Year in Review

It's THAT time of year, time to be reflective and also look ahead. Honestly, I am not sure I am in the mood for either--the couch and Netflix have been rather appealing. But, it is good to look back and to reflect what I accomplished in 2018 and to guide where I want to go in 2019. So, here are some of MY favorite projects from this past year:

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! I love taking back roads and new ways to familiar places. Sometimes the new routes are out of the way or take us somewhere we were not expecting. With a new year upon us, it is a great time to ask God what things he is wanting for your life this year. How does he want you to love others differently? What new areas does he want to work on in your life? In which new situations does he want to exert his influence? Be open to God, trust that his ways may not be the usual and familiar, let him love you and gently influence your life in his manner and on his timetable in this new year. And remember to ask him to open your heart and mind to unfamiliar paths that allow him to do great works in you and through you.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Peace on earth--what a fabulous declaration from the Christmas angels. But, peace seems to be harder and harder to find some days, especially at Christmas time. We are busy, over-booked, under-funded, out of time and patience--stressed. This year I thought I was going to keep it simple, but I realized that resulted in my putting things off and then becoming anxious about what I still need to do. So, how do I combat that and experience the very peace that this season should be about? I practice being still, slowing down (if even only for a few minutes), breathing, being grateful. I repeat this verse to myself and l ask Jesus to calm my mind. Pause, breathe, and let the peace that only God can give wash over you. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 11 Snowflake Sign

We are getting down to the wire here with my 12 Days of Christmas projects. I am still adding decor to my home and when a project only takes five minutes like today's project, down to the wire is okay!

I have a little level shelf (see how I made it HERE) under my big clock in my great room that needed a little extra Christmas decor. I had placed two of my favorite snowmen on it, but nothing else. I decided I wanted a snowflake. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 10 Shadow Box

Today's project is super easy (but hard to photograph) and is made from a commonly found thrift store item--a mantle clock.

I have a few of these in my stash and always grab them when the price is right. It took less than an hour to transform this clock into a lighted shadow box for Christmas.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Living in Montana means we have plenty of opportunities to see God's handiwork and beauty. I often say when I see our beautiful scenery, "There's God." It is easy to see God working in our lives when things are going well. It is harder to feel his presence in the dark, lonely, and difficult places and times that we experience. Even when we do not sense it, God is with us. He sits with us in the dark, meets us in the ugly, holds us in the silence, and patiently waits for us to realize he is here. KNOW that God is with you always, he is present WHEREVER you are, and is with you WHATEVER you are going through--rest in that.

12 Days of Christmas Day 9 Simple Wreath

Today's project idea came from the need to fill a hole on my gallery wall. I knew I wanted something circular, like a wreath, something that had a simple, organic look, and something with some size. After hunting around my house for items to use, I came up with this:

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Hiking with my daughter is one of my favorite things to do, but I do not always hike at her pace and she is often ahead of me. And although she is almost seventeen, I still like it if she is in earshot, i.e. if I can find her easily. We don't always make it easy for God to find us, but that doesn't keep him from looking for us. I talk about seeking God, but do not think that does not mean that He is seeking us always. God reaches down to us and refuses to give up on us. He looks for us when we have fallen, when we are hiding from him. It doesn't matter where you are, KNOW that God is stretching out his hand to you, looking for you, and is delighted to spend time with you.

12 Days of Christmas Day 8 Stocking Hanger

Today's project is made with a few fence wood scraps.

It was the dog-ear shape of the fence ends that gave me the idea for a fun, snowman stocking holder.

12 Days of Christmas Day 7 Simple Swag

You got swag? I am quite certain this is not the kind of swag my kids think of when they use that word, but it is the kind of swag that is perfect and oh so simple to make for the holidays.

The past few years I have made wreaths to hang on the six original windows in our great room of our old schoolhouse. This year I am doing less and more simple decor that is a little more natural and organic and these simple swags fit the bill perfectly. They also took about a quarter of the time to make compared to wreaths and were easier on my hands (less poking).

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! This time of year when our landscape becomes a winter wonderland, I find myself singing "Let it go, let it go," from the movie Frozen. This one, catchy line that I sing over and over (because I don't know any of the other words to the song) is full of wisdom. We all have something in our lives we need to let go. It may be a vision of what we thought life was supposed to look like or a relationship that no longer works or anger and resentment. Whatever it is, knowing we need to let it go and doing it are two different things--the doing part is hard. How do you let it go? You give it to God, again and again if necessary. Visualize yourself giving it to him. Talk to him about it, ask him to please keep it and to not let you take it back. Whatever it is, Jesus is waiting to take it from you, to help you put it in the past, and forget it so that you can move forward with God doing new things in your life. Let it go.

