Stitched Together

This wall stitches together the fiber of my being; this wall is far more than pictures and sayings. This wall is the story of our life together, where we are, where we've been. Pictures help to capture the moments we hope to never forget, the ones ingrained in our minds forever. Our wedding day. The second to last day on our honeymoon. Molly as a baby. 'That' trip to Disneyland....my cheeks still hurt just thinking about it.

And as I look at that wall, I can't help but feel overwhelmingly blessed. Especially, after all the tornadoes that have flattened homes, homes not too far from here. We are safe, we are wrapped in a little bubble. The prayers continue for all those who are or have been effected.

We all have walls of pictures, stitching us together. When one weeps, another prays. When one feels lost, another volunteers. When one is hurt, another begins again. We are all stitched together. May we all stand together.

Blessings,
Jaclyn

"Hi Sugar"

"Hi Sugar"....that's exactly how my Grammy would answer her phone. My sweet, wonderful, perfectly tiny little Grammy. She tucked neatly beneath the crook of my arm, reminding me I am tall for all the littler people of the world, that she wished she could be 5 foot 10 like me. She smelled like baby powder, lavender, line-dried sheets, and chocolate chip cookies. In the morning when I'm washing dishes and the breeze catches the curtains that once hung in her kitchen, the smell wafts over me, and I hear, "Hi Sugar".

I always miss Grammy most at Easter. This was the holiday she lived for. With all the hoopla of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Easter was a relished holiday, one of renewal, forgiveness, sacrifice, love. Christ is the sole reason behind Easter. I know this, and I am ever grateful for His loving sacrifice. But, alas, I still miss my Grammy.

I talk to her just like I talk to God. She was a God-fearing woman, a cornerstone of faith and strength. She demonstrated how grace is a woman's greatest quality; that love and kindness speak volumes when juxtaposed alongside loud and overbearing. And with each Easter, I am reminded of life's great loves--the family we cherish while we can on Earth, and the unbreakable, unmeasurable, insurmountable love of one Man.

Hold 'em close. Love 'em from miles away. And thank You for giving your Son, and for them, and the years worth of "Hi Sugar"s.

Have a most blessed Easter everyone.

Yeah, I'm "That" Lady

I never thought I would be 'that' lady....the lady who loves her dog/cat/non-biped child to the moon and back. Well, since my husband and I have yet to have a child of our own, Molly our dog is a slobbery, loving stand-in. She is goofy, a great traveler, a furry-faced love bug. (Note: My husband came up with the following idea....and I happen to LOVE it!)

Next Sunday, Easter Sunday, we are going to do and Easter egg hunt for Molly! I'm going to freeze chicken stock into the shape of an egg, and I'm planning to make another egg out of peanut butter! I know we are quirky, this is considered weird by most, but we just love our little family so much, and love holiday traditions together as well.

As I type this, I realize that it doesn't matter how, or who, or what makes up a family as long as you treasure it with all your heart. I wouldn't trade in my family for anything.....when God decides to bless our family with children, we will love them to the moon and back. But right now, in this moment, I am completely content with my 'quirky' traditions. They make me, well me.

I will take plenty of pictures next weekend.....she's such a cutie and she doesn't mind that I'm 'that' lady.

To Hear Him....

I read a quote once that said, "Don't fear tomorrow, God is already there."

To know that God knows all of my tomorrow's and will be there waiting for me, makes this journey all the more easy to bear.

He is the support, the foundation I need to grow and flourish, and rise to the occasion. Rise we shall.

Pull, Tug, Tweak, ugh....

Does anyone ever have a day where your skin just doesn't seem to fit right? Like you woke up and somehow, someway it's just off; it was as though I woke up and my skin slid ever-so-slightly to the side.

Now I am not one to compare myself to others, or set unreachable standards, but I do try my darndest to live a healthy lifestyle and exercise my keester off when necessary. As of late, I have been working out quite a bit more, and apparently it's showing. The other day, I was picking up a box from storage, and my hubby looks over, and says, "Whoa! I got my tickets! My tickets to the gun show!" (Ergo, my arms are a wee bit buffer than the limp noodles they were before!)

Well I guess, everything is bigger in Texas! Ha!

All except for Molly's friend, Sophie. She is a tiny-wipper-snapper. Molly is her back up, her body guard. I just call them Mutt and Jeff.

This is where I am....

Would you like to share a cup of coffee with me?

Have a wonderful weekend....

Blessings.

Who Would've Thunk?

My life is something I never imagined....

These are my new friends. These fine ladies provide fresh eggs whenever my little heart desires. (For now, they are at my mother in laws, as my hubby has a chicken coop on the docket for upcoming projects.)

They have also provided hours of entertainment for Molly-girl.

(Peek-a-boo, we're over here!)

Tomorrow, I will be working from sun-up to sundown to get the garden planted. This is going to be quiet the undertaking, but I am looking forward to having my own produce center out back. My goal is to only need to go into town for meat, cheese, and flour. So far, I get up early three times a week to make bread, made dish soap this morning, made a body scrub, beginning lotion bars, made hand soap, and finished crocheting a dish towel. Throw in a few e-mails to my Merchandising Coordinator for my book, a few phone calls, bill paying, and cleaning, and you have my Wednesday.

I can't wait to get my hands dirty tomorrow. There is something calming about reconnecting with the Earth, and reminding myself that some things take time. That a lesson is to be learned in not rushing, just being.

(The kitchen is the place I live. This picture was taken just days after my hubby informed me we were moving here!)

Hugs and all that good stuff.

Jaclyn