Woopppeeeee!!!!

I got my cards done!  Yes, I did!  Sure wish you could see me doin' my little happy dance!  They turned out much better than I had even hoped for.  Thank You God!  Even my mistakes were salvageable.  To me, that is terrific success!  And I do give praise to God for that.

I had posted pics earlier of the first three cards and their envelopes.  Well, my cards were pretty thick, pair that with an easel, and it was almost impossible to get everything in the envelope.  So, Gayle, at Ligaya's Creativity Zone had put up a new design file and she had the most perfect box for my card.  Another praise to God for that.  I got her blog addy in my list of blogs that I follow.  Her box had a window in it.  I did not have acetate to put in for a window.  But, I did have some gloss laminating sheets.  Yep, it worked!!  I just laminated the sheet together without anything in it and it made a clear window, perfect for my needs.  Another great big "wooopppeeee"!!!  I did make pics.  Here they are:

 I know I got carried away with all the decorations on this card, but it sure was fun.

The above pic is the inside of the card.  I liked that a whole lot.

 This is the whole thing put together in the box.

This is a pic of all three of the other cards in their new boxes.  I really like how they turned out.

I hope you like what you have seen.  More than that, I hope you have been inspired to just try to have fun with what you're doing.  I had told some friends this week that I always put too much pressure on myself when I'm crafting.  I finally just let go and had fun.  It's not rocket science or brain surgery, but it is something I "do" try to do with thoughtfulness and love, which makes it a part of me.  Having fun is something I do well! ggg

As the day starts winding down heading into a night of rest, I hope that you find time to spend with Jesus.  If you have problems, give them to Him.  If you have a word of praise, give that to Him.  Whatever you have on your heart, give it to Jesus.  Jesus is the One who calmed the storm.  Do you have a storm you are going through?  Call on Jesus, He'll see you through it. .....joy comes in the morning!!  Praise the Lord!!

hugs, Patty

Cardinals....

Well, the mocking birds keep all of our cardinals scared away.  Ever once in a while there will be one or two.  So, this morning, I decided I would do something about that!  What did I do, you ask?  I made my own!!!  See...

Ok, come on now, what did you think?  Be honest. ggg  Well, I did make them.  With a little help anyway.  This is the Tim Holtz cardinal and poinsettia movers and shapers.  I cut the poinsettias also, but haven't done anything with them yet.  I was just so stinkin happy with my cardinals I wanted to show you.   Woooppppeee!!!!

I also got the poinsettias made just a few minutes ago and am adding pics of them.  The greenery is from something else and I just used what was left over, works for me.

This is four of the Tim Holtz poinsettias all blinged up.  The center one, that is just a tad larger is a Penny Duncan file.  I love Penny and I love her designs!!!

These were a lot of fun to make.  They really were.  I will be using them more, now.  When I first got the TH movers and shapers cardinal and poinsettia die, I was disappointed at how small they were, but they are great!!!

Be blessed today in name of Jesus Christ!!!  Tell someone you know that Jesus loves them.

hugs, Patty

Been busy today

Good afternoon, Y'all!!! I've been a busy little toad frog today. Trying to get some cards made. They finally started coming together. I got all the "pieces parts" made, then putting everything together went pretty quickly. I did take a few pics. So, this is what I meant by "pieces parts". I had three piles that looked like this, for the three separate cards.

Then I started working on each separate pile, and this is what they look like. It doesn't show real well in the pic, but the inking of all pieces is purple. The glitter glue on the flowers is purple. The underlying paper is blueish.

 The pic below is what the inside top portion of the card looks like. I used the window I punched from the front on the inside.

The sentiment is stamped on plain paper that I cut to fit, then used a Martha Stewart border punch on the edges. Then I lightly inked the edges with the theme color for it to pop a little.

The color theme for this one is a teal blueish color. So all edges are inked with the same color. The flowers for all three cards was cut from the same paper. But, they all look different due to the different inks and glitters used.

This one is inked and glittered with orange. The paper for the flowers was two sided also. One side was light and the other side was dark. Mix that with all the different inks and glitters, and they are all different looking.

This last pic shows what the mat for the sentiment looks like with the border all around punched and inked.

Well, this is what has kept me busy for the last little bit. I have one more to make and got a little of it already started on. So, hopefully i will get it knocked out in a little while.

Thanks for looking at my project. I would love for you to leave me a quick message. As I leave you this afternoon, I pray you've had productive day. I pray that you have an opportunity to be a blessing to someone today. Look for ways to make a difference in just one persons life. Have a great rest of the day and thank God for all He has done for you.

Until next time, hugs, Patty

Sorghum Popcorn Balls

In my last post I had mentioned Sorghum.  Yeah, I love it, what can I say!  Most everyone where I came from does.  There's nothing quite like it.  You can use it in recipes and it will add a deeper, richer flavor that is wonderful.

This is the second installment of Sorghum saga.  I hope you enjoy this.

Sorghum Popcorn Balls

Well, we had the adventure with sorghum in the country. This is a succulent treat made with the sorghum we carried home that day.

None of the six of us children had ever had or even heard of a popcorn ball. But mom had. Dad had gone to the store and got some popcorn. And it seemed like every day when he came in from work he had another little something in a little sack that they were all secret about. When we would ask mom, she would just say “never mind”. Never mind was never a good answer for me, even when I was little. But she finally did tell us one morning when we was getting ready for school that she would have a surprise for us when we got home. All of us kids could not imagine what kind of a surprise it could possibly be. We thought about it all day at school.

I even told my teacher first thing when I got to school that she needed to hurry up and get our day over so I could go home early. She laughed and said she wasn't in control of the time. I asked her, ”Who is, I need to talk to that person?' She said, “Honey, it doesn't work that way. We have so much time we need to be here and noone can change that.” She asked, “Why do you want the day to hurry and be over?” I told her that mom said she will have a surprise for us when we get home. And I need to hurry up and get home. I was in the first grade and there was a lot of stuff that just didn't make my list of things to be concerned about. So many hours at school each day was one of those things.

I knew what my mother was doing at each and every hour of the day. After all, I had spent the first five and a half years of my life with her alone every day of the week. So I really didn't want to be at school any way. And here, today she has a secret that I don't know about. It really upset me that she was doing something without me. Time ticked by slowly, but it did tick by. When we got on the school bus to go home, I sat by my oldest brother. I asked him if he had figured out what mom's surprise was. He said, “what”, “what are you talking about?” I said' “how could you forget that mom said she would have a surprise for us when we got home?” He said, “I don't know but I did.” I was so mad that he could dare to forget a surprise from mom.

This day it seemed like it took forever to get home. When the school bus stopped, the six of us jumped off the bus and went running to the house. As usual, our mom was there at the door waiting for us to get in. She always said she was taking a head count. She wanted all of hers, but she didn't want any extras. I can tell you now that if the other kids had have known what was in store for us, they would have gotten off at my house.

We got in and mom had the biggest smile on her face. She was a pretty woman anyway, (still is, I might add) but when she smiled I just thought she was beautiful. I threw my little satchel down and started jumping up and down. “Where is it, where is it?”, I asked. “Where's what?” she asked, still smiling. “You know, you know, you promised us a surprise, where's our surprise?” She said, “Ok, ok, turn around with your back to me, shut your eyes and don't look till I tell you to.” The six of us lined up in a row, (could have been a firing squad, and we would not have know any different) with our backs to mom and she went to the kitchen and all the while telling us not to look and keep our eyes shut.

She came back to the family room and said “turn around and open your eyes”. We all did, and one at a time our mouths flew open and our eyes got big. I started jumping up and down again saying, “What is it, what is it?” She had this large cookie sheet full of these round balls. They were beautiful , even tho I didn't know what they were. I said, “ohhhh, can I have one?” She started laughing and said, “They are popcorn balls”. She started handing them to us one at a time. When she handed me mine, I smelled of it. Oh, I recognized that smell. It was sorghum. She had made us sorghum popcorn balls. They were the best things we had ever eaten. Yes, she let us eat one before supper. Then we got another one after supper. We all loved that surprise. I remember one of my brothers trying to bribe her with being good if she would make us another surprise. That didn't work. She said you will get a surprise if you're “not” good, but it will definitely "not" be popcorn balls.(written by:pjg 08-13)

Here's a recipe for Sorghum Popcorn Balls

3/4 cup sorghum molasses
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cook sorghum and sugar over low heat to firm ball stage (250 degrees).  Add butter and soda.  Pour over popcorn (about 8 quarts, popped) and form into balls.  Dip hands into cold water to handle hot mixture.  Makes 18 to 20 popcorn balls.

I hope you give this easy recipe a try.  I know your children or grandchildren will love it, and to be truthful, you will too!  What better time of the year than now to hone your skills with sorghum.  Everyone around you will love you for it, especially if you share.  ggg  And with all the pie baking that goes on between now and the end of the year, you can use it in your recipes.

