Halloween treat and stuff...

First I want to start off with a cute picture I took while we were in Wisconsin... the dog's name is Dukey... he was posing for his pumpkin shot for Halloween... we saw him at a farm market we stopped at... he was just too cute... how he wanted to play fetch with the pumpkin. So this is my Halloween treat to you. I use to love Halloween as a kid... I always loved to dress-up... had to have the best costume for our parade at school... my mom always did such a good job coming up with the costume & she took so much time to come to the school to get us ready... thanks Mom! And of course all the candy... we would trick or treat our hearts out... back then there wasn't so many things to be scared of in the world & not so many people thinking badly of it either... I wish for it to be the same today. I would still like to dress-up... not too many occasions for that at my age... although Luke & I are helping at the Harvest Festival at our church so we are dressing in Army fatigues... so I guess we are dressing-up for Halloween. *Ü*

We had a fabulous, relaxing time at Wisconsin Dells... it was great to get away even if just for a few days. Here are a few pics I thought showed some of the beauty of the Dells... there was still a lot of color. There was many places that were closed for the season but that was OK...

we still had a great time... just being together.
We went to a dairy to see how they make cheese and of course we sampled a lot & bought enough... got to love those cheese curds!

By next week I hope to be back doing some crafty things... but for now... thanks for stopping by! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Beautiful chilly night...

it has been a few days ... I know... but I have a good reason... my hubby & me have been gone to Wisconsin Dells for the last few days. It has been a wonderful getaway... not that we really have anything to get away from, but just the same it has been wonderful!!!!*Ü*

We just got out of the outdoor jacuzzi at the resort where we are staying... it was heavenly to sit under the stars with the one I love in a steaming out jacuzzi... by the way it is only about 35 degrees, but it is well worth the mad dash from the building to the spa!!!!

I will have some pics to post when we get home... thanks for stopping by!

I am overwhelmed with a grateFUL HEART, carin

What direction???

Boy, Fall is really moving quickly... it is cold & windy today, but at least the sun is shining... the highs are only in the 40's today... brrrrr! Can hardly believe October is almost over... where is time going???? It is 6 months since I lost my job... all I can do is praise God for His provision... He is so faithful & He keeps proving it to me over & over. I have been going through some struggles on & off since losing my job... some days are better than others... it isn't the lack of work so much as the lack of direction. I live my life wanting to please God & praying for His direction in every part of my life... but the answer to my prayer for a job hasn't been so clear... I know there are times God says "Yes" or "No", but it is the times when He says "just wait" those are the hardest times for me, as I am sure for many of you. I am a proactive type person & when I put my mind towards something... it is pretty hard to stop me... just ask my hubby. So I have started to ask myself... "what am I doing wrong or not doing that is causing me not to be able to find a job & help us financially?" Then we had a special speaker at church & he was talking about the times in a Christian's life when God will allow the devil to try us, because God knows that our faith in Him will conquer all... the verse that was used that spoke loudly to me was: II Chronicles 14:11



And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”



The part of that verse that I will use as my prayer is: "O Lord my God, I rest on You and in Your name... I go against whatever comes my way, because you are my God; and no one or nothing can prevail against You!" Amen.

Here is a pic we took on our Fall tour on Saturday... this is an overlook that looks down onto the Manistee River near Buckley... as you can see the Fall foliage was almost gone, but it was a great day!

Have a good day & thanks for stopping by! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Happy Fall...

We have had a very beautiful Fall, so far... but the last few nights have been very chilly... here is a pic of the heavy frost we had yesterday morning... this is our little maple tree that has put on its autumn covering, but now with the frost it is losing leaves quite rapidly.

Spent this morning with some friends... out for breakfast... a little shopping... some cider & the best cinnamon donuts... and lots of laughs! *Ü* Thanks gals for all the fun! Then my hubby & I took off on a Fall color tour around the countryside... it was a beautiful day for a ride & a great day for a walk in the woods... finishing with an early supper at a little diner in a nearby town... all in all it was a good day & a very sweet Sweetest Day with my hubby & for that I have a grateFUL HEART, carin

Quilt giveaway... but hurry

There is a quilt giveaway on Pigtails & Snails blog... but hurry it ends tomorrow! It is beautiful & I would love it!

I am off to help out in our church office today... yes, actual work... ok, well volunteer work, but I am so thankful to be useful & to serve my Lord in some way!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

pumpkin patch...

