Homegrown Hospitality

Practice:Simplification

I am not sure if Simplification is a word or not, but it makes sense to me and I am practicing it on a daily basis, along with a few other necessary things (God & a list)

 p.s. yep. it is a word, I checked.

Better Late Than Never

I am so deficient in technical skills when it comes to computers that I can almost see the brick wall being put up in front of me as I type this and my head hurts as I TRY to read all of the explanations (probably because I need to put on my dang glasses, but I can not find them..I need a chain!).

Apparently there are "feeds" that you can "subscribe" to which would make it so much easier for you when it comes to reading my blog with the other 100 you read...(I sure hope you know what that means...) Personally, I am wondering, a survey of sorts..do you really read blogs or do you just look at the pictures? (like the first 7-9 pages in people magazine where you see all of the photos?)

anyways, now you can "SUBSCRIBE" to this blog..6 years later.."Better Late Than Never" by clicking that orange button over on the left sidebar under the "Stay Connected"  (yes, I know that the little orange button is not centered like the other buttons above but I am not going to even try to figure that out right now because I do not want to.)

I think it is about time to invest into a little help for me...and for my computer skills, too!

Here this will make me feel better, a picture of a new piece of Faith Filled Funky Folk Art 

oh, and just in case you do not know what a feed is, you can read this and then tell me:

A link to Feed 101 http://support.google.com/feedburner/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=79408

Little Reminder Big Reminder

Life can be pretty simple, we I just tend to complicate things (I know we all do, but I will throw myself under the bus so you do not have to admit it out loud) so here is a little reminder (in my tiny doodle book) 

and a big reminder for you to right click, copy, paste, color and do....

 

Doodlin', Sharin', Teachin' & Knowin'

I arm wrestle with myself about my doodling "art" on a daily basis. (That is the "Simply Complicated" part of me, which for the most part, is completely unnecessary.)

The thing is, I love doodling because I love the way I can relax while coloring something, and that seems a tad selfish, because, really..it is not about "me"..duh....but I also love that I can take a plain piece of white paper and turn it into a picture by adding colors, lines,  shapes, a thought and usually a heart. 

I do not know it it is the thickness of the black lines, the colors of the pens I used, the phrase, or a little of all three, but I kinda love this little lost doodle (I have alot of them, lost doodles, that is)

This is another part of my self-arm-wrestle competition...the fact that I have a HUGE, bulging, over flowing file STUFFED with "little lost doodles" and the confusion of what to do with them.

For now,

I will just keep doodlin' what I am doodlin', sharin with you what I am sharin, teachin you what I am teachin and knowin (with out seein) that I am goin in the right direction...

That my friends, is Faith. 

A Spark

Hearing about and understanding the definition of  the word "Innovate" has sparked something in my brain and creative soul...

Understanding and working with the concept of innovation is exciting and learning how to be patient in the process is, well...necessary.

I am not one to sit around and just wait for things to just fall in my lap nor "just happen"..I am good for a "whole lotta" R&D and that exactly what I have been doing:

and then, to top it off, like a cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae, I heard this phrase this morning that pretty much sums it up:

"Keep the spirit of what you're doing alive"

so..does it spark something in you???

Do not let that spark die out....let it ignite a fire....(not a real fire)

It's the Little Things

Little moments of bliss, little newborn toes, little words that make a big difference, little gestures of kindness...

Moleskin Journals in packs of two at Target

that are little

and hold little doodles

because

and are just the right size for little reminders

Happy Friday!

All of the Above

WARNING: A LONG ONE...Grab some coffee, tea...or drink of choice.

We all have a specific "purpose" and several years ago, when I not only "heard" that, but took it SERIOUSLY did I "get it" (no, not "my purpose" but the entire scope of what it means)  

I was EXCITED to know WHAT my purpose was, because I never really "knew" what I wanted to "be" when I grew up besides a wife, a mom and a PTA member (hold your comments !!!!).

Insert screeching breaks....

Ummm...It is not like you stand in line, wait your turn and then be handed a slip of paper that tells you what your Purpose is and, "Duh"...it's not really what "we want to be"... (I thought I had to figure it out...)

 

NOPE.

Our individual purpose is "what we were created to be" and up until a handful of years ago, did I REALLY get it...and I had to "grow through" what I had to go through* to understand it all and now I get it. I mean, I got it...

My Purpose, that is...

and here is the thing, everyone else around you may be able to "see" it and "know it" and even tell you what "it", your purpose is, but until you REALLY get it, you don't...

Oh, I hope I have not lost you because here it is:

I am starting to feel, think and see things differently than I really ever have before and with that, I have to say...

It's not about scrapbooking...(duh)

or doodling.. (eek!)

or making things from paper..(drat!)

or baking things from dough and batter..(whatttt????)

or stitching things from felt...(gulp!)

or painting, stamping or really anything thing else....It, MY PURPOSE is about inspiring, influencing, teaching, reminding and loving all of the above and creating a community around it.

Insert falling confetti, letting colorful balloons fly, blowing party horns, clicking heels like a leprechaun, lighting fireworks..

It only took 42.75 years to figure it out..now I have 42.75 years, give or take, to work it. 

 

Thank YOU for being part of my PURPOSE!

amen.

A Spaghetti Noodle 1001 Ways

I have said it before, and will say it over and over again...

God is Good & Faith is a Neccesity 

It is what I believe, how I feel and what I need (even though it is "not about me") you know what I mean.. 

Now, don't twirl your eyes and go to the next blog where you can learn how to use a spaghetti noodle 1001 ways....please...

Remember, I am an equal opportunity-non competitive girl so you will never have to worry 'bout me trying to sway you ...NOPE...I will NOT ever ever never ever tell YOU what to believe, or what not to believe, I just share what works for me, what has worked for me, etc (well, okay, if you are standing in my garage, watching some sporting event and you spout off something crude..I WILL give you an evil eye...but that is about it...)

I am harmless.

anyways....

All I wanted to say was that I heard the phrase " When it's true, it's true" during Pastor Rick's message this weekend, all I thought was..."duh" and it reminded me of my "click" this weekend...that when things come together, pieces fall into place, when I am pickin up what God is puttin down...it is a good feeling...and really, I guess all I am saying repeating is "When it's true..it is true."

oh, and for your visual entertainment, a new doodle that I did while watching game 1of 2...the last  ENTIRE day of football...(sorry for the watermark!) 

 

Practice:Process

It is Saturday, January 21..5:15am...it is raining, it is quiet...everyone is asleep (even coco) and I am working, thinking, listening, doodling, reading, absorbing and something just clicked...a big click....I want to shout..LOUD...but I can't...because it is 5:15 and it would mess up my quiet and for sure wake up the dog, and then he would whine for a bone, and then it would just go a tad downhill from there...so for now... lucky you..you get my silent shout!

Fastfoward...7:30 am

Dog is awake...so is the Valentine..still raining, coffee pot empty...still raining...thoughts down...dreams spoken...doodle doodled and just so you know....I am getting it..seeing more of the big picture

and along with that...YOU are a HUGE part of my process...

So thank you! 

Practice:Contentment

I sat down last night, opened up my little "Smash" book and what did I find?  A lovely little something that I doodled and never shared. 

I am pretty sure that I was inspired by a quote I found on Pinterest and it says alot about our little home sweet home...

 

It really does not matter the size, it is what is inside (not the furniture, duh!)  and even though we live in close quarters 99% of the time, I love our little home sweet home (and I bet they do too, even though they think having a two story house and a three car garage would be super cool.) I say "it would just be more to clean!"

Today, be content with what you have and remember, life is not about things.

       "It is better to be satified with what you have than to be always wanting something else" Eccl. 6:9