Fall Tulle Wreath - a (kind of) tutorial

If you know me at all, you probably know that making crafts is more like a punishment for me than an excitement. It sounds terrible, but the thought of getting together with ladies to "make crafts" provokes an instant groan from the depths of my soul. :P Who knows why. Anyway, for me to make a craft, I have to 1) need it, or 2) really feel like I can do it and not fail. (We're talking major perfectionist here.) So when I saw this on Pinterest, I felt like maybe just this once, crafting and I could be friends.

I was off to Hobby Lobby - the place I always forget about and yet love every time I go. They have everything, it's a Christian company (yay for "Merry Christmas" and "Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving"), and are affordable. 

The fantastic tutorial I followed called for the following items:

a foam wreath

fall colored tulle

fall decorations (leaves, flowers, a scarecrow, etc.)

glue gun

Thanks to God's perfect timing, everything I needed (minus the wreath and glue gun) was 40-50% off. (It still is, so hurry out there!) I bought 6 different colors of tulle: green, crimson red, glittery orange (this added sparkle and texture), brown, cream, and basic red. You could also use burlap or wide ribbon for some more fun with colors, texture, and sparkle.

I didn't use any specific pattern with the colors; just kinda eyeballed it. I also eyeballed the length of each strip of tulle that I cut. The longer you go the better, in my opinion. You can always cut down, and it makes the evenness easier. I tied them on using the method the lady in the above tutorial used. I liked how wide it made the tulle, thus covering up more of the foam wreath.

So I tied and tied. It is a good idea to do something else as you tie, otherwise you might go a little loopy. For instance, you could memorize Scripture or pray through your family members. Or, in my case, watch River Monsters with your husband. :D Eventually it was finished!

As you can see, I still had some evening (?) out to do with the lengths. I did a little, but my anticipation of using a glue gun for the first time got the better of me, and I went right along to the decorating step. 

I bought a small clump of artificial leaves, as well as a random flower that I thought could go nicely with the colored tulle I bought. Snipped off a few leaves, completely de-stemmed the poor flower, and glued everything on. Then I tied on a bit of brown ribbon with which to hang the wreath, and...

Voila!

I'm pretty happy with it, and I can't wait to hang it on our front door. The coolest part? It's a craft I made. The fact that I blogged it all shows how rare this occasion is. ;) But I'm ready for another one. 

I have all the stuff I need to make these pilgrim hat cookies, so maybe there will be a blog post about those in the near future. :)

1 John 2:6

It's amazing how much can be packed into a tiny verse. I read this one this morning and was quite convicted. 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  {1 John 2:6}

Discernment

one year :)

One year ago, on September 8th, I walked down the aisle to the man I had dreamed for years of marrying. In his smiling eyes - for yes, they always smile - I saw the love, passion, joy, truth, and goodness that had made me fall in love with him in the first place. 

If it's true that happily ever after is made up of todays, then I am well on my way to living a fairy tale life. :) 

Because happily ever after is full of details the stories don't tell you about. How he puts an ice cold water bottle on your nightstand every night without you asking. How he is so careful to detail to make sure the house stays looking nice. He comes home from work and works some more, so you have shelves to decorate and pictures on the walls and a yard that looks kept. How he teases you just to make you karate chop him. ;) How he bears the brunt of a difficult situation and gives advice. How he selflessly will watch something girly just because it's something you enjoy. How he patiently teaches you to cast a line and reel the fish in. How he forgives, like Christ, over and over, patiently, lovingly, accepting. 

Chris is my darling, my dream come true. How I hate cliches, because what Chris is to me cannot be put into words. He's like a constant strength, an absolute blast, and a gentle preacher all in one. :) I am so, so thankful, both to God for putting us together, and to Chris for choosing me. :)

When I am down, and oh, my soul's so weary; when troubles come, and my heart burdened be...

...then I am still, and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains...

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up...to more than I can be.

I love you, Christopher Ryan Marsceau! I thank God every day for the perfect husband he gave me. I see Jesus in you every day and it pushes me to be a better person, a better Christian. Thank you for everything.

*All photography by the lovely Jessica Shae

*"You Raise Me Up" lyrics by Brendan Graham

Thy Way, Not Mine

Ever heard of Horatius Bonar? To me, it was just a name I barely recognized. I didn't know anything about the man himself. A friend of mine recently sang a song in church (I've copied it below), and I loved the words so much I had to find out who wrote it.

Came to find out the Scottish churchman and poet Horatius Bonar had a pretty trying life. After marrying his wife Jane at the age of 35, they had 5 children, all of whom died one right after the other. His sixth child, a daughter, lived, only to be widowed with 5 small children. She later moved back into her father's house.

Horatius's wife died when he was 68. He lived 12 years without his best friend before dying at the age of 80.

To the non-believer, this is a pretty grim and hopeless story. To the believer, it is grim, yet not without hope! Bonar had faith in his omniscient and sovereign Lord, Who works all things to be good and best. Bonar penned these words in 1857. Their truth is just as applicable today.

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose thou for me, my God,
So I shall walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek
Is thine; so let the way
That leads to it be thine,
Else I must surely stray.

Take thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to thee may seem;Choose thou my good and ill.

Choose thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose thou my cares for me
My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice

In things or great or small;
Be thou my Guide, my Strength,
My wisdom and my all.

resolved...

• to keep a food journal every day.
• to eat no extra sugar, besides that naturally occurring in food. 
• to spend no longer than 2 hours 1 hour per day on recreational internet time.
• to drink at least 10 oz. of water each morning before breakfast.
• to allow myself only one movie per week, if that. 
• to drink zero pop, colored or otherwise.
• to speak only if my words are more beautiful than silence.