Mamas*Little*Treasures

"Impossible" is not in our vocabulary!

"Oh, remember this: There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearance help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be found that it is not in vain." 

~ George Muller, quoted in ~ The Roller Coaster of Unemployment: Trusting God for the Ride by Sarah M. Hupp

 

Although our family has been touched over the past couple of years with the affects of unemployment, and I could share several stories of how God has provided for us in the midst of this uncertainty, that was not the first memory that came to me when I was contemplating this quote. Many of my readers know that we have two beautiful daughters, ages 7 and 9, who were adopted from China. In the beginning of our adoption journey, we knew that the financial realities of such an undertaking would be difficult at best . . . . but we actually did have a few resources at first. So we began our first adoption, and through a long series of circumstances, we managed to meet all of the financial deadlines that are required for the mountain of paperwork and "red tape" that goes into an international adoption. We brought Gracie home in November, 2002 at the age of 22 months. 

And then, a few months after we returned from our first trip to China, we "found" Annie on an adoption website. She was on a waiting child list because of her Cerebral Palsy, but somehow we just knew she was our daughter. But we also knew that, by that time, we had already invested all of our resources in our first adoption, and there was simply no possibility of coming up with the funds for a second trip to China. I called the adoption agency, inquiring about this little girl, 15 months old at the time, and was told that if we were interested we needed to fax our paperwork immediately.

Apparently, as the story was given to us, these children each have a file that is sent to an adoption agency for a designated number of weeks (I think we were told three months, total), and if there are no inquiries, then the child's file is sent to another agency. If there is no interest in adopting the child at the second agency, the file is then sent on to a third, and final, agency. This was the final stop for Annie's file . . . . and it was the last week before it would be returned to the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs, not to be sent out again. If she was not "spoken for" within the next couple of days, her file would be returned and she would never again have the opportunity to be adopted.

So, even though we had NO idea how in the world we would ever be able to figurel out all of the financial requirements of an international adoption, I immediately faxed a "Letter of Intent," indicating that we were interested. This, I believe, put a "hold" on her file to give us a few more days to figure out what we were going to do. At the same time, we requested a copy of her medical records to take to our pediatrician. I called the drs. office, and they agreed to have our pediatrician review the medical records immediately, as soon as I could bring them in. When the fax arrived, I rushed down to the drs. office, the pediatrician took the records, and said she would call me as soon as she possibly could.

Within a half-hour of returning home, I received the call. The pediatrician told me that there was nothing she could see in the medical records that would indicate a situation that was going to get worse than what was already going on . . . . which we still didn't know exactly what "that" was, but it appeared to be minor Cerebral Palsy that had great potential for being successfully treated with therapy. That was all we needed to know! We needed to know that, with God's help, we would be capable of caring for a child with limitations, and this was definitely something that God could take care of.

So, the flurry of paperwork was underway - but that was just the beginning of the many times and ways that God gave us the hope, the courage, the confidence to move forward with an adoption of a precious little girl; a situation that seemed "impossible" in human terms. From one event to another, through the entire nine months that we waited to bring Annie home, God brought people into our lives, through our church and our community, to provide every penny that we needed for our adoption and our travel to China. Tomorrow I want to share with you a few of the amazing things that we experienced while watching God at work, making the "impossible" a reality for our family and for our Annie.

Please take a minute to visit some of the other participants in this week's IOW meme, and then leave YOUR link back to your blog so we can visit you!

I just keep beating my head against that same ol' wall

“There’s somethin I learned when I was homeless:
Our limitation is God’s opportunity.
When you get all the way to the end of your rope

and there ain’t nothin you can do,

that’s when God takes over.”
~ Denver Moore~
Same Kind of Different As Me
(co-written with Ron Hall, with Lynn Vincent)

 

It's really our loss that this is true . . . but it is.  Whenever we "have it all figured out" we just go about our business, cheerfully ignorant of the reality of what might be just around the next corner.  I am eternally grateful that God knows not only what is around that next corner, but He also knows and cares about the last five (or a million) corners that I've turned, and He knows about every corner I will ever peek around in the future.  I just wish I would remember that BEFORE I crash into the next wall of difficulty that will inevitably rise up before me on my daily walk through life.

 

As long as we have a shred of "me, myself, and I" to cling to, we tend to keep telling ourselves, "I can do this!  I can do this!" . . . . all by myself!  Reminds me of most two-year-olds I've ever known!  Or The Little Train That Could.  But I do this all the time - I think for me it must have something to do with growing up in a part of the country where we are all trained from a very early age about the "American work ethic."  "We make money the old fashioned way . . . we work for it" has been the motto of my family's life from long before I arrived on the scene.  When I was a little girl, both my Mama and my Daddy worked, every day, away from home, just to pay our mortgage of $60.00 a month.  And I remember my Mama worrying frequently about whether or not she was going to be able to pay it on time.  But I didn't know at the time that we really were "poor."  Who knew??  Not me, because that wasn't the focus of life.  It was about working hard, paying your bills (on time as much as possible!), being honest, and taking care of whatever possessions you managed to acquire.  But all of that came to me from a perspective on life that did not include the grace of God, and His mercy, love, and everlasting kindness.  It was just us, and we had to figure it out on our own.  And we did, most of the time, but it was rarely easy or "fun."

 

So now, with a lifetime of hearing about hard work, independence, doing for others, and an absolute horror at the thought of being selfish or lazy   ;o),  even though I  KNOW in my head that I really can trust God to take care of my family, even when I (seriously)  can't figure out how to pay the bills AND buy the groceries - I still feel a sense of "responsibility" to figure it out myself.  After all, I reason, God has bigger issues to deal with than my family's struggles.  Really, I'm fairly intelligent and educated - but it always comes down to that.  And I know that it comes from my belief (as we like to say in our Christian community:  My World and Life View) that yes, God is in control and, yes, God is BIG enough to take care of it ALL, but I'm sure He expects me to do my part.  But that's the problem . . . . I get a bit confused (alright, a LOT confused!) about just exactly WHAT my part is. 

 

I am convinced that this is an area where every person exoeriences a great deal of influence from their upbringing.  Maybe people who have rarely had to deal with scarcity, whether in the area of money, food, clothing, just the basic necessities of life, are better at recognizing when they "can't do it all" and perhaps they are better equipped to trust God.  I don't know . . . . I've never been there!  But I just know that I am not so good at it.  I need the constant reminder that I don't need to "do it all."  Well, of course I CAN'T, but my heart continues to tell me that I am responsible, at least, to try.  So the battle continues - even though I could write numerous posts about ALL of the times that, when I really was facing that weekly question of choice between the bills and the groceries, it all worked out.  In quiet, simple, unimpressive little ways . . . . it was that Still Small Voice of my Lord, reminding me to give it a rest once in a while.  It's a good thing to be a hard worker, diligent, persistent, determined, responsible . . . . blah, blah, blah . . . . but if you keep knocking yourself out, day after day, you are bound to get a headache.  So stop it!    "I'm trying, Lord, really I am" - see, I even go there when I'm trying so hard not to.  Ain't life grand???    ;o)  

 

If you want to join the rest of this week's In Other Words participants, just visit Miriam Pauline at her blog,

Miriam Pauline's Monologue.  You will find links to the other blog posts on this topic today, and you can post your own link, as well.  Then later today, I'll pop around and visit you!  Have a great Tuesday, and remember to trust . . . . it's much healthier than banging your head against that wall, like me!    ~~  Nina

 

PS I have just about finished up the spring issue of Ruby for Women, and it will be available tomorrow  for purchase.  I'll post a link to a preview, some excerpts, and the subscription page.  In the meantime, let me know if you would like to submit an article, poem, story, springtime photos, recipes, or devotional for the summer issue, which will be coming out the first week of May. 

 

PPS  Also, don't forget about Operation Pillowcase . . . we are sewing pillowcases to send to the troops in Afghanistan in March, and we would love to have you join "Team Ruby."  Let me know if you are interested, and I'll put you on the list! 

We're almost out of time, but we can still get this finished!

Am I the only one out here who really loves to make gifts, buy gifts, and give gifts . . . . but there just never seems to be enough time, energy, or money to do it all?  This year I decided that it would be fun to make a little something to send to all the grandbabies.  All 10 of them! So, in addition to trying to figure out all this new-fangled stuff that the girls want (DSI?  What the heck is that?  And just exactly HOW did we raise kids, who actually survived, before we had all these doo-dads to entertain our babies and keep them safe???) . . . . I am working on a little project that is fun, simple, and best of all it fits my budget.  Which is pretty small this year, considering the months of unemployment around here. 

So as I was staring at my stash of fabric, I suddenly remembered that I had a bag filled with plain white t-shirts that I bought last year when they were on sale.  And then I remembered that I also had quite a bit of flannel that I had also bought last winter and just didn't have the time to work on.  My little brain started thinking about the sweet  jammies I made for the girls a couple of years ago.  That's when I decided just what I was going to make for all the grandbabies.  Well, they're not ALL babies.  Two of them are 6 years old, two are 5 years old, two are 4 years old, one is 3 years old, one is one year old, and two of them are just a little over a month old.  That does make 10, doesn't it?  Four boys and six girls. 

I pulled out all of the t-shirts and found just about all of the sizes.  Just need to buy a couple more.  And then I started going through the flannel and have just about enough different designs for both boys and girls of various ages.  I think I'll be able to do this project without investing too much more money, but at least I'll be able to invest lots of love and time, and hopefully let them know that they are loved.  And while I'm out in the studio working on each little pair of jammies, I  can say a prayer for that baby that God will protect them as they grow up. 

So I just wanted to share this idea with you, in case you are looking for a last-minute, quick and easy Christmas gift for a little one in your life.  If you received the "Learn to Applique" ebook last week, just use that same technique to apply any design you cut out of some flannel fabric to the front of a plain white t-shirt. 

Then, using any pattern you might have in your collection (or buy a basic pants pattern) to make a super-quick pair of jammie bottoms to match.  I finished up a couple of pair of jammies yesterday afternoon out in the studio. 

Here's what you will need:

Grammie's Jammies

*  1 - 2 yds flannel fabric (depending on the size you are making)

*  1 plain white long-sleeve t-shirt in the size you need to make

*  Sewing machine

*  Scissors

*  Matching thread for sewing and stitching on the applique design

Follow the directions in the applique eBook (or leave a comment here and I will send it out to you!) by cutting out a simple design from your flannel fabric.  Iron on the fusible interfacing to the inside of the shirt, and iron on fusible web to the back of your design.  Press securely in place on the front of the t-shirt, and using an applique stitch (wide, tight zig-zag stitch), stitch all around each of your designs. 

Then, following your pattern for children's simple elastic-waist pants, make your jammie pants in the matching fabric.  Insert the elastic in the waistband, hem up the jammie pants, and there you go! 

Super-dooper simple!   Be sure to leave a comment here if you want me to send out the "Learn to Applique the Simple Way" eBook to you.  And have fun making more holiday gifts from your home, your hands, and your heart!

PS you might want to put each child's initial on the jammie top, at least if you have as many to make as I do, so I can remember which pair of jammies is for each one of the little ones   ;o)  

PPS you might also want to consider making the pantlegs of the jammies a couple of inches longer than needed right now.  That way the pantlegs can be rolled up a turn to make a cuff, and then as the child grows, they can unroll the cuffs and the jammies will still be long enough.   

 

"When you can't see His hand, trust His heart"

“When the trials of life unravel
the fabric of our plans.
When we face the deep confusion
of painful circumstance.
When our feeble strength is broken,
and we stand with empty hands.
That’s when the Father whispers
‘Trust the pattern I have planned.’ ”

~ Lyrics from song, "The Weaver"

 

There are many different kinds of pain, brokenness, and "empty hands" that are potentially just around the corner on this journey called Life.  Sometimes that pain is caused by our own choices . . . . that is one thing that I have been trying to stress to our daughters as we talk about choices and consequences.  Because choices always do have consequences, and often-times in life if we make unhealthy, dangerous, or foolish choices we will experience unpleasant consequences.  And it is not uncommon of us to experience positive consequences when we make helpful choices.  This conversation frequently takes place in the context of being safe, and the wisdom of keeping our family protected.  Sometimes little girls (and boys, too) worry about that kind of thing, so we try to help them know that the safest place for them to be, especially at their ages, is with their family.

