Mamas*Little*Treasures

Journal of Gratitude

This happens to me all the time . . . . . I get an idea, then have all the plans in my head, even talk about it and / or blog about it . . . . then weeks go by before I actually get a chance to work on it. That is sometimes very annoying. But, of course, I do have a few other projects I am working on these days, including finishing up the May / June issue of Ruby for Women. Well, that, along with taking care of my home and family. 

Today we had sore throats all around, but no fever, so we didn't get much accomplished - but I did hear that this 24-hour bug has been going around the neighborhood. The girls seem to be feeling better now, because they have been playing outside for about an hour - it's almost time for them to come in and get a bath, have story time, and get tucked in, so I thought I'd take a minute and get this project started. I can work on it after they go to bed, but sometimes I'm so exhausted that I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to tuck myself in! 

This is a project that I actually worked on a couple of years ago, while we were still in Colorado and I was really struggling with health issues. Fortunately we discovered that all of my headaches and general "yucky" feeling for many months could easily be taken care of by coming down out of the mountains. We miss our kids and grandbabies who still live there, but I definitely have been healthier back down here in the Heartland of America.

As I have been writing articles for Ruby for Women, as well as a couple of other websites, one of the things that seems to be impressed on my heart is the need for encouragement when we are walking through the dark places in life. We all go there occasionally, sometimes by our own choices, but often as a result of nothing that we have done. Completely taken by surprise, shocked, grieving, sometimes completely alone, frequently for extended periods of time . . . . . we wonder "Why?" and "When will this be over?" and "How could this happen to ME?"

Now, partly because I watched my Mama allow anger, grief, and bitterness to break her heart and debilitate her emotionally right up to the very last day of her life, I have had many years to ponder the results of our attitude toward the struggles that we all encounter on our journey through life. And, partly as a result of meeting my dear friend Fern, who was wearing her dancing shoes and playing honky-tonk piano nearly up to her last breath, I have concluded that our attitude towards pain and brokenness make a HUGE difference in how our life plays out.

So, one of my lifetime projects is to work on my Gratitude Journal. And I want to chronicle my journey through journaling the hard stuff, the sad stuff, the broken places, and the shattered dreams . . . . and prove to myself that if I choose to be grateful for even the stuff that one would NEVER ask for in life, God can take it all (the junk and the tragedy, and everything in between) and create something amazing with it. Now that is not to suggest that we would ever be jumping for joy when disaster or tragedy strike our family or anyone else's. But the reality is that we WILL encounter those places that bring us to our knees and on our faces before God. So I'm thinking that if I can lift my eyes beyond the broken pieces of my life that lay scattered on the ground, to the gift of God's grace . . . . . and trust that somehow He is able to bring greater joy IN SPITE of the tragedy, and not necessarily BECAUSE of it.

God is not the author of chaos and disaster, but it is a reality of our life because of sin in the world. Even if we have chosen to walk with Him and sought His face every day of our lives (which of course we all fail at occasionally!), in the real world there is much pain. So when we find ourselves in one of those scary places, we need to try to remember that He will take this scar, our wounded heart, and make something beautiful in it's place. Hard to believe, I know, but it is true. So here is the beginning of my journey as I chroncle some of the "junk" that has come my way, and my musings on how God has, and continues to, use it all to make something bigger and more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined.

STEP ONE - I started with a simple sketch book / inexpensive scrap book that I found at Walmart. The covers were black with a black spiral binding. I didn't want to start with black  ;o) so I painted the entire cover, front and back, with an ivory acrylic craft paint. I gave it a bit of a texture by bouncing my brush all over it, and then going over it a second or third time. I wanted to make sure that none of the black showed through, and I kind of like the textured appearance.

STEP TWO - Then I did the same thing to the inside of the front cover and the front of the first page. That way I will have a great beginning place to post images or some of my writing, poetry, photos, or whatever I decide to put in my Journal of Gratitude.

That's as far as I've gotten so far, but it is a good beginning. I hope that tomorrow I can work on a couple of pages. I'll post pictures as soon as I can! If you are working on a Journal of Gratitude, I would love to hear about it and see pictures of your work. Next time I'll share with you ideas for finding images and making collage pages for your art journal. This is actually kind of a combination art journal and a writing journal. Words and art together is a powerful expression of who you are, so get out any old book you might have around your house and start painting those pages so we can get busy working on our Journal of Gratitude!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a famine in the land, but we don't have to participate

"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send famine through the land -- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it."  ~ Amos 8:11-12

There is definitely a famine in the land. Many of us who are struggling through a difficult economic time in our lives, are still not going to bed hungry at night. At least not hungry for food. Many community organizations and churches in our area have food pantries, and we also have a "back pack" program where every Friday there is a bag filled with groceries for families to use over the weekend when kids don't have access to school lunches. These programs have helped many families in our community, and the prayer of our hearts is that this physical nourishment will encourage people to realize that there is spiritual nourishment available, also.

