Count your blessings

Prompted by an devotional a friend

sent me, I thought it would be fun

to have a book to write blessings in.

They don't have to be big-maybe just

"Thank you, Lord, for the sunshine !"

But something that consciously  makes

you think of what God is doing and not

just taking things for granted.  I don't

know about you, but I know in my life

there are many more blessings than

I'm even aware of.  But when they're

small we take them for granted a lot

of the time.  So here's my blessings book:

I thought it was so cool to use the Gorjuss

girl on it.  Next time, though, I think I

need to draw a line for the words.  The

word "blessings" is kind of crooked, but

since it's for me I don't care too much.  

I should have known better.  I can't

draw a straight line with a ruler.  You 

should see me mowing the lawn!

No signing today.  Well, I'll sign the songs

from my seat, but not in front.  So that

will be nice to have a break.  

Today's Bible verse:

Romans 11:36

For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Happy Sunday!

 

Just gorjuss

In one of my passbook trades someone

sent me a Gorjuss girl die cut.  I fell

in love with it immediately.  They aren't

super cheap, but I had to have one.  I

got it yesterday.

Isn't she beautiful?  I didn't get things

lined up exactly right-these things are

VERY fiddly-and I lost the bow that

should go in her hair and I didn't feel

like looking for it.  It's about the size 

of a flea.  But overall I was pretty thrilled

with how it turned out.  So thrilled I

ordered another.  I shouldn't have, but

I did.  I'm in love with them!

 

I'm having Lunch with Coleen today and

then we are going  to Hobby lobby.  I 

haven't been there in a while because they

got rid of tons of scrapbook stuff and

haven't replaced much.  The stuff they

have left is very reduced except I don't

want it.  It's horrifying to go into a

craft store and come out empty handed!

It really hurts my feelings!

 

My Bible verse for today is:

 

Philippians 4:6-7

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  

Happy Saturday!

 

A little note?

Actually, I think this is a pretty

big note, but I didn't have a stamp

like that, so I had to use what I had!

This is a pretty interesting fold.  The flap

across the front moves out to show the

front of the card, then the front of the

card lifts up for a greeting on the inside.

The back of the card is stationary.  I

think it's pretty cool.  I've not seen one

quite like this.

 

Dr.'s appointment today and I'm anxious

to go, believe it or not.  I did the lawn yesterday

and have been in quite a lot of pain since.

Now...I think I am developing the same

symptoms in my left arm.  I keep hoping

it's sympathy pain. 

 

Philippians 4:13:  

"I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me."

 

 I  chanted this pretty much the whole time

I was mowing the lawn.

Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

Shimmery flowers

I got this embossing folder quite a

while ago and honestly, I'm not sure

if I ever even used it.  It is the perfect

image for this card, though.  I took the

wink of Stella glitter pen  and coloured

all the raised parts.  I absolutely  love

how it turned out!

I have taken  a couple of days

off from stitching because my shoulder

has been hurting so much.   I get my shot 

tomorrow and I can't wait.  A few moment's

discomfort for some relief.  I woke at 5;30 this

morning and finally got up because it hurt

to lay there.  That's pretty sad, LOL.

This is a passport stamp that I made

yesterday for a swap:

I'm pretty pleased with how this 

turned out, too.

 Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are

weary and burdened ,

and I will give you rest.

Happy Thursday!

Butterfly and pansy

The pansy is my favourite flower!

Here's a pic of Bri 

This might  have been taken before we

arrived because she has her tassel on the 

right side.  I didn't really get a chance

to talk to her after graduation.  There

was a ton of people there.  (Cody's)  Pam

went with me and we are both anxious

in crowds, so I found her in line, (everyone

stood in a small hallway so people could 

walk down and shake all the grad's hands, sigh)

gave her a quick hug and we were on our way.

And finally-I find this quite hilarious.

This sign is in Cody and Pam's yard-which is

a pain if you want to park on the side of the

road- and they live across from a trucking

company.....

ROFL!!

Happy Monday!

Graduation day!

My beautiful granddaughter, Bri,

graduates today-and nine days from

now ships out to Virginia for her

basic training in the Army.  Good

luck, Bri.  From what I hear of

basic training, you're going to

need it, LOL!  I'm sure she's

going to do well in whatever

she chooses to do.

I was going to use a paper shaper on

the corners but I was afraid I would mess

it up after stitching the whole piece so I

left it alone.  I should have enlarged

it so it would fit better, but it is what

it is.   I got a bunch of new patterns 

yesterday, so they will fit  without having

to fiddle with them.  This one I borrowed

 from the internet.  

