Five Minute Friday --Gift

It's Five Minute Friday with the Gypsy Mama. And I'm taking a Five Minute break from my weekend of card-making to write! (no links, no pictures cause I'm new at this iPad blogging) EDIT: I had to add a few links now that I'm at my computer





START

I never imagined affirmation as one of my stronger love languages, but this week, I experienced the gift of affirmation more than once!

Partaking in the #BetterWriter challenge this month (even thought I only did half the challenges) has been amazing for me! The encouragement I received from the other writers cheered my heart. And encouraged me to pursue this new hobby of mine!

And then my husband asked me if I was interested in taking a writing class (or even finish my education in Communications) to improve my skills! WOW! That's some affirmation!

And THEN!!!! God gave me some affirmation and a BIG gift in that I WON a prize package from the Write it Girl community this month! woohoo! I am so excited and a little nervous for this journey I am on!


STOP
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

trying to write

I've always been a hit and miss blogger over the last 8 years... mostly journal writing, sharing photos of my kids and other things, just random memoir type stuff. Other than November 2008, where I posted something I was thankful for EVERY SINGLE DAY, the most posts I've had in one month is 17 and I had quite a few months with lest than 5 posts. But this year, I was on the ball! January had 26 posts; February had 24 posts; and March has 22 so far. I kept waiting for the lull to come, but I had so much brewing in my head it just kept flowing!

Then this weekend happened and I fell apart... and haven't blogged in FIVE days. I have my reasons...

* I got a sick kid. ...one who was nice enough to get sick in bed (the top bunk) and all down the side wall and under the bed... where toys and papers were hiding. Cleaning that up really just took everything out of me.

* I actually had a side typing job that HAD to be done by Monday. I do not consider myself to be a work at home person... I do a job once every 4-6 months. I am hoping to increase this a little bit as my kids will all be in school next year (youngest, just preschool... but still) Also, they attend a Christian school... and that is NOT cheap, but I am rambling here.

* I actually made an effort to do some things on my to do list before I blogged... which means I didn't have time for blogging.  but it does mean that I actually read... out loud... to my kids!

* Winter-like weather came back and I got cranky.  I seriously need warmth and sun to survive.

* I've never been good at planning ahead and scheduling posts, so even though I knew what I wanted to do for Project 52, Joy Dare, Sweet Shot Tuesday... etc it just didn't get written so it didn't get posted. and I am a very chronological person, so I can't do Monday's post until I finish Friday's Project 52.  Actually, they will all be post dated once I finally get them written... does anybody else do that?!?

excuses, excuses... my husband keeps asking when I am going to write a book on 101 excuses... do you think that would make a good e-book? who would buy it? :)

So anyway, I missed my Project 52 post on Friday, I missed my #JoyDare post on Monday, and Top Ten or Sweet Shot on Tuesday... and I haven't done any Better Writer challenges. and it's the LAST linkup for Write it, Girl this month!! So I am trying to write!

I've never been very good at organizing my thoughts; the last few paragraphs could tell you that. So even when I get a good idea, it disappears before I ever sit down to hash it out. I'm not giving up though. I am hoping to go back and work on all the Better Writer challenges that I missed. I really want to get better at this writing thing.  My family has been encouraging me too... and just this week, my husband affirmed me and my writing by asking if I wanted to take a writing class at the college he works at!!

But through it all, I struggle... is this what I'm supposed to be doing?!?!  Wouldn't my time be better spent cleaning my house, meal planning better, reading to my kids, actually making a budget and sticking to it, playing with my kids, actually investing time in creating handmade cards... the list (and excuses) go on and on!  I can't figure out what is a God-sized dream, how the devil is trying to discourage me, what is truth, what is guilt?!?!

and then I decide that yes, blogging is for me... even if none of my friends really even know what I do, even when my family doesn't understand WHY, but still supports me. So I jump back into it and then I read this (from a fellow blogger)

you need to live for {invest, pour yourself into} those who are going to cry at your funeral.
that narrows the field quite a bit. ;) 

because I am pretty sure that of the ...maybe 10 readers I have (at least that's how many take the time to comment) half of that is my family and the other half won't even know when my funeral is.

