Lovely Links to Explore.....

(Above photo, one of the places I recently explored in Paris, Arkansas that is! Kind of looks like the real deal huh?)

Don't you just love discovering new blogs that you have never visited before, blogs that delight the eye and stimulate the mind? I do! I had a chance to do a bit of updating on my blog roll and wanted to share some lovely links for you to explore. My blog roll button is located on the top of my bottom sidebar, just click on the photo to be swept away to a link list of wonderful people and places to visit. Once you have arrived simply click on a blog title and that will transport you to the home page of each blog where you can indulge in inspiration of all kinds!

NOTE: All photos in this post are used with permission and are the property of each blog featured. Please do not copy or use these photos in any manner without permission of the photo owner. Remember to be kind when blogging and always ask permission before using a photo from another blog. If permission is granted give credit to the photo owner as well as a link back to the original source.

Under Inspirational Blogs you will find the new addition of Laced With Grace. This is a daily devotional site with many contributors. I have found it very refreshing and encouraging.

New additions under Artful Blogs are:
Brandywine Boutique where the artful designs are enchanted and cozy cottage style reigns! The photo below is used with permission, property of Brandywine Boutique, visit post where photo is featured here. I adore her style!Chantilly Grace, is the home of Bre, a very talented painter, who specializes in portraits and has exquisite style! The photo below is used with permission, property of Chantilly Grace, visit post where photo is featured here. Just look at her stunning photography and paintings! Bre is also hosting a wonderful and fun blog event where participants create a romantic Valentine Wreath and then link up to share the creations, for full details, visit here.Junque Art where Cindy creates charming designs! Cindy was recently a guest artist here at the Quill who generously shared her Glittered Paper Ornament Tutorial with us! The photo is used with permission, property of Junque Art, visit post where photo is featured here. This is Ethel and she is perhaps THE best dresses form I have ever seen, this gal has a host of outfits and accessories! She is fashoin forward for every season and holiday!Under Divine Design and Decor blogs you will the following additions:
Cynthia's Cottage Design where design and inspiration meet! The photo below is used with permission, property of Cynthia's Cottage Design, visit post where photo is featured here. She has a dutch door in her kitchen, something I have always wanted!Junk Camp where all kinds of cast offs find new uses, this is repurposing at its finest!

Nesting Place where Nester shares her design philosophy that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!

The Comforts of Home this is the other blog for our dear friend, Penny of Lavender Hill Studio where she showcases her mosaic art. This blog is where she shares her home design and decor talents. The photo below is used with permission, property of The Comforts of Home, visit post where photo is featured here. Penny has penash and her home is so curl up comfy looking!Villa Extra is pure eye candy! You will find photo collage after photo collage of inspiration! The photo below is used with permission, property of Villa Extra, visit post where photo is featured here. You will find stunning photo mosaic after stunning photo mosaic here! This is visual eye candy at it finest! Under Vintage Collectibles, Antiques, and Romantic Decor you will discover:
The White Bench where Monica in Italy brings you romantic vintage style beauty and inspiration for inside and outside the home! The photo below is used with permission, property of The White Bench, visit post where photo is featured here. How about this view in your neighborhood? This blog is a little taste of Italy mixed in with some great design!Of Bluebirds and Roses where vintage style sings and blooms! The photo below is used with permission, property of Of Blue Birds and Roses. This cottage is full of dreamy romantic style!Vintage Trifles where Martha shares her love all things vintage! The photo below is used with permission, property of Vintage Trifles, visit post where photo is featured here. I am in LOVE with this paper tree she made!Lili M. where you are welcomed into a world of wonder! The photo below is used with permission, property of Lili M., visit post where photo is featured here. I am also in LOVE with this branch suspended in this lovely home with a Netherlander view outside the window! Curious Sofa Diaries where the style is a casual mix of comfortable furnishings and antiques!

Willow Nest Farm where every design is just dreamy! This link is visual manna and you can buy stuff too! I could just sit and watch the banner change all day!

