Advent

My friend Kristine's brother painted this beautiful Advent calendar for her family. I have to admit I didn't even know what Advent was. Apparently it was started by the German Lutheran's to start on the 4th Sunday before Christmas as preparation for the second coming and to commemorate the first coming of Christ. Windows hide a toy or chocolate for children until Christmas day. There are special readings etc... Do any of you participate in Advent?

Have a blessed day.

Out of my box

Routine. I have a very similar routine day in and day out. I do laundry and grocery shop on Mondays. Tuesdays I have bible study. Wednesday I go to the gym etc...most weeks are pretty much the same. So when I got a surprise text from Melody Ross...aka original Brave Girl, to meet up with her in Minneapolis I was sooo excited. Yesterday I picked her up from the airport and we went back to her hotel and just talked and talked.

It is always such a treat for me to be able to get to know someone. I love it when people will actually talk to you and open up about their life. I am that way. I couldn't be a closed book if I tried. So our sharing time was really special to me. I got a little glimpse into her life and she learned about mine.

Another Brave Girl...Gayle showed up a little later and we all had a yummy dinner at the Split Rock Grille inside the hotel. I felt like I was in another city. I'd never been in that hotel or eaten at that restaurant. It was a little lesson to me to break free from the routine box and see what else is out there. There is a huge world outside my door...places right here that I've never seen. I just need to open my eyes a little.

Have a blessed day.

Face the Day

(Click here to see in Etsy)

I've had a painting on my heart. It's of a beautiful sunrise sky outside my window...with the phrase "Face the day". I got started on it yesterday while I periodically checked my messages. Yesterday was a good day. You were all so supportive and gave me some wonderful advice. I really felt your concern and prayers for me. Now if I could carry all of you around in my pocket:)

It's no surprise to learn that a lot of us suffer with seasonal depression. It really is very common, especially in the Midwest. I encourage all of you who suffer with it, to go back and read the comments from my last post. I got some really good tips for how to deal with it. Things I will definitely try. So thank you again.

Now if poor Fergie could "Face the day" with a little more cheer. Poor thing! It's was 2 degrees here today and she hates it. She just limps from one foot to another. Her paws freeze:o I watched her like a hawk and I don't think she peed once until 3:30 this afternoon. Thankfully we haven't had any indoor accidents yet. These booties cost me $40 and they don't even really help. Doesn't she look hilarious??

Have a blessed day.

The "D" word

Hmmm to post or not to post...that is the question. Do you ever hover over the publish button and think do I want to reveal this?? I don't want to be a Debbie Downer...no one wants to read depressing stuff, but it's what's on my heart...so I guess I should share. I've mentioned before that every winter I get depressed. I think it even started when I was a child. I had a "nervous stomach". I spent hours in the nurses station at school and was even admitted to the hospital for testing. They never found anything wrong with me and just attributed it to worry and nerves. But now as I think back I believe it was nerves, and depression.

Every year for as long as I can remember when the days grow short and the cold sets in I feel a blanket of despair wash over me. I just have this sadness in my spirit...there is no rhyme or reason to it. There is nothing for me to be sad about...it just comes and it sits on me, heavy and unmoving. In the past I've taken medicine and it helped a little, but for some reason it is "my thing" I have to work through every year.

I started my blog almost a year ago and one of the main reasons I pursued it was to distract me from winter and preoccupy my time, and it helped a lot. I didn't struggle much last year at all. Thinking of posts and commenting on other blogs gave me purpose and I think that is a key factor for me...purpose. There is a little guilt for me in feeling depressed. I think as a Christian I feel I should just be able to pray about it and cast my care at His feet and all should be well. It's just not that easy. When I'm blue I pull away from everything and everyone. I don't have anything clever or funny to say. The pain leaks out through whining, complaining, and lethargy.

My mom told me to blog more, to push through it...and I will, if I have something to say. I'm going to look for joy in the small things. That is my goal...to search out joy, peace, happiness and to share it with you. I think when we seek out those things they are sure to find us:) So that's my story.

