My Gypsy Years

It's been about 4 years since I first posted this so I thought it might be ok to do my first ever re-post.  I saw an old Greyhound bus today and it reminded me so much of the one that I grew up in.  I so wish my kids could have the experience that I had... 

When I was a kid, we lived the Winter months of every year in a 1948 Greyhound bus. We always left the day after Christmas and drove to the Florida Keys. We didn't return until April. Mom was a homeschooler before homeschooling was even popular. My brothers and sister and I all attended a very small ACE school (Accelerated Christian Education) in our elementary years and my parents found a similar school on Marathon Key so we did all our work in the bus, or at a picnic table, etc. and then went into the Florida school once a week to get our work checked and take tests. Hmmm... I suppose it's no great wonder then why I love the gypsy look!

Crazy Lovely

Our house is filled to overflowing with kids!

My sister and her 5 children are back in town indefinitely and you would think that my kids have been estranged from any child their own age. Between my 4, my sisters 5 and my mom's 3 (mom & dad adopted kids that are the ages of our children), it's the most lovely kind of craziness!

Dance

It's been a while since I posted this photo but it's one of my most favorite. It was taken thirty-some-odd years ago. My mom... doing a worship interpretive dance.

This video has such a gorgeous message!

Be brave ~ DANCE!

Angels Unaware

I was caught unawares Saturday night! New family members are usually surprised... Christmas at the club... out in the country... Especially with the new fallen snow to disguise the wooded area. Until, of course, they realize that The 'Coon Club is a 2 room hunter's haven with 1970's linoleum, a boarded over fireplace, dark paneling on every wall and curbside furniture that even I wouldn't pick up! In its defense, there are some great spots for skinning and gutting the catch of the day! This winter wonderland has been the place of our large family gatherings since I was a young girl. We've all gotten used to it's charms and we know not to expect romance or dazzle or anything of the like. I was prepared for it!

Until I got this! Even on a metal folding chair with children throwing winged toys all around, a brown paper package tied up in string unraveled my heart.

My cousin has been performing locally in The Sound Of Music as Sister Berthe. This was a grab gift so she didn't know who would be receiving the box. She filled it with some of her favorite things and I have been savoring each little one of them! I told her that I just had to put a picture on the blog... and then I had to explain about the blog. We only see each other a few times a year - even though I truly adore her. I guess life gets in the way. In fact, we talked about how it's difficult to buy gifts for people that you don't see that often and feel like you don't know that well.

She was surprised about the blog and said, "I didn't think you were so open about your faith." How is that I've managed to live very openly about my faith for the last 11 years everywhere except out at that 'Coon Club?? Because I've gone "prepared", I suppose.

Do not forget to entertain strangers: for in doing so some have entertained angels unawares.

Vintage Christmas

Find me some knee-socks! I'm as giddy as a school girl this morning. Yes, that's actually me in those hideous red socks (my sister is the peanut next to me - she's still a peanut and it's just so aggravating! I wanna be a peanut). I don't know why I thought that they really had to be pulled all the way up to the knee =) And now my daughter is so terribly picky about her socks! Funny how such a goofy thing got passed down.

The source of my giddiness? I know it's just plain silly but I'm so excited about Vintage Christmas! I published a small holiday photo book. 20 pages of my own photos and a few of my own words. It's available to order here. My printed copy isn't due to arrive until sometime next week but I just couldn't contain myself any longer! Secrets are wicked things, aren't they?! I'm just terrible at them. Ask my sister, she'll tell you... well, she'd likely tell you exactly how rotten I am - all the way to the core - so perhaps we'll not go there today. Let us leave it at this: My sister and I have a childhood full of shared memories and this is the time of year that those memories are all the sweeter! Swedish pancakes at grams house after staying up all night telling stories... Late Christmas Eve searching in the snow for more sleigh tracks...

I read this yesterday: In a short time, what is happening today will be the past you fondly remember. (Love Finds a Home). Baking and shopping and gift wrapping... volunteering... church programs... the Nutcracker Suite (performed by 7 year olds... on ice)... mitten & hat knitting... crafting items to sell or to gift... Are we making memories?

