Handmade Cards: Go

Go Team!! Go Team!!

So it's 8:30 on Tuesday night and I'm determined to stick with this #write31days series!  The good news is I'm using Kate Motaung's Five Minute Free Writes.

Today is Go... So will you all cheer me on as I keep writing and keep sharing my handmade cards with you??

We all need a cheerleader in our lives ... Lisa Jo is a cheerleader for moms; my friend, Debi Stangeland is a cheerleader for bloggers; Holley Gerth cheers you on in your dreams (and grew a whole community of cheerleaders for God-sized Dreams).

My Dad and my husband cheer me on when my writing bug hits and encourage me to keep writing, to keep going on my education.

And sales in my etsy shop encourage me to keep creating handmade cards! These cute sports cards are one of a kind, just like yesterday's cards... but these are still available and you can choose to purchase just one... let me know if the sport you want isn't in my shop and I'll add it.

Who can you cheer on today?

The question is this: Do you need somebody to cheer you on? Share in the comments and I'll do my best! Also, what's your favorite sport?

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month!
Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

God-sized Dreams continued

In 2013, I was blessed to be a part of Holley Gerth's God-sized Dreams Team. What was intended to be a 6-month encouragement, accountability, and resources has turned in to so much more... Lifelong friends, an amazing prayer team, and continued encouragement. While I'm still floundering in my dreams and whether now is the right time or not, I have a few friends that are reaching for the stars and following God's leading and launching some awesome dreams come true.



One dream I'm excited to see launching is a way for all of you to get a glimpse of the community that began just a year ago... and to join this community and dream with us! Today, we are linking up a blog post about our dreams, so be sure to check it out and subscribe to this fantastic resource for dreaming God-sized Dreams!!!


When I look back at my dreams a year ago, I sometimes get a little discouraged. I wonder why I'm still floundering and I often fail to see the little successes and the baby steps that have happened in the last year. But I know that there have been successes and there have been steps in the right direction and for that I am thankful.

I think about how I always have good ideas and I'm great at starting stuff... but the executing and the finishing just doesn't happen. But then I remember that God is still working on me and as long as I am still on this earth-- I am NOT finished. So me and God and my Dream-Team Sisters are just gonna keep working on this together.

Here's what I started with last year.

I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. (Not that these are my strongest skills, but the ones I need to grow for the sake of my family)

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.


And here is where I feel I am right now...

Being a good wife and mom seems so relative. This is one area where I really struggle to see the little successes. Instead I see every little failure and blow it up into something way bigger than it is--- which in reality shows a little bit of pride. Truth is, overall I am making good meals for my family (and lots of good Christmas cookies, too). I've been improving on my listening and encouraging and celebrating the little successes with them. I'm making an effort to "catch my kids doing good" and praising them. ... and I am listening... maybe still not as well as I could, but improving over the past. And when I have a bad day and I don't do these things well, I focus on truth, these moments do not define me!

In the area of writing, I just wore myself out. Taking some college courses where I had to write challenged me something awful... and awesome. I loved some of the writings I worked on during my classes, but I was too chicken to share them here... or submit them somewhere else.  FEAR keeps creeping in.

And in the area of cardmaking, I launched an etsy shop!! And even had some sales!!! Christmas was a discouraging time for me, so the fear is creeping in again and I wonder if I have what it takes to be successful in the handmade world. But when I focus on truth, I see that I did step out in faith and in all things there is an ebb and flow...

I am so excited to keep dreaming with the friends that God has given me... they rock and are such an encouragement!

Realizing my God-sized Dream may be Smaller than I Thought (and that's okay)

Dreaming, I'm supposed to write and post about dreaming on Tuesdays... but I like to do everything late... even three of my pregnancy delivery dates were off by 10 days, 7 days, and 5 days... those girls needed more primping time.

I'm a procrastinator, I say that I do better at the last moment, but the truth is, I'm sure that I would turn out better work if I started earlier. I just need to give myself earlier deadlines.

