Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!!     I pray that where ever y'all are tonight, that y'all are warm, happy, and in love with Jesus Christ!!     The very person that we are celebrating tomorrow.     I know that tomorrow is not the calendar day that Christ was born.      And to be quite honest with you, there is no one alive who does know the exact day.    So, I try not to get wrapped up in the unknown.     If it was that important, God would have made sure that the date would have been in scripture. 

What is important?    Certainly not the trees, or Santa, or the gifts, or the lights, or the decorations.    To be quite honest, I do enjoy the sights of the festive holiday season.     I do, I just do.     I just wish it wasn't tied to the birth of Jesus Christ.     A pagan holiday was assigned by a religion that is, at best, pagan itself and all the world followed suit.     Why?    I have NO idea!!!! 

I can't help what the world has decided to do and I certainly can't change it.   I would if I could though.    But, what I can do is tell you what Christ means to me.    Even if we do celebrate His birthday on a day that isn't His birthday, we can still honor Christ with our own life.

My hope is in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!    Hope is EVERYTHING!!!!    Without hope, we wither and die.    Eventually our bodies will die, but have you ever seen a living, breathing person that had no hope?     I have!!!    To be quite honest, I was one of those people before Jesus Christ gave me hope!!!!     Hope is a powerful force.     Hope causes dreams to become reality.     Hope is as healing as medicine in a lot of ways.    A lot of times, hope is the best medicine.     Hope is the powerful force from Jesus Christ that allows a person to beat the death sentence of cancer.     Hope is also the same powerful force that enables a person to say, "It's ok if this disease does take my body, because my eternal being will be in the presence of my Lord and Savior!"      Hope is the powerful force that makes a way when the natural world says there is no way.      Hope opens doors that the enemy thinks he shut.     The same nails that was used to hold Christ to the cross are the very nails that Jesus Christ uses to open doors and make a way!!!     My hope is in the Lord!!!   

So, I don't know the exact date that Jesus was born into this world, I just know that it was a magnificent day for all of us!!!!     Even those who haven't accepted Christ as Lord and Savior yet.    My hope, is that you will, while you still have life and breath in your body.     Without the hope of Christ, we would all be doomed to a devils hell.    I don't want anyone to read my blog and think that "I have time", because, we don't know when our next breath will be our last breath.    Life is a gift!     Eternal life is the BEST gift!!!      That ONLY comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I came to the realization one day that I don't have all the answers.    I was sick and diseased from the stench of sin.     I realized that I was bound and headed right for hell.     Jesus is the One who broke the curse of sin in my life and over my life!!!   When I acknowledged my sin and confessed my sin and asked Jesus to be Lord of my life for the rest of my life; that was the day I found HOPE.

My hope for whom ever is reading this, and needs hope, is that you will trust what you are reading here enough to search out someone that you trust and that you know loves Jesus too.     Ask them if what I have said is true or not.     If you ask someone that is still living in sin, they don't know the truth either.   But if you ask someone that you know is a believer in Christ and the hope that He offers, they will assure you that I am telling you the truth.

If you have access to a Bible, read the Book of John.   That  book in particular talks about the fact the Jesus is God and then talks about the attributes that God is, also are the attributes that Jesus is.     I know a lot of people will say that this is all make believe and made up stuff.   I ask you, "do you want to find out, when it's too, that all of this is true?"   

This isn't much about Christmas, I realize that.     But my Christmas present to you is this.   There is no time like the present to ask Jesus into your life.    And ask Him every day, to be Lord of your life.   Ask Him to show Himself to you in a very real way every day.   He will.    Tell Him that you find it hard to believe, but you are willing to believe and He will help you every day to believe more and more.    It won't be long till you will see a difference in your life.    Because Jesus makes a difference in everything He touches.     He heals the sick.     He gives sight to the blind.     He raises the dead.     He will make a way for you too.     I was living in my sin, I was blinded by my sin and I was dead in my sin!!!!     So I can say with all authority, that He heals the sick, causes the blind to see and raises the dead!!      That's exactly what He has done for me!!!    Give your life to Him and you can say the same thing!!!

So, if you are in the midst of everything that is Christmas, but have very little to do with Christ, just remember that His birth is the most magnificent gift this earth has ever seen and that it is free for you to open.     I hope that you can and will share this gift with your family and the people that you love.   It is priceless.   There isn't enough money on planet earth to purchase it.    It's free!!!!     Go for it, my friend, you won't be sorry. 

So, "Merry Christmas" from my heart to yours!!!     I pray that every eye that ever reads this will experience the love of Christ, this Christmas and every Christmas till He comes again.    Keep Christ in your heart and you will have hope!!!!     Remember that God loves you enough to provide a way for you to be in right relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ!!!   God loves you and I do too!!!  hugs, patty

Our housekeeping routine in pictures

Good morning Y'all!!      I hope wherever y'all are this morning that you are all snuggled up inside and out of the cold.       It is in the lows 20* here this morning with the high of 31 to be expected.   I guess that's ok, because elsewhere, there is lots of snow and all the misery that comes with that.     So, right now, I'm just thankful to be warm this morning.     That makes me feel blessed for sure.   

Ok, so what I wanted to share with y'all today is our housekeeping routine.     Sounds funny, I know.  But if you are like me, you may need something to help keep you on track.      I used to be able to think about all the things that needed to be done and just do it, but it's not that easy anymore.    So if I have something to keep me on track, no matter how far I wander, it's easy to get back on track.  hahaha

On the daily lists, you will notice things with pink dots beside them.  These are things that my sweet husband does or helps me do.   I have back issues, so he does the things that have a tendency to mess my back up and a lot of the other stuff also.   Since he is retired, he loves to help do a lot of this stuff and with us working together, it doesn't take but a few minutes to an hour each day to keep hot spots down and keep the house pretty clean and picked up.   No, it's not perfect, but it's far ahead of what it used to be.   

You will also notice that on every day in the daily section there is an item that says "during winter months check window sills for moisture".    We have a couple of windows that are not above air vents and they have a tendency to get a little moisture in the windows, so I just want to have the reminder to check those windows and wipe down any moisture.  It's never much, but I just like to make sure it's checked.     So, since these cleaning routines are used year around, it's on all of them all the time, and I'm fine with it.    You can make yours to suit your needs just as I have made ours to suit our needs.

I have had this system for several years.   It works.    When I had an achilles tendon injury back a few years ago, I also had a major back injury as a result and was unable to do much of anything for a LONG time and everything went to pot!!!!   When I did get back to where I could do a little something, I was so overwhelmed with the mess that I had no idea where to begin!!!   I had put my notebook out of sight because it was a source of anguish because I couldn't keep up with housework and my husband was working long hours and 7 days a week and it just got out of hand and I felt like a complete failure as a human being, much less trying to keep the house clean.

A long story short, my husband is now retired and the first thing on the top of his to do list was to help me get our home back.   It was all his idea and God bless him for that!!!!   I must tell you, he actually done most of the work in getting our home back in order.   Only God knows the number of happy tears I have shed along with a few tears of sadness over our home getting in that shape to begin with.

At one time, I had a routine that I done every day and kept my house clean and orderly.   The older I got, the harder it was to keep it up.   So, at one time a few years ago, we worked on getting this system set up and going for us.  Just doing daily, weekly and monthly things breaks up the monotony and keeps the cleaning moving forward daily.   It works for us.   I hope there is something here that will for someone else.   This is the 4th in the calendar.   

