A New Project and Happy Sunday

Good afternoon Y'all!   I hope and pray that where ever you happen to live on God's creation, that it's as beautiful there as it is here, in my neck of the woods, today!    It is a little cool, crisp, but it is absolutely beautiful.   The sun is shining, some of the early flowers are in full bloom, a lot of trees are blooming.  (For me, allergy season!)   Every thing is beginning to wake up from the long winter's nap.   It is refreshing, I must say.    For those of you dealing with snow and the threat of it, hang on, just a little longer, if you can.   It will be worth the wait.

Yesterday, I was fortunate to receive a beautiful cut file from the creator of this file.   It is absolutely breathtaking to look at!   Debbie, at http://paperpulse.blogspot.com/2014/04/sharing-technique-from-patty-used-for.html (she is in my list of blogs that I follow on the right hand side of the screen) has made the most beautiful design, shadow box fashion depicting the Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.    She is generously "giving" this file away to anyone who requests it.   You must e-mail her and ask her for it.   She has a place on her blog to email her.   It is SO very much worth asking for it, let me tell you.   She love's the Lord so much that feels she can't and shouldn't charge for it and doesn't want to see others selling it.   And I don't blame her one bit.

After she sent me the file yesterday morning, I dl-ed it to my computer and opened it up and looked at in my software and read the instruction file that came with it, and by the way, if you get this file, you MUST read the instructions, or at least you "should" read the instructions.    I was really excited about it.   I went to my art sanctuary, or the "executive suite" is what my wonderful hubby refers to it as.  ggg   Anyway, I got it all cut out before lunch.   I stopped and fixed lunch, hubby took a nap before going in to work and after he was gone off to work, I got back to my project.   I read the instructions again and prayed a little about it and started.   It didn't take very long to put it together.   I got to the last part, which is the very back piece and this is what I done differently to what Debbie done on hers.

I am gonna put up the pics and then when we get to the last one, I will tell you and it will be almost self-explanatory.   I hope you enjoy looking at the pics.

 It is really hard to get great shots of this, but I tried.

You will want to try to find a light to sit behind the box so the light shines thru.  My pics all look like b&w pics, but I assure you, they were taken in color mode.

 I love how so very realistic this is!!!  Debbie really hit this design out of the park!!

This one here is a little better in a sense, that you can see everything a little better.   You can see the colorful background in the very back.

Just a hint, if you click on a pic, it will bring them all up in a larger screen and you will see them better.

Now, the above pic shows the background of my shadow box.   Instead of putting another layer of solid white for the back, I took a piece of vellum and cut it to size and got out my little dew drops and used navy blue and eggplant and then used my Tim Holtz blending tool and just sort of smeared them around a little bit.   When I put it on the back of my shadow box, it was exactly as I hoped it would be.   It kinda reminded me of storm clouds and when Jesus Christ was on the Cross, it grew dark and was dark for three hours.   This technique, such as it is, gave me what I was looking for.   When you put  a light behind it, it really shows up as being the darkened sky that we can imagine.

Debbie, I thank you more than you can ever know for such a lovely file.   Such a powerful reminder of exactly what Christ done for me and for you and all of humanity on the Cross!!!

My Pastor touched on this a bit this morning in his sermon.   Not trying to preach his sermon, but this particular part of his message really spoke to me as something I could share here.   Jesus didn't go to the Cross for Himself, there was no reason for Him to go thru it for Himself.   He done it for us.   For us to be able to be in a right relationship with God, The Father, He went to the Cross!   In Mark 8:29 "But what about you?" Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?"  Peter answered, "You are the Christ, Son of the Living God!!!!."   When Peter recognized Him as Christ, in essence, Peter was saying, "You are the Son of God!   You are not just a good man; not just another prophet; not just a good teacher; not Elijah; but You, YOU are The Son of God!"

When someone asks you about Jesus, who do you say He is?   Think about it.   What do you tell others about Jesus?  Who do you say Jesus is?   That is probably one of the most important questions you'll ever answer.   It will determine how you live in this life and it will determine your eternal destiny.   I haven't always answered that question like Peter, "You are the Christ".   There was a time in my life when Christ was not first place, and it showed.   Now, I'm not sayin' I'm perfect.   If you are waiting for perfection in me, you will have a long wait.   But, what I am sayin', "Christ has covered my imperfections, so much so, that when God looks at me, He sees His Son, Jesus Christ!"    Now, when you look at me, if you're looking for imperfections, oh boy, you will definitely see them.   But if you are looking at me thru the eyes of God, you'll see Jesus.   It all depends on "who you say Jesus is". 

