52 Week Project

Well, it's up.

It's alive

It's kicking!

The 52 Week Project

This is something that is very near and dear to me and although I don't know exactly where this project is going to lead, I just feel good about it! 

I am so thankful to my friend B for helping me with the site and offering his expertise in both photography and web design.  He will be offering some great posts along the way too.  In fact, the site won't just be my crazed ramblings all the time (I know you are relieved), but I'm hoping there will be many different voices and guests along the way. 

In fact, if you have something you would like to offer, please PLEASE let me know! I am looking for a variety of posts from photography, to styling, all things vintage, how to live a happier life, time management, blogging or online business tips and anything visual or creatively stimulating!  Mainly, I want this project and site to be a comfortable, non intimidating place for anyone!

I know I have mentioned it before on here (probably more than once) but I just must say it again....this last year of self-portraits has helped me grow. Not only in my photography and getting to know my camera, but just as a person in general.  I feel so much more in tune with me and feel more confident in who I am and my place in the world.  



So I realize it may not affect others in that way.  I mean, I'm not crazy enough to think taking a picture of myself every Sunday could have that big of an impact, but it has been fun and I've enjoyed the process and I am looking forward to others joining in with me!

I also want to mention that although I did overcome sort of overcome my fear of photos of myself, that may not be your thing right now. That's okay too! If you want to use this project as a way to document your child, your home, your pet, or just random photos each week, that is great! We won't be selfie-snobs up in here! ;)

There is also a Facebook page, so be sure to "like" it.

AND, join the Flickr group so you can upload your pictures each week.

Week 52!!!

I did it, I did it!!!! 

I made it through the year!  

It feels so good to accomplish a goal....a resolution.

I didn't make them all. I had planned to read my Bible through in a year, which I didn't complete, but I am not discouraged. I will continue pressing on. The point is I have been reading my Bible and I have gained so much from doing it.  I will finish this one - I'm not going to let a calendar stop me.

Stay tuned....the site for next year's 52 week project is in the works and I hope it is ready to roll by the week's end!

I do hope you will play along with me. :)

Hospital time

Just a quick post - I'm in the hospital.
Well, I'm not acutally in the hospital, but I'm here with my mother-in-law who fell and broke her hip this week.
Sucks to be in the hospital.
Really REALLY sucks.

My MIL is 91, just turned it last week actually. Here she is during our Christmas celebration a couple of weeks ago acting silly!  When she smiles she closes her eyes so this is her propping her eyes open for a picture. Except...funny thing is, her eyes are still closed! :)

{and yes, she is sporting her Snuggie!}

She's a real trooper.
A hard worker, a selfless mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, MIL and friend.

She lives with my hubs and me.
Always has, since we've been married.

I can count on one hand how many times she has not slept under our roof.

One of those was last night.

There will be many more in the next few weeks as she heals, recovers and rehabilitates.

I know you have had some experience more than likely with a hosptial visit or stay.  Don't you agree that the time in a hospital is off kilter somehow?

Sometimes, time goes super fast....other times it stand stills.

It's just odd.

Anyway, we will more than likely be spending Christmas here.

Not exactly what we had planned:
I don't have all my gift buying or wrapping done.
I don't have my groceries bought for the dishes I am supposed to make.
But, guess what?
I'm just not stressing out about that right now.  I think I'm doing what I am suppose to be doing and that's okay.

Please be praying for my MIL, or as we all call her: "Memaw".  I would appreicate if you will also pray for me and my hubs as we have a lot facing us with this situation.

Thanks and to you and yours, I wish you many blessings for Christmas and the coming year.

Week 51

To go along with my little "cup overflowing" series that unfolded last week,

I decided I needed to commemorate how I feel through my 52 week project. 

Do you ever feel like this glass of water in your heart?    

Just so full of blessings?  

It's a great way to feel, especially during the Christmas season!

One more week!  

I seriously hope several of you will play along with the 2011 project!  

I've been working  behind the scenes to help get things ready.  

My friend B is helping me on the technical side of things.  

I'm extremely nervous yet excited about this and the possibilities it holds.

Week 50

wow! I cannot believe I'm at Week 50!!!

