Grow

Grow - a simple word but yet, for me, inspires much more meaning. Yes, the word grow can be the simple reminder of gardening, watching new seedlings take shape. But for me, "grow" challenges me to ground my roots deep where I've been planted and stretch to what God has intended me to be. Am I still learning? Am I striving to sand off those rough edges? Am I maturing into the creation I was intended?

It's not that I want to change into someone I'm not....although I have to admit through my life there have been times when I wished I was more, had a gift I don't possess, etc. But I've come to realize something. We don't look at an unripe fruit or green apple and get angry with it, or want it to change into another kind of fruit. We accept it for what it is and the stage it is in. We know that it is in a process and will one day become the beautiful, mature, delicious fruit it was meant to be.

You see, I believe that is the process each one of us is in. Those immature characteristics in us or our children (that seem so irritating at times), are just the green process of a creation that, at its full maturity, will make us the beautiful, unique creation we were intended to be. So today, I hope you can accept the wonderful creation that you are, yet reach, stretch and GROW into the beautiful, mature creation you were intended to be.

I'm Linking:

Metamorphosis Monday

The DIY Showoff

Creations by Kara

Sisters - Friends Who Listen with Their Hearts

Have you been blessed with a sister? I truly have been blessed - blessed with three sisters. They were the first three born of our family of 7, I was the last. They were mostly out of the house by the time I was old enough to remember. However, I have found as an adult that each one is quite the special soul and the years between don't seem to matter. What matters is that they do listen with their hearts. They love with a love that only sisters could understand. I don't know if they ever read this blog, but if they do, I love you! Here's to all the sisters out there!

Harvest Blessings - Getting Personal

Blessing....a gift bestowed by God.   Have you ever noticed that some of the trials in our lives, those that are so hard at the time, so difficult to understand, become a beautiful blessing in the end?  I was told once, that we see only one large looming, mountain in front of us, but God sees from a different perspective.  He sees the entire mountain range, the valleys....and the peaks.....the entire story of the journey we are on.  He sees what we must go through to get where we need to go....to become the mature soul that He has created us to be.

I hang on to the fact, that HE sees us.  He knows where we are in our journey.  I have come to the place in my journey where I realize I won't know the answers to some hard questions...why we lose certain loved ones too soon, why children get sick... I have to trust that He sees me, and knows the journey that I am on, and what I must go through to become the blessing He wants me to be.

Although I won't know the answer at this point to some of those hard questions, God has chosen to let me see glimpses of His plan for me, enough to reassure me that nothing happens by coincidence.  He has also turned some of the biggest heartaches in my life into the biggest, unexpected blessing.  I have shared a little of the story of my daughter before, a true blessing in disguise in my life, who has changed me more deeply than I can express.

When I see the word blessing, it touches places in my soul that I would have never understood before.  It means the small hand in mine, the chance for another day, the laughter and life I hear in my children around me, the steady breathing of my husband as he sleeps beside me at night.  Yes, some of these seem insignificant at first glance, but when we stop and think about it, life is such a fragile breath.    These seemingly insignificant moments, each one of them, are HUGE gifts from our Creator.  I guess many of us never realize that  until they are not there anymore.....I don't want that to be me.  I don't want to be lulled to sleep, taking these amazing blessings for granted. 

So, I'm shaking myself awake again, to feel the height, breadth and depth of those blessings that have been placed in my life.  And maybe....just maybe.....a reminder has been given to someone out there to wake from slumber, to see those amazing everyday blessings in their life.

Sending hugs and blessings your way =)





























Get Your Craft On

Fall

Today is back to school for the Flanagan Family (homeschool that is).  I'm kind of mourning the early loss of our summer here in Oregon.  We didn't have all that hot of an August....it has actually been quite chilly the last few days.  I do enjoy the start of school, my kids are excited (for at least a little while longer) and I have to say that I am addicted to school supplies!!!!  We will be starting the morning off with homemade apple, cinnamon oatmeal that has simmered in the crockpot all night and of course a pastry to celebrate the 1st day of school!  Of course, we need to do part of our school today in our pajamas to celebrate that we don't have to get on the big yellow bus!!

With the start of school, brings the thought of fall....I love this time of year!   You will see lots of creations from me this time of year as, you might have guessed, I love pumpkins!!!  Actually, I named my business and blog after my father, who affectionately called me "Punkin Seed" when I was growing up.  He passed away when I was 21 and I have so missed getting to be with him and know him as an adult.  He was a wonderful man and Punkin Seed Productions is a way to honor him and remind me of him daily.  =0)  With that, here is one of my latest fall creations:  Fall

  




 

Dad - Everything Honest, Constant and Strong (and getting personal)

My Dad was the stablizing force in our family.  He grew up in a large immigrant family on a dry wheat ranch.  His father was struck by lightening when my Dad was only two, so my grandmother raised that large family on her own.  As a result, my Dad was very close to his mother and I believe he learned to be extra nurturing because he was raised by his mother. 

Every one of Dad's little girls were his favorite and there were four of us!  Some of my best memories growing up are the ones of me sitting on my daddy's knee, teasing with him.  His nickname for me was "Punkin Seed" and hence, the reason I have named my crafting blog and business "Punkin Seed Productions".  It is still very hard for me to see any faults in my father - he was a wonderful man.  He passed away when I was only 21 and I have so missed him in my adult life and the lives of my children.  So, celebrating Father's Day for me is a very bitter sweet event.....remembering a father who made a tremendous impact in my life and those of my 6 siblings.  Thank you Dad, I love and miss you.

Family & Getting Personal - Lexie's Life Song

Family - the word can stir up so many different emotions for people. For some, family is everything and stirs up warm memories. For some, family may bring up emotions and memories of what was lacking. I think we are placed in the family we are in for very specific reasons. I don't believe it's by chance. Yes, no family is perfect and yes, there is some bad that comes along with the good. But, I believe we can use every situation that we have been in to grow and learn and bless others.

I was reading Lanie's post from Lanie J & Co. recently about being encouraged by her readers to get personal. Believe it or not, being "real" to others can have a profound effect. It encourages others that, yes, they are not alone in the trials, ups and downs, and challenges in life. Yes, those who seemlingly are so perfect from the outside, have the same struggles, hopes, dreams and insecurities as you. Being transparent is not always easy but I know that by doing so you can bless and help others beyond what you have ever imagined. One of those people who has no idea how she has encouraged and blessed others is my sister, Vonda. She lost her sweet adult daughter, Kyla, to brain cancer a few years back. Not only is my sister a talented writer (she would never admit it) but she has opened her journey through this most difficult situation with others. She writes about many things, is very funny, and I love all her posts. But the ones that touch my heart the most are the ones where she opens the window of her soul and lets us inside her journey of healing. Here is one of my favorite posts.

And to continue the challenge of sharing to hopefully bless and encourage others, I wanted to link you to a post about my journey through the most difficult time in my life. This is a post I wrote quite a while back on a blog I do with my sisters. You see, I have a blessing from Heaven that was not supposed to be here. A child that was given no chance of survival, that I was encouraged to abort ..... so here it goes, I'm going to be vulnerable and transparent. Hopefully this will bless and encourage some of you..... Lexie's Life Song

If this post has blessed and encouraged you, please pay it forward and be encouraged to "get personal".

Linking:

Metamorphosis Monday
Blue Cricket Design Show and Tell
Show Off Your Stuff Party Fireflies and Jellybeans
Strutt Your Stuff Thursdays Somewhat Simple
Creative Cats - Poppies at Play
Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special