Free Christmas pattern number 5...

 

Today I'm sharing the last of my five free Christmas patterns for 2023 - "Glory to God". 

It's definitely a good pattern for button lovers, but you could also applique the little berries or satin stitch them instead. When I first designed and made "Glory to God" back in 2016 I chose to use buttons as I had a lot of pink and red ones that blended so beautifully with the border fabric. 

The background was made from alternating strips of soft golden green prints, which to my eye gave the whole thing a touch of royalty, and indeed that is what the birth of our Lord Jesus was about. Royalty come to earth as a man to save His people...no wonder the angels sang Glory to God in the Highest! 

Use the link below to download the free pattern

DOWNLOAD Glory to God pattern

This morning I went to visit Blossom and the children, taking freshly baked cranberry scones and a pineapple fruit cake which I had baked yesterday. It's been raining here for days, and yet walk outside and it's hot (odd thing about the tropics and rain)...so we stayed inside, turned down the air conditioner so we could imagine we were in a cold climate watching the rain, brewed hot cuppas, and feasted on scones and fruit cake. Blossom put a crackling fire on the television (from YouTube) and with that wonderful scene and sound, we chatted, played hangman with the kids, sang songs and really just enjoyed being together. 

It was such a special morning and as we thought about our Christmas plans we decided to change them. Instead of her, Ross and the children coming for Christmas day brunch, they are coming on Christmas Eve afternoon instead. 

The children can play in the pool with Ross and Poppy while Blossom and I prepare a Christmas feast for dinner that night. It means a much quieter Christmas morning for them at home the next day, before they head off to Ross's father's place in the afternoon. Usually there's a lot of rushing, stress, time management and weary children when the day is split between two families...so we considered all this and are now excited to have a family Christmas Eve here! 

She asked if her dad and I would be sad on Christmas Day, but I assured her that would not be so, as just knowing that we had a relaxed evening beforehand with no need for anyone to hurry off, and the children allowed to swim, play and eat until they were exhausted (meaning straight into bed when they got home) - oh how much fun that will be! 

It's always saddened me hearing of family disputes about where to have Christmas, and at who's place. This season is really about rejoicing in the gift of Jesus, showing love, humility and care for others more than ourselves, putting aside what we want to make another's life easier. I am already bubbling over with happiness at being able to really bless my daughter and her family by giving them the gift of 'time' together with their children on Christmas morning, time without the need to rush off, or have others rush in. 

May you and yours be especially blessed this Christmas!

Love and hugs

PS: Here's an oldie but a goodie!!

Final two blocks in the Virtuous Wife free BOM...

 …and he praises her. “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31: 29b - 31

I decided to share the final two blocks in our Virtuous Wife quilt project this month, instead of now and in December, so that those ladies who have been stitching the blocks each month have time to complete the full quilt before the year ends.

I love these final few verses, and as I was studying them, discovered a number of simply beautiful meanings which help to expand our understanding of the written words. So, shall we explore them?

Verse 30:

(a)  Charm is deceitful…

Charm (chen) - can mean physical beauty, but translated from the original Hebrew it also means graciousness or kindness. Deceitful (sheqer) - describes a sham, a falsehood, like putting on an act. So, when we read it with this understanding, we can see that it’s not all about physical beauty which can be made to look more than it actually is with makeup and hair styles etc…it’s also about pretending to be gracious and kind in order to gain favour – a sham.

(b)…and beauty is vain:

Vain (hebel) - means empty. Physical beauty is empty. There’s no real substance to it. We shall see why further on.

(c)…but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Fear (yare’) - means to be morally reverent. It’s not about being scared of God as you might a criminal, but to fully revere Him in His divine authorative nature, to bow your will to His, abiding by His Word and living out that obedience for all to see.

‘To be praised’ (halal) -  means to shine! Isn’t this beautiful? When we fear God (as described above) we will shine. It instantly reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16 “…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Ladies, let us shine forth for the Lord by how we live our lives, and allowing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to refine our character.

