Pen Pals



Calligraphy Envelope Addressing by ArtfulCelebrations



Ask anyone born in the last 2 decades what a PEN PAL is, and they'll say "a pen what??" 

With our current daily lives bombarded with the fruits of technology and desire for instant (or almost instant) gratification, we got used to settling our communication styles to...

1. Texting

2. Facebooking

3. Tweeting

4. Blogging

5. Skyping

6. Emaling (even this one... becoming obsolete?)

7. Convo'ing (on Etsy terms)

8. blah blah blah...

What happened to good-old-fashioned LETTER WRITING???

Return Address Stamp-Flower by Primele



Handmade Envelopes Set of 20 by lkdDesigns




Set of 4 par avion via air mail Envelopes by LiSolanoD

When I was in elementary school, I used to write letters to my camp friends, camp counselors, church friends, even cousins and distant friends.  I remember collecting cute stationary and having a blast picking out colored pens, markers, and stickers to decorate my letters.  The thrill I got from getting the mail and finding a letter JUST FOR ME was unmeasureable! 



Nowadays, the only reasons we would send someone "something" in the mail, is if they have a birthday, or you're sending someone an invitation, a thank you note, a Christmas picture/card/letter, or a check (haha).  NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THESE, by the way!   All I'm saying is... I MISS receiving and writing letters.. just because. 

I read this verse this morning during my time with the Lord: 

"I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, SO THAT OUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE". 2 John 1:12 



How beautiful is that?  There is an asumption that the only reason we wouldn't WRITE to someone, is because we will see (or plan to see) them face-to-face soon. 

A challenge for myself: 

WRITE SOMEONE A LETTER... TODAY.

What about YOU? 

Did you used to write letters?  Did you have pretty stationary paper like me? 

AN INVITATION:



If you would like to become my distant pen pal, leave me a comment with a way to contact you (email, etsy shop), and I'll make sure we swap mailing addresses.  It would be so fun to bring back this wonderful tradition. 



Writer's Corner Letter Set by looseleafpaper



PS:  Check out these wonderful items from Etsy! 

Click on each link below the photos and show them some love!

Moving on...

It's so hard to admit when I'm wrong. 

 And it's harder to admit that I have to break a promise. 

Last week I PROMISED  that I would blog and post pictures from our Western Party!  I was so excited during the party that I neglected to get my camera to shoot some photos of our guests.  We had 17 people in our house... 8 of them children...  We ate a lot of chili, chips and salsa, and apple pie!  YUMMM!!

AND, we even had my husband give the children (and some of us grown ups) a "hay" ride around the woods by our yard.  It was bumpy and cold, but very fun! (...wishing I had some photos of that, too)

Anyway, I must move on...

I am excited to be posting some of my new designs on my Etsy shop.  Check these out and spread the word out!  Are you already thinking about that meantinful Thanksgiving treat or Christmas gift??  Here's just a few of my new designs.  I should have them listed by the end of the week.

I am also working on a few "extra" items... bags, pouches, scarves, boy gifts, etc...

Sharing my love for "Miss Paige"

Ok, you know I usually don't show favoritism. 

But today I want to share my love for "Miss Paige" of Simply Handmade by Paige. 

She is a 14 year-old clothing designer!  She rocks!  Recently she blogged about some cool finds she scored at a thrift store, and shared a picture of a beautiful ring.  Today, she posted a cool GIVEAWAY by one of her sponsors, and I am hoping to win one.  If you want to get a chance to win it, too, check it out here. 

Flying a kite continued...

Flyin' a kite

Life To the Fullest Onesie on Helen's Corner

I love kites.

When my sister and I were younger, my dad would buy all the necessary stuff to make our own kites.  We got the special "tissue-like" paper in the colors of our choice, the thin wooden sticks, and string.  In my eyes, my dad was the best "pipa" maker around.  After making our kites ("pipas" in Portuguese) we would fly them at the beach.  It was THE thing to do on our vacations at the beach. 

Last week I was once again reminded of how much I miss that.  So we decided to get a kite (didn't have the guts to attempt making our own).  We went to a local kite shop, and chose a simple, yet colorful one.  We thought Joshua would like the colors of this one.

And he did!
(see next post for video)

****

Suggested reading:

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

A very powerful story of friendship, family, courage, and redemption. 

Making Memories in South Carolina

I've had a well-deserved "time off".  Some people call this "time off" period a VACATION, but... to be honest, I see it as a way to spend some extended time with my son and husband.  Joel, Joshua, and I were graciously invited by some dear friends to spend a week in N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  I had never been to SC before, so I was very excited! 

The drive was absolutely beautiful!  Especially during this time of year... I LOVE LOVE LOVE Autunm!  The changing leaves in these parts of the country are absolutely gorgeous!  Dumb me... failed to get some shots of the beauty along the way (I think I was too busy entertaining a toddler and enjoying the sights...).  We stopped a few times to let the boys stretch... Joshua, Nehemiah (our friend's 14 month-old), and the grown men... Can you see how much fun they were having?

It was a blessing to have some "time off" to unwind, enjoy each other's company, take in the sights, and create some memories. 



this is one of my favorite pictures :)



It was also Joshua's first time seeing, smelling, feeling, and experiencing the ocean.  He didn't quite become a big fan of the beach... it took him 3 days to get used to the water.  He didn't mind the sand as much, and by the time he 'forgot' the water was so evil, it was time for us to leave.  Isn't that how it always happens??

I praise God for allowing us to get away for a week...  It's been hard to get back into the groove of things.

While I was gone, I was reminded that the things that often overwhelm and consume us are the temporary things of this world.  And the things that last... family, friendship, relationships, breathing the fresh air, enjoying God's creation, enjoying each other, and resting in the Lord... these sometimes we put off on our back burners.  And we wonder why we often times find ourselves tired, anxious, and stressed out?  Hmmmm... something to think about...

 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34

A sneak peak

I've decided...

I am retiring...

No, wait...  not me...

I'm retiring some of my designs... 

So, if you've been wanting to snatch some of my current designs now on Helen's Corner,

DO IT NOW! 

I can't guarantee they'll be there next month!

But here's a sneak peak of what's to come...

NEW DESIGNS!

Is it wrong to dress up your son's buddies?  I adore this monkey and he looks so handsome with my new WONDERFUL onesie!  Stay tuned, everyone!  I am very excited about my new line!  NEW... in November 2010!