Day 43

Yesterday I was fortunate to be asked to babysit my cousin's 4-year-old and brand new baby twins. My friend Melissa and I headed over there just in time to play a few games with TJ (who was a blur of action) before putting him to bed. We then had a few more hours to feed and snuggle Jordan and Emelia. It was so much fun to hang out with Mel again, talk about babies, love on the cutest little twins, and feed my growing "baby craving". At one point, as I was feeding Jordan and Mel was holding Emelia, she said, "It's so great that we each get one!" (Hee hee)

Love, love, love their little squishy faces!

Day 42

Yesterday's Creative Team meeting was another fantastic night of gettin' stuff done. Way to go, team!

Day 41

Home again, home again. Had a great time this weekend, but always great to be home again. And The Bean is obviously very happy to have me home, too:

Mom and I learned a whole new language this weekend. The voice on my smart phone's GPS (we've named her Navagita) has some interesting ways of pronouncing certain words. Here's a brief glossary of terms taught to us by Navagita:

• Olmachenrie (Old McHenry) - a road somewhere near our hotel
• Ectoplasm or Advertising or Apocalyptic (Aptakisic) - another road near our hotel that we traveled down once and could never find again
• Fowrick (fork) - as in "keep left at the fowrick"
• Hilannoise (Illinois) - the state in which Chicago is situated
  

Of course, the best thing Navagita ever says is "You have arrived."

Day 40

Forty days and forty nights... There's something biblical about this post...

The bridal show was a bit better than the last one, but not sure if I'll be involved in the next one. In any case, it was another fun weekend with my mom, hangin' out, laughing, hot-tub sitting and general tom-foolery.

Now that we're back at the hotel in our comfy clothes, we're ready for some more drinks and a Six Feet Under marathon.

Oh, and if you haven't heard the news, Crossroads will be opening their next site at the previous space of Old Time Pottery in Florence, Y'all! That's so exciting!!!

Visualingual

Day 39

On the road again... So glad that mom ended up coming with me for my second bridal show in Chicago! We've settled into our nice hotel (thanks, unpublished rates on Expedia!), had a dip in the hot tub, ate some snackies and went for a random, aimless drive around, getting pretty turned-around looking for a shop we had passed on our way in. Never found it, but did find a grocery store and some gin. Now we're back "home", changed into jammies and ready to make some drinks and watch movies. Yay!

Day 38

Getting all my show stuff packed up and ready to head to Chicago in the morning for another bridal show! Here's hoping for a big crowd.

And I got an email this morning informing me that Paper Acorn will be at the next Crafty Supermarket show! So excited about this one. It's one of my favorite shows! Hope to see y'all come out on May 7th.

Day 37

Yesterday a little package came in the mail... I had sent out some of my place cards to a calligrapher in Brooklyn to have some examples to display at the next bridal show. Look at how beautiful!

Cortney Thatcher of Wet Ink Calligraphy was gracious to accept my exchange; a bit of her lovely handiwork in trade for personal promotion/advertisement at my shows. These will be a great addition to my display!

Day 36

Here's a little Etsy discovery I found today that made me smile!

Nichol Brinkman of Pink Cheeks Studios makes these adorable plush characters. Be sure to check out her blog and Etsy shop!

Day 35

Flowers, paper, steel, bunnies, craft shows, wine, sunshine, friends, volunteering... That about sums it up!

Oh, you want details? Alrighty...

<-- Mary and I officially finished the paper star sculpture! Now it's all ready to be actioned off at V&V's Double Vision show on April 3rd. (So bummed that I can't be there the day of the show- Adam and I will be up north near Detroit for a family wedding.)

Finished designing and posted a new item for my Etsy shop, just in time for Easter. It's so satisfying to take the time to make something new, amid all of the making and remaking the same old things.

Later Adam and I took a trip to Lowe's for some supplies and I spent some time wondering around the outdoor garden section, dreaming of planting flowers and veggies and herbs. *Deep inhale.* Aaaahhh... Spring smells so good.

Then we were off to CR for some more buildin', plannin' and weldin'! The Ballroom Project is coming along swimmingly. Maybe one of these days I'll share some more details, as they develop. (In the meantime, consider this photo of Pike very seriously examining the welds we made on this metal basket.)

And THEN... After we got home this evening, checked my email and discovered that I got into the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange show again. I'm especially excited to have made friends with another crafter in Indianapolis and she's offered to host a few of us crafty out-of-towners for the weekend. Slumber party!!