A quick rule of thumb:  When you are using sorghum, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, add 1 and1/3 cup of sorghum, then decrease liquid by 1/3 cup.

Well, there you have it.  Another little episode of "Fun Little Pieces" of life.  I hope that as you read some of my writings that you feel as though someone has been writing about some of the fun stuff in your life.  My desire is to conjure up happy memories from a time gone by.  Maybe even some you had long forgotten.  If you remembered something from days gone by, share it with someone, so it will not be lost and forgotten.

I pray that as you start today, you will ask God to be your guiding force, going ahead of you and laying out the path for you to follow today, one step at a time.  God always has our best interests at heart.  He will see you through what ever today brings.  I just thank God today, that He is my soft place to fall, when I grow weary.  Remember, He is your soft place to fall, also!  If God has a refrigerator, your picture is on it!!!!  God Bless You!!!

May blessings beyond measure be yours today!
hugs, Patty

Sorghum Making Time

I had mentioned in my last post about going to Kentucky to visit my mom and family. I had a great time, and when I left to come home, I came home with a most precious commodity. Two quarts of home grown and home made Sorghum Molasses!!! That is some precious stuff!! My brother helps a man make it each year. Of course, it does help having an insider to supply your Sorghum. ggg

It is just about Sorghum making time. It has to be done before the sorghum cane is frosted on. So, there really is a short window of harvesting, pressing, and cooking. If you happen to be a benefactor of the real deal, real Sorghum Molasses, that has not been cut with sugar cane, it is absolutely amazing. A lot of the cookers have got to where they will cut the mixture with sugar cane, I'm guessing to stretch the product, otherwise, there is no reason to EVER add sugar cane to sorghum cane. When I buy sorghum at a store, any store, if it has been cut with high fructose corn syrup or sugar cane, back it goes to the store. If you know what the real deal tastes like, then you can quickly tell the difference. "That mess ain't worth bringin' home!" I know there are a lot of people that will quickly disagree, but, we all have opinions, and these are mine. gggg

This time of year always reminds me of the good days of my younger years. This is a story that I wrote about Sorghum days in the country. I hope you enjoy.


Sorghum Making in the Country

There was an elder gentleman, and I'm sorry to say, that I can't remember his name. I can still see him and his wife in my mind. A really sweet and jolly couple. They loved people and especially children. They really loved my dad and all of us. When dad was a little “scoundrel”, he knew them well. Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Beliles was their names. They were good friends with mamaw and papaw and they helped each other out in the olden days. I'm talking about seventy years or eighty ago, at least. Through the years they remained friends. So, this couple grew lots of sorghum.

Every year in the fall, dad would watch the calendar and when it got to be sorghum making time, he would go get mama and papaw and then stop and pick up the rest of us and head off way back in the country. It was on one of those little dirt roads that once you got on it, you set your clock back in time at least fifty years. You did not see anything that even looked remotely new. You would see skeletons of the real early pieces of machinery just setting by the road and collecting more rust with each passing day. A child's mind would wonder to what kind of prehistoric creature that was. I asked one time, only to find out it was a dead piece of machinery.

Well after what seemed to be many, many miles we finally reached our destination. Mr. and Mrs. Beliles farm. They had a huge farm. Most of it was bottom land on the Mud River. If it didn't flood in the crop growing season, they had a good crop. If it flooded during harvest season, it didn't matter whether they had a good crop or not, they didn't get it out. So, they was really at the mercy of the river.

It was on the river side that they had their sorghum making equipment set up. They had what they called a water house that they could wash and keep everything clean. They had a spring that run year around with the most sparkling water. As compared to the water in the river which was muddy all the time and that's where its name came from.

It was amazing to watch Mr. Beliles' mule walk around and around non stop for hours at a time crushing the sorghum that was hand fed into the grinder. Then at the other end watching this green juice come from the spout that was catching the juice. Then this juice would make its way to this huge flat vat and the cooking process would start. There were several different stages of making the sorghum. The stage that we waited for was when the sorghum had cooked and it was then run out into these large stands. I remember the really big lard can stands that dad would buy at the store full of lard. That's the size these stands were. They were probably eighteen to twenty inches tall and maybe twelve to fifteen inches across.

