A new SURSEE coming!

I am working right now on a new look for SURSEE.  I have actually bought a domain and will be moving soon to Sursee Gal. Yay!

When I thought of buying my own domain it seemed like such a huge step...but here I am about to take that step of faith.  It is a step of faith to say that this matters to me- this writing, this trying to reach out to you with words.  To write merely to glorify Him and make His name known. To write whether or not anyone is reading.

I realized that I have always been writing- from elementary school days when I worked on the school newspaper to writing letters to folks back in Dallas when I lived in New Mexico in the summer.  In high school I  worked on the yearbook and  I wrote my own College Guide when I headed off to college. Like I really knew what to do- ha! These days I would have made that into an Ebook.  Ahh, times are a changing.  Now it just sits in a file folder waiting to be brought to life.  Someday, maybe.

When I was newly married, I wrote a pass-along newsletter and snail mailed it to two friends who read it, then added their own thoughts, DIYs and recipes and then mailed it on.  I wish I had a copy of that!

Scrapbooking and writing were a must for me as we started our family.  I am still trying to finish up each of the boys' lives in their scrapbooks.

 As an aside, I do like the idea of the electronic photo album, but I would encourage the younger moms to write things in their own handwriting to save for their kids.  It will be a priceless gift you can give them.

So the Lord has shown me that I have always loved writing and this leads me to the new look for Sursee.  One of the fun aspects of desigining my new site was looking at color palettes.  Do you know what that is?  A color pallette is used by artists and decoraters to help keep you from straying and using every color in the rainbow on your project.  My awesome designer, Jennifer sent me to this wonderful site to pick my palette.  So, if you have like a hundred thousand hours, go over and check it out.  Visual candy.  A feast for the eyes.  The designer of this website takes a

from the Design Seed website-gorgeous!

photo of something beautiful and then pulls out six colors to use as a pallete.  This is a job, people.  I am signing up.

I finally picked a palette and font and am excited for Sursee Gal to be born, soon.  What would you like to see there?  I would love ideas about what you think would be  a great SURSEE to read.

An Artist I love right now: Ben Johnson Music Factory

For those of you who don't already know, our second son, Ben, is a songwriter.  He is living in Austin and writing beautiful piano music.  He has written and produced two CDs. Yay!

Ben has a vision of writing peaceful piano music for a world that is rushing around crazy-like.
His website is fun to explore and he explains, very patiently I might add,  all the ways you can purchase or download his music.

He also has written background information about his songs on his blog.  I always love to read about what an artist was thinking about when they wrote a piece of music.

 In his second album, Sounds of Austin, he recorded sounds all over Austin and then wrote an original song dedicated to the place. I really like this song:
Together Again at Barton Springs.  Love hearing the splashing and talking and sounds with the music woven in and out.  Recently, KUT in Austin interviewed him and this Interview was on the air last week.  We are so proud of Ben.

Lastly, I want to show you one of his videos.  Over on Youtube, Ben has recorded several videos of himself  playing his music.  Go check it out.  He also teaches you how to play the piece if you are interested.  If you can't see this on your email, click over to my website.

This is from his first album and is called The Forest is Sleeping.  His Nana made the beautiful quilt hanging in the background. Just so you know, Ben writes, records and mixes all of his own music.

Right now he is working on a Christmas album and would love your input.  Go on over and let him know what songs you would like to hear.

What a SURSEE that is- to be able to actually have a say in what goes into a record.  Fun! What Christmas song would you ask him to record?

How music forms our souls

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Keith and Kristyn Getty speak about their life and their music.  One of their famous hymns is "In Christ Alone".  This couple is  from Ireland and have a lovely story about how they met.  In their lovely, lilting voices they also explain their passion in writing modern hymns.

"There are two reasons we write modern hymns. First, it's to help teach the faith. What we sing affects how we think, how we feel and ultimately how we live, so it's so important that we sing the whole scope of truth the Bible has given us. The second reason is to try to create a more timeless musical style that every generation can sing, a style that relates to the past and the future." 

This reminds me of the idea of how stories form us.  Music also forms us.  So what are you listening to and how are you being formed today?  I will be posting more about music, and I have a very special artist I want to share with you.  Be watching for that.

Keith Getty also shared how we need to be chasing after the Lord faster than we chase what we are doing with our hands.  All things we do with our hands can be glorifying to Him.  We just need to make sure that is not the thing we are pursuing the most in our hearts. 

What we do could be work outside the home or work inside the home.  Wherever the Lord has you today, make sure you start with Him.

So today, you have two SURSEES.  Woo-Hoo!  Listen to the Gettys and be encouraged.  This is one of my favorite songs.

Be encouraged as you chase after Him today that you are choosing the better thing. 

Living a great story

sign found in Austin

We all are living a story.

















Our church has a series going on where people share their story each Sunday.  Our pastor is always saying we all have a story and that we need to ask people to share their story and be ready to tell our own story.

I love that idea of my life being a story because of course, I love stories.

One of the book shelves in the Creative Room

When I  homeschooled I made sure that I read, read, read to the boys because I knew that was important and lasting. Really people, what is better than snuggling on the couch with four little boys reading?   Can't think of much.

 I recently learned about the concept that we are all story formed by the great works that we read. I love that idea that we are walking around with words and phrases and story lines swirling and pumping in our veins.  Stories that manipulate how we live or how we think.

