Homegrown Hospitality

Hope

In the 52 Week Pickup 2014 class, this weeks word is HOPE and because HOPE is something we all need to have I felt a reminder needed to be shared here too..

Hope is not wishful, positive thinking or optimisim..HOPE is knowing that when things are really bad, you still have faith in God. That NO MATTER WHAT, even if you "feel" hopeless, the more you trust in God, the more power you have.

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Do Something

Doing something has been on my mind more than anything in the past several years and things are falling into the places that they are supposed to. 

"Do all the good you can, 
By all the means you can, 
In all the ways you can, 
In all the places you can, 
At all the times you can, 
To all the people you can, 
As long as ever you can."

John Wesley

 

In the spirit and purpose of doing something, here is another great article about my new friends in India and soon I will be able to share more.

Queen Bee Market

Next weekend is the Queen Bee Market in Oceanside, CA just a short 40 minute drive from me and I will be there selling my wares.

gulp.

Now, it is ridiculous that I "gulp" because really, I am a veteran of boutiques but it has been a long, long time since I last participated in one and I have been feeling the gremlins starting to creep up.  So much that I tried to back out of participating.  

loser.

It was just about the time that the words were flowing out of my mouth that I realized that not only had I made a commitment to Mique and all of the hard work she puts into the event, but mostly because I was afraid.  (this is me throwing myself under the bus)

dumb dumb.

When I realized that I was afraid, it was that same day that I read Melody's post about showing up, then I had some heart to heart prayers with God, the fear went away, I karate chopped the gremlins and then, I got to work on my projects to display and sell.

Fear keeps you from being what God wants you to be. 

whew!

When you are afraid, scared and or unsure...those are the signs that you just might be on the right path...KEEP GOING!  See you next Friday night and Saturday at the Queen Bee Market. Come say hello! 

p.s. for those who can not attend, the leftovers will be sold here on my blog!

New Friends

I want to introduce you to some of my new friends.  My hope is that you take a little time to read, explore and listen to them and then see what stirs in your heart..

 

Daughters of Hope from Dylan Fila on Vimeo.

This is just the beginning of a new journey and I am so excited to take you on it with me... 

No Lines

You can add your thoughts, draw in lines, add more doodles, you can color it or you can leave it just the way it is but I would love to see what you do with Download Nolineslist.  

Create something with the "No Lines"  Download Nolineslist and show me what you do with it.  I will come back in awhile and show you what I am going to do...

email me your photos at homegrown1(at)att(dot)net

Ready..set..go! ( not really, it is not a race)

 

Showing Up & Being Brave

Did you read Melody's post about showing up? If you haven't or do not know Melody, you should. You just should.

I want to share this old photo of Mel and I sitting on the floor in a hotel room a long time ago.There were so many things going on in life for both of us. I have a kleenex in my hand and that kleenex reminds me of specific situations where whether she realized it or not, she was already teaching me (and many others) the importance of showing up.Don't hide from the things that are scaring you.  When you are feeling stretched and uncomfortable, that is the moment you really know you MUST show up and put your faith over the fear.  

Transform & My Story - The Dark and the Light

I wrote down this quote during the Easter message at church* and taped it firmly to my Documented Life Journal:Holy cow could I have used this quote about 10,000 times in my life and I should probably tattoo it on my other foot.

For as far back as I can remember, I was that girl, that when the sun went down, I started to worry and when there was nothing to "worry" about, I found something to worry about. (true story just ask my mom)

Why I was that way doesn't matter but what does matter is that I learned so much along the way that I am able to tell you that when you are worried, afraid, feeling alone, when your world is turned inside-out and upside down...

it will all be okay.

it will.

It is a promise.

You are NEVER alone (even when you feel like you are) and are loved  more than you will ever understand.

When it gets dark you gotta PUSH throughand reach out to others.  DO NOT HIDE UNDER THE COVERS.

*click the link above to watch the Easter message.

Dreaming Big Dreams

I have been working on, praying about and documenting what exactly "dreaming big dreams" means at our house, in our lives and for the lives of others.  First and foremost, for me, I needed to allow myself the opportunity for possibilities. That may sound silly but the truth is, I have always thought that "those things" happen for others and I was just doing what I was supposed to be doing.. on the sidelines.

So sorry that I am talking in code. It is not quite time to share but what I do want to tell you is that YOU need to open your heart to all that is possible. Allow yourself to dream big dreams because it is all possible.

It may have taken me 44 years of unconsciously building walls, creating excuses and putting up barriers, but in the first week of 45, I think my heart is going to explode and is overflowing daily with HOPE and possibilities since I allowed myself to let it all happen.

Why I waited so long, who knows..but I have learned a lesson and now, I am going to continually yet gently push you.

Open up your heart.  

Let it happen.

Dream BIG.

 

Don't miss out on the blessings GOD has for you and for the job HE has for you do.

Tuesday Tutorial Flashback

Remember these ol' friends from a few years back?  

Here is my original post about these eggs.  The steps and technique are the same except that instead of using Mod Podge, I would switch over to using Multi Matte Medium (same as "GlueNSeal") because it is not sticky. These eggs inspired an egg that I created for a fun little online contest at Saddleback  

and then I "hid" in my own refrigerator for someone to find while making eggs and guess what?  I won this weeks contest! (I probably had "help" winning because it was God who gave me the idea!)

CONGRATULATIONS to Stephanie Ackerman for winning this week's #HopeofEaster Egg Decorating Contest. We still have one more prize to give away next Monday. Decorate an egg and share the Hope of Easter with others by posting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using #HopeofEaster

Have a great day and if you do something "eggciting" with an egg, share it with me.  I would love to see what you are creating.

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way...

to Oklahoma.

Oh how I have a lot to tell you, but today, I need to decompress, unpack and celebrate the first day of our Spring Break..

THANK YOU ALL for your birthday wishes!  This was waiting for me when I got home (insert heart overflowing!!!) I am excited to start the second 1/2 of my life and am celebrating being 1/2 to 90!

See you tomorrow!