Happy Saturday y'all! I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend! A very special welcome to all y'all who are hopping on over from Lisa's Blog!
Today I am so excited to share with y'all this blog hop that is going on! Y'all know how much I love May Arts because it is talked about so much here on the blog and all of the time on my instagram! Well today I am so excited to be apart of this blog hop that showcases both May Arts and CardMaker Magazine (one of my absolute favorite magazines!)!!
The Valentine's Day themed ribbon and products that May Arts has to offer is spectacular with all different options.
I wanted to create a card that was elegant, beautiful, and pretty for a loved one and love the final results. I was also looking to create a card that had tones of golds and pinks instead of the typical red.
The following is a list of the ribbon that I chose (and the approximate amount of each):
Pink Sheer Ribbon with Heart Edge- 6 inches
1.25 Mauve Silk Ribbon -6 inches
Pink Satin Heart Ribbon - (4 hearts)- 2 inches
2.5 Inch Ivory Sheer Frayed Flower Ribbon - 1 flower (I simply cut the flower off of the ribbon to achieve the look in this card)
2 Inch White Valentine's Day Ribbon - 3 inches
1.25 Inch Fuchsia Silk Ribbon - 2 1/2 inches
2.5 Inch Champagne Elastic Lace- 3 inches
Interested in buying some of these ribbons that I have mentioned? Many of the are on sale right now so stop on by to check that out by going to the Ribbon Resource online shop! Don't forget to stop by and check out the blog for a chance to enter to win the giftcard and head on over to Tami's blog to continue this hop! If you would like to see all of the blogs involved in the hop here is a complete list:
- CardMaker
- Amy Rysavy
- DeeDee Catron
- Carisa Zglobicki
- Gini Williams Cagle
- Jenifer Cowles
- Dawn Lusk
- Jennifer Davey
- Karen Baker
- Kim Klinkovsky
- Karen Hanson
- Latrice Murphy
- Linda Beeson
- Lori Williams
- Michele Kosciolek
- Lisa Silver
- Rebecca VanDeMark <----- YOU ARE HERE
- Tami Mayberry
- Pamela Haskin
- Terri Burson
- Jen Shears
- Tracy McLennon
- The Ribbon Resource
Happy Tuesday y'all!
Blessings,
Happy Tuesday, friends! With the chillier winter months upon us, I've teamed up with some other awesome bloggers to give you the chance to win a fun prize that will warm your heart! :) We're excited to be giving away a high-quality Starbucks coffee thermos, along with a beautiful vintage cut-out book letter (made by the Oh Simple Joys Etsy shop) to add that special cozy touch to your home decor!
It's easy to enter - so what are you waiting for? You can enter for your chance to win below - and in the meantime, stop by these lovely ladies' blogs and say hi!
Allie from Down Rainy Lane // Carmilla from The Modest Girl's Guide // Audrey from Life As Louise // Brittany from Grace, Love, Life
Jenn from Crown Me In Glitter // Kimberly from Sweet Discord
Ashley from The Ashley Maria Blog // Jenn from What You Make It // Rebecca from Caravan Sonnet // Hannah from Just Bee
“How beautiful you are my darling! Oh how
beautiful!”
-Song of Songs 1:15-
One of the real aspects of womanhood is the issue of feeling unbeautiful. Many times events can cause us to question our beauty. Single gals who don’t have a
husband to whisper sweet words to us, can question our looks. Many singles have expressed that because they feel that they haven't been "picked" to be a girlfriend, fiance', or wife they feel ugly and unbeautiful. There are times when I have looked around at everyone I know who is married and thought "if I was just a little more pretty...maybe then I would be married".
And its not just the single gals who struggle. Just this past weekend I heard from a couple of my friends who are struggling with this tender topic of beauty. One thing that was interesting to me was that each of them qualified their thoughts by saying a version of, "I know it sounds silly" or "I know this sounds vain" and I realized that I do the exact same thing when I speak on this topic... and lets be real... if I speak of it at all. Why? Because there is a part of me that thinks that maybe I shouldn't feel that way... or that it is vain... or that there are more important things in life to be concerned about. And perhaps there are... but there is also nothing as important as our fragile hearts.
