Dear Friends, Happy October! How time has flown as we now enter into the fourth quarter of the year. I’d like to share with you an update or review of 2018 and my word of the year “Ease”. When “Ease” was placed on my heart, I never knew what it would entail. At the beginning of the year, when I chose “ease” as my word, here is what I wrote
In thinking what EASE means to me, in my mind, ease doesn’t mean easy. Instead, ease means being a little gentler and kinder to myself. It means giving my cares to God and letting Him do His work in me. Ease means love. It means slowing down and seeing beauty. It means enjoying the moment, being present in the moment and giving thanks. Ease means saying no sometimes as well as the opposite in saying yes and acceptance. It means releasing; releasing the Bee club, releasing myself from addiction to sugar and releasing excess weight, releasing myself from clutter and releasing anxiety. Ease also means love; loving myself, loving my family and loving all who are in my life – which includes you. And finally it means to do all these things with out anxiety, guilt or anger. Ease has me rewriting my goals and plans for 2018.
I have truly been trying to appreciate each and every day. Our oldest daughter will say, “I have to get XYZ finished, not having it finished is causing me so much stress.” I’m sure she has picked that up from me. How I wish I would have taught her, yes, you do need to finish XYZ, but it shouldn’t cause you all the stress. It is the journey, the day-to-day we need to appreciate. The day-to-day is our life and every day holds value and goodness and although this sounds cliche, we need to ‘enjoy the journey.’ And enjoying the journey is what I’ve been trying to do.
I last updated you on April 3 and you can read that blog post here. You can see below what I had planned for the spring and summer and in red is what was actually accomplished or how I want to move forward.
I’ve lost 16 pounds – 14 more to go – I’ve lost another 8 pounds, 6 to go. I have found that eating sugar just doesn’t make me feel well. I crave it and then regret eating it afterwards because of how I feel.
Get out of the house more and be around those who share similar interests – I’ve enjoyed my monthly sewing club, see the mini quilt above. I took a Jelly Roll Rug class – Fun! I’ve attended the monthly local women’s business group when I could.
Continue exercise 3 times a week minimum – Most weeks.
Continue eating healthy – I do well for about a few weeks and then fall off the wagon, then do well for a few weeks and repeat.
Continue studying autophagy and try some occasional short-term fasting – I have tried fasting until 6:00 PM maybe 6 or 7 times. Then at 6:00 have a good sized healthy meal. I actually feel pretty good when I do this and a crazy thing is I’ve found I sleep really well on the nights that I do this. I continue to experiment with this, fasting until different times of the day.
Continue reading – I’m finished with my good books and need some more recommendations I don’t think I’ve read a single book since I last wrote this. I read a lot, just haven’t been reading books lately.
Spend regular time outdoors – the yard needs lots of attention now that winter is coming to an end. – Yes, but not as much as I would have liked.
Continue monthly applique classes at the sewing store – scheduled – Yes, unless I was out of town.
Attend Michigan Embroiderers Spring event – scheduled – Yes and that was so much fun!! And I will be speaking at the Spring 2019 event!!!
Attend a Kimberbell event – scheduled – It was cancelled.
Trip to Phoenix to see my in-laws – scheduled – Yes!
Weekend trip to Mackinac Island here in Michigan for our anniversary – scheduled – Yes! Such a wonderful trip and if any of you ever get the chance to go to northern Michigan I highly recommend it!
Host a dinner in our home everyone who went to the Holy Lands with us – scheduled – Yes, done!
Plan birthdays for my children – one in May, June and July – Yes, Done!
For my Embroidery It business
Blog more here – I’m feeling a calling to do more writing on this blog – I haven’t blogged as much yet I still feel compelled to blog more.
Continued monthly sew-alongs – Yes!
Continued free weekly alphabet letters – Yes!
Plan the Embroidery It Birthday Party – Embroidery It turns 4 on June 20th – Nope…Sigh. There was too much going on at that time. I considered postponing it but even that didn’t happen. I created several designs for it and I’m thinking I’ll just hang on to them until next June. I’ll be ahead of the game.
Plan to have new designs out every couple of weeks – For the most part.
Continued caring for my family and my mom’s needs – Yes
Other things that happened since April that were not originally scheduled have been:
Christy Wright was in Grand Rapids and I attended her Business Boutique conference
Restarted Weight Watchers
Bathroom remodel
Drove mom to Kansas City for my Niece’s graduation
Attended an Anita Goodesign event
Our oldest daughter Katie became engaged – Wedding July 2019
Had various family members visit
Two short trips – one to Kentucky and another to Hershey, PA with one day to Washington DC
Moved two of the kids back to college
It has been a lot, and I’m trying to enjoy each moment and each day. It’s the journey friends. It’s life and I’ve only been given one, so I better use it the best I can.
Now in moving forward, here is what’s on the docket.
Lose those last 6 pounds
Continue to get out of the house monthly for a sewing or embroidery event or class – I have a great local store and I found an amazing fabric/sewing store in Lansing, MI which is only an hour drive.
Continue to exercise 3 times a week minimum and walk daily
Continue to do my best to eat healthy
Try to get outdoors every day to either walk or spend time in the garden while the weather is nice
Host an Oktoberfest party for hubby’s co-workers
Become a certified barbecue judge – Random I know, but hubby wants to do this, especially when he retires so I’m going to get certified with him so we can do this together.
Attend the Michigan embroiderers Fall event
Continue playing handbells at church
Hosting Thanksgiving at our house for my brother and his family.
Hosting Christmas at our house with my in-laws visiting.
Continue caring for my mom’s needs.
Plans for Embroidery It this year
Blog twice a week
Continue sew-alongs but increase to 2 times monthly (one new design, one past design)
Continue YouTube videos
Free weekly alphabet letters
A new design every couple of weeks
A Christmas embroidery event
Future plans for Embroidery It
Write a book – I’d like to compile all the sew-alongs into a book. I have no idea how to do that but I can learn.
