Switching my social media to Jesus! ;)

About a little over a week ago I decided to delete my Facebook account. The reasons why will come a bit later, but in short, I was spending more time scrolling this “social” network more than I was having a deeper relationship with my Lord!  Ever since I deleted it, my thoughts have been so much clearer, my desire to have a deeper relationship with Jesus has been stronger than ever, my creativity has become more vivid and I am just so much more at peace!

I was realizing that my focus was being distracted by social media (it was a slow subtle thing), but now I am back to my Hearts desires, which is: Jesus, My husband, my home, and full focused creativity!!

 I absolutely ADORE having revelations when I am in His Word! One of these revelations was: Psalm 143 : 10, “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God…”, David made it so simple yet so powerful that God is not just God alone, but made it personal! He could have said, “Teach me to do Thy Will, for Thou art God (Impersonal).”  Or, “for Thou art the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… the God of my forefathers  (religious).”, No…  For you are MY God! In order for us to truly know the Will of God, we have to make our relationship with the Lord personal! Simple, but a reminder we all need!

Another revelation was Psalm145:15 “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” The key: “Is”. He didn’t say, “Happy is the people whose God is a convenience (when we are going through trials or in need of something in our lives we all of a sudden remember “Jehovah Jireh  - God our Provider”)… or, Happy is the people whose God is an after thought, (remembering to read our scripture out of guilty obligation and remember only to pray when we eat our meals or some random time.)”. No…  Happy is the people whose God IS the Lord! The sincere daily remembrance of who God is and wanting to know more of Him day by day!

I now totally get King David when he said in Psalm 143: 5-6, “I remember the day of old; I meditate on all they works; I muse on the work of Thy Hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto Thee: my soul thirsteth after Thee as a thirsty land.”

So may you be encouraged, to not take for granted the beauty and amazing relationship you have with Jesus and do not be complacent in where you are in your relationship… go in deeper, you can’t go deep enough!  He is just that wonderful!!!!!! He IS Wonderful!!! 

I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine...

I was going through some notes i've saved from years past, and came across this note I wrote on Facebook back in December of 2010... a day after my husband messaged me on the dating site we met on! 
 Reading this brings back such sweet memories and an gratitude to my God for bringing my Beloved into my heart and I into his! 
 Please read on and I hope this blesses you whether you be single or married...

December 15, 2010
"So an elderly gentleman (mexican) drove up, and he definitely looked like a dear old grandpa (he is about in his early 80's or so), and he came up and sat down with us (she knows him well), and he had coffee with us...


We talked about everyday things, then all of a sudden he started talking about how he NEEDS a wife... as his wife passed away 4 years ago, 49 years married...
He then started to talk about how she died, I don't wanna tell that story as it was so sad, yet romantic on how she died with only he present and the promises he made before she died those 15 min! It was like a passionate old romantic movie you'd watch on TCM! those black and white movies, I was hanging on to every inch of his story, a tear betraying me here and there, he spoke so softly, slowly, and lovingly about that memory, I wanted to cry right there and then....


Then my mom went with sis inside the truck and it was just he and myself alone, after knowing his history with his wife (such a beautiful history) I thought, "What a beautiful marriage they had, what is the secret of such long years married?" So I asked him... he looked at me with almost a wistful look in his eyes remembering her and said, "Respect is the secret"... I didn't bat an eye, I thought, "That is it? Respect? I hear that all the time!" I guess he knew what I was thinking and chuckled saying, "today's generation do not know what respect is, that is why there is so many divorces. In my days we didn't even know what divorce was! when I was courting my wife for 5 years, we did not even hold hands, respect started before marriage, it started with knowing eachother... after marrying we kept that respect with our words toward one another. Yes, we got angry at eachother many times, but never have I left the home to walk off my anger, I told her or she'd tell me "Let's talk this out", and we would listen to eachother. listening was not thinking while the other person talked what smart thing I will say next, we listened to eachother, what bothered us, what we needed the other to do, and honored that request... that is listening."


Then he looked out in the distance quiet... There was something that told me not to say a word, but wait... then he said...