Verse 31:

(a) Give her of the fruit of her hands:”

Give (nathan) her of the fruit (priy) of her hands; describes the bough of tree, and means to render or reward.

(b) And let her own works…

(Ma’aseh) is the one word to express this section of the verse, and you may be surprised to know that it has many meanings. “Her own works” can be baking, creating a product, doing deeds, needlework, having handy skills, writing…her works can be many and varied.

(c)…praise her in the gates.

Praise (hahal) – again, this means to shine. In the gates (sha’ar) relates to having her character, deeds, and inner beauty displayed openly for all to see. When you take this back to the Biblical era when Proverbs 31 was written, it’s easy to see why her husband praised her openly when he sat with the city leaders in the town gates.

And finally…a little bit of information about the Proverbs 31:10-31 woman today.

Did you know it is traditionally believed that Abraham used to recite this to Sarah, and it is now recited or read by Jewish husbands to their wives on the eve of Sabbath? I think that is so lovely, and any wife would be honoured to have her husband consider her to be an example of the wife we have been studying all year.

For my part, I am not perfect, and God still has rough corners to round off in my character, but after almost 32 years of marriage I can honestly say that I am a much better wife than I once was, and intend on allowing the Lord to keep refining me through whatever years I have left. To HIM be all glory and honour and praise!

I hope you have enjoyed this free Virtuous Wife block of the month, which we began on November 1^st, 2022. A year later and I am the better for it, not because of what I have stitched or sewn, but because of what I have learned through deepening my personal study of each verse, and almost every word.

Use the link below to download the final double pattern set, which includes the quilt assembly instructions.

DOWNLOAD blocks 15 and 16

If you missed any of the sixteen blocks in this BOM go HERE.

I have pieced all my blocks together and cut the quilt wadding, but am still deciding how I’ll quilt it, and whether or not I’m going to attempt something a little different. More about that another day.

God bless you!! May you grow in the favour and blessing of the Lord all the days of your life. 

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

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Block 14 The Virtuous Wife BOM...

 

Hello lovely ladies, I know my time here lately has become quite sparse, not intentionally, but due to life's commitments in far more important places...like at home, and with family. 

As of today my husband is unemployed, just like our son-in-law Ross. Both of them are looking for work and we're praying the Lord will provide the right jobs at the right time. For now, dear Blossom and I are pondering what we've learned so far during this Virtuous Wife study, and with the Lord's guidance, doing what we can to mange our homes with financial restraint, a joyful spirit, prayer and praise. 

Anyhow, let's see what we can glean from October's bonus study, and I hope you enjoy stitching the free block as well! :-)

“…and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also…” Proverbs 31: 27b-28a

This month I decided to share two blocks from this quilt, today being the second one. We shall look a little at verse 27b-28a in this study, but first I’m going to begin with verse 27a which was embroidered on the previous block shared with you on October 1^st.

At the beginning of this month I focused on verse 26 and the power of the tongue, but today we’ll complete the study of the remaining text featured on the previous block. “She looks well to the ways of her household…”  Proverbs 31: 27a

On the surface you’d imagine this section of verse 27 is fairly self-explanatory, that she looks after the home very well. But it goes much farther in the original Hebrew.

Looks well – “tsaphah” – to peer into the distance.

The ways – “haliykah” – a march or procession.

Our lady isn’t focused on today, she is looking far ahead in order to prepare for what may come in the future. Her family do not sit still, their lives are continually marching forward, and therefore so is our woman. We already know she worked hard to care for her household, but here’s a bit of an insight into ‘why’.