I hope and pray that y'all have a great rest of the day!    I hope and pray that y'all have enjoyed what you have seen and read here today.  If you have, tell a friend.
I hope you come back here real soon to see what else I have been up to.  You can't never tell what you will find here.   gggg

Hey, Ladybug, Sweet Pea loves you!   God loves y'all, and so do I.   hugs, Patty

A couple of cards and a story

Good afternoon, Y'all!   I pray you are having a wonderful Thursday afternoon!   It has been raining here and supposed to have more rain tonight.   We had some bad strong storms last night, but fortunately, there was no damage.  I just hope and pray everyone stays safe and sound if you do have storms.

I wanted to share a story and a couple of projects.  It seems like I am getting more and more behind in posting my projects.  I'm trying though.  ggg

Papaw and His Tobacco

Papaw always chewed tobacco, smoked a pipe or rolled his own little cigar/cigarette type thingies.  He would take a piece of newspaper and tear off a perfect square, about 4inch by 4 inch.  He went through the same ritual every time for making his cigarettes.  He grew his own tobacco. Like most farmers, he sold the majority of his crop to get by till the next season.  But he always kept back for himself, some of the best leaves of tobacco.  With some of those big beautiful brown leaves he would make two or three or more big twists.  I know some of you have seen those and know what I am speaking of.  He really could make a fine twist.  I remember watching him make a twist and just be fascinated that he could do that.  I still really don't know how he done it.  He always told me it was magic.  To me, it really was.

He would save a few leaves for drying till there was NO moisture in them at all and then he would start pulverizing it with his thumb in an old cigar box he had.   That was the tobacco he used to put in his pipe or to roll cigar or cigarette.  If he made a cigar, he would use a brown paper bag and cut out about a 4inch by 5 inch piece.  It was just fascinating to watch him do that.  Now, if he was just gonna enjoy what he called a “chaw” of tobacco, then he would reach way down in his pocket and pull out his knife and then open his tobacco drawer on the desk that he sat by every night.  It had had tobacco in it for so many years that I don't think a stink bug could have had a chance of survival in that drawer.  But he would pull out one of those big beautiful twists and ever so gently, cut off a “plug” about the size of the end of his thumb.

I was sitting at his feet one day when I was six or seven years old, maybe younger, and had never tasted any of that stuff.  I said, “Papaw, what does that stuff taste like?”  He said, “candy.”  Mamaw was sitting in her old fashioned wooden rocking chair.  The back of it had some scroll work in it.  You could tell by looking at it that it was very old, but well cared for.  She was rocking and looked up, and said, “Jerry, cut that out!”  I asked papaw what she meant.  He said, “She's afraid you'll want some of my candy.”  I asked him,“Can I, can I have a piece of your candy?” Mamaw said, “So help me Jerry, I'll take a broom to you!  I've done it before, and you know I'll do it again, if I have too!”  He laughed really big all the while cutting me a little “chaw”.  Before she could stop me, I popped that plug of tobacco in my mouth and started chewing and swallowing because I didn't want her to stick her finger in my mouth and get it.

Papaw was sitting there watching me real closely.  His eyes started to get big and then he started laughing and I think that was about the time I started turning green.  I got so sick, boy did I ever get sick.  Mamaw ranted and raved.  Papaw said, “Now Etta, you know she'll never ask for another “chaw” as long as she lives.”  Mamaw said, “Well, you can deal with her mother!”  Papaw said, “her momma likes me, there won't be anything to deal with.”

Well, yes, my momma did like papaw.  No question about that. But...she did not like the fact that he made me sick, brought me home, and then she had to deal with all the vomiting!!

The next time I was up there papaw asked me if I wanted some more candy.  I got up went outside on the porch and got the broom carried it inside, handed it to mamaw, and said, “here, you do it, you can hit harder than I can!”  They both laughed and laughed and finally I did too.  Not knowing why I was laughing, I just knew I did not want any more of his old “Candy”!!!!!( written by pjg,2013)

Hahahaha!!!   Just another "fun little piece"...

I said earlier I was way behind in posting a lot of projects, but I do have two cards to share with y'all today.  One is a "thank you" card and the other one is a"thinking of you" card.  I enjoyed making these two cards a lot.  I hope you enjoy looking at them.

This is the first card I wanted to show y'all.   The background is a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Chicken Wire.   I love that folder!   When I embossed the background I took  a dry metallic silver ink pad and rubbed it over the embossing and it left just enough color to make the embossing pop.   I had started to toss out that dry pad many times, but hadn't, I am so glad I didn't toss it.

