vacation photos

Here are a few photos from the past 2 weeks...
Debra and me. Her sweater shows that the weather was cold. I believe there was snow on the ground outside. There is nothing like shocking your system by going from 80 degree weather to
the 30s.

D. also flew out for Brad and Christy's wedding. This photo and the next one show my photo taking skills. It is hard to hold out a camera and take a picture of yourself with other people ;)

I am so blessed. I have all four of my grandparents alive yet. My grandpa in this picture will turn 91 next month and my grandma will turn 87!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Every time I come into town we need an ice cream outing. Coldstone is soooo yummy and if you have never eaten their ice cream I urge you to go look up the closest one. Getting to take my niece was a blast.

This little one isn't old enough for ice cream yet, but I love her anyways ;) She has been giving big smiles and there is nothing that melts my heart like smiles from my nieces.

Debra's card

While I was in Michigan for Brad and Christy's wedding I had the opportunity to spend some time with my friend Debra. The day I came Debra was teaching a SU! club class so I got to join in on the fun. I will probably embarrass her by saying this, but Debra is one of the sweetest people I know and I am so glad that we got to connect while I was in town! Debra just started a blog called Debra's Stamp Life. Be sure to check it out and welcome her to the blogging world!

Here is one of the cards we made at her class. It is a shaker card. I know it isn't the best picture, but I was in a hurry and the memory card was full. I love the design of this card. It is so pretty!

Stamps: Together Forever, Forever Flowers, All Holidays
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Regal Rose, Shimmery white, Cert. Celery
Ink: Black stazon, black cart, basic black, markers--regal rose, celery, rose red
Accessories: Pomegranate ribbon, scallop punch

bunny cartoon

I laugh everytime I see this cartoon.

sewing throw pillows

My birthday was yesterday. I got to spend my birthday with family for the first time in about 5 years. It was sweet.

It is funny. I always looked at people in their late 20s and I thought they had it all put together. I thought that was the perfect age. Now I am laughing...and wondering what age I will be when I really feel like a adult.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to make throw pillows for my couch. I searched for the perfect fabric that I had envisioned in my head (think something like the patterned paper I used in my March Divine Design card). I didn't find exactly what I had in mind, but I think I came pretty close and I am happy with the results.

Here is a close up of the fabric:

Here is the pic of the finished product:

Beautiful wedding

The card I am sharing today was made for friends of mine that got married this past weekend. I got to go to Michigan and share in their special day. What a God-centered and beautiful wedding it was! I loved all the personal touches they added to make the wedding fit their personalities.
If you are married, what is one thing you loved about your wedding? If you aren't married yet, what is one thing you know for sure your wedding has to have?

I think this card is one of my favorites I have made in a while. I love the set Together Forever...so many possibilities! Also, all of the white cardstock is shimmery so it is really elegant looking. A special thanks to Debra for the color combo and for letting me use her supplies...well and for pretty much helping me make the card :)

stamps: Together Forever
paper: shimmery white, Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranate, Certainly Celery
ink: Basic Black, Staz-on black, and markers--Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery
other: photo corner punch, pretties kit, taffeta ribbon

Divine Design: March--Rejoice, Prayer, Peace

I am back-dating this post since I am late for the challenge...again. One of these months I will be on time!

Read more about the Divine Design challenge HERE.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

This Bible passage is one of my favorites (and one that I needed a reminder about) for a few reasons. Here are a few of my thoughts about it:

Philippians was written by Paul, an apostle that was run out of town, beat up, whipped,and jailed for preaching about the good news of Jesus--if anyone would have an excuse to be down about life it would be this guy--who wants to rejoice about being hurt and rejected? Yet he still rejoices in the Lord always and urges us to rejoice. He doesn't just say it once, but twice to be sure we got it.
He continues by telling us not to be anxious about anything, but to take everything to God. Sometimes our worries seem silly or we think they are small. I believe God cares about even the little things that worry us. Sometimes our worries are so big we feel we can't give them up. Trust God with them!
The last part talks about a peace that passes understanding. When we give everything up to God he gives us a peace that we might not even understand. An inexplainable peace. A peace that guards our hearts and minds.
Try it. Give your worries to God.

Everything

I can describe this YouTube Video in one word--Powerful. Watch and tell me what you think.

Life Lesson-Rock and Sand

Why is it that life seems to get more and more busy each week? Is it that last week is over so we don't remember how busy it really was or do our lives really get more busy with each passing day?
One of the things I am learning to do is prioritize my life. Deciding what is really important and what isn't is hard to do. Some of the things we love to do are the things we need to say "no" to when we prioritize life. So these last few weeks have included less tv, less computer time, no stamping. More working on relationships, more planning with a few ministries I am involved in, more time with God. It has been good.
And back to the issue of being busy, I once heard a good analogy. The speaker had a large jar that symbolized our day and he had sand and rocks symbolizing the things that we have to do each day. The sand was all the adult things we "HAVE" to do--pay the bills, work, take care of our kids, go to meetings, go grocery shopping (add things you have to do during the day). The rocks were things like spend time with God, reading our Bible, praying, church, etc. The goal was to fit all the things into the jar like we try to fit the things we need to do into a day. He poured the sand in first because those are the things we feel we have to get done, that can't wait. Then he tried to add the rocks to the jar, the stuff that often gets set aside for the "more important things". He couldn't fit all the rocks in the jar! He then took everything out and started with the rocks. When he put the rocks in first, then the sand, the sand filled in the cracks and they both all fit. The point was when we make time for God in our day the other things fall into place and will fit in also. Sometimes our priorities change and things we thought were important aren't as important anymore and sometimes I think God just miraculously makes everything we need to do fit into our day. I think he honors that we give him priority in our life.
So are you going to put sand first or rock???