Emotional scars seem to take longer to heal than physical ones. We think about where we went wrong... what we could have done differently... that we just should've known better!
God doesn't think that way. We beat ourselves up. He forgives. He is, after all, a loving Father.
Sometimes we forget how close He is. We should try and remember more often.
Yes, we make mistakes. And yes, those emotional scars hang on, and often continue to hurt.
But God is there. He is our comforter. None of us are perfect. He already knows that. That's why He sent us Jesus, to bear our sins upon the cross.
That doesn't mean we are free to sin willy-nilly! It means that instead of the punishment we deserve, we now have a way of redemption for when we do slip up.
That way of redemption? Jesus. Do you know Him as your personal Lord and Savior? Maybe it's time you did. Those emotional scars you have? NOTHING compared to the physical ones He endured on the cross... for YOU.
Pray to Him. He's waiting for you with love. Tell Him that you've done things wrong. Tell Him that you need His forgiveness and that you believe He is who the Bible says He is... the Son of God. Invite Him into your heart... and mean all that you say. Then begin going to a good church and learning more about Him. Your life will never be the same.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Adventure Walk!!!
Having two little children so close in age makes individual time difficult. Kyle is about two and half now, and Jubilee is 18 months. :)
Today Mom was home, so I left Jubilee with her a while and took Kyle out on an Adventure Walk!!! We went into the woods and tromped for an hour and a half through brambles, along paths, around trees, through marshy areas, etc. You get the idea. He had a BLAST. We have deep woods near us, and this is only the second time I've taken him back there (the first was in early Spring). We went a different way this time, and discovered some things we'de never knew were there!
We had a really great Mommy-Son time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. They grow up too fast...
Today Mom was home, so I left Jubilee with her a while and took Kyle out on an Adventure Walk!!! We went into the woods and tromped for an hour and a half through brambles, along paths, around trees, through marshy areas, etc. You get the idea. He had a BLAST. We have deep woods near us, and this is only the second time I've taken him back there (the first was in early Spring). We went a different way this time, and discovered some things we'de never knew were there!
We had a really great Mommy-Son time, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. They grow up too fast...
Saturday, November 26, 2011
This Crazy Weekend! :)
OK, so yesterday was Black Friday and today, I believe, is "buy from a local small business day". LOL. Don't know about tomorrow, but then Monday is "Cyber Monday", where you are supposed to get deals from buying online.
Well, who am I to not jump in on all the hype? I'm offering 20% off any purchase in my shop from now until midnight Monday. Come visit and see what you like HERE.
Just use code: SMBF7212 and happy shopping!!! :)
And don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway which ends Dec 1!!! See the easy details HERE!!!
Well, who am I to not jump in on all the hype? I'm offering 20% off any purchase in my shop from now until midnight Monday. Come visit and see what you like HERE.
Just use code: SMBF7212 and happy shopping!!! :)
And don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway which ends Dec 1!!! See the easy details HERE!!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
ART
I have been illustrating basically all my life. From desk tops and school books in elementary school to commissioned walls for Christmas in Jr. High to wall posters and newspapers in High School. I loved it. It was who I was. But I never really knew much about the "Art World", or art history, until I got to college. That's when I became really "introduced" to art. From Warhol's soup cans
to abstract sculptures, the high standards of the Renaissance to the hard work and immaculate detail of people like Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
At first I was shocked. Certainly, there was a lot of art that was clearly "art"... good design, well-thought out pieces. But there was other art that was, well... shocking to me. Shocking that it was called "art". See, I was always told to follow my talent. If I could draw, then art was the obvious avenue for me to persue. If you sing good? You'll be a singer. Work well with tools? Then you'll make an excellent architect. You get my point.
So you can imagine my surprise when I at last began to learn about art and the vast myriad of what is considered "art". Standards change. Artistic styles fluctuate nearly as rapidly as fashion trends. A child working hard to hone their sketching skills to perfection has to struggle to find their place amongst new "ideas"... like this:
"Odalisk" by Robert Rauschenberg
So, you can see that what the majority called "art" was really not what I expected. It seemed that provacative or crazy stuff won out over true drawing skills. Put a rooster on a box? You end up in a museum. Draw a person's face in perfect detail? You end up on a street in Manhattan, trying to get people to pose so you can sell a drawing to pay your rent. Talent no longer seemed to hold the weight it did back when I drew "wonderful" pictures in school.
Alright, I've gone on enough... weigh in, please. I know I'm not the only one out there with an opinion :)
And don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway for DailyRepose for this wonderful prize!!! Just click on the pic to go to the giveaway! :)
to abstract sculptures, the high standards of the Renaissance to the hard work and immaculate detail of people like Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
At first I was shocked. Certainly, there was a lot of art that was clearly "art"... good design, well-thought out pieces. But there was other art that was, well... shocking to me. Shocking that it was called "art". See, I was always told to follow my talent. If I could draw, then art was the obvious avenue for me to persue. If you sing good? You'll be a singer. Work well with tools? Then you'll make an excellent architect. You get my point.
So you can imagine my surprise when I at last began to learn about art and the vast myriad of what is considered "art". Standards change. Artistic styles fluctuate nearly as rapidly as fashion trends. A child working hard to hone their sketching skills to perfection has to struggle to find their place amongst new "ideas"... like this:
"Odalisk" by Robert Rauschenberg
So, you can see that what the majority called "art" was really not what I expected. It seemed that provacative or crazy stuff won out over true drawing skills. Put a rooster on a box? You end up in a museum. Draw a person's face in perfect detail? You end up on a street in Manhattan, trying to get people to pose so you can sell a drawing to pay your rent. Talent no longer seemed to hold the weight it did back when I drew "wonderful" pictures in school.
Alright, I've gone on enough... weigh in, please. I know I'm not the only one out there with an opinion :)
And don't forget to enter my awesome giveaway for DailyRepose for this wonderful prize!!! Just click on the pic to go to the giveaway! :)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Let's Hear it for Handmade Soaps!!!
Welcome Everyone!
The other day I received in the mail several soap samples from a wonderful seller on Etsy. I had been eagerly anticipating their arrival, and when they did, I couldn't wait to try them! As I opened each one, I was rewarded with an amazing scent that directly corresponded to the name of the soap. And upon using them, I was so happy with the lather AND cleanliness that each one delivered. I was very impressed with a paper she included that told how to care for and use the soaps, and each sample had the ingredients posted clearly on a card packaged with the soaps.
Obviously, I was so impressed with her soaps that I had to ask her if she would like to have a giveaway on my blog, and she agreed! So, without further adieu... I present to you,
DailyRepose!
The Interview
(Me) "Do you want people to have to follow your blog in order to enter the giveaway?"
(Shelli) "I don’t have a blog but ‘liking’ my Facebook page would be great! Or ‘liking’ my Etsy shop."
(Me) "Do you do any other soap-making process than cold-process? If so, which is your favorite, and why?"
(Shelli) "I only do Cold-Process soap making. The whole cold-process just feels more natural to me and I love the fact that it takes less electricity use compared to other methods. It does take a lot longer for my soaps to cure. Cold Process soaps take 4-6 weeks to cure, but they are worth the wait."
(Me) "How did you first become interested in soap making?"
(Shelli) "After becoming aware of the dangers in the ingredients of commercial soaps and wanting to further my commitment to a more natural lifestyle; I looked everywhere for soaps that were Vegan, Eco-Friendly, Gmo- Free, Palm Oil- Free and made with real ingredients. I quickly realized that the only way to get soap that met those criteria was to make them myself."
(Me) "What is your favorite scent/soap to make?"
(Shelli) "My favorite soaps have always been the 100% Natural Soaps, the ones with no artificial colors or fragrance. I love the ones made with real teas and herbs. I also make 98% Natural soaps because so many people want a scented soap. They are made with the same ingredients as the All Natural bars, but have Phthalate-Free Fragrance and a small amount of colorant added."
(Me) "Do you do any other crafts?"
(Shelli) "Oh my, yes! I also love working with paper, which is why each individual soap label is handmade. I also make scrapbook pages, scrapbooks, invitations, tags, greeting cards, wrapping paper, decorative wreaths, and do some sewing. I am now learning to crochet, being taught by my mother who follows no patterns (just her needle, yarn & imagination)."
(Me) "Soap, like any other craft, is an art form. What advice would you give to others? What is the most important lesson you've learned while on your crafting journey?"
(Shelli) "Just let go and create. Don’t worry about what the outcome will be. If you start overthinking things or feeling frustrated; it’s time to step away and take a break. I’ve learned that you just can’t force creativity."
(Me) "What's next for you?"
(Shelli) "Well, honestly I don’t know. I try my best to be in the moment and since my creative process is a bit Mad Scientist meets Martha Stewart, I never know what will come next, but there will always be soap!"
Wonderfully said, Shelli! Now for the Giveaway!!!
Brown Sugar & FIG Soap Bath Hand Bar SCENTED Vegan- Handmade-Cold Process- Palm free Soy Free-Gmo Phthalate Free
ONE lucky person will win the soap above, plus Shelli will throw in a free soap holder! She will mail directly to the winner via First Class mail. The giveaway will run from Nov 1-Dec 1. On Dec 1, a winner will be chosen at random from all the posts below. Please leave your email address so I have a way to contact you. If you are not comfortable doing so, please come back here on Dec 2 to see if you are the winner. If I do not hear from the winner, a new one will be chosen at random.
