The blogger perceptions...

I read a blog today  called Along for the Ride that really hit home and seemed like she has been listening to the thoughts I've been having in my own head lately... I think it's something worth reading...


I too have struggled with these feelings... and continue to do so even more when I get compliments from friends saying "I wish I was crafty like you" or "You have so much talent, I'm jealous"...while all those things make me feel awesome, I also feel bad at the same time because of course what I post is the good stuff...the crafts that turn out or the recipes that are simply amazing...having really nothing to do with me! lol And then that makes me think... those blogs that I adore are doing the same thing... I find my self wishing that my house had more order and my kids were calmer and that life in general was just simple... and then I remember that other blogs are struggling too... only they are just sharing the good stuff... not the messes on the floor, and the screaming kids and the crafts that didn't turn out so great... I think we all have so much to gain from all the messes life brings ourway too...and we all have them...no matter how "perfect" our blogs are! lol :)

The stars are aligning....

There has to be a word, just one single word, that means "the stars are aligning"...if you know of one please share because I'd really like to have a word to describe the last few days...

I'm sorry I've been MIA as far as the blogs go. This time of year is so busy anyways and then when you add in our last few days.... it's just insane...

If you've been following me very long, you know that we have been displaced from our ideal place in this world. Alaska was just it for us... and it left this hole that we just haven't been able to fill. Part of that hole was from simply missing the landscape, part from friends we left behind (one of which is moving here!! Woo hoo!!!) and a big part of that hole could only be filled with our church family.  We tried to find a church family in Texas, but there just never seemed to be anywhere that really made us feel like home...

I don't know if I can truly describe the feelings we had about our church, or the apprehensions we felt about trying a new one...so if any of this comes out offensive to you, please know that it was not my intention, just poor wording.  I don't know if we idealize our church in Alaska and see it with rose colored glasses just because we've been away, or if it really was that perfect....we started going there when we first got married (the first Sunday after our honeymoon actually!)  and we just fit... it felt like home.... and the people felt like family. When we left there was literally this pain in my heart, that even now as I am typing, has brought tears to my eyes. So when we got to Texas, we had such high hopes for any of the churches we tried and such disappointment that we didn't get that "warm fuzzy" from any of them. They all felt like your stereo typical church...fake smiles on "good Sunday church folk" and sermons about going to Hell and giving them money.... so NOT the homey feeling we were looking for... so for four years we were miserable. Miserable in our location, and missing that church family that we longed to have....

Flash forward and move your mental picture farther north to Washington....

There is a little church in the woods, not far from our house, that I have been eyeing since the first day we moved in. I was going to town for a pizza while we waited on the moving truck. Off to the side of the road, back in the middle of the woods, was this community church and it's almost as if a beacon was pulling my attention to it... I couldn't describe it, it just felt like this force was pulling me there. I went home and told DH about it, and looked up their website online. The website said about bringing the word of Christ to the country... and their mission trips talked about going to Alaska of all places! lol

It's been a few months now of passing this church almost every time we've gone to town, but still we had our reservations about going. The website didn't give much detail about the church's beliefs and to be honest I just didn't want to be disappointed again. I would rather have the hope of it being "the one" than to go and be back to square one again....I know that must sound crazy. We kept telling ourselves that it's only an hour or so, and if we don't like it we aren't out much time and we don't have to go back....so I awoke on Sunday to DH... he had already shaved and showered and told him that he just felt like "someone" was talking to him and that today (or rather Sunday) was the day...

There was kind of a calm feeling about it all...we got up and around, picked out dresses for the girls and took the first step to meeting what could be the best journey ever ahead of us...

Again, the words just don't seem to express how blessed I feel right now...from the moment we walked into that church, I felt so welcome. We got to meet so many people and one of them just happened to ask J where she goes to school....the flood gates were opened....and there was this outpouring of homeschooling moms and kids that seemed to circle around us. One of them mentioned that probably 50-60% of their congregation are homeschoolers! I had this huge lump in my throat as they all told me of things in the area for us to do and one even told me about the co-op that she is part of  and I just felt like this bright and shiny light was shining down on us and God was smiling and saying "I told you so, just be patient"...

 This scripture is one that always seems to find us when we need it most... we love it so much so that I have it written on a wipe off board so that I see it everyday... it is this scripture that has gotten us thru so many rough times... issues with my step-son, our move to Texas... our move to Missouri...the change from Missouri to Washington and so many others in between....I know there is always more clarity looking back on what we've done but this scripture has just been such a reminder to me to keep looking forward...

Isaiah 43:19 (New Living Translation)




19 For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.


I know I don't usually share this aspect of our lives on my blog a whole lot, and don't worry, I don't plan on quoting scriptures being a regular thing...  I just had to share this experience with you and hope that it helps remind even one person that there is a greater plan for all of us....and my gratitude is so completely overflowing!

For the first time in four years, we are looking forward to the opportunities ahead of us, not looking backwards in sadness....I feel so much lighter and look forward to Sunday again!

