Smile! God Loves You!

Smile! God Loves You!

I always used to think this was such a corny 'Sunday School' phrase! I mean, of course God loves me... I know that. But, it doesn't mean I'm going to smile all my days. And, unfortunately, when in the depths of sadness or anger, a giant yellow blob cannot brighten my spirits.

But, today I had a random everyday experience that led to a tiny seedling of a thought that turned into a bit of a burden on my heart. Thus, the blog post.

While delivering some parts for work today, I passed Central Market downtown. I had some extra time, so I stopped and got a coffee and some doughnuts to take back for my co-workers. I parked along Philadelphia Street and when I went to leave, the traffic was pretty heavy. While I was in the market, a car had parked behind me and was quite close. I did a 37-point maneuver to get out of the parking space and was finally clear to pull out. I was watching in my mirrors for a break in the traffic. Finally!

Right as I start to go, a car pulls up RIGHT next to me and stops. They park there to let someone out. My first reaction is to yell, "Hello!? Can't you see I'm trying to pull out here?!" But, of course I do not. Then I realized that, in the grand scheme of my day, week, month, year, life... it didn't matter if I sat there for two more minutes.

It occurred to me that most people would honk or yell obscenities at the double-parker. They would get annoyed and angry. They would let it ruin their mood, their coffee, their morning commute. I could do this too, but what good would it do. Sure, it was inconsiderate of the person to stop right there, but chances are, they didn't even notice I was trying to pull out.

As the woman struggled to get out of the passenger seat quickly with all of her bags and a drink in her hand, I noticed she looked sad. She came around the car and was looking toward me.

I smiled. And she smiled. It was the most beautiful smile, lighting up her tired, harried face. And my seedling thought was born...

I should not smile at others because God loves me, but because God loves them. I should not smile because God's love is something I keep in my own heart (although I have it there), but because I want others to know and have His love as well. I have always been a strong believer (although, unfortunately not always a strong practitioner) of the concept of sharing God's love through demonstration rather than words. My hope for my life is that others will see God's love through me and the way I treat them. Even if it's only a smile through a car window in downtown traffic...

From now on, I will smile because God loves me.

And, I will smile to let His love out!!

This is a pouch that I made over the weekend. I used a purse pattern that I had and modified it a bit. I appliqued a vintage hankie and some rickrack onto the outside. It holds A LOT of stuff and I'm pretty happy with it, but I wish I would have thought to put a handle or something on it. Oh well, it was just a fun project... now I know for next time. :)

It's Love

I love fall....

I love everything about it. The smells. The crisp, cool air. The sights and colors. All of it.

I think that the leaves in fall are one of the most beautiful things in creation. The idea that a leaf can change from lush, live green to vibrant yellows and reds, and then slowly dry and become a crisp curled brown and fall to the ground... And so few people ever stop to notice it happen.

Dress Up!

These are a few new things I've made recently. I've had a lot of fun playing! I've been tracing things onto the fusible webbing backing before ironing it to the fabric and then cutting out the shapes. Cute Cute Cute!

Flower Tee - 4T

Little Star Onesie - 3-6 mos.

Tiny Turtle Tee - 3-6 mos.

Pawprints Tee - 4T

Bubbles! Tee - 4T

Fall Fun!

On Friday, I got to spend the day with some of my favorite kiddos! We made a scarecrow and sat him on the front porch. Unfortunately the batteries in my camera died before his head was completed .... so you'll have to use your imagination! :)

Deep sigh....

Today, I am having trouble dealing with the stupidity of the people around me.

Well, really just one person in particular.

I'm not sure how many times we can have a certain conversation before he will grasp its meaning. (and it's such a simple meaning...)

About 20 minutes ago, we embark on said conversation for about the 12th time this month. It goes something like this....

him: "What's that kid's name...Justin?"
me: {blank look} even though, at this point, I know where we are going....
him: "Mark? NO! Mike! Mike. What does he charge?"
me: "$70 an hour"
him: "I need you to call him"
me: "Okay..." {continued blank look}
him: "I need to get Quickbooks on my computer. I have the software. 97 I think....yeah, 97."
me: {sigh} "You want to be able to see my Quickbooks, right? Is that what you mean?"
him: "Yeah!"
me: "We can't do that."
him: "What?!?!" {all angry-like, even though he's been told this roughly 47 times}
me: "The only way we can do that is to put it back on the server and we can't do that without a password to the server."
him: "Call Mike."
me: "Mike can't do it without a password."
him: "Call Mike."
me: {exercising extreme anger management} "Mike can't do anything on the server without a password. Either you get the right password or he has to set up a whole new server."
him: "That's too expensive." {excessive frowning}
me: {sigh}
him: {grumble, grumble, grumble as he leaves my office}

He really has a gift for making people feel like...oh, I don't know...crap. Now, I should know by now not to take these events personally. But some days......

My patience -- oh, there it went.....

A trip down the hall....

So, my parents have lived in their house for over 16 years now. I spent a good part of my growing-up years there. I left for a while, and have recently returned.

Last night, as I walked down the hall to my bedroom, I made a startling discovery.

There is a control on the wall that regulates the whole-house fan. It is rectangular in shape.

In 16 years, I have not noticed that it crookedly affixed to the wall. How did I not notice this?

I realize now that this a blessing, for it would have been an agonizing 16 years of trips down the hallway, wishing I could somehow right the crooked box on the wall.

After my small explosion over it's crookedness, I mentioned that I may have to move out, as it bothered me very much.

My dad immediately started searching for other things he could make crooked.