 

However, there are those inexplicable times in our lives when we confront tragedy through no particular choice of our own.  Or, perhaps it IS a result of choices that we have made at one time in our lives that we THOUGHT were the right choice.  Being brought face-to-face with a broken dream when all along we really did believe that we were doing all the right things.  But even here, there are many different kinds trials that cause life to unravel right before our eyes.  And no matter how hard we try to "fix it" or make it better, we find that "our feeble strength is broken, and we stand with empty hands." 

 

But here is the part that I have found to be a very perplexing aspect of all of this:  there are some painful experiences that we can talk about and there are others that simply seem to be inapproppriate to talk about.  And I sometimes wonder why, because in the end, no matter what the tragedy we encounter, tragedy is tragedy, and brokenness is brokenness, and empty hands are empty hands. 

 

As a life-long seamstress and quilter, the imagery of "fabric" and "pattern" resonates with my heart.  I love the process of discovering (or creating) a pattern that I can envision, completed into a beautiful garment or craft project, in just the perfect fabric.  Of course, including all of the trims, buttons, lace, ribbons, and whatever else my imagination can dream up!  But anyone who has EVER tried to sew will tell you that there are those times when it just doesn't turn out the way you had envisioned it. 

 

I remember one time, many years ago, when I was working on a sweet little outfit for my oldest daughter.  She was very little at the time (meaning I was very young!), and I had never attempted to put the kind of snaps onto a garment that you need that pliers-type thing to attach the snaps.  So, I got all four of the little snaps attached to this cute top, and I suddenly discovered that one of the snaps was in the wrong place.  I don't remember . . . . too close to one of the other snaps, too close to the edge of the fabric, or something like that . . . . and I attempted to take it out and "fix" it.  Of course, that only made the problem worse, because in the process of trying to remove the problem snap, I ended up creating a small hole in the top that I had just spent many hours sewing.  I was devastated!  It was just that, after all of that hard work, doing everything pretty close to "right," the final result was definitely anything but "right." 

 

And that's the way life can be.  But the difference is that, when we run head-on into a disaster in life, even though we are emotionally and spiritually crushed, we can know in our heart and mind that God STILL has a plan and a pattern for what's going on.  When I can't see that anything good could actually come out of my circumstances, I can hold tightly to the promise that He knows, He cares, and ultimately He is in control.  We need to be reminded of that frequently as we stumble and fall on your way through the darkness that sometimes surrounds us.  

 

The words of a song that always comes to mind when I think about this is:  "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart."  I have no idea who wrote it, who sings it, or even where I heard it, but it so succintly says exactly what we need to remember in our times of brokenness.  And maybe someday we will all have the courage to speak, and the compassion to hear, about the "empty hands" that are all around us, no matter how difficult the words of that broken heart might be.  But for now . . . . we must listen for His whisper.

 

Please visit Loni today at Writing Canvas to find the links to the other IOW participants this week.

Lost in a Blizzard of Creative Beauty

Even my girls have been overcome by the spirit of creativity these past few wintry days!  And even though it is still two weeks until Christmas, they are really getting in the mood of the holidays with their own creative projects.  This morning they were painting on tin foil . . . . that was their idea, and then they decided to include a few paper plates in their artistic adventures.  I will post some pictures of their beautiful designs later today, but just wanted to let you all know that I'm still busy sending out the eBook patterns for the teacup pincushions and the applique projects.  If you posted a comment and I have not gotten your eBook off to you, I will be working on that this afternoon again and hope to have them all sent out by tomorrow.  I hope!  Thank you again for your wonderful response - and please stop back because I have so many ideas that I want to share with you   ;o) 

Today I have a couple of other ideas that I will be writing up into tutorials this weekend (after I get ALL of the current requests filled!) and should have the new eBooks ready by next week sometime.  I'll keep you posted on my progress!  In the meantime, the girls and I have a couple of recipes we want to try this afternoon, including the Candy Cane Fudge recipe that I found online, AND we really want to finish up with our holiday home decorations. 

