Part of the problem, or part of the solution?.

Do you have those days where you'd  love to pick up the phone and call your bff and have a conversation, but you realize there is no way you could discuss all you want with the amount of time you have available? 


That's how I feel about writing a blog sometimes. I have a lot to say, but not a lot of time to get it done.  So with that said, I think the answer is to try to keep it short and hopefully, sweet!


 I'm looking for answers a lot these days which started me thinking...


Before I forget... Pinterest dinner is waiting in the wings to be prepared. (I'm still being a Pinterest doer...not just a viewer!)  Here's a shot of our dinner....Pioneer Woman's Chicken Florentine Pasta! 

Back to problem solving....


Have you noticed how easy it is to complain, give up, point out flaws, rather than look for a solution? I think maybe election year politics have heighten my senses to this situation these days. Have you also noticed how little anyone really offers solutions?  Why? 


First, lets face it... it is always easier to complain. Always easier to walk away. Pretty easy to give up too! Ask any woman or man who is on a diet!! 


Second, if we offer a solution, ...we may have to become the solution. We may actually have to put action to our words. We might face criticism ourselves!!


Risky indeed!!! Better to take the safe route and yell at the team from the bleachers, instead of actually get out on the field. My manicure could get ruined and I might get dirty....


Yep, way easier to offer critical and I'm sure helpful observations from the outside.  I'm sure it is a spiritual gift of some sort, right? Hmm...maybe not.


Why am I dwelling on this right now? 


Because I have been made painfully aware of  how often I notice all the problems surrounding me and how I love to pour out my complaints to the Lord about these issues, but I tend to politely end the conversation when I begin to hear the Lord say....


"Well, Sherri...here is a place you....." (insert dial tone here)


Surely, I'm not the only one who does this...am I?


This week the Lord has convicted me that I need to purpose to be a part of the solution. Stop complaining...it solves nothing. Just try and be the answer.


How?


 Less pointing out the flaws


More...

Here I am, send me!

Art Day!

Today was Art Day!

I love Art Day!! It's like Pinterest on steroids!

Today we worked on 2 projects... both Asian inspired. One from Indonesia, and the other Chinese.

Here is my butterfly....in case you couldn't tell. This is the Indonesian influence. It was done on a special wax paper with watercolors. Very fun!!


Can you tell what this is?

This is my attempt at Chinese bamboo painting. Did you know that Chinese paintings are viewed,or "read",  the same way you read Chinese writings? Right to left, instead of left to right. Interesting, huh?


Creating art is so life giving.

 Hanging out with these amazing women....well that is PRICELESS!

 During our class, while struggling with drawings or working with watercolors, we share our lives. We listen to each other, share stories of struggles, victories and the places where God is stretching us.

Today, we discussed everything from broken refrigerators, upcoming college exams, to how do you help a toddler wrap their mind around the Easter bunny and hunting for eggs? That was something we never quite solved. Where did that tradition come from? I think we finally decided it was simply some marketing / ad guy's idea of how to make Easter a less religious activity. The sad thing is...they may have succeeded to some extent. We did all agree that for the most part we love Easter egg hunts....they're just too fun and we all can use more fun in our lives, agreed?


Anyway, my little class  got me thinking. Women have a huge need to connect with other women. It nourishes our soul and makes it easier for us to go back and face the world we live in again. Laundry, teenagers, painful decisions, caring for toddlers...dealing with financial stress... whatever it is, the load is easier when we take the time to connect with other women. We actually share one another's burden and breathe life into one another.

 Let me encourage you in this....consider making a time to connect with other women. Get out of your comfort zone of the same safe group of friends, and mix things up a bit, add women older and younger than yourself,... you will be amazed at how much you glean from a meeting like this. Try having a Pinterest party! Have someone bring the snack, someone share a craft idea, someone show a fashion tip....all from information your friends have gathered from Pinterest!  Wouldn't that be a fun evening?

While you're at it...take the time to get "real" with one another and share what's going on in your life,find out what is really going on in the lives of your friends. Find out how you can pray for one another. I promise...it will be the most refreshing couple of hours of your month....and the bonus is...you'll be amazed at how much more you will have to give to those you love when you've taken a little time out for yourself!

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

Galatians 6:2

Have a great weekend!
 

Easter Weekend! Whew!

Okay, even though I haven't blogged in a few days, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy with my Pinterest challenge.

