Insecurity

Have you ever been asked to do something that you feel very strongly about, but totally unqualified to do?

That's about how I'm feeling right now.

I have been asked to speak at our church's teenage girls' retreat.  The topic is insecurity, which would be my platform should I ever compete in Mrs. America!
I feel that so many terrible choices young women make are the result of insecurity.  And I also feel that women are often the cause of each other's insecurity.  I have so much to say on the subject.

However…I also feel that I am totally inadequate for this honor.  I am an insecure woman.  I do know that I have more confidence than ever.  I know that my looks aren't as important as I thought. I know that God doesn't make junk and he made me exactly the way I am for His purpose.  But, I compare myself to others.  I wish I was taller, thinner, more talented.  I don't take compliments graciously.

So how do I talk to these girls?  How do I convince them that they are all beautiful in their own way?  How do I let them know that they matter?  How do I make them see that it gets easier as you mature?  How do I keep them from being like me???

I'm asking for prayers, please!  I'll let you know how it goes :)

Shop Local

Christmas is 48 days away.

A little under 7 weeks away.

That's not a ton of time to shop.

And it's certainly not a ton of time for me to get personalized gifts prepared for you to give!

So, I'd like to ask you to pledge to shop, spend, eat, and enjoy local!  Sites like Etsy have made it possible for people like me to become small business owners.  Therefore, we all know people who can benefit from this pledge.

Honestly, I usually appreciate handmade gifts more than something that can be found by the carton in big box stores.  I'm sure there are people in your life who feel the same way.

Here are some ideas from my shop and some of my favorite Etsy shops!  

Click the picture to link to the Etsy page.

FdL  Reverse Applique Sweatshirt

FdL Give a Hoot Owl - available in other teams 

Vibrant Designs

FdL Hand Towel - available in tons of color and pattern combinations

PeachState Yarnworks

Two Sisters Designs

The Business of Being Crafty

I have had some recent success with my Etsy shop lately.
In fact, I no longer call myself a crafter - I am now a small business owner!  While I'm not quite that official yet, I am well on my way!
With the holidays coming up, I have been super busy working on orders.
Here are some ideas for your own gift giving!

Remember, I do custom orders too!  If you see something you'd like done differently, just ask!

Honduras Story - Lourdes

My husband and I are, by no means, professional speakers.  But, somehow, I have 2 speaking engagements the month of November!
This past weekend, we flew to Houston to speak at Conroe Church of Christ about foreign missions. While we were nervous about speaking in front of so many strangers, we are always thrilled to share our passion for mission work.
God totally took care of us through the amazing folks at that church.  We got the royal treatment - it was really humbling.

One story that came up Sunday morning is one that I want to share with you.  It's about my little friend named Lourdes.

My first trip to Honduras was in 2006.  We went to Tegucigalpa and worked with a clinic there.  Our duties included medical, VBS, construction, and food delivery.
One morning, after a rambunctious VBS experience, we loaded up the bus to head to a school for the blind.  On the way out the door I noticed a piece of pipe cleaner that had been left on the floor after our VBS craft.  I wasn't near a trash can, soI just wrapped the pipe cleaner around my finger.
When we got to the school, I immediately noticed a darling little girl with no eyes.  (I later found out that her mother had been so malnourished during pregnancy that the baby's eyes never developed).  She wandered over to me and grabbed my hand, immediately discovering the soft pipe cleaner on my finger.  She stroked the soft "piece of trash" and kept calling it a ring as she settled down in my lap for a long while.
We didn't understand much of what we said to each other, but we still communicated about the ring and her hair and the breeze - me in English and her in Spanish.
After a while, we went into the main room of the school where Lourdes settled back into my lap while most children sat in chairs at the tables.
They began to sing in the most beautiful voices I've ever heard.  Tears immediately filled my eyes.  Lourdes must have heard me crying.  She reached up and wiped my tears away - over and over.  Of course, I cried more!
Then they asked us to sing.  It was nowhere near as beautiful as their singing.  Lourdes kept reaching up and pulling my mouth to her ear.  And that little girl told me it was beautiful.  I don't know how she heard beauty in my cracking voice, but she did!
Then we had to leave.  It was awful.
First I cried.
Then I sobbed.
I didn't want to leave her.  I wanted to see her again.
Then it hit me.

I WILL SEE HER AGAIN!

We will be together again with Jesus.
She will have eyes to see.
I will have a beautiful voice.
Lourdes got me hooked on foreign missions.  I've been back to Honduras 11 times since and plan to continue as long as God allows.

 


If you'd like to be involved in the mission work in Honduras, please visit www.MissionLazarus.org
We are all called to be missionaries - I promise that you are able!

To see our talk from Sunday click here.

November 1

It's November already! Can't believe it, can you?
Last year, I did a Thankful Challenge for the month of November.  I am in a pretty thankful mood today - just thinking about all of my blessings.  I'd like to start the month counting my blessings.

I am blessed with a loving husband who works hard to provide for our family.  He leads our family spiritually and would do anything to protect us. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need and he sets a good example of generosity and compassion.  Love him!

I am blessed with beautiful step-daughters who let me love them and love me more than they have to.

I am blessed with parents who have always shown unconditional love to me.  There's nothing I can do to make them stop loving me - of this I'm sure!

I am blessed with the best girl friends I could ask for.  I don't know what I would do without them!

I am blessed with a sweet church family who loves and supports and welcomes without ceasing.

I am blessed with knowing what it means to serve.  I wouldn't trade anything for my experiences in Honduras.  I am thankful for Mission Lazarus and my friends in Honduras.

I am blessed with a group of children that I get to spend time with weekly.  I am especially thankful for getting to go trick-or-treating with them last night and being part of their joy!

My list could go on and on!  

What are you blessed with?