This has been a tough week. If I shared all the fires that have had to be put out and craziness….you would think my life was a sitcom. {Even though I haven’t gotten to sit or be ‘com’ hahahaha!} Oh my gosh….I’m loopy.
So, I needed a laugh…..and I thought I would send some to you…….
{You can find all the fun pics above on my Pinterest board here.}
{And this last set of pics can be found here.}
May you have a day filled with laughter……..
daune
I have a passion for excellence. Not power….but excellence. There is a difference, a world of difference. It is the spirit behind the passion that can go either way.
I love this excerpt from Max Lucado’s book, The Applause of Heaven…..I thought I would share it with you. I think it’s great encouragement to start the week….to keep in mind as we go about our days.
A Passion for Excellence, by Max Lucado
Remember playing “King of the Mountain” as a kid? The object of the game is to get high on the heap and stay there. You push, claw, and climb until you get to the top. And once you get there, you fight to hold your position. Don’t even think about sitting down. Forget enjoying the view. Slack for even one minute, and you’ll be slapped down to the bottom of the hill. And then you’ll have to start all over again.
As grown-ups we still play “King of the Mountain,” but now the stakes are higher.
The push for power has come to shove. And most of us are either pushing or being pushed. I might point out the difference between a passion for excellence and a passion for power. The desire for excellence is a gift from God, much needed in our society. It is characterized by respect for quality and a yearning to use God’s gifts in a way that pleases Him. Recall the words of Antonio Stradivari, the 17th-century violin maker whose name in its Latin form, Stradivarius, has become synonymous with excellence:
“When any master holds ‘twixt chin and hand a violin of mine, he will be glad that Stradivari lived, made violins and made them of the best…If my hand slacked I should rob God—since He is the fullest good … But He could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.”
He was right. God could not make Stradivarius violins without Antonio Stradivari. Certain gifts were given to that craftsman that no other violin maker possessed.
In the same vein, there are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra of life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe God to play them both sublimely.
But, there is a canyon of difference between doing your best to glorify God and doing whatever it takes to glorify yourself. The quest for excellence is a mark of maturity. The quest for power is childish.
Happy Monday, Friends~
daune
PS If you haven’t already….be sure to head on over and RSVP for the show tomorrow, “Think Outside the Pot – Creative Planter Ideas”. I’d love for you guys to join me! Click below to RSVP and register to win a set of 6 vintage blue Ball jars!
For when you create this weekend…keep in mind…….
Have a wonderful, creative weekend~
daune
DON’T FORGET: only a few more hours to enter the Blogoversary Giveaway! If you haven’t be sure to head to this post and enter……it closes at midnight EST tonight! Winner will be announced Monday!
What is it about people that they are so proud of their ‘busy’? They wear their busy buttons on their lapels like they have arrived at an elite position in society. Have you noticed? I thought I would share a bit of my heart today…not prompted by any situation or happening of late, just pretty much an ongoing occurrence that has always bothered me.
I have to be honest…when I approach someone and inquire about how they are doing or try to include them in something or reach out to them and all they do is tell me how ‘busy’ they are….they immediately lose credibility with me. If you are breathing oxygen you are ‘busy’. It’s nothing extra…it’s just called living. No one is any busier than anyone else.
If you think you are ‘busy’ while growing your career..wait until you have children. If you think you are ‘busy’ with a newborn or preschooler…wait until you have teens. {You’re on vacation right now, even though you don’t know it…during the newborn and preschool years.} And if you think you are ‘busy’ while you have teens…wait until you are the caretaker of the lovely people that raised you, and have life-changing decisions to make each day. What about those that are raising teens and being a caretaker?
It’s not ‘busy’. It’s life. And it you’re not doing it…it means you’re dead. And if you are dead and went anywhere but Heaven…you will wish you were back here being ‘busy’.
