What a week

There hasn't been much creating in the past week. My niece is moving to the East coast and I have been helping her fit her belongings into three tiny pods. We were both in shock when we saw the pods delivered because they were so small. We stood there thinking, how in the world were we going to fit a four story house into those, well basically, closets? I can say, without any embarrassment, that we are geniuses. We stepped up our organization skills to fit every box and piece of furniture into those pods. It was like putting together a puzzle. I don't think one inch was not successfully used. It was hard work but we did it!!!!

I told my niece that if this was an episode of Survivor we would have won it. Totally amazing. I only hope that we can say that when all her stuff makes it to the East coast and is in one piece.

After days (seems like months) of packing and loading and rearranging and exhaustion, she is leaving with her husband and dog. It still seems kinda unreal. Tomorrow, we will take them to the airport and they will be gone, miles and miles away. I only am glad for Skype, Facebook and my husband who is sending me out there in December. The upcoming trip helps to soften the blow.

A new ending

My cousin sent this to me today and it touched me deeply. I almost never read forwards that are sent to me but I did this time. Enjoy!

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."


A man was sleeping in his cabin one night when suddenly his room was filled with light, and God appeared. the Lord told the man that he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!

Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind.

You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved." Thus he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked, Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.

Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are now strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard.

Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.

By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains!

author - unknown

Weekend at the beach

Last Thursday I met with my art group and then headed to the beach to stay with a friend who had rented a place for the week. I have been friends with her for years and even done ministry together but we don't get to spend much time together any more. I was a very relaxing time. At one point she played her guitar and sang as I painted. I think she's even going to start art journaling. The weather was beautiful in the mornings and stormy at night. That combination works really well for me. Finally after not sleeping well for the past week I was able to get two good nights sleep in a row. I feel so blessed to have had time away with a very special lady.

My Amazing Cat

Caught my cat in the act of peeing in the toilet. I don't know if I should be amazed that she taught herself this unusual trick or be alarmed.

Praise God

As I was journaling this morning I realized that stress is trying to crowd into my peaceful days again. It doesn't help that the gray days are hanging around too. They make good company for each other but not for me.

I fell asleep last night praying, trying to give it all to God. I'm still not very good at this part but I seem to get lots of practice so maybe someday I will get it figured out. Then this morning I woke up early and started journaling and decided to read the Girlfriends in God daily devotional that comes in my mailbox everyday. Guess what it was all about? You guessed it, stress and praising God during times of stress.

Here is a portion of what Mary had to say about it:

I began to understand that praise is not a feeling. Praise is a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial. Praise focuses on God not the circumstances, and fixes it's gaze upon God's truth and God's character instead of the trial at hand or just ahead. That is why we can celebrate the battle before it begins. The outcome is neither our responsibility nor our goal. Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and integrity of God...and never changes.

You can read the whole devotional here.

I may not have life all figured out or be very good at giving all my stuff to Him, but I can praise Him and thank Him for what He is doing and will do. Mary is right, it is a choice and not a feeling or emotion. I choose to praise Him today.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Journal case

If you have followed along this journey I have been on to find the perfect journal to work in, you know that I figured out what works for me. I make a signature each month of Stonehenge paper and when I have 6 months worth I bind it in a journal cover that I create. Quite often, I carry my signature with me in my purse and it can end up with bent pages because I toss things in on top of it as I am out and about. I decided that I needed a cover to keep the signature a little more protected and so I made this slip cover case that is just big enough for my monthly signature to fit into. It is made of drill cloth that I painted and sewed together with a zig-zag stitch.

I also added a snap closure.

Easy smeezy.

This is the inside and you can see it is just the right size for my signature.

The back

Did you notice that I changed my blog look?
I got inspired and decided to change it up a bit.