Should we lower our expectations?

As children I think we have high expectations of people (and things for that matter). Being a child we need parents, family members and friends for physical and financial support more than we do as adults. As adults we need others for emotional support. And as I journeyed through my late 20's and thirties I have come to a very sad realization that my expectations were seriously too high of other adults in my life.

Seems easier to lower my expectations of people so I don't get hurt. But is that the real way to go? I know that by doing that I will be hurt less and its defiantly the easy way out. I've lived the last 8 months with lower expectations of others and its been much easier. My anxiety is gone (thank you, Jesus), I'm a happier person, not so quick to anger.... I could go on and on. As I was having a conversation with my husband last night and I told him about my theory of lowering my expectations he said yea, that sounds simple enough. I'm gonna try that too. Then a light bulb practically hit me on my head. WHAT WAS I DOING??? This is ridiculous, God doesn't want us to take the easy way out. Now my mission is the pray about it and figure out exactly what He wants me to do with my theory and easy way out.

The one person who keeps exceeding my expectations is God. He has been a rock through every aspect of my life. I'm am so thankful for the day when I was 13 years old sitting around a table at a family friends house and hearing about God and how AMAZING He really is. I've continued on occasion to sit around a table with those two very important people and learn about the Word of God and it has opened my eyes and heart to show me that the most important thing in this world is God. And that he gave his only son, Jesus, up for us to wash our sins away forever. I remember laying on the floor of my friends bedroom, having a sleepover, praying a simple prayer and asking Jesus into my heart. That day was a changing day for me, however, I didn't realize it until years later.

Until next time, many blessings.
Fran

New beginnings - the story of All Stickered Up!!

a sample of a few things I've been working on. The first tile has your family last name and first names on the very top of the tile and the bible verse Phil 4:13. The second photo is the set of 4 coasters. And the third tile is a 9x7 tile personalized with grandchildrens names.

WHEW... We've been so busy the past 8 weeks. Now that Christmas is officially over I have a little time to post (finally).
Lots has been going on, about 8 weeks ago, I started a business (by accident). I know you're asking how the heck does someone start a business by accident. I've been scratching my head ever since too.

Over the past year I've been trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Because since my boys started going to school full time I've felt a little unimportant. Like I'm not needed as much in their lives. It was really a very difficult time from August to about the middle of October. All that feeling unimportant was over mid October when my sister brought back all of my scrapbooking stuff included in the stuff was my Cricut. It hit my like a ton of bricks, seriously like God was screaming at me, this is what you need to be doing right now. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I got my Cricut out (mind you it was in the middle of my nephews birthday party we were hosting at our home) and found some old blue and white plaid contact paper and just went to town practicing cutting words out of the migshift vinyl on my Cricut. If you've ever seen PS I Love you (I just watched it for the first time last night) I felt like that scene when she finally realized what she wanted to do with her life was design shoes. I was whirling around in my office, cutting with the Cricut, making list of designs and ideas and more. I am getting goosebumps just typing this as I think about how enlightening it is to FINALLY know what you want to do and put it to work.

So as I'm cutting the contact paper with my cricut I hear my mom and my sisters saying where the heck is Frannie. As I'm adhearing the first vinyl wall word I've ever created to my office door everyone is like that is so awsome!! The next day I race out to Michaels to purchase some real vinyl and transfer paper and created my first real wall qoute that is on my family photo wall and I created a ceramic personalized tile for my mom with all our names on it. The next week when I showed my mom the personalzied tile she loved it and asked if I could make something with the vinyl for my sisters baby shower favors. I said of course and that is when I came up with the 3x3 personalized coasters that I made for each guest at her shower. I got literally 12 orders by the end of that evening. And I thought this might be something people really like. After the baby shower I created my website on Etsy and posted and few photos on Facebook and as of today I've had over 60 orders. Check out my items here
allstickeredup.etsy.com

This has been a really fun time getting my creative juices flowing. My husband has been a huge help with all of the projects. And I've gotten some really great ideas from family and friends. I want to thank each one of you all for showing me such great support!

Thats whats been going on in my life. I'm super busy and lovin' it!!!

Have a blessed week.
Fran