Taking a Break

I'm sorry to say that life has become too overwhelming for me at this moment. It is causing me trim down some of the excess projects that I have going. For this reason, I will be taking a break from blogging.

Thank you for faithful commenting and blessings to you and your families.

In His Word Wednesday: Matthew 5:40

Matthew 5:40
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

I was at one time a collector of Russian glass animal figurines. I love colorful glass and have spent years purchasing choice pieces with striking colors; keeping them in a curio cabinet with a light, that shows off their beauty. Recently, I decided that I would like to get rid of the curio and put a nice fish aquarium there, so I have been listing all my little treasures on Ebay. I have sold several already, packaging each carefully in bubble wrap, securing them in the center of the box for protection. Last week I receive a message stating that their item had been partially broken, and they didn't want to return the item for a refund (I offer refund only when item has been received back); but wanted a partial refund. This frustrated me, as I know how well I had packaged the item, and they didn't want insurance on their package. Several friends told me to tell the buyer, I couldn't offer a refund as my policy stated they had to return the item. Part of me felt like doing this, as I didn't feel they were being honest with me. On the other hand, Matthew 5:40 kept coming up in my head. I will never know if she/he was being honest, but I do know Jesus tells us how to handle these kind of situations. I gave the person a refund without product return. I have been told by others, that I was stupid and don't know how to do business. As a Christian, even when we feel deceived, cheated, or used, we must choose to follow Jesus. The above verse tells me I need to go above and beyond, making the customer happy. Even though I lost my product and money, I have a peace inside that only Jesus gives, and a happy customer. To me that's worth more than any money in my pocket.

New Treasury: Blooms in the Shade

'Blooms in the Shade' by KingMtnTreasures

This treasury was inspired by a new dress I just purchased. It is grey with small yellow and pink flowers.

Baby felt flower He... Thelittlecute $6.50	Dusty Gray Marie An... RiverOfRomansk $45.90	Pink Grey Ballerina... TheHouseOfMous... $30.00	Photo Vintage Books... modulem $25.00
Yellow Brass Pink R... tkjewels $60.00	Romantic Lace Earri... branchbound $20.00	Spring Flowers Prim... ACOUNTRYWAY $22.00	Lace Women's Ha... MomoTrees $75.00
Crocheted Grey and ... ixela $69.00	Set Of 7 Grouping o... RusticPrairieC... $49.99	SALE Kitten Photogr... AmyTylerPhotog... $10.50	Romantic roses-Hair... threecuteflowe... $25.00
FREE SHIPPING Taza ... sophiesboutiqu... $21.00	Slate Grey Gray Flo... ShySiren $32.00	Citrine Necklace - ... PureMoxy $34.99	Hair Pin Trio, Grey... PenelopesClose... $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

Favorite 5 Friday: Flower Passion

One of my favorite pastimes is browsing Etsy. It's not only a wonderful way to find a fabulous gift or to get inspiration, but also to mingle with like-minded individuals.I will be promoting (blog, Etsy, Twitter) my "Favorite 5" every Friday, so contact me if you would like me to check out your items. Tell me what you think about these items or share some of your favorites...
Find something you want, just click on the name. Please take time to visit these shops to see all their awesome items.

With everything blooming and turning green, I'm still in the outdoors mode. So this weeks finds have something to do with flowers.

The mint bird adds just a touch of beautiful color to with the lovely Orchids.
Orchid Necklace


These pink lampwork beads would make a pretty bracelet or earrings.
Pink Flower Beads


A beautiful vase to bring some of your flowers inside.
Vase


These lovely knobs will brighten up any old cabinet or dresser.
Peony Drawer Knobs









The wall decal really adds character to this nursery.
Flowering Tree Wall Decal

In His Word Wednesday: Matthew 28:6

Matthew 28:6
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Not only is this verse important in the fact that Jesus is alive, but that He did exactly what He said He would do. He had repeatedly said this would happen. We can be assured in counting on His promises; building our lives on them. God always does just what He says.

I Love How Things Work Out

For the last 6 months, I have been looking to add to my hedgehog family. I had checked out many breeders, when I found Millermeade Farm in Ohio. She had several little guys that I would love, and I pleaded with my husband to make the 9 hour (one way) trip, but he refused with gas prices rising. About a month after that, I had shared a cute photo of one of hedgies on my Facebook page, that's when my friend, Chastity from Alabama, contacted me. She told me that several hedgehog breeders in the north (Ohio, Illinois, Iowa) were having a meeting on March 17-18 in Illinois, and that she and her sister-n-law were getting some hedgehogs shipped, would I be interested in getting some and splitting the shipping fee. It cost about $350 to ship 5-6 hedgehogs. I told her about the breeder in Ohio and how I begged my husband to make the road trip. She then told me that that breeder was going to be at the meeting and she was getting one of her babies. All the hedgehogs her and her sister-n-law were purchasing were going to be brought to Illinois and then shipped from there. Chastity told me if I could talk my hubby into making the trip, she would be glad to pay for our gas, hotel stay, or buy me a hedgehog. I was super excited and couldn't wait to approach my husband with this new info. He said yes! I then had to contact the breeder in Ohio to make sure she could bring back the other hedgies and house them till we got up there, she could. So the ball was rolling into motion, we planned our trip for March 20th-21st.

This is one of my current hedgehogs, Lucy. She's asleep on my son's belly. We call her our lap hedgehog.

In another part of our life...my husband is leader of our mission committee at our church. We try to go on one week long mission trip every year. This years trip was going to be a combined trip of families and our youth group. With a large youth group, the combination usually ends with around fifty people. This year we had narrowed our trip down to a place in Maryland, NY. They have several needs, spiritually and physically, that need to be worked on. We usually have someone go up and scout out the construction that needs to be done, presenting pictures before the committee, so we can decide on tools, budget, etc. Two gentlemen made the trip in two days. At our next meeting the pictures were presented, and we all thanked God, for the revelation. If we had traveled up there with all the youth, it would had been a disaster. The work needed and living arrangements were grossly misrepresented. After much prayer, it was decided that this was not the mission that our youth needed to attend. We do plan to send a small group of adults to work in that need. Now we were back to square one. The next meeting was Sunday, March 18, our pastor had mentioned that he had been in contact a few weeks ago with Southern Baptist Association in Ohio about some work needed there. My husband and I just looked at each other...we were going to Ohio in 2 days! Come to find out we would pass within 10 miles of the work needed in Ohio. Coincidence? I think not!

This is our large group of families and youth, on a mission trip to Jordan, Montana, two years ago.
On March 20th at 3AM, we left for Montpelier, OH. Our appointment for hedgehog pickup was at 1:30 that afternoon. It was a pleasant, uneventful trip up. We stopped and enjoyed a long breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We stayed at a wonderful, extremely large (for the very small town) hotel that had a Olympic size pool on the 3rd floor. My son was ecstatic about that. Up early the next morning and off to see our possible mission site. We had a wonderful visit, returning with the needed info and lots of pictures.

This is me and Gail from Millermeade Farm
Visit this blog next week and I will introduce to you my 5 new pets.