feast and famine

We are back home after a whirlwind Thanksgiving.  We had SO much fun with our stand-in NC family!  We ate like kings.  The kids played HARD!  The grown-ups got all our shopping done and lots of visiting in:)  Asheville was amazing.  It was good...really good!

I'm kind of exhausted to tell ya the truth.  Been traveling ALOT lately, so I'm condensing the pics into a couple of collages...here's a snippet of our weekend.  It's a mix of Thanksgiving yumminess, the Biltmore Mansion in all it's grandeur, and a hike to Triple Falls...where the Hunger Games was filmed!

Instagram pictures...farmgirlpaints

 

The trip was full of lots of things to be thankful for, but it also had a couple hiccup moments.  We got a speeding ticket on the way to the Hutchinson's house.  SO not cool.  It was a speed trap.  The cop was sitting at the bottom of a steep hill and our cruise was on and...well you know how that isn't the most accurate at keeping your speed on a hill.  We got nailed:( 

Then when we got home there was another unfortunate surprise.  The shipment with my cuff supplies came in the mail and the package was completely EMPTY!!  This has happened before:/  Apparently we have a thief at our post office!!  Anyway it was not a happy moment for me and I have to admit it completely stole my joy...for more than a day.  Grrrrrrrrr.  It didn't get resolved.  I had to repay to get the order resent, and for my small business that stung...aLOT!


So this morning when I flipped open my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young and these words popped out at me, it was apparent the Lord was trying to get my attention.  My Thanksgiving to Him is a sacrifice.  Praising Him and keeping focused on the good things...the blessings in my life are an offering.  I'd never really thought of it that way before. 


Our hearts have to be protected because this world is full of disappointments.  Every day will have it's unforeseen challenges and we have to make a concentrated effort to not let those things distract us from all the good we have.  Because WE ARE BLESSED!!!!  So so sooooo blessed!  I needed that reminder.

Be a blessing.

 

In case you missed it...Alicia's cute shop is only open until December 15th.  She's offering 20% off if you use FARMGIRL20 in the coupon code.  Bop over there.  Super cute stuff!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

890.  this gorgeous shawl sent to me by my talented IG friend...

891.  reminders to slow down

892.  turkey, gravy, sweet potato souffle and and and... feasting!!!

893.  the Hutchinson's

894.  Christmas music that makes me hum under my breath

 

 

never forgotten

I've had the word forgotten mulling around in my brain lately.  I'm in a transition state.  My honey has taken a new job.  Yes, another job!  And it's a good thing.  A God thing.  I believe with all my heart we moved here in a round about way for him to take this position.  Only thing is...it's not here.  He's commuting to DC for part of the week...and no we are not planning another move.  It's going to be our new normal.  It will be fine...better than fine.  There's just that initial change.

And with that change comes some new quiet time.  Quiet for me to think about what's going on in my own life.  Quiet for me to just sit still.  And to be honest I'm not used to quiet.  I fill my time with phone calls and IG banter and playdates with friends.  I don't know how to be alone and not feel a little forgotten. 

And I know that I know I'm not forgotten.  I'm not sitting useless.  His words...His promises remind me of that in Psalms 139.

You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

 

 

 

I'm precious to Him.  I'm one of a kind.  He made me fragrant and beautiful.  I just need to walk in that truth and run to Him when I feel lonely.  Run to him instead of my phone.  Run to him instead of going down that self pity path.  He's the only one that can fill any feeling of void.  I'm never alone...never forgotten.  And neither are you...

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

833.  new opportunities to listen

834.  reminders that i'm never alone

835.  a new job for my Honey

836.  peppermint mocha creamer

837.  psalms 139

 

 

completion and shop news

 

I grew up in a really old farmhouse.  We didn't have heat upstairs and in the winter some mornings snow would even line my windowsills.  Sounds crazy right??  Kinda like camping, but not!  Because of the cold our pipes froze to the upstairs bathroom when I was little.  Like maybe three or four years old little.  So for all those years we only had one bathroom...downstairs.  No biggie except that the doors creaked, the stairs creaked and there was NO HEAT!  Oh and never mind that when there's no bathroom you have to get up at least 10 times a night right;)??   


Anyhoo this summer when I went home I finally got to see the bathroom restored.   It was bliss let me tell you.  BLISS:))  I spent as much time in that room as I could.  The window was cracked open to the countryside...a cool breeze coming in.  I'd soak in the tub and reminisce.

I thought about when I was a little girl and took baths up there.  I thought about the chigger bites on my legs my momma put cream on.  And that was about it.  I can't remember anymore because it's been SO long that bathroom hasn't worked!!  I do however remember my mom and dad talking about getting it fixed FOREVER. 





My dad...God bless his soul...is probably the biggest procrastinator there is.  He's slow.  He's deliberate.  He really doesn't know what to do to fix something, so he puts it off...and off and off.  And for as long as I can remember my mom has nagged him about something needing done.  I grew up hearing that banter.  I grew up seeing my dad rarely finish a project, and something resolute set in me.  I knew I didn't want to be that way.  I wanted to finish what I started.  I didn't want to put things off.  I wanted to be a completer!

