She Believed...

Yes, it is me... I know posting 2 days in a row!!! I am on a roll! Speaking of rolls... it is national doughnut day!!! I have been withholding from such things, but how unpatriotic of me not to celebrate!!! *Ü*

I am excited... my hubby and I are walking in Life Walk for CareNet of Cadillac tonight! CareNet is a pregnancy resource center. They do some incredible work to help ladies with unplanned pregnancies and also reach out to the daddies too!  It is about choosing life!

I am not trying to be controversial, but it is my blog and it is my point of view... I came across a post on facebook the other day about people posting things on their facebook page against abortion.  This person said that when people post that stuff it is hurtful to women that have had abortions in their past. Another person commented that it is so judgmental of people to post those things.  I got a little upset by the whole conversation... isn't it my right to post on my facebook page what I believe???  I really had to take a step back and think about it... my flesh wanted to post a comment right then and there, but thank God I didn't.  So I prayed about it instead... I asked God if my motives were wrong in the things I post against abortion.  I was shown my motives were innocent... anything I post against abortion is not about condemnation for someone's past... it is about saving someone's future!  I have never been in the position of an unplanned pregnancy so I cannot judge them!  On the other hand, I believe life is so precious... I will stand up for life and I am sorry if it hurts someone's feelings, but I would rather hurt someone's feelings than keep quiet about the life of a living breathing child!

Ok, on to something a little lighter... I have another card to share with you today:

I love this stamp set from Stampin' UP... yes I realized some of these items are retired, but that is ok... I like them!!! *Ü* A fond farewell to Pretty in Pink!

"Good Feelings" - Wood-mount $25.95 and Clear-mount $18.95

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"We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Blessings to you!

Hidden Blessings...

We got back from our trip to CA over a week ago, but I am still feeling a little out of sorts... I really dislike that because like I've said before I don't like change and maybe that is why I am feeling three steps behind everyone around me.  ?????  Enough of that... on to other stuff.

It has been bitterly cold here in northern Michigan... well actually it has been the awful wind that has made it so cold.  Yesterday morning our furnace quit working... of course!!!  I had somewhat of a total meltdown or as my nieces call it, "a come apart."  This is the 4th winter that we have had our furnace stop working and the furnace is only 5 years old... it is always pretty much the same thing everytime... we have replaced the motor 3 times.  It is a Goodman furnace and I would never buy that kind!!!! Just sayin'!  We contacted the company and the distributor and they will do nothing.  Okay, I did all that griping to get to the blessing part... first, we were blessed that it happened when we were home and not when we were on vacation... second, we were blessed it happened on a Friday and not on the weekend like last year when we had no heat from Saturday through Monday in February... third, we were blessed to have a wonderful man at our church that happens to be a plumber who came right away and fixed it and wouldn't let us pay him.  God is so good... you never know the reasons He brings people into your life until something like this happens where this sweet man could be such a blessing to us. 

I have a project to show you that I did when I went to the SU stamp class at my sister's... isn't this corkboard adorable?

We used the Big Shot of course, punches and the felt flowers... got to luv it!

"Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it." - I John 3:18 (Contemporary English)

Have a great weekend!  with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Renewal...

It is a beautiful Fall day... a little chilly, but bright sun & blue skies... what more can you ask for??? Today is WW weigh-in day... I started 7 weeks ago... I am still hanging in there... I did pretty good while on vacation last week. It was when I got home that I had a problem... so I was dreading weigh-in today... also I am blotted & crampy if you get what I mean... and a little no a lot hormonal... I felt like just staying in bed this morning, but I didn't. If it wasn't for my friend who is going too I probably wouldn't have gone. Now, for the bare truth... I was down 1.2 pounds! That is 8 pounds in 7 weeks... not quite like the "biggest loser" but my motto is "slow & steady wins the race".

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On to more interesting things... I am going to a scrapbooking retreat next Friday (23) thru Sunday. My sis, Renee, who is the SU demo, has attended it for years & it finally worked out for me to go too. I am not a real big scrapbooker, but I try... it should be a great time with Christian ladies & a good friend of ours is doing the devotions for the weekend. So, I said all that to get to this name tag I made... my sis asked me to help her out by coming up with a crafty name tag for the leaders at the retreat. I used my Cricut, along with SU Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, and some stickles too! She hasn't seen it yet so don't know if it is what she had in mind... what do you think???

I have this other cool picture I took while we were hiking on vacation... I thought this tree looked like it was trying to hang in there... bare roots & all. I feel like that some days... over-stretched, over-exposed, losing my "grip", but through God's strength I am still hanging in there. Do you ever have those days?

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" II Corinthians 4:16-17

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

Fruit anyone?

It is Wednesday... WW weigh-in day... down one more pound for this week, which brings my total for 2 weeks to... drum roll please... 4.2 pounds... yay!

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Had lunch with 3 beautiful, sweet friends... love them to pieces! It was my friend, Sharon's birthday lunch, so we nibbled & chatted for a couple hours... very nice afternoon. So for her gift I made her this little "purse" filled with note cards. Actually it is a take on the Top Note Purse, but I used my Cricut to cut the "top note" pieces. Used Versa Mark and heat embossed on the SU Choc. Chip cs with a build a brad for the center.

Used my favorite set "God's Beauty" for the cards with Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss; heat embossed the butterfly too.
She really seemed to like it, so that is all that matters! What do you think?

I am gonna give you a little serving of "fruit" today --

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"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,...let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

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with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Tuesday Mojo...

Just a quick post... I know 2 in 1 day! Posting this card I did for Mojo Monday over at the Verve blog. Used some of my SU Raspberry Tart... soon I will not have any left... that is hard for me being the hoarder that I am! Also used another one of my new stamps from Verve... really enjoy my new word stamps from there!

That's it... off to make supper... oh yeah I will be back tomorrow... it is weigh-in day at WW... second week... harder for me then the first... just sayin'.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

It's the stillness...

This has been a remarkable day... I haven't done anything too spectacular... just odd & end things around the house. What makes it so fantastic is that I had an incredible quiet-time this morning... it was one of those times I just knew I needed to let things go & let my Heavenly Papa take me in His arms. Do know what I am talking about? When you keep caring this garbage around with you... and you know you just don't need to be caring it. It is so refreshing... which leads me to this card I created...

I just adore how it turned out... am I aloud to say that about my own creation??? Oh well, I did! *Ü*

I get emails from Michelle Zindorf's blog & she had this card... well, not exactly this card, but mine is a variation of hers. Plus, in the mail today I got my new Verve verse stamps... their stamps are so sweet! I just knew I had to take some of the clear sheet from SU & stamp Psalm 46:10 with Staz-on to put on this card.

I just had to buy 4 verse stamps from Verve (what they call "Plain Janes" I think). My friend, Teresa Kline aka Enjoy the VA Sunshine, was just named one of their new "Divas" on Verve, check out this post to find out how to receive a discount, but hurry it is only good Sept. 1 - 8... congratulations Teresa!

Things are going good with WW, but I am getting hungry so best get at supper before something goes into my mouth that shouldn't... I am a snacker!

Have a blessed weekend!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Be an example...

Another week has flown by... summer or what northern Michigan calls summer is going so fast! I came across this verse this morning in my quiet time:

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12

When I was a kid I had a pennant on my bedroom wall that had this verse on it... I'm sure I really didn't understand the whole thing... like what does that part about despising my youth mean... why would anyone despise me???? What I did understand about this verse was the example part... that my behavior was not only a reflection on who I was, who my parents were, but most importantly on Who God was in my life. I knew I had to live what I believed... not that I always did that very well... thank God for His mercy & grace! I now know that just because you're young doesn't mean you aren't sincere in what you believe... if you still happen to be young don't let anyone tell you any different.

I have a baby shower card I want to share with you... it was for a friend who is having her first baby... I had to do something special. I used my Cricut to cut out the shapes; SU Fresh Fillers set; some button brads; a little white ribbon; CS & ink are SU Certainly Celery & Pacific Point.
So what do you think?

If I can ask, please keep my brother-in-law, Frank, in your prayers today as he is having thyroid surgery at 12:30 today. Thanks!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

The Cat's Meow...

Just had to post something today... it is off to a great day already... even though it is cold, gray, cloudy in northern Michigan. Bring on the rain, Lord, we need it!

On to more exhilarating things... I have a second devotional posted today on Women to Women Sharing Jesus... it is called "Am I In Focus?"... please go & check it out! Become a regular subscriber there... you will be blessed by the great women who are on the writing team at WTW. Speaking of that... I have been asked to join the writing team of WTW... after praying about it, I said YES! I am so excited to see what God is going to do & is doing through this great blog. I give God the glory for His goodness & love.

"I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised" Psalm 18:3

I tried a stair-step card... at least that is what I think it is called... I used the SU "Cool Cat" set I have had for a few years... I am a kitty-cat lover!


I think it turned out pretty "cool"! What I used: Paper: SU Raspberry Tart, natural ivory; Ink: SU basic black, Pink Passion, Pretty in Pink, Green Galore; Incidentals: Versa Mark pad, diamond stickles, clear embossing powder, sponges.

That is it for me today... I am having a SU party tomorrow... my sis & DH are coming for the weekend... I need to clean the house... go grocery shopping... & oh yeah I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon... one of those "fun" yearly check-ups... ugh!

On that note... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

God Bless America...

Just a quick post to share a couple projects... I finally took the time to do a little stamping today... yeah!!! So in honor of the up-coming 4th of July weekend I did a little experiment with an old SU stamp, "God Bless America"... I did a little brayering (if that is a word?), some sponging, some embossing... and viola! The colors I used were Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Really Rust... what do you think... I am so critical of myself when I try something new.

My other little project is a bookmark (ok Captain Obvious!)... my sister, Renee, that is the SU demo got us a bunch of bookmark sleeves to share so I thought I would give it a try. I used some generic dp along with Blush Blossom & Ruby Red. I used the "Flight of the Butterfly" once again... there is stickles on there too, but you can't see it in the pic.

