Author Archives: Barbara Harper

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About Barbara Harper

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The Wedding

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I’m baa-acck!

This past Saturday was Jason and Mittu’s wedding! I would have loved to have blogged about it along the way or at least mentioned the date ahead of time, but I have this phobia of some cyber-stalker figuring out that I’m away from home and looting the house while I’m gone, so I didn’t want to mention being away. I had planned to blog a little every day, but the last few days it just wasn’t possible.

So, last Tuesday Jim, Jeremy, and Jesse took off to OK in the car pulling a trailer with which to bring back some of Mittu’s furniture and wedding gifts, etc. We had planned to rent a U-Haul there, but U-haul won’t rent to folks with Ford Explorers due to a lawsuit some time ago. 🙄 Jason and I flew out Wed. morning. Originally Jason was flying out so he could get there earlier to get things done for the wedding, then Jim saw that the one-way flights weren’t that terribly expensive, so he offered to let me fly with Jason. That flight and trip was probably the smoothest, most problem free I have ever experienced. That spared me the long car drive and them from having to stop quite so often. They ended up not stopping overnight as planned — just pulled into a rest stop for a couple of hours — so we ended up all getting there close to the same time.

From Wed. through Sat. was filled with getting things done for the wedding and meeting people. I was especially impressed with some of the ladies from Mittu’s church — they were there lending a hand at just about every phase. Meeting people is not my best thing, though God has helped me with that over the years, and there was just one point when it seemed overwhelming and I wished for a quiet spot alone, but that coincided with a bit of tummy trouble which may have had a lot to do with those feelings. Much of Mittu’s extended family  flew in and overall they were very kind.

There were a couple of Indian rituals along the way. One was what they called Mehndi which involved temporary painted tattoos made from henna on the hands of the female wedding party attendants. All of the immediate family is Christian rather than Hindu so none of these things were done with Hindu rites in mind.  Just out of interest I asked the lady doing it if there was any symbolism or history to it — but it seemed to be “just one of those things Indians do” and was meant to be ornamental in itself and the process almost along the lines of a spa treatment, a time to relax. I don’t think I got any pictures of it. There was another involving putting a paste made of tumeric on the bridal couple’s face, arms, and feet — I’m not sure of the word for that one — but it is somehow meant as a blessing to them. What’s supposed to happen afterward is everyone then paints this on everyone else and it’s meant to be a fun time of getting to know each other, but somehow they didn’t do that part. I don’t know if it was in deference to us (though we were prepared for it), or, as one said, it just just getting late and everyone was hungry and wanted to go ahead and eat.

The wedding morning dawned bright and sunny Saturday. I’m afraid I don’t have any pictures of the wedding itself — we’ll have to wait for the ones from the photographer. The only time I almost lost it was when the bride walked in and when toward the beginning of the ceremony they presented gifts to the parents. There were a couple of moments of unreality (“Is that really my son up there?!”) but overall things went really well. No major glitches except the city tornado warning siren going off toward the end. 😀

One other Indian custom during the wedding involved Jason tying a necklace made of a gold cord and a locket around Mittu’s neck while a longtime family friend read about the custom. It’s the Indian equivalent of the exchange of rings. It did have Hindu roots, but it has been Christianized and mention was specifically made of it being done in God’s name, so we had no problem with it (much like using Christmas trees and other such things which purportedly have pagan roots but which are used now in good conscience without those connections).

The family was careful to serve both Indian and American foods during all the get-togethers. Indian food is quite spicy but they would point out to us which ones were milder.

I just love all the kids in the bridal party. Most of them were friends from college and/or the camp where Jason and Mittu worked. I had met many of them before, and they were all such fun and all, especially the best man and maid of honor, put in a lot of work to help their friends.

My step-father and two sisters from Texas were able to come, and we enjoyed visiting with them during the reception and then at dinner that night and a quick breakfast before heading out.

We set out on the road Sunday morning and some time in the afternoon just before Clarksville, Arkansas, the tire of the trailer blew out. Jim called AAA only to discover they don’t cover trailers, and even if they did, they could only change the tire, not bring us out a new one. They called several tire places for us but they were all closed because it was Sunday. Jeremy googled around and found a Wal-Mart two exits up (the AAA person had said there were no WAl-Marts in the area…), so we had to disconnect the trailer and leave it on the side of the road with much prayer for protection while we zoomed up to Wal-Mart to get a lug wrench. Jim was going to try to put the spare from the car on the trailer long enough to get back up to Wal-Mart and replace the tire. While we were doing all that, who should call but Jason — he and Mittu had just passed the trailer on the side of the road! So they stopped to help us out. We got up to the Wal-Mart service center just as they were closing, but they graciously helped us out. If Jason and Mittu hadn’t “happened” along just when they did, we would have gotten to Wal-Mart past the tire center closing time. After all that was taken care of, we got to eat together, and then each went on our way. An unconventional way to spend part of one’s honeymoon, but I am glad it happened as it did! As we were dealing with disconnecting the trailer for a while, and I was praying that no one would steal it or its contents, I was thinking of the ramifications of all of that. Sometimes God does allow for such things to happen, and there are things He wants us to learn from such experiences, but it’s a little harder on one’s faith. I was just thrilled that He allowed the way it all worked out so that His hand was so obviously at work.

We ended up driving straight through (I say we — Jim drove the whole way) except for about an hour or so at a rest stop. Then we unloaded the trailer at the kids’ house, went back to our house and loaded Jason’s bedroom furniture on it and unloaded the same at their house, then got some pizza and crashed at home.

Got a great night’s sleep and a much-needed shower, and now need to finish unpacking and go to the store and then go over to the kids’ house to do a bit of cleaning.

It was a great time over all. I miss having a hotel room cleaned, beds made, and towels washed every morning. 😀 But other than that I’m glad to be home. Hope to have pictures soon!

Promises and prayer

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It’s been another ultra-super-busy time — I’ll tell you all about it in a few days! 😀 I may be pretty scarce until then.

But I just read the following from Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer and wanted to share it. I was just going to copy the paragraph about prayer, but, the whole thing is good:

August 7

THE BIBLE AS A DICTAPHONE

“When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”– Psa 27:8.

THE BIBLE reminds us of a dictaphone. God has spoken into it, and as we read its pages, they transfer His living words to us. There are many things in the Bible, which, at first, we may not be able to understand, because, as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are God’s thoughts higher than ours. Mr. Spurgeon used to say that when he ate fish, he did not attempt to swallow the bones, but put them aside on his plate! So when there is something beyond your understanding, put it aside, and go on to enjoy that which is easy of spiritual mastication and digestion.

The Bible contains ten thousand promises. It is God’s book of signed cheques. When you have found a promise which meets your need, do not ask God to keep His promise, as though He were unwilling to do so, and needed to be pressed and importuned. Present it humbly in the name of the Lord Jesus! Be sure that, so far as you know, you are fulfilling any conditions that may be attached; then look up into the face of your Heavenly Father, and tell Him that you are reckoning on Him to do as He has said. It is for Him to choose the time and manner of His answer; but wait quietly, be patient, and you will find that not a moment too soon, and not a moment too late, God’s response will be given. “My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him” (Psa 62:5); “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things that were told her from the Lord” (Luk 1:45).

Whether for the body, the soul, or spirit, there is no guide like Holy Scripture, but never read it without first looking up to its Author and Inspirer, asking that He will illuminate the page and make you wise unto salvation. “Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”

PRAYER

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I Thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies. AMEN.

Book Review: Sometimes a Light Surprises

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Sometimes a Light.dp Sometimes a Light Surprises by Jamie Langston Turner is primarily the story of Ben Buckley, whose wife died in a mysterious unsolved murder twenty years earlier. Shortly before her death she spoke of a “conversion” experience. Ben had no use for her new-found faith and let her know that clearly. Since her death he has built walls around his heart, shutting out his own four children, and has become immersed in his own rituals, including an obsession with idioms and trivia.

A job interview at his business unexpectedly brings him face to face with Kelly Kovatch, with the daughter of the woman who led his wife to the Lord, the woman against whom he still holds a grudge. With that against her plus the fact that the girl is only twenty, home-schooled, and inexperienced, he has no intention of hiring her, but somehow he finds himself doing just that.

Kelly’s mother is now dying of cancer, and she is wrestling with why God doesn’t seem to be answering her family’s prayers as well as how to interact with all the different types of people and situations she encounters in her new job.

The story is told through the alternating viewpoints of Ben, Kelly, Ben’s personal assistant Caroline, who is a resident busybody, and Erin, one of Ben’s daughters who is most estranged from him.

This is not a book of riveting action or page-turning plot, yet the characters are genuine in their reactions, thought processes, and flaws. Sometimes Turner’s main characters are a bit too eccentric for me, but all of the ones in this book seem real and likable even with their quirks.

Though this is not a sequel of Turner’s previous books, a few characters from them make an appearance.

The title of the book is from a newly discovered (by me, anyway) old hymn by William Cowper which has now become a favorite, and I enjoyed the references throughout the book of the slow dawning of light. The book is set in a city where I used to live, so I also enjoyed some familiar references. I also liked the ending, which, of course, I can’t tell you, but I liked how it wasn’t neatly tied up the way Christian fiction often is, yet the characters are responding to the light they have.

I think this is my favorite of Turner’s books.

(This post will be linked to Semicolon‘s Saturday Review of Books.)

Reasons why prayers aren’t answered

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praying_hands_clipart_3A leaflet came in with a packet of sample tracts at our church which listed a few reasons why prayers aren’t answered. I began to think of others and added to that list in a section in our ladies’ newsletter last week, but thought of some more since then.

We have to remember prayer isn’t a heavenly vending machine: insert prayer, push the right button, and get what you want. It’s more like a child requesting something of a parent, and every good parent sometimes has to say “No.”

Here are some Biblical reasons why God sometimes says “No.”

1. Sin.

Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

2. Turning away from hearing God’s Word.

Proverbs 28:9: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

3. Praying half-heartedly.

Jeremiah 29:12-13: “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

4. Asking for the wrong reasons.

James 4:3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

5. Pride.

This was one on the list I mentioned. I wasn’t sure it applied at first because the verse doesn’t specifically mention prayer, but I think indirectly it could be a hindrance to prayer — though it is probably more of a subset of #1 or #4.

Luke 14:11: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

6. Unforgiveness

This also could be considered a subset of #1, bu since it is mentioned specifically, I’ll list it here:

Mark 11:26-26: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

7. Spiritual conflict.

Daniel 10:12-13: Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Here we’re getting into things beyond our understanding, but those unseen conflicts are a factor.

8. God wants to show His grace through our weakness instead.

II Corinthians 12:8-10: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

9. Disciplinary measures. It might seem at first like this is a subset of #1, but I think in that case the sin wasn’t acknowledged: I think in this case it is, but the answer is still no.

Deuteronomy 3:25-26:I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

10. It’s not the right time.

Abraham’s desire for the son God had promised was not fulfilled until his old age.

Genesis 21: 1-2: And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

11. Not asking in faith.

James 1:6-7: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Matthew 17:19-20: Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

12. It’s not God’s will.

I John 5:14: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

Matthew 26:42: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

Can you think of any others?

Some would say God does not answer the prayers of someone who doesn’t know Him, except the prayer for salvation, but Cornelius, a man who did not yet know the Lord, was told in Acts 10: 4b, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” Nevertheless it stands to reason that God would more readily answer the prayers of one of His own children.

And though this list might sound negative, really the bulk of Scripture has more to say positively about prayer. God wants to answer our prayers when they are in line with His will and when there is not something blocking the channel of communication between us.

Blogiversary contest winner!

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Thanks so much to those of you who commented on my Third Blogiversary post! Your words warmed my heart immensely.

I used Random.org to choose a number, counted down to the corresponding post, and the winner of the giveaway is…

Quilly!

I’ll be contacting you shortly! Congratulations!

Ultra-super-busy

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“Wings as Eagles” by Ron Hamilton.

Leaning on this promise today:

Isaiah 40:

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

What’s On Your Nightstand: July

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What's On Your Nightstand
 The folks at 5 Minutes For Books host What’s On Your Nightstand? the fourth Tuesday of each month in which we can share about the books we have been reading and/or plan to read. You can learn more about it by clicking the link or the button.

I only reviewed two of these earlier this month, so I’ll say a little more about the rest here than I usually do. I read more non-fiction than fiction this past month — highly unusual for me!!

I finished reading Thread of Deceit by Catherine Palmer. It’s edgier than most of her books. It’s about a man who runs an inner-city activities center, a reporter sent to the center to do a story on lead paint in old buildings, a young girl who comes to the center every day but who will talk to no one, and the “thread of deceit” the man and woman follow to find out the girl’s story.

I completed Take One and This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury, reviewed here.

I also finished Hannah’s Hope: A Journey of Faith by Hope Houchins about a teen-age girl in our state, Hannah Sobeski, who fought a six-month long battle with cancer. The book is primarily made up of the Caring Bridge daily updates with a little background information here and there provided by Hannah’s aunt. It was heart-breaking to want to pull for Hannah throughout the book while knowing the end of the story, but the journey of faith that Hannah and her family and friends went through was probing and thought-provoking. I don’t remember how the story came to public awareness, but I do remember the signs on businesses requesting prayer for her and the news stories that did not shy away from or dim the faith expressed by the family.

My future daughter-in-law gave me a Bible study book titled A Life Surrendered by June Kimmel for Mother’s Day. It sat on my desk for several weeks until one day I just picked it up and started through it — and it was definitely the right thing at the right time for me. It’s a study of surrender through the life of Christ. Very convicting.

Another finished book is Becoming God’s True Woman edited by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I agreed to review this book because I wanted to read something by DeMoss — I had heard much about her from people I respected. It turns out she didn’t write this book, but she compiled it from several messages by women from a conference for women. Nevertheless a couple of the messages were hers, and they were excellent: very well-written and meaty, filled with the Word. I will have more to say about this book later: I’m still digesting it. I definitely want to read more from DeMoss.

I read Organizing Your Craft Space and almost finished Where Women Create, both by Jo Packham. I don’t usually read this type of book through — I tend to leave them out and browse through them a few minutes here and there. But I read all of the first one except a couple of chapters of craft organization that don’t pertain to me (beads and mosaics). In the first one Jo deals with just about every consideration that could possibly apply to organizing crafting areas. I don’t agree with the brief mentions of feng shui — I don’t believe in “energy” in a room, and most of the recommendations I’ve read from that viewpoint are common sense (for example. placing a desk so it faces the door helps you not to have to crane your neck every time someone enters.) The second book shows the studios or crafting areas of different artist and designers. I enjoyed the different styles, personalities, and tips.

I’m almost finished rereading To The Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson about America’s first missionary, Adoniram Judson. Tremendous, tremendous book. I’m planning to review it soon.

I’ve also started Sometimes a Light Surprises by Jamie Langston Turner about a man whose wife died twenty years earlier in an unsolved murder who, a few weeks before she died, spoke of a “conversion” experience, which he resented. Now the daughter of the woman instrumental in his wife’s conversion applies for a job at his place of business. Turner’s books tend to be, as Bet put it so succinctly once, more character driven than plot driven. So far most of the story has taken place in four characters’ thoughts with not a lot of conversation or action — but where she takes her characters is always interesting. I like how most of her main characters are “outside looking in” to Christianity — we don’t always think about how we come across to people.

I’ve also been reading the daily excerpts from Daily Light on the Daily Path and Our Daily Walk devotional by F. B. Meyer as well as reading through I Thessalonians several times in my effort to slow down and delve into the epistles rather than speeding through them. I just started II Thessalonians this week.

Plans for the next month are to finish Sometimes a Light Surprises, to read Take Two, the next in the Above the Line series by Karen Kingsbury. I would really like to read How To Read Slowly by James W. Sire. I am thinking (hoping) it will help me retain more of what I read from non-fiction books. After that I’m not sure. I have a whole stack of books to read and a long trip to and from a wedding this month, so I am planning to take several!

(And Ann, thanks to this post of yours, I removed the adjective “amazing” from one of my descriptions. 🙂 )

My third blogiversary!

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1093393_birthday_cakeThree years ago today I started this blog inauspiciously with this post.

A while back Thom had a quiz about types of bloggers. I found I had more than one answer to the questions: if I answered them one way I came up as a “pundit” blogger who likes to post things to think about; answering another way, I got “life blogger” — someone posts about family and everyday life. I don’t know if there was a “community blogger” category, but I like that side of blogging, too — keeping up with folks I’ve come to know, having fun with memes and quizzes and things like that. I’ve always described my blog as a hodgepodge.

A while back on a meme about blogging, in answer to the question about goals I wrote:

I want first of all to be used of the Lord. I want to share His truth and encourage people to read and heed His Word and get to know Him better. I want to be an encouragement to other women. I want to be able to be a help and testimony to people with transverse myelitis and other trials. I want to improve my writing by writing. I want to have fun. I think I have accomplished a little in all those areas and hope to continue to.

I share the same struggles as other bloggers in trying to keep in balance and perspective the time blogging takes. I struggle with my blogging “voice” sometimes.

But overall I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and plan to continue!

Just for fun, though it may not interest anyone but me, I thought I’d post a few stats:

Posts: 1,573
Comments: 15,851
Spam comments: 55,782  🙄
Some of the most viewed posts:

Christmas Devotional reading
Recipe for a happy marriage
Works-For-Me Wednesday: More chicken tenderloin recipes
When there is no hunger for God’s Word
Thursday Thirteen: Favorite Q&A joke
I Corinthians 13 applied to Christmas
Encouragement for mothers of young children

I really, really appreciate those of you who come by to read and especially to comment. So to say thank you, I am having a little giveaway. On Saturday I’ll choose from one of the comments left on this post and send the winner a copy of one of my favorite books, By Searching by Isobel Kuhn, and one of my favorite CDs, Hear My Prayer, a recording of hymns played on the guitar by Mathew Burtner. I’m willing to ship internationally. If you’re not interested in the giveaway, just mention that, but I do hope you’ll leave a comment letting me know you’re “out there!”

(Photo is from the stock xchng.)

My Heart’s Prayer

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I haven’t heard this one in a long time, but its words came to mind tonight:

My new life I owe to Thee,
Jesus, Lamb of Calvary.
Sin was canceled on the tree,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.

Humbly at Thy cross I’d stay;
Jesus keep me there I pray.
Teach me more of Thee each day,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.

Grant me wisdom, grace and power;
Lord I need Thee every hour!
Let my will be lost in Thine,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.

Saviour, Thou hast heard my plea:
Thou are near so near to me.
Now I feel Thy strengthening power,
Jesus, blessed Jesus.

~ H P Blancard and Ralph E Stewart

Friday’s Fave Five

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friday-fave-five-spring

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites or to join in.

1. The birthday of Jason, my middle son.

2. Jason’s excitement about setting up housekeeping. He found a house to rent nearby and was so excited to show it to us and buy the first few things for it. He’ll be even more excited to bring his bride home in a few weeks when he gets married. Though there have some bittersweet moments at the thought of his “leaving the nest,” it’s also a happy, exciting time seeing him take these steps.

3. Chocolate night at church. During the summers on Wed. nights at church we have Family Camp type meetings with a fellowship afterward, and each fellowship centers around a theme — breakfast foods one night, peaches one night, etc., and last night was chocolate night. My favorite. 🙂 I made a Four-Layer Dessert (except I made a graham cracker crust instead), which we all love, but I only make it for a fellowship like this or when we have company because it’s just too much for our family. Plus I was hoping someone would bring a certain type of cake — I don’t know what it is, but it’s flat and has a particular flavor of icing. I think it might be Texas Sheet Cake, but I’ve never tried making it myself. Someone (I haven’t figured out who) often brings it to church fellowships, and I was hoping it would be there and I would get some — and they did and I did!

4. Books about craft areas. Have I mentioned that when Jason gets married I am inheriting his room as a sewing/craft/guest room? Maybe once or twice? 🙂 I was going to ask for Where Women Create and Organizing Your Craft Space, both by Jo Packham, for my birthday, but then I realized that I’d have the room by my birthday and could use the ideas before then. Both arrived this week. I devoured the one and started the other last night. I’m enjoying the luscious pictures and great ideas.

CreateParty PosterJuly5. Where Bloggers Create. I saw at Quill Cottage that today is a blog event called Where Bloggers Create in which bloggers are invited to shop what their creative space looks like. I’ve been looking forward to this since I first saw it mentioned. I won’t be joining in, because my creative space is in need of much help, whether I were getting a room for it or not. But I’ll be looking forward to getting ideas and inspiration.

Happy Friday!