A Call For YOUR Story

Rachelle over at Seek First His Kingdom is looking for stories for a new “Women of Faith” book. Lord knows everyone here has a story…uhhh…several stories…and you’ve already shown how you can put it into words…it’s called a blog after all!

It may seem a bit probing and take you to a place of unhealed wounds, and perhaps that is where God is leading, after all it isn’t just happenstance that you came to visit here today. God has ordained each of our steps and He has called us to share our story. She invites us to email our stories and remain anonymous.

I would challenge you to submit something to this and whether it makes it into the book or not…perhaps it will give you an opportunity to purge your soul or offer a hand of friendship to another woman who is lost on her own journey.

Pray about it…see what God says about it!


I have one more bit of news and a challenge perhaps. Jules at Maced With Grace introduced me to this guy named “onionboy" who has this “30-Faces Project” challenge going. There is a link in the new sidebar off to the right.

I’ve tried the Nanowrimo challenge in the past. I didn’t complete it. Frankly it overwhelmed me and freaked me out a bit. However…I know I can draw 1 face a day for the month of November.

All this to say if you come over and see freakish-ly out of proportion faces that resemble an 8 year old rendition of a comic book character…it’s just ME doing my November challenge. I’m not sure if they’re going at the top of bottom of my posts…but they’ll be there…each day in November!

Have a Tuesday happy endings are made of…

Dandelions For The Father

"Like the proud mother who is thrilled to receive a wilted bouquet of dandelions from her child, so God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude." Richard Foster~

Dandelions For The Father

There are some days when I walk slowly to His throne. I am a child seeking refuge and I bring my dandelions…wilted and bent at the death grip with which I have carried them. I lay them down at His feet with my minimal thanks.

I almost forgot them while I was distracted at the playground. At the last moment I remembered I was on my way somewhere…so I sail off the swing and pick up the weakened ‘flowers’ and carry them on their short journey.

“Thanks Dad.” I offer half-heartedly in the hand off.

His smile beams at me and I am usually surprised at His obvious pleasure.

Some days my gratitude-attitude isn’t what it should be. I find myself struggling to ‘accentuate the positive’. I can’t find the words to ‘rejoice in my struggles’ and have all but forgotten how to ‘consider it all joy when I encounter various trials’…I catch myself barely thanking God for the blessings and RARELY thanking God for the trials. There are some days I can’t even remember WHY I brought the dandelions to begin with.

Yet…I can feel God’s smile on me as I humbly bring these dandelions to Him over and over again.

And then the most amazing thing happens…my dandelions are returned to me…in the form of beautiful and glorious roses! They are the most fragrant, beautiful, soft, lovely flowers in His garden and He gives them to me.

“For ME?” I asked in surprise each time this happens.

That is the moment, in His light and under His smiling and watchful eyes; when He takes my gift, my offering of thanks (no matter how small and seemingly insignificant) and He turns it into something fit for a KING! It is at THAT exact moment…when he RECEIVES my tiny offering of gratitude and He returns it to me a HUGE and glorious blessing…that I begin to comprehend the measure of His love.

“See you later Dad!” I tell him as I run off to put the treasured roses in their waiting vase.

Homemade With Love #2

I shared last Monday that I was going to post for four weeks every Monday on different Homemade projects to use for gifts or just to create.

This week I’m going to share the Angel Earrings I wrote about previously that my mother and I are making and a craft from several years ago that was very popular…the “Decoupage” plates.

Decoupage Plates: Here are the supplies you need: 1 clear glass plate or platter with fairly simple lines (works best); ModPodge (decoupage medium available at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, even Hardware Stores); and a piece of fabric (the most ‘showy’ plates are made with fabrics with a gold, silver or metallic thread somewhere in them. I chose a Christmas themed fabric for this project. You will also need an older newspaper to do the ‘dirty’ work on.

Cut the fabric in a large circle big enough to cover the plate and have an extra inch or two of fabric hanging over. Then lay the fabric face down on the back of the plate and pour ½ of cup or so of the ModPodge on the fabric and start spreading it around. Yes I ‘spilled’ the ModPodge on my work surface…that’s one reason why you want the paper down!

I use my hands to spread the ModPodge around. I love the feel of this “white glue” beneath my fingers, but you can also use a large paint brush to spread it around. You want to be sure and smooth the glue all over the plate and down to the very edge; pushing down the bottom edge onto the surface you are doing it. Keep working the ModPodge around and get air bubbles out as they will distort your finished product.

*It’s okay if the plate ‘seems’ glued down to the paper. Leave it to dry and when dry to clear, cut the edge of the fabric/paper off the plate (this one took approximately 2 hours to dry). Then cut close to the plate all the way around and VOILA’ the finished plate.

It’s beautiful to give homemade cookies on, wrapped in cellophane and a pretty ribbon (of course) or just hang up on a plate hanger or use a plate stand, as I have in the picture. It must be hand washed, and if you ‘hate’ your finished product, the fabric will peel off.

The second project is the angel earrings.

Here are the supplies:

2 teardrop beads (pearl or any color)
2 round beads (for the head)
2 ‘rondelles’ or flat beads for halos (gold or silver)
2 wings (gold or silver)
2 earring wires
1 set earrings

Pliers to cut wires and round pliers to make ring for earring.

I order almost all my beading supplies through http://www.firemountainbeads.com/ only because they are FAST at delivery (will be at your home within 2 days including Saturday orders) and they are the least expensive that I’ve found for my supplies.

Place the teardrop bead, the wing, the round bead, the flat disc on the wire (in that order) and cut and bend it to round to hang from the earring. Attach to the earring and VOILA’…the angel earrings. These cost approximately $2.00 to make. The wings are the most expensive thing and they are $1.34 per pair.


There you are…2 more Homemade With Love projects for your library!

Have a wonderful and creative Monday!

I Wish I Could

I have this personality (don’t we all…LOL…it’s pretty bad when you can’t even finish your own sentences without your smart-alec brain taking over…)…anyway I have this personality that draws some people to me with their innermost thoughts and feelings and hurts and pains. I don’t begrudge it at all! It’s so much a part of who I am.

I love people and care deeply for them. I want people to experience wholeness and healing (in every sense of the word) and reconciliation to not only the Father but to themselves. It’s one of the reasons I considered Art Therapy as a degree so many years ago.

What dawned on me at that time (thankfully) is I get far too emotionally invested in these people to be an effective counselor. Over the years I’ve done better to pray about it and somewhat “let it go”, but it still haunts my brain, heart, dreams, ultimately my life.

On the heels of a ‘poetic’ week between Chapter Chat (the online book study I’m involved in), my own humble poetic offerings, and a friend coming to ‘vent’ and seek advice about a pending divorce, I close this weeks posting with this…

I Wish I Could
By: kpjara

I wish I could heal your hurt,
I wish I could seal the pain.
I wish I could bear your tears,
I wish I could remove the stain.

I wish I could show you tomorrow,
I wish I could offer you more.
I wish I could gather your anger,
I wish I could release your eagle to soar.

I wish I could give you a mirror,
I wish I could have you look inside,
I wish I could see your expression,
I wish I could watch the turning tide.

I wish you could hear the Father whisper,
I wish you could see the Father’s face,
I wish you could feel His arms around you,
I wish you could understand his incredible grace.

I pray you will hear my heart,
I pray you will see His love,
I pray you will open your soul
I pray you will receive the dove.

Have a wonderful weekend and I pray you see God’s hand move this weekend!

Not Much, But it's All I've Got

I Love To Blog
By: kpjara

I love to blog, there is no doubt,
I LOVE TO BLOG, I want to shout.

Some days I have lots to say,
Other days words just won’t play.

Words are here, Words are there,
Words are ‘literally’…everywhere!

I read the writing in my home,
I read the writing while on my phone.

I cannot stop it, no I can’t.
I cannot quit the bloggers’ chant.

Even when my fingers cramp,
Even when I have no lamp.

I will write here, yes I will
I will write here, it’s no drill.

The words they come, the words they go,
The words they grow and grow and GROW!

I have so many words inside,
They cannot find a place to hide.

I will put them here and there,
I will put them in the blog-o-sphere!

Happy Seuss-day!

Rave Reviews!

#1 ~ Some time ago Shalee did a product review of these
And I commented about it and lo’ and behold I received an email from a firm in NY offering a trial of this product. Of course I coyly…said “ABSOLUTLEY! Send those puppies out!”

The very nice women did and I received them Fed-Ex in 1 day. I have used them ever since and in all likelihood will never use anything else. They are THAT good. I really am one of those people who wash dishes before I wash dishes….sort of like the person who cleans their house BEFORE the maid gets there…? I never understood that one, but then I don’t have a maid…too embarrassed to let anyone see that much dust accumulation in a house.

Anyway, I tried these, and tried them, and tried them…waiting for their failure. They never failed. The only food debris it didn’t clean completely was melted cheese on a plate. I had to wash that a bit, but we let our dishes sit in the dishwasher until it’s full and with two people it can take a week sometimes to fill it up. I put these bad boys to the test and they came out with flying colors! What they say is true. You don’t even have to rinse the dishes off, just put them directly into the dishwasher and watch them come out sparkling clean.

Give them a try! They are wonderful!


#2 ~ My mom asked me a random question this past weekend. She asked: “Isn’t one of your favorite books of the Bible Esther?”

“Yes, actually it is.” I replied.

“Well…there is a new movie out we should go see based on the book of Esther.” She said.

So, last night we headed over to one of the two theaters where it is showing and saw “One Night With a King”. It was incredible.

I must say I don’t typically like ‘period pieces’. I will also say (to all the legalists out there, LOL) that there IS some story adjustments added for what I imagine is Hollywood-ization of the story. In my opinion it didn’t affect the experience. The actress that played Esther did an incredible job of playing an educated, beautiful, spirited young woman, who also loves God with all her heart.

“Uncle Mordecai” (one of those changes…he was actually a cousin), also gave quite a performance. Hegai, the Kings eunuch almost stole the show. He has some one-liners in there that had me laughing out loud! The relationship between Esther and Hegai was something I hadn’t thought this much about. The EVIL Haman sent chills down my spine. King Xerxes was, in a word, a HOTTIE…and of course a wonderful actor. The whole show was wonderful.

The filming was unique and creative. The costumes were elaborate and beautiful. Even the make-up and landscape were perfect. It’s a definite must see and I won’t spoil the ending for you…because of course you’ve all read the story of Esther…she DOES live happily ever after!

#3 ~ Today is Wednesday, October 25, 2006! Pablo Picasso was born today in 1881 as was Minnie Pearl, in 1912.

And for a bit of Mid-Week humor…

Real newspaper headlines
These are actual newspaper headlines gathered from papers across the United States and world.
March Planned For Next August
Blind Bishop Appointed To See
Lingerie Shipment Hijacked--Thief Gives Police The Slip
L.A. Voters Approve Urban Renewal By Landslide
Patient At Death's Door--Doctors Pull Him Through

True stupid stories 01
Really Stupid People Police in Wichita, Kansas, arrested a 22-year-old man at an airport hotel after he tried to pass two (counterfeit) $16 bills.

Steven Wright one-liner
Last week I bought a new phone. I took it out of the box, hooked it up to the wall... Pressed redial. The phone had a nervous breakdown.


I pray you see the humor in your day today! Happy Wednesday!

Learning To Let Go

I had one of those “duh” moments yesterday. I would say “AHA” moments but really, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, it’s such a no-brainer.

You know that expression “Let Go, and Let God!” I’ve ALWAYS struggled with this lesson and just thought it was because I was a slow learner (which I know I’m not), or it didn’t apply to me (which I know it does). What I’ve found was a bit surprising (which it shouldn’t be).

I’m at my desk on Monday morning after a heart-wrenching conversation with my sister. She is walking through an abyss right now…in the name of marriage. If I may borrow from a relatively famous musical: “she is the very model of a modern major general”…in the Lord’s army, anyway. So to see her suffer as she travels through this process is really tough.

She’s my little sister. She’s the one God brought for me to help care for. She’s the one that is supposed to have guidance from her older sister so that she doesn’t have to experience the same pains.

Yet she aches. She aches with such intensity I cannot even fathom it. She aches openly and vividly. She aches in Technicolor. My body nearly shuts down just at the sound of this pain. I can’t help her. I don’t have the tools or the words. I CAN and DO pray. Somehow it feels a bit lacking. Does that mean I lack faith? I don’t think so. Somehow, words don’t always seem enough, even to God above, when someone aches so deeply. It’s as though to leave it in HIS capable, mighty hands is somehow releasing my own self-offering of strength and power. Yes, I know it’s what He wants, but it is so difficult to speak a few words and trust God to ‘deal’. To trust that His will is what is best for me…or for my sister. TO trust that no matter what the outcome, He’s got her ‘back’, better than I ever could.

I WANT to act. I want to act on behalf of her. I want to destroy the destroyer. I want to scream at the very top of my lungs (and I just may do this…privately). I want to shake my fists at this enemy. I want to throw things and hear them break. I feel a swelling of anger…to the point of barely contained rage.

Today I was reminded and I am TRYING to let go and let GOD! Because ultimately I know He is the sovereign God. He is the mighty warrior. He is our defender. He is our counselor. He is our fortress. He is our conqueror. He is our Father.

Watch out enemy, Dad’s here!

Have a Tuesday full of realized potential with God at the helm and pray, pray pray!

Homemade With Love #1

Monday, 10/23/06, is the day GiBee has called us to pull all our Homemade gift ideas together (I know I’m a day early, but I wanted to add the pictures at home tonight). I’m such a craft-a-holic that I’m taking it 1 step further. For the next four Mondays I am posting homemade gift ideas previously used or being used this year and I WILL include the angel and snowman earrings!

My darling husband has a HUGE family. Nine years ago, when I told him I wanted a small intimate wedding and he sprung on me that his immediate family included 72 people…I knew I was in for a major change. He has 14 aunts and uncles on either side and 4 sisters. Not to mention a mother, step-mother and grandmothers on both sides. Suffice to say, the pressure to come up with creative and inexpensive ideas is sometimes stifling.

Thankfully it’s also one of my favorite challenges each year. For the past 10 years we’ve come up with different ideas for homemade gifts for the group of them. The first year they received simple decoupage baskets filled with my husband’s annual contribution of Biscochito cookies. The year we married, they all received crosses like these. We made a total of about 25 of these things. One year it was scarves…just something homemade each year.
This year half of the aunts and uncles are receiving ‘inspiration frames’ like these.

They are fairly easy to construct. I purchased multiple frames at a fabric store at the end-of-season sale last year for .40 each. They are fairly nondescript fabric frames but quite striking when embellished (I'll include a couple I've completed next Monday). The embellishments I also typically pick up at end-of-season sales or garage sales through the spring and summer. The paper I’m using primarily is a Christmas toile’ that I picked up at an end-of-season sale last year. It is reversible with one side red and beige and the other side a black/white Christmas toile’.

I have lots of paper options as I scrapbook and collect unique papers. Here are some that I've used or could use this year for a less 'holiday-ish' frame. I picked this rather ornate frame (to the right) up at a "Ross" store here in town last year for about $1.50 or less. I'm a big 'bargain' hunter (translation: somewhat thrifty AKA: cheap) which probably helps my cause.

For the Christmas frames, I choose a quote or poem to print on clear paper or sticker paper and add it and other stickers, etc to the picture. I then embellish the outside with a recycled ornament or some fun fringe I have on hand.

They are really quite fun to make and not very time consuming and you can do one for $1.50-$3.00 on average. I also love to wrap each gift in a unique manner, but I'll include that on my final Homemade Monday post in November.

Let me know if you’re participating! I can’t wait to see all the ideas. Have a creative and inspired Monday!

On Fruit...

I was taking a break yesterday and I had a banana, an apple, and some yogurt to choose from. Nothing seemed that appealing (no pun intended), but I went with the banana first. When it comes to bananas I like just barely yellow-almost green stage. Once they are bruised…they become banana bread or go to my husband who prefers them very ripe….blechhhhhhh!

I guess I should let you know that I love fruit BUT…I’m very picky about it. I handle, sniff, press, and do everything short of actually tasting the fruit prior to making my choices. We’re at the time of year when the selections are dwindling and you have to be careful about the ‘summer fruits’ because they probably won’t have the same flavor/taste as they would in peak season.

I peel open my pleasingly perfect-to-the-eye banana. It’s got just the right amount of resistance as I peel the skin back. I break off a part of the banana and take a bite. It seems a bit TOO hard…TOO new. I take another bite and sure enough it’s just not ready yet. Bummer dude!

I throw the poor ‘baby banana’ away and decide to have my yogurt. I open the container. It’s the ‘Yoplait Light, Mixed Berry’. I’m a bit picky about yogurt too and suffice to say it wasn’t ‘hitting it’ today, so I discarded it after two bites.

Now I’m down to the apple and I had a Macintosh and Granny Smith at home and I brought my favorite…the Granny Smith. I love their tart crisp taste. I decided not to cut it…rather just take a bite and eat it whole.

SOURRRRRRRRRR! Yikes…too sour…more sour than usual and unacceptable. I also realize I had to bite really hard to actually get the taste I had. At first taste, I thought perhaps it was due to the lingering yogurt sweetness, but upon a second bite that thought is dispelled. It’s too young and hard still. It was probably picked early to ripen in the store and it apparently arrived to close to the picking time. Bummer dude!

Now I go back to my office to finish my coffee and lament my snack-lack with another hour and a half till lunchtime. Good grief!

I thought that perhaps I should ease my fruit selection process and select some bruised or ‘aged’ fruit as it may be more ready to eat. I’ve had (what I consider) overdone bananas in the past and they are very sweet…albeit too soft for my palate, but very, very sweet to taste. I also thought of the ‘older’ Granny Smiths and how much easier they are to consume. They may have some dings and bruises, but they have that perfect combination of sweet/sour that I love.

Then it dawned on me what God was trying to teach me in that fruity lesson.

We are the fruit of His vine. When we are too young and immature, our fruit is not READY. It takes months, sometimes years to be grown to the sweetness that is maturity. Only then can we be consumed and appreciated and give back to the vine, our seed.

God reminded me in my own ‘dream’ that I am just now coming to the point of maturity when I am ‘ripe enough’ to move to the next stage. He reminded me to be aware of the immature fruit that are trying to pass themselves off as ripe. They may appear ready externally, but just like the grocery store, their looks are deceiving. They are still hard inside, with little give. They must be matured and softened. I must be matured and softened!

He also reminded me to be weary of the OVERLY ripe fruit. The fruit that has been hanging on the vine for dear life, for so long, that the minute you lay a finger on it, it falls to pieces. It has hung on the vine for too long and has now outlived any usefulness. Sounds a bit harsh, but truly we’ve all had overly ripe fruit…it ferments on the vine and threatens to kill the remainder of the vine unless it is pruned away. When consumed, the fermented fruit makes us drunk and distracts from our purpose.

God wants us ripe, mature…but He also wants us to produce and to bear more fruit…to provide life…rather than waiting for life to be provided, as it passes by.

I may not be as PRETTY as the young fruit appears on the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that matters…trust me…trust HIM! And I refuse to hang on that vine when He has called me to go bear more fruit. I won’t become fermented and unusable!

Praise GOD! My fruit is almost ready!

Are you craving a piece of fruit now? Have a wonderfully fruity Friday!

Half-Life

‘Perhaps Strength doesn’t reside in having never been broken…but in the courage required to grow strong in the broken places.’

I saw this in a catalogue, on a plaque and it is such a large part of where I am in my journey right now. I wish I could find who said/wrote it. I did a search but came up empty (other than other blogs/xangas/etc).

I don’t feel ‘broken’ but I do see how God is beginning to use the courage it took/takes to endure and grow strong in the brokenness of my own life. Every time I try to put to logical sentences what my heart is processing it becomes distorted and skewed from the original meaning.

I sat in church on Sunday and wrote a poem while waiting to start…let’s see if it makes any more sense. I honestly haven’t looked at it since Sunday but somehow I feel prompted to include it here.

