Velveteen Rabbit, Billy Ocean, and A New Tattoo (trust me I'm going to make this work)

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

- Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Yesterday afternoon my oldest daughter and her choir put on a concert for a 90 year old woman who has been an active influence in the world of art and music here in Reno for over 50 years. It was an awesome event to celebrate her life and while I watched her play on stage with the other band members I started to think about the above quote. I absolutely love the above quote.  It really applies to life as a human being as well as life as a Velveteen Rabbit. I miss the days of reading the Velveteen Rabbit, but when I was a child I never even knew the depth of this quote. One of the main reasons I love that quote is because it reminds me that life is a process. There is no final, or test that you take to say you have graduated, or you have now become who you are going to be.  You just become. It really does take a very long time to become. In watching the 90 year old woman last night I thought to myself, not even this lady has become. She still has more memories to make and more lessons to learn, although it seems hard to believe but I bet if you asked her she would tell you that it's true. You never stop learning. You never stop becoming.  It really does take a long time to become. Upon turning 40 years old I thought if a person was ever going to be done with the whole becoming process it should be about half way through this life don't cha think?  But no, as it turns out, it's really not even close. I mean, sure it's closer than it was when I turned 20 but still so much more becoming is needed. I look at older ladies in my life and see how secure they are in their skin and how confident their voices are and  I think I want that even more than I have it now, but I'm pretty sure its wrapped up in... you guessed it... more becoming. It really does take a long time to become. I don't want to be one that breaks easily either.  There's a scripture in Proverbs that says,   "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."  This scripture has always reminded me of that old Billy Ocean song, When the going gets tough the tough get going! I think we should listen to that song and have a little dance party at the end ...  What do you say, who's with me? Let's get back on topic for now though...  The wisdom in that proverb is that in this life there are going to be days, weeks, maybe even months or quite possibly years of adversity but that is when we have to push through and keep looking up, or  work on those tough muscles or get going like Billy says! Speaking of looking UP, this past Friday I finally got Carl here, from the Disney movie UP tattooed on my inner arm. Can you say OUCH!!

He (Carl) is a perfect example of this becoming business. He thought when his wife died his becoming was over... but OH what joy awaited him when he started to become someone else, someone he always wanted to be. I'm going to move on because even just thinking about that movie gets me weepy. (Because remember when Isaiah turned 5 and had an UP themed bday party?)

I'll be honest, one of the reasons that scripture has always stood out to me is because I don't like adversity. I don't do hard or complicated or tough very well.  I like happy, sunny, champaign wishes and caviar dreams, (only minus the caviar... bleh!) But real life is not like that.  We have to go through the bad that makes the good that much more betta! It really does take a long time to become.
And let's talk about sharp edges.  Have you ever noticed those grumpy old people with so many edges it's hard to be the same room with them? Kinda like Carl before he met Russell. Don't cha just love that Russell kid? Oh wait, sorry I keep getting distracted all I know is that I don't want to become... like that. I know for me there is still so much more life ahead and rather than being worn out and leathered by the storms of life that come my way I want to be like a fine wine that only gets better, not the kind that turns to vinegar. So that being said, let's become well together and don't forget to DANCE!!

Fruit Cake, Fonts, and Funks

Hello There Beloved Reader- I'm sitting here getting drunk on my Momma Nash's amazing fruit cake and drinking coffee.  I should be crafting and creating getting ready for another Craft show tomorrow, but I'm in kind of a FUNK! Are you familiar with the FUNK? I tried taking a shower to wash it off but that didn't work. I'm on my third cup of coffee hoping that the caffeine will kick in and that will help the FUNK find another home. And currently, while eating this delectable fruit cake I'm hoping I can eat it away.
BUT... alas, from previous FUNK days I know none of this will work. 
Maybe if I change the font on this blog post and have one more bite of this delish dish it will slowly work it's way out of my system. I suppose if I was an athlete I'd be going for a run right now, but I don't run, unless someone's chasing me, and even then I might just stop mid sprint and give them what they want to avoid running!!
That font wasn't happy enough.
Maybe I need a happy picture...

That did make me smile.  I love the phrase too. Seize the Day. Carpe Diem. I would be doing the EXACT opposite of that.  Today I'm sitting here and the only thing I'm seizing is this damn good fruit cake.  Which, I have to say now that I have had my self a healthy piece of it, I am starting to feel a little bit better.  There is SO much LOVE in this fruit cake that my mom-in-love made us. I can almost feel her big warm bear hug coming through it.  Along with Lots o Love it is also loaded with nuts, fruits, and some kind of strong alcohol that makes for one of THE best fruit cakes I have EVER had. Did I mention I didn't even like fruit cakes until I had a piece of Momma Nash's fruit cake? Man alive is that woman ever talented!!
Let's try another font shall we and maybe let's slant it a bit...
Because I'm starting to feel a little slanted. Maybe it's the fruit cake or maybe it's words in different fonts, or maybe it's just being here with you but I actually do feel better now that I have bared my soul to you.  Thank you as always for listening and for helping me fight the funk!! Even though, technically you didn't do anything you listened, or at least it feels like you listened. I'm reminded of You've Got Mail right now,
"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void."
And with that I will leave you for now, maybe it's time for a tiny bit more of fruit cake?

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?

Thoughts to Ponder

Happy Friday Beloved Reader! I have a few thoughts for you to ponder this Friday morning, and it might just take you the whole weekend to read, and get back to me cause it's a long lil rant here. I do hope you enjoy my ponderings though, and please, please get back to me with your own ponderings or if you don't ponder at least leave a mark to let me know you were here.  I like to hear what your thinking too ya know ;)
This whole blog started because I read the quote below;
"To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;  to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived... This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The above quote really got to me a few mornings ago. It was from the desk calendar full of quotes, that I have on our bathroom sink. Upon reading it, I thought two things; 
a. this quote for sure needs to be blogged about, so I have had this blog post waiting in the wings. and 2. who the heck is Ralph Waldo Emerson, because whoever he was/is this quote sums up and completely embodies the word success for me?
So I did some digging before I came to have this conversation with you beloved reader, and I found out some things about Ralph. But, before I go any further I just have to say that the name Ralph always makes me think of a very unpleasant bodily function. I do so apologize if your name is Ralph, but there you have it.  
Moving on before we all get a lil queasy ...
The first thing I found out about Ralph is that he was born in Boston, MA. which explains why he's so awesome. Most of my favorite people were born, and raised there and well, I can honestly say, that state has given this world some amazing people. I always say that I feel I was born on the wrong side of the states;) Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the beautiful scene here from North Boston? Remember, to appreciate beauty equates success.  Or so Ralph says ;)

  He also went to H A W VARD(say that with a Bostonian accent) clue number two as to why this man was brilliant. I wonder if he was a baseball fan?  Well, he did say to play and laugh with enthusiasm equals success so I'm pretty sure he would have appreciated the best baseball fans on the planet earth. They ARE certainly the most enthusiastic, I mean come on what other ball club do ya know that bust out singing Neil Diamond songs during the 7th inning stretch?   The most beautiful thing in Boston to me is...

Fenway Park.  Enough said.
Actually, I take that back, the most beautiful thing in Boston to me is my family. All of whom I love dearly, and wish on a regular basis that they didn't live so damn far away. Sheesh... see how easy it is for me to sidetrack when we get talking baseball. But, let's get back to Ralphing shall we? I mean to learning about Ralph.

So then I read that his first wife died after only two years of marriage, which really bummed me out for him. I mean I wasn't totally bummed cause he's dead too now... but ya know I was like... Oh that's so sad. I then went on to read that he was a minister, but was quoted as saying:    "I have sometimes thought that, in order to be a good minister, it was necessary to leave the ministry."

