Thursday, October 18, 2007

New Friends, New Trends


Don and I made new friends this past week. We go camping (trailering actually - NO TENTS) occasionally and sometimes we take other people's children with us. That sounds a little creepy, somehow, but we really just like to let the kids get away for a few days and give the parents a rest, too. And they keep Don and Maggie (the dog) occupied while we are camping so I can just sit and do my "thing". We took three siblings with us this time and had a great time! We have recently joined their church so we are having a good time getting to know lots of new people. We drank a lot of hot chocolate and ate s'mores. The flies were really awful but we had lots of action with the swatter. We played cribbage at night and did crafts and bike riding in the day. We had a great time and BOY, am I tired! The kids were wonderful and their parents should be proud of them.

Along that line of thought, one of the girls had a birthday yesterday and her mom made a wisdom scrapbook as a gift. I started looking at it but I couldn't read most of it because it made me cry. I grew up in a broken home atmosphere where my mother worked a lot, sometimes three jobs when I was young, just to support 4 kids. It was not a Christian home by any stretch of the imagination but my mom tried to teach us how to be "good" people and for the most part we were "good kids" and didn't get in trouble too much. I was 16 when I came to know Christ as my Savior. I married a young man from a Christian background when I was 19. My mom died when I was 21 years old and I had been away from home for 2 years. I never really got to know her as an adult because I was gone so quickly and I truly regret that.
As I was trying to read the scrapbook last night I realized how very special it was, how much thought and time the mom put into creating it. I could also see throughout the book that their lives were Christ centered, I couldn't help but notice how very much this was true. And that it wasn't just a quick, off the cuff thing but a true and abiding way of life. I felt a twinge of longing for the feelings expressed to the daughter by the mother and other relatives and friends who where giving so freely of their wisdom to the birthday girl who just turned 18 years old. I couldn't finish reading through the book because of the emotions it solicited, but I hope to read it through some day when I have lots of time and can read every word. I was pleased to see that the daughter recognized the meaning of the scrapbook, also, and would cherish it over the years.

I had two jewelry shows this summer and both were successful enough to make me continue selling. I was able to help someone in need with some of the proceeds so I thank God that the sales were made. My jewelry is completed over several short sessions so I don't produce it in huge quantities. I doubt I will be doing a show every other weekend or anything even near that often. Right now I am planning on doing just 4 shows next year. I do have a shop on Etsy now. You can visit it at www.rosevinedesign.etsy.com. More items will be added regularly so check back often!



I will be teaching Stitched With Love Sewing Class at our church starting in November so I am gearing up for that. If you are in the Arnold/Festus, Missouri area and wish to attend a free beginner's sewing class please contact me at artistdf@sbcglobal.net and use the subject Sewing Class. It is going to be fun!


My other new project is downsizing my "hoarded possessions", as I refer to them. Don said, "Can I get an amen?" or something to that effect. He is a patient man.


My favorite verse today is:

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Exciting Things

Here it is September 2007 and the last few months have flown by. Olivia arrived a little early, her mom developed pneumonia while in the hospital and Olivia came home with me and her grandfather for a few days. Mom came home exhausted/still sick and the whole family stayed with me and her grandfather for a few days (7 or so!). Everyone went home for about a week and Olivia's other grandfather was diagnosed with a serious cancer so everything has centered around that for the past month. He is doing well after surgery but still hospitalized and Olivia's house is filled with extended family right now and for a while. We still manage to get the same things done with a more crowded schedule but it sure makes one tired!

Olivia is beautiful and so cuddly! I really like her a lot. Her mom and dad are so smart for giving us such a stinking cute baby girl.

God is so good to our family and I praise Him for His wonderful grace.

I have worked out my thoughts from the last post regarding using my talents for a meaningful purpose. My goal is to find the ways that I can use them in a meaningful way. That will be easy in some cases (free sewing classes through our church, etc.) and more difficult in others (time consuming jewelry production). But, I am confident that I am meant to pursue these activities that God has given me the talent or interests in. I will be posting some items that are available on this blog with the goal that at least 25% of the proceeds will be used towards mission outreach in my local area and foreign areas so check back often.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Busy Times

Well, I made a good start on this blog but haven't had time to add to it for awhile.

