Remembering...

Just a simple little card to share... I love the SU scallop circle punch & how you can make it look like a daisy... I got out the crimper & made some crimpy leaves... nothing fancy, but made from the heart.

I want to share a loss with you today... my great Uncle Jim passed away yesterday... he was my mom's uncle, but they were very close in age, so he was more like a brother to her than an uncle. He fought a battle with Parkinson's disease... he was more than ready to go. He had been very athletic & active all of his life & the last few years had been tough. He had hospice care at home & he told his nurse that he had no fears... he knew he had his mom & 2 sisters waiting for him in Heaven. I am so sad by his passing, but I rejoice that he is made whole again! BTW he was a veteran so we will have an extra reason this weekend to remember him.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Time in between...

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Peter was asked to step out of the boat and walk on water. I can remember as a kid in Sunday school hearing that story... in fact I can almost hear Mrs. Bauer, the beginners class teacher, telling that story. She was such a sweet, loving lady & I am sure she had great impact on many lives, including mine. Anyway, back to the story... as a kid it seemed so "mystical" to me (although I am sure as a kid I didn't know that was the word for it!).

I can remember being down at our local beach & thinking if I put my eyes on Jesus I should be able to walk on water... I was taught that Jesus was in my heart, so I fixed my eyes on my chest (because that was where my heart is... and Jesus lives there... are you still with me?) & stepping out very carefully to try & walk on water... why didn't it work for me... what did I do wrong????? Oh, the mind of a child... wish I could be that naive now.

Do you ever feel like the in between time is the hardest time? For instance, what do you think was going through Peter's mind the time between when he asked Jesus to bid him come & walk on the water and when he actually got out of the boat??? Do you think he was thinking, "do I, don't I, do I, don't I?" Did he have anxiety? I find for myself the in between time is probably the hardest time... the thinking about it... wondering what will happen... should I, shouldn't I?... is this really what I should be doing?... how long do I have to wait?... what am I to learn in this time?

I guess that is the question... what am I to learn in the time in between? This time can be the hardest but it can also be the most rewarding. During these times I can be drawn closer to God... my eyes can be taken off ME & my problems... I can reach out to help someone else... I can completely surrender my ways to God's ways. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

A song I really love is called "Time In Between" by Francesca Battistelli

You were there when Your Father said, "Let there be the light"

You obeyed when He whispered, "Son, You have to leave tonight"

To spend nine months in a mother's womb, three days in a borrowed tomb

It's the time in between that brings me to my knees

Knowing You came for me

And all that I can be I'm amazed, so amazed

And I thank You for the time in between

Don't take much for this crazy world to rob me of my peace

And the enemy of my soul says You're holding out on me

So I stand here lifting empty hands for You to fill me up again

But it's the time in between that I fall down to my knees waiting on what You'll bring

And the things that I can see I know that my songs incomplete

Still I sing in the time in between

So many ways Your love has saved the day

And I'm grateful for them all.

But it's the time in between the middle of two things that says everything

It's the reason I believe, I'm amazed, so amazed

And I thank You for the time in between.

Lord, I thank You for the time in between.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Joy Unspeakable...

It is early Saturday morning... big "garage sale" day! Woohoo! I need to get my butt moving, but thought I would just say thank-you to all of you who have commented to me privately about my post on Women to Women Sharing Jesus. It was already being used to bless before it was even published... I guess that is why I felt the moving to bear my soul... so to speak. I am so thankful God saw fit to give me this opportunity to be used by Him. Giving Him all the glory.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

a little of this & that... & big news

So much to get done today... I am having a garage sale tomorrow... actually a friend who lives in an out-of-the-way area is using my garage for her garage sale... but of course I will have plenty to contribute to it. It is a one-day thing... I had one last year for 1-day from 8-2:30 & did really good! Here's hoping for the same this year.

Here is another little notebook I gave as a gift... the SU DSP looks so good with that SU set, "Season of Friendship"... my friend really liked it... at least she said she did... *Ü* !

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I have come to realize I have a paper addiction... when I am in a craft store or looking through my SU caddy... my heart starts racing when I am looking at the paper... if I had unlimited resources... I would have a room full of paper. I really want to get in on the SU DSP special for this month... buy 3 packs get 1 free... that is so tempting... maybe if the garage sale goes good?????

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Now for my news about my "project"... a few weeks ago I "happened" to come across Women to Women Sharing Jesus... what I read touched me so I left a comment. Shortly thereafter, Diane, the creator of WTW contacted me about how she would love for me to write a devotional for WTW. Anyway, to make a short story shorter... today is the day of my debut as guest writer on WTW. I am so honored that she thought enough of my blog ramblings to ask me to do this. I just pray that the words I have written will touch someone that needs whatever God has for them through this... I give God all the glory for His leading in this "project".

If you will please do me a favor... go to Women to Women Sharing Jesus... read my post... leave a comment if you like... spread the news about WTW, tell at least 2 other people... you never know who it might touch.

Thanks for stopping... have a blessed day... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

(sorry my links were screwy)

Doing or being?

Just a quick post to share a little of my doings & goings on... does that make sense???? *Ü*

The pic is of small photo albums I created for gifts for NOFL... I thought they were cute... another find from the dollar spot at Target. Hope the recipients like them.

It has been a year now since I lost my job. I have come to realize I have spent the last year trying to make myself "useful". It is that screwed up way of thinking that what I do is who I am... it is finding my worth in doing, rather than finding my worth in being. I have stuck my nose into so many areas to keep busy... recently I had a revelation that most of my busyness has done nothing for me except make me tired & pulled in too many directions. I was inspired the other day by my friend Diane's blog... she talked about sense of time. She used the SU set from the Occasions Mini... "An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth." Love that saying!

It has led me to re-think my priorities of my time. What should my priorities be??? I know the first is doing what GOD has called me to do for Him, but after that it has been a little iffy for me... I know some people might think this sounds "old fashioned" but my husband is my next priority... lately I am feeling that I have been falling down in this area. I have a terrific husband, who takes such good care of me, and even though Luke would never say it... I am seeing I need to try better to be a more helpful & supportive wife.

Sorry if this got too personal... *ö*... I was learning as I was typing... that happens to me quite often... that is part of the reason I started my blog. How are your priorities of time going for you... do changes need to be made???

My next little tease of my "project" is ... it is a blessing not a burden that will be revealed on Thursday.
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Relieved...

Northern Michigan is still trying to get a grip on this whole Spring thing... it may look like Spring through the window, but it doesn't feel like Spring once your outside... brrrrr! I'm not complaining... it must be a test of my patience. *ö* I'm assuming God still knows what He is doing... and for that I am relieved.

I had a fairly busy crafty weekend... finishing up NOFL gifts, plus a couple gifts for friends. This is one of the journal/notebooks I made to give as a gift to a friend.


I used some SU dsp I have been hoarding for awhile now... can't remember the name... but love the colors... Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy... I think???... also I just adore the "Flight of the Butterfly" set I got for a gift... there I go with that butterfly thing again.

I was studying this morning about the times in your life when you may doubt God, maybe even doubt His existence. How the enemy wants to put those lies & doubts in a believer's mind... total confusion... all the questions about God & how He does things... things that we may not have the answers for. But that if we truly believe we must believe with the faith of a child. Anyway, I like this quote --
“I spent a long time trying to come to grips with my doubts, when suddenly I realized I had better come to grips with what I believe. I have since moved from the agony of questions that I cannot answer, to the reality of answers that I cannot escape...and it's a great relief.”

Isn't that a great way to fight back when we are being attacked... I may not have the answers to these questions... but the answers I do have are bigger than the answers I don't have. Does that make you relieved?

I am also relieved that the "project" I talked about in Friday's post is complete... at least my part of it... now, the rest is up to God. Please continue to pray for this with me... the next little tidbit is that it is an outreach... I am so thrilled & thankful to be a part of it.

That's it for today, thanks for stopping... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gentle words...

I come from a family where words are rarely spoken quietly... we are loud... not screaming just loud most of the time. It took my hubby awhile to get use to it... okay maybe he isn't use to it, but he has found ways to deal with it... he may just disappear into the other room. He on the other hand comes from a family that uses very few words... let alone being loud. So when we got married that was an adjustment for both of us. I was and am very expressive with my words... sorry to say they are not always gentle words, but I am never hurtful on purpose. Luke's lack of word use can still be difficult for me at times... I use up my word allotment for the day, plus some of his, I am sure! *Ü*

I write in a journal quite often... thoughts or points I come across during my devotions that I don't want to forget. I was looking back at things I wrote a year ago & this is what I found:

"How much better it is when we speak gentle words of peace, not angry words of strife! Like bullets flying through the air, Our words can shatter peace; The Spirit helps control the tongue, And then the quarrels cease. Two cannot quarrel when one will not."

That is a mouth full, so to speak... I am sure it came from Our Daily Bread devotional. I need to remember that most of the time... speak words of gentleness.

Here is a little picture frame I made a couple weeks ago. It is a frame that was bought at the dollar spot, well, actually I didn't buy it... I found it in my mom's stash at her house. I decorated it with SU DSP Raspberry Tart... that paper is so stinkin' cute... I love it... some of my favorite colors.

I have lots on my plate for the next few days... I am working on a project that I will be sharing with you sometime next week... all I will say at this point is that it is a very big deal for me... a great honor... I ask for your prayers that God will use me in this endeavor... giving Him all the glory!

thanks for stopping... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

To Please You...

I am feeling better today... my breathing has improved a lot. It is another beautiful day in northern Michigan... the trees are starting to bud out... the grass has greened up... in fact it needs cutting.

I have been trying to get some things done for NOFL... not feeling very creative... high on ideas... low on ambition. Here is a note book I made for a birthday gift... the cover is like bark with the grain, but of course you can't see that in the picture... so what do you think... would you like it as a gift????

I have a poem/song I want to share today:

"To Please You"

Before I come into Your presence

Before I enter in and worship You

Soften my heart

Open my eyes

To the things I need to see

To the things You have for me

To the things that will only please You, Lord

How I want to please You, Lord

To please You, Lord

I want to please You, Lord

And do only what You would have me do today.

-Shirley Bunnell

Thanks for stopping... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Burden or Blessing...

Happy Monday! Did I sound convincing? I am feeling under the weather today... actually I feel like I have a 10 pound weight setting on my chest... might have to give in & go to the doctor... hmmmm.

So today the verse I have chosen to share is II Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses,...with distresses,...with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." When you are sick or when you are bogged down with some kind of burden, do you ever see that as a blessing???? Can we see challenges as a way of strengthening our faith??? As a kid I can remember my mom always saying, "doing things you don't want to do builds character,"... did I need more character???? *Ü* I know those words are true... they have stuck with me all these years, so I am sure they have had an impact on my adult life. I guess the question for me is... if I never had any burdens/challenges/difficulties would I ever even be aware of the blessings??? Without any problems would I ever need to rely on God??? It is so comforting to know that when I am at my absolute weakest... that is when I am allowing God to be His strongest in my life... and today Lord, I really need Your strength.

Just another little birthday card I made a couple weeks ago... come on Summer!

Thank-you & keep praying for my sister's family... that is what is getting them through this whole fire clean-up. God is so good!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin