One of my favorite things to make…

Yo yo’s….love to make them!!

This is the little yo yo maker that I use…it is sooo easy! It’s made by Clover. They make different sizes, but the one I used for these is a giant size! They will be used to make my Yo Yo Lavender Pillows.

The beads I used for the center of the yo yo’s.

This only means one thing!

Preparations are already in place for our

7th Annual Christmas Open House!

November 18th – 21st

to be held at our Workshop in Newton, NC

Watch our website for further news:

www.omysoap.com

Ezra’s Lye Warning Label

Ezra thought I needed a warning label for this bucket of sodium hydroxide, better known as lye. I agreed….here is his version:

Love it!!  And this is one of many the reasons I love my grandchildren!!

Straighten up and be joyful!

Luke 13:10-13

 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.”

There was a woman who was among the crowd listening to Jesus teaching. She was a bent-over woman. She came to hear Jesus teach. She was a crippled bent-over woman. Crippled by a spirit for 18 years.  Bent over and only seeing the dusty dry ground, she came. She came to hear Jesus mind you….she couldn’t see Him. She had motivation to come no matter the pain she must have been in, being bent over for so many years. How long did it take her to get to the synagogue? It didn’t matter to her how long it would take to come….she came anyway. Had she heard about Jesus and the miracles He performed?  Was that why she came that day? I suspect that she was only wanting to hear this Jesus she had heard about. She wanted to hear His words that were like a balm to her weary soul. I want to think that she wasn’t even thinking of herself…wanting a miracle. His words were enough.

“When Jesus saw her, he called her forward….

Can you just hear her whisper:

He called me? He wants me to come? Oh my….!    I…I am not worthy to go forward! 

I would imagine that as she was before Jesus, she couldn’t even look into those loving eyes of Jesus. But she did see His hands as He placed them on her.

 and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”

Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God!

She was set free from this spirit of infirmity! She could now see everything clearly…..  not just the ground …she could look Jesus in the face and marvel at His love for her. He took away the burden she had held on to for so long. It felt wonderful! It felt freeing! Do you think she was called a bent-over old woman again?

How often, as Christians,  do we take on the posture of that woman who was crippled and bent-over? Not seeing anything but our own feet…..our own problems…our own pain. Not really seeing or even understanding the God that intercedes for us as Jesus did with that woman. Can you picture us as we worship Him….bent over with our hand on our back saying, “Praise God! Praise God!”

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,

 because he always lives to intercede for them.”   ~Hebrews 7:25

Read the passage above again. He is able to completely, absolutely, altogether, perfectly, totally, ultimately, utterly save us who comes to God through Him!! ……because He always, consistently, everlastingly, infinitely, eternally lives to intercede for us!! How awesome is that?!!  How overwhelming is this passage when we really understand what God is saying!! We can be in pain, in debt, in a bad relationship, in depression……..but should we allow this pain or infirmity to keep us bent over, not seeing God’s merciful plan? He has done wonderous things for us….we should straighten up and be joyful!

Johnny and I aren’t feeling very well….

Johnny doesn’t feel very good and his brothers and sister and Mom are rallying around him. Feel better Johnny!!

This scene came about as Jim was trying to make me feel better. It did! Jim is so funny and I really appreciate him. I’ve got that upper respiratory stuff that is going around….doesn’t make you feel so good!

I love color!

As I get older, I get more colorful in my thinking! Maybe it’s the Indian heritage coming out, I don’t know…but I love the colors and the brighter, the better!

Here is one of our new products:

         Our version of a soap on a rope: AropaSoap

And here are some of the things I use to make our new AropaSoap:

And here is a new bird I’ve just made…with a little mohawk! Isn’t he cute?

Need to get back to work…just wanted to show some color today! It’s been so cloudy and rainy! Have a great day!!

A Piece of Peace

The last year, I had been waking up in the morning with a very small nudge of anxiety. I couldn’t put my finger on why….or how it all began. But it was there.

I can’t tell you why…or tell you the moment I realized this…I can only tell you that I wake up now with a piece of peace. As I think more about that growing feeling of peace I’ve had upon awakening in the morning, I think it had its beginnings with my daily morning walks with my ipod.

I purchased Jim a set of cds of Proverbs and the Psalms during his 6 months of truck driving…..I thought it would be nice to listen to God’s word as he traveled down the road maneuvering his big 53′ truck. The cd set was stuck away after he decided that the trucking world was not his cup of tea…wasn’t mine either!! I had forgotten all about it until I purchased my first ipod. I was going through some wonderful music, trying to decide what to download on it…wondering what kind of music would get me going in the morning. So…the first few mornings I took my ipod with me walking, I was humming to some classical and then I suddenly switched to some cute songs from My Best Friend’s Wedding. Oh, it was fine and did make me move a little faster…..but still. I had these wonderful moments alone, walking, enjoying the cool outdoors and but just couldn’t bring myself to hum the likes of “I Say A Little Prayer” and “Wishin’ and Hopin’”. More in step with the newness of the morning was the idea of worshipping God….and what better way, besides praying but listening to His Word. And that’s exactly what I started doing.

And just today……..just today I realized that I no longer awake with that nagging feeling….I can hardly wait to get out there to walk with God. Today was market day for me, so I didn’t get that chance….but this morning was very, very pleasant for me. And I know why now……..and I suspect that today was the first time I realized and………..I can tell you why. I’ve always been encouarged with the scripture that tells us that God’s word never comes back to Him void. There’s always good in it. Always.

As I walk down my walking road, where the horses are, I look at them in awe as I hear,” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  That was Psalm 41:10

Back to my cello …

Today was the first lesson from being off….not all of summer… but a good part of it. It was good to get back and be accountable to someone…namely my cello teacher. We talked about my bowing which probably is the hardest thing for me! If I didn’t have to worry about proper bowing, I could play ok….!! Also I am battling playing with a cello that I purchased from ebay a year ago. If I had to do it over again, I would have rented one and then perhaps purchase a better one later.

Today I was able to play a little on my teacher’s cello while she was trying to tune mine. The little tuners at the base of the bridge are a pain to turn. Because I have arthritis, it is hard for me to do it. Surprisingly, my cello (which I have nick named Charlie) stays in tune for the most part. Anyway, while I was playing her cello, I couldn’t believe the difference between the two instruments! The tone! The strings and how easy they were to play…!!

I don’t want to blame Charlie for my lack of skill…although I want to, but I’ve heard that a good cellist can get a good sound out of almost any quality cello. But I really think, if I had a good cello, it would sound so much different.

But after a year of playing and taking lessons, I have improved so much! What a difference a year makes. I will keep on….and dream of a new cello some day.

Charlotte Magazine

Amazing, but true! O My Soap! is one of the companies featured in the latest issue of Charlotte Magazine’s Soap Box. So exciting, but we cannot locate copies of the magazine anywhere in our area. Oh well, at least we were able to see it online. What do you think?

      Photo & Article by Sarah Crosland

Lather up guilt free. These soaps and scrubs with scents like lavender, rosemary, and spearmint are all natural and all local. Local soap makers handcraft each one with ingredients such as goat’s milk, shea butter, and olive oil to leave your skin soft and clean. Scrub in the essential oils and wash away the day.

Sweet Sugar whipped body scrub by Sugar Coat It
4 oz., $12
Cottage Chic
704-375-1888

Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey by O My Soap!
$5
omysoap.com

Lavender by No Kidding!! Soaps
$3.99
Healthy Home Market

Lavender by O My Soap!
$5
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Adirondack by O My Soap!
$5
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Lovin’ Life butter scrub by Augisa & Co. Organics
4 oz., $12.99
Earth Fare
704-749-5042

Peppermint Rosemary Poppyseed by No Kidding!! Soaps
$3.99
Healthy Home Market
704-522-8123

Lord, I just want….

Lord, I just want them to have Your peace. The peace that passes all understanding…when the world is falling apart, You give that peace that is so sweet.  

Lord, I just want them to be happy. Not depending on wealth or things to make them happy. But on You.                  

Lord, I just want them to have the best of what You have for them.         

Lord, I just want them to be satisfied and content. Not with the things the world says gives us contentment, but the contentment that lasts a lifetime.      

Lord, I just want them to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit.    

Lord, I just want them to be thankful and full of wonder of Who You are. You are awesome.       

Lord, I just want them to do things that count for eternity.          

Lord, I just want them to know how proud I am of  them.                                                 

Lord, I just want them to be able to feel my prayers for them.

Lord, I just want them to know what beautiful women they have become…… my daughters. 

Lord, I just want them to know……………….just how much You love them.