So the famine we are experiencing is not that of a lack of food, but an emptiness that comes when we are not connected to one another, or to our Heavenly Father who is the Giver of life. When everywhere we look people are searching for the next exciting adventure, through putting themselves in physical danger for the thrill of the ride or through the destruction of drugs and alcohol . . . . or even the loneliness that is the ultimate result of seeking the intimacy that all human beings need through a string of broken relationships. There is no substitute that can be placed in the heart of all human beings that will take the place of God's grace, love, and mercy that we can only know through His Word. That is the famine that we face, and it is desperate.

People are desperate, and yet so many do not want to hear about the one, and only, way to fill that empty place in their hearts. "Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching . . . . .," but it seems that they do not know that what they are seeking is "the Word of the Lord." We have been so blinded by the flashing lights, the banging and clanging of all of the chaos around us, and the enticement of the adventure that we are promised if we just buy the next, greatest product that comes along. It is true that all of the technological gadgets, all of the amazing movies with incredible special effects, all of the music that screams at us and demands that we engage, all of the night lights that lure us to investigate what is around the next corner are so inviting. But behind all of the surface "beauty" that intrigues us is a danger that seems so subtle . . . . until one walks around that corner.

I am always amazed that when a young person (or even an older person, but all of this deception seems to start in the heart and mind of a younger person) chooses to go down a path that will lead to his or her own self-destruction, why it never crosses their mind that THIS lifestyle has never turned out well. Ever. No matter how many material possessions a life of self-destruction provides, whether through illicit drugs or behavior, people who give themselves to a lifetime of selfish indulgence are ultimately lonely and struggle with regret and guilt. It never turns out well.

But the gift is real . . . . famine is our choice when we turn away from the table of God's grace that is laden with forgiveness, mercy, love, and eternal life. No one needs to go hungry in God's Kingdom. Unfortunately so many of us choose to wander aimlessly through life, wondering why we are always searching for bread - when what we ultimately need is the Bread of Life. The Lord Jesus Christ is waiting for us to join Him at the table, so why do we keep trying to find the banquet of life where it will never be found?

Please join this week's "In Other Words" participants by visiting Miriam Pauline on her blog, Miriam Pauline's Monologue. Then, share your thoughts on this quote and leave a link back to your blog so we can visit you! Have a wonderful Tuesday, and don't forget to accept the gift of God's bounty in your life today.  ~~ Nina 

How to Deal with Stupid People, etc.

"If monotony tries me, and I cannot stand drudgery; if stupid people fret me and little ruffles set me on edge; if I make much of the trifles of life, then I know nothing of Calvary love."

If:  What Do I Know of Calvary Love?  ~~ by Amy Carmichael

It is not uncommon for all of us to encounter little irritations and annoyances, in varying degrees, throughout every day of our lives.  Some of these things we can resolve simply by using logic and reasoning to come up with a solution or a way to "fix it."  Other "little ruffles" just kind of hang on and won't let go, and then we are  "stuck" thinking about them and pondering what we are going to do  until we become rather discouraged.  Unfortunatey there are other "trifles of life" that actually become the focus of all of our time, thoughts, and energy.  

We sometimes even become overwhelmed with the enormous weight of some of the difficulties that come into our life.  That is the honest evaluation of life on planet earth!  We all struggle, we all stumble, we all fail, and we all become worn down with our daily encounters with monotony, drudgery, "stupid people," ruffles and trifles.  Our weariness and emptiness are very real, and cannot be underestimated.  But I have discovered that it is possible to focus on what I have and not on what I do not have.  Not always easy, but possible.  That is the gift of grace and strength that is available through Calvary love. 

We must never discount the struggles, or the "little ruffles" that others are dealing with . . . . God doesn't.  If God thought that all our little irritations in life were irrational and foolish, He certainly would not have cared enough to provide a means for us to discover joy and peace in the midst of all of that "junk."  So our grief and struggles, large or small, are important to God.  Which is precisely why He has made it possible to walk through those places of frustration, anxiety, sadness, and just plain irritation with grace and confidence BECAUSE of Calvary love.  It is not just one more thing that I have to put on my TO DO list, and it is certainly not something that needs to add to my load of guilt if I don't get it quite "right" . . . . but it is a truth that I must try to remember.  I am not alone, walking through this "swamp" that sometimes is the reality of my life.  I am not alone because of His great love.  Calvary love makes it possible to find joy even when the storms of life are upon me.  Possible, but not always easy.  I'll remind you if you'll remind me! 

Visit the other IOW participants this week at Patricia's blog, Typing One-Handed.  Then, leave your link so we can come and visit you and read your thoughts on this quote.  Have a great Tuesday!    ~~ Nina

 

 

 

Angel Journal To Make for Mother's Day

This was a custom order but I wanted to share it with you in case you are thinking of making something special for a Mother's Day gift.  These crazy patch journals are fun, easy, and can be as elaborately embellished or as elegantly simple as you want to make them.  I've already sent out lots of the eBooks for making these crazy patch journal covers, but if you want a copy of it just leave me a comment.  I'll be working on several more in the next few weeks, so when they are finished I'll post pictures of them right here for you to see.  They will also be available in my Etsy shop if you would like to purchase one, but really they are great fun to make.  No two are exactly alike, so this is a unique gift that will be treasured by the recipient.  You might even want to make one for yourself! 

