Love Yourself

Good Morning Beloved Reader.

Let's start this blog off on the right foot, or I guess if you prefer the left foot that's fine too, but let's start by talking about a quote shall we?

 “If you put a small value on yourself, rest as- 

sured that the world will not raise your price.” 

I absolutely love the above quote.  It makes me think of this scripture;
"Love your neighbor as you LOVE yourself"
We will come back to that later, because It also makes me think about those two beauties in the above picture.
Why? You ask.
Well,  I have noticed something, I'm not sure when it happened but my girls have turned into young women, and not just ANY young women. They are young women who walk around with a healthy dose of value, self worth, confidence, and wisdom.
It seemed like only yesterday that they were playing with dolls and giving each other rides around the house in the laundry baskets.  And now they look like this;

The one on the left is only 14 people.  FOURTEEN!! The one on the right ... well let's not mention how old she's going to be in a few months!
Back to the one on the left...
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to let her wear that red lipstick anymore. (Insert emoticon with a straight face and eyes wide open)  Ahem...  I'm also pretty sure I want her new favorite accessory of choice to be a brown paper bag with only the eye sockets cut out!! It's a good thing her dad is a GIANT named Moses or I'd be really worried.   But, you know I'm really not that worried because back to that quote up there this girl, my girl Chloe, has a high value for herself that I'm fairly certain will keep her from most things that most moms would worry about with a 14 year old daughter that looks like she's  TWENTY TWO!!
Yes, I'm raising two beautiful girls that not only value themselves but they truly are wise beyond their years. I know with complete certainty that this value and wisdom comes from their personal relationships with Jesus so I'm not about to take credit for it.
  But I also know that this world works night and day to try and de-value them. The world and it's message to these young women is working over time to tell them they aren't skinny enough, pretty enough, athletic enough, rich enough, witty enough, smart enough,  enough. enough.  enough.
I tire so quickly of that message.  In fact every new day I need a new message.  I need to hear that I'm loved, valued, appreciated, honored, treasured and so on and so forth.  I know that my girls need to hear this as well. And I would bet my 1966 vw buggy named Lucy Blue that it's a message YOU need to hear as well!
This message raises the price of my value by immeasurable numbers.  This message is one I can find readily available to me at any given moment.  It's also where I have read over a thousand times' "Love your neighbor as YOU LOVE YOURSELF"
A few weeks back my friend who also happens to be a Pastor and a really great teacher, he spoke about loving yourself. It struck a chord with me because I think that for me it's easier to love my neighbor than it is to love myself. I don't know about you all but sometimes I need a healthy dose of self love. Not to become conceited and narcissistic but just to bring back into line my true worth. I really do think that ONLY after I receive that self love message am I able to truly go out and love my neighbor.
Did you know that you beloved reader were purchased with a price?

Raise your price today.

Love yourself.

Listen to the message that says this;

1 John 4:9-11 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Everyday Jesus sits waiting for us to listen to HIS message for us. 

He tries to speak to us in the trees of bright yellow, and the birds taking flight.

He tries to tell us that he made all of the beautiful things on this earth for us to enjoy and be filled with joy. 

I wonder, are we listening?

A Little Promo Time

Howdy Beloved Reader- I miss you. I don't have time to blog but I just wanted to say that I wish I did. Instead of blogging let me show you what I've been up to in pictures.

I took this picture this morning on a little site called Instagram. You may have heard of it.  I have been on this picture taking app long before it got bought by Facebook. Long before it had sponsors. Long before anyone even knew it was there. And today I just shot my 2500 picture on there. That's a whole lotta insta- grams ;) wouldn't you say? If you have time to look at 2500 pictures and can come back here and tell me what my first photo on there was there might .. No, there WILL be a prize in it for you!! I posted the pic with this lil blurb; "It's good to be reminded that no matter how fierce the storm may blow, at the end when the wind dies down and the rain stops Gods promises are true and HE is beyond faithful."
Here's where you can find me on there; NoDotss Just so you know its where I check in (social media wise)more often than anywhere else. Shh.... don't tell my blog ;)
When I'm not taking 2000 + photos I've been preparing for the McQueen Craft Show coming up. I now have two children that attend McQueen High School and so it gives me great pleasure to be a part of this craft show, because all the proceeds go to the students of McQueen.  Here's some of the stuff you might see at my booth if you come out and see me this weekend.

Vintage Pillow Case Aprons, pattern and design by yours truly ;)

Sweater Felted Headbands modeled by the LOVERLY Chloe Nashelle, 

And Embroidered Hoops with some pretty darn funny quotes on them.

Those are just a few teasers of what will be at my table.

I'm super excited to be teaming up with my friend Jami this year.

If you live in the Reno, Nevada area the show is Friday, Sat, Sunday and I hope to see you there!

McQueen Craft Faire Info

Well, now you know why I have been ignoring you.

I hope to pay closer attention to you next week sometime, but in the meantime here are some other great blog reads that I favor; 

In Praise of Leftovers- This blog not only gives you great recipes, but lovely inspiration from my friend Sarah who lives in Washington.

Caterfly Lara- This soon to be a (very well known author) is not only an amazing encourager to any woman but a salt of the earth kind of gal! Lara and her blog will not disappoint. 

Mothering with Creativity-   This momma of 4 is not only creative but she is down right, AMAZING!! If you are a stay at home mom, and or a home schooler you NEED to read this blog. 

That's all I've got for now Beloved Reader...

Happy Reading !