You know I have to get my Christmas on in the old 52 week project!   

The little tree is one I put up in Alex's old room for Brooke during her visit a few weeks ago. 

That room is also servign as my gift and wrapping landing zone! 

The chalkboard was on my Wishpot and Brooke got it for me (she drew my name, Yay!). 

It is one of Rachel Denbow's that is for sale in Red Velvet.  

I was so thrilled to get this gem and feel sure it will show up again in other photo shoots. ;0)

So I'm mentioned and hinted several times about a possible new project 

AND I've asked if anyone would be interested in doing this project with me for 2011....

so can you put 2 and 2 together????   

I'm so excited and looking forward to many possibilities for this project.  

I promise to post just as soon as everything is in place and ready,

but I do hope you will charge up your camera batteries

and get ready for a 52 Week Project.

(it's more than a self-portrait!)

What is IN my cup

It seems my blog posts have a theme this week.

So now I want to talk about what is IN my cup.

Can you imagine just wanting a clean drink of water for Christmas?

Better yet, can you imagine your CHILD wanting a clean drink of water for Christmas?

Well, imagine if all you wanted was clean water to drink 365 days a year?

I cannot - nor do I even want to quite honestly!

My bloggy/twitter/crafty friend Prudy has been led to begin

a little campaign through myCharity water to raise

$500 toward a Christmas water project.

She asked her bloggy/twitter/crafty friends to 

join in her efforts to raise awareness 

and ask for a small gift toward the campaign.

I was totally in as I also feel passionate about the mission

of assisting the over a billion in developing

countries who don't have access to clean water.

In fact, our church supports Living Water International

each month and so I am essentially already supporting

this effort through tithe and offering, but feel led to do a little more.

$500 seems like a lot of money to me,

but in reality, it's really not if we can raise awareness

to have many people who are willing to help Prudy's effort.

Amazingly, $500 will help 25 people get water!

How cool is that!?

I think it would be really nifty to know I had a hand 

in giving such a gift as clean water to 5 families.

Because I feel so strongly about this cause, 

I am going to do a little giveaway in conjunction with this - 

I'm asking you to donate, but you may not have the funds to do that right now.

Trust me, I completely understand!

However, you have a voice, a blog, a Facebook account,

Twitter, so you can help spread the word and it won't cost you a thing!

Who knows, Ellen, Demi or Ashton might see your tweet and retweet it. 

I wonder how quickly we would reach the $500 goal if that happened? 

(Hey, I can dream!) 

If you are willing to help in some way, 

 I am willing to do a little giveaway!

Come back and link me up to your post, tweet,

link...whatever you feel led to do.

(enter more than once if you do more than one 'shout-out' for Prudy's project) 

I will give someone a Crochet Candy pin on January 1st.

Sound fair?

I know it's not much,

but it's just a simple token of my appreciation 

for using your voice or outlet for a good cause.

And I know there are tons of good causes out there,

but there is just something about knowing there are humans

(and animals for that matter)

who don't have clean water...something so basic

geez, I take so much for granted!

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading through my mumblings -

and if nothing else, just say a simple prayer that more and more 

clean water can be provided each day!  :)  

AND when you get down during the holidays as we can all do, 

just have a nice glass of clean water, 

imagine how you can let your glass overflow, 

and remember how blessed you are. 

Check out these other great ladies who are helping the efforts:

Jenny Rain:  http://jennyrain.com/
Elora (Love Wins):  http://eloranicole.wordpress.com/
Amy Sullivan:  http://amylsullivan.blogspot.com/
Mary Hess:  http://maryhess.com/
Laura Leigh Parker: http://www.lauraleighparker.com
And of course Prudy: http://www.prudychick.com/

my cup has grown!

Consider this part two to yesterday's post about how blessed I am. 

Not only is my cup overflowing...my cup has grown!

This is about an event that I was honored to take part in a couple of weeks ago.
A couple of dear friends who attend different churches and I decided to get 
our churches to partner to host an event we called Care 2 Share.  

We had done a similar event a couple of years ago 

through our workplace, but felt led to do this 

as a ministry to get those in our community into 

our churches and show them a little bit of the love that only God can offer...

that unconditional, no questions asked kind of love.  