Problem is, I have so much brewing around in my head, I can't get it out in 10, 15, or even 30 minute increments here and there. I feel like if I don't have a 3 hour block to sit down and write and dream and blog and plan, that I shouldn't even bother starting. I'm working to change this! ---Ya know, the Do What You Can Plan!

So today I have less than an hour and we are going to see what I can plink out on these keys...


When I started this God-Sized Dreaming, I thought I would be the Lisa Leonard or Gussy Sews of handmade notecards. That I would be so successful, I would need a whole team to make my card designs for me. But honestly, that scares me just a little too much... and I kinda like making my own cards, it's therapeutic for me.

I also thought that maybe I could be a Lisa-Jo Baker and write inspiring posts that would be turned into inspiring videos, or Ann Voskamp and write inspiring blog posts that could be turned into best selling books.  So I went back to school for a Communications/Writing degree... but I don't treat writing like a professional. I don't write every day... I barely even write every week.

And then I thought, well maybe I can be a Kristen Welch and start a life-changing ministry in Africa... except that I'm kind of a homebody and chances are I will never leave this country... unless Canada counts.

And then I remembered (and still need to be reminded every day), God didn't call me to be any of those people... He's got them for that! He called me to be ME. Now if only I could figure out who ME is.

This past week I read this post from World Magazine. I'm not saying that I believe everything it says, but I am saying that THIS is what I needed to hear.

"Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential."

"No shame, no pressure to be awesome, no expectations of fame but simply following the call to be men and women of virtue and inviting their friends and neighbors to do the same in every area of life."

1 Thessalonians 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

Maybe my "missional" and my "radical" is ... being a better wife and mom, writing as God gives me words to say, and crafting and creating cards, writing notes of encouragement to others.

I am so thankful for the freedom to be who God made ME to be!

I am also super thankful for all the ladies listed above (who have all had an impact on my life, whether they know it or not) and for Holley Gerth, who has been telling me for months through her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream that no dream is too big and no dream is too small.


This week was supposed to be about paying it forward, I'm not sure I've done that well. It's hard to do when you are still figuring out your own dream. But I have encouraged one friend to keep dreaming about her desire to be a teacher, and another friend who is feeling lost like me, and I continue to spend time investing in the lives of my kids as the next generation of dreamers...

Community Conversation: Where are you in your dreaming? Do you know what God is calling you to do? How are you encouraging others to follow the dreams God has given them?

Five Minute Friday: Jump

It's that time again... time for 5 minutes of freedom to write without worrying about what comes out, without editing and backtracking, without it having to be just perfect.

Wanna join in? Be sure to check out Five Minute Friday at Lisa-Jo's place!!


Today's Prompt: Jump

A few of my dreaming friends are attending a retreat this weekend called Jumping Tandem. I'm a little jealous of them as the lovely Lisa-Jo and the inspiring Holley Gerth are two of the speakers.  It's all about pursuing your dreams and figuring it all out... and man, could I use some help with that. But God, in His wisdom never swung open wide a door... Not that I gave Him any opportunity to, but that's not what this is about.

Dreams... Jumping Tandem... working together... walking through open door... crying over closed doors... jumping into the unknown... trying something new... stepping out of your comfort zone... DREAMING... even when others don't understand, don't believe in your God-given dreams.

I read this verse in my twitter feed this week.

Psalm 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

And I thought "Leaped" which led to "Jumped" and I realized that sometimes you have to JUMP OVER THE WALL to get to your dream. (click to tweet that)

Right now, I feel that my biggest wall is lack of focus and lack of discipline... but "BY MY GOD," I am going to leap over that wall!  It may be next week, It may be next month... It may not be until October.

Somebody please hold me accountable... and maybe hold my hand together as we leap over a wall... with God.

