Thankful blog #4

Special Time with my little Pie

I could hardly wait to blog today and tell you what I'm thankful for! At our house we call it "special time." Today I had "special time" with KK! We planned this day about 2 weeks ago and couldn't wait for it to get here! We both got up early , dressed up, toasted a pop tart, and hit the road. Our destination? Perch in Auburn, AL. Perch is a jewelry studio. You can purchase original handmade pieces, or you can create your own jewelry with an endless supply of beads, charms, gold, silver,...the list goes on and the possibilities are as big as your imagination. From our house it's an easy 40 minute drive, a perfect amount of time for fabulous non stop conversation! What a treat  for me to get to have KK all to myself. Before I knew it we pulled up to our favorite jewelry store. The brightly painted green door not only welcomes you but cheerfully invites you to step inside and dream. The vintage inspired shop has old frames strung with wire to showcase beautifully designed earrings. There are antlers framed on the wall to hold necklaces of all lengths and designs. Gorgeous old doors are the backdrop for countless strands of spectacular beads. Scattered throughout the room are bowls and muffin tins filled with beads and charms and anything else you could possibly need to make the perfect piece of jewelry. You would love every square inch! You would also fall in love with  owner and artist Barbara Birdsong! She is amazing! She is there to make your dreams a reality. Barbara teaches you and serves you and makes your jewelry design process fun and fabulous!
KK and I spent 45 minutes choosing the perfect jewelry combinations. Then we sat down at this long table and began to create. That was my favorite part, just talking and laughing, no phone, no homework, nowhere to be, just being together and having fun. I didn't think it could get any better and I looked up and there was Towns in the doorway. She had finished class early and came to hang out. So fun!!! We even saw Stacy and MeriDean Hamilton walking by to eat lunch next door. Of course I grabbed them and introduced them to Perch! What a treat!Once we finished our pieces of jewelry we walked next door for lunch at Amsterdams. Delicious hamburgers, fantastic fries, and my favorite...great company and conversation!
We wrapped up our day strolling down College street and visiting two of our other favorite places, Wrapsody and The Villager. MaryCam has been bragging on the Christmas decorations at Wrapsody so we had to check them out. She was right! Great decorations and perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Her sweet friend Natalie was next door at the Villager, so we stuck our heads in to grab a hug and then we were back on the road headed for home. It was the perfect day from beginning to end! I am so thankful for my "special time" with KK today!!!
Love love love Ruthie

KK and Me and Barbara Birdsong

Love the frames and antlers

KK creating her necklace

Gorgeous

Barbara helping a group of ladies. Notice the good looking door s in the background!

So much fun seeing Stacy and Meri Dean!!!!

Lunch next door with KK and Towns!!!!!!!!

Pretty great Christmas decorations

Decorations were wonderful

Gifts for everyone

I am thankful for special time!!

Thankful blog #3

Today  I am thankful for one of my favorite things, family dinners. There is nothing like having everybody home and around the table together! Ever since our children were able to sit up we have made dinner time together at the table a priority. Really and truly we've been doing it so long that when we are not all at the table it feels weird.
There are so many reasons to have family dinners. When our children were younger we used that time to teach table manners. Like putting your napkin in your lap, elbows off the table, and not talking with your mouth full. We taught them how to set the table, cut their meat and how to hold their fork and pass food around the table. Believe it or not having seven people at the table we even had to teach them how to take turns speaking, how to add to conversation without interrupting and the difference between appropriate and inappropriate dinner subjects.  ( I will never forget when I was a senior in high school and my prom date thanked me for having nice table manners. Sounds crazy, but the other girls there didn't really do table manners and my date and I were kind of taken back.....can you believe I remember that?)        Anyway, learning all those things is a cool thing, but the real treasure is being together talking, laughing and keeping up with all that is going on in everybody's life.
Now that two of our children are in college, it feels weird to have two empty chairs, but it is still so important to make the effort to all eat together at night. If you are having family dinners, you know how special it is. If your are not doing it, try it! It will change your life, and I guarantee it will be one of your favorite things to be thankful for too!! love love love Ruthie

Senior Girls 5

To my senior girls, I loved being with you last night. I think you are amazing to make it on wed. nights because you have so much going on. Thank you for coming!!!! MaryFran I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!!! For those of you who were not there, you were missed! Some of us worked on journal pages some of us just hung out and enjoyed the company! Claire don't be afraid to keep layering!! There are no wrong ways to create these pages! Go for it! ELee I hope you got some sleep! Jessica, very cool layers with the stencils! Abby love how fearless you are every time you put paint on the page! Nan, sometimes you have to chill and just enjoy the company! I so enjoyed your company last night! Each of you encourage me and make me smile! You are one of my favorite highlights of the week!
Last night we talked a little about Paul's letter to the Romans and how he was praying for their salvation because they knew a lot about God but they did not receive His righteousness. We talked about the prodigal son and how he blew his inheritance and yet he tried to stay gone and make it on his own. It wasn't until he had reached the very bottom that he swallowed his pride and saw his need for his father.
How sweet his father saw him in the distance. I loved that part. He never stopped looking for him, and when he saw his son in the distance he ran to him and received him.
When I was in college I was a counselor at camp Desoto.  It was one of the most incredible summers of my life! I could hardly wait for my girls to camp there. Years later, I was married and had 3 girls and I was ready for 2 of them to get to go to camp. I filled out all the paper work and then looked at the amount of money I would need to send for my down payment and I swallowed really hard and took it to Eddie. He sweetly told me that he did not have money to send the girls to camp. I thought for a moment, and respectfully asked if I could pay for it with odd jobs would that be ok with him. He agreed. I must say I hit the ground running. It was a lot of money, but my girls just had to go. I did all kinds of crazy things to earn money, but pay day was fast approaching. On the day the money was due, I pulled the money out of the jar and counted it for like the 100th time. (I think I thought it might magically double over night) I did not have enough money. I can't tell you how down I was. I waited a couple of days, the money is now late, and I called my daddy. Tearfully I asked him for the rest of the money. He did not give me the money. So then I called mama crying my heart out. She listened to me weep over not having the money and how desperately I wanted the girls to go to camp. She sweetly replied, "Have you told the Lord everything you just told me?" I was so mad at her... I was like no I haven't I just need a check and I'm good. After I had calmed down, I did actually go to my "chair" (where I pray) and I got on my knees and cried and cried and cried. I really wanted the girls to go, they were all excited, There was no way I could tell them the could not go, and daddy and mama were no help, and I couldn't tell Eddie because I knew what he would say. I waited even a couple of more days. I don't know why, I just really didn't know what to do. Like the prodigal son I was kinda at my lowest point and I swallowed my pride and went to Eddie. I remember looking up at him and feeling like I might burst into tears at any moment and I just plainly said "I don't have the money." He had absolutely the sweetest smile I've ever seen and he said "I know." I was so surprised I really did not know what to say. He said "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to come to me. I will cover your debt." I will never forget that day as long as I live. He saw me coming from distance.
You may not be living in a foreign country squandering your inheritance, but you might be squandering your time or something else. Go Home! your Heavenly Father loves you so much and He sent His only son to die for you. He has covered your debt, and wants to clothe you in His righteousness.  Receive Him.
I love you Ruthie

Thankful blog #2

Beach Talk
for sale
Blue Giraffe
Watercolor, FloridaI am so glad you stopped by! I can't tell you how much it means to me that you would take  time out of your day to be  a part of mine! Thank you!
I actually have a list a mile long of things I'm thankful for, and choosing just one a day has already proven to be quite the challenge!
So today I've chosen to be thankful for diet coke and great conversation! I love them both and they go really well together! For example I love when MaryCam and Towns come home from college and they go straight to the refrigerator to get an ice cold diet coke, pull a chair up to the island, pop the top and conversation flows as freely as that diet coke. I have so many memories of sweet conversations over a diet coke. Probably my favorites are the countless conversations I've had with my family on the beach. My husband packs the cooler (better than anyone I know I might add) with 5 diet cokes, a coke for Luke and a Dr. Pepper for KK. We hit the beach just in time to enjoy the last bit of sunshine before it magically disappears into the ocean. We arrange our chairs in a semi circle so we can all see each other and we sip our drinks and talk and laugh until the moon comes up. MaryCam, Towns, KK, and I talk about projects we want to do from sewing to painting to cooking. The boys talk about land or camp or hunting or trucks. We talk about books, college. careers, weddings all kinds of fun things. The sky is the limit when you're sitting on the beach with a diet coke. Dreams feed your soul and sharing them out loud gives them life. All that beach talk over a diet coke makes my heart smile! My cup runs over!!!
I am thankful for diet coke and good conversation! What about you? Have you had your diet coke and a good conversation lately? Let me know! I love hearing from you!
I am thankful for you! love love love Ruthie

Thankful Blogging

Blogging Challenge

Today I was at the bookstore with my twins and we got a diet coke and a muffin and went to the back of the store to sit in our favorite spot. I stopped by the magazines first to find something to read and there was a new issue of one of my favorite magazines. What a treat for me because I didn't know it was time for anew one. I grabbed it and met the twins in "our aisle." They both laughed at me as I smiled and rubbed the front cover and touched each letter and each picture and anticipated the treasures I would find on every page. "Artful Blogging" by Somerset Studios is only one of my favorite magazines published by Somerset Studios. It allows me to peek inside the lives of people who create art from their souls. It's a special place where artists share thoughts , dreams, successes, and even struggles. It's truly inspirational!
Today I did not even get passed the letter from the editor and I was so inspired. She challenged herself to blog everyday in August. I read her thoughts and barely finished before my brain was clicking 100 miles an hour. So I thought it's November, thanksgiving is around the corner, I am going to blog every day this month(starting today) of something I am thankful for. So here is  my first "thankful blog."
This post is a no brainer and definitely first on my list. I am most thankful for my sweet husband and our five precious children! I eat them up!
I had the opportunity to speak to a group of young moms a couple of weeks ago. In attempt to explain    how I became a wife and mama of 5, I told them that I never played with dolls. My barbies were art projects. I made their clothes out of scrap fabrics and glued them on their bodies. I painted their hair, cut their hair, and hung cool stuff in their hair. I rarely baby sat, and if you asked me what I was going to be when I grew up I would answer artist, and a country music star.
I never made it on stage with tight jeans and cowboy boots, but I am an artist and I love it. But hands down, my greatest joy is being a wife to my amazing man and a mama to our five children. Jesus has called each of us by name and we are His. I am truly thankful.
Thanks for dropping by! I love it! I will see you again tomorrow!!  love love love Ruthie

What I'm Doing

What have I been doing? A little bit of everything! My SweetArt Line has done great and been so much fun for me to create. People kept telling me to put it on stationery and I finally did it. And I love it. This is just one design. I actually have four different designs. I am in the process of updating my blog and web site so you will be able to purchase stationery online. If you need some before then just send me an email or message by way of facebook.
I just finished teaching a six week painting class and now I am hoping to get back to painting myself. I have missed being in my studio for just me. Thankyou all for your encouraging words and for peaking in my studio. You know me, its always a holiday in my studio and we are always doing something fun!

Art Journal

I am enjoying every time I get to be in my studio. Painting, gluing , talking, journaling....whatever I do as long as I am creating something I am in heaven. These couple of pages from my journal are created with paint, stencils, stamps, markers, pen, whatever I can find that is not tied down. The sky is the limit.

Art journaling is one of my favorite things to do. Playing with color and cool techniques! This particular journal is  loaded with color and fun. I am journaling with a precious group of girls through their senior year. What a treat for me! I love it!!!!

I am teaching senior girls on wednesday nights  to art journal. We are having so much fun!  I hope you enjoyed peaking at some of my journal. Art journaling is so much fun. There are no rules and you can do whatever you wish. It is a fun way to make a memory or journal an adventure or just record personal thoughts in a creative way. Try it! You will love it! Thank you for dropping by and being interested in my journey!
love love love Ruthie

 

Senior Girls 4

To my sweet girls, I missed being with you last night!You are a highlight of my week. We did have such a great time the wed. night before. Your pages look great! The stamp and paint that you have added is very cool and very creative. You surprise me with new and wonderful art to enjoy. I do so love you and love sharing with you and listening to you share your hearts as well. Thank you for trusting me with your hearts!
One of my favorite memories growing up was spending thanksgiving at the beach with my family and my daddy's brother and his wife and their 4 boys. It was soooo much fun. Honestly I don't ever remember eating turkey and dressing, but I do remember playing hide and seek in the dunes and digging massive caves in the dunes, throwing the football on the beach, fishing, building life size sand castles, and not coming in until dark. Growing up in a house full of girls, the boys introduced me to this whole other boy world that was adventurous, fun, exciting, always challenging, and sometimes a little scary. I loved it!!!! One time we spent all day digging a trench from the inlet to the gulf trying to open it up and get a little aluminum boat into the ocean. I really don't even remember if we succeeded I just loved the adventure of trying. I loved being with my cousins especially at thanksgiving with the beach for a play ground.
Even though the boys never lived in the same town as we did we still got together all the time. I don't see the boys nearly as much as I would like now. We are all spread out and have children of our own. When we do get together its so much fun to relive all those fabulous memories at the beach.
One memory that I will never forget is when my mom came to get me from school to tell me that David, one of the boys, had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I remember sitting in the front seat of the car and my face and hands felt numb and my heart physically ached. I felt as though a part of me was gone. I cannot begin to tell you how I felt. I cried till I could cry no more. My heart literally hurt for so long. Even now as I think of that day I am weepy. I miss David.   God is good. I have a sweet picture of him smiling permanently etched in my brain. It's even in color. He has a great smile. His whole face would light up when he smiled...like he was about to bust out laughing or maybe he was up to something:) The really precious thing is, I will be with him again. He is in heaven with his heavenly Father and his mom. I love that! I will be in heaven with him one day. I have no doubts at all. I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was young and He promised that He would come again and receive me unto Himself that where He is there I will be also. He is the way the truth and the Life and no man comes to the Father except through Him. John 14:6. Girls if you have Jesus you have hope. You have the assurance of salvation. If you do not know Him personally as your Savior you can know Him. Just ask.  And don't assume your friends know Jesus. Just because you have known them forever and they are good girls and maybe go to church. Be bold. Ask them. Tell them. He loves you with an infinite love. What an amazing gift.  Share it!
I love you! Ruthie