10 in 2010

I am reading my SC friends blogs and loving their top 10.  Yes, I follow the leader.  I don't know that I have 10 so I will just post and see what I come up with.

In 2009 I choose Blessings to be my "word" for 2010.  I was blown away by how God used that one simple word to truly bless me.

1.  God's faithfulness- I was able to serve on the Design Team at Faith Sisters.  By the end of the year I was only able to post a few layouts due to the craziness of life but I will continue to work until I finish my book.  The challenge was amazing.

 2.  This man.  I am blessed daily to have a partner in life that truly loves and supports me.  He is a man of integrity.  He is a man that supports his friends and will do anything for them.  He is a man that loves his kids.  He is a man that continues to challenge me to be the BEST me that God wants me to be but is completely happy with me the way I am failures and all.  He loves me.  

3.  For these pictures I am reminded of a few things. (1) Sometimes life gets a little messy (2) You have to enjoy every bit of life especially the messy part (3) Everything is easier *and more fun* when you do it with a friend (4) the pictures are the BEST b/c my husband had the mess cleaned up before I got home and took pictures to remember it. (5) My kids had the best time on this day.  Some times I need to let them be kids and not think about how much of a mess I am going to have to clean up when they are finished.  

 4.  I have two of the most incredible kids.  I am truly BLESSED.

5.  This amazing woman.  She reminds me to be the woman that God made me.  She lets me know that it is okay if I have clean laundry on the couch (at least it is clean).  She considers me a "creative" person.  Not something that I consider myself.  I just feel that I copy well.  She just inspires and encourages me.  She is a true blessing.    

 6.  Another woman who inspires me.  She is so knowledgeable when it comes to God's word.  I have admired her from a far for years.  And now God has placed her in my life to help me whether a storm.  He has provided me with her friendship that not only stretches me but encourages me in ways I never knew possible.  She is a blessing!  And it doesn't hurt that my son ADORES her son.  He prays for him every night.  He asks daily if we can go see N.

7.  This little girl.  She is vivacious. She is caring. She is funny.  She is loving.  She is full of faith.  She is... I could go on forever.  I am so blessed that she accepted the Lord this past October.  She continues to stretch me in my faith.  Who would have known that my child would do that.   Her curiosity for God's word just amazes me.  She soaks it up.  She loves to do things for others.  She continues to remind me that God is all I need and that his love and steadfastness are always with me.  She is a blessing.  And she is only 5.

 8.  This little guy gets so excited.  He asks me things like "Can I help?" "Can I sit with you?"  "Can I watch you read the Bible and talk to God?"  He ALWAYS has to have some for his sister.  He screams "I LOVE YOU" from the other end of the house.  He gets so excited at bedtime when we are thanking God.  "Thank you for ME!!!"  He is full speed ahead.  He is rough and tumble.  He is all smiles and spaghetti sauce.  He is a blessing!

 9- An amazing place to work with amazing ladies who inspire me on a daily basis.  They are true blessings to me.

10.  This amazing woman.  Her faith and friendship are a true blessing.

11.  This dress (okay I know that I am reaching a little but really there is a story).  I am blessed that I have lost 25 lbs since July (the above picture in pink I was 260 lbs) This picture I am 234 lbs.  I am amazed at a friends willingness to loan me a dress to the auction that she had never worn before.  Not willingness but persistence.  I just did not know that God had put so many amazing women in my life and gave me these incredible blessing of friendship.

12.  I have one more blessing (without a picture).  I don't have a current one.  I have spent a little time this year with my college room mate.  God blessed my life 15 years ago by giving me this AMAZING God-fearing woman to room with.  This year she has been in my life a little more than the last few.  She has been here on my darkest days when I thought there was no one.  She has shown me that still and even if we only get together a few times a year that she is one one of those life long blessing hand chosen by God.

So, in retrospect, my word was a good choice.  I am truly blessed!

 I am going to add a few of my favorite layouts from this year.  I have not done much in the way of scrapbooking when I look back over the year but it has been a truly blessed year.

The first is my testimony.  I love the simplicity and beauty of the page.  Some of my BEST pages this year have been without pictures.

 This is one on God's provision.  I love the notebook stamp in here from Unity's kit of the Month.  I also LOVE this paper.  It is from a VERY old My mind's eye.  I have had it for 5 years I think.  I still go back to this one pack of paper.  I use the scraps until there are no scraps left.

