Decorate your table: dinner time

This was taco dinner at my house tonight.  Do you see these beautiful boys of mine?  Adorable.  Watching the way they eat (or don't eat) is so entertaining. 

I encourage you to decorate your table. 

First, clean up before you start dinner.  Pick up the house, or even better, have your kids clean up the house.  Tonight I was the one who helped the boys clean up while Marc made dinnerJ  Yes, I am blessed!  Thanks Honey!

Next, set your table.  Now this doesn’t have to be complicated.  You don’t have to set 2 forks, a dessert spoon and perfectly folded napkins (although a dinner party is a whole other thing).  For tonight it was white plates, napkins (always kept in their holder in the center of the table)--one day my kids will learn to use those napkins, I tell ya—plastic plates for the kiddos and a few serving spoons.

Tacos present a bit of an opportunity as you’ll have several different items that must be built at the table (for maximum fun)…which requires several serving dishes.  Decorating your table does not ever consist of the bag of grated cheese from the store or even the container of sour cream.  Serve it up folks.  Get some simple white bowls or fancy ones if you prefer.  Do it up!   

Lastly, and most importantly, decorate your table with those you love.  They're the loveliest decoration you could ever dream up.

Much love to all of you & goodnight. 

T

Gotta Love Jardine's Salsa...made right here in Buda, TX!  Yummmm

Life Decorated...the new name & focus of my blog folks!

Decorate Your Life:

I have a new revelation a few nights back…that’s why I changed the name & look of this blog.  God tried to tell me, I’m gonna guess, about a month ago “Decorate Your Life” and I didn’t get it.  I guess I kinda had an idea what He was saying since I’m a little compulsive about having everything tidy in my home 24/7.  And with 3, yes THREE, boys to train on “how to clean up after yourself” that is no easy task. 

In addition to the at home training we’re all undergoing, learning to loosen up & choosing my priorities in each moment are my current tasks at hand. 

So tonight as Marc was razing me about my compulsion (if that’s what he must call it) I had a revelation….I LOVE to decorate my life…in its entirety.  I mean it starts with the home, right?  WRONG!  It starts with the heart.  Just like I said last night, or at least I meant to if I didn’t…Learn to LOVE!  (read yesterday for more on that)

Decorate Your Heart:  the subject of this evening’s post

Make it beautiful by welcoming Jesus into your heart (which you most likely did last night if you hadn’t already…and if not give me a call)

Nothing is impossible with Him on your side….NOTHING!  Stick around if you wanna know what else you can decorate:)

xoxo

Trish

New Years Resolution...finally ready to put into motion:

Marinade a bit… let my words sink in…deep…

ready?

I have these two amazing friends.  One young, gorgeous, confident, loud and extremely hip, the other soft-spoken, gentle, private and longing to be as classy on the outside as she is inside….both amazing women for totally different reasons.  Common denominators: They LOVE people…they LOVE the Lord…and they walk it out! They’re not ashamed of who they are or who He is.  Not embarrassed to share this amazing Gift.   

Handing out tracts.

Praying for others & expecting immediate healing or provision (and seeing it).

Inviting people over just to share the Good News.

Telling strangers about who He is.  Do you know who He is?

Along the same lines, God is dealing with me about something big…“love”.  Love…what a word?  I love people, I do.  I love my husband, that’s for sure.  I love those amazing boys He has so graciously given me.  But do I walk in love all the time?  No!  Do I walk in love half the time?  Most likely NOT!  That’s why He’s dealing with me so greatly right now…about this one big thing.  You know why it’s “big” because He IS LOVE! 

So here are my goals as of January 1…NOT a New Year’s Resolution, but real goals.

Loving the Lord by always putting Him first

Loving my husband without expectations or limitations or judgement

Loving my children “out loud” and just the way they need to be loved

Loving my neighbor as myself…even those I don’t really like very muchJ  We all have ‘em, right?

I might not always get it right but no one is perfect… I will get up and keep tryingJ  Love

Love

And this year…expect BIG things as you start the most amazing adventure of your life.  Oh man, Marc & I were just talking about this today.  I have always, and I mean since the Big Bend trip with Melissa --that story is at least 3 hours long if we get together to tell it—so basically-- always treated my life as an adventure.

Who would I meet next?

What city would I be in next week? 

What country?

What new place could I find for some local flavor? 

But never during all that traveling did I feel a need to tell anyone about Jesus….well it all ends here folks.  I have friends all over the world & soon it’ll be time to visit & share with them the Love that IS God!  Whoohoo. 

I’ve always known I’m a traveling girl but how much fun to adventure with my family.  I have such a stupendous family…have you met them?  Well, I’m no longer at it alone … I have the Holy Spirit leading me & Peace that passes ALL understanding and a God who meets ALL my needs and a family to share it all with. 

Hello world…Here I am!  Here we are!  Here He is!!!!!!  Oh Lord, give me the strength to ride this ride & be all that YOU want me to be.  I give You my all.  I surrender and gratefully expect Your Blessings to pour out for me and that all those around me will be affected by the Love that lives inside of us.  I expect great things from here on out…my New Year’s Resolution…there you have it folks!  Expect Great things! 

Bottom line for starting the year out right is accepting Jesus into your heart.  Right here & now.  Insead of hiding behind clever words (which I usually don’t have anyway) I’m just gonna tell you ….life isn’t really lived until you have Jesus on your side.  The real adventure begins now. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

If you don’t know how to accept Jesus into your heart then email me: thegreypear@gmail.com  I love you & more importantly HE LOVES YOU!!!!  He has big big things in store for you…if you’ll just believe. 

happy 2012...the year of restoration

I keep hearing its the year of restoration & I receive it for every area of my life. First & least important: beat my husband at scrabble! We play back & forth on our phones & he just used my word, added ONE letter, and got himself 75 crazy points. Gotta bounce back after that one. On a larger scale I expect restoration in just about every area of my life....FINANCIAL is the big one & boy is it BIG!!! Far more than 75 points:)

So what are you believing God to restore in your life? A relationship, health, career? He can do it all! Do you believe? That's all it takes...believing He can do ALL things!

I hope you'll chew on that while you lay at His feet all your cares, fears, thoughts, goals, dreams and more...all of it...at His feet. Now I must go so I can do just what I'm suggesting you do:)

hugs n love
t

divine conversation

Hey y'all,

guess what...I got a call from a dear friend this morning...divine appointment I tell you what! 

I encourage you to be a friend to someone today....give a smile, a word of encouragement, maybe pray for them if they come to mind.  Be a friend! 

Thanks to my friend for giving me a word of encouragement....several actually.

organizing toys....AND thoughts

Last night I was organizing the house in a mad dash to enjoy the boys before bedtime.  Every toys needs a home, right!?  While my hands were speedily working I was praying, giving my thoughts & ideas to God.  What a fun time I had in those fleeting moments. 

He spoke some very simple truths to my spirit.

·         Get the house in order

·         Everything has a place—then everyone knows how to help clean up

·         Create stations throughout the house -- no matter what room the boys are in there is always something constructive to keep their fingers & minds active

·         And some other more private revelationsJ

He also gave me ideas on how to be the mother He’s called me to be…and wifeJ  I desire all He has for me & its big I tell ya!  One day you’ll know just what I mean when I say BIG!  Until that day I keep asking God what does today hold?  How can I please YOU today?  Some days are better than others but never because God didn’t come through on His end!  I’ve missed it somewhere but when I confess my sin He is faithful & just to forgive me & cleans me of all unrighteousness (some days more than others). 

Right now my goal is to spend more time with Him, in His Word & shutting my mouth to HEAR from Him. 

I pray for you today that you hear His voice & that you gain His vision and plan for your life.  It’s always better than anything we can dream, hope or imagine. 

Where does He want you to go? 

What does He want you to do?

Much love & peace to you,

Trish

Finally our own shop.....

...for a weekend:)

Check out this video & read on....

Grand Tour of Retail Space & The Grey Pear boutique inventory

In order to better showcase a retail space for lease in downtown Buda we setup shop.  It looks a bit like a gallery with the exception that nothing was hung on the walls (can't mess up a fresh paint job).....we didn't move ALL of our inventory in because of time & energy...not to mention SLEEP I need from time to time. 

All in all, today was very successful....seemed to have several very interested people for the space and we sold quite a bit of our creations.  Nothing big yet like the furniture or big pieces of art.  There are a couple pieces I would love to keep in my collection so if they don't sell I’ll take that as an invitation to keep them for a bit longer. 

At the risk of sounding a bit strange (you're reading this so most likely you already know the strange factor I possess) I would love the people who buy the art to send me a picture of them with their art on their wall….is this too much to ask?  I’ve put so much time, energy, focus & prayer into each piece that I feel a strong attachment to them & know the new home they find will be perfect for them.  They’ll be treated with respect & loveJ  Ok…now I’m getting a bit silly!  But really just an enthusiastic collector is all I ask…Marc just wants someone with cashJ 

So in case you didn’t come see us today…and to all of you who did, THANK YOU…please come by for a visit after church tomorrow.  Love n hugs.  Trish

Oh, and a shout to Peggy… my VERY FIRST follower of my blog ...I met her today for the first time.