My Peace

How strange it is that tragedy and loss can happen so fast...one second you're moving along your merry way as if the whole world was smiling with you, and the next thing you know you're finding yourself picking up the pieces of disappointment, fear, sadness and loss. What a difference a day makes.

Or even a moment.

Car accidents happen in a split second, heart attacks come on suddenly, diseases spread swiftly, fires catch rapidly, and people die....quickly. Fast fast fast. In world that is quickly fading, it's no wonder why lots of people struggle to find happiness. Joy. Peace. Love.

It's almost as if it's an oxymoron to be happy. And for someone who has their hope set in this sad, depressing world...it really is sort of hopeless. It's not suppose to be fulfilling, and yet we all wonder why we aren't feeling satisfied with this place. Hmmm...it's because it's not suppose to be satisfying!

Why does this muster up anxiety in us? Why are confused we things aren't "right" and our worlds are falling apart? After a long week of fear, sadness and confusion...I think I might have been given the answer.....

We were meant for MORE than this world. We were meant for heaven. Disaster should shake us--we were created for peace. Hatred should jolt us--we were created to be loved. Sadness should jerk us--we were meant for JOY. And we who are believers can have that. Right now. Eternal life starts now for those who are in Christ..and what a comfort that is! Amidst the problems, the confusion and hurt....we can know peace, in Christ. We can know love, in Christ. We can know joy, in Christ. And we can know happiness, in Christ.

If I stick out like sore thumb here on earth........it's because I wasn't meant for here. My home is in Heaven...and I can't wait to get there!

This hymn writer said it best:

My Peace

My peace I give unto you

It's a peace that the world cannot give

It's a peace that the world cannot understand

Peace to know, peace to live

My peace I give unto you.

xoxo

Gail

"June"

I'm not even sure I'm ready to put this on here....but something tells me it's okay. That it validates what happened....that it wasn't just a dream...a very sweet dream that abruptly ended.

I hope I never forget. No wait.

I can't.

I won't.

The last 5 + weeks were real. As real as real can be. Whoever says different is kidding themselves.

Isn't it interesting how death can change you just as much as life?

I don't get that. Why do we have to lose something to realize what's important in life?

Or what's important to God?

Is that grace? Mother says, "God gives you grace to enjoy things....but sometimes He just gives you grace to endure it."

So this is my enduring it, by writing a poem to the sweet baby we lost.

Here's to our baby "June".

June

Dear June, I held you just a little while

My June, how I've imagined your sweet smile

Baby June, your Mommy wishes you had stayed

Oh June, why did you go away?

Fair June, your Daddy loved you oh so well

Precious June, if you had known him you could tell

Dearest June, we both have loved you from the start

Oh June, why did we have to part?

Cute June, I think you would have had my nose

Lovely June, and perhaps his lips and toes

But June, no matter what your features be

Oh June, we'd love them completely!

Perfect June, we fought for your sweet, little life

Tiny June, by doing everything so right

Sweet June, I guess the Lord had other plans

Oh June, you're safe now in His hands.

Our June, you'll be forever in our hearts

Little June, and though from us you did depart

Heavenly June, you're in a much, much better place

Someday we'll see you face to face.

Ruby Moon Designs ::Delicious Giveaways::

If you haven't heard of Ruby Moon Designs yet...

You're missing out!

Grace Aldape, creative guru and jewelry extraordinaire has a unique way of putting jewelry and handmade home items on the map. Her expertise in her craft and the ingenuity put into each item makes her designs not only stand out... but well...you just gotta have 'em!

You can find her unique items at her Etsy Store and also read about them, as well as other helpful tips and stories on her blog here.

And don't miss out on her Giveaway! She's got some awesome little beauties up for grabs! Just post a comment and you'll be in the drawing!

Happy Saturday!!!

My Favorite Things: Beauty Edition

We all know the familiar tune from The Sound of Music with Maria singing joyously of her favorite things with the von Trapp family...

"Brown paper packages tied up with strings...these are a few of my favorite things!"

Oh how I used to love watching that part in the movie, followed closely by Liesl and Rolf in the gazebo. :) Good, good times.

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So, in the spirit of thankfulness and because I just want to...I thought I'd start my own "Favorite Things" list to share with you. (Thanks for the idea, Maria!). This will be the first of many posts of "faves". Just a sampling of the simple pleasures in my world that make my heart skip a beat...that bring joy to my days in the smallest of ways, and....if you're like me and you like trying new things.... I would recommend to YOU!

