oh, the feeling of accomplishment.

An update on life, in list format:

1. ChloeLise = one. Momma = a bit freaked out.

2. Aiden's scribbles have progressed from disjointed lines to recognizable shapes resembling various mammal and aquatic life. Too cool.

3. Already half-way through the first session of the semester. Meaning I'm close to only having three sessions left of school. Snazzy.

4. Custom orders for the store are pouring in. Most excellent. And new product photos are forthcoming.

5. Speaking of the store, I'm adding scarves and hairpieces soon. Really. Really. Awesome.

6. I finished filing my taxes on Sunday. A very nice development.

7. Two weeks = another promotion at work. [Enter appropriate excited word here]

8. Paid-for registration to Na*. B-e-a-utiful.

As for photos, I'm including one with this post that makes me smile anytime I see it. My great-grandmother has this old Chevy. Like, really old. I'm fairly positive the dinosaurs made way at crossings for this car, at one point in history. But it was one of the first cars I was allowed to drive around on the farm, and for years before that my grandfather had transported me around the land on the long, wide front seat. I love this car, and if I were ever allowed to drive it every day, I would take it over a brand new Cadillac CTS, every time. [That's a big deal for me]

part two. meaning, lots of crafts.

This Christmas presented a lot of opportunities to practice my craftiness. Food goods. Decor. Jewelry. The works, yo. Below are some examples.

thanksgiving | christmas | and now, a new year.

Many things have happened. I made a list of things I want to do, over this next year. Notice I did not say "resolutions"? Yes, I am proud of myself. There are ten things on my list. I am willing to share five of them.

1. glorify. and enjoy.

2. love my kiddos until they're sick of me.

3. graduate. yes.

4. flourish in my new promotion.

5. generate "x" dollars a month in business.

Now with all of that said, I present photographs. Lots, and lots, of photographs.

crafty is as crafty does.

Hi.

...yes, that's all I've got for now. So, some photographs...for the interim.

And now, since it is finally completed and safely on its way to its intended recipient, my non-jewelry craft project for the past little while:
My first self-published work since grade school...I got a little carried away with the Mod Podge there for a while. But otherwise, lots of very responsible fun was had. The end.

everything that rises really must converge...

Hello, blog.

Yes, I've missed your face too. But do not fret. I have many photos and some good news to present you, today. And fall break is next week, so I have many fun adventures planned that will hopefully include many more photographs and accompanying good news.

Before that, I simply want to include a quote by the magnificent Clive Staples that has been resounding in my head for the past two days:

Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with
drink and sex and ambition

when infinite joy is offered us...
We are far too easily pleased.

I really think I have been too easily pleased, for a great deal of my adult life. Granted, that is not a horribly large chunk of time - but it is still far too many wasted years. How many more marvelous things could God have been yearning to allow me to experience, but that I shrugged off because I was sated by the mundane?

I want to start desiring more strongly, more passionately, more completely. I want everything that God could possibly want to give to me. I want the best things in life. Not merely the convenient or the acceptable.

Thanks, C.S., for reminding me of the truth of what I am created for.

Now, about that good news...as long as no significant hiccups occur, Stonetree Stamps and Jewelry will go live next Saturday.

The townspeople are doing some mad rejoicing right now. Stay tuned, folks.

Ladies Fellowship Night...

...took place here. Again, at one of my favorite places in the world. And it is fast becoming a habit for me to be involved in one group or another that usually closes the place down. I am okay with these types of shenanigans, however.

But as we sat around two wooden tables, basking in what has affectionately been dubbed "Mood Lighting, Cafe Style," there were no shenanigans to be found as we discussed what God has been teaching each of us. How God has shown us we are each weak. How we have found that in this weakness, there is perfect strength. But perhaps what struck me most is realizing that weakness does not mean complete inability. Or being stagnant. And it certainly does not mean ceasing to move forward, onward, and upward.

It means realizing that every move I make is upheld. Enabled.

And I am one hundred percent okay with this arrangement.

I also, once again, had fun with Emily's sparkliness. The aforementioned mood lighting wasn't a match made in heaven with my feeble lens, but after some Photoshop fun I am a big fan of this one...

Almost through with Week 5 of 8 for the first school session. Perhaps there is a light at the end of this tunnel after all, folks.

school = 3. ashley = 0.

Yes, my life is pretty full right now. I'm learning a lot, doing a lot, trying a lot, and just being a lot.

With all that in mind, I believe I'll just put up a couple photographs from the last two weeks.