Well, that really stuck out to me, because not only have my husband and I been in formal ministry but we have left it. And I'm not sure we are better ministers now that we aren't paid to do so, but I do know we have come think of ministry totally differently.I've come to believe we are all ministers, or at least we should be. I'm not sure I agree with this above statement, but I wonder what it was that he noticed about the church and ministry of his religious organization that would make him say that?
Maybe it was something like what happened here; You Brought Me a Beer and Took My Picture this is an article about a new bill that was recently passed where it allows business owners and individuals to refuse service to anyone on the grounds of religious freedom. Very interesting article and sadly, how it came to pass is so very disturbing to me.
Whatever your stance on this issue may be, can we all agree these are the type of stories that give religion a bad name.  I'm pretty sure that as Christ followers we are called, commissioned even to love and accept ALL people, not just the ones that are easy and comfortable for us to love.
This issue is one of those social conditions we could redeem, or make a little bit better than the way we've found it.  It's about LOVE people.

We are all called to leave the world a little bit better than the way we found it, that's what I call ministry to the human race.
As I continued to read about Ralph's life story, I was really inspired by the way he came to view it.  Honestly, his life story is a beautiful one. He became an adamant spokes person to abolish slavery, and came to have an understanding of God and all things spiritual that I think is beautiful.
We all will have a life story, what will yours read like?
At the end of my little history lesson about this man named Ralph, who by the way later decided to go by his middle name Waldo (see even he didn't really care for his name) I realized once again why I love words so very much.
I would have never known of this Ralph Waldo Emerson if it weren't for the words he had spoken about what true success is. And that made me wonder, what is your take on what true success is? Whose words influence you the most? What words will you speak that will forever change the world ?
The words I hope and pray I live by come from a man who also happened to be God, some 2000 years ago... they go something like this;
 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” Jesus WORDS From the gospel of John  chapter 13:34-35  Message  translation
I want to be recognized as one who LOVES because Christ first loved me.  I want to leave a legacy of LOVE even when it isn't easy to do so. And I want to speak out using words only when necessary. I want my actions of LOVE to be louder than my words.  That is the life I hope to live and that to me would be success. 

Hope

“Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist. It is the hope that they won't last forever. That hurts will be healed and difficulties overcome. That we will be led out of the darkness and into the sunshine.”

I love this anonymous quote for several reasons. The main reason
I love it so much is because it's content is so very true. There is something in this quote that reminds me that this world is not my home. No matter what the trouble is it won't last forever because nothing ever does last forever. The only one who lasts forever and who is worthy of all our hope and trust is Jesus. He said he would never leave us or forsake us, and that is something that gives me a tremendous amount of hope. I suppose the funny thing is that when I am going through hard times I seem to forget all those promises and good things. I forget that my Heavenly Father is right there willing and waiting to help me through. Hard times have a way of making you feel like it will last forever, but it never really does.
The other reason I love this quote is because it uses a word that I love so very much;
H O P E.
I have hung out, lingered long, and truly studied the word hope. Most of you know that I am a words person and one of my all time favorite words is hope.  I am also a very hopeful person in nature. The eternal optimist that is what I have self proclaimed myself to be. I suppose that is why I love the word hope.  But through the years I have come to understand this word so very differently.  My own journey views about hope were confirmed recently in an anointed lady who spoke at church a few weeks back. She shared the message of Hope and what that looks like for a child of God.  Our hope is different than the way the world hopes. The world knows hope as a word that has a lot of meaning. Kind of like how Love is used so flippantly in the English language, Hope is used in the same way. We hope for a raise, we hope for a new car, we hope to fall in love, all these things and so many more we put our hopes in.  Hope in God is so very different though.  It doesn't change with circumstance.  It remains through the dark nights of winter. It is the candle in the window that brings us home on a dark night.  Hope in God reminds us that we have nothing to fear. The bible says that perfect LOVE casts out all fear and I believe HOPE comes right behind that perfect LOVE and makes that casting out process stick kind of like glue.  Hope is the glue that keeps up going. And hope doesnt' have time for fear.

