Homegrown Hospitality

Push Back the Darkness

I read and then highlighted the phrase "push back the darkness" in the book, Say Yes To God by Kay Warren. I am re-reading this book and am absorbing things differently then a couple of years ago and that phrase jumped off the page at me.

In my experiences, as I started to infuse and share my faith more and more through this blog, in my work and basically in my daily walk (although I stumble alot) I bet you will agree that when you do the right thing even when it is difficult, do what is best for others regardless of what you may feel or do what is counter culture to the worlds beliefs, things get ugly, conflicted and complicated.  Sad by true, which makes no sense, because at the end of the day, don't we all want peace, a little comfort and a whole lotta joy?

Seriously, ya do something good and someone or something is always going to be standing by to shoot an arrow at you, try to squash you like a bug or just down right spit on you...gross, BUT here is the thing,

WE, me, you, us, them...are stronger than that (go ahead, sing the Kelly Clarkson song)

Here is what it takes.. Love...love one another - sometimes very easy, sometimes very hard but we all need to work together

Brave...because we are going to be worried, fearful and unsure..

Faith...because with HIM, everything is possible.

duh.

Here is what is going to happen:

When it is the right combination, when things just fall into place, when things feel right, when we are all on the same page and a little negativity rears its ugly head..you know you are going in the right direction. It is not about Religion..it is about Relationship with God and with others.
When you mix love, brave and faith, it is a blend and a bond strong enough to defeat and push back the darkness.

yay.

Makes you want flex your muscles and scream "bring it on" and sorry if you sing that Kelly Clarkson song all day long.

The Second Thing...

First we have to REFUSE, now we must CHOOSE.

I try to choose JOY on a daily basis, shoot, on an hourly basis BUT (and there is always a big BUT involved!) it is robbed from me because I LET it be taken by those who I let take it. 

DANG IT!

Note to self: It goes along with yesterdays #1... It is time to REFUSE and time to CHOOSE

Now, just because I choose Joy, does not mean things are pretty, shiny, sparkly and lovely...oh no..

Here is an excerpt from the book "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown (pg. 73) that I have highlighted:  "Joy is as thorny and sharp as any of the dark emotions.  To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn't come with guarantees-these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain.  When we lose our tolerance from discomfort, we lose joy. "

It reminds me exactly of this 2 choice: "Choose short term pain for long term gain"

amen.

Christmas Tradtions

Last week, as I was finishing up my preparations for our family Christmas festivities and traditions and preparing, organizing and collecting my supplies to scrapbook in 2013, I had a constant sting of sadness for the families who have lost loved ones this past year, especially in the past few weeks and often thought about how difficult the holidays must be as families gather together to celebrate and enjoy their own traditions...and how important it really is to keep our memories documented. 

As I reflected on our memories of past Christmas's (via the computer, boo!) I was reminded of our Christmas Eve traditions ...

December 2005 December2006 December2007 December 2008 December 2009 December 2010
December 2011 (by the way, I do have another child but I suppose his tradition is to "watch")

and realized that I still had not bought a Gingerbread House kit for the kids and I to work on.

This year, I just was not sold on the idea.

I was not sure why, but I would go to buy a kit, pick up the box, and then set it down and that went on the entire week leading up to Christmas. Store after store after store, I'd repeat this process and go home empty handed...

and then, on Christmas Eve morning as we were getting ready to pack the car and hit the road, the light bulb went off...

or should I say, the light bulb clicked on.

I went out and gathered some cardboard, cut out 26 snowflakes, grabbed glitter, beads, glue, buttons, more glitter, and more beads, packed it in a box and decided that this year, and for years to come, our family tradition of creating something together would bless others... There is still time for you and your family to create for others and what a GREAT way to start a new tradition and kick of a new year together...Click here for information on where to send your snowflakes!

p.s...This year I thought I'd join in on the other traditions, more on that tomorrow...

12 in 13

Another thing coming in 2013 is more doodling. Doodling is one of my most favorite things to do and in 2013 my plan is to do more of it. I am in the midst of writing the third Doodle class, "Doodle 12 in 13" which is 12 verses, 12 new doodles and 12 journal prompts
My hope for this class is that you take time to do{odle}a little for yourself, at least once a month with what you have, wheverever you are. 

My plan for this class is to do it online, and if time and schedules permit, in a store near you. 

My purpose for this class is simple. JOY.  When you choose JOY, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good, and when you do good, it reminds others of what JOY feels like. It really is simple.

More class information very soon...

Defining Purpose

It is what some call "the season of giving" and just like many, I am blessed beyond measure.  With that comfort, my heart is constantly feeling empathy & compassion for those who are hurting, lost and dealing with difficulties. I get these tsunami strong feelings of "WHAT CAN I DO???" and my mind is constantly wanting, wondering, thinking and ready to do something to help.

As you know, this past year, I have been "moved" to react and respond to others through sharing my faith, supporting The Jessie Rees Foundation & HER cause that has become part of my heart and communicating, sharing and teaching others through my art.  I knew there was more...I just was not sure what it was and on Wednesday of this week, I heard the phrase/question "Care or Cure?"

It was the question Jessie's Mommy & Daddy asked her as they created the very first jars of joy.. 

Part of the purpose of The Jessie Rees Foundation is to provide CARE.  Jessie's wish was to care for the children that were battleing cancer and the question/concept & thought "Care or Cure" made me realize another part of my purpose, made me realize why I am so drawn to her foundation and why I feel so proud to be part of the NEGU team. While I can not cure the hurts, illness, and difficulties of others, I can support others with care...

