¿Donde?

❣️Joy Dare 📖 January 7-13, 2019💖

7th~ 3 graces from people you love  .. 
       👨 Matt's love
          🙌 His endless agape love
        😻 Manicotti's love
                                   *÷*

8th~ dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow . . 
        🌅 Early morning quiet at home
         👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What He shows me about restoration
           👵 We all face similar struggles
                                  +_+

9th~ a gift held, passed by, sat with .. 
            🏠 Quilt for Akron
              👩‍⚕️Chance for more hours
             👴 Sweet client
                                    *"*      

10th~ a gift sour, sweet, just right . .
           👵 Anxious client
             👴 His smile as he teases us
               💖 His perfect agape love
                                   ¡💖!

11th~ 3 yellow gifts of fresh mercy. . .
          🌅 Fresh sunshine on a day of second chances
           ✝️ His forgiveness
          🤸 Hope
                                   _💖_  

12th~ something above, below, beside . .
             ⛅ Cloudy day
               📖 Standing on His Words
                 ❣️ Sweet friends
                                 ~@~

13th~ 3 things about yourself you are grateful for . . 
              👵 Patience
                👨 Empathy
               📖 Love for God
                                   ~¥~

🙌#whatif Prompt for 1.13.19

Today's prompt:

    as I lift my hands

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Wedding Quilt

  Praying and stitching toward the future!!
                         ❣️ 🙏💖🙏❣️

🔫#whatif Prompt for 1.12.19

Today's prompt:

          Sniper

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

KJVA Bible. Jeremiah 17:9

[9]The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Dear Lord, I pray that You teach us to lead our hearts where You direct us, not willy-nilly or where the world leads. Give us strength to be clay pots ready for Your skilled hands to mold!!

¿Donde?

Local urbex = spiderwebs!!

¿Donde?

Manicotti's January

"What do you mean, you have to go to work again?!!
Who's going to refill my food and water every time I have a snack?
Who's going to scoop the box every time I go?!!!
Who's going to cuddle me?!??!
We seriously need to discuss your parenting and grandparenting skills!!
There will be a meeting later about this.
Bring a notebook, pen and a better attitude!!
And stop telling me that you have to go to work to buy me food and cat litter as well as pay rent.
That excuse is getting old."

💤#whatif Prompt for 1.11.19

Today's prompt:

Sleeping in a cave

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Praying for You . . for Us

I can't count how many days I have prayed all day . . for you ..  for us . . 
It doesn't matter how bad you think your current situation is . . or how we've miscommunicated in the past . .
                      Just Come Home

Urbex in Toledo's Pedway

There are lots of quaint shops down here . . It's a fun place to explore and there are spots to buy a lunch or some baked goods.
We didn't explore anywhere not publicly accessable as we want to urbex without getting arrested for trespassing/B&E. I imagine there are quite a few interesting things beyond the locked doors. I heard there are tunnels that have been locked off since Promedica attained property downtown. The tunnels for the pedway supposedly connect to those leading to the Promedica buildings so were locked for security reasons.
It would really neat, and possibly a money-maker, to give tours of all sections of the tunnels. Maybe include a few historical displays also. There could even be school tours so the kids could see the possibilities of what could be done!

  

Matt and I .. 
This is my hiking/exploring buddy supreme!

Spiral Hope Quilt Top

A bit of stitching almost every day and I'm getting so close to finished!!
I need to look through my stash of material and find something nice for a backing plus a, possibly contrasting, color for the binding.
I am thinking I have about two (2) weeks left on the quilt top alone if I keep at it diligently.
Pinning then tying on the back will take only an hour or so . . pretty quick!
Then I'll make a label . . it will be hand-stitched and read (approx):

Spiral Hope Quilt
for Akron Restoration Home
2017-2019
by: Karen Joyce
Toledo, OH

¿Donde?

Having Love above all Else

KJVA Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[1]Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2]And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
[3]And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Does it matter how much you do for church or the homeless etc if you can't be kind when no one else is watching?
If you are so gifted by God to do many things for His kingdom yet are cruel and ruthless in your personal life what does that say to God about how you view these gifts?