I have shown this design before, but

it's different colours and image so I though

I'd go ahead and put it on again.

I'd better go get myself ready.  I'm going

to the early service to practice the songs

some more.

Happy Sunday!

Who watched the Royal wedding?

Yes, I did.  I was up at 5 AM, as

a matter of fact.  Not on purpose.

I woke up and couldn't go back

to sleep.  I hate that.  But it was

beautiful.  I hope they have a

long happy life together.

I've had this alcohol ink piece for a

few weeks and didn't quite know what

to do with it.  I saw a card kind of

like this on Pinterest.  Actually, the

only part I borrowed was how she 

had the alcohol ink piece mounted.

I like it.

 

 

Here's some passbook stamps I

made yesterday.

 

I like how they turned out as well.

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Parrots and pandas...oh, my!

OK, I admit, stupid title but I run

out of ideas.  So here are the second

two cards.

This morning has not started out well

so I can only  hope it gets better as

it goes along.  One thing that is nice

is that since I joined the passbook

trading, I am actually getting mail.

FUN mail.  It beats getting bills or

nothing.  Yesterday I got something

for John.  That's it.  I told them take

his name off the box (why didn't I think

of that sooner?)  He's been gone 4 years.

I don't think anything important is

going t0 come anymore.

Have a great Friday!!

Animal greetings

I have had these stamps for a long

time now, but never really used

them so I thought it was about time.

Just a disclaimer, I'm not very good at

colouring, but I think they  look OK

anyway.  I have two more to share tomorrow.

I finally remembered to answer the CITI

email I got a week ago.  She wanted to know

what part of the service I'd feel comfortable

interpreting.  Uh, none...I told her I don't

know anything about Lutheran services

but I could interpret a prayer if it wasn't

a long one.  They give you everything

ahead of time and you can keep the glosses

with you while you're interpreting, I guess.

The prayers, unlike the ones I'm used to,

are rote prayers, so you know exactly

what to expect which is nice.  I'm

looking forward to all this but I know

I'm going to be getting more nervous as

time goes on.

I tried the ground clear the other day, 

diluted with water as instructed.  None

of the weeds are dead.  Either they are

very resistant or the stuff needs to be used

full strength which is what I'm going to

do.  One way or another I'm going to

kill all those weeds.  For good.

Happy Thursday!

Send in the clowns

I am not a fan of clowns.  In any

way.  But this one isn't too bad and

I'm not great at kid cards.  

And that is the last of the birthday

cards for June.  Yay!

Cody and Pam took her mother, LuAnn

and I out to dinner last night for a

late Mother's day.  We all had a good

time.  We went to a Mexican restaurant

called Acapulco .  It's a great place,

fast service, cheap prices.  Dianne and

I go there quite often.

We had more storms last night and

again early this morning.  Those storms,

coming through at about 230-300 Am,

woke me up and that was that.  I've

been up ever since.  Not a happy camper,

but I did enjoy the storms.  I'm going

to be tired later.  Luckily I don't have

to go anywhere or do anything

after lunch with Dianne.  I think that's

 the last of the rain/storms for the rest of the 

week at least.  Time to go kill

the weeds with ground clear.  It's

supposed to keep them gone for

a year.  It'll take me that long to 

pull out all the dead stuff.

Happy Tuesday!

Thunderstorm alarm clock!

First I got awakened by a text

from Pam (mine, not Cody's)

saying, "I hope you are  happy."

What??  A few minutes later I

heard the thunder.  We had a heck  

of a nice storm!  It was wonderful

to wake up to.  B'Elanna wasn't

so happy when she had to go outside

in the pouring rain.  I felt sorry for

her-as I stood in the doorway, LOL.

Birthday number four.  One more to make

and I'll be finished for June.

Cody and Pam are taking LuAnn and I 

out for dinner tonight so I'm looking 

forward to that.

I'm embarrassed to put this on my blog,

but from my crafty friends I need help.

This needs something but I sure

don't know what and it's about

to go in the trash bin.  I like what

I have so far, but it really isn't  finished.

Happy (stormy) Monday!

CITI

First the card: I need to get

busy on making more!!

At first I didn't think I had an image

that would go with the colours I

chose (I usually do things backwards...)

But I found this really pretty flower

so I was happy.

 

 

As for CITI, it turns out that they just

didn't have enough  people signed up

to do the regular program so they are

making it a long weekend.  Which is 

pretty cool because A-it costs MUCH less.

