Confession: I'm a Saver

I’m a saver. I suppose if things got out of control, you might call me a hoarder. But for the most part, my “stuff” is under control. Give me another 50 years and we’ll see if that’s still true!

I save things that have special meaning behind them. Things that remind me of a friend, a season in my life, a lesson that I learned (the hard or the easy way!).

In middle school and high school, I saved notes. Shoe boxes full of them. Notes exchanged in the halls, passed during class, or slipped into lockers. They all got saved. When my parents moved several years ago, I read through them and laughed at how silly we were, how dramatic we were, and how creative we were in the folding of those notes. But, alas, I couldn’t keep all those shoe boxes (where would I put them?!), so I—gasp!—tossed them. Yes, all of them.

Through the years, I’ve tried to find ways to save some of those special mementos so that I can continue to enjoy them. What’s the use of knowing that I have boxes full of ticket stubs, pictures, programs, etc., if they’re just shoved under the bed, in the back of a closet, at my parents’ house, or in the attic?

The best—and hardest—idea I came up with was a t-shirt quilt. My sweet grandmother agreed to tackle this project for me. (And once it was done swore she would never do another one!) Let me just say, I had quite a t-shirt collection by the time high school graduation rolled around. We took all of my old, worn out, not-really-cool-anymore t-shirts and made an incredibly beautiful and time-consuming quilt from them. (The finished product is the perfect size for my queen-sized bed!)

Besides the fact that my grandmother made it for me, the best thing about this quilt is that each "square" evokes wonderful memories when I look at it! Poor Hubs has to hear about that awesome Wayne Watson concert I went to in middle school or the time I went to overnight camp in third grade and nearly drowned in the swimming pool or the mission trip to Colorado in ninth grade when our bus broke down on the side of the road in Texas for five hours just about every night when we go to bed. I took something old (can anyone still wear a t-shirt from the 3rd grade?) and make something that I can use every day.

And really, isn't that how it is with each of us? Tired, worn out, unworthy. But redeemed by God's grace into daughters (or sons) of the King of kings. Daughters and sons who He will use every day for His glory—if only we will let Him.

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV

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You’ve heard me mention (in)courage at least half a dozen times—or more! They’ve just released a brand new Redeemed collection of beautiful jewelry, home décor, stationery, and hand bags.

Life is a patchwork of the meaningful things we keep with us—memories, moments, and connections—that serve as daily reminders of where we’ve come from and who our loving Heavenly Father says we are in Jesus. The Redeemed collection celebrates the way God, in His generous grace, sews together every beautiful bit of our lives to form one masterpiece creation after another.

I had the privilege of receiving two of these amazing products for review and loved them both!

The Redeemed Necklace combines a detailed round charm with a dainty bird charm on a chunky antiqued gold chain and adds a special touch to any outfit. The verse referenced on the back of the charm (2 Thessalonians 2:13) will serve as a constant reminder of how the Lord is working in your life.

If possible, I love the Jewelry Tabletop Mirror even more. The simple design of the mirror serves as the perfect addition to any room. It sits on my dresser and is where I put the finishing touches of my makeup on jewelry on each morning. The inscription from Ecclesiastes on the mirror—“He has made everything beautiful in its time”—is a beautiful verse to meditate on each morning and remind me of God’s redemption in my life and in whatever comes across my path that day.

There are a ton of other great products in the Redeemed collection and through the end of the month, ten of them are on sale!

Plus, one of YOU will win the Redeemed Jewelry Tabletop Mirror. OR, it would make a wonderful gift . . . Mother’s Day is coming up, plus this is the season for tons of weddings and graduations! I absolutely love it and hope you will too.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below. (Note: The winner will be responsible for the shipping costs—around $8. Open to US residents only.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway  
I received the products mentioned in this post for review in exchange for posting and linking up with this month's (in)courage deals review. All opinions expressed are my own.