A Spoon. A Story.

A woman met with her pastor to discuss her final wishes, as she only had a very short time to live. After they discussed the plans for the funeral, she remembered one final request that was very important to her. She said, "I want to be buried holding a spoon in my right hand." The pastor gazed at the woman, at a loss for words. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "You see, Pastor, in all my years of attending potluck dinners, I remember that when the dishes were being cleared, someone would lean over to me & say, 'Keep your spoon.' I knew then that something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie...something wonderful to end the meal!" As the pastor listened a smile came upon his face. The woman continued, "So, I just want people to see me in the casket with a spoon in my hand & I want them to wonder, 'What's with the spoon?'" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your spoon--the best is yet to come." The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged her good-bye.

So, the next time you reach for your spoon, let it remind you, oh so gently, that the best is yet to come.

My friend, Julie, gave this spoon & story to me before I left Washington. It is such a sweet gift & I wanted to share it with you. (I am not sure who to credit the story to.)

I have a big stash of vintage spoons & I'll be making them into ornaments like the one Julie gave me, for the ladies of my church on Sunday. I love the hope in the message & the reminder of good things ahead. Not only when my days here in this world are over, but every day there are good things to look forward to. And I keep in mind & heart the important things that matter.

Especially this season.

Merry Christmas!

♥

iNsPiRaTiOn.

I LOVE a fresh, crisp, never-been-used, perfect, unruffled, untouched, brand-spankin'-new notebook...

A Teddy Named Tuxedo.

I have a teddy bear that sits by my computer. It's small & old & I remember it from my grandpa's house. The back of his couch was lined with dozens of bears in all shapes & sizes & colors. I think the bears eventually invaded other blank spaces in his house because there were so many of them. I can't remember if my grandpa bought them for my grandma or vice versa. Maybe they bought them for each other. My grandpa just passed away about a month ago. I know it's such a heavy topic for such a silly blog: death. I almost didn't mention anything.

I haven't cried yet that my grandpa is gone, until now. For some reason, all of a sudden, I looked at that bear & felt so sad. I grabbed the old stuffed toy & held it under my nose so I could maybe smell a lingering scent of grandpa's house, & then I cried....I usually try to keep this blog for crafty & creative stuff. But this subject made me think that inspiration can come from anywhere---even from death. My inspirations come from family, friends, even county fairs, late-night tea with my girls, or the passing of Grandpa Bill. My inspirations can come from secret crushes or from a day when I'm in a bad mood, from kneeboarding (wahoo!), or from hiding away in my studio & making stuff. Why are they inspirations? Because they move my emotions.

I'm not inspired when I do the dishes necessarily, or fold laundry, but I AM inspired when I think of someone that I loved, who loved me & who I can't have anymore. And inspiration is the first step to any creative pursuit. My inspirations may move me to cry, or laugh obnoxiously, or do cartwheels (& yes, that's my "real woman" flub hanging out on the left side of the picture!), or squish someone with a hug, or do a funky dance, OR create. If you have not been moved by emotion, you have not encountered a true inspiration. And how can you truly create or even enjoy life then? It's all just paper & glue, without the glitter. Or better yet, a life without inspiration is like a cupcake without the frosting & sprinkles.

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