My Walk Monday

Sorry Ladies for the delayed message today. I have been struggling pretty heavy in the very things God is calling me to be obedient on. Letting go of my selfishness and laziness is no easy battle. It seems like many new tactics are being tossed my way, but the difference is this time I am actually TRYING to fight!!!
If you are also going through a tough time, please feel free to post that on My Walk Mondays this will help us to know how to pray for and encourage each other.

This reminds me of a bit I wanted to share last night when I couldn't manage to get this post written. As you know I am still reading the 'Let Go' book... and one of the first things I wanted to share from this week's devotions was...
To bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) or possibly to bear the burden of their imperfections?! (That's something to think about now isn't it? Definitely something I need to work on, I am so judgmental and controlling.)

Here is more of what I learned...

• I must not expect too much from other's but be patient with their faults, as I myself am faulty!
• to keep peace in a relationship I should be quiet, prayerful & surrendered, refusing criticism and jealousy.
• to seriously think about death (one of the new tactics in my battle) is not necessarily bad, it keeps me aware of my weaknesses and keeps me humble in God's hands.
• irritability under correction is worse than all other faults combined (ouch!)
• the sting of correction wouldn't be felt if the old self were dead.
• the more correction hurts, the more it was neccessary.
• the moment I start listening to self screech complaints in my ear is right when God's whisper gets drowned out (I would much rather hear God than me, how 'bout you?)
• I shouldn't make important decisions during times of distress.
• the only way I can profit from God's counsel is to maintain willingness to sacrifice ANYTHING to Him, no matter how much it hurts self.
• I cannot become strong until I am aware of my weakness (well maybe that weakness is what I am learning about lately, because it has been pretty hard.)
• I need to find a balance between learning and doing, like faith and works you know?
• I need to be careful of taking up old habits and focus on building resistance to self.
• my freedom is more valuable than what I am afraid of losing.
• I need to be faithful to practice what I am learning so God can entrust me with more (I am always praying for growth and hoping that I can be a beautiful woman of God someday, but I cannot expect to get to my thousandth step if I haven't yet taken the second!)

Did I mention yet that I love this book and am glad God moved me to buy it and that He is helping me be faithful to read it... I love how the writer constantly refers to our flesh as self, because where he says "self" I would be so prone to saying "me", but that is not the me I want to be, I would much rather be detached from me/my "self" and find Jesus in my loss of life. (Matthew 6:25)

My husband was blessed to teach on Sunday in main service and was having a hard time thinking his message was too rough, well let me tell ya... it was exactly what I needed to hear! It was on Genesis chapter 12: reviewing Abram's journey. From the beginning he disobeyed! (There's that word again! Of coarse this message was for me!) Here is his disobendiences...

1. he was supposed to go from his relatives, but he brought Lot with him!
2. he did not stay where God told him to go because of a famine in the land
3. he lies about Sarai not being his wife

Here are his consiquences...

1. Lot's daughters slept with him and had sons: Moab and Ben-ammi (both the Moabites and Ammonites came from these sons, enemies of the sons of Israel)
2. He picked up maidservants in Egypt where he ran to, also picking up Hagar who bears his first son... this effects the present day war in the middle east.
3. Pharaoh gets angry and kicks him out of Egypt making him a bad witness of God's name.

Why the disobedience? Loneliness, depression, fear worry... sounds like a snow ball effect of sin to me.
Remedy... STOP! recognize it as sin, look at it, let God show you how disgusting it is, repent, be diligent.

1 Samuel 15:22 (my notes) it is better to obey than to sacrifice... verse 23: rebellion is as witchcraft to the Lord.
Jude 24-25 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

A-men! Now know that you are all loved by our Lord and I am happy to see you here again. Good Night.

Scrappin' Sunday

Hey! I am actually joining this Sunday! I didn't really get a lot done to share, and I didn't get my to-dos done from 3 weeks ago, but with all that I am tackling lately I am still happy.

My TA-DAs are a small altered pail for my friend's baby shower, and a slightly altered (already cute to start with) prayer journal.

