Wednesdays Word: What are YOU discussing?

Nuff said.

Thankful Thursdays....What If...

You know, I’m sure I’m not unlike any of the rest of you out there trying to make things happen...believing that God is just waiting to open the door, right? I toil away most days trying to be optimistic while resting on a promise that I believe God has made for our household.
Well, yesterday, I found myself being surrounded by a series of “what if’s” that had me really questioning...
”what’s next?”
Well after a series of negative outcomes, I began to really get beside myself, wondering...
"ok, God what else would you have for me to do? I feel like I’ve tried every possible approach in this area…and I simply don’t know what more to do!"
My thoughts were so loud that all I could hear in my head were thoughts like:
"What if the promise I think He made isn’t really what I thought?"
"Maybe the Word we’ve received from various sources has not been all accurate."
"What if I will have to do what I’m doing now for +10 more years before I am graced with the opportunity to do what I love?"
"What if a crisis happens tomorrow to negate the efforts we’ve made?"
"What if we never get out of debt?" which is a huge deal because I feel like I can’t leave what I do now for what I love until we do so...
"What if the gift I think that I have isn’t really all that wonderful?"
"What if the area that I thought God was really going to bless us in, really isn’t where He’s trying to bless us?"
"What if the dream I have ever comes to fruition… will there be someone to carry it on?"

Yeah, you name it, I really thought it.
I just really began to second guess everything with what’s-whats and why’s and why can’ts and how comes.
Have you ever been there?
I began to think:

"it's 2012 and I have decreed and declared how great this year will be for me, my husband, our marriage, our household, and our business."

And then I was reminded of two things..this poem that I’ve heard several times over the years:

and a snippet of my book selection from my 12 for ’12 list, As a Man Thinketh.
There are so many nuggets in this book to make you think, its almost crazy!

"His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions."

and this

"A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself."

but anyway, here's one of the poems from the book:

So You will be what you will to be;
Let failure find its false content
In that poor word, 'environment,'
But spirit scorns it, and is free.
It masters time, it conquers space;
It cowes that boastful trickster, Chance,
And bids the tyrant Circumstance Uncrown,
and fill a servant's place.
The human Will, that force unseen,
The offspring of a deathless Soul,
Can hew a way to any goal,
Though walls of granite intervene.
Be not impatient in delays
but wait as one who understands;
When spirit rises and commands
The gods are ready to obey."

Allen, James (2009-10-04). As a Man Thinketh (p. 36). Public Domain Books. Kindle Edition.
So, today, I'm thankful for the If...this wonderful If is the key to positive / negative thoughts that can make all the difference in the world. I, until now, used to be incredibly scared of the "if" and the potential for failure. I'm slowly figuring out that the whats won't matter, if my response is right. So, here's to that revelation...of course, everyday is a work in progress. I hope somewhere, somehow in all of these characters in this post that you've found encouragement for yourself...and if you what ifs begin to overwhelm you, remember to align your wishes and prayers with your thoughts and actions...and in your quiet time, read this:
Here's the text from If:

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Thankful Thursdays: To-ma-to, To-mah-to Part II

Here we go again...One might think, what on Earth could a tomato have to do with Heaven Sown Event Planning? Allow me enlighten you.

A while back we shared a testimony about our amazement after finding a volunteer Roma Tomato plant in our flower bed. Well, last night, we decided to go straight Southern with our salmon croquettes, buttered white rice, and fried green tomaters. :)

As I sat there frying my lucious tomatoes while my 3 little angels drooled in the kitchen, I remember thinking...I'm actually enjoying the fruit of minimal labor in our now, garden mound. I reflected on my excitement over finding our jewels in the garden...and thought...Ok, God, yes, I see how you're making provision even in small things.

I was reminded that yes, He knows exactly what we need when we need it...even if we might not agree at that very moment....and in due time when the timing is just right, when we least expect it, a seed that was planted will bring forth fruit..and in our case, our tomato plant has almost taken over our mound!

And with that, I was contented...with knowing that:
our God orders our footsteps when we allow Him to
He shows us where to plant....or in our case, plants for us
He nurtures the seeds that are planted.
He makes things bloom in the perfect timing....
and when we're ready, we can partake in His blessings


So, today, I'm incredibly grateful to God for:
the seeds He's giving us...
the direction He's giving us...
and prayerfully, our ability to follow His direction in due time and due season.

If our small business never becomes one able to solely provide for our household, I'm slowly growing ok with that. Allow me to be transparant when I say that I so want "this" that I truly enjoy...from the baby bibs and toddler books to our floral designs and my hubby's cheesecakes ....to be a full-time opportunity to show how God can honor giftings that I think we've been given. Especially when I see how my oldest son gravitates to the creativity we express with everything that leaves our virtual office. I want to be an example that following your dreams actually gets you somewhere....but for now, I'll just keep listening, sowing, and praying, while we enjoy our fried green tomatoes.

I thought it might be fitting to share the recipe with you....oh and by the way, these tomoatoes are scrupmtious with a good bottle of remoulade....maybe its the Cajun in me. Enjoy!