They would put the sorghum in those stands to cool down enough so they could pour them up in smaller containers. They usually had gallon, half gallon, and quart sized containers. When they got the large stands empty, that is when the fun for the kids started. They kept aside lots and lots of short sorghum stalks. They cut them down to about a foot in length.

All the adult men on site were helping. The ladies were watching all the children. Mamaw and Papaw visited with all the older people gathered there. The men would get a large stand empty and hand it to one of the kids and a short sorghum stalk. OHHHHH man you talking about something good!! We would get to scrape every last tell tale sign of sorghum out of that can with our sorghum stick. We would lick and smack on those sticks and guard our cans from a stray finger off someone elses hand trying to get a taste. I would really bristle up if anyone tried to sneak a taste from mine.

Before it was over and time to go home I would be covered with sorghum from head to toe. I had this mass of golden hair that went half way down my back that would be so matted and sticky. But everyone of us was the same way. Dad would take the boys down to the river and let them jump in and get it all washed off them. Mom would take me to the fresh water spring and wash me up. Boy, that water was sooooo cold. But it felt good and tasted good. And mom was just happy she didn't have to wash all that stuff off me when we got home. By the time we left, we were all dry anyway.

It was always great to know that for a while, we would have a lasting treat. Because we always left with one of those large stands of fresh homemade sorghum. There's nothing like a fresh homemade biscuit, piping hot, with homemade butter, and covered with sorghum.

Keep your eyes peeled this fall, you just may see someone or find out where there is someone in your states, counties, or communities making sorghum. If you do, think back to simpler times and a simpler way of life where sorghum making was a community affair and the more the better.(written by:pjg-08-13)

I hope and pray that this has brought back memories of when you were younger and life was simpler. A time when we had time for one another. A time when it took longer to do anything that was done, but, we still had time for the things that mattered in life. I pray that for us today, we will still keep the things that truly matter, first and foremost in our lives. For me, it is God first, husband, family, friends, country and world. I pray that my priorities are correct in the eyes of God. And sometimes, depending on the need, they may shift a little, but I try to make sure God always stays at the top. Try to keep God at the top of your list, because I guarantee you, you are at the top of His!!!

Watch out for a second part of this story. I will have a few recipes to share also.

Hugs and blessings beyond measure, Patty

My poor neglected blog...

Hello everyone!  I am so sorry I have been away so long.  I had the opportunity to visit with my mother in Kentucky last week.  I went on Tuesday morning and came home on Friday morning.  We had a great time together.  I also got to see three of my brothers and a sister in law.  It is always good to visit with my mom.  So, when the opportunity arises, I jump.

One of my friends texted me today and asked when I was going to update my blog.  She said she is my #1 fan.  So, I want to keep all my #1 fans happy! ggg  So, Pearl Love, this one is for you (you know who you are)!!!

I have been crafting a little since I got home.   A very sweet friend seen a card that I made for a sweet lady I go to church with and she wanted me to make her four cards like it.  Three are for birthdays and one is for Christmas.  I have been working on the birthday cards first.  Then I will do the Christmas card next.  I don't have anything far enough along to take any pics, but I will show you what the original one looked like.

It is a 3d card of sorts.  With a flat box envelope and an easel to show off the card.  Then a belly band to close the box with.

I was really proud of the finished card.  I hope you enjoy it also.  Some of my friends have already seen it, so I'm sorry it's not new new to you, but when I get the others made, I will post pics of them.

As I leave you this evening, I remind you that we are not our own.  If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, then you are His.  Everything we say and do reflects on Him.  The way we live our lives, reflects on Him.  I want to be a good reflection of the One who died for me.  When you see me, I pray that you look past the exterior of this dilapidated old house (my body) and see the interior where Jesus lives.  I hope and pray that the people that see me where ever I go can see Jesus in my eyes.  I pray they feel Jesus when I shake their hand or give a hug.  I pray they hear Jesus  when I speak to them.  The first thing I see when I get on my computer is a little post it note that says, "How may I serve You today, Lord?"  That truly is my hearts desire.  I pray that it is yours, also.  May God Bless you with all you need to serve Him daily!

Till next time, big hugs and cool September nights, Patty

Whatcha' doin' today?

I don't know what y'all have been doing, but I have got in some play time yesterday and today.  I do so enjoy time to be creative and just have fun with no expectations on myself at all.

I think sometimes we feel we must be perfect with every thing we do.  I don't know about you, but some of the best items I have ever made, came after making a big mistake that almost led to the trash can.  Many of you crafters know exactly what I'm talking about.