I have been hoping it would come to me where this design file of the "wisteria vine" came from.  I can't remember who had it as a freebie, but I will gladly put their name on here if someone can help jog my memory.  I'm really sorry I don't remember, because I LOVE this cut file!  It is amazing!  ***Update: the freebie wisteria file came from EINNEJ.  She is in the list of blogs that I follow on the right.  Click on the link that goes to her blog. It is on the FREE SVG FILES page in the left hand column.***

The little tag is cut from a Sizzix  die.  It is a square die, but I made a rectangle out of it by cutting the square and then lining the scallops up about two or three scallops up and re-cut it.  So, that made a really neat size to put my sentiment on.

After I got my wisteria vine glued to the background, I used my faux stickles to put a little "bling" on my flowers and a little on the leaves.  It was just enough to really gussie it up.

This is the second card I wanted to you.   This was a cute little stamp and I colored it with my Marvy Uchida LePlume alcohol markers.   As you can see, I am not the greatest with the alcohol markers, yet, but I am having fun and trying, anyway.  Her makeup looks kinda like mine.  hahaha   But, I thought she was a little cutie.

Here is the completed card.  I cut the image with a Spellbinders die.  I used a Cuttlebug folder to emboss the background layer.  I used a fuchsia ink pad to highlight the edges of the cut image and then floated it over the top of the background layer to highlight the embossed image.  Then I popped some little pre-made embellishments on each corner for the bling effect..

I hope you enjoy what you have seen here this afternoon.   If so, tell a friend.

As I leave you this afternoon, I want to ask you a question, "Are you  a missionary?"   The first thing that might pop into your mind is "No, I'm not a missionary."   We sometimes think of the global arena when we think of missionaries.   Or we may even focus on a continent.   We may even think of a country.   But if you are a follower of Christ, you ARE a missionary right where you are.  Don't let that scare you at all.  But, when we are out and about, doing what we do on our usual days, we can be certain that we are on the mission field.  Look around, and look deeper than the smiles on the faces.  Ask God to allow you to see what He sees.  When we look at the world around us, through the filter of what breaks God's heart, we can see a whole heap of hurt around us at all times.  The best thing that you can do is to just start praying for God to use you when ever He see's fit.   2 Timothy 4:2 says:"Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching."

Proclaiming the message is as simple as saying, "God loves you!"   Keep saying it.   How inconvenient was it for Jesus Christ to face the Cross for my sin and yours.   Think about it.  I'm sure that was one thing that He would rather not have done.  After all, He was fully human.  So, it was with great pain and agony that He faced the cross.  But He did it for me.   He did it for you.  He did if for ALL humanity.  Tell someone you know what Jesus Christ has done for you.  When you  do that, you are proclaiming the "Message"!   Thank God that we can be in a right relationship with Him, all because of the obedience of Jesus Christ!

Have a blessed rest of the day and tell someone Jesus loves them.

Hey, Sweetpea loves Ladybug!

God loves y'all and so do I.  Many hugs and much love, Patty

My trip to Mom's and Pics

Good evening Y'all!!!    I pray you are having a great start to your week.  We all know what tomorrow is.   April Fools Day!!!    I try to play tricks on people on April Fools Day, don't y'all?    Mostly, I get tricked though.   hahaha    Have fun and trick someone for me, ok.

I mentioned to y'all last week about going to my mother's for a very short visit and that I would tell you more about it a little later on.   I had to get some pics made of some of my treasures I came home with and I finally got that done today.  

I got back in from my Mom's on Thursday and I was pooped. I slept great on Thursday night, but I was still tired Friday morning.  Tuesday afternoon my mom asked me if I wanted to get out.  That means, "goin' to town".   I said sure, we'll eat lunch too.   So, we went to Russellville to Mighty Dollar first.   They have a wonderful craft area.   Wow!!   I love it.    I made a big dent in their craft supplies.  Yay!    Then we went to "Slappy'z" Restaurant, home of the "Beast". The beast is a giant burger about the size of a 12" dinner plate and about 8" tall, and it comes with it's own butcher knife stuck down right in the top of it to hold it all together.     If one person can eat the whole thing, it's "free".    They have a lady to make them a dozen "beast" buns a week.     It is hilarious to watch someone try to eat the thing.    It's about $35, but, if you can eat it all, it's free. Now, that's NOT what we ordered!    hahahaha    Mom always gets a fish sandwich and onion rings.     Her sandwich always has a bunch of fish fillets on it.    They are small little strips of fish.    They are really good.    I always get "frog legs and fried green tomatoes" and some other side.    Oh boy, I love those frog legs!!!    I think it's some of the best food I have ever eaten, this side of my mother's food.    After eating, we went to IGA Price Less, but I did not see anything that was priced less than what you get most anywhere else.    I don't even remember what we did get in there.     For supper Tuesday evening, I made turkey and dressing and collard greens.