Over the years I’ve pondered this quite often. I really think that when people talk about how busy they are it makes them feel validated or important. The world has fed us a line that says “If you are not ‘busy’, then you are nothing…get out of our way.” So, people want to make sure everyone knows they are busy…valuable….not to be thrown away….or run over. It’s a safety wall. Don’t come inside. Don’t see me as I really am. Don’t find out that I don’t have it all together. I’m talented. I’m needed. Have respect for me…I do so much. After all, it wouldn’t sound right to respond with how much you are living…..that sounds so ‘less than’, doesn’t it?
Several times when people have responded that way to me I have asked them: “Oh, what are you so busy doing?” Yes…it takes them by surprise and throws them off a bit, and probably makes them feel a little uncomfortable. They usually respond with a long list of things; and even though I don’t say it out loud I say to myself: “Oh, you’re just living. Just regular, old living. Just like everyone else. You’re a human.” Nothing earth-shattering.
The sad thing is….I’ve realized the people that are always trying to convince others of how ‘busy’ they are…they’ve convinced themselves that they have more on their plate than most others; and it causes them to go through life with blinders. It’s sad. I’m convinced that some of them have persuaded themselves to think they actually help God get through the day. They are so focused on the ‘busy’ ness of their day….they don’t hear the birds sing for them. They don’t see the lyrical dance of the leaves when the wind blows. They don’t notice the white, puffy clouds making fun shapes just for them. Slowly, slowly they no longer hear the quiet whispers of God. Because, you see, those that are concentrated on how ‘busy’ they are only look down. Because they don’t realize that their ‘busy’ is actually just daily life…..they miss living it.
True life is full. The more blessings you have the fuller it may be. People will be born. People will die. Plans will need to be made. Laundry. Meals. Lists. Vomit. Diapers. House cleaning. Appointments. Decisions. Broken appliances. Birthdays. Storms. Celebrations. Devastations. Weeds. Elations. Disappointments. Broken down cars. Yards to be manicured. Sickness. Health. Bills to be paid…..and on, and on, and on. This is not ‘busy’. This is life. If you are breathing…these will be daily. These things do not validate you. The One who made you has already done that…and how you handle and respond to your life will be evidence of that.
The ones that know me and are a part of my life often make the comment that they have no idea how I do all that I do. Well, I’m just living. I enjoy life and I like to live it daily. I don’t ever use the ‘busy’ word…because I have a huge distaste for it…..so, I never talk about what I have to do or what I’ve accomplished each day. Because of this I often have people that aren’t a part of my life make comments like: “I wish I had all the time you do.” {It is all I can do to not burst out laughing in their face.} I have the same 24 hours that they do. The same 24 that you have. Bless their heart.
There are many seasons in life. There will be seasons that you are more tired, and seasons that you are more rested. There will be hard seasons, and wonderful seasons. There will be good decisions and bad decisions. Would you want to hang out by the ocean if it was always flat or all the waves were the same?
Do you have a busy button? If so, I would challenge you to put it down…and look up. You’re already important and have been validated. You don’t have to convince anyone.
Much Love~
daune
If you follow me on Instagram…you got to see some of the fun pics from one of our violin concerts this weekend. Some of these pics aren’t that great..I took them with my phone. I have learned so much from watching our children perform over the years. God has taught me so much as an artist and performer….and now He is also teaching me as I watch my children perform………..
+++++++++++
This past weekend was spent in concerts.
It was a pleasure.
All three of our children are violinists.
We have two that play in a pre-professional orchestra…and one that prefers to play,
but not perform.
It is such a joy to watch your children flourish in different areas as they grow up.
To be affirmed in their hard work and talents….
On Saturday their concerts were here locally…
but on Sunday they performed out of town in a historic train station that has been turned into
a performing venue….so cool!
Afterward there was a reception in the depot to celebrate a weekend of hard work.
Aren’t these floors awesome??!! They remind me of our floors throughout our home..which were taken out of a 200 year-old Civil War home here in the South US.
Relaxing before the concert starts…
Entering in…….
Waiting for the conductor’s baton…..
Pouring out lovely music……
As I watched these performances this weekend…..I was reminded of life.
We have seasons of relaxing….gaining strength for what lies ahead….soaking in.