Well here I am all these years later.  And I can say that up until recently I've been that way.  I've never been one to procrastinate.  If there was something to be done I didn't dilly dally.  BUT I've seen a shift in me, and I don't like it.  Laundry can sit in baskets folded for a week.  Just because I don't like putting it away.  My bathroom can be disgusting.  And what would take 2 or 3 minutes to remedy can annoy me for days.


It's seeped into my work as well.  I've gotten to the point that I put off custom painting because it's not what I want to do.  The desire to paint something specific...something other than what I want, makes me not want to even begin.  I know there are reasons for the shift.  Have I become lazy?  Am I afraid to start??...wanting it to be perfect.  There is always a reason.  And as for my dad I'm sure it was probably overwhelming because he didn't know exactly what to do...so he did nothing.

I'm thinking that for me it's more than just laziness and the strive for perfection.  I've had a project on my heart forever, and I haven't really known where to begin.  Then other things keep me distracted and busy and, and, and...I just never begin. 


So I'm carving out time.  I've felt led to close my shop down December 15th and I'm leaving it closed until Feb.  I'm hoping this little break will allow me to focus.  Oh and I'm no longer doing custom house paintings...eeek!!  It's time to move on.  All that to say...if ya want something...a cuff, necklace...something made just for you.  Let me know now:) 


I've got a few coupons out there.  My friends Tiffini and Carissa have one going and there will be a couple more.  Thank you so much for supporting me.  I promise I'll reopen.  And hopefully I'll have some exciting new things in the works:)

Have a blessed weekend.

 

 

 

 

817.  my little chick's 9th bday...more pics to come




818.  the privilege of motherhood
819.  donuts
820.  new tennis shoes
821.  knitting;)
822.  mom and dad going to AZ today...praying they get their final goodbyes in

utterly yours

It's funny how God puts people in your life to help you along the way.  A conversation with a friend, a forwarded email and a decision to pursue an assignment really opened my eyes to some beauty this week. 



I've been struggling a bit with self worth.  Where does my worth come from? Why do I feel like I'm on a constant roller coaster of acceptance of who I am??  My favorite scripture passage of all time is Psalms 139.  My assignment is to read it every day this week and rewrite it in my own words. Maybe you should too.  This is my interpretation.

You know me so well Lord.  You know what I'm going to do before I do it!  You see my struggle, my anxious thoughts.  You put me on the right course by placing your hand on my head.

No matter where I end up you are already there.  You keep me from falling, you keep me from that hole.  You are right there every step...protecting me.  Helicoptering my every move...ready to scoop me up if necessary.

You love me so much that you had a plan for me before I was even conceived.  You watched me take shape.  You orchestrated the whole thing...giving breath and life to my being.  You know me inside and out.  You are my Creator and I am your beloved creation...utterly yours.

Because of that fact you think about me all the time.  You want the best for my life and countlessly check in on my daily walk. 

Because of your devotion to me shouldn't I despise sin and those in opposition to you?  Shouldn't I defend you at all costs??

More than anything I want my life to be pleasing to you.  Use me Lord.  Show me what needs to change...the things that make you unhappy and reveal to me your perfect plan...your unwavering path for my every footstep.  This is my prayer.

Love it when His words become my words.  This is where my self worth comes from!! This is who I am!  His beautiful, one of a kind creation.  Perfect in His sight.  Made for a purpose and a plan.  I don't have to have anything figured out.  He already does. 

Have a blessed day.

679.  wide open spaces filled with beauty

680.  God's words written as a love letter to me

681.  tears that heal...

682.  yellow

683.  belonging to someone bigger than myself

684.  my girls who remind me daily how to love

master list and avocado burgers

One of the first things I do in the morning is check my phone. I delete a ton of junk emails, and then I check in with my Instagram friends. They are usually bright eyed and bushy tailed, most showing pics of steamy mugs of coffee and underlined scripture passages. It makes me smile. It makes me line up in thought. It makes me want to crack open my own Bible to see what God has for me.

John 15 is where it fell open this morning, and it was just what I needed.  I've been making lists.  I have several actually.  My master list is staring at me right now.  It's funny Alicia and I were just talking about this over the weekend. 


We've got dreams and things we would love to see happen in our lives and we want to figure it all out.  We've got to have a PLAN.  The problem is I have SO many things that I don't even know where to begin.  I'm not sure where to start and so I don't.  My list just sits on my desk teasing me.  When I was reading this passage this morning the "apart from me you can't do a thing," caught my eye. 


Maybe I've been planning (list making) a little too much.  Maybe I've been turning my wheels and not figuring out how to begin because I haven't really asked HIM for direction or help.  Maybe I'm a big useless branch that needs pruning back a bit to become stronger?  Regardless, it made me stop for a minute and realign.  I want to be fruitful.  I want a harvest...a BIG ONE, but I can't do it alone. I just can't.




