I first shared this pattern a couple of years ago and the recipient was my sweet Blossom who has it hanging in her sewing space as a reminder of my love for her, and also as a reminder of Who loves her most...our precious Jesus.
This past week I have soaked myself in love.
The love of God.
The love of my husband.
The love of two daughters.
The love of two granddaughters and a dear grandson.
Over the weekend I stitched this again for myself and it's hanging right above my desk where I can daily be reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:8
In times of trial there's no greater comfort or strength than to be held tightly in the LOVE of those who care deeply for you, those who put your own well being above their own, those who truly know the depths of your heart and how important it is to feel secure.
You see the test results on my heart weren't good and though I've known for many days now, I simply needed time to let everything sink in and make my peace with it before telling you. In fact, there was a huge part of me that simply didn't want to because to be honest, this feels very private and I would prefer to keep it that way for now. But my inbox fills with emails asking how am I and what were the test results...your concern is so warm and caring. I've chosen not to respond because re-running the same reply to so many people is time consuming and doesn't allow me to be free of the 'thinking' involved. Please forgive me if you were one who emailed and I did not reply.
The stress test needed to be stopped as my heart did some crazy things and it has taken many days to recover, though I'm still quite weak and needed the nitro glycerine spray yesterday. As of now I'm awaiting an angiogram hopefully before the end of February and have been classed Category 1 (most urgent)...but as I am only a public patient there is natural delay for treatment.
Once the angiogram is done the cardiologists will decide on the correct procedure to hopefully set my heart on the path of healing, or at least aid in the correction of it's health so I can get about again and breathe without the labouring I currently experience.
So that's all I want to say about it. My life is in the hands of the Great Doctor, the One who made me, the One whom I worship and serve, the One who knows intimately what's not functioning as it should in every part of our lives. He shall carry me through this valley, as He has carried me through many valleys before. How blessed I am.
If you would like to stitch 'Love Never Fails' you can...
Now, let's talk about other things, like some very pretty visitors to our garden over the weekend.
It's been hot and humid, or wet and hot and humid, so we've had a mix of weather and of birds.
This gorgeous Red Backed Parrot surprised us at breakfast the other day. He's been here once before but that was many months ago. Isn't he striking with his luminous colours against the backdrop of our palm trees...
I've learned to keep my camera close by when we're having breakfast out back because there's always something wonderful to see.
I'm glad hubby moved our old clothesline to the other side of yard as it's in the perfect position the get good photos of our visiting bird life. The corellas and cockatoos (and other parrots) can't resist perching on a Hills Hoist, and fortunately for me they never poo on my washing because they only sit on the metal rungs and not the hanging lines.
During the scattered rain showers our visitors dwindled to just rainbow lorikeets who seem to enjoy the gentle watering from above...
As you can see in the photo above I didn't get around to making that peg apron after all. It was a busy week with health but I'm hopeful of making a start this week, though slowly. But that's it you know, reminding myself (and you?) that there's no rush. Do as you are able, when you are able, and with what you have on hand if possible.
Another beautiful visitor was one of my regulars, though up to this point I've not been able to get a photo of one because they buzz loudly in and out of the blooming trees at a pace I cannot meet.
You know, I often pray to God for an opportunity to photograph the wonderful wildlife He brings into our garden, and He gives me so many, but never have I been able to capture one of a Great Carpenter Bee.
Until this weekend.
When a female (the prettiest of these bees) landed on a wooden stake Mr E had placed in the ground just near our bird feeder she stayed there for five whole minutes...what a miracle.
Great Carpenter Bees are the largest bees in Australia with a body around one inch long. They live solitary lives, burrowing into dead limbs of trees to nest.
Where I live that's predominantly mango tree limbs which explains why I see them regularly in our yard as our town is pretty much one huge mango farm with many homes shaded by more than one large tree.
In the kitchen our move to ovo-vegan is going wonderfully, and to be honest this has been the biggest surprise. It's been easy, delicious and so good for our bodies (and prayerfully it will be great for my heart).
I did have a migraine over the weekend, which since going vegan a month ago is only the second one. Compared to 12- 16 migraines a month before this I am excited to have a positive health result amidst everything else.
Having never made 'real' lemon curd before I decided to try a vegan version and wow, how yummy it was! Quite tart in flavour, we had it inside a thin nutty base and leftovers have been put aside for spreading on sour dough.
Chia pudding with raw cacao is full of protein and vitamin C so I'm back to making this again, which when served over the fruit salad we have eaten every day for breakfast since moving here, is quite yummy indeed.
Regarding the Homemakers Heart tasks of the past two weeks - cleaning, decluttering and re-organising your kitchen drawers - how did you go??
I'm so glad that I began with that task because as the kitchen is the centre of our home it seems everything is running smoother with regards to meal preparation because I have less 'stuff' now, and what I do have is useful and worth the space it takes up in my drawers and cupboards.
As I am on strict rest at the moment my next task is small, one that I can sit on a small footstool and do - cleaning under the kitchen sink.
Now you may think, "Jenny, that's not too bad"...but you can't see the stuff shoved behind and how many things are crammed into that red tub.
So this next week I shall clean under my kitchen sink and make a start on that peg apron, which I have decided needs two extra side pockets for collecting the eggs each day from our hens. Our two girls are wonderful layers, giving us around a dozen free range and bright yellow-yolked eggs each week.
Here's the fabric I'll use, found it at Lincraft last year on clearance for $4 a metre. So I bought three metres. Why? No idea! But I'm sure there'll be enough left for a table cloth after the Peg-Egg Apron (don't you love that name!) is made so that may be the best way to make use of it all.
I think it will look cute, don't you?
This week's task:
Are you going to take up the challenge this week and clean under your kitchen sink area?
How about giving the sink itself a good scrub too? I line my sink with a sheet of aluminium foil, scatter a cup of bicarb soda over it, and then pour boiling water over everything to cover.
Leave it for about ten minutes, then turn on the cold water tap to cool everything down. Remove the aluminium foil and discard. Give the sides of the sink a good scrub and pull the plug.
Rinse the sink and wipe dry. Sparkling!
BONUS - revive your silver jewellery:
Oh, and if you have some plain sterling silver jewellery (without any gemstones) you can place them on top of the aluminium foil before scattering the bicarb.
Make sure to remove the jewellery before you remove the aluminium foil - very important. Rinse the jewellery in cold water and pat dry. Sparking again.
Well dear ones, that's it from me today. I'm going to make a salad and a herbal tea for lunch, then choose threads for a new Faith-In-Hand embroidery pattern before settling down to stitch. Think I may also start over with my Lark Rise to Candleford dvds while I'm on enforced rest days.
What are you watching at the moment?
I shall leave you with two Scriptures which I'm holding fast to at the moment, two of my favourite ones over the past three decades of walking with Jesus...may they bless you, encourage you, lift your soul and remind you of the goodness of our God.
So do not fear, for I
am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and
help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10
You keep him in
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. ~ Isaiah 26:3
because he trusts in you. ~ Isaiah 26:3
hugs
