Oct 31, 2009

boo to you...

Andrew and Emily's Halloween cards...The adorable paper is My Mind's Eye - Boo to You.

Can you believe it's Halloween already? Where did the year go? Emily's first birthday is just around the corner...
I can remember as a child how exciting Halloween day was and how it seemed to take forever to get dark. Now I am anxiously waiting for my grandbabies to get all dressed up and come over to gramma's for their Halloween pictures and goody bags. It should be perfect weather for trick or treating, not too hot, no rain...around 65 degrees...just perfect.
Hope you all have fun plans for today. Enjoy the ghost's and goblin's in your life.
Blessings,
Patty

Oct 27, 2009

earth love...

Earth love paper from Cosmo Cricket...don't you love it!


Isn't it amazing how feeling "normal" after being sick, is so wonderful. I have been down and out with a nasty cold bug for the last week and all I wanted was to feel normal again...we really take for granted not being in pain or stuffed up or queasy. I have new respect and admiration for those who live with chronic conditions and just do life with joy. I get a lousy head cold and my world is rocked.
While I was in Houston I got a small taste of what my mom and dad do everyday just to stay alive. My dad has several serious, chronic conditions and the amount of discipline and effort it takes every single day was overwhelming to me. The fact that they just do it...let's just say my love, respect and admiration for them grew even more...if that's even possible. I was truly blessed in the parent's department.
You have my permission to kick me the next time you hear me complain about my life!
Do life with joy,
Patty

Oct 23, 2009

beautiful paper...

I'm back...I had a wonderful time at my sister's in Houston. As always, she and her husband made the stay just like home but without the housework. The time with my mom and dad will be treasured and stored in my heart forever. We laughed and cried...joyful and bittersweet...Kind of like life sometimes...


I have fallen for this beautiful paper from Webster's Pages. The rich, full images are a joy to work with. Just add a few embellishments and you have created something beautiful...


I am in the middle of reorganizing, streamlining and cleaning out my craftroom. It's become too cluttered even for me...ha, ha. Plus I have a ton of laundry to catch up on and my new fridge was delivered today so I have some work to do in the kitchen. I just wanted to pop in and say, "Hi". I'll talk a little more about my trip in the days to come.
Blessings and I've missed you,
Patty

Oct 15, 2009

abundant grace...

I just wanted to post before I get on a plane headed for Texas. I am going with my mom and dad to visit my sister and her family in Houston. We made the reservations several months ago and I have really been looking forward to the trip. It doesn't hurt that this also happens to be the week of the International Quilt Show which takes place in Houston once a year...my mom and I will be going on Friday. We have been once before and believe me one day is not nearly enough to take it all in but it is enough to inspire your to CREATE!


The beautiful paper is from Webster's pages...the lattice border punch is Martha Stewart...buttons are vintage PTI and the doo dads and trims are from my stash.




I know I seem to have a thing for tags right now...these are made as a giveaway at my women's bible study to those who memorize our weekly bible verse. The names of the women who recite the verse are put in a bowl and one lucky lady gets to take home a beautiful tag and hopefully, a whole lot of scripture is memorized.
John 1:16 says, "From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."
I know it's not much but it is one way I can give back to the Lord a smidgen of what he has blessed me with.
Go out and bless someone,
Patty

Oct 8, 2009

tag it...

Just a quick post tonight...I was asked to donate a prize give away for our women's retreat and I decided to make a book bag, scripture tag and a gift certificate to a local Christian book store. I am really happy with the way they turned out.

The tag...I love the layered, antique, shabby kind of look of the tag. The floral image is from crafty secrets.


the bag...I fell in love with this fabric as soon as I saw it.

I can't believe how perfectly this Jenni Bowlin patterned paper matched that beautiful fabric.
Hope your weather is as beautiful as ours. Have a great weekend.
Patty

Oct 6, 2009

the bags... {D}

my book bag...

Jessica's book bag...


Annie's purse...
These are the bags I was talking about. My daughter Jessica needed a bag to carry her books, stethoscope and blood pressure reader in for school so I used an old book bag of mine for the dimensions and made this one for her. The "oh so pink" purse is my daughter Annie's. She wanted something that was just big enough for her wallet, keys and cell phone. All the bags are fully lined and have a couple of pockets inside to help keep you organized.

We just started a new series at church called "A Tall Order - Where Christ is the Conversation". It has to do with sharing with others about Christ, not as some far off, long time ago, person but as a personal relationship right now kind of Person. This first week we have been asked to explore our lives with and without Christ. When did we first call out to him? What baggage has he asked us to deal with to move closer to him? What would we tell others he has changed about us and how has that impacted our life?


The scripture reference for day 5 was from John 4:7, the story of the woman at the well. Jesus stops in the afternoon heat for a drink from a well in Samaria when a woman comes by to draw water. This woman has been married five times and is currently living with a man. After some conversation with her Jesus tells her that he knows all about her and he tells her of the living, refreshing, grace giving, water that comes from knowing Jesus.


John 4:10 -14, "Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket," she said," and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?" Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. it becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

The woman's life is so transformed by this encounter that she runs off to tell her whole village of her encounter and the gift of the living water. She was once ashamed of who she was and know because she has been made clean, she wants to tell everyone the source of her transformation.
When was the last time we were so enamored, so emboldened by Jesus and what he has done for us, that we wanted to go out and tell everyone or even just one person about him and his life changing love?
It is so easy to get caught in a rut and accept the status quo for our spiritual life but when we do that we lose our desire and effectiveness in telling others of Jesus and his transforming love. No relationship will flourish without effort,without going out on a limb, without sacrifice. That is true of our relationship with Jesus, too. If we are living our lives in love with Jesus the opportunity to tell others about him will come naturally and it will be a fresh new testimony because we will be reminded each day, by everyday occurrences of how Jesus is working and changing our lives.
If I long to know Jesus in a way that makes me naturally want to talk about him, I need to start living my life in a way that won't crowd him out, to not be satisfied with how things are. I need to deal with my baggage and move closer to Jesus. I need to live my life ready to share my honest testimony so that I might lead others to move closer, too.
Blessings,
Patty