Thank You

Thank you to all of you who read my blog!!!
I have received so many lovely comments and it does my heart good!!!
I wish I were a more disciplined blogger but I have a short attention span and more interests than any one person should have. I am on a mission to change those habits that cause me to feel overwhelmed with life and head on a path of Simplicity (this is a long journey....but baby steps will get me there). Thank you again all of my blogging family, it is nice to know I have such wonderful people thinking about me.
I will search my brain and see if I can come up with something fun to blog about soon!!!
Have a GREAT WEEK!!!!

Happy Easter

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

Happy Valentine's Day

At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. ~Plato

Front Porch

This picture is of the front porch of our house in Kansas City....I spent a lot of time sitting out there pondering, reading, dreaming and relaxing. There were also times when people would come over and we would visit....lots of good conversations were had on that front porch.

Yesterday I went to Wal-Mart to pick up some items and I was standing in the candle aisle sniffing the candles when a lady approached me (she was getting ready to make a good smelling purchase as well) and a conversation started......we talked about the scents and then to her grandson and family....it ended up being a lengthy conversation with a complete stranger......after she left I proceeded to the drink aisle where and older gentleman was reading the labels....again another conversation started, this one was not lengthy but it made me think, have we lost something? Have we traded conversations with strangers at Wal-Mart for those days when we would set on our front porches or stoops and talk with our neighbors?

Don't get me wrong, I am more than willing to have a conversation with a stranger....I am a firm believer in giving everyone a smile and listening to what they have to say. Listening is a lost art and my mission is to bring it back but before I can bring it back I want to understand where we lost it.

When I was a young girl I would spend a week in the summer at my Grandmother's house in a quaint Midwestern town where there were front porches on all of the houses and in the evenings those porches were occupied buy the inhabitants and neighbors. A walk in the neighborhood would take for ever because there were many conversations to be had at each home. Children were allowed to run the neighborhood because there was always an eye to make sure they were not in trouble. So did the conversations stop because homes were built with small or no front porches? Or was it because TV replaced our evening rituals, then computers and cell phones with their texting? Can one really hear what a person is saying in a text message?

I feel in our quest to become more connected we have become more disconnected. We have taken the emotion out of our communications...now there are some communications that should not involve feelings...that is in business matters (that is a whole other post). With a text or an email....even a phone conversation there is no touch, no opportunity to give a hug if it is needed, no eye contact to let the person you are talking to know you are really listening!!!

When was the last time you invited and elderly neighbor to dinner? They hold a vast aount of knowledge and we push them out of our way because we have so many things to get done.....are those things more important then a bringing joy to a human being? As far as that goes, it doesn't even need to be an elderly neighbor....it could be any neighbor. Take the time to make a pot of coffee and put some cookies on a plate and call someone to come have a conversation, when you are done you will feel more connected then if you had sent them a text or given them a call, mostly because you took the time to make them feel special.

Now I understand the importance of phone calls, emails and texts....in fact they have become my saving grace since moving 1400 miles away from family and friends.....maybe if I take my own advice I will soon find my front porch full of new friends with new conversations!

Give some one the gift of your time it will bless them and you!!!

When The Donner is Away...Stephie Will Play

We have lived in our home for almost a year and I have been dreaming of paint schemes for all of the rooms from the day we moved in!!!

A couple of weeks ago the Donner was in Vegas at The World of Concrete....he got back the day before our Anniversary....that being said, I decided to surprise him by painting the Living room and revamping some pieces to incorporate into the refreshed space. Now I have labored over how I wanted this room to be.....I have a great fondness for antiques and items that remind me of my Iowa farm roots.....but we now live in Florida and that isn't really the style. I wanted to take things from different parts of our lives and have them reflect who we are now......that is where Home Goods came in.......I love browsing that store!!!!