This one is about a nickname.  I it was a big soul searching layout that really got me to thinking about an adjective that has been attached to me since high school.  It is starting to grow on me.

I pray that you have a very BLESSED year in 2011.

Scrappy-ness

My scrap time started with 25 of these.  One for Charlie's teacher and 24 for the amazing women that I work with.  They are a true blessing in my life.  This year has had a few scary days (my mom's close to stroke).  They stopped what they were doing and prayed with me.  What an AMAZING world I live in that my co-workers can/will pray with me.  They have continued to lift me up and check on me.  They are incredible.  I am blessed to call them friends.  

 And, of course I would fail to take pictures of the necklaces.  I asked each lady's favorite color.  It was neat to tailor each necklace.

 The ones shown here are will be added to my Etsy shop.  It will open tomorrow. I am pretty excited about it.

Next came these very neat pieces.  I found there here.  I had printed out her blog piece and took it home to practice with Charlie. 

I thought  it would make good parent gifts.  I put Brantley down for a nap telling Charlie we would do this when I got back.  I had all the supplies on the table.  When I came back this is what Charlie had created by looking at the paper.  AMAZING!

   

 Here is a prayer book "Praying for your children"  It is in pink and gray. It would make a wonderful gift for a new born baby girls mother.    The idea is that you will meditate on one prayer and verse each day for 31 days and then begin again. 

 I got the idea from here.  I love their cards but I wanted something a little prettier.  I made one for myself and a very good friend.  I then started making them for baby gifts.  I hope others like them as well.

As I am making them, I pray the prayers for the child it will be for.
 

Here is another thing that I will add to my etsy shop.  They can be custom (your favorite verse and color).  I started by getting a list of favorite verses from my friends.  This verse is my stepmom's favorite.  I love how it turned out.  I use these canvas to decorate around my home.  Each child has a verse in there room.  I have a few canvases that I change out with the month or season so that I am reminded of God's word.

Mother vs Father

I was going to get better about blogging when it was new.  That did not happen.  Maybe that can be a resolution.  Dusty the kids and I were eating our lunch "as a family."  This is very hard to do with our work schedule so we only fit it in a couple times a week.  Charlie attempts to catapult a piece of ham across the table.






I, the mother, begin my "lecture" about proper table manners.  Dusty pops up with a science lesson.  "Charlie, in order to have a catapult that works you need to have a fulcrum."


I asked the kids (and D) to wait until lunch was finished and then I would give them an entire bag of marshmallows to practice with.  Here, D is instructing B how to hold his mouth in order to catch the flying marshmallow.


The fun followed!   As did 35 minutes and many, many marshmallows that flew across our dining room.  :)

My cup over flows

B came up to me while I was doing my Bible study this morning.
"What you doing?"
"I am reading my Bible and talking to God."
"I sit with you and watch you read Bible and talk to God."
WOW!  I am full.

ABC Edition: Joys of Life.

A-ABCD--Amy, Brantley, Charlie, Dusty. I am so INCREDIBLY blessed to have this. My family means the world to me.

B-Brantley-- I love how he does EVERYTHING full speed ahead. I love how he is a "me too" boy. I love how if he gets/wants something he always asks for one for his sister or splits his without a second thought. I love his smile. I love how he sings at the top of his lungs all the time. I love how he says lemonade. I love how when he prays at bedtime he always says "bless sister, and mommy, and daddy and ME! with a huge smile and a peal of excitement that God made him. I love how if we are praying anywhere but at bedtime he says God Our Father. I love how he bursts into Oh, praise the Lord no matter where we are. I love how he sings Charlie's Christmas program from Church. I love how he says "follow me." I love him to pieces.

C-Charlie--I love her curiosity. I love her genuine love for others. I love her thoughtfulness. I love that she thanks anyone in a uniform for keeping us safe. I love that she thinks freedom is more important than safety. I love that she randomly drops to her knee to pray no matter where we are or who we are with. I love that she reminds me to thank God for things. I love that she challenges my faith. I love that she "loves" Africa. I love how she randomly prays for friends she has not seen today. I love that when she does this she cries and says she misses them so much even though we may have seen them yesterday. I love that she tells silly jokes. I love that she remembers anything that she has heard. I love her spirit. She is growing up to be one of the most amazing little girls I have ever known. And, she is MINE.

D-Dusty-- The love of my life. I love that he calls me almost every night to let me know that he is on his way home. I love that he is a home body and family man. Family is everything to him. I love that he does silly stuff with the kids. I love that this man prays with my kids every morning before they go to school. I love that this man mops the floors b/c I love the smell when I get home. I love that this man has dinner ready b/c I have had a busy day. I love that this man buys my kids stuff when they are sick b/c he can't handle seeing the kids sick. I love that this many stays longer at work b/c he knows a friend needs to go home early or gives up a shift b/c someone needs the money. I love how excited he gets when I have made him sun tea. I love that this man in MINE.

E-Everlasting life and the Faithfulness of God--(okay so I am reaching) I am amazed on a minute by minute basis of how faithful and loving God truly is. He is always there. He cries when I cry. He laughs when I laugh. He is proud when I am proud. He is joyful when I follow him. He is sadden when I disobey.

F-friends. I seem to have always had this desire for "one" true friend. The person I could call my BFF. I have learned over the years that God has provided me with SO many dear and true friends that I don't know that I will ever have that "ONE" and only friend. I have so many dear dear friends (real and internet) that I am just thankful.

G-giving gifts. I love to make or do small things for others that are not expected. Maybe it is a coke for the teacher or a note to a friend. Maybe it is something "holiday" like Easter eggs in a friends yard. Or, a personal journal after we have had a conversation about "needing" to start a book to a child. I just love doing these things. Especially if it brings a smile to someone's face.

H-hands. I know it is silly, but I love to take pictures of hands. I love to see my kids hands next to grandparent hands. I love to pictures of hands holding each other or hands doing something together. It's crazy!

I-Ice cream. I LOVE ice cream. Butter Pecan if my first choice. Plain Jane vanilla my second. I love everything about ice cream. I love how a scoop of ice cream in a waffle cone seems to make the day melt away. I love that a single scoop with chocolate syrup and sprinkles makes my kids smile.

J-jeans. I just love jeans day at work. It is something so simple that seems to make the day SO much better just b/c I can wear my jeans.

K-kids I love to teach. I can't imagine doing anything else.

L-laughter I love to laugh, to be silly. I love that my family has a bag full of family games that just has me in stitches. Fe fi fo, tickle monster, you can't get me, sock wrestling, I love when Charlie learns a new joke or Dusty teaches one to B. I love when Dusty and I watch top gear and laugh the whole way through the show.

M-music I love music of all kinds. It just makes me happy. I love to sing. I love to be silly when I hear a song that makes me happy.

N-Naps. I love to take naps.

O-ordinary days. I love to have ordinary days where nothing special happens.

P-Photographs. I love to take pictures and tell the story of life through them. I love to scrapbook.

Q-quiet. I love to sit and listen to the quiet of outdoors. (country outdoors not city) I love to listen to water running, birds singing, crickets chirping. I love the sound of the wind and the sound of the rain.

R-rain (unless I am at school) I love rainy days. I love playing in the rain and laughing when the puddle splashes every where. I love to hear the rain hit the tin of the stove vent. I love to feel the droplets hit my cheek.

S-stories. The stories in books. I LOVE to read. The stories in our day. "Tell me about your day." The stories in our past. "Remember when" and "When I was little" The stories in my head. I love to tell stories to the kids and write stories here and there. Maybe one day I will publish one. I am so thankful for stories.

T-talking My favorite time of the day is pillow talk. When Dusty and I talk about our day. He HATES it but does it b/c I wait all day for it. I love to hear my kids talking together. I love to talk to my family on the phone or take the time to just listen to the kids at school or to "chat" with a co-worker. I love to have lunch with a friend and "catch-up". I LOVE to talk.

U-underwear I love that word. Big or little it always gets a laugh. And I love the old boring low-cut cotton briefs. Granny panties.

V-Villa--This is a "secret" dream. Someday, I would like to have a villa by some body of water. It doesn't have to be something big. I would even take a small creek or a lake house. Something where I can "get" away from everything and just enjoy the water. I would love for it to be some place where I can go to write if that day ever comes. I would love to have enough that it could be a weekend get away for the family. I would love to loan it to others as well. I would want it large enough to sleep 20 people comfortably so that we could take a few others with us if we chose. Okay, so maybe it does have to be something big.

W-Water. I love the sound of running water. Waves crashing on the shore. Brooks trickling over rocks. I could sit, look and listen to the stillness of water. It is my calm place. It is the thing of "country" life that I miss. I miss being able to go to the lake and just watching the peacefulness of it all.

X-excitement I love to make the "boring" exciting. I love to make life an adventure. What adventure should we go on today?

Y-Yogurt--But not any yogurt. I love only the yoplain thick and creamy. But not any yo-plain thick and creamy, I love blueberry pie, raspberry, key lime, lemon , strawberry cheese cake. I love to add granola cereal to my yogurt.

Z-zeal-- I love to see others with a zeal for something. zeal: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something. I wonder what people would say my zeal is.

Advent tea

Working at the Catholic School has been a faith blessing for me. I have found that in the 7 years that I have taught there I have examined my faith against theirs and have been given huge blessings. I have kept many of my one traditions and adopting some of their traditions as well. One of the things that I have learned about is the Jesse Tree. When preparing for our latest family night on your faith during Ordinary times I came across a post about Advent Tea. This "Tea" is one that is a food representation of the different stories read during the devotion of the Jesse Tree. I decided to try it. (This is so not something I am good at--hosting. It is out of my comfort zone. I seem to be getting out of that zone a lot lately.)

I sent out invitations. Got a menu ready. Went shopping. Made food. Hosted the tea. I had so much fun, especially when Charlie started asking about the food that I was preparing. She got her Bible and began retelling the stories. Some of these stories we had not read in a very long time. I had a nice presentation of the food but forgot to take a picture. I hope this will become a yearly tradition with friends.

We started out with four things on our plate and ran through the stories. Then I added a food and read the verse. I think that next time I will do the whole thing like that, one story at a time. I know that B did not get much out of it. But, I do think that if I keep doing it, he will get something new each year. I hope that my friends were blessed by the tea as much as we were.

Adam’s Apple

Apple slice w/ a gummy worm serpent

Genesis 3:6

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Noah’s Ark

celery boat w/ peanut butter, 2 animal crackers and a skittle rainbow

Genesis 9:12-17

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

Abraham’s Stars

ham lunch meat cut into the shape of stars w/ small cookie cutters

Genesis 15:5-6

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[d^] be.”

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Isaac’s Bundle of sticks

8 pretzel sticks tied into a bundle

Genesis 22:6

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

Jacob’s ladder

untie the pretzel sticks and create a ladder

Genesis 28:12

12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Those two stories were told together. Once they had their ladder made they could eat the pretzels.

Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors

corn tortilla cut into the shape of a coat, spread w/ peanut butter and topped with colorful sprinkles

Genesis 37:3-4

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate^[a^] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

The Burning Bush

broccoli covered in thousand island dressing

Exodus 3:2-3

2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

Moses’ Tablets of the law

Milano cookies w/ roman numerals written on them in black icing (the ones on the internet looked so much better than mine)

1 The LORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

Jonah and the Whale

a bowl full of whale crackers and a little people counter (I could not resist.)

Jonah 2:1-2

1 ^[a^]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:

“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.

The Root of Jesse

Carrot sticks (b/c they are a root vegetable)

Isaiah 11:1 and 10

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

David’s Star

I did not understand how this story related to the star of David.

Cut large star shapes out of flour tortilla's sprayed with butter sprinkled w/ cinnamon sugar and baked.

1 Samuel 17:45-47

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Bethlehem, House of Bread

biscuits cut into quarters and baked to look like a roll

Matthew 2:5-6

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[a^]”

John the Baptist’s Honey

honey (for the biscuit)

Luke 1:41

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:3

3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”^[a^]

Angelic Messengers

angel hair pasta w/ sauce

Luke 1:26-28

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Flowers of Jesse

rose chocolate suckers

My mother-in-law use to make candy with Dusty and Mistie so Charlie made these with her one weekend.

Isaiah 11:1-3

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

I really do hope that this becomes a tradition for us sometime during the Christmas season.

Super parents!

D and I made Christmas tree cake pops tonight for Charlie's girl scout party tomorrow. We had fun. Cake pops are defiantly something you want to do WITH a friend. We lost a few but I think they turned out well. And we used all products w/o peanuts!