pin striped with cameos

This is my 2nd day of photographing what I wear. I was even in bed last night (early am) putting this together in my head. I started with a different cardigan but tried this little school teacher one instead. As an artist it's fun getting dressed (as a human, sometimes FRUSTRATING!), Instead of the colors being "matchy matchy" they have to work together. I would have never paired the red scarf with the sage green cardigan but I'm making it work.

I like camel with blue. I've worn my belt, pictured, with cobalt blue before (and some amazing 2 toned Steve Madden pumps!) but now it works with chambray blue.

It's hard to say what colors things are. I don't wear a lot of primary colors. Ok, it's easy to say the scarf is red. But what about the color of the background of the cameo? Would you say the cardigan is sage green? I actually googled sage green images, and that's what I got. It looked the same. :)

I need a new camera. I may be getting one free or I might have to spend a bit and go buy one. I've been thinking about one at Walmart that has a charger with it!! I have to practically wrestle with my batteries to make the camera work/upload to the computar. The flap that holds the batteries in place is held there with tape!

I also need to work on my facial expressions and poses. (shucks) I've seen fashion blogs where the girls (almost) always look good. It takes practice to stand in such a way that's interesting and looks good.

camel boots: christmas gift, Steve Madden

cream knee high socks: $2 Gabrial brothers

skinny jeans: Ross, $15

men's pin striped button down dress shirt: hand me down from a guy!

sage green and argyle cardigan: christmas gift, Target

stamped camel belt (I love!): vintage thrifted

cameo necklace: from my Grandmother, vintage avon

red wool scarf: christmas gift from my brother

fish earrings: thrifted (vintage?) they remind me of the goldfish crackers:) $2

corduroy blazer: YMI thrifted, still had a tag on it, it was a sample $2

As you can see I thrift ALOT. It's a bit of an addiction for me. I find the coolest things sometimes for not much! For example a pair of leather stamped women's cowboy boots made in spain for $1! But I can also waste money and not get items that are in the best of shape.

I grew up not dressing well and not having a lot. I was brought up very conservatively. I didn't wear pants regularly until my early 20's. I didn't get my ears pierced until I turned 20. Now I have a total of 4 piercings (all in my ears ;)

I have dreamed about attics/storage areas full of clothing. I even dreamed once about a rich lady that had a big closet with vintage stuff. It seems like I couldn't get to that closet. I think some of my dreams were because I haven't always had a lot/or the nicest of things. I do enjoy clothes and figuring out what I can do to be creative and stylish. Fashion is an extension of my creativity.

Limeade and blues

I really enjoy fashion, clothes and colors. I do own it, I am an artist and as such I love to put outfits together. With this outfit I put together blues and lime greens. And a touch of burgundy.

Yesterday I browsed many fashion blogs. There is one http://kendieveryday.blogspot.com/ Kendi everyday that I looked at ALOT yesterday. She is doing this really cool challenge called "30 for 30." What you do is pick 30 pieces from your wardrobe and wear only those 30 pieces for the next 30 days. You also cannot buy anything for your wardrobe during that time. It is to make the most of what you have and to also learn how to "remix" your pieces. I want to do it, but my camera isn't in the best shape.

But I did find some batteries that worked, I ended up using 4... they all had a little juice left and photographed what I'm wearing today.

So this is my first "fashion blog" about what I personally am wearing.

Fashion bloggers also post where they got each piece. The prices are guestimates.

grey leather boots: thrift store (vintage), $1

blue/teal tights: Gabriel Brothers, $2

mini denim skirt: thrifted (?)

lime green Anne Taylor sweater: thrifted $2

long sleeve turquoise and dark blue striped shirt: Target sale

lime green gradient scarf: $2.50 K-mart

earrings: thrifted $1

burgundy belt: thrifted, vintage

As you can see I LOVE bargains.

the updated version

I took some pics of this vintage dress and had them posted on my etsy. (Yes I "self took" these pictures. Just give me a kitchen stool and a self timer setting on a camera!)

I got advice from a very active vintage seller. She suggested I shorten the dress to a more modern length. So I did and re-shot it. I think it's so much cuter this length. I still don't have a buyer for it.

I started shortening another dress, black with white polka dots to sell in my Etsy shop. I need to hem it, photograph it and post it also.

This is my version of a not so mini "Mini dress." :) If you look at the previous blog you will see this dress before it was shortened.

Here's the updated version of the "Eva Girl Dress."

the vintage vantage

I finally started posting some new items in my etsy shop. I have 4 new Vintage items up. Great pieces for moving into the cooler months. The flamingo pink shift isn't posted yet.... but will be coming soon. www.mariesmiracles.etsy.com

A day with Melody

Yesterday I had the chance to spend a day with a childhood friend. Her name is Melody. She says we met in the church nursery. She knocked me down while I was in a high chair. Maybe she knocked me so hard I can't remember....

I got to her house aroun 11:30. We ate lunch, homemade quiche :) and cut up fruit. She did some laundry... we hung out and talked, had decaf coffee and cookies. I talked to her sister for a long time.

I got to play with her boys. Matthew, age 4 was on the swing, he looked at me and loudly proclaimed "I love you!" Oh and Jonathan with his mouth curled up to the side shared with me his baritone lion growl, and he's only 3. I was delighted at his vocal talent.

When Matthew was a baby Melody sent me a picture of him letting me know He was my valentine that year. (Since I'm single.)

Melody has been married for 6 years. I was in her wedding... over the years I've had some chances to spend time with her and her family. It's hard to connect much in person because they live in Maine and I live in Virginia.

There's nothing like a child hood friend! Thanks God:) for Melody.

Ablaze: the fire has started

The last 4 months I have been focused on working to help make Ablaze worship and Missions gathering happen.

The 3 months following, my main job was to communicate. To communicate to people coming, youth group leaders and individuals. To communicate to the other staff, and listen in on a lot of meetings. To communicate to the director and see what the director needed me to work on next.

I was stretched, pulled, made uncomfortable.... I grew as a leader and in administration.... I wrote in the last note that one of the ways I felt God leading me to take this step to help with Ablaze was a visual I got of the giant swing. The giant swing is a swing that we have here at the base, part of our Ropes Course. To experience the swing you must take a step of faith off of a 30 foot platform into thin air. I kept getting visuals of that step. I wanted to help with Ablaze.... to be a part of it.

So with God as my harness and rope holding me up I took the plunge, I stepped off into thin air. And He carried me every step of the way, and it was a ride! Like stepping off of the giant swing it was tough, overwhelming and exhilerating.

At first I was just mobilizing and contacting people to become part of the YWAM VA Facebook profile page. I was like "I'm not doing much." So I went to Kara and Chris and I was like, "put me to work." They took me out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant sometime later and put me to work.

The first week of Ablaze started July 5th. This was the most challenging week, but God brought definate fruit. Twenty five young people committed their lives to Jesus, to follow him totally basically to a life of mission. Whatever that means as they follow God.... missions aren't only overseas, they can be in your high school, at the fast food restaraunt you work at or in high executive offices.

The 2nd week was the Family week. It was our smallest week. We had 11 to 14 participants outside of our YWAM family. We had people ages 4 to 70. The call to missions service was powerful. The Holy Spirit was poured out in a special way. I believe young people were filled with the Holy Spirit and with power. That night 7 young people commited themselves to missions.

There was a young girl that I was responsible for for the week. Her name was Felicia age 14, I was also kinda responsible for her sister Charity. They were both very bright and hungry for God. I had a chance to share and pray for Felicia. For Charity I felt to pray for her hands. The Holy Spirit was heavy on me and I prayed for her hands, that they would be healing hands.

During that week 2 people from the neighborhood, a mother and daughter came into relationship with Jesus.

The third week was my favorite. We had 3 youth groups. The kids were fantastic and the youth leaders were completely behind Ablaze and what God wanted to do. Our focus on the week was Justice, learning about Human trafficking. Our big outreach was Thursday night at a local artsy theater called the Byrd. We showed the movie "Call and Response" to bring awareness to the community that human trafficking occurs here and abroad. About 350 people came.

Prior to Thursday we had 3 outreaches in the city to pass out fliers advertising the movie. While passing out fliers some of us had chances to pray for those in need.

