Oh Spring!

I find that working in a greenhouse is a hard place to beat when it comes to the best place to work during the season. Life is all around me every single day! I can come in after two days off and notice more and more growth: the wisteria is blooming, half of the osteospermum is showing their color, and the ferns are ready for their haircut. The list of things to do is endless as what you are working with continues to change.

I have learned so much about flowers and plants that everyday I am constantly reminded how much I DON’T know. I have to remind myself that Noah didn’t build the ark in a day and I highly doubt he had any idea what the next day would bring either. So I take my lessons day-by-day, moment-by-moment and internally celebrate as the question I couldn’t answer yesterday (and had to bug a co-worker about) I could actually answer today without any assistance. Oh how even the smallest victories can be great accomplishments.

Crochet Crowns

After finishing the scarves project, I thought I would put my hook down for a while. However, when a need arises a fun new project must be attempted.

I was chatting with Hilary about Lois and Casey’s upcoming birthdays and she mentioned that she each wanted them to have a special crown that they wore on their birthday (as their birth dates are only 2 days apart) she wanted to give them a visual separation.

After a little hunting on ravelry.com, I bought some yarn and dusted off my hook. I couldn’t help but try one of them on for size before I sent them off.

I am still somewhat amazed by crocheting. You look at something and wonder how in the world I could ever make that? Then you read the pattern, make it through each row, and all of a sudden what looked so complicated now is being held in your hands.

All Moved In

My car unloaded

Well the move into our new place couldn’t be without its challenges and stories. The move from the Millers was easy enough as all of our stuff fit into two trips with our cars. The trickiest part was organizing the transfer for the rest of Aletheia’s stuff from the basement of her old house in Lancaster.

I can’t help but pat my own back when it comes to packing skills. With my past experiences, I can fit a lot into not a lot of space. Originally, Aletheia was going to rent a truck. Instead a friend offered to let her use the van that he uses for his band equipment.

House warming gift from
the Schmidts

So instead of a moving truck, we now had a full size van and Aletheia’s mazada 4-door hatchback.

What took 5 hours to pack into said vehicles was unloaded in 30 minutes. I never said that getting a lot into very little space was a quick task. I only said it was possible. I will say that every move is a learning experience. Example: would you ever believe that a twin size bed frame made out of 2x4s and a mattress could fit in the back of a mazada hatchback? Just so you know, it can. As a side note, it is a huge advantage if the person driving the car is short as the drivers seat is one notch away from being all the way forward.

When is moving not an adventure?

Search Concluded

After months and months, in town after town (including Harrisburg, York, Steelton, and New Cumberland) our house searching has come to an end. We are moving 6 miles away, to a different part of Lebanon. I was explaining our housing search to one of my bosses and said that Aletheia suggested we look in Lebanon. Little did I know that the next day she would hand me a paper describing a house that they had for rent. That next weekend we went and looked at it. After getting a good walk through decided it would work just fine.

I have to say; this was one of the toughest housing processes I have been through in a while. How easy is it to find a place that fits two people that are completely opposite in personality? I am so accustom to moving to place that I have never been to before, that having a choice in the matter made it harder!

Nevertheless, the process is finished and I can’t help but thank the Miller’s for their amazing generosity. They allowed us to stay WAY longer than anticipated and were very patient with our process. As I predicted when we moved in, your hugs, laughter, and kind words will be hard to part with. No amount of gratitude I can express seems like enough. Thank You.

Beautiful Mess Blitz

If anyone knows me at all, I have a very hard time turning down a road trip. I will admit that the new stage and condition of my back does make me hesitate a little, but for the most part I respond with “So, when are we leaving?”

Aletheia’s sister Kara needed to take a trip to Greensboro, NC to look at a graduate program she was interested in. With NC being my old stomping ground a plan immediately formulated in my mind: why not do a paint workshop with friends from my old church while Kara is in Greensboro?

So that is what we did. With a few set backs to overcome (Aletheia’s bum knee, a church event on the same evening, no access to a car while in Durham because Kara still had it) our Beautiful Mess workshop was a great time to catch up and encourage each other.

Spire's First Road Trip

Spire’s first out-of-state gig took us to a place that like a second home for both Aletheia and me: Marion, IN. I have lived in Marion on three separate occasions as an undergrad at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and two other transitional times. Aletheia was a Resident Director at IWU during my third relocation to the area, which is how we originally met.

So with an invitation for Aletheia to speak in chapel at IWU, we packed the car and headed in hopes of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and interacting with the idea that God has instilled creativity in all of us.

Our hosts for the week could not have been better as we had the great and wonderful opportunity to stay with the Buddes. My youth pastor from my middle school and high school days had recently took the senior pastor position at Westview Wesleyan Church and with open arms welcomed us into their home.  How heart warming it was to have three of my “worlds” come together in one place. Those moments are always interesting as I felt no time had passed and yet I was constantly reminded, as I remember when both of the Budde children where born and are now both in high school.

Aletheia did a fantastic job overcoming her nerves and sharing what was on her heart. With a talk-back session and time to create with students, it was nice to give back to a place that had given so much to me.

It is All in Who You Know

As they say, “starting your own business is no walk in the park.” This statement I agree with on every level. The learning curve is HUGH. Nor does any young business really bring in all that much revenue. So when someone knocks on your door and says, “Heather I think I found a job for you.” You listen with great anticipation and hope, as you know you bank account can only handle so much.

As they also say, “It is all in who you know.” I always reply, “Yes. It. Is.” Every time I am amazed how much easier things are when you know the right people. When Doreen said, “Heather, I think I found a job for you” what she was really saying was “You have a job if you want it all you have to do is call Gloria and tell her that I told you about the job and she will ask you when would you like to start.”

And with that, and no experience working at a greenhouse whatsoever, I will start my new job at Frey’s Greenhouse in two weeks. Thank you Doreen for passing your faith in me on to someone else. I won’t let you down.

HW Designs is now open for business!

Well, actually I have been doing graphic design sporadically for a while now. Much as been woven into my everyday work duties during previous jobs while other projects I could lump into the freelance category. Whatever the case may be, I now have a website that showcases them all in one place.

www.hwdesigns.info Check it out!

Crafts Just for the Cold

With all of this talk of the "polar vortex" we couldn't help but put there record low temperatures to good use. So with balloons and your basic food coloring, these beautiful ice marbles came to be. An easy simple way to add a little color to the snow covered landscape.

Be InSPIREd!

January 7, 2014

The day finally arrived to launch a new adventure in the lives of Aletheia Schmidt and me! After months of vision casting, strategizing, and planning Spire has officially begun its journey. Everyday, we wake up to unknowns. The journey is sometimes taxing and seems to be moving at a snails pace. I know this is on the the beginning. God only knows what is in store for this enterprise, for us, and for the people that cross our path. May lives be changed and relationships deepened through His power. 

Are you looking for a new way to express yourself...to process...to connect...to pray? Are the old ways flat and colorless?

Be inspired.

At Spire, we value untraditional, hands-on experiences within a safe and loving environment, and we believe that the gift of creativity is indwelling, whether one sees themselves as an artist or not.

We create SACRED, UNIQUE, EXPANSIVE SPACE while offering the medium of the ARTS, IMAGINATION, & CREATIVITY with the hope for DEEPENING connection with one's self, others, and Spirit. 

Spire places a great deal of importance on valuing one's self and one's creative process. Our workshops and retreats invite exploration within the context of community while our resources offer inspiration to those looking for a more individual experience.

The word SPIRE comes from the Latin root, spirare, which means to breathe. It can also be used to describe the upward growth of a shoot or sprout. And that's what this ministry is all about:

At Spire we long for individuals and groups alike to breathe...to grow...to look up...and remember how to find their center.

See http://www.spacetospire.com/ for more info. 

The Seasons Pass

Summer

 Fall

Winter

Somehow we managed to find ourselves staying at the Miller's for one more season than expected. The housing hunt continues....

2013 Stats

Fun in the Details

The Supplies

The Inspiration: English Cottage from the movie the Holiday for me and a lighthouse for Laura

Making a mess and progress....

Leave it to the detail oriented people to work on a gingerbread house for hours! It was well worth the effort. 

Our finished products completed

just before the ringing in of the New Year

2012's gingerbread house collection: Snoopy and his dog house, a bird house, an English cottage, a traditional gingerbread house and a light house. It makes me wonder what will be created in the coming years!
Here is what was created last time I was at the Messerly's.

The Return to England

December 12 - December 30, 2013

It had been almost 18 months since my last visit to England. Too long indeed!! With a new addition to the family in July, it was time for Eva to meet her Auntie Heather in person. With lots of first time experiences and times full of games, a little drama, and just plain silliness, my time flew by too quickly. I look forward to more fun times with the Sephton Family!

The pipe organ from the boys choir performance.

Taking advantage of the sunshine

An English Robin - the winter songbird

Gingerbread cookies!

Decorating the Gingerbread house

The final product!

My first pantomime: Jack and the Beanstalk 

Santa Sunday at the Hilton

Marbleizing paper with shaving cream and food coloring!

Such fun and smells great too!

Christmas Morning! Lois with her marble run. 

 Casey showing off with his new construction worker uniform

Eva with new PJs from Nana

And a Teething ring in the shape of Michigan from Granddad Westbrook

Lois bird watching with her new binoculars

Mark staying warm with his neck gator 

Random Thunderstorm that produced Hail!