There will be a total of 5 weeks that can be used accordingly.   When all of these are used, plus the sheet that has the quarterly activities on it, the house will have been cleaned from ceiling to floor in a 3 month period.  Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.   

For now, the pictures are self explanatory.   You see an erasable marker, a pen and a pad.   That is for taking notes of anything I run out of and need to put on a grocery list or maybe an activity that needs to get done that day.   I can mark on the protector sheet with the erasable marker and at the end of the day wipe it off with a paper towel.  That way we know what has been done.   We have all day to do it too.  I will get the other weeks up as soon as I get pictures made of them.   Click on the pictures to bring up the large picture that you can actually read.

My tip for this blog post it just start where you are.   I was blessed that my husband helped me, I know that.   But wherever you are in the process, just start with one day and move on to the next day and the next and it won't be long till you have made a difference that is noticeable.

I really hope that this helps just one person.  If it does, it will have been worth sharing it with y'all.  Remember while doing your housework, just thank God that you have a house to keep clean.  Remember that He loves you and loves to hear from you.     Praise God for everything!!!     Sing praises to Him!!     He loves to be serenaded!!      Have a blessed day and just know that I love y'all too!!!   hugs, patty

What Motivates You?

I seen a question this morning: "What motivates you to take care of yourself?"

It looks to be a simple question. People with children might say they want to see their children, grandchildren grown. Others might say that they want to accomplish "xyz" in their life. Yet others may have a bucket list they want to complete.

Me, I don't have any of that. So then, what is my motivation? I realized that my motivation to take care of myself comes from a place of selfishness, if I'm being honest.

I want to grow old with my husband. I want to laugh for many years to come. I want to share my love of Jesus simply through smiles to other people. I want to share my love of Jesus through my ability to help others when the opportunity arises. I want to share my love of Jesus through looking for ways to help others. I want to share my love of Jesus by being the best representation of Jesus that some may ever see. I want to wake up every day with a renewed sense of excitement about what the day holds for myself and those that I may encounter. I want to live each day with a sense of urgency that people need to see Jesus every day, in those that love Him. I want to live my days with the heart, hands and feet of Christ and I can't do that if I don't take care of myself.

I realize that some days, I don't want to smile. Even some days, I don't want to help anyone. Some days, don't look at me for representing Christ in a positive way. Some days, I don't have a lot excitement about what the day holds. Some days, the sense of urgency may not be there. And, some days, my heart hands and feet just aren't in the right place.

But even on those days, the desire to live for, love and serve Christ is deeper than the desire to do nothing for Him. No, I won't ever be a world changer in big scheme of things. But if Jesus will help me change the world for just one person, then my pitiful existence will not have been in vain.

So, being as honest as I know to be with myself, this is my motivation for trying to take care of myself. My prayer is that Christ will give me a renewed excitement for getting healthier and putting Him up front in everything I do.

What motivates you to take care of yourself?

Just my morning musings. Be blessed today and remember that God loves you!!  So do I, patty

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!    I hope and pray that where ever y'all are that you have had a blessed day thus far and that the rest of it is filled blessings also.

We just got back in from Ky and I must say that we had a wonderful time with family.    At one time I looked around to take in all the faces and you know how you can have flash backs of days gone by.    In that single moment, many many many of the Thanksgiving Days that I can remember flashed thru my memory.    It was one of those times when I would loved to have had those memories on a dvd to pop into a player and share them with everyone there.

You know, things change.      They just do.    We can't stop the changes from happening.    The best we can possibly do is ask God to help us thru those changes.

I seen us all in the house out in the country that all my brothers and I grew up in.   The place we called home for longer than I have been on planet earth. Momma in the kitchen cooking and getting the meal ready for no less than 8 to inhale in one fell swoop!!    hahaha    I see all of us eating the best turkey and dressing that anyone was ever blessed to eat.    Momma still the makes the best turkey and dressing and today proved that point.

I seen the many times after the meal that my Dad and brothers would get out in the yard and after Mom and I got the kitchen cleaned up, maybe we would end up out there too.    Sometimes it might be rainy and cold and we would all be inside, but where ever we were, we were full and there was always some laughter taking place.

One time, when we got older, just before my brothers started getting married, they had their girlfriends, soon to be wives and after lunch we all went to Split Rock.      It was just a field with this humongous rock in it that was split right down the middle.    The rock was 10-15 feet tall above ground, and the footprint of the rock was huge.    We went and would work our way through the rock. It was a tight squeeze for all of us way back then and I couldn't help but grin today when that thought ran thru my mind, "we would just have to look at it today, because I don't think any of us could get thru the split!" I wish I had pictures of that rock.     That was back before cell phones and all I have is memories.

2011 was the last Thanksgiving and Christmas that we had as a family of 8.    Dad had gotten sick and was in Creekwood at Russellville.    One of the churches in the community had the dining room reserved for their services after church and that church offered to give their church service time to my family so we could have Thanksgiving together and we accepted that offer and spent the day up there with my Dad.    Then when Christmas rolled around, they gave us the dining hall again to celebrate Christmas.    That was one of the memories that popped into my mind also.    The kindness of other people allowed my family to have 2 special events with our Dad that we wouldn't have had otherwise.    That ended up being the last of the family celebrations that included all 8 of us, the original crew.

Today, we still have our beautiful Mom and she is still one of the best cooks in the country!!!    When she cooks, you can taste the love in it!!    I think it's fair to say that she's the glue that sticks us together.    I know of no other mother anywhere that is any more loved by her children than my Mom. That is a strong testimony to her.

And, as I think about all that I have to be thankful for, family is at the top of the list.       I think about my 5 brothers.    Each one of them are good men.      Above average by the worlds standards.    They are hard working men with works ethics that can NOT be matched, by anyone.    They are and have been good providers for the families.    Thinking of the 6 of us siblings, we all are a lot grayer than we were a few years ago.    There's probably more weight on each of us than there should be.    We each have our own aches and pains that get worse with each passing year.   But, one thing stays the same.      I can shut my eyes and by all the laughter taking place, I can still put a young face with each different laugh that I hear.    When I open my eyes, I am right, only the face that I am looking at may be a little more lined from age and the hairline may be receding a bit; there may be glasses where they hadn't always been.    But there is always a familiar, smiling face.    The face of men that used to be boys.    They are now husbands, fathers and grandfathers.    And they are my brothers and I'm proud of them and thankful for each and every one of them!!

I am thankful to God for all the blessings that He has heaped upon my family!!!   I am thankful for all my nieces and nephews and their husbands and wives and all their children!!       When I look at them, I realize that our family is in good hands.    There was 4 generations there today.    I realize that a lot of families have more generations than that, but I am still thankful for the 4 generations there today.

I said earlier that family was at the top at my list that I am thankful for.    But, at the very top of my list, above family, is Christ!!!    Without what Christ has done for me thru His shed blood, nothing else matters anyway.    I am thankful that Christ loved me enough to die for me so that I could be in right relationship with God.    I pray that as I go forward in my own life, that I am forever thankful and grateful for Christ and that I can share that thankfulness and gratefulness with others.  Sometimes it just takes the blink of an eye to realize just how abundantly blessed one is and that is exactly what happened to me today in just the moment of a split second.    Blessed and highly favored comes to mind!!   Thank you God for the many blessings that You have bestowed upon my family!!!

I hope that each of y'all made memories today that will bring you joy in the days to come.    And maybe, just for the blink of the eye, there were no empty chairs around the table.

