Lessons from a Cross Stitcher

I recently revived my long-forgotten hobby of cross stitching. I used to do this back in high school, but thanks to my friends Macy and Mia, I am doing it again. Here are some random thoughts on cross stitching and how I've seen it apply to life in general:

• The pattern can be overwhelming. So stick to figuring it out one stitch at a time, one color at a time. Our lives can get overwhelming, maybe that's why God reveals things one day, one season at a time?

• Cross stitching can be addicting. Like many things, a hobby can turn into an obsession. So I have to be careful to know when to put it aside. Kinda like games on your phone or iPad, TV and being online.

• Mistakes are inevitable. You can take the easy route and cover them up, or you can do it the right way: Go back and correct your mistakes.

• The hardest parts come out the most beautiful: like the gold thread that I had to use to make the little girl's dress. The thread felt like a thin piece of wire that was so difficult to stitch. But sometimes it's the hardest parts of life that make us the most beautiful.

• These things take time. Even if I have been working on it for hours in my spare time, I have a lot further to go. Same thing about my thesis for my master's degree and so many other things that are pending!

• I revived my "cross stitch career" because my friends invited me to join their cross stitch get-togethers. So when I will get to the boring parts of my design, I know I will get through it because of them, our talks and our meriendas together. Friends make everything more fun anyway, right? 

• Cross stitching reminds me of the Victorian era, when people didn't have all the evening entertainment or ability to do whatever they wanted. They took pleasure in simple things, like sewing in the evening while someone reads by the fire or plays for everyone. I don't want to forget how to enjoy the simplest things. 

Oh, and it's a pleasure to see what you make become prettier and more complete day by day. Maybe that's how God feels about us? :-)

First Week Back Home

Here are some of what's happened in the one week I have been back home!

- Was greeted by family whom I have not seen in months/more than a year
- Got sick and got well
- Went to the Victory services in Ortigas and Pioneer
- Saw and caught up with friends: Charis, Jan, Chryso, Jiji, Voica, Macy, Iya, Pinky, Lhorris and more!
- Celebrated Angela's 4th birthday in her school. She is so cute and growing up so fast
- Visited Ateneo (where I studied and taught)

- Went shopping with Mama
- Had dinner at the Mumars' after such a long time, and saw Lorenzo and Mateo
- Saw friends at the Fort (where I used to work) and had lunch out, just like before (new place, new faces, same kind of fun)
- Attended the youth service in Ortigas (memories!) and had dinner after
- Did not get attacked by jetlag, thank you very much
- Driving around the city as usual

The first week has been great and I can't wait to see what's next...Hopefully more fun, more time to rest and more time to figure out all God has in store for me here!