Wednesday, May 27, 2009

My Quote of the Month


"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."

~Woodsworth

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Big Blessings in Small Sweet Packages

I have been maneuvering past lots of life bumps and emotional potholes on my path recently. Lately, it seems like the weight is draining my joy. I hate it when that happens! I write this with a bit of tongue and cheek in mind but, I really do hate it when I lose my handhold on joy! I find it most irritating because I am a fun loving creature by nature. I just am not me without it.
But grace is new every morning and this morning was no exception. I woke rested, physically refreshed and ready for the day, this was
Big Blessing numeral uno!
As I went about my day I had clarity of thought, and diligence in action. It was a good day of tying up loose ends and accomplishments. Out of the corner of my eyes I kept getting glimpses of two little impish elves(two of my kids) flittering about the house.
What were they up to?
Oh ...stay on task, Heather.
Stay focused.
Pretty soon, as I came into the kitchen I noticed this on the counter:
Big Blessing #2

Then a sweet little boy of mine told me with a twinkle of delight, to check in my bedroom, "there was something on my bed!" Well, that's strange because I hadn't made my bed yet. And this is what I found on my bed:
Big Blessing #3
Sometimes God sends me small sweet packages filled with Big Blessings. Tiny collections of trinkets, little bits and pieces of love tied with ric rac.

This was one of those days where my children were the bearers of God's kindness, the messengers of encouraging words to a tired mama's soul. They were just the map I needed to avoid the bumps and potholes and find my trail back to joy again. They lead me straight to the foot of the cross and the refuge of a loving Savior.

Oh Lord, you are such a wonder to me, who am I that you are mindful of me?
Thank you Father in heaven for your refining fires that I may count it all joy. Amen

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Tea Time Celebration Favors


Spring is a time to celebrate Easter, Mother's Day, and Spring Teas! It is a time when we start to linger longer outdoors in the evenings because it is still light out. It is also a time when it rains and winds blow in tumultuous clouds and spring storms. But I have the solution for the rainy, stormy, spring days.


Make some celebration favors. I used Layers of Color Flower Child stamp and dressed up this pre-punched purse from K&D Company. Add some glitter, antique buttons, paper lace and crocheted trim and voila! Cuteness!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Girl Time Tidbit #11- Our Mother's Day Tea

Centerpiece of our round table

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1Peter3:3-4
My daughter deciding how things would look best
My younger daughter and I have been busy planning for our traditional Mother-Daughter Tea at our Church. This is a wonderful celebration of womanhood and motherhood, it is something we look forward to every year. This year I have decided it is time to give the responsibility to my 11 year old daughter. So this year she is in charge of the table decorations and favors. I was really excited when she said yes with such enthusiasm! I have enjoyed training her and making suggestions along the way, but ultimately the final result has been hers.

The first step is to decide on a budget and color theme
She was given $25.00 as her budget. She came up with the idea of using some pretty paper products that we already had. By doing this she saved money on her budget and was able to utilize that money for something else, goodies for the favors. The paper products also became our color theme.

Step two: Designing a center piece for the table
We started gathering things that we have in our home already and that fit with our color theme of light pink, raspberry pink, apple green and bright white. We pulled out antique linens, silk flowers, a small porcelain tea pot, ceramic bunny vase, crystal votive and tea light candles, picture frames, a tea book and milk glass along with everyday white tea cups and saucer. We will also used a sign I made for my daughter's room because I used the same napkins. I love the verse from above which is also on the sign. It is what we strive for in our home for our children. Let the fun begin! Here is what she came up with: isn't it just lovely!

Step three: The Favors
She wanted the favors to be unique and pretty but was limited by her 25$ budget. So I asked her if she would like to use some die cut paper purses that I had in my stash and wouldn't you know we had exactly eight in just the right colors, isn't the Lord gracious! She was able to find some cute sticky notes and pens at the Dollar Store, and we got fun tea and chocolate to go with it.

Favors were the purses, aren't they cute!

I am looking forward to sitting at my daughter's lovely table. It will be so wonderful to hear the other ladies encouraging her and giving her accolades on her efforts. I love watching the Lord's providence working out details blessing her efforts as we both yield to His gentle guidance.

Post event: We had a lovely time! My daughter was praised for her creativity and for the care she took in creating a table. What fills my heart to over flowing is the love and kindness ladies young and old showed her as they noticed how she placed things and what she brought to the table and how economical she was. They were so thrilled to see the tradition being passed down.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Snowing in Spring

Our Cherryblossom Tree

We had a glorious day on Friday! The sky was the best color of blue like cornflower blossoms and the sunshine was good medicine for my tired soul. It was so warm and bright, no wonder the bulbs and seedlings reach out for it pushing through the darkness of the earth. I have felt like that lately, reaching out to the light to be warmed and nourished. It is amazing what an afternoon in the sun will do for a busy mama!


I decided since I wasn't feeling well that we could finish up our schoolwork outside on our new homemade picnic table. The sunshine and fresh air would do us some good! Something about a change of venue and the promise of being outside more often, was a great remedy for our lack of
enthusiasm towards school.


The breeze was balmy and so relaxing. To our delight as it blew through the boughs of our cherry tree it took with it, its billowy, soft-white, petals and then dropped them all around us. My youngest, with awe in his little boy voice said,

" Look Mama! Its snowing..."