Be blessed and thankful y'all!!   Just know that God loves y'all and I do too!!      hugs, patty

November, a new Tip, and a few pictures

Good morning Y'all!!!    I hope and pray that where ever y'all are, on the face of this planet, that you can say it is great to be a part of this day that God has created just for us to enjoy.    This is the first weekend in November!!!   Can you believe that?   Here we are with another year just about wrapped up!!    I just can't believe it.   I don't know where this year has escaped to.    It has vanished, just like the vapor hanging over a body of water on an early morning when the sun finally reaches it.   It just sort of disappears without making a big deal.   This year has been disappearing without making a big deal too.    I guess it is fair to say that it has been a pretty good year if it can start wrapping up without much of a big deal.   That certainly means I have a lot to be thankful for!!!!   So, for November, I will be thankful and grateful in it.  

God has certainly blessed me in this life of mine and in this year.   I can never thank Him enough for His watch care and protection over me and the ones I love.   I can honestly say that I have never been hungry in my life.   Oh, I've had my tummy growl because a meal was overdue.   But I have never been hungry and not know where my next meal was coming from.   Thank you God!!!!    I have never been without clothes.    Oh, I've never had the best that money could buy.   But I've never had the desire to have the best!!    I just want to be able to cover my nakedness and there has never been a time that I could not do that.   Thank you God!!!   I have had a wonderful life with my husband for the last 39 years.   It has not always been easy, but it has always been right.   For that, I am thankful that God has always been the deciding factor in our marriage.   Thank You God!!!   I have never been without a roof over my head.  There was a time, between selling one house and buying another that we lived in a motel for a short time.   Laying my head on the pillow at night was a little uncomfortable, but that didn't last long.   For that short period of time, I can actually say that I know what it felt like to not have a home to call our own and that was very uncomfortable, but it wasn't a permanent situation.   For that, I can say, Thank you God!!!   I am not the picture of perfect health, but I am also not the picture of someone who is desperately ill and has no hope of every feeling better.    Oh, I have my aches and pains as most people do, but I know that I could be so much worse off than I am.   The last 2 years have actually been good years for me getting a little bit healthier.   So, for that, thank You God!!!!!    Through the years I have lost a lot of people that have meant a lot to me in the process of living and dying.   My life is better for having known them.   With all the losses, I still have some pretty wonderful people in my life that I get to do life with.   Thank you God for those precious people that are my family and my friends.

So, as I look back at what I just wrote, I realize that although this year hasn't been really eventful, it has been a blessed year!!!   And I am so thankful to God for it!!!   I hope and pray that as you evaluate where this year has brought you thus far that you can come away from the evaluation with a "thankful and grateful" heart, and a heart full of praise and adoration for The One who responsible for it, that would be our God!!!   No matter what has come our way this year, we have to know and realize that it could be worse.   God loves His own!!   God never leaves His own!!   God never forsakes His own!!   Now us, on the other hand, we fail to love God, we find it easy to leave God and we find it easy to just forsake and walk away from God.   Even when we do those things, He is still there, waiting for us to come back Him.   I am so thankful to God that He is ever present and never leaves us.   So, for the rest of this month, I plan on finding ways to thank God for all He has done for me and the people in my life.   For those of you who read my blog, I pray that  God will bless you in a mighty way and that you will be thankful for His presence in your life.   Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below!!

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For my tip today, I would like to revisit the wonderful Air Fryer.   I use mine just about every day and love it!!!!    I do have to keep it clean or at least try to.    One tip for helping keep our air fryers clean is "do not spray cooking spray in the basket of the af".     The lecithin in the formulation of the non stick spray actually sticks to and makes the af hard to clean.    Whatever I cook, I always spray the food items before I put it in the af with my non-stick spray or I brush olive oil on it before hand.  But if you do get a build up of oily gunk, run a sink full of hot water with good dish soap and sit the basket in it and let it set there for a while and then use a small brush with a small head on it to scrub lightly around the vents in the basket.   Do that every time you use it and it won't be long till the cooked on gunk will be gone.   If you have an af, use it and enjoy it.

Another tip I will give you is this.   If you haven't got one yet and you are looking at getting one, I would get the largest that my budget will actually afford.   If you don't have the funds right now to get a large one, start putting back a couple of dollars a week or save your pocket change till you can get the largest one possible, without going into debt.   I got a small one and realized that it wasn't large enough.   So I got another one and blessed a friend with the small one.   Now, I really wish I had the largest one on the market!!!   But, I can't afford the largest one now, maybe some day.  I'm saving for it.   So take my advice, and get the largest one you can possibly afford.   You won't regret it.   The next one I want to get is the Paula Deen 8.3 af from Evine.   I think that is the largest on on the market right now.    If it is just you, one person, then the small one may be perfect.   But for 2 or more in a household, larger is better.   Everything you cook in an af is so much better!!!!   My husband and I have got to where we can't eat a lot fried foods away from home.   The grease in it will make us sick.   But food cooked in an air fryer doesn't have much grease if any at all.   The only reason you would want to use any spray or oil at all is just so foods that should be browned, will brown properly.    I recently bought some avocado oil in a pump spray bottle and it is awesome!!!   It is expensive, but I did get to use my Ibotta app and got back a dollar for it.   So look for ways of being able to purchase items that you may not be able to otherwise.   For me, it is by using Ibotta.

Another small tip is this.   Use the Ibotta app!!!   That is a great way to save money!!!   The money that I get back in the Ibotta app is my money to spend on my crafts!!!   Thanks to my sweet husband!!  He said that I earned the money and since he has retired, our finances are pretty tight, but this app makes it possible for me to still be able to craft.   So this is also on my list of "thankful grateful" praise for the month of November!!!   There is always a lot to be thankful for.

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I do have a few pictures I would like to share with y'all and I hope you enjoy them.

This is from a walk on our greenway here in town.  Part of it is actually out in the country.  This is at the place where the old water plant for our town used to be.

This is a close up of the above picture.  We had a lot of rain and the creek was high and some drift wood got caught in the undercurrent of the falling water and it made for a very beautiful scene.

This is a few pictures from our Quilt Show back in October.   It was a huge success and everyone enjoyed it so much!!

Beautiful quilts was all over the place.   Oh my gosh we have talented people that shared their labors of love!!

This is a very intricate quilt to look at.  It almost plays with my vertigo.  hahaha   The movement in it is awesome.   I think it's called a Bargello quilt, not sure about though.

I got to teach a class at Creative Day in an adjoining county in October and this is some of the pins that the ladies made.   Each one was beautiful.

Each one is totally different also.   I really enjoyed doing that and hope that I get to do it again sometime.

 This is a shot of my butternut squash fries that I made in my air fryer.   They were so delicious.

 A close up of them.  Don't drool now, it's not nice.   hahaha

This was Hat Sunday on the last Sunday in October at my Mom's church.  I took an "us-ie" of us before we left.   I love this picture because on the wall behind us is the last family picture that was made while my Dad was still alive.   That picture was made Dec. 25th, 2011 and we laid him to rest on Jan. 25th, 2012.   The picture wasn't planned, but we was happy it turned out like that.

I hope y'all enjoy this little sampling of what I have been up to this Fall.   I do have some craft pictures I want to share also, but they are not on this computer yet, but I will get them on here so I can do that.  I think y'all will like them.

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Well, that's just about it for today.   I hope you enjoyed your visit here today.   I do pray that we will all take this month to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.   Whether you are in the states or not, we all have a LOT to be thankful for and now is as good a time as any to thank God for all His undeserved blessings.   I hope that is you have an air fryer, maybe my tips will be beneficial to you and maybe if you don't have Ibotta on your smartphone, you will check into it.  Everyone can use a few extra "free" dollars.   I hope you have pictures that you can look at to help you remember the blessing of everyday life.  If not, I invite to look at mine.   Tell someone you know that Jesus loves them and that God is the answer to all their problems.   Makes no difference what it is, He can help.   You just got to want to be in relationship with Him through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.   I am so grateful to Christ for all He has done for me!   I know He is waiting to hear from you.   Have a blessed day and just know that God loves y'all!!!  I do too!!   hugs and thankful blessing to you all, patty

Cultural Arts 2018, a Tip, and Fun stuff

Good morning from my neck of the woods!!!     It's a fine October morning from here in my neck of the woods.      We are in a rainy spell and I guess that has to be ok, since I can't change the weather.     I just have to go with the flow.     I am definitely ok with that because with the Fall weather comes cooler temps and I am a happy camper with that.     I just don't do hot weather very well.     When I get hot, I don't turn red like a lot of people do.     No, I bypass red and go directly to purple!!!      Now, you would think that since purple is my favorite color, I wouldn't mind that.     I love purple, I love wearing purple, I just don't love BEING purple.   hahahaha     It is very hard to camouflage!!     Oh, it's impossible to camouflage!!!!!      So, that's why I dislike heat and hot weather.     So, if you see someone that is purple, just know that they are as close to meltdown as a human can get without bursting into flame!!!!   hahahahaha

With Fall being official now, we can expect to see a lot of beauty in color.    I guess that has to be my favorite thing about Fall.     Pumpkins and all the fall squash, the beautiful mums, not to mention all the many hues and colors of leaves.    God can certainly paint a gorgeous picture with all that He has designed just for our viewing pleasure.     Fall is also the time of year that we start seeing fresh Sorghum being made and sold.    Oh my, how I do love me some good ole Sorghum on a freshly baked, homemade biscuit with hand churned, homemade butter!!!!     Now I must tell you that this conjures up all kinds of childhood memories.    Mom's fresh homemade biscuits!!!    Mamaws freshly churned hand made butter!!!!   And Mr. and Mrs. Beliles fresh home made Sorghum!!    There is nothing any better than that!!!!   Nothing in the realm of eating that tops that!!!     Those are just some of the foods that I remember vividly from childhood as if it was yesterday!!!     There is very few times in life that I would go back to for a few seconds if I could, but for this one time that I would go back long enough to eat a biscuit with butter and sorghum, all made by the hands of the ones that I mentioned.

We have been walking a lot at our local green way and have been enjoying that tremendously.    I have taken several pictures along the way and have enjoyed looking at them as a reminder of all the beauty that is close at hand, it's just up to us get out and find it and ENJOY it.    If you have an area that you can walk in that's out in nature, seek it and take advantage of it.    We see lots of animals, mostly deer and turkey.     I haven't been very successful at getting good pictures of them, but I have enjoyed seeing them.    It's always good to get out in God's nature and see just exactly what He has created for our viewing pleasure.    Do you have any idea just how beautiful a decaying tree is that is still standing and full of nature?    Such as a habitat for birds and squirrels and all kinds of insects.   There is a big tree just off the walking path that has long since died, but it provides life and shelter for lots of creatures.    There is even all different kinds of mushrooms growing up the side of the tree.    I am happy, that for now, the farmer has decided to leave the tree.    If at some point in time, it starts shedding so much that it gets in the way of him putting a crop, I'm sure he will take it down.    But for now, we get to enjoy it.    Well, anyway, I hope that if you get the opportunity to get out, that you go for it, it will be a blessing.   Plus it will help strengthen your immune system, for the upcoming winter season.

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This time of year, my Family Community Education Club starts ramping up for all the late summer and fall festivities.   Just as school has started back in my neck of the woods, we also had our Cultural Arts and Fashion Revue for the county clubs to show off all their arts and crafts we have been busy with since last year.   It is always a great time to get together to see what everyone else has been up to.   Just a few of weeks ago my club hosted the Creative Day for our county and it was a pretty good success.   I was one of the teachers and shared 3 things to make.   One was a "take and make" and the other two was "make and take".  It was fun.   One of the ladies that done one of my classes entered her canvas pin in the Cultural Arts and came in 1st place with pin!!   It also won place in the County Fair!!!    Yay!!!  Woop Woop!!   I had entered several items and actually did place on several of those items.  I can't wait to find out everything that I actually placed on.   We used to leave with ribbons of color to distinguish what place we garnered a ribbon, but we haven't had ribbons for about 3 years now and it is very disappointing to not know exactly what you left with.   So, I think I may have to lovingly speak on this matter soon.  

We had the County Fair, and we all was busy for few days getting those last minute entries whipped up.    But before we had our Fair, several of us went to a neighboring county to be judges in their fair.   That is exciting for me.    This is the first time I have gotten to do this.   Back earlier in the summer, four of us from my county went to another county for a new program that is just starting.      As  a matter of fact, this was the first class of it's kind and my former Extension Agent wrote most of the curriculum for the class and it will be tweaked and more added to it in the years to come.     We are trying to get a more uniform method of judging instead of judges just giving ribbons to the type of craft they like.     We will have guidelines to base our judging on instead of our own personal likes.     I think this will be a more fair way of judging any of the items entered.     I have always said that I know a lot about a lot of crafts, that's true.     But even if it's something I haven't done or don't care to do, I can look at it objectively and see how much work went into it or not.     I know some of my early fair entries was judged based on what the judge liked, not on the overall product.    Had they been scored on uniform scoring guidelines, there is no doubt they would have placed and probably in 1st place.     That is water under the bridge and hopefully when judges are chosen this year, they come from the pool of ladies who went to the Judging class.

Then after the County Fair, comes our 3rd annual Quilt Show on the first Saturday in October, also sponsored and put on by the Family Community Education Clubs.     People that have visited our Quilt Shows have said they are far greater than some of the larger quilt shows they have been to.    And I know that is a fact, because I've been to several myself and the one we put on was far better than anything I've been to.    Last year we about 128 items on display, maybe more.   It is an awesome way to spend a day of your time.  I don't know exactly what I will be doing this year, but in the years past, I have tried to learn as much as possible about the quilts as I can.  Then if I'm monitoring the quilts, I could walk up and share some of the info that I had gleaned form the person or people that brought them in.    They all seemed to enjoy that and I certainly enjoyed sharing the info.   Some of the old quilts are totally unbelievable!!!    To look at the size of pieces used in some of the quilt squares in remarkable!!   We had the Quilt Show and it was a huge success!!!  People keep telling us that it only gets better and better and I do believe that.

After the Quilt Show, another project comes about and that is the Presidents Luncheon.     It is for all the presidents of all the county clubs and the County Council members.    Since I am v. p. of my club, this has nothing to do with me.    hahaha    I can't remember if the Christmas Sampler comes before the presidents Luncheon or not.     The Christmas Sampler is where all the artisans meet at the Civic center and sell their wares.    And also, this is not a project of the Family Community Education Clubs, we just support the event and one of the clubs always has a vendors booth selling kitchen knives as a fundraiser for their club.    Years ago, the majority of goods at the Christmas Sampler was hand made, but now the majority of it is made in China and it's not as fun as it used to be to go.     There are still a few vendors who sell their hand made goods and those are the ones I try to support.    Although I don't have as much to spend as I used to, I still enjoy looking at the hand made goods more than I do the cheap stuff from China.  But the Christmas Sampler is the kick off the Christmas season and then all the stores and shops in the downtown area will have special nights for shopping until Christmas.    The Christmas Parade will be in the mix also and that's always a good day for the down town shops. 