But then we get the call…the nudge…the leading…and must enter in to what it is we know we need to do.
We need to find our assigned seat and make sure our music is ready.
A new season.
But even after taking our seat, we need to wait for the Conductor’s baton….just the right timing…because the Conductor knows.
Another season.
Then comes the doing, the pouring out….we’ve been given all we need to do it….and we have the Conductor’s baton guiding us through the whole time if we keep our eyes on it.
Another season.
I was reminded of a problem I have.
In life I don’t always wait for the Conductor’s baton.
Sometimes it takes too long….and I wonder if He forgot about the concert.
But He didn’t.
The Conductor’s timing is always impeccable and always to be relied upon.
He knows things, like…when there’s a musician whose instrument isn’t quite in tune and ready to play.
Wait.
Or when there’s a musician that is on the wrong page of music.
Wait.
Or when the audience is ready to receive the gift about to be given to them.
Wait.
Yep, the Conductor knows things that the musicians don’t.
Waiting for the baton~
daune
Thanks so much for your patience as we re-design Cottage in the Oaks…..I think it will be super fun when we are done. I hope we didn’t lose anyone when we transferred to a new server….you guys are the best and I don’t want to leave anyone out! =)
1. A little vase of sunshine
2. Coolest group of teen girls ever spending the weekend at our house studying God’s Word…
3. Breakfast plates….waiting…
4. Those same group of girls eating breakfast
5. A daily reminder….to not lose my peace.
6. The fun Honey-Do List pad!
7. Morning light in the kitchen
8. Handsome…with his tavern puzzles
9. My christening gown next to my girls’ gown
10. Art apron
11. Palette
12. Coffee station necessities
13. Linen pillows
14.-16. The color palettes we are using for the new blog design! Woot!
Have a super weekend, Lovelies~
daune
February…the month we think a lot about hearts.
Usually not too much about a condition called “Heart Rot”….
I shared this post last year…but it was a great reminder to me, so I thought I would share it again.
******
Several years ago when our middle daughter was 2 years-old
she was playing in a spot on the driveway …. under the largest,
prettiest oak tree in our yard.
I called her inside and a couple of minutes later Handsome came home
and parked in the spot that she had been playing.
Five minutes later we heard an awful sound….
like a huge explosion.
When we looked outside the large, beautiful oak tree had dropped one of its
largest branches onto Handsome’s car…..completely crushing it flat.
Just minutes earlier that would have been our little one.
We cleaned up the mess…it took days; and then had some
tree experts look at the tree.
On the outside the tree was absolutely beautiful…the picture of perfect health.
The loveliest in the yard….our favorite.
But inside it suffered from a condition called ‘heart rot’.
In other words…..the entire heart of the tree was completely rotten.
We had to take down this lovely creature. We were sad.
Here are some pictures I took during our autumn trip to Monticello in Virginia….
the home of Thomas Jefferson.
This is what heart rot looks like in a tree.
These lovely trees were gorgeous and appeared very prolific and healthy,
but when a storm came, they crumbled.
Heart Rot.
Trees are not the only living things that can get heart rot.
We can, too.
We can look and appear wonderful on the outside,
when on the inside {our heart} is rotting away.
When our hearts are left unchecked, untended….
or filled with what they were not intended to hold….
heart rot sets in.
Maybe it is past wounds that have been stuffed,
bitterness, unforgiveness, lies, answer envy…
{You know, when you feel like you are seeing everyone else’s prayers, dreams, etc. being answered and fulfilled and it seems yours are unheard and ignored….yep,
that’s answer envy…and it will easily lead to heart rot.}
A myriad of things can contribute to human heart rot.
In trees….there is no cure. The tree must be taken down. But, for us there is hope!
We can change course, perspective, choose to begin filling our hearts with truth,
and the rot can be turned into a thriving, lush heart again.
It takes work…but so worth it.
Several times in my life I’ve experienced heart rot try to set in.
It’s not pretty…and I don’t want it.
It will take diligence and intention to steer clear.
Have you checked yourself lately for heart rot?
This month of hearts is a great time to do it.
