by Stacy Turley | Jun 7, 2022 | Behind the Scenes, Uncategorized |
Hi, Sweet Circle. I love sharing this part of my journey with you regarding the website. I know why I picked the things that I did, but you do not. I can’t speak for other websites, but every single decision from font choices to color schemes to pictures, had specific meanings for me. Let me explain so you can see the God-things in the visual elements. I hope you feel more connected to me after reading the posts on the Design Elements. This is Part 2: the “circles” of the logo and the pictures I chose. I hope you look at the site differently now when you go to stacyturley.com. I hope the visual elements allow you to see the community we have with our Lord in a new and exciting way.
THE CIRCLES OF THE LOGO
Why are there circles in the logo? Why Circle of Friends as the group name that connects us? Why are the circles imperfect? Well, let’s start with the meaning of a circle. According to Webster’s Dictionary, two of the meanings of a circle are “a group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center” and also “to move or revolve around”. This idea formed the central theme of what I wanted women to feel when they connect with each other through this website and with the Word of Jesus. The words that came to mind for me when I was brainstorming a logo were: connected, imperfect beings, wholeness together, bound, complete, surrounding, and revolving. I wanted a word that would encompass these ideas. For example, we support each other; we are connected together; and we are complete together. (Romans 12:4-6a) Where one is weak, the others in the circle encourage, support, and strengthen. (Romans 15:1) We are bound together in love as Christ loved us. (Colossians 3:14) I also love the idea that we are all revolving around our Savior Jesus. He is our center…our nucleus. We all have a shared sisterhood as followers of Jesus.
A CIRCLE seemed perfect. Yet I wanted the shape of the circles to be imperfect and I wanted many circles overlapping. None of us are perfect and we never will be this side of heaven. This idea is represented by the imperfect shape. We all have different experiences and challenges and triumphs. This idea is represented by the many circles of the logo which represents all our individual lives. And the intersections represent how our lives impact and interact with each other. We may not even know how we have touched the lives of others, but it is happening all the time. We are the circles bound together, intersecting each other, and revolving our Lord and Savior.
As the Circle of Friends, I hope that we recognize our Savior as the Center. I hope we recognize the we are better and stronger together. We learn so much about how we are to support and encourage each other when we study the One Another statements of the Bible. Click HERE for a post on In The Word #5: One Another… coming soon. Also, you may join the Circle of Friends to have access to our weekly newsletter and get a free download of the these One Another verses that you may use for Scripture journaling or topical Bible Study.
THE PICTURES
We all love pretty pictures. The colors and content draw us into the scene. A still picture may even portray movement and emotions just by looking at it and allowing the content to speak to us. I chose some of the pictures to expand on the theme of “the sand and the sea” that is also represented by the colors of the website. I also wanted to use as many personal photos as possible in order for you to feel more connected to me and what is important to me. Below are some descriptions of the photos that appear on the site:
- The picture of the ocean at the top of the Home Page – This photo was taken on the coast of Oregon while my husband and I were visiting our daughter Madi. We drove from the southern coast of Washington to the southern coast of Oregon. We stopped at a variety of locations and witnessed the beauty of the West coast in the powerful waves and rock formations. The picture shown was one of my favorite locations. I loved how the huge rocks shaped and funneled the water into submission as it rolled onto the shore. Gorgeous!
- The picture of hands knitting on the Gallery page – This is a photo of me working on a shawl for my daughter-in-law Shannon for her wedding gift. You may read more on the story is on the Gallery page found HERE. Whenever I am knitting, crocheting or using my hands to make things, I am always reminded of how God made me….how He created and crafted me for purpose. I hope to include more stories from you all in the Gallery under Inspirations. Please share with me what you like to create and why. Feel free to email me at gallary@stacyturley.com and complete the Permission Form found HERE.
- Pictures of me on the Home page and About page – Photos of me were taken by Abby Chikkala, a classmate of my son Mitch. She is so talented and spent a couple of hours with me walking around downtown Noblesville, where I live, to capture some shots for this website. She even helped me pick out my clothes!
- The picture of me at the ocean on the About page at the section called About Me – Another picture taken by my husband on the trip to Oregon. I was actually taking a photo of the waves, while unknown to me, he was taking my picture! This is one of his favorites!! So I had to include it.
And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
COLOSSIANS 3:14 (ESV)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- What situations make you feel most connected to those around you?
- Who has impacted your life the most? Does he/she know it? Consider writing them a note to tell them!
- What are some of your favorite pictures? Why?
- Do you find meaning in creating things? What is your hobby? Would you be willing to share your creative inspiration with others on this site? If so, feel free to email me and I will tell you how at gallary@stacyturley.com.
