~A GATHERING of SECOND THOUGHTS...and Prayers for Haiti~

~And Help Where You Can~

When people hurt, God cares. His love reaches into the lowest hell and it matters not if you live in America or your make your home in Haiti.

My heart is broken for the men, women and children of this suffering Island Nation. As I watched the news yesterday evening I couldn't help but bury my face into the shoulder of my Mr. AGPMan. All those hurting people...such devastation...such profound loss...and more is coming.

When my own life was at it's lowest, when I felt the weight of the world bearing down upon me... even during those fleeting moments when I feared all hope was gone...there has never been a day or a time when I've even come close to understanding what the people of Haiti are facing this very day.

Life as they have known it has changed forever.

While I carve out time to pray for Haiti I'm praying for direction for those of us who live in America as well. This includes me.

Blessings to you as you ask the Giver of Life what you can do and then do it...Rebecca

~WANTING PINK ROSE CHINA CUPS...and Those Timely Life Lessons~

~LOVELY PINK CHINA CUP~

Since it was a tad bit warm yesterday I decided to break free from the confines of my home and do a bit of running around town. Truth said, the walls of my La Chaumière de Briarwood are starting to close in on me. I am, after all, a California native. And all this frosty winter stuff, complete with freezing rain and temps dipping down into the teens, is wearing thin.

I know. I know. It's WINTER!

But, how wonderful that in only a few weeks the birth of a fresh new season will begin. Thank you, God, for change! I"m ready.

So...back to my story!

~I'M IN LOVE WITH CHOCOLATE ~

My travels found me in one of my favorite places to shop! A tattered little JUNK-JOINT nestled on a busy street in my collage town of Bethany, Oklahoma. I wasn't really looking for anything specific...unless you call my desire to unearth a Vintage Pink Rose Chocolate Pot (Nippon 1895) and CUPS as something SPECIFIC!

I didn't score. No aging china pot and certainly no dainty floral cups...nothing my budget could allow anyway. I returned home disappointed for my plans to serve Hot Chocolate in Style to my sweet Miss K on her next visit were dashed. After all, at present she is my only grandchild and it's up to me to teach her about the finer things in life.

Right?

Well... Maybe not.

I turned on my computer this morning and in my IN-BOX was an email from my favorite Auntie, Ms. P. Attached to her sweet sentiment was the following story. Although I've read it before, after my shopping excursion of yesterday it took on fresh meaning.

~PAPER - PLASTIC or CHINA?~

HOT CHOCOLATE STORY

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eying the cups of others.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Blessings to you as you choose wisely the things that truly matter in life...Rebecca

~VINTAGE VALENTINE IMAGES...Wonderful Things To Share~

~VINTAGE VALENTINE~

I've shared with you all many times before that I've collected vintage graphics for many years now. If you keep your eyes open you can snag some really great deals on aging postcards, greeting cards and even trade cards...you just have to know what to buy! Don't let surface damage scare you away from purchasing old paper goods that are in less than perfect condition! With the computer technology of today most any graphic can be repaired and/or changed to meet your needs and lots of repairs can be made with just the click of a button.

~ALTERED POSTCARD~

Take the two images you see above. The top one was scanned once using my Epson Stylus Printer/Scanner. I wasn't crazy about the gold hearts dangling from the original artist's work and so with my Paint Shop Pro10 I removed them from the second one. I also removed the Valentine Sentiment in the corner and completed the tip of her elbow as well. The image was blurred around the edges and a border was added. I have plans to use the one I've altered (the one with my biz name) but feel free to use the top one as you please.

~VINTAGE DUTCH GIRL~

Here is another sweet Postcard! Since I'm just not that into little Dutch Girls with hats I opted to remove the entire image inside the heart.

~DUTCH GIRL REMOVED~

Wouldn't this be sweet turned into a frame for a favorite photo? If you are handy with a knife you could cut out the heart and attach a little picture to the inside. You may use either of these as you please!

~VINTAGE CLAPSADDLE~

Here's a darling Clapsaddle Valentine! Another one of you to use as you would like!

~VINTAGE TUCK (?) POSTCARD~

I'm not 100% sure but I think this vintage Valentine was originally produced by Tuck & Sons! It is unmarked... Again, use as you please!

Don't let your computer scare you away from learning a new Program or two. If I get stumped on something I just GOOGLE what I'm wanting to know. USUALLY I can figure stuff out on my own. And when I can't...I just yell for

H**E**L**P!

Be brave!

Take the leap!

DIVE IN!

YOU CAN DO THIS!

The possibilities are endless!

Blessings...Rebecca