That is what happened yesterday and today with one of the flowers I was working on.  I got the flower made and wanted to put a pin back on it with my glossy accents.  That stuff is really good for pin backs.  But, yesterday, I put too much glossy accents on the back and set my pin back down in it, left it alone to dry, and yep, you guessed it, it glued my pin shut, and was impossible to open.

I was so upset with myself, I took it to the trash can and almost threw it in.  It was just really hard to toss away something that I had gotten so much pleasure out of making.  I took it back to my craft area and just thought about it for a while.

I have a small set of tools to work on jewelry with and I took one of the cutters and finally got one end cut off the pin.  I had to go to my large tool box and the larger cutters for the other end.  I salvaged this flower and will now be able to use it on a project.  Yay!!!  Anyway, most of the time you can salvage what ever you are working on, if you just let a calmer head win out.

Can you tell which one was almost in the garbage can?  I didn't think so.  No one will ever know if I don't tell.

And I ain't tellin'!!!  ggggg I really enjoy making these flowers and a lot of times if I don't have something specific to work on, I will just make them to use on projects or as pins, just not with as much glossy accents next time.  ggg

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful day.  It is the time of year that mornings are cooler and the days are much more pleasant,  Keep your eyes open for the first signs of the fall colors.  It truly is a beautiful time of the year.  We get to enjoy the beauty of the colors that only God can create.   I pray that you enjoy this fall like no other time of the year.  Thank God for all the beauty you see.  Thank Him for your eyes to view it.  Most of all, thank Him for loving you and wanting to have a relationship with you.  God bless you all and good night.

Hugs and pleasant dreams, Patty

Sweeter Things in Life

Well, I don't know why I'm so hung up on sweets, or what I call, "The Sweeter Things in Life", but I am.

When I was a kid, my mom would fix this dessert that she always called, "Cold Bread Pudding".   I mean it was fantastic!!!  The six of us kids absolutely loved it, and if she ever makes it today, who ever gets some of it, rubs it in to the others that they didn't get any!  Talkin' about being mean!!!

It required left over home made biscuits.  My mom made about three or four dozen biscuits every morning of her life for more than thirty years.  She could make those things in her sleep.  She had this old biscuit board that she would take out of the cabinet every morning and then she would get her flour, lard, and milk and set out to making her biscuits.  Her biscuits were on the thin side, which we all loved!!!  They had a good crust on the top and bottom, but were tender in the middle, just ready and waiting to soak up a slather of homemade butter!!! They were also perfect for making a bacon or sausage biscuit, for covering with that thick sawmill gravy, and perfect for red eye gravy and ham.   It makes me long for one of her biscuits with mamaw's freshly churned, and hand made butter!!!

Anyway, in order to make this recipe, you had to have seven or eight day old biscuits.  Good grief, find a day old biscuit in our house!!!!  You was lucky to find an hour old biscuit in our house.  So, if we ever had a "cold bread pudding", mom had to make extra and hide them for a day.  That in itself was another story!  They were better because they had time to dry out a little to make them more absorbent for the sauce that you poured over the biscuits to make the pudding. 

When she finally did fix us a cold bread pudding, it was the most delectable thing that my unrefined palate ever tasted.  How in the world could something so plain and simple be so good!!!  And it is still as good today as I remember it being when I was a child.  She could make the biggest, fluffiest, stiffest, meringues you ever seen.  Spread that freshly made meringue on top of the cold bread pudding and brown it in the oven and I am tellin' you, it truly was a sight to behold!!!  I'm gonna beg her to make one for me when I go visit her sometime, and I will prove it to you!!!

But, until I have a picture to share, I will share her recipe, of sorts.  Its really hard to share recipes when there is nothing written, but I managed to talk her into writing the recipe, and here it is:

Susie's Biscuit Pudding (Susie was my grandmother)

1 tablespoon corn starch-mixed with a little of the milk
2 1/2 cups of milk
2 egg yolks, beaten with fork
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup of sugar-add more if it isn't sweet enough to you likin'
dash of salt
1 teaspoon of REAL vanilla

Mix cornstarch in a little bit of the milk.  Then add the rest of ingredients in a medium sized saucepan.

Cook and stir, till it starts to thicken a tiny bit, just until it starts to boil.  Set off heat.    Take seven or less, day old biscuits, slice each one about three times and start layering them in a 2 quart casserole dish.   On each layer, spoon the thin pudding over biscuits.  Repeat till all pudding is gone.  The key to this is having enough pudding so it is really moist and the biscuit absorbs all the pudding.   You don't want your biscuits to have dry spots in the pudding.

Take the whites from the eggs and fix a meringue from your favorite recipe and spread on top of pudding all the way to the edge of the dish and pop in preheated 350 degree oven just till browned a little.

Just thinking about about this takes me back to a time of kids playing in the yard, laughing and romping, and playing red rover, climbing trees and catching tad poles.  I sure hope and pray that you have a few special memories you can remember from days gone by.  I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into the fabric of my life.

As you continue about your day, remember those in your life that are facing uncertain days.  That would be just about all of us, really.  Our days may be uncertain, but if you know Jesus Christ, you can be certain that He'll walk with you through every second of today.  Look for ways to share Jesus with the people you come in contact with today.

Hugs and enjoy the sweeter things in your life, Patty

Sweet Potato Pie, Y'all

Ooohhh yes, it's gettin' just about the time of  year that I go to thinking about me some Sweet Potato Pie!!!    My mom gave me a recipe a few years back that is the "best" Sweet Potato Pie recipe, ever; especially after I tweaked it to my liking. ggg

So without much more ado, here's the recipe:

Sweet Potato Pie                 Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3 T. all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup sugar (I use half brown sugar, my tweak)
1 cup cooked, mashed, sweet potatoes
1/4 cup corn syrup (I use either sorghum molasses or dark corn syrup, my tweak)
2 eggs or 1/2 cup eggbeaters (my tweak)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 pinch of salt
1/3 cup melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup "evaporated" milk
1 9" deep crust unbaked pie crust

I just start at the top of the list and toss in ingredients and stir after each addition.  Pour mixture in pie shell.  Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the desired color is achieved.

With the brown sugar and molasses, this pie will be much darker in color and the brown sugar and molasses give it a much deeper flavor than the light corn syrup and white sugar.  Sitting side by side, my moms pie looks like a pumpkin pie and mine has almost the color of a pecan pie.  That's just the difference in the sugars we use.  I have to tell you this, there is very few things I have ever made that will top my moms cooking, but my version of this pie is the stinkin' best I have ever eaten!!!  Just don't tell her! ggggg

Oh, BTW, this recipe is easily doubled.  And the baked pie freezes really well!  Just sayin'!

If I made you hungry for some Sweet Potato Pie, mission accomplished!  I pray the rest of your day is filled with pleasant memories and happy thoughts of an especially wonderful time in your life.  I pray that as you look back, you can see and remember how God was and is the sustaining factor in your life.  Praise God today, for loving you so much, He made it possible for you to call Him "Father"!

Until we meet again, hugs, Patty

Bread or no bread

 "Give us today our daily bread." Matthew 6:11 (NIV)

Are you feasting at the table of the Lord and dining on His bread that He wants to give you daily, or are you scrounging around gobbling up crumbs? Don't wait for the crumbs, go to God on a regular, daily basis and get your daily bread. Do not settle for the crumbs, that is what the enemy wants God's children to do. The enemy wants us to think that a pitiful few scraps is all there is for us. That just is not so! God is the "giver" of our daily bread! God is the One who supplies our every need! Scrambling for the crumbs is not God's plan for you and me. He wants to nourish us spiritually as well as physically. You can't have a strong, healthy body on a diet of crumbs. Just the same, you can't have a strong, healthy relationship with the Lord dining on the crumbs of need and necessity. When we make a point, on a daily basis of spending quality time in the presence of God, just allowing His presence to fill us with all the nourishment He wants to give us, then, when a time of need or crisis comes our way, we will already be used to going into His presence. It is then, that we will not have to settle for crumbs.

We are not accustomed to wanting to share our crumbs either. But when we have spent time with the Lord on a daily basis, it is then that we are ready, willing and able to share our bread with others. But if we do not have any bread ourselves, then it is difficult to share with others something that you are in need of yourself. Do you want to share with others out of the abundance of your spiritual bread, or do you want to not be able to help someone because you are in starvation mode yourself. You have set your sights on crumbs, not believing that God wants to supply your daily bread, every day!!! Feast on whatever God wants to give you, daily. God has only His greatest and best desires for you. Set your heart on the desires of God, and get ready to feast on God's daily bread in your life.