There have been numerous times in history when people were caught unawares, when they realised lack of preparation for an unexpected crisis had left them with little to sustain the family, and no real idea how long before supplies, finances, work or assistance would return to normal. Since Covid savaged the world in 2020, many homemakers have made the decision to stock up and prepare now for any future times of trouble. They are learning new skills which they’d previously not considered, putting together a natural medicine cabinet, baking bread, making soap, foraging and canning homegrown or cheap in-season produce, sewing clothes, mending what is broken, counting the cost of all they spend and choosing to turn away from wants in order to better save for needs. These homemakers have a new mindset, and it’s not about living for today. It’s about preparing for the next time of trouble ahead as there is sure to be one, and I believe that runs right into the second half of verse 27 and the beginning of verse 28.

“…and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also…” Proverbs 31: 27b-28a

Idleness – “atsluwth” – slothfulness, slackness

She’s not filling her cup with laziness, television, books, social media, gossiping, shopping…she’s got her eyes looking ahead at the basics, the important things, and what she can do to build up her home. This doesn’t mean we can’t have some relaxion time to revitalise and refresh body, mind and spirit, for we all need that (exactly why the Lord instructs us to have a Sabbath rest), but it can’t be the centre of our daily desires.

My husband and I were both raised by grandparents who lived through WW1, the Great Depression, and WW2. Their example was hard work, contentment, resourcefulness, financial wisdom, gratitude for what they already had, generational skills, self-respect, kindness and generosity – and there’s no book in the library that can teach this in the same hands-on way that their example still inspires us today.

Learning from Nana’s example, my dear husband praises me often for how I manage the family finances, how prepared we are for needs in the future, the new skills I try to learn, the older skills I’m brushing up on, the well-stocked long-term pantry and most importantly, the encouragement I give him day by day. But I still have more to learn.

He learned from his grandfather to use what he already had, to repair, build, learn new skills and implement them (especially with regards to house repairs and creating a larger garden area to grow food), to provide for his family and show love to his wife (me!). But you know, to create the best self-sufficient life we can, both of us are aware that we need the Lord and His Word to guide us above all else, and then we must put our hands to the plough and do the work - just as our grandparent’s example taught us. Just as you and I are gleaning from the description of a wise wife thousands of years ago.

Use the link below to download the 14th free block in our quilt. 

DOWNLOAD The Virtuous Wife block 14

If you have just found this free block of the month, or have missed a block along the way, the links to every block and the accompanying Bible study can be found HERE

Till next time, God bless,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

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The Virtuous Wife block 13...

 

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household…”  Proverbs 31: 26, 27a

This verse is translated differently in a few versions of the Bible, but this will be because within the original Hebrew language, the depth and breadth of this verse teaches far more than one word.

When I first studied verse 26 what stood out was the power of our tongue, and the enormous responsibility we have with our words, the mindfulness needed to assess what we are going to say before we open our mouths. It’s a choice we must all make when choosing our words, our tone and our motivation – for as the Bible teaches us, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Luke 6:45

Humbling and examining ourselves by what we say and how we say it, whether verbally or in print, within this social media world-gone-mad era, has become rare. A desire to be heard above all the crowd, to have our personal beliefs shouted to the world, the need to be right (all the time) means we see ego, pride, and a real love of self on display all around us – and while we may be pointing the finger at others who behave in such a way, do we lift our eyes to the mirror of Christ and recognise similar behaviour in ourselves?

The character of the woman described in verse 26 is a benchmark we women need to aim for, because to speak with wisdom…

Wisdom – “chokmah” – in mind, word or act. To have good sense, to teach wisdom to others.

…is to be mindful about every word that comes from our mouth, for as we are warned in Jesus’ teaching about what (and how) we speak, if our heart is not right with God and moulded by relationship with Jesus, the words we speak may be soiled and harmful to the recipient. When we open our mouth, it should always be God-honouring and many times that will require us to be humble, or even silent if we have issues with anger, unforgiveness, pride, envy or any attitude the Word warns against.