On Wednesday morning, we got up and was talking about what we wanted to do. My cousin works at City Hall and there is a restaurant right across the road from where she works.     It is called “Country Charm Cafe”.    Since the restaurant has opened back up, my cousin eats lunch there every day and most days her husband will come and join her.    My cousin did not know I was coming in. Mom called her and asked what time she ate lunch and my cousin said at 12:00, mom said, well, I don't like to eat by myself, so I think I'll come up and eat with you.    My cousin was crazy excited! In the mean time, Mom said, now what?    I said lets go see Mr. and Mrs. I.    They live out in the country, near the community I grew up in and my brothers and I grew up with their children.    One of their daughters-in-law and I was always really good friends.    But her work schedule always kept us from seeing each other when I was in.    But my friend had told Mrs. I. to let her know if I was ever in again and came to see them.    So mom called Mrs. I and asked if it was a good time to come see them and she said it was.    Well, Mrs. I called her daiughter-in-law and I didn't know it.  Well, we passed by my friends house and I honked the car horn.     We went on up the road to Mr. and Mrs. I's house.    This is way out in the country, in the farming area.     We was there a few minutes and here came my friend!    We laughed and carried on and had the best time.     Time flew by and Mom looked at her watch and said we need to be getting back because her niece, my cousin, was expecting her at noon.    My friend said you can stop at my house for a minute and let me show you thru it.     So we did.

There was a famous local artist in the area several years ago.     His name was Glenn Robertson.     He went all over the world taking pictures of animals and landscapes and he would come back home and paint what he saw.   I LOVED his work and most everyone else did.     I loved all of his wildlife.    Asian, African and North American wildlife is what I have through out my house.    We went in her house and she had prints of his I had never seen.    Lovely stuff!    In his later years, he painted a lot of the local landmarks.    Ranger Dairy Grill, Tasty Freeze, Lewisburg High School, Main Street Lewisburg, Main Street Russellville, Main Street Elkton, Mud River Mallards, Work Mules, Roosters and Hens, Tobacco Floor on Sale Day....... All kinds of stuff.   You name it, Glenn had painted it and she had it.    Glenn had oil painted a huge bull elephant with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background and a herd of elephants between the Mt. and the bull elephant in the front.    It was one of a kind and priced at five thousand dollars!   My husband promised he would buy that for me some day.    Glenn's studio was in Lake Malone Inn Resort on Lake Malone in Muhlenburg County Ky.    The resort was destroyed by a fire, and everything in the studio burned, and I am assuming that piece was in it.     We had moved to TN and I never got anymore of Glenn Robertson prints.

Any way, my friend and I was talking about the art and she found out what I liked and she said come here.     She opened a closet and pulled out a stack of Glenn's art that she had bought from his niece after Glenn and her father had died.     Her father was Glenn's brother.    My friend had bought a ton of his pieces from the niece.    She got them up on a bed and was going thru them and pulled a few off to the side.     I didn't know what she doing, but she pulled three out of the stack and gave them to me.     One of them was the bull Elephant, minus the Mt. and the other elephants.    One of the was of Cape Buffalo and the other one was of a Cardinal on a snowy day.    I almost fainted when she said here, enjoy!    I was on cloud 9 over that.

Well, my cousin was expecting mom anytime, so we had to leave and go back in to town.    My cousin had started worrying about mom and wondered if she was supposed to go pick up mom or not, but we finally got there and when I went in my cousin just about could not believe it.    We laughed and hee hawed for over an hour with her.   Then, to beat all, when she got ready to leave, she picked up mine and moms check and paid for it.    I was blessed beyond measure that day.    I told my cousin, next time was on me.  

So, we went home and my youngest brother came to see us.   He always looks for tiny little animals and he gives them me.    I have a whole collection that he has given me over the years.    He said come here, and hold your hand out, I did, and he dropped a little hippopotamus in my hand about the size of my little, short, fat thumb and I cracked up.   We had a really great visit.   While he was there my oldest brother called and I talked to him for a little bit. After my brother left, I told mom since we didn't have to buy lunch, lets go back to the restaurant for supper.   She said ok.   So, we did.    When we got home another one of my brothers and his wife came to see us and we laughed and hee hawed for another hour to a hour and a half and then it was bed time.   Then I came home on Thursday.    Pooped and worn out from having a great time. Having fun is hard work!    Hahaha    Anyway, that is the story of my good time and blessings that God heaped upon me.

