Lovely Lady Award!

I am so honored to receive this award from Jan! Thank you Jan.

I'd like to award this honor to my dear friend Kayla and my beautiful daughter Ariana.

Love you both.

God Shares the Sweetness of Heaven

Today, while teaching my 3 younger daughters from the Biblical Holidays about Yom Kippur, we discussed how Christ, the Messiah did more than atone for our sins. When Christ shed His blood on the cross for our sins, He paid the price for us to enter heaven. In other words, Christ washed our sins "white as snow".

What does that mean for us entering heaven? Well, just like I showed my girls today, using the chocolate zucchini cake I had made, I will share with you. I showed them the cake and told them that I had made the cake all by myself (which I really did). I said, "What if I said to you that since I made this cake all by myself, I don't have to share this cake? I can just eat it all myself. Wouldn't that be selfish?" I continued, "God created this earth and heaven all by Himself. What if he said that to us regarding heaven? What if He said that since He made it Himself without any help, that He wouldn't share heaven with us?" Instead, God tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.

Then I served up pieces of the cake to my girls to which I asked, "Did you do anything to earn this cake?" They answered, "No". "Well", I continued, "Neither did we do anything to earn the gift of heaven. All we have to do is ask Jesus Christ into our hearts and to be our savior/Lord over our lives". That's all it takes to enter the kingdom of heaven. We don't do anything to earn it. So, God is willing to share all of heaven with us even though we didn't help create it, just like this cake".

It was such an impromptu event that took place this afternoon with my children, and made for a wonderful visual for them to understand.

So, with Christ, no more "atonement", because we have been redeemed by the ultimate sacrifice - the blood of the "Lamb" - of Christ.

Many Blessings on Yom Kippur and remember who carries our sins today.

October Stamp Club

Wow! I am so excited about the projects we're making tomorrow at Stamp Club, that I had to post them now! I got two of these techniques from the SU! website, and the little one is my original design.

This one (below) is made out of chipboard and can be used as an accent or a gift tag.

These were a lot of fun!

Got it!

Well, we finally got the light fixture to go with my Decor Elements. I love it! I looks so great in my kitchen. Everyone we've had over has loved the new look of my kitchen.

This is the other side of the kitchen where I put another "flourish" to balance out the whole look. It complements the beautiful view outside.

What do you think?

David and I found this light fixture at Lowes and we are planning on buying it for our kitchen when our next paycheck arrives. We think it will make an excellent addition to our Decor Elements! What do you think?

Happy 4th of July!

I am really blessed with great friends and making new ones all the time. Recently, I started a business in Stampin' Up! teaching others how to make fun, exciting projects. Most of those have been cards, but I have big plans down the road for a larger variety of projects.

Here are the cards we will be making tomorrow for our 2nd Stamp Club. Happy 4th of July!

(My upline, Kayla, inspired the 2nd design. The other two are original designs by yours truly)

New Kitchen!

I wish I had a real camera, good enough to take pictures of the entire kitchen that my husband, David, and I painted with two of our daughters, Ariana (17) and Becca (10). But our only camera, which happens to be Ariana's is out of batteries. We had a lot of fun and are very sore, but the end result is a beautiful kitchen.

When I cleaned off my very cluttered counter tops to make way for the painter's tape and drop cloths, I realized that less really is more. I don't even wish to put a thing back on my counter tops. It looks larger without all the "stuff"! Granted, everything I had out was getting used regularly, but it looked terrible. So, I guess I will have to work on decluttering the cabinets now so I can fit the things I use everyday, and keep the counters clear.

Here is a picture (I took with my camera phone) of the sign I hung right above my stove after painting. I found this sign shopping with my mom at a chocolate store in Elizabeth, CO, and it reminds me to look at God when things get crazy. Why over the stove? You may ask. Well, with 4 growing, hungry girls and a husband, that seems to be where I spend most of my time!!!

It reads: "I'm too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed"

What a Sight!

I had an amazing experience the other night. God, in all His Glory showed Himself to me in a way I have never quite felt before. Here is what happened:

Tonight, May 30, 2008, around 8:30 pm (MST) as I was watching Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with the girls - the battle scene at the end when Aslan defeats the white witch - God in all His Glory, showed me a glimpse of His coming. As I looked out my window toward the Mountains, I saw a sunset like I have never seen before. It was as if I was seeing Jesus Christ with His army entering the atmosphere of the physical world. The clouds were as purple and fuchsia flames shooting across the sky. I was so taken with the view, all I could do was worship. Tears began to flow as I could almost see a heavenly army rising through the clouds. In the midst of all that, all I could see was God in all His Glory! It was so real, I was almost bracing myself for this to be the return of the Lord.

I have never experienced Him in such a way before. For the first time in my life, I was not fearing the coming of the Lord as I used to. Since my childhood, the thought of living for an eternity and the coming of the Lord scared me. I was so fearful of the physical life I’ve always known changing and coming to an end. It was never anything I ever spoke of until now, just an underlying fear. I never felt that it was right to feel that way, and was ashamed of that feeling, having been raised in the church.