Here's the goal that is keeping me moving forward on all of these projects:  I know that many of us are struggling to make a joyous holiday for our families in the midst of a recession.  Many of our families have lost jobs this past year, and even if some people are finally finding work again, it is going to take quite a while to recover from the months and months of falling behind . . . . much less having funds to purchase gifts at Christmas.  So . . .. I've suddenly had so many ideas of things that we could make for the people that we love, and not only stay on our budget but also let the people in our lives know how much they mean to us. 

Think about it - perhaps it would really be nice to be able to give an expensive gift, but remember that when you give someone a gift that you made yourself, there is a deeper message that we give.  When you give a gift that you created, and invested the time, energy, thought, and love into it, that speaks so clearly of your genuine love.  So whatever your financial circumstances this holiday season, here are a few more ideas of ways to share the true spirit of Christmas and relieve some of the anxiety of worrying about money.  Let's create a place of peace and simplicity and give a gift that will be remembered long after the Christmas decorations are put away for the year.  Give someone you love a treasure from your heart and your hands, and make it yourself!

 

I've been working on the crazy-patch piece journal covers and fiber art bookmarks, as well as the Christmas Tree table runner.  Either one of these projects can easily be made up in an afternoon and they are made from snippets and scraps of fabric, ribbon, lace, vintage buttons, beads, charms . . . . and the sewing machine!  Super simple, really inexpensive, and great fun to make as a gift or even for yourself!  I'm working on getting them written up, just as soon as I send out all of the rest of the other eBooks and tutorials.  Let me know what you think . . . . 'cuz I've got several more ideas in my little brain and can't wait to share them with you!  Have a wonderful Thursday and stay warm   ;o)  

PS If you want to see more pictures of the crazy patch journal, take a peek at my Etsy shop.  They are all custom-made to order and this one is sold, but you will be able to see a few more pictures. 

More holiday crafts on a budget with this FREE Applique eBook Pattern!

On this third day of December, we are all twirling 'round and 'round thinking about the fun projects and activities we have on our TO DO list for the holidays.  As I try to find ways to slow down and really enjoy this special season of the year, and actually be able to focus on the true meaning of our Christmas celebrations, I have found a few ways to keep me on track.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed and distracted by all of the advertisements that bombard us with messages about the many new gadgets we "need."  Especially for those of us who have been hit hard by this year's recession, it can get downright discouraging.  And who wants to be sad and depressed during this most joyous time of the year? 

One of the ways that I have been able to combine my creativity with my budget-conscious, frugal lifestyle is to refashion items that we either already have, or by taking thrift store treasures and upcycling them into something new.  I know, that doesn't work for everyone   ;o)  but there might be a few times in our lives when we don't have many other options, so it is kind of fun to beat this challenge!  You know, as moms, we can do just about anything we need to do to make life "happen" for our families if we don't give up in exhaustion. 

So, in an effort to bring a bit of sunshine into the frequently cloudy days of worry that come to all of us, especially during the holidays, I'm going to be offering a few FREE tutorials for craft and gift projects that you can make for your family.  Actually, there are several sewing and craft projects that will be fun and frugal, but I have also pulled out some of our favorite traditional recipes for holiday goodies that I will be sharing here over the next few weeks.  And before you know it, we will all have a delightful, simple, and wondrous Christmas, without all the guilt of overspending or the anxiety of how to give a meaningful gift to those we love. 

Don't let the television or the mall tell you what you "need."  And let's try to help our children remember the TRUE meaning of the holidays .... gifts are fun, there's no doubt about it, and in many ways we can emphasize the idea of gift-giving as a symbol of how much God has given to us . . . .but when we get all caught up in the giving and getting, it just creates way too much anxiety.  Especially for moms, since we seem to be the ones who worry about it the most! 

Here's a little project that is really easy to create,  and you can make it out of scraps of fabric and trims (sometimes I even use fabric from clothing that the kids have grown out of) and a plain, white t-top or a pair of too-short jeans.  New or already in the dresser drawer . .. . or pick one up at the thrift shop in town.  The only equipment you will need is an iron and a pair of scissors, and your sewing machine.  Simple!  

