30 Days of grateFULness (days 4 and 5)

Yesterday was such a busy day trying to get caught up on housework... with no electricity for over 24 hours and then once it did come back on, we had septic problems (yuck), so needless to say the dishes were stacked up and so was the laundry.  I can't stand to live in a messy house, if someone else has a messy house I don't mind being in it, because it isn't my mess!!! *Ü*

So my day 4 would have been that I was grateFUL I was able to get the dishes done and the laundry washed, even though it isn't folded or put away yet (I hate folding and putting away laundry!).

We also had a wedding to go to last night... it was a beautiful Fall wedding.  So here is the card I made for the young couple.

The words say, "There is no remedy for love but to love more."  The colors I used were Always Artichoke, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron... and of course had to add a touch of Diamond Stickles.

Now for Day 5... I am grateFUL for the sacrifice of Christ.  He died to redeem me once and for all. When I read about the sacrifices that people had to make in the Old Testament, under the law... I really don't know if I could have done it. I was reading in Hebrews 10 this morning... this passage really shows how the greatest Sacrifice of all actually took our sins away.  Verses 14 and 18 made this so clear... "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified...  Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin."  Thank You, Papa God.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

30 Days of grateFULness (day 3)

It has been a long day, so I will make this quick. On this 3rd day of grateFULness I am grateFUL for love in my life... love from Papa God... love from my hubby... love from my family and friends... and the chance to be able to love all of them in return.  Love is an action it is not a thing.  Share a little love today.

Here is a wedding card I made for our oldest niece that got married this last summer. We have a wedding to attend tomorrow so I will have to take the time to do a little crafting in the morning... yay!

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:9

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

30 Days of grateFULNESS (day 2)

Okay, yesterday I was finally gonna post something on my blog and before I could hit publish... we lost our electricity!  The area was having a severe wind storm and it took out our power.  All day yesterday from 11:30 a.m. on. So this morning, needless to say, it was a little chilly in our house.  I was able to go to our church and shower and wash my hair this morning!!!  You don't realize how much you rely on electricity until you don't have it.

So today I am grateFUL for my church and a warm shower.  Right now I am sitting at church writing this post... it is like a refuge for me... especially today when I am feeling a little like a refugee.

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

Just found out our electricity is back on!!!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

30 Days of grateFULness

I am such an "all or nothing" kind of gal... sometimes that can be really annoying to me. Once again I have let my attention be on so many other things that I haven't blogged in weeks!  I really haven't hardly stamped in weeks!!! YIKES!  I really could use some stamping therapy in my life right now. I have "collected" some craft items... I got in on the SU closeout deals (yay) and then the other day I went with a couple friends to a grand opening of a Hobby Lobby an hour away from home! Yes, that is the closest Hobby Lobby to us.

Fall is going so fast... can you believe Thanksgiving is a month away???  So, to get myself back in the swing of blogging I am attempting to do "30 days of grateFULness"... the grateFULness is not the hard part for me... the sitting down and blogging everyday just might be the challenge, but lets take a stab at it.  I really hope some of you will participate in this as well and at the end of the 30 days I will have some blog candy to give away. So stay tuned!

On day 1 ... I am grateFUL for Papa God's provision. "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26  So many times I let myself focus on what I don't have rather than what I do... God is so faithful to supply all my needs... I don't understand how He works it all out, but I don't have to understand it... I just have to believe.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

PS: In the middle of posting this we lost our power so it is being posted today.

with much love...

I am sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. I have missed it but I have also let other things stop me from doing it lately... poor utilization of my time. I wish I was better at that. I have been journaling plenty, just not putting my thoughts on here.

Here is a card I did using SU Wings of Friendship, SU border punches (luv those), and swirls embossing folder with the Cuttlebug. The words, "with much love" was stamped with a cheapy dollar stamp I picked up somewhere.

Do you read the Old Testament much? I must admit I have not always appreciated the Old Testament like I should... until recently.  I find the story of Hosea interesting… Hosea is a little book that I really never thought much about. To be totally honest there is much of the Old Testament I never thought much about, sorry to say. I always loved the stories that were told to me in Sunday School, but let’s face it I don’t recall ever learning about the story of Hosea. It really wasn’t until I was preparing a Bible Study schedule for our ladies' ministry at church that I really paid attention to it. Hosea loved and married a woman that couldn’t or wouldn’t be faithful to him. She ran off to the other side where she thought the “grass looked greener”… after many years of living a very unbecoming life, she was all “used up” and those people she thought were her friends really wanted no more to do with her. Her husband, Hosea, came and found her and was willing to take her back and love her unconditionally, no matter what she had done or what other people thought. It taught me that God is our loving Husband, we turn our backs on Him many times, but He is always ready and willing to take us back… all we have to do is turn back to Him.

I see this as a love story…I love love stories, but it breaks my heart when I think about the pain it causes to have someone turn their back on you... even through all that pain you can still give forgiveness to that one that hurt you… throw pain and pride to the side and just forgive! Now, look at the same story from the point of the one that needs forgiveness… how much does my Papa God love me? He will never give up on me even though I may give up on myself… what lovely assurance is that? “I will heal her faithlessness; I will love her freely, for My anger is turned away from her.” Hosea 14:4

See, a love story, like no other love story. Lord, let me walk in Your way, so I don’t have to fall in my own ways. (Hosea 14:9b)

with a grateFUL HEART, carin