A season of singing...

Winter is over ... Spring is here! The daffodils have bloomed and paved the way for lilies of the valley, lilacs and the first roses. Fragrance fills our garden right now and just wraps itself around everything in sight. The promise of brighter days is evidenced everywhere. I love spring and the refreshing covering it brings to all of the harsh winter. There are only more fragrant and beautiful blooms to come and a walk through our garden holds secret little whispers of great things about to come. This classic passage seems to echo the garden voices:

“The winter has past, the rains are gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come” -Solomon’s Song 2:11

Be encouraged today! No matter how hard your winter has been, it is past. A season of singing has come.

*Laura*

I wish....

So here I am sitting today and doing some thinking (oh yes, here comes the brain dump!). How often during your week do you say "I wish...", followed by whatever phrase it is you're wishing for at the time? These are small, inconsequential things, I know, compared to the plight of a lot of people in our country and the world right now...but they are my wishes and I'm writing them down to share with you. They are in no particular order -- well, except for maybe that first one. That one's pretty important in my life right now. These are just how they came out.

I wish

... people used kinder words towards each other...especially to the ones they love.

... things that are SUPPOSED to be easy WERE actually easy and that you didn't have to fight for what was right.

... that dogs aged at the same rate as humans.

... that I could eat anything I want and not gain weight.

... there was an endless amount of time in my day so I could CREATE the art that I want to create everyday.

... I could do more to lift the burden off the shoulders of the people that I love and care about.

... there were easier instructions to get from Point A to Point B.

... my internet connection was always 100% reliable.

... that summer never ended and I could wear shorts and flip flops year-round (without moving!)

... I could go to Italy (and Europe, in general) some day to study in person all the artwork I studied in books.

... I could step back in time about 5 years and change the course of just a FEW things to make it better now.

... that sometimes I could freeze my kids in time so they wouldn't have to grow up.

... that politicians and salepeople would stop calling my house.

... I had more time to sleep at night (maybe that should be GIVING myself enough time to sleep).

... I could close my eyes and be physically transported instantly to the beach whenever I wanted!

... I didn't wear my heart on my sleeve so much.

... I didn't trust people so much to take them at their word. Sometimes it comes back to bite me.

... that I had learned earlier in life to put even more trust in God for everything (I've had some pretty good teachers for that along the way).

... my husband would stop trying to talk me out of that new Camaro that I want (not that we're even getting a new car any time soon...but it's fun to WISH!).

So that's my list...for now. I think my next blog needs to be about what I am thankful for – and that's a pretty good list. I am leaving you with some quick artwork I did. Kind words to share with someone who needs it today. And kind words for the people I love and care about and need to hear it today...they know who they are (at least I hope they do!).

*Marybeth*

Bloom Where You Stand.

Flowers have a way of conveying great truths. This one silently shouts outside of our design studio. In an abandoned area not owned by us and no longer maintained due to economic cutbacks, this little pansy defied all odds. It bloomed. Despite hard times, economic cut-backs, neglect and total abandonment ...it bloomed. The first day my eyes landed on it’s perky little smiling face in the hard, rocky ground, I burst out laughing in celebration of it’s perseverance. The phrase from Ephesians 6 seemed to emanate from this little flower ... “having done all, STAND” and with it a promise from Isaiah 43, “ I will make a way in the wilderness ... I am doing a new thing ... Now it springs up”

So, stand today, in whatever your circumstances, knowing that God will supply the strength and make a way... and expect a “new thing” to spring up.

Standing,
Laura

She talked to an angel...

We lost a dear friend this morning to brain cancer. While I am sad at losing her, the story I heard this morning only reinforces my faith and belief in the fact that when God says "He will send his angels..." HE MEANS IT!!

Donna had been fighting brain cancer for almost 3 years. I remember when she first told me she was going in for surgery to remove the tumor (and I almost fell off my chair). I went to see her at the hospital a few days after that...she was extremely optimistic because the doctors had removed most of the tumor (note they could not remove all). And we talked about how they had to cut off her long, beautiful blond hair. Donna continued on to chemo and then maxed out her radiation treatments in both Atlanta and at Duke University. I'd go visit her every once in while and watched the slow downhill progression. It robbed her of balance, walking, writing, talking and her eyesight in one eye. What was always amazing about Donna was the constant smile on her face and the fact that I never once heard her complain about her predicament.

December was the last time I talked to her on the phone. She had pretty much lost her ability to speak clearly. I sent her a few e-mails and cards...we let her know we were praying for her.

Last week, I got the news she had been moved to Hospice. I had planned to go visit her long before that happened. But you know...life gets in the way sometimes. Stupid excuse. Honestly, I was afraid I'd cry in front of her and I wanted to know I could be strong for her. So I made the decision that, no matter how hard it would be, I would go see her before I got too scared to go do it. So I did. And I'm adding that to the list of the top 10 hardest things I've ever had to do in my life.

The Hospice room she was in was calm and peaceful. She was surrounded by friends and family. I think I was surprised when I walked in because, although she could barely talk anymore, she turned her head to look at me and said my name. Funny as it sounds, I know “Donna” was still “Donna” at that point because of the inflection in her voice, even though I couldn't understand it clearly...it was the way she always said my name when I used to walk into her office. And of all things, she asked where my girls were at (that was translated for me by those that had been around her the most – she was pretty hard to understand). It was all I could do to hold myself together in there to talk with her. Hold her hands. Her hands were warmer than mine.

When I got the call this morning, it was both a feeling of sadness and relief for her. But what really gave me goosebumps was what Brenda told me happened on Monday. Donna had friends standing in the room. Donna lifted her head off the pillow, turned her head to look at another part of the room and said, “Yes. (pause) No. (pause). Yes.” Her friends said, “Donna, who are you talking to?” And she simply said, “An angel.”

Donna was definitely a believer and she was ready to go to Heaven...

I firmly believe that when my time comes to leave this Earth, God will send his angels to guide me to Heaven. From Psalms 91:11-12: “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands..”

Rest in God's peace, Donna.

What do graded dinners have to do with humming?

We have a funny tradition at the dinner table around our house. The meals I cook get graded. I wish I could remember how it started. I think it's our version of Top Chef. Anyway, the kids almost always give me a 100. The husband is a little harder nut to crack. He once gave me a 75 because I made sweet potato fries as a side and he doesn't like sweet potatoes. This does not hurt my feelings...in fact, we laugh about it and I tell him he's outnumbered so it doesn't matter. So the other night, I tried a new recipe... fettuccine with proscuitto and sage cream. The girls immediately gave me a 100. The husband takes his second bite and says, "Wow! This may be the best dinner you've ever made." So I said, "Well, what's my grade?" He replied, "Well, there's no bread item with it." Again, this is all in jest and we laughed about it. He FINALLY gave me a 100!

But the real reason I'm telling you this story is what one of my girls said and the inspiration that comes into our artwork everyday. My oldest daughter, Madison, has had this habit of humming since she was a baby. She used to hum in the car...then she hummed when she was coloring (concentrating). NOW, she's STILL humming but she only hums when she's eating something she thinks is REALLY good. So when I made the infamous 100 on my dinner the other night, I said, “Madison -- you weren't humming but you gave me a 100." So my 9-year-old speaks right up and says, "Mommy....she's humming in her heart." WOW! I about fell over...as the old saying goes "out of the mouths of babes." That child has an old soul in a kid's body. I feel pretty certain you will be seeing that saying on some of our artwork.

*Marybeth*

P.S. We have some very big news we hope to be able to share with you soon!!!! Stay tuned...

G R A T I T U D E

GRATITUDE – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Have you ever been really inspired by someone that you thought you’d never have had the chance to meet and thank? We have ... this entire year. Our inspiration came from another creator and dreamer like us named Kelly Rae Roberts. Right about the time that we were wondering how do we pull all these creative ideas together and do it all, we discovered a course by Kelly Rae that would tell us everything we needed to know. Marybeth discovered her Flying Lessons e-course, enrolled and the mind expansion began! Imagine our excitement when we realized she would be at the Demdaco showroom in Atlanta ... Just a short drive from our studio! We flew downtown and stood in line to just say “Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you”. What a great feeling it is to express gratitude to someone significant in your life:-) And just so you know ... Kelly Rae was as gracious and warm as we imagined. Here’s a photo of our Gratitude Moment.

We hope our photo will encourage you to think of someone you can express gratitude to today.

Reaching Healthy Goals Together

The start of a new year always brings new goals and resolutions. It is a time to take a deep breath and really focus on what we want to achieve in the next 365 days. I think everyone, whether they want to admit it or not, feels renewed after making their resolutions. My goal this year is strive toward being in the best shape of my life. My goal is two-fold. I had a baby this past February, so I want to get beach-ready and I need to be able to run around and chase my daughter.

Our intention at Velvet Lime Designs is to encourage and uplift through our art and in words. I feel that everyone feels better after they have started taking steps towards their goals. That is why I will be posting tips and encouragement throughout my journey this year. We all know that we can accomplish so much more with the help of others. I would love to know what you are doing to meet your resolutions and together we will accomplish those goals!

My first tip is one of the easiest... Add lemon to your water. We all know that water is a must in staying healthy... think about our bodies as a fish tank... water helps filter our systems. Lemons add an extra detox element and help our bodies in becoming more alkaline.

*Rebecca*