Who are we really?
In the secret private places?
What do we say about others when we think no one of importance is listening?
Do the gifts He has given us mean anything if we are mean or selfish in our hearts?
How does the way we treat our spouse privately and publicly show our true relationship with God?

Appropriate Hiking Friends

Exploring is so much better when you include your craziest most out of the box wildest thinking friends!!
That's why I go exploring with Matt!!

Joy Dare December 31, 2018- January 6, 2019

31st~ 3 gifts anticipated . . 
      🌄 Shining new year
        🕯️ Prayer time
           💞 His promises
_💞_

1st~ 3 gifts heard . .
         👵 Client's chatter
            📝 New plan
              📕 D&D books are affordable
*📕*

2nd~ a gift outside, inside, on a plate . .
          🌄 Sunny day
           👵 Fun clients 👴
°=°
            
3rd~ 3 graces you overheard . . 
        ❣️ His answers
          👵 Client's hopes
            👨 Son's dreams
]^[

4th~ a gift old, new, blue.  .
         👵 Time with Mom
           👩 Matt's girlfriend
            ⛵ Ocean calling me
~•~

5th~ something you're reading, making, seeing . .
        📕 "Love Dare"
         🛏️ Quilt
           ❣️ God's plan for my future
{~}

6th~ one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart .. 
        📕 "Love Dare"
          🧀 Cheese
            💞 His love for the lost

🤗 #whatif Prompt for 1.8.19

Today's prompt:
  
     Secret kindness

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Where is God?

As I did my Bible study tonight the Lord led me to this:
KJVA Bible. Ezekiel 8:1-18
[1]And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
[2]Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
[3]And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
[4]And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
[5]Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
[6]He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
[7]And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
[8]Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
[9]And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
[10]So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
[11]And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
[12]Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
[13]He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
[14]Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
[15]Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
[16]And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
[17]Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
[18]Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

I had prayed for perseverance and strength, guidance in where to focus and for guidance for Hector, Matt and myself (my little family).
He is always with me . . Close by to listen, strengthen and reassure.
This was a reminder to stay away from places where there is jealousy and debauchery.
Thank You, Lord for always leading me.

Toledo Museum of Art

The museum as I see it . .

¿Donde?

🥞#whatif Prompt for 1.6.19

Today's prompt:

       Purple pancakes

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

¿Done?

📝#whatif Prompt for 1.5.19

Today's prompt:

              My War Room

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Forgiving Past Transgressions

As I sat in church last night I could, unfortunately, hear my son's voice drifting softly across the aisle. He was chatting with his girlfriend and, although I couldn't hear what he was saying, others around him undoubtedly heard every word. I grimaced thinking it was silly banter and he was disturbing those around him.
It was way worse than that.
Way worse .  Beyond way worse.  . .
She had, apparently, asked him if there was anyone at church we hated (why would such a question even come up??!) and he gave her a long list of names and how he felt each person had wronged us! 😕
As he sat in the car later telling me all of this I almost died. If ever there had to be a reason to find a new church this had to be at the top of the list!!
As we drove I explained to him that this was inappropriate. We are supposed to forgive and move on. We are not to keep a list . . Or publicly broadcast a list.
And, honestly, quite often things that hurt us are done unknowingly. The person may not be aware they are being hurtful, that what they are basing their statements/actions on is inaccurate.
I have learned that many people speak without knowing the whole story. They assume based on their life or rumors then offer unsolicited advice. They mean well.
But, regardless of the origin, we need to forgive and move on.
To be forgiven by God we have to first forgive others!!
And then we need to give them extra love and pray for them.
I have found that, with sufficient love and prayer, someone who was making my life miserable turned out to be a great friend!!
Hopefully our church members will reciprocate love and prayer as Matt learns.

🌲#whatif Prompt for 1.4.19

Today's prompt:

        Fragile pink Forrest creatures

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Love in the Art Museum!!

A trip to the Toledo Museum of Art with Matt and Rachel. Their first date was a hike with her family. Their second date was to the  Toledo Museum of Art.