Friends, this is my wrap up over the last several months. As we enter into the last three months of the year, I plan to both finish strong and continue to embrace “ease” while enjoying the journey.
Hi Friends, Today I want to share a little story that involves caring for my embroidery machine and the question of should our embroidery machines be insured.
Last night, a big storm came through our area. We had a power surge due to a close lightening strike. (Just this past week my husband made the comment that perhaps we should invest in a heavy duty whole house surge protector). Y’all know I live out in the country and we have lots of tall trees surrounding our home. Lightening magnets.
About 30 minutes before, I told my husband I was going down the basement to unplug my embroidery machines. Both are plugged into surge protectors, but I know that if it is a direct lightening strike, even that won’t protect our electronics.
And then comes the storm
So the lightening strike was near our house and the power surge took out our air conditioner. Now before you feel bad for me, please don’t. Our air conditioner had made it 27 years and that is an unusually long time for the life of an air conditioner. In fact a couple of years ago we thought of replacing it but just ended up having it repaired. It was on its last leg and has served us well and we have known a replacement was in the near future. The lightening strike did no other damage.
So what this leads me to talk about is the value of our embroidery and sewing machines and things we need to consider. That lightening strike could have fried the electronics in my embroidery machines. I’ve been known to wake up in the middle of the night to thunder and make my way downstairs to unplug my embroidery machines, and unplug the computer too. When we leave home on an overnight trip, I try to remember and unplug my machines. However, sometimes I forget.
When I look about my house, my 10 needle is the single most expensive ‘home’ item we own. I know for a fact it is covered on our home insurance policy should something happen. But not all insurance policies are the same for high dollar items. It is possible you might need a rider policy for your embroidery machine. If you are using your embroidery machine for your business, is it still covered? That is another question you need to ask your insurance company. Home business items are sometimes covered differently. How is it covered? Does it include acts of God, vandalism, theft, fire, flood?
If you are renting, have you checked your renter’s insurance policy? Renter’s policies often ask for more specific details about your personal belongings in order for them to be covered.
Another story
At a sewing class I took, a lady was talking about her top-of-the-line sewing/embroidery machine. It was in her car while she was on her way to a previous sewing class. She had been in an auto accident and although she came out fine, her car and embroidery machine didn’t. Then, she couldn’t get either her home or auto insurance to cover the replacement of it. That was a heartbreaking loss for her.
Now I’m not saying this to scare any of you, but I am saying it to give you something to think about. Just make you truly know what is and isn’t included in your insurance policy. You don’t want something to happen to your machine and then find out it won’t be covered after all. Our machines are our babies and they bring us lots of joy as we stitch. And they are too dang expensive to let one crazy incident take them away from us.
Now, I’m enjoying my time down in the basement, where it is cool, even without air conditioning. And my embroidery machines are happily stitching as I type this. Also, hubby has ordered a super-duper whole house surge protector. We should have it in a few days.
If any of you have a related story to share, please do so in the comments. We can all learn from one another’s experiences.
Please know, in no way am I affiliated with this company or with Amazon. Also, I hesitate to give any recommendation as to how well it will work because I’m certainly not an expert in this area. What I can say is that my husband did his research and felt this one was best for our home and I trust his judgement with items of this nature. He is an electrical engineer and was able to install it for us this past weekend.
Also as a side note, I got a new air conditioner yesterday. 🙂
Thank you all for playing the little game in last week’s newsletter.
The final question in the game was, “Is there anything you would like to ask Nancy?”
What great questions you had! In fact, as I was reading them, I decided I would create a section in the newsletter called, “Ask Nancy”.
Some of the questions require more than what I can put in the newsletter and today is one of those times.
The question asked by most of you was,
Nancy, how do you get it all done?
The easy answer for me to give is, I don’t. (Did you notice Embroidery It didn’t have a birthday party in June? I just couldn’t pull it all off.) Things do slip through the cracks or have to wait for another day. But I have a list of things I do to share with you that certainly helps because I do get a lot accomplished each day.
Let me begin by saying, my husband and I are do-it-yourselfers and I don’t have a house keeper. I don’t have someone mow my lawn. We have, however, started taking the cars to the shop for oil changes and car repairs. The car dealer where I bought my car has free car washes so when I’m in town I run it through the car wash. That said, most everything else, we do ourselves around here. As for my business, I am a one woman show. I create the designs, stitch them out, photograph them, post on social media and develop my own website. When you get an e-mail from me, it is really me writing it.
First things first. Faith, Family, Health, Business, Fun. These are my priorities and in this order.
I’m usually up and dressed, ready to go by 6:30 AM.
I check my calendar the night before.
My calendar is my lifeline. I’ve used this post-it note system for 2 years now and love it. I’ve assigned the different colors of Post-it notes for different events. I can move them around as needed on the largest calendar I could find. Friends, this is a huge calendar. Green is for business, Pink is special events, Yellow is part of my marketing plan, Orange is personal and family commitments. My eyes can see exactly what needs to be done for the day and what is coming up. When life changes, I just move the Post-it note around to a different date. It’s the colors that keep me right on target.The calendar came from calendars.com and the post it notes fit it perfectly in the calendar grid blocks. They are 1″ x 3″ and I got them at the Dollar Tree for just $1.Flower Notepad Set
I am a list maker and have way too many lists around the house at all times.Planner Pen PocketsDaily Greatness journal is from dailygreatness.co
I also journal daily and write down my goals. I think just writing things down and getting them out of my head is huge.
I don’t like shopping. I used to, but don’t any longer. I take my mom grocery shopping once or twice a week and I do my own grocery shopping at that time.Embroidery Hoop Pockets
My day-to-day schedule always varies somewhat, but most days what seems to work for me is that during the morning, I’m either visiting my mom or caring for my home. Just before lunch I try to go for a walk or go to the gym. Then after lunch I spend my time working on Embroidery It. On average I probably spend 4 to 5 hours working on Embroidery It. Although some days it is 2 hours, some days, it is 10 hours. 🙂 I’m usually on my feet all morning but after lunch when working on Embroidery It, I sit down most of the afternoon. And some days I take a 15 to 20 minute nap.
