Happy New Year!

I just wanted to post a new years greeting to you... and share a little project I did for a gift!  Our pastor had been doing a message series about preparing! Preparing for the coming of the Lord... preparing our hearts for Christmas! Live well... Laugh often... Love much!  That is my prayer for my life as well as yours! 

 

Reflecting on the good things of the past year... learning from the not so great things of the past year... praising God for the victories He has brought in the past year!  Have a Happy New Year and don't forget to live well... laugh often... love much! Looking forward to all that God has waiting for us just around the corner!

 

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

 

If you have a chance check-out Coffee Cup Corner too!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

JOY...

 

Christmas Eve... the 12th day of the "12 Days Before Christmas."  Spending time with my family... eating, laughing, and lots of chatting!  My hubby and I were blessed to attend a lovely candlelight Christmas Eve service.  It was a nice mix of contemporary music with traditional Christmas music... just really a nice service!  And as we left church it was snowing... they don't have much snow here in the Thumb so I thought it was a nice surprise!

 

I thought today I would share a card that shows the true Reason for the Season... a precious baby born so long ago... born in humble surroundings, but would change the world forever! Who could have imagined?  What JOY to know He came for you and me!

 

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

The Best Gift...



Sunday, December 23... Day 11 of "12 Days Before Christmas" ~ Oh my, it has been a long day with many miles traveled.  Left home before 8:00am headed towards Ludington for church... got 1 1/2 miles from home and realized I didn't have my phone... quick turn around and back on the road again. Made it just in time for 9:30 service!  Great services! Lunch with some special friends at House of Flavors... when you are in Ludington you must go to House of Flavors!  Hit the road again... heading across state to the Thumb to be with family!  We put 260 miles on today, but it is worth every inch to be with family!

 

My card for today is like one I did for my class only I changed up the colors... used Bravo Burgundy with Sahara Sand... of course still had to add glimmer paper and some shimmer paint!

 

Oh come let us adore Him... grateFUL for the Best Gift I have ever received.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Saturday Before Christmas...

Day 10! The last 10 days have gone so fast! How about for you?  It has been a busy Saturday for us just here at home... cut-out sugar cookies baked and decorated... banana bread made... peppermint merague cookies... goodies delivered to the neighbors and presents all done and wrapped! Now I can relax for a few days!

I am not sharing a Christmas card today, but instead a sweet Christmas greeting from our kitty cat, Mimsey!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

White Christmas... I think so...

Happy Winter! Yes, it certainly came in with a vengeance here in northern Michigan! But I luv snow! It's the wind I am not so thrilled about!

Alrighty... day 9 of "12 Days Before Christmas"... another snowflake card... Melon Mambo and Gumball Green combo:

We just got done watching "White Christmas"... I can watch that silly movie over and over! I like the music... and I absolutely love the beautiful costumes!  I admit it I am a sap!  I watch Hallmark Channel movies over and over too! *Ü*

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Greetings of the Season...

December 20! Day 8 of the "12 Days Before Christmas"... It certainly looks like Christmas here in northern Michigan!  We have about 8 inches of snow so far since this morning!  I have gotten quite a bit done around the house today.  The last of our Christmas cards went out in the mail! Yay!

I have some other Christmas cards to share... have to do it while I can... I love Christmas! And in honor of our snowfall:

 

My grateFUL HEART has a verse to share with you today... "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Merry, Merry...

Day 7 of my "12 Days Before Christmas"... I am at home trying to get some Christmas projects finished up.  I have a migraine... I get one maybe 4 or 5 times a year... now is not a convenient time for this... I just keep pushing on... slowly!

Christmas came early to our family and I just have to share... my dad's biopsy came back today and he is cancer free!  For anyone that doesn't know, my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August of this year... he had a month of radiation treatments... after waiting a couple months for healing from the radiation they did a biopsy last week... today we got the fantastic news! I believed that our prayers would be answered, but it is always a relief when it is confirmed! God is so good! He is so faithful!

