Inspiration & A Few Pick-Me-Ups

If you've read my last two blog posts, you know they're not the usual craft or cooking project.  It's just not that kind of week for me.  I've been trying to just spend time with Colin and take a break from this crazy world.  There are a few things that have helped me get through this past week and a half, and I'd like to share them with you in case you're in need of the same.

Just today on kind over matter I saw some beautiful mixed media prints from Lisa Ferrante's etsy shop.  The prints made me cry.  They're so beautiful and inspiring and exactly what I needed to see this morning.  As you can tell, I mostly favored the girls that have my same hair color!

Another gift was Spin magazine streaming Eisley's new album AND offering two of the songs as free downloads!  I've loved this band since their first CD.  Their music always makes me feel a little better.

One last thing that's calmed my nerves and set things in perspective is this song.  Colin and I will be singing it at church Sunday (he's even playing the guitar).  A month or so ago when I picked this song, I thought, "How can I sing this when I'm not going through a hard time in my life; will it seem genuine?"  Well, God knew when I picked this song what he would have planned for this week in my life.  I guess now I can say that for sure it will be coming from a genuine, knowing place.  Funny how He works, huh? :)

Nip It, Nip It In the Bud

One of my dad's favorite sayings for as long as I can remember is "nip it in the bud."  He would say it if he was telling me to put an end to a certain bad behavior or if there was a situation that didn't need to go on any longer.  I'm not sure if this is strictly a southern saying, but it was his way of saying something needed to stop.

Today I'm going to work to nip negativity in the bud.  For the most part, I'm a pretty positive person, but negative people can really get me down.  Being around negativity is poisoning and draining.  One negative word can breed an attitude of negativity and spread like wildfire.  If you work with or live with a negative person, it can take its toll.  It's been a struggle with me the past few weeks to know how to deal with these people.  I've tried killing them with kindness and that only seems to irritate them more!  I got up this morning and decided I'm not going to welcome that energy into my life.  I thanked God for everything He's given me and told Him that He doesn't deserve a negative spirit from me.  I'm not talking about living in a bubble and pretending everything is rosy.  I'm talking about not bringing others down and being appreciative for life.

My decision to deal with negativity is in one of two ways: 1) physically remove myself from the negativity-- get up and leave the area or 2) if I cannot physically remove myself, I'm going to breed positivity-- point out what the person has to be positive for and mention how loving God is.

God deserves my best work and my best attitude.  I will not let another person's attitude determine my attitude.  Life is too short to live in a negative space, and it's the opposite of glorifying my Savior.

So will you join me?  Will you step up the plate, be positive, and nip negativity in the bud?

My positive gift to you: a picture I took in Armenia looking into Turkey at Mount Ararat, as in the Mount Ararat where Noah's ark landed!  Click to enlarge and then right click to save.

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Spilled Milk

I've always hated when someone has said, "There's no using in crying over spilled milk."  You know what, sometimes there is!  Sometimes it helps get you to a place of healing and even laughter.  I've always felt better after a good cry.  It's helped me release anger, disappointment, fear, and so many other frustrations of life.  This past week has been one of those times that so often I've wanted to go to my room, shut the door, and cry.  But right now my body is telling me it's not time for that yet.  I've got to hold on and keep going one more day and soon my cry day will come.  If I could be totally open without consequences, I would tell you of the things happening in my life right now, but I'm not given that right at this point.  You wouldn't believe some of the things I'd tell you anyway.  First Colin had something happen at work that could have come out of a movie.  Then later in the week we found a strange man snooping around our yard.  Then another "this cannot be happening!" happened.  And then Monday I received unexpected news.  Each time, a few tears fell, but never a full release of emotions.  Throughout this all, Colin and I have been holding on and supporting each other.  I thank God every single day for this person he brought into my life.  We've been married a little over a year and a half, and I can't imagine not having each other through these times.  More so, I am so incredibly blessed to have a Savior that daily provides strength, comfort, and peace.


I'm not saying these things to you to receive pity.  I'm saying them so you know that you are not alone in life's struggles.  The difficulties you face day in and day out are being faced by others like you.  I just pray that I can offer some encouragement and hope.  It can be so hard to be transparent and open in a world full of judgement and hate.  Being vulnerable is definitely a hard thing for me.  While I can't go into details about a few of these things because they involve the privacy of others, I want you to know that I too have to sail through life's storms, and I'm here to sail with you.  And when it's time, we'll cry together.

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"  -Hebrews 13:5-6

This photo is my gift to you as a reminder of hope.  Click photo to enlarge & right click to save

Tomato Soup from a Tomato Hater

I do not like tomato soup.  I couldn't even eat a tomato until about a year ago.  I don't like pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce, and I can only eat ketchup in small amounts.  But I made a tomato soup that was absolutely delish!  My changing taste buds (that happens, right?! :)) are slowly accepting tomatoes, and this soup was a compromise of flavors.  It was definitely a solid tomato soup, but it had enough creaminess to reel me in and keep me.

• Here's how I made it:
• *2 tomatoes - diced, steamed, and put in the food processor
• and
• *1 can of Campbell's tomato soup
• and
• *Good helping of dried basil (or fresh basil)
• and
• *1 cup heavy whipping cream
• and
• *1/2 cup margarine
• and
• *salt and pepper to taste
• all mixed together and brought to a boil
• *cheese and sour cream toppings

If you like tomato soup, like my husband, then you'll like this soup.  If you hate tomato soup, like me, then there's a good chance you'll like this soup too!

Tutorial: Yarn Wreath

I've seen a few yarn wreaths online, and each is a little different.  Here's how I made mine!

Materials:

*wreath foam (I got mine on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby)

*yarn (I had this in my yarn bag, but you could pick this up for a couple dollars)

*2 pins (or glue)

I took the end of the yarn and pinned it to the back of the wreath foam. You could use glue, but I didn't want to wait for it to dry.

I simply starting wrapping the yarn around the foam.

This took FORRRREVVVVERRR because I wrapped each piece exactly next to each other and made sure there were no gaps.  An easier way would be to wrap one layer quickly then wrap a second layer on top of that, but that would give you a slightly different look.  I did this while watching tv at night, so I was easily distracted :)

Not pictured (because I got too excited at finishing and forgot): When I was back to my starting point, I pinned the end of the yarn to meet up with the first pin. Again, you could use glue instead.  I also cut a few strands of yarn and tied them into a bow.

I think it's quite charming!

(The picture in the background is a birthday present I bought myself last July.  It's still waiting to be hung up...whoops!)