Anyway, this is just a rundown of what's on my agenda from now till the end of the year.     I hope all y'all have plenty of activities to keep you excited about what's going on in your life.     Oh yeah, I do have something coming up in September too.     I just can't share it right now, but after the fact, I will bombard y'all with more pictures than you even want to see.    hahahaha      How is that for whetting your appetite?      Is that enough to keep y'all tuned in to see what I'm talking about?    I sure hope so!!

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One of the things not mentioned on my agenda was an 8 Day Eastern Caribbean Carnival Cruise.     I just got back from that.     I was blessed and fortunate enough to get to take another cruise with my Mother.     We always have fun, so this was no exception.      We went with 2 ladies, another mother daughter team from Mom's church.   They are actually cousins of mine on my Dad's side of the family.    We had a grand time!!!!!    Blessed and highly favored is the words that comes to mind.  I am so thankful to God for this trip!!!   I am also thankful to my husband for being loving and gracious enough to let me go and enjoy this time with my mother.    If you are a follower of mine on facebook you can find my pictures there.     It is hard to imagine all the beauty out in this creation, made by God's own hands, just for us to enjoy!!!!!   I think sometimes I forget that.   And as beautiful as the earth is, it is always good to get home and just be thankful for a place to rest my head beside my husband that God has graciously given to me.     We actually celebrated our anniversary on Sept. 6th and we left on very early Sept 7th for our cruise getting back on late Sept 16th.     

We left from Port Canaveral Florida going to St. Kitts, St. Maarten, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk.    We got off at each port of call and looked around for a bit but got back on the ship in pretty quick fashion.     I don't like being very from the ship.    That was my home for the duration and I don't like being away from home.     So Mom and I spent more time on the ship than most did, but that's ok with me and I hope it was ok with her.     I just didn't want anything to happen while we was off the ship.     After all, I had my Mom with me and I consider her to be precious cargo and tried to look after her as such.

One word of caution about the Port in Port Canaveral.    Upon arriving back to the port, disembarking meant we had to go down an escalator with our luggage in tow!!!!      Now, I am not and have never been a fan of escalators!!!!     This was NO different!!!!!     Had I known that disembarkation meant going down that freaking thing, I would probably have stayed at home!!!    Yes, that's true!!!!     I almost fell down the stinkin thing and my Mom was right behind me and I was terrified for her!!!    If we had known this was coming up, I believe we could have gome down an elevator or stairway or something!!!    Anything but this!!!!      So, if you are ever leaving from Port Canaveral, just know that disembarkation means an escalator.     

Also on the Carnival Sunshine, our cruise ship, you have to go thru Muster before the ship sets sail. This is the second time I have ever cruised.    The first time our Muster Station was inside the ship.  This time it was outside on a walkway and it was 90+ degrees in the shade and 95 percent humidity with 1000 people crowded in this area!!!!!   Plus, all of the people was not showing up at their Muster stations on time.    Would that I could have cracked some heads together!!!!!     My Mom and I was on time, promptly and in the very first line that was backed up against a wall with about 6 or 7 other lines of people directly in front of us, all shoulder to shoulder and elbow to elbow!!!!     The sweat was rolling from us and my Mom was getting red and hot.    We both were.    A man in front of us turned around and seen my Mom and seen that she was not feeling well and started yelling "Clear the way, sick lady coming thru", he was head and shoulders taller than everyone else and he was yelling that till we got off the deck and out of his sight.    God bless him and his wife for doing that.   Someone finally brought her a glass of ice water and she got cooled down and we was ok then.

It was good time, a good cruise and all done with great people.   We met a lot of wonderful people and I wish I would have had the forethought to get more names and info on how to stay in touch.   I think of them often and pray well wishes for them.   Just so thankful for the opportunity that God gave us to get to go on another cruise together.  praises for that!!!

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My tip for this post is to look for God in all circumstances.    For those who say there are coincidences, I say there is no such thing.   There are a lot of God-appointed events and happenings, but no luck or coincidences.   Look for God to show up in ever situation.  Whether you look for Him or not, He's still there.   I challenge you to look for Him and thank Him for being there at all times.

If you are not in relationship with God through His Son, I also challenge you to dig deep and figure out why not.   That is the best relationship you will ever have and it really is the beginning of every other real relationship you will ever have in your life.   That one relationship will also determine your future.   People always like to say that God sends people to hell.   That is a lie straight from the pits of hell.   Our choices in this life determine where we will spend our eternity.   So if you can NOT say with assurance that your eternity will be spent in the presence of Jesus Christ, then right NOW is the time for you to make the right decision.   It should be an easy decision.   Before a person knows Christ as personal Lord and Savior, that person does not know what he does not know.  Sounds simple, but it's anything but simple.   Why would anyone curse God if they knew the benefits of being in a real relationship with Him?   They wouldn't.   That's why I say we don't know what we don't we don't know.   So, call a trusted friend, go to a bible teaching preaching church, read your bible, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the things that you don't know.   Do what ever it takes to know God thru Jesus Christ!!   You will NOT regret it!!   It's not easy being a Christ follower, but it is rewarding.  It is rewarding in this life and we can't even begin to imagine the rewards in the future.   So I challenge you to dig deep and search for God, He is waiting for you!!!

That's about all I have tonight.   It's been a long day and I'm ready to call it a day.   Hope to hear that some of y'all went to church tomorrow because you read my blog.   Hope to read that some of y'all accepted Christ  because you did dig deep and find God right where you are.   I hope and pray that y'all have a wonderful refreshing night of rest and that  tomorrow is a wonderful day for each of you!!   Remember that God loves y'all and so do I!!!     Big hugs and much love, patty

Ibotta, Checkout 51, Fetch Rewards, and More

Good morning folks, it's been a while since I've been on my blog and for those who actually read my blog, I apologize for that.   Life gets in the way sometimes, even in the best of planning.    But all is good and God is good.    Busy doesn't equal crafting and that is a shame.     In this case, busy equals busy, but I hope to get back to doing what makes my heart calm and full of joy.    This morning is an especially nice morning.  Cooler than usual and it's nice!!   For the upcoming week, I think it's supposed to be a lot cooler.  Yay!!!!   This hot, swampy stuff just wilts my petunia!!!  hahahaha 

It seems as of late, I've had a little time for facebook and ever once in a while, I will share as the Lord leads.  The first one below, was just a word one morning that came from a time of prayer and meditation and I wanted to share it with y'all.   On down towards the bottom, is one that I wrote today and felt the need to share it with y'all too.  It is an abomination unto the Lord, the evil things that the mind can conjure up to pass off as a "lifestyle".  But without further ado, below is the first one.

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This is something that I wrote and shared on facebook on Thursday, May 24th, 2018.  I just wanted to share it on my blog in hopes that anyone in the midst of a storm can find comfort and know you are not ever alone.

How many have ever been in the midst of a "storm" in your life and while going thru the storm, you're wondering how in the world this storm is ever going to end?     Roadblocks and high water signs is all you can see in the distance.      But in the process of just doing life, at every turn, your best friend is there.      That best friend being Jesus Christ, your Savior and Lord.      He is there, just going ahead of you clearing roadblocks and parting the waters, all the while helping you to maintain the joy you have in your soul.      Just knowing that Jesus is the One that spoke to the storm like a Momma would speak to a fussy baby and saying, "ssshhhhh, Peace be still".      He still does that today.       If you are in the midst of a storm, just know that you are not alone.      Your best friend is with you today.      The reason I can so boldly say that is because yesterday was a "ssshhhh, Peace, be still" day for me and my best friend seen me thru it!!      Everyone has storm days and everyone's storms are different.      The thing to remember is this; you are the only one that can walk your own storm out, but you don't have to do it alone.     So, if today is a storm day for you, let me declare over your storm, "ssshhhh, Peace be still", your best friend, Jesus, is with you.  written by pjg, 5-24-18

I hope this is a help to you or someone you know when in the midst of a storm.     I pray that I never have to look back on these words to draw strength from, but if I do, I will have them right here, for all of us to read and enjoy.

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My tip for this post is this.     I have spoken several times about saving money by the way we cook or by using a smart phone app.    Well, this tip goes right along with those already spoken of.     If you don't have Ibotta or Checkout 51 apps on your smart phone, one question; "Why in the world do you NOT have them?"     hahaha      But seriously, why not?      Well, maybe you're like me and hadn't heard of them.    I was watching a you tube video last week and someone mentioned these apps and I checked them out.     Let me tell you , "they are da bomb!!!!"   Seriously!!!     I've only had them for less than a week and have already racked up savings, and used in conjunction with paper coupons, WOW!!!!    The Ibotta app wants you to invite all your friends with your own number that others use to sign up.       Well, I'm not into competition with anyone and I don't have a desire to keep up with others saving, so I'm not doing that.      I just say go quickly to your app store and download it and start saving.     Others will tell you that if you use their download code you will get $10.00 automatically.   Well, you will get that automatically anyway.    But if you want to build a team and do all that stuff, you are more than welcome to do that.   Me, I just want to save money and I just wanted to share that with y'all.    You do have to have items loaded into your app before you make the purchase and that is only fair.    Just get it and start playing with it, read everything it says about each item you save to your list and use and it won't be long till you will be cashing in on wonderful savings.

The next app is Checkout 51.   It is basically the same.   If you are careful with the selections you make, you can actually earn money back from both of these apps on the same receipt.     At any rate, it is very easy to save money with this one too.     This one when it resets each week, there is fresh fruit and veggie coupons and fresh meat coupons.   They are usually 50 cents off.   If I'm gonna buy tomatoes, I might as well get 50 cents just for buying them, right.    

With both of these, you do need to read carefully and see what store the savings can come from.    Some of the saving can come from anywhere, others can come only from WalMart, Kroger, Publix or what ever the popular stores in your area are.   Other savings can come from any store.

You scan your grocery store receipt and the app reads it and you may have to scan some the upc symbols on the products.   That's ok, just do it.   Get in the habit of doing the receipts as soon as you get home and it won't be but just a little while till you will do it instinctively.

There are a lot of other apps out there that I have tried and others that people will recommend, but these are the 2 that are best for me.   In conjunction with the paper coupons and printable coupons, we have the ability to earn savings and it's kinda fun.   Each week, just check out the apps for any new offers and watch for repeats.   Do take advantage of the ones that are for fresh veggies and fruit, you buy those anyway, so earn a little on it.   Just learn as much about the apps as you can before you head out to the store and then get ready to save!!!

There is another one called Fetch Rewards that earns points for every receipt scanned.  Those points can then be turned around and used to purchase online gift cards.

There are so many ways to save a few bucks here and there and they do take a few minutes to set up and start, but they are worth it.     Just watch out and make sure you get the recommended product to cash in on the cash back or points or rewards.   In less than a couple of months, I have already earned over $140 dollars in cash back and rewards to be put on gift cards that can be turned around use toward more grocery purchases.     If you do get any of these apps or even different ones, let me know how you are doing with them.

One last bit of advice on learning these apps, go to youtube and watch lots of videos pertinent to each different app.      You will find a lot of great info and wonderful tips to help you get started on saving valuable money.     So go for it and enjoy.     You're welcome.    hahaha

Since the implementation of these apps, I have received over $150 in cold hard cash to use however I see fit!!  Just less than 2 months of use.   I strongly encourage anyone that wants to save a little money to use these apps.  I get to keep all the money that make using the apps for my crafting and that is a GREAT thing!!!!  I figure if I can make $20 bucks a month with the apps, that's pretty good, but so far, I have averaged more than that.  So I am a happy "saver"!!!    Hope you will check these out.

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There was something that come thru on facebook today about Pedophilia being a lifestyle!!!  I can't believe that I would ever live to see the day something this heinous would ever be accepted as anything but the evil SIN that it is!!!!  Below is my response to the facebook post!!!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, that this is my blog and I do have the right to say what I wish, so I wanted to share my response and not have to try to remember what I said to begin with.  It will be easy enough to find the video that was shown on facebook, I WAS NOT going to link to it or promote in any way here on my blog other than sharing my response.

Rose Tresures response to the facebook post:  "What in God's name is wrong with this country!!!!!!! Oohhh, wait a minute, that's what's wrong with this country, God is not here anymore, because most of us don't want Him here anymore.     We have kicked him out of the home, the school, the court of law, the the market places and most of all, the churches!!!!      Folks, if we don't humbly seek God, this country will cease to exist in a few short years!!!     EVERYTHING that the Word of God tells us is SIN, has now become the "in" thing and the "popular" thing to do.     Lifestyles is what it's called to take the connotation of SIN away, but make no mistake about it, these lifestyle "choices" are SIN and will be judged by God accordingly!!!!    It doesn't make any difference what we call it.   And every choice we make comes with it's own set of consequences.    Folks, there are some dire consequences in the works for this country if we don't stop this insanity!!!!    I pray that God will stop this in it's tracks!!!!      By whatever means He chooses!!!     And HOW DARE our hard earned tax dollars be spent on this crap!!!     It's bad enough that most of the tax dollars goes to support sports, and not plain old education.     That's what wrong, not enough of real EDUCATION taking place!!!     This filth is NOT education and I do believe it's time to start building gallows on the court house square and use them!!!     Just my opinion, but that's the opinion I go to sleep with each night, so that's the one that matters to me!!!    My opinion may not line up God's, but I am at His mercy to show me where I am wrong and when and if He does, I will change my opinion in a heart beat and let y'all know.      Because I don't want to have a wrong opinion about anything.     What I do know about God is this, scripture tells us that He hates the wicked!!   This is about as wicked as it gets.     We already have child sacrifice in the form of abortions.     Now pedophiles preying on the innocence of children.      Parents, this is your responsibility to PROTECT your children by what ever means it takes!!!     It's bad enough knowing that these filthy evil animals are in our society, but now society will be educated on why it is just another lifestyle that has to be "tolerated"!!!!     Tolerance has gone too far!!!     We either take back our country or we let evil wicked animals destroy it!!      It's up to us!!!!"     (written by rose tresures, aka Patty on 7-26-2018)

I guess the homework for this is to just get in the Word and find out what God actually hates.   There's more than meets the eye about what He hates and will not tolerate.    This stuff is wicked to the core and has no place in society.  Society is evil enough without this filth and much of the other agendas that are being pushed on us.  Makes no difference where in the world you live, evil is evil and we must recognize it for what it is and take a stand against it.   Just my own paraphrase of something that Paul said in one of his letters to the churches, "If I live, I will live for Christ; if I die, I will be with Christ".    That has to be our posture on this.  I know that Christains are dying at the hands of evil people all over the world.   And as the days progress toward more evil, we will see more of it.   If we are alive, we must take a stand, even it means we will die.   Our death will not have been in vain.   I pray it doesn't come to down to this, but it will, unless God intervenes.   Are we ready?