Sweet Cottage Dreams where dreamy sweet cottage designs are featured! The photo below is used with permission, property of Sweet Cottage Dreams, visit the post where photo is featured here. I love the sweet and cheery style of the designs featured on this blog!Under the heading of A Bit of This and That you will find:
Spot on Cedar Pond where my new friend Kathy shares her beautiful life on a farm. Kathy raises Jacob sheep, creates beautiful hand dyed yarn and rugs from their wool, and makes the most darling clay and wool sheep in the Moravian style for placing in Nativity scenes. The photo below is used with permission, property of Spot on Cedar Pond, visit the post where photo is featured here. This is some of Kathy's hand dyed yarn from her sheep and a bit about her weaving process.Warm Pie Happy Home is a great place to kick up your feet and soak in some homey pleasures where a recipe mixed with comfort, love, and joy capture the essence of homemaking!

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

A Girl Just Wants To Have Fun.....

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it!"

~Danny Kaye~

I just wanted to pop in and wish you all a wonderful Monday! Sophie and I are going to spend some time in the art studio this afternoon and we have both been gathering some supplies. She is into soft sculpture right now and I am into paint. It looks like she has a head start on playtime! What can I say, she is a rough and tumble kind of girl and before the afternoon is out some of those toys that she has spent the morning carrying one by one from her toy basket will need a little sewing up!

As for me, I plan on being a little more constructive rather than destructive, I will be putting this together, still working on reorganizing this space. Even if this looks utilitarian, at least what it holds can be stylish!I am going to play with a stack of these!I have a few new supplies, love these bird stamps!!!Some primer, puddles of paint, brushes, and little silver leaf!
Throw in some paper, scissors, and glue and I've got myself the beginnings of a painted box how-to. Just a peek at my upcoming tutorial for some sassy storage! I'll have this one up in a day or two depending how much time I have to work on the project, so check back.

OK, I admit I played a little to! I could not resist folding the paper and squishing the paint to see what design would emerge! I used to love doing this in kindergarten, still do. This looks like the beginning of an art journal page!
Have a wonderfully creative day!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday: Building Up A Nest Egg.....

Serendipity: An instance of making a delightful and unexpected discovery.

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

~Matthew 6:20-21~

"Every time you affirm your trust in Me, you put a coin into My treasury. Thus you build up equity in preparation for days of trouble. I keep safely in My heart all trust invested in Me, with interest compounded continuously. The more your trust Me, the more I enable you to do so.

Practice trusting Me during quiet days, when nothing much seems to be happening. Then when storms come, your trust balance will be sufficient to see you through. Store up for yourself treasure in heaven, through placing your trust in Me. This practice will keep you in My Peace."

Excerpt from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young

This weeks delightful discovery came through the reading of the above passage. How awesome it is to think that while my earthly bank account balance may fluctuate and there may be little interest gained, my heavenly account keeps building with interest compounded continuously! We are living in some financially unstable times with uncertainty for many in the job market. I am glad to know the trustworthy Banker who will meet all my needs!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

A Beautiful Life.....

Melissa of The Inspired Room is hosting A Beautiful Life, 12 Months of Goals today, follow this highlighted link to learn more about this link up event that will be featured on her blog every Friday. You can read her post for today as well as join in here.Her desire is to make life beautiful at home by savoring the life she has, not expensive, not perfect, not unrealistic, but living intentionally, finding beauty, contentment, and joy in everyday life.

My goals for 2009 encompass five areas of my life: Heart, Mind, Emotion, Body, and Environment. I would like to infuse each of these areas with beauty, creativity, and order. Doing one thing in five areas per day is a totally doable goal for me. I plan on posting these goals in a place I will see them everyday as a reminder to keep focused.

For the area of the Heart I chose one verse of Scripture to use as a focus verse for the year and composed a simple sentence prayer to accompany it. I spent time in prayer before searching for a verse to learn from and grow by this year. The verse that spoke very loudly to me is Jeremiah 6:16. (NIV)

"This is what the Lord says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your soul(s)."

My simple sentence prayer is this:

"Cast Your road before me."

My desire is to listen to what the Lord has to say to me in any given moment or circumstance, to practice stillness and watchfulness at each crossroad I encounter this year, asking where the good way is, walking in it, and experiencing rest for my soul. My prayer is that God would cast His road before me, meaning that I will have clear guidance in the direction He wants me to follow, discernment to recognize His path, and the wisdom to follow His leading. I bought a new hardbound journal to record my special verse and prayer in along with what life lessons I learn from this verse this year.To accompany my heart journey along with Scripture reading I have chosen the following reading materials to encourage my goal:

Devotionals ~
Jesus Calling by Sarah YoungExperiencing God Day-by-Day Devotional and Journal by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
A Memoir~
A Walk With Jane Austen, A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith by Lori SmithI began reading both devotionals which are set up for each day of the year, one in the morning and one in the evening, letting them speak to my heart. I also began reading Lori's memoir and plan to digest it a little at a time and hopefully learn from her journey.