Working archeological puzzles together.

Lamplight Cafe and Bakery

Lunch at the  Lamplight Cafe and Bakery   is a special treat!
If you stop in please try the Rueben with homemade chips. Yummy, juicy and fresh!!

🌍#whatif Prompt for 1.3.19

Today's prompt:

   My happy place

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

😎#whatif Prompt for 1.2.19

Today's prompt:

    Just being me

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

🤸Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast🙄

🚐 I can live anywhere and serve God ⛵
~
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family restoration
~
📖 His grace is for everyone
~
🤸 God loves me as I am
~ 
🙄Homeless have purpose w/ God
~
< Less is more

Guiding our Hearts

KJVA Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:13
[13]And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Charity (or love) needs to begin at home. How we treat our spouse and children when no one is watching speaks volumes.
And if we are deficient in this area we can always improve.
Maybe we are (as I did) putting our children before our spouse. This can be easily changed.
When I realized the mistakes I was making raising my kids I bought the book,  "Have a New Kid by Friday" . This book changed our home life for the better. And. . . . watching the kids' reactions to the new rules was priceless!!!!!
To love them meant that I needed to quit giving in and become a real parent . . not a brick wall parent ..  not a jelly fish parent . .
I became a backbone parent. And life was better.
Love . . Do we love our family enough to change ourselves? Our outlook? Our priorities?
Can we work at becoming a better spouse? Parent? Son/daughter? Sibling? Employee?
It's really up to each of us what we allow our hearts to do, where they wander. We need to guard and guide our hearts in order to sustain our families.

Matt's too Tall for the Basement!!

Matt hit his head on a beam in the basement ceiling again .. 

This time the beam retaliated!!


#needtocheckbeamfordamage!!

KJVA Bible. Psalms 112:1-10

[1]Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
[2]His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
[3]Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
[4]Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
[5]A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
[6]Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
[7]He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
[8]His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
[9]He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
[10]The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Keep serving God with your whole heart . .
  Your enemies will shiver and run . .
     Blessings will flow!!!

1000 Marble Challenge~ week 935-938/1000

~ church
~ urbex
~ new girlfriend
~ zoo
~ Pokemon go
~ cleaning the apartment
~ overnight at Grandma's

💞Joy Dare 🎶 December 24-30, 2018📝

24th~ 3 gifts humble . .
    😊 Kindness received
     🚐 Quiet evening with Matt
       🦃 Our Christmas dinner preps
°|°

25th~ 3 gifts in Luke 2 . .
      👶 Precious gift from heaven
        🕊️ Peace
         💑 Drawing nation's together
*°*

26th~ 3 gifts in Christ .. 
    🤗 Loving the least of these
     😏 His patience with us
      🔥Holy Spirit
+:+

27th~ a gifts found, shared, saved . .
      💇 Options
       😜 Giggles
         💝 Our hearts for Him
$.$

28th~ 3 gifts lingering . .
      💞 Fun with a friend
        👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Prayers for restoration
          😄 Joy in the Lord!! 🙌
°0°

29th~ 3 gifts of hope . .
       ⏳ Time spent well
         👵 Love
           👵 Respect
•{}•

30th~ 3 gifts remembered . .
          📖His reasons
            📝 God's plan
              👨 We all deserve grace

🍫#whatif Prompt for 1.1.19

Today's prompt:

   Chocolate on ______

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

💞 Loving through Pain 💔

KJVA Bible. Jeremiah 17:9
[9]The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Pain comes in all relationships whether it be spouse, friends, co-workers or church family.
It may be caused by assumptions made . .  . poorly worded comments . . . or any number of things.
We feel irreparably wronged.
Our hearts hurt.
We think moving on will fix things.
💔

The heart lies to us.
It begs us to replace what God has given us.
But, when we walk away from our blessings (spouse, family, a job), no matter how difficult and convoluted that blessing may seem, we walk away from all God has for us . . and we then truly break our own hearts.

🍔#whatif Prompt for 12.31.18

Today's prompt:

  🌭Weirdest Delicious Sandwich 🍔

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

#whatif Prompt for 12.30.18

Today's prompt:

        Throwback

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Relationships can be Saved

KJVA Bible. Hebrews 10:24
[24]And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Looking back you may not see a perfect relationship, but looking forward with love and encouragement you can see hope, love, joy, faithfulness . . .

💔#whatif Prompt for 12.29.18

Today's prompt:

  Making up

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

💞#whatif Prompt fir 12.28.18

Today's prompt:

    💞 First date

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

"I'm considering things that beging with the letter Z

Zoo 🐒
  Zoink
     Zoologist
       Zen
        Zygote
      Zeel
    Zest 🍋
  Zillow 🏡
Zachary 👦
Zany 🙃
 

Matt and Rachel

They are just too cute!!

New Bible Case

This nice water-resistant case is something my Mom gave me a while back in a bundle with many other snazzy plastic cases. At the time I thought I'd probably use it to keep a quilt-in-progress clean and dry. This, however, is a much better use . . and it's exactly the perfect size!!
Thanks, Mom!!! 💞📖

💻New Internet Copyright Laws⚖️

Hmm . . So I was looking at these new laws and wanted to share this with you.  . .
Please, feel free to link back to my blog.
Please, unless otherwise noted, feel free to share any photos I post as long as you give me credit  . . (not allowing sharing would require me to get photos copyrighted and I have no idea how to do that). 
If we all are willing to allow what they don't we may have a shot at killing their new law.
I can say that, for me, rather than feel someone with less blog traffic is leeching off my traffic, I feel their link increases my audience. They will, undoubtedly, have some followers who've never heard of me and vice versa.  . . So, linking benefits us both.

🚗#whatif Prompt for 12.27.18 🏕️

Today's prompt:

Car camping or tent camping? 🌲

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Double Laced Backstitch

Best De-Stresser

 Let's fly away  to a place of complete relaxation from worldly stress in the court of our Heavenly Father!
Cast all cares upon Him . .

Looking Forward . .

Yes, I'm changing direction . . point of the haircut was doing almost everything differently . . My way as long as lines up with God's word . . and ignore comments . . Also stop allowing others to abuse me (in any form) . . I have value to God as I am . . I do so much outreach for Him . . I do not need to become people's prefabbed view of what a 'good Christian woman' should act/sound like . . .
I am making changes . . HUGE changes

I am still working on consolidating the WordPress and Patreon blogs into this blog. I have decided, for the sake of saving time (and my sanity) to delete some posts (such as old word prompts)  . . and the video posts will be posted when I have time vs transferring those posts (sounds crazy but is way simpler to my overloaded brain).
I am planning to go back to school  . . I have 3 1/2 yrs college and need to quit being a quitter and finish my degree already. Major of choice is "Communications: English"  . . my initial goal is to simply finish and this degree could seriously improve my writing quality.✏️ But it could also be taken a step further and become a teaching certificate then a special education teachering certificate!!
But one step at a time . .
The classes to get my BA look like so much fun! Of course I love grammar . . and there's even a class on fairy tales!! How cool does this sound?!?!?!!!!?! 📕
So, yes, I'm making changes . . and don't want/need opinions/permission.
But and friends and those wishing to kindly join me on my journey are always welcome!!
On a side note, Matt graduated high school in 2 1/2 yrs and will start college  ..  . Will we remain in Toledo? Hard telling . . that's so so far away . . there are good universities all across the US!! 📚

Better Weather

New Plan~ 
      🌱Only spring and fall 🍁
      ❄️ Heavy snow Christmas Eve 🎄
           {melt day after Christmas}
       🏖️One week over 80°F each July 🎆

  

Manicotti's December

These people are exhausting! Let me tell you . . I went outside just to hang out and keep an eye on the little birdies. I was wandering around minding my own business when my Dad came out, scooped me up and brought me back inside . .  . . they had smelly stuff to spray, a long green handle with pokey things they kept rubbing on the floor and a weird thing that made noise and blew steam!! These two (2) can be so weird to live with. Humph.
But, they did give me a nice new mousie toy for Christmas and even filled it with the most delightful catnip. 🐭
Now I've passed out on her quilting. .  I love to lay on her scissors so she has to pet me instead. . .

