I've missed this.

Well, it has definitely been a while since I last blogged and lots of things have changed.  God is still working on His plan for me - some things moving quickly, some taking a bit longer.  I have really been thinking about my writing a lot more often and it wasn't until a conversation with a neighbor yesterday that I realized this is really what I want to do.  God has given me so many talents - writing, communicating, knowledge of another language, drawing, painting, sewing, creating, teaching - and the best way to utilize all those at once is by writing books/stories/blogs.  I am going to deep clean today and look for my notebooks that contain all my sketches, short stories, essays, poems, and start putting it all together.  I think by Christmas I can have a good, solid collection.  Until my job gets in the way.

I just can't help but believe that it is God's will for me to be a writer.  I've wanted to be one since high school.  But, it is going to take lots of prayer, lots of willpower (to write instead of goof off on computer games or Facebook), lots of help from my children, and lots of support from my friends and family. 

So, having caught you up on where God is leading me, I hope you find where He is leading you.  I'll leave you with my favorite Bible verse today, and I may have used it before to close a post, but it's my favorite!

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Be blessed!

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God is doing his work

I've been praying a lot lately about some different things going on in my life right now.  And guess what?  God is listening and revealing answers.  Or, more like little hints.

I have always believed in the power of prayer.  When Archer was extremely sick in ICU at the age of 3, I prayed that the Lord would bring me home safely from Mexico (I was there doing graduate work) so I could see him and that He would keep him alive until I arrived.  Not only did I make it home, but Archer is now a strong, healthy 12 year old.

For years, Jamison and I would get into discussions about faith vs. science or proof.  I would pray that he would accept Jesus so we could walk in faith together.  It happened and it has made a tremendous difference in our relationship and family.

I could go on and on about the things I've prayed about that God answered positively.  But he also answers negatively sometimes or answers in His time, not ours.  I was explaining to the children the other day about the opportunities that God gives us sometimes are because it is His plan, not ours.  They were upset because we drove by our old house that we were forced to move from because of some financial issues and mortgage company garbage that could never get resolved.  So we left after being threatened with foreclosure.  We miss it.  But I had to explain to them that God has another plan that we don't yet understand and he will reveal to us when He is ready.

God is working on some other things with me right now.  They will be revealed when the time is right - when it is His time.  For now, I will continue to pray and He will continue to give me hints until all is ready.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will direct your path.

Be blessed!

I've been so busy

Well, the title says it all.  I've been so busy.  I thought things would ease up since basketball season ended and only one child has started baseball but it seems I have so many activities to fill my time.  I haven't clipped coupons in almost a month, haven't really gone grocery shopping either (but I'm still saving money), and my house is (always) a mess.  But I keep pushing on.

Little one has a pageant she wants to be in that is out of my budget so I'll be making lots of art to hopefully sell to fund that adventure.  The big one and I will be going to Costa Rica in less than 90 days and I've got to raise some money for that too.  The middle one wants to go back to football camp this summer, which is not cheap, nor is it in my debt-snowball budget.  But we'll make it work.  I'm going to put my Pinterest pins to work by re-creating some crafts for the little one to make herself and "earn" her beauty pageant trip.  The big one is going to help me at a craft show I do locally every year to "earn" his trip.  I just need to find something for that middle child to do to earn his football camp trip.  I would like to find time to save money for a family trip this summer, too.  Even if it's just a weekend getaway, just the 5 of us - three boys and two girls.

I must say, I have had an overwhelming feeling that I am being urged to write and illustrate.  I can't explain it and don't really want to try to explain it.  I take these things as God trying to speak to me.  It is just sometimes hard to focus on what he is trying to say because we are so...busy.  I have to slow down and take the time to talk to him more and find out if what I feel is his way of telling me I should pursue that or if it is just a hobby that I currently miss because I don't have the time to indulge it.  Either way, I enjoy writing and illustrating and think, maybe, if I could find all my little stories and poems, I could put together some type of book that I could sell at my craft show and online to fund these little adventures this summer.  That would be nice.

Be blessed!

Strong enough

Phillipians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

I love the song “Strong enough” by Matthew West and basically this song is based on Phil. 4:13.  The first verse says, “You must think I’m strong to give me what I’m going through.  Forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong, but this looks like more than I can do on my own.”  Then, the chorus says “I know I’m not strong enough to be everything that I’m supposed to be.  I give up. I’m not strong enough. Hands of Mercy won’t you cover me.  Lord right now I’m asking you to be strong enough, for both of us.”  Towards the end of the song, he repeats the scripture and sings “I don’t have to be strong enough.”