My goal is to obtain a beautiful heart that has eyes and ears for others and is dedicated to God.

In the area of the Mind, I simply want to implement more positive thinking and get rid of stinking thinking! An example of doing this cropped up this very week.

<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Melissa of The Inspired Room is hosting <a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/2008/12/31/a-beautiful-life-12-months-of-goals/">A Beautiful Life, 12 Months of Goals</a> today, follow this highlighted link to learn more about this link up event that will be featured on her blog every Friday.</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span> You can read her post for today as well as join in <a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/01/09/balancing-act-finding-a-beautiful-life/">here</a>.</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7pfh8IIOzj1ci25L6nR1RDjop4zJCwhQF8DUGAGxMidG29Hv30IcL-UEouxXcbz2lC30bZMgKhVJS_OJcNgubgdGWst4BaMaUhnge6wSPN_Ia56N5nx9kunGDNB_u55d9ZEsYyaBFTk/s1600-h/3154487471_8a0e33eec9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7pfh8IIOzj1ci25L6nR1RDjop4zJCwhQF8DUGAGxMidG29Hv30IcL-UEouxXcbz2lC30bZMgKhVJS_OJcNgubgdGWst4BaMaUhnge6wSPN_Ia56N5nx9kunGDNB_u55d9ZEsYyaBFTk/s400/3154487471_8a0e33eec9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327150257739570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>Her desire is to make life beautiful at home by savoring the life she has, not expensive, not perfe</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>ct, not unrealistic, but living intentionally, finding beauty, contentment, and joy in everyday life.</span></span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span> My goals for 2009 encompass five areas of my life: Heart, Mind, Emotion, Body, and Environment. I </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>would like to infuse each of these areas with beauty, creativity, and order. Doing one thing in five areas per day is a totally doable goal for me. I plan on posting these goals in a place I will see them everyday as a reminder to keep focused. </span></span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>For the area of the Heart I chose one verse of Scripture to use as a focus verse for the year and </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>composed a simple sentence prayer to accompany it. I spent time in prayer before searching for a verse to learn from and grow by this year. The verse that spoke very loudly to me is Jeremiah 6:16. (NIV)</span></span></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>"This is what the Lord says: </span></span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, </span></span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>ask where the good way is, and walk in it,</span></span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span> and you will find rest for your soul(s)."</span></span></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My simple sentence prayer is this: </span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Cast Your road before me."</span></span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My desire is to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">listen <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">to what the Lord has to say to me in any given moment or </span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">circumstance, to practice <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">stillness <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">watchfulness <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">at each crossroad I encounter this year, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">asking <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">where the good way is, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">walking <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">in it, and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">experiencing <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rest <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for my soul. My prayer is that God would cast His road before </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">me, meaning that I will have clear <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">guidance</span> in the direction He wants me to follow, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">discernment</span> to recognize His path, and the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">wisdom</span> to follow His leading. I bought a new hardbound journal to record my special verse and prayer in </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">along with what life lessons I learn from this verse this year.