What's in my stitching basket?

Well, I was cleaning out my stash and yup, instead of finding, yes I lost it, my The Coverlet Birds Sampler, I found this one to start on. I think I am drawn to the colors. I got this book from Blackbird Design in March when in Alexandria, VA.

I am tucking my supplies in my new tote and between stitching, reading and playing the piano, or listening to music, I've got my hands full of things to do.

Around the house tonight, Abbie rested all evening until......now......at bedtime, she is ready to play.

yep, here she goes.....

One of the large samplers from the Blackbird Design book, My Dear Friend.

I do love the monochromatic look in red fiber.

There are many in this book to love.

tucked away

in my new stitching tote I haven't used yet.

with my Kindle, Gracie, and my piano

my favorite things. Stitching, music, and reading.

yes, this one will also teach me some new stitches as well

and I can almost visualize where it will go right now when finished.

speaking of love herself........tonight

~~~~~~~~~and Monday has ended

~~~~~~~~~~and Tuesday has begun a few minutes ago

~~~~~~~~~~~and if there were only more hours in the day

~~~~~~~~~~~only a few

~~~~~~~~~~we could savor more of the peace of midnight stitching.

{{{however, a good book is a close second}}

I hope your Monday went well and Tuesday is even brighter.

Remember there is always a bright spot somewhere near an empty chair.

Till later,

Jennifer

Mother's Day

The Sampler Girl--designer

stitched and finished by me in 2010

Happy Mother's Day to all sweet readers today!  Life is moving along and thank goodness for prayers.

I blogged about this piece in more depth when I was stitching it. I picked it out, the pattern, not because of my own mother and memory but because at the time my son was in Afghanistan, and I prayed for him constantly.

My own mother's prayers, I can't really say or judge, but have also clung with me through my life as there have been times my life was almost taken but was not.

For that, I"m much greatful for. On Mother's Day Sunday, it's a bittersweet memory for me but I take it in stride from year to year and I stand on the promise of faith, love and hope and the greatest of these is love as a promise

.

Last Fall, my own mother came over to meet me for lunch and I was happy because she was actually choosing to come see me for a change. She wouldn't come to my house as she knew I was in a situation that was not secure and didn't want to confront even though the individual had left.

This sampler had been hanging in my home where I could see it on many occasions but I always thought of my own kids, grown, but distant.

I never understood it actually but kept trusting God and believing He was taking care of them.

On that day my own mother came, I was excited , but since she was not comfortable to go to my house, to show her a new diner that sells GREAT hamburgers. We ate, went antique-looking just for fun as we both like that and on this day before I left I took this from my back door shelf in the kitchen and wanted my son to have it then. I was learning to let go. Letting go.

For all the things he tried to strip from me, he couldn't take my memories, my memories of younger years, taking care of him and protecting him, praying for him. Memories of middle school and struggles, memories of high school and trying to help him in college.

I was so proud of him when came back from Afghanistan and I saw him and touched his arm.

I asked for a hug but he refused. Again, I walked off. It's the type of tough love that mother's go through and have to accept and not necessarily understand but the fact of hurt.

He wanted me to feel hurt and it worked.

As I clung to my own Father in heaven and prayed for him daily along with his sister, I finally reached a point of good advice given to me, and that was to let go. I was still proud of my son for his service, but I was beginning to not understand his hurtful intentions.

I still don't understand it all but I gave this sampler on that Fall day last year to give to him.

I wanted him to know I was still praying for him and had always.

I thought I was doing the right thing as he is an adult man now, by sending him emails to let him know of the danger I was dealing with last year.

I never got any acknowledgement or just a note back that he received it as was given to him.

I don't even know if my own mother gave it as I asked but I kept going trying to protect my life.

Now, on this Mother's Day, he is trying again to hurt me with lies and create pain.

The proud feeling I had of him serving our country has turned to disaapointment and hurt. Again. 

But even though he still struggles obviously with his own issues, his lies and shame are in the hands of His Maker, not mine any longer.

In my quiet time today I read this:

“My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.” Jeremiah 50:6 (NIV)

