A New Thing... A New Year...

Happy New Year!  What kind of plans do you have to ring in the new year?  I always felt sad on new years eve, because another year was gone... I spent way too much time looking back, but not anymore... I welcome in 2010 with open arms. 

This past year has been one of the hardest of my life, but for all the growth that has taken place it makes it all worth it.  What is that saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"?  Just know that no matter what gloomy moments you may be living through... God will shine through that gloom.  Hard isn't where most of us want to have to go, but hard isn't so bad when you have a soft place to fall... thank-You Papa for being here to catch me.

"Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:18-19

One last Christmas card to share with you & then I am done for this year!  SU Baja Breeze looks so good with Sahara Sand... SSand is my new favorite nutral.

Here is to 2010 being your best year ever... I know there are big things just around the corner... so get ready!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

God's Goodness...

Christmas Day is fading fast... or is that me that is fading fast??? It was a good day... had a great time with family... played Wii for the first time... I am not very good at racing cows!!! Too funny!

Anyway, just want to wish you all a very blessed Christmas! Hope your Christmas has been everything you wanted it to be.

After all the trying moments of this last year... just sitting around the dinner table made me see God's goodness... we had Christmas dinner in my sister's "new" house, since the fire 8 months ago. My BIL, Frank, being cancer free. Having my parents with me & the rest of my family... what more could I possibly want... just had to share.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of the Word...

Can you believe it... it is Christmas Eve??? Just had to take a moment to share one last "gift" with you... the gift of the Word.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14

Have you ever thought what God might have been feeling the night Jesus was born? Of course we can never know, but think about it... this was a night that God had planned & prepared for so many hundreds/thousands of years... He knew this was the only way to bring His creation, humankind, back into communion with Him. Do you think there was a sadness in God that He had to give up His Son for that... was the sacrifice worth it? God proved His love in a way none of us can ever truly understand... it just floods my heart to think of how much He loves me.

I was watching a movie on the Hallmark channel the other day, called "The Note," btw great movie! The movie starts with a plane crash & how that one of the passengers on that plane writes a note to his child... expressing his love, even unto death. Anyway, a reporter finds that note & tries to find the child of this man, so she can give the child a final gift from the father. When the reporter finally found this man's daughter, the reporter said to the girl, "do you know how much your father went through to give you his love through this note?"... I have seen this movie many times, but this was the first time those words struck me... I instantly started crying realizing that is what I needed to hear from the Holy Spirit... "Do you see how much your Heavenly Father went through to give you His Word of love?" Do I??? I don't think I even can grasp it, but I do see it a little more clearly now.

Just wanted to wish you a very Merry & Blessed CHRISTmas!

Oh, I also wanted to share this little treat I made up... see you did get something crafty too!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of Provision...

Lots to do today so I will jump right on in... in my devotions this morning I read about Jehovah- Jireh (the Lord-Will-Provide)... it just touched my heart, so I knew today the gift had to be the Gift of Provision. It just thrills my heart to think of all the ways God provides for me in ALL areas of my life... it may not always be the way I want it to be, but it is always the best way. It is something for me to think of being a part of God's greater plan... and that He will always provide me a way to keep moving in His perfect will for my life. Does that boggle your mind like it does mine?... He is so awesome... it is hard for me to even grasp just a little of it.

"Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." —Matthew 6:8

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you." - I Peter 5:7

What ways can you see the Lord providing in your life? Are you casting your care on Him?

Just a picture I made up to decorate the house with... I used my Cricut... SU items... and of course some Stickles! Sorry about the glare of the glass. Hopefully you are finding some comfort & joy in this Christmas Season.


with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of Prayer...

It is so going to be a busy day... but I am looking so forward to it. It is very much a good busy! Tonight is our NOFL (Night out for Ladies) Christmas Party... yah! Great food, great women, great fellowship, & a great speaker (so I've been told since I haven't personally heard her).

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My "little" project to share today are these little stockings that are the gifts for the 1st-time visitors at NOFL... had to make it a little more special... the stockings were from Bath & Body & I put a lip balm in each one with a mint & a special note... I think they are pretty cute... I did 120 of them... would rather have too many than not enough... we are planning for 500 ladies total.

Going this morning to help with set-up/decorating... I am so excited! Plus, my mom & sisters are coming to share in the festivities... praying for their safe travel.

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That brings me to the gift for today... PRAYER... having the privilege to go to God on someone else's behalf or your own is such an awe-inspiring gift. There are so many people hurting & discouraged in the world... this has been a tough year for so many & at the Christmas season it can be even tougher. How will you use this gift today?

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"Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint."- Psalm 61:1-2

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Thank You, God for hearing my prayers!

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with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of Laughter...

I grew up in a home that laughter was a very big part of life. My mom's dad was a prankster... you might say he saw things from a strange perspective. Grandpa Floyd loved us kids to pieces and he especially loved to see our reactions when he would pull a joke on us. So that is where I get my "unique" sense of humor from which in turn makes me laugh... at some of the most inopportune times might I add. I am so grateFUL for the gift of laughter... some days that is what gets me through... this God-given part of me that He knew would be a main-stay in my life. Hey, I enjoy a good cry, but if I can laugh 'til I cry now that is a true blessing!

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I actually have a card to share with you today... this is a card from a set I did for an order... I saw a similar card on the web some place but I can't remember where... of course I changed it a little with my own touches. I found that iridescent ribbon at Michael's & a little diamond stickles for sure! Hope you like it... hope my customer liked it too!

We have been dealing with a little snow the last couple days here in northern Michigan... by little I mean 8-10 inches, so it is putting us in the Christmas spirit. In fact I finally got my tree up yesterday... I will try to post a picture later.

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." -John 15:11

So for today I share with you the gift of laughter... hope it brightened your day a little.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of Time...

Sorry it has been a few days since my last post, but they have full, busy days... actually the last couple days have not been really busy, but full just the same. My hubby & I have been able to take a couple days to go to Boyne Mountain for a little R&R before the busyness of the season gets the better of us. I mean what I said in a previous post, I am not going to give into the "everything has to be perfect" this year. I don't even have my Christmas tree up at home... oh well, it will happen soon enough.

Today my gift is the gift of time... the time that God has blessed me with to share these quiet times with my sweet adoring husband. We bought this time-share at Boyne when I was still working & we could afford it better, but now when finances are tight... had we not bought this 2 years ago, we would not have this place to get away to.

There is snow here but the slopes are not open yet... they are making snow and this is a picture my hubby took last night as the snow machines were going... it is like a mini blizzard!

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8

What gift of time do you have to share today? Or do you feel like time is too short? Like the verse says, "pour out your heart to God, He is your refuge."

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Gift of Family...

I realized this morning that Christmas is 3 weeks from today... how can that be possible??? I am trying to go with the flow this year... trying to leave my "everything has to be perfect" mentality behind. Is is possible... can I turn over a new leaf??? Hmmmm let's see.

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The gift I want to share with you today is the gift of family. I have been blessed with a great Christian family... my parents did a great job raising us (me & my 2 sisters). Mom & Dad, you are truly a gift from God! We are not your "typical" family of today, which makes it even more of a gift. We have laughed through the good times... we have cried through the bad times... and we have laughed & cried through both at the same time!

This picture was taken at Thanksgiving... me & my baby sis, Chele... she is a sweet joy in my life!

These two pics are of my older sis, Renee, and her 2 girls... Lindsay above & Brooke below. Na, that is what our family calls Renee, has been my inspiration many times throughout my life. Her sweet girls are like my own or as close as I will ever have... I miss them so much with not being in their lives on a daily basis anymore.

No, stamping today, but if you would share a memory of the gift of family with me... I would love it!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

The Best Gift Ever...

December 1st... only 24 days until Christmas... it is coming ready or not! The hustle & bustle is already starting, but I want to take the time and share some "gifts" with you through my blog.

The gift today is salvation... this is the BEST Gift I have ever received and what good would this Gift be if I kept it to myself & didn't share it? I assume that most of the people that follow my blog are believers in Christ, but assuming that is never a good thing, so I am starting with sharing the fact, "that the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Have you accepted this Gift? If not it is never too late as long as there is still breath in your body.


"Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!" II Corinthians 9:15 (Amplified)

with a grateFUL HEART, carin