Several months ago I posted on instagram about this topic and said the following:
"Today was difficult in a way that is hard to share. It wasn't the 12 hour testing at the hospital but instead it was emotionally difficult due to a comment from a stranger about my weight. For many women the subject of weight and the topic of beauty is a sensitive subject. This particular comment brought me into a ton of tears and hurt. The truth is that Lyme has affected my physical body in a thousand different ways, including my weight. Different (and life necessary) meds have changed a lot of things and made me gain weight, making me feel like Lyme takes away everything including self-esteem."
What I didn't share because I was utterly embarrassed was that the comment from the stranger was heart-wrenching on many levels because it involved her asking me how long before my baby was due. I shared this with one friend and didn't receive the encouragement my broken heart was looking for which made the experience hurt even more and reinforced my feelings of ugliness. Even now typing this I feel embarrassed, fat, and ugly. Unfortunately it wasn't a one time event and has happened since then. There are a million little excuses that I could start sharing about the meds I am on, the difficult and physically taxing journey that the fighting for your health is, etc. etc etc. but the reality is that it wouldn't change the fact that I feel very unbeautiful right now and extremely self-conscious about my looks because of these comments...
My friends who are brave enough to share their thoughts with me are truly my heroes. When I am brave enough to be completely vulnerable, grace can be spoken in to this tender subject by women who love God and love be so beautifully. Because as we share our struggles and insecurities with trusted and Godly women we have the opportunity to share grace, love and truth with each other. When we rip off all of the masks and share our hearts and the struggles we are facing we have the opportunity to share our deepest fears and deepest longings.
And in those moments... we can share with each other the truth of who we are in Christ. No matter how unbeautiful or ugly we might feel. When we invite people into our lives- our real and sometimes broken lives we are giving them a deeper glimpse at who our God truly is and the beauty that He creates out of all of the messiness and hard.
Life is hard and messy and can be downright ugly sometimes. Sweet friends, our struggle to want to feel beautiful is a natural and normal thing. We are surrounded and bombarded all of the time with the messages that the the world gives as what is one kind of beauty what is pretty. I know so many times I struggle to cry out with the psalmist in saying: “I praise you
because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, you works are wonderful, I know
that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)
As we cry out to the Lord in our struggles with our feelings of not being pretty "enough" let us pray that the Lord would help us to remember that it is the things that come from our heart that are long-lasting and forever. The things that come
from my heart that will outlast any pretty face or any earthly beauty. “A wife of noble character who
can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (Proverbs 31:10)
My prayer is that I would be known as a woman who is of noble character more than a woman who is just
physically attractive. Let us give and surrender our feelings of ugliness to the Lord and ask
that He would fill our heart with the truth that He have made us.
God doesn't
make mistakes. He has made us and He knows our hearts. May our prayers be that we would be molded into women who
know and feel beautiful in who He have made me to be: beautiful women
of noble character. May we make that our prayer in what is most important to us. May we let everything else
fade. “Charm can be deceptive
and beauty doesn’t last, but a woman who fears and reverences God shall be
greatly praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) May falling in love with the Lord be the most
important thing to us. Let us pray that we would keep this in the forefront of our minds and bind it
on our hearts whenever we are tempted to compare this to what the world says is
beautiful.
Hold on to this precious hope friends. He is good and He is always with us and while it is important to recognize this struggle we can place this struggle in His loving hands. And to my single friends, feeling unbeautiful, even when you get married doesn't just "go away" and learning this lesson of making God our central focus and most important love now will only help to strengthen our marriages in the future. Unfortunately I have seen so many wonderful christian women enter into marriage believing that will be the "cure" for their all of their problems, including feeling unbeautiful. What an impossible thing to place on a human- something that only God can fulfill.