The other day we decided to paint some farm animals.  I set up a table for the girls in my workroom and off they went...paint brushes flying.  By the time it was all said and done there were tears...big giant crocodile tears of frustration. 


Usually these feelings are reserved for me, but today it was my chicks;)  Both of them were so disappointed in their art work.  I kept telling them it's only paint, you can paint over it.  But in the back of my mind I'm thinking I totally get it.  How am I supposed to tell them to calm down and not worry about their craft when I do the same thing almost every time I create something??

[A quiet little spot we found in Williamsburg this week.]

Having a vision and not knowing how to get it to look like what you have in mind is frustrating.  We don't always know how to get from point A to point B.  We want it to wrap up all nice and neat and sometimes it just looks like a giant mess.  That's usually when I want to quit or never begin in the first place.  There is some fear involved with having dreams.  There is the potential to fail...to feel defeated or just plain rejected.  But what if...WHAT IF...we give it over...tie into the "vine" and expect HIS MASTER LIST to unfold??  It says our cup of joy will overflow!  OVERFLOW!!!!  I know I'm ready for that. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay people this is good. 

Like get out a pen and paper right now GOOD.  These are my friend

Suzanne's Avocado Burgers.  She made them for us for dinner once and we were moaning and our eyes were rolling in the back of our heads. 

You'll need:
2 pounds of ground beef
1 mashed avocado
4 oz. can of diced green chilies (I didn't have this...substituted for half a can of green enchilada sauce)
1/4 cup chopped green onion (didn't have this either)
2 cloves of garlic minced (I used garlic from a jar)
1T of lemon pepper
1t of salt


Mash the avocado and mix all the other ingredients together.  Grill over medium heat for 5-7 minutes.  Top with shredded cheese.  Serve on toasted bun...makes 8 patties.

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You know the drill. If you want to party, grab my button, link up to a recipe post and let's FEED OUR FAMILIES:)

Have a blessed day.

656.  Lenina's bruschetta

657.  a prayer request being answered

658.  alone time with my big chick

659.  the porch swing being fixed by my honey

660.  cooler weather this week

661.  the fabulous amy bramer is finally opening her vintage inspired etsy shop today...check it out!!!!  it's gonna be great:)

our happy place

There is something about the morning light filtering into our home.  My living room becomes brushed with soft shadows and a certain sense of joy fills my soul at a new day...a sun filled blank canvas. 


The windows have been bare so long I really just got used to them.  I didn't have grand plans to dress them.  I was a little afraid actually to block any light.  I'm a light girl.  I desperately need it, so I was surprised at how much I fell in love with these IKEA curtains.  They warmed up the space so much.  Seriously I think IKEA needs to be paying me or something.  I'm like a walking commercial lately;)

Honey loves them too.  I don't know how many times he commented on them.  Love it when that happens.  Usually I'm talking him into things...didn't have to this time;)   I thought the fuzzy polka dots might be too much.  So wrong!

While I was editing I found some more sweet moments from my parent's visit.  Here's mom giving dad an impromptu haircut in the yard.  Remember we are just country folk.  The neighbors just have to get used to it;)

Little Chick loves a good game of UNO.  She rocks it too.  Competitive little thing!

 

Every day mom called home to leave a message FOR THE CAT!  It was hilarious...here's an excerpt...Molly it's momma.  I just want you to know we'll be home in a few days.  Make sure to eat your food and drink your water, and when Jim comes over to take care of you come out and say hi.  Don't hide.  I don't want to worry about you.  We love you Molly.  Sam and Kaley (the dogs) do too.  Keep the faith. 


That's my momma;)

Big Chick had to give a concert of course;)  We just signed her up for her electives next year.  Switching back to band.  We are just not pleased with the orchestra program here.  I think band will be more fun...more music...the chance to march eventually.  We are going to look into private lessons for the viola.  She's just a music lover through and through.

Candid shots of my dad coloring.  I love how whenever crayons are around they somehow find their way into his hands.  He loves to color.  Love that childlike side to him.

Story telling time with Grandma Dixie.  My mom can spin a tale.

Okay so I saw a door painted with chalkboard paint recently and swooned.  We recently took off a door and I knew just what to do with it.

Oh how I love chalkboard markers.  They work like a charm.  You can get them at Joann's.  Got the fun knob at Hobby Lobby of course.

This corner was the perfect spot...all nestled in with the polka dot lacy curtains.  We love this Bible verse.  What a great reminder to let God build the house...to not try and do it yourself.  Oh how I need that reminder every.single.day:)  The room is officially finished.  It's our happy place.  It feels like this house was always supposed to be ours. 

Have a happy blessed leap day;)

455.  chalkboard paint

456.  creative inspiration

457.  HOME

458.  coloring outside the lines

459.  a handy honey
460.  energy
461.  friends who bring me herbal supplements when i don't feel good
462.  silky hair