STOP

Community Comments: What is one of your dreams? What is one wall that is in your way? Will you leap over it?

feel free to check out some of my past Five Minute Friday posts...

A Note to You, Dreamer Friend

As part of our dreaming this week, we are supposed to "write a post entitled “A Letter to the God-sized Dreamers” telling your sisters why what they’re doing and who they’re becoming through this process is worth it–even on the hard days."  I just want to skip this week and tell you all to just go read Holley Gerth's post today... or better yet, just go get her book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream.  She says it so much better than I can.  But sometimes you just need to give or receive a pep talk, so this letter might be more to me than it is to you. But hopefully you can find encouragement in it!


Dear God-sized Dreamer,

What's that? You have a dream? You have a desire, a longing for something more? It's not your imagination. It was placed there by God. And He is the one that is going to help you each step of the way, because He knows what's best for you. He wants what is best for you. He is calling you to something more... more of Him.

Don't ignore it, don't silence it, don't let it fade away. Feed the desire through the truth in God's Word. Find encouragement from other God-sized Dreamers--they are out there, you know. Pray, pray, pray every day.

Step outside your comfort zone... DO IT!! You will be amazed at how God will be right there, holding your hand! Don't let fear live your life!

Maybe you are confused as to what exactly the longing is for... writing? crafting? being a better wife and mom? taking a missions trip? changing the world? being more like Christ?  Just keep pursuing, following God's Light along the path. He will show you. He will direct you. You just have to follow... and keep dreaming!

Holley is right when she says it's "more of Jesus, more of what he’s created you to be, more of what he’s called you to do."   Who doesn't want that?!??!!

Memorizing Scripture can help keep you on track when the voice of doubts and discouragement starts creeping in... Combat it with the Voice of Truth!!

Psalms 37:4 - Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Proverbs 16:9 - A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

These are just a few good ones!
Do you have one you can share with me in the comments?
Your Dreaming verse?

and maybe, just maybe, it would help to have some visual reminders. Check out the Dream items on sale this month with this code 25% off Holley Gerth Collection with code HOLLEYG25!

There are some fantastic items.  I already have this marvelous bag


How about it? are you dreaming God-Sized Dreams? Don't give up. 
Dare to make that difference. Take that step!! Follow that dream!


*this post contains affiliate links.

What's in a Dream?

If you have been reading my blog any length of time, you might have seen me mention my hopes and dreams a few times. It mostly involves card making... and maybe making some money off my cardmaking hobby.  I don't spend as much time in my craft room as I would like. I have no discipline, no schedule, no motivation for being there daily. But I wonder, what I could do with it if I did...

(I just re-read that last paragraph and almost died... It is NOT about making money, although that's what it sounds like. I love to craft and create and it fills my soul when I do. I know how much a hand-written note can mean and want to encourage others to send them more. I would love to supplement our home's income to help with the kids' schooling {they are presently in a private school, but it's not cheap with 4 kids} and I would also like to continue to donate my cards to ministries, charity auctions, fundraisers, etc. ) ... does that make sense?

My dreams are "evolving." Up until last March and the Write it, Girl series, I didn't even know I could be a writer... or that I wanted to be a writer. And then suddenly I wrote a few pieces and I got some praise and encouragement in comments on the blog and also from people close to me (Namely my dad and my husband... funny how that works) and I took the plunge and took a writing class fall 2012... and I LOVED IT!! Now I'm signed up for TWO classes this semester to work toward my Communications/Writing degree.

In truth, I'm not even sure anymore what my God-sized Dream is. But I want to pursue it this year and really look for what God desires for me. Is it writing? Is it cardmaking? Is it blogging? Is it a combination of 2 or 3 of those things?  I want to "do-it-all" but I also can't ignore my husband, my house, my kids, my local church in order to make these dreams come true.

In all honesty, I STRUGGLE with my dreams. Are they God's dreams for me? or are they distractions? How do they fit into the urgent (raising 4 kids to turn out half decent before they are 18 and out of my house)?

