Recap

Its been a busy month plus since my last post.  I have…

Traveled to Abilene with Sue to a stitch in at Picture This Plus.  The ladies at PTP are always so kind and welcoming.  They’re now offering a Fabric Of The Month option with two ornament cuts in linen, lugana or aida.  And there is talk about classes and/or a retreat.

There were a lot of great pieces on display.  Nita stitched this piece.  If I recall correctly its a sampler offered in the monthly Gift of Stitching magazine. 

My car was broken into and my purse stolen while enjoying a nice walk.

I showed off this piece during my Honduras Ice Cream Social.  I used two freebie patterns designed by Liberty Primitives.

I took several nice walks.

My hot water heater sprung a leak.  It took five days to get it replaced and nearly two weeks to get it out to the trash. 

My nephew came and we celebrated his 10th birthday bowling and then he watched (because he was pouting) as I played a round of putt-putt. 

I saw several great movies at the theater and bought myself some flowers.

I finished the stitching on a biscornu and started the second one for next months stitch in. 

I’ll be returning to this piece soon.

I had this piece framed by Sue.

And stitched and had her frame the second Time with God piece. 

I put in a few stitches in the third Time with God piece and have the fabric for the fourth.

And I bought a purse to replace the one stolen.

Still Around

Its been a while!  Thanks for hanging in there.  I haven’t done a day book entry in some time so thought I’d do one this evening.  These pictures were taken on the trails at the Kansas Historical Museum in Topeka. 

Outside my window…  It sprinkled a bit and I heard some rumbles of thunder.  I wish one of the storms in the area would park itself over Topeka and stay awhile.  The temperature has fallen to 98.  Today was at least the fourth day in a row that we’ve hit 100 degrees or more. 

See these bushes (picture above and below)?  Do you know what they are?  They bloomed last spring and I could smell them 1/2 a mile away.  The fruit is small.  Some were red, some purple but most were not ripe and cream color.  The seed inside looks kind of like a peach seed.  I’d love to know what they are. 

I’m thinking…  about what to do next this evening.  I’m going to clean the house a bit, brush the cats, dinner, write in my Honduras photo albums and… the list is rather long.

I’m thankful for… air conditioning, time off from work, plans coming together for a great Honduras Ice Cream Social.

Creativity this week…  I’m stitching on my Honduras memory piece.  I’m going to hold off showing it until its completed.  Hoping to have it done soon, but I haven’t had much time to devote to it.  I just got my DMC cabinet organized and picked up the few DMC threads I didn’t have.  I was only missing about six.  I love the cabinet.  I know this will simplify my life.  Thinking about WIPs and UFOs that I have started and not yet finished.  They’re calling me stronger than anything new.  I haven’t been visiting blogs or stitching web sites, so I haven’t been tempted to buy anything and am not planning on stashing until I’ve got some things completed.

Can you see the bug in the picture above?  Its big, orange, mean looking and they scare me!  I saw them for the first time last summer at my parents.  I don’t think I’ve ever figured out what they are.  They look like they have a mean stinger on their back end.

I am going to…  This was in the original post where I got this day book idea from, but I don’t remember blogging where I’m going.  Well, lets see…  I am going to bed early tonight.  I am.  Yes.  Really.  I think so.  We’ll see.  I am going to Abilene to meet up with friends (Judy, do hope you’ll come) on Saturday.  To the roller derby with my nephew Logan this weekend.  I have several other things on the horizon that I’ll share another time.  Well, I guess I’m going to Sam’s Club with my mother in about 20 minutes.  Scratch my evening plans. 

My reading indulgences…  I haven’t been reading much, but when I do I’m reading Secrets in the Dark: A life in sermons by Frederick Buechner.  Its really good.

Around the house…  please lets not discuss that.  Its not too terribly bad as I haven’t been home a lot and I cleaned the place really well Tuesday of last week, but its time to clean it again.  Hopefully soon.

Honduras!  I loved it.  I can’t wait to go again.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of it.  I need a count down calendar till next year’s trip.  I want to go back so bad and its painful to think I can’t go back again until July 2011.  I’m hoping that some of my friends and family will make the trip with me next year.  I’m hosting an ice cream social in Topeka to share pictures, stores, etc about the trip.  If you’re interested in coming, email me and I’ll tell you when and where; [email protected]

There is a stitch in and stashing planned THIS SATURDAY at Picture This Plus in Abilene, KS.  I should be there between 10 and 2.  Another stitch in has been scheduled in Topeka for September 25.  Email me for details.

Honduras Blog

I’ve started a second blog with pictures and information about the mission trip.  You can view it here;

http://juliehonduras2010.wordpress.com/

There’s only one post right now, but another is scheduled for tomorrow with pictures.  There will be about 40 posts in all.  I’ll post them as time allows.

This banner greeted me early Monday morning as I arrived home from my cats and their sitters; Pat and Sue!  Thanks Pat and Sue!  I know that Homer, Hobbs and Gracie were well looked after while I was gone. 

