The Heavens and Earth

I'd like to start posting my creations here for a change since I'm using my sallylsmith blog for devotionals with photos.

I'd like to honor the Lord with my works and to do so, I will be naming each from a scripture inspiration.  This one is called

The Heavens and Earth

from Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth

 by your great power and outstretched arm. 

Nothing is too hard for you.

I've used new crackle glass charcoal beads, vintage costume pearls and crystals, Czech glass gold faceted beads and vintage wood beads from an old rosary.  I'm placing it in my Etsy shop today.

Quandaries

Yep, I'm in a few quandaries now.  We've been in this five-bedroom, two bath, full basement and attic storage house plus a two car garage with workshop and rafter storage for 16 years now (17 in the same city) and we're moving to a 3 br, two bath, hard-to-get-to attic storage no garage, no basement house.  For the past years I've become a hoarder, yes, I admit it.  I've had to touch everything I've sorted and packed only to realize I don't have room in the house in which we're moving to even store the boxes I already have packed that rest in a storage facility at present.  That's not even half the problem.  We have to move into a donated, rented small 2 br, one bath one closet farm house (thankfully with a huge garage) until the house I mentioned first is cleaned, painted, re-carpeted and dry walled.  Everything has to go to storage or into the rented garage.  How do I plan for the things that are necessities for a month, two, three while we live in Rented Wonder?  Who knows?  I'm overwhelmed now and just want to eat chocolate.  Aaaarg!

Resignations

It's official.  We've resigned from our church.  Sadness. 
Things haven't gone as we had planned concerning our move either but we have discovered in times past that our plans are not God's plans.  His are much better so we just wait and watch what he will do.
I'm also resigned to the fact that I must now pack---everything.  I've been putter-packing a little here and there but now....it's different.  The trouble is that we will be in a temporary home for a few months, 2 or 3, until we clean and remodel a rental house that will be available for us on July 1.  That means I need only pack the essentials....hmmmm.  For a crafter, everything is essential.  One never knows when one will need a certain something.  I think the reality is hitting me hard that I will not have time to create for quite a while and I'm a bit disconcerted over that fact--wondering...What WILL I do?  I'm sure I will be very busy with the cleaning, etc. and, of course, there will be grandchildren around.  Silly me--I'll be busy, no doubt.  Still, the thought of not creating something for 2-3 months still weighs heavily on my heart.  There I go--not trusting God again.  I've got to start listening to the words of the VBS songs I'm learning--TRUST is the word of the week.

Half Empty

Yep,, that's me.  I don't mean to be negative but I've noticed that the negative response is usually what I make to almost everything.  I'm really a grateful person for: my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my house, my church, my friends, my pastor, my opportunities, my health, my family's health, my creative juices, my God-given abilities.  Yes, I'm a blessed woman.

Then, why am I so negative?  "I got tickets and the performance is at 7:30."  My response: "Wow, that's late."
"I made chocolate-covered strawberries but I forgot the milk."  MR: "I told you that you need to write down the recipe."
Now, why would I undermine him on those occasions of his generosity?  Am I one-upping him because I didn't think of those things to do?

I made a big coffee cake to freeze and take to our kid's house next week; I made bread for my "bread ministry;" I cleaned the house, I made jewelry to sell; I played for choir last night and got my music ready for Sunday; I sat in on an estate planning meeting yesterday;I packed boxes for the auction this week.  He didn't undermine me so what's going on here?  I've got to make an effort to be more positive and see if that changes my whole attitude on life.

Gloomy Day

I'm finding it difficult to do even the simplest things today.  I either drop what I pick up, lose what I've had in my hand or bungle whatever my hands find to do--not my best day.  I'm blaming the barometric pressure but I really think that it's because today makes three months since my sister's death.  I'm accepting it as "just a bad day" and tomorrow will be better.  It will be good to see my church friends tonight.

Early Rising Thoughts

I awakened early today.  I don't like to do that on Sunday--3:30's a bit early when I have to be at church from 6:30 to 12:00 something.  Still dealing with the pain of loss, crying, remembering and Christmastime doesn't help that.  Trying to think of a way to hold her memory--personalized Christmas cards for the family--don't want to be morbid--more joyful and hope-filled would be good.  Keeping this week for present wrapping, last minute shopping ideas and baking.  Family together, maybe not all at once but hopefully we'll see them all sometime during next week.  Will spend time with Bill's family Christmas day and my sister and her family mid-week, yes long trip but it's been a while since we traveled there--too long.  Hope to take care of my side for a change.  Death brings things into perspective.

Grief Is Debilitating

It's a good thing for Sunday for without direction, I'm a wandering child.
Monday I actually felt like creating something and made a pair of earrings for M--her birthday.   I couldn't remember how to make the feather earrings I wanted to make, though I tried four times, I just couldn't do it.  Creativity?--on hold.  I got ready to pick up M, went to lunch, shopped where she wanted and it turned out to be kind of fun, actually made supper and watched tv with Bill.

Tuesday, tried again with the earrings, no luck.  Made soup for D--brain surgery two weeks ago.  Took it to her, stayed a while, she's doing well, went home and found my tv, pleasantly zoned--tried to make myself feel justified, took auction stuff to auctioneers, soup supper and tv with Bill.

Wed. turned out to be the epiphany day.  I figured out how to make the earrings, made seven pair and two pair of fingerless gloves, took five pair of earrings and the gloves to S'More Couture, picked up my long-lost dress form and was commissioned to do about 10-12 flowers for A's client.  I went to GFS for food for church that night, prepared meal with MD, rehearsed at 6 and 7, tv with Bill.

Thurs. Not too disiplined today, feel tired, dusted LR furniture, cleaned bathroom, cleaned microwave, swept floors, updated blog, made myself a pair of earrings.  Now I want to eat lunch and finish a long-pending quilt for one of my grandchildren.  Maybe I'll feel I've accomplished something.  I'm keeping on keeping on.