New Beginnings

I have had a rough couple of years, not as a victim, I made a lot of choices that did not turn out well, and now I am adjusting and waiting on God to do His part.

Several of my close friends have been sharing words of wisdom with me, and I am confident these words came from God. One in particular, pointed out in Joshua 3 that God told the priests to FIRST get into the river and then God would do his part, so I also need to do my part WHILE praying and then God will do his part. I will be faithful. That is another area I am getting better at.... being faithful to God's will and His desires. That can be scary at times, but I am getting better at it.

I am also working on good daily habits and discipline in my life... need to keep working, saving, sharing and spending wisely, going to school at a balanced pace, so I may be employed in a challenging position for years to come, and I am starting to eat more wisely and exercise daily, so I can be healthy.

Lastly, I am working on my UFO's while building my quilting biz back up. I miss the creativity, want to finish the projects I have in works, even if they are only in the works phase in my mind, and I will need the extra cash to help fund my STOWF- Student Teaching Off Work Fund. So, please, pray that it all goes well, that God will guide me and others to me, and that I remain faithful if God directs me elsewhere, because I can be a little stubborn sometimes.

What are you working on these days?

More to come....

Shannon Nichols Fuscaldo

List revised (less than 24 hours later!)

Ha! I have to revised the list, the pink felted hat no longer goes with a coat I had and so I tinked it out and will use the yarn else where and I found two more UFO's!

Knit and crochet projects:
The Damn Tablecloth
Tan Cable Sweater
Maroon Vintage Vest
Purple Cable Short Jacket
Purple Tank Sweater
Teal Summer Shirt
Rust hand died wrap vest

Yeah!

No stitching on Mondays, so more manana! Tomorrow is Ugly Holiday sweater day at work, but I do not have one, so I may take my first knit sweater, THAT is UGLY! ughghgh. We'll see.

Shannon

Back to me and some lists to finish!

A week or so ago I had realized that part of getting back to the old me is doing the things I used to love to do, even when I do not have much time. Yesterday several of my friends of all ages came by so they could learn some new stitching skills (sewing, knitting, and crocheting) and we could just spend time together. That was the most fun I had in a while, thanks to you gals, you know who you are.

Today I finished two projects that I had recently started, it felt great to finish and I decided that this year I am not going to start any new projects until I finish all the ones already in progress and that I have the materials already purchased. And I need to try and balance the time between my sewing projects and my hand stitching projects, since I have both! I am keeping a list and I will post up dates and photos here of the finished projects. The only new projects I will start are those commissioned for pay.

Knit and crochet projects:
The Damn Tablecloth
Felted Pink Hat
Tan Cable Sweater
Maroon Vintage Vest
Purple Cable Short Jacket
Purple Tank Sweater
(don't think there are more since they are all in cubes in the sewing room)

Quilts:
Jay's
Marc's
Paper Pieced Stars for a friend
Mom's
Brig's
Tee Shirt Quilt for a friend
Blue Irish Chain
30's Retro blocks
Civil War 4 patch
Christmas quilt
(and there may be more after I go through my boxes again....)

So, I will be updating here. Pray for finishes!

Shannon

Recovery means getting

back to who I used to be, I am not sure that is the "official" meaning as found in Webster's but that was how it was described in one of my very wise books.... So that is what I am focusing on, remembering the last time I was truly filled with joy and why. Joy from the Lord, not just happiness of an event or occasion.

I remember the things I loved to do, and why, but have let other things take priority in my life and now is the time to change all that back to what is really important and learn from the experience, so I can try to avoid this happening again.

I love so many things that God has placed in my heart: serving others, especially children, creating things form materials, spending a quiet day/time reading a good book with a cup o' joe, and visiting with loved ones!

This week I made some decisions to create more joy in my life, and do these things more. I am grateful to God for never having left while I was in 'limbo' and He waiting for me to obey.

Shannon

Your core...

You never realize how much you rely on your back- until is it hurt... I twisted or sprained my back last Monday and it still hurts.

I can only sit in one position for less than 30 minutes and I have to get up and stretch or the result will be worse. It hurts when I cough, and since I have some slight congestion still, this is bad....Yesterday I went shipping and the slow walking around the store felt good, at first, but after an hour or so I was in real pain and could not wait to get to the car to sit down!

When this happened before the doctor prescribed meds that made me very tired, I could not work, and so I decided this time to just try and "fix" it myself.... Any ideas on how?

Today I will try to set the time for 30 minutes and juggle between cleaning, school work and rest, so that I can be in different positions and movement and keep the muscles moving and flexible.

Prayers, please, I really hate this since it slows me down! (I think that is God's plan.)

Shannon

Today and this week's memories

Wow! I finally decided to journal more here, so it will really be MyMemoriesQuilted, but will leave the name as is and still post my work here for others to see.

This week was a very scary one for us, with regard to Jay. Too close for comfort, lots of tears, anxiety, and relief for us but sadness for another family. My prayers will be with Matt R and his family for a loooooong time to come.

I made a very BIG decision that really had been made by God long ago, but I was letting my "fear clobber my faith" and now I am committed to obeying God. I will need help with the faith but it does seem to be growing.

Lastly, this week I got a letter from myself, send a year ago at church. I read it through joyous tears that this year is better because I have decided it will be no matter what anyone else does. Thank you, God for giving me the strength and for carrying me when I need You. I am humbled by Your love for me.

Shannon

Lists....

I am a person that is stuck in liking organization but does too much to stay constantly organized. I like lists, blocks of time to do things, materials in their places, preferably grouped well, so I can find what I am looking for easily and other organizational tips and ideas that I have not been using lately. I am a busy person and have not taken the time lately to make a goal and priority list, but that will be the first list I do, then the action lists. I have not accomplished much in life but when I have, it was due to making a proper goal and then the list of activities that would be required to complete that goal. Today, I am going to start working on two lists... one of appropriate goals for now through the next two or three years and one of all the WIP's I have in boxes waiting to be finished... I miss sewing daily and remember a time when I used to sew every morning before I left for work.

I am not sure if daily sewing will be on the activity list, but sorting out the priorities will sure help determine that.

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon