Monday, May 30, 2011

We Remember



Happy Memorial Day!
Blessings to all our brave service men and women
 who paid the ultimate price for our freedom...
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I hope you enjoy a lovely day with your family and friends. We'll be hanging out at my Mom and Dad's house later today...we're just going to have a laid back kinda day....sounds nice.

Hugs to you all!!


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Flexibility and Frogs

As I sit here on a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon, I'm reflecting on yet another week that has flown by, and the word that keeps going through my head is "Flexibility". It is definitely a word that applies to my week...hang in there, it's a bit of a long story....


After visiting with my Mother-in-Law at the hospital last Sunday (she's doing very well after hip surgery and should be back home in a week), it was MY Mom's turn to go to the hospital on Monday night...! She is just fine now (had a bit of thyroid trouble that caused her to almost pass out), but it is always a scary thing to ride in an ambulance to the ER and be admitted for overnight observation...bless her heart. We are so grateful that everything is fine, she checked out OK, is taking her thyroid medication, and she is much, much better! Her "adventure" is yet another reminder of the fragility of life and the way things can and often do change in a mere moment...
I was so grateful that I had the flexibility to be there with Mom early the next morning (my brother and sister-in-law were there Monday evening when she went in). It was great to sit and visit with her until the afternoon when she was released. It was a very sweet time as we talked and talked, which is our favorite thing to do, pondering who would be voted off of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol as well as the mysteries of life, the joys and frustrations of family, and the goodness of God. My husband and I spent the night with Mom and Dad Tuesday night just to make sure all was well, and once again, I was so glad we had the flexibility to do that. 

I went home Wednesday afternoon, and went right back to Mom's Thursday to drive her and Dad to Beaumont for the day for a previously planned visit with my aunt (Mom's younger sister) who is battling brain cancer and recovering from her own hip surgery. Another of my Mom's sisters and both my uncles were there too. It was a wonderful visit full of hugs and laughs, deluxe chicken salad sandwiches, and more talking and talking (it was fun to hear my uncles who are in their 60's weigh in on Dancing With the Stars and American Idol too!! :o) As we were driving home, we were again so grateful for flexibility. My Mom wants to visit with her sister and all her family as often as possible...because life is fragile, and moments are precious...lessons brought home again and again this week...
We spent another night with Mom and Dad Thursday night, (and watched American Idol results together of course, which was fun) and I planned to go home Friday morning and start searching Craigslist for a good used washing machine - seems the one at the home we rent to our tenants stopped working. But, Mom and Dad and I agreed to go to a quick garage sale (or 2) Friday morning before I left. While I was getting ready that morning, I felt the Lord impress on my heart that I would find a good washing machine at a garage sale, pay X amount for it, drive to our house, get our truck, bring it back to Mom's, and have my hubby come to Mom's after he gets off, and we would go together to pick up the washing machine and bring it to the rent house and hook it up. He laid out the plan for the whole day! 


So, sure enough, at about the third garage sale we went to we asked if they had a washer for sale, and what do you know, they had one in the garage that they hadn't set out yet...it was only 3 years old, a Whirlpool, worked great, and they wanted X for it, exactly the amount the Lord told me, oh, and I had that much cash on me too. The woman I bought it from (who was also a Believer!) said her husband would be home at 6pm to help us load it, so, I went and got the truck and hubby and I picked up the washer after his work and installed it at the rent house, and it worked great - all as the Lord said!!

No, this past week did NOT go as I had planned...not by a long shot. But, the Lord knew what the week would hold, and He set everything up so that I would be able to flow with everything that happened. He's so very good...

So, why the frogs...??

To remind us to Fully Rely On God....instead of on our own understanding. We have precious little control over our circumstances, but we can TRUST in the One who sees the whole picture...

Here's verse five as well as verse six in The Message version...how very appropriate for my week...for my life...for all our lives...

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   he's the one who will keep you on track."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

I have no clue what this week will hold...but I know the One who holds Me...and that's really all I need to know.... Have a blessed week in Him friends!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Another Week Gone: The Recap


Hey y'all! Another week has flown by and I haven't stopped to blog about all that's going on. It's late, so I'll boil my recap down to bullet points:
  • My mother-in-law fell and fractured her pelvis and hip this past Sunday the 8th (Mother's Day, bless her heart). She had surgery and is doing remarkable well...already doing minimal walking on her own, praise the Lord!!
(Johnny and his Mom from Easter 2008)
  • Got word from Universal Designs Inc. who license designs from me, that they are licensing 2 seasonal collections of mine for 2012! I am so excited - I love their seasonal products and matching displays!
  • After 2 days of being at the hospital with my Mother-in-law, I returned to my computer to prepare all the files for Universal and make a few other requested designs. All done now, whew! It feels good to have it all finished!
  • Worked to create a new art site (made one on Blogger that's easy to update with new designs). Sent out numerous licensing inquiries/links to art directors through email and regular mail in hopes of landing more licensing gigs!
  • We FINALLY got rain!!! I know for many of you, you can't think of anything you'd like having less than more rain, but we have been (still are) in severe drought, so the soaking we got yesterday was a welcome delight!
  • If you haven't tried Pinterest, you gotta try it!!  If you love clipping beautiful images from a magazine and pinning them to an inspiration board or collecting them in a notebook, then you'll love Pinterest - the digital way to "pin" photos to your own virtual inspiration boards! Caution - it's highly addictive!
OK, that's my quick update - sorry for being out of pocket for so long. I really appreciate your understanding...

Enjoy the wonderful weekend that the Lord has handcrafted for you!!

Friday, May 06, 2011

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!


Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day Weekend!


We'll be busy enjoying some family time on a little excursion out of town...


Hope your weekend is lovely in every way!
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One more quick note - there is so much suffering and heartache going on right now with the devastating tornado damage and flood damage in the country...I don't want to gloss over what must be some terrible times for so many of our neighbors. I am so blessed to have my Mom, my home, my health...thank You Lord...may I never take that for granted. I pray that those who are suffering will reach out to the One who Comforts the Brokenhearted and receive the Peace that only He can bring...


Sunday, May 01, 2011

A Little Piece of Quiet

Hey Y'all...

I'm at that strange, quiet place between projects...


You know the one...the time when you have a gazillion things you need to, but you just finished something kinda major and want to just enjoy a bit of nothingness...a little "piece of quiet"...


I think that's appropriate for a Sunday, don't you?


My projects will still be there Monday morning...they'll keep...

I hope you find your own little "piece of quiet" today...


"Be still, and know that I am God..."
Psalm 46:10