Hold on to this precious hope friends. He is good and He is always with us and while it is important to recognize this struggle we can place this struggle in His loving hands. And to my single friends, feeling unbeautiful, even when you get married doesn't just "go away" and learning this lesson of making God our central focus and most important love now will only help to strengthen our marriages in the future. Unfortunately I have seen so many wonderful christian women enter into marriage believing that will be the "cure" for their all of their problems, including feeling unbeautiful. What an impossible thing to place on a human- something that only God can fulfill.
And let us share this true beauty with others who are struggling. You are gorgeous friends. You have worth. You are important. You are beautiful.
From Burlington, Vermont it is about a 45 minute drive to Stowe.
The drive itself offers gorgeous views as you see the mountains in the distance and drive through some truly quaint New England towns.
The countryside that you see as you drive is beautiful and rustic and is so pretty no matter the time of year that you choose to visit.
When I was a child we visited the Von Trapp Lodge shortly after my first viewing of the Sound of Music. If you haven't been to the Lodge it nestled on 2500 acres in beautiful Stowe, Vermont and it is a "unique mountain resort featuring Austrian-inspired architecture and European-style accommodations". The Lodge boasts to offer stunning mountain views and they couldn't be more right.
As a child and as a lady who loves the Sound of Music it was interesting to see the Lodge and place where "my" beloved Von Trapp family permanently settled when they came to America.
After leaving Europe, the von Trapp family briefly settled in Pennsylvania, before the family toured the US in the early 1940s as the "Trapp Family Singers". They eventually settled in Stowe, Vermont. The family is known to have said that the sweeping mountain views and vistas reminded them of their beloved Austria which they had left. 
In 1942 the von Trapp family purchased part of what was known as the old Gale Farm in Stowe and they named it "Cor Unum" which means "one heart". Eventually the name was changed to the von Trapp Lodge.
The "Trapp Family Singers" final concert was held six years later in 1956, almost a decade before the Sound of Music movie premiere was released. The von Trapp family was very outspoken about their disappointment with how many things in the movie were changed (including the portrayal of their father and the escape from Austria), but since they had sold the rights to the movie there was little that they could do. Nevertheless, the beloved family became known internationally by the film and for the opening of the Cross Country Ski Center in 1968 which was the first of its kind.
Unfortunately in late December in 1980 there was a devastating fire (the cause of which is unknown) which resulted in the "Old Lodge" to be completely burned to the ground and in 1981 construction on a new Trapp Family Lodge was started. Three short years later the first guest registered at the new Trapp Family Lodge which was a 96-room alpine lodge that was situated on 2500 acres that offered beautiful views and many new indoor and outdoor resort amenities.
In 1987, after a short illness, Maria von Trapp died, but the lodge continues to tell the story of her and the beloved von Trapp family, with tours sharing the precious story of the family that began in Austria and came to bless us in the United States. 
I hope that this has inspired you to visit this precious town and see the historic von Trapp Lodge. Someday I hope to visit and stay at the Lodge, but even a drive, like we did to the von Trapp Lodge is worth your time! Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that y'all have a wonderful day!!
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| Beautiful Little Girl Bunting |
Over the holidays I spent a ton of time creating lots of new goodies for the shop and some exciting items have now been listed! This is not a complete listing of items so head on over to the shop to see them all but here are a few of my favorites!
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| Vintage Snap Bunting |
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| Vintage Old Maid Bunting |
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| Mini Scripture Bunting- Psalm 18 |
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| "I Do Love You" Inspirational Bunting |
Thank you so much for your continued support of my shop! As a small thank you please use the coupon code "thanks" to receive 10% off your purchase this weekend! Happy Saturday friends!
Happy New Years friends!! This is the third year that I have ever joined in on the "pick a word for the year train". I am honestly not sure why I didn't do this years ago because it is such a lovely and sweet idea. Last year as I prayed about a word for the year 2015 (and chose the word "Mettle") it really allowed me time to focus, think and pray about the coming year. It was the same in 2014, when I chose the word "Valor".
