Thankful for What Was

I woke up on Thanksgiving morning, and a very unexpected homesickness wafted over me. I missed my Grandma. I missed my Mom, and my brothers. I missed the awesome family get together's that always took place at Grandma Brown's. A place where I never once felt unwelcome, unfed, unloved. Memories of her apple pie, and ability to make a home flooded my mind, and I was well on my way to a miserable day if I let myself continue.

Then I received a short email from Jeanine. In it, she stated, "Make a choice for a good day!"

I determined to do just that, and as you can see ... it turned out quite well!! Here are a few of my favorite moments, kids, and loved ones in the world.

So, although I was homesick for what was, I also became aware of the tremendous blessings that I have here and now, close to me. There's nothing better than piling into one house, all of us together, kids swarming about, everyone laughing, feasting, and just being together.

More than that, I decided that it was not such a bad thing to be missing what was. Many people never experience the joy and love and togetherness of a family like I had growing up. Is it not better to have had it at one time, even though it is now gone?

I think so.

And so, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for what was ... and what is. How God has enriched my life with close family, extended family, and the love that permeates my heart each time we are priveledged to once again be together!

I hope all y'all had a wonderful time of thanks with your loved ones, whether in years past, or yesterday.

~Brenda

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

From Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem In Memoriam:27, 1850:

Wordless Wednesday

She's not mine. But she sure is a cutie!!

Yeah, yeah ... WORDLESS Wednesday ...

Ok, ok. I'm going.

~Brenda

The Threat of an Empty Page

My dear husband and I had a short conversation about writing today, so I've been thinking about the prospects of becoming a writer.

What might that mean for my life?

What might that mean for the significance of my life?

What might that mean in regards to the glory of God?

Would I be able to write in a way that glorifies God?

These are all questions, along with the ever daunting empty page staring back at me, that haunt me until I very often give in to their "reason."

Sometimes, a blank page to me says ...

"You don't have anything to say."

"You don't have anything worthwhile to say."

"You think you can fill me up? Ha!!! I laugh at writers like you!"

"You're just the baby of the family. You have nothing but jibberish in that mind of yours."

Or the ominous, "I dare you."

At times, I receive the more positive:

"I can't wait to be filled, line by line, by your beautifully written words that come from the depths of your soul."

"Color me."

"Make the world a better place. Right here. Right now."

Sing it with me .....

"You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be."

Ok, the Josh Groban Raise Me Up song is getting a little carried away, but for some reason, the pages will sometimes be encouraging and sing that to me.

More often than not, the first three lines tend to win the battle.

Do I think writing can be used to glorify God? Absolutely.

Do I feel called to write? I have gone off and on with this over the years. And sometimes, I get distracted. REALLY distracted. But ultimately, yes. I think I am.

The next obvious question would be, "Then what are you waiting for?!!"

And the answer to that is, "I don't know."

See, I want to be a lot of things. I would love to be a nurse. I would love to have some type of sewing business. I have also contemplated opening up a shop, selling gift baskets, becoming an artist, owning a book store, etc. The list goes on. But obviously, you can't do all of that and do it well. You've got to stick to one thing and do it well.

One.

Due to health problems, there are only a couple of options that will work. And the problem with writing is that there is no guarantee, folks. None. Nada. Zip.

I could pour my life into it, and never get published.

This does not, in any way, shape or form, give me warm fuzzies. And I like warm fuzzies. Because they're warm ... and fuzzy.

It scares me to work so hard on something, only to have rejection slip after rejection slip come in the mail. I'm not talking about a 250 word article here. I'm talking about pouring my heart and soul into a novel. Or a devotional book for mom's. Or for sick people. It's a lot of work, with a potential for no return.

However ...

I, once again, reject those ominous whispers of the empty page. I reject my fear. I reject all of the feelings of inadequacy, and .... I write.

Hear me, oh threatening empty page!!! I'm bigger than you. My God is bigger than you. And if God says that I'm to write, then I will write. Remember, blank slate, what your role is: to submit to me and the colorful stories and encouraging words I etch upon the fibers of your being. When the stormy winds of life come, you may get away for a short time, whipping to and fro mid air. But eventually, the storm will end, and you will lie still.

It is then that I will gently pick you up, dust us off, and write about the storm we weathered together. So that when others weather a similar storm, they too will know our survival techniques. While they are waiting upon the Lord for the winds and waves to calm, their strength will be renewed, they'll mount up with wings as eagles, they'll run and not grow weary, they'll walk, and not faint.**

That, Empty Page .... is your destiny.

~Brenda

**Isaiah 40:31

Itchy for Etsy

Sewing and Snowing.

Itchy for Esty.

Aches and Pains.

Hobbies with the Hubby.

That, my friends is what has been going on in my uneventful little life ...

And I love it all!!

Well, all except for the aches and pains.

Friday night, there came reports that we would get snow - and lots of it!

I admit. I was beckoning big beautiful snowflakes to come knocking on my door, and pile up just like I pile blanket after blanket on my side of the bed on cold nights. Ok .... every night.

And come Saturday night, those big, gorgeous, flakey snowflakes did indeed begin to grace my whole world with their presence.











On that first picture, that's actually the sun peeking through the clouds, although it looks like the moon!

Anyway, we got about six to eight inches, church was canceled ... and I was officiall snowed in with my hubby. And what better way to make use of a snow day than to have your hobby and hubby surrounding you?

So ... we sat around and enjoyed each other's company, watched the football game, and broke out the hobbies. Reading and football for him .... sewing for me.

Here's some pics of what I put together. Only this time, there was no floating involved. ;)

Tissue holders galore!!

They make some pretty cute stocking stuffers, don't you think?

However, I think I made a few too many. And I've been itching to start an Etsy shop ...So I did just that!

If you'd like to visit, just click here. And no laughing at how scarce the shop is. Remember ... I'm just starting! Although ... I do have some pretty cute ideas as to what I will put in my shop next.

Just to get rid of the itch.

So bookmark my shop, and come back often, ya' hear? Yeeeeehaw!!!

As for the aches and pains ...

I've been doing nothing but hurting for the last two and a half days. All my joints, my ear, my spine ... all of them ache and ache bad. I'm also very exhausted and can't seem to get up off the couch, and have been sleeping a lot. Today, I have some joints in my hand that are red, itchy, swollen, and aching. I've come to the conclusion that it's either the swine flu, or I'm having some sort of autoimmune attack. I've had these arthiritis symptoms before, but never to this degree. I have no fever, am able to drink and eat just fine, so I'm not too worried. I'm just ready to be done with it!

And on that achy breaky heart note, I will bid you adeiu!

But don't forget to visit the shop! If I get enough views of my tissue holders, I may very well just give a few away, right here on Prairie Tales!! So go clickety click click click on each of the tissue holders that catch your eye and get a bigger view of them. Now behave yourselves, and please don't click over and over just so I will have a giveaway. Remember ... I have eyes in the back of my head and can see you doing that.

Don't mess with the Prairie Mama! :)

Happy stocking stuffers shopping!

~Brenda

Haircuts, Hats, and Happs

If normalness is a word, I love it. I like having a schedule and stickin' to it. I love doing the same thing, Monday through Friday, with a little bit of different on the weekends. And that's how life has been lately. Pretty normal, pretty routine, albeit busy.

Jeanine is doing quite well, in spite of the fact that she has, in the last couple of months, undergone brain surgery and is now in the midst of chemo and radiation. She was able to come over this weekend for Jessie's 18th birthday.

Did I just say Jessie's 18th birthday??

Gulp.

Anyway, here's Jeanine, with the birthday girl herself!

As you can see, Grandma got Jessie the cutest hat I've ever seen.

Ever.

Jessie and I decided to play a little dress up later that night:






I also have a boy.

With long hair.

But that obviously changed. ;)




He feels less hippyish, and I feel like a good mom for finally cutting my child's hair!

And Jessie ... well ... she just has some seriously cute hair!!






As for other happs ... I made this travel bag for Andrew. He's going to keep his video games, batteries, etc. in it when we travel. When I finished it, I decided I'd take a pic. And this is what I got:



Does that sucker not look like it's floating mid air??? I thought it was just me, but Andrew saw the pic, and without any prompting from me, said, "Whoa!! That thing is floating!!"

Some folks are poets and don't know it.

I guess I'm a magician and don't know it!

Now if I could magically whip up about ten more of these little bags for Christmas presents, I'd be a happy camper!

~Brenda

Halloweenies

I don't normally do anything for Halloween. But this year, our church was having a Trunk or Treat.

Ever hear of such a thing?

Me either, until now.

In a nutshell, church members dressed up and decorated the trunks of their cars with a fun theme/game. We passed out flyers the week before, letting the neighborhood around us know of the activity. Kids came with their parents, dressed up of course, and "Trunk or Treated." If they did well in whatever game was being played, they got even more candy.

Cute idea, huh?

Anyway, we had a good turnout, and were able to gain some exposure, and meet new people.

I hadn't dressed up for Halloween since I was about seven years old!! It felt a little weird at first, and I felt like a bit of a weenie.

A Halloweenie.

But then I just let the kid in me take over (it wasn't much of a struggle). And I had a blast!!!

Someday, my grandkids are going to look at these and wonder if Grandma lost her mind long ago. But like I said ... it was a blast, so who cares! :)

Any guesses as to who I was before we start?



Any guesses at all??




Yep!! Minnie Mouse!!! So hang on to yer Prairie Bonnets ... we're goin' to Disneyland!!!!










Any guesses as to WHO Ashlee was?



Why yes!! She WAS a WHO!!



Me and my Pastor's wife, the running back!!




A friend from church in a cat and mouse chase!




And a few more random pics ...





I couldn't resist showing you this pic of a family in our church. They're totally incredible!!!! :)




I guess this is the "Who has bigger eyeballs" contest...




This is not a two headed figure. This is Ashlee the WHO, and Jessie the police officer! Now THAT is scary!!




Unfortunately, the night didn't end well for the WHO ...





... or the Police Officer. And Minnie is apparently a law enforcing citizen.

Not to be messed with!

Just so ya' know ...




And that, my Lovely Lurkers, is the end of all the Halloweenies!!

~Brenda, aka Minnie