More to come…Hugs & blessings, Friends,
Stacy
by Stacy Turley | May 24, 2022 | Behind the Scenes, Uncategorized |
God works in mysterious ways…for sure. Sometimes He works in a coffee shop in Westfield, IN, through conversations that are overheard and misinterpreted! I hate to use the word “eavesdropping”. “Eavesdropping” sounds so wicked. I prefer to say “overheard” or it-was-quiet-and-their-voices-carried or something less intentional. 🙂 This was the case on an early weekday morning in the fall of 2021. I was sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops working on my Bible study, and I “overheard” a lady sitting at a table nearby talking to a client of hers. She was using words like “design”, “layout”, “color scheme”, etc. I thought she must be an interior designer. My husband and I had been contemplating talking to an interior designer to get some ideas on updating the interior of our home. So I decided to stop her on her way out if she left before I did since I was sitting near the exit door.
Now I am not going to say that I dilly-dallied to make sure that she left before me, but I certainly did not speed up my quiet time to leave before her! Their meeting was wrapping up, so I rallied myself to speak up and stop her. I bluntly stated, “Excuse me, I overheard you speaking with that gentleman. Are you an interior designer by chance?” She stated that no, she was not an interior designer, but a graphic designer. Really!? Now that is a turn that I was not expecting. I let her know that being a graphic designer was even more intriguing to me than an interior designer. I told her that I was seeking a website designer and if she would consider meeting with me to learn more. She said, “YES!”
That is how I met Amy Durbin from Fat Cat Sam Designs!
Amy is amazing! We spoke on the phone first to talk about my vision for a website, the purpose and intention of the website, ideas/styles for a logo, audience, and ideas for the subpages and growth of the website, and also my personal story. She was interested and excited about the challenge. We decided to meet in December 2021 to talk about the specifics.
At our first meeting, Amy had already been noodling over logo ideas and colors. At the same time, I had been pulling examples of logo ideas that I liked for other companies. When we met, she brought in her initial drawings based on our phone call. She felt drawn to the idea of circles and how circles represent completeness, community, and wholeness. This is exactly what I had been thinking too and many of my samples included this idea. We already felt connected and in-tune with each other regarding the design elements. And I really felt heard by Amy. I was impressed with how well she listen to my ideas and was able to incorporate what I was speaking to a visual representation that portrayed the same message. The final logo is a very close edit of one of her original designs.
We worked closely together for the next four months. From December 2021 to April 2022, she created the website stacyturley.com. She incorporated so many of my ideas by using her own artistic flair. I love the result and I treasure Amy. I am grateful for the friendship that grew out of this relationship. She is so talented and you may contact her directly too! Her information is on My Favorite Things – Other Stuff.
I believe God had a hand in this chance meeting. Even if it was through eavesdropping or overhearing someone else’s conversation in a quiet coffee shop. I have experienced so much joy and gratitude by meeting Amy. Here are some of the things I am grateful for:
- I am grateful that the Holy Spirit nudged me to speak up.
- I am grateful for the change meeting as it reminded me how God provides for the little things in our lives if we listen and respond to him.
- I am grateful for the easy way Amy and I communicate and understand each other.
- I am grateful for Amy’s creativity and talent.
- I am grateful for the final result. It so perfectly expresses my vision, Amy’s creativity, and God’s purpose to reach other women who need to hear how valued they are…how loved they are…just they way they are.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- What are the big things and little things each day that you are thankful for?
- Take a moment to write these down in a notebook. How does it make you feel when you read over them?
- Do you feel more joy or peace or contentment than before after reviewing this list?
- How have even negative experience brought about change that you may be grateful for?
- What has made me smile or laugh recently?
- How can I make this a daily habit in my life to document the big and little things that I am grateful for? (Join the Circle of Friends and receive the Gratitude Worksheet and 34 Gratitude Prompts. Just mention GRATITUDE in the Message box.)
PRAYER: Abba Father, you love us more than we can imagine. You desire a relationship with us. You have a plan for us. You want to prosper us and give us hope for the future. (Jeremiah 29:11). I know we have this hope through your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you, God, for your Son and the sacrifice He made for us to conquer sin and restore our relationship with You. Thank you for speaking to us through the Holy Spirit….through the tiny nudges we feel each day to respond to you. Thank you for the big things and the little things in our daily lives to remind us that you SEE us, you HEAR us, and you FEEL our pain and our needs. Thank you for never leaving us alone for you are always with us. Lord, help us to remember these promises. Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
by Stacy Turley | May 3, 2022 | Behind the Scenes, Uncategorized |
In summary, the message I was hearing from God, “YES! But, WAIT!!” My response, “I hate waiting!” The truth is that God’s message for me to WAIT has been a saving grace. Over the next two years from Spring 2020 to Spring 2022, my life changed in many ways including times of high stress, moves, COVID pandemic, a wedding, multiple illnesses, and more. (More details on this in a future blog post in Life’s Journey. Blog post number to be updated soon.) The WAITing was a blessing! Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect timing.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14
Below is a summary of the steps… forward and back… over the last two years. More details will be provided in a future blog post in Life’s Journey.
Two Steps Forward: I completed my Calling Workshop with Dave Rodriguez in the spring of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #1). I received several affirmations of my calling from multiple other sources over the summer and fall of 2020 (Behind the Scenes #2). I was ready to GO!!
One Step Back: August 2020, our daughter was moving from Plymouth, IN, to Corvallis, OR, to go to Oregon State University for Veterinary Medicine. The same weekend our daughter was driving to Oregon with my husband, our son requested help moving from one house to another house in West Lafayette, IN. I was packing, boxing, painting, organizing, cleaning and moving both of our kids within one month. WAITing for more time and less stress.
Another Step Back: By December 2020, I tested positive for COVID. Within two days, my husband tested positive for COVID. WAITing to feel better.
Two Steps Forward: I had a clear vision of the website flow, the tabs, the content ideas and the look & feel. It seemed easy enough. I will create my own website using YouTube videos. How bad can this be? Thank you, Jesus, for clarifying the purpose, flow for this website, and the online tutorial videos.
One Step Back: In the months of attempting to complete the website on my own, the instructions in the video no longer followed the reality of what I was experiencing online. WAITing for help.
Two Steps Forward: I set a budget and plan to find a website designer. No problem! I was introduced to a web designer by a group of men I bumped into at a coffee shop. Yay!! Jesus take the wheel! What a blessing!
One Step Back: I did contact the web designer who was recommended, but his offer and my needs did not align. WAITing again for new opportunity and a new contact. Ok, God. What now?
Two Steps Forward: In late Spring 2021, I was recommended two more website designer ideas through the church as well as through a friend of mine who had just published a book and started a website. (My Favorite Things – Book is called Finding Your Yes by Christine Wagoner) Fantastic! I love referrals. I interviewed the website designer from my friend Christine and we were a match! She loved the website idea and my story. And I loved her quote for her services and her excitement. We were moving forward.
“When God closes a door, He opens a window.” ~ Malachi 3:10
One Step Back: In the summer of 2021, I was experiencing multiple health issues: insomnia, headaches, muscle fatigue, trouble speaking complete sentences, exhaustion, brain fog, anemia, mouth blisters. I made a request to my website designer that we put a hold on our meetings until Fall 2021 with the hopes that I would feel better by then.
Another Step Back: In October 2021, I contacted my website designer to let her know I was ready to resume working on the design at a slow pace. I had upcoming treatment and tests to complete for my health. She offered her apologies as she had taken a new corporate job and would no longer be able to work on the website with me. WAITing for the next window!
Another Step Back: In November 2021, I had three weeks of IV iron infusions for the anemia. In December 2021, I had two biopsies in my mouth and tested positive for a rare autoimmune disease called Cicatricial Pemphigoid. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. WAITing for better health.
Two Steps Forward: I have a team of doctors now working with me to manage my autoimmune disease. Thank you, Lord, for your strength when I feel weak. Thank you for your support and encouragement through my friends and the doctors. I also bumped into another website designer in a coffee shop. Her name is Amy Durbin. (My Favorite Things – Other Stuff). She created this site and she ROCKS!!
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
WHAT DID I LEARN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS?
- God asked me to WAIT. He was RIGHT! I learned to be patient through this process through the help of prayer, the support of my husband, family & friends, and the strength of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” ~ Lamentations 3:25-26
- Satan wants to slow me down. God has a better plan. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:37-39
- My timing is not so important. God’s timing is perfect and he has a reason for everything. “ In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9
- Just because we have trials does not mean that God is saying, “STOP.” He may be saying, “WAIT! I am still refining you.” He uses our trials to build perseverance, character, and hope. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5
- God will use all of our story for His greater purpose. We must NOT give up. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 1:6 AND “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.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
My stretch goal for turning on this website was March 18th. My no-later-than goal was my birthday at April 10th, 2022.
We went LIVE on Good Friday, April 15th, 2022!!
I am grateful for ALL who helped me and prayed for me over the last two years. Thank you all for your encouragement, your kind words, your pushes when I felt like giving up, and your love through it all!
And most importantly, thank you, Jesus, for counseling, guiding, strengthening, and fulfilling your plan for me.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- Where is God showing up in your life?
- In your trials, where do you see His helping hand and encouragement?
- In your celebrations, how is He celebrating with you? Are you giving Him the credit? Are you praising Him with gratitude?
- Do you feel like giving up? What is the NEXT small step you can take to move forward?
- If you are not seeing him in your daily life, take a moment to pray and invite Him in. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in the small things. Ask Him to help you recognize Him in the daily moments. Then praise and thank Him!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for showing me your plan for me. You promised you would never leave us. You promised you had a plan for each of us. Help us all to see our next step in your plan and help us to have the courage to obey and take the next step. We are called to have no fear when we follow you, Lord. You have overcome death and evil. You will WIN always. May we trust you and allow our faith and hope to grown more and more each day as we let you lead in our lives. Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
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