My meals are much simpler. During the school year the kids are in college. But when home, I have one daughter who is gluten intolerant, one daughter is dairy intolerant, and a husband who doesn’t want to eat carbs. That has sucked the joy out of cooking for me. So I’m quite happy to pick up a deli chicken and make a salad to go with it. Also, when the kids are home, they help me cook, clean and mow the yard.
I watch some TV, but it is after supper. I’m addicted to reality TV like the show Survivor or America’s Got Talent. I never sit down and turn on the TV during the day.
I take care of my yard, but since moving to Michigan, I don’t really have a vegetable garden any longer. (Sad face as I miss that). I have wooded areas all around my house and the sunny area is grass. We just don’t get enough warm sunny days that it isn’t worth it for me to put in a vegetable garden. And believe me, I have tried.
I ALWAYS schedule doctor, dentist or other appointments first thing in the morning. I hate waiting because a doctor is running late.
Finally, supper is usually around 7:00 and after supper and my kitchen is cleaned up, I’m tired. My work day is over and it is family time. I usually read at bedtime. Lights out at 10:30 or 11:00.
Weekends are for church, family activities and time with friends. Sometimes I work and hour or two on Embroidery It on the weekends.
So there you have it. That is my general routine and how I get done what I do. I will tell you, I have been considering hiring help for my business. That would take it to a whole new level. I kind of feel like I’ve grown it to the best it can be on my own. I dream about what it would look like and be like if there was more than one of me. Should I hire help? I’m open to your suggestions and thoughts.
Friends, if you have a question, pleas ask and I’d be happy to answer it in a future “Ask Nancy.”
Happy April to all of you. I hope your Easter Sunday was full of blessings and a beautiful day for all. Our children were home from college and we had my mom over for Easter brunch and early dinner. We celebrated in church where I got to play the handbells and had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. They never get to old. 🙂
We are now in the second quarter of the year and it is good to reflect how things have been going and make any changes as needed.
My word for the year is Ease and when things seem to feel like they are getting out of hand, I bring that word back to the forefront of my thoughts. It hasn’t been a stress free quarter, but everything has been manageable with thankfully nothing spinning completely out of control.
One thing I told myself at the end of last year, I was going to do a better job taking care of myself. Since the year has started I’ve exercised at least three times a week, either going to the gym, walking, or joining my daughter at the YMCA. (The YMCA has been a lot of fun for us. I’m not a member but on Fridays during March she could bring a friend or family member for free). The closest YMCA is about 30 minutes from our home and is affiliated with rehab of one of our local hospitals. Emily receives physical therapy there as part of her recovery from her rollover car accident last July. (PS. She is doing so much better. She faces one final foot surgery this year and has been accepted into nursing school! God is so good!)
I’m eating better and have lost 16 pounds, 14 more to go. I’m determined to do this. I’m reading and studying about “Autophagy.” You can google it to find out more but it is basically a system in our body that clears away cellular waste and by doing things to activate it can improve our health.
I’ve tackled most of the furnace room – aka junk room. That area of our home was out of control and I’ve taken several loads to charity. It feels good to have space back and to move around there and find things.
Another big thing is I’ve been feeding my mind and reading much more than in 2017. I rarely read fiction. Most of what I read are true stories or business and self help books. I’ve actually already finished more books this year than listed here, but I’m sharing here only the best ones that I recommend and think you might enjoy as well.
Josiah’s Fire by Tahni Cullen – This book was recommended to me by my friend Michelle who owns Needle Little Embroidery. Oh my goodness friends, this boy is autistic and he writes on an iPad. He sees God, Jesus, angles and his story is just so amazing I cannot recommend this book enough. If you like books like Heaven is for Real and 90 Minutes in Heaven, you absolutely MUST read this book.
Believe Bigger by Marshawn Evans Daniels – I heard this woman speak on a podcast and just knew I had to read her book. She speaks about being open to God’s plan for our lives. I started to read this book and then started over as I knew I had to journal as I read it. There are so many nuggets in this book and it would be a good read for a book club.
Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel – This book speaks about the autophagy I mentioned earlier and speaks about the science of improving our health. Some of it I’m sure you’ve heard, but some of this is new to me and having been a nurse for many years I find anything with our health fascinating.
The Most Powerful Goal Achievement System in the World by Mike Pettigrew – When you are having trouble achieving your goals, this is the book to read.
Massive Action Equals Massive Results by Sunil Saxena – He says to believe you are capable of doing 20 times what you are currently accomplishing and suggests doing things like 30 day challenges, developing mini habits, setting a schedule, blocking uninterrupted time and believing in your goals.
Mini Habits by Steven Guise – This is an excellent book if you have a habit you want to create. There is a huge benefit of doing mini habits. They create success quickly and easily to propel you forward to even bigger habits.
Finish by John Acuff – If you are a starter and not a finisher, this is a must read. Lots of great suggestions on ways to get through the difficult part of any project and finish.
Anyway, if you are looking for a good read, I think all of the above books were just excellent.
A final area of my life I wanted to work on was getting out of the house more and to be around others who share similar interests. I signed up for a monthly class at a local sewing store. You can see the applique April egg in the photo above. We are gong through the months of the year making mini quilt blocks from the book Count on It – Art to Heart by Nancy Halvorsen. I’m also enjoying my weekly handbell practices at church.
So now moving into the second quarter of the year here are my plans.
