Junk to Joy Blog

Hi There!  I am not posting on this blog any longer, but wanted to give you a chance to 

enter my giveaway on my new blog if you stopped by here!

You can find it here!  Hope you'll come check it out!

It ends on April 20th!

Cheers!

Becky

Time For a Change!

Guess What?  I have finally moved to a new blog!!
I won't be posting here anymore, but will leave it
up until I have it made into a book.

I hope you will follow me over there!!
I will be having a blog launch giveaway soon, and
all other sorts of fun and inspiration!!

My new blog is Junk to Joy and you can find it here:
http://junktojoy1.blogspot.com  


Love ya!

Happy Wednesday!

Well hello everyone!!!  There you are!
Sorry to have been away so long!!
So much going on at one time!!!!
Thanks so much to those of you who have checked in on me!!
You are so wonderful!

Hope your week is going well!
Mine is, though this week I am saying farewell to my closest friend.

She and her family are moving to NC on Saturday...my heart is heavy.

Maddy's BFF is her daughter, so we are both experiencing a loss.
Hopefully, we will see them when we head up that way for my
family reunion this summer.  Please pray for all of us as we transition
through this.

I read this quote the other day and just love it:

LIFE IS CHANGE.  GROWTH IS OPTIONAL.

I try to learn from life experiences like these.

I want to grow through them, and have them yield the
beneficial fruit that they should.

That doesn't mean it won't hurt sometimes.
That doesn't mean I won't cry.
It doesn't even mean that I won't be a little angry.

But it does mean that I will intentionally choose to move through
the aforementioned as quickly as possible, and look forward with
anticipation to all God has for me in the days and weeks to come!!

We all always have something we have to deal with
 
We can choose to belabor it, and let it weigh us down, and
keep us from experiencing God's best, or we can choose to

praise Him in the midst of it,

ask for His wisdom, comfort, or whatever it is we need,
turning our focus instead  to Him and our many...and I mean
many blessings!!

So, today I am praising Him for the wonderful gift
of  DeAnn's friendship for the past 13 years.  We have
shared so very much, and she will forever be close in my heart!
Bless her and keep her, Lord, and give her joy in this new adventure!

What are you praising Him for today?


Love ya bunches!!

There’s Only One!

 

 

So…

Maybe it is time…

To lighten up.

To be a little kinder to yourself.

Stop comparing yourself to others.

They could never be YOU!

Watch your self talk…

Be positive.

No shoulda, coulda, wouldas!

No if onlys or buts!

Embrace the uniqueness of you!

GOD does! 

He made you that way!  And in His book you’re perfection!

Treat yourself in some little way today

and know that who you are is not defined

by how you look, your mistakes, your finances, etc…

You are each a gift to me!!
Have a joyful day!  I’m celebrating YOU!!

Love ya bunches,
Becky

Taking Flight!

 

We are living in some tough times, aren’t we?

Oh I could go on and list all of the things that seem to be reeling out of control in our country, but I am not going to go there!

 Have you been there lately?

Are your present life circumstances bearing down on you like a crashing wave?

Is your heart weighed down with concern for our country,
your family, or one you know?

If you are anything like me, your have answered these with a YES.

Well then….what are we to do?  What CAN we do?

Where is our focus suppose to be?

That is the most important question during times like these!

I read this today and it really blessed me.
It is authored by one of my favorite pastors, Alistair Begg.  He
has a ministry called “Truth For Life” and is an excellent teacher!

This is the best answer to correcting our focus!

It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would be if they could always see their perfection in Christ.

There are some who are always talking about corruption and the depravity of the heart and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further and remember that we are perfect in Christ Jesus??

It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own {or others} corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind "Christ Jesus, whom God made . . . our righteousness,"¹ we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord--Christ has done it all.

Did you get that?  All is taken care of in the covenant of
divine grace!

Our God is busy tending to ALL of the details of everything
that is going on in the lives of those who love Him, and in this world!  His truth and His righteousness shall prevail!
 