B-Coleen is going!  She couldn't have 

taken off work for a longer class.   I

got an email from them yesterday telling

me what to bring, what to wear, etc.

and asking me what part of the Sunday

service I would be comfortable

interpreting.  The problem is that 

Lutheran is so different from what

I am used to that I don't even know how

to answer that question!  I know they

don't sing the same songs that we do.

I think maybe they sing hymns, but

I'm not even sure on that.  The email

said they would be sending some assignments

ahead, also. That's different, but welcomed!

 It starts at the end of June.  I'm looking

forward to it, but also very nervous.

 

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Blast from the past

My friend, Karen, sent me this picture

last night.  It is of me and her baby

daughter Sarah.  Sarah is all grown

up now, married and having a great

life.  I took much better pictures

in those days!

Here is birthday card number 2

I LOVE how it turned out!!!

It's supposed to rain today.  I hope it

does.  I dug up a plant yesterday-which

was not easy and potted it in preparation

for the ground clear.  It was too windy

to do that yesterday, so I'm hoping in

the next couple of days I can begin.

I have two other plants I want to get

out of the ground first.  I hope they

survive my attempts.  I kill everything

that is green.  Everything, that is, but

weeds.  For some reason they flourish

under my neglectful care.  I will say, though,

that the grass I planted is coming up nicely!

Happy Friday!

Mother's day daisies

I'm not sure if this is a picture of

her or not, but many of the vintage 

photos that are being posted lately

are those of silent actresses Grete

Reinwald and her sister Hanni.

I guess no one really knew who they

were and then an article was written

identifying them.  The photos aren't

all identified, but it looks like it may 

be her.  They are beautiful little girls.

 We had a big thunderstorm last

night and I am pretty sure the grass

grew about an inch overnight.  Maybe

I'll go out and mow later.  Nah.  But

I do need to try to weed the vinca now 

that the ground is softer.   But I may

just sit inside, too.  I'm so lazy!

Happy Thursday!

Happy birthday next month!

Hmmm, who has a birthday next month?

Actually, I have four birthdays coming

next month and only one card made.

I'd better get busy, I think.

Isn't this the cutest little girl?  Well, OK,

I admit it, I think every little girl is cute.

My mom says that's because I never

had one.  After number three (Cody) which

was a complete surprise, I decided I'd have

to get a girl another way, so I got

daughters in law instead.

 

I heard it got up to over 70 yesterday and

even higher today.  Every time I walk

out the door with no coat and feel the

sun shining warmly down on me I

stop and thank God.  When it gets really

hot in the summer time I always tell

him thank you and make sure He under-

stands that when I say things like, 

"wow, it sure is hot out here,"  I'm

only making an observation!

  😉  I don't want Him to think I'm complaining!

 

Happy Wednesday!

 

Butterflies

I've had this piece for forever

having it left over from a swap

I did.  I saw a card similar to this,

so I dug it out to make my own

card.  I like the script embossing 

behind it.  I didn't have quite the

right size butterfly accent, but I

think it looks fine.

Here are some little girl passbook

stamps I made to swap.  I hope I get

some takers.  yesterday I had three

envelopes in my postbox and that was

a whole lot more fun than junk

and bills.

Happy Tuesday!

Oops, ordered more teapot images!

I'm not sure how I did it, but that's

OK, I love these images and they

are with different patterns, so

it makes it all brand new again, right?

I'm in love with this pattern and may

make more in different colours.  It goes 

so well with this teapot, too.

It's been a long and not so good

 weekend and I'm looking

forward to doing nothing (I think) this

week.  I am going to try to do a little 

weeding in my vinca and see if I can 

get it to take over to the point where

there's no weeds.  As for the rest of

it all, I'm going to get some stuff called

ground clear and spray all around the

house.  It is supposed to kill weeds for

a year.  We'll see.  Then I'll put some

mulch down, some pots with flowers in 

it and be done with it.  I love to mow-and I

have a walk behind.  I don't mind it at

all.  As for any other yard work I hate

it with a passion and if the vinca doesn't

straighten up it's going too.  👿 

Happy Monday

Beautiful wedding

Before I talk about the wedding, here 

is a card I made about a week ago:

It didn't turn out like I meant it to,

but I like it.

Pam's daughter, Samantha, and her

fiance, Josh, got married last night and
the wedding was just beautiful.  They had

a foot washing ceremony as part of the 

wedding.  I'd never seen that before 

and it was really touching-until she

tried to untie his double knotted shoes

and then to put his socks back on damp

feet.  Everyone got a giggle out of that.

I wish them all the happiness that one

lifetime can bring.

Proud mama of the bride!

Happy Saturday!