Just Pretty!

Just thought you all might enjoy some pretty Christmas inspiration! Hope it soothes your soul and makes you smile!

My husband and sons wouldn't appreciate me decorating for Christmas in PINK. So I can pretend here on my blog!

What have you baked so far? I have made a cheesecake, snowflake cut-out sugar cookies and pumpkin cranberry walnut bread.

My cookies don't look quite this pretty! In fact, they haven't been frosted yet! :O) They are hidden so that they do not get eaten before they are frosted!

I still have shopping to do and I don't know when I will get there. My mall is an hour away. Oh how I would love to shop here though. Isn't it magical? Imagine sipping a Peppermint Mocha while window shopping and finding special items for those you love? Doesn't quite look like the mall does it?
And here is a thought for the day:

 “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love”~ Mother Teresa.

Breathe!

I don't know about you, but right now I am trying to do so many things! I still have shopping to finish, baking to be done, a meal to make to share with a family in need, Christmas cards to finish creating, packages that need to be shipped, basketball games to attend, dishes to be washed, clothes to be laundered, tables to be decorated, gifts to be completed, deep prayers to be prayed and reverent Christmas musings to think upon....and that is just a few things that pop into my head at the moment.....there are many more things that I need to do or think I should do or things that I simply just want to do or create!

Some times you just need to lie down and BREATHE Christmas in! Think about the reason we celebrate at all! Soak in the silence of solitude....even if it's in your car waiting for the kids to come out of school. Sip that cup of tea....SITTING DOWN.....not racing around doing other things. Sit down and PRAY....breathe in the spirit of Christmas and let God fill your heart with REAL joy.

Recently, I was at a Christmas program. Lots of children were singing and reading verses that unfolded the Christmas story. The audience would sing Christmas carols in between scenes. There was a little child with some disabilities sitting near me. He was singing all of the songs from his sweet little heart. He didn't know all the words so he sang his own. He sang sweetly and clearly and with such a joy! His pure heart was the best performance of all. He was singing only for God's ears and I know He heard.

Don't be so busy that you miss what matters most! Maybe bake one pie instead of three. Maybe your Christmas cards won't go out until New Year's. Maybe you won't finish all the decorating that you wish to do. Do this instead. Smile. Hug. Listen. Worship. Breathe! Take time to enjoy the little moments that are all around you if you simply look and listen!

Decorating Inspiration

Are you decorating for Christmas? I haven't started yet, but I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my mind. I want to try so many new things this year because of all of the beautiful inspiration I am finding on the web!
What new ideas are you going to try?

I love the white cotton garland you see in this photo. Wouldn't it be pretty on your Christmas tree or hanging from your mantle?

I love the ideas of stars of all different sizes on my fireplace mantle with lots of greens. My stars will have silver German glass glitter on them!

I have two events that I need to create tablescapes for this Christmas season. I love these candle holders! I love nature-inspired holiday decor.

This item is new in my etsy shop! I was in Nashville and found these Tim Holtz rubber stamps and knew I had to have them! I created this piece over the weekend and I love how it turned out.

I love the angel. She is very Victorian and highly detailed. The Christmas sky is filled with music as German Glass glitter is tossed from her hands, as she announces the birth of the Savior. The corrugated cardboard and twine lend a rustic feel. Vintage sheet music and cream crepe paper are trimmed with vintage red rick rack and hand stitching. It is so lightweight~so it is easy to hand up anywhere you like!

I hope you have an enjoyable week staring your Christmas decorating!

Preparations

Are you getting ready for guests to come to your home for Thanksgiving? What welcoming decor have you arranged on your front steps?

Will you be getting out your heirloom dishes?

Just remember in all of the chaos that these are people you love and are blessed to have in your life!

Enjoy your week of preparations!

Frosty

It's frosty here today. Waking up to the temps being in the "teens". Sure is starting to feel like Christmas is around the corner.

Definitely trying to stay warm today. Zipping up my hoodie and sipping lots of tea. I had a great time visiting my dear daughter! We shopped and laughed and sang and ate lots of yummy stuff. I pulled some muscles in my back pulling my luggage around the airports and hoisting my loaded-up carry-on bag up to the rack above my seat. I was kind of surprised when my lower back started aching. I work out every day and even lift weights. I guess I used muscles that I normally don't. So, my return back to this blog and my etsy shop is a little slower than I anticipated. Throw in some of my boy's basketball games and some church activities and I haven't gotten much done!

I purchased a new set of Tim Holtz Christmas stamps at Archivers in Franklin, TN. They had just opened the day before! I could do some serious damage to my finances in that store. I bought some of the prettiest gold glass glitter that I am going to use on my Christmas cards. I heart glitter! Everything needs a kiss of glitter!

I hope you have a lovely day and that you can take a few minutes to thank God for the beauty that surrounds you! May your heart be filled with joy doing what you love with those you love!

The Sniffles

So, I feel whiney! I am a little cold and feel a little bit sick. I know...poor me! LOL  Two of my kids have already had this, so I guess it's my turn! . So, I am drinking more than my usual gallons of hot tea.....

Thinking about bundling up (27 degrees this morning!) and going on a twig finding search before all of the twigs get covered with SNOW! I love this wreath! It is so me!

Isn't this so sweet and shabby? I love Lily-of-the Valley! When I was a little girl, I would find them in early spring, and bring a tiny little bouquet to my mother and she would put them in a little toothpick holder in her kitchen window. I would also bring her little bouquets of wild violets! I definitely was born with that eye for beauty in nature and artistry!

I hope I feel betterquickly, ( I took some Benadryl and Ibuprofen) because I have a lot to do in a short amount of TIME today because......I am leaving tomorrow to go visit my darling daughter in Nashville! I love being able to spend with just her...she is my only girl!

