My Best Friend, My Mom...

A best friend, someone that I can turn to when I need a shoulder to lean on. Someone that listens, even though she might like to give advice. Someone that doesn't give that advice unless they are asked. Someone that feels my pain and understands without me ever saying a word. Someone that will pray for me...unceasing...until God hears her. Someone that was there with me to celebrate the good times and someone that was there to hold my hand during the tough times too.

She watched me grow, she lead me in the right direction and at times pushed me in the right direction! She was proud and disappointed at times, but the love she felt for me was never different. It was always an unconditional love.

Sometimes I resented her, but most times I listened and so appreciated the advice she imparted. And as I "grew up" I realized how much she really knew, how smart she is.

With all the love she could muster she opened her arms and let me go, even though she wanted to protect me forever. And I went, running into that new world of adulthood, never thinking I'd look back....but I did. Over and over I looked back and then ran back into the comfort of her arms.

She always knew what to say and she also knew when it was alright not to say anything. She knew when to make me go back into that adult world even though it was so hard for her. She knew she gave me everything I needed to survive in it, and I have. I may have some scars to show for it, but I survived.

She stood by while I made mistakes in life and let me make them so I would learn. But, she was always there to pick up the pieces when I failed. She let me know that it was alright to fail as long as I picked myself up and kept on going.

It's not just one day a year that is so special to honor her, I honor her every single day. At night my prayers don't end without asking God to continue to protect and bless her, I thank Him for her every night.  He gave me to her to watch over for Him, He trusted her with His child...to raise as He would see me raised, to honor Him and to honor her.

I call her Mom, she is everything to me and I thank God every day for her.  Happy Mother's Day Mom, I LOVE you!!

The Hands Of An Artist...

Are you an Artist? Look at your hands. What do you see? Do you see skin dried from making soap, skin "colored" from dying cloth, the palms of your hands calloused from doing woodwork or leather work? Maybe your hands are very sensitive from creating beautiful jewelry with tiny, tiny seed beads. Are your hands so covered in oil paints or India inks that you quit worrying about getting it off? I've seen the hands of a paper Artist covered with cuts. Or maybe they look like mine, a seamstress, full of pin sticks from hand stitching in poor light at night.

No matter what your hands LOOK like, it's what they create that matters. Hands guided by your ideas, your thoughts, your dreams and your heart. What they create makes you smile quietly to yourself. They make someone else smile to receive a gift made from those same hands.

Look at your hands....they say volumes about you as an Artist and they are so special...what would we do without them? Our craft would never be realized, it would just stay a thought or a dream that would never come to fruition. Our hands, they say we are Artists, they say so much about us.

The love of our craft can be seen not only in the things that we create, it can be seen in our hands...

Marketplace of Blessings...

I just recently joined a new market venue at 1000markets.com.  It's called "Marketplace of Blessings".  It is a beautiful market filled with creations from Christian Artisans.  Everything there has been created with the utmost care and love.  

These are just a few samples from Marketplace of Blessings you'll find there;

* Tatted Cross by "Joy of Tatting"

* Prayer box bracelet by "Jewel Fire Designs"

* Paperweight by "CreationsAnew"

* Prayer Box by "Gpdesignsart"

Please take a moment from your busy day and browse around the Marketplace of Blessings, I'm sure you'll find something that touches your heart and soul!

Back Home....

After a 14 hour day we finally made it back to our lake for the summer. It's amazing how a "place" can fill a hole in your soul. I love Tucson, 2 of my kids and 7 of my grandchildren are there, but it just isn't home anymore to me.

This lake seems to calm me immediately. I can just feel the tension and stress drain away. The first thing I did was to go down to the dock and just breath! The air smells cleaner, and right now the lake smells cold and fresh.

As I sat there a pair of Loon's swam by, not paying any attention to me. I watched huge flocks of Canadian Geese winging their way back north for the summer. The Mallard ducks and their mates were "talking" over in the cove, I couldn't see them but I could hear them. And one lone Bald Eagle was soaring over the lake, they are so majestic...

My soul feels renewed, spring is coming, the leaves are just barely starting to bud out, the pink dogwood trees are bursts of color in the woods that still look asleep. Home....where Lake of the Ozarks fills your soul and takes you back to a much quieter pace of life....

ByNanasHands will be packing and traveling over the next few days. We're heading back to our beloved Lake of the Ozarks for the summer. If you intend to make a purchase, please feel free to do so. But please know that it will not be mailed out until Friday next week.

The packing up of one's most precious "tools" is always an effort for me. I worry when my "girls" (my sewing and embroidery machines) are traveling "unescorted" 1,400 miles across country in the hands of the Post Office. Actually, it sends chills up my spine. Due to physical problems regarding my husband's knees, we cannot drive there, we must fly. So, the girls are on their own for a few days. And since the airlines cannot seem to get a bag from point A to point B without losing it putting them on the plane is NOT an option. We don't even travel with luggage anymore!

When we went from the lake to Tucson for the Winter one of my girls was MIA in the mail system. You would of thought that it was a child lost in the woods. The people at the Post office counter would scatter when I showed up EVERY SINGLE MORNING FOR 10 DAYS. But, I found out that a crazed and dazed woman at exactly 8:00 a.m. every day asking the same questions finally did get answers! Melting down in the lobby of the Post Office wasn't exactly "pretty" but it got results. Somehow, my favorite embroidery machine ended up in Utah (go figure)...that's a far cry from Tucson, Arizona! And I am sure the fact that my machine was put on a plane and sent to Tucson that day and delivered the next had NOTHING to do with those meltdowns. :)

Let's see what today brings when I go into the Post Office, at exactly 8:00 a.m. with 8 boxes that all need to be sent Priority and all need Insurance and all need Delivery Confirmation and all need Signature Confirmation.....bet I get out quick....because I'm sure they will remember me.

Blogs have gone to "the Dogs" !!

I love finding interesting blogs and reading about different things.  Yesterday I just happened upon a "dog blog" that is written completely by two loveable and sassy K-9's named "LuLu and Lolly".  2 Maltese that have their very own website and their very own blog.  LuLu and Lolly's website helps raise money for Maltese rescues.   LuLu and Lolly's Blog

I had a good laugh reading about some of the trouble these 2 get themselves into, there was even a great story about a trip to Vegas and "borrowing" their human's credit cards (you won't want to miss that one).  As a Maltese owner myself I am partial to the breed.  Our Sissee Louise actually runs our home, as I am sure is a fact that many dog owners will attest to.  Sissee has "staff", not "owners"!  LOL...our lives tend to revolve around her needs at any given moment.

LuLu and Lolly stopped by another Maltese website and commented on a picture of Sissee in her life jacket standing on the dock, that is how we "met" them!  So if you get the chance and need a good laugh, stop by their website, read their blog (completely written by them) and be prepared to be amazed by these two!

And while you are there, their 2009 calendars are 50% off right now, buy one and help a rescue because every Maltese (as well as every dog)  needs a loving home!!  LuLu and Lolly's Road Trip Calendar

A fellow "Etsian" uses their shop to help rescues too.  BeadedTail 

Her Etsy shop is filled with the most beautiful jewelery.  "We make beaded jewelry for animal lovers with a portion of ALL sales proceeds benefiting animal awareness causes."  Please stop by and see her amazing jewelry, make a purchase and help an animal!!

Now we're off to see some pictures of LuLu and Lolly turning into a couple of evil "Skwirrls"....oooo, scary....