I have been busy making baby items, doing machine embroidery, making jewelry for a sale that occurred two weeks ago, left town for a few days of relaxation, CLEANING THE ABODE, taking care of a sick dog who is finally getting well (I think), and trying to make time for a little Bible study on my own to go along with some church studies that are occurring. If I didn't have to work for a meager living I could get a lot more done!

We are anxiously awaiting Olivia Grace's birth, which is due in a few weeks. Everything seems to be going well, other than the usual complaints from the mom. I am excited to see Olivia's little round face!

I spend a lot of time creating. It has been on my mind a lot lately about how much time I do spend on things that are not directly connected to the things of God. I could spend all my time just making things. The things are pretty, sometimes beautiful and everyone enjoys looking at them, using them, wearing them. Being creative is such a big part of my life and personality that if I go for long periods of time not creating that I can actually feel sick and become nervous or feel disconnected. There are not many craft related things that I do not know how to do and there are not many creative activities that I have not participated in or have the tools to perform. You can accumulate a lot of things over 35 years.

I have recently been trying to pare down the "things" that I have related to these creative activities. It is difficult for me to do this and I have finally realized that it is because I know that I will eventually need everything I have (if I live long enough to complete all the projects I have in my head) and feel it is wasteful to get rid of things only to have to acquire them again, especially if the funds might not be available later. Also, I think because I didn't have many "things" growing up that it is difficult to let them go AND before too long I will no longer work at a paid job and all those "things" can be turned into income. I currently don't acquire new things like I used to. It has to have a really important purpose to make the "get" list. And I have started using up what I have, although that is a long process. It is so nice to be able to use an existing item instead of shopping for something new. I have also been TRYING to release some items.

I have been wondering lately why God has given me the ideas, the abilities and the drive to do these things. I feel I should be using these talents he has given but at the same time I wonder about whether I am wasting my time on vain pursuits when I should be doing something else. I didn't go to school to learn any of them and I find that I usually have an inborn ability to be creative in all areas with very little instruction and really believe that some people are just born with creativity. I have started looking for ways to use my talents for God but so far all I have done is make things for people as gifts and give sewing classes for free. I make a lot of jewelry that takes a lot of time and I have started selling it. That is really beneficial to no one, other that being a pleasing embellishment and giving me more money to buy supplies. This is really a subject that has been on my mind so much lately. I don't feel like I am doing anything productive for God. I desire to find a way to use these talents for God but at the same time wonder if that is just a way to satisfy my own selfish need to continue in the same creative mode. I can't imagine not being in that mode, I feel like I would no longer be me. I simply can not imagine it.

Well, that is it for now.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

The Beginning

I have a lot to be thankful for so I want to make a list.

My Savior:
Jesus Love Me, this I know because He lifts me up and brushes me off each time I fall and gives me more strength and knowledge about how to do His will each time. It totally amazes me how He has used the fall down times in my life to bring me closer to Him and closer to my family.

My Family:
I have a wonderful husband of almost 35 years who is wise in so many ways. He has been a good father and provider and is my best friend. He is funny, smart and creative. And children love him. I love him more than he can ever know.

We have one daughter who is married to a great guy. I don't see how they could be any more suited for each other and I truly believe that the match was made by God. They are expecting their first child, a long awaited daughter, and we all are very happy and excited. I believe that God will do marvelous things through their service to Him. I am very proud of both of them and their Christ centered lives. I know they will be good parents and teachers.

My Church Family:
We have made good Christian friends over the past few years in the church we attend and we have come to love them as we love our own family. It is a wonderful thing to have friends that have the same agendas in their lives as you, to serve God and see other come to Him, to raise your family to do the same. We love our Christian family!

I have a website that shows some of the things I like to do in my "free" time. There are even a few things for sale there. It is www.rosevinedesign.com. Please visit when you have time!