Over the past few months as I have prayed about 2016, I expected a word to "come immediately" as it has in the past and yet... it didn't. The word was not as "clear cut" to me as the last two years. Perhaps it is because this health journey is much longer than I originally thought it would be or perhaps it is because I have been feeling weary of late, but I as I kept praying over the world for this year, I felt that there could have been 50 different appropriate words. *smiles*
As I kept seeking the Lord about this coming year, He continued to bring me back to a passage of scripture (Jeremiah 31:2-5) that I felt encompassed all of those 50 words and "themes" that kept coming to mind and could be summed up by an over-arching word:
Over the past few months as I have prayed about 2016, I expected a word to "come immediately" as it has in the past and yet... it didn't. The word was not as "clear cut" to me as the last two years. Perhaps it is because this health journey is much longer than I originally thought it would be or perhaps it is because I have been feeling weary of late, but I as I kept praying over the world for this year, I felt that there could have been 50 different appropriate words. *smiles*
As I kept seeking the Lord about this coming year, He continued to bring me back to a passage of scripture (Jeremiah 31:2-5) that I felt encompassed all of those 50 words and "themes" that kept coming to mind and could be summed up by an over-arching word:
Anew Definition:
(1) Once more; again
(2) In a new and different way, form, or manner
(3) In a new or different, typically more positive way.
(4) Once more, again.
(1) Once more; again
(2) In a new and different way, form, or manner
(3) In a new or different, typically more positive way.
(4) Once more, again.
Granted, it is not a word that is "common" or used everyday but the definitions sum up exactly what I pray for for this coming year. This battle for my health continues to be very difficult and demanding and I want to meet this challenge with the hope of what is coming. I want to persevere and yet live fully in this season. As I lean on the Lord's strength to conquer the "unknowns" of what lies ahead with my health, healing, relationships, my professional life, my shop, my writing, and some personal circumstances I can rest fully in the knowledge that His strength is going to give me the joy to face these demanding and difficult situations. Finally, I want to be a good soldier for the Lord in this difficult situation and have the quality of temperament to face the pain of illness, the strength to believe in the impossible, and the lovely peace that comes from trusting a Sovereign God fully without fear.
There are some verses in scripture that I have mentioned here on the blog before that the Lord kept bringing me back to as I prayed through this upcoming year. They have really become "my verses" for this 2016 year:
A lot of time as a young sick gal I find myself facing the truth that I struggle with this season being one of "crumbling". To be honest, it is not a lot of fun. *smiles* The other day I was moaning and complaining to the Lord and saying, "hasn't there been enough pain?" "hasn't there been enough sickness?" "haven't I endured enough on this journey?" And the Lord quietly replied, "My child, I love you. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:1) I am humbled by the Lord's love that so graciously puts up with my complaining. How great His love is for His children. BUT... I admit that I have been dealing with some deep grief behind the scenes. Recently I have felt such a tug-of-war about wishing this story was different. I have cried many tears about the deep aching dreams that I see others receiving and living while I struggle to get out of bed some days. My "successes" of the day often revolve around things that would seem small to the rest of the world. I haven't talked about it much on this blog but it has been a death ... a relinquishing of many many dreams on this long journey. There have been many tears that have been spent on this tender subject. Many tears wondering if my greatest dreams of being married and being a mama will come true. Even writing those words and reading them is difficult as I surrender to the Lord.
There are some verses in scripture that I have mentioned here on the blog before that the Lord kept bringing me back to as I prayed through this upcoming year. They have really become "my verses" for this 2016 year:
"The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert. The LORD appeared to me in a faraway place and said, “I love you with an everlasting love. So I will continue to show you my kindness. Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. Once again you will take your tambourines, and you will go dancing with happy people. Once again you will plant..."