Continue exercise 3 times a week minimum
Continue eating healthy
Continue studying autophagy and try some occasional short-term fasting
Continue reading – I’m finished with my good books and need some more recommendations 🙂
Spend regular time outdoors – the yard needs lots of attention now that winter is coming to an end
Continue monthly applique classes at the sewing store – scheduled
Attend Michigan Embroiderers Spring event – scheduled
Attend a Kimberbell event – scheduled
Trip to Phoenix to see my in-laws – scheduled
Weekend trip to Mackinac Island here in Michigan for our anniversary – scheduled
Host a dinner in our home everyone who went to the Holy Lands with us – scheduled
Plan birthdays for my children – one in May, June and July
For my Embroidery It business
Blog more here – I’m feeling a calling to do more writing on this blog
Continued monthly sew-alongs
Continued free weekly alphabet letters
Plan the Embroidery It Birthday Party – Embroidery It turns 4 on June 20th
Plan to have new designs out every couple of weeks
Continued caring for my family and my mom’s needs
Whew, that seems like a lot but really most is easy, fun and relaxing. I hope the first quarter of 2018 has been good for each of you and that you are following your path to reaching your goals for the year.
For a number of years now, each year has had a theme to it, or a word/phrase which I have focused on. Last year, the word which spoke to my heart was “TRUST.”
Little did I know at the time just how important that one word would be to me throughout 2017. I spoke that word over 90% of all the days in 2017. “Trust Nancy, Trust.”
I’ve been thinking about how I want to write this blog post without it coming across as a ‘poor me’ type post. I’m just going to type here and see where it takes me. My mindset for 2017 was in the tank.
2017 was a difficult year. It began in December 2016 when mom had her heart attack. (Other than slowing down more and being a bit more forgetful, she is doing well.) January, February and March were spent with me taking her to cardiac rehab three times a week as well as many doctor’s appointments.
April rolled around and I fell off an ATV and broke a couple of ribs. That threw me off for April and May.
Come June, our middle child Emily became engaged and we started up in full swing of wedding plans. Then in July, she was involved in a roll over car accident when another car coming the opposite direction turned left in front of her. God is so good as she came out of it with only 3 broken bones in her right foot. Here is the thing. I truly believe this is all God’s plan. God was saying, Emily, you are going to go through a little pain now and this will save you from much pain later on. Because after the accident, true colors were shown and in August she called the wedding off. Emily also decided she wanted to get a second college degree and get her nursing degree. This meant in July, August, September and October I was once again playing chauffeur and taking her to and from class, doctor’s appointments and physical therapy. Emily is now able to drive though walks with a limp and continues with physical therapy. We are probably looking at one more foot surgery this year.
November and December brought about holiday plans being in full swing along with my husband deciding to make a job change.
It was just a lot of things happening in 2017. Looking back, much of 2017 seems to now be a blur. I know I’ve focused on the difficult things here, as that is what really stands out in my mind, but many good things also happened. I had started the Embroidery Bee club with it opening it’s doors December 2016. That was a wonderful learning experience for me and was growth to my business. Our oldest daughter’s house sold which was a huge blessing. Hubby and I had our trip to Israel as well as a couple of local weekend trips in Michigan. Despite me speaking about the negative, life was good.
Back in November, I felt the word EASE placed on my heart. Now before fully accepting that word, I had made plans for Embroidery It and plans with moving forward with the Bee Club. I had written my goals for all areas of my life. However, the word EASE just kept swirling around in the back of my mind.
Finally with hubby’s decision to change jobs and in doing much reflection as well as family discussions, I decided to embrace the word EASE and let the Bee Club go. I cried a bit. It was like saying goodbye to a piece of me that I had nurtured and grown. At the end, there were just shy of 200 of you in the club. That, to me, was success. In all truthfulness friends, it was like running two businesses and just getting to the point where I couldn’t do it all alone. (You know I’m a one woman show here). The club was running, whether you saw it or not, I felt like I was dropping the ball on the rest of Embroidery It.
In thinking what EASE means to me, in my mind, ease doesn’t mean easy. Instead, ease means being a little gentler and kinder to myself. It means giving my cares to God and letting Him do His work in me. Ease means love. It means slowing down and seeing beauty. It means enjoying the moment, being present in the moment and giving thanks. Ease means saying no sometimes as well as the opposite in saying yes and acceptance. It means releasing; releasing the club, releasing myself from addiction to sugar and releasing excess weight, releasing myself from clutter and releasing anxiety. Ease also means love; loving myself, loving my family and loving all who are in my life – which includes you. And finally it means to do all these things with out anxiety, guilt or anger. Ease has me rewriting my goals and plans for 2018.
I can tell you having already embraced ease, I feel a sense of peace and a feeling of openness. And I know that when I allow my life to be open, it enables good things to enter. I have an anticipation of good things coming this year for myself, my family and my business. We will just have to wait and see where this year takes me. I’ll keep you posted.
If you have chosen a word or theme for the year, I’d love to hear.
My husband and I were blessed to have the opportunity to join 43 others in our church family to go and experience the Holy lands of Israel. We saw where Jesus was born, lived and died. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we all came back changed. It was an honor to carry your prayers with me, and each day as we celebrated mass they were placed at the foot of the alter and prayed for. I was humbled at all you experience and the prayer requests you sent. Know that although on the last day, we left all the prayers there in Israel for future pilgrims and visitors to pray over. You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
I hope you enjoy this photo montage of my experience and time in Israel.
Beautiful paintings in the churches. Here in the city of Bethlehem. I think I’ve seen this one turned into a Christmas card.
Homes of the wealthy
Homes of the poor
Church of the Holy Sepulchre built over Calvery. This was the most moving and memorable place for me on our trip.
Morning sunrise coming up over the Sea of Galilee. It was sunny every day of our trip with temperatures in the 80’s.
On a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to the city of Capernaum.
Synagogue ruins in the city of Magdela where Mary Magdeline is from. These were discovered in 2007 under 2 feet of dirt. This was just opened to the public 2 months ago and they are some of the best preserved ruins. This the the tile floor of the synagogue and they are 99% certain Jesus taught right here.
King David’s 23rd Psalm – Valley of the Shadow of Death. The sun never reaches areas of it. Thieves would hide in the shadows yet travelers wanted to take the trails their to be out of the heat of the sun.
We were fed well. Buffet breakfast and dinner. Note: I was expecting to eat a lot of beans. I wasn’t sure what we would get to eat. We had seafood with every meal. Always hummus and bread. Stuffed grape leaves with supper. Always amazing desserts.
