"Comparison is the Thief..." Printable

This printable is birthed out of yesterday’s post.  Enjoy!

INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the image & then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary {& center}, print, & avoid the 'compare snare' trap - your story is your own & God is & will be faithful & trustworthy in every chapter.

CONDITIONS OF USE: My printables are free for personal use only.  Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}.  If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 of my photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it).  Thanks & enjoy!

Love for the Printing,

-Bess-

The Compare Snare

I looked a mess – wearing a gray hoodie, jeans, & a sloppy ponytail + a sniffling red nose {thank you allergies/cold ick} – when I saw her. She had been my 7th grade teacher & the mom of my best friend from middle/high school. I hadn’t seen or heard from my back-in-the-day bestie for forever, & here was her mom strolling through Walmart looking teacherly chic… Did I mention I was wearing a hoodie? There was nowhere to hide; we made eye contact & somehow I found myself pushing my cart over & saying hello.

We chatted. I asked about my friend. She’s moved to our state’s capital & has some government job that sounds super snazzy & complicated. My old teacher asks about my marital status. My friend isn’t married either, but has a beau that moved just so he could be near her. I stood there listening & sniffling intermittently, eventually forced to pull out a ragged tissue on its last leg to aid my relief. I left with my old friend’s phone number in tow & a feeling of dissatisfaction & envy brewing in my chest {Or was that the onslaught of pneumonia?}.

I sat in my car with the blue & white plastic bags piled beside me, & in the quiet aloneness wondered what was wrong with me that I had never invoked such a stirring in a guy that he packed all his belongings & traveled anywhere just to be with me. I had yet to even arise enough enthusiasm to get a good man to ask me out. And, oh how thankful I am that my teacher didn’t ask about my work situation! I had fallen deep into the compare snare pit!

Some days that snare of comparison is so wide {or so well hidden in good intentions that go askew}, that it’s hard not to fall into the trap. When Satan plants the pitfall of dissatisfaction {i.e.: the compare snare} & we take the bait, our trust that our heavenly Father God knows our needs & desires & is seeking our greater – no, best good is all but forgotten. The evil one wants to destroy our knowledge of the truth: that God is trustworthy & for us & working in our personal story that may not seem as glamorous or “perfect” as the next person’s, but is the one that He has given us for a purpose – His purpose… &, as certain as God is the author of mankind, we will all experience chapters of mountaintop & valley seasons – good & bad.

I drove home, knowing full well that I had fallen headlong into the compare snare & it was time to make the painful climb out & into the light of the Truth. God is working in my story. If I surrender the pen {i.e.: past, present, & future outcomes of my story – not evaluating my own next to anyone else’s} to His hand through prayer, reading His Word, & seeking His will, then my story will be sweet & speak of His redemption, power, mercy, & grace… that doesn’t mean it will be easy or full of fairy tale-ish escapades where knights pack up their chainmail, hitch up the dragon, & cross kingdoms just to dwell in my neck of the enchanted {or not-so-enchanted} forest.

Our stories are not the same, though we often find kindred spirits who have lived some of our chapters {in their own way}, as well. I think God speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT), “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Yes, even in the troubled painful passages of our stories, God can work to show His peace & strength as we comfort others as we have been comforted, & thus share the love of our trustworthy Lord with others. This brings to mind Romans 12:15 (NIV), “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” I’ve heard it said that it is easier to weep together than to be happy with the happy. At first this made me think, “no way,” but as I pondered it I saw the truth, as I recounted the compare snare moments that had come after hearing another’s good fortune, like with my friend.

So, as I type this up, my friend’s number lies somewhere in the bottom of my purse, undialed. It’s time to call her up & rejoice with her on where she is in her story & to tell her about mine. I’m holding to the fact that I have a trustworthy, all knowing Author God, who is working on my future chapters even now & I am trusting it will be for His, not my, glory & that will be the sweetest story I can imagine.

Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: I’ll put up a “tweet” after I call her to let you know how it went!

Sweet Little Owls {Inspired by "A Beautiful Mess"}

The other day I spied the most adorable owl DIY over at "A Beautiful Mess" {click the underlined link to visit & see Elsie's owl babies for yourself + her tutorial}!

It's hard to believe these owls started out as junk mail wadded up & covered in duct tape! =) This is definitely a green project!

I covered mine in felt I had lying around.  For the time being, I decided to not add the stick/twig feet to my flock - maybe later. 

Love these owls scattered about for fall! 

Hoot Hoot {Owl Love},

-Bess-

3 Easy {No Carve} Pumpkin DIYs

Here's 3+ easy, no-carve ways to embellish a pumpkin {be it real, or faux}...

1. Chalkboard paint!  Confession time: I didn't use true blue chalkboard paint for the pumpkin above.  No, I just used plain old black paint, but I found it works just fine for this project - since I won't be erasing/reapplying chalk often.

2. Washi tape!  It's removable & comes in a variety of designs!  Super easy!

3. Permanent marker{s}!  These work great & are pretty resistant to the weather if you place your pumpkin outside.  The metallic ones {like the gold one I used above} add a bit of fancy!

More Ideas:

-add thumbtacks or decorative brads

-paint

-melted crayons

-glitter or faux gems

-stickers {letter stickers spelling a word would be nifty}

-fabric

Here's another idea I came up with last year...

Click here for the full instructions. 

Pumpkin Love,

-Bess-

2 Truths & A Lie {The Reveal}

Okay, so here's the truth {stop & read this post 1st (if you haven't)}... & the lie:

I took pottery class in middle school & the first thing I made was a wonky cup that read, "heart breaker." TRUTH - Kiki requested a photo of the cup if it was, in fact, true.  Well, I never {okay, rarely} throw anything away {especially something I made}, so here's the crazy cup from 7th {I think} grade.  I don't know what I was thinking carving "heart breaker" on there.  Maybe I had an abundance of confidence - or just thought it sounded like a cool idea...  I dunno.  I'm crazy.

I've been an aunt since the ripe old age of 4.  TRUTH - I stumped many of you here, but it's true.  I have 2 older sisters, & the eldest is a lot older than I & married young.  It was strange, my nephew & I went to the same elementary & middle school for a time, & it was hard to get teachers & students to understand the truth {"Nope, he's not my cousin.  He's my nephew!"}.  Now, both of my sisters are moms & I have 2 nephews - 1 20-something & 1 who's 5!  Some of you fellow sisters who are struggling with your single status, consider this - last month I attended my oldest nephew's wedding!  Yes, wedding!!!  I blogged a little about it here.

When I was little, my mom super glued my Barbies' shoes on their feet.  No more lost pink heels!  LIE - Some of you thought this sounded like a fabulous idea {you're welcome to 'steal' it}, but no, my mom never approached any of my play things with super glue.

There you have it, friends!  Thanks for all who guessed - I fooled you all!

Love {No Lies},

-Bess-

"I'm Batty For You" Free Printable

Here's a free printable I brewed up just for October!

Choose the one you like best {I decided to create 3 versions - each with a different font}.  Click on the image, then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary, print, frame {or just hang with a bit of washi tape}, & enjoy!

CONDITIONS OF USE FOR PRINTABLES: My printables are free for personal use only. Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}. If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it). Thanks & enjoy!

Shrink it down a bit more to make a fun tag!

Batty Over October,

-Bess-

2 Truths & A Lie {'The Circle' Link Up}

Can you guess the 1 lie hidden among 2 truths?  Leave a comment with your guess!  The truth {& the untruth} will be revealed in a day or 2.

When I was little, my mom super glued my Barbies' shoes on their feet.  No more lost pink heels! 

I've been an aunt since the ripe old age of 4.

I took pottery class in middle school & the first thing I made was a wonky cup that read, "heart breaker."  

I'm loving this month's link up with 'The Circle'!  Click the circular =) 'Circle' button below to join in the fun!

Truth, Love, & Just 1 Lie,

-Bess-