start on A Christmas Heart

I picked up the needle a bit this evening while ironically watching a movie, A Christmas Carol, which came on Lifetime TV Holiday movie series and it made the stitchy phrase in this sampler even more special.

 

28 ct Cashel Sand linen

with Limited Edition Crescent Colors Christmas threads

I had the Christmas Threads, limited ed. in my stash and I thought these two shades compliment each other well. They are not labeled on the tag so I can only describe that the red is almost like a Williamsburg Red, and the green is more of a Blue Spruce. The linen is a remnant from another sampler and fits almost too good, as I'm hoping it fits well enough, but definitely a tight fit on the sides.

I did so enjoy getting to watch the movie from beginning to end.

There's a place called home

I can almost see, with a red front door, and

A roaring fire, and a Christmas tree.

~~~from C. Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I hope this fnds you with thansgiving in your heart today and happy!  The sun is out today and such a blessing after several days of gray misty weather. In reflection I have to share that my inspiration as I look toward the mountains from my window, is that I'm reminded how and why I was brought here.

It was always a childhood vision to live in the mountains for the most precious of memories were spendng every Thanksgiving with the youth group at our church who always took a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee during our Thanksgiving break from school. Year after year it was one of the highlights in my life and where I found the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

I treasure that foundation and feel so blessed to now live in the mountains surrounding me by reminders that every day is a Thanksgiving Day for me and helps me climb the highest mountain of impossibilities.

This morning I heard that Thanksgiving is really Thanksliving, that every day we thank God for each new day as if it was our last.

Psalm 100 (NLT version)

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are his.

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates the Thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Happy Thanksgiving, friend,

Jennifer

Tuesday Chatter for things that Matter

Thanksgiving. A time of year to give thanks to all the blessings that we enjoy. In reflection I have many this year:

• stitching up my own Christmas ornie for the tree
• thanking God every day for peace, love and joy
• sipping hot chocolate in late evening
• plain ole piping hot sweet potatoes fresh from the oven
• friends I hold so dear
• family who gave me my special life into this world
• learning many life lessons and moving forward happily
• a hot crackling fire in the fireplace on cold nights
• my ever loving animals that bless me with unconditional love
• the ability to do what I love and love what I do
• spare rooms for extra special guests during the holidays
• encouraging phrases each day that help the day look brighter
• and for Jesus in my life and only doing His will
• for a place called home that is filled with peace.
• cross stitch and all the joy it brings to me and the desire in my heart to continue.
• the Dutch sampler that has been returned to it's nesting place

I wish for you as you enter the Thanksgiving holiday to celebrate it with those who enjoy journeying with you and if you can't that you stay connected to embrace this bigger journey we call life.

this special little profile that is always giving unconditional love.

This year we could all focus on the negative things, including world events, the economy, the individual challenges that life brings, but I choose today to focus on the many blessings I've been given and could probably fill an  entire page.

I am reminded today of a poem that someone shared with me in an important time in my life. The gentleness, sweet lady walked up to me in church and handed me this poem. Over the 20 years I have memorized it and because it's uplifting and oh, so true, I hope we think on these things.

I heard a key message this week that says You are today what your choices were yesterday and it stuck in my mind and made much sense. That and 1 Corinthians 13 that describes what love is and what it is not are constant reminders to me to be thankful.

As the years roll onward, and leave the past behind

Much I had counted for sorrow, but knew my Lord was kind

That many a longed for flower had a hidden thorn of pain

And many a rugged bypath led to fields of golden grain.

~~anonymous

I still have this paper, although worn from years and it applies to many situations to many people. I thought I would share with you this Thanksgiving week and hope that you and your families, and friend have a blessed one.

Jennifer

Simple Sunday Stitching

Charles Dickens life is very intriguing and of all his works A Christmas Carol, written by Dickens in 1843, is one of my most favorite. Through his short life, he created many characters, many of whom are most likely drawn from his own experience and the short stories and books reflect a great imagination and gift that he had with writing.

A Christmas Carol sparked the true meaning of Christmas in a time when the economy was down. The inspiration to Dickens for the book was encouragement to the public about Christmas spirit in a time when spirit was low due to economic conditions.

 Although written in 1843, he continued to read his short stories and writings to the public. Dickens was approached by Great Ormand Street Hospital in 1858 to ask for his help to keep the hospital financially stable in a economic downfall. He spoke at the first annual festival dinner at Freemason's Hall and gave a public reading of A Christmas Carol to help raise money for the  hospital to expand it's bed capacity. Through this event, the hospital was able to expand to an adjacent building, to increase bed capicity from 20-75.

As I read and reflect on Dickens life and works this morning, a very popular statement in A Christmas Carol, written in 1843, and read publically to help a hospital grow during hard times in 1858, I'm reminded that the verse is timeless.

I hope you enjoy adding this to your basket for a quick stitch, a giftie, a Christmas tag, a primitive pillow or pinkeep for encouragement of spirit all year long.

A Christmas Heart

designer~~Jennifer Dalenberg, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2011

linen and threads of choice

This is a freebie on the blog for a short while. If you stitch this one up and would like to share, email me at jennifer.dalenberg@yahoo.com with a picture of your finish and I will be glad to show here on the blog!

Till later,

Jennifer