One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

In August, I was on a bit o f a quest to find some slides & stuff stored away. (Refresh your memory here and here.) And if you want to see a modern-day picture of what you can do with granny squares, check this out! A friend suggested this could be the replacement for the duplicate item in the crochet post (thanks, Ann!) ... So that is the background on why my front entryway looks like this:I brought home box after box of 'treasures', things my mom, or I, thought were important enough to keep. I'm sure some of it is, but right now I can't even get to the front door. My dilemma is, what do I do with all this stuff? What's worth keeping? What will my kids care about? What do I have room for and what is the best way to store it? I'm very intimidated to start this project. Last night I went through a bag of stuffed animals and kept only 3 things:
Who but me would want this stuff? Fluffy (bear), Thumbelina (doll) & kittie blanket.
Fluffy has had major surgery to reattach eyes & nose many times. And he's still smiling.
Well loved, hugged and tugged so much his tummy is bare. He used to be white but I think a wash might be the death of him. He'll have to stay grimy.
I don't know if this doll came as Thumbelina, she doesn't look like any Thumbelina I've ever seen anywhere else, but she's always been my Thumbelina. She has a string in the back that makes a weird mechanical noise when pulled and I think the head used to move with what may have been a cry. Matted hair, stained & worn sleeper, Thumbelina has also been well loved.
And then there is kittie blanket. Can you see the faded kitty batting a ball of yarn below?
Another obviously well loved item. I remember thinking my blanket was the best, the softest and prettiest blanket ever. How do you part with these things?
And I fuss when Grace wants to bring hers everywhere, partly because I know this is a treasure and it will eventually be lost permanently as it's been lost temporarily many times, also because... it is a treasure that looks like a rag. See?
So my question is, how do YOU pick and choose what is worth keeping? And then what do you do with it? And what's your long-term plan for it? Will your kids want it or are you storing it so they can toss it in a landfill someday?

And how about this: How does thinking about these things, the items we can't seem to part with, change what I'm spending money on today? Does it change your spending? Does it change how you are planning Christmas gift giving?

It's changing how I am planning gifts this Christmas. Between this, and the current economy, I'm planning to make celebrating Jesus, celebrating family and celebrating memories made more important that rooms full of stuff bound for a landfill.

I'd love to hear what your plans are, and how you deal with your own treasures!

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~Luke 12.34

Whispering, Gently Nudging

I am pretty good at self medicating. Most of us are. Sometimes, many times, I can't even see that I do it. And then Papa whispers, gently nudging, and my feeble attempt to protect bruised pride, bruised heart is undone.

Family. A happy gathering to an outsider.
Family. An occasional minefield for me.
Words said, words unsaid and action taken, actions not taken.
I awoke knowing I would see family, may feel... something.
I felt OK with that.
I went to church. Still OK, prayed for other people, no prayer for me.
I partied, ate cake, gave & received hugs, said goodbyes.
Drove home the long way, through the cemetery, then home.
Thought I was still OK.
I missed people, loved ones who weren't there and never will be again.
Family who can't possibly meet the needs in my heart
family who can't even see the needs in my heart.
But still OK, I think?
At home, tummy too full of party to eat, next best medication is sleep.
An unusually unrestful nap, a cranky awakening, a spirit out of sorts.
Drive to church, few words for my passenger,
I can feel the gravitational pull of the Father
and I..... don't....... want........... to.............. go.
My spirit cries out, at war with head & emotions
that say I. AM. FINE.
But I'm not fine.
God descends and I can hardly breathe.
Spirit passes through hugs, balm on bruised heart.
My spirit worships, holy communion, tears of surrender,
Words refresh, burdens laid on altar, my cup overflows.
Papa is whispering, gently nudging,
and I can breathe again.
I can breathe again.

Another Beautiful Fall Day

The view coming down Piedmont this morning.

These colors would make interior decorators from the 80's jealous;
pink & gray at it's best!

Ore boat on Lake Superior

And the sun makes an appearance!

Beautiful! I love where we live.

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I am also loving Picnik. Have you tried it yet?
Chatting at the Sky & Of Love and a Baby have gotten me hooked!
I touched up the above photos only to reflect the actual colors I saw today.
But you can do so much more with it!
I love this one.
I'm calling this one Super Nova.
(Good thing my bomb shelter is still stocked from the Y2K scare - not!)
I plan to make a large collage of different edits
of the same photo for my kitchen,
possibly something like this:

You should try it! You can do all of this and more for free.
But I think I'll invest in the premium package and have even more fun!
Let me know if you do try it!

Multitude Birthday

It's my birthday and this day, this time of year is so often emotionally fragile. Some things that are always here, but more evident to be thankful for this time of year, mostly the people in my life:

41. Hubby makes a huge effort every year to make it special.

42. Grace who gave this hint for my birthday present, "It's a rectangle, it has lots of words and grownups really like to loot at it lots." We had to run to Target when I pointed out a book I would like to hubby, because he really hadn't gotten me a book, but Grace's mind was made up!

43. My sister-in-law always, always remembers my birthday and suprised me last night with a sweet gift including this:
You know you want some! This will attract most males, but especially my hubby whose facebook page says, "I am the Jedi Master of Bacon." It smells more maple-y than bacon-y... Even more special because for all my good intentions, I stink at remembering other people's birthdays, hers included, but she just keeps blessing me! Thanks, Deb!

