Twisted Tuesday~~~a Twist for Lemons

Some days I have deep introspection and retrospection. I awoke out of a dream three nights in a row now, dreaming about my dad, my daughter and my son, all in separate dreams. It's funny how there are some things in life that are for certain. Like love. God's love. A mother's unconditional love. (and taxes and death) but in simple processes such as releasing items that remind me of good memories from the past, it's really hard, but in time, necessary. I have clung to hope as most do. Never, ever give up hope.

Although I think our lives are lived in thirds, maybe fourths for those fortunate, I can't believe I'm in the 50-85 age group that TV commercials advertise things for. It's actually, mind-blowing when I think about how time flies so fast. I think of how I can spend the last third to make the most difference in the world and bless others. I am in no way perfect but I do have love to give.

This blog means a lot to me for sharing our interests, our hopes, our dreams, our lives and, because for example, it connects me to my adult children. There is a connection in the heart that forgives, but never forgets. Well, in most people who have a loving heart. I know when I see Olympia, Washington on the ticking at the bottom that my daughter must be thinking of me or she would not be drawn to this blog still.

It stumps my mind how people who say they love you, yet, do not show any love at all and honestly I've come to learn a lesson that some people, just cannot receive love. They don't think they are worth it, which is such a waste when they could be releasing that love. I know from experience it takes more energy to hold love in. This I know for sure.

Tuesday Twisted thoughts:

:: A parent's love, never goes away. It's there for the taking. It's a deep connection that no one can ever take away no matter what.

:: You have to BE a parent before to understand the first thought.

:: Giving away things, doesn't mean giving away love.

:: Money can't buy love

:: Love comes in many forms during life. It's whether we recognize it sent from God or not that makes the difference. And man, does it ever make our journey better when we recognize it's from God.

:: God gave us a guide on what real love is in the Bible. No one of us is perfect, but all of us have free will to follow that kind of love or turn their back on it.

:: I choose to follow that kind of love in Corinthians. At this age, I've learned to grab the real love and to remember the lessons I learned from the fake love given to me in the past.

:: God puts people, key people, in our life in answer to prayer and seeking the truth, for protection, for hugs, and for the kind of love that is genuine.

:: I'm glad I recognized that love from a real God-driven man the day after Christmas 2011. It was so different, so welcomed, so blessed, so refreshing, so comforting and so real.

:: There is no man or woman that can take the love I have for my son and my daughter away from me. No one can take away the memories of raising them, loving them, protecting them, birthing them, rocking them to sleep, keeping them warm, and hugged.

:: I am blessed to have dreams about my son and daughter where they tell me they love me, because only HE understands that hole in the heart that is put there when your children choose to cut you away like a stranger.  God knows the timing when we need to be reminded and it wakes me with a smile in the mornings. In the meantime, we are stretching and growing our patience and our hearts.

Today was one of those awakening days from a night full of sleep, not knowing why, but having dreams about my family. I thank God for those nights when he gives those dreams to me to help me remember that real love.

I'm blessed to wake up to a very understanding husband, who shows the love in his heart, which shines then to reflect in my own. I have good days and bad days with dealing with some trauma I have been through in life but it's remembering the real love that I've been blessed with that grounds me back.

Today, with all the cold wind and the assuredness of Winter coming on, I'm approaching the Winter season of my life too. I am prepared with the help of my Father God. He knows what is in store and he already knows how our lives will be lived. I hope that I live the rest of my life with the strength, the love, and the joy He gives me. Only for the taking if we want it.

 

I put a note on the side bar if you want to be a prayer partner. It's something that I've felt led to do. There are so many including myself and everyone who go through things and sometimes feel alone, when we are not. God explains about a cord of three strands in the Bible.

 

I so want to go on a medical missions for a long time now but with finances I just cannot do it. My heart has been pulling at this for a year. One day I believe I will be able to.

For now, I wish to start a prayer group, stitchers or not and I will be making a FB page for this. Through the holiday season especially, it's very hard and depression can worsen for many people. Do not feel alone.   I will post daily encouragements briefly and prayer requests can be left and praise reports. It's a closed group on FB but if you want to join it's pretty simple.

 

Trust me, I love to read encouraging thoughts and I know this is something that can make a difference to both of us. To all of us, all over the world.

 

As we enter this season of family and good-eats, and memories, let us seek peace and good-will just as we would expect from others. The Golden Rule is the best if we could only strive for it.

 

 Although I know deep inside, I'm not all I should be, THANK GOD, I'm not where I USED to be!

 

Just click on my pic below and it will take you to

 

Daily Sunshine Tea

 

This is a closed group but I welcome all new members!

 

Daily Sunshine Tea

Life is 1/2 unsweet lemonade and 1/2 sweet tea. This is the recipe for a most refreshing drink I frequently have for my lunch. There is actually a restaurant where you can order Sunshine Tea in Augusta Ga. I ate there for lunch for years until I moved up in the mountains. I couldn't think of a better name for a positive group. See you over there!!!  A small drink a day will refresh you!

 

Jennifer

New Freebie on Facebook Page!

Just to drop by and let you know that this month's freebie is on Feathers in the Nest FB page. You can find it easily and click on the pic, right click to print out. The sampler is  called "Love Story". Yup, we all have one at some point in our life and I'm so blessed to have a good one. Inspiration came very easy for this one.


At the homestead, I've been in the nesting mode, especially today. Deep cleaning as if it's Spring!
However, the weather continues to give us rain, rain, rain, even with the sun out today.

 

 

 

 

I spent quite a bit of time cleaning my old pots and pans and exchanged the basket collection I had for functional use of the wrought iron pot holder. Mr. Darcy LOVES the large, very old iron one in the front.

 

I cleaned ovens, top of ovens, eyes of the oven, microwave oven, refrigerator and a really good cleaning of the counter tops. I think it was the tea I made that was too sweet. :P

Then to vacuuming and mopping, dusting and scrubbing the hearth.

 

I'm pretty tired right now. It's midnight. After all that energy, I sat down in the evening and designed the freebie you will see on the FB page. I thought about how much home means to me.

I love to travel but way too strapped right now for that so I'm having a staycation which includes enjoying our home.

 

I finally fixed the cover on the chaise. It's on the back porch and I found the perfect way for the cushion to stop sliding on it.

 

I just simply took small rope and put it through a large darning needle and anchored it to the chair.

I also made bows at the ends to enclose it a bit.

 

 

Yup, this is where my Sunday rest will be...............................................

Well, off to late midnight sleep with my honey.

Miss Betsy says................good night, sleep tight.

Jennifer

Feathers in the Nest goes Etsy and Facebook!

 Feathers in the Nest finally opened an Etsy shop!

So take a look-see. If you use the search engine only in Etsy, you will need to type in without spaces,
Feathersinthenest, and this should bring up my shop with additions of items as I design, stitch, knit or finish them. I will be my model stitcher.

I have several cross stitch sampler patterns to work on now. As I reorganize my studio, my cross stitching mojo is returning. Sampler threads, the color, the linen, and creative designing are always on my mind. I also dearly enjoy knitting and will offer some knitted pieces as well.

My plan for future designs include whimsical, antique, reproduction samplers, a hymn series, an Abigail series, encouragement and scripture-based samplers, and local North Georgia landmark samplers. Ideas are endless!

My patterns are chart packs which will arrive to you neatly, containing a color photo page, an easy-to read, black and white chart page/pages, the suggested threads and finishing instructions, suggested linen, and a short page describing the inspiration for the sampler. All tucked inside a 3 ring binder plastic strong cover page for an organization binder to help you organized paper patterns. The binder is not included. For easy storage and travel, just unclick your pattern binder and pull out the packet with all the information you need to tuck in a stitching bag with threads, scissors and needles.

Digital formats will be forthcoming but not at this time.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeathersintheNest?ref=search_shop_redirect

This is the link above for the Etsy shop. The Nest Feathers Blog shoppe will be closed and instead items will be listed in the Etsy shop.

This is really an exciting part of my life, to share my love of samplers, and other needlework and "nesting"  with others!!

There is also now a Facebook page for Feathers in the Nest, managed by myself and Mr. Darcy, my one and only sweet, supporting husband!!!! He has future plans to sell custom-made sampler frames as he has a great gift of wood-working. Feathers in the Nest facebook page will keep you up-to-date every time an item is added to the Etsy shoppe and other FITN news.

Below is a logo that has been given permission by Ms. Lee Hanson to use for Feathers in the Nest.
I asked her 2-3 years ago when I saw this in part of her prints, so it's a well-loved print dear to me.

 The first sampler pattern I offer is The Royal Wedding sampler.

 

With a baby soon to arrive, you know I'll be working on a sampler for the little one as well. I wished I knew if this wll be for a boy or girl. Either way, it's a historical marker I want to put on linen.

 

Other news.........................this weekend has been the best!  The sun shined all weekend. It's been quite a while without a rainy weekend. The weather took a cool spell Friday night with temps going into the 40's. We had one last wood stove fire going to warm our toesies while I knitted away. Up here in the mountains, I believe it's called Blackberry Winter but today we are back in the 70's and dry. It's just beautiful outside.

 

 

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
and never stops at all."- Emily Dickenson 

 

I hope you have a great ending to a beautiful weekend,

Jennifer