Give Thanks for EVERYTHING

I recently ordered 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp and it isn't a quick read, but it is very good and deep. The main point is that we need to find little things to be greatful for and by recording them, we have a much more peaceful and stress free life. That doesn't mean stress won't enter our lives, but we don't give in to it like we used to.

As some of you know, I've been getting ready for CHA. It's been crazy around here as the product for my classes didn't arrive until later than expected and it was rush rush getting everything done and Fed Exed today! I had left a mess on the dining room table and had to get the boxes to Kearney (1.5 ish hours away) to Fed Ex and checked in before noon. So I planned to clean up when I got home.

I had several last minute things I needed to get in Kearney and Grand Island so got those all marked off my list and got home....to a disaster! I wish I could say I entered with a happy heart, but I am human and didn't.

As I was grumbling about the mess, God reminded me of what I had been reading and to start making a thankful list...so here is my thankful list

thankful that I even own a home to be messed up
thankful that I have 2 boys to make a mess (esp since I miscarried 4 babies)
thankful that I have ketchup to be out (even on the floor???)
thankful that I have dishes to be dirtied
thankful that I have food to make a mess with in the house
thankful for my son that knows how to and likes to cook
thankful to have clothes even if they are all over the floor
thankful for a laundry basket even if it doesn't get used
thankful that I am able to wash dishes
thankful that even though it looked like a disaster walking in, it only took 20 minutes to clean up

Lots of Lizzie Anne

Today I have some fun goodies to share with you. The first project is for LAD's POTM or Project of the Month. The DT takes turn with each 3 month release to share a fun project for you to try. I am hooked on toilet paper tube projects and that is what I am sharing with you this month. TP Lifesaver Treat Instructions:
stamps: LAD Lifesaver Single
paper: digi LAD Swanky Stripes
ink: Memento Black and pink
other: markers, brads, cello bag, toilet paper roll, candy, ribbon, Tombow adhesive, photo corner punch

1. Print pink and green stripes on white. Then cut to 8.5" square and run thru printer turning once to make a plaid pattern. Opt: Sponge edges with ink. Cool huh? Ü
2. Wrap plaid around toilet paper tube as shown. (sizes will vary with brands, but my pink is cut 4.25" x 6" and 2" x 6")
3. Cut ribbon to 6" and adhere.
4. Ink girl only and stamp and color.
5. Ink sentiment only and cut into a tag. Brush edges with ink.
6. Adhere girl to front of covered tube.
7. Add 3 brads, attaching the tag to bottom brad.
8. Punch photo corner and adhere to top left corner.
9. Fill cello bag with candy and tie with ribbon.
10. Insert cello bag inside toilet paper roll with ribbon showing

Be sure to stop by here and see what the other designers are sharing with you.


The next fun project I have to show you is using this month's new stamp single release called Sparklers and new digi print Stars and Stripes. There is also another single released and I will show that one tomorrow. I love all things Americana (maybe it has to do with my bd being the 6th of July, I don't know) and was so excited when LAD released these singles and digi prints.
I cut the stripe paper 3.25" x 3.5" and wrapped it around a roll of lifesavers. (this is not my idea. it is one I saw last year and saved the idea in my notes to make)
Then I poked a hole in the top and added the fun sparkly stars. For those that live here, it comes from Alco. Because the stars were so sparkly, I added glitter on the star stripes and also on the sparklers on the card.
The ribbon on the card is some that I picked up a couple of years ago in the dollar section at Target. I couldn't believe how perfect it matched the digi paper!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a personal note, it is VERY quiet here! Ü Benjamin is still in AK (coming home Saturday) and Aaron is spending the week in town helping with Bible School.
I wish I could say I'm getting a LOT done, but yesterday had a pneumonia shot (plan one of trying to keep me from getting sick) and apparently (if you can believe what you read on the internet) less than 1% have a reaction and that reaction is for your muscles to hurt all over. Well you guessed it!!! I hit that "less than 1%". This is a new kind of pain for me, but if it keeps me from getting sick all the time, it will be worth it.
I see the dr. from Omaha again Thursday and they will explain to me all my test results. They sent a letter, but it was all gobbly gook to me. All I understood is that there is damage to one lung (from all the pleurisy I'm guessing) and they will discuss what I'm to do at my appt. One thing I do know is that Singulair is a waste of my money. It hasn't helped a bit and I hope that I don't have to take anymore. OTC meds work better than it does, but he wanted me to take it until June to see if it helped.

Very busy blogger and one proud mama

I've been a bad blogger, but life has just been too busy this week. We had something on the calendar every day/night this week. I did decide to come home on Monday and not attend the Senior Slide Show. I hate that I missed it, but I had to be home SOME time this week. Ü

Tuesday was Wall of Fame Induction and Benjamin received two honors. He received a Spirit Scholar award. This award goes to those students who have a 3.0 GPA and above AND show Character, Responsibility, Compassion and Respect. Benjamin has a 4.0 and we are very proud of him. He also received the All Academic Southwest Conference award for his accomplishments as an athlete and high GPA.

Wednesday was the Baccalaureate for the Seniors, Thursday: Fine Arts Banquet (he was the only one to receive a 2 yr pin for Spanish Club and his involvement with there and today a track meet. The 4 x 800 team placed first. Next week is going to be tough as they have to place 1st or 2nd in order to qualify for state.

Tomorrow is graduation and Benjamin and I will be gone for that and then hit several receptions afterwards.

I also have some VERY exciting news...Aaron and I have BOTH been asked to be a guest designer for Paper Temptress. Aaron for May and myself for May and June.

But even more exciting than that.....I have been after Aaron to draw some images for me that I wanted to enter into a contest. The winner gets their images made into stamps and we (well AARON) won!!! Poor kid! I drew these AWFUL shapes and explained to him how I REALLY wanted them to look. Then he took them and made them perfect! I can't really say more than that, but I am so excited and can't wait to get the sets and create with them.

Hope you all don't mind this proud mama sharing.

I hope to find time to post a card tomorrow morning.

Blizzard on it's way...

It is now snowing and blowing! Great weather to stamp in. Ü 5 minutes later it looked like this: At this rate we will have 9-12" by noon tomorrow!

Snow Day!

**Be sure to scroll down to see other post from today
***Go here to see who the 5 winners are for a handmade gift (I need Marge & Mary's blog info first)

I get up at 5 every morning and saw only a skiff of snow, so *knew* we would be having school. At 6:30 we got a phone call saying school had been cancelled...still only a skiff here, but the weather report is that we are to get up to 10 (additional) inches and wind, sot I guess they were being cautious.

It's a good thing, cuz two hours later we have 3" and you can see by these photos, that it is still snowing heavily! I just stood at the door (the first one was taken from our south door and the other 3 from our east door) and took these pictures: Soooo, snow day equals STAMP day! Ü This is going to be a great LONG weekend as we also have Monday off for Teacher In-Service.

"I'm so excited

and I just can't hide it..." -okay, don't have a clue to all the words of the song and it's probably just as well to what I do know LOL! BUT.....I can share some MORE good news with you!!
I have been accepted on the Embellish-It Online Design Team! Do you know how hard it is for me to keep ONE secret, let alone two back to back??!!
Now, I gotta get busy!!!!
I will have something new that isn't design team related posted tomorrow since the last few posts have all been design team related.

EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!!

I told you all that I've been busy stamping and I have. But I didn't tell you all WHO I've been busy stamping for except some cards to go to convention for Inky Antics. Well....I've also been stamping for Denise Wenzloff. Ü

You may be familiar with Denise and her husband. They make the wonderful storage units for your ink pads, markers, reinkers, etc.

Well a few weeks ago I received an exciting e-mail from Denise asking me if I would be interested in being on her design team. I said "YES" right away! She has decided to expand her business and she's got some terrific new things coming. All will be revealed on July 1st but to get everyone buzzing they've come up with an amazing contest prize-The "MOTHERLOAD" of all prizes!! The details are on the new SUInk & More blog. Here is what it says:

"We're so excited to share our news with you that one lucky person will actually WIN the "MOTHERLOAD" of new products from Storage Units, Ink & More! You know...the whole kit & caboodle, the big kahuna, the whole enchilada, the big mama jamma!!! All of our new products will be unveiled on July 1st but this is YOUR chance to win it BEFORE you can buy it. Here's what one lucky person will receive:
6 brand new Storage Units, Ink & More! Clear Polymer Stamp Sets!
6 Storage Units, Ink & More! Inkpads and Reinkers in our very own colors!
4 packages of Core’dinations Cardstock!
1 set of 8 Acrylic Blocks
1 bottle of Ultra Stamp Cleaner
1 set of 12 Copic Markers in our hand chosen colors!

What do you have to do to enter? Head on over to the Storage Units, Ink & More blog and add a comment to THIS POST letting us know what kinds of stamp images you'd like to see in the future. Easy-peezy, right?! Give it a little thought because you can only enter once. Entries will be accepted from June 17th through June 30th. One winner will be randomly chosen and revealed on the Storage Units, Ink & More blog on Tuesday, July 1st. GOOD LUCK and THANKS FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE OUR NEW PRODUCTS!"

The brand new SUInk & More Design Team will begin posting SNEAK PEEKS on Friday, June 20th to both their own blogs and the SUInk blog. You should definitely check back to see what they've created. The first designer to share will be
Lauren Meader.
The other design team members include: Kendra Giles, Leigh O'Brien, Kathie Bailey, Dawn Easton, Bethany Paull, Susan Liles and Kimberly Gajewski.

Don't forget to click on the image below to enter to win the "Motherload" of all blog candy!

I'm back!!!

WHEW! What a past week we had!
I finally have the scrapbook order done and that is such a good feeling. Took me longer to do that I thought it would.
Friday the trackmeet was cancelled due to SNOW!!!! MY calendar says it is SPRING but we were in a *WINTER* weather watch. Some places in NE got up to 30" I heard. Schools were closed due to blizzards. Just crazy! Today it is beautiful out and I hope the *winter* weather is behind us.

Even though the trackmeet was cancelled in Cozad, I still went there. Some ladies from the church went to Camp Comeca for a retreat. What a BEAUTIFUL camp!!!!!!! It was absolutely gorgeous! Of course when we got there early Friday evening we could hardly see to walk to our rooms, but then Saturday the sun came out, we got to hike and it was just beautiful!

What did you all do for May Day? Aaron made May baskets and we took them around Comstock and delivered mostly to the widows and Sr. Citizens. They all were so sweet to Aaron and he just beamed each time he delivered a *basket*-paper cup covered with patterned paper and filled with homemade kettle popcorn (DH's recipe) and candies.

This week is a little quieter. I have lots of stamping I need to get done and cards and goodies sent out to lots of people. Tonite is the Spring Sports Program and Thursday is District Trackmeet. Saturday is graduation and I babysit in the morning for my 2 yr old nephew.

I hope to be back to posting regularly now. In the next post I will show you the scrapbook I did.

more about Ayden

I miss understood Gloria when she told me about Ayden. I thought he had to have surgery immediately after being born. He does have to have surgery and will probably have to have several, but the first one will be next week to put a shunt in his heart. He has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). I know that the family would still appreciate your prayers. He was born C-section and was over 9 lbs, so that is definitely in his favor.

No Stamping...

I don't have anything new to show you, but do have a few things to share. I have been busy cutting kits for my first papercrafting class that I will be teaching next Friday. We have a trackmeet today (looks like it will be a wet one) and then I am going to be getting things organized and ready to go to a crop Saturday where all the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Here are a couple of blogs to visit for blog candy:
http://mistylynnwhat.blogspot.com/2008/04/sweet-pea-and-finally-blog-booty.html

http://lim-thevoicesinmyheadlimblog.blogspot.com/

For those of you who believe in the power of prayer, I would like to ask you to pray for my friend Bethany's mom Barb. Barb has been having back pain for some time and had been trying to treat it naturally. She had an MRI and it showed cancer in the spine. I met Barb a couple of times and she is such a delight. Please remember these families in prayer. Thank you.

Thank you...

to everyone who sent me e-mails regarding my LONG post before the crop. I appreciate all the advice you gave. We decided that academics are more important than sports and it is more important for Benjamin to be at the induction. After talking with other parents (even those whose child did not make the *cut*), teachers and friends, we learned that this is the highest honor that a student can receive in high school and is very important.
I, too appreciate the comments regarding high speed internet. I know that we have to let the boys go some day and we want to teach them what we feel is *right* and *responsible* when it comes to the internet. Our computer is in the dining room and they are able to be on the internet when we are here.

So for the first five who read all the way thru...
*Michelle
Jean H
*Staci
Gail
Jen B

Please send me your snail addy's (unless there is a star by your name, then I already have it) and I will get a card in the mail to you. Ü

No Housework Day

Really, it says so here (scroll down to today's date). However, I HAVE to do housework since I was gone all weekend. Laundry and putting everything away from the crop for sure!

The crop went well (except for the ending which I will comment on later in this post). I can't ever remember going home from a crop without being in a great deal of pain. I felt great both nights coming hom and I wouldn't have been able to do it without all the help that some gals gave me. Thank you so much ladies! If you read my blog, you know who you are.

I wasn't able to get everything done on my list that I wanted to, but with 68 ladies (including vendors), there was a lot for me to do. I think everyone had a great time. There was lots of laughter, snacks and wonderful door prizes.

I was able to finish a baby paperbag album that was an order and do some cards and a swap, so I will be uploading those throughout this week while I CLEAN and organize my stamp room.

I have a massage therapist who comes and sets up and I usually take the last spot for the weekend. Unfortunately, during that time, I also *lost* over $100 from my purse. When I was getting money from my purse to pay the massage gal, I thought I should take it with me (behind the stage), but then figured that was unnecessary, so put it under the table where I sat. Yesterday, I was really down about it, but there is nothing I can do and life goes on. I am really sad though, because I had been saving up to by some stamps from Whipper Snapper and Paper Trey and was going to put orders in to both this week. Apparently, someone needed it more than me. So, lesson learned.

Here are a few pictures of the crop. Some of them really came out darker than I thought they would.

Here is a picture of the goody bags that a WONDERFUL business provided for the gals (thank you Sonya!!!!!). She owns a fun gift shop/eating place (started out as just gift shop). In each bag was a bottle of water, candy, coupon for the store and menu. PLUS she made fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies for everyone!! Awesome lady!!

THEN, as if that wasn't enough, she came over on Saturday and brought this ADORABLE door prize to be given away.

Misc. Thoughts...

While I am waiting for my messages to upload, so I can read them, while also putting labels on door prizes, my thoughts are blog wondering, so thought I'd post a message. Ü

I am needing some blog help (surprise there! LOL!!) in changing my blog. I would like a fresh spring look and the very FEW templates that blogger offers, don't do much for me. I did a search for "free blog templates", but am not smart enough to figure out how to use them with blogger. Is there anyone out there who could give me a hand? I am NOT a pastel person and yet I LOVE Beate's blue in her blog (can't believe I am saying that, cuz I am not a BLUE person either!!) and I think it would help my pictures that I upload look better. As much as I LOVE "Chocolate" in color and food (*wink*), I am thinking a soft blue or aqua would look better. Kinda like SU!'s Soft Sky or a softer caribbean blue. So shoot me an e-mail or post here, if you have any tips. Thanks in advance!

Now my musings for what is soon to come! I normally get to set up for the crop at 5 pm. However, there is a pancake feed in the auditorium I am using and can't get in until 8 pm. I am imagining little children who have put syrup EVERYWHERE! I will have to make sure the tables are VERY clean before we can even begin setting up. Plus there will be chairs everywhere and I only need two chairs per table, so that means putting them away which I have had to do before and it's a BIG hassle! The chair carts fit in under the stage and cannot be set UP like you would normally do with chairs, but have to be layed down! Imagine with me if you will, that if this is not done properly, chairs go flying everywhere (ask me how I *know* this Ü).

Now I am using the term *me* rather loosely, as I can NOT set up the tables, chairs, or anything. I will just be there to *guide* my helpers. I can walk around, so I will be taping a plastic bag to each end of the tables where the gals will be sitting to use for their trash. I will also be putting goody bags at each spot, so feel good that I can do SOMETHING.

It's raining - rather lightly, but raining none the less. Now, this may not seem so important, but...
1. we are in such a drought, that rain is something we marvel at now. DS says we have to have 10" of rain to equal 1" of water. At the rate it's coming down now, it would have to do this a year probably.
2. The part I'm concerned about, is that I need to pack the car...it is wet outside...a crop involves PAPER, need I say more?

If you have read this far, it is a miracle! LOL!! You probably think my e-mail was up and read a long time ago...NOT!! Have I mentioned how much I do NOT like dial-up? However, for us right now, high speed is not an option. I have had some of you e-mail me when I mention that I dislike dial up that there is an option called high speed. Bless your hearts! Ü I do know that (although there is lots I DON'T know), but to have high speed, means that as soon as you turn on the computer you have internet access. We have two TEENAGE boys and it is very important to us, that this not be available to them. We like to think we have raised them right and they wouldn't go where they shouldn't, but the temptation is SO big esp for boys and we don't want to make it easy for them to see something they shouldn't. I also know that you can get password stuff, but that cost quite abit more and finances are really tight right now. So I deal with dial up. I figure it's God's way of teaching my patience. I am thinking I am probably His worse student in that "class".

I had someone ask me what I do at my crop, so here goes...
I hold it at the Municipal Bldg. and set it up so two tables are butted together the long way. This way a group of four sit at each "setting" and get a 4' space.

The gals bring all their stuff they want to work on and I have vendors they can buy stuff from too. I have home party demos from CTMH, SU!, Creative Memories and I Remember When and two scrapbook store vendors. One store is local and one from a distance so we can see different product.

There are door prizes given through out both days and a grand prize on Saturday. The grand prize used to be Cropper Hoppers, but now I am giving a gift certificate to be used at any or all the vendors.

There are usually several classes taught by me and one or two by some of the vendors, but this year, I'm just not up to it with so much going on. I am not even teaching the ONE class I had planned on! Just a FYI...a 5.5" scallop circle cut on the Expressions Cricut (at the LSS) is NOT the same size as cut on the original cricut!!!!!! Therefore, there won't be a class as I didn't have time to go back to the LSS to cut circles.

Someone also mentioned they couldn't wait to see my pages that I do at the crop. Sorry, but don't hold your breath. I don't crop there. GASP!!! Why? Cuz I am running around alot and when I crop, I need to be able to sit down and concentrate on what I am doing. I have gals coming at all different times on Friday and so checking them in, helping those that need help, giving out door prizes, etc, keeps me from cropping. BUT I do stamp! I don't have to *think* too hard to do this, so I have a ziplock FILLED full with stamped images. I take this, my paper stash, adhesive, and colored pencils and gamsol. I can color and make cards and be interrupted. I am hoping to get LOTS of cards for blog fodder done and then I can upload a card a day next week and CLEAN my stamp room. I would be soooo embarrassed for someone to see it! It looks like a tornado hit it...I am NOT kidding!

I also was asked how Benjamin did at the track meet Monday. They postponed it!!!!! It was the most beautiful day! But I heard that they have water pipe issues, so something must have happened. Now we have a HUGE dilemma. They rescheduled it for Monday at 4 pm. It's about 2-ish hours away and Monday nite is the Nat'l Honor Society induction. The coach wants Benjamin at the meet, Nat'l Honor gal wants him at the induction. I am thinking academics are more important, B wants to go to the meet. What would you do?

If you are still reading, you deserve a prize?! First 5 people to post will get a card from me. Be sure not to be signed in as anonymous cuz I won't know who you are. Think I will have a bunch of gals unsubscribe? You all probably think I'm nuts anyway.

Okay, labels done, messages almost done, so need to go and get everything packed and double ck'd to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. Also need to make the guys some cookies since I won't be here most of the weekend.

I am sooo tired!

YAY!!!! We are finally done with the beef! We put up from 330-350 lbs! What was to take one day, took four. We had an old cow we needed to butcher and did it ourselves. Most was made into hamburger, but we were able to can some stew meat. Today was a dreary, drizzly day, so I made beef and noodles and mashed potatoes. Yummy!


I am also sooo busy getting ready for my crop. I am only going to have time to get ready for and teach one class. That's ok, cuz I think the gals just enjoy getting together and working on their own albums. I will try to teach more classes in the fall.


I don't want to spoil it for locals who may read my blog, so I will show you after the crop what I've been working on. Now is the time for all the little finishing details that need to be done. With the super busy week we've had and have coming, I HAVE to be done by Saturday nite!!!!


I am hoping to stop in again before the crop, but if not, here is my crazy schedule...tomorrow-track meet, Saturday-get everything ready for crop!!, Sunday-church and rodeo cowboy thing at nite, Monday-MIL's surgery, Tuesday-track meet, Wed-library and youth group, Thursday-set up for crop, Fri-crop AND Bow Invite for track (so I will be there for the second half of the day) and Saturday-crop...Sunday-get together at mom's for Mar/April bd and anniversaries...come home and DROP!!!!! LOL!!


So, since I've been so busy with crop stuff, here is a card I gave my g'ma last year for her bd. I am pulling this from the "archives" Ü. BTW, I have downloaded all of last years stamped items I did, plus
a few items from before on a CD. If you are interested in purchasing one-send me an e-mail. Cost is $5 including postage.

Have a great weekend!

St. Patrick's Inspiration Station

Since it's the first of March (where DOES the time go???), I made a "green" Inspiration Station. I need to get a few more things done for St. Patrick's Day and then will quickly make a Easter/Spring Inspiration Station since Easter is early this year.

I am enjoying Michelle Wooderson's idea so much. It is so fun to go thru my things and pick things out that I want to be "front and center" to inspire me for whatever it is that I am working on. This is one of my favorite "after Christmas" finds. I found this at Office Max at 90% off. I think it came to a 76 cents! It is a tea bag holder. I love flavored tea, chickens and green! So this had to go from the kitchen into my "green theme".

In the green and white soup mug are green M&M's-all green. I got them at Wal-Mart for $1.50 when they had their Valentine stuff out. The bag said "Green, the new color of Love" Ü I bought two bags and now wish I would have gotten more. I got them with St. Patrick's Day in mind. (The boys love coming in my room when I am creating and love getting into the candy dish. They thought is was fun when I did the Valentine Inspiration Station, so I am going to do it all year.) The mug is showing from the back. Here is what it looks like from the front.

If you look close in the first picture, you will see two clay figures that Aaron made my last year. The little leprechaun is my favorite. He just makes these up as he goes!! Blows my mind how he just figures this stuff out on his own!!!! The frog is way to cute also!

A card, recipe and endorsement...

First the card. Here is scrap pile card #5. The white panel was stamped a long time ago and was in my pile. I added the rub on (SU!'s SAB) verse to tone down the wild pattern. Ü

Now for the recipe. The Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings were YUMMY! Here is the recipe as promised. Sorry it took so long and thank you for the reminder e-mails asking me about it. Ü

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings
2 cans crescent rolls
2 apples
2 sticks butter (we used margarine and will cut this down next time)
2 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 can Mt Dew

Preheat oven to 350*. Core and slice apples. Wrap each in a crescent triangle. Line up in a 9 x 13 pan. Melt butter, cinnamon and sugar together. Spread mixture over dumplings. Pour soda around perimeter. Bake 45 minutes. Eat warm with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Endorsement: I RARELY endorse movies, but when I see a REALLY good one, I just wanna shout it out. We are very picky about not only what WE watch, but what we let the boys watch. It is hard to find really good FAMILY movies and we watched one last nite. It is Game Plan rated PG. I must have missed something, cuz I'm not sure why it was PG. I thought it was funnier than the "guys", but then what do they know about a "bedazzler" LOL!!! Anyway, if you haven't seen it, it is a fun movie for the family.

On the home front...

Benjamin is sick (AGAIN!!!) and I feel like I'm having a relapse. I've been coughing really deep and then get to where I can barely get my breath. I am DETERMINED to NOT end up in the hospital this year. So, I've been taking today REALLY slow and hopefully can get this bronchitis (which I have a feeling is now bronchial pneumonia) beat!! I am so hoping we all don't get as sick as were were before. Bruce and the boys were just getting over theirs. Hopefully, Benjamin will heal really fast without anyone else getting it again.

"Blessing"

I have been reading on other blogs about words or phrases some have "adopted" for the year 2008. I have found this very interesting as I thought I was the only one that did it. While I may not always make New Year's resolutions, I do ask God to give me a verse, song or word to be just mine for that new year. I LOVE music!!!!! (Contemporary Christian) I can't sing "worth a hoot" but love to LISTEN to music and sing to my heart's content when no one is listening. God has used music to get my attention, comfort me, etc in the past and I have many songs that are very special to me. I have shared with some of you how when I was going thru my brain tumor experience, EVERY time we were headed to see a different doctor, Twila Paris' song "God is in Control" would come on the radio. We had to travel far to some of the specialists and listened to different Christian radio stations. I already knew the song as I believe we have ALL of Twila's cassette tapes. But the cool thing was, is that we haven't heard a Twila Paris song played for quite some time on any station's! Even that VERY early morning when we drove into the hospital parking lot, that song came on and I totally lost it. It was as if God was giving me those words personally. (okay, got to get to why I am posting here, cuz now I made myself cry! LOL!!0

So...with all that said, sometimes God gives me a song, sometimes a verse and sometimes, just a word. If you have been reading my blog and read my resolutions, you will have read that I want to use what I have and "BLESS" others. That is the word that I chose for 2008. And right after I chose that word I heard this song for the first time driving to pick Benjamin up from school. I had tears running down my face as I felt this was the song that God was giving me and it is a biggie! This is my song for 2008 and I pray that I can live up to the words. I am sharing them with you and I changed the words "we" "us" etc to singular form. So any words in parenthesis are the ones I changed. The actual words are plural. I like this song so much that I want to make a frame with them. I haven't started on that yet, but will share it when I do.

The Blessing by John Waller

Chorus:
Let it be said of (me)
While (I) walked among the living.
Let it be said of (me)
By the ones (I) leave behind.
Let it be said of (me)
That (I) lived to be a blessing for life.

Let it be said of (me)
That (I) gave to reach the dying.
Let it be said of (me)
By the fruit (I) leave behind.
Let it be said of (me)
That (my) legacy is blessing for life.

This day
You set life, you set death right before (me),
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now,
And (I) will choose to be a blessing for life.

Let it be said of (me)
That (my) heart belonged to Jesus.
Let it be said of (me)
That (I) spoke the words of life.
Let it be said of (me)
That (my) heritage is blessing for life.

This day
You set life, you set death right before (me),
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now,
And (I) will choose to be a blessing for life.
(I) will choose to be a blessing for life.


*Blessings and Curses are choices,
'Cause blessings and curses are choices.
Will (I) build up, tear down?
The moment of truth is now.*

This day
You set life, you set death right before (me),
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now,
And (I) will choose to be a blessing for life.
(I) will choose to be a blessing for life.


For your Kingdom, for (my) Children
For the sake of every nation
For your Kingdom, for (my) Children
For the sake of every nation

(I) will choose to be a blessing for life.
For life.
Blessing for life.

Sorry about the "absence"

We have not had internet service for the past day and a half. It bugs me that we pay on time every month for "x" amount of minutes and yet I am having to call them continually, because we cannot get on line!!!! We live in the boonies and we only have ONE option for service. If we had another we would switch.
Okay, so on to who the winner is....
But, before I do I wanted to comment on a few of the guesses...
pregnant with a girl-at 43 yrs of age this would probably not be an exciting thing, but for me I would be ecstatic! But that would take a miracle as I had to have an emergency complete hysterectomy a few years ago.

Hawaiin cruise-oh yeah that would be a blast! Ü

SU! demo- I used to be one

Disneyland-my son would freak out if that were to happen. He has been begging to go to Disney, ever since he knew what Disney was! (some day it is my dream to make his dream come true)

So, if you have read this far, you really do want to know who one. LOL!!! the winner is.... (oh and you need to contact me with your snail addy by Wed early afternoon-let's say 1:00 CST or I will need to choose another name)

Oh WAIT! I forgot to tell you what the secret is...
I was asked to design 12 cards for Inky Antics with some new, images by Ronnie Walters. My cards were on display at CHA in Anaheim, CA. Maybe not big news to some, but I am so excited!!! I wish I could have been there! Jackie said she would take a picture, so hopefully I can show you later. I can't show you what I made, but I can tell you that I was asked to make the cards. Be sure to check out Inky Antics home page and download the Easter supplement. cute cute cute!!!

Okay, seriously now, the winner is...
Angel W said...
Are you getting your work published or joining a design team?
February 2, 2008 10:05 AM

Angel, please e-mail me and let me know your snail address and I will get your goodies in the mail to you right away.

Blog Candy comment

I want to thank all of you for your kind words in thinking my work is designer worthy. But in case you want to guess again (since so many of you are guessing the same thing), I have not been chosen to be on design team. Hopefully someday. Ü

Now for some home front news...
The "boys" (includes DH) are getting better. YAY!! We didn't have to take Aaron to the ER. Hopefully this is a sign that he is outgrowing his lung/sinus problem.

No school today. It is nice here, but since we send Benjamin to school 30 miles away, it can be as different as nite and day in the weather. We got a phone call early this morning that there was a late start due to ice. DH takes Benjamin to meet bus and sits there for about an hour!!! A neighbor had come by to see Bruce and I told him I was just getting ready to call someone to see where he was and he told me school had been cancelled (of which we were NOT informed). I called my SIL and she told me they were on their way home. I am thankful it was that and not in a ditch somewhere due to ice. We kinda live in the middle of no where and one would have to walk a LONG way to get to anybody's house!

So today will be a good day to stamp. I hope to have lots to show you. It's cloudy so not sure how good the lighting will be to take some pics of altered things I've been working on as well as the blog candy I am offering.

I have a secret Ü

I see I have bypassed 30,000 hits. WOW! I still can't believe people come here to see what I have been doing. So with that milestone, it's time for some blog candy which I will post later.

So about the title...I have a secret! I am sooo excited!! Can you guess what it is? I will reveal my secret on Saturday, Feb 9th in the evening. You can guess as many times as you want and I will draw from all those names who guessed correctly to determine the winner. Have fun guessing! (in the event that no one guesses correctly, I will draw from everyone who tried Ü)

**on a yucky note, my body has finally given in to all the sickness around here and I have bronchitis! UGH!! I tried to hard to fight it. I am off to lay down and rest, but will post what you will win hopefully by tomorrow if not yet today.