Friday, March 23, 2012
Honestly
As I type this it is 5:12am. I'm not usually up this early and I've been up since around 3:30am (due to a serious of unfortunate events) so I'm not sure how this post is going to turn out. I've been feeling lately though, a prompting to be more honest and open about my life onto my blog. I probably offered more of my personal thoughts on my first blog Blue Moments, but since creating Unearthed Roots with my hand crafting business in mind, I've not been as forthcoming. Or maybe I should say as in depth with how I'm perceiving and relating to my life as it is now. Blogs are tricky. You don't really know who is reading them...and not knowing who the reader is means you just have to write it out just like it is. Challenging, but in a good way. I hate to ramble, but I do that a lot, and I guess my biggest blogging fear is rambling and wasting your time. I don't want to waste time, yours or mine. So, hopefully some of what I share in the near future will be relatable, but if it isn't that's fine too. We can learn from each other. I would love to have more interaction and feedback on my blog. I love when my friends (which is you friend, reading my blog) respond. It helps me to know that this is not in vain and that you are there (here. whichever). I am humbled and amazed by the support of so many wonderful people and I feel extremely blessed an honored that you took the time to read this.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
What's New
I know that I've been busy when my mother in law (who lives 15 minutes away) calls me and asks what's new? and I start telling her and some of it is brand new news to her! So, here are some updates (well, some of these she knew of course):
Josh is also now running for the Track Team.
Brielle is playing soccer.
I am finishing my career as a leaders in MOPS (Audio/Visual is where I served this past year).
Will & I are playing softball.
I plan to sell my homemade goods at the Downtown Market starting in May.
...and I am living off of coffee and sweet Love of Jesus.
So, What's new with you?
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| Josh turned 16 |
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| Tyler turned 13 |
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| Brielle started Preschool |
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| I now have this vehicle back in my driveway (after a year without it) |
Julie & I went to a Tobymac concert |
| I read this book. |
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| My sister loaned me this book (love it) |
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| Miles comes in the afternoons now |
Josh is also now running for the Track Team.
Brielle is playing soccer.
I am finishing my career as a leaders in MOPS (Audio/Visual is where I served this past year).
Will & I are playing softball.
I plan to sell my homemade goods at the Downtown Market starting in May.
...and I am living off of coffee and sweet Love of Jesus.
So, What's new with you?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Adoption ~perspective~
If you are on Facebook then you may have been able to follow updates to the Rathes' Adoption Blog: Worthourtime.com. It has been an incredible experience to be a part of, even just from my perspective of being a supportive friend. They have been friends of ours for almost seven years now.
When the Rathes (Grant & Amanda) first began fundraising for their adoption it was amazing to humbly realize the height of the funds that they were attempting to reach - because adoption (whether domestically or internationally) is so costly. I wanted to help them out - and since I'd just launched my Etsy Store, it seemed the best way was for me to donate 10% of all earnings to their Adoption Fund. I also sold Adoption Bracelets for $5 ($2 of that going to them). Some people actually just gave me more money for regular purchases and said, "just give the excess to the Rathes' fund." I was so amazed that during such a short time (three months?) that I was able to give them $102.40! People are so generous. People who didn't even know them would donate (sometimes a lot). It amazed me because we were all believing in something that we could not see. We had no idea how everything would eventually turn out.
And now here they are - only a few months later - with little Miles comfortably and happily in his forever home and with his Mom & Dad who love him entirely and completely.
It was a beautiful, beautiful experience to witness. To be a small part of. To hold him and know God's plans are perfect. I love it! I am able to keep him for a few weekday afternoons in the overlap of their work schedules and my heart is full of joy for it! God is so good.
That being said, my sweet sweet friend from MOPS, Mandy Avery, and her husband Terrence are currently fundraising for their Adoption. You can check out what they are doing here: http://averysadopt.blogspot.com/. And since 10% of proceeds from my Etsy shop (and outside sales) were already in the habit of going to adoption funds, I've decided to give that 10% now to the Avery family.
Praise God for adopting us into His family! Praise Him for faithfully providing couples with the means to adopt His children into their families also!
When the Rathes (Grant & Amanda) first began fundraising for their adoption it was amazing to humbly realize the height of the funds that they were attempting to reach - because adoption (whether domestically or internationally) is so costly. I wanted to help them out - and since I'd just launched my Etsy Store, it seemed the best way was for me to donate 10% of all earnings to their Adoption Fund. I also sold Adoption Bracelets for $5 ($2 of that going to them). Some people actually just gave me more money for regular purchases and said, "just give the excess to the Rathes' fund." I was so amazed that during such a short time (three months?) that I was able to give them $102.40! People are so generous. People who didn't even know them would donate (sometimes a lot). It amazed me because we were all believing in something that we could not see. We had no idea how everything would eventually turn out.
