… Giving Tuesday

Did you know that today is. . .

???

It's new this year,

. . . but I love this!

. . . this gives me hope!

I'll share in a future post why this means so much to me,
but I do know that for me, I'm going to be spending some time on this website.
(Andrea is my cousin's daughter . . . 
& I just love what she & her husband are doing!
. . . especially check out the Sewing Association projects!)

But I know that there are groups & organizations that tug on your heart. . .

(also did you know that if you are wondering what to 'get' someone - that you can 'give' in their name?. . . Check this out! 
(it's where I've done quite a bit of my 'shopping'!)

So. . . if you've been waiting (for some reason). . .

. . . Today's the day!!!
(of many more I hope!)

I wish for you a day filled with the blessing 
that only giving from the heart can give.
(there's nothing better!)

♥ Bren

… just because

… just because it's good to remember what's really important. . .

(I apologize for the little ad before the video - I couldn't remove it. . .)

This Heartwarming Video Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity! from littlejoey on GodTube.

. . . In honor of my Mom who was born on this day.

She taught me by how she lived her life what really matters.

♥ Bren

… seeing the gifts. . .

What a blessing it is that we have this day

to stop & think of all the blessings that we have.

Sometimes these blessings are simple gifts 

that we can too easily take for granted.

I find myself surrounded

with blessings

. . . & those wonderful simple gifts.

Included in my simple gifts . . .

. . . the sound of Dad in the kitchen getting the turkey 'dressed'

. . . that I get to prepare all the rest of the fixin's while he will be taking a nap. . .
& a bit later we will sit together, hold hands, thank the Lord together,

. . . & simply. . . that we have this time together.

I am truly blessed.

I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, & that the blessings & simple gifts that are yours come to your mind & heart throughout the beginning of this busy holiday season.

(. . . by the way, I count you as a blessing too!)

. . . & if you can take a minute or two. . .

here's one of my favorite songs. . . perfect for today 

(done so beautifully by Yo Yo Ma, & Allison Krause)

♥ Bren

. . . this precious freedom

Such a day. . . Such a reminder that freedom isn't free. . .

. . . & so thankful for those & their families who have sacrificed & paid the price that we may enjoy our freedom.

May God bless you & keep you.

… a bit of a life changer. . .

About nine months ago, I felt a real desire to change the way I was spending my days. . . living my life really. . .


I was feeling like had been so caught up in my business & in what I had started to think I needed to do to be 'successful' . . . that I discovered that I was losing hold on the 'love' & the reason why I started designing. It was getting swallowed up by the pressure to promote & the fads that come & go. . . They weren't me & I the contentment that I have from designing & creating were getting swallowed up in them.


So, I purposefully took a step back. . . & I began to get in touch with what I wanted my business to be. . . my life to be.  I stopped looking at what others were doing so much. . . & I began to look at what really inspired me. That's  when I started working in a local quilt shop. It's the same quilt shop that I took my first quilting classes in . . . & it has been so wonderful to get out of my home studio & get to meet, assist & get to know what is important to other  quilters. 


It was the beginning of a 'coming home' for me.


Since then, I have been re-thinking a lot of the things I was doing in my business. . . & the way I was living my life.


I'll be honest. . . it hasn't always been so easy. There are times that I still feel like a need to play some game. . . to follow some unwritten code of what I should do to be successful. But day-by-day it has become increasingly easier. I'm hearing (& listening to) my own drummer again. . . & all around me I am finding reminders of what my heart knows. . . Just this morning, & heard again something I used to have on a bulletin board:

"God does not call us to be successful. . .

He calls us to be faithful."

- Mother Theresa

Which brings me to the photo of the book above. It is the current book on my bedside table, & it is such a 'gift' in it's own right. The timing of me discovering this book is nothing short of the impeccable perfection of God's timing in my life (. . . which I've experienced over & over. . .), & it is a part of filling my heart (& head) with the things that help me really see the blessings that surround me.


I've also discovered that so many others in the blogging world are also reading 'One Thousand Gifts', & that it is also having a profound affect on their lives as well. 


Here's a little preview of the book. . .




So. . . here's to slowing down & looking for & seeing the gifts. . . & when life feels all frazzled . . . here's to realizing that it doesn't change the fact that the gifts are still there. . .


. . . for me, it's life changing. 


Even though I knew it all along. . . it's been such a gift to be reminded. . . 


♥ Bren

… x x x

I saw this video a few weeks ago & then again on a blog yesterday. . . & I think it's just too good not to share. . . 




♥ (& hugs!)  Bren

… a bit of a break

. . . I didn't mean to take a blogging break. . . it just kinda happened. I thought of you all often. . . I just didn't have the words for what was in my heart, & every time I thought about blogging, I just couldn't. I guess it was time that I have needed to be able to share what has been going on.


First,  for all of you who might be followers of my blog for a while . . . Dad & Bailey are just fine. (In fact, we just celebrated Dad's 83rd birthday yesterday!) Actually, the events of January have brought us even closer & have reminded us of letting each other know how much we treasure each other. I have learned so much in the past month. . . have been shown so much this last month. . . & have really searched my heart.


It all started with the start of the new year - that had me searching for a word that would be my 'word for the year'. I had a couple & I was trying to narrow it down. . . & then on a sunny Saturday morning our world - here in Tucson - was turned upside down. I live northwest of Tucson, & at a neighborhood shopping center gathering of citizens (including children) & our local U.S. Representative, a tragic shooting occurred, taking the lives of 6 innocent victims (including a 9 year old girl) & wounding many more. It was one of those things that most of us think happens 'somewhere else'. . . not in my community. I know that the national media covered this tragedy - as our U.S. Representative, Gabby Giffords was critically wounded (. . . & has not only survived - but made miraculous strides in her recovery) . . . & I know that I heard several of the national media people state that they were touched by the response of the Tucson community . . . & I think that this is what is so difficult to express, & why I came short with the words when it came to posting anything for the last several weeks.


For most of the country, I know that other news has replaced the events of 1-8-11 here in Tucson. . . but for those who live here . . . those events have changed us. No longer do we take daily things for granted. . . we have done so much hugging of our loved ones & of expressing to our family & friends how much they mean to us. . . I have seen my community come together to protect the families of those who lost members, by wearing white &  lining the roads to the churches where the services occurred - when a radical 'cult' (my term for them) threatened to protest at the memorial services. . . & even now - the memorials at the hospital & the market where the shooting occurred still grow. People still bring flowers, notes & candles to express their respect & how much they care.


I have heard tragic news stories many times before - but this one. . . so close to home. . . has had a profound effect on me. 


I wasn't expecting that.


. . . but it has helped me clarify so many things. . . things that I had been pushing onto the back burner time & time again. . . things that I realized I needed to be honest with myself about. I had been given a big wake-up call.  I'm sure that some of those will be popping up here on my blog. . . I can tell you that you will probably see some subtle changes. What I do know is that I'm listening to my heart. No more pushing it onto the back burners any longer. (. . . Sorry if this is a bit vague. . . I'm sure that over time. . . it will become clearer.)


Now, . .  since I don't want you to think that I haven't been 'working' (. . . I still find it funny to call it 'working'!) on anything. . . I have! (. . . she said with a big happy grin!) The top photo is a hint. . . do remember this quilt? It is called 'Seasons'. . . & has always been one of my favorites. One day, about a year ago!)  a sweet customer told me that she loved it - but wished it was available for embroidery. . .


. . . Yep. . . How could I not. . .? Here's a little peek - just before it went out the door to my quilters'. . . 

. . . (there's also a redwork version!) The pattern has some changes. . . & options & it should all be ready by the end of the month. . . & I'll be giving you more peeks soon!

Also. . . I don't want to end this post without letting you know how much I appreciate your visiting my blog. (. . . especially if you got all the way through this post!). . . & when you leave comments - well, please know that you often make my day. 


So thanks. . . & please remember to hug someone you love today.


♥  Bren

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. . .   

- Ecclesiates 3:1

… fresh & new

I just love beginnings. . .

I'm an 'anticipator' by nature, & like other events, I have found myself really looking forward to the start of this new year. . .

. . . seeingly more than in years past.

I'm not certain why. . . I've been pondering why for the past week, & can't really explain my anticipation for this new year, so I'm just going to enjoy this new beginning.

 I feel like the beginning of a new year is like a brand new sketch book. . .

They all kind of look the same, 

but it's the blank pages 

that we get to fill with the pieces of ourselves. . .

