Prayers for Jordan

I have a friend in Ohio who is in need of prayer. Jordan is a young man and he and his wife have a beautiful little guy who recently turned 1. Nine weeks ago he went to the ER after having headaches and blacking out. Tests revealed a tumor on the brain. He was admitted to the hospital and has been there since. Surgery was done a couple of days later, after a few days in ICU and then being moved to rehab he developed an infection. Tomorrow (Sept.19, 2013) he will be having surgery again, a portion of his brain is not draining as it should. 
 If you would please join us in prayer I know his family would appreciate it. I am praying for a successful surgery, quick recovery and no infection. His family needs prayer for strength and encouragement.

Here is the card I made to send to Jordan. We are sending love and prayers his way.

 Thanks for your prayers!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until later~

From one cute chick

One thing I miss since moving from Ohio is the small local scrapbook stores! We just don't have any here. Last summer while we were in South Dakota we found a cute little scrapbook shop in Rapid City, and when I did a Vacation Bible School training near there in April I had the chance to visit   again! I picked this stamp set and Hailey picked one. (I am sad to say that the shop closed earlier this month. It makes me sad to see local stores close!)

 These cute chicks remind me of my friend Michele. I miss my crazy friend! She has been having some health issues lately so I pulled out this stamp set to make her a card.

 I paper pieced the chicks with some crazy papers and I think they look adorable!

This sentiment from the set makes me laugh. I know it will make Michele laugh too. Yea, we are just a couple of cute chicks. LOL I used some scraps from the card front to dress up the inside a little. (I hate throwing away pretty paper because it is too small to use!)
Since I already had a second image stamped I went ahead and made a second card to add to my stash. (Another tip- it only take a few more minutes to make a second card to use later.)

I left the sentiments off of this one. I can either add them later or use this one as a note card.

Supply list:

Stamps- Chick Chat Skipping Stones Designs, "hello" PTI

Ink- Tuxedo Black

Papers- June KI kit from Taylored Expressions featuring Simple Stories Vintage Bliss 6x6 pad

Trendy Tape in green and Butter Washi Tape

Arches border punch

Silver Rhiestoes by Kaiser Scrapbook, 

Diecuts- Petite Ovals and Label 8 Spellbinders

Copic Marker-Y19

 

I encourage you to send a note to a friend, I bet she would love it!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until later~

PS- Support your local businesses!!

Deconstructed Sketch Challenge 116- Fall Splendor

With the kids back in school I am trying to get in the studio more. I did not realize just how much I missed being creative until I got my fingers inky, and snapped the cap off of a Copic marker! (I tell you, those Copic markers are addictive! You will see in just a bit.)

You can see the sketch HERE. I had been looking through my stamps trying to find some inspiration when I am across Fall Splendor by Inkadinkado. I had yet to ink it up, so it was a good one to start with. I then hopped over to Deconstructing Jen for some layout ideas, as always I was not disappointed! For my final piece of inspiration I I looked to the August Taylored Expressions KI kit for some designer paper and cardstock.

Once I had all of my inspiration, I was able to begin coloring my stamped image. Oh my goodness, I rediscovered my love of Copics AND coloring!
I am not lying when I tell you Copic markers are addictive, just look at how many I used on this one image.......

Yikes!! There are over 20 markers there! I like the angle of the card in this photo too, you can see that the image actually overhangs the front of my card. (The polka dots seen in the previous photo is the inside of the card,) I think it turned out pretty cute considering how rusty I was. LOL
I am looking forward to using more Copics, and ink, and stamps, and pretty paper.........well, you get the idea.

Supply list:

Stamp- Fall Splendor Inkadinkado

Designer paper-We R Memory Keepers Happy Campers and Coordinating card stock from the August KI kit from Taylored Expressions

Ink- Rich Cocoa Memento

Button twine

Pearls- Kaiser Chocolate

Copic markers- YR15, 24, 02, 12, 65, 18, 14

E53, 55, 57, 59, 43

R22, 24, 27, 05

V12, 15, 17

YG09, 13, 63

Y19, 21, 32

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I used a Copper mist on the inside of the card.

Be sure to visit these links for some inspiration of your own. 

 deconstructingjen

Taylored Expressions

Inkadinkado Fall Splendor

We R Memory Keepers

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Booksneeze review- Intentional Parenting Autopilot is for planes

Several months ago I requested Intentional Parenting Autopilot is for planes by Sissy, Goff, David Thomas and Melissa Trevathan. I had started reading the book and then life happened and I laid the book down. When the kids went back to school recently I decided it was time to do some reading. I am so glad I picked Intentional Parenting up again.

 With 12 chapters this book covers many relevant topics, such as Being an Intentional Parent, a Balanced Parent, a Playful Parent and so on. I am sure you will find lots of helpful information in each chapter, no matter where you are in the parenting journey.

 Goff, Thomas and Trevathan run Daystar Counseling Ministries in Tennessee, their book is very encouraging letting the reader know that they are not alone when feeling the pressures of “perfect” parenting. I appreciate the Biblical scriptures and the questions pertaining to each chapter. Even with three authors the book flowed smoothly and it really didn’t make a difference who was writing.  

