The Spirit of Christmas - Day 4

I'm a little late writing tonight!  I stayed up until 2  last night - can't remember the last time I did that.  TONS of FdL projects to work on this week, so I was trying to get ahead.  (I'll share some of my work soon!)

Before my late-night crafting binge, I went to an ornament swap at my church.  This is a tradition with the ladies that everyone has always talked about fondly.  I hadn't' been before, so I decided that this was the year I'd go - and I brought my Mommy!

My Mom has congestive heart failure, survived a brain tumor, and has several other health complications. So getting her out of the house is an ordeal and a HUGE treat for her!

On the way to pick Mom up, I got to drive through the arches that are up every year in my parents' neighborhood.  

I.

Love.

It.

I drive so slowly down that road at night in December.  It's just so festive and beautiful!  That put me in the perfect spirit for some holiday fun!

At church, we shared finger foods and broke each others' hearts stealing ornaments and decorative items during Dirty Santa.  The sweet ladies in my church family have been praying for Mom for years, so she got lots of sweet attention.  She had a great time!

I left with one of the most coveted gifts!!!

My friend's mother in law made it and another one like it.  I'm SO happy to have this!  It's beautiful, handmade, and simply shares the meaning of the whole holiday season!

I brought two of my towels that are listed in my Etsy shop - I hope their new owner loves them too!

I will be going to the Ornament Swap every year now!  Such fun!

The Spirit of Christmas - Day 3

Today is Give Day!
I hadn't heard of it until I started seeing posts about it on Facebook.  I like the idea though - we (Americans) have been so caught up in a 4-day Black Friday and Cyber Monday that we may have forgotten to give.
So here's the day to do it.
If you've read much of my blog, or even remotely know me, you know that my heart live in Honduras at a place called Mission Lazarus.
In a nutshell, ML serves the physically, emotionally, and spiritual needy in Honduras and Haiti.  There is so much need in third world countries that we can't even fathom here in the US.  My eyes have been opened by ML time and time again.
Today, I decided to give a random gift to ML.  I also ordered a new hat :)

If you go to this link, you can buy your own hat.  Or a GORGEOUS purse or other leather good made by Hondurans who are learning a trade in order to take care of their families.  (Great gifts!!)

You can also choose to sponsor a child or provide a sustainable gift like chickens or cows to a family in Honduras. This gift does more for them than we can imagine.  It gives them a source of food and income.  It effects more than just that family - it helps the whole community.  I encourage you to at least spend the $30 for chickens!

I'm thinking about other ways I'd like to give today.  I've said that I plan to buy local, buy small, and buy from charities this year.  It takes more time and effort, but it feels great!

The Spirit of Christmas - Day 2

I'm SO ready to decorate for Christmas!  Since we are a blended family, we have some blended decorations.  I can't wait to share pieces of that with you this month.
The Hubs has a Christmas tree skirt that was crocheted by his grandmother.  It is very special to him, so he doesn't really like to put it under our real tree.  We don't want to get tree sap on it or for the crazy cat to do something to it.
This year, I am making a tree skirt out of burlap for our tree.  I helped a friend make a red and green one for her tree that turned out ADORABLE!!!
So, I bought a few yards of very light burlap at Walmart.  It was under $3 a yard, so I bought plenty!
I also used a 50% off coupon for a roll of burlap ribbon at Michael's.  It was about $4.99.
Altogether, I spent about $12 on this project!
I cut a 44' diameter circle out of the light burlap using this method from the Do It Yourself Divas.  Very simple to do!  I ended up with this after cutting the large circle, a seem up one side, and the inner circle.

Next, I lined up the ribbon along the outer edge of the skirt.  I only pinned the first section.  To make the ruffle, I just shoved the ribbon in a little fast than the skirt was going through the machine. This creates the ruffle effect.

Once I went all the way around the skirt, I sewed up the end of the ribbon so it wouldn't fray.

Then I got to work on the embroidery design.  I stressed over this one - couldn't choose.  I finally chose a font called Special Block Alphabet from Applique Corner…which. I. LOVE!

Here she is all done!!!

Squirrel approves!

The Spirit of Christmas - Day 1

Last year I shared a verse and thought about Christmas every day in December.  This year, I'd like to keep up the tradition, but change it up a bit.
The Hubs and I have talked about the commercialism of Christmas - it is a HUGE gift giving holiday, but we want to make sure we are focusing on more.  While I still plan to shop for loved ones and find the perfect gift, I look forward to spreading the love in many other ways.  I've been inspired by other bloggers who are sharing 25 days of kindness and hope to incorporate some of their ideas into my December.
December 1 - Our preacher shared a great lesson our of Hebrews 2 to kick off the Christmas season. You can listen to it here, if you would like.

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
 You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor    and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

In this Christmas season, I loved reading the verse highlighted above. You know how you can read the same passage over and over and something suddenly stands out?  I had that happen at church.  When God created us, He placed us just below the angels.  He crowned us with glory and put everything at our feet.
What an honor!
Angels are beautiful celestial beings - in my mind.  While I've never actually knowingly seen one, I do believe in their existence.  Who knows?  Maybe I've entertained an angel or two - especially on a mission trip!

What an honor to be created and loved by Him!
A little further down, we see the correlation between our own humanity and the humanity of Jesus.  He placed himself a little below the angels.
While angels are beautiful celestial beings - God is SO MUCH MORE.  Yet, he humbled himself to be a little lower than the angels.
Why would he do that?
For YOU, for ME.  Humbling!
So, in this season of Advent, some will call it, I choose to identify with the humanity of Jesus.  I choose to know him more by learning how he is like us - and I choose to be humbled by Him.

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?

Fall Festival Craft Fair

Happy Fall, Y'all!
It's been a while - again.  I've been super busy with my Etsy shop, family, and other duties.  But, I think I'm caught up enough to get back into a regular blogging routine.  We will see how that works out!

This past weekend was the Fall Festival at my church.  It is always a fun time for not only our church, but the people in community.   This year we added a craft fair to help raise money for missions.  The amount each person paid for a table plus donations made at the fair all went to buy Bibles for our jail ministry.
I decided to try selling some things at the fair.  I was hoping to earn a little money towards something I've been saving for in order to grow my business.  I was blown away by the response to my items!!!  I can't wait to start adding to my line in the Etsy shop - stay tuned to see what I'm doing with the money!!!

I haven't done many fairs/shows, so I wasn't sure how good my table would look.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!  Those owls were almost gone after 3 hours!  I sold several towels and a few sweatshirts too!