The pics of my paint can are a little different this time because I actually forgot to take them, so my friend took them for me, what do ya think? F.Y.I. If you like the distressed look on the papers I will be sharing a step by step tutorial sometime this week :o)

This is the notebook or prayer journal my friend and Bible Study leader gave me for our new Beth Moore Study 'Breaking Free'. She bought such a cute one too start with that I couldn't resist finding more ribbon (that I already own) and tying it to the spiral binding!
PS. This notebook is made by u:create and was designed by Jacqueline Savage McFee!

Looksie here....

My TO-DOs would be to clean up my scrap space and enter orders with S.E.I., Close to My Heart, Rogers and Stampendous for National SB Day... losts of work for me at home with my 3 little ones!
Which brings me to This week's Bonus Question: What inspires you to sit down and craft? My answer would have to be the fact that I am usually doing it for someone else. (Hence the Scrapping Servant :o) I own my own Business Scrapping for others and like to make gifts on the side for friends and family. I especially like to think that my scrapbooks are made knowing that my children will cherish them someday.

REMEMBER: A part of my Scrapping Servant-hood this week will be to share a tutorial on distressing paper in 4 different ways! Don't miss it.

Then Sings my Soul Saturdays

I love this new Meme, and know that the song I am sharing this week is probably a very popular one as far as it touching peoples hearts... I just can't help but share it though in my current (and hopefully forever) state of surrender to the Lord. The song is Dive by Steven Curtis Chapman. I remember this song touching my heart in high school as a new believer and it still has the same affect one me as long as I am faithfully walking with my Lord Jesus. AWESOME!

Here's the lyrics:

the long awaited rains have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground and carved their way to where the wild and rushing river can be found and like the rains i have been carried here to where the river flows yeah my heart is racing and my knees are weak as i walk to the edge i know there is no turning back once my feet have left the ledge and in the rush i hear a voice that's telling me it's time to take the leap of faith so here i go

i'm diving in i'm going deep in over my head i want to be caught in the rush lost in the flow in over my head i want to go the river's deep the river's wide the river's water is alive so sink or swim i'm diving in

there is a supernatural power in this mighty river's flow it can bring the dead to life and it can fill an empty soul and give a heart the only thing worth living and worth dying for yeah but we will never know the awesome power of the grace of god until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood so if you'll take my hand we'll close our eyes and count to three and take the leap of faith come on let's go

:o) Will you come with me? :o)

And the winner is...

..Bitsy from Bloggin Bits... Congratulations my friend... Enjoy your Altered Paint Can...

We could have lost him today!

May we never take God's grace for granted!

Tonight my son ran out into the street in front of our house. This street has VERY busy traffic, and it was already dark. I had the front door open with a baby gate up because it was hot in my house and we do not have a screen door. My son pulled on the top right side of the gate just enough to sneak out quietly without the gate looking tampered with, I was on the phone, on my computer and burping my 2 month old, and my husband was playing with my brother while my daughter was with my sister in law.

It didn't take us too long to all ask where he was, my husband was about to get him ready for bed. I quickly ran outside not seeing him, he wasn't coming when I called so I ran back in to see if anyone else found him. I ran back outside to find three neighbors on the left telling me with a heavy accent "the baby is over there", so I ran to my right about 4 houses down to a women who had my son in her arms in a blanket.

I was crying as I hugged this woman and my son thanking her and the Lord. I took him from her and sat down with him crying while my husband came behind me. This women and her husband where in their car that they had to stop to not hit him, they got out and went to the closest neighbor who also came out of her house not knowing who my son was... they called the cops because they did not know who he belonged to!

So I am sitting there praising God for my son while my husband explains this all to the cops! Our God is good is He not?! A child, not even two, in the dark, on a busy street... and NO ONE hit him!!!! PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!! THANK YOU LORD FOR WATCHING OUT FOR MY BABY!

My Walk Monday

Hello everyone that is visiting for My Walk Monday, Welcome!

For the past two weeks I have been faithfully reading the book I felt impressed upon my heart to buy at the ladies retreat I went to recently... I have been learning a lot, here is my list... (When I read books I write things that stick-out in a separate journal so I have it all in one place to pray over it and let it sink in better.)

• If I want to die to my self I must willingly suffer.
• God is jealous for my attention and wants what I am most reluctant to give up (what I lean on more than Him). If I am not willing to give it willingly He might take it in love to teach me... do I want this?
• He removes the human help to supply us with Himself (this is hard but I want Him to be first).
• We receive according to our faith, either much or little (I have been praying for a new home), this was encouraging.
• I need to be careful regarding my resistance to the Holy Spirit. I need to stop refusing to drink when I am brought straight to the fountain.
• I need to receive poor circumstances with an enduring trust in the love of my Lord ie. my recent birth experience.
• I need to recognize when I turn good circumstances bad with the attachment to my love of self.
• I want to be fixed, but that is not what I need... I need to be slain! I need to stop looking to be changed automatically and let brokenness come. Only that which is first broken can be fixed. (Heavy I know)
• In my walk I need to stop focusing on living and being kept alive... Instead I need to let death come.
• I need to recognize when I am not willing to conform to God's plan and change when I do.
• The trials I go through and the strength He gives me come in the same measurements (always enough).
• Despair at our imperfections is a greater obstacle than the imperfection itself. (Read that again)
• I need to concentrate more on Jesus...
• If I focus on the things He so wonderfully gives me, I am still focusing partially on me.
• God wants me to LET GO so I can be free to walk closer to Him (He wants me! This was also something strongly impressed upon me at the Ladies Retreat).
• Faith will help me joyfully accept what God has permitted. (Where does faith come from? Rom. 10:17)

(These next two go hand in hand as they where really heavy on my heart last Thursday because on Tuesday and Wednesday I was really close to panic attacks and partial pity parties! I felt so attacked and lied to by the enemy!)

• I need not be concerned with how I look or what others will think, I just need to focus on doing God's will for my life.
• "One quiet moment in the presence of God will more than repay you every bit of slander that will ever be leveled against you." (Even by the enemy)
• I need to welcome hardship with friends as the hand of God helping me to grow.
• Either fully surrendered, calm, peaceful and effective or selfish, afriad, angry exhausted and distrated???
• I need to stop continually talking about my problems and just hand them over to God.
• I need to rest knowing that God permits the actions of those that hurt me, and be obedient, quite and gentle no matter how hard it may be.
• I must determine to only hope in God.
• I need to humble myself and submit under His hand, and become submissive and manageable as soon as I notice resistance or disobedience within.
  

Week 3 Bonus Question: What Bible studies or books of the Bible are you currently going through? And how do you feel about it/them?
My Answer: I am going through Beth Moore's 'Breaking Free' with the women's Bible study at my church. It just started last Thursday so I haven't done any of the homework yet, but I am really VERY excited. I now that God is going to do a work if I am faithful to not jump off the potter's wheel (Isa. 64:8 :o) Just the DVD introduction last week was awesome... here is some of what I already learned...

• Victory always begins with a cry for help.
• Am I more frightened of the Holy Spirit working than I am of the enemy?
• God wants victory in our lives to be the rule, not the exception.
• God wants me to know what went wrong so I can learn... that is is why He doesn't just fix me.
• Our prison doors are locked from the inside!!!!

(Need I say more on how exciting this study could be!?) WOW! I am also learning a lot out of James (that I also write separately in a journal), and I figured I would share that all once I am done with the last chapter.


Just another thought. I will probably add the things I want to share on my Monday post throughout the week from now on, so it's not all late on Sunday night :o) If you want to do the same just start a post after your devotions on Monday morning and save it as a draft adding to it each morning till Monday. See you around my wonderful family in Christ.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Happy Easter

• E - early one morning
• A - a long time ago
• S - some faithful women
• T - to Jesus tomb did go
• E - empty they found it
• R - risen was He, risen for you and for me

My Pastor shared that this morning in service... I loved it, and this true story about a wonderful eight year old boy...

It was obvious that eight-year-old Stephen's mental retardation was becoming even more severe. His Sunday school teacher did her best to include Stephen in the classroom activities and to avoid situations which might prompt his classmates to make fun of him. In April, she gave each of the eight children in the class an empty L'eggs panty hose container (plastic egg) and instructed them to place inside the container an object that represented new life in spring. Fearing that Stephen might not have caught on, and not wanting to embarrass him, the teacher had the children place the containers on the desk so that she could open them.

The first had a tiny flower in it, "What a lovely sign of new life," said the teacher. One of the studentscouldn't help but erupt, "I brought that one!" Next came a rock. The teacher assumed that this must beStephen's, since rocks don't symbolize new life. But Billy shouted that his rock had moss on it, and mossrepresented new life. "Very good Billy," agreed the teacher.

A butterfly flew from the third container and another child bragged that her choice was the best of all.  The forth container was empty. This must be Stephen's, thought the teacher, quickly reaching for a different one.

"Teacher, please don't skip mine," interrupted Stephen. "But it's empty, Stephen." said the teacher gently.  "That's right," said Stephen. "The tomb was empty, and that represents new life for everyone."

Later that summer, Stephen's condition worsened and he died. At his funeral on his casket, mourners found eight L'eggs pantyhose containers, all of them empty.

This true story of Stephen reminds us of the hope we all have because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ."For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Take the time this Easter and truly celebrate the empty tomb and the promise of new life that Jesus promises all of us.

Thursday's Thing

This week's thing is a Pioneer Album.

But this week's thing is also not happy.

I would not suggest buying any of their albums.

I have had too many bad experiences... (view photo below)

Do the photos speak for themselves? ...I know... can you believe this album was trying to fall apart not long after I got it in 2001. So I attempted to re-enforce the screw tops by putting washers around the posts (which was actually a good idea because now you see good albums coming with washers around the posts), it worked for a while as long as I didn't handle the album pretty much at all. This happened the day I decided to actually look at the album to find a layout to scan and share in my 7 things post. I also have one other Pioneer album holding on for dear life... and my SIL has had EVERY ONE of her Pioneer albums fall apart on her, she is still in the process of replacing them! Please learn for our mistakes :o) You get what you pay for.

Check back next week and I will share some of my favorite album companies... :o)

Today is my Hubby's Birthday!

When he asked our older daughter (age 3) how old she thought he was she said he was "too, tall, big" LOL! I guess I would say that too if I was her size with a daddy that is 6 foot 3. I love you hunny, I hope you have a happy too, tall, bigith birthday :o). Ps. Nice hat!

Wordless Wednesday

My little girl was two months old two days ago, and I caught her sleepy smile on camera.

Tagged with the Book Meme

...by my first blogging friend Karla or Ainsley's Mom :o)  Exactly a month ago she tagged me, I think it's about time I played along, lol!

I like being tagged but I am a slow runner, so it usually takes me a while to chase.  I remember in first grade (when I made it a habbit to chase the boys around) I never could catch them!

LOL... but know I caught the best one... sorry... anywho...                   

 

Here are the rules: 

• Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
• Open the book to page 123.
• Find the 5th sentence.
• Post the next 3 sentences.
• Tag 5 people.

My book is called "For Women Only" by Shaunti Feldhahn.

My husband and I won both these books from the Couples Valentine Dinner we went to with my church.  I have started to read it and really like it, but I have not finished yet.  My husband finished his in one day and it has blessed us both... here is my excerpt...

"They make rigorous decisions to avoid unwanted visual invitations, to turn away from those that arise, and - when unwanted pictures arise anyway - to rip them down with all sorts of diversionary tactics.  I heard that mentally running through baseball scores and household projects were popular thought substitutes!  Honestly, it sounds exhausting."                   

 TAG YOU'RE IT!...

1.  Elaine - The Miss Elaine-ous Life
2. Natalie - Normal to Natalie
3. Nicole - Livin' Lovin' Laughing
4. Melanie - Life is a Marathon
5. Nichole - Our Uzbek Journey

BTW... These are all ladies I met from the 5 minutes for mom blog party :o)

My Walk Monday

Last week I shared with you all about how God was leading me to finally be obedient and let go, well He was really reminding me of this all week, it was amazing to me! My God is so stinking good to me, I just need to be willing to listen!!
The first "reminder" was through a new blog friend, (Michelle at Delightful Evidence) God had a song waiting there titled (guess what?!) LET GO! Listen to the song HERE, my goodness!!!

The second was another song on the radio in the car by Barlow Girl titled (GUESS WHAT?!) LET GO!!!
I learned... He wants to supply ALL my needs, I need to stop worrying and looking behind or ahead, nothing will happen unless I'm obedient, I need to trust that He'll catch me, I won't make it if I continue to do it alone... and I do feel so alone... but I am ready to live what I believe!

I was reminded just tonight in my My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers that I need to be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). I found I need tenacity, which is more than endurance, "It is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire. Tenacity is more than hanging on, which may be but the weakness of being too afraid to fall off." "'Cause I'm about to let go, and live what I believe, I can't do a thing now, but trust that You'll catch me, when I let go!" Will you let go with me? I can't wait to hear how you all have grown just this week, and get to know you better with...


Week 2 Question: How do you minister for the Lord? Can you share a photo?

My Answer: My husband and I serve in Youth Ministries, Jr High and High School now. It has been our calling from the Lord to (as my old youth Pastor would say) "Preach the Word and Love the kids". It has been an incredible blessing over the years and I praise God that He still wants to use a wretch like me. And the photo is an old scrapbook layout (of coarse) of us with our 5th graders :o)

Another Party

The Mommies at Mommies United are having a blog party that starts tomorrow!

I know a lot of us just finished having a party over at 5 minutes 4 mom (the owners of A Rocking Horse to Love, Pedal Cars and Retro Collectables, and a great blog linking tons of great other mommy blogs) but I don't think I'm quite done partying and meeting new friends yet.

Check out my party post from my last party HERE.

I'm glad to meet you... if you are new to my site be sure to say hello so I can stop by your site also. I always make it a point to answer most of my comments, and as I do I visit my visitor's blogs.

Thanks for stopping by.

Then Sings my Soul Saturdays

Join me ladies in this new Meme... I posted my song below in the first video, and if you want to see the words and or cords you can view the second (it's humorous!). Oh, the song is Divine Romance by Phil Wickham. This particular song just makes me want to fall on my knees to reciprocate my love to my Savior. Thanks for recording them Phil, Praise be to Jesus!

My Walk Monday

So as you know if you read Sunday's post God showed me a lot of disobedience in my life at the retreat I recently went to... well one of my first steps of obedience was to buy this book.
I usually always find interest in the book reviews and always look through the books at the book table, but I NEVER buy any of them, even if I feel like I am supposed to because I always have the excuse of having too many unread books already at home.

Well this time I bought the one that was jumping out at me (now I see... for obvious reasons). It's a good book so far and I am only the second day in... it's a daily devotional type book. Mine was only $3.50, good thing too, it made it easier for me to be obedient in buying it :o)


Here is what I am learning so far (some of it is review but with my disobedience I NEED it)...

• my selfishness is a painful chain that binds me.
• dying to self would be less painful than being bound to it.
• that which is dead does not suffer.
• I can choose to carry the cross God means for me to have, or with my unwillingness to suffer I can add a tormenting inner battle to it.
• I will suffer more and with less growth if I continue with stubbornness clinging to self.
• humility makes me more easily teachable.
• personal weakness helps me realize that God wants me to be lowly and obedient. (There's that word again!) This is a choice I have to make, something I just have to do.

Week 1 Question: Do you know the date of your born-again birthday? How old are you spiritually?

My Answer: Yes it is January 5, 1998. I'm 10 years old this year! :o)

Late post for Sunday Scrappin'

If you want to join Sunday Scrappin' click HERE.
TA-DA... I finished my to-do from last week (except for the tags, I decided not to make them). The picture I'm sharing is of the paint cans that were purchased at the Ladies Retreat I recently went to. The right was a favorite because of all the techniques I used, and the left one was a favorite because of the paper and the colors, it was also I new design with the small torn paper on the top. There is also another can's picture in THIS post.

TO-DO... Let's see... scrap wise I would like to make a couple cards, that's a good goal... I won't push for more.
This week's Bonus Question: What's on your craft supply wishlist right now? Lots of jewels and some flowers because I just had another girl! A Tim Holtz Design Ruler because I don't want to use my wooden one anymore, and I like the holes for poking. A Round Monogram Stamper from JustRite Stampers and the small letter set to go with it... because it is just plain cool (I saw it's use in a magazine once).

We Walk With Him

I started My Walk Mondays in hope to have a home for accountability and encouragement in my walk with Christ Jesus. 

Each week I will write a post on a bit of my walk with the Savior. It could be anything like what I've learned that morning in devotions, what I'm struggling with, a new worship song I learned, a prayer request, a new Bible study I started, a praise report, you get the idea... anything that is a cause for growth in my relationship with the Lord.

If you want to follow and do the same...

I created a button so you can post it on your blog to encourage others to join. Just click the button below to find the page with the code to copy and paste the into your posts and/or your sidebar.
Or you could just leave your info in the comments on the posts :o)

Find all of my - My Walk Monday posts HERE.

May you always walk and talk with Jesus... now go and be blessed.

I'm Back...

... I'm sure not all of you know, I went on a Woman's Retreat this last weekend with my church. It was beautiful and relaxing, but it was also very trying at the same time. God really showed me a lot of disobedience in my life, a lot of rebellion, and pride with some pretty hurtful situations... let's just say I have a lot to work on now.

Here's some pictures that I thought you would enjoy from my weekend...

Don't you just love the pinecone pinapples, the wonderful view and my beautiful baby?! My little one was sucking on her fingers the same way my daughter was the day she was born, look :o)

Welcome Everyone!

Hey ladies!!! I am so excited, the party is finally here! Welcome!
Let me introduce myself... my name is Carolyn, I am a born again christian, and a mother of 3. My youngest was born just 7 weeks ago, my oldest is 3, and my middle is going to be 2 in April. I am 25 years old and have been happily married for 7 years. I love scrapbooking and encouraging others in doing so... hence the Scrapping Servant :o)

Here is a great photo of my 3 little ones...

I also have a recipe to share from a party I went to at my church on Valentine's Day... I even took a picture for you... doesn't it look YUMMY?!

Mini Cheesecakes

• 1 (12 oz) package vanilla wafers (Nilla or generic brand)
• 2 (8oz) package cream cheese (Philadelphia Cream Cheese or generic brand)
• 3/4 white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 can cherry pie filling (make sure it is in heavy syrup not the one in water)
• 1 - 2 Reynolds FOIL Baking Cups (32 per package)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Put one vanilla wafer per one foil baking cup (or crush vanilla wafers and place them into each cup as much as you like)
3. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
4. Fill each baking cup to 1/3 - 2/3 (it's really your call on how much)
5. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or even less depending on your oven's temperament
6. Cool and top with cherry pie filling (again, as much or less as you like it).
7. Chill and serve (it really tastes way better chilled)

Oh and be sure to leave a comment on this post to enter in a little giveaway I will be having for the party... sorry it took me so long to post what it is... it's an altered paint can perfect in place of any regular gift bag, or as an Easter "basket", a great place for keepsakes, it even comes with a key!

Speaking of gifts... here is my list of most wanted...

• #1 - the rocking horse from the beautiful twin mommy's online store.
• #59 - $25 cash from A Cowboy's Wife.
• #55 - $23 cash from An Ordinary Life.

