Love from the Postie

You know you might be LOVED when you go to the Postie and end up in tears…

Last week it was all giggles…and I am still laughing at poor, sweet Gill…

BUT this week was heart~warming love that moved those itty bitty drops of water to escape from my eyes, which brings up the question, from WHERE does that water come?  Sometimes, it just goes on and on!  The same question can be posed about my runny nose the last few days!!  WHEW, allergy season has arrived.  Beauty is EVERYWHERE and I love seeing those blue skies and pretty trees.

I know some of you think that all I do is brag, and well, when you have friends like mine, WHY wouldn’t I?

I am certain that some of you think that I am always trying to tell you HOW great I am…

You know what?  Just this week, I decided that I was NOT going to worry so much about others think of me.  Now, that is not to say that I don’t care, because I want to be a good example, but sometimes I fail…often, I fall flat on my face in shame at how mean and spoiled I can be, but I try that much harder the next time to be better.  MAYBE you can’t see it, but I do, and IF you can’t see it, well, the truth is, I can’t be responsible for what you see.

I know that my heart is in the right place when I send little random acts of kindness.  I don’t do it for accolades, but I do it because I KNOW how it feels to be the recipient and I want others to get to experience the JOY.

I cannot thank each of you enough for the beautiful messages of support when I “whined”…some days, it is so hard to put on a happy face and pretend, but I also know that if I practice pretending, one day it will be TRUE.  Just like everything, Happiness is a Habit.  Joy is a choice. Living in the present is a GIFT…you know all of the clichés.

Thank you for those who have shared their heart with me.  I pray for you.  I often call your name in prayer...I care and I KNOW that everything will eventually be ok for all of us.

So, like a proud Momma, I want to thank SUE for this set of colored pencils.  I jokingly told her that she could send me a set, and dadgummit, she did.  Let me share, that Sue has every reason in the world to be frowning at the world, but no, she continues to do Random Acts of Kindness~~this isn’t the first time I have been blessed with her thoughtfulness. Rest assured, I WILL be paying this forward.   I try to keep my eyes opened for those who need a little pick-me-up…Thank you, Sue.  My words can’t express the happiness I feel.

Hey, I can provide a list of my WANTS if anyone else is interested~~ROFL….

The next gift came all the way from Germany. Christine is always sending something to someone~~she is pretty amazing, and she thinks she does nothing…Oh, how wrong she is.  This little magnet came with the sweetest note.  Christine has a son who is living in the States, and I know her heart longs to hold him each day, but it won’t be long until they move to the States, too!  What makes this even more special is that Christine does NOT like painting little stuff~~LOL 

SEE why I BRAG?  I am humbled…

I also want to give a big shout out to Judy, Sue and Gloria for buying my patterns...you girls just keep stepping all over my heart! 

I want you all to know that I don’t sit behind this screen asking you to do stuff that I don’t do.  I work on me…I work to spread LOVE…to encourage…to help…it’s my way in helping to make my little corner of the world a better place, because I KNOW one person can make a difference.  I want to make a difference for good.  I am learning to be the difference I want to see…

Soooooo, thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart for making me want to be and to do better…I FEEL your love!  I hope you all can see the many blessings in your path today~~charlotte♡

Today, we shall LAUGH

I am a kidder. 

I kid mercilessly.

Mother always thought she had to add a disclaimer to me~~IF she kids you, then she likes you!

Sadly, my kidding has many times hurt people’s feelings.

This befuddles me, because people SHOULD know me, and ought to know that IF I want to hurt someone, then I can REALLY hurt someone, without the blinking of an eye, but IF someone knows me, they should KNOW that I would NEVER intentionally hurt someone that I loved…heavy sigh…

I have come to realize in my older age, that OFTEN what I say didn’t so much hurt someone, as much as WHEN I said it, because, you see, so many of us are walking around with smiles on our faces, hiding a broken heart, and NOBODY can see that.

I don’t seem to learn, but I am trying…

BUT then, there are those moments WHEN my kidding SHINES!!

I am at my best when I can joke around with someone.

I hate admitting, but if I can’t laugh and joke with someone, I really don’t have a need for them in my life…sad, but it seems to be true…

One of the most memorable stories Mother loved to share was when we attended my cousin’s wedding in Marietta, GA…My cousins had traveled around the world with my Uncle’s military career.  They went to some great places, and met great people….But really, I think Aunt Polly would have been happy WHEREVER she was~~such a contrast to Uncle JP…He was a good guy, but he was a Fletcher~~ROFL…

Daddy and Uncle JP weren’t raised in the same house, even though they had contact.  Those who don’t remember, Daddy’s mother died when he was 22 months old and it was during the depression.  Granddaddy was left with 4 children, four years apart in age, and times were tough.  His sister and her husband asked to adopt Daddy.  He said that NEVER would he allow them to adopt him, because he wanted to make certain that he knew that he was loved and wanted, but he did agree to allow them to raise him.  They were in constant contact.  THIS made Daddy develop that “only child/baby of the family” attitude, while it made Uncle JP the baby of his house…whew…enough said with that statement~~LOL….

WELL, Daddy and Uncle JP got on each other’s nerves, and while they loved each other, this never changed during their lifetime.  Uncle JP would spend their time together trying to get Daddy to go away.  One day, Uncle JP decided that he would take Daddy into the woods and teach him to swing on grapevines, and sneak away while he wasn’t looking…When Uncle JP found the perfect vine, he got on it and swung and WHOOOSH…it broke…Uncle JP fell and broke his arm…Daddy loved telling that story.

It was fun to see them both being so alike~~all 3 brothers were “baby whispers” and could calm a crying baby like none other, yet it was interesting to see how different they were…But I sure did love my Uncles.

Oh, well, back to the original story…(Squirrel)

One of their best friends came to the wedding and we got to spend quite a bit of time getting to love them.  He, like me, was a great kidder, and we had so much fun getting each other with our words, but the best came the day of the wedding as we were cleaning.  I came into the fellowship hall and he told me to come on over and tell him a lie or two.  WITHOUT missing a beat, I said, “You are the GREATEST Man I have ever met.” 

SILENCE as all of a sudden, the room burst into laughter.  HE had met his match, and yes, in just that weekend, I too, learned to love my cousin’s friend…funny how life is like that.

Humor has helped my family to SURVIVE.

Two of Mother’s brothers were some of the funniest people to walk this earth.  Mother said Uncle Jimmy could sell ice to an Eskimo, and she thought my brother, Brian, was so much like him.  Uncle Harold was hilarious.  I have fond memories of gatherings when the sisters would call them both to say HI and they missed him.  As a child, I sat and watched in amazement at all of the laughter and how they couldn’t wait to get their turn on the phone.

Mother’s family endured HELL with her father, and I will share soon about him.  All four brothers were recovering alcoholics.  They were brilliant men, but struggled in the family of 8.  Granny was left alone to raise them, as best she could.  Back then, communities took care of each other, and Mother’s family was embraced with such love.

During the saddest day of my life, God placed HUMOR in my life to allow me to get through Daddy’s funeral~~funny how much noise a little old life saver in a wrapper can make and HOW much one person can SMACK that little piece of candy!  I am amazed at how GOD provides EVERYTHING we need~~even laughter!

I was pulling out some items today to put on etsy to see if they would sell, and I came across something I designed for a lady.  She was looking for something to go on her front door and had described a basket.  The item had to be FLAT, so I made an attempt to create something~~I even went and looked at what she was describing (UGLY) and I called her when I finished.  When she arrived at my shop and we talked, I showed her what I came up with (picture below).  When I handed it to her, she said, “WHAT IS THIS?”  I started laughing and said, “Apparently, it is not what you want!”  I didn’t give up.  I ended up doing my simple angel for her~~4 feet tall, and she was happy…THEN there was the lady who wanted a sitting cow (cows, don’t sit…sigh), BUT after 3 attempts, I had success…

WELL, I have rattled on and on, and still have to tell you the reason for this post.

A friend in England, Gill, had some candy to give away, and she contacted me for the address of those who won (yep, I have lots of addresses for people~~LOL).  I actually did have all the ones she asked to get, and then she asked if I knew of a couple of people who needed a pick-me-up.  I gave her a couple of names and THEN I gave her an address, because, well, it WAS chocolate.  I thought she would know that address…

Look--2 packages...for me???

I went to the Post Office on Saturday night, and I giggled as I pulled the mail out of the box. 

I giggled as I walked to my car.

I giggled as I opened the package.

I giggled as I drove to WalMart.

I giggled as I shopped.

I giggled when I got home.

This one is really mine!

I GIGGLED as I sent the note.

“Gill, I thought you had my new address.  I would never have given you that address if I thought you didn’t know it was me.”

Gill had my old PO Box in Greenbrier, which, as soon as I remember to leave the keys, will be closed, BUT luckily, they forwarded it to my address in my hometown.  She thought the address was for another friend, and sent it with a cute little note…I am still giggling as I type this.  I was just CERTAIN she wanted me to have 2 packages~~BWAH HA HA….

I have such a mischievous side to me!  BUT the good news, is today the package went in the mail to the person that she THOUGHT she was sending it to!!  I can’t wait for this person to see the story of her little gift!

I have some of the neatest people who have stepped on my heart~~what a BLESSED little girl, I am!

Today, BE SURE to laugh.  Troubles are constantly at our door, but we sure don’t have to let them into our lives.  Thank YOU for being in my life…for laughing at me, I mean, with me!!  I send HAPPY BLESSINGS TO YOU…~charlotte

If you would like to have the "Big Girl Panties" line drawing, simply right click on the picture and save to your computer. IF you would like the pattern with colors and directions, I have it in my etsy shop for $2 as an instant download. Click here to go to my etsy shop.  Of course, I use DecoArt Acrylics to paint my creations!

The Lord is My Shepherd

I can’t count the number of posts I have written in my head this past month.  I just have been too lazy, or too frustrated, or too uninspired, or too tired of myself and think everyone else is too, I sound too preachy, too fake, so hypocritical….too….too…too…

I’m not really sure WHY I haven’t made the time.

I’m going to be honest.

It is one of those moments in my life where worry seems to be consuming me.

I KNOW, with all of my heart, that everything will be ok~~eventually…

BUT for now, I worry…I fear…I wonder HOW in the world I can make it ok…I wonder what ELSE is going to break, because, let me whine, I do NOT have many more things that CAN break that are not broken…

I miss my momma…I miss my daddy…I miss having a family…I miss my dog that died 2 years ago today…I wonder HOW in the world everyone is coming up with new ideas, while mine seem old and uninspired…I wonder why I put my heart and soul into something and nobody notices…I find myself jealous, while at the same time, happy for the success of others…I wonder WHY in the world others cannot SEE people as they really are…oh, wait, that is about ME…I FEAR that others CAN SEE me as I really am…

So flawed…so full of doubt…the ugliness…the shame…the juggling act to appear AS IF I have it all together…the pettiness of my thoughts…I AM AFRAID, and I am so tired of being AFRAID!

I wonder IF I am on the right path…I wonder what I am doing…It seems all the things I try are a complete and utter waste of time~~FB Page gets NO ACTION, so why waste the time…This Blog gains absolutely NO FOLLOWERS, and how in the world do people get FOLLOWERS, The pattern sales are so slow, you can watch them drop like molasses on a sub-zero day, I try to JOKE with people and they get mad cause I hurt their feelings and THEN send me NASTY messages, and I get it, because once you say something, there is NO taking it back, but hey, I have had my feelings hurt, too, you know, Somebody WANTS a picture changed, Etsy sales and views are pretty much at a standstill,  I watch the weather and plan a trip to town between the rain, and as I get ready to leave from my shopping, I am drenched in a downpour of epic proportions, and have to drive home in the downpour SOAKED to the bone, because the idiot driver in the parking lot just sat in his car instead of pulling into the space all the way so I could NOT get by to return the cart to its proper place (how dare I do that since it is en vogue to LEAVE it in another space to not allow you to park without getting your car dinged), AND when I pull into my now dirt turned mud packed driveway, I get out of the car to look at the window on the house and see a red glow and wonder NOW WHAT is broken or how did the house get red, and THEN…

I turn to see the most BRILLIANT ORANGE BALL of BEAUTY in the sky and find myself calmed beyond words.

