Stitching Update - Week 17

For the past three weeks I've been primarily working on our afghan project. If you've been reading me for awhile you know that my daughter, Jessica, my DIL, Janel, and I are stitching afghans. We each chose a theme for our afghan and are stitching them in a rotation. We each stitch three squares on the one we're working on and then we rotate them to the next stitcher. It's so fun and I just love seeing the squares that the girls stitch on mine. We have completed one year of this rotation and will be switching in May to start our 2nd rotation. We've each been stitching on our own this time around.

For some reason, I got way enthusiastic and stitched more than 3 squares on mine. It is so colorful! And it's fun to see the squares filling up. The theme of my afghan is the months of the year. Some of the months have two extra squares and some of them have one extra square. I tried to find patterns that would compliment each month. Jessica and Janel pick the extras that they're going to stitch and it's always an awesome surprise when I see what they've chosen. Here's photos of my squares:

The April month square - L*K pattern

April extra from an old xstitch magazine

April extra - freebie found on Internet

February month square - I need to find one extra to stitch for this grouping

October month square - one of the girls will stitch two extras for this grouping

Summer Basket - extra for the August group

Extra for August group - freebie from Internet

What a Week

As if Tax Day on Monday, April 15th wasn't enough, we had the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Once again innocent people were targeted. Standing in the crowd, watching friends and family cross the finish line, three people died and almost 200 were maimed or injured.

The next day, as we're still dealing with the shock of the bombs, came the news of the Ricin letters. Questions start to bubble up about the security of our nation.

Late Wednesday evening brought the news of the fertilizer plant fire and subsequent explosions which killed and injured the residents of the small town of West, Texas. More questions, more concern.

Then the news of today. More death and injuries related to the suspected perpetrator's of the Boston Marathon bombs.

What a week, indeed. But through it all, we must remember that "the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." (Psalm 33:4) Let's keep our focus on Him, not on the chaos around us.

Have a peaceful weekend!

SSMT # 8 (oops, I'm late!)

I meant to post my verse on Monday, but between the grandkids, Dan working on the computer, and then the huge distraction of the bombs in Boston, it totally slipped my mind until now.

Here's #8:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Praying for Boston

I feel a tiny bit of deja vu. I am a total news junkie and the cable news plays in my home almost continually. I don't sit and watch it, but I have it on in the background. Today as I sat down to lunch, the local news was on and I saw the first report of the bombings in Boston. My first thoughts turned to a friend that has run the Marathon a time or two, so I wanted to check to be sure she wasn't there this year. She wasn't.

After a few minutes, I realized this story was getting bigger so I turned to my favorite cable news network. As always at the beginning of a big story there's more conjecture than fact. More dramatics. More conspiracies and theories. But it was pretty evident that this is an attack of some sort.

I don't know who. I don't know why. I don't know if this is a beginning. A distraction. A one-time fluke. But I do know this. There are people in Boston who are injured. There are people missing. There are families separated. There are fatalities.

We need to be praying.

Powerful and Timely Message

As some of you may be aware, Rick and Kay Warren's youngest son died this past weekend. Hearing the news on the cable news channel was shocking, to say the least. When I worked at our church, I was heavily involved in our Celebrate Recovery Ministry. This ministry was founded at Saddleback Church. I had the opportunity to travel there with the rest of our staff for a week long conference many years ago. I sat in sessions under Rick and Kay Warren and quickly came to realize their heart for people.

This morning as I was catching up on blog reading, I came across Beth Moore's latest post. She takes the subject of sorrow over the death of a child and expands on it in a powerful and timely message. Please take a moment to read her post here.

In the meantime, let's keep the Warren family, as well as the Saddleback Church family, in our prayers.

Stitching Update - Week 14

I haven't updated my stitching progress in several weeks, mainly because I completed the stitching on several pieces, but did not "finish" them. Today's update is a piece that I'm really enjoying.

Our 32nd anniversary was this past Thursday and Dan only had one appraisal appointment, so afterward we set off to some Estate Sales. I saw a glass topped box at one, but since I've already purchased several boxes and haven't yet done anything with them I thought I'd better pass this one by. Dan spied it too, and held it out for me to look at as he was sliding the lid off... That's when I realized it was a frame lid and I knew I had at least two completed pieces at home that would fit in it. Since it was only $3, it was a bargain indeed!

We brought it home and here is the result!

I haven't decided what, if anything I'll do to the interior. I've already loaded it up with miscellaneous stitching supplies and it's residing next to my stitching chair.

This has nothing to do with stitching, but I also bought this cute step stool. It actually looks homemade, and the steps are too narrow for practical use (at least by my grandkids!), so I'm using it as a shelving unit in the window seat in my kitchen nook. Another bargain at just $10, I couldn't pass it by!

I Won!

Yippee! I am so excited, I won a copy of "Celebrations", the newest cookbook from the ladies of Mennonite Girls Can Cook.

The first MGCC girl that I "met" was Anneliese. I can't remember how I found her blog, but once I did I became a loyal follower. She is a woman of faith, about my age, traveling through the same phase of life; I felt an immediate connection. Through Anneliese's blog I found Judy. Reading Judy's blog is like taking a mini-vacation for me. She and her husband travel quite a bit and Judy always takes her readers along through her photos. She takes the most gorgeous photos, has a terrific eye, and uses creative captions. I'm not kidding, when she shows photos of her environment, I actually feel serene.

I purchased the girls' first cookbook, "Mennonite Girls Can Cook" and enjoy it thoroughly. Not only are there delicious recipes in it, but each lady shares her story and memories throughout the book. MGCC also have a blog sharing recipes, inspiration, and faith.

I'll be sure to post again when "Celebrations" is released and let you know where you can purchase it. In the meantime, check out the MGCC blog and you'll find links to the ladies' blogs and much more.

Thank you, MGCC, I can't wait for "Celebrations"!

Win a Free Cookbook

The ladies over at Mennonite Girls Can Cook are having a giveaway. Pop over there to check out a great recipe and the giveaway rules. Their newest cookbook "Celebrations" will be published soon and I can't wait! I know it will be as beautiful and delicious as their first cookbook, "Mennonite Girls Can Cook" is. Be sure to check it out!

SSMT #7

I see a theme developing here this year!

Psalm 27:14 NET

Rely on the Lord!
Be strong and confident!
Rely on the Lord!

The Hunt

We held our family Easter celebration on Saturday. There are tons of photos here because I want JD & Janel to see everyone. You may not want to go all the way through this. I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Katie & Zach: my two youngest

Matt & Shelby: my nephew & his girlfriend

Sunny: "Let the hunt begin!"

Skye caught on to the action right away

Uncle Mark (my brother) helping Thunder

Oops, Thunder got confused!

Now he's back on track!

Thunder finds a hidden egg

"I got another one!"

Showing off their haul

Showing Gramps what he found

Now it's time for the Easter Bunny Baskets!

"A ball!"

Skye loved the recorder

"Look I got one too!"

Even Gramps enjoyed the recorders

Skye enjoying the playhouse

Shelby, Kelly, Grandma

Ashley having fun with Skye in the house

Katie & Grandma

Katie, Thunder, Skye

Shelby, Mark, Matt

Lunch