Or just making a fuss?!

Holiday Shopping

At the top of the morning list... A Bit Of Paris 2 U is having a sale!! $9.99 and no reserve! Giddyup on over there and don't miss it!

Since we're shopping... I'm putting together a list of lovely shopping websites and they're now all conveniently located on my sidebar. If you would like me to add one, leave me a comment or send me an email. To browse the shopping links just look for this icon off to the side (if you can find it in my jungle of inspirmericals... maybe I should streamline... anybody know how to do that? cutting back is not in my immediate vocabulary. however if it's all too overwhelming or if it takes forever to load, somebody tell me please. should I go to some text boxes? I'm attempting to make it fun and resourceful but not seizure-causing.)

I can not properly feel festive and ready to gift shop until the traditional Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka movies have aired a time or two, canceling some of my normally favorite programs (House has been a disapointment this season, but that's another post). I haven't seen hide nor hair of either holiday special! How can we be expected to don our gay apparel if we aren't sufficiently in our comfy cozy zone? And where is the midwest snow? And why did my parents decide to spend the holidays with my sister this year? I need everything to be where it's supposed to be in order to put on my best holiday face. Don't they all know this? The traditions are slipping through my fingers! But... there's a time to tear and a time to mend. So I begin the process... mend what I can, pretend what I cannot. And a bit of pretend isn't so unusual this time of year now is it?!

p.s. Isn't Moonie looking happy in his new home?!!!

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the foof giveaway. The winner will be selected on Saturday.

Paperie

I have a bizarre affinity for paper. All forms of paper. (Ok, not toilet paper... well, I guess I'd be hard pressed to say that I can do without it so yes, toilet paper too.) I've always loved old papers, new papers, sleek papers, colorful papers and so on. I used to pretend to be an author when I was little. Conveniently, I was also a magazine editor, a teacher, a student, an artist, a love letter writer... I don't know if it's the paper or the words or the pictures but I'm hooked!

We were having our weekly Sunday lunch at my parent's house yesterday and we were discussing this very topic. I mentioned my "inspiration boxes" and my mom said, "Oh, don't you remember all those magazines and clippings I have in the basement?" I have to admit that I've secretly wanted to get my hands on some of those old magazines but I recalled the mess in my dinning room right now from my escapade of exploring my own stash the other day. I dared not ask mom for a peek at them or she might point her finger toward her attic and tell me to get up there directly and drag down all my high school journals, yearbooks and "oh, I can't throw that out" items!

I knew to keep myself quiet or the afternoon could go south =) and my plans to visit the 6000 square foot mansion open house sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 would surely be foiled! As I was pondering those thoughts I realized she had still been talking (oops). "When Aunt Lou and Aunt Sandy and Gram and I get together once a month, we take turns reading a little story that we've written". HUH?? Now, I know about the once a month gatherings. I've been trying to get into this secret society for years!! Mom and her sisters (and gram) find the most quaint places to have lunch and they always bring home unique finds from their shopping soirees. But these stories? "Why don't you go grab some of those old Victoria magazines downstairs and I'll get my Sister's Book." There was even a name for it! How did I not know about this?

What she brought out touched my heart so! Pocket folders full of stories, some typed and some handwritten by my grandmother and her three offspring. And photo albums bulging with snapshots of mom's childhood and that wonderful orchard! (That's gram and gramps in the picture.) And... - now we know from where my problem stems -... tons of old magazine clippings!

So as I browse this week through the festival of papers mom has lent to me, I will be sharing some of her stories, my stories, and all sorts of puffery! And since this seems the perfect week to gather together sweet little things into inspiration boxes, I'd like to invite you to take an excursion into your own stash of bits-n-bobs; retrieve the lovliness that you cleave to... and really cleave to it. What of sending a handmade Christmas card to your sis using some of those precious pretty articles? Or creating a garland of eye candy calling cards? Or... a simple afternoon sifting...remembering...dreaming.