The idea, to give something to those who might not have the 
same resources we have or maybe they were just having 
a crappy year and needed a little help for the holidays.

Basically the way it worked was anyone who wanted to participate 
brought their cast off items - but good cast-off items - 
the kind that could be regifted or reused.

The idea was those who had a need could come and

trade non-perishable food items for things they need.

OR, they could just come get what they needed.

We even had a gift wrapping station set up so

their gifts could go home and be ready for Christmas!

{ETA: the above photo was taken toward the end of the event -at the very end there 

were only 5 boxes of things left,which were taken to a local mission.} 
Well, let me tell you, it was a huge success!

It's hard for me to express how I felt after 

taking part is this ministry and truly seeing what

a need there is right in my own community.

There are several touching stories from the time leading 
up to the day of the event, and stories that happened during the event, 
and I'm sure there are stories still happening.

There were even children involved in helping organize and prepare.

Is there anything better than teaching your children to give and help others?!

 

The point is we made a difference!

Now, I don't know if souls were saved or lives were changed 

(well besides mine and probably others who took part), 

but hopefully seeds were planted and maybe, 
just maybe when some of the many wonderful people and children 
who were able to share in a new toy, or a warmer coat, 
or even a some new Christmas decorations will have a 
positive feeling about our churches and the love that God has to share. 

I want to encourage anyone reading this to get involved in some way.
Regardless of your circumstances, you have something to offer.
Whether it's helping in a shelter,
donating items to a place that resells and uses money for a cause,
cooking a meal for someone you know is in need, 
sponsoring a child for Christmas...whatever you feel led to do...just do it!

I can promise you,

there is a blessing in there for you

and it feels really good when your cup grows 

and continues to overflow!

my cup overflows

Being a Christian and having Faith is a very important part of my life.

It's who I am.

It makes me, ME.

Sometimes, I'll admit, it's hard.

Sometimes, life sucks.

Sometimes, Faith can waver and I get discouraged.

I mean, let's face it, life is nowhere near perfect....
I don't think that was ever a Promise of God.

Lately, though, I feel overly blessed.

I feel like little things are going right and even though I struggle with many aspects of my life, I feel stronger, I feel happy about who I am and what I stand for, and I feel like I'm coming up the mountain to the peak- out of that proverbial shadow of the valley of death!  

(if you've read my blog, you might recall this depressing post) GAH.

I think during this time of year - you know...the holidays?  

Yes, I think during this time of year I tend to reflect on positives in my life.

No, I don't have the money to buy everyone I want to a gift.  

BUT, I do have tons of people who I feel are worthy of a gift.

No, I don't have a picture perfect home that is decorated all Martha Stewart-y
or adequate for fancy dinner parties like I'd like to host. 

BUT, I do have a roof over my head and a sweet
little fencepost tree that makes me smile.

No, I don't have an extravagant plans for a holiday trip to New York
or a full calendar of fabulous New Years Eve gatherings, 

BUT, I do have family and friends who invite me to their homes
to celebrate occasions in down home, laid back style.

Yes, my cup truly overflows.

Next up.... how my cup has grown!

prettiful silliful sisters

Words cannot even describe how special last week was having family together for our early Christmas.  Even though we didn't get to ALL be together for extended periods of time while Brooke was home, these two sisters were able to spend lots of time together and I think they enjoyed it and probably needed it!

They are just fun to be with and in my opinion they are simply prettiful! :)

They are equally as SILLIFUL as they are PRETTIFUL!!!

And it's amazing how the older, married one is more so silly than the younger!

I can feel the love but apparently one sister feels it more than the other!

I miss seeing their pretty faces and silly antics around these parts!

Week 49

A little Christmas Love from the Santa pic scene for a work related event.

BONUS:  Sporting the silver glitter Toms! LURVE THEM!

It has been totally CAH-razy in my world the last week....

as this week is also looking to be shaping up to be.

I have much to share though, so stay tuned - my goal is to post a little 

something every day (or night)  this week!

Two weeks of work and I get some time off - can't wait to work on a sorta secret project. :)

Week 48

This week is about cool color

This week is about getting older 

This week is about fun, handmade jewelry.