Just wanted to share another card we did at the card making class I took from my SU demo sister over the weekend... I am not one to make Halloween cards but you just gotta love those pumpkins... nice card Na!
Just like so many other people I am not feeling the best... almost a week ago I started with a cough & tightness in my lungs... so I finally went to the Dr. today... sure enough the bronchitis bug got me... at least now I know for sure why I feel so lousy & can't breath... hopefully when the meds kick in I will get some sleep at night. *Ü*

I think I am gonna go lay down... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

seasons of change...

Hi ya... YES, it is Sunday mornin'... it is a beautiful morning... Luke & I are at my parents for the weekend... I woke up this morning to gun shots, yes, I said gun shots... no, my parents don't live in the "inner city"... it actually was duck hunters in the field behind my parents house... it is the rural version of an alarm clock!!!! *Ü*

I went to my sister's (the one that is the SU demo) yesterday & we made some fabulous cards... so I thought I would share one of the Fallish cards with you. We used Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip & More Mustard... kind of sounds like a tasty combo... well maybe not the mustard with pumpkin & chocolate! I love that set, "Seasons of Friendship".

Off to church this morning with my family & then we are going to help my baby sis, Chele, move furniture & stuff into her new house. It is a cute little house & she will be much happier there... well, hopefully she will be.

Gotta go... with a grateFUL heart, carin

Emptied and filled up...

You see the picture to the right entitled "Fall in Northern Michigan"... well, unfortunately not all Fall days are so beautiful... it is another gray, rainy, dreary day... ok, I may be boardering on complaining, so PLEASE forgive me... but I very much dislike this weather!!!!!!

We had a great, but very busy weekend with all the festivities at our church... it was such a blessed weekend... so many visitors, so many people coming to Christ for the first time... I feel so blessed to have been a part of it all. In my last post I told you about the "card board testimony" Luke & I were involved in... what our card said was "religion divided us" and on the flip side "Now Christ has completely united us"... that is it in a nutshell... we have been married for 18 years... for the first 15 years of our marriage we attended & were involved in 2 different churches, separately... so many people told us that would never work, but in spite of those nay-sayers we had a great marriage & we determined with God's help it would work! When God moved us to northern Michigan over 3 years ago... we saw this as a gift from Him to be able to find a church where we could worship together... we searched for over a year before we found the church we are now attending... we found it by "accident"... the lesson to be learned is that God has blessings waiting for you in the most unlikely places. We have received such positive feedback that we were willing to share our testimony in front of the whole church... we have been told by so many that they are now where we were & they see what work God can do to change hearts & lives for His good.

I have been known to be a little controlling ... so it has been hard at times for me to move out of the way & just let God do what He wants to do... a song that I just love that talks about this is "Empty Me" by Chris Sligh here are the lyrics to the chorus:

Empty me of the selfishness inside

Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride

And any foolish thing my heart holds onto

Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you

That is my prayer... God wants to do so many great things for me, His precious child, but I get in His way. How about you, what good things are happening in your life???

on a cold, wet, dreary day, but with a grateFUL HEART, carin

blessed & hopefully a blessing...

I am thrilled that the sun is finally shining again in northern Michigan... that is not a complaint of the rain... just ready for a little sun... even if it is a lil' chilly!!! I finally broke down & turned the furnace on this morning... it was 30 outside & 55 inside. I tend to be stingy when it comes to heat in the house... you can always put on more clothes or a blanket... right? It is hard to type with gloves on though *Ü*

Here are the cards we did at my SU party... I love the combo of Baja Breeze & Kiwi Kiss... the Upsy Daisy set is one I want to get sometime. Don't you just love the owl... my owl looks a little short & fat, but you get the idea... I think he looks more like a turkey-owl... the Haiku DP is great too! My sis, aka SU demo., has so many neat ideas!

We have a busy weekend ahead of us... but looking so forward to it! This is Celebration Weekend at our church to celebrate the completion of the new facility. Tonight we are having a free concert with "Downhere" & the "Michael Gungor Band" performing... it should be a great concert! So if you are in the area check it out... for directions or just to visit go to Resurrection Life Church website. My hubby & I are involved in a special drama at all 3 services this weekend... it is a "cardboard testimony"... on one side of the cardboard it says what you use to be & when you flip it over it says how Christ has changed your life. It is going to be a moving & exciting weekend. Christ has moved so much in our life... I can't even tell of it all... we are so blessed... the verse that comes to my mind is Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD: and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

What a verse to live by & what an awesome promise! Something that I have hoped & prayed for is taking place & I feel so thankful for all that has happened to bring us, as a couple, to this point in our life & our marriage. Waiting for something is never easy for me, but when I let God do the work & not butt my nose into His business... oh, how sweet it is!!!!

Have a great weekend... with a very grateFUL HEART, carin