My Heart has Wings

If you work for The Diplomat, don't look.  The Diplomat?  How are these?  

Normal Girl

Black Friday

While everyone was out shopping today, The Seamstress and I were hanging out in Girl World stitching black words onto banners.  By hand.  With a needle and thread.  Twenty four inch tall letters on 21 foot banners. Please don't look closely.  Yes, blood, sweat, and salad dressing went into these banners.

It was a great day of chat, junk food and completing our ministry project.  You should join us next time. 

DT, this is a pared down version of your font.  

With sore fingers,

Normal Girl

Counting on God

I want to share how God is working in our Girls Night In ministry.  Sometimes on Friday nights, a group of women from church go to Pontiac to Grace Centers of Hope and visit with the women residents.

We have gone maybe six or eight times.  Each time amazing things happen.  Sometimes our plans do not feel pulled together before we go.  On our last visit, I had only two women signed up to go with me, but the day came and I went with nine women.  I have learned to not worry about it, because each time, God steps in and makes our evening great.  He speaks to women's hearts and we get donations of time, baking, and gifts.  They come from a different place each time.  Our next visit is on December 12.  

Today, I got 15 bags of books.  The ladies at GCH love to read and when we bring new books, they are excited to get new material to read.  15 grocery bags of books!  There is everything from Bibles to topical Bible studies (including a collection of John MacArthur New Testament studies that I am considering borrowing.....is that wrong???) to how to books.  I will need a truck to get it all down there.  I also got a box of candles and a box of lotions and shampoos.

AND!  A group of women donated 30 cosmetic bags and packed them full of cosmetics.  We will give them as Christmas gifts.  They ladies will be thrilled.  I have a donation of chocolates to add in as well.

This is God's ministry, and it has been really rewarding to watch Him work through it to encourage the women residents at GCH.  Through it I have learned:

• When God calls, He provides
• And, He does it in His timing.  No amount of worrying about it does any good.
• The women we try to encourage a bit at GCH are just like me and I could be in the same place they are except for God's grace
• When you try to encourage someone who needs it, you end up being encouraged at least that much yourself

A couple weeks ago, Wonder Woman sent me this song by The Desperation Band.  You will be singing along with it before the end of the song.  Hope you like it!

Normal Girl

Show and Tell Fresh from the Kiln

I spent the day yesterday doing this.  It was great.  I sat at the kiln melting glass for hours.  It is a luxury I do not often schedule.  It would have been better if there was more on tv than inane Santa Claus movies to keep me company, but the Disney Channel rescued me.  

The Diplomat?  Take your pick!

Bop til you drop........

Normal Girl

Paint it Peaceful

If you are one of my nieces, don't look.  

I wanted some charms to go with my new peace sign beads.  I bought some small silver charms and painted them with enamel in colors that will go with the beads.  I have never tried painting charms.  Enamel is pretty durable.  We'll see.

Peace out,

Normal Girl

Painting with Ugly Betty

Before

After

I painted this table tonight for VoteMom's guest room.  I am hoping it looks OK in there.  I did it guessing at the colors.  Is it too bright VoteMom?  I can tone it down.

I have not painted furniture in awhile.  It was fun while watching Ugly Betty.

Normal Girl

Funny and Scary

This made me laugh and feel sad at the same time.  I remember when I was church shopping.  It is a wonder new people ever come to church.  It prompts me to write a letter.

Dear Local Church,

It is very understandable that you want to introduce everyone to God through your church, but overzealousness can be frightening to people not SWAT team trained.  Toning it down a notch or twenty will not make God love you less.  Here are some things I would suggest that you reconsider:

- Shoving a triplicate form for personal information in a visitor's face when she is three feet in the door.

- Yanking her coat right off her.

- A greeting by six people with Osmond smiles rushing at her like they are in a race.

- Asking if she is being joined by her family and suggesting you wait to begin the orientation until they park they car and make it inside.

- Telling her that you have a rule that new people may not go into the auditorium until they have filled out the form giving contact information.

- Seating the visitor up front next to your two most ardent worshippers, who stand up in the middle of the service and fall to the floor.

- Have twelve people call the visitor by Wednesday.

Please let me know if I can help in any other way,

Normal (I am not visiting your church until you fix this) Girl

Bracelet Fest

Here are just a few of the bracelets we made at Friday night's bracelet party.  Click on the pic to enlarge and see the gorgeous work the women did.

Didn't all of those women have strength to make these bracelets and not leave with a single one?

Normal Girl

Do Ghosts Dance?

They do in this video.  I am so disappointed.  This was a beautiful dance and the girls looked pretty.  But they look like dancing ghosts.  Does anyone know why?  Because my camera was focused on Frank's head? Because the lights are too harsh on the platform?  Because my camera is useless? Once I get over it, it might be kind of funny.  Maybe.  Someday.

Anyway, you can enjoy Wonder Woman at the piano and son of Wonder Woman singing.

Normal Girl

Bead Soup Party

Twelve girls met tonight in Girl World...girls of all ages, from elementary school to Grandmother...a great group.

We made 60 beaded bracelets in a couple hours.  One more beautiful than the next.  Everyone dug through the bead soup and selected beads before stringing them.

We put each in a small drawstring bag.  They will all be delivered to the missionary cupboard at church.  The missionaries we support shop the cupboard for things they need.  Our bracelets will be used as gifts and our hope is they will encourage someone along the way.

What a great way to spend a Friday night, visiting with friends old and new, creating with our hands, and giving to others.

Normal Girl

Befores and Afters and Changes

Once upon a time a girl lived in this room.  She lived here a long time.  She laughed and cried, dreamed and made plans.  

She studied and prayed.  And there finally came a time when she was ready and she went away to college to prepare for life ahead.  OK, bye bye.

Enter her brother.  He is looking forward to life in this room too.  He is starting high school and coming into his own.  He is already a world traveller.

The room is his now.

New.

Lived in.  Happily.

This is where he used to live.  

Can it be saved?

Since the room was abandoned by him, his two little sisters moved in.  In this room, they are beginning their journey.  They will laugh and cry and study and pray here.  They have new bedding and curtains and art.  And a great photo of themselves with their big sister who is away at college.

It is sunny and happy.

And full of flying butterflies.  These are 3D butterflies on the wall.

They are taking it all very seriously.  

I have had so much fun painting!

Normal Girl

What About You?

I have never put one of these on my blog, but today is the day!  Put on your thinking cap and tell me about yourself .  Copy and paste into comments.  Here's mine:

1. Do you like blue cheese? Love it!
2. Have you ever smoked? not even once
3. Do you own a gun? no, but I can shoot and have been a member of the NRA
4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Was???? Grape

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? always

6. What do you think of hot dogs? that disgusting non-food of no nutritional value? Love them

7. Favorite Christmas movie? don't have one
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? hot green tea that the human pinball brings me from China

9. Can you do push ups? that ship has sailed

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? is this a joke?

11. Favorite hobby? hmmmmm, maybe lampworking, maybe reading

12. Do you have A.D.D.? no, but I sure have a focus problem

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I am judgemental

14. Middle name? Kaye

15. Name 3 things you are thinking about right now? homework, a light switch plate, dinner

16. Current worry? I gave up worrying

17. Current hate right now? that I am disobedient to God

18. Favorite place to be? it is between NYC, Mackinac Island, Santa Fe and doing a project with my family

19. How did you bring in the New Year? on the couch with a blanket and a magazine, watching tv

20. Where would you like to go? Santa Fe, NYC, France, Ireland, Scotland, Quebec

21. Name three people who will respond: no idea, but I am going to put it on my blog

22. What color shirt are you wearing right now? gold with the purple letters of my high school
23.  Can you whistle? Yep

25. Favorite color? greens

26. What songs do you sing in the shower? praise songs or show tunes

27. Favorite Girl's name? Pinkala

28. Favorite Boy's name? people name boys?

29. What's in your pocket right now? 3 screws, some change

30. Last thing that made you laugh? singing songs from Gypsy while raking leaves wondering what my neighbors think

31. Best bed sheets as a child? fresh out of the dryer

32. Worst injury you've ever had? sprained an ankle that was not normal for years, aren't I lucky??

34. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3, it is crazy

35. Who is your loudest friend? not sure, maybe Queenie

36. How many dogs do you have? 0

37. Does someone have a crush on you? that made me laugh

38. What is your favorite book? I am in love with the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and cannot wait for the next one

39. What is your favorite candy? I am trying to think of a candy I don't like........

40. Favorite Sports team?    whichever one the nieces and nephews are on

41. What song do you want sung at your funeral? Songs about me singing and dancing with Jesus!

For My Two New Friends

For Anna and Kate...to go in your new sunny yellow bedroom.......
See you soon!

Normal Girl

Leaf Raking with God

I think this leaf came from someone else's tree, mine don't turn red.  Anyway.  I have always loved fall.  When I was young it meant my birthday, football games and bonfires.  Later new sweaters and jackets.  And then I lived in Texas where there is no fall.  I so missed it.  Now I am back in Michigan and raking leaves.  I whine about it, but fall has come to represent something else to me in the last couple years.

As I see the leaves falling, I think about how God removes things from me, let's me rest, and then in a time, gives me something new and fresh.  I could not have the new, fresh, and better without getting rid of the old and finished.  I have lost two jobs in about two years and each time, He takes care of me during a rest period, and then gives me something new and better than what I had before.  It happens like clockwork, whether I want it or not, whether I am ready for it or not.  So, I thank God for fall and the reminder that He promised to do a good work in me and He will carry it on to completion until Jesus comes back.  You too.  What is He getting rid of in this season to prepare you for something new and fresh?

Normal Girl

Reinventing Yourself

Did you read this story today?  It made me laugh.

Teenager changes name to Captain Fantastic
A teenager has changed his name to Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk And The Flash Combined.

By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 2:37PM GMT 04 Nov 2008

The teenager thinks his new name is 'crazy' Photo: South West News
The record-breaking name, now thought to be the world's longest, was the idea of music graduate George Garratt, 19.
He changed his name by deed poll online for £10 last week.
Captain Fantastic said: "I wanted to be unique.
"I decided upon a theme of superheroes."
Captain Fantastic joins a number of people with unusually long names, including Rhoshandiatellyneshiaunneveshenk Koyaanisquatsiuth Williams, a girl born in Texas in 1984.
The teenager, from Glastonbury, Somerset, added that while he thought the new name was "crazy", his grandmother was no longer speaking to him.
Last month in Italy, a couple was banned from naming their son Friday - Venerdi - because the name could expose him to ridicule.
Named after the manservant of Daniel Defoe's famous novel Robinson Crusoe, the court ordered the boy's name be changed to Gregorio, named after the saint's day on which he was born.
In February, a judge in New Zealand made a young girl a ward of court so she could change her name from Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.
Other banned names include Sex Fruit, Keenan Got Lucy and Yeah Detroit.
In New Zealand again, last year a couple was banned from naming their baby 4Real, so they chose Superman instead.

So, you know my question.  What new descriptive and creative name might you give yourself?

I am trying this on for size: Normal daughter of the Lord Most High, learning to love her neighbor, aging, dancing, glittering, wearing bigger jewelry than all of you Girl.

Although I think it might be more fun to name each other,

Normal daughter of the Lord Most High, learning to love her neighbor, aging, dancing, glittering, wearing bigger jewelry than all of you Girl.

Meet My Tree

This is the hardest working tree in my yard.  

This maple tree:

- is home to woodchucks, raccoons and squirrels

- is a good neighbor to two apple trees

- sometimes holds a swing and wind chimes

- grows a large root system that prevents grass from growing in the yard, saving me mowing time

- gives me several hours of raking exercise each fall

- gives us all shade when the sun is beating down

- is pretty all year

She is in fine form right now.  Usually in the fall, the leaves turn brown and drop off.  This year, the leaves are a nice amber color.   It must have something to do with the weather.  Whatever the reason, I love fall!

Normal Girl

Not Like I Imagined

I did a little experiment tonight at the middle school gathering.  I wanted to take some kids, teach them a short STOMP-like bit and let them show it to the rest of the kids.  It went a little wonky.  I got a pile of volunteers, but when they volunteered, they did not know what for.  SO, I got them away from the group to start learning.  Some of them were mad that they were missing the games.  sigh.  kids.  We worked about 10 minutes and we were called back to perform the piece.  Yikes, they were not close to ready.

Poor kids.  Not one of them had a sense of rhythm, and we did not have time for them to get comfortable with it.  So, it was not so great.  But they tried, they really did.

So that really cool thing that I had in my mind?  Not so cool.  But, I did enjoy them: Robert the Awesome (that is how he introduced himself), sweet little Megan, Marissa who had the most fun of all, and Ellie.  I met Ellie in Pioneer Girls four years ago.  She told me then that her name was Beaver, except when she wanted to be called Cocoa Puff.  So, I called her Ellie Beaver Cocoa Puff.  She was smart as a whip and twice as wild.  She has grown into a beautiful girl who could be a model.  

Not ready for Carnegie Hall, but fun,

Normal Girl

I've Been in Therapy

I have actually invented a new kind of therapy.  Glitter Therapy.  Glitter as mood enhancer. Cheaper than traditional medications.  And sparklier.  I dare you to glitter something until it shines, and be sad or depressed.  

I have been glittering stuff in Girl World for two days.  I have had a great time designing projects for a summer booklet for Jo-Ann Stores.  

In case you are not aware, there has been quite the controversy over glitter this year.  At the beginning of the year, Ellen Degeneres asked for the next POTUS to issue a ban on glitter.  It just proves what an unfortunate, mixed up girl Ellen is.  

Of course, my friends who make and sell glitter went crazy.  My very creative friend Penny Costal, who is a designer for Michaels Stores made this.

This is a 4 foot tall letter G that is covered in glitter.  It weighs 989 pounds and they mailed it to Ellen.  Of course, she hates glitter, so what were they expecting?  They got no response at all.  Probably because she was busy hiding from the glitter rally being held outside the studio.

I hope that pic did not give Owen's Grammy apoplexy, she has a serious glitter addiction.

All that to say, I really believe the answer to the winter doldrums is glitter  Stock up now.

Normal (sparkly) Girl

Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

HPB spent part of the morning chasing some office girls around with this package, making them squeal.  Then she sent me the pic to see if she could gross me out.  One of the girls she knows there in China has not been feeling well, her western doctor has not helped her, so she went to the eastern medicine guy.  Her prescription is this pile of stuff....see those big creepy bugs??? Click on the pic, make it nice and big and get a good look.  She boils it and drinks it.  Yum.  Could you do it?  She reports that it is making her feel better.

That is real bug juice.

Normal Girl

New Glass

While hiding in Girl World last night, I made a few beads.  The blue and purple are some new glass I bought.  I like the kind of pearly sheen it has.

To the Diplomat, I am starting your beads today!

Normal Girl