Not mine, but a giveaway nonetheless

I absolutely adore giveaways! Plume Perfumery, located here in beautiful Tulsa, is giving away a roll-on natural oil perfume.  I met the proprietor at a craft fair and got the chance to smell a whole ton of her lovely scents, definitely beautiful and earthy.  She also makes scent lockets with solid perfume inside which I think are a great gift idea.  My mom purchased one for her sister and it is absolutely gorgeous.  I love all things "natural" and "smelly good," so, if you get the chance, root for me to win it :) And go enter for yourself.  I'll root for you back.  Check it out rightchia

don't forget to smell good!

le Renard

I have to say, I have not taken my own advice. I have been neither "merry" nor "Mary."  I have not been too thankful this season.  I do indeed have much much to be thankful for.  However, right now all I can focus on is that I do not have a home.  I know that this suffering is slight compared to what some have suffered for Christ.  But I do feel that I am suffering and it is for him.

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

..................and again...................

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
 
I feel this very deeply as a wife and mother.  I long for my own den.  Dear Jesus, please send me and quickly.
 
Amen amen.

to Jeannie Kirkpatrick

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I were speaking at a church in Freedom, OK (it is as small as it sounds).  He usually does a little spiel about my "talent" and "creativity" that I usually find incredibly embarrassing and I had asked him to stop doing it... anyway, he did it this time.  Afterward, a man came up to me and started telling me a story about his wife, her name was Jeannie Kirkpatrick, who loved to quilt.  She had passed away a year ago after a loooong battle with cancer, which wasn't supposed to be so long, but I guess she was a tough bird.  He said she had so many supplies, fabric, and equipment left over and he wanted to do more than just get rid of it.  He wanted to be able to give it to someone young, who was just starting out in sewing - because of course there were several older women who sew that he could've given it to, but that wasn't what God had placed on his heart.  Anyway, he and his youngest daughter were adamant that I should have it.  The next day or so later we went over to their house to see the stuff.  Not only did they present us with a TON of fabric, thread, notions, and a nice sewing machine but they invited us to stay for lunch and spend some time them.  They were incredibly kind and welcoming family.  We weren't able to take everything (which I felt really bad about), including the sewing machine, but I did feel like we were taking a part of their family with us.  Among the gifts was a large container of every different color of thread imaginable.

I don't know if you know, but I have a wonderful husband who desires to help me in life in general, and also my creative business.  He helped me to detangle them, and he built me this fantastic peg board attached to my crumby crumbly desk, so I can see them and keep them organized.  He is fantastic.

I feel very blessed by this family, by this woman, for entrusting me with part of her heart... something she was passionate about.  I only hope that I can use this gift for a worthy purpose and pass the love along.