Hello Monday {Embracing Change}

Hello starting school in July. Hello working ahead so that we could take off three weeks in September when we will be saying...

Hello to moving back to Indiana for a year or two.

Hello Doc going back into private practice at a dear friend's practice {after doing geriatrics for 3 years} to regain his skills in order to prepare himself for medical missions work down the road.

Hello sorting, packing and regaining simplicity by only taking what we will need and absolutely love.

Hello downsizing into a house with happy yellow walls and a desk in the kitchen. { Hello God...I know it was you who prepared everything to delight my heart and make the move easier!}

Hello thankfulness for an opportunity to spend some precious time getting to love on our friends {whom we call the family that we got to choose!}

Hello opportunity to have more coffee dates with this handsome and funny fellow...

Hello embracing a new chapter in life.

{I'm linking up with the amazing Lisa for her Hello Monday series.}

The Value of Using What You've Got

I have been thinking about creativity lately. A spark has been reignited in me with Orange Bird and Craft Weekend that was dormant for a while. It wasn't dormant because I didn't want to be creative. It was just that I had four children in an 8 year period and trust me, when you are busy changing diapers for 10 years straight, you can easily get sucked into the "need meeting vortex" and forget that, that part of you ever existed. I mean, let's face it...if Doc comes home after a hard day's work and finds no dinner and the house looking like a bomb went off, I promise that he is going to be less than excited about my creations. However, I am realizing that I will ALWAYS have more on my to do list. Sometimes you have to put that list aside and take a little time to enjoy life and express yourself.

I've also realized that there is value in creating beauty. I mean, when you think about it, who is the Creator? How did he come up with butterfly wings and fog settling in valleys? Fall leaves and sunsets? God is the ultimate creator and so, who am I to say that there isn't as much value in the ability to create beautiful things as there is in doing other, more practical things? What a gift to me that God gave me the ability and the desire to make things! I believe that God is able to do all things perfectly. I think if the Lord walked into a room of instruments, He could pick up any one of them and make the most beautiful music. I think that He could whip up a perfect meal with food combinations and cooking techniques that we haven't even thought of yet. He could paint the most realistic landscape, having already made the original inspiration. All those creative things and more perfectly. I also think that He could balance a checkbook (without any pesky cents left over), figure out why the car is making that noise or create a medicine in a lab that would cure any disease. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him and I would venture a statement that every good and perfect gift is OF Him. It is a manifestation of one of His traits in us. We are, after all, created in His image. So, thinking about all of that, I am pretty sure that He doesn't want me to discount the abilities with which He created me.

I was reading in Exodus, a while back, about God giving instructions to Moses on how to build His tabernacle. In chapter 31:1-11 it says..

Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.  Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:  the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—  the tableand its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—  and also the woven garments , both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

God literally gifted the Spirit of God to Bazalel and Ohaliab in order that they might have the skills and knowledge to make all the things that He (God) had envisioned for His place of dwelling on earth.

When I read that, it almost took my breath away. Can you imagine being chosen to oversee the building of God's vision for His dwelling place?? Whoa. And not only that, those men had skills. Mad creating skills. Gifted and honored by name in the word of God.  Now, I'm not saying that I will sew for Jesus. I don't think He's in the market for aprons or headbands, but I can still sew for Jesus...I can use the talent that He has blessed me with (and so can you) to serve Him. Do whatever you CAN do. Cook well? Make someone dinner who is having a rough time. Have an eye for fashion? Help a friend who could use a boost pick out some new clothes. Read well? Volunteer to help a kid who is struggling or an elderly person who can no longer see to read the words. Do you have ears that hear? Be a compassionate listener.

My point is this... God made you and me, each with our own gifts of the Spirit of God...gifts that are to be used to represent Him to others in this world. What trait did He gift you with that you can use to show the love of Jesus to others in a tangible way?

Nice to Meet Ya!

Hi! Today I am welcoming new visitors over from Meg's blog Whatever...! I was fortunate to be a part of August's Whatever Craft Weekend and if you would like to read about all the crafting goodness, check out these posts!

Craft Weekend: Friday
Craft Weekend: Saturday
Craft Weekend: Sunday
Craft Weekend: Antiques

Whatever Craft Weekend: Antiques!!

Pictures of the antiques in Bearly Makin' It and The Barn for your viewing pleasure!

Whatever Craft Weekend: Sunday

Sunday morning came early after a late night of crafting! Jess had to fly out early but Lisa, Chrissie and I took a quick pic with her before she had to leave! I just love these girls! I believe that God works these things out and brings amazing people into our lives at just the right times! They blessed my heart!!

We all got dressed and ready and donned our beautiful aprons! This is one of the happiest pictures ever in my book!

This is Sheila! She and I were the late night crafting warriors (keeping Meg awake) on Friday night trying to finish our aprons before the next day! (It was sooo worth the late night, Shelia! I love your apron!)

We all gathered on the front porch to take our official Whatever Craft Weekend photographs. We, of course, had to take our own unofficial pics, as well!

This is Meg, Me and Kimberlee! These two are the hostesses with the mostess(es)! They have this Craft Weekend thing down to a science! 

After photos, we had to say goodbye and find our ways back home!

It was definitely a weekend full of blessings (and the swag was pretty sweet, too!) 

Click here to read about Friday's Craft Weekend activities and here to ready about Saturday! Also, if you are a fan of crafty goodness, please come on over and visit our blog and store called The Orange Bird. My friend and I make and sell fun things there and the profits go to support different causes that are near and dear to our hearts!

Whatever Craft Weekend: Saturday

Saturday morning dawned bright and shiny at Meg's house with dappled sunshine spots on white curtains and Sally's happy apron hanging in the corner! 

After pinching myself a to make sure that I wasn't dreaming, I decided to get up. Mornings are a pleasure at the craft house! Beautiful sunshine through beveled glass. Little rainbows shining on the walls and floors. 

Reminders of what is most important.

It all makes for one happy crafter!!

I got around and of course I had to wear my Pleated Poppy flower in my hair! Thank you Lindsey! I love it!!

Once again Kimberlee out did herself and made a fabulous brunch for us!

Have you ever seen a happier breakfast spot? {And yellow is my favorite color!} I texted this picture to my mom and said, "Do you know how happy I am right now?" Of course she did!

 

After breakfast, we all gathered to get ready to go to Bearly Makin' It and The {famous} Barn!

I'm working on another post about the antique shopping extravaganza but for now...we returned back to the craft house and laid out our goodies on the table for a show and tell time! Meg was up to her usual picture taking!

These were my goodies...genuine vintage pjs {still in the original packaging}, a cookie jar full of vintage buttons, a vintage tie scarf, biscuit cutter, jewlery, books and his and hers pillowcases!

This was Chrissie's take! She had it set up so cute that I couldn't resist taking a little snapshot!

We ate a fabulous dinner and then moved on to Saturday night crafts! The little pennants from the Say Hello Shop are double sided with fabric on one side and chalkboard paint on the other...very versatile! We also made felt pillow covers!

We also made a chalk board message tray with pop top magnets! I LOVE them! So handy!

The highlight, though, had to be Lisa Leonard teaching us how to do handstamped jewelry and helping us make our own custom necklaces!!! How blessed were we that she was able to be there with us! I loved getting to know her and her twinsie, Chrissie! If you are interested in some amazing jewelry, please go look at her store! 

Jess instagramed the awesomeness! 

Here is my *fabulous necklace* and also the cute headband that I made!

We had soooo much fun! It reminded me that I need to make sure I do not neglect the creative side of myself! It is fulfilling to me to create and bring beautiful things to fruition! Speaking of bringing beautiful things to fruition...please check out The Orange Bird. It is the shop I started with my friend, Birdie! We make things and sell them in our online store and donate the profits to different causes! Please check out what we are doing and "like" us on facebook, if you are interested!!

If you want to read more about Craft Weekend, click here to read about Friday and here to read about Sunday!