Do any of you get the winter blues?

How do you combat your depression?

Have a blessed day.

Images from WebMD

A time such as this!

I just finished the final pages of my Beth Moore bible study on Esther. As I wipe away the tears, my heart is full and overflowing. It's singing a new song. I started this study knowing that God was going to reveal some things to me and He did so beautifully. We are here for a reason. God has given each of us a purpose and He has a plan for our lives. Throughout the study she kept referring to "a time such as this" with Esther's walk and how He used her to deliver the Jews from destruction. It was such a powerful story. We all have a story...my life and yours will go down in history forever. We were each born in this time and hand picked for this journey we are on.





I don't know about you, but in this giant world I sometimes feel small, insignificant and forgotten. The days run together and I struggle with discontentment and boredom. It all feels old and mundane. The last few weeks have especially felt that way. I just feel asleep inside. I even switched sides of the bed with my husband to shake things up a little:)

I want to feel alive. I want a new fresh take on things. I want my life to matter and be more than just about me. Here's the deal though... no matter how I "feel" or what my mind is telling me...God is at work in my life. There are things that are hidden from me...there are times when He is silent. That doesn't mean that he is not working or that he doesn't have great things in store. I was touched by these words:

I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.

I believe in love, even when I do not feel it.

I believe in God, even when He is silent. (Author unknown)

My pages are not finished yet. I can't wait to see how my story will unfold. That realization makes me feel alive and worthy and full of anticipation. If I've learned anything in this study...it was that I was born for a time such as this. There is pure joy in that knowledge.

Have a blessed day.

Image from Polyvore.com

Our New Moon

(Me and Missy)

Last week some friends and I went to the Twilight series movie, New Moon. I was mesmerized by Jacob's ripped ab muscles and glowing white teeth and thinking to myself "oh my he is fine"!!! Then it dawned on me that I was old enough to be the main character's mom! YUCK!! When did that happen?? As we all stood up to leave the theater my knees hurt from sitting, Michelle's knees hurt, Missy's hip hurt...it was hilarious:)

We are aging and that fact is really weird for me. I think it began when I was little. My mom always complained of getting older. I would get so frustrated with her because I didn't think she was old and it wasn't happening to me yet, so I didn't have much sympathy. But as I look in the mirror and see my own crow's feet, and my joints begin to stiffen I hear myself complaining. I really don't want to be like that because I know getting older is a privilege and these wrinkles are from years of living. But let's be honest, old age involves suffering. It's the "preview" that we see in our parents and grandparents faces and in their aging bodies that scares us. It's the loss of control. Our bodies have a shelf life and it feels like a betrayal when they decide to not look or feel the way they should.

All this would be extremely depressing if we didn't have the promise of a forever in heaven. Some day if we know him, we will have new bodies... This long and windy uphill path down here will lead to a blessed, unfathomable new beginning in His presence. Old age, aches, pains, suffering, and loss will all be forgotten. Now if that isn't something to look forward to as we get older I don't know what is. Kind of puts it into perspective a little.

How do you feel about getting older...

excited, scary, are you going to fight it tooth and nail?

Have a blessed day.

Sweetness

The night I opened my store I had the most scrumptious dream. I was in my favorite bakery Sprinkles, sinking my teeth into my favorite cupcake...red velvet with cream cheese frosting of course:) It was the best dream. I seriously was in heaven. I believe with all my heart it was a special dream to me from the Lord. He was telling me... girl, sweet things are coming your way.

I have never dreamed of cupcakes before and I know it could have been my sweet tooth coming through in my dream, but I don't think so. When I woke up and read all my emails I was blessed beyond my wildest dreams. You supported me with such gracious praise and many of you purchased my art. It was wonderful... a pure sugar rush:) Thank you so much for encouraging me and cheering me on. I love you all so much!! I'm beyond excited about this new journey. I have lots of ideas and it's just God I tell ya, because I'm really not that creative on my own...ha:) Can't wait to share them all with you.

Have a blessed day.