Good-Bye 2017

What a year 2017 has been.  Some years zoom by with relative sameness as past years.  For us 2017 was not like past years!

We started off the year with big plans for Pear Creek Cottage to attend the Business Boutique one day event in Sacramento, California.  This was Pear Creek Cottage's first "Live Event".  Taking ones on-line business to a "Live Event" is revealing, to say the least.  Learning to display items; engage in conversations that are in real time and not "virtual", and using different financial services for handling transaction were all part of our learning curve.  But, we LOVED it!  Meeting other women who are either in business, or dreaming of starting a business was such and encouragement and inspiration to us.  It was a big booster shot.

After returning home from this event, Terri and I were hustling.  We were super busy through-out the Spring and Summer.  Not only with filling orders and running the business, but we also were planning and creating for the Super Business Boutique Event in Nashville.  The plan was formulated, and to be executed by Jan and her husband Jerry. 

Yet another curve ball came our way in July of 2017 when we were notified of Jerry's pending layoff from his company.  Not what we were expecting as we had carefully planned trip expenses to Nashville.  We had decided to drive and take some extended time traveling since we were coming from California.  As the clock ticked down and the departure date arrived, we had by that time gone back and forth on the practicality of attending the event so far from home. 

The practical side was tugging on us to "throw in the towel" and claim defeat as our plans were shattered.  But, we are people of faith!  We made the decision to step out in faith, believing that this wonderful opportunity that had come to us was a gift given by our Father in Heaven.  So, against conventional wisdom, we stepped out and drove ourselves back to Nashville for the Big Business Boutique Event.

Along the drive, we were encouraged and had our spirits lifted by the adventure of "not knowing" what exactly was next.  Expectancy and excitement were our companions as we literally were moving forward in faith, believing that the risk we were taking was and still is part of our growth process.

Seeing the different parts of America as we drove to our destination was also a moral booster for both of us.  We have always dreamed of driving across country and exploring this great nation.  So, we decided to enjoy the adventure and the scenery, even though some states topography are not our favorites, we did find beauty in the diversity.

There was so much to absorb and learn at the BB in Nashville.  I am still applying the notes I took, and making changes and adjustments to my business to help grow and blossom in 2018.

Needless to say it was overwhelming and invigorating all in one.  To see the power of women believing in their dreams, and the people who are behind them helping them realize their dreams is a powerful force.  Many husbands also attended the BB, which kind of surprised me, but then, on the other hand, inspired me.  Seeing the men, behind the women believing in "the dream" sometimes even more, than the woman herself is amazing.

I had my own support team rooting and cheering behind the scenes and in the grandstands! Thank you to my family and friends who have supported and believed in me, all the way.  Of course, I too had my husband right there by my side. Speaking life giving words of hope and encouragement over me.  Also, I had the very best traveling companion.  My best friend and my soulmate.

As we come to the close of this year, and look forward with anticipation to the faith adventures that await us in 2018,  we especially want to THANK YOU for all your support, belief, love and favor that you've blessed us with this year.  It may not seem like a big thing to you, but by supporting our small business you are believing in our dreams and promoting us to move forward in helping others realize their dreams as well.  So ,a huge big Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.  Looking forward to exploring 2018 with you.

Learning to Live As The Beloved

I was so excited to be chosen to be part of the new book launch for Bonnie Gray's new book: "Whispers Of Rest".
Everything about this book has drawn me in.  The title, the reviews, the summaries.  I mean, after all, who doesn't want "REST" in their life?  "40 Days of God's Love to Revitalize Your Soul" ???....I'm all in!!

Having previously read Bonnie's book Finding Spiritual Whitespace, and meeting Bonnie at one of her speaking engagements, I was a fan already.  So, picking up her new book, and reading and doing the exercises listed, was thrilling for me.  What I didn't realize or expect was the depth that this journey would take me on.  It is my Love Story with Jesus...from the beginning, and being written and lived out daily.   The journey...the path of learning to live as THE BELOVED...daily.

It's not just a spiritual high from retreat or camp.  It is a moment by moment, breathing, living relationship with my LORD, Jesus Christ.  It is passionate.  It is intimate.  It is life giving, and life sustaining.  It is redefining how I think, and choose to live.

One of the ways I express myself is through gift giving.  As I have been journeying through this book, (now my second time through), I am continually thinking of tangible ways to remind myself of the truths I am learning and discovering.  Accepting myself as God's Beloved, and viewing myself through His loving eyes has given me even greater freedom to express my love back to Him in creative and artful ways.  When I was stitching up this patchwork bear,  I was giddy with laughter and full of JOY as I was creating.  The bear was coming together and I was blossoming in the experience...when I realized, YES!  This is me living as The Beloved.

God made me to create and have joy in experiencing the creative process.  This is how God feels about me when He created me, and sees me "come alive" again in the creating process.  So, I dubbed him "Beloved Bear".  He has magnets in his back so I can stick him on different metal surfaces.  He travels around the house with me as a reminder of how much I am loved, and cherished.  The same delight I had in making him is just a pinprick of the the Delight that Jesus has in me.

