Enjoy Your Wonderful, Messy Life

ENJOY

Enjoy is the #FiveMinuteFriday word for this week. Some of you may be thinking, How can I enjoy anything? My life is so messy right now. If we take our focus off our circumstances, we can look for beauty and give thanks.  Things won’t magically get easier, but our perspectives will change. I know my days have been busy, but I am trying to find things to enjoy.

Lately the weather has been nice but tainted with smoke from some of the wildfires in NC and SC. Today the smoke is not bad and my husband and I enjoyed sitting on the porch to eat our lunch.

 

enjoy
View from our porch.

WEAVING PROJECT

 

Earlier this month I went to Deeply Rooted. You can read about my time there in THIS POST. While there I started a weaving project in one of the creativity workshops. I brought the materials home and finally got some time to work on it. If you want to find a great stress reliever and enjoyment at the same time, try weaving. There are several You Tube videos that come up when you do a google search.

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Here’s the top

The fee included materials for the workshop. We were allowed to bring home as much as we needed. I wasn’t sure how I was going to finish it, so I chose a variety of yarns, dried flowers, other earthy objects and string.

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Here’s the middle

Never would I have believed how much enjoyment it could bring until I actually spent time on it.

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Here’s the bottom with a fringe.

Finally, today I completed it and was able to get it off the loom. Here is the finished product.

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My five minutes are up, but I just want to encourage you to spend some time doing things you enjoy. We all need to find ways to relieve stress. Everyone seems to get busier during this time of year, especially moms. It’s easy to forget to care for ourselves when we are busy with activities and caring for others. Remember that you are important, too. Take time out of your busy schedule to rest and refocus.

I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #FreshMarketFriday, #DanceWithJesus, #SittingAmongFriends, #LMMLinkup, #Faith’nFriends, #inspirememonday, #Glimpses, #TeaAndWord, #TestimonyTuesday, #CoffeeforYourHeart, #threewordwednesday

24 thoughts on “Enjoy Your Wonderful, Messy Life

  1. Wow! That is a beautiful weaving! I am new to that craft of working in naturals and botanicals with the yarn. What a great way to enjoy and remember your retreat also. I’m so thankful that our Lord finds creative ways to bring creative enjoyment to us! 🙂 Have a Blessed weekend my friend!

    1. Thank you so much, Bettie! This was pretty new to me, too, but the directions were pretty clear and they provided all the materials we would need. I did add the craft flowers from what I had at home. Without the instruction at the workshop, I never would have thought to use those natural materials.

      Once you start weaving, it’s so easy to get lost in it and time just passes. It is definitely something I want to do again. Some people even made designs like trees and clouds. Probably anything in your imagination could become a weaving. 🙂

      Blessings to you and thank you as always for your encouragement. Hugs! xo

  2. Sounds crazy, but I love writing Christmas cards to our family and friends far away, so . . . I’m doing it this year!
    Loved seeing your beautifully crafted weaving!

    1. Michele, that sounds like a wonderful idea. I haven’t sent cards the past few years except to our siblings. I think it’s becoming a lost art. Maybe I should actually do more this year. 🙂

      Thanks for your continued encouragement, Michele. Blessings to you!

  3. Gayl- that is really neat! I love how you used all natural things.
    Your reminder is well-needed;) I’m always busy with my 5 kids and getting me time is hard. I’m a better me when I make sure I do things I enjoy!
    #InspireMeMondays
    Julie

    1. Thanks, Julie. I’m so glad I went to that workshop, otherwise I wouldn’t have known I could do it and also use natural things. I can probably make another one with things I find outside around here.

      I know what it’s like to be busy with kids. Mine are all grown now, but i remember when they were young. I wish I had taken more time for self care when they were younger. I probably would have been less stressed. 🙂

      Thanks for visiting! Blessings to you!

    1. Yes, it’s so easy to accept God’s gifts and not voice our thanks. I want to remember to thank Him for all that He does seen and unseen.

      Thanks so much for visiting and for your encouragement, Cathy! Blessings to you!

  4. Wow… well done Gayle. I have a scarf that I wore to church yesterday that my sister knitted by hand. It is so warm! I am glad to read you found something that helps to release the stressors of life. It is so important to refresh our minds and bodies. Have a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend and blessings to you and yours!

    1. Thank you, Horace! It’s special that you have a scarf knitted by your sister. I love that! Yes, it is important to refresh our minds and bodies, yet we sometimes neglect to do so.

      May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may God bless you and yours, too!

  5. So true. sometimes i get wrapped up in all the stuff i have to do or the fact my boys need me all day long that I forget to take a break for me. These early years are so hard, but also fun.

    1. Yes, I know I forgot to take breaks for me when my kids were young. Sometimes it seems impossible to do it. LOL I agree, though, that the early years are fun!

      Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    1. I know! We should realize that we need to do things we enjoy more often. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement, Crystal!

      Blessings to you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  6. Very cute project, Gayl. And I agree. Doing crafts like that can not only relieve stress but can give you a beautiful art piece to decorate your home with! Love it!

    1. Thank you, Beth! Yes, I had so much fun with it and now I can enjoy looking at it and also remember my experiences at the Deeply Rooted conference.

      Blessings to you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  7. What a great word today and a lovely piece you have crafted here! This looks like one of those things on my list of things I WANT to learn how to do but have to prioritize them and go slowly lol… Thankful for you, Gayl. Have a blessed Thanksgiving this year of 2016!

    1. Thank you so much, Meghan! I know what you mean about prioritizing and going slowly. I have a little more time now that the kids are all grown, but I still spend a lot of time with them and my grandchildren. 🙂

      I am thankful for you, too! I’m glad we “met” online and hope we can meet in person sometime. Many blessings to you, dear one! xo

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