One Week Down

My DH has been gone for one week ... I have not slept well at all! In fact, went to bed at 5:45 pm last night! Have purged the kitchen cabinets for expired spices, etc.; matched up all containers with their lids. Today I am at my crafting table working on cards! It is such a great outlet for anxiety! Hope everyone is having a great weekend -- will post some pics later on today of the cards. This set of 12 is for a giveaway that I sponsored at Shabby Chic Boutique. One of the talented Air Force wives who run this online boutique is my lovely daughter, Melissa.

Crafter's Digital Art Center (CDAC) Progressive Freebie Challenge

Oh my goodness .... if you haven't joined this fabulous club, now would be the most awesome time to do so. The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two weeks to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free, but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenge's images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.. Let the fun begin!!!

July 14 --- It's Happening

Be sure to hop on over to Tiddly Inks on July 14 for their new release with Make it Crafty! This will be the hit of the season -- the fusion of Victorian and Steampunk images! Can't wait until July 14 -- go there now and have a try at winning 5 Tiddly Inks images!

As the Deer Panteth for the Water

My time with Jesus this morning was over Psalm 42:1: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God (KJV). This truly speaks to where I am this morning -- my soul longing after God. So much devastation in the world, lost lives, lost homes, lost souls ...

As the deer panteth for the water -- So my sould longeth after thee -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.
You alone are my strength, my shield -- To you alone may my spirit yield -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.

I just love this song. As I read my Bible, the words just kept playing in my brain. Facing some tough decisions in my personal life and seeking the strength of my Lord and Saviour for guidance. He alone will stand beside me all the way and provide the courage and strength I need.

On my creative side, would like to let you know that Tiddly Inks is offering some terrific blog candy. Hurry on over there and link up for an opportunity to win and to get some freebies.

So Much to Celebrate

WOW, today is a totally fabulous day -- it is the National Day of Prayer and there is no better opportunity to turn all your cares and blessings to our Lord and Savior than today ... but remember, there is no place or time we cannot pray! Take time each and everyday of your life to thank God for the blessings He heaps upon you ... don't forget, blessings come in different packages and some might not be as easy to swallow as others ... but they are all blessings He has given us!

It is also Cinco de Mayo -- take time to explore and try a new, or old, culture and food today! There's nothing quite like chips and salsa!!!

And last, but definitely not least, today I had the awesome opportunity to enter a Mother's Day Getaway Giveaway ... two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines plus a prize package. This fabulous opportunity is being offered by Simple Mom; give it a try for yourself ... altho' have to admit, I hope I am the lucky winner!!!!

Pondering Life

Why does life just rush right by us? Does it not know that God intended for us to stop along the way, smell the flowers, admire His glorious art, and just plain have an abundant life filled with joy, sorrow, laughter, pain, etc?

I cannot believe that we are at the end of the second month of 2011 -- absolutely boggles my neurons! I am in the deepest of prayer modes as my daughter and son-in-law search for their first new home!

I flew to Texas to help Melissa drive from Wichita Falls to Hill AFB outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a wonderful trip and provided the two of us many hours to reflect on our lives and plans for the future. Having been a single parent to Melissa for almost 20 years, we are like 'white on rice' and share everything! It is a great feeling when your daughter is also your best friend!

Sharing Jan Silvious' Devotional

Finally . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. —Philippians 4:8 NIV

If we can’t control anything else in our lives, we can control what we think about. But when we have been buffeted by a situation that throws us, it is easy to abdicate our control and go to our “favorite bad feeling.” That’s the feeling we went to as a child because we learned that it helped us get what we wanted. Once you are an adult, you will find that it is the first place your mind rushes when there is something troubling on your mental radar screen.

Some of us cry, some pout, some sleep, some eat chocolate, some go shopping, some withdraw, and some slam doors, some clean house, some sit and stare. You could probably fill in your own favorite bad feeling. But you don’t have to respond that way, you can choose not to go there. Circumstances rarely change, but how you feel about the circumstances can change dramatically.

How you feel is up to you, not to anyone else in your life. Peace is the result of choosing to focus your mind on what is true and honorable and right. When you choose to do that, it is amazing how much peace will overtake your mind and heart.

—Jan Silvious