Here is how my Easter Weekend went..........

It actually began on Thurs. with the delivery of several yards of mulch, river rock, and top soil.

What seemed like an easy project, I mean how long would it take to simply edge your garden with rocks?
Hours right? Maybe a day, right? Uh, no. Try 3 long days. I ordered way more rock than we needed. By day 3, my husband and I were dumping rock anywhere we thought it might work!  I have no idea how many weight watcher exercise points I earned this weekend but I'm guessing it was close to a bazillion! Is that a word?

Of course, we didn't just freshen up the landscaping....oh no, we put in an awesome play area for the grandkids, complete with a sand box, roads for cars (made out of the landscaping edging) and a tunnel between the trees! It is very cool, and totally worth the effort! This should count as a Pinterest idea, because it came from a Lowes home improvement magazine, and if they don't have a Pinterest page....they should! Great ideas!!

Now being that it was Easter weekend, I had to dye eggs. So using a Martha Stewart technique from Pinterest, I made these lovely eggs.  They are lacey eggs and are really easy and so pretty!

The best part of the weekend, besides finishing that load of rocks, was attending church with family and celebrating life! Jesus' resurrected life, family life, new spring life in the garden,.....Life! So precious, so easily taken for granted.

Jesus has told us that he came to bring us life....life to the full and overflowing! You know..... that kind of living doesn't just happen, you have to choose it. You have to work at it, invest the time that it takes to breathe life into your family, marriage, friendships. Life overflowing is messy, time consuming and exhausting, trust me, I have the aching muscles to prove it!! However, the pay off is huge!! No greater return on your investment can be made anywhere. Laughter, joy, smiles, wonder, peace...just some of the fruits you will reap when you purpose to pursue life!

I hope you all had a blessed Easter weekend !

He is Risen!
He is risen Indeed!


Enjoy these pretty roses from a friend....very Pinterest! They became our centerpiece... so lovely!

Where to begin...

Okay, okay,.. it has been awhile since my last blog.

Actually, it has been a very, very long time since my last blog.

I wish I had some great reason for not posting , you know, something like....being on the board for world peace, or serving on a mission trip in Haiti , or solving the debt crisis.....nope, nothing like that at all.

I just haven't had much to write about. At least anything I thought you might find interesting. I guess, I've had writers block! Who knew?

That is until yesterday.....

I had a breakthrough or sorts. I decided that even if I didn't feel like much was going on in my life to write about I could just do something I enjoy and tell you about it.

I know what you're thinking...."Duh, Isn't that what blogging is about/". It is and I know that, but I have this problem....I'm always looking for the bigger purpose behind everything.  Like wouldn't it be great if I could reach a million people with this blog... and who knows write a book, change a life. Crazy, huh?

So, I needed a break from me and my "issues", I am a first born and I'm sure there is something behind all these ideas. I needed to just "be", and be happy with just that, me.

So, somewhere between the cleaning, garden planning and preparing dinner, I thought, you know what... I'll post this.....

Remember my new love.....?



Everyday, I am amazed at what this sight is doing for women. I mean, I am sure men are on the site too, but it appears to be mainly women.  I love how it is bringing about this love for home, and crafting and diy projects! Not to mention all the recipes! Women, young and old are finding joy in the the simple things. Gardens, art projects, crafts with kids. .... the list goes on and on.

But  this site  is also about dreaming. Dreaming of a future wedding, a baby, a party, a home. Like my sister always says, "dreams are free". ...which they are, but in the world we live in we rarely get the chance to dream anymore.

So, I sort of have a challenge for all you Pinterest addicts. How about acting on those dreams?
 I am going to try to work on a least one Pinterest dream a day...... Maybe you can only do one a week, or a month, don't worry that's fine ...no hard fast rules here. We do want this to be a fun challenge! How about it? Let's not just be dreamers, but doers!!

Are you in? I hope so, I'd hate to do this all by myself....

Project #1.-  Board- Yum yum

Spicy Black Bean burger! I did it, with a couple of adjustments, and it was so delicious my husband even enjoyed it! Here they are cooking away...

This is the finished product served with spicy roasted sweet potato steak fries! Dessert is in the background... fruit and yogurt parfaits!

So.... today? Something simple.....

Project #2 - Board /Things to try -Williams and Sonoma room freshener!

It works!! I know, I was supposed to use lemons, but all I had were limes.....I have a hard time following directions......again, it may be a first born thing.