Now I'm multitasking; blogging here, and chatting with my good pal, Arynn. Even though she lives only 4 streets away, I miss her terribly when we don't talk for a week or more. (Love youse!)

Well now I feel like I'm just giddystupidrambling at this point. Let's call it a day.

Day 34

Found myself awake in the dark hours of the morning, tossing and turning in a sort of partial dream state. Old guilts, anxieties, doubts and other ghosts from my past came creeping out of the shadows. These haunts served to remind me of all the many ways I have messed up, how I don't measure up, and how little I have accomplished.

There was a part of me, many years ago, that associated this kind of guilt with God- As though that was the way He intended to make me feel when I had done something wrong, in order to straighten my path. Of course, this created in me a sort of resentful obedience (and eventually rebellion) toward/from God; an unhealthy duality.

Years later, thankfully, I am growing to understand the grace that God gives us, and that there is no condemnation in His love. But every so often, I struggle with these attacks of doubt and guilt. When I woke this morning, glad to see the sun coming up, I read this:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

My God is the complete opposition to the shifting shadows I was experiencing this morning. I am so grateful to be loved by a consistent God of life, light and Truth!

Our pear tree is blooming! Yay for spring!

Day 33

I spent my first official day of spring with some of the loveliest ladies in the tri-state area! It was a beautiful day for Alison's bridal shower. We hosted it at Seek, Alison's former workplace, which is such an awesome space! Somehow I managed to not take any photos of people... Just these few shots while we were setting up, and then wielded someone else's pro camera for the rest of the event.So much fun spending the afternoon with some of my favorite people. At one point my friend Wendy and I got into a conversation about her perception of our courtship when Adam and I first started dating. She said, "I knew you two separately, and when I found out you were dating, I just couldn't see it. You guys just seemed so different. But now that I know both of you better, I see you together and think, 'Yah, they're just right together.'"

That made me smile a whole lot! It's so easy to get into a rut with your spouse once you're married, and take that person for granted. We are very different in some ways, but very much alike in all the important ways. (And most of our differences are complimentary!) It was nice to be reminded of why Adam and I are so good together. I then came home and snuggled up with my best friend on the couch and watched movies.

I wish all the best and more for Alison and Daniel as they start their life together!!

Day 32

Spring Cleaning!!! Most of this Saturday involved scrubbing, sweeping, vacuuming and organizing. Here are Thomas and Tiger enjoying a sunny nap in our tidy bedroom...

Did you know that vinegar and baking soda make fantastic natural, non-toxic, all-purpose cleaners? Throw in some Dr. Bronner's lavender hemp soap for some extra clean and a lovely smell! Check out this post on the ReadyMade blog for some more tips.

Day 31

Yesterday...

There's a new business opening right here in Carthage! I know this because of a timeless advertising technique- a flyer stuffed in our front door. But not just a generic xeroxed page of information- a two-page, handwritten flyer!

Imagine the convenience of having women deodeorant delivered right to your door!

I think Adam and I will be going to the grand opening in lieu of making dinner tonight. Free hamburgers and hot dogs!

Day 30

Thirty days of being 30. Not too bad so far!

Spent this warm evening in the back yard with wine, talking God and music.

Best. Date. Night. Ever.

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Day 29

Not sure what to blog about today. It's been kind of... meh. Bad hair day. Feeling kind of gross. Got lots of work done. Left the house once for a post office run. Lots of netflix.

But there is this...

Love wins.

Day 28

I just need to tell y'all that I love my husband. His seemingly unending supply of patience (particularly toward me), his steady faith and his absurd humor are things that I often take for granted.

Thanks, honey, for being my hubby.

Day 27

Another fun day with the aunties in Indiana! After a wonderful breakfast buffet at the inn and browsing a shop full of paper, we turned our wheels west to Bloomington to shop, eat and explore some more.

We stopped in to the Irish Lion for lunch and a bartender there immediately caught my eye. We did a sort of double-take at each other and I said, "That guy looks so much like..." And then I heard him talking to some other pub patrons with his heavy Irish accent. "That's him. It has to be him."

The next time he walked by our table, I stopped him. "You used to work at the Log Cabin in Murray, Kentucky, didn't you?" He snapped his fingers and smiled big, "As soon as you walked in the door, I knew you were someone from my past, but I couldn't figure it out!"

John was the night manager at the 24-hour greasy spoon where my friends and I would go for late night coffees and fatty breakfasts. With his quick and sometimes unintelligible wit, John would sit with our group on slow nights at the restaurant and engage in battles of insults with the guys. (Entertainment in Murray, KY was hard to come by.) It was so much fun seeing him again and having a little blast from the past.

Now I'm back home, and I just had to find some photos of the old crew at the Cabin...

Day 26

I am certain that the calories I have consumed today with all of the snackies have been burned by all of the laughing we've been doing tonight... I'm in Nashville, IN with my mom and aunts, staying in the lovely Artist Colony Inn. There has been browsing, dining, snacking, card-playing, oldies singing and general hilarity. I love hangin' with these ladies!

And also, I found this inspiring cross stitch piece while browsing the shops of Nashville...

Day 25

You would think it was spring or something... What a beautiful day!

This morning started early, picking up my V&V friend, Mary, to take her down to NKU for a stage combat workshop. I sat through her first class and it sure looked like fun!

While Mary was practicing her swordplay, I went back home and decided it was a perfect day to dig in the dirt. I've been wanting to clean up the back yard for months now. Here's a very satisfying before and after of one corner of the yard:

Ah! Soon enough it will be time to start planting!

Love your compost.

Day 24

After a full day of work, I had a respectable pile of packages to send out. (3 out of 5 going to Canada...?)
I don't care what folks say about Fedex or UPS; I love me some good 'ol United States Postal Service. Since I've been frequenting the St. Bernard branch pretty much daily for over a year now, I've come to be known by the lovely workers there as "The Acorn Lady". There are some days where my highlight is chatting with Mary about camping or her dog; or asking Yvonne how her weekend went.
Of course, since I spend most of my day working alone, I can often go several days without talking to anyone except my husband and the postal workers. I really enjoy those ladies. I love their reliability and their consistancy. I love how Mary always has some story about her husky while asking me all the regulatory questions in the same sentence.
"Well, you know that big baby has to take his rawhide to the corner of the yard first, anything liquid, fragile or potentially hazardous? And then he has to check out any new smells, any other stamps for you, hon? And then he's got to do his circles around his bed before he gets settled, go ahead and swipe your card, dear."

There's something pretty satisfying about having this "insider" position at the Post Office. And I truly hope that the USPS will continue to be a constant fixture of the system.

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Day 23

I've spent the last few hours looking at photos of tattoos around the interwebs. Every now and then I do this... Start thinking about getting inked again. Here are the 2 I have...

I was thinking maybe something like this...?

Day 22

I didn't get to post these from yesterday, so here we are on Day 22... Yesterday Mary and I got our sculpture very near finished! We hung up the stars and it's looking fantastic! Next step is to attempt to add some lighting to this piece. We'll see how that goes next week.

Yesterday I also go to hang out with these lovely ladies! My good friend, Alison (the one holding the baby- not her baby) :0) is getting married on May 1st! She asked a few of us to join her at the ceremony and reception venue to help her finalize some decoration ideas. The place is gorgeous, and it was so much fun to be a small part of this very happy occasion.

Hooray for Al and Daniel!

And today... it's been a quiet, rainy day. I got some artwork finished that I've been promising someone for over a month now. Feels good to check that off the list and to take a little break from making luminaries!

Day 21

Today I got the best email ever; from Thomas, with the help of Adam...

Ok, Thomas wants to write you a note on the computer machine. Here he is:

dsasr mpom ,.

ytopyu asrewe thew bwesart mnopnm wecvwer! v I lkpovcwe tyou!

Tghomnasd

(He had trouble typing with his paws)

Day 20

I don't know how it happens, but God always pulls through.

A couple of weeks ago I had a little meltdown about our finances. (Some slobbering, whimpering episode that involved lots of Puffs and a few cuss words.) Whenever something like this happens, Adam is there to reassure me that everything will be ok and that God will take care of us. Of course, when your heart and mind are swirling with seemingly unsolvable problems, it's difficult to take even the most well-meaning assurances seriously.

Today I paid off most of the bills and it doesn't make any worldly, practical sense.

I don't know how He does it, but God always pulls through.