Streets of Old Jerusalem
This is also in Old Jerusalem and it is open to air. It is more modern, yet it is just an open shop and we just walked right by. We could touch the meat hanging there as we walked along the cobblestone streets. 🙁
More beautiful paintings
In Cana. We had just finished renewing our wedding vows. We wore the ear pieces in each church so our guide could speak quietly and we could all hear what was being said.
Delivering coffee and tea to the merchants.
Spices for sale
We spent an hour of prayer at a church here at the Garden of Gethsemane. It was from 9 to 10 pm. Like Peter, I could not stay awake. Some of these olive trees are over 2000 years old. I imagine they would have been quite young and small when Jesus prayed here.
Jordan river. People were getting baptized here. Behind us is a rope with buoys. The other side of the rope is the country Jordan. Signs all around stated do NOT cross the rope or you may get shot! If you look past all that has been added by man, you could just imagine Jesus getting baptized by John among the reeds.
One cannot see these things and remain unchanged. I think about this trip every day since my return and how it has brought the Bible to life. One of the greatest things to see was the strength of the Christian faith and the community of believers from every country around the globe.
If you recall, from this post HERE, I’ve been learning how to make Kombucha. It has become a summer project for me to learn about and follow the process and you can google kombucha to learn more about it. Essentially, it is fermented tea that is very low in alcohol, yet plentiful in probiotics and B vitamins and is said to be very healthy for us.
I’ve created a design set for all you kombucha lovers. These are great stitched on a koozie to go around the kombucha bottle or stitched on a t-shirt or apron. For anyone who enjoys kombucha, stitch up some related items, add a bottle or two and it makes a great gift basket.
Yes, I’ve gone a little overboard trying different fruit flavors.
And because this is a process that can change with each batch, kombucha brewers keep a notebook of all the details for each batch. This design can be used to decorate the brewer’s notebook.
There are 3 designs total in the set and all fit in your 4 x 4 hoop.
And if you haven’t tried Kombucha yet, grab a bottle at your local grocery store, it is located in with the refrigerated produce. Let me know what you think as I think blueberry is wonderful!
My word of the year for 2017 is TRUST. Friends, let me tell you that rarely has a day gone by when I haven’t said that word in my head again and again. God is good – always. And He is in control – always.
You may recall, mom had a heart attack just before Christmas. Let me report she is doing wonderful. We’ve just finished up 3 months of cardiac rehab and she really has her energy and strength back to where she was at before the heart attack. – Trust.
I do see her getting a bit more forgetful with time and repeating herself as I hear the same news again and again many days in a row. – Trust.
Something I haven’t shared with any of you is in early April our oldest daughter who finished her 4 years in the Air Force had a house that she was trying to sell. It had been under contract twice and both times fell through. The third time it was under contract, one week before closing it was broken into by gang members and vandalized. Everything was broken, painted, torn up, smashed. This was back in April. I know this is all just physical “stuff”, but it was one of the most heart breaking things I’ve ever had to deal with. I think it was so hard because it just made no sense whatsoever. I’ve dealt with mom’s heart attack and dad living with cancer and some of that I explain to myself by saying it is a part of life. But when someone blatantly does something malicious, you are just left feeling numb. – Trust. Let me tell you, by the grace of God, the house did close. For weeks after, I kept thinking that something would still come back to haunt us with that house. Thankfully now, most days pass and it is a slowly fading memory.
When events such as these happen in our lives, and I know life changing events happen to all of us, it reshapes it. It changes our perspective and our goals. I know it has not only affected me, but it has affected Embroidery It. Goals and plans have been adjusted and changed as needed.
These have been just a couple of examples how “trust” has been placed on my heart. Seriously though, there has hardly been a day that has passed when I haven’t thought, “just trust Nancy, just trust.”
With everything going on, disarray has settled in. Many things need to be finished. I turn my head I see something that requires a phone call to be made, an e-mail to send, or steps to take to finish the task. When you see that all the time, your mind can’t relax, and you don’t feel peace. I have said my focus in July is to “complete”. Finish all the little things yet to be done. I’ve been keeping a running to-do list that grows as I see things that need to be done. It helps though to get everything on paper and it even helps me by writing here and getting thoughts and feelings out of my head. I’ve come to realize my word for, if not just July, the last half of the year should be “complete”.
What’s an embroiderer to do but that to my shirt cuff. The soft denim shirt I wear every day like an apron. As “complete” was stitching I realized how beautifully it goes with the word “trust”. “Complete Trust.” Amen.
I have complete trust; to finish the tasks at hand, for my family, for my mom, for my health, for Embroidery It, and the list goes on.
Have you kept your word of the year top of mind? Has it had meaning in your life? I’d love to for you to share in the comments and hear your story.
Previous blog posts about Trust this year may be read HERE and also HERE.
Michigan was hit with a huge wind storm on Wednesday leaving hundreds of thousands without power. We were one of them. No electricity, not internet or cell phone service. Thankfully as soon as hubby got home he was able to connect a small generator we have to run enough electricity for the refrigerator, deep freeze and well pump so we could have water. . We had a couple of large trees fall, one hitting our daughter’s boyfriend’s car. We will take care of that. Trust. Now I’m a country mouse through and through, but little hiccups like these throw me for a loop. Trust.
Friends, since I chose the word “Trust” at the end of last year, that word has come into my mind every single day. I don’t understand why that one simple action of trust is so hard for me. I think about it and pray. Alot. You can read my initial blog post on trust HERE.
I think and pray about the littlest of things. I try a new recipe and I hope it turns out and is not a waste of time and money. I’ve misplaced my car keys. My weight. Trust.
I think and pray about the bigger things. Hubby’s job. Embroidery It. Three college age children. My mom. Trust.
And I think and pray about the biggest of things. Natural disasters. ISIS. Drug trafficking. Trust.
I hear so many people say, “God doesn’t give us any more than we can handle.” Sometimes I think the truth is ‘we handle what God gives us.’
But lately, as I spent time thinking about trust, I’ve had a new perspective about it.
God is so great and he loves us so much, that perhaps we need to trust that when we come through our problems and issues, we will, in some way, become greater or better. God loves each one of us so greatly that he can use the simplest of our problems for His good to improve our lives.
So now as I think of my problems and I think of ‘Trust’, I wonder and think about how I will grow? How will my life become better as I come out on the other side? How is God using this situation in my life? I’m no longer going to just Trust I get through the situation. I’m going to Trust God has something in store for me that is good and wonderful as I get through to the other side of this problem or situation.
I hope you can see my thought process and understand the feelings I’m trying to convey here about Trust. And I trust that these words have in some way been a blessing to you.
You may have read on other blogs where people pick a word or focus for the upcoming year. I too have done this for several years now. I will ask God and pray about if there is something He would like me to focus on for the upcoming year. Some years a word or short phrase has been placed on my heart that I feel will have meaning and that God will use in my life in some way..
In 2013 my word was “Shine”. You can read more about it here, and here, and again here. 2013 was the year we moved to Michigan.
In 2014 my short phrase was “Forward Strong” and I wrote several blog posts about it here, and here and finally here. 2014 was the year I began Embroidery It.
Then in 2015 no words or phrases came to me other than I have felt like “Shine” is more what I would call a life word. It is a word I try to use to keep my internal compass pointing North. Friends, I always pray that others see a tiny piece of Jesus through me or that I am reflecting God’s love. I hope you see that in some way you see that through my writing, photography, or embroidery designs.
2016 had a word that I never blogged about, though had written in my journal and that word was “Serve.” When life threw choices at me, “serve” was a word I thought about and would try to choose the choice that would allow me to serve and ultimately “shine” for others.
Earlier this month I had been thinking and praying if God had a something he would like me to focus on and what came to me was “Trust”. Trust is something I have a hard time with. Like many of us, I like to be in control of what happens to me and around me.
On December 10th, I wrote in my journal how I was feeling discouraged about some things and “trust” was placed on my heart. The more I thought about it, the more it impressed upon me that this is what I should focus on during 2017. Some of the things I wrote at that time in my journal were:
When I am afraid – Trust
In reaching my goals – Trust
Handbell Choir – Trust (we lost our director before Christmas yet we managed to come together without a director and play at the Christmas Eve service)
Trust is only 5 letters long but it is a really big bold word. It is a word that when contemplating upon it brings me peace, joy and comfort.
Then on December 18th, mom called me early in the morning. She was having a heart attack. I didn’t know it at the time. In fact, I thought it was pneumonia. I drove to her apartment in the senior living complex and took her to the emergency room. Things went from crazy to worse and the doctor didn’t expect her to make it. Trust. In 12 hours things started to turn around. And then 24 hours things were even better. Trust. Mom spent 4 days in ICU and has spent another week in rehab. She gets released tomorrow back to her apartment and I’m setting up any nursing care she needs. She is walking with a walker and is week, but she is good. God is great. Trust.
Trust is a concept I have difficulty with. It is something I need to practice and I am sure that God will give me circumstances in my life this year that are going to challenge me with this.
Trust in the Lord ALWAYS
Nancy
be creative daily and live life beautifully
PS Friends, if you choose a word or phrase to focus on in the year, I’d love to hear what your word is.
On Saturday I was so happy to get a chance to take mom to the AQS show here in Grand Rapids. Mom has been a quilter for over 30 years and I think some of the quilts she has made rivals many of what we saw. Friends, I wish I could have gathered you all here with me. What a fun day it would have been for us all to be together to see all the hundreds of quilts and to shop at all the vendors. Even the vendors booths were loaded with quilts and inspirational goodies.
Just sit back get a cup of coffee and enjoy scrolling through the photos. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of quilts and so here are different ones that spoke to me in different ways.
Finally, HERE is my post from my last year’s visit to the AQS show if you’d like even more quilty goodness.
I finally received my CPAP machine a week ago. It seems like a long time in getting here and it has been months since my atrial fibrillation episode.
Perhaps I’m giving this machine too much credit but I have hopes it will solve many of my problems. I still have the very rare occasion of what I call my heart popping, which I know are PVC’s and my heart skips a beat. I’m hoping this machine will completely eliminate this. Of course I hope it eliminates my sleep apnea. It was recorded I would have 33 episodes an hour which seems insane to me. Normal is less than 5. After one week of use, each day it has recorded 2 or less episodes per hour! I’m hoping that with improved sleep my blood pressure will improve and that I will have improved weight loss because of having more energy during the day.
So speaking of weight loss. I’m exactly where I was when I started. I went on vacation for two weeks and it put me right back at ground zero. Sigh. Since Katie has moved back home she has literally twisted my arm to go to the gym. I’ve whined like a little child about going, but I’ve gone four times this past week. I’m not overdoing it because of fear of my heart, but I’m at least moving my body. I’m walking just under two miles on the treadmill at 3.5 miles an hour and doing a few strength exercises. Today at the gym I was lucky enough to see a full length side view of me. (not) It is down right disgusting and depressing. Why is it that I have wanted to lose weight for so long that I’m not willing to fight tooth and nail for it? I just don’t understand myself. I try. I keep on trying. I will not stop trying.
Today is a new day. Every minute is a new minute. Every minute is a chance to make a decision to move forward, or backward. Here is to moving forward with good health.
One thing I’m trying hard to do with healthy living is clean eating. But wow, there are so many different ideas as to what clean eating is. Some say no wheat or grain, some say no dairy, some say no meat. Makes my head spin. There are more books on clean eating than you can shake a stick at.
One thing I’ve learned in my life is that most everything should be in moderation. Any time we swing the pendulum to one extreme or the other we are usually asking for problems. Of course there are exceptions to this.
My definition of clean eating is that if it came from God, then it is good for me. I’m all about fruits and vegetables and trying to get more of them in my diet and to make them the majority of what is on my plate. I’m also for meat and dairy products. Finally I am for healthy carbohydrates but in moderation. No more of the food pyramid where we have been encouraged to eat 6 to 11 servings of grains. I’m personally limiting myself to one serving of a healthy carbohydrate a day. I’m also ok with healthy fats and oils but again sparingly or in moderation.
I’m also ok with one cup of coffee a day and stevia as a sweetener in it. Limiting myself to 1 cup, not 1/2 pot due to the atrial fibrillation. Yep, that was me.
I’m ok if my food is not organic. Costco sells quite a bit of organic fruits and vegetables and many times all they offer of a certain food is organic which is fine. I’m just not going out of my way to buy only organic or free range or all those other ‘supposed to be good for me’ foods at twice the price.
What I’m not ok with is sweets. This is an addiction of mine. I’m telling myself I can have one desert a week. Not one after every meal which I had been having. And if that one a week fires up my sweet tooth, I may have to consider eliminating it completely.
I’m not ok with processed or pre-made food with the exception of condiments. I’m not going to the trouble to make my own ketchup, mayonnaise, or barbeque sauce as an example. I am, however, making my own Thousand Island salad dressing. Recipe below as it is easy peasy. I’m also personally ok with milk, yogurt, cheese and butter in moderation.
I’m not ok with deep fried anything. I love French fries so this is another tough one. Boy-oh-boy my eating habits were just out of control.
I think we all need to look at what works best for our own bodies and take that into account when deciding what we will or won’t put on our plate.
And here is my Country Style Thousand Island Recipe I told you about. Just click on the picture to enlarge and then print it out to add to your recipe box.
It has been quite some time since I have updated you on my health. When it comes to doctors, sometimes it can be a very slow process. As you recall, a few months ago, February 10th, I went to the ER and my heart was in atrial fibrillation. They shocked my heart to get it back in a normal rhythm. You can read about it HERE if you are interested. I think/hope that things are finally coming to a conclusion here.
Since that time I had an echocardiogram and a stress test. Both of which came back normal. Thank you Jesus for that. In fact the cardiologist says my heart is fine. I still on occasion feel my heart ‘pop’ which I know to be a PVC because I watched it on an EKG so I know what that feeling is related to. The doctor is not concerned about the ‘popping’ and it has been occurring less and less. Again, thank you precious Jesus.
What I have been tested for lately is sleep apnea. I go in for another sleep study on the 26th of this month and they are going to fit me for a CPAP machine. Over 50% of people who have atrial fibrillation have sleep apnea and I am one of them. I’m actually looking forward to getting the machine because having the atrial fibrillation was so scary and I NEVER want to go through that again. I’m just praying now that the CPAP machine will forever solve the problem.
Friends. I heard this phrase and it has truly struck a chord with me. “We are not living longer, we are dying longer.” I am not in bad health, but I’m certainly not in excellent health either. I haven’t been to the gym since this heart episode and I still eat some foods that are unhealthy and you know I struggle with my weight. I’m at the point I would love to lose 30 pounds. You may remember reading in the past I wanted to lose 25 pounds. Now look at me.
Since hearing that phrase, “we are not living longer, we are dying longer,” I have had a change of mindset. I will be posting here at least weekly about my journey to better health. My posting here is not to bore you, as is a form of accountability for me. I also hope I may serve as an inspiration to some of you.
I finish off most of my blog posts with “be creative daily and live life beautifully.” Well, caring for ourselves with healthy habits is most certainly one way to live life beautifully. If you are on a journey of improving your health, I’d love to hear your story.
I raise my water glass with a toast, “Here’s to living longer.”
What a day yesterday. A day that started at the gym and then ended in the ER.
Let me back up by letting those of you who don’t know, I have about 30 extra pounds stuck on me like glue. Most of which is around my middle which is supposed to be the worst place to carry the extra weight. I’ve tried a number of different plans to get those stubborn pounds off. Truth be told, I just like eating. Plain and simple.
For the last year and a half I’ve been going to the gym 4 to 5 times a week. (Yeah me!) And I really work out there. Let it be known I HATE exercise but I know it is important for me and honestly I do feel younger and better each time I go. I have been working with a trainer and have been going to some of their classes. (Still not losing weight but I know my health is improving) Anyway, yesterday I was doing a strength/cardio class and about 20 minutes into the 45 minute class I didn’t feel well. I’m thinking, don’t throw up and don’t pass out. I just took it easy the rest of the time and finished off with some stretches.
I came straight home and had lunch thinking my blood sugar was low, hopped in the shower and still didn’t feel well. I have an automatic blood pressure machine from Walgreens. (I just went to their website so I could share with you which one I have but they don’t carry that one any longer. It was around $50) The machine tells me my blood pressure, heart rate, and usually says I have prehypertension. (I take blood pressure medication) This time it also said, “an irregular heart rate has been noted.” It also said my blood pressure and heart rate were both high. I waited about 5 minutes and took it again. Same thing. I still wasn’t feeling well, and just feeling like something wasn’t right.
It was nagging me just enough to give my doctor a call and they said to come on in. While there they ran an EKG and it showed my heart was in atrial fibrillation. A Fib for short. And that I needed to go to the emergency room. Seriously? I’m 51 years old. This isn’t supposed to be happening. I wasn’t feeling like myself, but I wasn’t feeling THAT bad. No pain, no dizziness, I just felt like if my body had gears, that the gears weren’t lining up right. I did drive myself home and Mike came home to get me and take me into the city.
In the emergency room, it still showed I was in A Fib and my blood pressure was up and heart rate was 148. They started an IV and gave me some IV medication to slow my heart rate which also brought my blood pressure down. The rhythm of the heart remained abnormal, fluttery like, and didn’t want to straighten itself out. To correct this, they put me to sleep for about 3 minutes and shocked my heart, called a cardio version. It worked like magic and my heart resumed beating in a normal rhythm. I was released and told I could resume all activities but to use moderation. I’m to take an aspirin daily and the cardiologist they consulted with should contact me today to follow up.