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAx5VgLWHUpSZ-mgqO8NqhmhXQDJUjUuDkYf-_kWUkvwcUYbt2vHiHQmfusBZgX4w1c-1eYnQUj13Mt3faGjxHzxW3uiHSVy74N-Un9r8xuAJ6-Q6OjMXHbXHb-SMzrCmN6H-KBJaLRY/s1600-h/blank+journal042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAx5VgLWHUpSZ-mgqO8NqhmhXQDJUjUuDkYf-_kWUkvwcUYbt2vHiHQmfusBZgX4w1c-1eYnQUj13Mt3faGjxHzxW3uiHSVy74N-Un9r8xuAJ6-Q6OjMXHbXHb-SMzrCmN6H-KBJaLRY/s400/blank+journal042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327989788073282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To accompany my heart journey along with Scripture reading I have chosen th</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">e</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">following reading materials to encourage my goal:</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Devotionals ~ Jesus Calling by Sarah Young</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5By3y7U_L8dvwv3q8bw12GjK3MhoTlQNot7aVYKxLywqtNXfBG-qkKFNsCTRsotIeJlqm1zDJ94SiiLe-NAVfY_aKVosLg3W-5fiLKBd6ga7-HXw9bKhDVvLO5QoeO8q5yWk26mgaAeY/s1600-h/15305830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5By3y7U_L8dvwv3q8bw12GjK3MhoTlQNot7aVYKxLywqtNXfBG-qkKFNsCTRsotIeJlqm1zDJ94SiiLe-NAVfY_aKVosLg3W-5fiLKBd6ga7-HXw9bKhDVvLO5QoeO8q5yWk26mgaAeY/s400/15305830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327145863730178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Experiencing God Day-by-Day Devotional and Journal by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby</span></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg4AMGsW8_c4pgx4M3F3DDgVbC1GUfJGQkd53-Ra8sKWBYB0AvMeXkm3Sda-Irsy9a6imEHzQTcZ_geB-3EKycOUJdrxhU1XH7haWC7Q2RBze_qvaDOf12V2toL7N68RqFF50BvkBfsc/s1600-h/6311_large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg4AMGsW8_c4pgx4M3F3DDgVbC1GUfJGQkd53-Ra8sKWBYB0AvMeXkm3Sda-Irsy9a6imEHzQTcZ_geB-3EKycOUJdrxhU1XH7haWC7Q2RBze_qvaDOf12V2toL7N68RqFF50BvkBfsc/s400/6311_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327136769784834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Memoir~ A Walk With Jane Austen, A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith by Lori Smith</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWGZy9ztcJ5XyhwJodgXHpHstxSYSFSirZDKMmG_2py8Eec8HGHpQ23YPjo54yCy31r7ZvIfaiRS4w54-ctzM712OOX9cTGDs3Bo5zhyZmXF0l8l2BaB_Y0bLK3cRnwexpNhW1g7WDIc/s1600-h/16039710.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWGZy9ztcJ5XyhwJodgXHpHstxSYSFSirZDKMmG_2py8Eec8HGHpQ23YPjo54yCy31r7ZvIfaiRS4w54-ctzM712OOX9cTGDs3Bo5zhyZmXF0l8l2BaB_Y0bLK3cRnwexpNhW1g7WDIc/s400/16039710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327149410460114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I began reading both devotionals which are set up for each day of the year, one in the morning and one in the evening, letting them sp</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">eak to my heart. I also </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">began reading Lori's memoir and plan to digest it a little at a time and hopefully learn from her journey. </span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My goal is to obtain a beautiful heart that has eyes and ears for others and is </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">dedicated to God. </span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In the area of the Mind, I simply want to implement more positive thinking and </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">get rid of stinking thinking! An example of doing this cropped up this very week. I had a choice as to how to respond to Monday morning mayhem here at the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quill. The holiday's finally over and everyone back into a normal routine left me with a mountain of a mess to plow through. When I looked at all the muddy footprints tracked all over my hardwood floors instead of grumbling I smiled and said, "Today I am needed." When faced with enough dirty laundry to outfit and army I repeated, "Today I am needed." This went on with each grubby tas</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">k I did and it did make a difference in my attitude and made the tasks more </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">pleasant. My goal is to embrace beautiful thinking.</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> In the area of Emotion, I desire more self-control and healing. I am relying heavily on the Lord to overcome in certain areas. To aid in this leg of my journey</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I will also be learning from other women of faith who have traveled this path before me by reading, Especially For A Women. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboUg8w_68kNm1-i8Poi8LKX6eI0TxGwQXi92RpLS-THtMxBuwQzhd1vz0IY7sYW6z4HRRKn82HC_wefQk5q2Z6rgWM-gJkToB9zyU7o4c6pzcjgtG6ON3otsDY8myN-nKiA10Ayt0wjc/s1600-h/48_7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboUg8w_68kNm1-i8Poi8LKX6eI0TxGwQXi92RpLS-THtMxBuwQzhd1vz0IY7sYW6z4HRRKn82HC_wefQk5q2Z6rgWM-gJkToB9zyU7o4c6pzcjgtG6ON3otsDY8myN-nKiA10Ayt0wjc/s400/48_7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289326824578675170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> This volume has entries from many women who offer encouragement, support, and practical advice for the important issues in a woman's life. This is just a small stepping stone in my journey to wholeness. My goal is to experience the beauty of self-control and healing. For the area of Body I simply want to find everyday beauty in being comfortable with who I am and how I am made. My desire is find self acceptance for my flaws and to improve in the areas of exercise and healthy eating. One of my goals is to make better friends with my treadmill, the poor girl gets a bit lonely. I won't be</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">unrealistic in this area, I have not set goal of losing x amount of pounds by a certain date, fitting into a certain size, or meeting a certain number on the scal</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">e. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I simply want to focus on being HEALTHY. If healthy for me is a bit heavier than I'd like or unrealistic for my body type then I am praying for acceptance for what I cannot change and the will and determination to make the changes that I can. My goal is to love me just as I am, make the improvements that I can, and to focus on being beautifully healthy.</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">For the Environment area of my list I desire to create an atmosphere of welcome, creativity, hospitality, and celebration for those who live in my home and for </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">those who might visit. I will revisit and old friends, The Spirit of Loveliness and Welcome Home by Emilie Barnes, which never fail to inspire me to bring order,</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> creativity, and beauty into my life.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XIfTQnyYrlfw0SIIV3ZWzosbE7A1qEmX3q6_YfjdZINBMexwHXi_tv4_Ek8rVicUoOisvZLVoyfkw7CyqvSLJF_jylLCieDpO1SUERSG-SatdaW8qJQGFi3IY0W4nyQZPidAZeBz_vo/s1600-h/51E0G4BA4NL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XIfTQnyYrlfw0SIIV3ZWzosbE7A1qEmX3q6_YfjdZINBMexwHXi_tv4_Ek8rVicUoOisvZLVoyfkw7CyqvSLJF_jylLCieDpO1SUERSG-SatdaW8qJQGFi3IY0W4nyQZPidAZeBz_vo/s400/51E0G4BA4NL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289326838908862706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbkV-zwdOA-jrTHTfcTDO7fELzbNwu83E_TSorMokCPkW_TnIwMtYTIPpvhK0tI_iFZUg2ROiIUW6yTcbrct-0Fpul274BLLZwsCaDDuZ28ZW1RhGkH9dNJFN3LQs3KM57TBEE07AUFI/s1600-h/51NNPBGRTSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbkV-zwdOA-jrTHTfcTDO7fELzbNwu83E_TSorMokCPkW_TnIwMtYTIPpvhK0tI_iFZUg2ROiIUW6yTcbrct-0Fpul274BLLZwsCaDDuZ28ZW1RhGkH9dNJFN3LQs3KM57TBEE07AUFI/s400/51NNPBGRTSL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289326842859111394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This means tackling areas of home organization, which began this week in my studio space by assessing my storage needs, looking around and using what I had on hand and clearing away what I am not using by donating supplies to others. This also means some home improvement projects that need doing. </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOChjjlXpbewVhCfMT9j3UvGmgJQGg_DdvRvnT_BQAgC7UgpSueVWt8A0OZfvNZzvUNyz5tbQEzq89oIzeBaLawTeRUWX0GryOwjvTs4ikxjI6dJP_ErO2RrluNm-wPRzfLS37KD3bHA/s1600-h/project+journal043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOChjjlXpbewVhCfMT9j3UvGmgJQGg_DdvRvnT_BQAgC7UgpSueVWt8A0OZfvNZzvUNyz5tbQEzq89oIzeBaLawTeRUWX0GryOwjvTs4ikxjI6dJP_ErO2RrluNm-wPRzfLS37KD3bHA/s400/project+journal043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289328001606486770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uCMzWDddbZZg2KjE8ilFpoDOr5KN7vtdYzXUSk8BdaNCUJjo5HW4t26j_HLFHz0_dLBhRli-fsWtVtpwruu6hj0o525T4XMt7Ye3GAOuo699e6YGqMeVEM124HV6ECac55NmH5HxJoI/s1600-h/project+journal+2044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uCMzWDddbZZg2KjE8ilFpoDOr5KN7vtdYzXUSk8BdaNCUJjo5HW4t26j_HLFHz0_dLBhRli-fsWtVtpwruu6hj0o525T4XMt7Ye3GAOuo699e6YGqMeVEM124HV6ECac55NmH5HxJoI/s400/project+journal+2044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289328033529618098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To keep track of projects, supplies needed, room measurements, etc. I like to use the Gold Fibre Project Organizer by AMPAD. This spiral bound notebook can be purchased at an office supply store or online for around $4 to $5. I have gone through my home room