HeY LadiEs I wOn!!! Prize #122 - Assortment of Scrapbooking Supplies valued at $25.

• Provided by: Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders... Thank you Amy!
• Prize details: This package includes a hot pink, 20 page, 8×8 canvas covered, post bound album, some 8×8 paper, and a variety of stickers and embellishments.

They're finished!

Look... this is the first one I finished, I will post the others later. This is also the one I was afraid I would not like because I originally had orange ribbon on it too, I like the blues much better. What do you think? If you want to learn how to make your own altered can I have a tutorial HERE... I also have tutorials for some other fun things like an altered frappuccino box, a recipe box, and a brown paper bag album.

You're Invited...

Hey Ladies... the party is coming up in a couple days, I hope to see you all there.  Last year's party was great fun, I met a lot of my blog friends there.

I am hoping to have some kind of giveaway for the party goers, so check in on Friday to see what's in store.        

I also have been saving a GREAT recipe from the Valentine's dinner I went to, just to share it with everyone the day the party starts... you'll love it!

See you in all the blog-hopping happiness over at 5 minutes 4 mom.   

 

 

Ps.  It's my 7 year wedding anniversary today... the number for perfection :o)... but we are far from it.  God is good all the time and His mercies endure forever...

I LOVE YOU JOSHIE!

Scrappin' Sunday

This is the post I meant to write last night when I went crazy instead. :o) On Saturday I went to a crop at my old church, where we had about 20 ladies, that's our biggest turn-out since National Scrapbook Day last year! It was nice to see all the ladies and get something done without my kiddos needing me (thanks again Joshie). Now on to sharing...
TA-DA... I have to make 5 altered paint cans for centerpieces for the Ladies Retreat I am going to this weekend... I got all the paper cut and distressed ready to glue, and I actual got 3 of the cans glued as well! I loved work with the paper on the top left, I crumpled it, inked it, sanded it, and tore it. :o)

TO-DO... know I just have to glue the other two cans, embellish them all, print the theme scripture for the retreat to go on them, and go to the store to get ribbon to tie on all the handles... I should also make some tags to hang on the opposite side of the key like I always do.
This week's Bonus Question: Do you usually do your crafts alone or with friends? Which do you prefer? I usually do my crafts with someone in the room, whither it's with my husband gaming, or with my sister-in-law, or a bunch of ladies at a crop... I prefer not to scrap alone, unless it is for "me time" without the kiddos.

Another Bonus Question I missed from week 2: What is your favorite scrappy craft-- scrapbooking, stamping, card making, or something else? I was just telling the ladies at the crop on Saturday that I actually favor altered projects more than I do traditional scrapbooking. They were all interested since I was altering paint cans while they all did layouts. I love altered art because I don't second guess myself as far as design goes, I'm free, and I can more happily own the mistakes :o)
Happy Scrapping Everybody, see you again next week for Sunday Scrappin'.

Just Thoughts

Here I am a mommy of three, the smallest asleep, the older two still trying to go to bed because they keep getting up to play with each other, and me... here I am falling apart... crying over everything from the crying baby, to the full trash can, to an untamed backyard, to the mound of dishes and laundry everywhere! I don't seem to function well these days, oye! I'm hungry, I'm tired, my stomach hurts, I'm angry, impatient, I feel fat and lazy. I feel like a failure. I don't know what I can handle anymore I feel like I am going to SNAP! My kids went to bed tonight without brushing their teeth, without changing their clothes, without a bath, no story was read, no prayer was said (now I'm crying again) I just don't like how things are going. I seem to shower but twice a week, I hate myself. I wanna be someone that has it all together, someone that has good personal hygiene, someone that is not a disappointment to everyone that people just want to give up on. I'm not good at keeping friends because I do not call and talk to them... I have felt so much love from all you Christian Mommy's out there, so this is me calling, I love you and thank you for your prayers when my daughter was born, you are appreciated and God has put me in touch with all of you for a reason. My prayer now would be that the Women's Retreat I am going on this weekend would be a blessed one, that maybe I would finally get my act together.