Victorious- a morning quiet time

So after posting last night about my struggle with stress today I woke up and \i realized that I can be victorious!

I''e been so distracted wtih worrying about being stressed and feeling bad about my bad attitude that I had forgotten who I am in HIM.

2 Corinthians 5:17New International Version (NIV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Bible Gateway

So as my Dad reminded me on a recent post to '"put on your armor," I can find the source of victory by entering each day prepared and ready for this "battle" of life. 

Ephesians 6: 10-18 Living Bible- Gateway

10 Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.

13 So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.

14 But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. 15 Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. 16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. 17 And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.

18 Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.

Thank you Father in Heaven that I can face this day with you and through you. I don't have to live in stress and with a bad attitude. Help me to live victoriously through YOU today. Amen. 

Lightening Up

I have an issue with stress.

Some people think I am patient. Others think me calm. I am neither, by far.

Lately- as in (since getting a puppy) I have come to realize how very tense, and stressed I am.

Every puddle, and today there were 4 in less than in one hour (while yesterday there was 1 the whole day long) and every whine from fussing kids leaves me feelings like I have HAD IT!

I know I am exaggerating. I know I need to "lighten up."

But does anyone really know how you "lighten up"?

Today as I pondered my life and how I hate being this snappy, and irritable I started wondering and thinking about that phrase.

It is easy enough for my husband to tell me to "lighten up" when he sees me stressing over things I can't change. But for me I can't lighten up with just the snap of my fingers , or a deep breath.

When I consider myself from a different angle, I can see that I am just now like an extremely tightly tuned stringed instrument. Every little touch (puddles, whining kids, problems at work) to my string causes enormous sound (stress, sometimes angry words and responses).

I KNOW something has to change. I know how to loosen the tension in my violin. But how do I loose this tension in me?

Today I made a list of things that help me relax and lighten up, some of those were:
journaling, quiet times with God, bike rides, hot shower or bath, painting.

As I looked at my list I realized all of these things involve silence. No noise. Calm.

I realized today that if I am going to let go of all this built up stress and tension I am going to have to be more intentional in finding calm.

I find myself running circles trying to keep on top of a lively household and working kitchen. You know the runs to the store, planning meals, cooking, cleaning and doing it all again, and AGAIN. I find myself pushing myself and my family to do more, and get more done and do things right. But in all this scurry and bustle my stress only increases.

Because my house is never clean enough. The dishes never stop. The piles of laundry are lucky to get put away once a week. And the garden is never free of weeds.

But if I need to find peace to be free of stress then maybe, just maybe it doesn't really matter how "perfect" my life is.

Will it really matter when I am dead and gone if my kitchen was spotless and my house clean? Of course not! Won't it be far better to look back and see that I lived my life in peace and my kids remember my smile, not my worried, stressed, snappy face.

So perhaps like me you may need to stop fretting and let life get a little messy and start focusing on finding peace. Peace in your heart can be only found when we make time to be with Our God. When are quiet enough to listen and to talk to Him then life is so much more full of joy and fulfillment.

So that is how I will try to lighten up- how about you?

Puppies and People

It has been one month since we brought our puppy home. It has been hard,very hard getting used to a furry, sharp teethed ball of life running through our home.

Numerous times we have talked of selling her- because of the stress and new trials she has caused.

Yet- we have made it this far and we do love our little furry Lassie. We have had a lot of fun with her this month and she has learned a lot.

But the thing that surprises me most about having a puppy are the people around us.

Latvians are in my opinion quite reserved and quiet- not often talking to strangers. But everywhere that I go with our puppy it is like a key has opened the doors of these silent folks and compliments come flying our way whenever we are out in public.

Today I took her for her vaccinations and a stop in at work to show her to my co-workers.

An elderly gentlemen on the street informed me our puppy was just as lovely as her owner :)

It seems as if nearly everyone must stop and say how sweet she is and how cute and how old is she, and what is her name, etc. I am completely amazed how these quiet folks are so enamored by our puppy.

Lassie loves people and doesn't know a stranger at this point- hopefully in time she will get more cautious otherwise I worry she could get stolen.

So one month into having a puppy our kids like her. My terrified of dogs daughter is very fond of Lassie and even willing to play with her at times.

My 2 year old loves giving her snacks from his open palm and in general things have settled down a bit now that we are growing accustomed to life with a dog.

My Latest Cake

 So when I am not painting, or being a Mom, then I bake. I love doing wedding cakes and my part time job is in a lovely local bakery. So I really do bake a lot. I love putting my creativity into edible format as well. Here is my latest wedding cake. 

Wanna see more of my cakes?

Puppy Update = Week 3

Perhaps if you were our puppy you'd think I was out to get you. I know, I know, I expect perfection. But the truth is I am a "by the book" kind of girl.

When I stepped into this new world of puppy-hood. I ordered two books, "The Art of Raising a Puppy." and "Ceaser's Way." I chose these books because they had good reviews. And having never had had a dog I wanted to do this right. I got the puppy before the books since they came on an airplane later. . .

So I had done a good deal of reading online and was prepared with the knowledge of WHAT we needed but not the reality of HOW it is to have a puppy.

Three weeks have passed. There were many days those first two weeks when I thought we had made a serious mistake. I had NO idea puppies nip so much. And those books- well let's just say the second one left my blood so cold I was sure I had been an utter fool to get a dog.

Between trying to teach a puppy to stay out of the garden, teach her to do her 'stuff' in the right spot and not jump on people and not nip and trying to house-train her and do the normal life I have (cooking, mothering, working, etc) I have been left feeling I'm losing my mind. This is mostly due to lack of sleep. Having a puppy has turned my sleeping schedule topsy turvy.

But then there is the positive side where she is so excited to see me in the morning when I come down to take her outside. There is the progress in teaching her to wait, to sit, to stay, etc. She is smart and seeing her learn is rewarding. Yes, she has a long way to go. Don't we all?!

What my customers are saying:

It should be no surprise to know I paint because I love it.

But that doesn't keep me from wondering at times whether it is worth the time and effort to find my spot selling online in such a huge online market. It is comments like these that keep me painting when I think perhaps I'd lay down my brush. Thanks to you ALL for keeping me painting.

A Summer Sale

Summer is here and despite our extreme lack of heat this summer and the constant rains it is so good to have at least warmer days.

To celebrate summer and America's Independence day I have a sale going NOW in my shop

Get $10.00 off your purchase of $50.00 or more by using the code FREEDOM at checkout, offer expires July 4 2014 at MIDNIGHT.

These turquoise scarves are my best sellers in and out of the shop this summer so you had better get yours FAST.