I had spent the day that The Donner left with some friends cruising the Delray Beach Art Festival in hopes of finding something spectacular to put in the room......there was no such luck!!! So the next day I started painting....hoping that inspiration would come.....lets face it by the time I was done the only thing that was going to hit, was my head hitting the pillow!!! Feeling as though I had accomplished a great task by getting the living room painted I decided to treat myself to a little shopping spree. First stop, Home Depot....perhaps if I walked around long enough I would think of something to make....I like to create things (that can be a blessing and a cures sometimes).....wasn't happening that day. Next I was headed to Home Goods.....I wasn't finding a whole lot of treasures until.......I hit the clearance pictures and then I hit the Mother Load!!! I could not have picked a better picture to represent us and this time in our lives....it was a dog running on the beach......now if you have read some of my other posts you would see that we have 3 dogs and they are our 4 legged children.....each one of them are dear to our hearts.....even those little furry friends that have passed on. Not only was a it a dog running on the beach....now I know you are not suppose to have favorites among ones children but Raven is my husbands girl, their devotion to each other can be nauseating.....much like the relationship Sparkles (may she rest in peace) and I had.......the dog in the painting looks like Raven!!!!! Can I hear an AMAZING Wife shout out???? I found a few more treasures and then headed to Joann Fabrics....one of my favorite places to go....looking for some fabric for curtains....but like every trip I make there, I found items for another project.....I think that is my way of always needing to go back....."if I don't find it this time I will surely find it next time".

The week went on and I slowly figured out the pieces I wanted to add to the room from the enormous stash of stuff we already had....it came together and I was pleased. The question was...would The Donner be pleased....He Was...what a relief!!!!!

There are still a few things to be done and pieces to found...or made......like life it will be an ongoing process........that and I am fickle. I have posted some pictures for anyone interested in looking at the fruit of my labors.......enjoy!!!

Before

After

Happy Anniversary

12 years ago today I married the love of my life……I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and I am grateful. Marriage is not an easy job; there have been periods when we have both wondered what we have gotten ourselves into….but like a storm there is an end to those times and there is sunshine and hope once again. Those learning times have brought us to a stronger and more precious place in our lives, they have cemented our foundation. He has helped me to grow as a person and I like to think I have helped him…we are a team!!!! Here is to my friend, my lover, my husband…..I look forward to the next 12 and beyond!!!

Being Creative

Being creative is one of the great joys of life for me. Recently I made a scrapbook for a dear friend and thought I would share the result of my endeavor. Paper crafting is one of the many interests I have....I like it because they are projects I seem to finish!!!! This little book was made out of small treat bags; that is how the pockets on the side are created......this little book is like a treasure hunt. I hope you enjoy looking at the fruit of my labors and feel inspired to create something yourself!!!

This Makes Me Feel Gushy!!!

I have a little book that I bought several years ago called the Checklist for Life for Women; it is a compilation of lessons on topics such as Forgiveness, Providence, Family etc. (68 topics in all) and I keep that as my standard devotional (I do not read it every day....I do try though). Today's topic was on security....which seems to be the lesson God is really trying to get me to see these days. I like to report.....I AM GETTING IT.......WOO HOOO!!!!

That makes me gushy but what really brings butterflies to my tummy and makes my heart soar are 2 passages out of today's lesson.

1. He is your sure place to stand in a shaky world.

If you only knew how long I chose to stay in that shaky world....often being the shaker myself, you would understand my jubilation over those words. I was on the barter system with God (I was, He....not so much). I can remember prayer time used to be spent with me trying to convince God I had a REALLY good plan...I knew how to fix everything so that I would be happy....do you see all the I references????
Not until He pointed it out one evening during prayer time by showing me the plans of mine He had allowed and the numerous failures that followed, did I get it......I am a bit stubborn....don't tell my husband I said that!!!!
When I stopped looking at the world through my eyes and looked at it through God's eyes....even the shakiest of times were smooth sailing......God's route and His driving are much better than mine....and He is so darn faithful!!!!

2. The minute I said, "I'm slipping, I'm falling," your love, God, took hold of me and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up. Psalm 94:18-19 The Message

That makes me gushy because it is so true!!!
I lived a life in fear that God wouldn't catch me.....I believed I was no good because God didn't give me what I wanted (I was more into the temper tantrum part of being a child....I don't think that is what the scripture meant when it said come as a child....my bad!!!).

It all goes back to Rules or Relationship.....I followed the rules and that is where the frustration came from......I followed but only felt burdened and on the brink of failure constantly. Now I choose Relationship and as it grows I feel more and more freedom....freedom to be who God created me to be.

That makes me feel Gushy!!!!!!!