Saturday, June 26, 2010

A daughter is a special thing


Shhh don't tell her I'm writing about her today. I am really thankful for my daughter, (both of them naturally but this is more about my oldest!) it's funny you have a little girl and you instantly think of pink, and ruffles and curls and bows. Soon she tires of you doing her hair and picking out her clothes and wants to "do it herself." But as she grows you realize you have someone to share hobbies with and girl talk and crazy projects and life. As she is becoming a young woman I'm seeing these blessings more and more.

Paper is Basic Gray Gypsy , Letters are altered Scrapworks tailored letters, altered BG numbers, zva fourishes, prima flowers. Cricut Cart -Accent Essentials, glue dots.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Cards for a Cause!

So a dear friend of mine is going to Thailand this summer to teach English. While she was telling me about her trip she mentioned that she loves having ways to share American customs and such with her class and also loves ways to connect with her students. This comment got the wheels in my head turning.
So I asked some of my friends and fellow Fiskateers to help me make cards. The response was overwhelming!!! We were able to send her off to Thailand with over 100 cards for all occassions; birthday, just because, major holidays and more. I also included a card making kit to make even MORE cards! The card making kit contained some "mini" acrylic stamp sets and 1" pads some acrylic blocks, and fiskars scissors. I also included pre-cut cardforms and envelopes, plus a box to hold everything and a case for the stamps. All she needs will be adhesive!
The cards will be used to send notes of congratulations, birthday wishes and more to some of the over 1000 students she has a chance to work with this summer! She also has plans to invite students to make their own cards!

It's pretty exciting to be able to share your love of crafting with people from another country (and have your work travel there!)


Monday, June 14, 2010

Yesterday

Yesterday my daughter graduated from 8th grade. Family and friends came to our church to help us first with the ceremony and then celebrate my daughters accomplishments thus far. I remembered my excitement with the announcement "it's a girl." Visions of pink frilly dresses, ribbons and bows filled my head immediately. You soon grew out of that, wanting instead to express your own sense of style (normally adorned with bright, sometimes tacky jewelry.)

Yesterday you looked lovely. The simple cut of your dress looked fabulous on you, and the jewelry you picked out was the perfect touch. You loved your shoes. The heels a good compromise between what you wanted and what I preferred.

Yesterday you thanked me for giving you a love of reading and I remembered how excited you were when it first "clicked," now it's hard to get you out of a good book.

Yesterday you thanked your father for helping you not only find answers but understand them. I remembered you struggling with math and numbers and Daddy patiently helping you with your schoolwork.

Yesterday you thanked your family and friends for being part of your life and I think of how you love PEOPLE just like your mom and the thoughtful way you try to encourage everyone and include everyone!

Yesterday you told everyone how your grandma gave you a love for music. Then you shared your love with all of us. Playing your violin, the beautiful music filling the sanctuary.

Yesterday you got a cell phone. Laughing with your friends as they tried to call you while you were opening your present.

Yesterday you shared with everyone how you know God is with you and that with God you can do anything and everything. I remember us praying together when you asked Jesus into your heart because you wanted Him to be a part of your life forever.

Yesterday you shared with family and friends of your desire to go to another country. Telling how you are saving up to go on a mission trip. Believing the Lord is leading you there. As you shared that I had to remember to trust the Lord with your life and your future.

Yesterday I wondered where had my baby gone, I only caught a glimpse of her in that smile that has held me captivated since it first flashed my way.

Yesterday I saw my daughter grow up before my eyes and today I rejoice. For the little girl of yesterday is becoming a beautiful young woman of God!


Friday, June 11, 2010

Helping Hands! Helping Hearts!

I have the privilege of being a regular contributer to Faithfully Yours. I love working with Dawn and the rest of the design team to inspire people to share their faith in their scrapbooks and projects. It's also my joy to write devotions for their ezine.

This Friday's devotion is titled Helping Hands! Helping Hearts! You can find it here---> Faithfully Yours It talks about how when we help others our own heart benefits as well! In addition I get to share exciting news about the "Charity Select" contest over at Baby Shop Hop!

Hope you head over to the sites to take a look!


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Teacher Gift



David loves his speech therapist and at the end of the school year wanted to give her a gift! We decided to make her a dry erase calendar. These are super easy and people LOVE them.

take a 12 x 12 frame (or LP frame same sized) you need glass in the frame, plastic works but it's harder to clean at the end of the month. Create your calendar page put it into the frame and VOILA' fabulous handmade gift. David was so excited to have made it himself, he picked out the paper, punched the shapes, inked the edges, and helped put the whole thing together!