A huge mix

As I sit here on the back porch, the house is spotless, the clock is ticking and we are just sitting here waiting to leave so our realtor can come show off our house for the open house that is to take place today....I am a mix of memories we've had here on this porch and in our yard and wondering what is yet to come for this place. Will we get to have the girls' birthday here one last time? Who else will create new memories here...will they feel the same peace we have in this spot on the porch? Will it become an oasis for another family that has been uprooted and find sanctuary within the confines of this fenced in privacy?
I try to take it all in and feel greatful for the time we've had here and the blessing this house has been to us when we felt like everything else around us was on attack...looking back our stay here has opened us up to so much growth and I'm so thankful for this time in our lives...

Thanksgiving to remember

The holidays always tend to make me think of days gone by and miss the things that used to be. Usually the hurt is so strong and it clouds the day with longing.... this year was first for me....the missing didn't sink in until after it was all said and done! I'm making progress right? lol



This picture is one of my very favorites. It was taken on our last Thanksgiving in Alaska, on our way to share Thanksgiving with friends. J was tucked in to the sled with the pumpkin pies and we set off into the snow! I tend to remember things in colors. I know, strange. This day, altho cold and white, I remember in warm yellows...all my good memories are warm!



But this year, Thanksgiving was packed with so much excitement that the day was simpy full of good food, good friends and family and only thankful thoughts! I hope that all my readers (as few as there may be) had a wonderful day full of only new, wonderful yellow/warm memories!

Random Act of Kindness- Giveaway!

I can't believe how far we've come since I first started this little blog. I don't know how many people actually read it but for me it has been such a joy to share my crafts and my thoughts with you all. As I've said before, I feel so blessed to be part of this online community of "friends" and I learn so much from the blogs of other mama's like me!

Things in our house have been quite busy lately, both good and bad and in between. The girls have been fighting a flu bug off and on now for a month or so which has forced me to really buckled down on our activities lately. This has been so hard during this time of year and we've had to miss so many fun activities but I am hoping that we are finally in the clear. Due to hubby's work schedule (oh don't get me started!) and with the threat of the unknown with the girls possibly getting sick again, I had to back out of a craft show I had planned on setting up at. I think this was the hardest of all to have to cancel because it felt like defeat when really it was just a slap of reality that I can't do it all! lol DD had been working so hard on these little recycled crafts to sell there and now we are left with around 50 little pies with no home for the holidays! I have other outlets for my items like my blog and little shops here in town but for her the outlets were a bit more limited and really it was just something fun for her to do.

So....as we were leaving the store yesterday I got an idea! I was digging in my purse for my keys when I saw one of these little pies that we had attached to a pin back floating around in my purse! I asked J if she thought that the lady who had greeted us at the door would like it and of course she was excited and ran off to give it to her. The look of confusion, replaced with joy when J handed it to her and told her she made it was something that brought a lump in my throat. J was as high as a kite when we walked away and couldn't stop rambling on about how much that woman had liked it and how excited she was to make her happy...my heart was over flowing with joy! So, we talked about it and we are going to use these little pies as random acts of kindness (a term that J is now trying to remember as she thinks it is SOOO cool!) When we go to the stores now, we are going to try and look for someone that might be having a bad day or maybe someone that looks really friendly to make their day even better and give them a little pie! J is so excited about the idea and made sure that I put more in my purse just as soon as we got home!




GIVEAWAY!!!



In honor of our new plan this holiday season, and as a way to celebrate my blogs 100th posting, I am giving away two of our little pies. One for you to keep and one for you to give away for your own little Random Act of Kindness! Please let me know if you would like it to be on a magnet, a pin or neither ( they are great for fairies!)



How to enter-



1.Leave a comment telling me how someone else has given you a Random Act of Kindness. It could be something as simple as a person holding a door for you or a fellow mom telling you you're doing a good job (while your toddler is throwing a fit at your feet! lol)



2.Post a link to my posting on your blog (leave a seperate comment with a link so I can go check it out!)

3. Become a fan and follow my blog! *If you post a comment and you are already a fan I will give you two chances!



That's it! Isn't that easy? J will draw the name on Thanksgiving and I will send them out to you ASAP!

Have you done a Random Act of Kindness Today?

A new community

I can't even begin to discribe how fortunate I feel to have this amazing support system thru my online communty of "friends". These aren't friends in the typical sense, I have never met them in person nor do I even know where many of them live...I do however get a view into their daily lives and for the most part share a common thread~natural parenting. I love that I get to see how they not only school their children at home but also make food that is nurishing to their bodies and toys that are awakening to their souls. When I feel like the world is a bit overwelming, I can easily find a friend that is going thru the same thing and their blogs are just the pep-talk I needed!
On top of everything else these mamas are doing they are crafting for swaps and even having give-a-ways! I am inspired by them and hope others check out their beautiful lives, children and crafts! Here is just a small sampling of the amazing blogs I check on a daily basis. My days are so much richer for having "known" them. Please check hem out!

One of the first blogs I ever read was MotheringNature and her strength is such an amazing tribute to her husband and beautiful children. She is one of my heroes...

I am inspired in a new way of learning (which is limitless) at Earthschooling

And last but not least, my favorite place for crafting ideas is WeeFolkArt

New found friends ....Check out these give-a-ways at GardenMama and SoWabiSabi !!!