Happy Two Years to My Little Shop, Your New Friend Sam
Wow, just wow. Each and every day, I still can't believe what's blossomed over these last two years. Starting out, I didn't think I'd have time to ship product, so I only listed printable, downloadable invitations. Then, while helping my best friend with her wedding, I added some various new items—like an address stamp that I hand lettered. From there my shop exploded from just printables to a rubber stamp and lettering shop. Nothing that I even started with. I can go weeks without even selling a printable invite, but daily, I'm selling things I've handlettered. Where? What? How? Starting out, I didn't even know I could letter. That I could write in a way that people would want to buy it. Buy it for their weddings, for their businesses, for tattoos on their arms! It's such a a simple concept and it blows my mind daily. And I thank God for giving me that skill. Yes, I've studied and practiced like crazy, but truly, if I can call this a gift, it all came from God. There is no other way to explain it. And that's the only way I can even try to fathom how I got to where I
Wishes, Resolutions, and Goals for the New Year
I'm not much of a "New Years Resolutions" girl, but I have had so much on my mind lately. Thinking of what I truly want to do in life, and while trying to get focused, I've been thinking in terms of what I want to do more of and things I'd love to do less of. I've read that if you don't write your goals down
Two Oh Twelve
Last year I summed up "Two Oh Eleven" as a year that had minimal changes in our family of 2 but many changes for others and I am thinking the same for 2012. January We started the year off in Colorado, snow boarding and site seeing. See Ice Castles post. While we were gone, our Bible study started to read through the Bible from cover to cover. In 90 days. It was an incredible experience. Read my recap. February Photographed my first engagement session, and I love love love how they all came out! March Rooftop celebrated their first 1st place award—in ribs! The second competition in a year full of Babies, Brides, and Barbeque! Then a few weeks later we launched the BBQ sauce full throttle in Las Vegas with a three day convention sales booth. April Hello Owen, nice to meet you! Who knew how chunky this little guy could become and steal our hearts with his gummy smile. May Hello Grayson! A baby that we all waited so long for, praying alongside his mama, grateful for him every single day and those sweet big brown eyes! Had my first paying photography client! Thank you Kirsten! June Discovered a new love for country line dancing while celebrating the best friend's 26th birthday. Rediscovered
Unity
The group that went down to Mexico in mid-July had such a radical experience in the way that each and every person that went became so linked to one another. Our group was unified in our mission to serve the people in San Quintin. We acted as one unit, one body of Christ. This uniting of brothers and sisters has spurred our church's next study. Pastor Josh is now teaching on the 12 chapter of 1 Corinthians
Test of Obedience
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5 I just started a series by Biana Juarez on the book of James. She titled the series The Scandalous Book of James because of the blunt language that James states the ways the church should be acting. Like in the above verses, how many times have we heard these verses
Dios Le Bendiga
Mexico gave me a gift that I can never return, nor would I ever want to return. Mexico took a struggling, prideful, and terrified woman and changed her heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Rather, God used Mexico to do so in my life. Each time someone asks how was Mexico, I am not sure how to respond. Sometimes I would just give a simple statement of "It was great!" But within that statement hides many emotions, tears, and a love for los ninos. To help me condense all these random thoughts of the trip down I made a list
Happy Father’s Day
Fathers are just the best right? The ones you can always run to, whose arms are always wide open. My dad is the perfect dad for me. He loves me no matter what. He even laughs at my jokes. He likes to roll his eyes at my mom with me. He plays a bagpipe and has the full kilt attire with Piper shoes and everything. He even has a tartan tie. I want him to get tartan pants, but no such luck there. He is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. The color green doesn't belong on his plate. He hates the sand but loves the mountains. He redefines the meaning of a road trip, i.e. do not leave the road, no matter how bad you have to go to the bathroom. He has never left my side, no matter how mean I was to him growing up. I have learned a lot about a Father's love in these past few years. I have learned that our Father in heaven will never leave our side, no matter what we have done to screw up. He loves us unconditionally and he never changes. No matter what. He gives and he gives,
Blooming Bulbs
Even though my all time favorite color is green, I do no have a green thumb. I have been a killer of plants for a few years now, but my mother-in-law inspired me to embrace the dirt and turn it into something beautiful. I actually enjoy pulling weeds. Really, I do. I have even bartered with my mother. She is going to clean my bathrooms (all 3 of them!) in exchange for me doing her yard work. I looooove this deal! So thanks mom-in-law and mom! In March, I began my quest. The first task at hand was conquering the weeds. These weeds were taller than most plants! Shovels had to be used to get down to the roots. It was bad but a wonderful fresh start! In the following weeks, I purchased a bag of star-gazer lilies from Costco. This seemed like the simplest route to take. Dig a hole. Stick the bulb in. Cover it. Water it. Love it. Done. And it truly was this simple! I planted these bulbs first thing in the morning about mid-March. Within two months, I had this little beauty