THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING...Bearly Able to Speak

God is always on time.

And He sends the most unbelievable blessings my way just in case I tend to forget it.

 Last week was a super BUSY week for me and I had no time at all to jot down any thoughts or visit some of my favorite decorating and inspirational blogs.  Painting walls and planning some new, updated decor projects really had me feeling overwhelmed.

I keep telling myself:

"Rebecca~you are NOT 30 anymore!"

Anyway, a few days ago one of my LONGTIME artisan friends contacted me via Facebook and said she was sending something my way.  Knowing Carolyn as I do, and her incredible talent, I knew that whatever was coming my way would be something wonderful...  Carolyn owns and is the creator of 

WARM HEART BEARS 

and her darling Bears are the BEST I've ever seen!

Over the years of buying/selling online I have GREATLY admired her creative gifts and have truly been in awe of the beautiful things she fashions by hand.

 Well, nothing could have prepared me for what was inside the little brown box sitting on my table when my Mr. AGP Man and I returned from being away a couple of days...

 Our daughter brought the package in for us when she came to water our flowers and garden over the weekend.

Along with a PRECIOUS BEAR Carolyn named "Rachelle", she included this charming little keepsake book with all these dainty handmade tags and papers, tiny lavender sachets and a beautiful sachet pillow.

 I am still speechless over Carolyn's generosity.  As a shoppe owner I rarely buy things for myself and so I feel especially blessed by this talented lady...

Aside from absolutely loving "Rachelle", the little keepsake book includes the music to one of my favorite old hymns, "In The Garden."  

It's like Carolyn just knew everything I would love even though we have never met each other in person...

She even sent me a packet of my favorite tea...Earl Grey.  Yummmm...

Now...this is the truly "extra special" part of my Bear, "Rachelle".  Carolyn didn't know it, but RACHELLE is my daughter's middle name.  Isn't that just the neatest thing evahhhhh????

To visit Carolyn Robbin's Website called

Warm Heart Bears

just click HERE!

Thank you, Carolyn, for being such a loving, caring friend.  You will never know how much your thoughtfulness means to me!  I will keep Rachelle forevahh and evahhh...

~*~

I'm thinking it's my turn to pay it foreward.

Blessings...

Rebecca

AND WHAT COLOR IS THAT PAINT????

 After months of procrastinating I decided last week that my Monday project would be to paint our mini den from a very drab beige color (it used to be my Mr. AGP Man's office!!!) to a softer, lighter shade called Anthem Cream.  I had everything in place and I was so excited.  I've wanted to paint this room for a long time!

But, then last year's chaos happened and things got put on hold. 

Bright and early yesterday morning I started in like everything I do...with gunz-a-blazin!  But, with each swipe of the roller I kept thinking...

"Something's not right!  This color looks off!"

I paid no mind to the nagging thoughts inside my brain and kept painting because I was the one who had chosen the paint and stood patiently waiting while it was being mixed.  Besides, paint needs to dry for a bit before the actual color is right...  Right?  Right!

Well...after about 2/3 of the room was done (and lots of whining that I wasn't lovin' what I saw) I happened to look down at the lid and I realized that I'd had the wrong color of paint mixed up at the paint store.  It was supposed to be Drifting Dune!

Are you kidding me?

ARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So...my Monday project has now turned into a Monday and early Tuesday morning project.  UGH!  

Sometimes I just hate being a Do-It-Yourselfer!  Those TV SHOWS always make everything look soooo easy!

 Or maybe I just need new glasses contacts!

Blessings~

Rebecca

THINKING OF YOU, DADDY...from Becky Sue

Life has changed a lot for me since my beloved Father passed away a little over three years ago.  Even though my memory of him is as lovely as ever, I've never really reconciled myself with his passing.  I've been able to accept his death...just not the circumstances surrounding it.

And I doubt I ever will.

As an adult I remained extremely close to my Dad and watching his mind fade into some dark and unknown place was very, very difficult.  He lingered so long between reality and fractured remembrances of his younger self that when death finally came I understood it to be the greatest show of mercy God could bestow upon him.

And me.

Not long ago my mother, sister and I went through some of my Father's belongings that had been stored away for over a decade.  Most of the hundreds of boxes held books...but some held keepsakes that obviously were very dear to my Dad and there were a handful of photos as well.  Some I hadn't seen since I was a young child...some I had never seen.  Even though it was a task that had to be done, I couldn't help but feel I was invading his personal space.

 

I wondered if he was looking down upon the three of us while we worked or if he was busy doing other things...

You know, things like sitting in the presence of the God...walking the streets of gold while taking in the heavenly scenery...chatting with those who had gone on before him.

I didn't know.

 

My Dad was a very complex and private person and even sometimes secretive.  I hated being inside that storage unit and as each box was opened I came face to face with telltale signs of the mental illness that was beginning to steal away the Father I had known and loved for all my life. 

 

Obsessive and compulsive behavior could be seen at every turn.

Lists and more lists...and then even more lists.

Each box carefully tagged with excessive ramblings and taped closed as if golden nuggets were safely tucked inside.

My Father.  Complicated and mysterious as times.  And one of the two greatest men I've ever known.

 

Today, as I think about my Father, I'm buoyed by the legacy of  hope that remained within his heart until the day of his passing.  His unwavering faith in God and his steadfast belief that somehow, someday, I'd get things right.  That eventually I'd find a way to live my life to the fullest while being content with the simplest of blessings~

Like the first violet blooms of spring...

The seemingly endless heat from a summer's day...

The quiet rustle of autumn leaves...

Or winter's coldest breath...

 You know, just regular old days that are so easy to ignore.

Life.  We have only one.

I'm trying my best to live mine out in truth and I hope, pray my Father would be proud.

Thank you, Daddy, for helping to plant my feet upon the Solid Rock.

I love you.

I miss you.

~*~

Blessings~

Rebecca