The Gift

"Brave Heart"
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Neglect not the gift that is in thee....

I Timothy 4:14

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I have been thinking about gifts lately.

No, not because I just crossed over another birthday threshold at the end of August, which is why I have been visibly gone from blog land for awhile.

Not because I don't love gifts, and in fact if you knew me really well,
you'd know that I celebrate my birthday for the entire month of August! 

And, certainly not because I spent precious time with my husband, and my daughter and my granddog in the wide open spaces atop a bluff in an oak filled RV Park near Leakey, Texas; where we sat each morning drinking our french roast and watching the birds fly to and fro, and the squirrels jump from tree to tree chasing after each other,
only coming close enough to see if we had food to share.

No, not because we spent one very full and wonderful week in the gorgeous hill country of Texas, where each day we sat in the clean, clear flowing water of the Frio River; and ate till I almost couldn't (because the guys did all the cooking).
And not because we had one great day of golf in Utopia~yes, Utopia!
And, ate that afternoon at the historic Lost Maples Cafe.

No, not because we paddled up stream in our kayaks one day, only to find ourselves all alone with no other person in sight...sitting in the Frio's beautiful crystal clear cool water, watching a nearby gushing waterfall.

And, not because the next day we floated down stream, and found another place once again ALL to ourselves, where we stacked rocks in the river
which then diverted the flowing water in a totally different direction;

 then sat quietly watching thirsty dragonflies sit on rocks nearby hoping they could catch just one gentle spray of water!

And certainly not because each night we could sit outside to hear the crickets call;
and smile as we looked at our party lights shining brightly under the RV canopy.

I dare say it.
I have received so many gifts (in my life). 
Why would I ever want anything money could buy,
when there is all this and so much more in this world to enjoy?
Did I mention I like to celebrate my birthday the entire month of August?
I better get past that if I am going to retire at the end of the year!
LOL.
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Oh, yes, back to..... "Brave Heart".

 I would like to share more of what I've been working on before our vacation, and now once again since returning home.
But can't....not just yet =) 
It will be revealed in time.
I have to tell you that I came to realize, in between class proposals, designing new jewelry, and magazine submissions, what a gift I have been given. 
The gift is to realize I have a gift.  
A gift to love what I see.  Love what I do.
And, to love all that I am. 
How profound is that? 
To accept a gift, even of the smallest proportion, with humility, grace and gratitude, using it wisely and then giving it back ten fold.  
That is what makes a gift worth way more than anything this world has to offer.

So, now my fellow Brave Heart, here I am
reminding you to not forget....
that you can find me at the Marburger Farm Antique Show in just a little over two weeks,
September 28th to be exact, in Tent W.
It is there I will have "Brave Heart", and more of what I have been doing.
I will be there Opening Day (Sept.28) and for sure closing day (Oct.2).
However, in between, I don't have a clue.
I will be wandering the fields, looking for treasurers as much as I can.....I'm sure!