It's a Little Bit French!

Recently I found one of the most generous ladies out there.

Rhonda from her beautiful blog, "A Little Bit French"

has an amazing giveaway every Friday.

Yes,

you heard me right.

Every Friday...

And I was fortunate enough to win one of her beautiful give aways.

She is so talented and creative,

so all her giveaways are from her own two hands.

This is a lovely pocket she put together out of old sheet music and scrim.

I'm so glad she did the research to name this wonderful piece of fabric.

And look at all the yummy graphics and lace she stashed in the pretty little pocket!

It's A Little Bit French

Ahhh, I'm in love...

Please go visit and get to know Rhonda,

hope you're having a lovely weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be starting the new Bible Study at

 a day in the life...

tomorrow morning in Galatians.

And I've been working on some new jewelry pieces

with pewter crucifixes and medals.

Can't wait for you to see them.

really pretty.

(sneak peek)

love,

 Debra

White Wednesday, Small reminders...

Sometimes we look at something,

 or someone with new eyes.

I have had this little bisque figurine of praying hands

at my booth space for months.

I think it was once a night light as it is hollow

and has a place where a cord could once have been.

I always admired it,

but had one similar at home painted gold.

I never could understand why no one wanted it.

It was only a few dollars.

No one saw in it what I saw.

Last week when I made a visit, it was still there.

I had determined it would come home with me,

where it belonged.

I like to make vignettes of concepts and ideas;

Things I'm thinking about.

This last week with the tragedy in Haiti,

I have been reminded about the importance of prayer.

That God is a "light unto our path",

and that our hands can work

and also pray.

So today we pray not only for the people of Haiti,

but for our neighbors next door...

our friends
 and families...

And for all those we do not know.

May God's peace and presence surround you...

...and may we be aware of all the
little reminders there are in our life,

that we can help others who are in need.

Please visit Kathleen at Faded Charm.

Have a blessed White Wednesday.

love,

Debra

Growth...

There is something about the start of a new year that invariably sparks change and new growth in me. Sometimes I don't recognize it right away. It may take a few weeks until it settles in me.

Since I have been blogging this last 6 months, I've learned alot about myself. A blog is the best form of a "diary" for me, because it allows me to not only chronicle my life with photos of what and where I am, but it gives me the opportunity to share my heart with others.

It's like a magnifying mirror held up in front of me so that I can reflect on my life and thoughts. And in the sharing of it all, you will see the "real me".That's what happens with a magnifying mirror. We see the good and the "not so good". When I look in the mirror I see not only physical change, but emotional and spiritual change. This last 6 months has been a journey to connect back with the person I used to be. Or maybe just the person I need to be.

Peace in heart and mind has slowly come back to me. Concentrating on my health has caused me to concentrate more on God and what He wants for my life. I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, sometimes feeling "stagnant". I'm realizing that "growth" for me doesn't necessarily equal "excitement".

When I started this blog I had a desire to be interesting and "entertaining". But I have realized that at this time in my life, I'm short on entertainment value. In the past I was a "project" person. Furniture, art, creating... but now I'm concentrating on "being".

My desire is to share and communicate. Not trying to live up to my past expectations of myself, is a freeing idea. I am "me".  So, while I am not out junking as much or decorating a flea market space with the fervor I once had, hopefully when I post, it will be about what I'm thinking, doing, feeling...about me as a person.

Hope that's not boring. Maybe not sheer entertainment, but not boring either.I have realized in this time spent blogging that while I can drool over a chippy white cabinet, or linger over vintage linens and ephemera, that what constitutes a blog that I will come back to over and over, is one where I see the individual person there. I see the real person behind the blog. Not really behind it, but "infused" in it.

Sometimes I have felt like "apologizing" that my blog is about "me".

 But I'm getting over it.

If you'd be interested in sharing my journey with God;

 If you would love to connect with others

who are sharing their own thoughts and feelings,

drop by the Bible Study Blog on my sidebar,

 "a day in the life..."