Through Prayer

Through Reminders

Through Example

Through Connection

Through Art

Through Love

Through Support

and so can you!

We all need to practice the "Season of Giving" each day...not just in November & December and I am learning more and more about myself, about the purpose of my life and how to help others..all through the very short life of a sweet girl named Jessie.
So what can you do to help?

Donate to the Jessie Rees Foundation to provide JOY to little love bugs..

Promote the cause on Facebook by LIKING the page

Tune in THIS SUNDAY to CNN to watch..

 

Today...

Do Something

I came home with from Pennsylvania with this and never showed you...Shame on me.

Ahh yes, wool felt, a big brand new giant stack and typically, I would have ripped into this stack and started stitching away, but I have been looking at it now for 7 days.  Amongst the greens, reds and golds, the colors I normally migrate to, the colors I call my "Life Colors"...

I see Blue...and I feel blue.

My heart is still so full of emotion from the weekend,so much that it makes me a little weepy, no, really weepy.  I am going to show you a picture that will tug on your heartstrings, maybe harder than ever. This is Erik Rees.  Pastor at my church, daddy to Jessie. A photo that was taken a few month ago:

After witnessing our small community rally around Jessie through the 10 months of her fight, the love and tears shown during the days and weeks after her death, the immense desire to keep her hope of Spreading Joy to children fighting cancer and events like this past Saturday, I feel more empowered than ever before to help...as do my boys...In fact, when Ben got out of the car this morning, he mentioned he was wearing NEGU Blue (not knowing that I was typing this)

Our family is fighting, working, walking, praying and helping to Spread Joy in memory of Jessie, for the cause, for the families

for the reason, for this dad that smiles brightly in the midst of his pain. 

I look at that stack of felt and see blue...I see NEGU colors and I now know what my first project is going to be

because this family...needs a basket of happy & joy...in honor of their girl and the amazing work they are doing in honor of her.

We all have a God Given purpose and it is our responsibility to

so again, I challenge you to Do Something.  Whether it is for the Jessie Rees Foundation or something else, please get up and do something...because as Jessie's daddy reminded me, "We Are Better Together"

and hey... show your Team NEGU pride wearing shirts like these to spread the word...

and to remind others to NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

Doing Something

We all need to practice JOY on a daily basis, regardless of what is going on, how things might look and how we might feel and sometimes, that is difficult for me (It probably is for you to but I am going to throw myself under the bus so you do not feel like the spotlight is just on you.)

So, how does one practice joy???  First, I need to CONSTANTLY remind myself that JOY is NOT feeling (even though it is very easy to forget that) 

Joy is a choice and a gift.

Often times, we look for joy in other people in our lives, in the places we go, the possessions we have, yadda yadda yadda..when really, and you knew this was coming...the only true source of Joy is GOD...yep, only God.  Joy is not based on outward circumstance but on inward certainty and I personally anchor myself to that thought..because it is FAITH...yay!

okay, so let me interrupt myself by giving you a personal example:

Right now, I am training and on Sunday mornings, a group of girls & I get up EARLY and hit a trail called Dreaded.  Hello...with a name like that, you know it cannot be good...and regardless of how many miles I may be able to run on a flat surface, getting up this hill just WALKING is HARD. Personally, I pray, I focus and listen to music the ENTIRE way up, struggling at times to breathe, stopping for seconds to pick up heart shaped rocks and continuing to push myself...because I KNOW what is at the top.  

For me, GOD meets me there (after HE pushes me the last 1/4 mile of the hill) and it is worth every single step because the beauty I see (after wiping the sweat out of my eyes) is amazing.  

That is JOY.  It is not that I "feel" JOY because I made it to the top, but because I chose to do it based on the fact that I KNOW GOD will meet me there (even if it is socked in with fog like it was on Sunday and we could not see anything) 

Now because I am 99.9% visual and need to have a image to sometimes "get it" I doodled an example! 

You can choose to look at life like this, feel like you are a weed among the flowers and let your "outward circumstances" overshadow your decision to choose joy....

 

or you can choose to look at things differently...choose joy regardless of what is around you and know that YOU were created for a specific reason.  You may feel like you are a weed, but YOU are a weed with a purpose by-golly!

 

Completion & Casseroles

By now you know my OLW (one little word) for 2012 is PRACTICE and so in honor of me and my word, I practiced finishing things (because I have so too many "works in progress") by getting all of these hearts stitched up.

and instead of adding them to my "Basket of Happy" they have their very own place and I call these my "Casserole of Love".  

The name "Casserole of Love" might sound corny, but corny or not, anytime someone needs a little love, I am ready with a casserole..and hey, when I offer someone in need a serving of love and show them my casserole, it is bound to create a smile...

try it, you will see.

Basket of Happy

I have a basket full of happy for anyone in need of a smile. 

I took it out last week when a bunch of friends came over, I took it to a boutique I was at last night and just passed it around, even offered it to a mom my age that just lost her husband....

When I explain what it is, people are a little confused at first.

There is nothing to buy,

no strings attached,

nothing confusing about it,

just simple, soft, puffy, colorful little pillow-hackeysack-pincushionish things that you can touch, toss, throw and look at...

that make you smile.

It works...

every time,

just a simple basket of happy.