The things I have learned....

Let me speak from the heart.... I have too much stuff!! I tried to think of ways to say this, an endearing little line about she who dies with the most....wins. But in reality she who has the most is a slave to it and is always finding places to put it! I have so many passions..in art, in creative endeavors, in needlework, in home keeping, in cooking and baking, in gardening, in books, in music, in decorating, my family, my faith, my Lord... the list is endless...but so is what I have accumulated over the past 25 years. Now in saying that, there are treasures I will not part with and there are things needed to pursue those said passions. It is good to have a library of great books, it is good to have those treasures that create special memories in the home or further my artistic inspirations. So please do not read that I am going to the minimalist side....I am a memory-ist (my own word). I love to be surrounded by treasures of times gone by, those gifts from my Mom, my husband, my children, making my home a reflection of those that I love and what brings me joy. I love the sound of buttons as you rustle your hands through them, lace as it shows such a feminine side. I love to read Cookbooks as thought they were novels. So my home is still a reflection of me. But today, I took the inspiration from a wonderful blog by Heather Bullard. She took time to redo her bookcases and found out things about her and what her focus would be. I am going to begin tackling room by room...So here is what I did today...

In my sewing room is a walk-in closet and an attic closet. Neither one of these could I walk in, so moving boxes were purchased and taped together, and the clean out began. If I couldn't remember the last time I used it, it went in the goodwill box. If it was broken or no longer able to be used, it was tossed. If I loved it and knew what I would use it for, I saved it..

The following pictures give a glimpse of what I am donating....

What I discovered about me...

1. I absolutely love baskets..but I became a basket case when trying to keep them all.

2. I had around 25 lamp shades -varying sizes...I guess we were all wearing lampshades to the party...turn out the lights the party is over!

3. I love to organize..but I had so many different styles of organization that nothing was organized.

4. To recycle, repurpose is great..except when you have over 30 pairs of jeans...So, I am going to let others have a pair of wranglers, rustlers, huskys and bootcut. It is good to share.

5. It didn't hurt to let those 5 boxes plus a few bags go like I thought it would. It actually is freeing... and it is wonderful not to trip over all those things just to get a piece of ribbon or fabric.

Here are a few pictures of the closets (sorry some are dark..there are only tap lights in the attic closet)...

You can see that there is still plenty to create and sew. But you can also see the floor!!! It is a great feeling to clear out - not just the physical but the emotional and spiritual as well. We can feel free when we clear out those overflowing closets, but the Lord also tells us that our freedom is in Christ when we clear out the old and let him bring in the new. I know that for my sewing room..only that which is precious or a treasure will be brought back in. And I know that the Lord will only bring in the absolute best he has to offer...Won't you clear out with me....you closets, your cabinets, your heart? Until next time,

Blessings,

A new year....new Joy

After Christmas has been put away, I long for a soft palette of creams, calming wintery whites and a touch of vintage silver. I am not a neutral gal as our home has many colors throughout. We often tease that we have the Red Room, the Blue Room and then the Ocean Room, just too mention a few. I am a lover of many colors as some create energy, drama, or a sense of relaxation. But after the reds, greens, lights, ornaments, Snowmen and Santas- it is good to just have simple, soft and soothing.

I hope you have already found joy in the New Year and that your daily living is enriched by those that you love and love you in return. I hope your New Year's Resolutions include finding joy in the everyday. Sometimes that is harder than the typical resolutions such as weight loss, fitness, spending less money (of course, those are on my list too). Joy can come in so many ways. We tend to think of joy as a life without challenges, sorrows or just inconveniences. Let me turn that around....Presleigh received a Thesaurus for Christmas (She was bored with using the same words), So I thought I would look up Joy - so here are some words we can use to see that there is indeed joy in our lives -- Delight, triumph, great pleasure, jubilation, joyfulness, bliss, exuberant, happiness, gladness, rejoicing, treat....this brings to mind someone I know who has beaten Cancer..She triumphed - She has Joy! my son, had an accident at the Gym on Tuesday and has a compressed vertebrae fracture - I am rejoicing that he does not need surgery, nor a brace - He will heal in time and have no permanent damage, just some inconveniences... We have joy! In these two circumstances, many times we don't see Joy...But if we look harder, Joy lies beneath what is seen. I pray that your journey into 2011 will be filled with wonderful times, wonderful people, realized dreams, exciting endeavors but above all,remember, There is joy in our journey...

Until next time- Blessings,

P.S. I am not sure what happened to my font...It's kind of wierd!!

****Also, check out our new blog at fifty -two cakes *****

Wishing you wonderful times with those you love, bounty at your table, gratitude in your heart, joy for the journey, and a love that is all surpassing in the gift God has given you. Blessings to you this Christmas.

A story to be told

It’s raining. It’s pouring and no I am not snoring. I am actually home – which is rare. Perhaps my errands can wait for a while, my running here and there and seeming always to end up at Walmart. But today is different, perhaps it’s the grayness or the sound of rain that has kept me in or perhaps it’s the need to be where I can look through each room, each pile, each paper, and recall that I am blessed. I have a place to which my children love to be, where my husband comes home to each week after being gone, where I feel safe and loved.

I stopped in the middle of my “cleaning” and thought I would write a bit…it’s been awhile. What really prompted me was Presleigh’s room. Some might see her room as a bit full...full of stuffed animals that have been lovingly chosen, full of trinkets from places we’ve been such as London, Florida, California and of course those wonderful garage sales and treasure stores. They may see an abundance of papers, pictures, notebooks, that they may think to throw away. Believe it or not, I do think that at times but today as I was picking up little bits of paper and such, I read one of the stories that Presleigh had written. A treasure to be kept not a scrap to be tossed.You see, she is a creative soul, always looking, thinking, dreaming, writing, asking, searching, and believing. Believing in her abilities, in her imagination, in the possibilities, the limitless nature of God. Of course, she is only nine. My older children at times, want to shush her or at the very least, just roll their eyes and look at me. My response has and always will be – “You once were like that.” But then I think to myself, “ I once was like that.”

What changes? What happens to us as we leave those wonder years where everything is a wonder, a dream, a possibility. What is it about a child that captures the essence of who we should be?

As I ponder these thoughts and so many others, I can’t help but think that like Presleigh, we have a story that is waiting to be told…A story that encompasses so much more than we realize. Our story is of one who was lost and has been found, a story of limitless possibilities to those that believe in the Mighty One of Jacob, the Lord. “For with God, nothing is impossible." (Luke).A story of pure redemption, where nothing in our past is held against us, for those that have received forgiveness. Our future is bright – for the one who lights our path, lights the day with the sun and the moon and stars by night. Our story can be new each day just as his mercies are new.

Presleigh writes several stories a day. They are inspired by what is happening at school, what she is reading, what she is experiencing, even where she is in her walk with the Lord. Her stories give me a glimpse into her very being. Her writings are so precious to me…she is precious to me. It is almost time to get back to her room but I do have just one question for you, for me........What is your story? Remember, you are precious in his sight....Go ahead dear one and begin writing your story as you live in the daily. Your story is worth reading.

Happy Fall!

Hope this day finds you enjoying your may blessings...I wanted to share with you that I am still here, still grateful, still reflecting, still seeking the direction and purpose that God wants to show me. I am creating, crafting, decorating, cleaning (always because when you create, craft or decorate..cleaning must follow, right?), loving and taking care of my family. We are getting in the spirit of seasons of celebrating. Really shouldn't everyday be a reason to Celebrate?!! Until next time,

Blessings

Taking a break...but first pictures of T&T2

It is time for me to take a little break from the world of blogging (not that I am very faithful at it) but nonetheless, it is always on my to do list and I become anxious over not having posted or forgot to take pictures of certain things....so for now I am going to sign off for awhile - I need a little time of reflection, direction and a dream---But I did want to show you pictures of our wonderful day at my home for Tidbits and Tassels 2. The weather was beautiful, the ladies were wonderful and the weekend was memorable...So here are some pictures of this wonderful time of gathering, creating, laughing and well just having fun!! (these are in no particular order!!)

I'll be back soon....you can find me on facebook--just ask to be my friend and of course I will accept. Until next time....Blessings,

Quick trip to Abilene...

Whirlwind week...Tidbits and Tassels 2 was awesome! I had planned to post earlier this week after I had caught up the daily as I had been creating with some wonderful women during the weekend....but instead of catching up on the daily, I needed to head out west (no problem for me.. I love the wide open spaces, the big Sky, the great people) to ACU to move Morgan from one apartment to another one (back on Campus, YEAH!!) So I returned last night after being gone for several days...So now I need to catch up on the daily.... I promise I will post about our awesome weekend!!! And there will be pictures, Savannah took over 200 (My friend, Jodie, advise --if you take a bunch, you're bound to have a few good ones).

While in Abilene, I met with one of the most awesome women, Roxanne. She is one of the gals putting together a most wonderful weekend in Abilene - High Cotton Art Camp Please go check it out. Registration is ending September 15th!! Hurry and join us as we celebrate all things creative!!

Tidbits and Tassels 2 post and pics coming soon! Until then,....

Blessings

**Here's a glimpse of downtown Abilene