It was our 2nd day on the streets passing out fliers. We were in the MCV area, a local hospital. Chris our director struck up a conversation with a lady, Sunday who was sitting on the curb waiting for her ride. She told Chris that she had been trafficked. There was also signs that she was an addict. Chris motioned Cameron to come over, a girl of 12 who was participating in Ablaze. Cameron joined the conversation. She placed her hand on Sunday's back, the first thing she asked God was "Please give her friends." Sunday started crying. She told Chris and Cameron that that was what she had been asking for.

I had a definate God meeting. It was near the end of our time on the streets handing out fliers. I was with 2 of the girls that were part of Ablaze. We went up to a group of women sitting on the grass near MCV. I started talking about the flier and the movie. I found out right away why they were there. A young man, Kevin age 20 had been in a major car wreck the night before. A 15 year old girl had been driving. The car flipped. He was now in ICU with brain damage. He was confused. His mom Traxie, girlfriend and aunt and Cousin were who I was talking to. I asked if I could pray for them.

I was sitting on the ground near the cousin. I started praying soon the mom sitting across from me started crying. So I leaned in and got on my knees. I put my hand on here and prayed for this mother. I also cried. I prayed for Kevin to be healed, for God to comfort and wrap his arms around this mother. I prayed for Jesus to be putting his hands on Kevin's brain. I don't remember everything that I prayed but I know I shared Jesus' love through that prayer and sharing that moment of pain with that family. It was very special to be able to touch a heart in pain with God's love.

Friday morning we had a special time with the young people. We did something called "Step into the Circle." If the young people made a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what, they were to step into the circle. Many did. We were prepped to lay hands on them and pray for each of the young people that made that choice.
like the verse says 2 Timothy 2:6
“And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed-keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold, and loving and sensible”
The Message

It was a very special time. I had the chance to pray over a number of the kids. I felt the Holy Spirit in some powerful ways. I believe we were able to share God's heart with these kids through the laying on of hands and prayer.

Our summer outreach of Ablaze Worship and Missions Gathering was definately a success. God really blessed us and anointed the time. The implications of what God did and will do are beyond what we will ever see. The fire has started.

One Step at a Time

So I have lived in Richmond since the end of January. Kinda feel like I've been here forever :) (I don't mean in a bad way.)

Alot has happened since my last update. My Certified Nursing Class finally started March 9th about a full month later than it was suppose to. They postponed it 2 or 3 times!! FINALLY they started it. I have an excellent instructor Vivian. She has 2 sets of initials after her name for all the education she's gotten with nursing. She's 2 years behind a doctor with all the education she has. She's great! Definately called to being a nurse. In the 70's she actually contracted HPV through blood, they didnt' wear gloves back then because they thought they were too expensive! She was sick for 15 months and was actually dying from it. One night she told God If it was His will to save her, she wanted to help alot of people. The next day instead of getting worse like she had the previous days she stayed the same. From then on out she started getting better and better until she was complety well! Yup she's found her destiny.

I did very well on the "book larnin' " part of it. I didn't really understand what an acclerated class meant until I took one. It means you have VERY LONG classes a few days a week for a few weeks. My classes were from 8am-2pm , with a few breaks.... that's one class for over 5 hours a day, for 3 days a week. Can you imagine? A FIVE HOUR CLASS with 2 quizzes each class. For homework we had to read 2 chapters a night. It's like drinking from a fire hydrant.

I have officially completed 5 of my clinical days. The first day of clinicals was kinda crazy, think first day of a job. Where everything is new and you don't know where anything is and what the heck is suppose to happen. Day two was better but I still didn't get a lot of hands on training. I think day three was better because I had my "own" resident but ended up gettin' alot of help with her... but got ALOT more hands on experience.

I found out from the charge nurse or her CNA that she's thirsty alot because she has CHF :( Congestive heart failure. Where your body retains liquid and liquid backs up into the heart from the lungs... and they end up often with edema... alot of swelling. Her legs and ankles are very swollen. She's such a sweet heart. Loves her jewelery and even wears a black feather boa at times ;) She was apologizing for being a bother a number of times the first day.

