Fire Flowers

We saw this old overrun home while driving through our neighborhood this weekend. It was in sad shape, then we noticed a gaping hole on the side. After a slight suggestion by my husband, I grabbed my camera and ran out to see the extent of the damage.

I wonder if this home fire was accidental, did a family leave in the night in terror? Or, was it vacant and set fire by arsons/bored teens? Or, perhaps more common, it was a foreclosed home, set ablaze by a desperate family to escape the mortgage/bankruptcy. I am thinking the home was vacant, due to the fire marks and debris. There was a broken down swingset, shed and refrigerator in the backyard. A sad fate for any of the situations.

It was a small and thrilling discovery to see several wildly overgrown rosebushes on the property. I felt a pang of wonderment as how the roses in our rental turned diseased no matter the care we gave them (though they are returning)... yet the ones here that have been left with minimal rain and lack of pruning have thrived. Somehow, they have not been forgotten.

It makes me think... that even in the most desperate of situations, even in torment and the fires of our own personal lives, there will always be a seed of beauty to be gleaned from the experience.

There is a time of pain, but a season of hope. There is a time of destruction, but a season of renewal. There will always be some sort of pain... but always an even greater time of joy. For this, I am thankful for my God, my family, my faith... For I know, there are always good things to come:

... especially since the roses removed from their branches so easily... and fit very nicely into my little vases. May your day be as sweet as fresh cut roses, may good things come your way, may your outlook be one of progress and thankfulness. May you remember that you are not forgotten, that He is mindful of you and loves you.

Serve Some Love

pwnmonster hot coco and marshmallow love print

This is how I feel today... yesterday, I felt the total opposite. what did I do to change that feeling?

I decided I didn't want to feel down and sad and unimportant again today, so I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. After thinking about why I felt so down and all, I was truly humbled after my heart turned to others in need. From mass heartache in Haiti, to the impoverished or the afflicted within our own communities, I started off my morning with a donation to aid in Haiti, gave my children super big hugs and accomplished things today I have been putting off.  I actively worked on remaining patient when my toddler dumped the trashcan all over the floor 10 different times today, and pursued my tasks even though I felt like giving up. I also saw that my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (otherwise know as Mormons) is flying 80,000 lbs of food supplies and volunteers to Haiti, and knowing that my tithes and fast offerings have contributed a small part of that makes me feel very happy inside.

Donations can be made here with the Church's Humanitarian site where the largest percentage of each dollar goes directly to the people or directly at the Red Cross or through CNN's IMPACT site, or Doctors without Borders who are there working now. As always, be wary of scams, my friends! And keep the Haitian people, as well as others who are going through trying times, in your hearts and prayers.

And now, it's time to make dinner and for once, I feel like I have had a full and successful day, with a warm and cozy heart full of hope and thanks.  What can you do to change your day?

Movin on Up

So, our internet is being turned off now while we move, and won't be up again for about a week. I will have lots of fun getting caught up on all of your lovely posts, and hopefully have some fun things to post about in our new place myself. Though unpacking instead of Christmas decorating isn't so exciting, I will have to live vicariously for a short time.

My shop is on standby until then, but I plan on having lots of new restyled vintage jewelry and Twilight jewelry up just in time for Christmas shopping.

In the meantime, have a lovely December! Try not to get too busy and remember the true meaning of Christmas! This Joy to the World video features a lovely Nativity story along with music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. You can order it free from here. The Christmas message here is lovely as well, it has a wonderful video, family activites and music.

My Sunday Drives

matte art

I love Sundays. They are a time of renewal, peace, relaxation. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we choose to keep the Sabbath Day holy in a rather strict way as we interpret the commandment quite literally. No parties. No vigorous cleaning, sports, maintenance... No spending money. No working (if one can help it). No making others work (so no going out to eat). No going to the lake/mall/movies or any other form of entertainment. We fill up our tanks of gas and do our grocery shopping on Saturday if we must as a day of preparation. We limit our play and our online/tv entertainment and other worldly distractions so as to not interfere with maintaining the spirit and peace we feel on this day. Visit here to find out why we believe this helps.


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Some may view this lifestyle as restricting, but I see it as freeing. It is a day where I am not pulled to and fro by the world. A day where I don't have to run errands, or commit to attending events, a day where it is all about enjoying my family and faith. Sunday evenings are the times when we invite our families and friends to dinner to fellowship and get to know each other. There is a true peace I feel on this day. I believe everyone would do well to have a true day of rest. No matter your religious beliefs, you must try a day of meditation, rest and positive energy once to see how refreshing it can truly be!


dfr design

One such way we enjoy spending our Sundays, are on Sunday drives. I believe these started out at a time when churches required a much farther distance to travel. But now, though our church is but blocks away, we enjoy taking a detour to get home. Though the scenery isn't particularly astounding in a Texas suburb, we switch the routes up and look for pretty yards with lots of trees and flowers.


Bonnie's Knitting classic driving cap

Sunday drives are a time to talk, reflect on our Sunday lessons, bare our testimonies to each other and interact and enjoy the scenery we have before we unpile the kids out of the car and heft them up three flights of stairs to cook them dinner after a long 3 hour church service.


Tell Tale Signs

I believe it is good to do that. Quietly ponder and then vocally reflect on your feelings on your drive, before the hustle and bustle of life swifts you away once you are no longer trapped in the confines of your automobile.

What do you enjoy doing on Sundays?