Continuing on, the verse tells us that the teaching of kindness is on her tongue…

Kindness – “checed” – this word speaks of following God’s example in His kindness towards us. We should be merciful as He is merciful. We must be honest and kind with others, and teach our children and the younger women to do the same.  The word “teaching” used in this verse is actually “towrah” (Torah). Some Bible translations correctly use the word law instead of teaching because the Torah is the law of God. ‘…and on her tongue is the law of kindness’. This tells us that she lives by God’s commandments, and teaches them to others. I am reminded how the Ten Commandments used to be displayed inside every courthouse, every school, and many other government buildings when I was growing up. They were a constant reminder of right and wrong for everyone. Sadly, they are disappearing today and it is rare to see them on display anywhere.

So, like this woman, even though she is written of as an ideal wife for a man to look for and not a real person, let us glean from the many godly character traits she is described as having, for every one of them is good, every one of them will grow us individually closer and closer to the character of Jesus. And isn’t that what God wants after all?

For a deeper study on the power of the tongue and our words, read –

1 Peter 3:10, Colossians 4:6, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 15:1,2,4, Proverbs 15:28, Matthew 15:11, Proverbs 21:23, Psalm 34:13, Proverbs 18:20-21, Proverbs 17:28, Proverbs 12:18-19, Proverbs 18:6-8, James 3:1-12

Use the link below to download this month's free Virtuous Wife pattern...

DOWNLOAD Block 13 of The Virtuous Wife

If you have missed any of the previous month's pattern you'll find them HERE

DOUBLE BLOCK MONTH

I'm sharing 16 blocks in this quilt over 14 months, so just as in April you received two blocks during that month, so also during October you'll receive an extra block. This way we'll have the quilt finished by the end of the year. 

I'll be sharing block 14 around the middle of October and you can use the links below my signature to be notified via email and not miss out.

Bless you heaps,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

Or sign up HERE for my free newsletter which often has extra benefits, freebies & tutorials!

You can also follow me on Instagram @jennyofelefantz 

Free pattern for you...

 

It's been five years since I shared this free pattern, but I was prompted today to share it again. 

The world today is offering challenges to many of us, challenges we were not facing a few years back, and I believe whenever we face trials of any kind that God is in them with us, and if we hold fast to His Word, and keep hope in our heart, He will grow our faith and character in those particular areas we are probably lacking, or in ways that push us from where we have languished far too long. 

I sometimes hear people complain about God not answering their prayers in a way they wanted or expected Him to, and rather than coming back before the Lord and praying His will be done above our own, they will be angry with Him and take offence. I'm saddened by that attitude because we do not see what He sees, for He knows the beginning from the end and all in between. I trust that His way will always be above mine, that His purposes far exceed my own, and if I let go of my own desires and surrender each one in prayer before Him, that His peace will settle over my mind and move me forward again.

This morning I read this excerpt from a Charles Spurgeon sermon and wow, it resonated deep within my heart because it's a precious reminder of Who our God is and how we should respond to Him.

"We must meditate on His attributes and consider His majesty, for He is not only infinitely powerful, wise, all sufficient, and glorious, but He is also supremely good. His character is matchless. He is a pure and Holy God whom we worship. Nothing in God warrants human rebellion. He is our Father, our God, our great Shepherd-King, so no-one can frame an excuse when we for a single moment revolt against Him or lift a finger against His will. It would and should be the greatest pleasure to serve Him. The angels will tell you this. It is total bliss to do His will. "  - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Right now my husband and I have some challenges which will impact our lives and finances going forward, but with God guiding us, opening the right doors and closing ones we should not pursue, we have every confidence we shall be fine if we hand it all into those powerful and loving hands and simply put one foot in front of the other. With big decisions ahead, prayer is our anchor, and the Word of God which shines through Christ is our light. 

If you're in the midst of change, struggling or need prayer, feel free to write in the comment section below...I know there's a mighty team of women who will pray for you, including me. xxx

Use the link below to download the pattern, and may it enrich your faith as you stitch from His Word.