This morning I feel fine, but I’m scared. I’m just scared that I might do something that will set the A Fib off again and I don’t want to have to deal with all that again. I keep checking my pulse to see if the rhythm is normal. I’m not going to the gym today, but if it isn’t insanely cold out I would like to take a walk after the cardiologist calls.
It was a crazy day yesterday for sure. The doctors and nurses were glad I came in when I did as some people wait longer and then they cannot always do the cardio version which is considered the simple fix. Today I feel just fine.
I guess the moral of the story is don’t go to the gym any more. Ha! Seriously friends, I share this both as documentation for me as well as to encourage each of you to listen to your bodies and don’t put off things when you know deep down something isn’t right. Get it checked out. I care about you all and you are loved…by me!
We are already through January. 1/12 of the way through the year! At the end of each month it is a good time to look back and to reflect. I hope in your reflection time you find you have made progress towards some of your creative goals.
Looking back at my schedule of creative plans is something I enjoy doing. It lets me see how far I’ve come and what I still need to do.
Take a moment to reflect back as well as to look forward. What worked for you last month? What didn’t? Did you enjoy your creative time? Use that knowledge in moving forward. What creative plans do you have for this month? How will they be fit into your calendar? How will you most enjoy your creative time?
For me, two things that really worked were scheduling creative time on the calendar and daily journaling. I journaled 23 out of 31 days and it became a great way to process thoughts which in turn helped my productivity immensely. Because of such good results, you better believe I plan to continue scheduling and journaling.
Here are some of the creative things I made during January.
I embroidered two shirts for Mike’s birthday. Both designs came from Designs by Sick.
A Valentine Treat Bag for Emily with her sorority letters. My own creation.
I have also found a new quilt shop here in Grand Rapids!!!!! Yippee!!!! It was total eye candy. I am hoping to take a class that will be in April which will be a lot of fun.
Another thing I did here in January which relates to creativity is I joined a local group of business women entrepreneurs that meet monthly. It’s nice to get out of the house and share ideas with others in person. It’s easy for me to stay at home–too much so I need to make a real point of getting out of the house more. I came home from the January meeting fresh and inspired and look forward to our next meeting.
If you would like to look back and refresh yourself on any of the A New Year, A Creative New You posts, you can find them here:
This year for Thanksgiving we are getting to spend it with my brother and his family, my mother and two of our three children. We have so much to be thankful for. Big things, little things, there is goodness and so many blessings all around if we just open our eyes to see it.
Today I’d like to share with you my list of top 10 things I’m thankful for.
10. Living in the Midwest. This is home to me and I am so thankful that my husband’s job has brought us back to the Midwest where life is just a little slower, a little less flashy and beauty that takes my breath away.
9. Our military and emergency personnel who keep us safe and who give so much of themselves to all in need.
8. My health. Any issues I have I am able to live and deal with but generally speaking I am in good health and for that I am truly thankful.
7. Our home, car, hot water, food on the table and all the many tangible blessings and that includes my embroidery machine.
6. My ability to create in all areas of my life. Machine embroidery, crafts, cooking and decorating our home are all ways I can express my creativity and I’m thankful to be able to do so.
5. My business Embroidery It. Let me share that I have wanted my own business for years. Seriously years! The closest I ever came to having my own business before Embroidery It was I belonged to a party plan company for three years. Even though I could schedule my own hours, it was still their business and not truly my own. I longed for my own creative business and I was so scared when I took the leap and went forward with Embroidery It. It may be small, but it is 100% mine and I’m thankful for it each and every day.
4. I’m thankful for YOU. Oh my goodness you are some wonderful people. And dear friends, you are helping me with #7. #6 and #5 on my list so “thank you so much.”
3. Our extended families and our church family.
2. My husband and children and our little old beagle.
1. I am so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for all believers and that he forgives all our weaknesses so that we may have everlasting life with Him.
Wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving today.
Love,
Nancy
ps. In-the-hoop embroidery design is from Embroidery Library
This past Saturday I drove over to the East side of the state to teach a class for the Michigan Embroiderers Fall Fest. My class was about embroidery on jeans and I will be writing a blog post about that within the next few days.
For now though, enjoy a few pictures of the day and may it inspire you to create something.
Actually today will be more show than tell. I have been participating in the Farm Girl Vintage quilt along from the Fat Quarter Shop using Lori Holt’s book Farm Girl Vintage. I love these scrappy country quilts. In this quilt there are 42 blocks! That is a lot of fabric cutting friends. 🙂 I post my quilt pics on Instagram if you would like to follow along. For now though I hope you enjoy the handful of pictures I’ve selected for you here.
What a fun, Fun, FUN week! The American Quilter’s Society held their convention right here in Grand Rapids, my back yard. Talk about an inspirational overload – in a good way 🙂 Fabric, Cool Tools, Patterns, Classes, and so much more.
Enjoy a few pictures I took and you will also see my new toy. It is my birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and anniversary gift for about the next 5 years. I’m so excited.
My favorite booth was The Whole Country Caboodle. Oh my gosh I wanted everything there! It was seriously a 10 on the cuteness factor.
They didn’t allow photography where the gallery of quilts were displayed, but this quilt was at the Gall Sewing and Vacuum booth and was the most adorable quilt there. I wish it was on a plain background so you could really sit the effect of it. It is actually suspended from the ceiling in the middle of their booth. The backgrounds of each photo on the film strip were printed on fabric and then embroidered with the Disney character. We are huge Disney fans. LOVE!
This was also the booth where I got my new toy. I’ve been looking at these machines for over 2 years now and I ended up purchasing the show floor model. It is brand new except for the use at the show so it has all the warranties plus they threw in lots of extras at the best price I have ever been quoted over these two years. Can you hear my squeal? I’m just super excited! Someone pinch me.
The American Quilter’s Society holds these conventions at various locations across the United States. If you ever get an opportunity to attend one, don’t pass it up. You won’t be disappointed.
I don’t think I’ve read a single book since I last wrote this. I read a lot, just haven’t been reading books lately.
Flower Notepad Set
Embroidery Hoop Pockets
