My banner of love

While the tile guy and the plumber were busy doing their thing...I was busy doing mine.  Here are a few pictures of my Banner of Love.  I started this project on our snow day and then finished it today.  Various papers, trinkets, stamps, ink and of course lace and ribbon.  If anyone is familiar with old hymns.  The triangle with Love in black has the music to "Love lifted Me"...Indeed, Jesus' love lifts us to new heights...

Here are some before pictures and in the process of ...

Today is demolition day of old countertops and installing the new.. Tomorrow the tile guy and the plumber come.  If you asks what's for dinner...Reservations!!!  But I have managed to begin a beaded crochet cuff/bracelet that has been on my project wish list for a while.  We found out the floor comes Monday and the installation begins Wednesday.  So it is moving weekend for our house...we have so many little treasures...it should prove quite a full weekend!!!  

new adventures on the horizon

Do you ever feel adventures are just around the corner?  It's an anticipation in your heart that is just waiting and watching...Well, my adventures are about to begin..What kind you might ask? The remodeling/renovating kind!!!  We have decided to stay in our house until Savannah finishes High school and the economy turns around(that will be an adventure in itself!). So, we are making big changes... This week brand new counter tops (granite/tile)  are going to be put in...which means the bottom half of my kitchen has to be emptied.  In case you don't know, I love to cook and bake, collect china, glass ware and cookbooks, just to name a few....I will be packing boxes like I'm moving, but not.  Our second adventure will come early next week with the replacing of the carpet with hardwood floor on all of our downstairs.  I once again, will be packing boxes like I'm moving, but not.  Our third adventure will begin in mid February where we will begin our outdoor projects...a studio for me and the girls., an outdoor kitchen and pool....perhaps in all this, I will be only able to dwell in my current studio as to not be in the way of the adventures.  I don't know about you, but that sounds awesome to me....Stay tuned for "Adventures in the making". 

True friendship...

I have a magnet on my refrigerator that reads "True love stories never have an ending." (John 3:16)  I believe true friendships are the same way.  Today I had the pleasure of reconnecting with a lifetime friend...we hadn't seen each other in quite awhile.  It was wonderful....We caught up, shared many of the things that had gone on in our lives and renewed the bond we had built more than 10 years ago....such a great feeling to know that the time invested in the years prior had not been wasted. This dear friend, Brenda, taught me many new things when I was a young mother. She gave me the love of treasure hunting, garge sale-ing, sweet tea, canning fruit, (I found it to be a joy while she had done it her whole life and wasn't as enamored with skimming the foam off the peaches as I was...good stuff!!)  learning to be strong in the midst of trials and learning to let go and let God. 

I will always treasure the earlier years as we were together often.  However, I will feel as though I missed those in-between years, and now, I can be there for these "now " years.  It's not starting over, it's picking up where we left off with a bit of catching up to do...Making the most of the friendship we share will be one of my many memories made this year.  Here's to friendship (and sweet tea)!!

Many memories

Today, our storage shed was broken into...My husband called me to let me know and to see if I could head over to see what was missing.  (He was actually in NYC)..At first glance, most of the "Junk" was still there...when I looked at the saddle stand..It was bare.  They had taken my daughter's saddle, show blankets, and pads..It broke my heart.   Knowing they can be replaced isn't the same as having them for years to come.  In keeping this in perspective,  I shared with our youngest that things can be replaced, people can't.  We were glad that no one was hurt.   Some of you have lost far greater treasures in this world.  Loved ones, relationships, homes, ..the truly important things of this life.  When I chose my word for the year (many)..it was no accident.  I am flooded with many memories of Savannah on her horse, buying the saddle, the flag blanket (they are really cool here in Texas) and even of Presleigh on Savannah's saddle playing as if she was riding.  We are blessed with faith, safety, health, family, friendships, homes, treasures..make sure you make memories all along the way...So that one day no matter the loss, many memories will fill your heart.

My word for the year

It's the new thing...A word for the year.  Everyone seems to want one word to define them for the year.  I know some have chosen words to help them focus, slow down, simplify, relax or remember.  But how can one choose just one word.  Words are powerful indeed. At the mention of some words we cringe, cry or fall to pieces.  Some words can evoke joy, dreams or pure silliness.  So I ask again, how can we choose just one.  I love words- because words indeed tell who we are, what we are about and what is important to us.   In this process of choosing one word, I want a word that encourages me to live wonderfully.  After much thought, my word for the year will be "many."   Many lives to help, many hearts to touch, many projects to create, many lunches to make, many hugs to be given, many songs to sing, many memories to make and most definitely, many blessings to be thankful for.  So in choosing this word, I am choosing to live life abundantly.  In this coming year I wish for you Many happy days.   

Christmas back in the boxes

Today, the last of the christmas decorations went back in the boxes.  Actually, I started last Friday with the first tree (which is around 15 ft)..We need one for all of the wonderful homemade ornaments our children have made over the last 18 years...Our oldest and only son, Morgan, is a freshman in College.  Then our oldest daughter, Savannah, is a freshman in highschool and our youngest, Presleigh, is in second grade.   So my tree has ...baby's 1st christmas ornaments, ornaments with names engraved...some with pasta, puzzle pieces and felt...They are treasures that as each year passes, they become more precious to me.  I do, however, keep a few christmas things out all year long so as to remember the most precious treasure - the birth of God's son.   My Jim shore nativity sits on my bookcase in my office next to a Bible.  I have words such as joy and believe still on the mantle.. No matter the season..Keep the spirit of giving in your heart all year long.    

Wishblooms

Wishblooms-a joyful adventure in daily living.  I have wanted to have a blog for quite some time now..So many blogs are filled with inspiration, dramatic stories, unforgettable pictures that I was intimidated to even begin...Yet there is a place for the daily adventures of life from the perspective of a joyful heart.  A heart that is full.  My youngest daughter coined the phrase "wishblooms."  She was referring to the dandelions that all children (and let's be honest, adults, too) love to blow and then watch the seeds scatter into the summer breeze... Presleigh told me that the seeds flying were actually wishblooms..I loved it so much that I have written a children's story about this very idea of sending wishblooms to others throughout our life.  Hopefully in posts to come, I will put excerpts of the story along with the celebration of daily life.  perhaps a little of our wishblooms will come your way.