DOWNLOAD my "Trust in the Lord" embroidery pattern

Hugs and prayers,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

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Block 9 Virtuous Wife free BOM...

 

Today I have the free pattern for block 9 of our Virtuous Wife quilt project to share with you. 

Proverbs 31:22

“She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

This verse describes another aspect of the wifely duties of our Proverbs 31 woman, how she chooses to make clothing and coverings from the best materials she could afford. The further we get into Proverbs 31 through this study, the more we grasp just how many necessary skills our woman has gained and put into practice as she goes about her business, day by day caring for her home and family.

In a time when the ordinary family had only a few items of clothing, this wife put great thought and effort into what was made, for indeed, most clothing was made at home by women. Today we can drop into the store to buy a new dress, or a warm cardigan, and wear it that very day…but to hand sew items (and often weave the cloth as well) for every family member, well, that’s a commitment, and a skill, rarely seen anymore.

I do not make my own clothes, though I did sew and knit for all my children when they were young. I learned to sew on a machine when I was in high school, and enjoyed sewing dresses and nightgowns for my girls, and dungarees and overalls for my boys. Knitting was my real love though. As soon as I discovered my first child was on the way, it was to balls of yarn, pattern books and tortoiseshell needles that I turned. I did most of this out of delight rather than necessity, but I’m happy to have learned those skills because should a time arise when choice turns to true need, I can make essential items to cover us.

Making and creating for ourselves, our family and our home, is etched upon our hearts I do believe; it is a God-given desire to nurture, nourish and protect. Making isn’t just sewing and knitting though. Making a home is by far the greater skill, and when attended to with care your home becomes a different type of covering. It is -

·        a sanctuary where those within feel safe and secure in familiar surroundings;

·        the door where open arms are the first port of call for a loved one in need of comfort or a welcome home embrace;

·        the table where a lovingly prepared meal becomes another way to say I love you, for food can truly be the way to someone’s heart;

·        a place where the example of Christ is taught in how we speak, how we act, what we believe and what we turn away from.

·        an escape from the world’s chaos, where we can talk from the heart and be heard, and in turn we can be quiet and listen.

·        a place where we are loved for who we are.

Home is a God-gifted ‘covering’ for His people, and we should be mindful of just how precious a gift that is for ourselves, and all those in our care. 

At age 64 I'm still honing my homemaker heart in thought, attitude, humility and action, and I daresay shall continue in learning mode until my eyes close on this earthly life - but that's exactly what God wants of me, and of you...that the things of this world will increasingly grow strangely dim, the longer we set our desires to living our lives to His glory, in our hearts and in our homes. 

Use the link below to download this free pattern.

DOWNLOAD Block Nine

If you have missed any of the previous blocks (with accompanying studies) they are HERE

God bless you so very much!

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

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Monday #9 - The Virtuous Wife block 7...

 

Hard manual work was the normal day to day responsibility of a homemaker in times past, and our Proverbs 31 wife was no different. Everything we have studied about her so far show a faithful, honest, thoughtful, deliberate, financially savvy, diligent and hardworking lady of the house.

In verse 19 our attention is drawn to the distaff and spindle, tools used for spinning wool or flax, a task not easy nor quick, but integral to clothing her family and keeping them warm. Today we just go to the shop and purchase yarn or cloth for making clothes or items for the home, or we simply buy them ready made. It’s no wonder our wardrobes are full and our closet drawers as well – but if we had to spin the yarn or weave the cloth for every item we wore I think our closets would be far smaller and with fewer options for our daily attire.

Now, I am not going to start spinning and weaving, because the focus on this lady, whom we need to be reminded is a ‘blueprint for a noble wife’ given to King Lemuel by his mother, is her godly character.

I think I need ask myself, thus far in the Virtuous Wife study, am I –

Faithful in every way to my husband, and to my God-gifted role as a homemaker, parent and overseer of the house?