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Day 19

Happy Birthday, Cadance Alyvia! Cousin Stacy's little monkey turns 2! We had fun watching the wee ones help Cadi open presents, push the tricycle, toss balloons, eat the cake. (Is it right to use trick re-lighting candles on a 2-year-old? I don't know, but it sure is funny.) I loved how whenever Stacy helped Cadi open a present, she'd say, "Oooh! What is it?" and Cadi would respond, "Mine!" Whatever it was... Mine! So cute.

And from the looks of the bottom right pic, Adam wasn't too fond of sharing either.

He'll learn some day.

Day 18

Just about to go to bed and remembered that I needed to blog! Man, this is harder than I thought...

We took a drive up to Washington CH this morning to meet up with Adam's dad, to pick up Chuck's PT Cruiser! Adam's truck is very near its end, and his dad offered to let us borrow the PT until we can afford to buy another car. So sweet! We then had a very yummy and filling brunch at Bob Evans and drove back home in the rain and wind.

Then the cutest little Girl Scout showed up to deliver our cookies! I love that little munchkin.

Good night, y'all!

Day 17

Jeremy at our Halloween party, as Arthur Dent and his lovely girlfriend, Crystal

Happy Friday!

I got to have lunch with my old buddy and cohort, Jeremy this afternoon. Our relationship at work was not unlike the one made infamous in The Office; Jim and Dwight constantly pranking, ripping on each other, and exchanging riposte insults... but always out of love. (Of course, in this analogy, I'm the cooler, more collected and good-looking Jim and Jeremy is the ever-dorky and obsessive Dwight.)

Seriously, I love this guy. He was my friend at the PRC who could engage in some real Jesus talk, who was always growing in his faith and challenged me to grow. He showed me the ropes when I first started at Haney, taught me some mad laminating and Kongsberg skills. And while I ripped on his grammar, he could counter-attack with great Truth (and short jokes). After all the bonuses of having my own business and working for myself are added up, the one thing lacking is being able to work along side of a guy like Jerms.

But let's not get too carried away... He's still growing. I mean, 4 feet 8 inches is still a far piece from normal.

Burn.

Here's another thing that made me smile today... Adam and I have this friend, Stephen, who is one of the most "On Fire For Jesus" people I have ever met. This morning on Facebook he posted these pics of his baptism:

The event alone is reason to smile, but these photos brought me back to a moment in my own journey. These were taken on November 3, 2004. This was about the time that I had started going to Crossroads, just beginning to get back into church after a 4-5 year hiatus. My southern baptist baggage had kept me skeptical for many years about the sincerity of most "christians". My general view of Crossroads was something like, "Good, free coffee. The band rocks. Most of the people seem pretty cool. Still not sure about this whole 'Jesus' thing."

I have a very vivid memory of sitting in the middle-back of the auditorium, in the dark, sipping my highlander grogg, hearing all these stories of changed lives and watching folks go into the tub, being dunked and coming back up with smiles and a warm towel wrapping around them. There was a lot going through my mind and heart; mostly a conglomeration of my heart being touched followed by an immediate intellectual withdraw of doubt and skepticism. I clapped with the crowd as each new believer was pulled from the water. I smiled at the stories. I laughed politely at the funny quips from the pastor. I enjoyed the experience with a firm distance between "these people" and my own emotional tornado.

Then came Stephen. There was something so honest and bare in his posture and expression. I honestly can't remember now the details of his story, but the cast on his right arm definitely stuck out. (And literally stuck out, as he was submerged into the water.) Stephen was there in front of a crowd of (mostly) strangers and declared his love for Jesus more genuinely and rawly than I had yet to witness. There was a brokenness and humility in his spirit that is not typically seen in polite society. But that was just before Brian placed his hand on Stephen's chest and held him under the pool for a few moments.

A bit of the barrier I had been meticulously building around my heart crumbled as Stephen was pulled back to the surface. It was as though he burst out of the watery grave and into a brand new life. He thrust his fists into the air (cast and all), sending a spray of baptismal water over the folks in the first row. An expression of pure exhilaration and victory radiated from him. And I wept.

Stephen, who is not a fan of punctuation, wrote with his posted pictures this morning:

i literally felt the weight of all my life wash away as i could have flown out of the water as if the very gravity of earth no longer held me down as if I WAS NOW FREE to be the very person that He had made me to be........ this was the day of my salvation this is the day that for of my life will bare the the truth in my life that i am loved i am forgiven and one day yes one day i will in the eternity of the all loving God who made me for just that purpose to love. thank You thank You thank You thank You

Thank you, Stephen, for being a fantastic witness.