We can mount up with wings of eagles, and soar far above all
the cares of this world as we trust in Him, and focus on His
righteousness!

Will you look to Him?

Come soar with me….

Isn’t the view incredible up here above the clouds?

Can you hear the hush of the wind on your wings?

He’s smiling at us flyin’ around and delighting in handling it all for us and our meditation on Him!

Now this is the LIFE!!

Have a wonderful week…don’t let anyone or anything
clip your wings! 

Love ya bunches!

Becky

It’s Easy Being Green!

Those of us who have a love for all things used, rusty,
timeworn, tarnished, and tattered find it ooh so very
easy to be green! 

We see beauty and purpose in cast off things…

What about this old gate?

Can you see it as a headboard,  or wall art, or a hanging pot rack?  I can!!

I have to say that the delight I used to experience when I
walked into a fresh seasonally stocked retail store has vanished!

I have fallen head over heels in love with things that

***have a story to tell

***are part of days gone by

***show their age

***and have signs of being well-used and loved!!

We junkers rescue items from friends who just can’t
seem to love them like we do, from trash piles, thrift shops, 
from garage and estate sales… you name it,
and  we help to reduce land fills in the process!!



It’s a win-win for sure!!

My other love is for things that are handmade!

Especially lovingly handmade things that have vintage
or cast off components!!

I love incorporating vintage trims, lace and fabric into the
things I create.  They just add character like nothing else can!

I also feel so great when I buy American made things, and support a cottage business rather than the huge
retailers that are jam packed with foreign merchandise!

Just gives me the warm fuzzies, ya know?

Won’t you come join the “new green” revolution!!

Look around your own home, and before you
say good-bye to something you already own…
ask yourself if you could repurpose it or break it
down and make something entirely new out of it!!

You will also save money!!  Another plus!

But if you must, go ahead and donate it
or sell it, and one of us junkers will
find something to do with it!!

After all…it’s what we do!! {smile}



Hope you have a fab Friday and weekend!

I’m looking forward to catching up with all of you
over this weekend!!  Sure have missed you!!!

Morning Has Broken

{sidenote:  I have tried to fix the format of this post
numerous times to no avail!!  Back to Windows Live
Writer for me!!}

This morning, I took my Bible and my Streams in the Desert
devotional book and sat out on our front porch to greet
the new day with my Lord.

 The sky was overcast, and a light mist was in the air, similar
to this lovely photo, but a mist not fog.

I was feeling so very scattered, like I was just
all over the place!
Do you ever feel like that??
I am getting over being sick, had a major sneezing fit
upon wakening, and woke to
to dishes in the sink...
bills to pay...
school with Maddy...
work in my shop...

I knew I needed some time contemplating;
contemplating the beauty of the morning, and the
great love of the God who gives breath to each new day.
























Have you done that lately? 

I watched as the cool breeze fluttered the fronds on
my little palm tree I love so much;

And watched and listened as all sorts of birds flew
by, and were chirping in the surrounding trees and bushes,

I sat and drank it all in....like a wonderful refreshing drink
from a spring fed well, all the while

praising God for the beauty He created for us to enjoy.

What an amazing love He has for us!

 The beautiful gold He shines down on all of nature...He shares the
wonderful light of His glory, and gives us joy in the partaking.

Oh! I could get lost in it for hours!!!

But alas, a new day, and things to accomplish.

It simply couldn't have started off any better!
Time surrounded by His creation, meditating on His Word,
seeking His direction for the hours that fill my day...

God is so good!!

I leave you this morning with the lyrics to a wonderful song.

It was written as a hymn in 1931 by Eleanor Farjeon . 
You might recognize it, as it was recorded by
Cat Stevens prior to his conversion to
another religion. 

It is so lovely, and a sweet picture of God's love
displayed in all He created.

Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken,
like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken,
like the first bird
Praise for the singing,
praise for the morning
Praise for the springing
fresh from the Word
Sweet the rain's new fall,
sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall,
on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness
where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight,
mine is the morning
Born of the One Light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day!!

