The One Big Question

Happy New Year!  The following is a letter from a great motivator that I wanted to share with you...

I hope you are starting the year with a light heart and a clear mind. And I certainly hope you intend to make it a fabulous one.

Maybe you are like me. Each year at this time I get worn out by all the TV news reports, Google articles and bloggers reminding us of the importance of beginning the year with goals that are clear, written down, measurable, etc. I don’t disagree with the importance of these things, I just get weary of being deluged with every wanna-be expert reminding me of things I already know.

I assume that you too may be worn out by these repetitious reminders. So I’ve decided not to remind you that there are Four Ingredients of Success:

• Determine what you want.
• Decide what you will give up in order to get what you want.
• Associate with people who will help you get what you want.
• Have a plan that works and work your plan.

I’ve also decided not to remind you that a simple plan that is implemented is better than an elaborate plan that is ignored.
Furthermore, I’ve determined not to remind you that your dreams need to be large. How large?

• You need a dream big enough to get your butt out of bed in the morning.
• You need a dream big enough to keep you up at night.
• You need a dream big enough to help you ignore fear and frustration.
• You need a dream big enough to help you push through fatigue and frustration.

So, instead of reminding you of things you already know, I’ve decided to ask you the one, big question: Do you know it’s time for dusting?

It’s time to dust off your hope. Dust off your belief. Dust off your confidence. Dust off your determination. And it’s time to dust off your dreams.

Let’s face it, you will either dust these off or you will cast them off. And that single choice will profoundly impact the direction and quality of your life for years to come.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I love the power, optimism and hope embedded in his words. And I like the reminder that it’s never too late for anyone to dust off their dreams and get back into the game of life. Including you.

Committed to your success…and dusting,

Tom Barrett, Ph.D.

P.S. Most readers forward The Barrett Bulletin to others for encouragement, insight or amusement. Feel free to join them. To subscribe to this free monthly bulletin go to www.daretodream.net and look for the “Free Barrett Bulletin” box on the right. You will also receive a free PDF copy of “Win As A Team.”

Wednesday Words

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
         how good God is.
   Blessed are you who run to him.

Psalm 34:8

Items retiring at midnight!

Our beautiful Cathedral Luminary along with many other popular items are being retired from our catalog on New Year's Eve at midnight!  Order from me via my website at www.darlenesdesigns.willowhouse.com.  If you want our complete retired items list, message me.

Happy and Blessed New Year to you and yours!

30 Items under $5 This Week!

There are 30 items on the Weekly Deals in my Outlet that are all priced UNDER $5.00!! Order them online, and they will be delivered to your home in time for Christmas. 







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Wednesday Words

Many of us are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11,

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

But I think alot of us have never read the following verses or thought of what they require of us,

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

God doesn't just offer us unlimited prosperity and a bright future for nothing.  That would not be good for us.  That's like if we let our children have chocolate cake for breakfast.  They would love it, it would certainly be a great "plan" in their eyes.  But it would not help them grow and be strong and able to face their day in a healthy way.

That is why God puts some parameters on His promise of prosperity and hope and a bright future for us.  He has a wonderful plan for us, but He wants us to "call upon" Him first and seek Him with all our hearts.  THEN we will find Him and THEN He will bring us out of the "captivity" we are in and THEN He will be able to lead us to His perfect plan for our lives.

You may say, "I'm not in captivity like the children of Israel were."  Really?  What about your unhealthy eating habits that are keeping you from living a long healthy life?  What about that unhealthy relationship you just keep holding on to for fear no one else will be there for you?  What about that addiction that has you in its grasp?  These are all forms of captivity that God wants to free you from, if you will only seek Him.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate Jesus' birth for bringing us eternal salvation, let's celebrate the salvation He offers us daily...salvation from ourselves if we only seek HIM with all our heart.

Pig Tailz - Home

Just wanted to share this wonderfully creative designer that I just met this past weekend at our Journey shopping event.  If you want some really cute children's items, check out her site.

Pig Tailz - Home

Wednesday Words



http://www.klove.com/music/artists/matthew-west/songs/my-own-little-world-lyrics.aspx



In my own little world it hardly ever rains

I've never gone hungry, always felt safe

I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me


I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah, it's easy to do when it's population: me


What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world


Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, "help this homeless widow"
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two


What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

My own little world

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours

Give me open hands and open doors

Put Your light in my eyes and let me see

That my own little world is not about me

What if there's a bigger picture?

What if I'm missing out?

What if there's a greater purpose?

That I could be living right now

I don't want to miss what matters

I wanna be reaching out

Show me the greater purpose

So I can start living right now

Outside my own little world

My own little world

My own little world

86 Fresh Christmas Ideas from SouthernLiving.com!

Use our Willow House Bradford Latice Lanterns to create this great look!

Willow House Holiday Gifts with Melanie Grant (Part 1)

Special of the Week

What a great gift idea—it’s everything you’ll need for a cheerful holiday season! Find 20 complete holiday menus, 12 mix-and-match year-round menus, and bonus sections including “5 Ingredient 15 Minute Gifts from the Kitchen.” Plus, over 350 tried-and-true kitchen-tested recipes with over 175 photos. 288 pages. (9 3/8" x 10") Hardcover.

Only $4.96 (orig. $27.95)--This is something you can give to everyone on your gift list including teachers, friends, and family! Write a note on the inside for a special touch!   Buy 9 and qualify to receive your favorite $40 item from the catalog at 1/2 price!

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Need a Christmas Gift?

Are you looking for the perfect gift for Christmas?  Don't have any idea what to give this year?  Do you find yourself out on Christmas Eve trying to find something for that hard to buy for person?

I have the answer!  Shop online from our new Willow House online catalog and outlet and take advantage of our Holiday Sale.  You can even have your items shipped directly to your home or office or to the recipients! 

Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you need some gift ideas!  Gift wrapping available!

Wednesday Words

I Am Second

A story by Jason Castro of American Idol.
http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Jason_Castro/

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SIMPLY GOOD DESIGN

  Our creative team goes to work every day--thinking about you.  Whether we're developing a new product, writing a Vision Statement, or styling a photo, we are constantly demanding the best--for our Design Consultants, and for our customers.  It's not an overstatement to call our work a labor of love.

Won't you consider joining us!darlenesdesigns.willowhouse.com

In Honor of Veterans' Day

Today only, 25% off anything in our catalog or from our online outlet that is red, white, or blue!  Place your order by midnight tonight, and I will mail you a check for 25% of the product total.  Thanks!!! 

Wednesday Words

Today I just want to share the words to my new favorite song, "What Love Really Means."  Hope it ministers to your heart.  See the video of JJ singing it on KLove. 


"He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She’s the woman whose husband has run away
She’ll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would’ve stayed
And she says…

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
“I know you’ve murdered and I know you’ve lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew"


BY JJ AND DAVE HELLER

Melanie Grant with Willow House

Fun Christmas ideas!

Plate & Pattern

Be sure and check out my Plate & Pattern feeds at the bottom of my blog!  Great ideas from our design group at Willow House!

Wednesday Words

I am going to start sharing "words" each Wednesday, something that has helped me in my walk with God and man.  Hope you will join me each week and share your comments.  My first is from Beth Moore's book, So Long Insecurity...

The fact that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on the pages of Scripture is not dampened by the insecurities of those God chose to pen it is perhaps the greatest testimony to its incomparable potency.  After the likes of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Leah, Rachel, Saul, the woman at the well, the super-apostles, and Paul, surely we can breathe a sign of relief that we are not alone in our struggles.  Human flesh and blood have no weakness so strong that God's strength is made weak.  He's got what we need.  It's up to us whether or not we're going to let the worst of us get the best of us.

What do you think?

Product Giveaway!

What is your favorite Willow House product and how do you use it in your home?  Enter it in my blog comments and I will enter YOU into my monthly product giveaway.

Thanks for sharing!

8 Weeks til Christmas?

Can you believe it is already November and that we have only 8 weeks left until Christmas?  Let me help make this year's holiday preparations so much easier for you!



Graymont Party Bucket and Stand

First, if you aren't receiving my monthly newsletter, which this month highlights 20 holiday and gift items at a 25% savings, let me know, and I will forward it to you.  You will also find a yummy fall recipe and decorating ideas! 

Second, our online outlet is always full of discounted items and daily specials so that everyone on your list can receive a gift as special as they are!

And, lastly, if you host a party with me this month, you can choose your favorite entertaining bucket and stand for FREE--just in time for all of those holiday parties and family get togethers.  Everyone will love your new entertaining bucket, but the fact that you got it FREE will be our little secret!