A giveaway.....a gift I give to YOU!

Well, yesterday's post on Perspective really struck a chord with so many of us, right? We all seem to be able to relate.....it's worth the investment put into it to decide what we want to value, to pursue, to concentrate on, and to spend our time on.

Alas, but now I find that I've thought deeply enough for now, and I am ready to lighten things up.....so I decided since it's Friday the 13th, noted by some to be a superstitously unlucky day, that we can make it a lucky day! I'm going to make it a LUCKY GIVEAWAY DAY! I've got several things to give away today.

FIRST UP: I was contacted by Jamie at AllModern.com who suggested..."Perhaps your readers would be interested in a giveaway for modern kitchen or office accessories, wall art, lighting, etc..."
So I thought.....well, maybe they would!!! There is a huge selection of kitchen or office accessories from which to choose, so really all you have to do is head over to allmodern.com and browse to see what you would like for free. All Modern sells modern furniture and house wares from brands like Vitra, Alessi and Knoll......you'll want to check them out today!

Jamie is willing for a lucky reader to pick out something with a $50 value and let you try it out for FREE....who doesn't LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a giveaway????? After all, we are starting our shopping for the holidays, right? So browse a little and come back and tell me what you would choose if you are the lucky winner. Here's a link that will take you there: Vitra

SECOND UP: I had a few samples left over from my sample sale last week, and I thought perhaps a few of you might just want to win a few SLaHOME products???? Perhaps someone would find themselves interested in a few little pieces from SLaHOME???? I'm deciding at the moment just which pieces will be in the giveaway, so bear with me....

So to say thanks to all my blogging friends, especially y'all that left such sweet comments on yesterday's post, I am offering you a Lucky day giveaway. Please pass along the info to any blogger who wants to join in......I'll be back with pics of the SLaHOME pieces up for the giveaway...in the meantime, let me know what you'd like to win from Allmodern.com..
And become a follower if you aren't already. The drawing for this giveaway will be Monday morning, the 16th......good luck! Go blog about it for an extra entry, and tell your friends.....

A giveaway.....a gift I give to YOU!

Well, yesterday's post on Perspective really struck a chord with so many of us, right? We all seem to be able to relate.....it's worth the investment put into it to decide what we want to value, to pursue, to concentrate on, and to spend our time on.

Alas, but now I find that I've thought deeply enough for now, and I am ready to lighten things up.....so I decided since it's Friday the 13th, noted by some to be a superstitously unlucky day, that we can make it a lucky day! I'm going to make it a LUCKY GIVEAWAY DAY! I've got several things to give away today.

FIRST UP: I was contacted by Jamie at AllModern.com who suggested..."Perhaps your readers would be interested in a giveaway for modern kitchen or office accessories, wall art, lighting, etc..."
So I thought.....well, maybe they would!!! There is a huge selection of kitchen or office accessories from which to choose, so really all you have to do is head over to allmodern.com and browse to see what you would like for free. All Modern sells modern furniture and house wares from brands like Vitra, Alessi and Knoll......you'll want to check them out today!

Jamie is willing for a lucky reader to pick out something with a $50 value and let you try it out for FREE....who doesn't LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a giveaway????? After all, we are starting our shopping for the holidays, right? So browse a little and come back and tell me what you would choose if you are the lucky winner. Here's a link that will take you there: Vitra

SECOND UP: I had a few samples left over from my sample sale last week, and I thought perhaps a few of you might just want to win a few SLaHOME products???? Perhaps someone would find themselves interested in a few little pieces from SLaHOME???? I'm deciding at the moment just which pieces will be in the giveaway, so bear with me....

So to say thanks to all my blogging friends, especially y'all that left such sweet comments on yesterday's post, I am offering you a Lucky day giveaway. Please pass along the info to any blogger who wants to join in......I'll be back with pics of the SLaHOME pieces up for the giveaway...in the meantime, let me know what you'd like to win from Allmodern.com..
And become a follower if you aren't already. The drawing for this giveaway will be Monday morning, the 16th......good luck! Go blog about it for an extra entry, and tell your friends.....

Perspective......a gift you can give yourself!

I was over visiting the Nester's blog this morning, and her blog post today was about perspective--something I've been mulling over in my head for the last few weeks....a coincidence, perhaps? Nah, I don't think so. We get nudges all the time from the most unexpected places to remind us who we are, who we belong to, who we are called to be, and who we show others we are and/or portray ourselves to be......yea, especially that last one. In the blog world, it's easy to show the side of ourselves that looks good, looks crafty, chic, or crazy organized. It's easy to show the one decorated table or buffet that looks really good and have others assume the rest of my house looks just as good, or that the rest of my food is just as awesome as the one or two recipes I just shared. It's easy to show the good and pretty yet sweep the rest under the proverbial oriental rug. What's for real?????