Here is what you need to do:
Mandatory Entry:
Become a follower of this blog. Then visit Shelli's Etsy Shop. Come back here and leave me a post letting me know that you are a follower (or have become one) of my blog, and what is your favorite item in Shelli's Etsy shop.
Extra Entry:
Visit Shelli's Facebook and like it. Come back and leave a comment saying you've done so.
It's as easy as that!!! Trust me, you WANT to win this soap... it really IS amazing. I love it, and I know you will, too!!! Good luck, everyone!!!
The other day I received in the mail several soap samples from a wonderful seller on Etsy. I had been eagerly anticipating their arrival, and when they did, I couldn't wait to try them! As I opened each one, I was rewarded with an amazing scent that directly corresponded to the name of the soap. And upon using them, I was so happy with the lather AND cleanliness that each one delivered. I was very impressed with a paper she included that told how to care for and use the soaps, and each sample had the ingredients posted clearly on a card packaged with the soaps.
Obviously, I was so impressed with her soaps that I had to ask her if she would like to have a giveaway on my blog, and she agreed! So, without further adieu... I present to you,
DailyRepose!
(Me) "Do you want people to have to follow your blog in order to enter the giveaway?"
(Shelli) "I don’t have a blog but ‘liking’ my Facebook page would be great! Or ‘liking’ my Etsy shop."
(Me) "Do you do any other soap-making process than cold-process? If so, which is your favorite, and why?"
(Shelli) "I only do Cold-Process soap making. The whole cold-process just feels more natural to me and I love the fact that it takes less electricity use compared to other methods. It does take a lot longer for my soaps to cure. Cold Process soaps take 4-6 weeks to cure, but they are worth the wait."
(Me) "How did you first become interested in soap making?"
(Shelli) "After becoming aware of the dangers in the ingredients of commercial soaps and wanting to further my commitment to a more natural lifestyle; I looked everywhere for soaps that were Vegan, Eco-Friendly, Gmo- Free, Palm Oil- Free and made with real ingredients. I quickly realized that the only way to get soap that met those criteria was to make them myself."
(Me) "What is your favorite scent/soap to make?"
(Shelli) "My favorite soaps have always been the 100% Natural Soaps, the ones with no artificial colors or fragrance. I love the ones made with real teas and herbs. I also make 98% Natural soaps because so many people want a scented soap. They are made with the same ingredients as the All Natural bars, but have Phthalate-Free Fragrance and a small amount of colorant added."
(Me) "Do you do any other crafts?"
(Shelli) "Oh my, yes! I also love working with paper, which is why each individual soap label is handmade. I also make scrapbook pages, scrapbooks, invitations, tags, greeting cards, wrapping paper, decorative wreaths, and do some sewing. I am now learning to crochet, being taught by my mother who follows no patterns (just her needle, yarn & imagination)."
(Me) "Soap, like any other craft, is an art form. What advice would you give to others? What is the most important lesson you've learned while on your crafting journey?"
(Shelli) "Just let go and create. Don’t worry about what the outcome will be. If you start overthinking things or feeling frustrated; it’s time to step away and take a break. I’ve learned that you just can’t force creativity."
(Me) "What's next for you?"
(Shelli) "Well, honestly I don’t know. I try my best to be in the moment and since my creative process is a bit Mad Scientist meets Martha Stewart, I never know what will come next, but there will always be soap!"
Wonderfully said, Shelli! Now for the Giveaway!!!
Brown Sugar & FIG Soap Bath Hand Bar SCENTED Vegan- Handmade-Cold Process- Palm free Soy Free-Gmo Phthalate Free
ONE lucky person will win the soap above, plus Shelli will throw in a free soap holder! She will mail directly to the winner via First Class mail. The giveaway will run from Nov 1-Dec 1. On Dec 1, a winner will be chosen at random from all the posts below. Please leave your email address so I have a way to contact you. If you are not comfortable doing so, please come back here on Dec 2 to see if you are the winner. If I do not hear from the winner, a new one will be chosen at random.
Here is what you need to do:
Mandatory Entry:
Become a follower of this blog. Then visit Shelli's Etsy Shop. Come back here and leave me a post letting me know that you are a follower (or have become one) of my blog, and what is your favorite item in Shelli's Etsy shop.
Extra Entry:
Visit Shelli's Facebook and like it. Come back and leave a comment saying you've done so.
It's as easy as that!!! Trust me, you WANT to win this soap... it really IS amazing. I love it, and I know you will, too!!! Good luck, everyone!!!
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