THE STORY OF THE OLD CARPENTER

Once upon a time, there lived an old carpenter who was preparing himself for retirement.   One day, he told the owner of the carpentry shop, that he had worked many years and now he wanted to retire so finally he could rest.

The owner, upon hearing this news,  became very sad and tried to persuade him to stay, but the carpenter had made up his mind and would not change his decision.

At last the owner, although unhappy, accepted but asked him to make one final house before his retirement .

Although the carpenter was not very happy, he agreed to do it but his heart was not in it.   He had accepted this task not with his complete consent and felt that it was against his will but he began the project anyway.

With carelessness and indifference he chose the material for the house.  With laziness and lethargy he finished building the house as fast as he could so he could leave.   Once completed, he called the owner to come and receive the key to the house right away.   

When the shop owner arrived and received the key, he gave the key back to him and said:  This home is your gift for the years of your cooperation with me.   This is your retirement home!!!!!!!!!!

Upon this unexpected action, the Carpenter was very embarrassed.  He would have definitely used much better quality material and skills and would have taken more care in making a stronger home, had he known that the house was meant for him.  He would have made a much more beautiful home.

This is the story of our lives....

  Every day we are making our own home....every day passes so swiftly...sometimes we barely notice what we are building.    And then from an unexpected event, we find out that we have to live in what we have built.   If we realize this and become aware of our responsibilities and our own actions then maybe we would use more care into making a better home.  Opportunities flee and at times we don't have the chance to make a second house.

You are the carpenter of your own house, and the builder of your days....the days are like the beating of each stroke of hammer upon each nail that make the foundation, the walls, the roof...

Make it strong and healthy for your own dwelling...

(A true story...  I thought it was worth sharing, my Mom shared it with me).

ProCRAFTinator

Oh Yes, I should be cramming for my SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) Certification Exam that is now less than 2 weeks away!  What AM I doing? I am proCRAFTinating! ProCRAFTination is what I have always called it.  I have been quilty of it since college.  I would pull all-nighters, studying for exams? NO, I would make everyone on my dorm floor awsome bubble-letter dry erase boards. (Paint pens were HUGE back then!) 




  NOW, I make bookmarks, key chains, wreaths and letters or frames for friends.  Why? Because I can, and I love doing it. Amen.



This is "Birds on a Wire" for my Mom - so she can Bird Watch during the cold winter months =)
It is made with Clothespins ... 

My Sunflower Cork wreath-- made from clothespins and little wooden spoons (I KNOW, I'm CRAZY) LOL





Bookmarks and a key chain =)



An assortment of my bookmarks, ProCRAFTination at it's finest =)







 

 

Gift for a good friend's son.





And for her daughter...




My Family Wall ❤





Doggies are totally part of our family!!





Hand painted my mailbox.  (I collect Frogs)



These are just a few of the things that I love to create and to share.  I have a NEED to design, imagine and to build fun things.  Like so many other "craft-minded" friends, the joy comes from the reaction that we receive from the people that we give or show them to. 

The lessons LEARNED: 

• ALWAYS do what makes you smile! 
• Surround yourself with people who support you.
• Believe in yourself before you expect anyone else to believe in you.
• Follow your heart & trust your gut.