Another Wonderful Swap and A Prayer Request

I love swaps and I am always so impressed with the talent and generosity of crafters in cyberspace. Yesterday when I arrived home, this is what was waiting for me in the mailbox from my pincushion swap pal:

Now I ask you...is this not the cutest little chicken pincushion you have ever laid your eyes on? Look at those big blue button eyes and those tiny little yellow legs. The beak and comb are made of fleece and the fabric is perfect for a pincushion. Unfortunately, the creator of this cutie pie does not have a blog. She lives in Fresno, California and is a quilter.

This is the pincushion I made and sent to my pal:

This quilt pattern is called Cathedral Window. I have never tried this patchwork pattern. I wish I could say the idea of using this quilt pattern as a pincushion was my original idea but it wasn't. It took several attempts before I understood exactly how to do it and then I had to figure out what size the two squares should be. The stated sizes given in the instructions made the square too small. I also struggled somewhat with the handstitching but I thought it turned out pretty good.

Now for the prayer request - This week at a small high school (grades 7-12) in a small community (pop.2300) near my home, there has been a scandal concerning two arrests (a cheerleader coach and a principal - each were arrested with different charges). I won't go into details but it has made the news locally and I think nationally. It is a sad, sad situation and I can't seem to get it off my mind. As usual, rumors are flying like vultures flying over a dead animal. I know several of the teachers and one of them is a very good friend of mine. This friend tells me that the arrests, the media circus, the rumors have taken a toll on the entire school. Students don't understand why this is happening. Some students initiated a "Meet Me At The Pole" rally before school this morning and the prayers from both students and staff were very moving. I am asking for prayers for these children, teachers and community during this time.