Thursday's thoughts and stitching updates

Happy New Year everyone. I know that I am a day late from the official beginning of the year. But I enjoyed day 1 of 2014 by sleeping in until 8:30am (which I haven't done in a very long time), then went out for a 12-mile jog which was followed up by washing out my garage. It was a very productive day to say the least. I even got in a nice nap before dinner. :)

All the boys slept in too - Matthew (younger son) vegged out in front of the computer, playing games most of the day while Robert (older son) has been busy...filling out college applications, writing all the essays they require as well as getting his winter vacation homework completed before starting back at school next Monday (Jan. 6). Doesn't sound like a fun thing to do during one's break from school, but it has to be done. He has submitted all of his college applications, so at least that is checked off his list of "to do's" during break.

Anyway...after dinner last night, I settled in "my spot" on the couch to watch The Lord of the Rings marathon and took out my stitching. On My Torah portion, I got another word stitched:

Torah Portion - Exodus 4:12-15
International Torah Stitch By Stitch Project

The word is stitched is:  וְאָנֹכִי -which means "And I". Not too exciting...but stitching little by little on this.

I also got more X's put into Little House Needleworks "Seven Pines".

"Seven Pines"
Complimentary design from Little House Needlework

Unfortunately, after I finished stitching the Ecru border, I noticed that I made a mistake on top. Too lazy to "frog" the stitches and fix it, I have a plan...which I will unveil later as I finish this up. Anyway, this is a fun little project to stitch.

I have been reading through most of the New Year's blog posts, reading about what everyone is planning to do in 2014. It sounds like many of you are NOT making resolutions, as resolutions tend to fall by the wayside mid-year. I, too, am not planning on making any resolutions. However, yesterday there was a reading/meditation from livinglifefully.com in my email inbox which really got me thinking. Let me share it with you...

The Quotation:

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential.  ~Ellen Goodman

Followed by the meditation that talked about taking a look at ourselves - not at our flaws, not at things that we feel we must "fix" - but take time focusing on the things that we do well and would like to get better at...what kind of potential might we create for ourselves? What kinds of things might we do and how might we be able to help others even more by strengthening our gifts, the things that make each of us unique? What does it mean to be you..."to just be yourself"?

So, for this New Year - 2014 - I want to focus on developing my gifts and strengths...and as I do, I believe that my flaws and shortcoming will fade.

So what do I do best? I am detail oriented. I enjoy crafting, especially cross stitch. I am a good mother and a good wife. I enjoy exercising, feeling my body move. 

How much time can I spend developing these gifts? Daily and I will feel grateful for the ability to do these activities and feel good about myself. These are my strengths...this is what makes me me.

This is not to say that I am perfect and I have nothing to fix; but it is important to remember that I (and you, too) are skilled, have specific gifts that makes us who we are!

Well, enough rambling for today. Until next time, take care and remember...

Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch Often!

Lisa