Supplies used: Patterned paper-Fancy Pants, white cardstock-prism, Ink-Quick Quotes, Prima Flowers, Doodle Bug buttons, embroidery floss, Fiskars -apron lace border punch and Flower Power squeeze punch, tape runner and Glue Dots!

His therapist LOVED it!!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Love for a friend

My friend Sharon is constantly doing things for other people so when her birthday came around this year (and a BIG one at that) and we needed to celebrate! We decided to have a "pot luck" supper and then tell everyone(but her) it was a surprise party! It was great! We were able to shower her with cards, gifts and a lot of love.
What party is complete without presents! I love giving gifts from the heart so when I got a great group shot of some of our younger kids church kids (she's one of my teachers) I knew I had to do something with it so I created this frame for it. Sharon loved it because those are "her kids!" Frame is by provo craft, die cut flowers-cricut, flowers Prima, assorted chipboard, stickles, mod podge, glue dots.

And then cards. This was the group card I made for people to sign at church. It was an EK success cd tin I had got a long time ago and never found a use for. The accordion pages in the album made it perfect for many people to sign!
Supplies used- Ek success CD tin, Stacy Claire Boyd paper, Lil Davis flowers, Making Memories gemstone brads, glue dots, wordsworth vellum stickers "Birthday", inside, Pebbles Inc stickers, gemstones, glue dots, wordsworth vellum stickers "Birthday", Fiskars circle cutter.


Happy Birthday Sharon! And many, many, MANY more!








Thursday, June 3, 2010

Eye on the Sparrow needs your vote

Eye on the Sparrow (the place we got Diamond) needs your help!
They are in a contest with "Pepsi Refresh Everything"
They are trying to raise money to finish building their shelter. The building is up they need supplies for electrical, plumbing etc. You can help by voting. You can vote once per day until the end of the month!

VOTE HERE

You can vote there!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The puppy wants to be a Fiskateer


She even tries to carry off the scissors!

(editors note: no puppy was harmed during the photographing of this moment. After the scissors were snatched, the picture was taken and then the scissors put out of her reach)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Can one say loony bin?

In the course of the past month my husband has totally changed jobs, I started working with ShopHop Productions, we have had 1 graduation AND my daughter graduates from 8th grade in June (meaning ceremony and party to put together.) Plus we had our first night of Youth Group at church. Oh and I can't forget on the crafty side; 3 classes, 2 demos and 1 women's conference (that I spoke at) this month. It's been CRAZY around here!

I think the biggest adjustment (besides getting used to 2 in high school) is having my husband home every day. I went from seeing him a couple of days a month to having to share my space in the house with him!!

Here is something a wrote just a few months ago about his life over the road (and me being a truckers wife)

My life as a Trucker's Wife. by Betsy Burnett


Your kiss still lingers on my lips

You gave it just moments before.

Sometimes it seems the loneliest time

Are those moments right after you're out the door.


I never quite know when I'll see you again

It could be tomorrow, or by the end of the week.

Sometimes the stretch could be days on end

(Sometimes it could be weeks)


It's in those moments I whisper a prayer

Amidst the tears I cry

I ask the Lord to keep you safe

and for Him to stay by your side!


I head back home to deal with life

(And sometimes without much help)

Someone needs mow the grass, take care of the kids

Plus the bills sure don't pay themselves!


Some might think this life I live

Is far less than I 've planned

But unless they have walked in my shoes

They never will quite understand!


You have a job to do, I sure know that

You need to keep those wheels a turning.

My job here as the one you love.

Is to keep those home fires burning.


So I'll patiently wait to welcome you home

(even if it's late at night)

I"ll be here waiting with open arms,

. . .That's my life as a truckers wife!


Yes I am going from "Trucker's Wife" for 13 year to he's home everyday and even has weekends off. Needless to say it's a bit of an adjustment. I have to wonder if in a couple of month's time I'll be writing about...

Honey I love you, but would you please stay out
You are driving me crazy, (and I don't mean to pout)
I want some time to miss you, Between the days I see
You hogging the remote, For our only TV.

I don't care what game is on, (or cheer for a Nascar driver)
I want to see Criminal Minds, and root for the next Idol!

I've had the house for so long, all to myself
I think knick nacks belong, on top of the shelf.
Not tools or stuff that you think you need
They are really quite ugly (now don't you agree?)

I'm glad you are home I really I am
I don't want to go back to the over the road thing again
But do me a favor, now would you please
Let me miss you a "little" I have a house to clean!