So without further ado...

::BEAUTY::

Jason's Apricot Scrubble is to die for! I love it! I get

so excited to use it!I've never found a better face scrub...

it's deep-pore cleansing, smells so delicious you could eat it,

and for the cherry on top, all Jason products are

"PURE, NATURAL & ORGANIC."

Jane Iredale makeup is awesome! Made with the

purest, cleanest minerals, this makeup doesn't make

my already problem skin feel more problematic. In

fact, it's healthy for my skin! And although it's $$,

I buy mine on eBay from makeup dealers and it makes it

super affordable!

When I found this Aveeno lotion, I knew

I wouldn't need to look for another lotion any other place.

I have oily skin as it is, but this lotion never makes my

skin feel greasy. It has SPF 30 sunscreen, and "natural

light diffusers" to even out skin tones. It's

WONDERFUL!

If you're into "green living" like I am,

you'll love these shampoos and conditioners from

Whole Foods. They have no artificial preservatives,

are not animal-tested, and are scented with delicious

essential oils. My favorite scents are spearmint and

Grapefruit (pictured). And, being the Whole Foods

store brand, they're VERY inexpensive!

Ahhh! Tom's of Maine! These all-natural

body soap bars are terrific! So many "natural"

soaps start splitting apart when used...or worse...

don't lather at all...NOT WITH THESE. They create

a wonderful lather and are silky-soft to the skin.

And they smell good to boot! Favorite: Lemongrass.

And Lastly............Oral Hygiene. :)

If you have not crossed over to the other side from

synthetic to natural-bristle tooth brushes....you should!

These little guys are soft and gentle to your teeth, are small

enough to not gag you when you brush your teeth, and don't

taste plasticy. You can get them at Whole Foods for cheaper

than a new tooth brush at Walmart!

And of course it just wouldn't be complete without...

Did you know that most conventional toothpastes have sugar

in them? Surprised? I was! On my quest to finding healthier

toothpaste, I came across this...and I love it! You can find

it in just about any health food store. I love the all-natural minty

taste, the fact that all the ingredients are natural (no harsh

chemicals...only plant-based natural whiteners and ingredients),

and they leave my smile feeling CLEAN!

Well that's all for now! What are some of YOUR

favorite beauty products you can't live without?

*Write me about it!*

The Nurtured Nest got a FACELIFT!

Hello my friends! As you might have been able to tell over the last week, I've been doing a little tweaking here and there at The Nurtured Nest, and with the help (okay, I'll admit it...he did most of the work) of my loving husband, Matthew, we've come up with a design that we're both proud of!

So check out our new facelift..and tell us what you think of the "new and improved" look!

Carpe Diem

I read an impactful excerpt yesterday from a book called "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" by Edith Schaeffer (wife of well-known Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer). I couldn't agree with it more so I thought I'd share it with you...

"It seems to me that, whether it is recognized or not, there is a terrific frustration which increases in intensity and harmfulness as time goes on, when people are always daydreaming of the kind of place in which they would like to live, yet never making the place where they do live into anything artistically satisfying to them. Always to dream of a cottage by a brook, while never doing anything original to the stuffy boarding-house room in a city; always to dream of a rock, glass and timber house on the cliffs above the sea, while never putting anything of yourself into the small village brick house; or to dream of what you could do with a hut in the jungle yet never to think of your inherited family mansion as anything but a place to mark time, is to waste creativity in this very basic area, and to hinder future creativity by not allowing it to grow and develop through use. Trying out all the ideas that come to you, within the limits of your present place, money, talents, materials and so forth, will not use up everything you want to save for the future, but will rather generate and develop more ideas."

This hit home for me. I, for one, am a dreamer, but this can be a hindrance if I let myself always think "I'll do that when__ happens or when we live in ___". I am always encouraged when I see people beautify the space they currently do have despite limitations, despite time inhibitors (ie. "we will only be here a year...why do anything to this place?"...), despite rental agreements, despite...despite...despite.

When you love living in the NOW, you'll want to make anywhere you are a home. This will look different for everybody, but whoever you are...

It will always stimulate, encourage, and bring a sense of home to your soul.

So don't wait for tomorrow's dreams...

Carpe Diem!