Homegrown Hospitality

The Amazing Journey

Thursday again and another page in the ol'

 
and a new doodle from a quote that I mentioned on FB last week.   
so I am trying to "Plow"

How bout you? 

Even if you can not admit it, I will do it for you.  WE are all plowing, some with simple garden tools and some with heavy farm machinery but we are all in that same "time zone" of great stress and adversity no matter what side of the globe you are on.

Now, while I do not have any earth shattering, ground breaking words of wisdom, I will tell you that the ONLY way I get through things is to pray through it..you know, (P.U.S.H) and "keep on keepin' on" (I need a Trucker Hat that says that!)

 

Please do not get me wrong..I am always honest here and want you to know that I did not always do that, you know, "Pray" through things. I did what "I thought" was best..and I struggled....and worse, I failed.  I made wrong decisions, made u-turns on "my road" yadda yadda yadda...but the great thing is, everything I have learned along this "Amazing Journey" called life has lead me to today, where even though I am sometimes:

• stressed about what others think (even though it is "none of my business")
•  always doing laundry and have too many socks that do not match
•  struggling with drivers in the school parking lot that are running late and act like it is my fault
•  anxious about my upcoming departure and flight around the world
• confused about my creative fork in the road
• and fussy that one day it is 107 degrees and the next day it is 80 and more humid...

I find great strength and security in my faith (it takes time to strengthen it..but it does come..and it does work) so I can deal with the little every day dumb things and leave the rest to God, whew!

At the end of the day, regardless of how CRAPPY I might feel,  I know I am okay...and so are you (even if you feel like you are not).  THAT is normal and I promise...your faith and your security will strengthen you and carry you through

well, as long as you pray (duh!)

 

This time next week...

all of this stuff & I will be on the way to SOUTH AFRICA but until then 

 

 
it is kit kit kit... 

count count count...

print print print...

cut cut cut...

pack pack pack..

and pray pray pray.

 

IU2010 Photo Recap.

I have changed my profile picture compliments of my dear, good, funny, sweet  friend Ambrosia who took this picture of me at IU.

 
You'd never know that at the time, I was wearing my "jammies" to the Friday Night PJ party at IU2010 and that I was a tad fussy because I was sooooo tired and just wanted to stay in our pretty hotel room and relax...but this is so me.  Baseball hat, sweatshirt and good friends at a table CRACKING up...sometimes a bit too loud.

That is what IU was for me this year.

I have to be honest and tell you that I did not take one picture, well, just one, but it was of our pretty bathroom in our pretty room, but it is still on my card.  I was running from the time I got up, until we sat down and I had Ambrosia take photos...well and some of the IU attendees (PLEASE send them to me at homegrown1@att.net)

Here is one Erin took as we got ready to start class

and here is another that Tammy's sis took

 
 
here is one of my roommate's...susansusiesue who loves crayons and silver wars

one of my fun fun kayak rowing, bubble gum chewing, bling stealing, red pen writing friend, Kim

 and one of Ambrosia & I

 
Thank you to all of those who enjoyed my class.  I know that it was a little rough around the edges, but once you got it..you really got it and the emails and comments have been wonderful! 

Thank you so much!

Happy Birthday Jack!

I am home safe..made it all in one drive, with one stop for gas...in time to sit in the 102 degree heat and watch my boy play soccer...

and speaking of my boy...

he is 15 today!

  
Happy Birthday Buddy..I love you more than you will ever understand!

Las Vegas...

Ready or not...Here I come!

I will get the kids up and out, stop at the store for a fresh Hazelnut Creamer and tune into KFI and hit the road...

 
I head out first thing in the morning...make a pit stop along the way at the Worlds Largest Thermometer for gas and a diet coke, pick up Ambrosia from the Las Vegas airport and head to The Green Valley Ranch!

You can follow me via facebook (NOT WHILE I AM DRIVING, duh..I am a No-Phone Zone girl) and will try my best to update from on location..

Here is a recap of last year...PEI (Post Event Ick)

See you soon!

 

I love hearts..and felt...

and I love South Africa and I do not think that it is a coincidence that my initials are SA!

 
Two weeks from right now I will be at LAX waiting to board a plane headed to South Africa...YIKES!  I am going there to re-connect with my BFF on the other side of the world, to teach, to share, to create and to help and because you are such good blog friends, I knew that you would help me help them..

"them" would be the loving ladies at The Heartfelt Project, one of the service projects I will be participating in while I am in Africa and I do not think that it is a coincidence that I love hearts and I love felt and the name of their foundation is "Heartfelt"...

You can read more about them here http://www.theheartfeltproject.com/content/view/12/26/

So how can you help me..help them...

with felt.

that is it,

just felt.

if you have any scraps or pieces that I can pack in my already overflowing suitcases, please let me know!  Every piece makes a difference! You can email me at homegrown1@att.net

Thanks friends...

Today..Practice Patience

 “With love and patience, nothing is impossible.” 

 
one of my all time favorite photos, at the OC Fair in 1997 waiting for the boys while the play games and ut, um, win stuff.

 
and then walking to the car...

I love this guy, more than you know!

Today...practice patience and gently remind others to do the same.

Pass it on....

I found this quote on my sweet friend Amber's blog this morning and it is so important to read, think about, practice and pass on to others...

 

Happy Saturday!

Filled Friday

is the best way to put it.

I have a list (shown is only page one!) that is long but getting shorter, felt that needs to be cut, a class that needs to be kitted...for TONIGHT...150 other kits that need to be finished, a delivery truck that NEEDS to get here in the next few hours...and 1001 other things that need and will get done and I am so thankful (and a little confused, kinda!) that I am completely without STRESS or worry....because regardless..it will all get done..eventually (i hope!)

 
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds." Phil 4:6-7

Hope that your FRIDAY is filled and stress free...and if you are stressed, let it go, pray about it, wish it away or at least write it down and get it our of your head!

It works.

The Amazing Journey.."Leap"

For the past several weeks, I have been posting on Thursdays about what "An Amazing Journey" life is..even when you feel that it is not so "amazing" and today is short and sweet...to the point.

 
Be the best YOU.

Be Authentic.

Be True.

Be Honest.

Be a "Trailer Park Martha" and make the best of what your situation with what you have, even if it means making a really good dinner from a 10 cent pack of Top Roman....but make lots and share it with neighbors.

Do not "wait" for the world to change, for the economy to "get better", for the "right time"...get up and be the BEST YOU...take that leap that you have been hesitating to take...