Days 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.....

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to ~

9 days lapsed....

but they were filled with everything I cherish most in life:

my family

I'll not wax on sentimental...

I'll just share a few pictures of our days together: 

Then during the lazy days between then and now....

I actually LOVE to do some finishing for ME

Antique Brown Perforated paper using Classic Colorworks as charted.

Snow Globe Ornament...

came up with the idea last year. Perfected the finishing process this year. Likely will be a tutorial to explain process sometime soon.

Designer: Roselyn Pittet of Fleurs de Lin

Design: Joyeux Noel 2018

Pretty Packages tied up with string...

are a few of my favorite things.

Heart in Hand free design for subscribers of her newsletter.

Can sign up HERE

and for interested parties that would like to know how I did the finish, I created a video tutorial free (just like always) for you: HERE

Thank you...

so very much for your presence here in my life! Although there are always negatives to sharing anything to the public, the vast majority of my interactions are positive. I enjoy the true friendships I have made through my needlework. Without my needle and thread...in whatever fashion I choose to do it in, I have found true friends of the heart - across the world. For that I am truly and genuinely thankful. So a great BIG hearty THANK YOU to all of you who share with me the love of needle art, no matter where we are far or near.

May God's abundant blessings shine upon you, may He keep you in the palm of His hand, Guide and Protect you always!

Merry Blessed Holidays to one and all!

Vonna xxxx 

Day 19, 20....

~ Welcome and Warm Greetings to  ~

I am short on time...running, running, running, doing, doing, doing... as we all are at this time of year.

I had a few moments of silence with me, my snoring cats and my coffee this morning after my 1 hour on the elliptical: 

 

4:30 a.m. is early and this was about 6 a.m. 

Quiet solitude with me and my whispered prayers.

It is centering.

This Hobby Horse, still is my favorite and I love it bunches...

After this solitude I ran to....

the grocery and Sam's club to get some items I needed:

5 boxes of Oreos

4 pack of cream cheese

2 bags of candy

and 

One dozen eggs!

I've made 5 Oreo Cheesecakes today...whew...

Tonight Katie gets home from college after her final exam this evening!

Tomorrow we head south to spend with extended family and I have some more things to make...

So I'm running...

Merry Christmas,

Vonna xxxx

Day 18...

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to ~

wonder of wonders....

less than 12 hours and I'm back.

It's going to be quick because I have to go to the quilt shop again today.

An update on Jane Stanwix 1843 by Samplers Revisited color conversion by The Country Sampler in Spring Green Wisconsin FULL KIT WITH CONVERSION HERE or CHART ALONE HERE 

I purchased the kit so I am stitching her on 36 ct WDW Cocoa linen with Jeanne's conversion. The floss, is beautiful, but I didn't like the coverage on the house. I am stitching one strand over two on 36 count....with as dense as the house is, I felt I was seeing the linen through the stitches and I didn't like it. I was to the second row of windows before I figured out  that if I was to be happy with this house, it needed to be done differently. So rather than tearing it all out and restarting with 2 strands of floss....I just did another leg of the top stitch. So for illustration purposes I stitched my first leg / and when I crossed it \ to make the X - the coverage wasn't good enough...so I did a second \ which was the perfect amount of coverage SO each stitch on this house is: / \ \ to make my X. A little tip from me to you if you ever get a little less than perfect coverage on a piece. I am looking under a 5x magnifying glass when stitching and you can't tell the bottom leg is only one strand and the top is two. 

I also have been dreaming of my plans for quilts in 2020. My friend Melinda, who lives just about a half hour away, loves small/mini quilts. She says they are perfect for decorating, easy to do - as in you won't get tired of doing the blocks over and over and over, and you can get them done relatively quickly. I've made about 4 mini quilts myself, but I have a whole library of my mini quilt favorite designers...after sharing lunch and exchanging gifts last week with Melinda I pulled my library and have been perusing them in the evenings before bed:

My favorite designers for quilting are: Jo Morton, Kim Diehl and Kathleen Tracy...

although Coriander quilts (Corey Yoder from BERLIN, Ohio!!!) is right in there too...

Today Matthew at Best Advent Ever...

had a poignant video. Powerful really, the video was entitled: Life is Messy.

Boy is it ever, right? In the video he speaks to the fact (and we all have heard this in one way or another) that everyone we meet is carrying a burden in one way or another. Some burdens may not be as heavy as another's burden, but burden it is nevertheless. He also quotes the beginning of a song in the musical  Les Miserables that opens: 

"There is a grief that can't be spoken, the pain goes on and on." 

