Writing on the Doorposts

Last week Steve and I decided to change out the chandelier in our oh so tiny 1st floor bathroom (I'm not kidding - It's more like the size of a locker than a powder room).  Like most of the cosmetic updates in this old house, it became a weekend warrior project.  

 The electrician had to cut some holes in the wall in order to run the wire up to the ceiling so the wall had to be repaired and re-painted.  Which meant that the sink had to be taken out so we could paint the entire wall.  

And that, somehow, meant that we needed a new faucet.  We also got a new toilet seat but that just isn't something photo-worthy. (We obviously can't be trusted in the hardware store unsupervised).

And because we are the kind of twisted people that apparently enjoy even more work, we took some inspiration from Rebecca and covered the walls in old book and Bible pages.   We used a universal wallpaper paste to adhere the pages and, so that they can be wiped down if needed, we applied three layers of clear coat on top.  Note: when I say "we", I mean Steve. He did a ton of work and totally deserves all the credit! 

My contribution was some ruffles and lace for the windows.

Oddly, adding the pages to the walls doesn't make the room look any smaller.

It turned out so beautiful that the kids are calling it the "hotel bathroom".  And on the plus side, it's a great place for kids to read Bible verses.  After all, they're a captive audience.  And the Bible says that we should take every opportunity to teach our children God's Word.  Almost sounds like we planned it this way.  Yeeeaaah, that's what I'm going to tell everyone anyhow.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up... You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Spoken For

 Happy Valentines Day!

I hope your day is filled with all things lovely.  Today is my oldest son's 21st birthday.  Some of you may remember that he had some very serious health issues in the last year. I'm delighted to tell you that he is doing very well!  We will be spending our Valentines together as a family, at his request.  Someday I may share more of that story but I'm still gathering some of the broken pieces of me.  God is healing us in beautiful ways.  He gave me this place to write and to heal, I know that.  But parts of the story aren't mine to tell to the entire world so while He weaves His beautiful threads, I'm recording my thoughts - pen to paper - privately.  

But here's a sweet little story... One day last week, while I was shopping at Sal's Boutique (Salvation Army), my youngest and oldest sons were making a Valentine gift for me.  It's hard to fathom but my 8 year old son didn't want to go junking with me :)  so he asked if he could go to his brother's work (It's our family welding shop so grand kids and siblings often stop in).   Apparently, one found heart shaped copper pieces and the other welded them together.   The younger one ran off to find another fun project or adventure.  The other... The sheepish smile and gentle "adult" hand that gave it to me, melted my heart.  

From the moment he was born I have said that he is my valentine but this last year, when I nearly lost him, I would weep with my husband at night when no one else was around - sobbing words... "This boy is heart of my heart".  I don' t know if I even knew what that meant but the Bible talks about "bone of my bone", "flesh of my flesh" and that's what I felt.
Like any mom can relate to, I love each of my children deeply, immeasurably.  But when one of them hurts, my attention turns to that one.  I ached for him... and because of him.  Deep, can't-figure-it-out, lost-to-it kind of aching.   When I say "heart of my heart" I know some of you moms know what I mean, even if it isn't a definable term.  And that copper heart represents something pretty miraculous that's unfolding.    

Maybe you've been feeling some "unfolding" lately too...  a pull to something you know is God, even if you don't want to admit it.  You are His "heart of my heart".  That one step you are contemplating, that proverbial step of faith, it is a blind step but if you have been waiting for something, some kind of sign... this is it.  Know that change can happen with God!  

As the Kitchen Turns...

 Our kitchen is reflective of the rest of my life these days.  It's kind of a jumble!  My son has still be struggling.  Our whole family, really.  It's been a super hard week but while I have been busy being a mom, Mr. Blessing has been busy working on the kitchen for me.  It's our French Farmhouse Kitchen-On-A-Budget.

The inspiration for my cupboards came from this beat-up, old farm table.

Neighbor Bob stopped in yesterday and when I proudly showed him our new/old cabinet fronts, he said, "You like things sorta different don't you?" (hahaha)

I can't wait for everything to be done so I can show you.

(My version of Easter grass - Spanish moss)

This weekend I am definitely celebrating a resurrection of sorts in my son and a resurrection in our farmhouse kitchen.   But most important, let's all pause and celebrate the resurrection of God's Son!

Thank you God!!

Join us for Voila! - French Inspiration at French Cupboard

Love Looks Good On You

Love your family. Love your friends. Love your mate. Love God.

No matter who the love is directed to, it alters us.  Love brings out beautiful things in us because it puts others first.  This weekend may you be clothed in life-altering, beautiful love.