Half-Life
By: kpjara

Dead and dying walk the earth
Seeking, searching for their very worth

It seems elusive so distant and so far
They sustain themselves wishing on a far away star

Even now the Father calls them near
To lay it all down…the worry and the fear

Strength and Courage are theirs from God
But Pride & Hatred becomes their sod

God loves with passion uncompared
And yet they stumble aimless and unprepared

Every day they seek to fill their empty soul
Waiting for the moment they will one day become whole


I find myself more and more often feeling nudged towards purpose and utilizing the gifts God has given me. Instead of wrapping myself in doubt and self-criticism…I really want to find a way to just walk towards the goals I am sure God has set, and let go of this half-life that it seems I’ve set myself to living.

So…in the midst of that…the poem came and then the women I prayed with…and then last night I was selecting a ‘light read’ for bedtime and I grabbed a book my sister has been driving me crazy to read for…gosh….a couple of years. I hadn’t read it. I don’t know why. I suppose I always had other ‘reads’ ahead of it…and it seemed a bit ‘fluffy’ to me (based on the intro and jacket). SO I pull it off the shelf and lo’ and behold its dealing with my exact angst.

I know you’re dying to know what it is…and I’ll share the title with you but let me just preface by saying I haven’t completed it yet…but I will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow…so I don’t have a formal review, just thoughts and a real desire to dive in and finish it.

Any guesses?

It’s The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. I told you it’s an old read. I almost feel like I’m the last one in the world to read it, but even so, I’m sure it’s in the timing God had allotted for me to ‘find it’.

If you’ve read it you know what I mean by this statement: “I feel like if I go to pick up my feather from the window-sill, it will be nothing but dust.” If you haven’t read it…suffice to say my God-given gifts are laying waste while I ‘decide’ how to implement His dream for my life. Or better worded…how I try to re-write the script He has already written for me. That’s what it feels like anyway.

I’m not saying that my current ‘occupation’ (and I use that term extremely loosely) is a wash…because God has been dealing with my serious pride issues for well over 5 years now (at least as I receive it). He has also been preparing me and ‘aging’ me like a fine wine…and molding me and just grooming me in preparation for what I think is very much at hand…and very soon from the life-cues I’m being given!

What does all that cryptic talk mean? I don’t know, in full. I do know this…I am standing in a hallway with many doors to choose from and God is shining His light on the one He would like me to pass through…question is…will I? and how many OTHER doors must I pass through before I finally succeed in following Him?

Have a Thursday blessed with dreams from the One True Dream Giver!

Ramblin' Snapdragon?

It seems there was a song…Ramblin’ Rose…do you recall? When I Google it…it shows Nat King Cole as the artist. It’s totally unrelated…but then this whole post is nothing but random rambling (I took the advice of this friend)…so maybe it actually is related.

I had to change MY title to Ramblin’ Snapdragon because of this little test I took. Have you done it? Which FLOWER are you? This was mine.


You Are a Snapdragon: Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh.”

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

At first I thought…cool! I like that flower…it’s different and it makes me laugh the way you can push it’s ‘jaw’ and make it laugh or talk. I remembered seeing sites that describe what flowers ‘mean’ so I surfed over to a site…and the snapdragon apparently means “deception” “gracious lady” and “strength”.

As I traveled to other ‘flower meaning sites’ looking for a BETTER answer; the one shared word was always deception! WHAT! So I suppose I’ll accept the translation above…mischievous, a prankster that loves to make other people laugh…as long as you’re not ALWAYS laughing AT me.

Now go find out your flower too! I’ll expect to read your ‘finds’.

I also took another test. It’s the “What’s Your Theological Worldview?” It was interesting and I wasn’t the least bit surprised by my ‘rating’.

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 57% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 54% Classical Liberal 50% Modern Liberal 50% Neo orthodox 46% Charismatic/Pentecostal 36% Roman Catholic 29% Fundamentalist 14% Reformed Evangelical 11% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

While I'm posting random ramblin...I also realized I didn’t share any details about our craft show so I’ll do some of that now…the most popular items at our craft show were….drumrolllll please……………

#3: The miniature tiara I bought at Hobby Lobby (a Christmas Ornament that was ½ off). They are darling. They have a small one (the one I picked up) which is about 4” across and they have one about 6” across as well.

