Guard. Your. Pearls.

Here is something I want everyone who reads this to understand.  Truly understand as truth as much as water is wet, the sky is blue and grass is green.  Whether you believe in God or not, it doesn't matter because true is true.  This is something that will only better your life, so hear me now.

Guard your pearls well.  Very well.

I'll tell you why.

Before I tell you why, let me tell what a pearl is.  Your pearls are all the precious things about you.  All those things that make you amazing, shiny and beautiful.  You know it's a pearl because it has to be pried out of you at times, and you're not comfortable just letting any and everyone see it.   Your tenderness for animals.  Your love of the sound of baby laughter.  Your obsession with organic  farming.  Your gullibility with people you trust.  Your belief in God.  Your virginity.  Your sense of humor.  Your hopes and dreams.  Your fears and insecurities.  Your victories.  Your failures.  Your you.  All of your good stuff, and you do have good stuff. You have a treasure in your soul.  Not everyone is worthy to see it.

And because not everyone is worthy to see them is why you guard your pearls.  Pigs don't know what pearls are.  They don't care either.  They only want for themselves.  It's very safe to say that many of you know what I'm saying right now because we did throw our pearls before swine, and we were trampled on and torn apart.  Maybe we were the pigs ourselves.  I can think of two times when I know I didn't see pearls for what they were.  I am deeply sorry for it.  I've also been torn apart by not being careful with my pearls.

I can tell you right now that there are very few people in this world who have seen all my pearls because quite frankly I just don't trust people.    Not right away.  Sometimes not ever. Show me how well you keep your precious things, and then we'll see.

One of the big reasons I married my husband is that he always makes me feel beautiful.  He's not even trying to get into my pants...usually.  (sorry..just sayin')  He is a very good steward of me.  I work very  hard to be a safe harbor for him.  I have a friend in Alabama I haven't seen in 3 years, but I would be willing to bet that she is still as she ever was which is one of the best friends I've ever had, and I will always be grateful to know her generous and forgiving heart.  I have 4 more friends in  various states, OH, CA, VA and Orlando  (If you haven't been to Orlando, trust me, it's a state all it's own with Mickey Mouse as it's benevolent dictator.) with whom I trust with my life..even my kids.  My sister and cousins-in-laws were truly born for my times of contention.  I'm not sure there are any in this world that would fight harder for me.  And I am blessed beyond measure to have friends down the street, around the corner, and just down Scenic Highway with whom I can do every day life without fear of judgement for stupid mistakes or for just being Jen.

Don't put your pearls on display.  Keep them hidden.  Guard them well.  Those who really want them will go diving and searching for them.  They will risk cutting themselves trying to pry them out of you.  They will see the value of you because they are willing to bleed for you.  That's big.  Way big.

I leave you with this reminder:  You have a treasure in your soul.  Treat it as such.  Give pigs the slop they want.  Save the pearls for princes and princesses who will take very good care of them.  You are worth the dive.  You are worth the work.  You are amazingly precious.  And that right there is as true as water is wet, the sky is blue and the grass is green.

Crafty Lady: Project 1: Felt Leaf Garland

I know this is a one week and one day late, but I couldn't get the pictures to download for love nor money.  So my Local Viking was going to take a look, and I was sitting there and saying the words, "Look, it won't download."  the pictures immediately download.  He just looks at me and says you're welcome.....shut up.

Anyway, today's project isn't necessary hard, but it is a bit time consuming depending on what you how long you want to make your garland or how perfect you want to  cut out your leaves.  What you need is the following:    Yarn, a needle big enough to thread yarn, felt in different colors, scissors.

 Yarn, a needle big enough to thread yarn, felt in different colors, scissors.

1) Use you scissors to cut out your leaves in what ever leaf shape or color you like.  I just free hand cut basic leaf shapes.

2) Cut a piece of yarn to your desired length.  7 to 10 feet is a good length.  Take measurements first if you're unsure.  Tie a knot in one end of the yarn, and thread the needle with the other.

 3) After threading  your needle, begin to sew through the leaf in a basic running or basting stitch.  Some felt is pretty thick, so this step can be more difficult that you think it should be.  Just a heads up.

4)  After you've sewn through the whole leaf, slide it down your length of yarn a couple inches shy of the knot.  Repeat step 3 and 4 until you've run out of room for more leaves.

5) Tie a knot in the other end.  Sit back and be all proud of yourself for being awesome.

