~MERRY CHRISTMAS from Rebecca 2011~

~MY BELOVED IS MINE~

Dear Friends in Blogland~

With a full and grateful heart my family and I would like to wish you a Very Merry Christmas.  I'm sooo looking forward to spending more time with my children, my Miss K and my Mr. AGPMan as we celebrate together the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

This year has literally flown by for us and in just a few days we will welcome another New Year.  Before I sign off for 2011 I want to take just a few moments to thank you once again for the friendships and kindnesses you've blessed me with over the past twelve months.  I'm more grateful than I can say for your listening ear as I've shared with you the good and not-so-good in my life.

~WHAT WE DO BEST~

(LAUGHING)

I will remember 2011 as a year of change and new beginnings.  My Mr. AGPMan continues working on his degree program and come November he will graduate and complete an education goal he set for himself many, many moons ago.  The hours of classwork and study-time have been grueling and difficult at best to travel through for both of us.  But, just as we have faced all the challenges since marrying in 1978, we are focused on finishing the course and collecting our prize...  I've been so thankful for God's peace during these past several months and blessed to be given such an awesome man to love.

I continue to love my work and towards the end of the year found some renewed joy in my painting and handwork.  I'm looking forward to tackling the Photoshop Software Program given to me earlier this year, even though I must admit I'm a tiny bit scared.  I'm no computer guru, mind you!  But, at the same time I consider myself a risk-taker...  I don't want to reach the end of my life and wish I'd tried new things...

My Father's health has remained about the same although my FIL's condition has drastically declined.  My aging Momma continues to press on and I'm thankful she is doing as well as she is.  We do not know what the New Year will bring, we are only praying for God's grace, love and peace to carry us as it always has...

My children are doing great and my little Miss K (who is nine now) is thriving.  They remain my greatest earthly joy.  (I'm secretly hoping another sweet little grandbaby will make their way into our hearts in the near future...but that's a BIG God-thing!)

Just like last year I'll be taking at least the next ten to fourteen days off to enjoy my home, family and to recoup a bit from a busy, busy year.  I'm more than tired and need some time to gather up a few loose ends and just enjoy my life while doing a little LESS...

Thank you again for your faith in me and my work and for sharing your hearts and lives with me in return.

Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year.

I wish for you good things.

Only good things.

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

We are celebrating and honoring you!)

Love to you...

 (and my Mr. AGPMan, too!)

~THE GIFT of FRIENDSHIP~

Christmas Day is getting closer and closer and like many of you I'm working on the final plans for celebrating the most beautiful event of the year.  For us it is the birth of the King of Kings, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I've wrapped up selling my wares early  for the first time in years and it feels good to say "enough" a few days before I actually needed to.  Just about everything has sold from my website shelves and I'm so incredibly thankful so many of you found my work worthy of purchasing again this year.  Thank you never seems enough, but I offer up my gratitude with a very full heart just the same...  I love what I'm blessed to do in my life and I'm looking forward to continuing in 2012! 

 

About a week ago UPS delivered a very big box to my doorstep which around this time isn't all that unusual.  My Mr. AGPMan pushed the enormous thing inside and I stared for a second or two at the return address.  It came from an Oklahoma town and so that made it all the more unusual because it was from a 'company' and not a 'person'.

As I cut open the box inside I found eight more boxes neatly tucked inside...  Still not realizing what each of the boxes held I lifted out the first one and opened it up.

When I opened up one of the inside boxes and slid the contents out I was shocked out of my mind.  Inside each box was one of the plates I had been longing to find.  You may remember my post from a couple of weeks back where I talked about the charming Poinsettia plates from Andrea by Sadek I'd been searching for.  The local store where I found them went out of business and I hadn't been able to find anymore...

To tell you I was speechless and overwhelmed by the generosity of this gift doesn't even come close to telling you how I felt.  Not only was the box unexpected but it came from one of my most beloved friends of all time.

Although I moved to selling consistently on my own website a couple of years ago, one of the side benefits of offering my wares on eBay for so very long was the meeting and forging of several lasting friendships.  I've worked with more buyers than I can say and it blesses me to share with you that several of those ladies have become very, very close friends.  And, one of those longtime friends was incredibly generous and sent me those eight Poinsettia plates giving me a total of twelve...enough to set my Christmas table for my family this year.