What does that look like? I can't tell you what it will look like for your life, but I can tell you what it looks like for me. I have never had a physical hunger that could not immediately be met by getting food from the kitchen. This is not altogether, what this scripture means to me. What it means to me is this; whatever the enemy tries to throw at me, God is there to protect me. It may mean that someone gives me physical food, but it may also mean that someone will speak a word of God over me that I needed today. It may mean that God protected me from something. It may mean that God has or will see me through a sickness. I will receive whatever God wants to give to me. God will supply and meet all my needs and abundantly so. Oh, and by the way, the more bread that you share with others in need, the more God will give you. If you give to others as God has given to you, you will always be overflowing. You will have baskets of bread to share.(pjg-11-06-12)

I hope your enjoyed this short devotional.   I hope and pray that sometime this evening you find time to spend with the Lord. Mention by name, all the people you know that are hurting and hungry for Him. Bring those people to the throne of God. I know I have some church families that are grieving the loss of loved ones. Others hospitalized for surgeries. Friends on line are in pain and grieving. Everywhere you turn, someone is hurting. I pray for God, the Father to meet every need that we turn over to Him. I pray for each and every one of you to have a night filled with the assurance of God, the Father, that He will take care of you. Until next time, be blessed beyond measure!

hugs and good night, Patty

A little Catch-up (not ketchup gggg)

Well, here it is, another Monday!  It seems like those Mondays come rolling around even quicker now.  I'm telling you, I'm gonna have to go bungee jumping!!!   The ladies in my Sunday School Class was talking a couple of years ago about how time is flying by.  I told them that I had just recently heard someone speaking of that very thing.  This person said that in order to slow time down, we have to invest our time in learning something new or doing something new, all the time, or at least quite often.  I told the ladies that I would be putting a sign-up sheet for anyone who wanted to go bungee jumping!!!   I figured that would be enough of an experience to slow time down for a little while, as least while I was recuperating from any injuries obtained in the jump!!! gggg  I still don't have any takers.  All of them said they would go and watch me, but none said they would join me. gggg   They say wisdom comes with age, and they were pretty wise not to take me up on the offer.   gggg

I had said that I will be posting about some of my crafts and on-going projects.  So, today, I thought I would show you a couple of things I have been working on.  One, is my instant gratification, and the other is a long term project, I'm shooting for 2015 to get this done, if the Lord sees fit to let me live that long and gives me the health and ability to get it finished.

This is a pin I made from a file that Penny Duncan  put on her blog on Saturday morning.  Her blog addy is in my side bar.  I covered the whole flower with a coat of glitter glue and then a heavy coat of glossy accents.  Penny, I love this flower, thanks for your generosity of sharing what you design!  God Bless you, my sister, in the Lord!!

 When it was all dried, I turned it over and used glossy accents to glue the pin back on.  Works perfectly!  wooopppeee!!

This is the fourteen page mini album that I have started.  It will be a calendar book of sorts and there will be many, many tags.  I don't have much done on it yet, but the prep work takes so long.  That is why I said I will be shooting for 2015 to even think about completing this.  My attention span will not let me stay on this till I get done.

I wanted to show how big the pages are in comparison to my hand.  That always helps me to see a real life size shot of something.  This one below, with my hand in it is actually going to be the front and another one just like it will be the back.

Another real life size shot of my pin in comparison to my hand.  This is a big pin and I really like this.  Got me some "bling" goin' on y'all!!!

I was speaking with a sister in Christ recently and we were just sharing about some of our favorite words in the Bible.  Not necessarily passages, this time,  but just words that gets the readers attention.  I said my two favorite words are, "...but God...".  I'm here to tell you, my friends, when you see those two words, just know that God is on the scene and something is gonna happen.  I look at my life and I can see so many of those, "...but God..." moments.  For such a long time I struggled with issues in my life, for naught, I might add!  "...but God..." showed up and made Himself very real to me.  I praise Him every day for that!

I hope and pray that each and every one of you have had a "...but God..." moment in your life.  I pray that your "today's" are filled with so many blessings that they spill over into the lives of those around you.  Thank God!  Praise God!

Until we meet again, right here, be blessed in name of Jesus Christ!!

hugs, Patty

Happy...........

Hello, friends!!   I pray that you have had a blessed day, so far, in the name of the Lord.

Did you know that today is a red letter day?  I will wait for you to go check your calendars.  Hurry back, okay.  Now, tell me what today is.  No, not that.  Huh, not that either.  Wrong again.  Okay, so what is it you ask?  Maybe it's just my calendar that is marked in red. gggg

Thirty four years ago today, my DH and I wed!!!!  Other than the day I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, that was the best day of my life.  God surely was looking out for me when He blessed me with a GODLY husband.   I thank God every day of my life for my husband and for what he means to me.  He truly has been a blessing to me and for me and I look forward to the next thirty four years with him. No, we are not perfect in the eyes of the world, but in God's eyes we are being made perfect, because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.