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See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 

(1 John 3:1)

Autumn's Changing Art

This year my Fall & holiday projects have been a little different. It started in the Spring when I was invited to be a vendor at the Na-Da Farms Barn Sale this October. It's the first ever story-based occasional sale about a young woman who ventures off her aunt's estate to create her own cottage. How inspiring is that?!!

I have been so excited to be part of this amazing event that I've been thinking about Fall ever since the Spring. I'm having a ball creating things and taking pictures of them. (You know how I love to play with the camera and new lenses!) I think that's part of what has been different in my Autumn inspired art- loving photography even more... really wanting to capture an item or an event. Taking pictures has become part of my art.

These are one of the most deliciously scented items to make. I wish I could capture the smell with a camera. I call them "starter cones" though I'm sure one of you could come up with a much more eloquent/chic name *smiles*. They are literally pretty little fire starter logs that smell like pumpkin or manderine or vanilla... and they burn for about an hour.

I find myself taking pictures of everything, everywhere (even a crate of pumpkins). I don't know what has been more fulfilling to me - creating or photographing. I don't pretend that I'm especially good at either but taking pictures is another avenue of creating for me and I'm having more fun than ever exploring it. I love that God gives us new ways to be artistic.

Infinite Arrangements of Joy!

Autumn and the art it inspires is a reminder of the artist that God is. He created the earth and all that's in it. He made the colors of the rainbow. He hung the stars. He decorates (Jesus said that He is preparing a place for us). Let's celebrate Him as we watch His living art!

Click the photo to join the others at French Cupboard who are showing their Autumn Art.

White Wednesday

Do you remember when we used to refer to our non-virtual life as our "real" life and our non-blog friends as our "real" friends?

The key to not becoming a blogging vegetable is to maintain a non-virtual schedule. I guess. *smiles* I'm the first to admit that I can easily lose my day to blogland. I do think there's good reasons maintain a non-virtual schedule. If you have a family, it's so much more important to cultivate the garden that is your children than it is to blog about your roses... to share passion with your spouse rather than blogging about your passion for the Victorian Era... to create a home, not just inspiring home decor. However, never have I felt that these blog friends are not "real" friends. We do share something special, don't we? It's a different life than what I experience when I walk outside my back door but it's every bit as real. It's been 3 years this week since I began blogging and I have been blessed by you! Thank you for being real!!

Return to White Wednesday

Vintage Balm

May God be your healing balm today.

Time to Smell the Flowers

My children are suddenly feeling a hole in their lives.

On Monday my sister and her 5 children moved across the country. Our kids have been very close so there's been lots of tears. As an adult, I was more prepared. I knew it was coming. But I remember the first time my sister and her husband had to move out of the state. It was sudden and I was not prepared. I was pregnant, going through a divorce and very alone. I remember the ache of my best friend leaving. We've all had to experience loss & lonliness at some point in our lives. I think it's part of how we come to be mature adults, able to better handle things in life. We learn about what kind of person we are during hard times. And we learn what kind of people we want to surround ourselves with. But more importantly, I think it's also when God shows us that He is the friend that never leaves us. So I'm praising God that my sister & her husband were able to find work! Praising Him that we are left with hearts that ache - because I want my children to know the joy of a friend that never leaves.

The Chalk Outline

He lives!

May God's Easter blessings spill over into all of your tomorrows.

Gritty Rollerskates

As we coast into Vintage Black Friday (woo hoo! Do you love VBF as much as I do?), I thought I'd share my gritty ol' rollerskate. Ok, it's my mom's skate and it's not all that gritty. I gave it some character with photo enhancements. Here's the before...

If you would like to add some vintage black to your photos, you can use Picnik's Gritty option but it's the coolest option they have so, of course, it's an upgrade that you'll have to pay for. Or, if you're a photoshop guru, you can follow the directions HERE and do it yourself in photoshop. If you don't have photoshop, you can use the sketch tool at photoshop.com, a completely free online tool. I used the free sketch tool on this pic...

And while you're adding vintage black and grit to your photos, remember on this Good Friday that Christ died to refine our grit and cleanse our filth.

"His mission wasn't to punish her for her sin, but to free her from her sin." - Godspeaks

Return to Vintage Black Friday

Much Ado

This is my 700th post. But before you congratulate me, you should know that I've been putting it off for over a week. I have contemplated if there should be giveaway because that's what we do when we reach a milestone in blogging. But is 700 a milestone? 500 is a milestone. 1000 is definitely a milestone. 750 might be a milestone but I just can't make up my mind if 700 is something to raise hoopla about.

As with anything that we bloggers put our minds to, I figure that if 700 is a milestone that this post should have some "muchness" to it. But what should that muchness be? How do I determine to make this post different? I've had lots of ideas...

On KLOVE yeserday they were asking listeners to call in if someone blessed them over the weekend. So yesterday I was going to write about how you all have blessed me through blogging. On Sunday I was having lunch with my mom and we were talking about the miraculous healing of my sister. So I was going to post about miracles and how God has healed the relationship between my sister and I during the time that I've been blogging. The day before that I was shopping and found all sorts of things to use for creating. I was going to post about how bloggers inspire me to be more creative... even when I feel dried up. On Friday I caught a precious moment with my 12 year old son. I was going to post about being captured and honored and near tears as we both sang along to a praise song on the radio.

It's only now as I sit here putting it all in front of me on the screen that I'm realizing that you and blogging have permeated my everyday. All that I do becomes a topic for the blog. Every moment is a possible post. Every photo I take is with you in mind. I'm not alone in a homeschool victory or defeat any more. Every book that I devour in the quiet of the night... I dog-ear the pages that I want to share with you. When I'm awake, praying in the night, I know that one of you is out there doing the same. It's because of your presence here that I put some extra thought into my day... choose to make lovely not just make due... remember that I'm held accountable... that it's all a gift from God... that blog friends ARE real friends.

YOU are the muchness of this blog!

An Outcast

I got this devotional today in my inbox and it just touched me...
Always For The Outcast
"You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry ..." - Exodus 22:22-23 (NKJV)
In biblical times, the widow and the orphan were the epitome of the social outcast. Unable to perform the manual labor required to feed themselves, they were at a decided disadvantage when it came to something as simple as survival.
There were no insurance policy checks, no IRA or 401K accounts to draw from, and no food stamps. There was just the charity of those who were more fortunate. And as God was laying down His Law for His people, He made His heart very, very clear concerning them. "Take care of them-or else."
God is always for the outcast. They occupy a territory in His heart that is very near and dear to Him. When you look at Christ's earthly ministry, you see that He spent much more time with the "nobodies" than the "somebodies" of His day. Not because He had to, but because He wanted to. And it cannot be denied that although Jesus possessed the prerogative to take on any appearance when He came to this world, He deliberately chose to assume the identity of someone who wasn't exactly on the world's A-list:
He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53:2-3 NKJV)
Regardless of where God has placed you on society's scale, never forget that God is always for the outcast.

(Garden Crown - Available Here)

Wings

In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.
The LORD alone led him (Deut 32:10-12)

May you be led by the Lord this new year. May you spread your wings and try new things. May your joy overflow and your nest make you grounded. May your roots go deep and your prosperity be like vines. May your creativity blossom and may you be the aroma of Christ. May you have new friends and more fully know the one true friend. May this year be the year.

Blessings to you...

Winged ornament created by Hopelessly Romantic Art

A Slight Christmas

It's been a year!

A year this week since Mr. Blessing was laid off. I know that many of you have been praying so I wanted to celebrate with you and give you an update. No, there's no new job. And while Christmas has been slightly smaller at our house since the lay-off, we have not felt slighted in the least. God has provided in both big and small ways. It's possible that the worst is yet to come. That future months will find us forced to tighten the reins drastically. But at every turn we are given immeasurably more than we can ask or even think.

We are growing.

Our roots are going deep. It's a by-product of being dependant rather than independent.

"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." And we are indeed tender. Raw, somedays.

I've developed a need to really talk with God. So I ask Him stuff all day long. Little bitty conversations. And I ask Him to talk back to me. So I read his Word. I've been praying verses, substituting Thee's and Thou's with Me and I and Mine. Do you think it's ok to pray this verse for my family... Then this "family" will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all "bloggers" who hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.

It might seem that I have my head in the clouds but let me be perfectly honest... We are stressed. We are working harder than ever at a job that some would not consider a "real" job. We are weary. We are unsure. But we are not destitute. We are not alone. I'm delighted that our household is drawn inward, becoming even more old fashioned... baking & crafting & staying home by the fire. We've discovered that our youngest boy loves to draw. He spends hours drawing now. Our oldest has learned the value of a job that's hard to come by - even if it means he's the only guy in his crowd that bakes bread and decorates cakes (Wal-Mart bakery). Amazingly, all four of our kids had a hard time coming up with a Christmas wish list. But what brings me to joyful tears is that God gave us enough so that we could buy the gifts they wouldn't put on their lists.

No, it isn't easy & I'm often on the verge of falling apart, but we are blessed in the midst of it. Blessed with more than we've ever had. Blessed with each new French Cupboard member, each new web shop sale. We are blessed to have our home and really, truly live in it - work in it, play in it. Blessed with joy and blessed to be weary.

Blessed to be unemployed!

Tangling With The Past

My sweet farmhouse was intruded upon last weekend.