Don't forget that there is a FREE quilt project tutorial on the Ruby blog.  It is an appliqued bookmarker and all the instructions and templates are right there for you to print off and make your very own Berry Berry Bookmarker, designed by Rochelle Martin of Cottage Quilt Designs. 

And then, you will want to get the next issue of Ruby for Women because Rochelle will be starting the first block in the "Gardener's Delight" quilt project.  It will consist of eight different blocks, with all instructions available in the next eight issues of Ruby for Women.  When you finish this project, it will make a gorgeous throw or wall hanging for your home.  Oh, and one more thing . . . we now have a Facebook Fan Page for Ruby for Women.  Stop by and join our fan club and we'll keep you up-to-date on all of the exciting events going on at Ruby for Women!

What do I have that He could possibly use?

“God can use small ingredients to make big miracles happen:
fabric and thread to lift hope in the sick,
five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand hungry people,
and faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain.
Shouldn’t we give all that we have to God
just to see what He might do with it?”

What I Learned from God While Quilting
by Ruth McHaney Danner & Cristine Bolley

First, let me apologize for the delay in getting this posted . . . . I had to be out of town for a couple of days, and completely lost track of my brain   ;o)   Hopefully we can get on track here and move forward with this project.  One of the reasons that I chose this particular quote is that this is something that I have always struggled with. 

Although I KNOW it in my head, I tend to assume that whatever I have to "give" to God is not significant enough even to consider.  So I continue to stumble along, trying to be "responsible," and not "bother" God with my little concerns and problems.  And all of this is very silly, because how many times in my life have I SEEN and EXPERIENCED God doing a mighty work when I really had absolutely nothing to give.  So, you see, it just doesn't always occur to me that He actually wants the meager offering that I could bring. 

I suppose that comes from things like my mama always reminding me that "First we work, and THEN we play."  As if the work would really ever be finished!  Consequently, I tend to push myself to the point of exhaustion, feeling that I just can't take a break if ALL the work is not done.  I'm really smarter than that, but you do know that old habits die hard.  If I am not doing everything that I possibly can . . . . why should I expect God to step in and "rescue" me?  That's how my brain works - so I really do frequently need to be reminded that God doesn't need one little thing from me.  He's got it all figured out and if I just quit trying not to "bother" God, perhaps He could do even more miracles in my life. 

Not that I'm complaining about the amount of miracles we've already seen!  Just looking into the faces of our daughters always brings me back to the moments that we very clearly saw His hand leading and His miraculous provision.  Even in the remaining sadness that sometimes lurks just around the corner or hides just beneath the surface of a smile . . . He takes the smallest gift that I could bring and turns it into something amazing and wonderful.  I just have to stop listening to those old memories in my head that have convinced me that God just can't be bothered with my little self.  He loves me . . . more than I can even imagine, and He shows it moment by moment.  I'm just trying to learn to be a gracious recipient of His miraculous love, whether I have anything of importance to bring to the table or not.  What an amazing gift!

Indiesmiles will make YOU smile!

I am always amazed at the wonderful people that I "meet" as I go about my daily business in the cyberspace community.  I know, I know, there are probably lots of not-so-nice people out here,too, but I choose to ignore them and really find it a special gift when I discover another wonderful, giving, generous, and loving cyber-friend.  Sue at Indiesmiles is one of those people!  I accidentally discovered her website, Indiesmiles, a few weeks ago simply by clicking on a link that was posted somewhere else . . . . and the rest is history!  I responded to a request posted on the Indiesmiles website seeking writers to submit articles about the indie artisan lifestyle: marketing and business ideas, projects and tutorials, wisdom and inspiration, and even the philosophy or motivation that drives those of us who are creative indie spirits!  That sounded like something that I might be able to write about, so I emailed her and we began to chat.  And chat.  And chat some more   ;o) 

As it turns out, she is now writing a business and marketing column for our online magazine, Ruby for Women.  It is entitled, "Ask Sue of Indiesmiles," and she will be answering questions from our readers about the ins and outs of running a home-based, independent business.  She's great!  But it's not just that she is a delightful new friend, but the website is FULL of great ideas and opportunities for those of you who are already running your own online business, as well as for anyone who has been contemplating starting up an independent business.  You can learn all kinds of stuff from the current columnists, and you might even want to join the Indiesmiles team by submitting your own article about you and your business, or ways that you can support and encourage others. 

Think about it!  And then visit the Indiesmiles website where you will discover challenges and contests, give-aways, and advertising opportunities for those of us on a budget   ;o)  Indiesmiles is a great place to meet new friends who share your passion for living a creative, intentional life and who are sincere in their efforts to support one another.  It is always a blessing to be among those other free spirits who are like-minded not only in the goals and dreams that shape everyday choices, but who are all so willing to guide a newly-emerging indie artist.  Come along, you won't be disappointed, I promise!