I'm posting there everyday.

I'm not going anywhere, and I will still force you to look at my sunroom and white sideboard with all my vintage goodies and minutia. Guess today I just needed to "talk".

love,

Debra

Friends just warm the heart!

This is what all us chicks up north look like!

(image Coldwater Creek)

I knew when I started blogging that it would be fun and rewarding, but I really didn't realize how so many new connections would be made and friendships formed. How God just "hooks you up" with some of the most wonderful, thoughtful people. Since I've started the Bible Study blog, new and deep friendships have been made and some from the beginning have taken on a new dimension.

Brenda from Lady Bug Dreams is one such sweet friend.

Look at this little cutie,

 who was the first thing I saw when I looked inside!

Flavored hot cocoa mixes, yummy!

And such beautiful packaging and card!

Some people just have a "gift" for giving. Because they listen. They listen to you and know instinctively how to bless you. So many of you have blessed me in that way. Not just by a "tangible" gift , but by giving from your heart.

Brenda knew my love for white churches.

 Even yesterday's post showed a beautiful example.

She happened upon this one and thought of me.

And Oh, I just love it. It is in wonderful condition,

still being in it's original box

with the little illuminating bulb!

My other churches have been packed away,

but this one will stay out in my studio

to remind me of sweet and precious friends.

stay warm you all!

love,

 Debra

Daily Bread

Looks good doesn't it? A loaf of hot,

 delicious, nutritious bread.

There's a little change coming in my Bible Study Blog.

A day in the life...

(see on my side bar)

For the New Year I have made a commitment to post every day on the Bible Study. It probably won't be as lengthy as it has been, but I know God will have something "fresh" for us each day.

Hope you come by for a visit everyday.

Grab your coffee or tea and start the day

with me in God's Word.

If you haven't joined as a follower, I'd love for you to. I think by doing so it will be easier to keep up with each new post. Just think of it as God having a

"Give-away"!

Starts Monday!

love,

Debra

Back Door Christmas

I spend a lot of time looking out my kitchen window.
I guess that's even more true,

 with all the busy hustle and bustle in the kitchen

over the Christmas Holiday.

So I wanted to have a "Back Door Welcome"

for Christmas, too.

It had to be "snow and waterproof",

as we are expecting a "White Christmas".

My little "Goosey Gander" says...

Merry Christmas!

...and He's really glad we're having HoneyBaked Ham!

I'd like to invite you to stop by my

Bible Study Blog

 "...a day in the life".

 Also found on the side bar,

 for a little more spiritual thought about Christmas.

Christmas Blessings,

love,

Debra

Need a little help from your friends?

Just in case you are in a place where you might

 need a friend or two, or more,

 come visit My Bible Study Blog 

 a day in the life... .

We are going to study how friendship with God

and others can help get us through.

We are still studying "miracles"

 but we are also talking about how as friends

we can help others,

and how they can help us.

Come by and be blessed,

Debra

A personal story...

I just posted on the Bible Study blog my personal story of healing. This is my personal, amazing account of God's love. If you haven't come by the Bible Study blog that is listed on my side-bar, please do. I think you will find it an easy read. It's "not your grandmother's" Bible Study. It's fresh and relevant, and we discuss and interact with each other. Please come by and join the group!

As we dive in to the Christmas Season, with decorating and family and parties, let's not forget who this is all about. We celebrate Jesus and His birth. Get to know Him on a more personal level. If you love "Christmas", but do not know Jesus, I'm inviting you to come by and meet Him, then get to know His love for you as His Child.

Blessings,

Debra

"What's In A Name?"

Today I am participating in a "loveleigh" party hosted by Sares. Many of you who know Sares and read her wonderful blog "Loveleigh Treasures" may be like me, wondering where and how she goes by this interesting "Name". I have only heard the name Sares once before, so I am very interested to see her post. To accompany the "unveiling" of her name she has invited us to share something about "names". This could be about our own name, or our children's names, or even why we chose our "blog name". She said, anything to do with names. I have given this a lot of thought, so this will be an intimate post that is about who I am as a person, hopes and dreams, and what God has called me to do. My name holds great significance to me, and I'd like to share it with you.

I am linking to my Bible Study blog also today. If you have not stopped by  "a day in the life..."  I hope that after you read this post that you will. You will also find a permanent link on my side bar.

I think a name can say a lot about a person. I know as a child, there were so many "Debbies" in my elementary school classes that the teachers did not know how to address us, individually. They used nicknames, last names, initials, and all sorts of things, even separating us so we would at least know who they were speaking to. Because of that I always hated my name, and the fact that so many others had it. I longed for a name that was "special", different, and meaningful.

I felt that way until as an adult I read an article by a favorite pastor and author Francis Frangipane. He spoke about how names in the Bible were most often an indicator of who that person would be; that they were a personal "prophecy" for that individual's life. Names in the Bible have "meaning", so I let God lead me as I investigated what my names meant from a Biblical perspective.

My birth certificate reads "Debra Ann", but my mother had told my father Deborah, spelled in the Biblical way. For some reason, it didn't turn out that way. I became "Debra".

God took me to the book of Judges, Chapter 4, in the Old Testament. Here I read about Deborah, a woman who had been a leader of the Jewish people, long before the time of Christ. She took charge of the nation and called them to battle, something the men at that time were not wanting to do. She enlisted "Barak" to fight alongside her and they conquered the enemy.

He then directed me to Luke 2:36-38 in the New Testament. Here I read about a woman named "Anna". She had been widowed as a young woman, and lived in a room at the temple. She had dedicated her life to serving God in prayer. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple she stood on the steps and recognized that He was her Savior, tiny baby that He was, she knew in her heart that He would be Messiah.

Reading these accounts of the two women in the Bible changed my mind and changed my life. God showed me through these two women and their names that He was calling me to be involved in His work, and to lead a life following after Him. I realized I need to be proud of my name, and pursue living up to my namesakes. I'm encouraging you to study the origins of your own name, and to see how you can identify with it's meaning.

And lastly I want to say that I chose the name Common Ground for my blog because although we may all be different; having distinct likes and dislikes, tastes, and opinions; if we look inside our hearts, as women, we can all find something that we have "in common". Our hearts reflect our love and need for connection with one another.

Blessings to all of you,

and thank you, Sares, for your "loveleigh" party,

Please click on the above link
to read about other names

Debra

A Special Invitation

I have a special invitation to all of you friends who read this blog. Last week I started a new on-line Bible Study. It's more of a time to share thoughts and ideas on what God is doing in my life. There are a few of us that have really enjoyed our time together. We've had a place to share experiences and open up interactive conversations about our lives, our hearts, and our relationships with God.

There's no work involved, you don't have to "sign on" to participate, and I'd love to have you drop by...and maybe say "Hello". So if you'd like to have a place to share your thoughts, and your faith, or maybe just a place to go to get a little taste of the Word, then come for a visit. The link will always be on my side bar.

 Hope to see you there!

http://www.adayinthelife-commonground.blogspot.com/

Blessings,

Debra

Come join me on my journey...online Bible Study Blog

I've been wanting to do this for awhile, and I guess today's the day. Thinking, praying, and considering this has finally given way to actually doing it.  "A Day in the Life" is born. When this title was given to me, I realized there were a few other blogs with this same title, but this is what I was led to use, so if you link up to me here, be sure to see that I have added Common Ground to the url. This will hopefully be somewhat interactive. I am encouraging you to sign on as a follower here at the beginning. I'm going to be sharing with you what God is sharing with me. So without further explanation, come on over to my new blog site. I have a more in depth concept going on there with my first post. I have a link on my side bar to make this easy.

OK, see ya there!

Debra