This was my lunch box in second grade. I loved Hardy Boys and read it all the time with my brother. My mom gave me this lunch box knowing I liked them and I was thrilled with it... that is until I brought it to school the next day. All of the kids kept calling it a "boys lunchbox" after a week of this my feelings toward the tin box turned sour. I hated it and couldn't wait to get rid of it. Reading the book Pinkalicious always has me flashing back to the lunchbox. 

We tell our kids all the time not to worry about what people think ... but they will... and we did. I try to remind them that when you're our age now you are much more free to be who you are and like what you like without harrassment. Caring less and less what people think as you age is freeing. Still I'm struck when I find myself falling from time to time into a lunchbox scenario feeling like a second grader worrying too much. 

May we all freely wield our Hardy Boys Mysteries boxes whatever they may be and rest in knowing that God  created us unique.

Figs on my mind today. I tried my first fig while visiting the Lefler Family Farm. I went to share lunch with my kids and my sweet friend, Doreen's kids. While there I tried my first fig. She plucked it straight from one of her two trees and put it on the side of my lunch plate. Their big beautiful leaves grabbed my heart right away. I had no idea you could eat the outside skin and just bite right on into it. What a luscious and old world feeling fruit! Now bring me some figgy pudding, I'd like to give that a try next. Happy Hollidays!

A Thanksgiving printable to share
I'm so grateful for good friends, food and family. Enjoy this printable of a pumpkin pie recipe for your holiday season. If you'd like a higher resolution version, or to order a professional print of this recipe art, contact Caryn Dahm.

We are gearing up for our favorite show in Lakeland, FL ... The Fancy Flea. If you love vintage funky stuff you will love this April 6th show. We've been excited to paint swans because Lakeland is a city appropriately named! They have many, many lakes and swan paddle boats litter the water. I'll go as far as saying that the swan is this city's mascot. While I've always favored painting food, I have to say that FL waters and wildlife is quickly gaining ground in my heart. Hope we see you out there. Be blessed.

Thanks to a fabulous baseball mom we met at Great Day in the Country, RagTag Rubies was invited to set up shop at the Winter Springs Babe Ruth Baseball/Softball opening day ceremonies.

The opening day ceremonies are on February 23rd starting at 09:00 and is expected to last 5-6 hrs at Central Winds Park. There will be bounce houses and lots of fun. Looking forward to a nice day outdoors... come out and join us.

We at RagTag Rubies believe that God created us to live fearlessly. Hard to do  ... I'm guilty of at times avoiding risk and the fear of the unknown. Especially feeling that now. I will say that the times I've stepped out of my comfort zone have been some of my most memorable and inspiring moments. Here are a few beautiful words from Ann Voskamp that I thought I would share.  


"God made woman to be a maker, to open her empty places and let life be knit from within her.

Creativity, it’s good theology; it’s what God did in the beginning.

The essence of creativity is essentially risk, believing enough to leap into the yet unseen. The theological terms for this is faith.

...

When we stop fearing failure, we start being artists. 

...

Don’t let the sun set till you’ve done one thing that sort of scares you. Because the only trees that ever grow tall keep relentlessly stretching into unknown territory. 

...

Art, it’s the second person present indicative of the verb to be. Art is a way of being and when you make your life art — thou art.

We have to get the paints out more. We have to make more messes."

Read more of her inspiring words ...

Been reading the very popular book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. While it took me a few chapters to get hooked, I'm inspired. Her beautiful depiction of God's truths have me thinking about gratitude, change and yes, doors. She nestled a nugget inside of chapter 3 that struck me... 

"Sometimes you don't know when you are taking the first step through a door until you're already inside." - Ann Voskamp

So many times in my life I've experienced this. At times it was the obvious doors you walk through of life's transition. There are children becoming young adults, college students becoming husbands and wives. Then of course come the stages of graduating from the world of having babies to raising school aged kids... but what really struck me about this quote was the spiritual doors we walk through.

For me it seems I don't know I'm walking into another space until I look back and see that hey, everything has changed! Many times this takes the shape of changes in me as a person that I wasn't intending or purposefully making. It seems that while I was praying for things God was working on me quietly.

These doors rarely squeaked loudly open... it's been more like a gradual soft swing.The Lord is like that, tender with his work. He's the same with pruning and trimming. Snip, snip he goes with his shears cutting out the dead dying parts to make way for new growth. Some days we feel it more than others but it is always intentional, purposeful and gradual. 

Today I'm thankful for his green thumb in my life. Without God I know I'd be so lopsided and lost ... walking in all the wrong doorways.