In recent talks with friends and family I am realizing something that seems to be a current theme in conversations regarding our country and the world at large, and that is fear. WE are afraid of the future instead of hopeful because we seem to be placing our hope and our trust in something that is temporal.  As big changes are coming for this country we are afraid of the unknown and how it will affect our everyday lives. It makes sense that we would become fearful when we look around. To really see the world all around us and take in what is happening I think  you would have to be a robot to not be afraid or at least keenly aware that very bad things are happening. It's also easy to become fearful when bad things have already happened to you and your own.  But OH beloved reader, we cannot remain in that place of fear because it means we've placed our hopes in something that isn't long for this world. 
There is only ONE eternal HOPE in this life. He is the lover of your soul.  He keeps reminding me to NOT be afraid.  To look to Him for all things and to not give up hoping for a better tomorrow.  Isn't that the gospel?  The good news?   That someone loves you, every part of you, and wants to give you a lasting HOPE. That there is someone we can place ALL our hope in and HE won't disappoint.  He knows exactly what we need and knows exactly when we need it. 
"Fear NOT, for I am with you; Be NOT dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with  my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
That is balm to my anxious, tired, weary heart.   No matter what you may be going through, I think those words right there bring such comfort.  Who at this present moment in life doesn't need strength, help, and support to be upheld in all of life's ups and downs? He promises to wipe every tear dry, heal my wounds, help me in difficulties and lead me from the darkness and into the light. 
Can I get an Amen?

Today YOU are YOU

Let me introduce you to

Chloe Nashelle....

She is the Punky Brewster of fashion in this family and we 

adore her for it.

Does this look like an Honor Student to you?

Well, believe it  or don't, last night I was at my daughter Chloe's Jr. Honor Society ceremony, and one of the speakers shared this quote from Dr. Suess ;
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
It got me thinking about how much I adore Dr. Suess.  The simple words he puts in poetic motion really do cut right down to the heart of the matter.
(Enter song- "I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter, but my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter.. but I think it's about  Forgiveness, Forgiveness " )  Boy do my thoughts ever seem to scatter these days.
Sorry random song interruption there.
Where were we? Oh right, Dr Suess... well I thought about that quote up there, and then I thought what an important message for young people to hear. Heck, that's an important message for Old People such as myself to hear!
Not just to hear it, but to know, really KNOW, that without a doubt there is a special thumbprint given to each and everyone of us.    I thought about another quote  "Comparison is the killer of Creativity" I think that was Einstein who said that. ( ?) He was another smart man. 
Then my thoughts traveled back to earlier in the day when all my kids were home and my daughter Em had a friend over and we got talking about the job of being a model and how difficult it would be to have that as a career because you are constantly being compared to others and judged for your looks.
What a shame that we don't have this message that Dr. Suess preached, ingrained, imbedded  in our hearts as well as our heads.
Think of how different our world would be if we all really understood, really grasped the concept of how truly unique each person was made. Created to be an individual. 
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
So  This is me... Telling you...  go on now, get your groove thing on. Find a Rhythm. Your rhythm. And sing it out loud and proud. 
ROCK ON!!
Oh and know that you are LOVED beyond measure...
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19
Like I said ROCK ON!!

Some Favorites and Happy 2013

Good Morning Beloved Reader and Happy New YEAR!!

My Giant said this morning, "2013 what does it all mean?" very Dr. Suessical like and it made me chuckle. Thought I'd just share that with you all. Not really sure why?  It has nothing to do with what I want to write about today, except that My Giant is my favorite.

(Here is My Giant on the Left with cousin Derek and Aaron, family is my favorite)
Speaking of favorites one of my favorite things to do with this here blogspot is go thru my favorite pictures at the end of the year and post them here.  It is a way of looking back and remembering the year, and let's just be honest my blog has become my online scrap book over the years, and my scrap book that is not online has gotten quite dusty.