That's it for today... do you all have any plans for the 4th... food, fireworks & fun??? It is cool & rainy here in Michigan, but I know that is going to change.

Be blessed! with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Graduation... congrats!

I am still trying to get back in the swing of things since being gone for a week & a half... things need to get back to normal... whatever normal is for me???? Playing catch-up with laundry & house cleaning... yuck! I don't mind doing the laundry... I just hate folding & putting away. And as far as the house cleaning... I love for my house to be clean, but I hate to dust & do windows... and both need to be done... I am an "OCD" house cleaner... once I really go at cleaning the house I about kill myself to make it spotless... that isn't always the most fun for my hubby to have to live with... okay that is my confession for the day!!! (love you Luke)

On to funner things (is that a word??)... anyway... here is a grad card I made for an open-house we went to for a dear friend's son... I find masculine cards so hard to do... and let's face it does an 18 year old boy really care???? So I tried the "tri-shutter card" for the first time... very cool design... I will do one of these again. I put the gift $ behind the striped pieces in the center. What I used: SU Baroque burgundy CS & ink, DP from a generic multi-pack, SU stamp set "Say It With Scallops" & "Send a Celebration", SU circle punches, and Cricut to cut the stars, numbers, parentheses.The verse I used was "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus." - II Peter 1:2 from the SU set "God's Way"... great verse!

BTW... I will be celebrating my one year blogoversary this week...

Time to get ready for church... until later... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

God's Beauty...

I am back home from my stay at my parents, plus a couple day trip to the U.P. & to a very chilly Mackinac Island... brrrrrr! Is is really June when the temperature is 45º... winds are 35 miles an hour... and it is raining??? With all that we still made the best of things & had a good time with family & friends... I doubt my aunt & uncle from southern California will want to experience the island again anytime soon!

Just a couple quick pics for today... this first one is of a card set I did for a friend's birthday gift... she loves homemade cards so now she has some to share with others. I used SU - Pink Pirouette & Kiwi Kiss textured CS, Raspberry Tart DP, Rose Red ink, Versa Mark w/white emboss. powder, God's Beauty stamp set.

This other picture was taken at the Wings of Mackinac Island butterfly house... it was a balmy 75º in there... we didn't want to leave once we were in there. I thought this butterfly looked like a tiger... I don't know maybe that is its name... I can see God's beauty in this too!

Ready to go curl-up with my hubby... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Party Day...

I am awake very early this morning... have such a busy day & I know I will need a nap in about 2 hours! Probably not very likely today! Brooke's party is today so I thought I would share a couple more pics with you... sorry no stamping today. I spent quite a bit of yesterday balling 2 watermelon & then carving both watermelon into turtle shells... I will have pics to show at a later time of that... I also cut up cantaloupes & honey dew melons until I was all sticky. *ö*


Last night we went to decorate at the hall where the party is being held... above you will see the turtley cake my sis carved out of cake... 2 - 16 inch round cakes for the body, 2 - 6 inch cakes for the head, an 8 inch cake cut for the legs & other various pieces... so although you can't tell in the pic... it is a GREAT turtle... oh btw it is chocolate & white marbled cake... yummy!

Also, here is one the table decorations I helped my sister put together... as you can see she used her Big Shot die cutting machine for the flowers. As I've said we can be a little over the top, but Renee really wants this to be memorable for Brooke... especially at this time dealing with the fire & being "homeless"... Renee wants this day to be so special... they really need a celebration of Brooke's accomplishment... and her parent's accomplishment too... parenting the hardest job in the world, but the rewards are priceless!

ok, I have rambled on enough... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

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

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)

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

Do not be dismayed...

It has been quite the last 24 hours... I wanted to get this posted yesterday, but my camera was not cooperating. I made this card to give myself comfort... and hopefully you too!

Yesterday morning my sister, Renee, (she is the SU Demo) and her family had an electrical fire in their home. They woke up at 1:00 a.m. to thick black smoke rolling out of their basement into the main part of the house... how scary... I just can't imagine. The good news is that they got out safely... the bad news is that the house is a mess from fire & water damage in the basement, (btw that is where Renee's stamping room is) to major smoke damage through the rest of the house. The really good news is that God protected them through it all... the room in the basement where the fire had started was right under the master bedroom... my dad said you could see the burn marks on the floor boards to Renee & Frank's bedroom... wow! Our God is so good... even in devastation He makes it so clear that His hand of protection is always on His children.

So I used this verse as a reminder... it says what I need to hear today.

In another translation it says: "Don't be afraid. I am with you. Don't tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories." Isaiah 41:10

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with a grateFUL HEART, carin

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My recipe: well first of all I saw a card like this on SCS, it came from Happy Thoughts & Inkspots. I changed mostly everything but the layout. Paper: SU whisper white, always artichoke, green tea DP; Ink: always artichoke; Stamps: God's Way & God's Beauty; Accessories: SU eyelet boarder punch, MS butterfly punch, diamond stickles, misc. ribbon.