Thinking of You...

Monday the 29th... only 2 more days left in March... did March go fast for all of you too?  I'm not really complaining... I'm just ready for Spring to be here and stay... praying for a better Spring and Summer than last year here in northern Michigan!

Easter is next Sunday... what kind of Easter plans do you have?  Do you have any family traditions? I was remembering about Easter at the Romain house when I was a kid... Romain is my maiden name... the way I wrote that it sounded like I lived in a half-way house or something... LOL... *Ü*  My mom always went all out for holidays... Easter was no exception.  We always colored dozens of hard-boiled eggs and then Mom and Dad would hide them around the house Saturday night after we went to bed.  (We live in Michigan so there was no outdoor egg hunts at our house.)  Mom always filled Easter baskets with that horrible, static grass and lots of yummy candy... she still makes up Easter treats for us, but usually the candy is in a Lock n Lock... so it is a usable "basket".  Don't get me wrong though, we always knew the true Meaning of Easter, but my mom just wanted to do the extra fun things for us kids too.

"For God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." - II Corinthians 5:21

I have a gift box of cards I created to share with you today... I gave this as a present to a precious friend of mine... I hope she thinks of me everytime she uses one of them.

The little flowers in the corner have a lil' stickles for the glitz.

                          

Coordinated the envelopes too!

Then made a box with a clear lid... finished with a tag and a small stickled butterfly and ribbon.

So glad you stopped today... and share some of your Easter thoughts with me.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Standing on His Promises...

Hi all!  I have a lot on my "plate" for the next few weeks, so I have been neglecting my blog once again. I wanted to share my version of the rag purse... I was able to make it when I was at my parent's last week.  I was able to find a video tutorial at Angie Kennedy Juda's blog.  I like the plain side better than the rag side, but that is just me. 

What do you think?  Next time I will probably make the strap wider.  Notice I put a pocket on the side to hold my cell... I put one on the inside too, so the whole thing is reversible.

I had a busy day yesterday... I had a job interview for receptionist in a chiropractor's office... I am kind of excited about it and I am pretty sure I am going to be called back for a second interview.  After almost 2 years of not working a regular job... it is a little scarey for me... you know I dislike change!!!  But I am just trusting that whatever is to be... will be... God has the plan. 

Trust is a really big thing for me... am I the only person that has a trust problem???  I am going on Heart Quest next month... if you don't know what that is... I really don't either... *Ü* ... all I know is that this is my time for revelation, release, renewal, and revival... spending some precious time with my Papa.  It consists of a 30 day prep prior to the actual six day "retreat," for lack of a better word, which I started four days ago.  Prayers are appreciated.

"He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." - Romans 4:20-21

Enough rambling... thanks for stopping! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Enjoy Life...

We have had some beautiful days... oh so Spring-like... wonder how long that will last????  Happy to have it for now... in Michigan we always wait for that last big snow... never last long... just a reminder that God is in control... plus it makes us happier when Spring returns again!

I am at my parents' for the rest of this week... this is one advantage to not having a "real" job... doing a few things here to help out and then Luke will come down on Friday... we will both go home Saturday.  Thanks to my sweet friends, Doug and Sharon, who brought me as far as Bay City (45 miles from my parents) and then my sister, Renee, came to pick me up in Bay City.  Na and I spent the whole day together just bonding through a little retail therapy... we spent one and a half hours in Hobby Lobby... another half hour or so in Michaels... good times!  Sorry our other sis, Chele, could not be there with us.

I know it is St. Patricks Day... and a happy day to all my Irish friends, but I have a not so green card to share... well, actually it does have green on it.

a couple of my favorite things... butterflies and bling!!!! YAY!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine..." - Proverbs 17:22

I hope you all are "enjoying life" today!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Wonder of Womanhood...