(Niece Sophia Adelle aka Last Minute Bisquit a moment on Skype at the beginning of 2012, my first time seeing her home from the hospital, thank God for technology. It just about ripped my heart out to not be there and smell her newborn smell, and I can't believe she is One year old as of yesterday. Skype visits are my favorite.) Happy Birthday Sophia! So for the next few days I will be sharing some favorites with you. It's hard to pick just a few so if by a "few" you mean two then just prepare yourself that we might have a different definition of a "few." And if you don't like scrapbooks online or otherwise then this is not the spot for you, for the next few days my dear beloved reader.

(Solomon meeting Sophia, Jan 2012 cousins are my favorite) "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand,  and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:9-10

(Emma in the Snow Jan 2012 Kids in Snow is my favorite)

(My Giant and Isaiah fixing some stuff on the property, father son bonding is my favorite)

It's a new year and with any new year comes new beginnings. I'm not one for resolutions because I don't appreciate the cruel form of torture they provide in constantly reminding of how I epically fail at them, however ... I do like new beginnings. 

(Isaiah brushing his teeth in his favorite Batman/Nacho Libre/ I just like to wear masks, mask. This is a favorite because I don't know how much longer my baby who is now 8, will go around entertaining us by wearing masks. This picture was a moment in time where he didn't know I was looking and I have a few more before this one where he smiled and shot that winning melt my heart grin. Grins are my favorite.)

I think those pics are a good start to my "few" that I plan on sharing with you all.

Meet me back here tomorrow for some more, and have  a great first day in 2013!

" Great day, that's too much pressure. Oh, or have the day you're gonna have!"

That's my new favorite quote from the movie,

The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

And now I leave you with another favorite quote. 

Quotes are my favorite.

(This kid Zed head he's my favorite... shh... don't tell!

Also saying "you're my favorite" to each of my children is my favorite)

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.” 

― Mother Teresa

The Secret to Happiness

There is a picture that hangs in my kitchen.
It was a card that someone gave me at some point, and I loved it so much I framed it.
Now there is an idea for pinterest... framing cards... but I digress.

Anyway it is a picture of a woman that Mary Englebreit drew, and she is vacuming, dusting, and cleaning her house.
She has a flower in her mouth and a big smile on her face.

I love all things Mary Englebreit btw, in case you were wondering.
Her work reminds me of some very lovely ladies in my life who love her works even more than I do, and I think that is why I love her stuff so much.
But my love for all things M.E. is not the reason I framed this card.

I framed it for what it says.

Yes, you know, and I know I am a words person.

Chances are if there is an art piece that is on it's very own merit amazing,
I won't like it as much until I know what it's title or given name is.


It's like this;

I just think words bring everything together, like the thread you need to sow.
You need the fabric for the very essence of what you are making.
You need the scissors and needle, or the tool to make it.
But would it come together as well without the thread?
Would it stay together without the thread?
Sure you could use fabric glue, but it's just not the same as seeing a stitch.
The same is true with words.
If you forget to include words with your action, it could be taken the wrong way or your point might be lost all together.
Words are the threads in life to me.
They bring everything together for me.

Flowers need a note.
Art needs a title.
Jewelry needs inscription.

Are you tracking what I am laying down?

Well, back to my picture.
I love the card for the words that are on it.
Here is the quote that has made me smile for countless years, of cleaning house.

"To Be Happy,

Don't do whatever you Like.

Like whatever you Do."


There are no better choice of words to describe perspective.

Perspective- the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship.

It's all about your perspective.

And as I gear up for cleaning a very messy house tomorrow, I will be thinking of this quote.
I will also be thinking how grateful I am that I have a mess to clean because it means there are people in my life tracking in messes. Lots and Lots of messes.

That's the perspective that I am going to shoot for on my Monday morning, and
I hope this will help make yours a little better too.