Fabric Art Love

Happy Sunday to you all!

Hope your day is full of praise, hope, and wonderfulness!!

I don't know about you, but I am constantly amazed
at the talented women I have
come across since entering the blogging world.

I sometimes tromp from blog to blog seeking inspiration,
and always find LOTS!  Simply wonderful and delicious!!
Lately I have become completely enamored with
fabric art collages!

There are sooo many styles and themes, and last night
I finally decided to try my hand at making one.

My theme is taken from an old hymnal, and is carried
through the piece with lots of vintage fabric and trim.

What do you think?  I am very pleased with the outcome!!
I will be putting it in my shop later on today.

 
































These are so much fun because there are NO rules!!
Whatever is pleasing to your eye is what you do!!
In other words...it is very difficult to mess up one of these!
No perfectly straight sewing, raggedy edges...

YUM!

This piece has layers of vintage love, including 100-150
year old homespun linen, and about 75 year old eyelet fabric...

I find old fabric and trim to
be absolutely ENCHANTING!!

Only a few elements in this pieces are not vintage!

I also made these cards with vintage hymnal readings,
and vintage trim!  These are in my shop now.

I will be making a collection over the next several days
of inspirational fabric art and collage cards and tags!

Have a joyful week!

Remember that moment by moment joy is a choice!!

Love ya bunches!!

GOT STRESS?

Is there something worrying you this morning, my friend?

Very often, we Christians don't use the word worry...it seems
more spiritually acceptable to say that we're

just very concerned,  Right?

Well, we all have stress in this life.  It is completely and utterly
unavoidable.  The question is then, when the stress comes,

What is our response??

I find myself sometimes not responding to these
stresses as a woman who really understands the great
love God has for me, so when I read this today, it
really blessed me, and of course, I have to share it
with my buddies!! 

This is from the writings of Charles Spurgeon as
revised by Allistair Begg...incredible men of God!!

May we all truly cast our cares on Him.

It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel, "He cares for me." Christian, do not dishonor religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight that your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden would be to Him but as the small dust of the balance.

Nothing is so sweet as to...

Lie passive in God's hands,
And know no will but His.

 O child of suffering, be patient; God has not passed you over in His providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows will also furnish you with what you need. Do not sit in despair; hope on, hope ever.

Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who cares for you. His eye is fixed on you, His heart beats with pity for your woe, and His omnipotent hand shall bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if you are one of His family, will bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart. Do not doubt His grace because of your tribulation, but believe that He loves you as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence!

With a little oil in the cruse and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why do you need to care too? Can you trust Him for your soul and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens; He has never fainted under their weight.


Come, then, soul! Say good-bye to anxiety and leave
all your concerns in the hand of a gracious God.

Have a most blessed weekend, and let's all rest in Him!!
LOVE YOU!!

Ready to Ring!

Oh my!  I really need to introduce you to someone
who is very near and dear to my heart!!

MEET JUNIPER!!

Is Juniper just melting your heart already???
He sure has mine!!

This is a delightful creation of my friend and amazing artist
Michelle Palmer!  I purchased this little guy last year because
it was love at first sight!! 

He brings me such joy all year
through...I just can't put him in with all the other Christmas
stuff. 

He's my buddy and always makes me smile no matter
what!! 

Just look at that adorable little grin!

He is here to announce that we are ready to ring in the
fantastic new year full of hope and promise~~~2011!!!

Being that he is a snowman he does it with Silver Bells!!  HA!

Juniper, my new little Christmas birdy, and I, all wish
you a new year filled with the JOY OF THE LORD!!

May He be your strength and your delight as you commit
your year to Him and seek to walk in His ways!!

BIG, CHILLY, {Brrrr} sunny Florida  hugs and love!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Warmth of the Season

You all amaze me so!  Thank you so much for
your love, encouragement, prayers, and support! 
Your sweet comments always touch my heart!

We all love a fire's glow, and how it warms
us through and through...

And we love candlelight that gives a room warmth,
and makes everything it casts it's glow on look so lovely...

But oh the warmth of the love of family at Christmas time!

Here is Sam and her family!  We took this photo
out in the woods of north Florida where we stopped
on our way home to tend to the hunting area.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have them back here!
We have had lots of time together already, and I am so
looking forward to Christmas with all of our girls on Saturday!

I'll be posting a photo our four girls as soon as I can get it
from Birdy.  It was taken on her I- phone.  Can't wait to show
you all!

Here Emily just had to get up into the Cozy Condo
and do some sweeping!  Too cute!

And coming out...























May will be here before you know it, and little
Miss Em' will become a big sister! 

We are all so excited!  Everyone thinks it's a boy!
That would be a first in the Stewart family
and Grandpa will be beside himself if God blesses us
with a little grandy boy!! Of course, he will be
delighted with a sweet, cuddly girl, too!!




God is continually teaching me about the significance of family.

The family is one of only two ordained by God institutions...
the other being the church.

So, from that alone we can know that family is of the utmost
importance to Him!

As our family gathers to celebrate the glory of the birth
of our Lord,

we gather as a bunch of imperfect people, that sometimes
take each other for granted, hurt one another's feelings,
make mistakes we're sorry for, are at different places
in our walks with God, but as a FAMILY...

a family ordained by God, for His purposes, that love
each other through it all, and that hopefully, hopefully...
will make God smile sometimes,
and fulfill at least some of the purposes He has put us here for!

The love and warmth of family...
sometimes
the hardest hurts,
most often
the deepest love,
the greatest blessings.

May you feel the wonderful joy and
warmth of family this Christmas...
and know the everlasting JOY
of being part of the
FAMILY OF GOD.

Merry Christmas to you all!

I praise You, Lord, for my friends, and thank You
for loving us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus,
at just the right time, to save us each from our sin!


Sending love and snuggly hugs!!

HOLLA TO MY SISTAS!!!

WOW...SO HOW ARE ALL MY SISTAS OUT THERE DOING???

I have been missing each of you so very much!!

Sending you all...

((((((((((BIG SQUISHY HUGS))))))))))

AND SMILES!!!!  ;o)

 

{photos from Country Living}

Thank you for sharing in the joy of having my girl Sam

and her family back home!  It was a beautiful, safe trip
and they are beginning to get nestled in to enjoy this

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

I get a bit melancholy at this time of the year ever since my
parents passed away, but at the same time, I get so filled
up with JOY for the blessing of knowing the wonderful,
mighty Christ whose birth we celebrate at every year's end.

What an amazing gift God gave to us!  Pondering what this

season is really all about always gives me renewed joy,
renewed sense of purpose, and a vision that will carry me

into the new year ready to impact the world for HIM.

I read a quote the other day that said this:

Be careful what you do today...

Because you will be spending a
day of your life doing it!

Such wisdom!  I can't remember where I read it, but
I love it, and I want to make my days count for something
that will last!!!  You know...

to infinity eternity and beyond!!!
{couldn't resist!}

I am more determined than I ever have been to further

deepen my walk with my Lord, and to let His love flow
freely through me to all I come in contact with.

"Stuff" is continually diminishing in importance to me, and
I am finding  unbelieveable contentment in abiding in His
presence, and focusing on things that really matter to Him.

I still have so very much to learn about this amazing
God and His plan for my life.  So as I enjoy the fun
and festivities of this 2010 Christmas season,

deep inside

I am feeling a calling...
a compelling....

to be intentional and fill the days of
2011 with thanksgiving, praise, prayer,
and worship to my Lord,
and to walk joyfully, and confidently, by faith
wherever He may lead.  Amen and amen.


Sending love across the miles to you!!!
Know that you are always close in thought
even if I can't get around to visit with you!

Please click on that darling little
picture at the top of my sidebar! 
There is still time to help CLIFF!!

Friday is The Day!!

Friday is the day our Sam and her family will be back in Florida!!

Just in time to celebrate the joy of Christmas with us!!!

YIPPEE!!

My mother's heart is soooo full!
Can't wait to give them all big, huge hugs!!

Emily I'm sure has grown like a weed in the last 6 months!
She sounds so much more grown up on the phone!

What a wonderful Christmas present!

{photo from Country Living}

All you grammies out there know what I'm talking about!

Grandchildren add this dimension to your life that brings
unspeakable joy!  And the fact that Sam is also bringing our second
grandy home in the "cooker"  just delights my soul even more!

Next May we will be blessed by his/her arrival!  Great birthday present
for me, huh? Happy Birthday to me!! {smile}

Just had to share my joy with you this morning!
Please pray for safe travel for everyone!!

Have a wonderful day, and know how very much
I appreciate each of you!!

Happy Cyber Monday!!

Hi Sweet Friends!!

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving and a lovely weekend!!
We sure did! 

I had my hunk of a hubby home with me from Tuesday through
tonight, and we've had such a good time!!
I am really kind of sad that he has to go back to work tomorrow!

My brother Doug and his sweet wife popped by for a visit...what
a joy! 

We finished Ran's time off with a trip to Renningers in Mt. Dora.
It's a HUGE flea market and antique venue that neither one of
us can get enough of!  He found some camo burlap for the Cozy
Condo hunting shack!!  Guess I'll be making some camo curtains!!
{smile...really!!!}

I got a few sweet deals that will show up in my
Junk to Joy Shop tomorrow!

I have added bunches of vintage to the shop
and a few more Christmas items with more to come!!

AND THEN THERE IS CYBER MONDAY!!

Cyber Monday is the equivalent to Black Friday except it is
in cyber space!

All of your favorite retailers and, of course, my shop will be
offering some great deals!

Junk to Joy Shop is offering 15%
off of everything in stock!!

My sale begins tonight at midnight and goes through midnight Wednesday
November 31st!!!  Hope you'll pop in and browse around!! 

JUST USE COUPON CODE CYBERMONDAY2010 at checkout!!

I add new items daily so check back often!!

I hope you have a wonderful week!


Sending big hugs to you!  I will try to visit everyone over
the next few days!!

BLACK FRIDAY 2010

Just thought I'd spread some
holiday cheer with a fun
Black Friday sale at
JUNK TO JOY SHOP! 


15% off all items thru midnight Friday!!
Coupon Code BLACK FRIDAY2010

Come join the fun!!


Hope your Thanksgiving was FAB!! 
Ours was!!  Thank You Lord!!

OH YEAH!!!

Join Junk to Joy Shop on Facebook
for shop sales and updates!!

Cup of JOY~~Heart of Thanks

    {photos from Country Living}


Thanksgiving comes around once a year,
and it is an absolutely delightful time to gather round
our tables with family and friends, and reflect
and share our many blessings. But our thankfulness for all we are able
to enjoy in this life, and even for our trials, should be given to God
each and every day!!

One thing I have truly come to understand in recent years in
a big way is that...

a thankful heart = a joyful heart

When we allow God to show us how truly blessed we are, even amidst
life's trials, He cultivates a deep sense of JOY in our spirits!  The kind of
JOY that no circumstance can rob from us. 


Who wouldn't want that kind of JOY??


So, do you ever find yourself feeling a loss of joy? 

Find something...anything...to thank God for!
Maybe that you have clean running water, maybe that you
can put your hand on your chest and feel your heart beat,
or breathe in your next breath! 

I heard it said once:

The more you thank God for what you have,
the more you will have to thank God for!!

This doesn't mean money, but it certainly could include
it if God wanted to do that.  What it refers to primarily is love,
joy, peace, hope, all the wonderful gifts of God to His children!

I hope you'll join me in making a list of at least 25 things to
give God thanks for!  We have way too many blessings to number!

Lets make a habit, together, of lavishing our thanksgiving on God
everyday of the year and just see how He multiplies JOY back to us!!


I give thanks for each of you;
how you touch my life,
and the lives of those you know and love!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!!

Love to you all!