Busy Stained Hands: Full Heart

Josh Kelley and all the wee Kelleys really do fill my heart right up.  To the max.  Spilling over.  And when I create, it comes close to doing the same thing.  I feel at ease.  Like I’m right where I’m suppose to be.  My hands covered in ink and stain.  Our kitchen table covered up in supplies and canvases.  When I am immersed in my process, eyes focussed in and my hands are busy means my heart is full.  When I am cutting and piecing together fabric, putting together color combinations and trying to think & sketch ideas.  In those moments I feel God speaking and moving.  I feel like I’m using the gifts He’s given me and it brings me such great joy.

Life has been crazy lately, as always, and spare time has been hard to find.  When I don’t create I feel my heart stress…I don’t feel like myself.  I know that probably sounds completely strange to some of you, but I know God has wired me in a certain way which soars and is elated when my creativity in brewing.  It’s just how He made me.  And I’m so very glad He did.

This week has been so good for my heart.  We’ve had a rough year in a lot of areas, some of which I choose not to discuss and honestly, this week has renewed a sense of hope for me.  Even though a lot of things are still completely up in the air, there is hope in a God who loves us like crazy and is absolutely relentless with His love.  I’ve been trying to draw in near to Him…focus on Him…make the time He deserves…and I am digging the closeness and watching Him work.

My creativity I know is from God…He created us all so differently and anointed each of us with great gifts…and I want to use mine.  I want to use mine and use mine and use mine.  Lately I’ve had the time…carved out the time…to make sure I create…and instantly, the world is a better place.  The sun shines brighter and my head is clearer and my attitude is more in check and everything just jives a little better.  Today I am so thankful I have to privilege to do what I love to do.  I do not take it for granted, nor do I want it to go to waste.  May I always focus in on my Maker…and thank Him for the gifts He has given me and use them for His glory.

The sun is out, the day is bright and God is so very very good.

Happy Wednesday.

December 14,15 & 16

Well it was a wild and busy weekend.  Saturday was complete chaos in a wonderful way.  As we were driving to a birthday party late in the afternoon, Hudson asked about our kindness for the day.  Ugh.  We absolutely and totally had forgotten.  It happens and this year I’m choosing not to stress about being human, so no kindness advent for Saturday.

Sunday’s kindness advent was way fun.  The kids handed out books to kiddos shopping with their parents in Target.  Everyone was super kind and not weird about it at all which was different for a change.  We’re all huge fans of children’s literature so it was quite fun picking out all the books.  A little tip for you locals:  Every winter and spring Scholastic has a huge sale at their warehouse in Nashville.  Almost every thing is 50-80% off.  It’s one of my most favorite things to attend.  All brand new books.  So incredibly fun to walk aisle after aisle of the Scholastic warehouse…just so many many books.  They have other sales else where so check out their website and find a sale near you.

Today we shared Sonic happy hour.  It’s no secret we dig happy hour, so it only makes sense to pay it forward in the form of 1/2 price drinks.

Tomorrow we are paying for the person in line behind us at a drive thru.  Ummmm, I’m totally thinking it will be a Chick-a-fila kind of day.

Okay, lets see.  I feel like there are so many things to tell you.  Oh, so tomorrow I’m going to have a key fob sale at 8am sharp.  If you buy a set and pay via paypal I will ship them out tomorrow (same day) and they should most definitely arrive before Christmas.  If you pay by check, sadly, they probably won’t make it in time because I give all checks 5 business days to clear before shipping. There will be several sets for sale…all fun colors and patterns.  Sure to make for a great little present or stocking stuffer.  I will post all the available sets under the “Currently Available” tab at the top.

This weekend we got our creative groove on in so many ways.  I recently got in a family picture canvas and this required me to redo our big collage wall.  If you cannot tell A) I love color.  and B) I believe there is no such thing as having too many collage walls.

Harper has to take a small gift for each of her classmates for their Christmas party.  She decided on glitter pens which completely makes sense if you know Harper.  Color and art and glitter and rainbows are her love language.  We made little washi tape name flags and tied on pom pom yarn and bakers twine.

Today is Susan’s birthday.  AKA Ms. Flowers.  AKA Aunt Susan.  AKA Soooooosan (said in creepy ghost voice).  I am her room mom this year and I am actually quite the terrible room mom.  Amon makes things very difficult like volunteering at school.  But if there’s one thing I can do, it’s send out emails and harass parents to send in cash for her birthday.  As a former teacher, money and gift cards and the way to go to tell that special teacher “thank you”…and maybe a key fob 🙂  So after collecting the moola I needed a way to package it.  I almost sewed all the bills together to make a garland, but then realized that probably wasn’t the best idea.  So I went with a cute jar.  Who wouldn’t want a cute jar full of cash?!?!

And today we ate cake and sang.  Baskin Robbins ice cream cake?  Amazingly delicious.  Chocolate cake + mint chocolate chip ice cream = perfection.  I told the Baskin Robbins lady I needed color…and lots of it.  They delivered.

And even though Harper is blurry in this picture, I still love it.  Susan was making her wish and Harper was just grinning.  She adores Ms. Flowers…as do the rest of us Kelleys.  Happy birthday Susan…we love you like crazy cakes.

Hope your weekend was great and your week started off fantastically good!  Don’t forget, key fob sale tomorrow morning at 8am.  See you there 🙂

Happy Monday!