And now here they are - only a few months later - with little Miles comfortably and happily in his forever home and with his Mom & Dad who love him entirely and completely.
It was a beautiful, beautiful experience to witness. To be a small part of. To hold him and know God's plans are perfect. I love it! I am able to keep him for a few weekday afternoons in the overlap of their work schedules and my heart is full of joy for it! God is so good.
That being said, my sweet sweet friend from MOPS, Mandy Avery, and her husband Terrence are currently fundraising for their Adoption. You can check out what they are doing here: http://averysadopt.blogspot.com/. And since 10% of proceeds from my Etsy shop (and outside sales) were already in the habit of going to adoption funds, I've decided to give that 10% now to the Avery family.
Praise God for adopting us into His family! Praise Him for faithfully providing couples with the means to adopt His children into their families also!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
One Year Without a Car
Well, actually it was an SUV, which technically has a truck motor, so says my husband. And I didn't have it. I didn't have a car either. Or a truck. Or a mini-van (which has a car motor). But my husband (who I don't usually talk about in my blog posts) says I really DID have a vehicle. I just had to take him to work and pick him up to have access to it. I'll admit that was true, but I did not like it. I didn't like the lost morning coffee cups and not sliding into the routine of the day. I didn't like the "on call" feeling for pick-up time that came randomly between 3:30 and 6pm. Many times over the summer I just dropped the truck off at his workplace and catching the bus home so that I wouldn't have to do the "on call" thing. And I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not. Really. I just didn't like it and Not Liking something is Okay. I was Okay with it. I was Okay not having a vehicle at my full access. I only took him to work when biking, walking, and bus transportation were not possible for the needs of the day.
I loved walking.
I loved biking.
I loved taking public transportation.
I learned when to take offers from others for rides they blessed me with.
I learned that God was showing me so much more than I could have learned with a vehicle in my driveway. He was healing me from wounds and winter and so much more than I've still yet to realize.
I committed to two weeks of swim lessons in January a mile from my house. Knowing it would be cold. Knowing it could rain.
Not knowing I'd find so much joy, freedom, and healing in those two miles a day.
Maybe it seems we've had an unusual winter.
Maybe. Last winter was unusual. Last winter it was cold and snowed and stayed that way mid-November through mid-March. This winter it has been warm and cold and rainy and cold and windy and warm and cold. Not abnormal here.
But now I have the SUV back. One year later.
And now I have these options. And I have winter gear. And rain gear. And the knowledge.
And what do I do with all of that?
I do know that it took almost the full year for me to understand and equip myself with the gear & the attitude.
Last winter was hard. Like head in your hands - crying every day - hard. For so many unsettling reasons (not the car). I just didn't know what to do. I didn't know I needed sun on my face and fresh air in my lungs year 'round. I didn't know I needed to pay attention to the changing seasons and look for God in the mystery surrounding us. I thought seeking Him looked only certain ways. But I didn't know.
And now I know a little more. Not much, but a little.
And I'd not give up the experiences for a brand new vehicle in my driveway. Honestly. I believe my experiences will carry me much farther in life than a brand new vehicle could even take me.
I hope that this little sweetheart of mine gleaned at least a portion of the grandeur. She was a wonderful traveling companion through it all and I look forward to many future adventures.
Even the boys were able to share in and experience much. Of course, they've been riding their bikes (and walking) as a primary means of transportation for some time, but public transportation was a new and useful tool to them.
Well, come to think of it - my husband (the one I barely talk about- per his request) even jumped on the bus to get home a few times when I was shuttling the boys around the city to their basketball games.
Some things come unexpectedly.
Some things take extra time, planning, and effort...all while God is showing us in the rarest of circumstances that He works everything out for our good and makes it all beautiful in His time.
I'm thankful for this redemptive season.
So thankful my heart pours out gratitude.
Like an overflowing cup.
I am that
thankful.
Like eyes watering
deep breath
and sighing...
thankful.
I loved walking.
I loved biking.
I loved taking public transportation.
I learned when to take offers from others for rides they blessed me with.
I learned that God was showing me so much more than I could have learned with a vehicle in my driveway. He was healing me from wounds and winter and so much more than I've still yet to realize.
I committed to two weeks of swim lessons in January a mile from my house. Knowing it would be cold. Knowing it could rain.
Not knowing I'd find so much joy, freedom, and healing in those two miles a day.
Maybe it seems we've had an unusual winter.
Maybe. Last winter was unusual. Last winter it was cold and snowed and stayed that way mid-November through mid-March. This winter it has been warm and cold and rainy and cold and windy and warm and cold. Not abnormal here.
But now I have the SUV back. One year later.
And now I have these options. And I have winter gear. And rain gear. And the knowledge.
And what do I do with all of that?
I do know that it took almost the full year for me to understand and equip myself with the gear & the attitude.
Last winter was hard. Like head in your hands - crying every day - hard. For so many unsettling reasons (not the car). I just didn't know what to do. I didn't know I needed sun on my face and fresh air in my lungs year 'round. I didn't know I needed to pay attention to the changing seasons and look for God in the mystery surrounding us. I thought seeking Him looked only certain ways. But I didn't know.
And now I know a little more. Not much, but a little.
And I'd not give up the experiences for a brand new vehicle in my driveway. Honestly. I believe my experiences will carry me much farther in life than a brand new vehicle could even take me.
I hope that this little sweetheart of mine gleaned at least a portion of the grandeur. She was a wonderful traveling companion through it all and I look forward to many future adventures. Even the boys were able to share in and experience much. Of course, they've been riding their bikes (and walking) as a primary means of transportation for some time, but public transportation was a new and useful tool to them.
Well, come to think of it - my husband (the one I barely talk about- per his request) even jumped on the bus to get home a few times when I was shuttling the boys around the city to their basketball games.
Some things come unexpectedly.
Some things take extra time, planning, and effort...all while God is showing us in the rarest of circumstances that He works everything out for our good and makes it all beautiful in His time.
I'm thankful for this redemptive season.
So thankful my heart pours out gratitude.
Like an overflowing cup.
I am that
thankful.
Like eyes watering
deep breath
and sighing...
thankful.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Waiting for the bus through Summer, Fall, Winter
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| Looking at the passing train - while waiting for the bus |
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| Last Summer waiting for the bus |
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| Taking the bus home from the Free Summer Movies |
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| Downtown City Transit |
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| Brielle & "Sweetheart" - that's our bus! |
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| Walking to the bus stop in our neighborhood |
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| The waterfall at the Courthouse |
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| The Christmas Tree covering the water fountain at Courthouse |
 | |
|
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| "Is the bus coming?" |
Monday, January 16, 2012
Can I make that?
On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby (my favorite craft store) I was browsing through the isles of some discounted Christmas decorations to get some cool ideas.
Now, I love going to craft fairs and markets where I usually have the thoughts: "How do they make that?" "Could I make that?" or "Impressive. I could not make that. What a talent/gift/ability they have."
But at Hobby Lobby my thoughts are generally, "I could never make that." I don't wonder who made it (Made in China) or how it was made (a factory?) or how it arrived at my local Hobby Lobby store, but I guess I'm starting to think about it. I can almost guarantee that while I may truly like the finished product, I could not recreate something to look as professionally machine-manipulated as it does.
Handcrafted artwork is naturally going to be original. It's going to be a little off or "imperfect" and that is what makes it so beautiful. Moreover, I cannot create something by hand and sell it for the same rate as mechanically made mass-produced items sold at Hobby Lobby or any other large retailer.
So, I've decided to release myself from the burden of making an item that could be sold at a local large retailer. I still buy supplies from Hobby Lobby, but I'm certainly considering the impact of purchasing finished crafts, decorations, and home items from large retailers. I'm looking into Etsy.com and local markets and stores that might know where their items came from, or better yet - the supplies to make them. Or even better - the person who handcrafted the piece.
If I can't make that - then what I am going to make will be original, unique, and hand crafted with all of the creativity God has given me.
And then ultimately... the customer will be able to choose where and how to spend their $15.
Now, I love going to craft fairs and markets where I usually have the thoughts: "How do they make that?" "Could I make that?" or "Impressive. I could not make that. What a talent/gift/ability they have."
But at Hobby Lobby my thoughts are generally, "I could never make that." I don't wonder who made it (Made in China) or how it was made (a factory?) or how it arrived at my local Hobby Lobby store, but I guess I'm starting to think about it. I can almost guarantee that while I may truly like the finished product, I could not recreate something to look as professionally machine-manipulated as it does.
Handcrafted artwork is naturally going to be original. It's going to be a little off or "imperfect" and that is what makes it so beautiful. Moreover, I cannot create something by hand and sell it for the same rate as mechanically made mass-produced items sold at Hobby Lobby or any other large retailer.
So, I've decided to release myself from the burden of making an item that could be sold at a local large retailer. I still buy supplies from Hobby Lobby, but I'm certainly considering the impact of purchasing finished crafts, decorations, and home items from large retailers. I'm looking into Etsy.com and local markets and stores that might know where their items came from, or better yet - the supplies to make them. Or even better - the person who handcrafted the piece.
If I can't make that - then what I am going to make will be original, unique, and hand crafted with all of the creativity God has given me.
And then ultimately... the customer will be able to choose where and how to spend their $15.
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| A slightly clean and workable space! |
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| My "packaging" station |
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