Seek

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

-Jeremiah 29:13

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Hey you, thanks!

I love getting packages from Etsy ... 

 They are always packaged so nice ...

And I love the sweet little notes they include.

You just know when you open it, it is going to be exactly what you wanted.

Can you tell that I am getting ready for Thanksgiving?

I purchased the chalk pots on clearance at West Elm today ... I have a little project for my Thanksgiving table in mind. And the beautiful illustration came from here. Thank you Jolie ... I love it!

Black is the new black

A couple of weeks ago I had a free day and decided to paint the walls in my office. They were a dark gray/green and it was the last room in my house that had not been repainted since our remodel in 1998. I thought it was time. I went back and forth on whether I wanted to paint it black or white. Black won.

Of course I had to move some artwork around and add a few new pieces. The art is always changing ... I spend a lot of time in here and I get bored easily. You can see the paint color before and some of the art transformation over the years here.

The carpet in the room is old and needing to be replaced. But that is not going to happen for a while so I added an area rug to freshen it up. Thank you Target!

Someone emailed me the other day inquiring about my desk. It is over 25 years and still hanging in there.

I read somewhere recently that black is the new black. I agree :D 

I used Benjamin Moore's  Black Jack  2133-20

Happy Monday everyone!

Letting go

Someone wronged me recently. At first I wanted to strike back. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the hurt that someone could take advantage of me and not even care. The more I thought about it the worse I felt and I could not stop thinking about it. I thought I might settle the matter in court - and I knew I would win - but as I prepared to do so, my heart would pound and my anxiety rose. It did not feel good. I prayed that I would be able to just let it go. The answer came to me simply. Forgive.

In my life I have had ample opportunity to learn to forgive. I have had people who should have loved me the most betray me in ways that seemed unforgivable. Many, many times.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, now many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven." -Matthew 18:21-22

There was a time that I actually added up seventy times seven (490) and thought I was done forgiving a particular person. I was wrong. I have learned to have a spirit of forgiveness even if it means forgiving that person everyday and even beforehand sometimes. Grace. Love. More Jesus.

I have also learned that forgiveness is not just a gift that we give to others, it is a gift we give ourselves. It is not easy, and it takes time but the peace that comes when we can forgive, is the prize.

When someone wrongs us, it is so human to want to strike back. Lewis Smedes says in his book, Forgive and Forget, "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."

What I have learned the most about forgiveness, and grace, is that in order to let go of the wrongs other people cause us, we need to look at the times we have wronged others. If we do not see our own shortcomings, the places where we have not been right, it is easier to point the finger and want to see someone pay for their mistakes.

Jesus didn't just say to forgive. He said to love. Love your enemies, drop your stones. If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

Who do you need to forgive today? 

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Jesus via Matthew 5:38-48

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Happy Halloween

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween decorating, especially the really scary ones (that's just me ... no offense to anyone else). Did you know that according to the Huffington Post, Americans spend around 8 BILLION dollars on Halloween. Yikes. Now that is really scary.

I did get kind of into it this year though... I brought out the paint.

Happy Halloween everyone!!! I hope whatever you do today, it is filled with childlike fun.  :D

Playing with wallpaper

One of my favorite wallpapers is Hygge & West's Petal Pusher in almost white and gold ...

I used it in a gorgeous nursery that was finished last year and although I have not had time to go up and take the final photographs, I have a few that were taken on install day ...

 I love what Emily Henderson said about the pattern:

"What's so great about this paper is how the gold and ivory becomes a neutral when put up on the wall. It's reflective and strangely quiet for a wallpaper."

I have to agree.  

When I was cleaning out my office last week, I came across the wallpaper sample. I thought it might make a fun drawer liner ...

I was right ... it is a little bit of sunshine every time I open the drawer.
Happy Monday everyone!

Priorities

My friend Stephanie from Cre8tive Designs blogged a beautiful post last month about missing her children and her sweet grandchildren (one, a newborn) who had just moved to Milwaukee, and she was feeling a little "blue", she said. And then she saw this quote: 

from Danielle via Stephanie

In her words, "So I decided I needed to aim my arrow towards Milwaukee and stay focused." As a reminder, she made herself a sign. Stephanie is an amazing DIYer - she attempts things I would never even think about trying ... like this headboard, for example:

Amazing, right? It is one of my favorite things she has made. You can click here to see the before photos and how she did it! Okay ... back to the sign:

I love the arrow art she made and I love the symbolism behind it.  I could relate so much to what she said ... not only to missing having our children live close by (and our sweet granddaughter) but also the importance of having a reminder to stay focused on the good and keep aiming for what is important. I asked her if she would make me one too.

And she did! I put mine in a frame that I had (I actually just covered up something that was a temporary placeholder) and I love how the arrow is pointing towards the word, LOVE.

Love more. Focus on what is good. Practice gratitude. Set my priorities on what is really important. Thank you Stephanie for the beautiful reminder!

"Keep my eyes from gazing upon worthless things,
    and give me true life according to Your plans."

-Psalm 119:37

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