We get to dream when looking at all crisp white pages. . .

. . . dream of what's to come.

. . . dream of filling the pages with our dreams, our ideas, & our hearts.

That's what I want to do with this new year. . . this fresh, new 'sketchbook' of my life. . .

I want to fill it with my heart.

. . . & to let me heart be a bit more transparent this year.

That's a little scary for me. . . but I know that I have been blessed with so much,

& without sharing it (& more importantly - the source of it!), I would be hiding the Light that fills my life under a bushel. . . (so to speak!)

. . . So, welcome 2011!

. . . & I wish for you the promise & blessings of this new day & this new year.

May it be filled with a new & fresh outlook for us all!

♥ Bren

… the choice

If you are one that has looked on the side bar - at what books I am reading - you will notice that there is usually always a book by Max Lucado in the list. Max is an author that I admire & who's has a way of capturing history & the human condition that  captures my attention. . . & often my heart.


This is taken from one of his books, Eye of the Storm, & is one of favorite pieces of his writing. With today being such a special day in history. . . I thought I would share it with you. I hope it touches your heart.




The Choice 
by Max Lucado


He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground.


All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched.


"You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose."


All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice."


Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.


An angel spoke, "But what if he ... "


"What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you."

Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow.

"There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter."

The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth.

"Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation."

"Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter."

A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?"

The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness."

The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths.

"This is the result of choice?" the angel asked.
"Yes."
"They will forget you?"
"Yes."
"They will reject you?"
"Yes."
"They will never come back?"
"Some will. Most won't."
"What will it take to make them listen?"

The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him.

With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler of a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it.

He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear.

"Will you go down there?" the angel asked.

"I will."

"Is there no other way?"

"There is not."

"Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?"

"It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love."

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in soldiers' garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly. "I will stay."

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.

"It must be done ... ," he said, and withdrew.

But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)  He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.

The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful ... "

The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."

They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.

But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.

Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:

"It looks like ... it appears so much like ... it is him!"

The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside—at the soul.

"It's eternal!" gasped another.

Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.

Now it's our choice.



(From In the Eye of the Storm  Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1997) Max Lucado)




May this Good Friday. . . this bittersweet, yet blessed good Friday, be a very special one for you.


 ♥ Bren

… little opportunities

First I want to thank so many of you for your comments &  emails about my post a few days ago about following my heart. Your comments & encouragement mean so much to me. ♥

After watching many hours of coverage . . . I also knew that I wanted to do more. . . so I want to let you know that for the next week - the proceeds from the sales of all items on the website will be donated to World Vision for their ongoing relief work in Haiti.

Also, over on the Jolly Jabber, (Fat Quarter Shop's blog) - they are auctioning off many quilts & donating the proceeds for relief work in Haiti. . . so please be sure to check it out!


Thanks for all your help, & your prayers. We need to remember that this is a long term need of our compassion.


♥ Bren

… spreading a little hope

I just had to let you in on this wonderful opportunity.

Sweet Camille (Thimble Blossoms) has a wonderful post about an adorable family. . . with adorable children , Benson & Claire, who both are in need of transplants, & are living on hope. . .

. . . & you can help give that hope!

Camille is having an auction for one of her favorite quilts, 'Wild Thing', & all the proceeds will go help the family with the alarming transplant costs. There is also info on a silent auction that is going on to raise funds, as well as info on the non-profit organization that is helping them raise funds so that, even of you can't bid on the quilt, if you you would like to. . . you can donate whatever amount you can. (click here for the blog post.)

After all. . . it's all about hope. . .

. . . & it's all about us doing whatever we can. (& don't forget the 'little acorns' philosophy. . . "from little acorns - mighty oaks grow!") - So no matter how small it might be that we think we can do. . . it can add up to so much more than we could ever imagine!

Thanks Camille for your giving heart - & for giving us the opportunity to share.

xo, Bren

… ordinary miracles

I used the word "miracle" today. . . & then I got a tweet from someone (thanks Jody!) with this little You Tube presentation about miracles. . . . . . they are really all around us. . . those "ordinary" miracles. . . it's just whether we take the time to see them. . .

I hope you take the time. . . it's worth it!

… food for thought

- Albert Einstein

. . . may your week be filled with miracles around every corner!

xo, Bren