This is Holy Week, the week before Jesus' death and Resurrection. It is a week to prepare our heart for the greatest day of all; the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. We call that Easter Sunday.
I can't imagine how sad and sick of sadness and worry the disciples were. Jesus was killed for who He was. The disciples were His followers, it would naturally follow that they too might be killed for being followers of Jesus.
Jesus surrendered his life on the cross for all of OUR sins; forever. We are wiped clean as snow because of his sacrifice.
Such sadness to see your teacher and friend killed in the most painful death for who He was. Can you image that happening to your friend?
On the lighter side of the week, I've been playing with stamps that my friend, Jan had. This is a stamp set from Gerda Steiner called, Llama Tell You. It has lots of llamas and sentiments. Thanks Jan! We had fun stamping yesterday. So much talking, laughing and stamping. It certainly was good for my emotional well-being!
Spring has sprung around here. Daffodils are poking their head out of the cold, dead earth. Such beauty to see compared to the cold, brown winter in the garden.
I love going into Greenhouses this time of year. I picked up some plants for DIL for her birthday.
Here's a card from this week where the challenge on SCS was to use a zebra.
This is a card from the SCS challenges last weekend. I'm not sure what I'll use for a sentiment yet. Penny Black sure has cute, animal stamps doesn't she?
This is a card I made for a challenge yesterday on SCS. This is another Gerda Steiner stamp set called, Howl Are You?
This was for Wednesday's sketch challenge on SCS. I wanted to make some coffee cards so I did.
This is one of my favorite videos for Easter. Give it a listen.
Blessing of the Day: The sun is shining, Tim is working and I am making cards and afghans.
God is good.
Thanks for stopping by,
Blessings,
Before blocking and After. I began knitting this hat at my sister Patty's house in Columbus. I finished it here at home then blocked it. It's amazing how it changes isn't it? This is a wool hat. I still have to put a band of ribbon inside the brim so it won't feel itchy.
What's nice about this type of hat is, I can wet it again and change the size if I want to. It was a fun project.
Here's another afghan for Warm Up America. Sarah and I make them all year long. She found a bunch of blocks in the warehouse at work and asked if she could take them and put them together. They said yes, so we sorted through them and put each afghan of blocks into its own bag. Here's one finished.
I do this while watching TV.
We've been watching some of the March Madness games so this is perfect to work on.
Our family has fun during March Madness. We each fill out 3 brackets online. The winner buys ice cream for the family. I think the kids purposely do poorly so WE have to buy the ice cream! LOL
Look who joined me to supervise card making! Chloe likes sitting in this shelf on my hutch. She does this in Tim's office as well. She went to sleep here. I usually have a clock here. She sits on my desk and looks up at that clock until I move it. Spoiled much?
Here is a card I made for the challenges this weekend on SCS. The challenge was to use a bird on your card. I need to do some cards for South Carolina Juvenile Justice System so I thought it would be more fun to use cartoon birds.
This card was for another SCS challenge where you had to use something yellow, or sunshine or a flower.
This card was stamped and colored with Copic Markers. I found this stamp and felt it was perfect for this card. I love looking at plants. They bring such peace.
This challenge was to use at least 6 different colors on your card. It was so easy to do this using this image. Aren't these animals so cute?
This card challenge was to pop up something on your card. I popped up the mouse. Isn't he sweet?
I really love the House Mouse images.
I haven't decided what sentiment I want with this but the challenge was to do a card showing cute animals in the garden.
This challenge was to make a card using lilacs. This is one of my favorite SU retired sets. I love making a wreath with it.
This card was showing something that could grow wild in a garden. I picked Queen Ann's Lace.
A desert scene was needed for this challenge. I have an old Southwest stamp set that was given to me that I used. I cut out the cactus and added yellow Wink of Stella to the flowers. The background is sponged in different colors using a piece of torn cardstock for the sponging effect.
Verse of the Day:1 John 4:16-17
Here's a song by Danny Gokey that spoke to me. Give a listen and check out the words to this song.
Happy 1st Day of Spring!
Today we got to 40 or so. At least we didn't have snow like some states! LOL Yesterday I was out on the back porch with a blanket. It was great to be in the sun and feel it's heat and warmth. I feel just like the cats sitting in the sun. You get warm and groggy and just want to take a nap.
I was reminded by this today that we are in a constant battle of the spirit world. It's all around us. We need to pray for God's guidance and help each day.
Trusting in God for many things going on in our lives right now. Resting on God's plan for our lives.
I've told my kids from when they were school age, to look for needs they could fill. Even as kids, they could fill needs of others. I recently heard Sarah say she remembered this and told me something she did.
I try to do little things like leave a restroom better than I found it. No one sees but God knows what we do for Him. For me the idea is to do for others without making it obvious if possible.
Here's Phoebe today. Tim got new cat scratchers and added catnip as instructed. Both cats were crazy, silly eating the catnip and rolling on this and scratching their claws. Then Phoebe went to sleep on it.
Here's a card I made for the clean and simple challenge on SCS. We were to make something that made us happy. I love yellow roses tinged with pink. This is an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp set. I wanted a set with sayings about tea. I have friends that drink tea.
This card was made for the Color Challenge on SCS. The colors were Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron and Marina Mist. I colored this with Copic markers then added yellow wink of stella to the flower center. I decorated the envelope as well.
The first pink flower card was made by Carlene who was the featured stamper this week on SCS. I used her card for inspiration for mine. I changed the colors, the layout and used dry embossing and washi tape instead of ribbon and a raised sentiment.
The flower was stamped with versamark then heat embossed with white embossing powder. I colored the flower using ink from the lids of ink pads. I added the washi tape border and added dry embossing using the Anna Griffen Rosa embossing folder.
Verse of the Day:Deuteronomy 31:6
Check out this song by Newsboys called, Restart.
We've all gotten a restart when we accepted Christ. We became a new person in Christ. I like the beat of this and the words. Give it a listen.
Blessing of the day: We got more pictures off the walls to keep the rooms from looking too busy when we show the house in May. I like working ahead so we're not stressed.
Tim's been making dinner for us. I really like that a lot. I don't seem to have an interest in planning or making dinner.
I can tell you that yesterday getting off the couch I suddenly had stabbing back pain. It's still bothering me. Feeling old when there's nothing I did to cause the pain. Praying it goes away without help from a doctor.
I have been doing lots of things which involve time away from stamping.
Had to deal with billing department for a doctor, make appointments and take a nap to get relief from my back pain. Every time I get up from a chair, it hurts until I've gone a few steps.
I've also been working on communication with customers. My business is growing bit by bit. I had 4 ladies make cards Monday morning and 4 more signed up for Friday evening.
Emailing customers about deliveries, orders and Stampin' Up sales and information takes time.
I also worked on emails and computer input for Birthday Random Acts of Kindness on SCS. I am enjoying being part of that group.
I was also invited to join a group of Christian Ladies stamping. We have a monthly challenge based on a verse someone has chosen. It's a great way to bring scripture to card making.
I saw this and just had to share. We never know when our connections help someone. Years ago when I went through a very low point in my life, (2 major devastating events) I found that helping others really helped me. Turning away from my problems, complaints and issues helped me be a better servant. I began to look forward to helping others with the needs I saw.
It doesn't take much sometimes. Maybe it's a prayer you say for a person walking down the street. Maybe it's a kind word to someone you see at the dentist's office. Maybe the cashier needs to hear more than just complaints. We each have a purpose given to us by God. Encouragement is what I specialize in. What's your specialty?
I saw this online and had to share. This is the rock formation of elephants from the Cleveland Zoo Pachyderm building. It was updated and this wall was moved to The Cleveland Historical Museum. So glad this icon was preserved. It brings back many wonderful memories of trips to the zoo.
How many times do we let our emotions rule our life? I'm guilty of this. My emotions take me places I don't want to go. I'm glad God brought me a husband who is logical. He can make me see how things really are. He can help me get past the emotional outburst to a logical, thought-out plan. Praising God for giving me what I need.
This continues to be a prayer for me. When family doesn't agree or get along, it's so sad. So much time is lost in anger and sadness. Turning your anger into prayer for those who hurt you, is powerful stuff! It empowers you and allows you to move forward so this anger and sadness don't have a chance to hurt you physically and emotionally. This is obviously easier said than done.
Verse of the Day:
What a beautiful song about God's Grace by Elevation Worship. It's called Grace like a wave.
Blessing of the Day: Tim and I got lots done today. Tim's busy cleaning out things and organizing things to get ready to put our house on the market. Praising God for all of Tim's efforts.
