I guess....

I guess I'll have to set up shop for my thoughts somewhere else because they are just so overwhelming and who really wants to hear all about the girl who made her baby's blocks, right? So last blubbering post I promise until I can sit at the computer and give these thoughts a home.

Life's path for me has been a twisted bumpy trail. It's lead me through some beautiful and horrifying landscapes. Some I wish I could freeze in time. Others I wish I could have taken some alternate route. I know in my heart each and every one was necessary.

I had a nice day today. My mind is buried deep in thought most of the time and it's nice to grab the shovel and dig up some of the bones in that emotional graveyard. I've died in many ways. I've come alive in so many others.

I told you change would come. Change IS coming. The decisions are feeling right and effortless and falling right into place. Hmmmm. It makes me wonder. Sometimes it is very difficult to find your own heart and your own voice in the midst of all the others. Plans look good on paper but you cannot attached emotion to a notebook and carry it through life.

I'm taking thoughts and storing them in my pockets. I'm taking hurts and keeping them curled in my fists, trying to find the right way to release them. Can you throw them to the wind or do they boomerang back to you? Can you just drop them and hope their trail doesn't once again find its way into you heart and life? Do you keep them there, clenched there, and let them destroy your soul? I don't have the answers, but I'm looking.

I'm reflecting on my own actions. On my needs. On my beliefs. On what I think is real and what I think it not. I'm grabbing the rope they call hope to climb out of the hole and whispering and wishing to land on my feet---in the right place. That's the key. Finding where we truly belong in life. Who we truly belong with. Who truly loves us for who we are. Who truly knows us, good and bad, and still wants to walk through life by our side. Love without exception.

I'm excited to walk down this path. I'm emotional about it. I'm sure I'll trip a few times. I'm sure I'll go off track but pray for guidance. I know in my heart I will make it to the right place. I know in my heart that some things are just meant to be and you have to have the courage, the faith and the trust to believe in it---no matter how hard.

Reality

So I know I've failed miserably at the how-to's and the latest products. I've failed miserably at keeping you all up to date on the shop and it's happenings. Truth is---it's wonderful. It's got a steady flow of traffic and each order leaves with a piece of my heart put into it. But there's more. There's so much more I need to put out there that has no home, no place. Kind of like I feel these days.

Illusions are dominating my mindset these days. Or are they delusions? Illusions being how I wish, delusions how they are. There are straws that I've grasped at only to watch them be taken away. Were they given in truth? Were they given with the belief of what I wanted to hear.

I just don't know.

I want to be in love. I want to be in the kind of love that never leaves you with questions. Again that question remains.

Illusion or Delusion?

Broken Yet Still Beautiful

This morning found us by the bay. Sunblock, crab traps, fishing poles and the giggles of excited children awaiting the arrival of some new sea friends. My mind has been so full that releasing it into the breeze and feeling the full summer sun on my face felt good. Real good. I look at my feet and notice the sparklings of green, brown and opague white sprinkled all along the shore. My mind drifts off with the current as I imagine the stories each piece of broken glass holds. Did they come with messages of hope from some far off love? Did she recieve it with love or riddance? Were they lost without hope of ever being recovered? Were they broken instantly or had it been a gradual destruction through time?

Life has been different for me lately. It has sharp points, it has ones that have dulled. It's in a sort of stand still, all the while spinning. A turning point. A crossroads. I find a strange kinship with the inatimate shards of beaten glass. I feel weathered and broken, too. I feel sharply those pieces that are missing. I know some will never be recovered. I wonder if other pieces will. So, yes, I'm broken. I'm lost. I've been tossed, turned and taken out to sea. Beaten and battered by waves of change, some wanted, some not. The storms have been unkind yet necessary to my outcome in so many different ways. The undertoe has taken me. I've held my breath and I've landed on many different shores. Some happy. Some full of devastation and despair. Each shore has taught me something in life. Good things and bad things. I've left pieces of me all over. These pieces of glass held glistening in my hand have left pieces of their original all over the place. I wonder where each piece belongs. How far has it traveled? Does it belong where it was left? Had it been battered enough or was there more to come? I wonder if all the pieces were found, would the vessel return to its original form? Would I? I don't believe that to be true at all. The scrapes and workings of the sea and of life would never allow them to be whole again. The pieces would never again fit together as perfectly as they once had. Would never allow myself to be whole again. The tides have changed us forever in all their workings. I thought on that for a while and for the first time in a long time I felt inspired.

Broken things CAN be beautiful. They can.

The glass can, you can, even I can. Stay tuned for a whole new line of beautifully broken treasures and truths---both in my shop and in my life.

Winners!

Yay! This has been SO much fun and I thank you all for sharing and for generally just being so AWESOME!

I used random.org to generate the winners and chose to keep them in "prize order" because it all just seemed to fit so perfectly!

The winner of giveaway 1, the birthday package, is #30 Melissa!

The winner of giveaway 2, the family tree, is #12 Elyse Alexandria!

And finally, the winner of giveaway 3, the surprise, is #3 Megan!

Congrats girls! Please email me at klarsen17(at)yahoo(.)com when you get a chance!

Giveaway {times} THREE!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

I just LOVE working with you guys to totally come up with some fabulous ideas! I ended up doing the age blocks because of a custom request, and seriously, how great are these name blocks with the babe's stats added?

What a great idea Noah's mommy had when she requested that! I feel so blessed to be able to do this and as I've said before, well, I'm just a horrible business person! I have a very soft heart and just love to give things away! So I'm looking to come up with some NEW {custom} designs, which equals FREEBIES for some of you!
 

GIVEAWAY 1
First, remember my son Bobby's BIG 4th Birthday Circus? It was spectacular! I wish I'd gotten a pic of the completed candy table but unfortunately I failed on that one! It really looked awesome! Here's some pics of the day just so you can get an idea of the graphics.

Oh how I slacked on taking pictures (as usual!) and capturing all those tiny details. But for one of you (I hope) that won't be the case! I am giving away a custom design set of party printables. That's right---you get invites, cupcakes toppers, goody bag labels and 2 signs, custom designed for you with YOUR theme! I can't wait to share ideas and come up with something spectacular for one of you! And pretty, pretty please take better pictures than me!

So that's giveaway 1. What's number 2, you ask? This---

GIVEAWAY 2 

This is a family tree I made for my MIL at Christmas. Her's was put onto a beautiful platter but I made my brother and sister(in-laws) copies on 5x7 tiles as well. My husband happens to be the youngest of 10 so our family tree on his side is HUGE! I'm looking to do a "smaller" version of someone else's family, hence this giveaway! Winner will receive their tree drawn and presented in some artistic fashion. Honestly, I'm not sure yet how I want to display it so that part will be a surprise!

GIVEAWAY 3

And lastly, well, I have no picture for this one because it is a BRAND NEW idea I've got swirling in my head. Pics will be posted upon completion!

So, interested?!

To enter is simple and you can enter in any and/or ALL of the following ways, just be sure to leave a comment for each—

1. Leave a comment here and tell me what's your favorite of the three giveaways! If it's the party, tell me your theme or about the guest of honor. If it's the family tree, tell me a little about your family. If it's the SECRET Surprise, tell me a secret about you!

2. Share this giveaway on Facebook

3. Like our Facebook page

4. Visit my Etsy shop and pin your favorite shop item to Pinterest

5. Follow the SOTR blog (pretty please!)

6. Follow me on Pinterest

Winners to be announced a week from today! GOOD LUCK!

The Story of the Rainbow

Can I share with you the story of the rainbow?

For those of you who are unfamiliar, a rainbow baby is a baby born after loss. This makes Eliana my rainbow baby as she was born after Hannah. Essentially a rainbow is something beautiful following the storm. It doesn't mean the storm never existed, but in fact means that it very well did. A rainbow is God's promise.

I was sitting here today with my baby girl sleeping on my chest. I am so blessed, and still holding her feels surreal at times. It brought my mind back to the day she was born and the magical moment that took place. You see, Ellie was born on December 18, 2010. It was a dry, cold day. It had been that way for at least a week---very dry and very cold. And yet, as we sat in 5 o'clock traffic with the winter sun low and bright, a rainbow appeared in the sky, out of nowhere.

Only I know that isn't true---it came from somewhere. Somewhere high above. And somewhere over that rainbow I picture a sweet faced little girl sitting upon Jesus' lap playing with the lights she was shining on her mama. On her little sister.

Thank you Lord for that promise. And that rainbow.

Are you READY for some PRIZES? Giveaway!

READY for a FANTASTIC GROUP GIVEAWAY?! I am SO excited to be involved and to team up with such a terrific group of ladies! Each offering a talent of our own, we are giving ONE lucky winner a little something from ALL of us to be announced on what better day than ST. PATRICK'S DAY?! Go check out Mama Mia's Facebook page to ENTER today! The rules and ways to enter are described there! And to learn more about the AWESOME Tina of Mama Mia Custom Handstamped Jewelry, check out her guest post Small Bird Studios today!

* DO NOT COMMENT TO ENTER ON THIS PAGE! Please go visit Tina on Facebook to ENTER! *

A Giveaway!

Yay! Today I am guest posting and holding a giveaway over at Small Bird Studios! You can enter HERE!

A Birthday Party!

So I thought what better way to start the new blog but with Bobby's 4th Birthday Party! Anyone who knows me knows I am (ridiculously) obsessive about little details! I LOVE putting together the kids parties each year.

So B's big party day will be on Saint Patrick's Day this year! The theme? The CIRCUS! How fun! I am telling you, one can really get carried away here! So, I will leave you with a few pics of work in progress and can't wait to share it all with you along with some how-to-do-it-yourselfs and maybe we'll even throw in a few freebies! And maybe, just MAYBE we will giveaway a custom set of Birthday Printables! Stay Tuned!

The Poster Invitation

The Beginnings of the Candy Bar!

What's a Circus without COTTON CANDY?!

TO BE CONTINUED.........