In the midst of my GINORMOUS PITY PARTY, my GOD, my FATHER, has provided beauty that is so powerful, it can CALM a soul in turmoil.  WOW!!

You see, WHEN I allow my soul to become so unsettled, so worried, so afraid, I CHEAT MYSELF out of the beauty that surrounds me.

The beauty is STILL there, but I do not allow myself to see it…to experience it…to drink it in and to REFRESH my soul.

My Father wants the BEST for me.  He does NOT want me to be afraid.  He wants me to TRUST.  He wants me to SERVE. He is leading me BESIDE still waters. He is restoring my soul. He is working on a solution to my problems. He is right by my side. He is NOT tempting me with evil nor is He causing BAD things to happen to me. I don’t even have to pull up my “big girl panties” because He understands me.  He knows I am just having a bad moment, and He is guiding me right through the storms, even when I think He doesn’t care.  He allows me to throw my little brat girl temper tantrums, but He loves me TOO MUCH to allow me to reside in such an ugly place.  He PREPARES a feast for me in front of my enemies and invites me to DINE with Him. He has provided a place for me to sleep. He has created the most GORGEOUS earth, filled with green grasses and flowers of more colors than are in the biggest crayon box. My Father has anointed ME, little ole imperfect me, with MORE love than I can fathom.  I KNOW that love will follow me ALL of my life and on into eternity, because I am TRYING my BEST to LIVE my life for Him and to SERVE him…

My FATHER has given me people who share RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS with me and encourage me to keep on going…

Thank you Jennifer...this made me smile! I  can't catch who keeps eating the candy! Charcoal gobbled his cookies! 

My Father, during the month of March, gave me the gift to design 9 new patterns, which doesn’t sound like much, but in those 9 patterns, are over 31 different designs~~WOW…He has provided inspiration and I am grateful and give HIM all glory and praise.

My Father has been by my side and loves me on the days when I cannot love myself.

So, you may wonder why I am sharing this pity party with you…WELL, doesn’t a good party need guests to party with them?  ROFL

NO, not at all. 

I am sharing because THIS is real life ugly at its best.  This is not an easy thing to do to let people KNOW the REAL ME, but I believe with my whole heart, that what we experience is to make us stronger.  What we experience should be used to HELP others.

Let’s get real.  My problems are only money problems…how GREAT is that!  Compared to other people who are struggling, my FEARS can be easily fixed.

I AM BLESSED.  As Kat says, God just keeps showing off FOR ME…(I LOVE that vision those words bring to my heart.)

I am sharing all of this to say to YOU (the person that needs to HEAR this right now at this moment), that SOMETIMES, life DOES SUCK.  Sometimes things happen that we have NO control over because others are involved, and YES, when YOU say you don’t care what others think, you, my friend are being a snoot, because your actions DO go beyond your own little corner of the world~~flash back to Belgium, to London, to New York, to Oklahoma, to Colorado, to Paducah, to…oh, my…this breaks my heart to start listing these locations…

I am sharing this to say to YOU that we are not an island.  Our WORDS do hurt.  Our ACTIONS do cause pain.

I am sharing this to say to YOU that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I am sharing this to say to YOU that WE NEVER know the turmoil that others are experiencing.  We think we can sit behind a screen and say WHATEVER we WANT to say and WHO CARES…it is MY RIGHT…it is MY PAGE…it is MY VIEW…it is COVERED by some funky constitutional number…

I am sharing this to say to YOU that WE MUST BE KIND.

Being kind, sometimes means that we have to throw that big ole hand of ours over our mouth, and remove it from the keyboard and just say a prayer ASKING GOD to give us HIS words…HIS heart…HIS compassion…HIS love…HIS mercy…HIS forgiveness…HIS leadership…HIS eyes…HIS hands…HIS feet…HIS ability to LOVE us JUST as we are, so we can do that to and for others…

I am sharing this because I CARE…because I LOVE YOU…because I want YOU to find peace and to forgive yourself on those days when you can’t see that HUGE BRIGHT BALL OF ORANGE in the sky…

I wish all of God’s Blessings to YOU…~charlotte