Hope you have some fun with fall with this one.  Let me know what you think.  Leave me some feed back as to what kind of projects you'd like to see. 

I mean....come on...honestly

So I realize that people are not always good at priorities.  It happens.  I have to admit though that I feel we as humans aren't doing such a great job.  And it's just getting a bit out of control.  Here's what I mean.

We worry about how much people like our posts on any given social media, but we're not supposed to care about what people think of us in person.  As a matter of fact, we should act however we need to act to get what we want right now.

We worry about not offending anyone because we don't want people to think badly about us even if it means taking unjustified abuse from someone who thinks badly of you for whatever reason.

We judge each other's parenting decisions regardless of the actual outcome, (i.e. a decent person has raised) because we have the correct way.  The only way!  We know the truth, and your kid is going to jail.  We have more grace for religious differences than we do parenting differences.  It's madness.

And speaking of judging... no judging allowed.  It doesn't matter if you rape cats while murdering old ladies, no one can tell you you're wrong.  Common sense is in very short supply, but if you have a bit, please don't share Judgy Judgerpants.

We fret about diseases from everywhere around the world.  But we still don't lock our front and car doors.  Yes, viral epidemics happen, but if we all just wash our hands and use some tissue, we will most likely be just fine.  I guess it's easier to worry about viruses than to lock our doors.

We won't buy a chicken sandwich from a fast food joint that has an employee that doesn't agree with gay marriage, but we buy gas from and support the economy of nations that hunt down gay people and kill them in horrific ways.

We rail against, well anyone and anything that has fattening food, but we don't lay the responsibility of the over indulging of such food at the eaters feet where it belongs.  If it wasn't available, we wouldn't it.  Guess what?  If it didn't make money from you buying it, it wouldn't be available.  Capitalism baby.

And because I can, guns don't kill you.  They are simple machines that can do nothing unless operated.  If guns kill people, then forks make you fat.  Cups make you drunk.  Wrenches make you fix cars.  Shoes make you walk.  Glue guns make you craft.  It's all the same.

Priorities.  I'm just saying.  I hope you like this post, but if you don't, you can't judge me and I don't care what you think anyway.  If your mom raised you the correct way, this wouldn't be an issue.  Now, go wash your hands germ spreader.

  

And Now I Know

Something has been missing in my life, and I figured out what it is. It's this.  It's just writing about about what's going on in my life.  Apparently, it's part of my self care.  I am going to make Friday my check in day.  Tuesday will be craft day.   Maybe you'll be inspired.  Maybe you'll be inspired to pay me to make it for you too.  That could happen.  You never know.

So.  Today ain't so great.  I'm not dead, so I'm not done.  I am adrift in Tween Lake, and I can very much hear the Shrieking Eels swimming below.  I don't know what to do.  I don't know how I fell out of the boat.  I don't know why I can't seem to get through to my kid.  To sum up:  I don't know the $#%^$ I'm doing, and it's really freaking me out.

I have Jesus on speed dial.  He talks me of the ledge all day long.  Usually He reminds me that murder is on the Top 10 Hey That's Really Bad list.  He uses the humor in movie quotes such as the Riddler in Batman: "If you kill 'im, he won't learn nothin'."  He uses my sister who reminds me that blood stains never really go away and do I really want that kind of clean up because no one else will pick it up.  It's going to be all me.  He uses my friends who assure me that though prison might have cable, they have really bad arts and crafts.  I am almost ashamed to admit that the bad arts and crafts is what usually saves my baby girl's life.  I need to pray more.

I don't like this lake.  It sucks.  The water is cold, slimy and somehow feels like failure.  I know how amazing she really is.  I wish she could see what I see.  I wish she knew how beautiful, smart, creative and funny she actually is without trying so hard to be cool.  I'm just trying so hard to hold my head above water.  Just do a girl a solid and pray for us.  We need it.

I'm hoping next week will bring back the Pollyanna Jen we all know and love.  Right now, I'm going to Zumba on the Wii even though they judge you so harsh...so harsh.

 Have a great weekend and know that I haven't lost hope.  I will never lose hope that my children will end up on the right path somehow, some way, some day.  They are my heartbeats.  That's probably why it hurts so much when they stop dancing and start stomping.  It's a very good thing Jesus is my breath.  Though my heart my crack, with Him breathing life in me every second of every day, it won't stop.  It will beat on.  I will always love them.  Even in these unfamiliar and dark waters.