My Mooched Fried Green Tomato Recipe taken from my favorite recipe site: Allrecipes Thanks Diana Swenson-Siegel for sharing this awesome southern dish!! Ingredients:
4 large green tomatoes
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup bread crumbs (I sub with Townhouse crackers)
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 quart vegetable oil for frying


Instructions:
1.Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
2.Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
3.In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.


Note: Use only egg whites to ensure they came out super crispy and crunchy. Egg yolks can make fried foods a little greasy and sometimes soggy.

Interested in reviewing our Part I testimony? Click here.

Our LABOR of love...

We're really excited to share one of our latest babies with you...yes, we're birthing another one...and this one has been in the works for sometime. After three boys, you'd think a girl would be overdue, right? Just joking...nope this is probably as close to our girl as we'll ever get....so for our hopeful blog followers, don't get your hopes up too high!

This labor of love is really just another offering for YOU!

I know you're probably thinking Heaven Sown...when do you have time to do baby stuff, weddings,and cheesecakes...not to mention a new baby?!

Technically, this is just a little extension of our Blessed Beginnings Baby line and we love it so that we thought we'd share a rough image of our work...even before we get truly professional pictures.

So, you know how BIG we are on miracles around here, right?...maybe now you'll understand why. Here's a glimpse at our own definition.



This 18 x 22" burlap canvas perfectly expresses how we feel about:

• each of our angels...
• those surprising little blessings that cross our path ever so often, and even
• those awe-inspiring testimonies that our friends share with us from time to time!

...perfect for a doctors' office, nursery, photographer's studio,or the home of any believer....this hand-painted gem is a daily reminder of God's handiwork.

It's featured here in a neutral burlap with copper lettering (although my el-cheapo digital doesn't quite pick up the glistening metallic finish), but can be tailored to perfectly accent any space. It's currently available in our Etsy shop here...soon to be offered on our BlessedBeginningsBaby site...and we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we just had to share the good news with you!
Do YOU believe in miracles?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…

What a magical day it is going to be for one special princess in the UK.
Honestly, I find myself just a little anxious over the spectacle that will take place in just a matter of hours for one anticipated event…
to say anticipated event is actually an understatement, but you know what I mean.

You’d have to be living under a rock to not be mildly familiar with Miss Catherine “Kate” Middleton, who, as stories tell it, came from nothing, only to be whisked away by her Prince Charming, William of Wales, to live happily ever after.
So much pomp and circumstance is underway…simply because they are the royal family.
Imagine if you were just as royal?
Actually, you are! I am! We are!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Now, imagine, yourself being entitled to all of the offerings that will be displayed on April 29th, 2011…. I have to remind myself, that little Miss Kate Middleton, never sought out to be a princess, worthy of obtaining such wealth…neither did Princess Diana. It's quite "funny" how things like that happen to those who least expect it. So, to you who I’m sure hardly expects His royal grace to favor and rest upon you, I thought I’d send a reminder. Imagine this...all of the glory, gold, and diamonds seen on all of the replays on the day of the Royal Wedding cannot compare to glory that awaits us one day!!! I believe that He wants us to find those golden nuggets in our everyday lives and continue to strive for the greatness achievable in each and every one of us!

You’re just as entitled to royalty, to blessings, to joy, and abundance…happily ever after...no matter where you come from, how today feels, or what you think tomorrow's fate holds. The true question is …do you believe?

Say it with me...I.AM.CHOSEN!

Thankful Thursdays! A is for Abby!

We're so happy today...for two great reasons. One, we've been featured as one of Abby's faves on Etsy! Check us out here: Abby's favorite orange bibs and two, because this notification was just a subtle reminder of why we should be grateful and thankful for what we have on this thankful Thursday. Here's our listing up close and personal: Blessed Beginnings Baby Wonderfully Made Boutique Bib & Burpie Set
This bib set is a reminder of how we are all "fearfully and wonderfully made"

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.Psalm 139:14

Bonnie Blair in Indepence, MO is the owner of the Etsy shop, AidforAbby, where she showcases the inspired artwork of her daughter who lives with Autism, in an effort to pay for the extensive expenses of care for her beautiful daughter. I can only imagine the daily challenges she must face to raise four children, particularly a rather fortunate angel who gets to sit a little closer to God every day. I'd like to believe that Bonnie gets a little more grace bestowed on her to overcome, inspite of.

In the case that you didn't know, April is Autism Awareness month...and what a wonderful opportunity would it be, to be a blessing to Bonnie, Abby, and her family who strives everyday to be as "normal" as possible. Abby's beautiful artwork (over 200 paintings and 100 collages) is available for your purchase at anytime, and I'm sure she would love to hear how much it has blessed your home, classroom, cubicle, or office space.
Let's celebrate the wonder and beauty He has placed in all of us!!!

Thankful Thursdays: Little Angels...

Its easy to become a little perplexed, we'll say, when trying to figure out what to do with the little ones for 'grown-up' parties, and with the Holidays quickly approaching us we thought we'd share a little insight.
Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events in Charleston, SC knows how to say it best on his blog where he featured his kid-friendly tabletop tips!





