Mamas*Little*Treasures

In times like these . . . .

“Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled,
nor let it be fearful.”

John 14:27 NASB

 

I try not to listen to the news very much.  But it is kind of hard to escape the constant drum beat of confusion and chaos that seems to be surrounding us everywhere we go. Actually, I do like to know what is going on in the world and not just hide my head and pretend that everything is rosey when it actually isn't.  That's one way to be really surprised when reality finally catches up with you!  But, I try not to focus on the competing voices, trying to convince me that "this is a crisis," or frighten me with talk of disaster.  I will admit, though, that trying to focus on the positive, peaceful aspects of life can be difficult on most days, and especially during a time of economic struggle, political turmoil, and national confusion.

So, it is always good to be reminded that true peace only comes from our Heavenly Father through the grace that He has blessed us with in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus.  It is easy to be afraid, and it is natural to be concerned about our family in the face of a world-wide epidemic of the H1N1 flu virus. And it is normal to experience some anxiety over the financial circumstances that many of us are facing.  But I continue to try to stay focused on the positive, and not allow myself to slide into the "slough of despond" as John Bunyan warns us through the journey of Pilgrim.  We are all susceptible of slipping off the edge of that cliff!

Today I am finally able to sit down and actually update my blog.  It has  been over a month since I've had the time, energy, or interest.  That is because I allowed myself to become bogged down and frustrated after a year and a half of trying to be "Wonder Woman."  Again.  You would think that I would have figured this out by now . . . . after all, I'm not exactly a "spring chicken."  ;o)  I've been a mom for a long time - my oldest daughter is now 36 years old, and my youngest daughter just turned 7 years old last Friday.  But I am right where I want to be . . . . now. 

I don't know how you do it, all of you moms who are able to have a career outside of your home, and still handle everything that comes along with taking care of a family.  I just can't do it . . . . I've tried . . . . and failed miserably.  All of my adult life, my home and family have been the focus of my heart and mind.  I love being the traditional, stay-at-home mom.  But for the past year and a half I have had to hold a JOB outside of my home, and to put it mildly . . . .well, I'm a GREAT worker, but not such a great employee.  What I mean by that is to say that I always arrived for work on time (sometimes even early!) and did the work that was expected of me.  I worked diligently to learn the skills necessary to do my job well, and I got along famously with my co-workers.  I liked my boss, I organized drawers and cupboards, cleaned up around the office and was completely honest and trustworthy.  But I hated being there!

Not because it was a bad place to be, but because I just really wanted to BE HOME, doing all of the things that needed my attention.  And as the days, weeks, and months went by, I became so discouraged that I could barely function.  Well, now that I no longer have a JOB (because the bank branch was closed) - I am WORKING every day on the "stuff" that needs to be taken care of, and I am SO MUCH happier!  My kiddos and hubby are happy, too, because mom isn't running out the door every morning, no matter what they need.  I'm home where I belong, where I love to be, and actually working harder than I did in that office! 

So, all of that is to say that I have struggled a great deal over the past year with finding peace.  Even though I know in my head the answer, it was very difficult to get past the discouragement to find that place of peace.  I tried, I really did, but I just don't do well when I am away from home for long periods of time.  I guess I just need to remember that God knows each one of us intimately, and He knows what we need, and what will bring us joy.  I am grateful that I am now able to stay home, and have time for the things in life that are important to me.  Things like participating in our weekly IOW project!  I'm glad to be back, and I truly appreciate the reminder that I will never find peace in the things of the world, but only in the safety and security of my relationship with my Lord. 

Please stop by and visit Patricia at "Typing One-Handed" today to find links to all of the other IOW posts this week. 

Who Wrote the Last Chapter?

"The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs his heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” 

 

~ Proverbs 21: 1-3

So many voices all around us, calling us to listen to this and pay attention to that . . . . there is just so much to learn and understand about life.  And when I start to wonder what is happening in my world, and get overwhelmed with all of the chaos and confusion, I remind myself of Who is really in charge of our world.  If we had to depend on any human being to provide all that we need, always to make decisions that were "perfect," and to keep us safe, life would, indeed, be a frightening experience. 

 But I know that, whatever one believes about all of the turmoil that is gripping our country today, that our shelter is in our God.  He is the one who is our Protector, our Redeemer, and our Guide through every difficult moment of our lives.  In the midst of all of the voices that are calling to us today, we must remember that the last chapter of history has not been revealed yet.  It has been written, for sure, but we have not read it . . . . but we can be confident that it has been written by One who knows and cares about our every concern, and He alone can protect us in our darkest moments of fear and struggle.  I am confident that He will provide exactly what each of us needs, no matter our circumstances.  He is in control of EVERY heart, including those who hold temporal power over our lives.  I know Who is REALLY making all of the decisions!