💰#whatif Prompt for 12.26.18

Today's prompt:

How far would you go to save money?

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Holbien Stitch

Okay, so this puts me at about three (3) hours invested . . I am having so much fun with this new quilt!!
Stay tuned as I will be working on/finishing the other quilts also . .

1 Corinthians 14:1a

1¶Follow after charity

Charity . . love of others over self.    .. if we apply this to our spouse .  take one week as a trial and put their needs above our own.  .  quietly not boastfully.   . . humbly. . . meekly . . tending to them first in love.

Isaiah 2

1¶The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

6Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and aresoothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

7Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:

8Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

9And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

10Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

12For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that islifted up; and he shall be brought low:

13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

14And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,

15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,

16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.

17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

18And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

22Cease ye from man, whose breath isin his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?


Be humble
Trust and faith in God alone

Ermine Stitch

Fancy name but very basic.

Pekingese Stitch

One more patch on my Selvage Strip Crazy Quilt!!
Okay, so far each patch really only takes about a half hour beginning to end. It will be relatively easy to calculate time spent when finished. 😀

Rambling on Thanksgiving ..

Hello, loves .  hoping your day is full of family and all that that brings ..
🐕 *please, whatever else, don't lock Aunt Mildred in the basement for feeding the turkey to the neighbor's dog* 🦃
As Matt and I sit comfortably munching round 1 of today's meal I can't help but thinking about those living on the streets . . today, though, is one of the days each year when they are spoiled by citizens with a guilty conscience . . it is so much easier to show up on a holiday with a flourish then to be there daily with a hug and a prayer . . or a cup of hot coffee and a simple listening ear IMHO (in my humble opinion)  .   .
Not everything or everyone is as they appear . . this simple fact escapes many people . . escapes them in that they believe others will fall for their charade . . and in that many only see what is on the surface or how they perceive things.
And us?
We cleaned the apartment and prepped supper till approx 4:30am . . then Matt scuttled off to bed . . I, on the other hand, was awake well past 6:30am . . Definitely not voluntarily . . fortunately we were able to sleep in today . . And Did ..  till approx 11am!! 💤 It was so nice to wake leisurely . . Ahh  .   . . 
This week I was blessed to have the opportunity to give out two (2) homeless survival bags  . . one very quickly as I sat in traffic at a red light, but knowing his heart was touched for Jesus! And one to a man I've spoken with twice before (this was actually the third bag he's received). . both encounters blessed my life in ways I can't express . .
You could easily make your own bags to share:
*Toothbrush and toothpaste
*Comb
*Tarp
* Socks
*Chapstick
*Deodorant
*Wipes (baby or sanitizing)
*Healthy snacks
There are obviously a multitude of options you could easily include . .
Even just keeping usable coats and hoodies your family has outgrown can be an amazing blessing!!
One day Matt and I washed his previous year's winter coat. We'd just left the laundromat and it was still toasty from the hot dryer. As we drove down Collins St in Joliet, IL we spotted a young man (+/-20yrs old) huddled in a shop doorway with his dog. He was shivering and poorly dressed for even walking on a cold day much less sleeping raw. I stopped the car and had Matt take him the jacket and a blanket both if which Matt draped around them.
He was blessed to be warmer.
I was blessed to see how this impacted my son.
At the time we were living in an old 1991 camper in a junkyard because the bank was about to repossess our home.
But .. 
We had a warm place to sleep.
We had doors we could lock while we slept.
We had more than ample fresh food.
Maybe our world was collapsing . .
  Or maybe God was providing opportunities and perspective to move forward for Him!!!

Could you/would you join me in outreach?
Give them the love of Jesus . .
Wouldn't Jesus stop to hug them?
Offer a cup of coffee and a chat?
Pray with them?
What if no one had listened to or prayed with you??!

Wrapped Outline Stitch

Haunted House at Detwiler Park

41.693173,-83.484656

Italian Knotted Border Stitch