From the inside looking out.

I'm a wimp.
No really. I am.
I don't like being cold.
I don't like gray weather.
I like sunshine and vivid color.
Sadly, I don't rule the world.

We got a lot of snow over the past few days.
This was my view. From the inside, looking out.
You don't think I'd actually go out in the cold, just to take pictures of the snow, do you?!
Nope. I shot a few pics through the windows.
The ones that were clean enough, anyway.



We have awesome neighbors that clear our sidewalks for us.
Isn't that sweet? The Midwest rocks.



We let the kids draw on the window with a dry erase marker and play darts.
We have 4 of those guns that shoot the suction cup darts.
They love it! We have family battles at this window. I usually lose.
Before company comes over, we wipe off the windows real quick and pretend that we're a normal family.

When The Man got home from work, he decided to take us all sledding.
It's so much fun, but our sled is quite big.


Me, with the sled sitting on my shoulder.
And looking thrilled. (I actually was happy, I don't know why I look annoyed.)
And without a stitch of makeup on.
Why is it that every picture I show of myself here on the blog, I have no makeup?
That's a shame.
Because when I'm done up, I'm a dead ringer for Megan Fox.


Happy Weekend to you!
I hope you get lots of sleep, sunshine, and dark chocolate.

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of godSo look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants!
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the MckLinky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week!
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Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

What a tangled web we weave...

I've said it before, but when I said that I'd donate $10 from every Blessed necklace to Compassion International for Haiti, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.


Are you keeping an eye on the total? It's over on the right, in my profile.
It goes up daily.
As of today, we're able to contribute $2,290!!

That is unreal.
I love it.
B.L.E.S.S.E.D. One letter at a time.
One necklace at a time.
Ten bucks at a time.
One package at a time.
(This is just one day's worth.)


I have a little help creating the items.
But I, alone, am the shipping department.
And the customer service department.
And the order processing department.
What an amazing journey this has been so far.

Keep up the support! It means so much.

The winner of the Sharing the Love giveaway is Suburban Stitcher.

I'm wondering if there's a company out there that's willing to match our donation.
Any suggestions?

The Shelf.

Little story:
When The Man and I were newlyweds I worked at a travel agency.
Prior to that I had been a flight attendant and had gone to school and earned an associate's degree in Travel and Tourism.
I'd worked for 2 different airlines in numerous positions, including training other people.
I had a lot of knowledge in the industry.
But this agency insisted on hiring me as a receptionist to start.

They assured me that they'd move me into a travel agent spot very quickly.
So I was the secretary. I answered phones.
Played hours of tetris. Surfed the internet for other jobs.
Stocked the travel brochures.

It bored me to tears.
I spent about 3 hours a day ordering new travel brochures and stocking them on the shelf.
The promised promotion to a travel agent never happened.
I finally quit the job and went back to work for an airline that was thrilled to use my knowledge.

Then we had a kid. Then moved to Colorado and had another kid.
Then we moved back to Kansas. Then a few years later had a third kid.

One day a while back my friend and I were in a thrift store and she pointed out this white shelf.
(how terrible of me that I didn't even straighten it up before I took a picture!)


I loved it! Had to have it. For $5? You bet.
I had no idea where I'd use it in my home.
The shelves are so close together that almost nothing will fit on them.
Not even a can of soda.
It's only about 7" deep.

After I got it home, I moved it into my office.
And would you just look at how perfectly my things fit in there?!




When I was stocking it I realized that it has names of countries written on it.
It slowly dawned on me that this is the exact shelf I spent so many hours stocking years ago!
Back then I grumbled when I saw Greenland and Luxembourg.


Now I wonder if these are places I'll get to travel someday.
England? Hmmmm, yes... maybe England.


I have no idea if there's some deep meaning that I'm not catching on to.
Possibly so, but I'd need more coffee to figure it out.
I just think it's a cool twist that I despised this very shelf for so long and grumbled every time I had to stock it.
And now it's in my home, helping me thrive with my jewelry business, and giving me big dreams rather than stifling them.

New things...

A few new items listed for sale -

Breathe necklace


Claire earrings


Happy Day earrings


Loved By... necklace (i love this one!)


I'd love to stay and chat.
But I have 137 emails waiting for me.
And 216 or so necklaces to be made and mailed.
And while I'm doing my best to juggle it all, today if feels like I'm dropping the ball.
(maybe I need to pop on that "Breathe" necklace above...)
Happy Monday to you! Thanks for stopping in.

Oh happy day.

(title shamelessly stolen from Carissa.)
When I was a kid, my favorite color was yellow.
Somewhere along the line that changed to green, but lately I've been drawn more and more to yellow again.

It's just so happy!
Cheerful. Warm. Vitamin D.
Just what I need lately when it's gray, drab, and cold.