44. My mom, gone 11.5 years now. On your birthday, moms are the ones who seem to celebrate it the best. (No matter how old you get, they are still happy to no longer be pregnant!)

These mean more than I can tell you without tears so I hope written words can equally express my thanks for the hugs from people I love:

45. Hubby, you still make my heart race.
46. Micah - I get one of these for my birthday, right?
47. Grace, the hugs & kisses as you snuggle me each morning, what a great way to wake up!
48. Casey, you see me and know me, even without words. Your friendship is such a blessing!
49. Tim & Nancy, I wonder if you know how I appreciate each of you?
50. Gretchen, I am SO thankful for you!
51. Gordy & Ann, I love serving you!
52. Becky, who I don't see enough of.
53. Phil, I love your sideways, camp/pastor appropriate hugs and look forward to them!
54. Kerry, if you hadn't moved away, we'd never hug when you come back. This is the only reason I'm glad we don't live near each other anymore.
55. Cousins, the big happy-to-see-you! hugs from Cory, Abby & Dan and the awkward/almost adult hugs from Brandon & Jared.
56. The hugs I see my family giving my kids.

Oh... now I feel so thankful! Here's some more:
57. Kai-Lynn who always pops up in my google chat and encourages me!
58. The people who pray at church, you help me see Jesus.
59. Pastors who preach the Word, the Eternal Truth and only the Word, no additions, no man-made rules - thank you!
60. Facebook friends, even when you aren't wishing me happy birthday! I love social networking and am so thankful to reconnect with you and see into your life!
61. Bloggers, blogging friends, blog readers. I love the opportunity to meet so many people, who have so much wisdom and share it with me/us!

Thank you!

Craft Area

Grace loves to be creative. She is all about drawing and writing and cutting and gluing and coloring and stickering... She's so different from Micah. He was more about building and designing things, very tactile stuff. He would often come home from the grocery store with his pockets loaded with twist ties from the produce department. These would soon become fantastical creatures clinging to every surface in his room, but coloring books would barely receive a cursory glance. I wonder if it's a gender difference, personality difference, or a mix of both?Grace and I spent a couple hours on Saturday going through all of her craft supplies. I threw away just about every piece of paper I could get my hands on, I think she managed to rescue 4-5 or five pieces that she just couldn't part with. When asked if she wants to keep this or that, the answer is always, "Sure!" so I stopped asking. We can't keep it all and I already have a full folder of 4 year old art work. This drawer set was shoved in her closet with the table and chair set we would rarely bring out but the addition of the loft in her room gave us space to have more things like this out. The table & chair set is a hand-me-down from my grandparents and was new when my dad and aunt were little. These are much better quality and sturdier than anything we could buy today. Even I can sit on these little chairs and have a tea party!
As we tossed stuff, we also found all the things that were never to be found when needed, like scissors, glue, paintbrushes, pencil sharpener...
All the coloring books, preschool activity books, and notebook/journals found a place in these magazine holders big brother doesn' t need anymore.
Markers and crayons are in plastic shoeboxes left open in a drawer for easy organization. She can open the drawer when working on a project and everything is in easy reach, and easier to put away!
She's so pleased with her very own area to create whatever she can think of! Yesterday she made binoculars out of salvaged toilet paper tubes. I am so pleased because she seems motivated to keep things organized. I hope it lasts. Even more than that, I hope it fuels her creativity!

My Nemesis

This is a morning shot -
it's so dark, I obviously need coffee... right?

Mmmmm, chocolatey coffee goodness.
My nemesis.

Grace-isms, Wisdom and More Thanks

Me: Tomorrow afternoon, Daddy & I both have to be at church for worship practice and your brother will watch you.
Grace: I don't like when he watches me because he doesn't like me because I don't listen to him!
Me: Then you should try to listen to him.
Grace: But it is SO HARD to listen when you aren't here to see me listen!!!

Grace: I'm so happy this brand new show is on!
Dad (sarcastically) : Good, Grace. It's all about making you happy.
Grace: No Dada. You should only want to ever make JESUS happy!!!

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I had a conversation with a friend last night. She's recently started attending our church and has questions about why we 'let' people do ______ and why we dont' have rules about some kind of dress code and how we can welcome ______ (add people group of your choosing here). And there are two things that come to mind in and after this conversation, one our pastor said yesterday, one I've heard him, and others, say in the past.

1) If you read Scriptures and apply them to others, the result is anger (and I would add frustration and fanaticism). If you read Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to help you apply it to yourself, the result is healing and a deeper relationship with God.

2) If we (Christ followers) are fishing for people, we can't expect to clean them before we catch them. The church would be empty if we did, as no one is 100% clean.

My prayer today is that my friend would focus on herself, that Jesus would become clearer and dearer to her, and that the ideas from any outside sources would pale in comparison to abundant life with Christ. And I pray the same for myself, my family, and you. God, help us to get our priorities in line with Yours.

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A busy, kind of crabby weekend has left me wishing I could have another one; a weekend where the kids don't fight, the weather is nice, everyone sleeps and then sleeps in, the dishes and laundry are done, and everything lies in preparation for a new week.

39. Wisdom when I have none to offer. From unexpected places, from expected places that I can apply. Wisdom.
40. That this is a new week, during which I may renew my goal to notice the gifts around me!