-Jeremiah 31:2-5-
A lot of time as a young sick gal I find myself facing the truth that I struggle with this season being one of "crumbling". To be honest, it is not a lot of fun. *smiles* The other day I was moaning and complaining to the Lord and saying, "hasn't there been enough pain?" "hasn't there been enough sickness?" "haven't I endured enough on this journey?" And the Lord quietly replied, "My child, I love you. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:1) I am humbled by the Lord's love that so graciously puts up with my complaining. How great His love is for His children. BUT... I admit that I have been dealing with some deep grief behind the scenes. Recently I have felt such a tug-of-war about wishing this story was different. I have cried many tears about the deep aching dreams that I see others receiving and living while I struggle to get out of bed some days. My "successes" of the day often revolve around things that would seem small to the rest of the world. I haven't talked about it much on this blog but it has been a death ... a relinquishing of many many dreams on this long journey. There have been many tears that have been spent on this tender subject. Many tears wondering if my greatest dreams of being married and being a mama will come true. Even writing those words and reading them is difficult as I surrender to the Lord.
But I was reading something the other day by Blythe Hunt which encouraged my little weary and broken heart and reminded me of the word that the Lord kept impressing on my heart of this year being "anew". She said:
"But no amount of effort on my part can draw me out of the weariness I feel from this year's grief. No amount of effort can protect me from grief to come in 2016. Working hard to create an improved version of myself... I just don't have the energy for pumping myself up to follow a plan in order to convince myself that I'm not as broken as I feel. Because, friends, I feel quite broken. Yet that doesn't mean I can't live life more intentionally, seeking Grace to understand how God is pursuing and healing my hurting heart. So as I've browsed all these articles on setting new year's resolutions, I've prayed. I've prayed asking God to reveal how I can be more of a Gracemonger. And this is what I've come up with:
(1) Be Still.
(2) Be Loved.
(3) Be Joyful.
(4) Be Kind."
If you are weary from grief or from whatever the season of last year held (or even for what the beginning of this year has held so far!) I pray, that you will join me in looking at this coming year "anew". Let us live, as Blythe said, "seeking grace to understand how God is pursuing and healing our hurting hearts".
"The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert. The LORD appeared to me in a faraway place and said, “I love you with an everlasting love. So I will continue to show you my kindness. Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. Once again you will take your tambourines, and you will go dancing with happy people. Once again you will plant..."
The Lord is starting something beautiful anew.
So that is my "word" for the year friends! Did y'all pick a "word" for this year? I would love to hear about it and what the significance is to you!!
"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, when he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again."
-CS Lewis-
I have been somewhat "absent" from the blog and social media for the last couple of weeks. I have spent time catching up, creating new items for the shop, and staying connected through instagram and a few posts here on the blog, but I have purposefully been taking a little time away to rest, spend extra time with the Lord in prayer and in His word, and with dear family and friends (near and far).
But if I am honest, I have mostly been unplugged. Life throughout the end of November and December was a whirlwind of activity. From starting a new and intense treatment protocol, finishing the wonderful blessing of lots of orders for the shop to the release of my third book, it seemed non-stop for a while and a little retreat was absolutely necessary.
And I have been spending a lot of time thinking and praying.
And marveling again at how God works in our lives in unique ways that we could never have imagined.
This gal who has never liked to be the center of attention and whose voice used to shake anytime she had to speak in front of a large crowd has been sharing her life publicly and voluntarily (at that) on this blog for almost three years now.
And... sharing personal stories and lessons in magazine articles & a second book that will be published soon along with thoroughly enjoying the opportunities when the Lord opens the door for me to speak (and not even getting nervous at all).
Honestly, it leaves me speechless. If you would have told me four years ago that this is what my life would look like I would have stared at you in disbelief and thought that you were a little insane. Honestly, I probably would have been scared out of my mind. There would have been NO way I could have imagined all that has transpired.
Put me in front of a classroom full of students who I can live life with any day but other ways of living life "publicly"- absolutely no way. I have said this often-I love people, but I am a "private person" in many ways.
But then... slowly and surely the Lord started moving me completely out of my comfort zone, stripped my life to "ashes", and has given me the strength to face each day to fight several serious diseases, and His goodness overwhelms me in the pain. And my heart longs to give Him glory for all He is doing.
And there is absolutely nothing private about that.
And I am in awe of Him.
As we move forward into a new year I am reminded of all of these things in light of what an incredibly difficult year 2015 was. I felt that the Lord had given me the word "mettle" for the year 2015, and it was perfect. In many ways it was so full of hard times that outweighed the "happy times". 2015 was filled with incredible pain, deep and aching loneliness at points, and countless tears. I don't think that if I had the choice I would want to repeat most of 2015 but in other ways the deep adversity brought about a rich depth of my relationship with the Lord, deepened true friendships, and has taught me in new ways to appreciate the simple things that surround us each day.
In other ways I have never been so grateful for 2015. The Lord blessed me with an amazing miracle of a lovely cruise, the release of two new books (Prayers for the Single Journey and When Light Dawns), presented some speaking opportunities, was a year of growing in creativity and thinking about where I am heading with my shop, found courage to say goodbye to something that was not my calling and hello to a new adventure that was with Grace Engaged, learning contentment and peace in this season of life and becoming an advocate for those for Lyme Disease, and mostly falling in love with the Lord in new ways. In many ways this year was about learning to show up in hope in the ordinary.
And the biggest answer to prayer and the most amazing gift... moving forward in treatment to help beat Lyme Disease. Thinking about where I was a year ago and approaching 2015... knowing I couldn't even handle any type of antibiotics ... this past year with starting an intense shot protocol to "nic the picc" finishing 8 intense weeks of treatment this week is utterly amazing... and only because of the Lord.
As I look back on the incredibly painful and difficult times of 2015 and remember with gratitude the miracles that have happened. I look to the future year in wonder of what God is going to do next.
In many ways I know that this is journey that the Lord has me on is something that I would have kept very private if it was up to me. Things that I would have recorded in my journal for my little heart alone. (*smiles* Let's be honest- all of you that know me know that if I had known I was going to not only be diagnosed with Lyme Disease, but Cancer too within six months of starting this blog there is no way that I would have even started writing! *giggles*)
But when I remove life being all about "me" I see in new and great ways that God is faithful. He provides light for each day and tells us to leave the future in His hands. And His word and scripture show us how to be obeying Him in the daily- even when it is scary or uncomfortable. I am reminded of the truth of scripture that states that "obedience brings blessing"... and I see that in so many ways through this growth and stretch of sharing this journey with you sweet friends.
Sharing the pain of illness, the heart-wrenching grief of certain circumstances, and the beautifully answered prayers of ordinary days has changed me in a thousand different ways.
My heart has never known the beautiful love of Jesus so tenderly and personally as this year. This blog has helped challenge me, encourage me, and grow me. This blog forces me to come to the cross anew as I examine what I am learning and sharing with y'all. This little blog gives me one more opportunity to be reminded that Hope is ever present in our lives.
So as we approach not only a new year, but each new day with the wonderment and expectation I accept with gratitude that if we allow the Lord to use everything in our lives for his glory we can't help but be changed by Him.
By His mercy.
By His love.
By His faithfulness.
By His goodness.
As I expectantly look to the Lord (Micah 7:7) for 2016, I see the Lord's gentle nudging and love reminding me that He has created me and will lead me on the path that I take. Truly, Yahweh charts the course. And as we look to the new year I am joyfully content to recognize that the Lord has given me an "artsy old soul". A soul that God created to live out the verse that He truly makes beauty from ashes. I can't wait to live fearlessly ("sine-timore") and expectantly with you this year friends, stepping out in even more faith. I can't wait to share with y'all some this next steps of this caravan and cheer you on on yours! Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and sharing this journey with me!
As we say "goodbye" to 2015 I pray the Lord's greatest blessings on you sweet friends. Happy New Year! I can't wait to live life with you in this coming year!
With Lots of Love,
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