12 Days of Christmas Day 6 Wall Vase

This rustic,cabin-like project started with a metal flower container from the thrift store (these are plentiful at the thrift stores).

I decided it would make a dandy wall vase. 

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 5 Bingo Card Christmas Trees

I love vintage games and when I spied this BINGO set (that also included about 100 extra cards from other sets) for $2 at the thrift store, I knew it had to come home with me.

"What are you going to do with all those bingo cards?" was hubby's question. My reply was, "I don't know, but I will think of something."

(Last year I made THESE.)

The green colored BINGO cards inspired this project as I decided that would make cute Christmas trees.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! This past week, I purchased a puzzle depicting the Christmas tree and ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. As we dumped out one thousand little puzzle pieces, it was clear that we needed to put some of the pieces back in the box so we could focus only on the straight edge pieces for the outside frame first. In life, when we try to look at the whole picture and see how everything is going to turn out, it is overwhelming. I do this not only with my own life, but with my children's lives as well. I want to see all the parts and life events that insure that the final picture will be what it is supposed to be. But, God wants us to to take life simply one day, one piece, at a time. He KNOWS how it is going to work out and he wants us to trust that--to trust HIM. Trying to see the whole picture at once and all that makes it up engulfs us with anxiety and fear. Let God put the pieces together and let's focus on what is in front of us.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A few weeks ago on the way to a volleyball game, we came across a herd of 300 elk. We stopped to watch them for a bit. At first they were all facing west and started jumping over a fence. Soon many of the elk turned around (even though there was no danger) and started heading east, some jumping back over the fence. The herd clearly lacked leadership 😉 and had no idea which elk to follow. We like leadership--I have said to my kids countless times, "Be a good leader." But, to be a good leader, we must first know how to be a good follower. When we follow we learn trust, we learn surrender, we sharpen our discernment. When we pursue following good ideas and people, and most importantly when we follow Jesus, we inherently become leaders to those around us. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 4 Simple Centerpiece

Every year I enjoy putting together a centerpiece for my Christmas table. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 3 Snowflake Bucket

Today's 12 Days of Christmas project is hot...

as in you need a fire to make it happen.

Galvanized buckets are about $15 each at the local ranch supply store. But, a 99 cent thrift store pail and a little fire are all you need to make a rustic bucket for Christmas decor.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Do you ever wish you could have a "bird's view" of life so that you could have a clear perspective and see everything all at once? God wants us to take the higher perspective and overview when interacting with others. He wants us to look beyond people's behavior and see their stories, see their pain. When we remember that everyone has something they are dealing with, it easier to show them mercy rather than judgement, love rather than disdain. Take the time to really see people, and be patient and merciful with the hard to love people in your life.

12 Days of Christmas Day 2 Scrap Wood Card Holder

I just remembered most years I write a bad days of Christmas rhyme for each day. I totally forgot this year. I think I am going to pretend I didn't remember and leave the bad rhymes out this year. 😆

Day two's project is a quick and easy one that can made from a couple small scrap wood pieces.

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 1 Tart Pan Snowman

Welcome to my 8th annual 12 Days of Christmas posts. Every year, I think, am I really going to do this again? But, I love Christmas and I love sharing ideas with you, so here we go!

We are starting simple (and we may stay that way for all 12 projects!), with a couple easy to find thrift store finds.

Tart pans are plentiful at thrift stores, maybe because no one makes tarts anymore. These two rings were purchased together, along with a couple cream colored wool sweaters (I wasn't sure which one I wanted to use). Choose wool to prevent unraveling.

I simply drilled a hole in the rim of each tart pan and used wire to secure them to each other.

I cut the sleeve off of the wool sweater, after washing and drying it in hot water.

I also cut the band off the sweater, tying a knot where the side seam was. I cut the scarf to the length I wanted after I glued it to the "neck" of the snowman and I cut fringes into the end of it.

A little hot glue secured the hat and scarf to the tart pan snowman. 

I used a piece of twine around the top sweater cuff to make the top of the hat. I also added a pine spring and berries (also from the thrift store) with hot glue.

You can spray paint the rings white if you like, add a red or plaid sweater hat and scarf.

A simple, quick, sweet snowman for only a few dollars.

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Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A good reflection accurately returns or throws back what is "put into it". In other words, "What goes in, must come out." When we spend time with God, whether it is in prayer, worship, or reading the Bible, it is reflected through loving others and being kind to one another. When people are unkind or rude or hateful, we need to remember that they are reflecting what they know and what has been embedded in their lives. We can break that by giving the unmerited love and forgiveness that is given to us by Jesus. The saying, "What goes around comes around," is often used in a negative way when we want someone to get what they deserve. But, grace says we don't have to get what we deserve. When we share God's grace and love with each other, we break the cycle and change the reflection.