another new beginning....seems they are coming at me left and right.

Beginnings.

I love beginnings.  Movies, books, days, vacations, friendships ... ice cream cones.  The only exception could be learning this dang guitar....it's not an easy task, if I might say so.

the beginning of the garage wall mural started with the green grass

This is a new beginning for us.  A totally new, fresh,

moments later: my uber bad day dramatically transformed

When's the last time you had a really bad day?   A day where you go back in your mind to that Calgon commercial ....sing it with me ladies.....”Calgon, take me away!”  

Ahhh, you remember.

That was my day; take me AWAY!  

I try never to tell you (or my other friends Twitter, Instagram or even Facebook) when I’m having a struggle with something because I don’t want to speak negatively.  No one likes to read your junk as they’re scrolling....people want to be encouraged...uplifted....not read your (or my) drama.  So I keep it to myself, my husband and my sweet children.  

Am I alone here? 

Life changing Day 2: Part 1: Iowa cold can't stop the 5K miracle

Day 2:  
8:15 AM:

Aubrey wakes me up....HELLO....the 5K starts in 45 minutes!!!  Are you serious!???  

I had planned on having at least an hour in prayer to prepare myself for this ridiculous challenge.  Why did I sign up for this thing again?

My look today: pig tails,  yoga pants, leg warmers (I bought 3 years ago and just opened the package) and a cute swimmers shirt and jacket I borrowed from Aubrey.  Despite the freezing Iowa wind I was sweating bullets.

Kneeling at the foot of the bed crying out (in a whisper) to Jesus for grace to do this thing...He gave me the scripture "you will rise up on wings like eagles, you will run and not grow weary and you will walk and not faint"  (wish I knew the verse to share with you).  Ok, that’s a good one God, thanks.

PEACE

I looked in the mirror before heading downstairs: lo and behold.....I LOOK LIKE A RUNNER!  No, really, if I didn't know myself I'd say I was a runner.  But I Do know me and I couldn’t be further from it.  

Walking down the stairs of my Grandma Barb's house that morning for the zillionth time in my life I had peace....a strange peace that I had to fight for in the midst of great fear.  As soon as everyone saw me the chuckles commenced.  Huh, why is everyone laughing....

about TIME I try it!!!

Biggest Loser night!  a couple nights late but hey.....I didn't eat a bag of oreo's in the process:) just one oatmeal cream pie.  I mean, who could resist???

There are so very many trails my mind is traveling down tonight; adventuring over new terrain.  I’ve never been this way before or seen that hill before.   Everything looks new and unfamiliar; yet somehow, welcoming.  I’m turning a corner.  More like an “about face” (ahhh, Commander would be so proud of me).   I’m even naming my mental trails.... after those I've ridden on hundreds of times!  The Stables is where I spent all my summers growing up and plan to revisit next month...random side bar!

Ridge Trail:  It MUST be my choice.          I WILL make the move!

I’ve got my “EyeOn It” and I’m “Holding Nothing Back”

My 4 year old you see here runs full steam ahead just about every second of the day.  

2 cups of coffee later I'm right there with him:)

talk about "Eye On It", when these boys get anywhere near water they're looking for the biggest rock they can toss in

River Trail:  What if the whole world

confidence vs. pride

A conversation I had with someone Friday rocked me to the core.

This dear, loving person said (in a roundabout way) that I come across as "pretty full of myself most of the time".  OUCHIE!!!  Who wants to hear that?  

Pause button no longer activated---Blogging continues

written Saturday....

weekly project:entertain neighbors via front porch....
a sampling of my art for a local paper
(oops, didn't even make the deadline)

After what seems like forever since we've spoken (err, I've spoken...to you) I thought for sure I'd return with some profound truths that would send a tremor through this fallen world.... boy was I wrong!

Several times the past few days I've wanted to blog....share a special moment with you or a quick laugh. Instead I'd stop and thank God above for my blessings--my husband, kiddos, a home to decorate, cowboy boots, carrot cake, and a springtime afternoon. Maybe it was a fast. Have you ever done one of those? The results can be astounding, really! Don't people give things up for lent?---not sure which religion that is, sorry. Anyway, whatever you call it, He helped me regain confidence in where He's taking me.... and this blog.

So there ya have it....no rambling....just me thowin' it out there.

now its Monday....
Well, well, well.  We have the victory!!!  Yesterday while the boys were

stop running frantic--let's refocus together

Ever get so caught up in the day to day grind that you lose sight of the bigger, more important picture? 

We all have stuff; work, driving all over the place, returning phone calls, paying the bills, making the beds and finding time to clean the toilets.......we get so caught up that we forget what's really important. 

I know, I know you've heard this before...well, maybe you need to hear it again (just like I do) so if you take this sweet little moment with me...I’ll remind BOTH of us of what’s important.

First, let me go back just a bit: about a year ago God said to me "blog & YouTube"…which totally caught me off guard sinceor seen one.  Honestly, I didn’t care what those “self-centered weirdo’s” out there (sorry to my new blogger friends for that stupid stereotype) had to say. 

I had never even opened a blog

Having no idea what He meant with “YouTube” I started my blog! ..... I muddled through the first 9 months or so loathing every minute of it.  Ya see, I was forcing myself to obey without actually seeking Him and understanding HIS timing for the thing.  I ran full speed ahead (as I do with most things)....I left God in the dust.   However, finally.....I slowed down enough to ask God “what’s up?...I’m not enjoying myself here...help me out”.

Back in December God showed me some pretty powerful things about my blog and what’s to come and let me just say WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! I didn’t miss it....I’m on the right track! It’s gonna be BIG!!! Bigger and better than I could ever dream of doing..... on my own, that is!  However, nothing is impossible with God and I don’t have to do it on my own…I just have to obey & He’ll do the rest. And ya know what? 

I love it now....every minute of it. 

(little bunny trail for ya)
I love sharing my heart with you...sharing interesting places to go...things to do...things to see....staging tips... décor ideas ....really anything I think you need to know or do.... for YOU to live a decorated life.  Let’s not forget my real passion......to encourage YOU.  

Too many people out there tell you you’re not good enough or you’re not going to do that or have that.  I’m here to tell you just the opposite.....you CAN do it, have it, be it! 

On the other hand...... who really cares what I have to say, right?!?  

(slowly...say it with me)  Aaaaahhhhh...but God cares!  He cares about YOU!  He loves you so much that He sent His son Jesus to lay down His life for you...yes, YOU! 

(ahh, back on track...bye bye bunny trail)

Why did I start this post out by reminding you how busy your life is---as if you didn’t already know?  What’s all this talk about remembering what's important?  what is important?

God...your relationship with Him, your knowledge of Him through His word.  For me, this means I need some time to really focus on God, to give Him all of me.... and to be the best mama and wife I can be..... to walk this out with VICTORY...not simply mediocrity. 

I want the greatness He has for me as I yield my life, thoughts, habits, relationships and even this blog to HIM!

So I’m coming to you today with an open heart, transparent as I can be to say I'm taking a bit of a blogger break. (no clue how long…we shall see)

I’ll be taking notes as I go so I can share the bits He wants me to share when the time is right...

I encourage you to join me on this adventure....get alone with Him & tell Him how much you love Him...how grateful you are for all He's done in your life. I know God wants to tell us something....to do something IN us....YOU and ME....right now! 


I pray that we...you and I....as we embark on this journey.... hear from God in EVERY area of our lives.   I pray your life is changed forever by spending time with your Maker.
I pray that when I return to post those tidbits of truths (some deep, some shallow and even those quite random bits) the person reading will get what he or she needs and be blessed....isn’t that what it means to live decorated anyway?!?
I’ll miss you

many changes to take place, starting here & now, so stick with me & we'll do great things!!!!

Hugs n way lots of love to keep you until we speak again,

Trish

P.S. here's a little something to leave you with.... didn't even have enough memory tank for the end of the video:) 

P.S.S.  as I read this to my husband we talked about our different writing styles.  I said, I feel it’s a bit “messy”...he just laughed!  He said “that’s just how you talk...you’re all over the place.”  Great!  What am I to do with that?    Maybe my messy is ok....how will I know?

  Alright, enough already, I’m out......kisses!

Giving....the art of reaping what you sow.....give big

What would you say if I told you that giving generously will decorate your life beyond anything you can imagine? I thought so! You've heard of seed time and harvest right?   The farmer plants a seed, waters it, takes care of the ground and waits for the harvest to come.  Simple.  

I ask you...What have you planted lately?

 Every single thing has seed potential....I mean everything.  A thought is a seed.  Sow the right thoughts and you will experience a greater level of peace and joy with less frustration and disappointment.  A word is a seed, sow positive confessions and you will reap what you sow.  You will see those things come to pass in your life.  

Everything you possess is a great potential as a seed.


  A seed produces after its own kind.  A seed from an apple when planted will not produce an avocado tree....not now ...not ever.   

God put it on my heart to talk to you about giving several days ago but I didn't act on that leading.  Then last night, maybe 2 nights ago, who knows...I had some very vivid dreams about giving then the book by Oral Roberts Miracle of Seed-Faith came up in my dream so strongly that I woke myself up to remember to look for it.  So I started this book and the words are jumping off the pages at me. 

God also showed me a prayer of petition I signed 6 months ago asking God for supernatural breakthrough hasn't come to pass yet but I noticed I didn't tie any seed to that request.  Woah!!!  Eyes opened right there.  I have to sow seed to reap a harvest off what I'm praying for.   So here I go...obeying God and sowing seed.

You've heard it is more blessed to give than to receive, right.  Well Oral talks about this in his worth-the-time-to-read-in-my-opinion book.  The reason? I'll give it to you like he said it... "what we receive is not multiplied, only what we give.". The Bible said in Luke 6:38  "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”.   Hello folks...plain as day.   

Chew on that a while...I'll keep reading his book and my notebook will continue, as it akready is, filling with more to share but I dont want to overwhelm you while you prepare yourself to give....where ever, whenever and to whomever He leads you to give.  Tie your seed to your faith and expect a miracle! This works in every area....maybe you need more time...then give of your time to your church, a friend who needs help, a non-profit organization. Just sow seed...remembering that each seed produces after its own kind;)

This just came to mind as a small example...What if your neighbor has been praying for groceries and not told a soul they are in dire need.  If you are praying everyday for His leading & guidance then He sees you are trustworthy and gives you the nudge to give in that area.  What if you don't do it and no one else listens either....does this mean God is not providing that persons need?  No.  It just means no one is listening to God.  So be someone He can trust.  He may be ministering to someone about making a move that will bless you....do you want them to listen?  Thought so!

Give generously to have a life fully decorated by your Maker.

Homework:  2 Corinthians 9:6-11.  It'll bless your socks ON!

You can have a great life...don't believe the negative you here...you are GREAT!!!

Today I’m inspired to encourage.  It’s kinda my gift.. 

So I encourage you to cast a vision….a vision for a great life.  We talked about this before didn’t we? I’m all about decorating your life, living decorated, making the world you live in a more beautiful place.  Well one way is to write down your vision.   Seek God for what He wants you to do, to have and to be this year.  I know this is a BIG year...for YOU…if you step into God’s perfect will for you specifically.  We can’t look at someone else & say “I want what she has” or “I wanna be like him”.  Yes, there are people in this world better looking that you, wealthier and smarter with greater talents than you.  Who cares?  God made you special. No one can be YOU like you can...so I encourage you to be the best God has made you to be and that starts with getting a vision for where you’re going. 

I remember there was a season I was traveling so much I only saw my home about 3-4 times out of the year...I knew I couldn’t go on like that forever & couldn’t start a family on the road.  So for about 6 months (give or take) I sought the Lord... I told Him...”I can’t travel like this forever...I’m burned out...what have you called me to be?  What in this world could I do?  tell me Lord...PLEASE!”  So one night I was on a plane going who-knows-where looking at a decorating magazine I picked up in Australia and it hit me...I’m called to be a decorator.  I had been doing it for friends & family (those willing to listen to my elaborate plans for their house & actually DO them) for years...maybe since I was 10 or something:)  It seemed absurd I didn’t think of it earlier.  I don’t know how many months it took (not many) until I quit Princess Cruises (right after 3 months in Tahiti & before a scheduled 3 month stint in Asia) and started my own decorating business in Buda (a town which I had never even heard of before buying a house there).  I didn’t know ONE single person.  But I knew what God called me to do.  I had faith He would see me through & boy did he?  I had my first client within 3 weeks & I was off & running. 

I tell you that story to say there is NOTHING you can’t do with the grace of God.  That grace comes by walking in His plan for your life.  You can’t just do whatever you feel like doing & expect His hand of blessings to overtake you.  Am I making any sense to you?

Do it!  Find out what He says...it may take hours, it may take days, or even months but open your heart...your ears...your eyes...and your BIBLE!  Oooo…this is a great year...not just for me but for you too. 

Habakkuk 2:2-3 is so good...you should read it.  In fact I’ll give it to you...

²And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.
    ³For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.

Whoohooo!

I leave you with this…

Pastor John, speaking on vision, gave an example of a GPS in your car ... it can’t help you get to your destination until you tell it where you’re going.  Duh!  How can you get where you need to in life without a vision?  Turn left here, go 3 miles, turn right, etc.  A favorite scripture: Psalm 32:8 “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will guide you and watch over you.”      

Before anything comes into this world it has to be incubated… Examples:

A chick is in an egg

A tree is in a seed

A baby is in the womb

Your future is in your vision!     

“a seed must grow down before it can grow up & out” and before it can be seen

Get it?  Good!  Now this is important….don’t let ANYONE tell you that you can’t do it…you’re not good enough, smart enough, you don’t have enough money to do that….don’t even let your own mind put limits on you…God didn’t put them there so don’t allow them to keep you down!  Really, folks, I know this sounds elementary but we all have to break free from some limiting beliefs placed on us by our mind, family, friends, the media ….there are NO limits with God and if you know Jesus as your Lord you are His child….ooops…sounds like I’m preachin’ :)  Well there you have it…the TRUTH…maybe popular, maybe not but I’m not here in this world to please you…I’m here to live out my calling:)…and oooo boy it’s BIG!!!!  You’ll see!

I send you loads of love n hugs & I pray you receive these words with an open heart:)  Ni-Nite!