Not only are we formed by the stories we read, we also are formed by the stories we hear as we meet new people.  One piece of advice I give  to kids going off to college is to look for the story in everyone you meet. Don't be put off.  Remember when you look in that new person's eyes that they have a story to tell and look for ways to read it.  Ask them questions. Draw that story out.  I promise them they won't be disappointed when they do this.

 How many times have you heard someone's story and been amazed by God's grace or  just encouraged? I love hearing a story shared as I make a new friend because I often make a judgement about someone and then hearing their story, understand more of God's creativity, beauty and faithfulness.

We also have our own story to share.  We have the Good News to share of what the Lord has done in our own lives that people need to hear.  Jesus spoke in parables and stories because He understood how we are formed by them.

How do we share with others?  Share what God is teaching you-how He is working in your everydayness.  Talk about how the stories you read in the scripture change the way you think and live.  What a great SURSEE.

So today make sure you are living a great story and then share that story with others.  I challenge you to look for the SURSEE of the story in all you meet.  And do tell me about it.
I love SURSEES!

Look what I saw on vacation

Traveling is always great fun.  Experiencing new cities, towns, views.  Peeking into gardens, seeing what grows.  Eating the yumminess of the region.

 I also like the signs you see. Here are a few that I want to share with you from my recent trip to Charleston.

love this tile!

This was cemented into the threshold of a new store on the main drag.  I love the romance of the old five and dime with the wooden floors and the waft of popcorn and all things trinkety to see.

When was the last time you have seen this sign?  It was posted in a stable, where the beautiful draft horses that pull the charming carriages, are kept  I guess the chicken we saw in the hay was this attack chicken.  I am scared!

Who knew this fun fact?  The word Pecan is from an Indian word meaning a "Tough Nut to Crack."

Love learning the meanings of words.

And here is what the gum package declared:

Practice safe breath, please!

Last sign, in front of a floral shoppe.  (love saying shoppe, sounds so British and elegant)

I also love chalkboards!

I couldn't agree more!

So can you share a SURSEE that you saw in a sign?  Wouldn't that be a fun contest to have?

Empty Nester Fashion

Ok, so y'all have to check out these:

 These boots were made for walking!

 Hello, beautiful and fun boots.  These are my Empty Nester Boots.  Been looking at these for awhile.  Ever since I saw some in Santa Fe many years back.  Found some in Bastrop, and they make me happy!  Thought these were going to be my Christmas, but the Bear said these were my EMPTY NESTER SURSEE!  Woo-Hoo!

Just thought you might like to see what an Empty Nester wears.

When I put them on, I have to smile.  How can you not smile when your toadies are wrapped with floral greatness?

What fashion item is your SURSEE that makes you smile? Do tell.

Edit- The Word for the Week

The word for the week is Edit...what does that mean, you might ask?

 Webster's says this about the word:

1

a : to prepare (as literary material) for publication or public presentation

b : to assemble (as a moving picture or tape recording) by cutting and rearranging

c : to alter, adapt, or refine especially to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose<carefully edited the speech> <edit a data file>

2

: to direct the publication of <edits the daily newspaper>

3

: delete —usually used with out

Ah, alter-  adapt- refine- delete.  Love these words and the power behind them.

So gals, what does that mean for us?   I have beed doing some editing around the house.  I used to call it cleaning out.  Getting rid of stuff.  Purging.  A friend introduced me to this word as she told about helping to clean out her mother-in-law's house and then her own house.

Edit sounds so glam.  So streamline.  So chichi.  We are going to embrace this word, friends.  I want you to edit your closet. Your kitchen.  Your bedroom.  Your picture frames!  And more.

So freeing.  A friend told me recently that we won't be remembered past two generations.  All of our stuff won't mean anything in two generations.  A good reason to edit.

 Another friend reminded me that we need to be storing up treasures in heaven. Editing is the key.

Isn't it sad to go to a flea market or antique mall and see portraits from the 30's and 40's?  Who is that gorgeous gal with the Veronica Lake hair or the studly soldier in his dress garbs?  Who buys those portraits?  Who puts them in the antique mall in the first place?  Questions for another day because today we are editing.

See the lipstick I used on her eyebrows?
Hope I have learned something since then about make-up application

sad little empty frames

I have been going through boxes in the garage and found this! Ack!  I loved Gretel as a little girl,  but her head has been off for YEARS.   It is TIME to EDIT and let go of her.  Freedom.

I also found loads of baby pics.  All of my favorites of the boys.  I don't want so many frames standing around now, so I will EDIT and pick out my favs and put these shots in a new grouping to hang on the wall.  Ahhh,  simple and clean.












As I have been doing this I thought about what else we need to edit.

 How about our thought life?  
 Our words? 
 Our time?

The Lord tells us to edit our thought life.
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8

^{He tells us our speech needs to be refined and adapted for the moment.}

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.  Colossians 4:6

He asks us to edit our time.

making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:16

Let's do some editing, gals.  It is a SURSEE with a reward...

~a clean house with less clutter~

~a thought life with no lies~

~speech that is life-giving~

What are ways you find a SURSEE through Editing?  Or more importantly, what are you going to EDIT today?  Do tell.

P.S.

I dug Gretel outta the trash.  I just know I can do some craft with her. Thoughts?