We gave her a tub bath and she really enjoyed it... she was swishing her legs in it and saying that it felt good. :) As patients deal with Dementia and as a CNA student it can be hard to care for the patient. At one point when we were caring for her we needed a total of 3 students to hold her up. I think "bilaterally" she was getting tired/weak. I think her CNA would have been able to possibly deal with her by herself ;) instead of needing the help of 2 others. But we're learning.... That comes with time.

My first day with the jewelery lady I got to a point (I wasn't very far along) and I didn't know what to do. I was stuck, I was standing there not knowing what to do next, "What do I do, what do I do?!!"... I was like God help me! And the next thing I know one of the other students walked in and asked if I needed any help. She had taken care of my lady for a few days the first week. Oh that was such an answer to prayer!

My clinicals end April 28th. On the last day we have a little celebration. We also bring in our money to send in all together to the state boards to cover the cost of the certification exam. The exam is 70 multiple choice questions and 5 skills that we have to perform. We only have 25 mins. to perform the skills. One very lengthy skill which we might end up with is making an occupied bed. Fun... hope I don't get that skill!!!

At this point I'm planning on staying at YWAM for an extra month at least. It might be another 5 weeks before we can take the state board exam.

The 2nd day of clinicals I was told by the DON (Director of Nursing) to stop by once I'm certified and to fill out an application. That was at the catholic nursing home that I'm doing my clinicals at. It's one of the better nursing homes. The ratio of CNA's to residents is 1 to 5 or 6. Usually at nursing homes the ratio can be 1 to 12 or even 1 to 15!! I've heard that they can be rather smelly and really bad :/ I hope to get started in the nursing field Lord willing at this nursing home. Once I get a job I will need a place to live in Richmond. I can only live at YWAM if I'm volunteering full time.

Once I have a job I won't be able to volunteer 40 hours a week. So I've started looking a bit for a place to live in Richmond. I'd love to stay near the YWAM base but am willing to move a ways away from it. If anyone has any ideas let me know. I'm moving closer to another transition point. I seem to be in transition often. I guess at this point in my life it's normal.

A time line of all the transition I've had since last year.... 2009, beginning of the year, 3 months in Berryville own apt., moved home for about 1 month... 5 months in Michigan, moved home end of Oct. Home for about 3 months than here at YWAM since end of January. I am asking God to lead me. To show me even what to pursue... where do I find housing? should I be considering an entirely different step?

I know YWAM has a school of primary health that would probably be more focused on international medical care. I know God's got my back and He has led me time and time again. I know He will do it again. But it's still not easy as I am in the process of transitioning.

Some of my dreaming/thinking about nursing is that I will one day go overseas and and use it. I would like to do medical missionary work. Maybe someday even go to one of Mother Theresa's home for a time to learn from them. I do not know how God will lead me. He's a man with a plan, I know:) One step at a time. That's what it always is for me. One step.... one step.

my next "move"

A few new things from my etsy shop! Other than the hair bows these items are a bit bohemian aren't they. The necklace is called "the gypsy's keys."

I sold alot of items for christmas! That was fun and a big blessing. Sold a number of hats. I still have a number of hats in my shop. Recently I tallied up all the items I'd sold and the item that has sold the most in my shop is earrings at 26 pairs, than t-shirts at 12 shirts. The least amount I sold of a certain item is my vintage. I have alot of vintage in my closet that I need to photograph.

Etsy takes alot of time. But it gives me something to do during christmas break. I have break for about 2 weeks because the schools do. I'm a substitute teacher right now.

Often I'm very verbal about my next plan. This time I haven't been. Some people know my plans though. It's a bit hard because everything isn't all figured out. But that's normal for me... plans take shape sometimes for me last minute... which is ok with me. I'm moving in faith. I feel like I'm blind moving forward.

My next "move" is moving to Richmond. I am all signed up for a CNA course. It is a 6 week course. I just have to find a place to live. I have a few leads. But I need to keep looking and pray. I believe God will help me find a place. It's hard though when I don't know what will happen. My course starts at the beginning of Feb. I have my place reserved in the class. God provided in a special way for my tuition. And for some extras. I already have my scrubs bought. I need to go out and find white sneakers/nurse shoes and a watch with a second hand.

Soo yes it's true I will be trained as a CNA. My "vague" dream is to go on with more training in the nursing field and some day be a PA. But time will tell. Maybe someday I will go with CFI and do nursing; medicine in the jungles of Burma. I could even teach the backpack medics how to take care of people. This is nothing that is certain but daydreams... things that may happen someday.

I know being a CNA is the "grunt work" for nursing. I think it will be good to learn though if the Lord does lead me to overseas work at some point than I'll know how to bath someone, know how to move a bed ridden person. It will be work that I can do anywhere too. And it will be a ministry to people. Just basics that are soo benificial to know. I'm excited.

So what I need to find is a place to live in Richmond from at least the beginning of Feb. and the month of March, for 6 weeks. I'd love to move down there for awhile. To live in Richmond after the training. I need an affordable place to live. I'm hoping to find a job at first outside of the CNA. The classes are Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesday from 8:00-1:30. I have alot of time where I could have a job. After a couple of weeks we have clinicals on Saturdays.

If anyone knows of a place I can rent at an affordable price in Richmond let me know. If someone needs a roommate or an older lady needs someone to live with her, etc.

And if anyone knows of any job leads. I've taught. I'm good with kids. I've had 2 nanny jobs... I've worked at a gourmet shop, Panera, I've substitute taught for over 1 1/2 years. I'm also good with internationals...

I lived in Richmond in 2003 while I was a student with Youth With a Missions Dicipleship Training School for 3 months. I like Richmond and I know people there so that will help!

I'm excited about this new venture! Pray for me that God will guide me as I look for the doors to go through. He's already opened a HUGE door by providing for the schooling and securing a spot for me in the course happening in Feb.

Handmade flowers...my new fetish

So recently I have been making handmade flowers!!! I love how they came out! I have one added to my hat called, "Le Fluer" and the blue flower is called, "The Daphne Rose." The red flower is called "The Spanish Rose." They are all handmade. I processed the edges of all the petals and hand sewed the flowers together. The centers are either buttons or beads sewn in. Each "hair flower" is glued to a button than glued to a hair pin.

A great gift for a woman in your life that likes feminine and unique pieces!! (oh that might be you!!!)

Add a little plaid

Soo I found this "Leslie Kay Sportswear" vest the other day. It was kinda crazy because when I shopped at where I shop for my vintage finds I ended up buying all blue items. It was crazy!

I got a blue long wool (VINTAGE) Herman Kay coat, a pair of crazy cobalt blue swede boots, blue heels and this blue vest:) My "blue day..." I look good in cobalt blue;) I do like the shock of blue that some of these pieces bring.

I've admired blue glass for years. The vibrancy and aliveness of this color. It's very rich.

So I named this vest, "add a little plaid"... and I have it paired with my "million hearts" women's blouse.

I picked up from lookin' at a blog on vintage stlye to match 2 different patterns together. The way to do it is to have one pattern "quieter" than the other pattern. With the "million hearts" blouse it picks up on the red in the vest with the tiny understated bright red hearts.

I've also been checking out this one store, "Mod Cloth" click on the link: http://www.modcloth.com/store

It's super cool! And the clothes are either vintage or vintage feel by new designers. Someday I may splurge and buy something from that shop.

(this is some of my late night ramblings to the empty void of virtual land.... I'm home alone tonight and kinda lonely, but excited about fashion, and vintage and my etsy shop etc...)

These are a pair of boots I want to buy sometime. I saw them on a girl at the local Maurices and I told her, "this is kinda random but I love your boots, where did you get them?" And she said they were from right there. They were Maurice boots. Soo when I have some money saved up, or for christmas I want to get these boots! You'll haveta click on the link to see 'em... and I like 'em in "cognac!!" http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3754529

This is definately late night ramblings...it's 2:34am... I don't stay up this late often. But everyone from the "fam" is gone tonight. I'm loving my alone time...

Some thoughts for you. Do not try to manipulate your life, or control it... trust God with it...with every step. If he seems to "take" something from you view it through the eyes of eternity, or the bigger picture. There are times where he may keep you from a relationship/ or remove you from a relationship because HE knows that person is not good for you or His best. (I learned that from Corrie Ten Boom in her book "Tramp for the Lord" (buy it here: http://product.half.ebay.com/Tramp-for-the-Lord_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ269256) Of course this doesn't apply across the board to everything. For example divorce. I believe once you are married it is God's will for you to stay with that person, etc...