 Some of my favorite quotes from Intentional Parenting:

“Parenting is not about you. In other words, you are not in control. Even if you could, for a few moments, be a perfect parent, you could not create the desired outcomes in your child.”

“We want godly kids, rather than to be godly parents, or even just to know God better. Parenting is so much less about me and so much more about God.”

“You can be free, as a person and as a parent, no matter how much pressure you feel today. You can’t do it right. You can’t be the perfect parent, and you can’t create the desired outcome in your child. But you can immerse yourself in the better hope that Hebrews 7 speaks of. You can fix your eyes on Jesus. You can entrust your child to Him. He’s really the one in control, anyway. And He loves you both more than you could ask or imagine.”

  There is so much helpful advice no matter the age of your children, do yourself and your children a favor and pick up a copy of Intentional Parenting. I will be reading it again (and I bet I highlight and mark new sections as I read it again.)

Intentional Parenting Auto Pilot is for planes was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Until later~

Yoo Hoo! Anybody here?

I am dusting off the cobwebs on the old blog. It has been so long since I have posted on here! Life has been busy, as I am sure you all understand, and to make things worse my computer crashed and I lost a lot of my "stuff."
The kids are back in school and I hope to have more time keep the blog updated!
Somethings I will be sharing in the near future:
* Crafty projects- paper and other wise
* Photos (which reminds me that I need to download my picture re-sizer)
* Reviews- Both Book and products
* Recipes
* Photos of the kiddos
And, I have started couponing, so I will be sharing some of that with you!
I just wanted you to know that I am still Blessed Beyond Measure!!
Hope to see ya soon!

Until later~

Book Review- Pocket Your Dollars.......

Pocket Your Dollars: 5 Attitude Changes That Will Help You Pay Down Debt, Avoid Financial Stress, and Keep More of What You Make by Carrie Rocha

Countless free budget plans are available for every possible income level and stage of life. So why do more than 60 percent of U.S. households still live paycheck to paycheck? The key to financial stability and success isn't just about money--it's about attitudes.

Rocha uses the lessons she learned overcoming personal debt to teach readers how to triumph over the lies we tell ourselves, such as "I deserve a treat," "Fake it till you make it," and "I can't afford it." Each chapter uses real-life examples to explain faulty thinking about money, followed by step-by-step instructions for how to overcome these pitfalls. Budgets are helpful, but real change won't happen without a financial attitude adjustment.

I am always looking for ways to improve our family budget and when I saw Pocket Your Dollars… was available I decided to see for myself what I could learn from it. A lot of the ideas in this book deal with the attitudes we develop about money. I thought there was some good solid information for getting out of debt and staying out of debt, such as in Chapter 5 when Rocha talks about consumerism and how the rich really live.

The chapters in Section One speak of the five attitude changes that need to be made. There is a quiz at the end of these chapters and discussion questions which are suitable for small groups. These chapters are filled with real-life examples of attitude changes made by Rocha and her husband to pay off almost $60,000 of debt in just 2 years.

In Section Two Rocha shares skills to help change your attitude toward debt and saving money. My favorites were replacement thinking- We work too hard for our money to let it leak out of our life- I am grateful for what I have, etc.

Section Three, which was my favorite section, was packed with many helpful resources. Here we find tips for cutting spending, budgeting and even a plan for paying off debt. One of the things suggested in Pocket Your Dollars is to pay off your credit cards and loans with the lowest balance first- no matter the interest rate. She then went on to suggest once a debt is paid off you add that payment to the next lowest bill until they are all paid off.

Over all I would give Pocket You Money… a 3 star rating. I would have liked to have read about others who have had success with these attitude adjustments presented. I think staying out of debt once you have paid everything off can be a challenge. While the author has been debt free for 4 years I would have like to have some advice from someone who has remained debt free for a much longer period of time.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Booksneeze Book Review- Just Like Jesus

Today I am reviewing Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado.  I will be the first to admit I am not a big Lucado fan, in fact it took me several days to read the first 3 pages of this book.  In order to write an honest review I knew it would require me to actually read the book, so I trudged on. Much to my surprise just a few short pages later I found I did not want to lay Just Like Jesus down!  The chapters were short and pretty concise making the 12 chapters a quick read.

I enjoyed the theme of each chapter- A Heart Like His, A Forgiving Heart, A Compassionate Heart………and so on to be both encouraging and thought provoking. Each chapter is filled with plenty of scripture references and everyday practical examples to express the point being made.  It is refreshing to see things in a new light. I appreciated reading Lucado’s description about the celebration in Heaven when a wayward soul repents. I have read that scripture many times but I have never given it much thought. I shared the thoughts of Jesus being kind and showing friendship to Judas at the Last Supper with my son who is 8. He has been struggling with being kind to those who do not treat us well.

I recommend this book to anyone who is striving to be more like our Savior. You will find lots of good, useful information in Just Like Jesus.

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson, the publisher, through the Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~