Vintage Find: Geometric Scarf

I enjoy searching for treasures. So when I found a $1.99 vintage scarf at St. Vincent de Paul, I thought it was a bargain.

Brand: Echo
Made in Japan
100% Silk

The scarf features gray and yellow geometric lines, and it is in excellent condition.

At the checkout, the cashier looked at the scarf. "Is that all you are getting?"

"Yes." I tried to hand her my debit card.

"It's yours."

I wasn't sure I understood her. "Excuse me?"

She indicted the door. "It's yours. Have a nice day."

I thanked her several times before I left.

In the car, I reviewed what had just happened. I am fairly certain she did not want to run the card because of merchant charges. I felt blessed by the cashier's gift, but I knew that I could not accept it. While I do not have a lot of money, I live comfortably. I found some change and went back into the store to put it in the donation jar.

And I will do it again the next time I visit.

St. Vincent de Paul seeks to end poverty through systemic change. Donations provide direct assistant to the local community; they provide aid for those who cannot afford bills such as funeral expenses, job training, and rent. Many Jackson residents struggle with basic needs, and St. Vincent de Paul does its best to serve them.

It is wonderful to snag a deal, but shopping at thrift shops has a greater purpose: supporting the less fortunate. 

Three Things

1. My father is giving me a tv stand that he built. I have rearranged my studio so that it can be used for storage. I will post pictures when I have everything situated.

2.  Everyone wants to have dinner with me all of the sudden.

3. Wednesday nights are officially deemed Wednesday Night Skype. Crafts and epicness are inevitable.

Three Things Today

1. I should probably move my computer to my studio; I have gotten a lot done today because I brought it downstairs.

2. If you add apple cider to snickerdoodle mix it makes the cookies formless but delicious.

3. Sundays are perfect for a Community Marathon.

Three Current Things

1. I love my new job.

2. I am starting to catch up on this year's book goal on Shelfari. It's one of the perks of my job.

3. I started organizing my beads. My mother-in-law has a table that would be perfect for my craft room, but we're not sure how to get it home.

The Best of News

If you follow me on twitter or know me personally you may have heard the news: I got a new job! I will be working with computers at my local library.

I have been working my college job for almost nine years. Matt was such a godsend through it all. I have been grateful to have a job through the recession and down economy. I have gotten a lot of experience in customer service and leadership--skills that helped me get my new job.  I thought about keeping my current job for security, but with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (With Honors) (try saying that three times fast!) my new job is better aligned with my schooling, and I need to focus on new things.

I am so excited! God has truly blessed me!

Now I need buy new clothes so I can dress like a librarian. 

To Love Another

“It is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest the soul of another; yea, that, where two love, it is the loving of each other, that originates and perfects and assures their blessedness." 

George MacDonald, Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women

The Bright Side

1. Matt and I brought our cat Misty home last week. I am happy to say her transition went better than I anticipated.

2. I had an unexpected day off on Sunday. Matt and I slept in, had pancakes, went to an evening church service, and did P90X Yoga. It was a treat to spend a day off with Matt, and I am still feeling relaxed.

3. I am tweaking my blog design again. Most notably, I have added a navigation bar including About Me, DIY and Tutorials, Find Me, and a link to With Eyes Lifted, my Etsy shop (which I plan to restock soon). I also cleaned up my sidebar widgets.

Celebrate What is to Come!

We are counting down the final hours of 2011 in Michigan. While some of the world has already rung in the new year, we still have time to reflect on 2011 before we join them in 2012.

Still, I cannot stop thinking about 2012. New opportunities are unfolding, and I am optimistic that the blessings of 2011 will follow me and my loved ones into 2012.

It is going to be a wonderful year.

Happy New Year!

A Year Ago

It is strange how much a year can change everything. Last Christmas I would not have believed that in a year's time I would get engaged, married and buy a house. 

Now I am sitting in our kitchenette, drinking coffee and looking at our snow-dusted yard.

After a string of mediocre years the blessings of 2011 were welcome.

The Best Christmas Gift

If you cannot tell by my lack of in-depth posts, it has been a busy week. Matt and I have driven all over Mid-Michigan to finish our paperwork. The good news is that we are closing on our first house on Tuesday.

Next Tuesday!

We can move in as soon as the owner leaves.

Which means we are moving in a week before Christmas...on top of working our jobs.

It is worth it.

I feel blessed.

Here I Am!

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Power Outage

When I got home from work the power was out. My husband and parents were playing cards, so I sat down and learned a game I had never played before.

Life slows down when the electricity is gone. Much of the time I unwind in front of the computer, but tonight I took the spent time with my family.

Sometimes a power outage can be a blessing.

What is your favorite activity when you are without electricity?

A Thankful Thanksgiving

1. Family. With a retail schedule, I truly appreciate the time I get to spend with them.
2. Food on the table. If you go to bed hungry in my house, you have chosen to not eat. Not everyone can say that.
3. Matt and I married two months ago today! If all goes well, we will be moving into our first house in the beginning of the new year.

It has been a year of positive changes. With so many without, I am thankful for the blessings God has given me.

Positive Thoughts

I need to balance the negative clouding my vision. So, here are three positive thoughts:

1. Yesterday the bank accepted our offer. After several weeks of uncertainty, we are preparing to close on our first house.
2. I have started crafting again. Between the house hunting, wedding planning and work I had to put it aside. It feels wonderful to be creative again.
3. It's sunny and my day off. This can be a rarity in Michigan. Hurray for Vitamin D!

Good News

This is yet another blog post from my phone.

I mentioned Matt and I put an offer in on another house. Our offer was accepted! It is a short sale, so it will take a while to close on it. We do not mind because it gives us time to save money to furnish it.

The house is perfect, and I cannot believe how blessed we have been this year. The last step will be a new job for me, and I trust the LORD will provide.

His Blessings are Incredible

It has been over two weeks since Matt and I got food poisoning. I am still fatigued; all I have been doing is working and sleeping. I have not spent much time on the computer. This post was written at work on my phone. Perhaps the most frustrating part of this is the stack of thank you notes I still need to write.

In spite of my health, this is actually a blessing post.

1. My supervisor is back from leave. This means my life is less stressful.

2. I love going home because I know my husband is there.

3. We put a bid in on a house. I have a really good feeling about this.

God has truly blessed me this year.

Thanks to God

Blessing pinned in La Vie Boheme; via imgfave

Three Things

1. My family and friends are quality.
2. Hand massages take away stress you never knew you had.
3. I will be married to my best friend in less than 24 hours.

Three Blessings

1. I had the weekend off. As a retail worker, this is something to be cherished.
2. We had a delicious potluck after church.
3. Matt and I submitted our "biggest and best" bid on a house today (along with our prayers). Our families were there to support us.

Bonus: Our wedding is less than two weeks away!

"Come Thou Fount" Poetics

The old hymns are amazing. In Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Robert Robinson uses beautiful poetics to glorify God:

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

The other verses are just as moving. Listen to Sufjan Stevens sing the lyrics:




I am convinced art, music, poetry and writing are gifts of God; we are creative because we are created.