The Strength to Endure

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ^{2 [a]}fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ^[b]author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[c]and lose heart.

 

It's another Wednesday... your half way through your week and wondering if you have the strength to go on. We might not all be blessed with the physical muscles to get through the things that seem to have a hold on us, but we are ALL blessed with a God that does not rely on the physical to get us through the obstacles. It is in those trying times that we MUST cling to Him like we have never done before!
The world will try to tell you "you're not strong enough", "you will never amount to anything", or "people will just laugh at you". You know why they try to bring you down? Because they are jealous of  the strength they KNOW is inside you that they have not grasped onto yet. They are afraid of the power you bring to the table.
God has given each of us a strength like no other... a strength that allows us to win... a strength that pushes through when we think we have nothing left to give. He sent His Son to endure the absolute hardest tasks of all so that we would not have to.

"Fix your eyes on Jesus..." (Hebrews 12:2 NASB) and you will come out victorious!

When the Old becomes New again

Don't you just love when vintage styles start to reappear in our society today? I get ecstatic over it that's for sure! To me it means there is hope for our world... that the "old" has not died off for good, its just been on vacation for awhile waiting for the right moment to return.

What vintage designs/styles do you wish would come back to us today? What vintage designs/styles have come back that you are over the moon for? Share your guilty pleasures with us!

Hugs & <3's

A Lesson Learned

I don't know about you but I hate those tough life lessons God throws at us sometimes. Now granted, most of the time we eventually realize that it was a lesson worth being taught.

That is how this weekend was for me; a lesson I was glad to experience because it helps my business but one that I was grunting and groaning about all along way.

My mom and I were vendors for a local Arts and Crafts Festival at a church on Saturday. We thought this would be the perfect first show for us! I spent a week and a half creating 8 more uniquely creative pieces (making 19 total pieces), and mom made/finished a few fabulously embellished scrapbook albums. We split the $30 admissions fee to be a vendor and thought we would have no problem at least making that back. Boy were we, or should I say I, was devastatingly wrong! The event lasted 5 hours and I sold not one single art piece. Mom, on the other hand, sold one scrapbook album allowing her to break even given gas and entry fee cost.

Needless to say my heart was just a wee bit broken. I had to just keep praying that God would show me a way to learn from it and realize that things like this will happen being an artist. He eventually did, and I am not discouraged any longer! As they say, there is always a silver lining and mine is now I don't have to do more pieces for my next show in November.

Early morning! 22 weeks <3

 



My wonderful man bought be a beautiful silver chain to wear my wedding set on because I can no longer wear them on my finger. Think I'll keep him around <3

Now... moving on to my next art adventure!

Hugs & <3's

Fall in Mount Dora, Florida!!!

I am telling you, EVERYONE is into fall... it's the time of year we anxiously await! And nobody gets more into it than businesses... and might I just say that they outdo us ALL! The fall decor found around the cute, little quaint town of Mount Dora is astonishing. If you were not into the fall hoopla before this, you will be now... I guarantee it!
Since I couldn't post pictures of all the fall happenings in Mount Dora on this one blog I decided to just pin point my favorite two: Pattie Anne's Vintage Land and When Pigs Fly.

 

 

 

Don't forget to check out these two awesome stores, you won't be disappointed!

What are your favorite things to do in the fall???

Hugs & <3's

Fall is in the Air... and our food!!!

With fall being in the air (in most states I would presume, and Florida on some mornings) I have decided to make the whole month of October ALL dedicated to my favorite time of year! So buckle your seat belts because some of this month's items might just nearly blow you away!

Does your mouth water at the thought of a delicious chocolate cake? I am not just talking about just any ol' birthday cake kind of deal either... I am talking taste like homemade chocolate cake.

And, did I happen to mention this wonderfully delicious/beautifully decorated chocolate cake is GLUTEN FREE!!!

I usually find this at Publix. It is BY FAR the best GF chocolate cake I have had!

Be sure to spray down the Bunt pan well so that no cake gets left behind

PERFECTLY baked cake (completed cake at top of page)

Hope you all enjoy fall as much as I do! Yay! AND I sincerely hope you get out there and bake this cake, your taste buds depend on it!

Hugs & <3's

Need an inspirational push?

Listen to me now, please!

Every single one of you guys and gals out there have beautiful things to offer the world. Don't get bogged down because you can't do what someone else does.... that's just not your God given gift. God put you on this world for a purpose. Get out and try new things, experience the world, and don't be afraid of what "majority" would say! Those are the ways you find what your purpose is, cause it's not always going to be a neon sign saying, "THIS... THIS IS YOUR PURPOSE!" YOU are a magnificent creation, created flawless in God's eyes! What more do you need to know than that?

PLEASE do yourself a favor and stop hiding! No matter how ugly this world may seem, it is all of us that can make it shine. You gotta step out of your bubble and dust yourself off, today is YOUR day to shine!

Hugs & <3's

The Wait is Over!!!

Ladies and Gentleman... what you have been waiting to see for months is finally ready to be revealed!
I wanted to make this a Two on Tuesday (which is why I choose today to reveal it) but it will not be the tutorial type of Tuesday. Instead of giving you step by step instructions I am merely going to break down the painting for you so that you can see the different elements I used (this will give you ideas for branching out with your own art pieces).
I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed EVERY minute of creating it.

I now bring you "Micah's: The Muppets":

 

 

So after seeing each break down of my Muppets painting, what did you think?

Hugs & <3's