Ok, now for the last Christmas card from my class:

I found a similar card on Pinterest... I luv the color, Pool Party! And of course the silver glimmer paper!

Thanks so much for stopping!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Comfort & Joy...

Ok, I lost track of my day and totally missed day 5 of "12 Days Before Christmas!" So I will be doing day 5 and 6 today! Yay!

I cannot hardly believe Christmas is a week from today! We had a beautiful snow covering, but all the rain we got over the weekend pretty much took care of that... oh well!  I don't know if it is just me or if other people are like this, but there are certain things that I think I need to have for it to be "Christmas." Do you know what I mean?  For instance, the other day I was trying to get baking things done and I could feel this ornery feeling coming over me. My hubby asked me what was wrong and I just burst into tears... I was feeling so overwhelmed and I wanted to get this done and that done, but I was tired and quickly running out of time! Don't you know Christmas isn't Christmas without Snickerdoodles??? *Ü* My level-headed hubby so gently hugged me and said to me, "Christmas isn't about all those things... those things are good memories of Christmas-past. And that is ok."  Um, reality check for me!  I guess with feeling like so many things in my life are up in the air... I was just looking for the familiar.  It did help me to refocus... I am thankful for my hubby that God gave me to ever so sweetly remind me of what is important!

Ok, enough of that... onto the 2 cards for today:

 This card's layout I originally saw from Jennie Maier.

And this card was something I cased from Amanda Mertz... just made the colors my own!

More Christmas projects to get done... so I better run!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Christmas Cheer...

Day 4... of 12 Days Before Christmas... It has been a very busy weekend... got so much accomplished. Our home is decorated... baking is almost done... just need to get Christmas cards in the mail tomorrow.  Speaking of Christmas cards... here is today's from my class:

Christmas Cheer! The glimmer paper is one of my favorites! Anything sparkly!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him...

Day 3 of the "12 Days Before Christmas"... It is hard not to have a heaviness looming in my heart today after the horrible events in CT yesterday.  I just keep praying for the families... that they would run for comfort to our Heavenly Father and feel His peace holding them up.

You hear the phrase, "Jesus is the reason for the season." And that is true, but with such an incredible Gift that God gave us over 2000 years ago... Jesus should be the reason for life! I guess, this time of the year it is easier or more acceptable to show our faith more, but it is the word of our testimony that will bring others to Christ (Revelation 12:11)... and that has to be more than just for a season. God has really been working on me about sharing my faith.

My Christmas card for today is:

 

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him... I bought this set, Come to Bethlehem, when it was on sale last month... I had to have it! I love the word stamp that comes with it... "Giving thanks for God's Gift of Love and the joy we share through Christ the Lord."  'Nough said!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Preparing for Him...

Here I am a little earlier than yesterday! It is a beautiful, sunny day here in northern Michigan... we do have the ground covered with snow but it has melted some over the last couple days! I am trying to get myself organized with decorating, gifts and baking, but I am feeling a tad scattered! No stress, right? No stress!

Over the last few months I have really felt like God was giving me the message of "patience and perseverance"... in the last few days He has also added "preparation."  He is giving me a chance to get my mind, spirit and home prepared for the next step, but I was also thinking of how He wants each one of us to get our hearts prepared for Christ's coming.  He is patiently waiting, but we have to remember... He will not wait forever.  Praying His peace... His strength... and His comfort over you as you make preparation!

Ok, here is the second Christmas card class card... did I say "card" a lot??? *Ü*

The wonder of the first Christmas!

"In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]." Psalms 5:3

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Twelve Days Before Christmas...

It might be after 10:30pm, but it still is December 13th... and I am going to try to share a Christmas card for these 12 days before Christmas.  I had 2 Christmas card classes last week and I wanted to share the cards we did at them.

I know I saw a similar card somewhere on the internet, but I put my own twist on it! This was the simplest card of them all.  We made 2 each of 7 different cards in total.

I hear my bed calling me! Thanks for stopping!
with a grateFUL HEART, carin