And to make the puttery even more inviting, there is someone who will hand bind a book (or several in my case) for all our beloved paper secrets. Made By One Girl has a book of every size. She even has accordian file folders that slip neatly into the bookcase. Her site is in our Lovely Award spot this week.

Go download her catalog, bind it with ribbon, grab a cup of soup and take your lunch while flipping the pages. You'll love her little handwritten notes. I'll bet they resemble some chicken scratch in your inspiration stash.

Heirlooms

2nd post today - Because I found my way quite accidentally to a blog that was giving away the new Amy Grant book, Mosiacs. It reminded me of Christmas because her Christmas album is the one that I associate with the holidays because mom played it over and over and now I play it over and over. My sister sang this song one year at our family gathering. She was probably about 9 at the time. Try not to cry if you can =) This is it - my feelings, my heart. And Christmas is just around the corner. What heirlooms will fill your house this year?

Twirly

My mind has been all scattered about lately - twirly, if you will. I can't seem to focus on one task, one needful thing, or even what I want to blog about. One moment I think, I'm going to write, "I've fallen off the wagon - the ebay wagon" and then tell you about my two new purchases, but then you'd surely wonder when was I ever on the ebay wagon?? I wonder if I should tell you that I'm living on little sleep because one of my children is having nightmares every, single night. What helpful advice that may evoke and I need helpful advice (in so many areas). Should I share that my sister (who rarely speaks to me and to whom my heart is heavy with missing) is battling pneumonia but won't answer my calls. I worry. I'm sad. Is there a difference where she is concerned? Perhaps I should not bear so much so openly. You all may think that it's I who needs treatment =) I'm not a wreck, I'm really not. Just a bit twirly.

Focus requires time and I haven't had much lately. I've had unexpected guests this week. Not the out of town kind that aren't really welcome and stay forever. Not the show-up-for-dinner kind. Just some lovely friends that I haven't seen for a while, each one dear to me. Stopping by because they were in the neighborhood.

And they came bearing gifts. Surprise gifts. Not the flowers behind the back kind. Not the lady in the cake kind. One gift came wrapped in a garbage bag all tied up with little gourds and berries attached to the twisty-tie. Followed by, "I gotta go, gimme a hug." One gift was simply the spoken words... "I enjoy coming here. You give me joy." After she left, I cried a little wondering how I possibly brought joy, and knowing that it was again God words, speaking something that wasn't meant for me to hear, just to speak. More than one friend has shared a prayerful email without any reason to send it. I love that God gave me "the gathering together with believers" when I was alone in my kitchen! An award appeared on my doorstep this week from two separate bloggers. It's humbling and I think, "They only see the part of me that I let them see. Am I real in front of them? Of course not, at least not entirely. Who could be?" There's a sometimes wiggly line between thankful and grateful. Better to be twirly with friends that bless than focused on my own life. For that... deep, unspeakable gratitude!

83) Friends who come to the back door, not the front.

84) Phone calls, because "For some reason, you just popped into my mind today..."

85) Award givers who I've never personally met, but find joy in words that I used to be afraid to write.

86) Words that God provides because His words are never empty.

What's this list about?

Twirly girl photo from Twirly Girl Shop

Longing

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant me the thing that I long for..." I received this text message this morning from my sister. How is it that the most perfect words still leave longing in my heart? I'm sure that I'm no different from many of you. We all have something or someone out there that if we could pull it closer we would. Just barely out of grasp... is nearly the worst distance there is!

Each of our situations are different. What we long for... that thing that feels like sunshine and rain at the same time... it's different for each of us. My husband had a burden that many, many share. He had a 2 hour drive to work each day that left our whole family longing for more time together. (That's my son waiting for daddy to get home) After years and years of praying, daddy works from home now and all day is peeking out the office window as his son yells, "Watch this trick, dad!"

