Domestic Violence Prevention Event in South Wales

What's up for the weekend here?

Well, lots of grocery shopping for baking this week, lots of love, and hopes to erect a house on my sampler I'm designing. I have looked at many houses to and from work and it seems that it inspires me to have ideas for what a house is supposed to look like or be like with needle and thread.
I've really dragged this project out to the max but I know for sure that after this holiday break I'm taking, I will be filled with inspiration to finish it.

Nicole Ryan, from New South Wales, is heading up the annual Domestic Violence prevention annual event as November is the Domestic Violence prevention month in South Wales, here in the US is October, and I was indeed honored 2 years ago when I started it to be one of the White Ribbon Day displays........IN ANOTHER COUNTRY!  It was an honor to me but I let many things stand in the way of finishing it.

On November 23rd, Nicole will launch the annual event in South Wales. She has asked for my picture and a testimony for my past experiences with domestic violence and being a survivor, encouraging women in South Wales that there is HOPE.

It's a long day of events, good food, music and a strong mission to this community.

You can support the White Ribbon Day if you "like" her on Facebook as she is involved in this beautiful ministry to help others. I hope to finish this design soon (not by the 23rd....) but next year, the model will be demonstrated at their annual event.

If you are a survivor and would like to share your story with a picture to be placed on their unique board from survivors all over the globe, then friend Nicole Ryan on FB and send to her.

It's a small world afterall, and we are put here on this Earth to help others and make some sense of our own survivorship to instill hope.

 

Christmas stitching: The First Homestead Christmas

I've missed you, stitching and nesting friends all over the world!

 I have been one busy lady this past week all in good timing with working through some very important issues. I can't really explain now but all I have to say is God is good and His timing is perfect.

I've not stitched but a few stitches this week. For 6 days, I had a flare of ulcerative colitis and was very sick but praise God, I'm on the uphill to myself again. I hadn't had a flare in quite some time and it zapped alot of energy from me. But good news is that I'm much better and the first real food included the largest Cinnabon I could pick out at the store yesterday!!!

Can you believe the magical Christmas time of year is almost hear upon us? Christ's birthday. What a celebration. This year will be NOTHING like the last of spending it alone. I am surrounded by loving friends and one special person that has my heart, and his mine. Yup, Mr. Darcy.

I know Thanksgiving is next week and I will be putting up my village this year on the piano as usual, so if you like to see BIG villages, come back and visit again, and I'll have some pics!

Next week is such a big week of preparation for all of us and in the hustle and bustle of things this morning, I was inspired to create another Christmas sampler, this time not in traditional green and red but deep teal blues, light teal and gold.
 

The First Homestead Christmas designed today. 

 

This sampler is inspired by many things that is happening in my life right now.

Good tidings of great joy!

For now though, I wanted to design one that would or could be stitched in a 4 x 6 frame or over 1 stitch for a small ornie.

I selected other colors besides the traditional green and red for Christmas,

deep teal blues and gold which blend well into the meaning behind this piece.

 

As this is not my first Christmas at the homestead, in many ways it is. Christ has filled my heart in a different way and I want to celebrate it with this and I thought so many could share my thoughts on homesteading with this ornie. For some at their home, the tree is donned by many old, traditional ornies that have deep meaning when each one is hung on the tree.

For some, like myself, I like to add a special one. I've always added one special ornie on the tree in memory of my son Aaron, a different little angel each year. I have at least 27 angel ornies now.

 

 

 

 

 Miss Abigail says she is wearing her "Baby, it's COLD outside" hoodie right now. She's our lump of sugar that brings joy.

 

Thank you so much for sharing personal emails of encouragement. I do so appreciate these and comments here on the blog. I consider each person special and only wish I could meet all of you in person, but no matter how many oceans apart, you are always in my heart!

 

I'll leave you today with some encouragement from a book I've had for years. It's a go-to small book for me in times of reflection.

 

" It is often said that to love someone, we must first love ourselves. Yet, I believe it is equally true that the more we feel love for and from other people, the more we learn to love ourselves."

 

~~Merle Fossum from the book, Seasons of the Heart

 

With a fire in the fireplace and warmth in my heart,

Jennifer