Fan Like This

I'm procrastinating.  My mother-in-law, Sharon, has probably read every blog I have ever posted (some twice).  From Blue Moments to Unearthed Roots, she has followed me.  She always encouraged me to write.  She would tell me, "Jenna, never stop writing." And if I went a long time without blogging, she would say, "I know your busy, but I haven't seen you blog in awhile."  Because I procrastinate.  I know I have things to say.  She knew I had things to say.  Sure, she wanted to read them, but I think she knew more that I needed to write to express what I think, how I feel.  She liked my pictures and my musings...she was one of my biggest fans.
And now, everyone is asleep still.  My house, full of eleven, 8:41am is quiet.  We are all tired from the last three days.  The thoughts, the going on ourselves.  The realization of life and immortality.  The uncertainty of what is to come.  We laugh and eat and hang out and then it is quiet and we remember why we have come together.  All nineteen of us.  It can get loud, but her voice above all others would have rang louder.  We all know that.  And while we can hear it, we can't, and it feels strange - to me it does at least.  She was so loud.  Who thinks they are going to miss the loud?  It caught me off guard.  
Procrastinating, I was wandering through my Facebook page, just seeing what she "Liked" in the last week or so...and the picture of me selling for the first time at the Downtown Market.    She commented, "So Blessed to have this wonderful creative woman as part of my family!"  
I will miss her encouraging words. About my blog. About my recycled creative art pieces. But fortunately (ha!), she was loud enough that I should be able to hear her encouraging words long into the years to come.

She loved God and all of her family and friends very much.  She enjoyed reading and perusing the www, especially inhabiting FB and online games.  I know many will miss her because of continued involvement in their lives, whether it was in person, via phone, or online.  She was especially proud of her grandchildren: Josh, Tyler, Austin, Archer, JonPaul, & Brielle.  Especially proud.  I know they will miss her encouragement & "Grandma" privileges.  

I know she is in amazing place right now, so I am happy for her honestly.  She talked so much that if I listen, I can almost hear her telling me about it!  "Oh Jenna, it's so beautiful, if you could just see this and that and on.....and on......and on....."  That's the way she was. 

How went the Market:

I had a few people tell me they looked for me at the Market this past Saturday, and unfortunately I was not there.  I only have certain dates I am permitted to sell, so to make it easier I'll keep them posted at the top of this blog throughout the summer, but they are:  May 26th, June 9th, June 30th, July 7th, July 28th, August 4th, August 18th, August 25th, September 1st, September 15th, September 29th, October 13th, October 20th
My first time selling there was wonderful!  I really loved the customers and I guess that I hadn't considered that part much.  But being out there, hearing them talk, seeing their interest in my hand crafted goods...it was so inspiring and encouraging!  They also had great tips and advice and they really helped me know what styles, colors, and designs to create more of as far as the jewelry was concerned.  
A few people asked if the play-dough was scented and I was listening!  I have made four varieties of scented play-dough that I am excited to share this upcoming Saturday!  
The laundry soap was a big hit too.  I brought 10 and came home with 3.  I believe in it and feel that when customers try it they will like it as much as we do, and come back for more (hopefully bringing the container to recycle and save .50!).  
Also, the other vendors were wonderful!  They were so supportive and friendly, it was a very vibrant atmosphere.  I really enjoyed myself.  If you haven't been to the market yet, you should really check it out, there are some great booths full of neat and useful items!  And of course, I personally hope to see you there!!! 

Downtown Market!

I woke up at 5:32am.  Believe it or not it is already Light out at the time of day!  I'm so excited about selling at the Downtown Market this morning!  I'm a LOT nervous about setting up, but I know once I get past that I'm really going to enjoy myself.  I'm selling 13 dates this summer, which are spaced out and random, but I'm just super glad I get a vendor table at all!!  I'm so thankful that Clarksville provides a venue like this for the people here, Vendors and Customers!

So, I've been thinking about how this all got started with me....this "creating things."

And I've realized that it all began in my veins.  Which goes quite well with the name of my little work here "Unearthed Roots."  Discovering, Living who I am.  God created me.  He created this entire world.  He creates every day.  He is a Creator.  I believe He loves it.  He must.  I think I get it most from Him. 

My gramma is a crafter.  She loves to create with her hands.  When I was eleven and flew on a plane to visit her in Michigan by myself for the first time, I was able to sleep in her craft room.  I will never forget what I observed and how inspired I was.  There was a Feeling of creative flow there.  I think I get some of mine from her.

As for the practical creations (laundry soap?  play-dough?) well that very well may come from the other side of my family which in my opinion is mixed with Settlers and possible Indian heritage?  I'd LOVE to research that.  The more I create, the more I discover.  My roots are in the Ozark Mountains, Twin Lakes, and from their flowing Rivers.  My roots are in Germany and in Michigan.   My roots are in the creative possibilities! Yet I am not rooted in this world.  My roots are in Him, my Creator.  He is the Source from which I truly grow from.

Completely amazes me.

So....here's to creating and roots!

Come visit me at the Downtown Market!

Updates

Rivers & Spires.  Yes, it was chilly! :)

Always excited to spend our afternoons with Miles!

I have been trying to get Brielle to write her name how I taught her too
(with lowercase e's) and she usually doesn't.  She surprised me with
this Stick-It note.  Upside-Down. 

All Smiles

Planting Seeds

Community Garden Planting

This sling continues just to get use! 

 These are just just a few Highlights from our lives over the past month.  Life is busier now that Miles comes in the afternoons.  The end of the school year snuck up on me, and now there are only 2 days left of school!   Soon, summer will be engulfing us and I hope, hope, hope to blog more.  The Downtown Market opens Saturday and I couldn't be more excited!  I will love to update & share my experiences there.  As well as my thoughts on life, which I believe are good now and possibly worth sharing :)  Thanks for reading.

First Trip to the ZOO!

Brielle & the Giraffes

Last bus trip downtown to MOPS :(

Five short years

Many times I've heard people say, "If you would have told me __ years ago that I would be doing _________ I never would have believed you." I easily can say that of my life just five short years ago. I would not have believed it if someone had said to me:

1. You will have a four year old daughter.

2. You will have a daughter.

3. You will have labored at home, birthed in your SUV, nursed her till she was nearly three, carried her in sling nearly everywhere, and used cloth diapers!

4. You will not have a bachelors degree.

5. You will embrace a life as a wife, mom, homemaker, and afternoon baby care provider.

6. You will bake your own bread.

7. You will grow your own garden.

8. You will make your own laundry soap.

9. You will enjoy jogging.

10. You will play on a Co-Ed softball team with your husband.

11. You will take Public Transportation and advocate for it.

12. You will bike or walk to the stores you have always driven to --from the same house you've been living in (when you can).

13. You will have a blog. Yes, that blog you always tried not to have.

14. You will actually be somewhat involved in your teens' lives.

15. You will join a Moms' group and be an active part of it for four years.

16. Your deeply knitted church family will shift, people will move, and it will alter and restructure almost completely.

17.  YOU will change a lot in five short years.

Where I've discovered

I am here in Mountain Home (Arkansas) where part of my earthly roots extend from and go deep.  Deeper than I may ever know.  I love the mountains here.  They are vast and so soft on my eyes.  They aren't like Nevada, or even the Smokies and that is why they are sometimes referred to as hills.  But I call them mountains because they were.  They are.  My mom and I were driving to my favorite store around these parts and I realized that having grown up here I thought this was what the Earth looked like. 
Natural.  Beautiful.  Mountains.  Lakes.  Rivers.  Crystal clear waters.  Bluest sky.  Fresh air.
And just like that I took the seven years I lived here completely for granted.  I thought I was just passing through, as it could not be my destination. 
So, even though I canoed these waters and jumped off boats and bluffs in these coves.  Even though I sat on these rocks looking out at lake and sky and mountain hills, I did not know the deep deep beauty of it all.  The way my roots run deep here.  The roots that follow streams in bare feet and gather berries and grow gardens and bear babies and wipe the sweat off of the brow again and again.  The cool breeze.  The one that only day of saturated sweat can close the eyes and lean back the head and feel and appreciate. 
But now when I come back I can feel it.  These hills moan and call and beckon.  These waters rush and invite and I hear them.  Like the ocean once pulled me and I did not make it quite there, I feel drawn.  Not to stake new claims, but to enjoy, to appreciate.  To know.  This is where I came into the earth.  This is where I returned for my coming of age.  This is now where I hear the lost heartbeats of ancestors and feel the presence of God through His amazing and glorious creation of Earth and Sky.  He knows where I am.
He knows where I've been.
He know where this is going.
And I'm so small in it all.  But I'm here.  And I'm trying to pay attention and listen. 
These earthly roots.  My unearthed roots.  My roots in Him.  My home with Him.  This all a journey passing through.  All.  But not a second that isn't to be recorded or lived fully present, because this journey matters.  It matters so much!  It matters because it is a journey to Him, a journey with Him, the reason we were created.
I follow the sky and the horizon and feel my roots spread out wide and flow over this land and these mountains and rivers and lakes.  And like a tree stretching up to sky, branches, limbs, and leaves all lifted in highest adoration to the One who I sink my roots into deep now. 
To grow.  To unearth.  To discover who I am and where I am from.

For discovering all that it means on this journey...

Catching Ms. Caterpillar

All the while...I was just trying to read A REALLY GOOD BOOK :)