Here is the supply list: 

*  Scraps of fabric 

*  Scraps of fusible web (to adhere your design to the garment while stitching) 

*  Matching or coordinating thread 

*  Various scraps of ribbon, rick-rack, lace, etc. 

*  A selection of buttons or beads  

*  Scissors, sewing machine, iron

Just take a minute to post a comment below and I will email you the complete eBook pattern that includes the instructions for learning to applique onto a t-top, or jeans or whatever you want to stitch your design on to, as well as  pattern pages for additional holiday designs.  This eBook is a complete applique pattern, 28 pages total.  

I am offering all of this FREE to my readers, as a way of saying "Thank You" and as a way, hopefully, to encourage you to make the most of the holiday season, even if you are in the midst of financial struggles as so many of us are.  

PS Here's another way you can use the FREE applique patterns in this eBook!  Just stitch your favorite design onto the bib of a pair of too-short overalls and stitch on a twirly skirt!  Have a wonderful Thursday and celebrate the JOY of the season   ;o) 

 

 

Just an old-fashioned girl OR ideas for a simple holiday season

Even when everyone else seems to be seeking the newest, the latest, the most technologically advanced gifts to give or to buy for themselves, I have just always loved the look of romantic, feminine, even "old-fashioned" clothing.  Perhaps that is why I love vintage stuff so much! 

Here's an idea that might help minimize the stress of the holidays for you . .. .  think back to what you know from your own life or people, places, and times past that you have read about.  Think about the ways that people celebrated the holidays during the early days of our country.  Or read about holiday celebrations during the Great Depression.  Or even learn about how families celebrated the holidays during the 1940s and World War II.  Or any other period of time when life might have been a bit less obsessed with qualtity of stuff = happiness.

At our house, we love to read the Little House book series.  And of course, so many of us have watched that series on TV.  But I am always struck by the simplicity of many aspects of their lives.  Of course, Pa always had to go out hunting and hope to bring home some venison during the Long Winter.  And Ma always had to bake the bread and salt the pork, and hang the squash and onions from the attic rafters.  I'm not suggesting that this life was EASY!  But when we read about Laura and Mary, and little Carrie playing with their corn-cob dolls and being thrilled to get a stick of peppermint candy and an orange in the Christmas stocking . ... . . well, it just makes me wonder how we got to be so focused on material possessions that we sometimes miss the really important stuff in life. 

So - if you are struggling with anxiety over how you will ever provide a "nice" Christmas for your family this year . . . . remember that the holidays can be enjoyed with a little bit less "stuff," and our children can learn to appreciate even the small wonders and treasures of the holidays.  They'll live through it, and they will probably even remember these days as some of the happiest they can remember, because we were more focused on each other than on the frantic, crazy, chaotic frenzy of holiday shopping. 

It is OK to slow down, enjoy today, bake cookies and string popcorn for your Christmas tree, make a few hand-crafted holiday cards to send to your loved ones who are far away, or an handmade book mark for Grandma . . . . . maybe even take a break from the baking to make a sweet little holiday apron for you, your kids, your mom, your grandma, whoever! 

Later this week I will be posting a FREE tutorial for making a simple holiday table runner that you can whip up in an afternoon to dress up your table in holiday style!  So many fun things to do, let's not wear ourselves out stressing about things we can't change, and let's enjoy the holiday season (even if we don't have all the STUFF that we want!).  You'll be glad you did   ;o)  

PS Here are a couple new listings of classic and vintage items in my Etsy shop, Gossamer Wings Studio.  In keeping with the spirit of an old-fashioned, simple Christmas this year, I'm buying vintage whenever I can, and regifting or recycling other items.  Really . . . . who needs MORE stuff????  So if you are interested in dressing up for the holidays, on a budget, and if you love old-fashioned, vintage clothing, please visit my shop!  Have a wonderful Cyber Monday!  Just be careful to keep it simple, silly   ;o) 

 

But do you really mean it?

