Summer is here! It came! It came!

What came?

My Missouri Star BLOCK magazine!  Summer fun can begin although I probably won't be doing that much quilting.  We have travel plans coming quickly, my husband starts a new job, and then school starts too soon in August. :P  BUT this mag actually helped me put on the fun attitude so I don't get bogged down in details.

Making it even better, it has directions for some of the quilts I've wanted to make like Stacks and floating hexagon quilts.  They also included a patriotic remake of the Friendship Star Sashing that got me excited to try.

I really like how the magazine suggests different fabrics and combinations so I can start visualizing the quilt patterns from Jenny Doan's YouTube tutorials in different colors.

Along with quilt patterns, Jenny tells stories to get me thinking of my life in terms of the high points instead of the shoulda, coulda, woulda slant.  I need that!!!

Some of the patterns include the Dresden Botanica, a quilt I never would have even watched a tutorial for but am intrigued at trying now.  Okay, so it's not going to happen first, but that's because I already have one in progress and more waiting on my shelves!

A new I Spy quilt follows with a delightful family stories that, again, got me fired up to try.  Summer in the Park reminds quilters that quilts are meant to be used and loved and looks easy.  In fact, the themes of summer and dirt and FUN resound throughout this issue!

Rhombus Cube reminds me to keep it simple, the Jelly Basket just looks like fun and seems to encourage it, Dandy Stars reminds me of the joys of children and the walks we used to take to the library, grocery store, and around the neighborhood.  Jenny didn't ignore the fact that it was often hair raising but always an adventure!

Wallflower goes into the power of remembrances and duplicating those to pass onto further generations.  I have a starburst quilt from my grandmother that I think I'll duplicate for my kids in the coming years.

Floating hexagons came with a delightful story.  This is one I already bought fabric and the template to make so I'm happy to have the written pattern.  I learned my lesson with the Hunter's Star quilt!

The magazine includes a heartwarming story about a quilty proposal that is fun to read.  And of course they end the whole issue with a continuation of the mystery story.  Cheesy but so lighthearted!

It's well worth $5.99 and my summer looks brighter with new ideas and attitudes!  Thanks MSQC!

NOT on topic

I am including this little parable because I've been thinking about it as it pertains to my children and their experiences as well as my own.  While it isn't gospel, I believe it is wisdom.  I have copied it from Carol Tuttle's book, Remembering Wholeness.

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The following is a parable excerpted from Conversations with god: An Uncommon Dialogue; Book 3, that helps us understand how we can truly love those we have perceived as our enemies.

[God talking]  “You may choose to be any part of God you wish to be,” I said to the Little Soul.  “You are Absolute Divinity, experiencing Itself.  What Aspect of Divinity do you now wish to experience as You?”

                  “You mean I have a choice?” asked the Little Soul.  And I answered, “Yes.  You may choose to experience any Aspect of Divinity in, as, and through you.”

                  “Okay,” said the Little Soul, “then I choose Forgiveness.  I want to experience my Self as that Aspect of God called Complete Forgiveness.”

                 

                  Well, this created a little challenge, as you can imagine. 

                  There was no one to forgive.  All I have created is Perfection and Love.

                  “No one to forgive?” asked the Little Soul, somewhat incredulously. 

                  “No one,” I repeated.  “Look around you.  Do you see any souls less perfect, less wonderful than you?”

                  At this the Little Soul twirled around, and was surprised to see himself surrounded by all the souls in heaven.  They had come from far and wide throughout the Kingdom, because they heard that the Little Soul was having an extraordinary conversation with God.

                  “I see none less perfect than I!” the Little Soul exclaimed.  “Who, then, shall I have to forgive?”

                  Just then, another soul stepped forward from the crowd.  “You may forgive me,” said this Friendly Soul.

                  “For what?” the Little Soul asked.

                  “I will come into your physical lifetime and do something for you to forgive,” replied the Friendly Soul. 

                  “But what? What could you, a being of such Perfect Light, do to make me want to forgive you? The Little Soul wanted to know.

                  “Oh,” smiled the Friendly Soul, “I’m sure we can think of something.”

                  “But why would you want to do this?”  The Little Soul could not figure out why a being of such perfection would want to slow down its vibration so much that it could actually do something “bad.”

                  “Simple,” the Friendly Soul explained, “I would do it because I love you.  You want to experience your Self as Forgiving, don’t you? . . .

                  “I ask only one thing in return, “ the Friendly Soul declared.

                  “Anything!  Anything,” the Little Soul cried.  He was excited now to know that he could experience every Divine Aspect of God.  He understood, now, The Plan.

                  “In the moment that I strike you and smite you,” said the Friendly Soul, “in the moment that I do the worst to you that you could ever imagine—in that self-same moment . . . remember Who I Really Am.”

                  “Oh, I won’t forget!” promised the Little Soul.  “I will see you in the perfection with which I hold you now, and I will remember Who You Are, always.”

The Lord said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” . . . because they may have been your best friend in heaven.

                  I know that God will give liberally to those who ask.  Prayer will help us draw more fully on the powers of heaven and the powers of Christ’s atonement.

                  Therefore, lift up your voice and ask God to remove any perceptions that are stumbling blocks to you forgiving and feeling whole.  Many, many times I have asked God to change my perceptions to ones that support me in feeling peace and harmony and showing up in unconditional love and allowing.  I know he has assisted and will continue to assist you and me each time we ask.