paradigm... {D}

Our sermon series at church this month is entitled "Paradigm". It has to do with thought shifts...changing how we think things should be and why. Today's paradigm had to do with going from a sense of "Entitlement to Gratitude"...in our natural man, the more we get, the more we expect, the more we feel entitled to...we become harder and harder to satisfy. It's like a child at Christmas that would have been completely happy with just one present but after opening present after present he loses focus on the gift and just starts searching for the next present.

God gives us what we need and desires to give us so much more, but when he gives us more we forget that our needs have been met and we begin to just want more for the sake of wanting more...because we believe that somehow we are now entitled to more.

Pastor gave us this food for thought...do you agree?

"As our enjoyment grows-our demand grows. As our demand grows-our entitlement grows. As our entitlement grows- our appreciation fades."

This one really got to me...It was a reminder to take stock of all of the needs God has met and how he has exceedingly blessed me above and beyond.

Speaking of blessings...I finished the recipe book and I pray it blesses the recipient as much as she has blessed me.

The cover...I love all the bows and doo-dads sticking out...it's kind of a hint of the good stuff to come.



and I love how fat it turned out...



A little peak at one of my favorite pages...I love the little heart postage stamp from TPC studio...

I know it kind of takes the surprise out of it because she reads my blog but what she won't see here are the little notes that I have tucked inside each recipe file. They tell the memories that each of these dishes brings back to me...favorite birthday meals... kneading with hands of love...Christmas morning cookies...that will be for her eyes only.

I want to leave you with one final quote by G.K. Chesterson, I pray you're blessed by it...

"Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes , ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?"

In His gratitude,

Patty

thankful...

Emily's surgery to remove the scar tissue and separate the muscle tear was this morning and I am happy to tell you that all went well. There was more scar tissue than originally expected but the surgeon was able to remove all of it with the exception of a small portion attached to the collar bone because it was too close to a large artery. She is not concerned because she says that portion should repair itself. Thank you all for your prayers. The recovery time is minimal because little ones heal at such a fast rate. She should be good as new in a few days. Thank you Lord.

I guess I didn't realize how nervous I was about this procedure until this morning. Even though you hear the words, "minor...outpatient...routine", when it's your little one, you still worry.

With that good news...I have a few more pages of my recipe book to share...

A vintage kitchen fabric swatch and a retro clock...Don't you love the "lace" curtains?

More fabric scraps and some Cosmo Cricket paper...a handmade embellishment of gathered fabric, a couple of flowers and a button.

The cherry stamp from Unity is colored with copic markers...the cute bird is Cosmo Cricket.

More Cosmo Cricket, Early Bird paper and a piece of tea stained twill...

I'm half way through and I think it's going to be tough giving this one away.

With a thankful heart,

Patty

dinner rolls...

My mother in law made the most delicious dinner rolls from scratch...they never looked perfect to her...sometimes they didn't rise enough...sometimes they rose too much...sometimes they didn't brown on the bottom...sometimes they were a little too brown...but to us they were just delicious. I remember the smell...the way the butter she melted over the top soaked into them just as they came out of the oven...exactly how it felt as you tore one apart and of course the taste as you popped that first bite in your mouth. We always ate family style and the choice as you got to the rolls was not should I take one...but should I take one...or two?

This is the next page of the recipe book I am making...the paper is from Basic Grey, Nook and Pantry...

The sentiment and cut-out heart are from ADORNit...

I typed up the recipe for dinner rolls and tucked it inside...

This recipe book started out as a gift for someone else but the sweet memories it is evoking have turned it into such a beautiful gift to me.

I've already finished the next page but I have to find the perfect recipe and memory to go with it...I think I have something in mind...

Sweet memories,

Patty