In reality, I'm just a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister, a church goer, Bible believer, wanna be decorator.....just to name a few. I'm really not even a writer, nor a photographer, and there are days when I'm hardly even a cook. Sometimes I'm lazy and can spout great ideas, but not follow through with any of them. Somedays I forget to pray, yet I find myself promising to pray for many others. Somedays, I get discouraged and want to just run away. Does that make me any different than anyone else? You answer that.......I'm thinking it makes me just like you...and you, and you. Now, maybe you don't have a lazy bone in your body, and I certainly don't mean to offend anyone, but surely you get tired. So tired you just.can't.move. Sometimes I read blogs, books and magazines and wish my home were something that it isn't....something that looks like a magazine, when in reality PEOPLE LIVE HERE, and it will never look like a magazine. Then I remember how God has provided a place for us to live, be warm and full, and to offer in hospitality to others. Yep, then I remember that it's really not about us, NOT ABOUT ME.......ouch. OUCH......sometimes the stick of reality hurts. But in the same turn, it is refreshing. To realize I am so abundantly blessed is such a comfort. My perspective turns from pain to prosperity, knowing that if all the material things were stripped away, I have riches untold that are sure and will never go away. My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and will indeed provide for me what I need. It's just that need sometimes gets a little turned around in my head......yep, you know that feeling.

The reality is that the Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease; they are new every morning! Indeed, great is HIS faithfulness, no matter how wobbly and inconsistent mine may be. I am SO VERY THANKFUL that it doesn't depend on me...that His gift is just that....a gift. Were it dependent on me, I would lose out every stinking day. I would be just a few hairs short of what I need......

.......and so back to the perspective issue. I know what keeps me grounded. I know what makes me real.....I know I need daily reminders of "it's not about me"......because I so easily get side-tracked. I need a double dose of that before the holiday season kicks in.....to remind myself what truly is important. Whether I have a Christmas tree that looks like that one I drooled over may not be the most important issue. It may not be worth the energy it will take me to "OVER- deck" the halls if it means that something important doesn't get done. This may be a year that I need to decide it's okay to scale back a little if it means I have a little energy left over for the people in my life........ouch. So really what this means for me is a little more planning of what is reality for me this year, this season. A realization that my expectations may be too big is really a gift to myself. I can only do so much and to dwell on it and be sullen because I cannot do it all and have it all, truly hurts those around me. So perspective, while sometimes it reveals what may initially be disappointing, is in truth a gift we can give ourselves. It is helpful to remember we are human and have limits. It means, in my case, I have to be less idealistic and more realistic. But the cost of that gift is worth it to me and my family. And I also have to remember there are others with bigger battles to fight, who need me to come along side them and gird them up for the battle. That is worth a whole lot more than a lovely tree, my friends.
Perspective......it's what's real.

Also, be sure you check on Stellan updates here......awesome reports of what God is doing for that family!!!

Perspective......a gift you can give yourself!

I was over visiting the Nester's blog this morning, and her blog post today was about perspective--something I've been mulling over in my head for the last few weeks....a coincidence, perhaps? Nah, I don't think so. We get nudges all the time from the most unexpected places to remind us who we are, who we belong to, who we are called to be, and who we show others we are and/or portray ourselves to be......yea, especially that last one. In the blog world, it's easy to show the side of ourselves that looks good, looks crafty, chic, or crazy organized. It's easy to show the one decorated table or buffet that looks really good and have others assume the rest of my house looks just as good, or that the rest of my food is just as awesome as the one or two recipes I just shared. It's easy to show the good and pretty yet sweep the rest under the proverbial oriental rug. What's for real?????

In reality, I'm just a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister, a church goer, Bible believer, wanna be decorator.....just to name a few. I'm really not even a writer, nor a photographer, and there are days when I'm hardly even a cook. Sometimes I'm lazy and can spout great ideas, but not follow through with any of them. Somedays I forget to pray, yet I find myself promising to pray for many others. Somedays, I get discouraged and want to just run away. Does that make me any different than anyone else? You answer that.......I'm thinking it makes me just like you...and you, and you. Now, maybe you don't have a lazy bone in your body, and I certainly don't mean to offend anyone, but surely you get tired. So tired you just.can't.move. Sometimes I read blogs, books and magazines and wish my home were something that it isn't....something that looks like a magazine, when in reality PEOPLE LIVE HERE, and it will never look like a magazine. Then I remember how God has provided a place for us to live, be warm and full, and to offer in hospitality to others. Yep, then I remember that it's really not about us, NOT ABOUT ME.......ouch. OUCH......sometimes the stick of reality hurts. But in the same turn, it is refreshing. To realize I am so abundantly blessed is such a comfort. My perspective turns from pain to prosperity, knowing that if all the material things were stripped away, I have riches untold that are sure and will never go away. My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and will indeed provide for me what I need. It's just that need sometimes gets a little turned around in my head......yep, you know that feeling.

The reality is that the Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease; they are new every morning! Indeed, great is HIS faithfulness, no matter how wobbly and inconsistent mine may be. I am SO VERY THANKFUL that it doesn't depend on me...that His gift is just that....a gift. Were it dependent on me, I would lose out every stinking day. I would be just a few hairs short of what I need......

.......and so back to the perspective issue. I know what keeps me grounded. I know what makes me real.....I know I need daily reminders of "it's not about me"......because I so easily get side-tracked. I need a double dose of that before the holiday season kicks in.....to remind myself what truly is important. Whether I have a Christmas tree that looks like that one I drooled over may not be the most important issue. It may not be worth the energy it will take me to "OVER- deck" the halls if it means that something important doesn't get done. This may be a year that I need to decide it's okay to scale back a little if it means I have a little energy left over for the people in my life........ouch. So really what this means for me is a little more planning of what is reality for me this year, this season. A realization that my expectations may be too big is really a gift to myself. I can only do so much and to dwell on it and be sullen because I cannot do it all and have it all, truly hurts those around me. So perspective, while sometimes it reveals what may initially be disappointing, is in truth a gift we can give ourselves. It is helpful to remember we are human and have limits. It means, in my case, I have to be less idealistic and more realistic. But the cost of that gift is worth it to me and my family. And I also have to remember there are others with bigger battles to fight, who need me to come along side them and gird them up for the battle. That is worth a whole lot more than a lovely tree, my friends.
Perspective......it's what's real.

Also, be sure you check on Stellan updates here......awesome reports of what God is doing for that family!!!

homemade gifts?

What are you working on this year to give as gifts? Will you be making personalized gifts to put under the tree, or to share with friends and family? Will you be scouring the malls for some inexpensive, yet personal and fitting gifts? What's your plan?

Well, for my neighbors, (rather than give them MORE cookies than they actually need), my tradition is to give them Christmas morning breakfast goodies. I try to do a selection of things, not all sweet, so that there is something for everyone! I deliver them on Christmas Eve afternoon or evening, depending on when they are home. Some things I've included in the past are my Sausage Biscuit bites (they are simply angel biscuits with crumbled sausage in them, but one of my family's favorites; then there is the Cheese Strudel, and I love the recipe because it makes four pastries. I usually include some kind of muffins, because I love muffins--easy and quick. I also have a recipe for butter rolls that I sometimes include........I need to start planning so that I am ready. I make several platters to share with my neighbors.....they seem to enjoy it. Do you have a special tradition you do for your neighbors??? Please share in the comments so we all can gain from one another's ideas! Thanks for coming by!

homemade gifts?

What are you working on this year to give as gifts? Will you be making personalized gifts to put under the tree, or to share with friends and family? Will you be scouring the malls for some inexpensive, yet personal and fitting gifts? What's your plan?

Well, for my neighbors, (rather than give them MORE cookies than they actually need), my tradition is to give them Christmas morning breakfast goodies. I try to do a selection of things, not all sweet, so that there is something for everyone! I deliver them on Christmas Eve afternoon or evening, depending on when they are home. Some things I've included in the past are my Sausage Biscuit bites (they are simply angel biscuits with crumbled sausage in them, but one of my family's favorites; then there is the Cheese Strudel, and I love the recipe because it makes four pastries. I usually include some kind of muffins, because I love muffins--easy and quick. I also have a recipe for butter rolls that I sometimes include........I need to start planning so that I am ready. I make several platters to share with my neighbors.....they seem to enjoy it. Do you have a special tradition you do for your neighbors??? Please share in the comments so we all can gain from one another's ideas! Thanks for coming by!

praying for Stellan

UPDATED TO ADD SOME GREAT, FABULOUS, OH SO TERRIFIC NEWS.....READ:
Praise GOD!!!!




I was just over here, at the Sunny Side, and she reminded me how critical Stellan is right now and we can be sharing with one another to pray....so would you stop right now and pray for Stellan?????
Thanks!


For those of you that follow McMama from My Charming Kids,

you probably already know that baby Stellan is having heart

surgery in Boston at this very moment.

He is critical, and this surgery is extremely dangerous. He

needs every spare prayer you have.

Pray for Baby Stellan.

For updates on baby Stellan

go HERE.

For a more detailed account of Stellan's story go HERE.

(photo borrowed from My Charming Kids)