Hearts in Service Blog

I've always been creative, and I've also always been on the frugal side. The second one has come from necessity and then just became a way of life. This Christmas season, I've been having so much fun meshing the two together as I decorate. I did purchase some things to add to my decorations this year (a hazard of helping in a friend's shop), but most of what I have has been around for years and I also repurposed some items. When I do buy something, I don't purchase cutesy, fad things. I tend to purchase things that are timeless, and don't go out of style. I love what I've come up with so far! I had this ladder in storage which I purchased at a thrift shop a number of years ago. At the time, I had distressed it with white paint and sealed it with Modge Podge so I could use it at craft shows. I like how this turned out. I added the wreathe and star garland and just propped up the sign on it. I bought the greenery and pinecone garland and added the stars and hu...

 As the days have grown shorter I've been struggling with an underlying sadness. The one year anniversary of my mother's passing is coming up and there are reminders of that time everywhere. Memories keep popping up and when they do I'm transported back to that terrible time last year. But there have also been some sweet spots. My sister and her husband called the other day and on their way out west were driving right by our city. I was able to have lunch with them. This afternoon I was able to have a video chat with my stepfather and his daughter. It was nice to see his face again! But again, sadness settled over me as everything is different. Despite those feelings, it's been a good month. I've been so incredibly busy. I've written papers and worked on my small group lessons. Today I finished a 6 page paper and then spent the afternoon sewing. Tomorrow I'm working on a message I'm giving on Sunday and will probably do more sewing. I also have 3 pumpkin...

I've spent the majority of this week working on ministry items which included participating in an online conference. So needless to say, I'm a little tired of staring at a screen.  I have multiple projects that need to get done so I really would like to start working on those over the next few weeks. These days are zipping by and it's hard to believe that January is almost over. My sewing room is a mess and I would like to organize it better, including moving a larger work table into the room. I have our old dining room table and I'm going to see if that works in there. I also have boxes of pictures sitting around that I brought home from my mom's house and need to find space to display them. I have a box full of my grandmother's writings and genealogy research which I'm going through so I can get a package off to my uncle. My grandmother was in the middle of writing a book and it's fascinating to read the few chapters she had done. Emily has her own apa...

It's been such a weird, sad, eventful week and yet, we are only midway through it. I am thankful for the things in my life that bring me joy and are stress-relievers. Dan, Emily and I went off on an adventure on Monday which is Dan's day off. We headed to the Allegheny National Forest and went hiking there. Woods, sweet-smelling air, silence and scenic views were a balm to my soul. I find the stillness of the forest is the place I feel God's presence the most in my life. I go to the church most mornings to do much of my ministry work. Usually I'm back home by 1:30 to then get things done around the house.  I've been trying to make a batch or two of cookies a day for the market which starts next Saturday. They are in the freezer until the day before the market when I will thaw them and then package them. Spiced Rum Crinkles Coconut-lime sugar cookies I've been busy sewing both for my Etsy shop and the market. These a...

I haven't sewn in quite a few weeks so it felt good to sit down at my sewing machine the past couple of days. I made two aprons and a tea pot cozy. At my retreat at the end of April, I sold quite a few things and a lot of my inventory went, so I'm slowly building it back up so I have it for various craft fairs/farmer's markets. I started this business back in 2010 and since then I think I've made at least 100 aprons and about 500 tea bag totes, 100 teapot cozies, and at least 50 table runners plus the other items I've created. That little machine of mine has held up! Sewing is my creative outlet and I enjoy it. It clears my head and feeds my creative itch!

How does the saying go?  "The best laid plans of mice and men...." I had all these wonderful goals this week and plans to get much accomplished.  I mustered up the energy to go grocery shopping on Monday but chalked my lethargy up to recuperating from the weekend away with the teens.  However, by Tuesday it was obvious I was sick.  The flu to be exact. I've spent the majority of my week, popping cough drops and Advil while it felt like I was going to cough up my lungs. In fact, I've coughed so hard that I threw my lower back out and pulled all the muscles below my rib cage.  However, today was the first day that I woke up feeling more like me! The only thing I've done this week is a bit of sewing and even that felt like a huge effort.  Today will be more of the same. I did work on a bunch of correspondence this morning for an upcoming retreat but that mostly was because I had one of those crazy dreams where I was at the retreat and had forgotten ev...