and I think he describes my own Mother's Day tomorrow. I know where my resting place is and it's in the mountains. I know the shepherds that try to lead people astray. I'm so blessed that the truth really does set us free. People, no matter who, that try to hurt me have one person to answer to when this world is all said and done and that is God the Father. If you have done the best that you could as a mother and had grown children continue to lie and try to hurt you, or reject your love, then move on. Move on and your only thing left on this earth you can do is pray for them. They cannot take away that faith.

I'm writing this because I've heard of too many parents who are in the same position and Mother's Day is painful. It's time to put away the lies, hurt and hate they display as they are now adults.

They will answer to the same Father who created us in the begininng. Pray for them that they not wander through life led astray by people who are deceptive. 

That's what mother love is. It's loving even though expecting nothing in return. It's loving when they hurt and it's knowing when to let go and just pray.

 

Get the courage to move on, rebuke the lies and intentional hurt. 

I hope you have a much better one, filled with love from your children, the way it should be............. filled with hope and faith and love.

From one stitching soul to another,

Jennifer

Colors of Today

I know this blog is a stitching blog and whatever my spontaneous heart is doing that is positive in my life but I've been slack on writing lately. I can't believe a week has gone by. I'm admiring my friend's flowers sent to me this week. Tulips!  LOVE them.

I wish I could show you all in person but a pic will have to show you.

I got them several days ago so they are fully bloomed now and with the sun shining in today, I'm reminded that God loves us and will be with us always. Look at the beautiful nature outside. Who else could provide such comfort in the mountains and flowers in the Spring?

When I look at the flowers, I think of Crescent Colors. LOL

I know that is funny and strange as heck, but the lightest pink, the purples are great ones to stitch. Even the green color is reminding me.

What would you call these colors in CC? in CC silks? In WDW? in any overdyed threads?

Today is full of routine chores to do, but it's a Saturday and then comes Sunday, the day of rest, finally.

Bring the beauty of nature inside in some small way today and I can assure you hearts will be lifted!

I have my computer designing software fixed now and so I will be busy putting out a freebie or a couple soon as I do so love to dabble with putting thoughts to graph and then to needle and fabric.

My other love of music is strong as well and I actually played some this week, but my piano is so out of tune. Need to put that on my list of things to fix. My piano is prescious to me. Always will be.

On this morning, I hope for you:

beautiful colors for today

being happy and content

thanking God for friends and our crafts/ hobbies

and remembering that there is always sunshine after the rain.

In the mornings I have my quiet time, and would like to share with you a Psalm (book of songs) for encouragement. You have been so good to me and I love each and every one of you. I consider the followers and readers here my positives and the connection with others who I'm very thankful for.

I have always loved Psalms and have many highlighted in my Bible since youth. Psalms is the book of songs and from a lover of music, I so love to read them.

Psalm 62

My soul finds rest in God alone:

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How lon will you assault a man?

Would all of you throw him down--

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

They fully intend to topple him

from his lofty place;

they take delight in lies

With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation an my honor depend on God;

he is my might rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times O people;

pour out your hearts to HIm,

for God is our refuge.

Lowborn men ar but a breath,

the highborn are but a lie;

if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

together they are only a breath.

Do not trust in extorsion

or take pride in stolen goods;

though your riches increase,

do not set your heart on them.

One thing God has spoken,

two things have I heard;

that you, O God, are strong.

and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Surely you will reward each person

according to what he has done.

Placing all hope in God. Knowing that God is in control allows us to wait patiently for Him to rescue us. True relief does not come when the problem is resolved because more problems are on the way!

True relief comes from an enduring hope in God's ultimate salvation. Only then will all trials be resolved.

Counting my blessings today and hoping that you find some comfort and strength in even the most smallest of things.

Till later,

Jennifer