It is a foggy morning... does that mean Spring is closer???  No matter, the days are getting longer... luv that!  We change our clocks ahead this weekend... not so thrilled with losing an hour... now our DVD player will have the right time on it again... at least until November!!!! *Ü*

I am attending a women's Bible study on Thursdays called, "Wonder of Womanhood"... it has been pretty good.  The first few lessons I wasn't really "learning" anything new, but last week and this week the lessons have really been exactly what I need.  I am praying that through this Bible study I become a better wife to my hubby... he deserves the best from me.

"A woman's family is held together by her wisdom,

but it can be destroyed by her foolishness."
- Proverbs 14:1  

Seeking wisdom makes good sense!

A simple card to share today... made this card for my PFF, Heather, as she is in Texas on her Heart Quest.  Praying for her... enclosed a letter of encouragement for her day of fasting.

Also, please say a prayer for my mom today... she is suffering from a herniated disc and she is in severe pain.  She is going to the Pain Clinic this morning... praying they can give her some relief so she can start physical therapy soon.  I just want her to start enjoying life again not just watching it go by.

I am blessed by all you that stop for a visit and the few comments I receive are always music to my soul!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Do You Have an Answer???

Just trying to get some more things done around the house... the lady that spoke at NOFL Monday night really spoke to me... she spoke on "time management"... I know it doesn't sound too exciting, but it is something that God has really been working on me about.  I have so many different things going and I am feeling like I need to pull back from something but not really sure what... I vote for house cleaning! *Ü* Ummmm, that is probably not gonna happen!  I find myself putting off things that I need to get done and in return I am not able to do the fun things I want to do... wasting time... I hate procrastination and I have been the biggest example of that lately.  My blogging is something I enjoy so much, but I just have not taken the time to do it.  I am just starting to really explore my writing with writing for Women to Women Sharing Jesus and some writing projects I am doing for our ladies' ministry at church.  The hard part for me is knowing if this is truly something God wants to use me for... I only want to follow His plan for me.  Do you ever have those moments where you wonder is this it... is this what You want for me, Lord?  I am sure I am not alone in this.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." - I Peter 3:15 (NIV)


Here is a card I created using the 1/4 round punch, faux stitching, I think the dsp is SU Raspberry Lemonade???  I also made the "button" using layers of cardstock glued together, then added Crystal Effects to make it look shiny, punching the holes with my Cropadile.  Made it "with much love."

That's all for now... thanks for stopping and letting me share my heart.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Favor...

Quick post today... it is the second Monday of the month which means "Night Out For Ladies" at our church... so I am off to help out with getting things ready for that. But before I do... just wanted to share a little project... you know how you have stuff just laying around that you never use, well here are little bags I made using some not so pretty wrapping paper... I think the paper does make cute birthday bags for our NOFL ladies having a birthday this month... what do you think???

I know the pic is not the best but you get the idea... just the right size for a special little gift.

It was a beautiful weekend here... we really lost a lot of snow, but there is still plenty left... Spring is getting closer!!!

"For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD." - Proverbs 8:35

Have a great Monday!  with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Winter... Winter... Go Away!

It is an absolutely gorgeous day in northern Michigan.  When I can see the beginning of the end of winter it just changes my outlook.  I do like winter, but come March I am ready for the next season... plus last year we really had a hard time finding summer... it was winter, spring, fall and back to winter. 

There are a lot of good reasons for winter... both the physical winter and a spiritual winter. Our pastor just had a message on "spiritual winter"... I think we all have those, but hopefully when they do come we move quickly through them.  In winter it is a lifeless, cold time... what do you do when you are cold??? You need to put on more clothes... draw closer to the warmth of someone or a heater... it is the same with a spiritual winter.  In those times we must draw closer to God to get warmth from His love... there is no other way to learn from and move through our spiritual winter.  If we didn't have winter we probably wouldn't appreciate the spring and summer near as much.

 "To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” - Isaiah 61:3

You might not be able to stop winter from coming, but you can still keep your eyes on the glorious spring to come.

Here is another project we did at the SU class I went to at my sister's weeks ago.  Sorry I know it is "old" news, but I just haven't been taking the time to blog... I will do better... I promise!

Must keep moving here... lots going on.  God is so good.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin