In an instant

This month our challenge theme was the blessing of time. I realized that we don't know how much "time" we really have and each moment is a blessing and we need to live as such. As I think of everything that happened this month. The most devastating was the earthquake in Haiti. In an instant everything changed for the people there. Imagine one day you are going about life as normal the next you don't know where your loved ones are, or if they are even alive. You don't have food or water. You are at the mercy of the aid other people are providing.

If there is one major lesson from this disaster is that don't take time for granted. Make the most of every opportunity! I'm going to hug my kids a bit longer, make sure to kiss my husband goodbye. Go out with my girlfriends. Say what needs to be said. I'm going to make the most of every opportunity because I don't want to live with any regrets. No one is guaranteed their tomorrow so make the most of your today while you have it! Live a life that you won't look back and say "If only...."

Ephesians 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

If you want more information on the challenge or to download the cool blinkie check out:

Faithfully Yours

Some cards and such

I had a blast scrapping with some friends yesterday. We had a bible study as our "purpose" in Christian friendships and even had a craft (homemade sugar scrub) to go along with it. After our study and project we scrapped. I had so much fun I got so much done....16 cards, 4 Lo's and a couple of other projects. Granted today I have a sore hand and arm from scrapping so much!

I have a "woof" and I know how to use it

So this morning I looked out the back door only to see my cat "Socks" crouching protecting the stairs of the deck from a neighbors cat. (The cat apparently wanted my house to be his house) and when I called Socks to come in the other cat jumped over him and tried to come in. Sarah my dog decided she needed to go out at that time and I went to put her on the lead when she saw the "uninvited" visiter and before I had a chance to do anything took off running. She treed the cat and my cat sauntered over to the other cat with this smug look on his face. Meowing something that I'm sure consisted of " I have a woof and I know how to use it"

(Sarah then took off and roamed the neighborhood for the next 20 minutes, I finally found her after she had rolled in YUCK....and stunk horribly. Guess what I spent the next hour doing???)

Taxes

Every year before taxes I need to file my paperwork and log it into my system. Yes I am one of those procrastinators. I save all my receipts, notes to remind me of things, check stubs, transaction records they pile up. Normally this happens after my husband has to remind me 20 times so we can do our family taxes. It's not one of my favorite jobs and normally I dread doing it and it gets put off until March-ish. This year though I'm looking at a very "busy" February and equally active March, so here I sit tonight dutifully entering receipts and recording income.

You would think it would be a chore but this year it is not. Last year I had one of the best years. Not in terms of "making money" but in terms of events and activities! There is the receipt for orange and green paper plates for the Fiskateer crops I held. There is the receipt for the green fabric paint for the warehouse party. There are the gas receipts for a fun road trip to Fiskars HQ. Then the income from some pretty fantastic classes at Scrapbook Junction and some prize money from the fair.

It's actually been fun to record the information this year it's reminding me of all the blessings I shared with friends through this year because of this love of crafting we share. I can't wait to see what's in store for me this year...now if only the receipts would record themselves things would be perfect!

remember Tuesdays comment

I wrote that for a contest on the Big Picture Scrapbooking Blog for a contest to win a free entry into Stacy's "Library of Memories" class. I didn't win the class BUT they chose my story as one of their favorites! Big Picture Blog

The power of scrapbooking

One day I was at a used book sale. I was suppose to be selling but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to cruise to find a title or two. I had just rounded the 2nd corner when I spotted it. It was THE book. I couldn't believe it.

The book was called "The 50 states" and I had won it in 2nd grade. Oh I loved that book (I never really won anything so it was special on that account) but the book was cool. Neat snippets of information, cool pictures, stories about states, there were even these "transparencies" that overlaid the photos. OH I was taken back looking at page after page, reliving the reports I did with that book, reliving the games my sister and I played with the maps, reliving the time spent reading the book. I was instantly a child again. I was overwhelmed with the emotions this book brought out in me,

I finally paid for my purchase. Walking away I realized why this book was so special to me. There was power in it. It had everything my scrapbooks did, cool pictures, snippets of information, neat stories (and even an embellishment or two (transparencies anyone?) The book transported me to a place of my childhood, a place of the past that I wanted to remember.

When people ask me why I scrapbook, I share this story with them that there is an amazing power in my books. Where else can you bring memories back to life?. In a moment I can relive a child's first steps, or once again see Grandma's smile. I can enjoy the joy of a favorite toy or the sorrow of loved one's passing. And being a scrapbooker I have the power to create those books for those I love.

The Blessing of Time

The Blessing of Time.

January's theme will be about "The blessing of time." Maybe you have been granted more time with one you love. Maybe you were unexpectedly given some free time as a blessing. Maybe you have learned how precious time is. Or you have had the time of your life. Maybe you have given your time to serve others or maybe others have given their time to serve you. Whatever it is. We all a given the precious gift of time. How have you been blessed by it?

Time Peace

Like many women I wear probably too many hats. So many in fact my head never stays warm cause I'm constantly changing them : ) I am a mom, wife, homeschooler, children's pastor, work for the YMCA, plus teach scrapbooking and occassionally find time to write for a blog or two *grin.* Being the case my schedule is constantly filled. Filled with appointments, filled with assignments, filled with "to-do" lists, filled with shopping needs.

There are so many things that are clamoring for my attention and my time. Yet are they truly what's important? The bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun. (3:1) Right now I am in a season of growing up a family. Because of this I have had to make peace with my time and peace with my schedule.

Peace in understanding my kids won't always be young. My time might need to be filled with things for them because I am blessed with this time with them as their mom.

Peace in knowing the joy of a hard days work. Sometimes I do need to be away. It can't be helped. Our family needs the extra income. I am blessed to have a job that understands my schedule and allows me to work around it.

Peace in accepting my "todo" list might not get done. It's easy to be list driven. Especially when overwhelmed. You know what needs to be done and you will get it done no matter what. Yet if I focus on the list, I might "miss the good stuff" ( Sadly I learned this the hard way! I am the mom that missed my oldest learning to ride his bike because I was doing the dishes ) Yes there are things that need to get done. But if I pay attention to what's going on around me I may be blessed with an opportunity I won't want to miss!

Peace in believing that my times are in Gods' hand and each day ordained for me was written in His book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139) He will guide my steps if I ask. I am blessed with a God that knows my days and blessed that if I ask Him he will help me fill them

Peace in sharing. My time is not always my own. I have been put on this earth for a reason. I have many hats and people need me. I am blessed to be a part of their lives!

Peace in keeping. I am the keeper of my time. What I do with my schedule thankfully is my choice. I decide how much tv I watch, and how much time I spend on the computer, I'm also the one that decides how much time I spend with friends and those I love. I am blessed that no one really makes those decisions for me.

Peace in giving (up) . I am the first to admit I can't do everything, but the last one to admit I need to "give something up" in my schedule (everything is important and they need me.) Sometimes in order to be a blessing to others, I need to tend to my own needs and give up activities that aren't beneficial. I am blessed with 24 hours in a day and they don't ALL need to be filled.

I don't want to live a life with regrets. I want to be at peace with the time I have used during my life. How about you? Have you made peace with time? Or are you still wishing there was more of it to go around? Are you cherishing the time you have or is it filled with so much you have nothing to do except fall into bed at night thankful that you could push one deadline back another day.

The Lord blesses us with the gift of time. In the book of Ephesians we are encouraged to "Be very careful then, (with) how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. (5:15-16a) If you want time peace, make sure you are making the most of the time you have.

Quote for the day

Four things you can never recover

The stone, after the throw.

The word after it's said.

The occasion after, it's missed.

The time, after it's gone

A "new" gift from the past

I love handmade gifts, I love vintage-y things and love gifts with meaning so this gift my mom got from her sister really impressed me. The gift was a quilt. Not just your standard quilt (which would have been cool) but a quilt representing 3 generations of women from my mom's side of the family. (Four if you count my contribution of tools.) As if that didn't impress me enough my aunt even pulled out some favorite Fiskars tools to help create this heirloom quilt.

Using fusible web, scissors, and the Fiskars ultra shape express she turned old handkerchiefs (from my grandma and great grandma) into lovely appliques, the lace accent pieces are handmade lace from my great aunt and great grandma. It truly beautiful and means so much more because of what it was made of!

(Can you find what she used the USX on??)

2010 A Year of Blessings

Count your many blessings,

name them one by one,

and it will surprise you

what the Lord has done!

Johnson Oatman Jr.

I don't know about many of you, but for me 2009 was a year for the record books in the Burnett household. It started out with my Grandfather loosing his battle to cancer. Then my husband lost his job. That was followed up by a friend fighting for his life after a major heart attack. The year closed with my mom getting sick and battling cancer and me dealing with some medical issues of my own. It is very easy to get depressed over everything we have had to deal with this past year.

I once learned a very important lesson about driving. One morning I was out early for worship practice at church. As I was driving I noticed the gorgeous flowers that were blooming...oops drove off the road. Went down a little further and saw the neighbor had redid the front of their house boy did it look nice...oh no off the road again. By the time I had arrived at church I had driven off the road about 4 times (which is totally unlike me) and I went "Lord what's going on?" The answer that came back was "You'll drive towards what you focus on."

That is such a simple truth, but such a profound thought. What am I focusing on? Am I focusing on the bad things? Or am I focusing on the good (or God) I see in a situation? It's easy to look back on 2009 and because of all the "bad" not see the good. Not see the things the Lord did through my friends life because of the heart problems. Not remember the trip to Disney where I got to "relive" a childhood dream (that my family has joked about for 28 years!) Forget about going to a fabulous party for a 360th birthday. Forget about the fact I was treated like a VIP at Fiskars headquarters. Forget about the lessons learned the blessings the Lord has shared with me of family that loves me and friends that support me.

Because of this, instead of a "New Years Resolution, I decided instead that in 2010 I was going to "Look for the Blessings" I'm going to focus on the good in a situation, how God is working. No this won't make the problem disappear, and no I'm not going to play "ostrich" and burry my head in the sand pretending bad things won't (or don't) happen. I'm going to simply try to remind myself of the blessings of a situation. Rather than focus and dwell on the bad and horrible in life, I'm going to focus on the good, the blessings and try to drive towards it. I know it won't change the situation, it will change my outlook, maybe even my mood! It will help remind me that even in the midst of the dark times the Lord is there with me lighting the way.

Therefore I challenge you as well. Focus on the blessings this year. Try to hunt for the good.

I'm going to be trying to record my blessings this year as well. I will be hosting a scrapbook challenge for the year (both here and on FaithfullyYours.net)

2010 Blessing Challenge

This year I am going to try and create a "blessing book." Each month I will choose a topic/verse for the month and try to have a two page layout done. One side will be the topic/verse the other side will be a finished page waiting for journaling and/or a photo to share how I was blessed that way during the month. Not only will it be a good reminder to look for those blessings that month, but will give a way to "not forget" those blessings that month. (You don't have to do your pages at the beginning of the month you can wait till the end, but I will post the topic at the beginning so you can think on it for the month.) It should fun (and easy cause I'm doing an 8 x 8 album and only 2 pages a month...totally not overwhelming) but the reward at the end of the year will be great! A record of my blessings for the year! I can't wait to get started. I'll post more details a bit later until then I'll leave you with the cover... Happy New Year! May it truly be a year of blessings for your and those you love!