When I started selling on eBay back in 2001 I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, how to do it, what it would become or just who I would meet along the way.  Meeting Miss C and learning about her life and her family has been such an encouragement to me and I've been able to share with her the best and the worst of events in my life in return.  Lots of happy moments, the weddings of my two kids, celebrating victory with my Miss K, tearful moments surrounding my father as well as the passing of one of her most beloved family members... 

Isn't it amazing how God is always on time with His love and encouragement in our lives?  He's never too early or too late to send us people who will help carry our burdens and celebrate with us our greatest joys.  Thank you, C...you mean the world to me!  Honest.  You do!  Your generosity takes my breath away and as always I have much to learn from you!  Thank you again... xoxo


~~*~~

My friend, Miss F, recently sent me a collection of vintage bottles, perfumers, talcs, antique lipstick holders, jars, baskets and bits of trim.  I've already used the baskets in my own home (more about this soon) and I gifted one of the lipstick holders to my DILove because she absolutely loves the colors of yellow and orange.  The two white lipstick holders (which are little lady figurines) I kept for myself because they look just lovely in my master bathroom.  Miss F is also a friend I originally met because of eBay and one who has blessed my life in more ways than I can say.  And, just like Miss C we've shared stories of family love and family loss over the years...again...I'm incredibly blessed.  Thank you, Miss F!  Can't wait to chat-chat again when you are feeling better!  I'm honored to be your 'adopted' daughter and to call you friend! :) xoxo


~~*~~

Tonight my daughter, Adrienne (AdrieGirl) and her big brother, Brandon (my BKN), are hosting a little dinner party for my birthday.  Yesterday I had lunch with my beautiful Momma and tomorrow my Mr. AGPMan and I are going to Tulsa for dinner and a weekend getaway.  We've had sooooo little time together since he started back to school last May.  If you are keeping up with me as I share his schooling-saga then you'll be happy to know in November he'll graduate with his degree in Computer Science and Software Development...  Come On November!  It can't get here fast enough (for him or me!).

More soon as the Season of Light and Love continues on...

Love to you...

~MERRY CHRISTMAS from Rebecca~

Dear Friends in Blogland...

Christmas will be here in just a few days and my time and focus has once again turned towards tending to the needs of my family as we look forward to celebrating the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Before I sign off for another year I want to wish you all a beautiful Christmas!  I also want to thank you for the kindness and friendship you've offered up to my family and I over the past twelve months and for staying with me through the thick & thin of blogging as well as the joys and sorrows that have come our way.   Not only have you blessed me with your loving words and support, but you've displayed a willingness to follow along side me when my own pathway wasn't always clear...

Not unlike the lyrics (see below) of the  first song on my play-list (it's by the Vision Impaired/Blind artist, Ginny Owens), I'm not altogether sure why I'm here...  Ever feel like that?

Can I be honest with you?  I first started blogging as a way to promote my website, but since that frosty January day of almost two years ago much has changed in my life.  All the things I initially planned on writing about in regards to my business eventually evolved into sharing a great deal more than just my latest creation.  I've formed some lasting friendships, met some of the most amazingly talented women (and a few men!), while being inspired by those much more gifted than I.  I've rejoiced over the birth of new babies and grieved over the loss of loved ones held dear.  I've oftentimes been buoyed by your faith and even struggled to understand the bitterness I sometimes see flying through the air.  And without a doubt, some of you have crawled right into my heart and I suspect that is where many of you will always stay...

I'm trying desperately to stay true to my heart's calling while being as truthful as I can be about where I am on any given day.  I'm terribly flawed at best, and I sincerely question at times if I have anything left within the coffers of my life that may still interest you.  Still, I feel led to 'carry on' and so I will be doing just that. 

God has been incredibly generous to me this year and miraculously topped off our list of blessings  by saving the life of my son just this week.  A couple of days ago I shared with you how he was involved in terrible automobile accident where his brand new SUV flipped over and was totaled.  Everyone in our family knows if not for God's grace the outcome could have been devastating.    Thank you, God!  And, thank YOU for your kind comments!  I want you to know they were not only a huge blessing to me, but also to Brandon and his little family...  Our SarahGirl and my Miss K would have been heartbroken if something had happened to him (and this Momma as well!)...

 ~BRAN'S FLIPPED SUV~

I will be taking at least the next ten days off to enjoy some out of town company and to rest and recoup from a busy (and prosperous) last two months.  I'll be back after the first of the year with more, well...everything I guess! :)  Thank you for your faith in me, in my voice, in my work, in my heart.  You truly give rise to my passion and make my very soul sing...

Merry Christmas to you all and may your New Year be the best one of your life.  May God bless each of you in a mighty way!

Love,

(and her Mr. AGPMan, too)

IF YOU WANT ME TO

 

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through
And I will walk through the darkness
If You want me to

Cuz when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to

Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to

~MERRY CHRISTMAS - Life Lessons 2009~

Dear Friends...

Along with many of you I've spent this last week putting the finishing touches on Christmas 2009. Our home has been a flurry of non-stop activity and I've so enjoyed every second of I've spent shopping and wrapping presents, cleaning, baking and planning our Christmas Day meal. I'm very blessed and so grateful for the good things that God has sent my way. Even more I'm looking forward to celebrating the birth of the Christ Child...the Babe who grew into the very Man who would one day change the course of my life.

After tonight I will be away from you until the New Year. I'm excited about spending some much needed time with my children and their families, my parents and of course that fabulous husband of mine, my Mr. AGPMan. I will return on the first or second of January with some exciting updates on a dining room renovation we've had going on in our home (Yes! During the Holidays!) as well as a sweet give-a-way in honor of the 1st Anniversary of my A Gathering of Thoughts Blog. I hope you'll plan on visiting again soon.

Before I go I thought I might share with you some lessons I've learned this year. Some of these things I've sort of already known, still others I've found necessary to re-learn for a second time (third, fourth, etc.)...

~LIFE LESSONS 2009~

I've learned that the making and reaching of goals can bring great satisfaction and that real friends don't have to live next door to me.

I've learned there is more to life than Blogging (did I say that?) I've learned that Weight Watchers is HARD but that I CAN DO IT!!! I've learned this year that one's heart is not judged by how much it loves but by how much it is loved by others. I've learned that no matter how hard I work at creating new things, if I don't allow my body to rest my mind is incapable of compassionate thoughts or new ideas. I've learned my three siblings will ALWAYS be my very best friends (I love you Lin, Bill & Jen).

I've learned the things my friend, Glaphre, taught me during her short stay on this earth will forever impact my life. After nearly four years of her living up i heaven I still miss her more than ever. I've learned that even when I watch my Daddy grow sicker and weaker there is ALWAYS a little hint he knows who I am and he will always remember the day I was born...(but, it's best for me not to believe he will ever return to the way he was when I was ten!). :( I've learned that during the years when I was crazy-worried about my children, Brandon and Adrienne, that a day would come when I would BLINK and find them grown into amazingly wonderful adults. No mother could be more proud of a son and daughter than I am of them.I've learned our Miss K gets more beautiful and lovely as each day passes and that God's favor was upon me when she was born.I've learned that saying "I'm Sorry" still isn't easy for me to do. In fact, it continues to be just plain HARD! But, when I'm able to get those words out of my very stubborn mouth they are far sweeter than I could have ever imagined them to be. I've learned my hubby will always out-give me. It is his gentle spirit that has made over 31 years of marriage to this high-spirited, mind-ever-changin', "slightly" hardheaded gal possible. There is no one in the world who has bridged more gaps, shown more compassion, offered up more forgiveness or 'turned the other cheek' more than he. Baber...you are my hero!I've learned that some days I actually HATE Blogging...but...whe the sun comes up the next morning I usually just LOVE it again! :)I've learned my hands don't look like they are twenty anymore. Instead, they resemble what I remember my mother's hand looking like when I was a young girl. Only, my hands will never be as talented or as giving as her have been. I've learned that bowing my head in prayer, whether it be to say "Thank You" for the good things in life or to ask for help makes not difference to the Lord. He just wants to hear from me.I've learned that life isn't fair, but God is...
Lastly, I've learned that even when I feel like I am, I am NEVER, EVER, alone.

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3a (NLT)

I look forward with expectation to every day full of God's goodness and promises. It is to Him I give the honor and praise for any creative ability or gifts I may have. It is because of God's Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that I found hope in every new day and strength in the face of sorrow and disappointment. It is my Christmas prayer that you will all know this kind of peace. I promise you, it is life-changing!

With heartfelt thanks for a year that was beyond my wildest of dreams~

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Rebecca