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."    ~ John F. Kennedy   Actions really DO speak louder than our words.   Yet even those who are devoted and committed to living a life of integrity frequently "miss the mark."  That's because we are not perfect, and as regular human beings, we will continue to make mistakes, stumble and fall, and take a tumble along life's journey.  So, in thinking about the quote for today, I am reminded that, although we may not ever get it all down just exactly right, we still need to do our best every day to see that our actions match up pretty closely with our words.  It is really easy in some communities to use our religion as a "mask" for the deep, dark, hidden places in our souls.  That never works out well, for anyone, including the person who is hiding behind those "perfect" words.    As we approach this season of Thanksgiving, we are all reminded of the blessings we experience in our every-day lives.  Some years we feel that we have more to be thankful for than in other years, but when we think about it honestly, we all have much for which to be grateful.  But then, how often do we turn right around and live as if we are paupers?  Sure, many of us are struggling with the day-to-day necessities of life, finding it difficult to pay all of the bills and still be able to buy groceries.  And that is not easy.  How can we continually act grateful when we can't find money to put gas in the car, or for the kids' school lunches, or to buy baby formula?  I'm not sure I know the answer . . . . but this one thing I DO know:  getting angry, sad, frustrated, or resentful won't change a thing!    Well, except it will just make you miserable   ;o)   There have been many times in my life, and I'm sure in your life as well, when it seemed impossible to figure out how to get from "here" to "there."  No matter which way we looked, there was no way "out."  So . . . . . we have a couple of choices at that point.  We can allow our natural anger and frustration to continue to move us in the direction of bitterness, or we can recognize that holding on to all of that anxiety will only make the situation worse, and make us feel completely miserable.  Then we get the opportunity to sort out the yucky stuff from the blessings, and move forward to discover a solution, or a possible alternative, or even a place of peace in the midst of the uncertainty and sadness.  Is it easy?  Of course not, but then we know that life is NOT going to be easy, so let's get on with it!   As we face every day, we can put on the "mask" of propriety, saying all the right words and pretending to be whatever it is that we think we are expected to be . . . . but at the end of our day, at the end of our life, the real question will be whether or not we truly lived a life of gratitude, honor, and integrity.  And it will no longer matter what "everyone else" thinks, or that you were able to convince "everyone else" that you were something that you were not.  It will only matter that you gave your complete devotion to honoring God with your actions, not just your words, even if you mess up once in a while.  And living a life of trust and joy, even in the midst of darkness and confusion is one way for our actions to reflect our words.    Today, many of us are not feeling that this is the best Thanksgiving we have ever had . . . . . but how about we choose to act on what we know, being grateful for our blessings, and open our hearts and minds to the gifts that God has prepared for us this holiday season.  Who knows, we might just discover that He has provided a way for us to move beyond the difficulties of today, and lead us to a brighter tomorrow.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and I pray that you will always remember all that He has for you, no matter what!   Please visit Tami at "The Next Step" to find all of the other IOW participants this week, and then take a minute to visit them on this beautiful Tuesday!   

My philosophy of "Old Stuff"

I've always known (kind of) about the Chinese culture, which holds great reverence for their ancestors and elderly relatives.  So much so, that sons of Chinese families, traditionally, care for their aging parents, while daughters typically marry into another family and help care for the aging parents of their husbands.  With this tradition in mind, I think often of my own daughters and what their lives would be like if they had remained in China.  I am not suggesting that this Chinese tradition is not as good as our American traditions . . . . far from it!  If our elderly relatives were treated with the same level of respect as is shown to the "senior citizens" of China, well we just might be having a different kind of discussion about health care, nursing homes, and the "sandwich generation." 

So there is definitely something to be said in favor of the social and cultural value that is placed on older people in China.  Of course the other side of that observation is that, when this tradition is followed closely, it severely limits options for the women of that country.  On the other hand, sometimes all of the "opportunities" that are available to American young people are not always safe, healthy, or wise.  But that is another discussion . . . . . all of this got me to thinking (again) about how we, as Americans, have for so long been pursuing the dream of having it all. 

And the problems that it has created for people who have been fortunate to have ALMOST all (of whatever they are seeking), and now are faced with the reality of a struggling economy.  Many of us simply can no longer spend our Saturday afternoons wandering around in a huge mall, with cheery music tempting us to feel all warm and fuzzy as we rack up those $$$$ on our charge cards.  We can always pay it off later!  Unfortunately, "later" has caught up with us, and it is not much fun for many Americans. 