Proverbs 21:1-3

Thrifty Thursday Ideas for Autumn

Well . . . . it's been quite a week around here!  Actually it has been more like two weeks since I've had the time and / or energy to update my blog.  And then, just when I thought things were getting kind of "normal," my computer started giving me a little attitude.  So, I took it back in to the computer shop today, and the tech spent about an hour and a half with me, explaining all kinds of things.  Including the possibility that somehow my resolution was set too high  (who knew?  not me obviously) and then he reset it for me.  He did a bunch of other magic hocus pocus, carried it out to my car, and wouldn't let me pay him anything for his time.  "I didn't do anything," he said.  I guess when I'm ready to upgrade my computer, you know where I'll be going! 

When I got home with my pride and joy, we set it up and voila!  Good as new!  Finally, I can get caught up on a bunch of stuff that needs to be done.  I've been working on hubby's laptop, and it makes me crazy!  When you are used to having a mouse, and then try to use that silly little finger doo-dad, I just wouldn't be able to work for the amount of time needed to do everything that needed to be done.  So, here I am finally, getting caught up!  I've got a writing project that is due in a few days, and eBooks that need to be sent out, and Etsy listings that need to be put up.  And when all of that stuff was in THIS computer, I just had to wait until it came home. 

One of my projects in the next few weeks is posting all of the gorgeous vintage, and almost vintage items that I have discovered recently.  Once I am officially finished with my JOB, I am going to be so busy working on new designs and embellishment projects,  that I want to get as much of this stuff listed and available as possible.  With the economy still struggling, and people still needing to find ways to stay on their family budgets, I am committed to offering beautiful clothing at very reasonable prices.  I read a sign today that said "Recession 101:  One thing to remember about recessions:  they always end."  I think we all need to be reminded of that, as well as the fact that 10% unemployment equals 90% employment.  But that doesn't help when YOU are the one without a job and trying to figure out how to pay the mortgage and buy groceries. 

Here are just a few of the transition items that are available in my Etsy shop and my Bonanzle shop.  I will also be working on a little shop at

www.1000markets.com  and www.marketpublique.com  this fall.  I'll keep you posted on my progress!  Have a great Thursday, and I hope to be back tomorrow with more great ideas for a recession-proof autumn wardrobe. 

I don't know why . . . . red just seemed like a good color for today! 

Get rid of all that junk!

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."    

~ Hans Hofmann ~

Why do we keep doing it?  I see people everywhere I go, shopping for more and more and more STUFF!  We are drowning in STUFF, barely able to breath from the weight of it all, and yet we continue to buy MORE STUFF.  It just seems that many people have this insatiable need for more, always more.  And oftentimes it doesn't even really matter what it is, it just has to be more . . . . of something.  I wonder if that has anything to do with some of the destruction of so many marriages.  You know, it could be that lots of relationships are destroyed  by greed which leads to spending more money than you have, which leads to serious debt, which leads to incredible financial stress, which leads to conflict in the home.

That's one way that all of this need to accumulate STUFF has affected the lives of many Americans.  Even while some families in our communities are struggling to pay the mortgage and feed their kids, those who are able are still on that elusive, endless, and self-destructive journey to acquire MORE STUFF.  Now, I'm not for "spreading the wealth," because if you earned it, you should be able to keep it.  And, of course, if you WANT to share some of your wealth with the less fortunate, that should be YOUR choice, not a government mandate.  But that's another subject.

It is this madness, this insanity, this nagging emptiness that keeps us constantly yearning for the next "fix" of something more.   And if it isn't more STUFF, it might be more excitement, more action, more adventure, more fun, more entertainment.   Perhaps we are addicted to our own adrenaline.  We need that gut-wrenching, spine-tingling sensation of being just on the edge of disaster . . . . . or chaos . . . . or death.  Some people seem to live for that risky, "what if I get caught," experience.  What if . . . that's such an amazing couple of words.  What if I do this . . . . what will happen?  Maybe it is spending money you don't have to buy STUFF that you don't need and can't afford.  Maybe it is always looking for that next "great adventure" so that your eyes are always focused beyond what is right in front of you.  Perhaps it is always wondering what it would be like with THAT person instead of the one I'm already with.

There are millions of people who are lonely, empty, miserable, and pathetic in their constant clamoring for more and more and more . . . . and never finding satisfaction.  I see it in their eyes, and I see it in the choices that they make in life, and I observe the heartache that it causes to everyone around them.  If we could just learn to appreciate what is right here, right now, in this place, with this person perhaps we could bring a bit of peace and sanity back to our lives.  Of course, that does NOT mean to just sit around and be lazy and never do anything to better our lives.  We should always be striving to grow and learn and become all that we can be.  But that is just the point . . . . when we are always looking for that next adventure, we will never have the time or the energy to focus on making our life better.  As long as we are always needing more of something that really isn't going to make us happy, why not simplify life and get rid of all that extra "junk" that keeps us always yearning for more?

Something to think about this Wednesday!