Happy Day to you!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants!
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the MckLinky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please sign in only if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week!
-------------------
My fingerprint today isn't terribly new or original, but it still amazes me constantly.
The tiny details God puts into his art when He's creating children is incredible.


Psalm 127:3 ESV
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Sharing the Love {Giveaway!}

***This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks y'all!***

There has been so much love shared lately, with people giving to Haiti.
So I want to give you a little something.

One of you will win this necklace, with a custom word on it.
It could be your loved one's name, it could be Hope, Courage, Faith, Breathe, whatever you want.
The sterling heart is lightly hammered for texture.



To enter just leave a comment.
To enter more, tweet about it, blog it, post it on facebook.
Please leave seperate comments for each of these.
(random winner will be drawn Jan. 28.)

Share the love!

Nothin'.

I wish I had something wise or witty to tell you, but I've got nothin'.

Kids had a nasty tummy bug for a few days and that's resulted in lots of extra laundry.
Mommy caught it too.
Now I'm sipping an iced coffee and it's the first thing I've kept down all day.

Working on all these Blessed necklaces, along with wholesale orders, trying to keep a semi-clean house (haha! Silly me...), and looking at a new property to buy. Maybe.
Made a new chore chart for the kids.
Worked in the church nursery. Passed off the poopy kid to another worker.
Told my husband we need a housekeeper.
Exciting stuff.

I'm drained.
I've already slacked a bit on my 365 picture challenge, but will get back to it.
Here are a few snapshots.

Anything is possible.

That's easy to say, right? "Anything is possible."
But I'm slowly starting to believe it.
I have a problem with stubborn-ness.

The other day when I listed the Blessed Necklace and promised to donate part of the proceeds to Haiti, I honestly thought we'd sell 30 or 40.
At a $10 donation per necklace, that would be $300-$400 going to Compassion International.

And I would've been thrilled with that!
But God had a different plan.

And as I'm typing this, the current total raised to help Haiti is $1690!!

Are you stinking kidding me?! That's incredible!!!



Wall plaque courtesy of my friend, Trasie. Original rainbow art, courtesy of my kids.

I'm blown away by the generosity.
The blog features people are doing on this project: Using their own voices to help people in desperate need.
The emails I'm receiving.
It's all a flood.
My emotions swing from excitement, to fear, to hurt.
I'm so excited that this has struck a chord with people. But can I do it?
And then when I watch the news coverage of Haiti, I'm reminded again that these are real people. Real children. Real lives. That are shattered.

And Yes I can do it! I have to! For these precious people who are hurting so badly.
I spent hours and hours yesterday hammering.
I do a weird lip biting thing when I hammer.


If you can, I'd love for you to listen to the first song on my playlist, over on the right.
It's my new favorite song and I could hear it 40 times a day and never get tired of it.

Thank you guys for your support!
Thank you for your encouragement.
Thank you for your prayers.

Please keep them up.
Anything is possible!

I never want to forget...

You know those orange colored citrus things that you peel before you eat?
They grow a lot in Florida.
They're called "orange apples."



And do you know what a train says?
"Fwugga fwugga, CHOO CHOO!!"

Vitamin C - actually called "Vitamin Sick."

A great tasting food is "goodlicious."



I never want to forget how many times a day I hear, "Oh my dosh!"
And at night from the top of the stairs, "Beki! Come to bed!"
And about 183 times a day when he's clicking different trains on youtube I hear, "Dat's so tyoot!"



A big scaly animal in the swamps - an "Adderator."
The stairs that move at the mall - also an "Adderator."
The room you step in at Sears that moves you to the next floor - an "Adderator."

We don't make chicken nuggets, or popcorn, or brownies. We build them.
"Mommy, build chicken nuggets for me, pweeeeease?"

But my favorite word - the thing I do my blogging on, put my pictures on, spend too much time on... the "cluter."

Go ahead, say it out loud.
It's the dirtiest sounding clean word you'll ever say.
Try to use it in a sentence and not laugh.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go work on my cluter."
"So ma'am, I hear you're cluter's broken. Let me take a look at that for ya."
"On today's Oprah, cluters for everyone! YOU get a cluter! YOU get a cluter! YOU get a cluter!"



Just a few things I never want to forget about this funny kid...

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in.

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints. Be sure to link back here so others can find the entire list of participants!
2. After you've posted your blog, sign the MckLinky below. Have fun exploring the other links as well! Please only sign in if you're participating. Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week!
-------------------

This week, the fingerprint is you.
YOU!

Yesterday I put out a suggestion for a way to help the devastation in Haiti.

And you all allowed me to donate over $600. In just one day.