Some quotes from a recent post by Holley Gerth that I really want to remember over the next 6 months, so I'm sharing them here...

God-sized Dream = a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.You see, God-sized dreams aren’t about being perfect. Or getting what we want. Or things working out the way we plan.

But I can also tell you, on your God-sized dreams journey…

You will become more courageous.

You will have victories you never through possible.

And you will be filled up with what you really need, which is less of you and more of Jesus in your life.

So I wonder, what DOES God have for me in all of this? How does writing and creating and card-making fit into parenting, and "wife-ing," and homemaking? And being more courageous... and having victories... and more of Jesus!!?  I want that, so I will keep dreaming!

I will be sharing a LOT from Holley Gerth on here over the next few months, after all she's helping me dream and encouraging me in my dreams... but there is so much goodness on her site and you can benefit from it too! So go subscribe to her encouraging posts!!

Last week's task for our dreaming journey was to make a Mad Libs mission statement based on our strengths and skills (which you can read more about in Holley's book You're Already Amazing).  I struggle most with the "who" these days! God has given me four young children that need me to serve them, but I also have a strong desire to connect with other women... So I did two.

I believe God has created and called me to serve and support my family through encouraging, serving, cooking, and listening. (Not that these are my strongest skills, but the ones I need to grow for the sake of my family)

I also believe God has created and called me to encourage and support other women through writing my stories, creating handmade cards, and connecting through both cards and stories.

There, I said it...  
Now, What has God created you to do?
What are your dreams?

Share it here in the comments and with Holley on her blog!

Five Minute Friday: Opportunity

It's the first Friday of 2013! That means it's time for Five Minute Friday! Did you miss it? I did! My mind is still a jumbled mess, but it felt good to sit down and write... Hope it makes sense! :)

You really should join this wonderful community of encouragers. I had so much fun chatting on twitter for a half hour before I went to bed. Such a blessing to connect with the lovely #FMFParty friends... some I was able to meet at Allume, some I'm still waiting to meet in real life!

So it's time to write for FIVE MINUTES. Get the whole scoop over here at Lisa-Jo's, and then join in!

Today's Prompt: Opportunity

Each day is a new opportunity, to put behind and forget the mistakes of yesterday, to fall forward into grace and new mercies.  But it is not just every morning. It's every moment of the day. Each moment is a fork in the road and an opportunity to show the love of Christ, to make the most of my time, to bring glory to God's name.

My life is a canvas of opportunities, with God drawing, painting, leading, correcting always with grace.  I don't know what comes next. I just know that I have a lot of opportunities, a lot of dreams (you might even be tired of hearing all about them). I do a lot of thinking, a lot of talking, now I want to take some action.

Don't miss these opportunities. A chance to connect with friends. An opportunity to bless with my writing. A prompt to send some real (handmade) mail to encourage someone. A chance to give grace to my kids. The moment I choose to serve my husband. Giving, praying, loving, caring.

God gives so many opportunities, I want my eyes to be wide open to them. To know that "this is not an interruption, this is an opportunity."  To be filled with the Spirit from this day forward.

no turning back.


STOP


What opportunities are you facing today?

Untitled: a book review

I've read a few books, reviewed a few books, volunteered to help promote new books during their release book and I seem to fail every time... yet another area in which I need grace...

So when I was given the opportunity to read a copy of Untitled: Thoughts on the Creative Process - Revised & Expanded I hesitated. Creative Process... I could use some help in that area, but right now? in the month of December? right at Christmas time?  I shouldn't agree to review it. but I could really use it... so I tweeted and they responded and I got a copy via email and opened it right away and was just sucked in!!!


SO much goodness.  Then I stopped and realized that just reading it wasn't going to help me, so I went back to work on the reflections and exercises that Blaine Hogan gives in the book. And he has a blog that I'm looking forward to delving in....

