Ladder Lamp

Okay, so like this post is a week in the making. Meant to sit down and type it out on Monday and well, here it is Sunday and I'm just now motivated. Why? Because Donna over at http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ is doing a linky party this weekend that I want to join since it pertains to this post. She does a cool, themed linky party every weekend. So while sipping my first cup of Starbucks this morning I check it out. And now here I am typing away...so without further ado...onto the the post...

Lighten Up!

Three months! Unbelievable that time has slipped by so quickly. Still cannot fathom the last time I spent time here @ "Feather in My Nest" was the beginning of March! Didn't mean to neglect the blog for so many days. A good bit has changed in our family during that time. Changes that negated me taking time out from the real world and focusing solely on the family. Good changes. God directed changes. The biggest being a change in employment for my honey and a move to the other coast of Florida for him. He has been blessed with an apartment (paid for by his new employer) and with that blessing came the need for furniture, etc., etc. So began the process of setting up a second household. Some of the process was stressful and some of it was just pure F-U-N for me...like getting to purchase and refinish furniture.

Here's a snapshot so you can get the idea (before and after's are together):

I do still need to recover the cushions on the loveseat but haven't found the *perfect* material yet. Soon enough, soon enough. As you can see in the middle pic, his apartment is basically set. There's still a few pieces of furniture we need to acquire. However, the main focus on it now is to make it feel homey for him. Yeah, we're talking accessorizing! Super fun! We're just going for a beachy, coastal vibe. Laid back. Don't worry if some paint gets chipped or worn off. Easy, breezy. You get the idea. Even though I see this as just an expansion of my domain he does have some input into the decor. Which brings me to the point of this post...

Allow me to digress a moment...

A few weeks back when we were shopping over in Vero at a local thrift store for his apartment, I innocently picked up a basket of flowers/greenery, thinking if it was a good price I'd take it home with me. When he saw what I was holding, his smile faded and a look of disbelief washed over his handsome face. He went from happily shopping to being scared in 2.5 seconds! Then he very strongly voiced his opinion over said item: "Don't you DARE even THINK about putting flowers in my apartment!" In no uncertain terms he let me know it was not open for debate. Giggling, I put the basket down and told him it was going to be for me. Relief washed over his face and we continued on shopping. Little did he know he had just said the wrong thing to me and a plan was formulating in my mind...one that has now come to fruition. Just this morning I finished a gag gift for him that will be hung in his bedroom.

I have turned this:

Into this:

I plan on hanging these while he's at work and letting him discover them when he gets home. Oh, the look on his face will be priceless! I do fully expect these will not stay on his wall long, that they'll find a home in the top of a closet, never to see the light of day again. Which is cool and the precise reason I do not have much $$$ ($6.50 total) tied up in this project. I purchased the pics from a yard sale. Grabbed the flowers at Michael's for 60% off and already had the twine, paint and shells here at home. He may not appreciate the cuteness of these but we'll laugh about them for years! Thankfully he has a huge sense of humor. After-all, life it too short to be taken seriously all the time.

How 'bout you, Dear Reader...when was the last time you did something silly just for fun? Just to make someone you love laugh a little? Or a lot? If you can't remember then it's been w-a-a-y too long, my friend. Change that today! Lighten up! Enjoy the life that God has given you! Too much of what we deal with daily is serious stuff. But that doesn't mean that God intends for us to walk around without enjoying the time we have here, enjoying those He's blessed us to share this life with! Enjoy it with Him!

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

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Towel Head Wrap

Oh. My. Goodness. Yesterday I sewed one of the easiest projects ever! If I had decided to follow the directions exactly it would have taken a grand total of about ten minutes start to finish. Honestly. I just wanted to hug the finished project because I was so happy! Okay, so maybe I wasn't really that happy but it sure was close to being that happy. 

Here's a picture of the finished project, modeled by my oldest daughter:

Okay, she's going to send some dirty looks my way for this one...just can't resist posting it. The frontal shot makes her look like she's wearing a Smurf hat with the way she wrapped it:

Y'all do remember the Smurfs, right? All she needed was to paint her face blue and she could...well...let's just leave this line of conversation alone...hehehehe...

Back to the headwrap.

This project began as an internet search for something fun and useful to give as a door prize at our ladies' Bible study group last night. The lesson was on Bathsheba so it was a 'bath' theme for the night. So when the directions on how to make this popped up it was just the thing I was looking for. Those directions can be found here: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/09/04/towel-wrap-for-your-hair/ She even has a pdf file for downloading. Take my word for it, girls, this couldn't be easier to do!

Instead of just following the directions and using a plain towel, I decided to sew some ribbon along the finished edges of the towel to give it a little 'something' when it was done. This was okay until time to sew the two pieces together. It got a little bulky with two layers of ribbon and two layers of towel.

Also, BEFORE cutting out the shape of the headwrap from the towel I pinned (inside the drawn shape) the two halves of the towel together.

When sewing the two pieces together I used a serger and then ran an extra straight stitch with a regular sewing machine for added security.

As this project came together, all kinds of thoughts started running through my head...like...when there's a stray, cute towel on clearance...yeah, would make a nice headwrap! At a yard sale and find a funky, vintage towel that's still in excellent shape? Yeah, would make a nice headwrap! Need a gift for that lady in your life who has *everything*? Bet she doesn't have one of these.

Not only could this be used to corral wet hair...think about the times when one wants to soak without getting their hair wet.

Or how about taking a trip to the beach and you don't want your brand-new color to fade? Make one that matches your swimsuit.

Hmmm...come to think of it, this may be one thing everyone on my Christmas list gets this year...

So, what do y'all think?

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Time's a Changin'!

The days are getting longer and for some of us the weather is getting warmer. For those of us here in South Florida the cold weather has finally left us alone so that we are free to enjoy the winter weather that was the driving factor in moving us here. The signs of spring are all around us...the birds happily chirp away all day long, warm breezes blow through open windows, and one of my favorite things is happening...the citrus trees are beginning to bloom. Our lemon tree is throwing such a sweet fragrance off that when the wind is just right it can stop me in my tracks. The only down side to this time of year is trying to stay indoors to get anything accomplished. So many days I have fought the urge to grab my lounge chair, drag it out on the dock and chillax with the latest Nicholas Spark novel! Just wish there were times I could throw caution to the wind and live like a wild woman...alas, too many projects keep calling my name. However, this is the perfect time of year to get moving on a project that is best done outside. Then two birds are killed with one stone. A project is completed and one gets to enjoy the beautiful weather! Such is the latest project to be completed in the Richardson household...

This little cabinet came to live with us after a thrift store visit. The price was right  and it is solid wood.  However, the dark finish was just wrong. So after it came home I got to work. I sanded and painted and sanded and sanded and sanded some more. The only things that were left original are the hinges, knob and punched tin.

Here's what it looked like when it came home:

Not a bad looking piece like this but just dark, plain and boring...except for the punched tin insert.

Now it has character and to my suprise my family does not think paint ruined this piece:

At this point I still have not decided where it should live permanently in the house. Maybe it is destined to live at someone else's house. Who knows. What is certain is that it inspires me to pick another project that will require outside work so I have a good excuse to get outside and soak up some of this beautiful weather! Spring fever is raging full force now...;)

How about you? What is inspiring you these days?

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Making Myself Happy

Last night I watched Joyce Meyer and yet again she had inspiring words of wisdom to share with her audience. There is hardly a time one can watch her program without coming away with life changing inspiration. The latest program I watched was no exception. She made one of the most profound statements: "If you're not happy, change it!" Well said, Joyce, well said! So beginning today I am taking her advice and changing what needs to be changed to make myself happy. As I do this and implement said changes in my life I feel it is my duty to inform my family of the following changes...yes, this post serves as public notice to those whom I love the most:

To My Dearest Family:

As of late, Momma hasn't been real happy. Y'all know that if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Therefore I feel it is within the best interest of our family to make the following changes in our household.

The first issue we'll address is food. Namely breakfast, lunch and supper. Seriously, y'all. ALL three every day is so overrated. Therefore from now on y'all may pick which ONE you want me to fix on a daily basis. For the other two you may fast. Listen, fasting is a spiritual principal we don't practice enough. Don't complain to me about this, I didn't come up with the concept of fasting. Take it up with God.

Next issue is my name. I am going to follow Prince's example and change my name to an unpronouncable symbol. When y'all said "Momma" a bazillion times a day it was cute only when y'all were toddlers. It has since lost its cuteness factor and, well, can be down-right annoying.

Should you really need to address me, feel free to write your request down and stick it to one of these:

They will be conviently located next to the refrigerator. I will look at your requests when I feel like it at my earliest possible convience to decide if it is worth filling.

Laundry has become an issue in our household. I will no longer be held responsible for making sure your favorite jeans are clean when you want to wear them. Seriously, it is time to grow-up and start managing your wardrobe better. I do not care if you wore them last week and this is a new week. Find something else.

On the subject of laundry I feel it is important to address this problem with my husband, too. Each Monday morning I send you out with a week's worth of clean clothes. You habitually return them to me on Friday nights dirty. I think I'm getting the short end of this trade-off. Therefore, from this point on, you really need to plan ahead and make these clothes stay clean longer.

Next issue...lack of sick days for Mom. For the past twenty plus years I have not taken many so I have many, many built up. I will begin taking them on a regular basis. While I am sick and taking these days it will be against the rules to bother me for any reason. Listen, even if I am sitting pool side sipping a Diet Coke while reading a Nicholas Sparks novel I really, really am suffering.

Leave me alone!

Now onto the issue of your "needs." Okay, so you say you "need" a band-aid, cold medication or ibuprofin? Well, listen up...I need Godiva chocolate AND Starbucks on a regular basis. Do I get it? NO! And by going through this denial on a regular basis it has helped to shape my character and strengthen me in ways I never thought possible. Time for you, my dear children, to toughen up. Learn to deal with a little pain. It will make you a stronger person.

I also would like you, my family, to know that I am going to begin a new business. From this day forward I will be breeding Dust Bunnies in our home. You are forbidden to disturb them while they procreate. I may plan on selling them one day.

Last issue we'll discuss here is the lack of a Momma Vacay. Yeah, you read right, MOMMA Vacay. As in MOM only! So to remedy this situation I have given myself the right to take one as needed, by myself, for as long as I deem it is necessary. I will change my phone number before I leave so if you need to say anything to me while I'm gone, write it down and attach it to our new message board (see above picture). I'll check the board for messages if I return home.

In the event y'all decide you want to howl over said changes...well, where I come from when a dog just howls and howls they're likely to get shot. Just sayin'...

All my love,

*** (my new name)

Okay, I guess that about sums it up for now. I sure feel better after getting that all of that off my chest. Guess we'll go through a bit of an adjustment period as these changes are implemented and they'll have to get used to seeing me super happy. I think it'll be worth it for me in the end. Oh, and Joyce, don't hold it against me if my family decides to send you hate mail. ;)

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Part Two: Love at the Table

My man suprised me by coming home a day early and, well, he got suprised with our new table setting...and said he'd feel mighty bad about spilling food on his brand-new love inspired placemat. Somehow I just do not believe him, about feeling bad, that is. Before any *accident* happens I asked him if he'd mind snapping a few pics. He agreed. Hate to think of what this is going to cost me later...maybe two peach cobblers!?!

He appreciated the hard work I put into these but said they're the scrawniest turkeys he's ever seen! We've had many laughs already over these placemats and will surely have many more as the month progresses. I do treasure his sense of humor!

One of the aspects of our marriage that has grown so much better with time is our ability to lighten up and have fun together. We love to make each other laugh. We do not take ourselves seriously. It makes for some crazy times in the Richardson household. Thankfully our house is not bugged or others would think we've lost our marbles! ;)

So, girls, when was the last time you lightened up the mood and had some F-U-N with your man? If you can't remember the last laugh y'all had together then it has been w-a-y too long since it happened! Purpose to make today the day that changes. Let having fun and laughing together become a habit in your household, too!

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Love at the Table

Shhh! Please don't tell my man I sometimes do this  on purpose...I love to aggrivate bless him with custom placemats done all girly. Look, y'all, its not my fault he swims in the deep end of the estrogen ocean! He is a good sport even when his only option is a pink paddle! ;) Though he did threaten me once when I asked him to paint a pink spot in his boat for me to sit on. He walked away muttering something about painting it on the bottom...under the water...

He does keep his sense of humor through it all though I know at times its tough. Seriously, the man has no feminine side to his personality. I AM his feminine side! So when he has to come home and look at his name all done in pink by a pink flamingo the humor kicks in.  And it reminds me to make sure I slip in a masculine set of placemats every now and again!

See, last June I began a "placemat of the month" tradition here in our home. Each month gets it's own new, personalized, custom set of placemats. My man fondly refers to them as my little *masterpieces* as I lovingly slave over them. Okay, so that's laying it on a little thick, I know. Thankfully we do not eat off these, as they are for decoration only, because I think this month he'd refuse to use his and starve.

(Please bear with the bad lighting in some of the shots. I snapped them quickly and do not have the time to play around with them this morning.)

Here's a shot of the entire table:

This month both his and my placemats are identical:



The conversation heart on the pocket:

 Close up of the flamingos...their eyes are red hearts:

Our girls got these:

Their conversation hearts say different things and I chose to do the lips in pale pink to match the flamingos.

Now I think now I need to go bake a peach cobbler as a peace offering for my man...

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Project Reveal: New Old Table

There are certain times when an item strikes my fancy to the point I stop and remain fixated upon it like a deer in headlights. In moments like this all life ceases to exist. RT, my husband, knows this look all too well. Sometimes when my interest is sparked he can distract me and I'll soon forget about the object. He then walks away feeling victorious. Then there are other times he knows it is a lost cause. There is no distracting me. The conversation goes like this: "RT, isn't this the most glorious thing you've ever seen?" "NO!" "Well, sure it is." "Surely, it is not." "Oh, honey, I can do x-y-z with this piece and then it'll be..." And if I ever tell him "Shh! I'm thinking..." he just casually strolls away knowing this is one battle he will not win. Yeah, my man knows me all too well. Saturday was such a time. This story actually begins two weeks ago with a private conversation I had with God.

What used to be our school room evolved into a sitting area:

Not a bad place for the family to sit for a chat or to read but it just wasn't suiting the need I now have. So I said, aloud to God, "Father, I need a table, please. I need a place to spread out my study material and be able to leave it for days upon end without being in the way. You know the size and shape I need. I now ask for You to provide it." This convo stayed private between just the two of us. 

Then Saturday RT and I walked into a thrift store and I laid eyes on this:

My eyes glazed over, RT did his best to distract me and he ended up walking away in defeat. See, he didn't have any knowledge of the convo about this with God and thought I was just up to my crazy ideas again. As you can see, one side of the leaf is missing and this has been a well loved table. Not sure how old it really is. "1983" is written on the underside and there were three different layers of paint on it. The previous owner stripped the top and leaf but for whatever reason gave up and am I sure glad they did!

The first thing was to remove the remaining leaf...to be used in another project on down the road...then, after two afternoons and many hours of stripping paint later, that became this:

And, for once I did not *ruin* it with paint, as my family would say, much to their suprise. Instead, I chose to seal with with a wood wax and enjoy the old, well-loved, rustic quality.

Then came the fun part. Time to put it into place. Yeah, into the place that was already full of furniture. So the furniture shuffle began...and an official office is born:

I did have to swipe one of my dining room chairs until I find the perfect chair to go in here. But now I can spread out, reach the books I want on the two middle shelves on the bookcase (these are filled with the commentaries, dicitionaries and different Bible translations, etc. that I use) and for those chilly days I have a foot warmer! Only "problem" is that the rocking chair looks too good sitting next to the table. I'm thinking it needs to be roughed up some. ;)

And just what became of the other chair, you ask? Well, let's say this started a small chain reaction. It began with moving the computer desk down the wall from where it sat while cleaning off the top so that the other chair can temporarily sit next to it. I say temporarily because I'm not married to the idea of liking it where it now is. If I had my druthers I'd head out to Pier 1 and buy a set of the most fabulously perfect chairs for my new office. But this is the real world and those chairs would hit me for quite a few hundred dollars and these rockers are already bought and paid for. Plus they are super comfy. So staying put they are. Before I show y'all pics of this furniture shuffle, I've said all this to say this: everything in my home is a process and in that process things aren't necessarily *perfect* right from the start. For several months I've been working on this area in my home.

So, before yesterday the computer area looked like this:

And here's the "after" from the shuffle:

Lastly, so y'all can see how both areas work together, here's a shot of the entire room:

There is still work to be done....and the next two orders of business with be distressing the computer desk and then doing something creative with the snake tank in the background. I've also still got to work on decorating the table and computer desk but that will come after I've used them for a little while so I can see exactly what accessories I'll actually need. Oh, and the flamingo needs to find a permanent home somewhere in the room, too. But those are the fun little tweaks that'll happen with time. And that fun just never seems to end.

Thank you, dear reader, for bearing with me on this long post today. I almost didn't put up all the pics because to me the room isn't *perfect* yet. But, at the end of the day, I would rather you see me as a real person who does not have her act all together.

Happily Feathering ~Betsy



Better Late Than Never - Bathroom Project Reveal

Yeah, so I know I said I'd do this on Friday but life got in the way...several times a year we really stock our freezer and this past Friday was that day. We always take our time while doing this and a lunch date with my honey usually happens the same day. If we time it right and hit a buffet for a later lunch we aren't ready for a real supper so I'm off the hook with cooking that night. YAY! Oh, back to Friday...by the time shopping was done and all was packaged and put away I was d-o-n-e. So I'm bringing this reveal first thing this week. Before I do so, I have to admit that this is the way this wall looked for about a year:

Never meant for it to stay this way so long. Inspiration would hit and flee almost as quickly. Last week I made up my mind for it to be "The" week for this terribly long overdue project to get done.

So here's where I began to play:

After hanging the ladder, embroidering the crab on the towel and snapping the teaser pic to post I stood back and took a good look. It didn't thrill me the way I thought it would. Had to pinpoint what I did and did not like about the vignette. Played around a little more and that became this (minus the mini suitcase):

(Be a good reader and over look the chipped wall paint, please. When my bathroom grows up it will have beadboard walls. Until then I refuse to waste my time repainting.)

Here's a few more shots:

Now it's on to the rest of the room this week. It is easier to get inspired now that I named the look I'm after..."Bay Side Cottage"

Well, I guess I should say it'll be back to the bathroom once the other new project I'm working on is done. Saturday my honey and I went to a new thrift store in town and I found a treasure. As soon as I'm through stripping the paint off I'll post pics...

In the meantime I hope this all inspires Y-O-U to do something creative this week to add another feather to your own nest!

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Next Project

Can you guess what this is? Why, it's the latest project in the Richardson household! One that has sat undone for a year. Yeah, I'm publically admitting to it. Even though an organized home is the most comfortable I do procrastinate on certain things. There. I said it. My secret is out. Well, this project will have gone from "to-do" to "ta-da!" in a couple more days...and then I'll reveal all.

How about you? What have you been putting off way too long in your own nest? Don't delay another day. Get started, sister!

Happily feathering ~Betsy

The Trunk Reveal

"A" trunk has undergone a transformation to being "The" trunk in our house..week before last our neighbor was throwing away this treasure:

I mean, seriously, y'all! Who would throw such a beauty away? It was all I could do to not trip all over myself getting next door to grab it before someone else did. The coolest part is that is was F-R-E-E! And I have been wanting a trunk for quite some time. When we find them at yard sales they're either more than I want to pay or in such poor condition that they shouldn't be for sale. This one is solid wood and has been well-loved in all the right ways. Plus, it is extra storage space. Yipee! A double plus in my world! Can you tell I am still so excited over this thing?

So the transformation began by peeling the contact paper off and scraping the remains of an old sticker off the front. Then it was on to a light sanding and some painting, more sanding, more painting, more sanding so that it looked like this:

Okay, so now the secret of my super-fancy workshop is out...complete with dirty frying pan on the stove! Don't y'all just love the freedom we have to be real? Really, like who is gonna make sure their kitchen is clean when the creative bug bites? However, y'all can totally believe I'll be paying more attention next time I snap a pick like this and at least move the dirties to outside the picture frame. ;) Anyhoo, I digress...

It was then on to one more round of painting and finally the last time of sanding before that became this:

I wanted it to still be rough:

Knowing I wanted to put a number on top but being unsure of which number I wanted, I made the logical choice...and picked a font I liked and then chose the *prettiest* of the numbers in that font. Thus, No. 7 won! As soon as the paint dried it also got a light sanding:

Lastly...just to get the total effect of this transformation, here are before and after pictures side-by-side:

Now the only problem is that the table I set it on now needs a transformation of it's own. It just never ends, does it? Especially now that I am entering into the *junky* phase of home decor...oh, just what can I sand down next?

~Betsy

Time for a Name Change

In ancient times more emphasis was put on names than it is today but the fact that it gives a quickly noted meaning, in regards to movies, books, websites, and, yes, blogs, remains the same. As I have prayed over what to do with this blog during this new year I also asked myself what the focus of this blog is. Answer: making a house a home. This comes in many shapes and sizes...from allowing God to work on us so we are better women/wives/mothers/daughters/sisters/friends, etc., to trying new recipes to wow our family's taste buds to home decor that suites our family uniquely and even personalized sewing/craft projects that tell our family and friends "I love you." 

So as I began thinking about the name "All About Home" it just seemed, well, homely. Not bad, not overly interesting. Didn't repulse me, didn't necessarily exite me, either. That's when I knew a change was in order...thus, the new name "Feather in My Nest." Let me explain...

As women we are naturally nesters. For me this started the day I became a mom twenty-one years ago. Ever since that time period whatever house we've lived in has been in a constant state of evolvement to suite our needs/likes. Some changes lasted awhile while others have been short lived. But with each change I see it as adding another feather to the nest...meaning another thing to make our four walls with a roof a home...which is a process that never stops.

With all this being said, I want to share with you the latest feather to be added in our home. As many of you know, my husband's father passed away recently. Before he left us he told RT (my husband) he wanted him to have some of his tools when he was gone. What more awesome material item(s)  can a man inherit from his father than that? My husband has fond memories of his dad teaching him to tinker with engines from early on in his life. We had hoped that one day Dad would have been well enough to travel down here and get under the hood of our Mustang with RT. What a day that would have been! Okay, back on track, Betsy...when RT went to his stepmom's house to look through Dad's tools he found an old fishing rod and reel in Dad's shed. It was stuck up in the rafters and why my man looked up, who knows? (I think it was a God-thang!) When he pulled it down he remembered his granddaddy having it years and years ago. It was right then and there that we became the only family I know who has a fishing rod and reel as a family heirloom. Fitting, though. I do believe RT was born with gills. The first time he asked me on a date was to go to the pier and fish. Yeah, I knew what I was getting from the beginning. Anyhoo, today became the day I committed to getting it up on a wall:

Honestly, I almost didn't post this pic since this vignette is not complete. But then I thought that I really want everyone to see me as a real person and not somebody who instantly has it all together. So I snapped the pic and here it is! Before all is said and done the lantern holder and picture frame will end up with new coats of paint.

When my husband gets home this weekend I think he'll really be pleased by this. The picture reminds us of the place we used to fish in our hometown and coupled with the fishing pole it has deep sentimental meaning. This little "feather" will make him feel even more at home. But what will please him more is knowing that his wife desires to build a nest where he feels welcomed and that she loves him enough to make what is important to him important to her. This, in the end, is what our homes are all about. We need to carve out spaces that welcome our family...welcome ourselves, too...into a safe haven where we know we're loved.

So as you are finishing reading this post I encourage you to look around as you get up from your computer to see what little feather you can add to your own nest to make it more comfortable. It might be something as small as a scented candle by your favorite reading chair or as grand as making plans to repaint an entire room. Whatever your project may look like, don't delay another moment...make your plans, commit to the project and then get started!

My Princess...Wait on Me

For all of us who are either just coming out of, or are currently still in, a season of waiting...our God says:

"Wait on Me, My princess. My timing is always perfect. I know you're anxious about many things and I see your passion for all the plans I have put in your heart. I know that you long to fly, and I see your enthusiasm. However, just as a vinedresser nurtures the vine and waits patiently for the right moment to harvest the grapes, so too am I working tirelessly to prepare you to bear much fruit. Don't run ahead of Me or try to fly before My plans are complete. Your strength will fail you, and your dreams will wither away. Trust Me that My dreams for you are far greater than you can dream on your own. You will run farther and soar higher if you will patiently wait for the season of My blessing. Draw close to Me now, and I promise that this season of waiting will bring you the sweetest of rewards.

Love,

Your Kind and Lord of perfect timings"

Is 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

The above love letter is taken from "His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd.

Waiting patiently on our God to release us into the plans He has for us can be one of the most difficult seasons of our lives! This season can seem to drag on, especially when He gives us a glimmer of those plans. I love how Sheri writes "I see your passion for all the plans I have put in your heart. I know that you long to fly, and I see your enthusiasm." When we are filled with that passion that only comes from Him and are chomping at the bit to get started in walking out those plans but are being told to wait it is so comforting to know that He sees and knows this. He knows how impatient we can be to get started...or keep moving forward in those plans. Praise Him that He loves us enough to make us wait, prune out what needs to be pruned from our lives so that the end result is "to bear much fruit." Not just a little fruit. Not just good fruit. MUCH fruit. A bumper crop. One that keeps on and on. When much fruit is produced, many others benefit.  And when this happens many are pointed to the One who loves us most, our precious Jesus! So, dear sister, keep strong in your season of waiting on God to release you. Give yourself to His gentle pruning process...knowing that flying is in your near future!