His mindful tips are sure to make your event enjoyable for EVERYone involved...after all, that's the point, right?




Happy Plannning!..oh and for more GREAT DIY event tips, let your fingers do the walking.....go right to the low country source, Charleston Weddings Magazine.
Credits: Charleston Wedding Magazine!

Thankful Thursdays: Visions. Signs. Wonders

There are just some images you glance at that just simply look heavenly *sigh*...
some that almost capture the wonderment of love
some that capture God’s grace if nothing more than the creativity that must’ve rested on the creator of such beautiful details
Credits: Style Me Pretty Yosemite National Park Wedding Today we’re thankful well, er, yesterday, since this post should have found its way to enlighten you on Thankful THURSday….nevertheless, a thank you is always in order...ANYway, we're thankful for all of the visions, signs, and wonders He creates that when captured in art, showcase His awesomeness! For if we never showcased our creativity, how could be show others the God ideas He gives us?! Not trying to be overly deep...but we know our visions come from not us alone...and we're just gracious, is all. :) We absolutely LOVE the Style Me Pretty blog and all of the wonderful inspiration that gets showcased there. We’d like to think one day, we’ll be selected. In the meantime, we thought we’d post a few images of literal signs, visions, and His wonder caught on film. I swear in some I can even hear the ‘ting’ or the swoosh of the net, because these pics are truly worth more than just a few words. Hats off to the beautiful creators of the work…and to the utmost creator who bestows a little of His gifts in us all! Credits:Check out THIS backdrop!..another SMP find
We just love little reminders like this of His promises... Credits: Red Letter Words
Credits: Love Birds Sign There's just something about this 'country' feel. Maybe we're just in love with vintage, but chic AND unique these days are kinda hard to come by....absolutely refreshing details! Credits: Terra Dawn Photography Whoever said rainy wedding days are bad luck? ...then again, here at Heaven Sown Event Planning, we never believed in bad luck, rabbits ears, and jinxes anyway, so... Credits: Devil's Tumb Ranch Wedding

What do peacocks, "50", and fabulous have in common?

What better way to celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss than to have a fabulous vow renewal?! We can't say thanks enough to Helen and Nathaniel for the opportunity to share in their big day! Not many make 50 and we were elated to be a part!! From the peacock blue lounge to dessert spread with the thoughtful gifting tree, the guests were able to share sweet sentiments with the honored couple while relaxing amongst hues of silver, blue, and gold.... feast your eyes on some of the amateur photo details....more to come soon!

Thankful Thursdays...well, we're a little early this week...

So we've been considering adding a weekly post to our blog, Thankful Thursdays. We figured Thursdays were just about "when you think you've had it!" in the hustle-bustle of the week and are ready to throwing everything to the wind, right? Well, at first glance, so-called-Miracle Monday, didn't seem all that miraculous...so, in an effort to bring our own spirits up, looks like this week's Thankful Thursday has just turned into a Thankful Tuesday for those of you who will meander over to our site tomorrow. So, we'll think on some positive things to help lift your spirits this evening and for the remainder of the week...because when its all said and done, the little vicissitudes of life that are surrounding us today, probably won't be worth a hill of beans next year, next month, or even next week. It's the thoughful, captured moments that will make the difference. Without further adieu, some of the things we're most grateful for...featuring some great photographers who's work we are grateful for as well!

1. Nature in all of its glory....
Photo Credits: Leslie Cothran Photography (Vail, CO)


2. Angels we've entertained unawares....
Photo Credits: Footprints Photography ( Ann Arbor, MI)
3. Moments of reflection...
Photo Credits: BU Photography (Philly, PA)
Ladies, thanks for sharing God's gift in you!!!!...we're all the better because of it!

The Beautiful Life!

The Inspired Room has so many great ideas and offerings to brighten our days here at Heaven Sown. So, in keeping with they're outlook we thought we'd showcase some of our latest designs (in the case that you don't happen to follow us on Etsy). But first, grab some homemade lemonade as you surf the internet and enjoy our 20 "Litte Happy Things To Celebrate In Life":


1. A fattening honey bun!
2. Our first Etsy sell (someone really likes us!)
3. Hearing the hearty laugh of a child
4. Singing with old friends
5. Great honest friends
6. Homemade Ice Cream
7. Homemade pound cake with freshly picked strawberries and whipped cream
8. Hearing our boys say their prayers at night
9. A new perfume
10. Window shopping
11. A nice bath in the dark with aromatic candles
12. God's favor
13. A nostalgic song from the 80's (oops, telling our ages) like, Cindy Lauper's "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun!" 14. A visit "home"
15. Old pics to thumb through
16. The wind in your hair on a Sunday afternoon
17. Rainy days, because inspite of the downpour its nice to be able to get out and run in it!
18. A hand-written note or card in the mailbox.
19. A hand-holding stroll in the park.
20. Making angels in the snow.
And here are our "encouraging" gifts for babies and mommies to be: