Tag: Crafts

What I’m about to share has been such a valuable lesson learned.

We had a really sweet Christmas spent with loved ones, delicious food, and a strong sense of Jesus’ love because He’s the reason we celebrate this season.

Sounds pretty good so far right?

It was, until the Monday morning after Christmas arrived along with a certain Fed Ex drop-off to my house. I knew what it was before even opening the door to retrieve the delivery. It came in two packages actually and they were both decent sized.

My husband had been excitedly building me up for a Christmas gift that he had chosen for me — and even though it was coming a few days late he thoroughly expected me to share the same joy and an equal amount of excitement as he had about giving me this gift.

And now here it had come, perfectly intact and waiting to be opened…I, however, reluctantly placed the two boxes on the floor of my living room, wondering if at any point my anticipation of the contents would grow.

Here’s the secret…I knew what was in each of the boxes because in my husband’s two week long excitement he caved and told me what he’d gotten me…in the larger box sat a cricut (craft) machine and in the other box were all kinds of paper accessories and tools to be used with the machine.

You’d think with me being a craft junkie I’d have been bursting at the seams —that I would’ve flagged the Fed Ex guy down long before he turned onto my little dirt road, tore into his truck, and rifled through his deliveries, grabbed my boxes and had them opened and my cricut to use before making it back into my house!!

But that was not at all the case and here was my hang up…my mom has a Cricut and I make it a point to get together with her a few times a year (at her house) to make projects. It’s super special to me and I look forward to those times.

The thought of having my own Cricut overwhelmed me in the fact that I was nervous I wouldn’t use my own enough and that it would be a waste. Or that suddenly my love of going to my mom’s to ‘create’ may dissipate because I might as well use my own machine, at my own home.

I was also irritated because I’d wanted to cancel Internet after this pandemic stuff recedes and we wouldn’t need it for school anymore, but the Cricut only works with Internet so there went my hope of canceling soon and on top of that the Cricut uses a program in accordance with a monthly fee…for a thrifty spender this goes against all my self-made budget rules.

You guys I was a ridiculous mess because while those thoughts flooded my mind I also felt extremely guilty because here my amazing, thoughtful husband had just spent his own “fun money” on me and I was an unappreciative basket case…or more accurately a cold-hearted jerk.

Later that afternoon I finally had the boxes opened and the Cricut and accessories out but my whining sat on full display right along with my generous Christmas present.

Within hours I’d determined I wasn’t going to keep it, I’d package it up and ship it back to Cricut the next morning…I’d even emailed the company to tell them I needed a return started and I’d also contacted a woman who owns a local craft store to see if she had any interest in it. To send the boxes back was going to cost over $80 in shipping so my disappointment grew even more.

I went to bed annoyed of the Cricut…and myself just as much.

Tuesday morning I still felt the same but I was absolutely determined to have God help me see the big picture and sort out my crazy!!

I started thinking about how He gives me unconditional love, an abundance of mercy and grace, the ability to write, and blessing after beautiful blessing…time and time again. All of these most wonderful gifts God gives me graciously and without hesitation.

I know without a doubt I’ve taken any of those things for granted…more than once…more times than I can count.

And when I really think about it, it hurts my heart to think of people who aren’t believers — those who never accept, experience, or choose to receive God’s good gifts.

On top of all of that, God has also given me a charming husband who was so stoked to give me a Christmas present and yet my mindset was to push it away, just as I’ve done in my gifts from God at times.

…The funny part is I never heard from Cricut about returning the machine nor did the local craft store lady get back to me. These two things plus my mom speaking practicality to me validated that I should keep the Christmas gift and enjoy it!! Plus the internet has truly been helpful so it’ll stay as well — and mom and I are sharing the cost of the monthly Cricut program fee and it’s features.

The truth is none of us know how long we have on this earth. To not enjoy the blessings or gifts we receive from others and especially from God is absolutely foolish. (Side-note: Those are partial words from my mom’s wisdom that I gathered.)

I can choose to focus on petty earthly expectations and risk missing the blessings, or I can take a look at how God works through gifts of all sorts and enjoy seeing His goodness.

Although I am now thoroughly excited about my Cricut and currently have plans to make about a half a dozen things —most importantly is that it’s always the giver that’s the best part of our lives. And when we consider God’s giving to us we’re pointed to the love of Jesus…a gift that never runs dry and never disappoints.

Have you chosen to receive His gift?

Here are a few things I’ve made from my mom’s Cricut in the past:

Today I have plans to head over to my moms with my computer. I’ll create a few things there but then cut them from my own Cricut machine at home later on…so we’re still getting together, having fun, and creating crafts and memories! I’m looking forward to it!!

Take me to Alicia’s Etsy shop

If you’re interested in having a custom sign made, message me in my Etsy shop or on the blog I’d be happy to help!!❤️