This gives me hope because on so many days, all of them, actually, I am not strong enough.  I struggle daily with balancing work and motherhood, homemaker and wife.  I pray daily for the strength to get through the day, especially on school days, because I get so busy.  Now, I do put a lot of pressure on myself and I am currently working on that and praying about that.  But for now, I am praying to be strong enough, day by day.   And sometimes it feels like the Lord is giving me too much.  And maybe He is.  Maybe He keeps giving me certain struggles or busy-ness so that I will continue to lean on Him and ask for His help.

None of us are strong enough on our own.  We have to have His help.  He wants to help us; otherwise He would not have given us these words of encouragement.  He builds us up and tells us that we can do whatever we put our mind to because the strength comes from him.  But I think sometimes, He is strong enough for both of us, and He carries us, just like in the Footprints in the Sand poem.  That comfort is there during those times that we can’t do it alone, even if it’s just daily living.  He will be strong enough if we just ask Him.  And that’s OK.  

Be Blessed!

Pinterest has inspired me!

So, I avoided Pinterest for the longest time, knowing I would become an addict.  However, it has recently inspired me.

I have been doing "painting parties" for a little over a year now but recently used a few Pinterest ideas for a birthday party for a friend.  Here are the paintings:

I added my own personal touch by allowing the girls to sprinkle just a little glitter onto the "tutu" while the paint was still wet.  I like glitter.

The ages of the children doing these were as young as 7 months, with mom's help, up to age 6, I think.  So easy and a special keepsake for the parent and child.  I hope to do more of these Pinterest-inspired parties this summer so maybe I can quit my day job and do what I love the most!

Be blessed!

My newest Pinterest project

OK, so, with 3 boys and 2 girls total in our happy household, we go through lots of body wash.  I had a pretty good stockpile of it until recently.  I just haven't been finding very good deals on it that match my coupons.  I'll admit, I haven't had much time to do the thorough research that I can normally do.

However, in an effort to simplify my life this year and "Clear the Clutter" in 2012, I decided to try making my own body wash.  Jessalyn and I have already made our own laundry detergent, and I must say that is working out well.  So, browsing through Pinterest, I came across a pin for homemade body wash.  I wasn't really looking for it at the time but I feel like it was looking for me!  I pinned it and moved on.

But yesterday as I was drowning in projects and quizzes to grade, I needed a craft break.  Aha!  Go back to Pinterest and find the recipe.  I did not want to make a huge batch the first time so I cut it by a third.  Instead of 3 bars of soap, I used only 1 bar, mixed with 2 cups of water.  It's basically a 2:1 ratio - two cups of water for every bar of soap.

I used Zest because we like it and I have plenty of it!  (It was on sale recently and my coupons doubled so this little project cost me about 30 cents.)  Shred the soap with a grater, like you would shred cheese, and add the water.  Simmer over the stove on low heat until all the soap is dissolved.

Pour into a jar or bowl (I used an empty spaghetti sauce jar) and let cool.

Now, here's where I have to tweak it next time.  I waited until today to try to put it into my empty body wash container.  Bad idea.  My homemade formula had "gelled" up too much and I had to use a spoon and it took about 15-20 minutes to get it all in the container.  Next time, I will pour it while it is still liquid but cool, maybe after an hour.  Oh well.  You don't learn until you try.

This one bar of soap made enough to fill my 16.9 oz. bottle plus a little left over that I used to refill my hand soap container.  All for about 30 cents!

I would say it's a pretty successful Pinterest project that saves me money!  Next time I'll use a more "girlie" soap like Dove or Caress.

Be Blessed!

Not feeling like myself

I know it's been a little over a week or two since I've posted.  I can't help it.  I've just not been feeling like myself lately.  Lots of things going on - busy home life with the kids and sports, school kids are just crazy, hubby going through interviews for a promotion, and much more.  I have been finding a little time to paint.  I had a big custom order from Etsy and I've been working on it all January.  The paintings are finally ready to ship.  I have a couple more orders to work on this week.  I really enjoy painting and creating things.  I so wish I could just be a family manager and stay home and paint!  It makes me so happy and calms my nerves.

So does writing.  I already feel better (mentally) by sitting here writing about my stress and frustrations.  It's like it is physically leaving my body as I hit each alphabet key.  Awesome.  However, I do feel a physical sickness coming on, probably due to the changing weather.  But I'm not going to let it get me down.  I'm going to get some rest (no painting tonight) and maybe I'll be refreshed tomorrow.

Here are the paintings I've been working on during January.

Be Blessed!