Wouldn't it be awesome if I could take some of this luggage with me? I would find the perfect place in my home for each of these vintage treasures! I don't think they would make it through security as my carry-on though!
I hope you have a good weekend and I will see you in a week or so!

Raccoon Halloween

I was coming home about 8PM last night. It was dark. I saw some shadows ahead of me. At the corner of two quiet streets there is a large storm sewer drain. In the glow of the street light and my headlights, I could see THREE large raccoons, peering out of the drain. They looked to be in the process of getting ready to "go out". I quickly drove around the corner and jumped out of my car and told my youngest son to hop in. I was hoping to show him a fun sight. I stopped my car and we watched as the three raccoons climbed out of their "home". Instantly, another masked face peeked out from the drain as well! FOUR! He eased his chubby body out and ambled off right behind the other three. Then a FIFTH popped out! My son and I were having our own little circus show! Then the SIXTH peeked out and shuffled off right in the line too. Finally, the SEVENTH large raccoon climbed out! We were laughing and joking and loving what we were watching. What was just as funny, was that they went walking down the road, single-file, in a line, down the middle of the dark road.....all SEVEN OF THEM! I told my son that they were going Trick-or-Treating! We laughed so hard! Never have I ever witnessed such a sight as we got to see! I wish everyone could have watched this performance. It was like something out of an old cartoon show.

This little book is how I think of raccoons! I think they are cute! I know they are menaces but I like them! Maybe because they look like kittys!

I definitely think this was what was happening last night!!!!!!!!!!

Relax! It's Saturday!

I hope you have a relaxing weekend with your family....doing something that you love!

With somebody that you love!

Maybe finding some beautiful treasures..........

Or starting a new project that has been in your mind all week.........

Or my favorite....sipping a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha........it's a hug in a cup!

(I cheat though......I order a tall coffee with a shot of Peppermint Mocha flavor with no whip. I am lactose intolerant. It tastes absolutely delicious and it has less calories and it's cheaper! You can even get decaf if you want! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Shabby and Spooky

Thought I would share some pretty things with you that inspired me! Such Shabby Chic sweetness....I never get tired of it.

Don't you just love the garden gate above the bed? And who is sleeping in the bed?

I just love how sunny and bright this room is and yet warm and cozy!

Love,love, love..............

Shabby and Spooky.........how can you not love this Halloween Kitty?

Sparrows

My inspiration for this blog and my etsy shop, came from my love of nature and from the encouraging Bible Verses found in the book of Matthew chapter 10, verses 29 through 31.

"What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."

 My whole life I have had to deal with an anxiety disorder. I have a prescription for this, as this is a genetic, medical condition. This medication helps me live my life but it does not cure the condition that I have. I rely on God to help me and comfort me when the anxiety starts spinning out of control. God has been so compassionate to me and I love these verses. 

I like to view myself as a little sparrow. I am the mother bird that works hard for her children and searches the countryside for bits and pieces of beauty to create a cozy nest for my husband and children. 
This past week, I was headed to an appointment that was causing my anxiety to be escalated and I was feeling scared and out of control. Terror is not too extreme of a word for what I was feeling! I was praying and trying to trust God as I was "bravely" heading out the door. I had promised myself that I would sit and look at my new Somerset Life magazine later. I was trying to anticipate something fun and pleasant. As I was backing my car out of the garage, I noticed some fluttering by a window. There was an adorable little house sparrow trying her hardest to get out of a closed window. She didn't realize that the whole garage door was open and she could have easily flown right out. She was fluttering up against the window, trying in vain to escape. I smiled. I remembered the verses. I was like this little sparrow. I wanted to escape! God used this moment to show me that He was thinking of me!  I was more precious to my heavenly Father than even this sweet little sparrow that was thrashing around. It was so precious that God would choose this way to show me He was with me and would help me. How sweet of God to send a little sparrow to comfort me as I was so nervous. I left the garage door open as I left, hoping the little darling would find her way back out into the world that was waiting for her. When I came home, she was gone. I will forever remember this and it will always bring a smile and a joy to my heart. 

Is there something you are facing in your life that you need courage for?

Something happening that has you worried?

Look to God for your strength. He loves you so much more than the little sparrows...and He keeps an eye on them too!

What a comfort it is to me! I hope it brings you comfort as well!

I'm Back

I arrived safely back home and was so happy to see my own bed and my children. After some very rough turbulence out of Denver,(think roller coaster extreme) I was so happy to be done traveling for the time being. I took some great photos of Colorado and had a great time. I will share some of those soon. I hope your week is off to a sweet start. Is it bad I made my son a cup of coffee for breakfast? He is 13 and really likes coffee and I recently bought a little coffee pot and he really wanted to try it out! I am much more of a black tea drinker and more of a social coffee drinker but needed a 5 cup little pot! His cup of coffee was flavored with Creme Brulee creamer and he was a happy camper going off to school! Some days a man just needs a cup of coffee! LOL

Enjoy your Monday doing something that makes your heart smile!

Retreat

We've been very busy for a very long time. Our 25th anniversary passed us by without really getting away. We have a busy, crazy life that we love and four busy, crazy kids that we love, but we are going away...just the two of us. We get to go to Colorado for a special retreat for ministry workers. There will be meetings and fellowship but we plan on sneaking out and spending some time together with God in the beauty of Colorado. I have never been to Colorado, so we are excited to be going during Autumn. What will we find?

I don't think our accommodations will look like this,since we will be in the mountains, not the seashore, but wouldn't that be relaxing and fun? Who knows what we will find in Colorado? I'm taking my camera along.............