"Because by one sacrifice he has MADE PERFECT FOREVER those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:14

I mentioned in my bio about some of the christian ladies God has also blessed me with.  One of those ladies sends me a daily devotion every day from the daily encourager.  Today's devotion was an awesome one.  Thank you sweet lady!!!  I absolutely love it and I'm sharing it with you.  I hope and pray that you will let God speak to you through it and let Him tell you who He is to you.

About three years ago God revealed to me through a bible study with these ladies that He has been my "El Roi" my whole life.  The God who sees and is ever aware of all that has happened and sustained me through it all!!!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

A Prayer Using the Names of God

Elohim,
I KNOW You can create something out of nothing, please create something out of any nothing areas - the impossible situations in my life.

El Elyon,
I KNOW You are in control, sovereign, and I give You my circumstances today.

Adonai,
I KNOW You are my Lord and Master, I choose to follow You instead of the ways of the world.

El Shaddai,
I KNOW You are God Almighty, and I trust that You are sufficient for my deepest needs today.

Jehovah Jireh,
I KNOW You are my provider, and will supply everything I need today.

El Roi,
I KNOW You are the God who sees me, and that I am never alone, and nothing in my life goes unnoticed, for You know it all and see it all.

Yahweh,
I KNOW You are the one and only, self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping God and that You will always love me.

Jehovah Rapha,
I KNOW You are my healer and I come to You now with every area of my life that needs healing today.

Jehovah Nissi,
I KNOW You are my banner, and the victory in every situation that threatens me today.

Jehovah Mekoddishkem,
I KNOW You are my sanctifier, making me holy, doing for me what I can never do for myself.

Jehovah Shalom,
I KNOW You are my peace, and bring calm in every storm I face in life.

Jehovah Sabaoth,
I KNOW You are the LORD of Hosts, and bring deliverance as You defeat my enemies.

Yahweh Ro'i,
I KNOW You are my shepherd, and intimately care for me even if no one else does.

Abba, Father,
I KNOW You are my Father and that I can run to You and rest in the security of your everlasting arms.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

I pray that this prayer is a blessing to you!

As I mentioned, today is our anniversary.  So, instead of going out today, (we will sometime in the next few days) I cooked.  Nothing extravagant.  But it is one of my husbands favorites, and I love cooking for him.  He appreciates the fact that I love to cook for him.  So, I fixed an electric pressure cooker full of great northern beans and ham.  While that was cooking, I fixed a skillet of cornbread wedges.  He is a happy camper when he has beans and cornbread.  Just one more reason I love him so much!!!!

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  I hope you have someone in you life that you love or someone that you remember having loved and still do.  But most of all, I pray for your first love to be Jesus Christ.  When He is first, it really is easier to prioritize everything else.   I hope you have been inspired to fix your family a big batch of beans and cornbread or some other good comfort food that you can enjoy together.  At the end of the day, thank God for all the people in your life that you love and ask God to help you be able to make Him first place in your life.

Hugs, Patty

Fair Entries, Re-visited

Okay, so I posted this morning, with lots of enthusiasm and excitement, and forgot to mention my fair entries and how they placed.  So, I got out the Canon and took a few shots. (pun intended)  I hope I can them uploaded in proper order.

I have mentioned before, I do have an issue with my arts and crafts being judged by anyone.  What little talent I have comes from my Lord and Savior, so, I have a problem with my "stuff" being judged.  With that said, here is the results of what I entered in the fair.

First place:  Blue Ribbons:

Second Place: Red Ribbons:

Third Place: White Ribbons:

No Ribbons: Clinkers: (hahahaha)

So, there we have it.  Nothing spectacular, as you can see.  But....absolutely everything made with love right straight from my heart.

Thank you for looking at my entries.  Maybe you are inspired by what you see.  It was fun and I am already thinking ahead for next year.  It will be interesting to find out how many points my entries scored for my FCE club.  If I find out I will
let y'all know.

Until my next post, I leave you with a blessing of joy always in your heart, peace that passes all understanding and love for God and others.  I pray for your eyes to look past the exterior and see the world around you through the eyes of God.

hugs to you this afternoon, Patty