#2: I also picked up these little miniature parlor chairs that have animal print seats (also ½ off Christmas Ornaments from Hobby Lobby) to set our business cards in….they were well handled and inquired about.

#1: But…the most popular item was the large diamond ring paperweight (SSSHHH: I also went ahead and ordered the keyring for my niece and it's like a smaller version of that GIANT diamond paperweight) that I actually got for my sister for Christmas (I don’t think she’s been in the blogdom lately…so I think I’m safe posting this)…she loves blingy things and it SCREAMED her name and it was only like $10.00 at ABC distributing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every single person that approached our table handled this little treat. Probably 10 asked how much it was…and all were disappointed to learn it was not for sale, nor was it a bracelet as many suspected.

Mothers’ be proud. Many an up and coming daughter stated proudly: “this is the kind of engagement ring I want, Mommy!” Those mothers walked away proud of the high standards their own offspring had set for matrimony, though also laughing internally I’m certain. One more mature mother stated her daughter had initially stated the same thing…but had settled for the exact opposite. I reminded her love was way more important than money and she scoffed at me (out loud!) and headed off.

The people proclaiming it to be a bracelet did try to put it on…I’m thinking that point would hurt pushing down onto the top of your wrist…but I just suppressed my giggles and explained it was a paperweight and just for ‘show’. They weren’t happy. I was initially worried someone might steal it, but trust me it would have blinded them on their attempted flight.

The most popular item actually ‘sold’ was the angel earrings my mother made. They really are darling and if I ever remember I’ll post a pic of these earrings. If I don’t get the pics done soon…our web page should be complete by the end of October!

My brother (pastor turned writer and techy), is the REAL computer guru who will be implementing the initial webpage. Okay…in fairness he actually implemented it when he was out in the spring…but it’s lacking pictures and an order form…so it was just the bones and I willingly admit I’m not HTML fluent…so it has sat for months…waiting for his expertise and ease with all hardware and software things.

I’m about half way caught up at work, which isn’t too bad actually. The days are still flying by…it’s already Wednesday and I’m off in my quest to get this work down to a manageable pile by Friday!

Have a Wednesday that blooms with beauty!

Moving Onward...Not Alone

______________________________
Tuesday, October 17th
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"It doesn’t matter what is behind you as much as it matters who is beside you."

~ Ellen ~"Laced with Grace"

Every once in awhile I turn my head and look back to where I’ve just come from. I can’t see that far, my pace is swift and ever increasing. What I see is sometimes pleasant and sometimes…well…not so pleasant. We all have these experiences and memory stones in our lives and many times we take a long hiatus at one of these stepping stones.

I’ve done it. I’ve turned…just for a brief moment. Next thing I know, I find myself pulled, even lulled back to an event; good or bad. I have even attempted to step back into the event and retrace the history if it was unsettling or just to re-experience the joy, if it was happy.

It takes me a moment to realize…it’s a memory now…I can’t physically change that memory any more than I can relive it. It will continue to impact my journey as I allow it to, sometimes to the point of impeding or misdirecting me, but it is only a memory.

That point…of total recall, is the exact moment when I look to my left (because after all, I’m left handed…we always look to the left 1st) and standing there, next to me, WITH ME, is another.

Sometimes it’s a friend, someone I’ve known for a very long time and has traveled this journey

with me from what seems to be the beginning. Other times, it’s a new friend, one who I’ve only known a brief time but has quickly taken stride with me on this journey. Often it’s family; my husband, sister or another family member encouraging me onward.

Even when it SEEMS I am marching along in solitude, I am not alone. One of the greatest gifts of my own salvation is the assurance, absolute, utter assurance that I am NEVER alone. I do not walk alone. I do not decide alone. I do not turn alone. I am always enveloped and held…and that is a priceless gift.

Even in times when I begin laying the bricks to the walls that surround me (in self-protection of past, present and future), I sense my helper, the friend, my Father standing beside me, urging me towards His path. We will step out together, from behind that wall and continue together through this life.

The living GOD, creator of the Universe and everything in it, is beside me always and that matters FAR more than whatever is behind me now.