"Enjoy" January

I want to share monthly what my word of the year (Enjoy) means to me...how I am making it make a difference in my life this year. I was searching the web for quotes about enjoying life or joy in life when I came across an article written by Craig R. Smith last November.

Here is a link to the WorldNetDaily website, but I will share what it says also. Makes you think doesn't it...

Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
Posted: November 20, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way. Oh what a mean man I am.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did … insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:

''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

Mailbox for my sweeties

I am kind of ruining the surprise by posting this, but I wanted to share. I altered this cute little mailbox for my two nieces. I am going to give it to them shortly before Valentines day filled with sweet love notes. I hope that they will keep it around after Valentine's Day so that I can send the girls mini cards that will fit in the box and brighten their days. The mailbox is from the Target $1 spot. I was happy to see them again this year. In case you want to alter one of these and are having trouble, Emily has a tutorial here. I didn't use the tutorial because I had already made mine, but it has great step by step instructions.

Wool You Be Mine?

When I get a new stamp set I like to stamp at least a few cards with it right away. Otherwise it gathers dust and by the time I think to use the set it is old and I don't want to use it anymore. I also find that once I start using a set my creative juices get flowing and I think up new ideas to try.

I made this card with the other Punny Farm card right when I got the set. I am also working on a few other cards with the other animals in this set.

Enjoy :)

grrrrrr

I.broke.my.spacebar.on.my.laptop...
it's.not.working.so.well.for.me.I.will.share.a.new.card.tomorrow.when.I.can.
put.spaces.between.my.words.LOL.

Pohnpei

I seem to have quite a few friends that are missionaries in other countries. Maybe it is because people get to know me and then need to get as far away from me as possible so they move to another country. ;) Just kidding. I think it is more that the type of people I like to hang out with and am closest to are people that have the same passion for ministry that I have. And when you follow a calling that is higher than yourself life can take you to some pretty unpredictable places. Some are called to use their gifts locally and others find themselves called far away. My friends Thomas and Carrie are teaching right now in Pohnpei (see my sidebar for their blog). I know that they have had a little bit of a hard adjustment to their new location so I was excited to send them a Christmas care package with a few goodies from the states. They wrote me a nice letter back and included this very cool homemade Pohnpeian ornament. Isn't it fun? I have it hanging as a reminder to pray for them as they serve in Pohnpei.

Hey There Cupcake!

Part of the Eclectic Paperie 1 year celebration includes challenges hosted by Taylor and Jami.


I used my brand spankin' new stamps from eP for this challenge. They were perfect for the cupcake theme. Hey There Cupcake is being sold exclusively by eP until May.









The paper I used is Two Scoops from Basic Grey. Playing with this luscious paper was making me crave ice cream...so I decided to turn those cupcakes into ice cream cones!
The ice cream part is just one of the cupcake tops. For the cones I stamped a cupcake bottom three times and then cut a cone shape.

Stamps: Stampendous--Hey There Cupcake
paper: Basic Grey--Two Scoops; Stampin' Up--Not Quite Navy
ink: Stampin' Up--Not Quite Navy, Pretty in Pink, Cool Caribbean, Creamy Caramel, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery

Just Chicken up on you and an Enabling Alert!

I have to tell you that today's card is my favorite card that I have made in a while. I made it with the new MFT set "Punny Farm." The minute I saw this set I knew that I had to have it. I love stamps that have punny sayings with them. I have only made a few cards with this set so far, but I can't wait to get creative with it. I also used my new Basic Grey Paper from Two Scoops. The patterns I used were Blueberry Custard and Watermelon Ice. I used paper from the 6x6 pad so the patterns are scaled down. This paper line is as yummy as its name!
The layout for this card is from a sketch challenge (SC158). It is called a kick stand card. I will have to try more cards with this layout--it is easy and I love the look.
stamps: Punny Farm
paper: Basic Grey--Two Scoops; Stampin' Up!--Wild Wasabi, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla
ink: Stampin' Up!--Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip; Palette Noir Black
technique: Paper piecing

***************Enabling Alert****************

Those of you that read my blog regulary know that my favorite online store is Eclectic Paperie. The owners Joy and Daisy are the nicest people ever! This week they are celebrating the 1 year birthday of eP with sales, challenges, an exclusive stamp set and other fun stuff. Make sure you check it out!!

Eclectic Paperie Blog

Eclectic Paperie Store

baby tin

Today I am sharing a tin I altered a while back for a friend. She had her 3rd child in April. I know how the details and milestones of that first year get lost in all the activities and things going on when you have older kids. (Not that I am a victim of youngest child syndrome or anything...*wink*). So I made her a scrapbook tin. The poem sums it up pretty well, but basically you write little things you want to remember on scraps of paper and you throw them in the tin. Later you can take those papers out and remember the moments to scrapbook them. The tin is also good for holding cards that people give when the baby is born or other small mementos.paper: Stampin' Up: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip; Crate Paper: Cowboy Collection Sheriff and Bull Rider
ink: VersaMagic: Mango Madness
other: Mod Podge, letters are from a Cuttlebug alphabet.

Poem:

Baby books are great ideas
but sometimes you're too busy
living with a little one
can put you in a tizzy
Milestones pass too fast at times
to find the proper page
So jot a note of each event
with date and baby's age
Like "took 3 steps on June the 1st"
or "teething 5th of December"
Then drop it in this memory tin
to help you to remember.

What a story.

I love to read, especially good stories, fiction or non. When I listen to music I love the songs with a story or message to them. I love to read people's blogs. Some people browse blogs only for tips on crafting or photography (I do this also) but I often get engrossed in the stories I read about people's lives. There is one blog this week that really touched my heart. The blog is called Confessions of a CF Husband. It is a blog written by a husband. His wife, Tricia has CF and was just cleared for a double lung transplant when they found out she was pregnant. Well she had her baby this past week at 24 weeks along. She and the baby have both been fighting for their lives. This blog (along with blogs of their family members) is filled with...I don't know how to describe it...I just know that the courage of Tricia and her husband and their trust in God and His plan is just incredible. They cling to Jesus in their times of triumph and trouble and thank Him every step of the way. What a testimony! I encourage you to check out the blog, but be sure to grab a box of kleenex before you do.

a to-do list and new curtains

2008 is going to be the year that I finish some of the crafting projects I have started.

Some of these projects include (but are not limited to):

*knitting an afghan

*making a quilt

*making baby burp clothes

*make a t-shirt quilt

*altering the tins and mailboxes I bought last year

*and a few more that will be gifts so I can't mention them!

I started and finished my first project last weekend. I made curtains for one of the windows in my bathroom (I probably should add making the curtain for the other window to my list...). This seems like a small project, but I was pretty proud of how they turned out.

I started with this fabric.

I apologize for the picture of the finished project. I changed the shutter speed for the close up, but didn't for the full view and it was the end of a roll of film, not digital.

The walls match the creamy caramel flower and the bottom of the wall has white wainscot. I love the brightness and color these curtains add to my bathroom!

another try at digiscrapping

I tried out digiscrapping about a year ago and made a bunch of layouts with a trial version of Photoshop elements 5. Loved the program. Want to buy it when I have the money. I just saw that they came out with a version 6.0 so I thought I would try that out also to see which one I really want to buy. I had such a hard time making just one layout in PSE 6--Anyone else find this program harder to use than version 5??? Maybe it is just me since I AM a beginner and don't know all the tricks. I really wanted to use a brush element on this layout, but couldn't get it to work. So here is my simple layout. There actually is a white border around the page, you just can't see it! If anyone is familiar with this version PLEASE give me a tip or two. I have 29 days left on my trial and I want to get the most use out of the program as possible to see its potential!

Welcome Little One!

Introducing.....

Elizabeth Ann

7lbs 2oz.

born January 4, 2008Isn't my niece such a cutie pie?! I know that most newborns look alike, but there is just something about being an auntie (or mom/dad, grandparent, etc) that makes your baby the cutest!

One Word

I love the idea of having one word to describe what you will strive for in the next year. My word for 2008 is...

Enjoy/En(joy)

It is true that life has not gone the way that I would have planned for myself. This past year I have really struggled with that fact. Many times in 2007 I started sentences with phrases like--"I really want...(but can't afford it)" "I wish things would be this way..." "when life turns out like I want I will do this..." "Grrrrrr, I wish..." But life doesn't always line up with our plans--truthfully it rarely does.
The truly important thing in my life is that I am following the plans that God has for me. I would rather be on a rocky and difficult path following Him than a smooth and easy path going the wrong direction.
Here is where enjoy comes in. This year I want to enjoy (take joy in) the life I have been given and enjoy all of the blessings I have. And I even want to enjoy the things about life that are the way they are because my life didn't go as planned. I want to take the life I have been given and enjoy it to the fullest. I will look for opportunities this year to enjoy life where I am at instead of wallowing in the fact that life is not the way I want it to be.
That is my resolution.