I hope you enjoy the photos, and catch a glimpse of what you can discover between the pages of this book.

"Life may seem easier without our dreams.  But we weren't made to simply do life as maintenance.  There are God-Breathed Dreams planted in each of us that are still alive, even if we've left them behind." Bonnie Gray

To pick up you own "Beloved Bear" visit my Etsy shop. (Coming Soon)
Pear Creek Cottage

Whispers Of Rest Challenge and Launch Team

I have been thrilled and honored to be part of Bonnie Gray's new book launch:  Whispers Of Rest.

I discovered Bonnie Gray's writings through the In(Courage) Blog on Dayspring.com.
Her writing style connected with my heart.  I felt like she was able to put words to my feelings better than I could even express.

Her first book, Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul To Rest; was so life giving and restoring to my soul.  I told everyone who would listen, about it.  I spent time reading and studying for months.  Applying the truths and wisdom of nurturing my soul, becoming all that God desires for me.  So, when I found out that she was looking for people to participate in her new book launch, I was falling all over myself to sign up!  True to Bonnie's heart and style, this new book, Whispers Of Rest is pure refreshment. Click here to buy your copy.

Arriving at just the right time when I needed to move out of "production and accomplishment mode", into a season of restoration and rejuvenation.

I have underlined, and made notations in each section. With Bonnie's gentle, guiding tone, she ushers me into the presence of Jesus, and the amazing journey of living as The Beloved.

I really enjoy how the book is designed.  It truly is like a trail guide.  Helping one to stop and notice how The Spirit of God is intimately at work in our lives. With Scripture, mediation & prayer practices, quotes, challenges, and research information, each chapter guides you through a theme for the day.

One of my favorite readings was day 14. - Choose Grace.

"Your art, your voice matters.  Let grace in, not guilt.
Be present, not perfect
Don't wait until the critical voices die down."

"Grace means we are no longer trying to make up for our weaknesses.  Give yourself permission to express God's beauty in you--fully, just as you are.  Don't wait to be yourself with God.  Not tomorrow when you feel more qualified.  Not later, when you are no longer struggling.  Don't wait until you're no longer broken." 

"Stop thinking about grace and put grace into action.  Start responding to God's love--instead of other's expectations of what is beautiful or good enough."

This continues to be a powerful motivator for me.  Realizing that so often I live my life listening to my critics, or my inner critic.  Having a perspective of guilt instead of grace. I'm practicing this more and more, as I want my life to be full of grace and freedom.  The chapter continues with the following:

"You Are Worth It"
"It's an automatic response when I want to share something free from my heart--when I'm drawn to do something I want to enjoy.  I begin to feel guilty for not doing something earlier--for something I did, didn't do, or did wrong. 
 I beat myself up.  I replay my mistakes.  I waste enormous amounts of energy reenacting how I could have done it differently.  I feel bad.  I feel that I am bad.  
We become afraid to fully lean into that feeling of rest.  And joy.  Or peace.  We might not think we deserve rest or special attention.  We might not think we've earned it.  We may be afraid to give time and attention to nurture our passion. 
 Am I really worth it?  you may silently ask. 
 In the heart of every woman.  God whispers, 
Yes.  You are worth it.  
You are my Beloved.  You are mine.  
One of the reasons we allow guilty feelings to rule is that we feel safe when we don't try.  No one can hurt us if we don't do anything. We can't feel rejected if we never attempt to blossom.  
We won't have regrets , we tell ourselves.  But there is a longing God placed in us that doesn't go away.  Every woman longs to dream, to feed her soul and rest.  Everyone longs to move beyond coping and surviving.  Every woman longs to be loved.

WOW!  This is where I feel stuck.  I continually struggle with feelings of guilt that I put on myself for not "performing up to par".  It is hard to know how to balance "promoting oneself", when running a business, and then "pampering oneself" to become renewed, and rested.

I am learning to view myself as The Beloved.  Asking Jesus how to move forward.  Listening to Him when He just wants me to stop and "play" or "rest"...To be thankful for how He tenderly loves and cares for me.  When I stop, and rest with Him, I am caring for my soul just as He intends.  I am not a machine that only produces.  I am made in His awesome image.  He is continuing to teach me what living in His image and His presence looks like.

I am a creative maker soul.  I love to surround myself with works that I've made from my hands.  The cross stitch hanging behind me is my heart on display.  I always wanted to be a Mom.  God allowed me the honor and privilege to become a mom to two precious children.  What a delight they are to me.  The JOY of watching them grow into whom God created them to be is extremely soul satisfying.  Now, I am a gramma to four lovelies.  I continue to take the scripture to heart: (3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth").  My continual prayer as I am growing and learning to live as The Beloved, is to help teach my children and grandchildren that same blessing.

Thank you Bonnie, for using your calling, and gifts to encourage other women...even Gramma's on the path of abundant living.