IMMUTABLE {D}

Such a daunting word for a title, I know. This is the Name that was put forth on Patter Cross' blog site Triple the Sketch - His Holy Name - challenge this week. I thought about the word for almost two weeks before actually sitting down and wrapping my heart around it. According to Laymans Bible Dictionary, immutable means; an attribute of God's nature which refers to his unchangeableness...assurance that God's mercy is constant...God cannot lie. One commentator expressed it this way, "God will never relax his hold on you". WOW! Where do you go from there? How do we even begin to wrap our human minds around such a concept in our ever changing world, where promises are made and broken without a thought or even a grain of remorse?

God's word is full of assurances of his unchangeableness, his promise to be our protector, our shield, our rock, our grace giver, and his unfailing love for us. All he ask's of us is faith and obedience to what is best for us anyway. When you tell a child not to do something because they may get hurt, it's not control, it's love. Likewise, God's commands are not meant to control, (he could have required that if that was his desire, when he created us) but it is out of his love, he sets boundaries.

I guess I am in need of God's assurance of his unfailing love for me in this particular season of my life. Out of this need, I was drawn to Psalm 117, "Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love. The LORD'S faithfullness endures forever. Praise the LORD!"

What a promise, what an assurance...Unfailing love from a God who only want's good for my life. Thank you Lord for your word, it is nourishment for my tired and weary soul. It brings such joy and peace into an otherwise chaotic and scary world. Praise your name.

This 6x6 page was made using Summer Soiree paper by michelle coleman and Unity Stamps July kit of the month. This was my first attempt at paper piecing (the sun), which from my quilters background was just up my alley. The ribbon and buttons are from my stash and tied off with twine from my husbands stash in garage. (Which I need to put back before he discovers it missing!) Enjoy your day.

Hugs & Hearts

This card was made using Dream Street Papers Lullaby collection, JustRite Preserves stamp set and colored with Copic markers. If you look closely, I used a scrap piece of fabric to tie off the jar. Too, cute.

She Pleased God {D}

I was talking to my sister in law yesterday and the subject got around to the loss of her mother in September 2007. In an earlier post I mentioned my mother in law Jean. I was blessed with a wonderful mother who has become my one of my best friends but second in influence, only to her, was Jean. She was one of those women that touched everyone she met. She was not perfect and in fact was known to engage in a good "debate" just for the joy of it. Yet, she was one of the most godly women I have ever known.

My scripture reading this morning was Hebrews 11:5, "Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death...He was approved having pleased God."

It does not say that Enoch was perfect, I am sure he wasn't, it simply says, "He pleased God." That describes Jean, she lived each day, with prayer, in hopes of pleasing God. What more testimony can we hope for in our lives.

I made this framed picture for my sister in law this past Mother's Day. It was just a cheapo from the dollar bin at Michaels. The idea and sentiments were inspired from a class at Scrapping Good Times here in San Dimas, CA. The picture was taken by a friend at my Christmas tea in 2006. She was kind enough to develop two of each of the pictures she took and give them to me in a beautiful album. What a great idea the two copies was, one for me and one for me to give away. Thank you, Bonnie!

Emily Jean {D}

I want to introduce you to Emily Jean Dominguez. This little angel is my grandaughter. She is extra special for a lot of reasons, one of them being that she is a baby born after a previous miscarriage. Every ultrasoound was nerve wracking and special. I was blessed to be in the doctor's office when we first saw the heartbeat and we knew for sure that this little miracle would be with us here on earth and also when we saw that she would be a little girl. Her name is special also, as she was born less than a year after my beloved mother in law Jean, went home to be with Jesus.

The scripture reference on the page is Mark 10:16, "Then He took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them." That is one of my favorite snap shots of Jesus. Him gathering the children on his lap as they giggle and squirm, totally secure in his comfort and love. No fear of chastisement, only security and approval. This is the same portion of scripture that says, we are to love him as the little children, with total faith and assurance that he loves us back.

The paper is Basic Grey, Porcelin line. The doo dads are from my stash. (Which for some reason keeps growing and growing! Hee Hee...

Know my anxious thoughts {D}

I just thought I would post what I worked on this weekend and what God is working on in my today. First the cards and layout...The paper is graphic 45, I used two different two sided papers, which gave me four patterns to work with. I have been accumalating alot of scraps of different lines so I wanted to use up the sheets at this one sitting. This makes sense since you have all the coordinating doo dads out anyway. I was able to get five cards and one page layout without really skimping on paper and I like the way they all turned out. (One card is missing cuz it's already in the mail and I also made five clothespins for use at a later time.) I distressed all the papers and inked them up using distressing ink in Walnut. I colored the flowers with copic markers to coordinate, which I love doing. I have started mass cutting my most used shapes in white and different colors with my silouette at one time, and packaging in baggies to be colored (if white) or used (if I have one cut in the right color) later. Great time and money saver!

My devotional had me in Psalm 139 this morning, Psalm 139:23-24 to be specific. "Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of evelasting life." I have been anxious about so much lately. God used his word to help me to name my anxious thoughts specifically and to hand them over to him one by one. What am I anxious about and why? What is the worst case scenario and is it too big for God to handle? My heart is at peace now. I know my God is bigger than anything that could possibly happen. He is God, he is good and he is in control.
Blessings, Patty

Take Care

I am trying to gather a stash of get well type cards and this one is made using Vintage Picnic sentiments and Unitys Everyday Adorable. The paper is from BG Porcelain line. I like the way the cute chickie contrasts with the sophisticated paper.

4th of July

Well, another 4th of July has come and gone. I don't know if it was just me or were people extra patriotic this year. It seems like the tough economic times have once again brought us closer together as a nation, proud to be an American. We had family over this 4th for BBQ, nothing fancy just a good, relaxing time. I did try the Picnic Salad that Michelle Wooderson at Mish Mash shared the recipe for. I even put it into cute little mason jars. At first my husband kind of gave me that look but I think he secretly enjoyed the extra touch. The pictures I posted are of our newly shuttered windows and my 4th of July porch. I had trouble finding a small, patriotic flag and I had a 4th of July fabric panel that my sister in law gave me to make a small quilt with. I got up the nerve to cut it up and made the flag and the small pillows on the rockers. I actually have enough left over to make a small quilt tablecloth for next year. Enjoy the pictures and sew some seeds of hope in someones life. Patty

Let's Sail Away

I love this picture of my grandson but it was one of those pictures that I didn't think I would be able to use in a layout because I chopped the top of his head off. Using it in this layout, you would never know. It works perfectly. The paper is from fancypants Summer Soiree by michelle coleman. I absolutely love how it worked as patchwork.