Simply Victoria

On January 28, 1813, the much loved Pride and Prejudice was first published.

Pride and Prejudice, Title Page, First Edition, via Wikipedia

 

Tanya, over at The Sampler Girl's blog, shared her favorite blog for all things Jane: 

http://austenonly.com/

 Reading today's post at Austenonly informed me about the story behind the story.
The fact that the story was first named First Impressions.
The fact that it first pursued publishing in 1797 but actual publishing didn't
 happen for 16 years.
The fact that her family, especially her father, were her huge fans, believing in her and encouraging her to continue her writing.

Feeling a bit analytical here, I got to thinking how different things would be if Jane hadn't believed in herself and if her family would not have supported her.
Sixteen years is a long time to wait on something that you believe is good and not just chuck the whole thing. Pride and Prejudice seems to be her most famous novel.
What if she would have given up?
What if she would have just thrown the whole manuscript into the fire?
What if she wouldn't have continued to write in the meantime and
Sense and Sensibility wouldn't have been published in 1811?
And, what if her father, a reverend, would have told her that the story she was writing was "improper" for a clergy man's daughter to write?
What if he and her siblings wouldn't have believed in her and her talent?
Hmmm...

What if God has work for me to do and I just give up?
What if I just get so weary of rejection and persevering and choose to quit?
What if the cares of this world distract me and pull me away from pressing on?
What if I would have hung on a little longer and blessings would have come in abundance?

What if I don't show support and belief in my kids?
What if I am not so sure that what they are doing is God's plan and unknowingly
show them rejection?
What if my belief in them was all it would take for them to keep on keeping on?
(Well, with the Spirit's working too, of course.)

I am not a student of all things Jane. I really don't know much about her life at all. I just simply enjoy her novels and the movies and samplers made from them. So I can't begin to speculate what exactly happened in her life to keep her going forward. But, I can look at what little I know and draw out some great character traits that are worthy of pursuit, both in her and her father.

And I can ask my Father to give me what it takes to persevere.
Off to ponder a bit more while I work on my Mr. Darcy sampler,
Victoria





All they are is simple double-sided squares draped over a rod.

The horseshoe "home" sign was a gift my oldest daughter designed and made for me. She brought the horseshoes back from Texas after she finished Bible school, painted them,wired them together and even made the barbed wire.  

 I have a small start on my next Jane Austen piece. I haven't touched it all week.

Perhaps tonight I will get to stitch a bit more as my family is taking chili

for 70 people at an inner city church and I am staying back with the sick one.

Let me say, chili for 70 is one massive amount of chili!

I so hope a lot of people come to get fed physically and spiritually.

 

Finding Joy serving wherever I'm called,

Victoria

 

 I so seriously almost grabbed it and used it to pinch back my hair. 

That's when I knew I was in trouble...I was so tired I couldn't think straight.

A bag clip as a hair accessory?? 

Maybe the lack of sleep was making me creatively resourceful?? Nah, not quite.

Thankfully I wasn't too tired to read the recipe correct.

We love this and eat it like piggies around a trough!

Not much left to finish!

And Saturday I started the curtains.

This is just a sweet one from LHN that I stitched in November but couldn't finish before Christmas because I had only 1 holly button. The ruffle might be a tad bit wide, but I'm ok with it.

I stitched this up this fall but was really NOT looking forward to sewing it on to the

 Impie, Hattie and Bea workbook but this was a tremendous help!

 Mary Kathryn is a very talented lady and made the job less intimidating!

Not perfect but I am just glad it is done.

This one I finished back in March. I do love The Sampler Girl's designs! The words on this one really speak to me in my role of mama to 6. I am constantly in conversation with the Lord
about one or another of my kiddos at the ages and stages they are at.

 It was fun and quick but didn't know what I'd finish it with.  This fall I bought some fat quarters from a Facebook sale that Down Sunshine Lane had.

These fats make me drool. I just love them.

They are the Blueberry Crumb Cake line by Blackbird Designs for Moda.

 I have some fun plans for them this year.

 

 



I have some Sampler Girl Jane Austen designs that I have been collecting and itching to start. I decided on this last night while BNH and I watched a Hallmark.

It's called His Letter to Anne.

In addition to the Jane ones, I have several others that are kitted and ready to go.

 

Also I am finally ready to sew my kitchen curtains. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted but didn't know how to go about it. That is where the trips to the quilting store came in last week as two helpful women blessed me with ideas and a well thought out plan.

Looking forward to starting this too.



Stay tuned...

 

 2012 ended well. Not just with cross stitching but with life.

God has been faithful, patient, and oh, so full of grace! I have grown a lot this past year, learning to let go of things I can't control and resting in the knowledge

 that He is always good.

 

 And 2013 is beginning well. I am not a New Year's resolution girl.

But I am committed to be purposeful in my desire and prayer to be the woman

He created me to be. That alone covers anything a resolution could state.

 

I am thankful for you, my little handful of followers, coming along and following the new girl on the blog. : )

Praying that you will grow into the women He created you to be as well.

Simply,

Victoria