Honest in all my dealings both in and out of the home?

Thoughtful and considerate towards my husband, family and all those who are in my care?

Deliberate in my thoughts and actions, that I should make good and wise choices, and in doing so honour God?

Financially savvy in managing the income of our family?

Diligent to the tasks given me at home and work? Hardworking and not lazy or looking for ways to avoid completing those tasks?

This could well be a prayer list where we ask the Holy Spirit to expose within us the ways we fall short, and requesting guidance for shaking off that which needs to be removed so we can be walking forth in the way we should go. Personally, this list shall indeed be written in my journal today and prayed over in the weeks and months ahead. I do believe we, as fallen humans in a world gone crazy, can so easily be blind to our own shortcomings, sins and omissions. It truly is Christ-bought grace which allows us to see the problems in our own character when we ask the Lord in prayer to ‘clean us out’, because it is really is His desire to do that, and we can trust He will do it for our benefit and His glory.

Verse 20...

What I loved about this verse was the activity of not just opening her hand to give (reminds me of tithing and giving donations – whether that be in money or groceries or things we no longer want/need) but actually reaching out her hands to those in need. That’s really being involved, looking out for the needy and physically connecting with them in order to assist. There’s quite a lot in that one little verse and it brought to mind Mother Teresa – hands on, all for Jesus, seeing Christ in every person, responding to their needs sacrificially because her love for Jesus was expressed in  how she loved the unlovely. 

May we grow ever closer to the examples given in Proverbs 31, but closer still to the example set by our Lord Jesus himself. 

Use the link below to download the second of two Virtuous Wife patterns I am sharing in April. 

DOWNLOAD block 7 The Virtuous Wife

If you have missed the first six patterns in this block of the month they are still free to download HERE

Have you been stitching along with this project? I'd love to see photos if you'd care to email them to me (link HERE) or you can tag me on Instagram (HERE)

Bless you heaps,

Don't miss out on any Elefantz news or free patterns. 

Subscribe to my blog posts HERE and receive them direct to your email inbox.  

Or sign up HERE for my free newsletter which often has extra benefits, freebies & tutorials!

The Virtuous Wife BOM - block six...

 

Today we move on to the sixth block in this year's Virtuous Wife quilt project. 

If you have missed any of the previous blocks you'll find them HERE

Let’s go through this verse a little at a time…

“She dresses herself with strength…

This is described differently in a number of bible versions, and it becomes clear as to why that is when you expand on the meanings of the individual Hebrew words. To dress herself with strength is to ‘gird her loins’ or ‘gather her strength around her’…the intention being that this woman is ready and prepared to work, to move, to act. She is not sitting idly or distracted, watching the day pass her by, no - she is ready to get things done! Just as soldiers in her era would gird their loins by gathering their tunics up to their thighs and tying them in a knot so they could freely run, move, fight – so a woman can gird her loins mentally by being ready to work hard, and physically, by dressing appropriately for her labour. For example, I do not wear my going-out clothes to scrub the floors or clean the bathroom or dig in the garden; but I also do not wear old raggedy clothing around home either. I take care to always look presentable, as a matter of self-respect, and respect for my husband or any guests who should unexpectedly arrive.

For myself, adding external things which bring me pleasure as I work was a wonderful way to help me elevate in my own mind, the very privileged position I hold as mistress of my home. When I was young, Australian television didn’t have many shows which elevated the role of homemaker, but Nana and I would enjoy a few American programs such a Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, the Dick Van Dyke Show, and similar. Those programs really encouraged us girls, even though Nana was in her late 50’s and early 60’s and I was in primary school.

With an array of pretty aprons hanging in my kitchen, I can cover my freshly laundered day-to-day dresses (dresses which may be well-worn from years ago but still lovely and presentable) and extend their use…for there’s no reason not to look lovely when you tend home and garden. Some of you may wear shorts and tee shirts, or pants and blouses around home – it doesn’t matter what you wear, but dress with the intention of preparing yourself to work joyfully and confidently. Dressing for my role really made all the difference to my attitude and the ensuing sense of gratitude.