by room to assess my needs and desires for creating a welcoming environment, listing them in my organizer. I use the side column to list materials needed for projects and the larger column to list the goals for each project, any measurements I might need, I glue paint chips or fabric swatches to the page in case I need them for matching purposes as well as attaching room </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> photos. I make notes of where products were purchased, the amount of the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">purchase, and sometimes list price comparisons for later reference. I find this tool invaluable. I would also like to include more festivity into daily life, refraining from ordinary business as usual to enjoy little moments of beauty like watchin</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">g a sun set or sun rise, listening or observing more, creating little vignettes of beauty around my home that please the senses through sight, sound, taste, hearing, and touch. Lastly, I would like to indulge in more creativity, reproducing through imaginative skill ~ art, writing, photography, and home decor.</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> To aid in these areas I have begun organization in my art studio space to make creative play more desirable. I am also setting up creative play time with my best friend either in her studio or mine, learning new techniques. We plan to take some classes together also.</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I don't have concrete writing goals set yet but I did purchase an essential reference tool for study and submission purposes, Christian Writer's Market Guide 2008 by Sally E. Stuart and am in the process of choosing a conference to attend this year.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG6Rb_e0rKpV_UFMDgcYKNPM0AunDZJZdnpjBOxAIQSZypHWeYAMiuV1ieTMaxxbIQ81ZS0AMUMs-N_0kNle5SJg0fwcGwD94xqeySuKp8I2_kZxDqQ_Z2Dy524dmL_Es1YmGWR1FC0A/s1600-h/51do16PVeGL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG6Rb_e0rKpV_UFMDgcYKNPM0AunDZJZdnpjBOxAIQSZypHWeYAMiuV1ieTMaxxbIQ81ZS0AMUMs-N_0kNle5SJg0fwcGwD94xqeySuKp8I2_kZxDqQ_Z2Dy524dmL_Es1YmGWR1FC0A/s400/51do16PVeGL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289326830047098754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I will continue daily writing practice and to complete my study of, For the Write Reason by <a href="http://www.marybethwhalen.com/">Marybeth Whalen</a>.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNUo63oMD1-qZhbVKlVB9SWWxUbkbQHA1vtQlKc1RTIREF3wsX7o-G9ts_Ha928RzmktQBkiRGNU7QB93MNuhyphenhyphenerM7sIGAv-zpOZsrzB1O2Mgr1Y8b0vNfKPW91Qb-wTQ_lo3lUtqnOU/s1600-h/MaryBeth_writeReasons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNUo63oMD1-qZhbVKlVB9SWWxUbkbQHA1vtQlKc1RTIREF3wsX7o-G9ts_Ha928RzmktQBkiRGNU7QB93MNuhyphenhyphenerM7sIGAv-zpOZsrzB1O2Mgr1Y8b0vNfKPW91Qb-wTQ_lo3lUtqnOU/s400/MaryBeth_writeReasons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327987147271218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I will also continue daily personal jounaling and work on completing two copies of Reflections from a Mother's Heart, my life story in my own words, to present to my son and daughter for Christmas.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRtJwbb4u5jU21B_i6DGnd9KOUx_stUDzVPbAtOyYWc0i3ieFuuRM152eoA_Z30CvOEhFjdi4XufIzvWaucngueOHT9Vzj5Y13x9zZzeOQxr09TGE-gHYN4mfM9po3_401avN5KdtHME/s1600-h/51d2_7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 94px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRtJwbb4u5jU21B_i6DGnd9KOUx_stUDzVPbAtOyYWc0i3ieFuuRM152eoA_Z30CvOEhFjdi4XufIzvWaucngueOHT9Vzj5Y13x9zZzeOQxr09TGE-gHYN4mfM9po3_401avN5KdtHME/s400/51d2_7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289326832090863186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I want to hone my photography skills and learn to use the camera my sweet husband bought me. I bought a new book on photography and hope to take a class at one of the local collages. My goal is to create a beautiful life! In the coming weeks I hope to be able to share the positive aspects of my journey to a beautiful life! Blessings, Miss Sandy </span></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span></span></span></span>I had a choice as to how to respond to Monday morning mayhem here at the Quill. The holiday's finally over and everyone back into a normal routine left me with a mountain of a mess to plow through. When I looked at all the muddy footprints tracked all over my hardwood floors instead of grumbling I smiled and said, "Today I am needed." When faced with enough dirty laundry to outfit and army I repeated, "Today I am needed." This went on with each grubby task I did and it did make a difference in my attitude and made the tasks more pleasant.