We get hurt and disappointed when God removes things from our lives, especially relationships. Relize everything God does is with a touch of love. He allows things to happen, the good and the bad... realize He will work ALL THINGS for your good if you love and follow Him.

When he doest start writing a story, or writing you towards your destiny it will blow your mind. He wants to give us beyond what we ask or think. A big key to having that story written for you is WAITING for His timing. That means if you get impatient you better not try and make something happen, especially what YOU think should happen. Because you will get less than you really want. He is the "author and finisher" of our faith. Ultimately that will lead us to the "ending" of "they lived happily ever after" in heaven if you know Jesus but I also think it applies to our lives here and now. Let Him, Let Jesus write the faith journey of your life. When you are NOT in control you don't know what will happen. When the ultimate outcome is left in your saviors hands, you're not calling the shots. That is scary, that means there are alot of unknowns. The best atitude to take is "thy will be done." He knows best, so let Him do best. He WILL make "ALL things beautiful in its time." But the key is timing.

I think for us singles it's especially hard. May I venture to say more hard for women?... Which I could easily see the case that it's just as hard for guys, but in a different way. Us women want to be married and alot of us have waited for a LONG time. Some of us LONGER than we ever wanted to or expected.

I've wanted to get married since I was 17 years old!! That is 10 years, going on 11 years! I didn't expect to be the one in my family to get married older than most in my family. Ok my parents were 23 and 24 I think. My grandparents on both sides were younger than I am now. Both my brothers were younger than me when they got married.

I am tired of hearing "you're still young." Ok that is the truth... but I'm not as young as I expected to be and to be married. And too if you haven't been an "older single" you can't understand the pain, heartache, frustration, broken dreams... deferred dreams that we go through. I know people are trying to encourage us when they tell us that, "you're still young."

I've learned that it's really encouraging for older people, older women to come alongside us and tell us "this must be hard for you." And not try to put a band aid on it. To be allowed to hurt as we wait... and not be cuffed in the chin with the encouragement to "keep your chin" up is showing understanding that we don't always get from people. I've know I've had some encouragement along that lines and it meant alot to me. It was a balm to my heart, because I could feel her love. And my heart was safe to feel pain. Not questioned and encouraged to hide the feelings even deeper, almost as if you shouldn't be feeling this way. Which as a single I know many of you do feel this way.

I know God has timing. And for some reason He has kept me single and not married until the "ripe age" of 27. I don't know when the "fufillment of time" for me will be. God does!! (Well wine gets better with age, so I guess I must too.)

I am more at peace now with my singleness than I used to be. There are many guys that I cared for... and kinda tried to get to know....but I am thankful that God closed every one of those doors. He's got better for me.

I think to get into a relationship at this point would take more courage for me than to just say "no." I have been disappointed over and over again. There are lies in my head that tell me, "you're not good enough" "you're not pretty enough" "why would someone want me?" I think these lies or thoughts can be compounded into our minds sometimes if we are a bit older and single. "what's wrong with me, why hasn't anyone pursued me? Why have I been single soo long, or "why did it never work out"

When it does happen for some of us it will be more of a leap of faith than for others. I know for me it will. Since I've never been in a relationship I will have to trust God to lead that guy to pursue me. And trust that God will give me someone I can trust my heart with. That's scary to think about. That there is some man somewhere with whom I will be vulnerable with. Guys for us girls there's a fear of rejection too. A fear that what we feel and who we are deep inside isn't something you want to know. That we're too emotional, too soft, too sensitive that you won't know how to handle us. Especially initially as we get to know you. We do put walls up because we don't want to be hurt. (Ok this may not apply to all women, but I'm talkin' from my own heart hear.) There's a reason that God spoke of women as the weaker vessel. Part of it is that who we are inside... the vulnerable side of us is delicate.

I got a picture when I was with YWAM in NYC. Ok God is our father right. And he knows when "christmas" will come. "Christmas", you know when the time is right to bring that guy into our lives. But He won't give us christmas in July.... and He knows when it's coming... why are we worried and wringing our hands. Thinking "God's holding out on me!" When actually the time is just not right. It'd be weird to get a Christmas present on Easter right?! There is a time and a day and a season for everything that God has for us. Also I got the picture that He is excited about giving us this gift! He's got something special up his sleeve! "Every good and perfect gift comes down from the father of lights..." It may just be the planning, preparation time for God right now. He does work behind the scenes. He's setting things up... for the right time.

I've heard it all about Marriage isn't the ultimate goal... and you won't find complete fufillment in your spouse. I know and I understand all of that. Ultimately Jesus is the only one that can fill our deepest emotional needs.

But I also know what it's like to have a young women's heart. With all those longings and desires... desires that many of us keep locked way down inside. Throbing desires that we don't even want to look at because it hurts to much. The desire to marry and the desire to have children. God has wired us for marriage. God has wired us to be mothers. For most women I believe it is God's heart to have us married. I've heard it said if you don't desire marriage than you have the gift of celibacy.

Remember God does give us the desires of our hearts. I believe when we follow him He places in us desires for things he wants to fufill. But we can't hold them soo tightly and give God orders of how He will do it. Tell God what you want, but also hold loosely to "the list" that you expect your man to fufill. God has bigger and better plans for you than you can imagine. I've picked that up from some wiser older women in my life recently. If you hold sooo tightly to your own expectations you may miss or not see "THE BEST" God is wanting to give you.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

As a mentor of mine said "You can't mess it up when you're trusting God. And even if you do mess it up, He knows how to fix it."

Relax in the process and let the "author of your faith" write your life story. He knows what he is doing!

Orange Sherbet

I think this necklace is super neat! I found it the other day. It's soo funky and cool. It's a 46 inch chain of chunky white with orange sherbet tassels with gold chain.


You can wear it as a long necklace as a short necklace... wrapped around your wrist. However! I just posted it tonight to my etsy shop. I have a pic here that I didn't use in my etsy shop, so if you visit my blog you may see some "unseen" shots!!


Recently I found many more really neat vintage pieces. I just need to get around to photographing them and editing the pictures. There's this one grecian sea foam 70's gown... I don't know if I can part with it. It's just amazing... and it's totally VINTAGE!!!


Oh my word I found some amazing things. Even found a pair of "bug eye" sunglasses (BIG LENSES) with red rims...!!


Keep comin' back to the blog for new updates and go to my shop to see what I have for sale. I also posted a number of vintage blouses!! Great for that classy secretary/artsy look!


Update about my life. My car is road worthy and I will be leaving either at the end of this week for my LONNNGGG trip back to VA or I will leave sometime next week. I've had a bad cold and hope I'm not gettin' sick again... I've been gettin' over the cold, but than had a low grade fever tonight and havent' felt right.


I want to be feeling good when I drive 16 or so hours to the south!!


Soo come on by my shop and see what's new (ok VINTAGE ain't new, but you get the point) and if you're from the south, VA around let's do coffee or somethin'! It's will be hard to leave Michigan, even though it's gettin' cold and we've already had a touch of snow AND some hail I'll miss people here. It's about the people right!!?

50 sales before my 1 year anniversary!!

I have hit 52 sales and it's not even my one year anniversary on Etsy yet. I wanted to hit 50 sales by Oct. 5th. I broke the goal and am beyond it! God has really been blessing my sales at my etsy shop recently.


Thank you to all my customers and repeat customers!! It's been a blessing. I've told some people that right now this is one of the ways that I support myself.


I have been up in Michigan since May 20th as a mother's helper to the founders family of Christian Freedom International. They are in the process of adopting 8 Karen kids, while still having 2 of heir biological children at home. So they have had 10 children here at some point while I've been here. At the beginning of Sept. we took the 5 oldest karen kids to Bible School in NH.


Soon I will be goin' back to VA. I'll be movin' back in with my parents for awhile. Hopefully for not very very long... :) My thoughts of what I'll do next is maybe get my CNA license and look for work maybe. I could still use the sales on my etsy... especially as I transistion back into "regular" life where I'm not living as a "missionary" the same way.


I have just expanded my business to include vintage. I have 2 pairs of vintage shoes listed. Here are some pics of my finds! Enjoy....


Shabbat Shalom!!