Love More

  Love more.  

It's what Mama used to say. 

I love you "more." -- I can still hear  her sweet lil voice.  

She passed her  baton to me and now  I say it too: 

I love you more.   

Yesterday I noticed one of my sons says it too.  

Love... it's something that never seems to stop growing. 

 If you love someone... likely it grows  "more"  every day. 

Especially when you water it and give it some Sonlight.  

Because of love ... social distancing 

sucks.  And I'm struggling ...

I have friends who haven't been near their kids at all... 

Our own little world has been a little different in that myguy, and sons 

all work together.  They're essentials and we are all in a fairly close sphere.  

Yesterday after work, our oldest came out to dig up and take home a mess of 

red raspberry canes I have popping up out of their boundaries.  

When he got here I said "Hey, how soon you gotta get home?" 

He said, "Not for awhile Mama, why?"  

me:  "Ya wanna go fishin with me?" 

A big smile lit up his face. 

(This child was born to fish.) 

He went to get the side by side... and I went to get the worms out of the fridge. 

It was so much fun... just he and i.  

My little baby boy who's a big strong man.. my Strongheart (i call him) 

He just so happened to have some new crawdad lures  in 

his vehicle. That  was just meant to be. ha 

When he went to leave... without thinkin 

I grabbed and hugged him.  I don't know what I was thinking... ( So much for social distancing.)  I seriously plumb forgot.   And he like always kissed his olde Mama on top of the head.  

(i'm gonna work on that)
I have got to be more careful.
I pray he stays healthy... and we pray everyday for all our family and friends to not get this virus.  

It's so hard ...

I'm so ready for things to go back to normal and 

when is that gonna even be?  Because to love... for most people is not distanced.  

Now; we've been having to learn that out  of our love we must distance from others 

to protect them.  

It's just so very opposite of the way love usually is.  

Love is close... hands on... reached out... held tight... squeezed.  

Love is more.

Love is an action  verb.... and it usually hugs alot.

Just like even my kitty Two Socks here.  

 I thought of it all morning.  

Even planning out my day.  

 During my study time, I listened to the Dwell app and the reading was in Colossians.  

Love love love.  Put on Love.  I have a few errands I need to go run and 

 one of the things I have to do is go to walmart.  That means

putting a mask on and staying away from people.  It's hard to love the people

in your path when you gotta steer away from them.  Right now steering away is love.  

It makes me think of the story of the good Samaritan.  The guy who saw someone in need 

and didn't pretend he didn't see him, and didn't cross the street to avoid him.  Instead he went to him...

and with  hands on .. he helped.  More. 

In my faith journal above i found myself writing about the time we were here in our auto mechanics shop working.  i looked up and this young gal walked into our shop barefoot.  She had been with her boyfriend out driving our road and they got in a fight and she got out of the car and he left her there! 

She was crying and told me everything that happened...    i listened.  Then he drove back by and stopped at the end of our driveway and they were texting eachother.  She said she wanted to go back to him.  I questioned her if that was a good idea and she said yes she wanted to.  She was adament.  

Before she left i asked her if i could pray for her?  She said yes.  Right there in the middle of our shop i took her hands and prayed for her with myguy and our eldest son working a few feet away.  She cried while i prayed and then i hugged her... holding her tight like I was her  mama until she let go first.  

She thanked me and headed out with her little bare feet and cell phone.  

i'll never forget her.  It was one of those moments that you just knew God made your paths to cross on purpose for His purpose.   It felt important to share it 

here today.  i don't know why... but there it is.  

Love more.  

i am taking it to my heart today. 

i don't do love right all the time.  

Show me how God.  

Your way... more

#sharethelove

Day 14 Gratitudes, Watercolor Play

 Hello friends,

So yesterday was the last day of prompts for my little Love Book.  

Valentines day seemed the perfect day for it and part of 

me doesn't want it to end.  

Good thing I have shelves of old books to start something new.   

 Yesterday's prompt was gratitude.  

As I think  of all the things I'm so grateful for..

the loves in my life- well; it makes me rather emotional.  

It was easy to just write ... and give thanks.  

This heart is very full.  

The night before Valentines day we went to our grand daughter's house

to leave her a valentine.  When we went inside she ran into my arms 

and clung to me so tight.  The love I felt was ... incredible to say the very least!  

When we had to leave she even cried.  Oh what a tug it was!  

I journal this memory with absolute gratitude.  

I need to write them in the book I keep for her as well.  

-- so all the prompts are finished now but I still have three or 

four pages left.  

What to do with them? ...

 I'd ordered this little set of watercolors called

Hopeless Romantic from Alchemy Soul Arts, 

and they came yesterday!  

This afternoon I got  to play with them.  

 This set will be great for skin tones for me.  

 I made some doodles and 

blew out the color.  I set them out to dry and 

this evening will add to them.  

  At the flea market, I recently found a couple vintage butterpats.  

They may find their way to Blake's mud kitchen this summer but

until then they work great for mixing.  

When I finish these little watercolors, I think I'll cut them apart and 

add to my final pages.  

Last but not least is this!!!!!!!!!! 

My sweet, dear friend Susie sent me the most amazing book of my childhood 

hometown.   She also made  a homemade

valentine! ...  The valentine and a copy of this  photo has to go 

into my book as well.  This is the old Catholic church and her Momma 

thinks the church was added onto.  It's where I was confirmed!

So while the church looked different when I was little... this old  church

may be within the walls.  Isn't that something?  

I have such strong feelings and memories about this place. 

The priest was very dear to me and I can still hear him singing

I've got that Joy joy joy joy down in my heart.  

I had no idea the seeds that were being planted inside of me then...

but I do now!  

So I will tuck this photo into my special book.  

 After this evening it will be finished.  

She's chunky and chock full of love.  

I leave yall with a new scripture picture.  

These are my valentine roses from Myguy and I'd love to share with you.  

Feel free to print them and share.  

Thanks for visiting me today!

Day 13

Day 13 Love Letter

I'm sharing this page before the journaling part.  

I'll be writing a juicy love letter in white gel pen 

over the black gesso.  

Myguy and I have kept all our love letters in the past 36 years.  Actually

longer than that.  They're stored in a vintage case lined in black

taffeta.  Someday our kids will read those old letters and notes 

and no doubt get quite a shock. lol  

Many were when we were crazy teenagers.  

Day 12

Walk in love...

....Journaled thoughts

The other day I ran to the store to get a bunch of groceries. 

It was just one of those days;  

-You know the kind...

It was crowded... full of crabby people and 

about 3/4 way through the store ... I happened to glance down.

I was wearing my "love" hoodie.  

 I felt so convicted.   

Where'd the love go?

Pretty sure it had flown right out the window.  

It was spelled out on  my shirt but 

other than that.. ?????

How many people had I crossed paths with but 

went "before," or turned away from.     

Leaon..  to walk in it girl...

 put it on for real underneath that hoodie.

 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Col 3:14

Day Eleven

True Love....

One trait of true love jumps to the surface for me.  

A love thing  that is  authentic and true to being who we reeeeally are. 

Being the original, one of a kind,  unique person God created us to be. 

Not striving to be like someone else.. or  what other people think we oughta be or especially look like.    

When we start walking in "that truth" 

a beautiful thing happens  that really has

nothing to do with how we  look
and more about how we love:
in truth.





   

Day Ten I love this medicine....

I love.... 

to laugh. 

Especially the giddy, completely inappropriate kind.  

Often it happens when it's sure NOT the place to laugh.  

But you and usually someone else 

arc this charge that flatout explodes 

into uncontrollable 

bursts of ...the giggles.

You try to stop... 

you force yourself to breathe but

again it rolls out in tears and snorts

and hilarious 

bahas.  

Before you know it --you're roaring.. 

and others are too and by the time you catch your breath.. 

no one really even knows 

what was so funny????

Who knows??... but sure feels awesome.     

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

 but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

Day 9

Crazy love.... 

crazy love is loving even your enemies.

That's some true crazy love huh?  

Day 8 Love The Little Things

It's a million, little things.  

Beautiful.

Ordinary.

Often taken for granted

or looked over .

It's a place to park your boots and winter coat.

It's the pink breadbox that hides peanut butter chips

for your next sweet tooth.  

It's middle of the day calls saying, "Hey I miss you and 

be home soon as I can!"  

It's  I love you Momma texts.

It's her shoutouts that ask, "Hey whatchya doin?" 

It's a pot of red tulips filled with two year old colored hearts.  

It's her  "Brrrr rabbit!" that still makes me laugh out loud.  

It's shared weather reports from Wisconsin and 

your old stompin grounds in South Dakota.  

It's private messages sayin, "This made me think of you."  

It's cuddling and praying together for eachother and our kids

before our feet hit the floor.  

It's throwing his work clothes in the dryer while he's getting ready for work  

because you love to hear him say "ahhh these feel so good!"  

It's holding hands to sleep after 36 years.  

It's how she holds pony faces in her hands and kisses velvet noses.  

It's fresh flannel sheets on the still most comfortable bed in the world.  

It's hearing them talk shop and while it sounds mostly Greek, you can still understand

the heart in it.   

It's the smell of chocolate chip cookies and how he runs off with a bagful.

It's watching her shovel sloppy joe in her mouth knowing she's not a meat eater.  

It's the deer standing frozen in the trees pretending you can't see them.

It's the sweet sound of old corgi snores.  

It's first bloomers in  bright yellow jackets. 

It's the dance with a stranger in walmart when your buggies play chicken 

until you both start laughing and shakin your heads.

It's the neighbor who waves her arm off and you wave your arm off back.  

It's his handful of hot tamales because he's your hot tamale.  

It's a headful of pigtails and that  bribery to paint.  

It's asking for a booth but always sitting close together on one side.  

It's a sinkful of hot soapy dishes using duck blue soap. 

It's singing your heads off to Glorious day driving down the highway. 

It's all this life... 

ordinary moments.

And every speck of it matters...

every little beautiful bit.  

Day Seven A Love Story....

This altered book is getting chunky!

Today's prompt is A love story.  

 I don't think I've ever written how Mike and I met, so 

it was penned in my own handwriting.   

Now future generations will know how the branches on our family tree began.

The night a  Buick Skylark pushed a  guys Dodge Charger 

in the Safeway parking lot on purpose!  

Crazy teenagers!*    

Before closing my book tonight,  John 3:16  was added.    

It's the most important part of our story together and is  

the greatest love story of all. 

Goodnight yall.

Unconditional and Love At First Sight

So yesterday's entry here was cut abit short because real life was happening.
 It was our 36th anniversary and getting to 

have free time together on a Tuesday afternoon - a sweet treat. 
We had plans to go to Fort Smith and I thought I clicked publish on the
last post but I guess I hit save by accident.  Ohwell... stuff happens.  

Anyway, it's funny how when we got married I remember thinking 

how much I loved him and didn't think I could love him more than I
did that day.

But I was so wrong.  Because love can grow.  

And keep right on growing.

Unconditional love doesn't just happen. 
It's a gift that's given
and received. 
It's being vulnerable and letting someone know the truest you. 
It's loving someone in their mess and holding them close
through it.  It's being one ... no matter what.
As true as every speck of that is... I know there's still
so much we don't know.  And as time goes on... God willing-
we'll keep learning and growing, and loving... more. 

Life at first sight.  

I hear people say things about falling in love with someone the moment they saw him/her and

I just don't get that?  

For us-... love came with getting to know eachother.

It's spending time together  talking and sharing.  

"Looks"... they're just  skin deep.  You learn as you age that those things change

and don't matter so much.

Love  accepts weight fluctuations, and stretch marks, cellulite, and wrinkles.  

It sees with the heart... 

Day 5 Unconditional Love

Hello friends,

Day 5 Unconditional Love.

Barely got a start in my book today.

The rest will have to get finished tomorrow. 

It's our 36th anniversary  and Myguy is coming  home  early 

to spend time together.  The rose on my page was out of 

a bouquet from him.  

Unconditional love to me is 

loving more 

even still and 

it's the no matter what in life.

Part two on that will be included tomorrow.

But for now.. 

he's got my attention.  lol  

The Surprise On My Walk and Day Four

 Hello friends,

Some of you may remember that we've gotten back into raising a few cows.  

Holding onto them has been quite a struggle with the drought last Summer.  

Hay is so high around here; not to mention.. scarce.  

It's been a miracle that we've not had to sell anything yet.  

When we started back in - we had all heifers and a bull.  

This one crazy heifer we call Popeye because her right eye has always been huge

and she's blind on that side.  Anyways she didn't get bred when the others did and 

so we missed a whole year on her.  We knew she was getting close though now and yesterday

when I went for my walk ... look what I walked up on!  She'd just had it!

Best part was the baby was up n goin.  Love when things work out like that!

Myguy had to work all day so I'm so glad it didn't have to be pulled.  

 It was 70 degrees here too- what a great day to have a baby.  

 In the afternoon I walked back down there and Popeye  was just a doting on her.

I just love hearing those momma moo's when they're sweet talkin

their new baby.  Reminds me when I had our first son and I didn't know 

what I was doing.  I'd talk to him kinda like a new momma moo cow.  

"Are you okay?... Momma loves you.. are you wet?  Are you hungry?

I love you... I really really do... 

Have I said I love you?  

Ohhh you're so cute... I really love you!!!

You Mommas know the drill.  

Today's prompt:

Day 4 -- A love connection.

A love connection to me is the bigger picture that we can't see?

You know how you take a road trip maybe and go into several states.  

All those houses you pass on the road... all the cars... all those people?  

Everywhere you go moment to moment you see all these people living out their own

journey and story.  Then imagine all the other countries in the world...

it's all so ..what's the word for big; that is "that" ginormous?  

My small little mind can't find a word.   

-- Then think of all the people from the first memory you have from a child..

across the timeline of your beautiful little life?  

Relatives, friends, acquaintances, every person you've ever had any contact with at all.  

To me it's like we're all dots connecting into God's big beautiful story and plan.

So that's what my expression is today in my journal. 

It's all a love connection.

Dot to dot.  We're all dots.  

I look at it and it is not what I'd like it to look like exactly ... 

but it's alright.   

Thought I'd leave yall with a scripture picture that came to be from my 

reading this morning.  I can't remember if I have written anything about them here or

not but we have a couple miniature horses.   Blue is the bald faced boy on the left and Fiona

is the mare on the right.  Blue's eye became a little photo shoot 

for the scripture picture  below. 

His eyeliner always looks just right.  

I heard a sermon on this and this verse really got me.  

Feel free to keep and share if you like it.  

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.  Do not be like the horse or mule which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you."  Psalm 32: 8-9

Until we meet again,

#sharethelove #itsallaboutthelove

Feb 1

Feb 1... 

Love is .... 

I  have thought on this alllllllllllll day long. 

You try to answer it once.  

Coz it's ....big!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

High, wide, deep.. 

it's priceless... yet free?...

and cost everything.  

My head spins thinking about it ... 

and this olde heart melts and gets thankful...

It really is all about it.  

"The Love."  

The Word and Prayer Ink Sprayed

 Good morning from the potting shed. 

This morning I found myself reading about a man who had two sons.

After reading my lesson, I wondered what would happen if I wrote it out 

on coffee stained paper in the pink glitz ink.  

In an art class I took last year we used hand written papers sprayed with water in collage.

It smears beautifully if you don't use a permanent ink and when cut up and collaged it creates

a really pretty effect.    

 So I grabbed a few papers and wrote from my bible. 

 As I wrote... I found myself flipping back to Deuteronomy.  

I remember Deut 6:5 was once my anchor verse, so I 

penned a heart to maybe use in the next two weeks.  

When I sprayed it... it really really smeared.  In one part of the paper the

coffee and ink ran and created almost a watercolor affect.  

I think that one little piece will definitely go in the love book.  

No one else will know what was written there... but I will.  

 I love brown ink ... anything sepia or  coffee colored .. or mulchy  makes me happy so

I grabbed two regular sheets of copy paper; just the cheap walmart stuff and a brown pen  and flipped

my bible to Psalm 139 and wrote the whole thing out.  I mean cmon... if  Psalm 139 doesn't

ooze love I don't know what does.  The last part of my paper turned into my prayer.  

When finished, I grabbed my water spray bottle and gave it a light spray.  

I kind of love it.  It's drying now and is goin  in the basket I shared to pull from.  

Before signing off today, I thought I'd share my advent art journal from  this year.

The cover was real plain so I painted it.  I didn't know it at the time

but we ended up having a big ole Christmas moon too so the book means even more to me now.  

Don't think I'll paint the cover on this next one  but who knows?  Anything can happen.

So I leave you today with 

some pooh love... 

Over the summer, my Michelle colored a heart on Blakeleas picnic 

table with pink chalk.  When they left I took this photo.  

She'd also left a love note in chalk on the privacy fence that day. 

You never know later when pics like that can turn into a scripture picture

or note from you know...  Winnie the pooh?  

Feel free to print and share the love.

#itsallaboutthelove 

#sharethelove  

xoxo 

Gathered Inspiration

Hello friends! 

Oh it feels so good to be back here again! 

Thankyou for spending your precious time with me.  

 Yesterday I said I'd take a better photo of the spine on my book 

so you could see the narrow lace that actually holds my papers inside.

Pretty simple and easy to move things around. 

I pulled  things out this afternoon to use
so hopefully I don't  spend as much time searching for stuff.
Also inspirations started coming too. 

A friend of mine sent these lovelies and already I've used a snippet of the 

beautiful pink ribbon; tying it to the lace on my cover.  

My one little word for 2019 is "small" and the book page she sent has 

that word on it.  I love the larger font of these words and cutting words from 

old book pages to use in journals is one of my favorite things.  

(Thanks again Dawn!)

When I think of Valentines day I see hearts and cupid.  

Looking through old buttons and pendants got me in the mood to create.  

This antique ROSE button is a favorite in my whole stash. 

I kinda feel like it needs to be in this book.  

Anyone else a button lover?  

-buttons always inspire me.  

"small" things.  

So here's a basket at my table all ready to go.  

Extra papers, and pretties to pull from without having to 

jump up and search and dig.  

When putting it together,  I thought of the gradeschool girl I once knew decades ago 

who positively adored making her valentines box.  Cutting all those pink and red 

construction paper hearts and pasting paper doilies...   

What wonderful memories.  

Remembering those days 

got the juices flowing.  

Like many of you I have quite a few stamps collected.  

Not sure what I'll be using but... 

the "give Love" one definitely feels right.  

I'm glad they're all at my table now  because if you're anything like me-

If I don't dig them out ahead of time ----I spend most of my time 

walking in circles looking. 

Washi tape is another thing I love using.  

Although,

 -I wish the washi's matched better.  

ha-

(say that three times real fast)   

Pretty sure I'll use every one of these things.  

Fountain pens and ink ... have my heart. 

If you enjoy pens and writing and have  never tried a fountain pen...??

-- You really should!  

 Writing  is important to me. 

Fountain pens can be like ...chips and salsa.

After a bite... you wanna just ... double dip.    

The two pens on the left are my absolute favorites ever.  

Conklin Duragraphs.  Thee best writing pens I've ever ever 

ever had.  The far left has gray ink, and  the blue one is filled with black 

carbon ink.  It's a daily use.  You can draw and sketch with it... and 

it dries fast and can then be watercolored over without bleeding.  

The red in is called red fox and far right is pink glitz. 

See what I mean... like chips and dip.   

The pink glitz is glitzy alright...

see the gold on the bottom?  You gotta shake it like crazy before filling your pen.  

But wreeet wreeew!  Just write for Valentine's day.  ;)  

So I had another inspiration that came "yesterday." 

Inspiration of the pink roses kind.  

Our grandgirl spent the day with me and 

she pulled her little table into the center of her room 

for a tea party.  Setting the table with our teacups she went to her 

kitchen and got her vase of flowers- one is a rose.  Can you see it?

She went and got it all by herself to grace her table.  She's 2.  

They always set at the back of her sink n stove... 

but yesterday I know she remembered something from Summer and 

she got out of her plastic chair and went and got her "flowas" to 

set at the center of her table.   

What I think she remembered was  a bouquet I made her  and put

in a vintage bottle.  Pink oxallis .. and roses. 

See the vase to her left? 

My little sweet inspires me.  

I jot these memories here today because 

afterall it's all about the love.  

Love that was hand picked and 

spent making mudpies with lovely garnishes.  

Love sweetly scented and 

breathed deep.  

Little hands and pink roses...

These beautiful little memories to document and  savor.   

Because love gathered right here. 

xoxo