All this to say, that I will keep writing and I will keep blogging, but I also want to make more of an effort to invest in the lives around me... so that people will actually cry at my funeral (a little bit anyway) 

and I will also postdate the next 3 blog posts I write so that they will all be in proper order.

 :)

How is that for a Write it, Girl?!?  I don't know if it makes any sense, or if you even stuck with me through the whole thing, but at least I can finally said "I blogged today!"

and there you have it... my mostly-unedited stream of consciousnesses ...perfect for today's Better Writer challenge!

Project 52 --Hunger

Not my favorite theme by far... but that's maybe because I didn't figure out until Thursday night that the theme Hunger had to do with the movie coming out!! So I took some pictures but then life took over and I never got them edited and uploaded... so here I am added my Project 52 post late!!

When I think Hunger... ya know, not having to do with the movie! This is what came to mind...

I think of my chickens first thing in the morning when I let them out of the coop and they rush the food dish knocking each other over... but the day I took my camera out, they didn't seem so hungry!

I also think of the rush of a buffet table (and yes, this is a First World hunger problem)

I still have fun trying to think of something related to the theme... even when it's difficult!



maybe next week's Project 52 will be better! :)
and here are some of my previous Project 52 posts!

The "Eyes" of March 
Be Still

A Great Leap

Cabin Fever

True Love

Five Minute Friday --Loud

I can hear them all in my head... as if they were shouting in my ear!

"You will never get it right"
"You can't do it all, but you can die trying"
"You need to spend more time with your kids"
"Why can't you be more like her?"
"You need to clean your house better"
"You need to exercise more"
"You will never sell your handmade cards"
"You need to eat more fruits and veggies"
"You need to stop drinking coffee"
"What were you thinking?"
"You think you are a writer? well, you can dream!"

So much so that sometimes I can't hear the still small voice... the voice of truth

You are LOVED

You are Redeemed

You are gifted

You matter

You have something that the world needs... don't hide it!

I love your kids more than you do!

I am not surprised by what you face today

I am holding you.

You can't do it in your own strength, but In Christ, All things are possible!

Listening to the voice of TRUTH today... won't you?

Will you take 5 minutes to write today? Join in with The Gypsy Mama for Five Minute Friday today!

when crafting seems to fail

Well, one of the things I am learning through the Allume Better Writer series is that you have to wade through the mistakes and failures to find you voice and become a better writer... Well, yesterday I experienced this in my crafting world.

This week the challenge at The CSI Project is Embossing/PaperCrafting! Now that's a challenge I can get into! I love my papercrafting!  So I dug through my supplies and pulled out my embossing powder and heat gun and got to work.



This idea came from Pinterest... of course, but I didn't have the great tape she used in her card makings, so I had to improvise with the Perfect Plaids stamp set I own. and while I love the idea and hope to try it again, the execution of it yesterday didn't seem to come together for me.

I found that the embossing powder really didn't stick as much as I thought it should, and I wonder if the embossing ink pad I used is drying out...  The above card, I actually stamped and embossed twice! (this one is embossed with Old Olive powder)

I might have been hurrying too much and that caused some of the sloppiness, as well!  I wanted it to be crooked, but I didn't stamp well, either!

I really liked the lines on this one better, but once again, a little too sloppy for my taste! However, I really enjoyed making the matching envelopes with the embossing, too! (this one is Gold Glory)

And I loved the raised sparkles on the card from the embossing...

Thank you, CSI Project, for reminding me how much fun embossing can be!
I really love the idea and I will be trying it again... either with a new ink pad, or some of that patterning tape from the original idea!



So crafty types... or those who buy handmade... How perfect does an item have to be in order to sell it?!? Handmade items are never perfect, so what's the guideline on "how messed up" it can be? If I would still use it, can I still (attempt to) sell it?!?! I am really trying to figure out the dynamics of selling handmade!!

Bacon Feta Chicken

I salivate just thinking about this delicious concoction. When I made it this time, I came to the conclusion that my family is finally big enough that I need to actually do a full recipe. My kids actually like this one... and cutting a little bit of chicken off of mine isn't working anymore. I have been halving it for years (except for the bacon and feta cheese... you can never have too much)!!

Here is the full recipe

Bacon Feta Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup feta cheese (or more)
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (or more)
salt/pepper to season
1 Tbsp oil (or bacon grease) to brown chicken in
2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp basil

Cut a pocket in each chicken breast.