My girls will often ask me, "Mom, did you have M&Ms when you were a kid?" or "Was there TV around when you were a kid?" or other equally wise observations from their perspective.  And I will tell them the truth . . . . . yep, those things "were around" but I didn't have nearly as much of it as they do.  And I lived to tell about it!  For some people, that overwhelming desire to have more stuff, new stuff, expensive stuff, and beautiful stuff becomes almost like a noose around the neck.  It becomes all-consuming, to the point of destroying marriages and forcing people into bankruptcy. 

Now, all of us have faced financial struggles at some point in our lives . . . . . and some end up needing to file bankruptcy for very legitimate reasons.  That is not the point of this thought process.  It is about the mindless consumption of material goods that has become such an accepted part of the "American Dream."  So, when I chatted with one of my older daughters about how difficult it is to keep going when there is just never enough money to go around, we came to the conclusion that there are millions of people right now who are actually in more difficult circumstances than we are encountering, and that there are also millions of Americans who lived through the Great Depression . . . . . and they survived.  Not only did they survive, many became stronger, more independent, more resourceful, and more joyful directly in proportion to their determination to be thankful for what they had.  No matter how simple, they learned to appreciate the little things in life. 

So, when one of our nieces posted a comment on my FB page about my ability to take "old stuff" and make it into something kind of cool (or something like that!), it reminded me of a conversation I had with my mother-in-law over 30 years ago.  Even back then, she made the observation that I "could make a beautiful home out of just about nothing."  My philosophy all of my life has been, a coat of paint doesn't cost much and it will make a whole room feel brand-new!  As I carry that philosophy of "old stuff" over into my daily life, I am continually confronted with the ways in which we so often just "throw away" things that are no longer brand-new (well, actually some of it IS brand-new, as evidenced by the number of gorgeous items I find in thrift shops that still have the tags attached!) - but we've grown tired of it, or it is no longer the "latest fashion." 

And that attitude carries over into our lives as we encounter people . . . . those who are older, or a bit slower, or perhaps can't "snap it up" to our level of expectation.  I see it frequently when we are out with our daughter, Missy Stubborn-Pants.  She WILL do it herself, even when it takes her a bit longer than most other kids because of her CP.  Stubborn in that case is a good thing (of course, it sometimes makes me crazy, like when it is time for school and she somehow thinks that just because she is determined to zip her own coat, that will change what time the bell rings!).  Anyway, I've been thinking about "old stuff," perhaps more so because I just had a birthday last week   ;o)  but I've recognized that one of the reasons that I love vintage stuff, and fixing up "old stuff" so much is because I see so much waste in our society. 

 I think it is time for us all to re-think our own "philosophy of old stuff" and begin to get a bit more comfortable with the treasures that can be discovered in all things "vintage."  Including Grandma and Grandpa!   Have a blessed Monday!  I'm off to the studio to fix up some more "old stuff" because it seems that there are at least a few folks out there in the world who like my style! 

Please visit my little Etsy shop at www.gossamerwingsstudio.etsy.com to see more of my "old stuff" that I have turned into beautiful "new stuff" - you won't be disappointed!    

For this I am thankful

Sunday morning .   . . . a peaceful, quiet, introspective time when we can take a few moments and revisit the past week and make plans for the days ahead. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. I am again reminded to focus on what we have and not on what we wish we had. We are all struggling through times of uncertainty and confusion, many of us facing financial difficulties which seem to loom so much larger as we approach the holidays. But just remember . . . . all of those things are events in life, they are not the reason for life and they are certainly not the really important things in life. Family, friendships, community, and most importantly, knowing our place in the universe. So, whether you believe in a loving Heavenly Father who cares for you deeply . ... or not . . . . you are loved and treasured, just for being YOU! And it's no big deal that you aren't perfect - neither is anyone else. It's not about being perfect, it is about receiving the loving relationship that is available to you through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. It is a gift, all you need to do is accept it. Is it real? Is it true? Well, just because something hasn't happened to YOU does not mean it didn't happen! Have a blessed Sunday, and let's start our week of Thanksgiving with a grateful heart.