"So many young people... so many young people getting married these days, but many do not last. Why? Patience. You hear the term "Patience is a virtue" and it is. The foundation of a marriage begins when two people start knowing eachother, to know someone takes time, it took me 5 years... it takes others less or more, but they are certain in the end "we are ready". today, the youth are getting married because they want too, not because they need too."

I was shocked! So I asked, "But shouldn't one WANT to get married? You know, love?" he smiled and said...


"marriage is a need, that turns into a want... Love is a need, not a want first...everyone needs love then after they have that love then their needs turn to desire! Marriage is not about a wedding, when there is more focus on a wedding then a unity of a lifetime of oneness, then they want marriage, not need it and that is when trouble will come. "

I then said, " how does one know for SURE he is the one?"

He smiled and said "listen to me, and listen good..." I leaned in closer to hear his wisdom...


"A man who says I love you quickly without knowing you deeply is a man you must stay away from, He is not mature.
A man who talks alot, especially of himself, what he has, how much he makes, how awesome he'll take care of you, what he will give you, etc. Stay away from him...
BUT... man who asks question of yourself, digging to know you better, who shows almost no "interest" almost to the point of maybe doubting if you are the one for him, THAT is the man you want.

A man who doesn't speak of himself, in all ego, but shows you who he is, what he will do for you, as the saying goes "action speaks louder then words" He is for you.
Todays young women think men who gives "love" to quickly to them, or speaks words they want to hear quickly is the man of their dreams, when they are the men whom they should avoid, not because they are bad men, no no no... but they are immature and are not ready for marriage, and show so as making quick decisions...

A mature man will think before making big decisions, yes... there are times when a man will make rash decisions in life like buying a car when in need, or lesser things of such importance, but when it comes to romance... a woman... a mature man will take such a long time you may think "He does not care for me", it is because he cares for you, he waits patiently, thinking, deciding, because he knows marriage is not a game.

An immature man will treat you like a car, a lesser item by making a quick decision with regret for you both.


Please remember, marriage is work... are you willing to put in work to grow old with a man? do not marry a man JUST so he can take care of you, but that you desire and need to take care of him. There is no greater love in a couple then when both spouses forget themselves for the sake of the other." At this time, he wiped his eye, I suppose a tear was coming down...

I had to ask one more question, "Sir... I have never been inlove, and am afraid of love itself cos it's a very important big thing! what if I make a mistake and it's the wrong person, what if I miss the right person because I didn't want to give love because I wasn't sure... Please... how will I know, love for a man?"


There was a sweet twinkle in his eye, and a smile betrayed his lips and he softly chuckled while adjusting his sitting position, then he explained...

"when you are inlove, knowing he's the one, you will come to realize you need him, he is like breath, without it you'd die... you would give up everything, family, friends for him. You MUST have him, there is no life without him.

True love is not an emotion, do you know that? True love creeps on you and surprises you when you least expect it, sometimes when you least want it even with who you least expect it to be.

Love does not come quickly, or harshly, like a whirlwind, it comes softly, subtely, then unveils the gift that God has for you before your eyes, and that is when it hits you, perhaps like a whirlwind... 

Love happens that way... don't stop it, let it run it's course!"


After a moment of silence (I was in total awe of all he said)... he started to play with his coffee cup, studying it and said softly, "I need a wife."

I asked, "Why?" He (still not looking up), "all my 7 children (2 girls 5 men) are a blessing, taking good care of me, loving me... but when I go to bed at night, I am alone, When I awake, I awake alone. Not everyday my children are with me, I am alone. It's just me with my 2 dogs. No number of children or close friends can ever replace the warmth, joy, confidence, gentleness, character, patience of a woman... a wife. My wife and I would spend EVERY day of our married life together, we never felt the desire to "get away" from eachother ever, because I was a part of her, as she was a part of me, we were one.

It is not good for man to be alone, and I know that first hand. I have been a widow for 4 years now, I still mourn my wife... I do not cry as my chest hurts when I do, for a part of me died with her. when she died, I prayed to God to take me too. But He has given me strength, and now my mourning days are over as now I am ready to love again and take a wife for my own." Then I remember earlier that day when he remembered what kind of woman he had with this story, "One day I was so tired, so beat down and discouraged. I said depressed, "sigh... I just want to die right now. I just want to sit here and die." His wife put her hands on her hips and said strongly, "We don't have time for that, you don't have time to die right now we need to do something about this, we gotta get to work... you can die another day, but today we will do something." and she rolled up her sleeves and worked hard... that was the kind of woman I had, a strong hard working woman."


That's when I realized, the love he had for her was so deep, he himself wanted to die because a part of him died already with her. (twas the same love my uncle and my aunt had when he passed away, another long beautiful romance...my uncle died of cancer on the day of their wedding anniversary... holding on to fulfill his vows on the day he gave his vows... till death do we part...), a love of growing old together... what a blessing... what a real blessing... I have never had a grandpa... a grandpa who has given me such loving wisdom that I had to share! He still doesn't know it, but I have adopted him as my dear old grandpa! :)"

I received this wisdom and now I am reaping the blessings from it! Thank you Jesus, for this amazing Man of God who I can proudly say, "He is my Beloved and I am his."!!! The wisdom of our elders are rare treasures... don't ignore or toss it to the side!

 Proverbs 16:31 - Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.

My husband was blessed with a gift card to one of his favorite shops, "Bass Pro Shop", and I decided, what a fun short road trip up north to visit one! It was a fun 2 hour drive, but seeing my husband enjoy shopping here was my enjoyment!

Yes... I made him point. Haha!

One day we will own 2 of these! Isn't he a hottie hot hottie? ;)

My beloved with our almost 4 month old Chocolate Labrador, "Sadie"! He just got back from doing some retrieving exercises with her as he wants to get back into hunting and wants to take his girl with him!

 

Ready to crochet for fall!

I have read so many articles how crochet is therapeutic and that must be true because I absolutely LOVE to crochet! If you go to my Pinterest you will see crochet ideas all over! But yet I must admit, sometimes crocheting can drive me CRAZY! Why? If I keep messing up, I have to keep ripping it out to fix it and many times I just keep on repeating the same mistake on the same exact spot and it drives me mad because then I can see my yarn loosening up to much and it's apparent to my eyes (though perhaps no one else can see it but I can!), so then I end up ripping up my whole project and starting ALL OVER!!!! So, yes.. I honestly LOVE to crochet... it keeps me on my toes. ;)

As I have posted on my last post was I love the Fall! If you remember correctly, one of the reasons I love Autumn is the cooling down in the weather! Where I am from (California) our weather is extremely "boring", we get a nice dry heat and when it comes to Fall/Winter we will get some rain but nothing "freezing" (that is up in the mountains). Our freezing is maybe 40's... Yes, i'm sure my husbands family in Minnesota want to smack me hearing that is what I consider "freezing"! ;)

 But because our weather is not that cold enough to wear cute thick winter gloves or items to warm us up, I wanted to design my own fingerless gloves that women in the same kind of weather we Californians experience can wear with no fear of having sweaty hands because their gloves are just too hot to wear!

 I very much want to make my own Etsy account to sell my creations (crochet and other crafts), so when that happens I will be sure to share it in the future here!

 But until then here is a peak at what I have created and I hope you enjoy how pretty they look enough to share with your friends and when my Etsy account is up and running I will be more than happy to sell what I love to make!!! 

I loved making this! Something dreamy and romantic to wear!

Warm autumn colors that is not too warm to wear!

A clip on flower with burlap frays put on! Cute, huh?

 

DIY Vanilla Extract

Is it strange that I am anxiously awaiting for the Autumn season to begin? Oh! Do not get me wrong, I like summer not for the heat but because the days grow longer which means my Beloved and I can do things together outdoors if we choose with time to spare! 

But the Fall... Now that is a season to await with anticipation! 

 I get to snuggle with my Beloved on our couch as I serve some hot cocoa or some hot sweet beverage as we put on some candles with scent of pumpkin or apple spice as we chat about our day, about what the Lord has been doing in our lives or watch a fun movie!

Of course, one of the best things about this awesome season is the food! The baking, the yummy stews and hot meals and hot beverages to warm up the body! Most of us (I am sure) love to bake yummy sweets and make sweet hot beverages and what is one ingredient that is usually used? 

Vanilla Extract! I've come to learn how to make vanilla extract (so I can finally stop purchasing imitation brands, I want to give the best in whatever I make or cook/bake so I decided to learn how to make it from scratch), and surprisingly, it is the easiest to make! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3... Literally. 

Ingredients:

1. Vanilla Beans (I purchased mine at Jimbo's, an organic supermarket, or you can also purchase online).
2. Vodka or Rum (I used Rum as I have heard that if you use Vodka you will just get plain vanilla flavor, but if you are looking for a bit of a sweet/spicy twang go for rum or bourbon).
3. 1 Mason Jar (I used a pint size jar for my 4 vanilla beans).

Instructions:

1. Insert beans inside clean mason jar.
2. Fill jar with one of the 3 alcohol I have listed.
3. Tighten jar lid, give it a shake and place in a cool dark place for about 3 months. 

That's it!!!  Mine will be ready by late September early October! I cannot wait!!!

 Nothing gets me more excited then to know my favorite season of the year is approaching!!!!

Simple ingredients for an amazing Vanilla Extract!

My extract ready to see darkness for 3 - 5 months!

Dried Flowers in painted Mason Jars DIY

 

From my previous post, I spoke on what inspires me in my crafting, and one of them is just browsing Pinterest! Well, this little number I saw some mason jars painted up and glossed up and even some had decoupaging done, I decided to do the same thing, but instead of keeping it perfect and glossed I wanted to make my jar looking rustic!

This was extremely simple to make and an absolute joy! 

What you will need to make ONE of these jars:

• A size mason jar of your choosing (I bought about 12 for about $10 at my local Walmart).
• Acrylic paint for glass, the color(s) of your choosing.
•  Sponge

• Gloss top coat
• Dried flowers
• Fine sanding paper

 
 The type of colors I was looking for were those that would not only compliment the color scheme of our apartment but also that would go well with the flowers that I had dried for about 3 months prior.

I had two acrylic paints going on, I wanted a base color which was: Dark Chocolate (the brand: Americana) and a plaid purple color (the brand Folk Art). Both paints plus The top coat spray (Brand: Krylon) I got at Michaels.

 

 

What I did was first paint the base color on the inside of the jar, the reason to do that is because when you sand down the paint, you don't want to look through to a clear jar, you want some sort of dark look there. Trust me, that "clear" look doesn't look all that "rustic", it just looks like a bad accident! HaHa!

 Then of course you will want to paint the outside of your jar with long strokes as you want the paint to go on evenly. Allow the paint to completely dry (which if you do it in the sunlight as I did will dry very quickly!), before adding another coat (in the jar and outside).

After your desired look, you then are able to add on your next color! Again, you will do the same as the first coat. After you are done with the second color you will then spray evenly your clear finish and allow your jar to completely dry (mine took about 3 hours to do so).

 Once it is dry, take your fine sanding paper and begin to "take off" the gloss, what I did is I purposely took off a chip or two of the paint off to give it that worn look!

 Then all you got to do is arrange your dried flowers the way you like! 

 What I did, was I made a total of 6 of these plus take a couple of pallet wood and distressed the wood by:

• Wetting the wood entirely.
• While still wet I drizzled a small bit of the Dark Chocolate Acrylic paint and took a paper towel and started to smear it all over the wood. Then I allowed it to dry.

• After the wood completely dried I then drizzled white acrylic paint on it (brand: Americana, Snow White.) and used a bristled brush and used hard long strokes all over. Do not cover the wood with paint, you want to just sporadically cover the pallet.

Pallet wood that I got from someone moving and the best part... Free! You'd be surprised that not all scrap pallets are free!

Pallet wood that has been distressed.

 I hope you enjoyed this extremely simple project! :)

Inspiration of being a Home Maker

 Now that you all know the passion I have in being a wife and a keeper of my home, let me give you a deeper look at the kind of person I am when it comes to creativity!

My love for crafts began not too long ago! I grew up watching my mom make her home into something you can see out of a Country Cottage magazine! Her secret? A love for her home and a passion for making it into a beauty that when people walk in, they literally stop at the entrance and gasp, "How quaint and lovely it is in here! It reminds me of something out of a movie!". Growing up I watched my mom and her creative flow, but I never knew I had it or even desired to try it out until I turned about 25! After I got married, it was if the Lord opened up the windows of Heaven and poured over me a desire and passion for making things with my hand to beautify my home!

 I get inspiration from the surroundings of my upbringing...

I'm a county girl. I grew up in the mountains, FAR from the nearest town (a 20 minute drive down the mountain just to get some milk!), a lot of my life was appreciating the beauty of God's creation, I was home schooled from kindergarten all the way to Senior High School, so I had a lot of time to be a thoughtful individual with no peer pressure and a lot of time to enjoy what my surroundings gave me... Creativity!

If you step into my home you will immediately feel as if you are in a cozy cabin out in the country, though my husband and I live in an apartment in a small little town, majority of what is in my home is either hand me downs (furniture) or hand made... by me.

(Photo by me. View of where I live looking outside)

I am also inspired by this country that I love! I am ever so grateful for those who served in the military who fought and died to preserve our freedom! My mothers 2 uncles fought and died in combat during World War II, one was a Sergeant in the Army and another was in the Navy. 

I love the country and I love anything to do with it! 

Also, can we say, the best inspiration to get online is... ta-ta-ta-daaaaa... PINTEREST!!!! Thank you, Jesus for Pinterest! That's all I gotta say!!! :)

Also, I need to give a shout out to my husband! He also inspires me, with his calm and peaceful personality, I married a man who also adores the country and who also has amazing ideas and has a passion to be creative as well! I love you my darling, you make our Home a place of peace, joy and you always make me think! :)

He is the one who not only encourages me in my creativity in making our home a dream to dwell in, but who inspired me to make a blog! 

(My husband on our rocking chair relaxing outside and our Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Sadie, sitting at his feet)

So this is another "introduction" to what inspires me! 

God bless all who have read this!

My heart began to beat as I stood at the front door of my parents home, anticipating my cue to open it and step out. I pushed back behind my ear a strand of hair escaping from underneath my sheer veil, I gazed down at the lovely bouquet of flowers I made and as I gazed at them, I began to smile knowing that this day was not like any other day, what I was holding was not like any other bouquet and this dress I was wearing was not like any other dress! 

 I turned slightly to my right to gaze at myself in the mirror and admire the dress that was lovingly handmade for me and that I also designed myself, a dress that symbolized the promise I made to my God to keep myself for the man that He created for me...

 I looked around at my childhood home and sighed a sigh of satisfaction that I also fulfilled the commandment of; "Honor your father and your mother...", as I stayed underneath their covering until the age of 26, where now I will be moving out of the home of my childhood and into the covering and home of my soon to be husband!

 My dreamy state was quickly startled by my cue... I walked out the door, down the steps of the porch my daddy made himself and down the dirt path to where my husband to be was waiting for me, he also wearing all white as he made a promise to wait for his wife... after 13 years of waiting, his wife was coming down to meet him to be his wife.There we stood before God and Man and I made a vow:

To be a Crown of Glory on His head, and never a thorn in his side.

 After my Pastor married us in the presence of our families and friends and above all, in the presence of God Himself we finally had our first kiss... Our very FIRST Kiss... we never once kissed eachother until that day, we held hands and hugged yes, but never a kiss...

 Oh! The whirlwind of sweet joy to feel his lips against mine, to know that finally... I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine! After our first kiss I realized, we were in for an Adventure like no other...

 Leaving my parents home was quite an adventure in itself! As we arrived in my new home in Honolulu, Hawaii I felt an overwhelming sense of homesick! I began to cry, but I only allowed myself to cry for a few minutes (and my darling husband did his best to comfort me), after those few minutes I stopped and never cried (homesick) ever again, I made a decision, "I am not a married woman, and a married woman I shall act like... This is my life now and I will fulfill my vows as his wife to the fullest!", I never looked back!

 When I created this blog, I did so not only to share my love for crochet, rustic crafts, photography and light hearted subjects, but to also share the joys of Wifehood! What a difference it is to love your man and loving the Godly role of being a wife and his helpmeet!

There is no other Royalty as a Wife who is the Queen of Her Home!