The test of all happiness is gratitude. G.K. Chesterton One of the most recent stray gifts that has stayed with me is a road trip we took last month. John had spotted a body of… More
There Is a Season
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Do you ever notice a particular theme running through your days- something you know you need to pay attention to? I have had the words “consuming vs creating” pop up in the last few months. As a card maker, I am constantly looking at new and creative ideas. When I first started making my own greeting cards, I had no idea how many different ways one could cut paper and lay it out on a card front. I didn’t know there was a whole crafty universe of pretty cardstock, paper trimmers, scissors, and supplies. On Pinterest, I have 3,649 creative ideas saved of handmade cards alone. I have inspirational screenshots captured on my cell phone and videos on YouTube to watch later. At times, all the ideas and new products that come out every month from all the companies I love cause my brain to freeze, and due to the overwhelm, I am unable to create.
I used to write more on my blog, but looking too much at what other people are writing keeps me silent and uninspired.
Another area that has been on my radar is Bible reading. Reading Scripture daily has slipped away over time, and I haven’t been reading my Bible like I should. I have looked at multiple devotional books, wondering which one would be just right to get me back on track. There are so many! Should I read about rest? Do I need a book on motivation? I have a study guide book covering the Psalms, which is always a good place to begin again.
I watched a YouTube video recently covering the topic of “consuming vs creating” and decision overload. When I am constantly looking at other people’s ideas in cardmaking and not creating myself and playing around with different ideas, I am a consumer of ideas, not a creator of them. When I read too much what other people are writing about the Bible, the Scriptures become less personal, and I have nothing gained of my own to share. I have notes written along the margins in every Bible of mine. There are messages from my dad, my husband, speakers from various special meetings, former pastors, and preachers who have since passed away. What a history! There is so much richness there, just in the notes from God speaking during those times.
There is a season to consume ideas and gather up inspiration. Lately, I have been in a creative phase and have made well over fifty cards rather quickly. Most of them have been mailed out or sent to friends who like to use the cards in this encouragement ministry. There is a time to read devotionals and be inspired by the perspectives of different authors, and there is a time to read the Bible alone to see what God has to say directly with no filters or preconceived thoughts. I can open anywhere in the Old and New Testaments and find a notebook’s worth of moments when God was speaking. I am in the season now where I want to begin reading the Bible again to hear from God myself. Currently, I am following this plan of reading the New Testament.
Consuming ideas vs creating something touches many areas of my life – including what to cook for dinner! God has been weaving this theme throughout my days and moving me towards a bit of action.
That Which Concerneth Me
The LORD will prefect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalm 138:8
When I don’t write consistently here on the blog, stray gifts and updates pile up, and I find it difficult to know how to start a new post. Where do I begin? How far back do I go? How much do I even share? I stay off social media except for my cardmaking Instagram site, so my posts here can lean toward the lengthy side at times. I haven’t made any new cards in a few months, so there are no updates since April. If you have followed along here on the blog for some time, you know that John’s journey to health as a disabled veteran has been challenging. We have had to rethink our life plans and pivot in many areas. To keep the update short, five years ago, John was barely able to walk and couldn’t drive. Migraines and chronic pain kept him secluded and unable to work. Since then, he has filed for and was granted full disability. Also, since then, through physical therapy and various medical treatments, he is able to walk without assistance and can drive. Slowly, but surely, with determination and with a lot of prayer, his mobility has progressed, and his mind is clearer. So much so that we were able to recently buy a house! There have been moments of doubt whether or not God sees and hears, but we always come back to knowing that our life does concern Him and He is working through us. Through it all, I have kept up with documenting stray gifts. Friends and family who have been following along with this scavenger hunt are still sharing their great finds with me. Here are just a few of the latest. A description of each photo is below the collage.
Top Row (left to right): The first two photos were taken around the Grants, NM area. Between 1998 and 2001, we lived there and worked in a church with youth, music, and bus ministry. It was there that we met our friend Carolyn. Throughout the years and our many moves, we kept in touch and stayed close friends. In April of this year, she passed away suddenly at the age of 71. It was such a shock. We texted every week, sharing our new crafting obsessions. She was a quilter, and I am a card maker, and we always had a few projects going on at the same time. She loved my handmade cards, and I would send her a package of five every so often to write out for others. “I received your beautiful cards today”, she would text. “I’m going to write and send some out today”. She followed along with the stray gifts, often sharing things she found in a day. She read my blog and would text me that she enjoyed reading my updates. We have a long history – too much to share here. She impacted all three of us deeply in many ways. We traveled to Grants for her memorial service. We drove around to where we lived and the places we would go. We drove up Mt. Taylor, something we never made time to do when we lived there. It was a beautiful drive with bits of rain here and there. Carolyn loved the mountains and enjoyed collecting pinecones. While unpacking the other day, I found the box of pinecones she brought me last October when she came to see us. She was thoughtful in many ways, and we are thankful to have known her.
The third photo is a huge stray gift. When we moved back to Texas to be closer to my dad, we started looking at the possibility of buying. Everything went surprisingly smoothly – from obtaining a VA loan to the location of the house and the house itself. It’s a one-story home, and the layout is easy for John to navigate during the bad days with his health. It’s close to my dad, so we can be a help to him. So far, living here is going well.
Second Row: 1) As we were moving in, John and Jonathan surprised me with fresh flowers for our new home. They even remembered to bring a glass jar to put them in! 2) It’s like Christmas some days as we unwrap items we packed months ago. I found a pink glass jar a good friend had gifted me for my birthday one year and immediately made my favorite True Lime Black Cherry drink. 3) Roses are blooming at my dad’s house. This is a new bush we planted for him in the backyard.
Third Row: 1 and 2) Recently, my Aunt Carol shared a few stray gifts with me. “The deer picture was taken where we work at the day use park. There are 13 of them and some just had babies”, she said. She mentioned that there are 5 of them! We don’t see deer here in our area, so I always love it when others share their neighborhood nature photos. The middle image was taken from her garden. It looks so peaceful! 3) My friend Kara in PA sent me a view from her swimming pool. With triple-digit temps here in Texas, that sure looks refreshing!
I always hope to update the stray gifts more regularly, but a quote comes to mind that my friend Carolyn often said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”. So true!
Today, let there be peace within me, trusting that God has planted me right where I am meant to be. -Unknown
Confetti in My Pocket
The guys are constantly showing me social media memes. Some are super funny and others are just plain corny. They share serious ones and thought-provoking ones, too, which make for interesting conversations. Jonathan sent one to me recently that I thought was cute and would make a great blog post! It’s in line with the “stray gifts” theme I have throughout the website.
I think of throwing confetti often now when I see stray gifts pop up! Stray gifts are bits of good news in the day that God sees me and places things in my path so that I see Him. That’s worth celebrating, even if the confetti is imaginary, isn’t it? Here is the latest record of graces to share! A description is shared below the photo collage.
Top Row: 1) In January, a friend of mine in Texas shared this little snowman she made. She gave him an acorn shell hat and named him, “Pierre”. Isn’t he adorable? 2) I meant it this time when I told Jonathan I was ok with the day lilies not making it this year. Well, here they are again. Every year, I am so surprised when they come back! One day, there are no signs of life and the next, we see green leaves that have pushed their way through the soil! This photo was taken in January and right now, they are filling the pot! Last year, Jonathan and I separated them into several flower pots because they had grown so much. I’ll share a photo of them in their current state soon. I say this every year, but these are the flowers I bought on clearance for $3.00 a few years ago – definitely a stray gift! 3) We pass by this tree every time we go for a walk. When the breeze is blowing through the leaves, it sounds like a small waterfall. It’s such a lovely sound.
Middle Row: This row is all about a few cards made this year. In January, I sent out sixteen winter-themed cards similar to these. The same amount of cards were mailed in February. These were fun to make! The third card is one of the few cards I’ve made for March. In total, forty-two cards were sent out in the last three months! I’m thankful for this encouragement ministry.
Bottom Row: 1) Jonathan made a breakfast casserole one day before I even got out of bed. It smelled so good with the coffee brewing in the kitchen at the same time. I pretended to throw confetti at him and we both had a good laugh over it. 2) “Back porch sitting doing Bible study listening to birds and hearing geese fly over”, a friend sent along with this photo. I so love when others share their stray gifts!! 3) Signs of spring are everywhere. This tree is in front of the church we have been attending. I have loved watching this bloom from the very first signs over the last few weeks. It keeps me looking to see what else might be waking up this season.
The Door Left Open
After stumbling around looking for contentment for years, I suddenly learned that you cannot find it by hunting furiously for it. Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.
John Barrymore, as quoted in The Reader’s Digest, 1934
Thank you to everyone who has followed along with my recording of the graces in 2024. Your weekly encouragement and conversations about the shared stray gifts mean so much. Those of you who text me photos of your daily gifts and blessings inspire me to keep looking for more!
“Happiness sneaks through a door you didn’t know you left open”. Keeping open eyes, hearts, and hands to what God may provide in a day is keeping life’s door open so that He can enter the everyday ordinary. While 2024 had its challenges, it was full of stray gifts that kept me noticing God in ways I hadn’t seen before. I enjoy texts from friends and family who have little surprises throughout their day, too – a bright red cardinal at the feeder, a set of keys that was lost but found, gifts of time used to make art, wildflowers gathered to bring during a hospital visit, a card in the mail on a day when you felt forgotten, beautiful days to sit on a back porch, and many prayers answered. Do you keep a journal? Do you write on a blog? Or do you keep stray gift photos on your cellphone to look back over occasionally? God shows up in the big and the little things. I was reviewing past blog posts of 2024 and am so glad I keep a record. There’s so much to thank Him for.
With that in mind, here are the last stray gifts shared for December. I wish all of you a safe and Happy New Year. A description of the photos will be after the collage.
Top Row: 1) Eggs. I love eggs for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, or dinner. Twice this month, two eggs came out of one shell. It was a little exciting. (Did I mention I love eggs?) 2) Sometimes, we get stuck in a rut and watch TV for hours in the evening. One night, we plugged in the Wii and the three of us played a few games of bowling instead. We had forgotten how fun it was. Jonathan and I played tennis afterwards and tried to ‘whip the tar’ out of each other. haha. 3) Postage dies and stamps have been my favorite to work with this year in cardmaking. This year’s Christmas cards were made with a few new crafty supplies and Christmas paper I’d had in store for a few years.
Middle Row: 1) I used a new-to-me large ‘Merry’ die to make Christmas cards this year. 2) and 3) I played around with pinecone paper and made two similar cards for two different people. I liked the non-traditional holiday card colors.
Bottom Row: 1) Christmas cards I received from friends and family! One of them is handmade! 2) I enjoy the snow photos my friends from PA text to me. I also enjoy looking at them here in the 60-degree desert weather at the same time. 3) The church was clearing out the live poinsettias that were used to decorate for Christmas, so I brought one home. It needs to be repotted and I “just so happen” to have a flower pot the right size. Stray gifts!
The Joyous Day to Come
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
We heard this beautiful song for the first time during a Christmas program a few weeks ago and thought I would share it with you. The music video is posted after the lyrics.
Merry Christmas to you all!
“Still, Still, Still” – an Austrian Lullaby, 1865
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
What We Share
Not that which we give, but what we share, for the gift without the giver is bare.
James Russell Lowell, 1848
Stray Gifts December-
Something nostalgic: We’ve been to two children’s Christmas programs in the past few weeks, and they brought back memories of participating in a few when I was younger. I’ve also helped put programs together and it is no small task! Hearing children share Christ’s birth in Scripture reading and song was a blessing. I’m also amazed at how much little ones can memorize!
Something enjoyable: The last decade has been difficult. We’ve been a bit secluded due to John’s health issues and have just started to get out more in the last two years. We had been invited to a few church Christmas parties by several local churches and not knowing many people, we were unsure about attending. We did choose to go to one and we had such a good time!
Something surprising: Recently on a Sunday evening, a teenage girl came to church by herself and sat behind us. During a time of handshaking, I introduced myself and asked a few questions. She explained that her grandfather attended this church and she was thinking about visiting more. Much to my surprise, she came to the Christmas party – by herself. She was the first guest there and we arrived soon after. I sat down next to her on the couch and started asking about her day, her school classes, etc. As others started to show up, it seemed that they knew her a bit and conversations started flowing as the hosts were finishing getting dinner ready. We saw her again in church on Wednesday night and her grandpa was with her this time. When he was talking to John before service, the young lady told her grandpa that we were the ones she mentioned to him. The grandpa’s face lit up and he heartily thanked us for being so friendly to his granddaughter. The exchanges I had with her weren’t lengthy or deep, just simple conversations, but they seemed to have made a difference.
Something impressive: A set of five-year-old girl and boy twins sat in front of us during Wednesday night church service. We have seen them before and have talked briefly. I asked the girl how her day was and she responded that it was good. She talked about her day in kindergarten and about her family moving soon. She then asked me, “How was your day and what did you do?”. I shared that I had done some house cleaning and she said that she helps her mom clean the house…especially when company is coming over. Both the twins were great at keeping a conversation going, asking questions, and responding politely and with interest. During the service time, she sang, “Mary Did You Know?” and it was the best version of it I’ve ever heard. The pleasant spirit we had seen beforehand made the special song so much sweeter.
The Try-Angle
The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle.
-Author Unknown, c.1920s
At the end of the day, if the kitchen sink is full of dishes and other tasks need attention, it can be such a letdown when there is more work to do. It’s easy to just leave it until tomorrow and go to bed, but when tomorrow comes and before breakfast is even cooked, yesterday’s work casts a shadow and has now become extra work for today. With the shift of energy in me over the last few years, every little thing can become a big thing in a hurry. I came across a video recently of a woman who was sharing the same struggle. At night, when she just wanted to be done with the day, she asked herself how she would feel if she took a few minutes and tried to reset the kitchen so the next morning would be easier. She looked at getting the few tasks done as if she were doing it for a friend. If she was a guest and knew her friend was tired, she would offer to clean up to make life easier. She mentioned we do more good for others than we sometimes do for ourselves. “If tonight, I try to tidy up a few things, then tomorrow I will have appreciated the effort”, she said. I’ve started to say, “Tonight’s Rebecca will get these few things done for Tomorrow’s Rebecca”. John and Jonathan help all the time, but sometimes there are a few extra things the guys don’t notice (or care about as much as I do). It has helped me think about the next day and how I would feel if I left certain “today” things undone. This happens more when I’ve spent all day crafting! I’m in the zone of making Christmas cards currently, and it’s easy to let tasks pile up so I can play with pretty paper instead! When Tonight’s Rebecca takes a few minutes to get a few needed things done, Tomorrow’s Rebecca is quite relieved in the morning! I don’t always accomplish this, but I never regret it when I take a few minutes to make tomorrow easier.
Stray Gifts Update! (Comments below collage)
Fall Cards: I think I love making fall cards most of all! The top three are examples of Thanksgiving cards I sent out this year. The “Thanks” card was made for a friend using 3-D leaf stickers I found at Dollar Tree!
Flower Photos: While visiting my dad last month, I saw a few Morning Glory flowers blooming in his yard that Jonathan and I had planted years ago. They grow in the desert quite well and can make a plain rock wall or a trellis look so pretty. When we moved from El Paso, I brought the yellow bell plant with me. It looks so pretty by our front door.
Nature photos: My friend Marie in Pennsylvania shared with me her view from her back porch in early November. My friend Kara (also from PA and Marie’s daughter) sent me the snow photo (taken November 22). She that said one day, ten and a half inches of snow fell before noon! Thankfully, she was able to get a fire going in their stove to help keep them warm.
What the Angels Eat
When one has tasted watermelon, he knows what the angels eat.
Mark Twain
Something tasty: “We should get a watermelon before the end of the season”, I told John a few weeks ago. This was on a Saturday. After church the next day, I saw Jonathan carrying a large, bulky bag. Our friends had driven to a little tent produce market a few blocks from the church and surprised us with a watermelon and a canteloupe! We hadn’t mentioned wanting a watermelon to anyone! We could smell the melons right away and oh, they were so sweet. They couldn’t have been more perfect. “Watermelon is a memory”, John commented as he was cutting it open. As a child, he used to eat watermelon in the backyard with his grandparents listening to a Texas Rangers game on the radio. I have a special memory of adding salt to watermelon for the first time at my Aunt Madeline’s house. It forever changed how I eat it! I was probably around 10 years old at the time. The watermelon was so good, that John stopped at the tent and bought one a week later. We saw the tent was still up the other day while we were out, and we just might get another one! Both melons were so good. What stray gifts! Disclaimer: Now I don’t know if angels eat watermelon, but I thought the opening quote was cute. There are no photos of the melons to share, but I do have a few others I’ve collected. Comments about the photos are below the collage.
Also tasty was the chicken soup I made from rotisserie chicken. We love Sam’s Club chicken, but nearly every time we go, there is a long line of people waiting for the chickens to be ready. One of the days we were at Sam’s, the chickens were hot and ready and there was no line! We couldn’t believe it, so we bought two because it was rare to not have to wait. We used the chicken for tacos, chicken salad, and soup! Pictured next to the soup are green beans a friend of mine sent me. “Enjoying snipping beans on the back porch”, she shared.
Something beautiful: Another friend sent me this photo of a peony in her yard- one of many. I love it when friends and family send me their stray gifts! The first photo in the second row – Clouds in the desert always bring hope of rain. We did get some rain and it was such a blessing!
Something creative: The card in the middle of the collage was one I made for Jonathan who turned 28 years old this month. The patriotic card is part of a collection of cards I made for military and veterans. Overall, I have 45 cards to send to a charity organization that will send them out to the right places. I will have more photos posted on my Instagram account soon.
The first two photos in the last row are cards made from new templates I’ve been working with lately. There have been several occasions I’ve made cards for – get well, birthday, sympathy. And now with Autumn coming, it’s time to get my fall paper out to see what I can make with them. The last photo is of a card I sent a while ago to a friend to use. She sent me this photo and said, “I used this card today….so grateful to have beautiful cards like this one to send. Thank you!” I always hope the cards I make will be a blessing and her text was an encouragement.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 38:4
The Greater Work
Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
Sometimes I don’t know how to pray. Illness, loss, divorce, conflicts, and trials abound. I receive prayer requests from others often and having multiple petitions layered upon others, my heart becomes heavy for family and friends. As an empath, I have found that being off social media is best for me. I keep my world relatively small so that it’s easier to focus on those who are close to me. When prayer requests pile up, I feel like I am playing the game of “hot potato” with God. When I receive the request, I think of Romans 8:26-27, and immediately hand it over to God.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
How do I pray anyway? A few of my friends are dealing with heavy family issues. What do I ask for? How do I form words when the heart hurts, the soul aches, and the mind is numb? The prayer that never fails comes to mind; “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Even if it hurts? Even if it means I don’t get my way? Even if someone still suffers, dies, walks away, gives up, or takes years to come back to God? My thoughts are not His thoughts. His timing is not mine. I have found some direction on what to pray for from the book of Philippians when I start to feel overwhelmed.
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Philippians 1:2-4
GRACE to you (dignity, balance, thanksgiving)–for every mile, for every trial. I ask for new grace to face a new day even when there are no answers – at least not at present. I pray for dignity to accept mistakes and to receive forgiveness, for balance through a diagnosis or other issues with thanksgiving that God’s hand can still keep, protect, and guide.
and PEACE (one accord with God, tranquility, the quietness of spirit)— I long for stillness – not rushing to find answers or even understanding. I urge for reassurance that God alone can fix, bend, and mend people and problems.
MAKING REQUEST WITH JOY – calling out with joy because I go to the One Who has the answers!
No matter the situation, prayer is the greater work. Whether the prayer is short or long, a breath or ongoing throughout the day, God hears. When my soul seeks for a voice, sometimes the only words needed to cover it all from the One Who sees it all are Grace and Peace.
A Knocking from Your Soul
Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul — and you answer.
T. Guillemets
I can’t help but make something – whether it be playing the piano, writing in this blog, or crafting cards. It may sound a bit dramatic to say, “Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul”, but if you are a creative person, you know what I mean. What if I said it was a calling? Either way, I feel drawn to creative endeavours. I’ve been making cards still nearly every day. Whether I sell them or give them away, it doesn’t matter – I’m going to create anyway. I consider my cardmaking an encouragement ministry, first of all, but if someone pays me for a specific request, I’m grateful and the funds help pay for supplies. I have a few friends who, like me, enjoy encouraging others through a handwritten note and I have been making them cards to send out as they see a need. I have an Instagram account @ stray_gifts_studio where I post photos of a lot of the cards I make. I don’t always have time to photograph all the cards I make before I send them out, but I thought I’d share a few here of what I’ve been up to. It’s been a while since I’ve shared a cardmaking post. Below the collage, I explain a bit about the cards.
Top Row (left to right): I made Valentine’s Day cards to send out using postage stamp frames and stamps. These cards were a lot of fun to make! The middle card was made for a friend’s dad who was having ankle surgery. I used one leaf stamp in varying shades of green with a “thinking of you” sentiment. I thought it made a nice masculine card. The third card was made using a new-to-me technique. I used a leaf image paper punch. The paper punch cut out the leaves and it made for an easy card.
Middle Row: The vintage typewriter set was new to me when I made this card and several similar ones. A friend of mine saw the photos of the cards on Instagram and she loved the typewriter so much, she asked me to make her some. She used them for her handmade cards which turned out so nice! The middle card is not typical – it’s called a ‘flat card’ where you turn the card over for the handwritten note. I made several types of Easter cards – too many to share all the photos. I believe I mailed out over thirty this year. Something neat that happened with some of the Easter cards I sent can be read here in the entry, Where Peace Dwells. The last card was a birthday card I made for John in January. I love the big script “happy”.
Last Row: I made The first card for our interim pastor and his wife. While they were away on a wedding anniversary trip, I made a card for them and brought it to church for everyone to sign. The cards in the middle were made for a special order. The paper is so pretty and looks like linen up close. The last card was crafted recently for our church pianist who had knee replacement surgery at the beginning of June. I brought it to Sunday School for our class to sign.
Thank you to those who are helping spread encouragement and care to others through handwritten notes.