thank you card

This one is for my friend Beckie, who always remembers my birthday. We have known each other over 10 years now and no matter where on this earth the military takes us, she sends me something in the mail. No matter how much time between phone calls we always catch right back up. She is a treasure to have in my life.

A new Creation

Im gonna go ahead and post this one too, Im sure she has rec'd it. This one is inspired by my friend Shannon who like us all are a New creation in Christ.......

Sweet Card

Ok so this month I had a root canal, yikes! anyways, im a scared baby when it comes to this. The assistant was so awesome, I made sure to get her name and a business card so I could make her a card. I used my cuttlebug which is quickly becoming a favorite tool! and I also used my cricut to make the strawberry. I love how sweet and cute this card is:)

Shine

I made this card maybe two months ago and have been waiting on God to let me know who to send this one to. Well I got my answer recently, I sent it to my friend Joye. She is going through Chemo (second round) and let me tell you, this woman SHINES! She radiates Jesus. Jesus seeps out of her and her love is contagious. It amazes me. Jesus is amazing! Im so happy to know this woman and just being around her is a blessing for sure!

Thinking of you

I made this for a family who is going through alot right now. We miss them and wish them well

One thousand gifts

I finally decided to read it.....  Anyone else?

Forgiveness

Three Ways to Forgive by Ann Voskamp
1. Be a Screen Door
Like the wind blows through a screen door, let blustry comments, stormy blasts just blow right past. Incidents can only hit hard if you have your front door closed. But having a screen door policy allows some of the pain to blow by, us all hidden in Christ….
2. Only Believe the Best
When you believe that everyone is always just doing their best, that we never war against flesh and blood but against the principalities, that in light of this fallen world and sinful limitations, they truly are doing their best… this changes everything. Love bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things and whatever is good and pure and lovely, think on these things.
3. Tell the Thankful Truth
The truth is, there is always something, a lot, to give thanks for and that is the truth about every single parent. Consider offering a father, a mother, the gift of a jar full of slips of paper with your gratitude and thankful memories jotted down. This kind of grateful truth-telling helps to heal old wounds.

I feel myself wanting to close up, close myself off to everyone outside my house. I find myself getting angry over lost relationships, angry to always be the initator and I dont want to be.
So I get this email from Ann daily and wow, I love her way of being a screen door instead of a closed door. I want to be a screen door but I feel myself closing it. I know Christ wouldnt have me do that. I have to keep being strong and well by golly I dont want to be, so Im left with trying to allow my GOD to be for me. At times I feel the hurt of everyone in the world and it is sooo sad. I want to remove everyones hurt. I want to make everyone well. I find that the more that technology and the get more have more mentality increases, the more people dont have time for each other anymore. No one seems to have time for one on one relationships. I miss the good ole days when people would get together for afternoon tea or whatever and just enjoy fellowship with others. Everyone seems soooo rushed....RELAX and treasure your moments, they are fleeting. Look into your childs heart and love them. Love them for who they are even if you dont like or understand them. God made them unique. Im learning to do this, and with the help of my husbands encouragement we are trying to take in every moment. Ok im done for now.......

to all you mommas

Your Great Name

Kids school books etc

I have updated our list of what the kids are and will be doing this year......

Moms version of 1 cor 13

This is from a devotional bible I have but was originally in a book called "When the handwriting on the wall is in brown crayon" by Susan L. Lenzkes.

~

Though I lecture and harp at my children and have not love, I will be background noise to rebellious thoughts.

And though I wisely warn them not to use the street as a playground, or they'll be killed; and though I patiently explain why snails live in mobile homes, and I give endless answers to life's other mysteries; and though I have faith that can remove mountains of ignorance - yet never hug my children - I have taught nothing.

And though I slave over a steaming stove with balanced diets and complicated recipes and even burn my fingers - yet never smile as I serve - I have not really fed them.

A truly loving mother suffers through unfinished sentences, clutter, nicks on furniture, sleepless nights and adolescent insults, and is kind enough to think her kids are the greatest. A loving mother tries not to resent her children for being free like she used to be, and she doesn't brag about how she never talked to her mom that way.

Real love considers a childish nightmare more urgent than her need for sleep; is not shattered by the title "Meanest Mom"; doesn't shame a toddler who breaks training or a teen who still spills milk; steadfastly refuses to entertain visions of escape; and does not smirk as her child trips over the toy he refused to put away (but with silent wisdom rejoices in the effective lessons of experience).

Mother love has arms strong from lifting, a heart large with believing, a mind stretched with hoping, shoulders soft with enduring and knees bent with committing.

True mother-love never fails to point her child to the Author of Love.

~

"And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13