Blessings~
Last year for the month of February I had fun with a weekly post called ‘Finding the Lovely’. You can check out last year’s Finding the Lovely posts here.
It was part of being intentional about finding and SEEING the loveliness each week and capturing it spontaneously….on my phone’s camera. To stop and SEE all the fun, lovely things that happen each week. It’s fun…why don’t you join me!? I lt was great at the end of the week to look back over what I’d quickly documented…..and have proof of all the wonderful, lovely blessings that have happened throughout the week. Even if I feel like it’s been a rough or ‘bad’ week…..when I look back over what I’ve documented, it’s proof that even rough weeks are full of loveliness. And at the end of weeks that I think have been wonderful….I get to look back over and remember. There is always loveliness to be noticed…it’s everywhere.
I challenge you to try it. As you go through your day capture things on your phone’s camera….anything that makes you smile or that you think is lovely, fun, etc. At the end of the week go back and look through all those things. Focus on the lovely. The gifts. The blessings that find you each day.
For the next several Fridays I thought I would share my Finding the Lovely right here.
For this week…….
Art brushes….they make my heart sing!
Getting the first spoonful of peanut butter =)
A little spring on the table on a super cold day….
Words of comfort and encouragement
A gorgeous sky on my early morning run
Getting to do some mini art with my new art pencils for someone that needed encouraging
A wonderful gift of 48 vintage, wooden, folding chairs….have always wanted some of these!
A barn full of treasures…waiting to be loved again
A daughter’s beautiful music….it always ministers to me
Belgian waffles for dinner
A fun daughter….love spending time with her
Having a frappuccino girls’ afternoon date!
A fun game of Chinese checkers with the whole family
Ice crystals sparkling
Chinese delivery in front of the fire during an ice storm
Daffodils saved from the ice and sitting on the sill
May you have a weekend full of finding the lovely~
Over the past several weeks I’ve been working on listening better. Letting there be silence. It’s not my forte…..so I have to really work hard at it.
As Handsome and I have been working on regrouping….and getting excited about what that may bring……I’ve really tried to be silent. To hear God’s voice better. For things to be more clear…..and several days ago as I wrote in my journal I realized something:
Silent and Listen have the exact same letters.
I’ve always enjoyed having solitude…getting away from all the hustle, bustle, demands, noise, etc. But if I’m not intentional….I can’t ever get away from the noise in my head—the ramblings, ideas, plans, what ifs…….even in solitude there can be distractions and noise. We may think it’s hard to get away from others….but it’s even harder to get away from ourselves……and be silent……and listen. Rest. Trust.
Trying to be silent and listen~
I love to see people operating in their gifts. It comes with such ease….even though I know there has been lots of hard work. They are in their sweet spot…their element.
It blesses me and ministers to me profoundly when I am around people that are using their talents fully. Just a few months ago I was at one of my children’s concerts…and after they performed there was a lovely lady that sang a beautiful Italian song with the orchestra backing her up. Her talent was astounding! Many people can sing..and sing well….but when you experience someone that is truly gifted…it affects you. She did not strive. She did not boast or work to get the audience’s attention. When she opened her mouth…..attention was immediate. Sure, she trained at a conservatory and practices hard…..she gave up her professional career to start and raise her family. But, no amount of training could produce the sound that came from her being. She was in her sweet spot…..sharing a God-given talent. Her eyes sparkled.
You can tell when someone is operating in their gifts…..it brings them so much joy. Joy that spills out to all those that are around. What is your sweet spot? Do you love hospitality and opening your home to others? Are you happiest when you paint or sew……or organize? Are you a performer {sing, dance, act, play a musical instrument} or an administrator that can get the job done? Do you have a special way with encouraging others or lighting fires under them? Are you a teacher or speaker? Do you love to throw parties or brew a great cup of coffee and sit down with people as a mentor? Do you love science or math? Do you like to walk beside people through life’s ups and downs?
What is your sweet spot? What makes your heart sing? What is it that when given the opportunity to do it your eyes sparkle?
I’d love to know…..