A Vintage Heart

Having 4 children that span the ages of 6 to 18, I'm finding this to be a strange place. Still holding the young ones' hands as we cross the street but having to let the older one make his own life changing decisions.

Sometimes I feel old. Sometimes I'm still the youngest mom in a group. Sometimes I get weepy thinking about how fast the last 18 years have gone by and how the next 13 will surely go just as quickly. I can hardly stand the thought of sweet child number 4 leaving. But then there are also the times when I think with excitment toward the freedom that's coming. I've never been an adult without young children. I'm making some plans... Wondering if I'll have the energy at 53 to take dance classes... Will I age gracefully?

I don't mind getting older, it's the stuff that fills those years that I'm pondering. I'm contemplating time... minutes... moments, but more so the opportunites. I've decided that there isn't any more "when I grow up..." It's time to "be present", to be who I've always hoped I'd be, to create the moments that I've alwsy wanted to have. I have to snicker a little as I think, "Isn't it just like a girl with a vintage heart to always look for the memories?!"

(P.S. There a beautiful mannequin on the French Cupboard blog today Come on over and see!)

Picture Show

The new Artful Blogging arrived last week and as I devoured it, I became entranced with one particular article.

Have you read Sandra Evertson's story about the images that she found inside her vintage cameras (The Last Picture Show)? Oh, you've just got to go pick up a copy. The photographer in you will love it!

Vines & Twigs

I wonder how long I've suspected that this blog may have... perhaps... somehow, without any real intention... deviated from counting blessings to doing business. Funny how the vines and the twigs got all intertwined. I can't explain why it bothers me or why it matters but I feel it does. And this blog is ever so personal to me. Although I don't think there's anything wrong with promoting business on a blog, this house of blessings is going to go back to studying the infinite arrangements of joy. So, in the future, if our family business has some beautiful twigs for your nest, you'll see a quick post directing you over to the business blog(s). For today, I'm putting on the garment of praise...

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Lyrics:

When the music fades And all is stripped away And I simply come Longing just to bring Something that's of worth That will bless your heart I'll bring You more than a song For a song in itself Is not what You have required You search much deeper within Through the ways things appear You're looking into my heart I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You All about You, Jesus I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it When it's all about You It's all about You Jesus King of endless worth No one could express How much You deserve Though I'm weak and poor All I have is Yours Every single breath I'll bring You more than just a song For a song in itself Is not what You have required You search much deeper within Through the way things appear You're looking into my heart I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You All about You, Jesus I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it When it's all about You It's all about You Jesus Its all about you Jesus

Where Bloggers Create

Come on over... We're posting new photos of the Servant's Quarters Studio today at French Cupobard!

Just Click Here

Typewriter Ribbon

.Are you getting ready for Where Bloggers Create?

Join us Friday!

Boundry Lines

You have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundry lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

A sweet message from God to start our week. Happy Monday!

Excused Absence

We're unloading the trailer!

I'm sorry for the unannounced absence but we had the opportunity to take a buying trip up to Door County. You know how I can't resist those! So after a week of hunting for unique-tiques, we're sifting through the boxes of treasures today.

I was thrilled to discover the clerk wrapped the old green Mason jars in sewing patterns. Unpacking is almost as much fun as buying. =) I'll start adding things to the shop soon. In the meantime, I hope to be by for a visit this weekend.

Do Fairies Eat?

She pondered it outloud, not really asking me for an answer. "Do fairies eat?"

"Some people say that butterflies are kinda like fairies and butterflies do indeed eat," I told her.

She fluttered to my side, looking every bit like a fairy, and gazed up at me as only a 6 year old daughter can. She asked, "Fairies aren't real, are they?" *sigh* What's a mom to say? "I think it would be great fun if they were real but, No they aren't. But Angels are real and the Bible says that sometimes we entertain angels unaware so maybe sometimes we have some garden angels."

As the afternoon sun was cooling and I was noticing the weeds, I found a little scrap of paper tucked into the flower pot...

Piece by Piece

I know I've mentioned before that my table settings lean toward hodge podge & mish mash but this is the one set that I've collected piece by piece. About 15 years ago my son and I were living on our own and didn't have a dime to spare. One afternoon we stopped at a Goodwill and I fell in love with this old Wedgewood pattern. It was only two cups and two saucers and they were $5, which was more than I could afford if I wanted to get the shorts my boy needed for Summer. We passed them up but a week later he stopped back in with his grandma and bought them for me. That darling boy has picked up all these pieces for me one by one over the last several years. They aren't all Wedgewood but it's ok because the only label I need is a post-it note marked, "Found another one Mom..."