***Update: As of 5:16pm on Friday, we have raised over $900!! You are amazing!***

Some purchased jewelry. Some shared on facebook and twitter.
Some blogged about it.
Some just left encouraging comments and sent beautiful emails to me.

But you all helped! Compassion International will be using this money to save lives, help children, and show God's love.

Because of you!

And it will continue until... Until it's time to quit.

Thank you for being God's hands and feet! Thank you for touching lives of people you've never met!

Things don't always go as planned.

My post today was supposed to be telling you about several new pieces of jewelry for sale in my shop.

Like this one.


Or this one.


But as you've heard by now, a tragedy occurred in Haiti.
And I can't get it out of my head.
My heart is crushed.
I can't even fathom the devastation. The pain.

The Man and I have actually been talking lately about going on a missions trip to Haiti.
We have friends who are missionaries there.

We are so blessed with our warm homes, our computers, our blogs and twitter, laughing and making connections with people, fast food and coffee, throwing out shoes just because they're out of style... While just a few hundred miles away the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere just became poorer.

I'm not suggesting that you need to feel guilty and give up your snuggie, coffee, or computer.
But I'm offering a way to help, if you feel led.

From now until ... I don't know when... $10 from every Blessed necklace sold will go to Compassion International to assist those in desperate need in Haiti. (if there are none in stock, please check back. I'm restocking them as fast as possible.)

I've already sent them the first payment this morning. I'll send more as soon as I can, so they can get the funds they need.

If you can't afford to purchase, I understand.
But if this touches your heart the way it did mine, please pass it on.
Spread the word.
Encourage others to help.
Remember how blessed we are! And that we can bless other people as well.

***Update: As of 5:16pm on Friday, we have raised over $900!! You are amazing!***

Keepin' it real.

The one comment I get really often when I meet people is, "Oh my goodness, you are just like you seem on your blog!"

And I think I am. What you see is what you get.
And it ain't always pretty.
But it's real.

The other day our fridge died.
If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you probably saw me whining about it.
We lived out of the coolers on our porch for a few days.
7:15 am, I was out on the front porch in my pajamas pouring milk on my cereal.

You never knew I was so classy, huh?

Then the macho manly men came and moved the broken fridge out.
And this is what was underneath.


Ohmygoodness. I laughed hysterically out of embarrassment. Then grabbed the camera.
I didn't see anything with a tail, so that was a good thing.
There was a half eaten sucker, though, with about an inch of dust and fur on it.
I offered it to The Girl but she declined. Picky kids, these days.

But really, when was the last time you cleaned out from underneath your fridge?
MmmmHmmm. That's what I thought.

Tell me I'm not the only one who takes a chocolate break in the middle of my workout.
Anyone? Anyone? ... *crickets*

"Always follow your heart..." My heart was telling me to press the pause button on Jillian Michaels and have a little chocolate.

As much as I love my family and laughing with people, one of my favorite things in the world is being alone.
It doesn't happen very often. But the other day it did.
The Man took the kids to a hockey game and I had several hours all to myself.
I took a long bubble bath, gave myself a mini-manicure, put on a facial, ate plenty of salty carbs, enjoyed a mommy drink, and watched my dvr'd The Bachelor.
It was 3 hours of sheer bliss. Bliss, I tell ya!


Now you know all my deep dark secrets. Just don't tell anyone, okay?
What do you do when you're alone?

On blessing...

The other night The Boy woke up with a bad dream.
He came to our bed, we snuggled and got him calmed down, and everything got quiet.

After a few minutes, he leaned over and whispered, "Mom, I love you."
I didn't say anything because I was nearly asleep and shocked that he offered this, out of the blue.
And he said it again, this time louder and a little annoyed, "Mom! I said I love you!" (Hey, he's 8.)



Of course I said it back, but I was holding back tears.
What a kind and selfless act! He made my day, at 4:00 in the morning, with a simple random "I love you."

I laid awake for the next hour thinking about what a blessing that was, as I listened to him snore.



I thought about the meaning of the word bless.

Bless -
a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness

to bestow good of any kind upon

And then I wondered, how often do we take the time to really bless people in our lives.
We all know about "random acts of kindness."
But what about the people we love. The ones that are closest to us.
How often do we go out of our way to bless them?



What's one simple thing you can do to bless your family today?
Play a card game with them?
Do another family member's chores?
Surprise them with a batch of fresh cookies?
Allow the kids to eat a "backwards dinner" - Dessert first, then the meal.
Spend an extra 5 minutes snuggling.
Tell your husband a few of your favorite qualities about him, why you fell in love with him.
Have the house picked up when your husband comes home from work.
Leave out the spinich in a meal and tell your kid, "I did that just for you."
Tell your insecure daughter how stunningly beautiful she is.


How can you bless your family today?
I'll bet it will burn a memory in their mind that will stretch that blessing out for a very very long time.