For some it's longing for a different job, better job, to be home with our children... For some it's a relationship - perhaps one that's been lost or perhaps one we'd like to experience. For some it's a personal achievement... our spiritual growth, our weight, our looks (not that you'd want pink hair -lol- but if you'd like a handpainted mannequin, visit pvxtra)... For some it's a past that doesn't ever fully leave us. I have an ex-husband. I'm praying very earnest and serious prayers for the release of the hold he has on our lives - my family - my young son.

It's hard to talk or write or share about things that hurt and frighten us. When it's so gripping that every word said or written is a risk, it's safe with God. Place your cause before Him and "You shall know that your tent is in peace; You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss." I'm discovering that as I place these things before Him, one word at a time, there's sweet joy. If you don't know how to talk to Him, start with "I don't know how to talk to you, but..."

Sisters Grace

I was going to start off today with the announcement that my sister had her purse stolen. And then talk about all the goofy stuff mom's carry in their purses. In the middle of night though, I was thinking about yesterday's post and my comment about my sister. I would have probably continued with my post as planned but this morning I feel the need to clarify, as the story between my sister and I goes much deeper (as it often does between sisters). Just a side note... At one time, she and I had hoped to open a store together. We were going to call it Sisters Grace. it's kinda ironic...

After she moved away, over time, the inevitable happened... we went on with life, growing a little more apart each year. In fact, we hardly talk now. Though I love her and I know she loves me, there's a huge distance between us - not just time and space but emotionally, spiritually... There's tension and hurt... I only knew about the purse snatching from my mom and my mom has very little real contact with her either. It's true that when we talk, we always say I love you, but really don't talk anymore.

I told you before about how my 10 year old neice and I share our little stories through the mail... that's my sister's daughter. I send my neice postage paid envelopes and she sends a story. Then I send one back to her. This morning I was excited to get a big fat envelope in the mail from her. I knew it was from her because it had my own handwriting on the front. When I opened it, a little beanie baby pelican fell out and a tiny little note that read, "I'm sorry, my mom says I can't send stories to you anymore. Please don't tell her." There was a penciled circle with the words, "My love and kisses were here."

I won't go into all the history because I don't want to violate her private life. There have been a lot of years of painful rejection. At times, my husband has held me as I cried and said that we need to cut all ties until things change. I just can't! I miss her, or the her she used to be. Don't get me wrong, part of me wants to be angry and be done with it! In fact, this morning I wanted to scream, to throw things at her, to give up trying to have a relationship with her. But then there was that thing... the thing I wrote yesterday about giving grace when another adult has hurt me. Ugh, I hate it when my own words come back to get me!! So I'll try to continue this day in grace. Afterall, Christ gives me grace several times a day...

Putting that behind me for a bit, I'll move on to something a bit more cheerful. =) I found a little website that you all might enjoy (Rasberry Berett). Well, I didn't really find it. More like the click, click, click in blogland landed me there. She has some lovely things and isn't her header/logo yummylicious?!

Here are a few of the fabric bundles I have left to send. A few have already been mailed and I'm just so thankful to everyone who contacted me. I hope you won't be disappointed! There's still soooo much to go through. Maybe we'll do a give-away or make some kind of game of it in a few weeks.

I took this picture yesterday while it was sunny out just to show you the... well... empty flower pots. At one time a few weeks ago they were full of flowers but the rain has drowned everything. Except the weeds, of course!

Well, I must go work on ebay listings... I've fallen a bit behind this week. Have a wonderful Saturday! Blessings...

Breathing Pink

7) Grown-up sisters laughing around mom's table

8) Dad sleeping through it all

9) That silly rose bush still blooming in the bucket

10) A brief moment at sunset when the very air is pink

11) Soft kisses

12) Working from home - oh, what a blessing - over and over again! What's this list about?

That's a section of my garden arch that says, "God Bless This Garden". The sky was such a lovely color this evening that I just had to try and capture it. You really can't tell from this picture but there was a pink overcast on everything! My sister and her 5 kids are in for a visit and then later this week we get to hit the treasure hunting trail!