I could smell his cologne in my bedroom, as we walked through with the police. We had only been gone about 15 minutes and when we returned, he was bolting out the door. No one got hurt and nothing was taken. But he unlocked the windows like he was planning to return. It's a precarious thing to lay restless at night, wondering if tonight is the night. To listen to each creak of the floor when Mr. Blessing is out of the house. But I will not give in. I will not let my children give in. In fact, they were at grandma's when it happened and we haven't told them. Why spread fear?

I have struggled with this post, not having the words... and wondering if my ex-husband will find a way to misuse the information. Funny how one new fright can get all tangled up with the old. I know myself well enough to know that I have to capture those thoughts before they run a-muk. So I'm choosing to see this as an opportunity to rejoice. Praising God that my home is not only an old farmhouse. My home is also in Christ.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snair and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

In The Little Things

In our everyday things, everyday lives

He's there.
I spent an afternoon this week with my sister and my mom hitting some thrift shops around town. I didn't see Jesus in that pendant until days later. Made me wonder how many days go by when I haven't seen Him in the little things all around me. Let's go on a scavenger hunt this week. Let's look at our treasures, our favorite things, our homes, our healed and broken relationships, our conversations...

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD

(Mr. Blessing thought I sounded a bit like a fanatic when he read my post so I'm updating it to assure you that the pendant really was created with a Jesus face in it. I don't normally see faces carved in the mash potatoes or get secret codes from my newspaper, etc.)

Aroma

I don't drink coffee.

I'm a straight Diet Pepsi girl but I love the smell of coffee! I think it must remind me of my childhood home. My parents always had coffee brewing or a cup cooling. Last week I was working on some rosehip filled sachets for the holiday season and decided to fill a few burlap sachets with coffee - just to try it out. Oh My! I had no idea how the scent would fill the house. No idea how this common scent would entice feelings of home and family. Like how the smell of a newborn makes moms remember their own sweet babies. Like the smell of old books... Like the smell of rain... Funny how a simple scent can represent so much.

For we are to God the aroma of Christ...

Harvesting Blessings

We don't do Halloween at the Blessing farmhouse but we definitely do apple orchards, pumpkin patches, apple cider donuts, pumpkin soup and woodfires with family all around. As bloggers, it's a great time to celebrate how God made us in His likeness.

God the artist

Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. (Psalms 67:6) All the colors we use in our art, God created them.

God the chef

Mary Jane's Farm has the neatest article about how various foods look like our organs and how they promote health for those organs. A walnut looks like brain and helps develop neurontransmitters for brain function. Sweet potatoes - pancreas. Sliced Carrots - eyes. Tomato - chambers of the heart. Kidney beans - the kidneys. Avacados - a woman's womb.

God the decorator

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

As you prepare the treats for tonight, remember to delight in the treats God has given to inspire and nurture your art, your hobby, your home, your health.

Harvest His Blessings.

Marburger - At Rest

Every Sunday we take the day off as a day of rest.

(And if you'd like to see Round Top at rest, after the shows have come & gone, visit here.)

May your Sunday be full of beautiful junk and lots of peace!

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Is 58:13-14)

Sent

(Sign available at Reborn Rubbish 225-445-4463)

Have you ever had a strong sense that you were just meant to be somewhere? That's how I felt about going to Texas this year for the Round Top, Warrenton, Marburger Antique Shows. We certainly didn't have the extra funds to take a trip but I felt so strongly that we should go, I was near weeping when Steve & I talked about the possibility. No, it wasn't just the junking that was romancing me, though you know how my heart flutters at every junking possibility!

You see, last year I got yelled at by one of the vendors for taking pictures and when I say yelled at I mean that she literally chased Steve and I down, shouting loudly. Everyone was staring and I was MORTIFIED! Of course I apologized profusly but she continued to be rude. All the other vendors assured me that this was not the norm and that they welcomed pictures. Needless to say, I was apprehensive about going back this year.

Steve and I drove into Warrenton to attend Theresa Cano's blog party last Sunday, fresh off the plane. I stopped on the way at a tent full of beautiful, white, gauzy shirts and skirts. As I was browsing through the shirts, I heard a loud southern drawl. "OH MY GOSH - Are you Polly from Counting Your Blessings?" I shirked back a bit ready to defend myself. Afterall, I hadn't even taken any pictures yet. Why would someone be yelling at me already??

Turned out to be a sweet blog friend, Lauri - from 2Chippys. We've only met online so you can imagine our surprise. We hugged and laughed at how we could run into each other out there in the middle of all this farmland and thousands of shoppers. I just know that God put her there, at my very first stop, to reassure me. That's her up there on the left wearing a telltale white jacket.

Lauri has amazing found object necklaces that I adore- click here to see some - but I don't adore them nearly as much as I adore her for rescuing me from my own apprehension.

I'm delighted beyond words to have been at the shows this year! We had such fun and were able to really talk with some of the vendors. I can't wait to share our stories and pictures with you.