Have fun!

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22

Free

Keeping up with a blog is hard work. It takes time, extra time that I don't always have to sit down and compose something I think would be worth reading.

Actually, I've just sort of had writers block.

My days are not terribly exciting, sometimes they are just plain ole boring....and who needs to read a boring blog.

I blame the weather. It's dreary and when it is dreary I sort of sink into this deep dark abyss where I can only vaguely see daylight.

This week I've tried to dig myself up out of it by willing the sun to come out again. How? I do what I do best.....I rearrange things. Honestly, I've been doing this my whole life. First the bookcase, then artwork, I even changed up the cushions on the couch all in an attempt to brighten my surroundings.

Yesterday, the weather forecast predicted a sunny day here in Houston. Guess what....? The sun never came out. I think I may go crazy if this keeps up much longer. So with little else to do, I proclaimed today art homework day.

Not just any art project, Aboriginal artwork. That's right, straight from Australia! Aboriginal art is different to say the least. Patterns, lines, circles, insects....and dots. Tons and tons of dots.

Here is a picture of my piece....before I got caught up in dots.



As you can see it is very tribal. Not my forte, but fun don't ya think?

Here it is after I became obsessed with dots....and then a few more dots and lines....and before I knew it I was picturing Aborigines sitting together painting exotic patterns on their bodies.  Sorry, I blame the dots.

Okay....I may have gotten carried away by the dots, but it was fun and it was freeing to think outside the box so to speak and get a little "out there". I have to admit, I caught myself smiling as I thought about my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Webb, and how this artwork would probably disappoint her. I can still remember her calling me up to her desk to question why I would consider coloring a bride completely black, dress and everything. She was very displeased and urged me to go sit down and color the page over.....this time correctly.

 I think when it comes to art, I've played it safe ever since.

That is until today!

There is more than one way to bring some sunshine into a dreary day! WooHoo!!

Free to think outside the box, color outside the lines and yet make it all work together.

Free.

John 8:36

 So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

 I am so thankful for all the many ways the Son has set me free!

Here is a preview of my next project....and it will be aboriginal! Scary I know.....but hey, it will be fun!

Pray for sun.

home by design: Inspiration....

home by design: Inspiration....: Inspiration. Such a powerful word. We all need inspiration. Why? Because we all at one time or another, lose inspiration. The daily gr...

Inspiration....

Inspiration.

Such a powerful word. We all need inspiration.

Why?

Because we all at one time or another, lose inspiration. The daily grind of life tends to sap it out of us.

That is until now.....because now we have.....

Let me just come out and admit this right now....I'm in love with this website.

Talk about inspiration!

If you can dream it, I bet you can find it on this site.

This past week, I made 3,"no sew roman shades", all because of the inspiration I found on Pinterest!

Here they are

I just love them! And it's all because of............... 


 I love how people are sharing ideas and posting the most amazing projects all for free on this worldwide social network thing. Amazing!


Notice, these are "no sew curtains".....no sew.

 I do not enjoy sewing,...actually, I hate sewing.

 Next to wallpaper, it is my least favorite form of hands on activity.  My aversion to sewing goes all the way back to high school home economics class..........I made a D on my sewing project! I was scarred for life! The first born perfectionist side of me, simply could not handle anything that resulted in a D. It was the same for geometry too. It didn't help that I was taking the class with one of my best friends and she could sew a dress without even using a pattern!
 Who does that?
 I struggled to sew a dress with a pattern. Sigh... It was embarrassing. Such a blow to my sensitive high school self-esteem. I've never fully recovered, but that is a subject for another day.

 Sewing.... is the hardest thing I've ever done.

I did a Triathlon a few years back......Way easier than sewing!!

My point is... and I do have a point. These no sew curtains were fun to make. I enjoyed the whole process... ....well except the hanging, that took a little practice.....okay, an hour or more of practice.

Back to my point....sorry.

I was inspired! It feels good to be inspired!


 To inspire is to bring life, to bring hope and vision. To cause movement.

Inspiration

I think we could all use a little more inspiration in our lives.

And once we've received it.... we should share it! Freely share it! 

Who knows where it could lead?

Psalm 78:2-4

I will open my mouth in parables,

I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

what we have heard and known, what our

fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord

his power, and the wonders he has done.

Inspiration.....it is a powerful word!