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This is just about all I have for today.  I pray that everyone that reads this will make a conscious effort to support that which is right in the eyes of God.   I pray that if you are reading this and have not made the decision to answer the call of God on your life that you will, by accepting Christ as your Savior!!!   The greatest gift that God has ever given to the world is Christ Jesus!!!    Confess that you are sinner in need of saving.    Admit that you are a sinner.    Ask Jesus to save your soul and to live in your life daily and to make a change in your life that you can't do on your own.    We can't pretend to have a relationship with Christ.  We either do or we don't.    It will either show in your life or it won't.   Even if we can fool others, we can't fool God.   So, my prayer is that if you are reading this and you don't know Christ as your savior, today will be the day you accept the invitation.    I can tell you that it's not easy being a Christian; a Follower of The Way.   It's not.   Because we have to make some tough decisions.   I've had to make some tough decisions on my blog.  Share my faith or not and that's tough.   Because I have gotten hate mail.    I have gotten hateful responses on my blog and that's why I have it set to where I approve all messages.    I wish it wasn't that way, but that is the world we live in.    The only way that I will make my blog remarks personal to anyone is by saying that I don't want to know that anyone read my blog and left with having read something about Christ.   Christ is all about love, but Christ is holy and righteous He can't and will not tolerate the wicked.   We are either for Him or against Him.    There is no gray area.   The decision is ours and so is the consequences to the decisions we make.    Society has taken consequences out of the equation, but God has NOT.

I pray that you seen or read something here today that has blessed you.  If so, share it with someone you know and love.    Have a peace filled rest of the day.   I pray that you call on Jesus as your Savior!    I hope to get back with some craft projects soon and if you have a way saving money thru smart phone apps, share them with us in the comments below.   I would love to read your comments.   Have a great rest of the day!!!   Remember God loves you and so do I.   hugs, patty

Judging, Feature another Crafter, a Tip

Hello Y'all!!!   It has been quite a while since I shared a blog post.  I haven't forgotten my blog, although it seems like I did.   I have just been busy and it seems like I may even be getting busier.  Seems like warm weather brings on a scurry of activity and I'm ok with that.   I guess y'all have been busy too.   I hope that you are having a great Spring to this point.   As I look out the back window, I see that the blackberries in the back part of the lot is just about finished with blooming and now they will be setting berries.   The worst thing is, they are in such a "chigger infested" area that my husband is always telling me to stay away from that area.  Just mowing, he gets chiggers on him when the weeds and greenery brush up against him.   So, as bountiful as the blooms are, the berries may just have stay back there and be food for the birds.   I do not like chiggers and will do whatever it takes to avoid them, so the berries will probably just stay back there.   boohoo   

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So, we just had Mothers Day weekend.   I hope and pray that all you mothers had a wonderful day and that you was remembered by those in your life that are your children or maybe they are people that you have been a mentor to.  Anyway, I hope and pray that someone told you "Happy Mother's Day".   If not, I will say "Happy Mother's Day" to you and thank you for doing the best job at being a Mom that you knew to do.   I personally am not a mother, but that doesn't mean I can't recognize hard work when I see it.   And being a mother is hard work.  To be a successful mother means giving up your life to the ones that call you mom.   It is actually called sacrifice.   My mother sure done that.   She sacrificed a lot for the six children that she reared.   And all six of us are thankful and grateful that we are blessed to still have her with us.

I went to Ky and spent the day with her on Mother's Day and we had a ball as usual.   I stopped in Russellville and had breakfast with three of my brothers and then went on to Mom's.  I picked her up and we went on to church and had an awesome and powerful service.   God was moving in a wonderful way.   After church service went to eat and then back to Mom's place and one of my brothers and his wife came and we all visited for a while and then it was time for me to make the trek back home.    It was a great time to be with her.   We are looking forward to some exciting days in the future, if the Lord permits.   Anyway, while I was there, she wanted a picture of the two us, so I got that and wanted to share it with y'all.   I love my Momma.   She's a sweet little Momma.    And we always have fun and do a lot of laughing.

I hope that this picture isn't so big that it scares you.   hahaha    We both liked the picture, hope you do too.   I hope you got to spend some time with your mother.   If not, I hope you have wonderful memories that you gain strength and joy from.    So,  "Happy Mother's Day" to all my friends and followers, I pray that it was a special day for you.

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The other day a conversation took place on face book over Priscilla Shirer speaking the word of God.  People can be so hateful and ignorant, and while doing so, they they get to spew their hate  and all that good stuff.  Priscilla was speaking about being used by God (and the word "judge" kept coming up in the comments.)   Being ready to be used by God, and some men were just terribly upset that a woman was actually preaching the word.   To those men, I say "get over it".  Jesus said that we are to "go and tell".   That is what the word "gospel" means, to go tell.    That's what she is doing.   And she does it quite well, I might add.   I think what we are seeing in response to her and the other fine woman preachers, is jealousy.   Jesus faced jealousy in the church of His day too.   As a matter of fact, it was the jealous church leaders and goers that had Him killed.   In the midst of it all, I responded.  When I was done, I thought it was something that really needed to be shared right here on my blog.   So, that is what this is, my response to hurt, hate, judging and sin.   See what you think.   Read on:

""""The reason most people have something to say about judging or not judging, is because most of us have on-going sin in our lives and if I judge you for your on-going sin, then you can judge me for my on-going sin and that is uncomfortable.    We need to get our lives cleaned up, only with Gods help and then we can help others get their lives cleaned up, only with Gods help.     Most of the time our judging comes with a lot of smugness and stone throwing.      We need to drop the stones and drop to our knees and repent.     When we do that, others will be more inclined to do the same.     Repentance is the desired outcome, starting with self, and then working outward to those around us.    If my life is a reflection of the sin around me, then I don't have much of a witness.     If the way I live my life is no different than the unchurched person that ridicules and makes fun of Christians, why would the unchurched person want to follow me to church?     That person wouldn't, and I couldn't blame them.  
    

I hear people say all the time that churches are a hospital for the sick.     Taking that analogy as it is, if I went to the hospital and spent ten years there being treated for a condition and left after ten years of treatment, in a worse shape than I went in, then I would say that something is wrong with that hospital.     Churches are "supposed" to be the place that we can get better; find healing (notice I said "supposed" to be the place to get better; find healing) so that when we leave the walls of the church, we are equipped to take what we have learned with us and share that with those around us, hopefully to have others want to follow us back to church.    On the other hand, if we are still sick when we leave church, then we need to go home, shut the door and don't even try to minister to those around us, because we have nothing but sickness to offer.    It is thru our sickness that we are afraid of the word "judge".     Just know that the enemy wants to keep us sick in sin and afraid of the word "judge".      As long as we are sick in sin and NOT walking in the healing grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the enemy has nothing to fear from us.    When we claim healing thru the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that's when we scare the enemy, because that's when we can make an impact on the unchurched and we don't have to be hateful, hurtful, or mean spirited about it. """"   

This comment of mine got many wonderful remarks, surprisingly so.  I figured I would be beat up as badly as some had verbally beaten Priscilla up, but no, I actually got a lot of great feedback from my response.  Go figure.   hahahaha

Thru it all, the way we live matters.     What others see us doing matters.    How we think matters.     How we speak to others matters.     How we speak about others matters.     What we focus on matters.   The condition of our hearts matters.   Every choice we make in life matters.     Someone is always watching.   Someone is always listening.    So, do not be afraid of the word "judge" or "judgement".    Focus on the condition of your own life and get it in order with humility.   Don't throw stones at anyone you are trying to minister to.  That person needs to know that you care about them.   When you are ministering to someone that has no idea what you are talking about, try to empathize with them and share with them about how you used to be B. C., before Christ.    If you are authentic with them and share real life scenarios, then they can see how you are now verses the way you were before Christ.   That's where a lot of respect for your chosen way of life can be earned and can make an impact.     Some people will not ever respond to you kindly, in that case, once you have done what you can do, you are free to walk away.    You and I are not called to save anyone.     That is what Jesus Christ does, all by Himself.   All we are called to do is spread the gospel.    The word gospel means to "go tell".    We are called to "go tell".     We are to live in such a way that our lives point others directly to Jesus.

And another point about judging others.    I can not judge someone that does not have a relationship with Christ.    They don't know what they don't know and they don't Christ yet.   So, nothing we say makes sense.     But, where the fur fly's is when a Christian points out something in another Christians life.    And this is what we are called to do and scripture calls that judging, and we do have the right to judge another person that calls themselves a Christ follower.   If you are a Christ follower and you are not living up to that standard, then God says to judge that right now.   Wake up, repent, and get back on the right path.   What you do matters, how you live matters to your testimony.   Do want a weak flimsy watered down worldly testimony.  If that's what you want, then that is easy enough to achieve.   But if you want a strong testimony, one that brings glory honor and praise to Christ, then we better get our act together and start living lives that ARE honorable to our Christ!!!    Most of the time, we are so delighted to point our finger.   When in reality, if our heart is right, we would be grieving at being in the position of pointing out another persons sin.    It should always be done with a heavy heart.    Sin is what separates us from God.   Jesus is the One that covers our sin, like throwing a beautiful blanket over the ugliness of our sin.  That beautiful blanket is His shed blood.    That is why it should grieve us to have go to a brother or sister in Christ with  sin in their life.    You may be the very person that can make a difference, but if you go at them gloating, the wall goes up and it may never ever come down.    If we go to them with a grieving heart and a loving heart that genuinely cares, then we can make a difference.     The choice is ours.     Be judge and jury, or be a person that is grieving over the sins of our own lives and the sins of others.  But remember, sometimes we, as Christ followers, must judge sin in the lives of other Christ followers.

What do you think?    Do you gloat over the sins in others lives or are you heart sick?    Do you throw stones or do you drop to your knees?     The way we respond matters.  It makes a difference  to those who are watching us with microscopic lenses.    Make a difference.  Don't be afraid to live a godly life and don't be afraid to grieve over the sin in another persons life.   It may very well be what that person needs, just to know someone cares.    In this world of hate, we can be people that push and pull other people to a higher standard of living for Christ, but it has to be done in a Christ like manner.   Remember, if you see a lady spreading the Gospel, thank God for that woman and pray for her to share the word as boldly as God would have her do it.   Don't throw stones at her, don't say hateful hurtful things.   If you don't like it, move on, change channels.  Remember this if you remember nothing else at all, she is putting the Great Commission into practice!!!   We all need to do that, in whatever format we have.  If we are serving Christ, we don't have the time to try and hurt another person's ministry.  We all have time to pray for others though, and we should.

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Something new that I am going to add to my blog is featuring other crafters that share interesting projects on their blogs.     I will just paste the web addy to something that I found extra fun and interesting.   I hope you like this new addition from time to time.

For the first one, I want to share a project from Helen Griffin.   I love her take on the mini albums with one sheet of cardstock and how she dresses them up and makes it look so easy.   This is one she shared on April 18, 2018.   I sure hope you like her project and will check it out.   Click on the link below, you will be amazed at what she does.   That's the main reason this blog post is so late, I was trying to contact her and got no response.   If for some reason she responds now, and doesn't like this, then I will remove it, but until then, check this out.  It's a fun project.

http://www.helengriffin.co.uk/tutorial-one-sheet-mini-album-trio-in-suitcase-holdall/

Check this out and let me know if like this idea or not and also let me know if you would like to be featured as a favorite crafter.   Just let me know what y'all think.

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My tip for this blog post is this: when you go shopping, always be on the look out for something you can repurpose.    Check out the clearance jewelry, you never know what kind of gems you will find that you can take apart and use as elements on your own creations.   Never look at anything without seeing at least 2 or 3 different ways you can use it.   Cans can be repurposed  into tool holders or paintbrush holders with a little paint and decoupage.   Boxes can be used to make art journals.   Magazines and ads in the mail can be made into beads.    The inner tube from paper towels can be turned into jewelry and many other things.   Chains from the odd ball jewelry can be used as texture on mixed media projects or as an element on a card or something.   Leaves and flowers can make fantastic images to get prints from with paints and sprays.   Rocks and shells are wonderful elements for mixed media.   We are only limited with our imagination.   So, think outside the box or can or ad or magazine or whatever, and something totally new and different.   It's fun.   Try it, you'll like it!!

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Ok y'all, you knew I wouldn't get a post in without mentioning my latest addiction and passion, my paper beads.  Well, I'm still addicted.  I think it may be a serious addiction.   But, I am NOT searching for a cure or anything to relieve the symptoms.   hahahaha    I have several more beads made and another beautiful set, but I will share that in the next time I post.  Just a little something to whet your appetite, so be on the lookout for more beads and completed jewelry.  

I have a friend whose daughter in law is having an event to raise money for the foundation that she started after her sister passed away suddenly a few years ago.   The foundation raises money for the schools in the county with a focus on special needs children.   It is an awesome foundation and I have started supporting it with jewelry for a silent auction.  So I have pulled some pieces and sets to donate for the silent auction.   Just pray that they sell and raise at least one hundred dollars.   I pray for double that though or more.  Because it is a fundraiser.   If I can remember and find out what the jewelry brings, I tell y'all next time.

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One last thing, I will be doing a give away again pretty soon.  I won't be advertising that I will be and you will have to read the blog post to know when it is and do as I ask for you to be eligible to win.  What makes one eligible to win, is to be a follower of mine and to leave me a comment in that blog post.   That's it.  Then I will have a drawing, if I get a lot of comments, I may draw two or 3 names, if not, I will just draw one name.  If I don't get any comments, I get to keep the jewelry for myself.   hahahaha   So, there you have it.   Tell anyone you know that loves beautiful hand made jewelry and have them to follow me and then be on the look out for when I will be doing a drawing.  I am getting pretty close to five hundred followers and when I get there, I will have a BIG drawing.  But that is quite a while away, so I'm not up in the air over that, yet.  hahaha  Anyway, be on the lookout!
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Well, I hope that seen or read something here today that made you smile today.    I hope that you have a blessed day in the Lord and that you take time everyday to praise God for something.  He woke me up this morning!!!  Praise God for that!!   If you seen anything worthwhile here today, share it someone that you think would enjoy it.   Tell them that God loves them and wants to be in relationship with them.   I can't wait to see you back here real soon. 

God loves y'all and so do I!!!   hugs and blessings, patty