I am no where near far enough in the book to give an accurate review, but so far... I am loving it!!  and I think if you are in any creative process... book writing, painting, photography, starting a new business, crafting, etc. I think you will love this book!

Go check it out!!

Dreams --Are they mine or God's?

People talk a lot about dreams these days ... dreams for the future, dreams for great success, dreams for their kids, dreams for themselves ... God-sized dreams, small dreams, impossible dreams, selfish dreams, others focused dreams, ministry dreams, financial dreams. the list goes on and on.

Dreams are also desires and I think of Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

I always thought I had a God-sized Dream. This is a phrase I picked up from  Holley Gerth, Squee Inc. and Write it, Girl link up back in March. (ps. doesn't this make you wanna sing with Tangled... I've Got a Dream)




I have this hobby of making handmade, hand-stamped notecards. It ebbs and flows. Back when I lived in a two-bedroom trailer with four young children, there wasn't much space (or time) for crafting. I made cards here and there, enough to give them as gifts for my family, for baby showers, for teacher gifts.

Then we moved into this home on the mountain, with my red door, and I got my own little space with a large desk, some shelves, and an opportunity to work whenever I could find the time.  And for the last two years my dream has been a little stagnant. I've had no direction, no accountability, no self-discipline, no start up cost, to turn this hobby into a business.

Recently, I started wondering... Is this my dream, or God's dream for me? Has He planted this seed or is it my selfish desires? Is it about making money, or could I use this for ministry, for God's glory, to bless others?

I don't know where it's going, what I want the end result to be, but I want to find out. I want to hold my dream with an open hand.

Maybe it will just stay a hobby, maybe I will use it to bless friends and families, or missionaries. Or maybe it will become something more. But whatever happens, I pray that it will always be about bringing glory to His Name.

I'm also super excited to be a part of Holley Gerth's God-sized Dreams Team.  You can learn all about it here and join us on Tuesdays at her blog!!

just this ... "Ignoring them means ignoring a core part of your purpose. And when we do that, we feel restless and empty."

I would love to know! What are some of your dreams? Did you know they might be "God-sized"?  Share with me in the comments!!


PS... God gave me my OneWord365... during Thanksgiving, actually. I think it ties in to my dream, quite nicely... CREATE!

Project 52 -- Hobbies

I'm a little behind on posting my Saturday photography post. Life has been ...out of sorts! The kids are finally in school (here's their back to school picture that I wanted for last weekend) and I'm trying to find a routine that includes Bible reading, blogging, taking a writing class, caring for my house and family and still finding time for my favorite hobby...


It's Project 52 time again... this week is hobbies!!  Hurray for hobbies... I think I have a few... reading, writing, crafting, blogging, baking, making handmade cards, keeping my kids happy and alive...

Oh wait, I digress.  My favorite hobby, but not the one I spend the most time on, is card making!!

I take some of these....

and I take a few of these...

and work them together on some of this...

and create a whole bunch of these in hopes that some day they will sell... (here)

(isn't my basement floor rug just lovely... what a great photo backdrop) :)

previous Project 52 posts

Back to School
Endless Summer
Heat
Ice
Summer Favorites

What are some of your hobbies?

My Dream

Do you have a dream? Will you share it with me?

I have a dream...

that someday, just maybe, my hobby of card-making will possibly turn into a profit.

That others will find beauty in my creations and want to send them to their friends and family.

That I would actually send out some of the cards that I make and be a blessing to others.

That just maybe I could pursue my artistic passions and support my habit of purchasing paper crafting supplies because somebody, maybe even you, would help me create a website store front that would be eye-catching and people (maybe even you) would purchase some of my creations and spread the word of my would-be home business.

My dream is to be a paper crafter, artisan, small business woman...

What is your dream?

This photo was taken as a part of Project 52, on auto focus (because I'm a paper crafter, not a professional photographer) and edited in Picasa.