 … and makes her arms strong.”

The word strong (‘amats in Hebrew) actually means to be courageous! It is the same word God uses in Joshua 1:6 and 1:9 when He commands Joshua to “be strong and of good courage…” It is the very same word used in Joshua 10:25 when Joshua himself commands Israel to “fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage…”

There’s much in this verse for us to consider as homemakers. The things we do to build up our homes as an expression of love and care for our husbands and families, may at times require us to be courageous and faithful, especially in seasons when we feel anything but. Learning to dress our minds with an attitude of preparedness, girding our homemaker loins with strength each day, expressing gratitude to our God who just as with Joshua, commands us not to be dismayed nor fearful, but to be strong and of good courage because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go and in whatever we do to His glory.

Today is the start of a new month, a month where we shall be focused on the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be brave and pray that He would give us opportunities to increase our spiritual, mental, physical and emotional strength this month, especially as we ponder His own example of living (and loving) with a humble servant heart.

He, who can make all things new, will be more than willing to help us as women, homemakers, wives, mothers, sisters, grandmothers and daughters, to gird our loins, gathering our strength around us, growing in courage as we serve those in our care each day. May we no longer be dismayed by the disappointments in our life, but remember always that the Lord will be with us and we are never left alone.

Use the link below to download this free pattern.

DOWNLOAD block six The Virtuous Wife

I mentioned at the beginning of this block of the month last November, that because there are sixteen blocks in the quilt, I would be sharing two blocks per month twice in 2023. April is one of those months, so around the middle of April I'll share block seven with you. 

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Hubby is back at work now, and life is returning to it's usual rhythm. I had written in my last post that blogging would return to normal at the middle of this week, but as you can see, it didn't. 

I love having my man home on a holiday break, though these times are rare. We get a lot done around the garden, and he has time to catch up on a few home maintenance jobs as well. Life is not as regimented by routines because we have the ability to wake each morning and let the day unfold as it may - we were even able to take two day trips for picnic lunches in quiet country towns.  The normal cleaning rhythms tend to 'go out the door' during these special weeks, as my husband insists I also take a 'holiday', even though we holiday at home. I still managed to stay on top of the daily tasks with ease, but gave extra time to doing things with him in the garden. During our much needed afternoon rest hours I spent time in the sewing room rearranging everything the first few days, but afterwards my rest times were spent hand sewing whilst watching an old movie or new episodes of Father Brown. Once things cooled a bit outside we'd both head back to the garden. As the sun began to set I would come inside to start dinner and hubby would pack up and put all the tools back in the shed. After dinner we'd go for a swim and chat about the day, and consider what to do next, always counting down the days we had left before his holiday came to a close.

So when hubby returned to work this past Wednesday, I decided to forgo any blogging for a while and give the house a jolly good clean so that it once again sparkled. I'm going room to room with fresh eyes and may change a few things around, but I shall enjoy every moment. In the late afternoons when things cool a bit, I can return to the garden and plant our autumn produce, for the days are very hot right now.

How are YOU?? I'd love to know what's happening in your everyday life, for something came to mind the other day after visiting Rosie, and then Blossom, and chatting on the phone to Fee...how very important it is, as a woman, to be heard, especially as many of our womanly thoughts would be foreign to a man. I believe most women process their thoughts verbally, and having a safe sounding board such as a loving daughter or friend who is genuinely interested in you, is a priceless gift. Mostly we do not want advice or even help - we just want a safe place to verbalise our thoughts and put things in perspective. I am very grateful for my four-corners of womanhood - darling Blossom, Rosie, Fee and Allie, and I thank God for placing them in my life. 

So, friends, I shall be back again soon...but not just yet. 

Bless you heaps,

 

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