Once upon a time, on the faraway island of Okinawa, a Pre-school teacher and a Naval Officer, met, fell in love, and were married…

…Life was busy and full of adventure but they both knew someone was missing from their home.  So, they began a long journey to find her…a long journey indeed. Often they felt discouraged on this journey …holding on to faith alone and one day…

                             
…They opened an e-mail and fell in love! And traveled half-way around the world to bring her home…

…They became a party of three on December 15, 2014…and a new adventure began…

And they have never been happier or more complete.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Sweet Inspiration@Repurposing Junkie

5 Star Fru Fru@A Tray of Bliss

Silver Pennies Sunday@Finding Silver Pennies

Inspiration Monday@Our Southern Home

Busy Monday@Pinch of Joy

Proverb 31 Link up@Proverb 31 Wife

No Place Like Home@Rose Chintz Cottage 

BTTCG@Bernadeen’s Blog

Inspire Me Tuesday@A Stroll Thru Life

Wonderful Wednesday@Oh My Heartsie Girl

Titus 2 Tuesday@Cornerstone Confessions 

Make it Pretty Monday@My Dedicated House

Wow us Wednesday@ Savvy Southern Style

Talk of the Town@Knick of Time

Welcome Home Wednesday@Suburban Simplicity 

Home and Garden Thursday@A Delightsome Life

Share Your Cup Thursday@Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson

Share your Style@Essence of Home

Favorite Things@Katherines Corner

Thoughts of Home@Poofing the Pillows

Home Sweet Home@The Charm of Home

Love Peace and Link up@Twenty Something

Share it One More Time@Shabby Fru Fru

Sundays at Home@Thoughts from Alice

Best of the Weekend@21 Cottonwood Lane

Dishing it and Digging it

Monday of Many Blessings

Sweet and Simple Friday@Rooted in Thyme

Feather Nest Friday@French Country Cottage

Shabbilious Friday@Shabby Art Boutique

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Although not technically selling this book, I am quite privileged to be on the official launch team! 

  It is very easy to think you have the author, Heather Nelson figured out when you meet her…beautifully restored turn of the century house, adorable twin girls, a devoted, mission minded pastor husband. Add to this a successful counseling practice and book deal and it starts to get much easier to listen to that voice….the one that insists….you will never measure up. Just like that,the voice of shame becomes stronger than the soft whisper of God’s assurance…”you are perfect in my eyes”.

Shame, the thief that robs us of the glorious freedom and contentment is no stranger to most women…every human being if we are honest. But even more insidious, it convinces us we are alone and the only way to function is to push it down, cover it up and deny.  If no one spots that shame at least we can appear to have it all together. 

 Heather bravely steps up and pulls the curtain back to exposure the lies of shame and helps us through the steps to acknowledge and face our “secrets”. Only then are we to experience true joy. By sharing her own story Heather breaks down her own outer shield of protection but you also see how God replaced it with joy…and you find you love her even more. 

What others have to say…
All this time I thought I struggled with guilt, but to put words to it … it’s shame. I felt like I was reading the response to many prayers and questions that have been in my heart.” 
“This has been so enlightening. I think after reading this that I have areas of shame but I called it something else. I look forward to reading this again later and with others that I can discuss with.” 
“Reading the book this sentence has struck me deeply, ‘no one who feels shame experiences true joy.’ (p. 32) That one sentence has been so good to sit and ponder with. As I wrestle with my own story and child hood of origin it’s leading me to Investigate why I feel shame and how I simultaneously feel robbed of joy.” 

Heather’s book will be available from Crossway publications on June 30, 2016.  It is available for pre-order through Amazon.  Just follow this link. 

Get to know Heather at her blog Hidden Glory

Titus 2 Tuesday@Cornerstone Confessions

… the word sampler is derived…simply meaning “example”…a demonstration in skill. Needlepoint samplers were mainly school exercises during the 18th and 19th centuries, when stitching of samplers was believed to be a sign of virtue, achievement and industry, and girls were taught the art from a young age. Often these lovely and imperfect works were used as household rags and lost forever but others were tucked into trunks and dressers to save and cherish.

My heart beats a little faster when I spy one of these beauties in an antique store. Some are WAAAY out of my budget but some are manageable with a little time spent in layaway (always form a friendly relationship with your local antique dealer…you won’t be sorry). Let me share some of my prized pieces….cherished and loved in my household now…

Susan Combs, age 12, completed this wonderful sampler in 1823, everytime I walk by it I am blown away that it survived almost 2 centuries. I hang this work  in awe and wonderment.

This one is unsigned but seems to be the work of a very young girl still challenged by spacing. When I walk by it I am reminded that life is a process. We need to enjoy the journey and forget the notion of perfection. There is beauty in imperfection. I hang this work in gratitude.

What happened to Caroline Smith , age 12 ? Why is her sampler unfinished? Why was it kept in pristine, immaculate condition for almost 175 years? Her life, perhaps cut short, remains a mystery.  When I walk by it I am reminded that life can be sobering, fragile and often taken for granted. I hang this work in remembrance.

Not every sampler in my collection is old, or even vintage, but they do commemorate life changing events in my life…becoming a wife and becoming a Mama…they were completed by my own mother and will be cherished and loved for many generations. I hang these works in love.

Thank you for the visit but I must be going…

I have an invitation to tea.

Share Your Style@Essence of Home

Thursday Favorites@Katherine’s Corner

Home Sweet Home@The Charm of Home

Feather Nest Friday@French Country Cottage

Shabbilious Friday@Shabby Art Boutique

Friday Features@Oh My Heartsie Girl

Morning Cup of Joe@The Cottage Home

5 Star Fru Fru@A Tray of Bliss

Peace Love and Link@Twenty Something in 2010

Share One More Time@Shabby Fru Fru

Sundays at Home@Thoughts From Alice

As much as I enjoy exploring the antique stores and flea markets, sometimes I just want to sit on my couch, watch HGTV (for inspiration of course)…and shop.  The beauty of it…you have the whole world literally at your fingertips. Those flea markets in Paris…or Round Top TX are right there waiting! Here are a few of my favorites!

Bella Rosa Antiques-In addition to an amazing blog and weekly link up party, Jill has an amazing online antique store. Her prices are awesome and packaged well…I will be a repeat customer.

Time Washed-Another Gorgeous blog and store. A highlight of my Fall is the opening of her pumpkin patch, but beautiful things are available all year.

Cedar Hill Farmhouse– If rustic French farmhouse is your vibe you will find treasures here…another inspiring blog as well. Plus one of the biggest weekly link ups available!

Marie’s Maison-French at its best…right from the source.  Beautiful, elegant and classic French farmhouse antiques at super good prices.

As summer approaches and you are organizing your trips and reading lists I would highly recommend placing “Un-Ashamed” by Heather Davis Nelson at the top of the list. I just can’t seem to put it down…Thank goodness the Princess found nap not to be optional this week..it speaks to a subject that ,unfortunately, seems to hinder most woman from truly experiencing the fullness of God’s holy plan…shame.  Heather’ s book will be available from Crossways beginning June 26, just follow this link to Amazon to pre-order.In the meantime, get to know Heather on her inspiring blog Hidden Glory.

Happy shopping!

Sharing at Kelly’s Korner-Show us your Life