to be sensitive to the cry of the
poor!
Mountains and.....confessions!
My daughter's family have been enjoying camping this month. We went to spend the day with them and believe me it was refreshing to get away from the over 100 degree temps and be in the upper 80's. I'm so blessed to have wonderful grandbabies and a son-in-law who enjoys my company! :)
Speaking of son-in-laws.....he asked my daughter why we start so many projects before we even finish the one we are working on! To be fair, she actually finishes her project before starting new ones!
But me? Ha! Let's see if I can answer that question....
1) There's so many wonderful projects I want to make!
2) There's so many beautiful fabrics and so little time!
3) I'm nuts for crafting!
I have been pondering his question though. I made a list of all my projects - and even counted them!
He asked me how many I had....I refused to confess....but I will here....
But first, let me show you how I figured this all out.
First, I wrote them in a notebook using one (or two, or three.....) pages for each craft, made an index, then got to work finishing my WIPs.
It really didn't look so bad, but then I started playing with Simple Mind mapping tool and....oh oh.....
These are projects that I have bought materials for.....ouch! And, full disclosure, I believe there's a few more scrapbook projects out there. Some, are ongoing, long term, but they are still there. So, here's the breakdown:
Quilt Labels - 3
Machine Sewing Projects - 9
Crochet - 8
Quilting - 8
Hand Sewing - 7
GRAND (or not so grand) TOTAL: 36 WIPS!
Eeeesh! I know I can knock out 3 rather quickly. Can you guess which they are? Yup. The 3 quilt labels! So, I feel a bit better.....about knowing there's one more project I just accepted: machine embroidering my granddog's tshirt! :)
I'll keep you posted on my progress because it's good for me to be accountable. And my dear Son-in-Law, if you want to know how many WIPs I have, you have to read my blog! :)
Yo Yo Quilt
I find it difficult to balance work on crochet projects and hand sewing projects. I'm inspired by Kathy's Quilts Slow Stitching Sunday idea. The difference for me is that I'm slow stitching on the weekends - which for me is Friday night through Sunday night. I love it so far and made great progress on my Yo Yo Quilt.
However, once an adjustment is made to my design board, I'll work on my Grandmother's Flower Garden. I'm eager to have it off my design board so I can snuggle with it!
This is an older picture. It's a lot more finished!
So, a lot on my crafting plate right now. Writing it out, it feels overwhelming, but I'm also trying to focus on envisioning the finished products and the joy they will bring!
I love crafting....it's so healing and fulfilling!
Happy Song
Here's a blast from the past! I love the beat, it's happy!