My goal is to embrace beautiful thinking.

In the area of Emotion, I desire more self-control and healing. I am relying heavily on the Lord to overcome in certain areas. To aid in this leg of my journey I will also be learning from other women of faith who have traveled this path before me by reading, Especially For A Women. This volume has entries from many women who offer encouragement, support, and practical advice for the important issues in a woman's life. This is just a small stepping stone in my journey to wholeness.

My goal is to experience the beauty of self-control and healing.

For the area of Body I simply want to find everyday beauty in being comfortable with who I am and how I am made. My desire is find self acceptance for my flaws and to improve in the areas of exercise and healthy eating. One of my goals is to make better friends with my treadmill, the poor girl gets a bit lonely. I won't be unrealistic in this area, I have not set goal of losing x amount of pounds by a certain date, fitting into a certain size, or meeting a certain number on the scale. I simply want to focus on being HEALTHY. If healthy for me is a bit heavier than I'd like or unrealistic for my body type then I am praying for acceptance for what I cannot change and the will and determination to make the changes that I can.

My goal is to love me just as I am, make the improvements that I can, and to focus on being beautifully healthy.

For the Environment area of my list I desire to create an atmosphere of welcome, creativity, hospitality, and celebration for those who live in my home and for those who might visit. I will revisit and old friends, The Spirit of Loveliness and Welcome Home by Emilie Barnes, which never fail to inspire me to bring order, creativity, and beauty into my life.This means tackling areas of home organization, which began this week in my studio space by assessing my storage needs, looking around and using what I had on hand and clearing away what I am not using by donating supplies to others. Yesterday I cleared off some of the shelving in my studio space, organized my ribbon stash and made a canvas liner for a large wire basket I purchased at a flea market to use as scrap fabric storage. I love the vintage button detail!This also means some home improvement projects that need doing. To keep track of projects, supplies needed, room measurements, etc. I like to use the Gold Fibre Project Organizer by AMPAD. This spiral bound notebook can be purchased at an office supply store or online for around $4 to $5. I have gone through my home room by room to assess my needs and desires for creating a welcoming environment, listing them in my organizer. I use the side column to list materials needed for projects and the larger column to list the goals for each project, any measurements I might need, I glue paint chips or fabric swatches to the page in case I need them for matching purposes as well as attaching room photos. I make notes of where products were purchased, the amount of the purchase, and sometimes list price comparisons for later reference. I find this tool invaluable.

I would also like to include more festivity into daily life, refraining from ordinary business as usual to enjoy little moments of beauty like watching a sun set or sun rise, listening or observing more, creating little vignettes of beauty around my home that please the senses through sight, sound, taste, hearing, and touch. Examples are noticing a certain slant of sunlight, the first we have seen in several days here and enjoying the visitors grazing in my front yard, these were not the only guests, there were six others right outside of this shot.

Lastly, I would like to indulge in more creativity, reproducing through imaginative skill ~ art, writing, photography, and home decor.

To aid in these areas I have begun organization in my art studio space to make creative play more desirable. I am also setting up creative play time with my best friend either in her studio or mine, learning new techniques. We plan to take some classes together also.

I don't have concrete writing goals set yet but I did purchase an essential reference tool for study and submission purposes, Christian Writer's Market Guide 2008 by Sally E. Stuart and am in the process of choosing a conference to attend this year. I will continue daily writing practice and to complete my study of, For the Write Reason by Marybeth Whalen. I will also continue daily personal jounaling and work on completing two copies of Reflections from a Mother's Heart, my life story in my own words, to present to my son and daughter for Christmas.I want to hone my photography skills and learn to use the camera my sweet husband bought me. I bought a new book on photography and hope to take a class at one of the local collages.

My goal is to create a beautiful life!

In the coming weeks I hope to be able to share the positive aspects of my journey to a beautiful life!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy