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

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

Real Life...

We had a great weekend! It is good to be back home, but I do miss the warmth of CA.  Friday night we had a comedy show at our church as an outreach... the comic was Jeff Allen... he was so funny.  It felt so good to laugh so hard... my jaw hurt from smiling so much... take a few minutes and go here to view some of Jeff Allen's comedy and here to see his testimony... it is so moving and shows how great God really is when we let Him be.

I have another little masculine card to share with you today...

I used gray, black and forest foliage on this card... a note of encouragement for a friend of my hubby's.

"Real Life" isn't always the nicest, but this verse paints an incredible picture in my mind for all of us children of God during those times when real life has got us down...

"The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

- Zephaniah 3:17

Just the thought of my Papa singing and rejoicing over me... nothing can ever take that away from me... now that is REAL LIFE!  Real life worth sharing with all of you... hope it is a comfort to you too today!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

grateFUL...

I am still alive... I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I am so sorry I haven't been on here... I have missed my blog... ;( ... I will never leave you for this long again!!!!

We were in S. California February 9th thru 17th... it was a glorious trip!  Luke and I were so blessed by being able to take this trip... not that we deserve it more than anyone else... God is just so amazing!  We got to get into the warm, sunny southwest and enjoy God's handywork... the weather was fantastic... the natural beauty was just so awesome!  Ok, sorry enough of my gushing... but it was so good!

I have so much I should be getting done today, but my PFF's are getting together again today for some crafting, chatting, nibbling... how can I stay home and do cleaning... I know the cleaning will keep... unless the "cleaning fairy" comes in while I am gone and cleans up????

I will share more of our California adventures later, but for now here is a picture of my sisters and PFFs in a tulip plant in my uncle's sun room... I had to put my friends on a stick to go with me on vacation.  You may be asking yourself, "is Carin crazy?"... yes, but crazy in a fun way!  They had their pictures taken all over during my vacation.

I also have a card to share today... like I've said before I have a hard time with masculine cards, but I thought this one I made for a male friend of ours turned out pretty good.  What do you think?

Well, more later... better get going... be blessed.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Done in truth...

Just a speedy post for today.  My mind is on getting stuff done for our trip next week... it is also on people in my life who are going through difficult, faith-building circumstances.  I hate to see anyone hurting, but when it is people that I am close to... it makes my heart ache for them.  Trials can be a way of God pushing us to the next level in our Christian life... not fun, but in the end oh so worth it!  So anyone that is going through difficulties right now... my thoughts and prayers are with you.

"For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth.  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD." - Psalm 33:4-5 

A little project to share today... I have seen all these flowers made with the big shot die... well I don't have a big shot... I have a borrowed Cuttle Bug and the Sizix die I used is also borrowed (thanks mom)... so here is my version of the felt flower.

I used a die that has 4 different size hearts... I think it looks a little like an azalea to me... but then again I have a very good imagination.  What do you think?

Cleaning my craft room... who knows what else I might come up with in there???

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

I Know He Knows...

Lots to catch you up on today!  I stayed with my parents all last week... kept very busy... painted their bathroom... took down and put away my sis, Chele's Christmas decorations... got my hair cut and colored... went to a SU class at my other sis, Renee's... see busy, but fun. 

Have to share one of the projects we did at the SU class... had such a great time with some great ladies! I am not sure what you call this... I call it a mini dresser... I also call it sooooo adorable!  Of course all the products used are SU... mostly out of the mini catalog.  That paper is just so gorgeous.  The drawers are just the right size for some Hershey nuggets... who would not like this for Valentines Day?

I have some exciting news... a week from today my hubby and I will be in sunny Southern California for 8 days!  I have family there... in fact I was born in Corona California and lived in Riverside until I was 10 months old.  It is kind of an unexpected trip that God has allowed us to take.  On the 12th it will be 20 years since Luke asked me to be his wife... I know too sweet, but it is a moment in time I will never forget!  So yesterday I found out we got tickets to the "Bonnie Hunt Show"... I am so excited... I just love her down to earth sense of humor.  They tape on the evening of the 11th and I think that show will air either Friday or Monday.  We went to the Dr. Phil show 7 years ago and we were shown on camera... that is my 15 seconds of fame... it is just so neat to see behind the scenes.

I came across the words to the song, "I Know You Know" and I just want to share them...

"I can trust to choose Your will for me,

Or I can choose to trust my own,

But every time I do I end up on my knees

Longing for Your arms to lift me up…

I can take the road You lead me down,

Or I can turn and go my way,

But every time I do I end up on my knees

Longing for Your arms to lift me up…

I know You know just what I need,

I know You have a plan for me,

So I’m gonna take Your lead,

And I won’t worry what the future holds,

‘Cuz I know You know.

Lord, You’re faithful in everything, everything

You’re the Rock I’m leaning on…

No, and I won’t worry what the future holds

I know You know."

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

I know the post was long today, but hope you found something good in it. Thanks for stopping!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin