Virginia Beach

Hello from beautiful Virginia Beach. We have been here for a week now. Randy and I have had a wonderful time with our daughter, Sarah. Sarah and her friend Greg had moved here in April, so we hadn't got to see her for a while. Fortunately we were able to stay at Sarah's. We kicked her out of her room :) but we brought an air mattress for her.

We saw several sites here. Last night we went to the beach and saw the Christmas lights. Awesome!

Randy and I are heading home this morning. It is a 13 hour drive, so we will probably do it in two days.

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving and you were able to sit back, relax, and count your blessings. I know we have so many. Now all the hustle and bustle starts. Please do not forget why we celebrate the season. Merry Christmas.

Thankful

As we come into the Thanksgiving season, I have seen several posts on Facebook about things people are thankful for.  Like them, I have many things to be thankful for.  Here are just a few.

• Number 1 will always be I am thankful for the Grace of God and what He has done for me.  He sent His Son because He loves me.  He loves me.  I just can't get over that.
• I am thankful for my parents and for giving me a faith based up bringing.
• I am thankful for my husband.  Even though times have been up and down, he has always been there and loved me.
• I am thankful for my children.  What great kids God has given me and Randy.  They are more than I could have ever dreamed my children would grow up to be.  I love them both.

There are so many things that I could go on for hours and never mention them all.  Most importantly is the Love of God.  Because without Him, I would be nothing, and I would have nothing.  He gives meaning to my life and the life of my family.  I can only hope that I have and will continue to be half the person He expects me to be.  I am unworthy of His love but most graciously thankful.

I want to share with you some of the photo brag books I have been making.  I know I have shared a few with you previously, but wanted to let you know that I am selling them.  These would make great gifts.  Just add your pictures to them and your parents or grandparents would be thrilled to get this to brag about their grandchildren.  If you are interested or know someone who might be, contact me by email and I will get in touch with you.

This album is a 5x7 and has space for 41 photos.  Great for a teenage girl to put pictures of her friends in.  The cost of this album is $35 + shipping.

This next brag book is 4x6.  A scrapbook for any occasion.  There are places for 54 photos.  The price is $30.

 

Be thankful for all that you have.  James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above."

Christmas Card

Two posts in one night, and hopefully I will get another in this weekend.  I wanted to share with you what I did tonight.  I felt a bit goofy tonight so I decided to treat myself like a princess. 

Told you I was feeling goofy!

This is what I really want to share with you.  I am getting together with some girls from work tomorrow and make cards.  Each one of us takes all the items needed to make our card so everyone can make a card like mine and I will make one of theirs.  You go home with 8 - 10 cards.  Depends on how many people are there.  This is the card that I made to take and share.  I think it turned out really cute.

Brag Books

I have been trying to stay busy creating brag books.  I will be setting up at a craft bizarre on Saturday, November 5, in Robinson, IL at the Community Center.  Hope that I can sell some of my products.  Need some extra Christmas money.  I am really pleased with how my brag books are turning out.  If someone tells me they don't scrapbook, I can tell them they don't have to.  I have done most of the work for them.  All they have to do is add the pictures.  I finished the Discover Brag Book today.  It is mostly for the outdoor person.  I was thinking of the guys when I did this one, but it could be for the girls as well.

This next one is Baby Mine.  As you can see it is for a baby boy.  Wouldn't a grandma love to carry this to show off her grandson.  The second photo shows two pages that were embossed with the Big Shot.  Great lines for writing 10 things you love about the baby.



Each one is unique because I will never have the same embellishments or they will be used differently in each album.  Some of the albums are the standard 4.5 x 6.5 and some of them are 5.5 x 7.5.  Great gifts.

Also I am creating dry erase boards that will look great hanging on the refrigerator or hanging on our kids's bedroom doors.  Great for leaving notes for each other.

 I hope you enjoy and get some creative ideas.

Brag Book

Today I have been busy working on a brag book.  I have created a 4 x 6 brag book for a baby girl.  I hope that I can sell these at an upcoming craft show, so I am going to have to get busy and get more created.  Here are just of few of the pages.

Merry Christmas

It is not too early to be thinking about the many Christmas Cards you are going to be sending this year.  Read the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20.  God gave you a precious gift so give the gift He gave you and share your talent with someone who wouldn't expect it.  Send lots of Christmas Cards this year.

Operation Write Home 2

I decided that I would make another card for the Inspired Stamps - Operation Write Home Challenge.  This has been a crazy week.  My son had to have some minor surgery on his leg as a result of his motocycle wreck, my dad had some surgery this week, my father-in-law had doctor appointments and I don't know what else went on.  I am glad it is the weekend.  So I started off the weekend by creating this card.  It is so relaxing to set down and create.  No matter what it is.  It is a time to thank God for all He has done for you and to reflect on the good things in your life.  Lately my motto has been that "it is not about me, but about what I can do for God".  So give God the credit for your talents and use them for His glory.

I borrowed the design of my card from another blogger and I want to give them credit.  http://sewmanychallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-68-halloween.html

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Operation Write Home

Here is a card that I made to share with Inspired Stamps and Operation Write Home.  The numbered tabs come out so you can write the 10 things you miss. 

Greater Is He That Is In Me

This is my first post of many more to follow.  I am hoping to share with you some of my craft projects and especially my faith in God.  God is truly my rock and foundation and I can do nothing without Him.  Recently I completed my advanced course in Lay Speaking and will soon be interviewed and hopefully become a certified Lay Speaker for the United Methodist Church. 

Most of you will understand when I start to tell this story, but when you start working for God, the devil tries to detour you.  I am no exception.  He has been working very hard on me and my family.

My advanced class took place on three Saturdays.  The second Saturday, I wasn't feeling good.  I had some chills and was probably running a little fever.  But the third Saturday, he hit me harder.  My legs were swelling, I was chilling and was definately running a fever.  Nothing was going to stop me from going to class.  On my way, I had to stop in Robinson at the store and pick up some stuff for our carry-in lunch.  I had plenty of time to get to Effingham, but my foot got a little heavy on the gas pedal.  The state police caught it too.  When I say the trooper coming at me, I looked down and knew immediately, I wasn't getting out of this one.  So before the state trooper got his lights on and turned around, I started pulling over.  Satan was trying really hard to pull me down, because he didn't like that I was moving forward in my walk with God.  Guess what though.  I didn't get a ticket, just a warning, and I told the state trooper that I was on my way to my lay speaking class and that I was giving my message today.  My message was on Negativity.  I giggled and told him this wasn't going to get me down.  It was just proof that God had a sense of humor.  I got through the class and made it home safely.

Still not feeling well, the Flat Rock Homecoming was going on that day and Randy was at the park so I went to Flat Rock to be with him.  My legs just seemed to be swelling more, so I eventually ended up at Good Samaritan Hospital in the ER.  They diagnosed me with urinary tract infection and low kidney function.  Gave me antibiotics and sent me home.

I am feeling better and gave the message at my church on Sunday, August 28.

Satan wasn't done trying to pull me down.

On Tuesday, August 30, my son, Jeff, was in a motorcycle/car accident.  He was on the motorcycle.  His angels were riding the Harley that day.  Jeff is very banged up but there was nothing "broken", just a crack in his thumb.  He will be off work for a while, but we are so thankful that God spared him any major injuries.  He is home and recovering slowly, but he is recovering, praise God.

I am sure that Satan will continue to throw obstacles in our way and try to get us to talk against God.  However, I believe the words - Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.  I love my Lord and Savior.

John 3:16