Easter Surprises!

Easter is a time to celebrate the resurrection, spring, new life, new birth. It's a joyus time! I'm a gift person I LOVE giving gifts especially handmade ones(for those ones especially are ones from the heart) . I also love teaching my kids church kids about giving, especially gifts from the heart. For Easter we are surprising the congregation with butterflies.

The kids have spent the last several weeks working on the butterflies. First they painted the clothes pins, then they decorated them with glitter glue and gemstones and added google eyes. For the wings they filled ziplock baggies with flower seeds. Finally they assembled them pinching the baggies in the middle to form wings and adding chenille stems for the antennae attaching tags to share what they were about.

The butterflies are special for many reasons; not only have the kids made them but the butterflies help tell the story of Easter two different ways.

First Easter is a time to celebration the resurrection and new life. Just as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Jesus will change us into a new creation when we accept him into our life. Second the flower seeds celebrate not only spring, but remind us of how Jesus can help our faith grow more and more beautiful.

They can't wait to give them to their friends and family's next Sunday!

The poem reads:

(author unknown)

A tiny seed

just sits so still.

It hardly looks alive.

But when it's planted,

in the ground,

New colors soon arive

When Jesus lives

inside of you

He takes your

sin away

He helps your faith

in Him to grow

More beautiful

each day!

Looking for Kindness

It's amazing to me how the "holiday" sale season starts earlier and earlier each year. In some stores around here Easter decorations, and plastic eggs and even candy have been on display since February 15. It's funny because they have been out for so long I kind of walk by not noticing them they are part of the scenery, until one day I look at the calendar and realize "OH MY Easter is a week and a 1/2 away! How in the world did that happen?!?"

It's funny our blessing theme this month was kindness. I wasn't really sure WHAT I was going to focus on for my page. I was totally stumped. Then a couple of days ago I realized I had been seeing kindness all along, I had just taken it for granted.

This past Christmas there was one thing my daughter wanted and that was a pair of roller skates. NOT rollerblades but skates! I happened to find a pair in her favorite color (with matching knee and elbow pads, plus helmet!) She was so surprised to get them for Christmas. BUT hasn't really had a chance to use them until recently.

The weather the last week or so had been gorgeous. Sunshiny and warm enough to strap on the skates and roll down to the park to practice on the basketball court and sidewalks (the flattest surface in the neighborhood.) One problem though, my budding young skater isn't old enough to go to the park by herself. So her big brother has been taking her every single day AND carrying her skates home for her.

My son is always doing things things for his sister. Helping her with school, giving her the last cookie, taking her to the park. It's so much a part of him, I kind of ignore it. Just like those Easter decorations that have been up since the 15th of February, his actions are the norm, part of the scenery so to speak. My son had been living right in front of me what I was looking for... a blessing of kindness to be thankful for.

Clothe yourself in kindness...Col 3:12

For more information on the 2010 Blessing Challenge visit Faithfully Yours

Scrapbook Update

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I found out I was to be "interviewed" for Scrapbook Update. For National Craft Month they have been doing a fun series on "how you got started crafting."

You can find the full article here

Craft Month Q & A

Thanks Kylie!

So this past weekend I held a crop. My friend Paula helped me with things. Paula is a fiskateer and fellow MemoryWorks consultant, I met her online so most of our talking is done via computer; IM, emails, facebook chat etc. Well Paula's daughter Kylie came up to her mom with this fabulous letter and said "Mommy this is for your friend" (she couldn't remember the name) Paula named off a friend and she said "No mommy the one in the computer" "you mean Betsy?" "YES her"...so I got some fabulous mail from a very special little girl!

Thanks sweetie! I love it!

Basket Weaving 101

Lead Fiskateer Rebecca posted on Fiskateers about Gail. Gail is a newer fiskateer (#6870) with an amazing talent! Gail is a basket weaver. Her baskets are GORGEOUS! Now basket weaving isn't something I would normally try, BUT because of Gail's inspiration and the fact I found a "Basket Weaving 101" kit at the thrift for $2.99, I decided to give it whirl!

After opening the kit and believing the promise "YOU CAN WEAVE A BASKET" , I read the instructions, started soaking my reeds and dove right in. The process is some what simple to describe. Over, under, over, under...it's getting the basket started that is the problem. Your spokes (the pieces you weave around) need to be lined up and easily get out of line when you start. After restarting a few (ok 5) times I finally got the hang of things. I'm sorry I didn't get any "during" pictures of the process, I actually found it very relaxing and got really into what I was doing. A couple hours later I had a finished basket. I'm surprised it actually looks like a basket! I'm quite pleased with my first effort. (Granted it is a bit lopsided *grin*) So thanks Gail for the inspiration to try a new craft! It was a lot of fun!

Basket weaving 101

Lead Fiskateer Rebecca posted on Fiskateers, about Gail. Gail was a newer fiskateer (#6870) with a wonderful talent. Gail is a basket weaver. Gail's baskets are gorgeous. Now basket weaving was something I wouldn't normally have a hankering to try BUT because of reading about her talent AND because I found a "Basket Weaving 101" kit at the thrift I decided to give it a whirl. So after reading the instructions that promised "you can weave a basket" I soaked my reeds and gave it a go.

The process itself was rather simple in description and theory. After starting over a couple of times I finally got the hang of everything. It really is as simple as "over and under." I didn't get any pictures of the process because I found it actually very relaxing! I do have a pix of the finished product. It's far from perfect but I'm pleased with my first effort! Thanks Gail for the inspiration it was fun to try a new craft!

Fun Thrify Finds!

I love the thrift! I really do. With a bit of imagination and some new paint you can find some real treasures! Yesterday's treasure was an old cassette holder. I paid $2 for it. What I wanted to do was turn it into a holder for my ink pads. It was a bit grungy, so fresh coat of white paint to match my craft desk and I have 30 ink pads at my fingertips.

How to change the world!

My daughter wanted to watch a movie, she chose Evan Almighty. Cute movie. For those that aren't familiar with the story line. Evan Baxter just got elected to congress. He wants to change the world. Evan has an encounter with God who wants him to build an ark (yes a modern day Noah's Ark) type of story. One of the things God told Evan was that changing the world just took 1 Act of Random Kindness (ARK) at a time.

Since this month our blessing theme is kindness my ears perked up. Made me think maybe I could do something to change the world--well at least the world around me. So I am going to challenge you to do the same thing.

The challenge do one act of random kindness per day. Put a quarter in the meter for someone who's time is just about out. Hold the door open for a struggling mom at the mall. Take cookies over to a neighbor.

Something happens when we show kindness. It not only changes the outlook of the person receiving the act, it changes our outlook as well!

Colossians 3:12--clothe yourself in kindness

The layouts are of the fundraiser at the Scrapbook Expo. I was the coordinator for the baggage check fundraiser. People brought us items to help fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This year our shoeboxes found their way to the Dominican Republic.

Grandpa Bear!

I love giving handmade gifts, so it's only natural that I love receiving them as well. I recently received one of the most touching gifts I ever received in my life! My grandfather passed away a year ago. I really miss him. I loved talking to him and whenever he saw me he was ready with hugs and love!

My step-grandma knew this so when a worker from the hospice home offered to make a teddy bear from a shirt (or two :) of my grandpa's she knew exactly who she was giving them too. "Grandpa Bear" as I lovingly call him now resides on my bed. I love his hand sewn eyes, and the way they used the collar on his shirt to give the bear a collar. The pocket on the tummy is a really cute touch. Most of all though I love the fact it was something that my grandpa wore, and gives me a connection with him when I need it. Grandpa Bear is ready to listen, ready to hug when I need him!

The blessing of Kindness

This past month you might have noticed me rather absent from things around here. That's due in fact to my rather non-functioning gallbladder who's time had come to be removed. One thing about surgery, it really gives your friends a chance to shower you with kindness :) I had one friend volunteer to watch my children so my husband could be with me during surgery. Others cooked meals for our family. Some called, some sent cards, and many, many prayed for me. Everyone showing how much they cared in their own way!

This month our theme is "the blessing of kindness." Scripture tells us to "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2) Even more important than "entertaining angels" is the fact when we show kindness to others we are showing kindness to Jesus

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will se

parate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to

visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25: 31-40)

Showing kindness to someone is so awesome because not only do we get to minister to Jesus (according to the parable of the sheep and the goats) BUT we get to share Jesus with those we minister too. Scripture tells us WE are the body of Christ! (1 Cor 12: 27)We get to be His hands when we reach out and touch someone, we get to show His compassion when we listen to a hurting friend, we get to show His care when we feed the hungry.

Kindness is a blessing not only for the receiver (who doesn't like being showered with kindness?) but a blessing for the giver as well. When we show and share kindness it allows us to minister to and for Jesus. What a great privilege to be the hands of the one who came to save a lost world. That is the real blessing!

Points to ponder:

How have you been blessed with the kindness of a friend? the kindness of God?

Has God's kindness ever led you to repentance?

How has your life been changed by showing kindness?

How do you teach your children to be kind?

For more information on the year of blesssings challenge visit Faithfully Yours

Puppy love

Ok so we have a dog. Her name is Sarah. Sarah is a mama's girl (except when daddy's home then I become Brussels sprouts ( I can't say chopped liver cause well she eats everything except veggies.) Sarah constantly is getting into mischief. She eats the kids candy (and doesn't leave any trace of it being "puppy-ized"), she chews up scrap supplies (she KNEW she was in BIG trouble for that one,) she even manages to get into her own dog food and feed herself.

Mostly she likes to be with ME. If I'm in my room, she's there, if I'm sitting watching TV she's there next to me. If I'm working on the computer she's there at my feet. If I just so happen to fall asleep curled up on the love seat she manages to somehow join me. (And isn't it wonderful I have children that take pictures to record the moment?)