Fill with bacon and cheese, secure with toothpicks.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Brown chicken in oil (or bacon grease for more flavor)

Add undrained cans of tomatoes to skillet. Sprinkle with basil.

Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
Uncover and simmer 5 minutes longer until chicken is no longer pink and tomato mixture is thickened.

Printable Recipe

mmm.... so delicious!! :)
linking up with Feasting in Fellowship

My lemonade stand

I never set out to be a writer. When I started blogging almost 8 years ago, it was an outlet as a new mom, mostly used for keeping my out of town family up to date on the antics of my kids. I met a few blogging friends along the way, but never developed a niche or passion.

I dabbled in photography --maybe just photo-taking, shared recipes, occasionally talked spiritual things I was learning, experimented with Five Minute Friday, and always used it for counting my gifts. I guess that would make me a memoir blogger.

But in reality, I'm a crafter, an artisan, if I want to be bold. I started this, my second blog, with the intention of promoting my handmade stationery and gaining exposure for my online card shop. I thought if I showed my cards here on the blog, more people would like them and buy them... But actually doing that takes time, commitment, investment, discipline. .. and it didn't really happen!  I don't have any spare change floating around to invest in getting my lemonade stand out to the street where it can be seen!

So while my real desire is to grow my craft, my actions don't show that because I can go weeks without spending time in my craft room. But then I start to get antsy... And cranky! And mad at myself for not prioritizing!

The real problem is that I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. There's too many great choices out there and I still haven't figured out which one is for me!

I'm a wife and a mom... Which makes me a housekeeper, a chauffeur, a cook and maid. I'm a friend and encourager...or at least I try to be. But those are things that everyone does. But what makes me unique? What do I have to offer the world, the body of Christ??

I enjoy taking pictures but don't consider myself a photographer.

I never considered myself a blogger, but I have fallen in love with writing... But I haven't figured out if I do it for myself, for God, or for the praise of men?

Then there is cooking, baking and sharing recipes. I used to find such satisfaction in preparing yummy things... But with 4 young kids, it became overwhelming and a matter of survival to just find something to eat!

And card making... It still makes me smile, and I feel most fulfilled when I create new cards that get rave reviews (which never really happens, but I can pretend). But card making takes time and effort every.single.time!

Hand made crafting isn't like writing and publishing an book. A TON of work goes into a book, but then once it's published you just reap the rewards... every time you sell another copy. If I want to make my cards successful, I have to be creative every single time I sit down! Even when I am copying a card I've created before, it is still a process. Each card takes time and effort, even when it's a set of the same card. A lot of time and energy goes into each card I make, and you just can't put a price on that.

Wow, I feel like I'm starting to whine, but I'm just trying to share my heart. I need someone to help me figure out this God sized dream of mine...

In addition to a Write it, Girl challenge, I need a Create it, Girl challenge!

I also need to hibernate and create/craft for a day...or two!!




This Write it, Girl post seems to be a little bit all over the place. I went to bed last night with nothing to write about... pulled out the iPad (new to me... because hubby got a NEW one) and started that first paragraph... and just kept typing.  I tried to edit a little this morning, but I just want to get it out there!  Thank you, Write it, Girl for the push to write this month!!

Cotton Candy Sky

It was another one of those moments where God's artistry just caught me by surprise and I just soaked it in.... and then I tried to capture it on camera and it seemed to fall flat!

But I couldn't come up with 10 things for Top Ten Tuesday... and this did remind me of something sweet, so I thought I would share it with you for Sweet Shot Tuesday!

Maybe it doesn't look like it to you... but to me, this was my Cotton Candy Sky!  It made me smile, so I wanted to share it with you...

Marching on with gifts

It was an out of the ordinary week. The kids were on Spring Break, which meant I had noise, more chaos, less quiet, more laundry... and more fun going on around the house! The great news is the weather was GORGEOUS, which means the kids spent a LOT of time outside!!

Our week started with a bang... Family Fun Day to kick off the week of kids' Spring Break! Daddy took of work and we drove about 2 hours to visit Cabela's... have you ever been?? It's lots of fun for the kids and I enjoy it too! Taking pictures of the same things every time (we have made it a Spring tradition).  It also gave me great "gifts" for the counting in the Joy Dare!!  Before I start counting, I just want to share a few pictures of our fun day!!

 (I could not get a serious picture of them ALL DAY!!) ... but it was lots of fun, and I embraced their craziness!!

March 12
232. Flags flying in the wind

233. Bright colored fish in the water

234. lots of fun animals at Cabela's during our family fun day!

March 13 (round)
235. Cereal bowl filled with Golden Grahams

236. Delightful Dayspring coffee mug

237. Kids all coloring together at the table
238. Birds singing a pretty tune
239. Celebrating a friend's release of her book of poetry

March 14 (silence)
240. Sweet snuggle with my 5YO in the morning
241. Reviewing verses from Sunday's message (Psalm 141:3)
242. Kids' quiet/nap time

March 15 (given away)
243. Giving away nap time for some delightful time outside
244. Giving away friendship bread
245. Giving a bit of my heart in writing for my girls

March 16 (hard eucharisteo)
246. Change of plans
247. a minor disappointment
248. Being on my feet all day in the kitchen
249. Cramps...

March 17
250. Making homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs
251. Finally folding laundry, laundry, laundry
252. Homemade shamrock shakes

253. Gorgeous display of stars hung in the sky

March 18 (red)
254. Red meat (burgers on the grill)
255. redwood chimes singing in the open window!
256. Using the sled as a shield against our crazy rooster!

Sometimes I struggle in my counting, to make it all a nice list. Some days I can't find anything that fits the specifics that Ann Voskamp lays out in the JoyDare Calendar each month. Sometimes the gifts catch me by surprise... and I'm reminded that God is a personal God! He cares about ME and He cares about YOU! Our lives may be running totally different paths, but He still plants gifts in our path that are perfect for us!

And some days I get gifts that have nothing to do with the day's theme. I've started adding them to my list which means I will have way over 1000 by the end of the year! and that excites me!  Sometimes I get discouraged that my "JoyDare" posts don't get very many comments,  but then I remember that I am counting for me and I am counting to say thanks to God!  and sometimes the gifts may not make sense to you (if you ever really want an explanation... or more detail, just email me! :)

How has God shown Himself personal to you this week??

Five Minute Friday --Brave

Today's Prompt... BRAVE

She thought I was the amazing one... having 4 kids in 4 and 1/2 years. She didn't know how I did it. She prayed for me and encouraged me. While in reality, she was the brave one!!

Pregnant and not knowing if she would ever carry her baby to full term. Not knowing if her baby would survive outside the womb. Not knowing what kinds of birth defects and disabilities would ensue. I remember feeling guilty for complaining about being so overwhelmed, etc, when I had completely healthy children.

She was brave through months of bed rest, months of testings, months of unknown.  Her baby was born ... and survived. And faced heart surgeries, angioplasties, cranial surgeries... I could research more if I had more than 5 minutes.

Her baby is a miracle baby... and now she's 3 1/2, and growing and walking (running), and learning words, and always, ALWAYS smiling!

This week, I had the opportunity to help out in her little class! It's always a blessing to see her miracles... so many things the doctors predicted and she has surprised them all... but she hasn't surprised God!  and her mom... still amazingly brave as she ventures into each new discovery and each new stage!

STOP

Just a Five-Minute tribute to my friend Julie, and her sweet Elisa!!

Project 52 --The "Eyes" of March

Can I just say how this assignment did not turn out like I thought it would?  I was really looking forward to it because my kids have beautiful eyes!! but it didn't go as planned. They didn't cooperate when it was convenient for me.

So I was sitting here going through the ton of pictures I took of my kids' eyes, and my eyes (I was desperate), and kept hitting delete, delete, delete!

Then I asked my husband if he wanted to be my "eye" model. He's not a fan of getting his picture taken so he gave me this great idea instead!!


I give you... The "Eyes" of March

I'm not Irish, but I'm pretty sure that Potatoes and the Irish go hand-in-hand, so I would have to say Thank you to my husband for this creative idea!!


And because my kids are so cute, here's one of my attempts to capture their eyes!!

Previous Project 52 entries: 

Be Still

A Great Leap

Cabin Fever

True Love
Drink Up