Comforting thoughts...

Hope you all had an outstanding weekend! Ours was very laid-back... the only place we went was to church, but that was okay... it was just what we wanted. Luke made some home-made ice cream & we did share a little of that with the neighbors/friends. Yummy for the tummy not so great for the WW! *ö*

.

We (Luke) also got my birdhouse up in our yard... don't know if any birds will live there but I just love having it there! My daddy built it for me & then I painted it the color I wanted... my dad is "Mr Woodworking" he has his own handyman business & he makes different birdhouses & special order furniture... he is very talented... I am thinking maybe he should get an etsy account to sell his wares!

Here is a simple little card I put together for a friend's birthday... I love that fat cat! I heat-embossed him & then cut him out to make him "pop" off the card.
Came across these verses this morning... knew I had to share them with you --
.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." II Corinthians 1:3-4

.

You never know who you might come across today that needs that little bit of comfort.

.

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

Mums the word...

Happy Labor Day Weekend to all of you! Can you believe it is Labor Day already? This time of the year always made me feel a little sad... that is when I was still in school. End of summer break... back to school... sorry to say I was not a big fan of school. I did good in school... you know that perfectionism thing... but I really didn't like school. So I feel for the kids going back to school.

Here is a simple little card I did using my friend, Ruth's butterfly die. Really like that die... plus it feeds my butterfly fascination.

I was out pulling weeds & dead-heading flowers this morning... my annuals are pretty well shot, but the perennials & mums are just getting beautiful... I love my flowers & the garden, but I hate the weeds! Just like in life you have to nurture the good (flowers) and keep the bad (weeds) from growing out of control.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

I need to sow what I want to reap... if I want goodness & joy then I best be sowing goodness & joy into other peoples lives. If I sow hurt & misery in others lives that is what I will reap in my own. This was a new thought for me, but it does make perfect sense to me... I know it might be a little deep, but I really felt like sharing it for myself... and maybe for someone else out there in "blog land"... *Ü*

.

Thanks for stopping... hope all of you have a great weekend!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Choices...

Do you ever think about the choices you make in your life... I think so many times I just move through life on "auto-pilot" never really paying close attention to my choices. I am not talking about major choices but mostly little everyday choices. Right now our pastor is doing a series of messages on choices, called "Multiple Choice - every choice leads somewhere." It has made me think about my choices... and too since I went back to Weight Watchers last week... that is all about choices. BTW - today was weigh-in day... drum roll please... I lost 3.2 pounds! That is the payoff for making wise food choices & walking for exercise. Now if I can just keep the momentum.

I went on a little overnight trip with a couple friends to visit my family in the Thumb & shopping at IKEA near Detroit. We had so much fun... I don't know if I have ever laughed so much. It made me see how much God has blessed me with such great friends. I think about the choice Luke & I made to follow God's leading & move to the Cadillac area... it brings me to tears (I know a real surprise!) to think that if we hadn't made that choice then I would never have been blessed to know these great women I am privileged to call my friends & sisters.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly (sisterly) love; give preference to one another in honor." Romans 12:10

Now, about this card... it is a "wiper card"... I found the directions on SCS... the joke is it only took me 6 hours to complete this card. It was a very busy, very distracting paper-craft day at my friends, so I really wasn't working none stop for 6 hours on it!

When you pull the 2 sides the "wiper" part comes up... I thought it was kind of cool & I really like the colors... what do you think?

Watching & waiting for my hubby to get home from his Canadian fishing trip... I really missed him!

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Got the Power in you?

"God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." —Ephesians 3:20

.

I am still here even though it has been over a week since I last posted... I have been busy, but not really sure doing what????? Ok, I did finally get the painting in my bedroom finished. One thing off my list... don't know if I said before but I painted it "Grasshopper Wing" which looks to me like SU Always Artichoke or a hair lighter. I think it turned out really nice & Luke likes it too so that is really all that matters.

.

Let me see what else is going on... I started at Weight Watchers this week. A friend of mine asked me to go with her & I was willing to go... I went before but by myself... it is so much better to do it with a friend. We also have another friend who is walking with us & we will try to be good support for each other. I need to be accountable to someone... that is just how I am made. I am a lifetime member of WW... in 2002 I joined for the first time and lost 54 pounds in 10 1/2 months. I reached my goal & kept the weight off for 3 years. I know that now is the time to do something about it... I need to be real & face the facts... and I am trying. So I am sure over the next while this will be a part of my blog... the good... the bad... and the ugly truth. Hope you will join me on this adventure.

.

Here is a little gift I made for a friend... I wanted to give her a little something that would have that homemade touch. This is a distressed frame I picked up for less than $2.00... not cheap... thrifty! The picture doesn't show the colors very good or the sparkly Stickles on the dragonfly's wings. Hope she liked it.

It is cool & rainy today... good day to stay in. Luke is service director at church tonight so we will be going to church on Saturday this weekend... that is definitely different for us, but then Luke is leaving early tomorrow morning to head to Wawa, Ont., Canada to do some fishing. He will be back Wednesday. And I am heading with my PFF girls, Ruth & Heather, to the Thumb to visit my family & go to Ikea near Detroit... I am so looking forward to this little trip. Hope my friends aren't easily scared... hope my family is on their best behavior.

be blessed & have a restful weekend... with a grateFUL HEART, carin

Thinking of you...

I can not believe how quickly the weeks of summer are flying by... only 10 more days in August!!! Wow, I remember how my Grandma Bessie use to say, "the older you get the faster the time goes," never really believed her, but she was right. My Grandma Bessie use to have a lot of "interesting" things to say... some day I will have to do a post on some of her great sayings.

.

But for today... these are cards I did as a note card set... the yellow & orange one makes me think of Summer. Nothing fancy... a little heat set embossing for the flower.

Off to "play" with some friends today... they will be scrapbooking... not sure what I am in the mood to do... maybe just relax, chat & nibble.

.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly(sisterly) love; give preference to one another in honor." Romans 12:10

.

This verse is for my "real-life" friends and to you my blogging friends too! Thinking of you!

.

with a grateFUL HEART, carin

A New Song...

Good Monday to you... is it really good??? It has been rainy & dreary all day here in northern Michigan... I know the weather is not what determines my mood or rather what should determine my mood... sometimes it is just hard.

"O sing to the LORD a new song; for He has done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, has gotten Him the victory." Psalm 98:1

Let me see... I know everyday I wake up I should have a "new song" to sing to my Lord. Do you ever feel some days it is harder to find that new song??? Maybe it is because my whining is drowning out any song at all!!!! *Ü* I am kidding of course... to tell you the truth I have not been whining either... although I feel like I could. I have a choice to make... do I give into my emotions & feelings & start whining & being miserable or do I seek strength, wisdom & guidance from the Holy Spirit & make the best of the day that God has made???? It really is no choice at all when I think of it like that... how about for you??? I will sing a new song for my awesome Redeemer, Protector, Provider... my Heavenly Papa.

Here is a CAS card I made over the weekend... embossed on the CuttleBug... SU punches & stamps... sometimes simple is the best.

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