From Chaos Comes Happiness

One breath at a time. I caught pneumonia last week. Ella was fighting a cold, which she (in her most lovingly ways of kisses and hugs) shared with me. But I knew by Thursday evening it was something a little more serious than just a normal cold for me. And when Friday evening arrived, I feared the pneumonia bug had settled its nasty self in my lungs. A quick visit to the urgent care on Saturday morning (after a breathing treatment and an x-ray) confirmed it. That right lung . . . was full of ick. Antibiotics, steroids, and breathing treatments would do the trick. And I have found myself in and out of a medicated stooper since that day. It's kind of crazy what your body goes through when fighting off an illness like this. This is my second bout of pneumonia . . . I think I first suffered through it three or four years ago. It certainly isn't any easier this time - other than the fact that I kind of know what to expect. It definitely takes so much energy from you, that

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Oh, I'm so glad to be back . . . creating . . . sharing ideas . . . having fun! This weeks "Crafty Schmafty Fridays" idea is in honor of Earth Day , and something I am so very excited to be sharing with you.  Before we begin . . . a little background for you . . . For those of you who know my Ella, you probably know that she is rarely seen without some sort of pad of paper and pencil in her hands. This child has, since she first learned how to hold a crayon, been obsessed with doodling. We can't make it through a quick trip to Michaels or Target without stopping at the $1 section and picking up a little notebook for Miss Ella to use. And as the $1 section at Michaels is really now the $1.50 section . . . I wanted to come up with a little handmade goodie to substitute all those little $1's that have flown out of my wallet the past few years. I also wanted to try and use some materials in my home . . . with spending as little

After spending WEEKS (seriously, friends . . . WEEKS) of looking out my window and seeing this... I feel so refreshed and energized to finally see this . . .   Oh, Mr. Sunshine! I'm SO GLAD you are here!   My friends . . . things were so very grim last week. Not only in terms of the weather, but in terms of the world. Our nation. Everything. It was a rough one. I found myself praying . . . a lot. Thinking. Feeling grateful for my safety. Feeling blessed for the safety of all those I know. Taking it all in, and praying for peace and healing for the world.   So, I missed "Crafty Schmafty Friday" again. I guess, with everything going on in the world and in our country last week, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. But by Friday evening . . . things were picking up . . . for all of us.   And I am so grateful for that!     Today, it's a new day. (I love our happy Frog . . . and the tulips . . . just dancing in that sun,

. . . it's been busy. But the good kind of busy. The kind of busy that has you enjoying each and every moment . . . living and loving life.  It's been a wonderful Spring, my friends, and here is a little glimpse of what we've been doing. Around these parts . . . . . . we're waiting patiently for Easter Egg hunts,    . . . and then getting all gussied up.   . . . we're climbing trees, . . . and going on scavenger hunts. We're baking cookies, . . . and delivering them to our friends. We're doing cartwheels, . . . whistling with sticks, . . . and riding tractors. We're doing lots and lots of creating, . . . and really looking at the beautiful things in life. And even though you can dress us up . . .   . . . most days, you still can't take us out.   Yes, it's been a wonderful Spring, and I hope you are having a wonderful one, too, my friends.   Wishing you Peace! 

I am taking a break from "Crafty Schmafty Friday" today . . . Not to worry, I'll be back next week with something wonderful. I promise! I'm just about two weeks away from completing my "Soul Restoration" class with Melody Ross . . . and it has taken up quiet a lot of energy from me. It sure is exhausting . . . restoring your soul, you know? It's much more exhausting than I ever realized. I haven't written much about it here, because it's kind of personal and because the materials are all things Melody has developed and put into action, so I don't want to give too much of that away out of respect to her. But I will say that it is life changing. I'm working through a great deal of things that I thought had long been gone, but have found I never really dealt with - things I just packed away deep down inside. I'm trying to get a handle on it - and trying to nurture the person I am inside. The weak part of me and the strong pa

Oh . . . love . . . . it's a wonderful thing, isn't it? To give it. To receive it. To spread it all over the world.   Welcome, dear friends, to     Here we are . . . gathering for our weekly festival of inspiration and fun. As always - I am thrilled to have you. And as always - I have a story to tell.   I don't know what it is . . . call me kooky . . . but I've been feeling the need to Spread LOVE  in the universe lately. Maybe it's all those darn episodes of "The Bible" that I've watched on the History Channel (ok . . . there is something wrong with the fact that I am calling the episodes of "THE BIBLE" 'darn episodes' , don't you think? Ah, please forgive! I digress.) Whatever it is, I decided it was time to spread   love out to our  teeny little neighborhood in the great big world .   Because my friends . . . it all starts right there. And if we want to change the world, we better start at ho

Colors make me happy. Bright vivid colors. And shopping at Pier 1 . That makes me happy, too. Not necessarily buying things from Pier 1 (although I do love to take new things home!) Sometimes just walking around and looking at the colorful patterns and feeling the textures of dishes and linens is all I need to be energized and happy. And Barnes & Noble . Picking out a great big stack of books and magazines, heading over to the coffee area, and sitting for a few hours as I peruse the pages. Sigh. Happiness. There are more things that make me happy. Like, when Spring finally comes and the windows are open for the first time - the fresh clean air flows through the house. Bliss. Oh, and that first sip of a fresh cup of Starbucks coffee. Heaven. A clean laundry room. Hearing my children's laughter. The smell of lavender. Driving down my favorite road. When I get my sister really laughing so hard she can hardly form a word. And seeing the twinkle in my dear friend Pegg