But when I looked into the sky tonight, I felt such and awe and peace, of ultra worship. How could I fear such a wonderful experience? How could I ever doubt that God knew what He was doing? I found myself surrendering that part of me tonight, that part of me that desires to keep control.

Control of what? Control of the physical? A way to keep “what I know” from tumbling out of what I have believed to be in my control?

What is it in the physical that draws my attention so? Is it that I know I can touch and “understand” it? I have always “understood” the spiritual realm and have had God communicate with me in spectacular ways before, but this time it was as if he was settling something deep in my heart.

God was telling me to get ready! Ready my family, ready my home, ready my heart! The urgency was not full of fear this time, but full of conviction. Full of the desire for His coming!!!

FULL!

Just a side note: When the “daughters and sons of Eve” entered the realm of Narnia, they did not know they were walking into a glorious battle. One of which would fulfill prophecy. They were only children, sent away from their home, away from the dangers of war only to be thrown into leading a holy battle that they weren’t even sure they were ready for. But Aslan and the rest of Narnia knew what they themselves did not know, that they were leaders…kings and queens. Even in this world that they did not understand, I saw their fear and lack of understanding turn into confidence and triumph. This is what God does for us as we walk with Him!

My First Workshop

As a new Stampin' Up demonstrator, I presented my first workshop last Friday. My 17 yo daughter hosted for me. She did a great job, and we had a lot of fun making cards. Here are our creations. The first one pictured was a design by yours truly inspired by Stampin' Up templates and my upline Kayla! It is an insert card (the top white part slides up out of the wild wasabi sleeve and the word "kind" is stamped on the insert behind the small oval frame).

Prayer Works!

I am so excited to blog today! I have been so busy starting up my new Stampin' Up business, I haven't had a chance to sit down and think of anything to say until now.

My dad called on March 29th and said that a dear friend of ours had gone into surgery that day and his blood pressure went to zero. They had to put him on life support. We immediately started praying for him and declaring that "he shall live and not die". The beginning of this week, our friend was being taken off of life support a little bit at a time because he was improving quickly!

Today I received the best email I have received in a while... It was titled "Prayer Works!" Here is how the message read...

"Hello all....
Prayer Works! Those were the words I heard coming through the phone tonight from an amazingly-revitalized Roger. He was still very much under the effects of the drugs and groggy yesterday but breathing on his own and all bleeding had stopped. Tonight he was exuberant to learn all of the details that his heart had stopped last Thursday and that he was really alive today. He was actually able to walk around the floor a full lap today and tonight he is articulate and able to rejoice for what the prayers of God's people have done. The man on the other end of the phone sounds like Roger now and he thanks all of you for digging in and supporting him in this dark hour. He told me tonight he knows what it is like to be the answer to prayer. Like wow! This works!
Thanks again,"

Praise God! I am so thankful that our friend overcame the odds and is alive to tell about God's will for LIFE on this earth.

Wordless Wednesday

Ariana with her cousin, Benjamin! He loves music.

Psalm 17:7,8 KJV
Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness,
O thou that savest by thy right hand them which
put their trust in Thee from those that rise up
against them. Keep me as the apple
of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

What Does the Bible Say?

I have been watching many of our loved ones struggling with sickness this month. They have been dragged down by the weight of infirmities. My niece has been coughing so hard that she popped a blood vessel in her eye. My sister had to take her to the hospital to rule out pneumonia. A friend called because their friend was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. My SIL has missed 3 weeks of work because of a strain of the flu. My MIL has been down with the flu and has been losing weight as a result. I could go on with the number of people around us that have been inflicted with these sicknesses. But....

What is God's will concerning healing? How can we learn from a time of sickness? Do we have an enemy that wishes to defeat the children of God? What does the Bible say about healing? Here are some scriptures that I have found concerning healing:

Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Luke 9:6
And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Exodus 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Psalm 67:2
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Matthew 8:8
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Matthew 8:13
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 10:1
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

What lesson can we learn through sickness?
Is God testing us through infirmity and disease or is it an enemy trying to destroy us?

Let's see what The Word says:

James 1:2-4 Amplified
2.Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.3.Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.4.But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

James 1:12-18
12.Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. 13.Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. 14.But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). 15.Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. 16.Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. 17.Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

This scripture applies to all areas of life, not just sickness, but we can see that God is telling us that He is not the one who tempts us. When we give into out own evil desires and sin, we open the door to satan who is more than happy to take the opportunity to attempt to destroy our lives in anyway possible. Is there hope to change that, if we have opened the door to the enemy? Yes! Thankfully, that is why Christ died for us. He shows us this in Romans 8.

Verses 1 & 2 say:
1THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

Let's look at verse 2. It is telling us that we are made free from the curses brought on us by Adam and Eve in the garden of eden. That we are not subject to those curses God spoke over them so long ago, as a result of their disobedience to Him. That is why He sent Jesus. He provided a way to mercy and grace through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus so that we can live in the fullness of what He intended for Adam in the Garden. In essence, Christ is our Garden of Eden.

When you get a chance, sit down and read Romans 8. It is so wonderful, and eye opening.

To answer the question of, "Do we have an enemy who wishes to destroy us?" This is my favorite scripture (although there are many more) on this subject.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

So, we can see that by the words of God's own mouth, His will is for us to live, and to live an abundant life. Therefore, he gave us authority through Jesus Christ and His blood shed on the cross to come against the attacks of the enemy and take our healing and prosperity in His name.

It is our God given right on this earth to do so.

Thursday Thirteen #2 - Do Over

My Thursday Thirteen is a "do over" since the snow and sickness forced us to reschedule the party. So, my list is still the same.

So, my Thursday 13 is my list of what has to be done (again):

1. Bake cakes and freeze (done)
2. clean up mess from cakes : )
   
3. confirm number of guests (done)
   
4. make frosting
5. clean house
6. clean dog's smudges off back door (done, but must be done again)
   
7. frost cakes
8. decorate
9. buy last minute food
10. Dust
11. set up tables and chairs
12. make sure camera is ready
13. Relax, smile and have fun with family!

Have a wonderful day!

Wordless Wednesday

My beautiful daughter
holding our neighbor's baby.

Happy Birthday! She's 17!

Thursday Thirteen #1

I am preparing for birthdays for two of my daughters this weekend. My oldest (17) and youngest (5) have their b-days one week apart. The best way to solve this is to have one large family party to save time and money.

So, my Thursday 13 is my list of what has to be done:

1. Bake cakes and freeze (done)
2. clean up mess from cakes : )
   
3. confirm number of guests (done)
   
4. make frosting
5. clean house
6. clean dog's smudges off back door
   
7. frost cakes
8. decorate
9. buy last minute food
10. Dust
11. set up tables and chairs
12. make sure camera is ready
13. Relax, smile and have fun with family!

Have a wonderful day!

PS - the bullet points were supposed to be numbers, but they turned out to be flowers when I published.

Wordless Wednesday - My favorite picture

Hebrews 11:1

1NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Wordless Wednesday

Baking Bread and Little House books

I have been reading The Little House Series with my children as part of our school this year. Wow, what an experience it has been. Right now, we are reading the Long Winter, and Laura Ingalls Wilder is describing the 7 blizzards that have hit their little town of DeSmet, ND. We have lost track of which blizzard has hit as of late, but one thing that has really hit home to us is that they have been living on nothing else than potatoes and brown bread for over a month. They don't have meat and they are running out of wheat berries to grind for bread. They only have a little sugar left to serve with their very weak tea and they are considering killing their cow, Ellen, and her calf to keep from starving to death.

Having grown up watching the Little House on the Prairie on TV I am realizing now how different the books really are. Stepping out of the dramatization of a weekly program all of which shows them hardly ever leaving Walnut Grove, I find myself completely drawn into their lives.

One of our assignments last week was to spend an evening without electricity. Dining by kerosene lantern (we do actually have one), and visiting and playing by candle light. I chose Valentine's Day to do this experiment - how romantic! I even fixed dinner by lantern to get the feel for what Caroline Ingalls had to do day in and day out. What a challenge it was trying to cook by that dim light. I am one that has to have all the lights in the kitchen on when I cook.

Our children loved dining by candlelight and Ariana (my oldest DD) asked if we could make this a yearly Valentine tradition, she loved it so much! I realized that I don't require as much electricity to live by and that I can save us some $$$ if I just did half of what we did that night. My dh is very pleased with that idea. ; ) Now we use the candles and turn out the lights more.

The other thing I have done more of with the Ingalls in mind, is to bake bread. I was taught by my own mom in 5th grade (the one year she homeschooled me) to bake. She taught me how to make it a business and I sold bread to our friends and neighbors. So, I decided to pick it up again (the baking part anyway). Only now I rely on my bread maker. Whenever I bake a loaf, it is gone so fast, I have to make another loaf. So today I made 3 loaves. It has been a great feeling of accomplishment. Here are the loaves on the right (the one on the left is made with different flour than the other two. The one in the middle I let rise too much, and my fav is the one on the right. Also, pictured here is my mom's homemade apple butter spread on one of the slices).

Thanks Tonya!

My dear friend, Tonya nominated me for this Totally Fabulous award. What a sweetie! Thanks again Tonya. Love Jo Ann : )

Make sure you check out her website for photography. She is an amazing photographer.

I nominate my beautiful daughter, Ariana for this award. She is a huge blessing in my life. She and I virtually grew up together. She is a great support in my life and an excellent student.

I Won!

I am so excited that I won Jan Parrish's drawing for Karen Kingsbury's, Just Beyond the Clouds! God is good!

I have also joined Jan's Book Club. We are reading The Bondage Breaker. I am looking forward to the discussions.