I have seen Les Mis several times on the stage and this song is toward the end of the musical. All of us carry grief with us...and the pain does go on and on. When we think about this and the fact that we all have them: because no matter how perfect a life someone else in your life seems to have - news flash - it isn't. Life is messy. Everyone holds grief in their hearts, everyone has burdens...however I believe that how you deal with your messy is the difference between burden and joy. We all know people whose glass is half empty...we also know people whose glass is half full. It is all about how they deal with their messy. Our response to another's messy? Well that makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it? You can think in a self-serving, self-centered, judgmental way that: well they aren't doing how I want them to do or how I think they should do so I am going to treat them like XX (fill in the blank)

come on - if we are all honest with ourselves we ALL do that - I'll admit at times I do that. I even do that to myself...wallow in self pity - woe is me all the day long. 

OR you can affirm that we all are dealing with messy and I'm going to put on some gloves and handle it gently, with love and respect and utmost a little understanding. 

Dr. Seuss once said: "be the change you want to see in the world"

Put on some gloves and start understanding another's messy, because life is messy - mine, yours and the guy down the street.

Be kind.

Be understanding.

Be helpful.

Be joy.

Because if you do that....it will make all the difference in your own messy.

Personal thoughts on a gray day...from me to you. Take them or leave them. I've got on my gloves and I'm keeping my eyes on my goal. 

Well being as I have to work....

time to our celebration with our extended family is short....

I have to run, because I have to load up Eunice the Unity to haul her to work (and she's a big girl). I prefer to give homemade gifts to our family and I've worked so much this month my plans have gone out the window, so I'm going to have to take my work to work so that I can work on my Christmas gifts between customers and phone calls.

Until next time....

whenever that may be (I am not promising anything to anyone)

May your days be merry and bright!

Vonna xxxx

Days 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14,15,16.17....

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to the ~ 

Well...

Many days have passed and I'm quite certain that many of you(and I know for a fact a couple) think I have walked away , left you hanging and given up on my efforts for the Days of Christmas.

Nothing could be the further from the truth.

What have I been up to....

following my road of preparing the way (myself) for the coming of the Lord, just as I anticipated on Day 1...I have followed through every day. As you know, I am following the Matthew Kelly "Best Advent Ever" program at Dynamic Catholic HERE 

And I am being tenacious in my quest to live my best life and be the best me, I can be. 

Matthew has been focusing on a couple of key points in his daily videos. He talks about being a saint, that we all can be one, that God has a plan for us if we just trust in him, he talks about fear of failure, fear of disappointment in self, in others, fear of success....

Today he had a particularly wonderful point:

"Fear belongs to people without firm direction in their life."

To illustrate this point he talks about Peter and the disciples in the boat with the storm coming on and they see Jesus walking on water. Peter asks Jesus can I walk on water Lord? and Jesus says, "Come" Peter steps out into the water and he too is walking but then he hears the wind blow and the large waves crashing and he begins to sink. Why? Because he lost his firm direction. He took his eyes off Jesus. 

How many of us in our lives, in our faith walk - whatever that may be - take our eyes off our goals and begin to sink? 

Now some may be thinking I'm saying I've failed in this Days of Christmas daily blog goal that I had. No, I am not...I have not failed and let me share with you why.

I am a relatively active person. I have a relatively, by today's standard, large family. There are hills and valleys - as all people see in life. Some days I'm walking on the clouds and some days I'm slogging through mud in the valley. We all have that, right? I have not failed in my Days of Christmas to date because: I have kept my eyes on Jesus. I have done what He asks me to do: Be in service.

I work outside the home...

 one day a week - normally. This month to date, I have worked 12 days. It is day 17 today. That means I have had 5 days of "freedom" which if you note was about how many daily blog posts I have done. 

The owners of the quilt shop needed some time off...

so I filled in (and am continuing to fill in) as they need help. I am doing what Jesus asks us to do: treat our neighbor as we would be treated. There are times in life, where we need help. I hope in my hour of need there is someone there to help me - and I know there will be  - because I believe that as I have done, so shall someone do for me - Somehow, sometime, somewhere.

I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus.

I have a family, working 9 hours a day outside the home means, double the work left undone inside the home...I still have daily meals, laundry, dishes, homework, cat litter to scoop, house cleaning, and one hundred and one other little things that I have to accomplish each and every day. I'm happy to say: I've done it. Not one thing has slid. 

I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus.

I have responsibilities...

have given my word - and I keep my word - because I am only as good as my name and my word. I am a coach for Ellie's Science Olympiad Team. I said I'd coach and test and help at a 2 hour meeting every week. I have friendships that need tending. Holiday get together where friends have invited and want to celebrate our friendship and the season of giving by getting together and sharing hope and love as is right during this very special season. I am the bereavement luncheon chair person and there has been two funerals this month. When a person is in need, if I can help at all - I do.  I've participated, I've helped. 

I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus.

I also have a responsibility to myself....

I am walking a road (and have been for 1 year now) to better health. I have to plan, prepare meals that are designed to help me attain my goals of weight loss and better health. I have promised myself that I will exercise one hour every day throughout the season. I deserve some of the time I share easily with others to be given to me so that I may rejuvenate myself, lift my spirit and nurture my body to help me attain my goals. 

I'm keeping my eyes on Jesus.

We've had 2 Birthdays in the month of December...

The twins on Dec. 4 and Katie on Dec. 11. I've traveled to my college kids to make sure that they are celebrated, know they are loved and cherished and special. 

I also am co-host of a popular podcast...

that means Wednesday shows to tape, Live Friday shows to do, Sunday Interview shows (although I don't do every one of those), Starter series, special Christmas shows....

I do what I need to do, what I said to do for that. I enjoy it, I consider it "me" time because needle and thread and all talk about it feeds my soul.

Want to hear me several times a month? See me too? Then subscribe to Fiber Talk HERE

What I have not done is come to this blog to post daily updates about my life...

why? Because I'm living it, by keeping my eyes on Jesus as best I can, each and every day.

Failure? I think not. I'm doing the very best I can, keeping my eyes on Jesus and trying not to fail by being judgmental, vindictive, self serving, self centered and all the other things that for me is very easy to fall into...believe me I am the worst sinner.

This is what I am trying to remember during this time of anticipation of our Lord:

God sent his only son to earth to be: human.

He was born of virgin teenager, inside a cave, wrapped in rags, laid in a water trough where animals drank...God chose to humbly bring his son to earth. Quietly, while shepherds stood watch. The king of kings, the Lord of Lords...wrapped in rags and laid in a water trough. Think about that.

Humility is hard. Pride...ever pride the serpent raising its ugly head. I'm trying real hard to keep my eyes on Jesus and remember my humility. Remembering He came to serve and His asking me to serve is the very least I can do.

Until the next time...

whenever that may be....

I leave you with several photos of how I've packed my days the last 13 days...
Merry Christmas,
Vonna xxxx

Days 5, 6, 7, 8.....

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to you all ~

for the 

I'm alive and well...

just working at the quilt shop full time this week to help out cover for a quilt retreat that one of the owners wanted to attend. 

I work today and I work tomorrow and then Sunday after Mass we have planned to go up to Indianapolis to visit and celebrate the birthdays of the boys and Katie's (which will be here Dec. 11) jointly. So I don't want to stress myself any further by adding making sure I blog...so my apologies I won't be here again until next Monday.

However Today is Dec. 6 and it is St. Nicholas Day!

When I was a child and of course my own children...

LOVED St. Nick's Day!

Being a Catholic and of German descent we celebrated St. Nick's Day by leaving a pair of shoes and socks out and St. Nick came and filled them with treats!

You can read a bit about the tradition (similar to the tradition of Sinterklaas in the Netherlands, I believe) : HERE

So happy St. Nicholas Day! Say a special prayer for him - today in the spirit of St. Nicholas, do something special for someone else. I plan on doing as many "something specials" or random acts of kindness, that I can. Join me!

and Finally....

I think that some people do not know that I appear LIVE every Friday night on Fiber Talk on YouTube. I also am on every other Wednesday on Fiber Talk Podcast and several (if not all) Sunday Shows when we interview needle artists of all varieties. 

Tonight is: 

FIBER TALK LIVE at 8 Eastern, 7 Central, 6 Mountain and 5 Pacific. In the UK it is 1 a.m. and believe it or not we have a couple who set their alarms to wake up and join us! ha ha!

Follow Fiber Talk on YouTube: HERE 

just click on the SUBSCRIBE button and ding the bell to get alerts when we are live (or uploaded a new video or podcast)

Well it is off to work I go...

I have been going in an hour early to sit and stitch in peace and quiet before the day before I have to turn on the open sign and unlock the door....hahahaha!

Until Monday...

Merry Christmas,

Vonna xxxx

Day 4....

Happy Birthday to my handsome boys!!

Ian and Jacob

20 years old today!

Doubly blessed were we on this very day 20 years ago!

WE LOVE YOU!

Day 3.....

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome ~

to Day 3 of

Well here we are....

I always think I won't have enough things to share for 25 days on this blog...but in reality...I have so much going on in one day in my life I could write probably 5 blogs a day! 

😂😂😂😂

Yesterday, as you know, I was called in to work at the Quilt Shop....

I've had people ask me what Quilt Shop I work at here in Bloomington, and there is only one, not necessarily identified as a Quilt Shop, but it is Quilt Fabric and Sewing Machine Dealer. I've worked there nearly 2 years and to be honest, I love it. I really do.

The name of the store is Klaiber's Sewing Center and we are off of West 17 Street - just down from Armstrong Stadium and Assembly Hall. I'm particularly proud of the website/webshop - Jacob and I built it and maintain it. Here is a link: KLAIBER'S SEWING CENTER

We sell Babylock and Janome machines and I have gotten pretty savvy at knowing what machine is the best for what you want to do. Heck I've even gotten really good at selling myself machines since I own 5 of them. Ha ha...but I will say this - I use every single machine I own and I love them.

See something you can't live without? Well you can buy it and we will ship it right to you!

😏

This weekend on Saturday we had Small Business Saturday Sale and I worked with several other ladies. Here is a snap of us from Saturday:

 

aren't the ladies sweet? I love each and every one of them...dear friends all!

Speaking of quilts...

in the last 2 years I've gotten rather proficient in piecing and quilting. I've made several quilts, large and small. I love quilting, although it will never replace my first love of stitching. All of my kids have quilts except Katie...she's not very happy about that since she's my first child, yet the last one to have a quilt made especially for her. So I wanted to make something special for her. The boys were the first quilt recipients and they are very "American" in the fact that they love patriotic memorabilia. So they have "America" quilts. Ellie loves cats so she has a "Parisian" cat and macarons quilt. Kate loves penguins. So when I saw Elizabeth Hartman's "Penguin Party" quilt pattern. How could I not get it and kit it and go! Here is a photo of the quilt that is on the front of the pattern: 

So I got started...cutting and cutting and cutting. This is all flannels and will be my first wool quilt. 

2.5 - 3 hours later (I lost track) Here are all the pieces (minus the sashing):

I then stated following the pattern and the first step was to make the eyes. So there you go: 20 penguin eyeballs.

I was hoping that Santa would bring this quilt...but I'm beginning to wonder.

Yesterday at the quilt shop I had a finish of the cross stitch variety:

"Joyeux Noel 2018" 

By Rosalyn Pettit of Fleurs de Lin

stitched on 32 ct. black evenweave using DMC colors.

**Here is a tip from me to you: if you want to stitch on dark colors, choose evenweaves only - not linen. Why? I find that linen threads being uneven makes it hard for older eyes to actually see where to place the stitches. (believe me I've tried several times) Linen is also not as tightly woven as an evenweave cloth is, and that makes light come up from the bottom and for me that is completely distracting and somehow does not help me at all to see holes. I feel like I'm going to have a seizure in fact - it hurts my eyes. I cannot have the light come up from the bottom and having a light towel on my lap doesn't help any at all either for the same reason as above...it hurts my eyes or makes me feel disoriented like I'm going to have a seizure. I like Evenweave, densely woven cloth...with very BRIGHT LED lights and magnification. Try it! I think you'll see what I mean. 

I have a really good idea...

about how to finish this ornament. I hope I can get it to work out so I can share it with you!

My Jane Stanwix 1843... 

Got a little attention, but not enough to really share anything because:

1. I was working yesterday

2. I had to record a Fiber Talk last night

3. I had to do my second ride on the elliptical last night

4. I ran out of time.

RIP....

Today's installment from my Advent of Hope studies....

I woke up not feeling the most enlightened this morning. I did my usual: make lunches, ride the elliptical for 45 minutes while doing that I listen to Matthew Kelly's Best Advent Ever daily installment 2 or 3 times (I do this because I never pay good enough attention and so I listen over and over and over to make sure I fully HEAR it). Then I read a couple of chapters of my current inspirational book which is: "Joy to the World" by Scott Hahn. . . today both the daily video from Best Advent Ever and the chapters read in the book weren't very "in my face" inspirational. I'm like that...sorta if it doesn't hit me or doesn't speak to me, or I'm not struggling with that day's lesson then - sorry not inspired. BUT what did hit me between the eyes was my daily inspirational "come to Jesus" throughout the year book that I look at every morning. It is set up with the day's date and then on the page are several Biblical Verses or Inspirational Quotes. What struck me in this book was the Psalm for today which was:

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all the day long." -Psalm 25:5

I've been particularly struck with Psalms lately...typically not my favorite book in the Bible...but each one that has struck me recently has spoken to my struggles in daily life.

As Matthew speaks of in today's video...

many of us walk through life sleep walking, on auto pilot - journeying from one task to the next. I struggle with that. I set up my days as a series of goals - I jump one hoop, then move to the next, and the next, and the next and the next. I count my day as a success when I have jumped all my "hoops" and I feel very disappointed when hoops are left un-jumped. My husband says he has never seen someone accomplish as much as I do in one day and then feel disappointed because I feel I have done enough. It's true...it is rare that I feel happy with what I've accomplished. I always have one more task, one more thing to do ... I'm a conundrum.  While I think about God throughout my day, sometimes I don't have a "relationship" with him. I don't credit Him or don't recognize the many blessings, miracles, wonders that I witness or see every day. And they are there - every day. I've been thinking for the past year really - particularly the past 6 months that I am missing out in life. I'm letting it run by me. I need to stop more often - and see the goodness of the Lord. So again, God has hit me right between the eyes (thank you Lord!) - when in the beginning of the morning - I was dissatisfied with today's inspirational readings and video...I go to my next book and there! THERE! I find it!

"Guide me in your truth and teach me..."

Yep...blessings, miracles and wonders...never cease and happen EVERY day.

Until tomorrow...

Merry Christmas, 

Vonna xxxx

Day 2....

~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to you ~

my friends here with

DAY 2

of

First I will share with you my start on: 

Jane Stanwix 1843

Not a huge amount of progress....

I definitely was planning much, much more of a big reveal here for my first full day of stitching. 

But you know Rome was not built in a day and the best laid plans blow up from time to time.

I bought Jane at the Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin as a kit. Jeanne has some of the BEST color conversions and so...there you go, I bought her when I saw Jeanne's version. 

I cannot share with you the conversion because it is Country Sampler's copyright, but you can buy a kit from them and have it for yourself. 

Here is the link to the sampler: JANE STANWIX at Country Sampler 

She's being stitched on 36 ct. Confederate Grey using DMC and Gentle Arts.

Speaking of best laid plans....

Last evening I was making myself some oatmeal for supper. My phone rang and it was the owner of the Quilt Shop. The lady who works Monday's was sick, so can I work? Of course, I can...although I did have a date with my washer and dryer and also some finishing I want to get done and out of here.... but I love the owners and it was their day off so of course I can fill in.

Which leads me to today's installment of my Advent of Hope....

I am doing a couple of things for Advent. I'm getting the daily emailed videos of: Best Advent Ever with Matthew Kelly. Long time readers/followers of me, will know that I partake of a lot of Matthew Kelly's studies (Best Lent Ever, Best Advent Ever, Daily Meditations...) I like him. He's like me: flawed and striving to be better. He has sensible, solid, thought provoking words that simply help me understand me and help me on my road to heaven (I hope!).

I awoke to a couple of things this morning....

a less than positive email, a less than (in my mind) positive comment on a social media feed I was following and being the sensitive person I am, I got upset. Quickly.

See I have several flaws and as is my way, I am going to point them out and share them with you: I am too sensitive, I am quick to anger and I react to being hurt too quickly. 

Why am I like this? Well partially it is how God made me and is part of my genetic make up. Part of it is the little girl who was made fun of most of her life and never had a voice to speak up and tell them to shut up and look at themselves. Part of it is: I had no voice then, but I sure (as heck) do now. But most of it is flaws: too sensitive, too quickly angry, reading too much into something, caring too much what others think of me and simply not just blowing it off. 

Who cares?!

I have this friend....

he witnesses much of my junk. And even though sometimes I don't agree with his take on things, he does yank me back to reality and out of my quick judgment, my too quick reading of the situation...and pulls me back and lets me think and observe from all sides perhaps a little better than I do on my own.

Now I don't always agree with his take, but he helps me to see a different view. And that's a real friend isn't it? One that knows maybe I don't agree with him, but loves me anyway - and the same goes with me. I am blessed that God placed him in my path.

While this was all going on this morning (and it's only 7:45 a.m. now and 2 hours has passed already): I was making lunches for my engineer and student, I was on the elliptical for my 45 minute morning ride, I was listening to today's Best Advent Installment and I was reading a passage of my Advent selection of: Joy to the World by Scott Hahn.

Boy....

I listened literally to the Best Advent Ever video for this morning 9 times. Yes...I did - no fooling.

I listened and thought...boy Lord, you are hitting me right between the eyes -  I need to listen again.

Then I did listen, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. more times....

I have no idea what I'm capable of...

I surely don't. I know that the Lord put me on this earth to be a servant. It is obvious to me and has been for some time - likely since I was a child. You see, I am happiest when I serve. Serving others, making them happy, comfortable, feel at home, comfort them when they are sad or sick, give them a helping hand, making people smile, making people laugh, listening to them and their problems or anxieties....all of those things are gifts God gave to me to help serve others. I often get people telling me: "you have much charisma, people are just drawn to you". My own husband said that is why he was drawn to me when we met, my sparkle, my shine, my charisma. That is shocking to me because I don't see myself in that way. I truly don't. All my life people have come in and out of my life - particularly as an adult...we meet, we speak, I lend a hand or listen and then they go. That shine or sparkle or charisma - whatever you want to call IS NOT me...it is God. It is His gift given to me and I just try my best to be the vessel and the shine he wishes me to be. I still fail horribly most of the time, although I do pick myself up and try, try again.  Matthew asks today: the next time I have to make a choice, lay it at God's feet and ask the question: Lord what am I capable of? Here is what I have to do...I see these possibilities that I could do...what do you Lord, see for me? And to pray about it and listen before acting.

Just listen.

That's my problem too...listening...I don't calm my heart, my mind, my spirit long enough on most days to listen. So today it is my prayer...that some day soon I will learn to ask and then listen - not charge on like a bull in a china shop - which is my wont to do. 

Although I will say: God asks me to stop and listen, but He does not ask me to be a doormat and I will not be one. I have spent a large portion of my life being a doormat and actually thankful for the mud that people wiped on me...but I will not be one now. He does not ask that. Rather He asks me to stop and pray and listen.

OK, well I have 30 minutes to dash upstairs take a shower and put on some war paint to face the day.

See...hectic always in motion...but I am hopeful - ever so hopeful that I will soon learn to stop-pray-and most importantly LISTEN!

I will leave you with a shot of my holiday hearth. It brings me joy. 

Now...I gotta run...

May today be a day of thought provoking peace...

may it be so!

Merry Christmas, 

Vonna xxxx

Day 1....

~ Greetings and warm wishes to each of you on this ~

Day One

Today, December 1st marks the first day of Advent, the first day of the new liturgical year in the church and the first day of me trying to be better than what I am now.

You know it's hard sometimes to live life in the way that my heart yearns for...

peace, charity, humbleness, free from anxiety, hatred, jealousy...(fill in the blank)

I am just not the person I want to be....yet.

So today as I begin my Advent journey - the season of hope, the season of peace and goodwill...my mind reflects on the Psalm 51:10 -19 (I can nearly say it by heart...one of my goals is to memorize it completely and fully by Christmas Day.)

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

so that sinners will turn back to you.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, o God,

you who are God my Savior, 

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, lord,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

May it please you to prosper Zion, 

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

in burnt offerings offered whole;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Create in me a pure heart, O God...

may it be so!

After Mass this morning I lit a 7 day candle for my petitions...

there are many things that I pray about, but the one that I offered today in the silence of my heart was for me to have an Advent of preparation with attentiveness to my relationship with God. I have failed in that for many weeks, months...I haven't been as attentive, as pure of heart as I should be.

So my candle was lit with my particular petition to: create in me (and in you) a clean heart, O God...

Today marks the beginning of my 25 days of Christmas stitch: Jane Stanwix 1843

I am going to be posting my progress here every day...

and I will also be posting it on my Instagram (@vonnapfeiffer)

If you are wanting to join along in this stitch with me...please post your progress on Instagram with the following hashtags (so others may follow and we can find each other)

#janestanwix1843

#25daysofchristmasstitchwithvonna

Merry, Happy Christmas...

Vonna xxxx