Hello, I took a small break from posting prompts as I prepared to open my Etsy shop. I have three digital products in there currently and have many plans for more coming soon. If you click the photos, you’ll be taken directly to the product listing on Etsy.
Our Art Gallery
We have had an influx of art going on at our house over the last few years, and I am constantly running out of room to put their beautiful drawings. The fridge was getting full and I had to resort to throwing out pieces that had been there for weeks, but, of course, they found them in the garbage and couldn’t believe that I threw away their precious art. We had to find some sort of compromise because hanging pictures on the wall with tape was not an option for me, nor would it even stick to our walls in the first place (we have such odd walls.)
I was able to purchase everything (except the buckets) off of amazon. It was nice to have everything delivered to the house instead of running store to store to get items; especially in the winter! You can buy the buckets off of amazon, but I found them $10 cheaper at oriental trading. The wire and clips that the pictures are hanging off of came from Ikea but I was able to find them on amazon. We are also using the wire and clips in the homeschool room for our alphabet cards!
Our chalkboards took a little time to find because we had a certain amount of space and I needed exact measurements to be able to fit three of them. My original plan was to get a big piece of plywood and a can of chalkboard paint and make it a “fun” DIY project. Well, if there is one thing you should know about me it’s that I am the least crafty person ever. In all honesty, though I am really happy with how it turned out!
The kids love to pull up a chair and draw during the day and it is also beneficial for homeschooling. Somehow making shapes and letters on the chalkboard is WAY more fun to them than on paper; I’ll take it! I love that it’s right by the kitchen so they can draw while I am making dinner in the evenings 🙂
(This picture was before we put the hooks and buckets up the kids were REALLY excited)
Here is a list of exactly what we bought for this project:
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Finding Writing Inspiration in Everyday Life
There is a guy on our street who likes to walk his dog in a nice dress shirt and pants. Why doesn’t he change before he walks his dog? I find it oddly fascinating. Or the guy that I stood behind today who had a tattoo on his arm that said, “Reward.” Even the quirky ladies that I talked to in the long line at Walmart. Those people are my inspiration! I pull characters, emotions, settings and appearance from them.
I like to keep a small notebook in my purse at all times so whenever I see something, hear something, or just need to make a quick note I can jot it down so I won’t forget. Other places to look for inspiration would be quotes, music, books, and movies. Trust me, I am not saying that I never get writers block, or that I never get low on inspiration, but during those times I don’t give up. Something on a commercial even gave me an idea once!
So, if you’re struggling for inspiration, look up. Look up from the glow of your cell phone to the world around you. There is tons of inspiration right there in front of your face. Everyone has a backstory!
Dealing With Anxiety

So my post the other day provoked a lot of passion. I received lots of stories and messages of comfort from individuals. But, I need to follow up with you and not just leave you all hanging; I want to give you some support and with the Lord’s guidance, help you. I don’t want you to commiserate with me and feel bad about yourself for having this disorder. I want you to do something and take charge of it! Anxiety is something that we need to fight continually day in and day out. But we need to fight it with words of truth, God’s Word not the wisdom of the “world”. When we let the things of this world overtake us and our thinking it’s easy for our minds and thoughts to wander.
I used to watch the news but had to stop because it was exceeding my thoughts and making me anxious about everything and everyone around me. Once I deleted those pages and apps from my life, I could focus better on the important matters at hand rather than the sit and worry all day. Garbage in garbage out!
I know how easy it is to use this disorder as a “crutch” of some sort. We like to blame our shortcomings on it and use it to get out of situations we know will not be easy for us. We need to face our fears and do things we don’t like to do! Once we put ourselves in situations that make us anxious, it will get easier.
Isaiah 41:10- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Memorize God’s Word and His truth and repeat those to yourself daily, preach the Gospel to yourself, and have someone close to you to encourage you. It can be so debilitating when we are told that we don’t have enough faith, or we need to do XYZ then we will be “cured” of Anxiety. Anxiety is a battle that many people struggle with and telling them they need to have more faith is counterproductive.
If someone close to you struggles with Anxiety, please come beside them and give them the Truths from the Bible, tell them how much you love them, and tell them you will pray for them and then pray for them!