Another prayer request

I had planned to have Monday and Tuesday off to recoup, clean, do laundry, cross stitch, type some posts and visit with friends and family before returning to work on Wednesday.  Instead I am SICK and lack any energy.  I’m allergic to everything under the moon and sun and I lost the battle with my allergies while in Honduras.  By Saturday night I was feeling awful.  Traveling and not being able to rest on Sunday did not help matters.  I saw my doctor yesterday and I have ear, sinus and throat (possibly strep – he didn’t test for it as he was already going to prescribe me an antibiotic) infections.  There was a mess up with the antibiotic order and I just took my first dosage.  I’m running a fever today and have already told work I won’t be in tomorrow.  I really want to unpack, vacuum, do some laundry and stitch but I don’t have the strength to do any of it.  Please pray that the antibiotics take effect soon and my infections are cured.

About Honduras.  I know many of you are anxious to hear about the trip and I am anxious to tell you, but I need some time.  Keep in mind this was my first mission trip.  I can’t say whether it was or wasn’t what I expected as I didn’t know what to expect before going.  Michael shared a lot, but I think you really must experience it for yourself to understand it.  I’m asking please for some time to process this experience and then I’ll be happy to share it all, including all 600 plus photos with you.  Its been sort of surreal being back in Topeka.  I lost track of time in Honduras.  I don’t ever wear a watch.  I have no need to when the time is displayed on my computer, on clocks in my apartment, on my cell phone and on my car stereo.  It doesn’t help that it gets light out in Honduras and dark hours earlier than it does here.  The getting dark earlier really messed with my sense of time.   I also lost track of what day it was.  Not whether it was the 9 or the 11, but whether it was Wednesday or Friday.  And I couldn’t always remember what I had done that same day.  I don’t know if it was sensory overload or what.  Being home though is weird.  Or maybe I’m just weird, but one of the weird things is how I’m noticing the siding on people’s houses.  I don’t know if its because I would scan the mountain sides in Honduras look for Torch Mission homes (you can tell a Torch constructed home as the siding runs left to right not up and down) or if I’m just appreciating that we have nice siding on our homes in Topeka.  Okay, so its likely that I’m just weird. 

I’m off to get more sleep.  Thank you for the prayers all this last week.

HOME SWEET HOME!

I’ve made it home.  We thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, support, help in pet/house sitting, comments, texts and calls while we were gone.  I forgot to remove comment moderation while I was gone, so the comments didn’t appear until just now. 

I took well over 600 pictures and am considering how to share this experience with you.  I have a couple of ideas, but it’ll take some time.  Its a lot to process and I’m not feeling so well!  My ears and head are congested and my throat is sore.  I’m certain it’s just allergies and hoping that I am better in the next two days before returning to work. 

I am off to bed.  Love you all!

Julie

Sunday July 11

Good Morning! 

Knowing myself, I will be overwhelmed, tired and fussy by today.  We won’t return to Topeka until early Monday morning. 

Please pray for patience and understanding amongst us today.  I’m sure we’ll all be tired and worn out.  Please pray for safety and trouble free travel.  Please pray I make the flight from Atlanta to Kansas City (it was over booked and I was the last one – to my knowledge – to purchase my ticket). Please pray for rest and adjustment once we’re home.

Psalm 143:8

“May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us.”

 Thanks to each of you for covering us in prayer and God’s word this week… we are so grateful!

1 Thesselonians 1:2

“We always thank God for all of you…”

Don’t stop now!  Another group from Central Church of Christ will be headed to Honduras later this month.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers! 

THANK YOU!!!

Saturday July 10

Good Morning!

Please pray today that we take the experiences from this week and spread the news, share the need and that an interest in supporting or going on mission trips will come from word of our trip.  My dear friends from other states and other faiths please join me next year for this trip! 

Ephesians 3:18-19

“May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Please leave us a comment; we’ll enjoy reading them when we return!  Thank You!

Friday July 9

Good Morning! 

Thank you for your continued support, your prayers and your messages.  I can’t wait to get home and read them.  Prior to leaving I asked the elders at Central Church of Christ, the preacher and two others to write me some sort of devotional.  I gave each of them an envelope to put it in marked with a date.  So, each day that I’m gone I’ll have a devotional to read from home.  I know that each day these letters/devotionals will be incredible blessings.

Please pray today for Marc and Terri Tindall and Casa de Esperanza.  I was blessed to have met Marc and Terri earlier this year and I know they’ll be incredible, gracious hosts to us while we’re there.   Please pray for their spiritual and physical health and for their needs to be met so that they may continue caring for children and feeding those at the dump.  Their compassion for God’s children is something we should all be blessed to witness and strive for.   

Ephesians 3:16-17

“I pray from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Please leave us a comment; we’ll enjoy reading them when we return!  Thank You!

Thursday July 8

Good Morning!

Please pray today for our families and friends.  Please pray that they are filled with peace, comfort and not worry too much about us while we are gone.  Please pray that no harm or illness come to them while we’re away.  Please give thanks with us for their support and help while we are gone.  This trip would not be possible without them. 

Those caring for our pets, please give our love to Homer, Hobbs, Gracie, Barry and Callie.  Tell them we’ll be home soon and give them some extra treats!  Thanks!

Philippians 4:19

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Please leave us a comment; we’ll enjoy reading them when we return!  Thank You!

Wednesday July 7

Good Morning!

A special shout out to Central Church of Christ!   Thank you for your support, your thoughts and your prayers!  I look forward to sharing this experience with you when I return!

Please pray today for the team.  Please pray for protection from any illness, injury, discouragement, fear, doubt and anything that is not from God.  Please pray for sound sleep and rest in the evenings.

Romans 15:13

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with the confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Please leave us a comment; we’ll enjoy reading them when we return!  Thank You!