I did get some pics made of the prints that I was blessed with and would love to share them with y'all.   I also made a pic of the tiny little hippo my brother gave me.  Hope you enjoy looking at them.

 The elephant print is 26" x 22". 

 The cardinal print is 24" x18".

The cape buffalo print is 20"x 16".

This little hippo is the "stinkin" cutest thing I ever seen!   Thank you brother! ggg

I hope you enjoyed my visit with my mom and the excitement and blessings we experienced.    I thank God for my visit.   I thank God every time I get to go and spend a little time with my mother.   I thank God that my husband is generous enough to let me go visit my mother from time to time.

As I leave you this evening I ask you, "What do you need to forget, and leave behind?"    There is stuff that we all need to just leave it in the past and don't dwell on, but look to the future for what God has in store.   Yesterday is gone.   There isn't anything to be done about yesterday.    If you have repented of your sin, God has already covered it thru the blood of Christ.  All we can do anything about, is the very moment we are in, right now.    Don't let the enemy remind you of past failures and accuse you of disobedience.   Don't dwell in the past and agonize and worry over past failures or past sin.   We stand before God based on what Christ has done for us, not based on what we have done.  Let God remind you that you are saved and sanctified and set apart for the Lord's service by the blood of Jesus Christ.   We are not righteous in and of ourselves.   Our righteousness comes from Jesus Christ, alone!!!    If you don't know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and if you've never repented of your sins, I pray that you will repent of your sins and ask Jesus Christ to lead, guide and direct you and to become Lord of your life.    It isn't easy being a follower of Jesus Christ, but it is rewarding.     Philippians 3:13  says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

I hope y'all enjoyed your visit today and I pray y'all will come back soon to see what else I have been up to.    I have many more projects and stories to share with y'all.

Ladybug, Sweet pea loves you!

Good night y'all.  God loves ya' and so do I.   hugs, Patty

Just another "Fun Little Piece"...

Good evening Y'all! I do hope and pray that everyone is doing well this evening. I had an opportunity to go out of state to visit with my mother this week. We had a great time and now I'm back home, and just chillin' out for a little bit.

I needed to update my blog, so I thought since I hadn't posted a story in a while, I would share one. I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic, so this is what I pulled out of my personal story book. I hope to be able to get more stories written so I can share them with y'all. In the next day or two, I may write about my little fun trip to see my Mom.

Just Another "Fun Little Piece"...

Think back, if you will to the mid to late summer of 1973. What was you doing at that particular time in your life? Me, well, I was a freshman in high school. Not loving it very much, at all! I prided myself on being a tom-boy. With five older brothers, what do you expect? ggg So, this particular assignment in Biology class was right up my alley. Romping in the woods, climbing trees, and roaming the hills for that all elusive perfect leaf for my leaf collection. If I found a good leaf, I knew there was a better leaf. While searching for the perfect leaf, I did have to be on the watch for poison ivy and sumac. Both of these were particularly painful to me. The allergic reactions to either one was beyond belief. We had a whole week to collect as many different leaves as possible. There were several different leaves in our own back yard. So those specimens were in the bag. I don't remember all the different leaves that I found, but it really was fun.

If I didn't know what type of leaf it was, then I headed to one of my many brothers to find out about it. If they didn't know than I would ask my mom or dad. My grandmother lived on the hill above my parents place. She had about 20 acres. My grandfather had passed on a couple of years earlier. There used to be horses, mules, chickens and a milk cow on the farm but when Papaw died, all the animals were sold. So, the farm had started to grow up a little. In the summer before school started back, my dad decided to get a calf and raise it to put in the freezer. My personal name for him was "Roast Beef". Roast Beef did not like me one little bit. He snorted and scruffed at the ground every time he seen me. I could be going up the hill to see Mamaw and he would snort at me all the way walking the fence line. He really scared me and he knew it.

Back to the leaf collection. I had collected all I could at our place, but I needed a few more, so I decided to go up to Mamaw's. Mamaw knew every tree on the place. She told me where to go to get some leaves I did not have, but she said, "be careful of that bull, he's getting meaner every day". With her word of advice, off I went. One eye looking for trees, and the other looking for Roast Beef. I had collected all the specimens that Mamaw had told me about and was going back to the house. I had a pretty good time, because I had not even seen Roast Beef. But, he had seen me, and was still watching as I got closer to the barn. I started to go through the barn lot because it was a little closer. But, I thought better of that because I did not want to get trapped in the barn with Roast Beef. I went up the outside of the barn into the open field heading to the back of Mamaws house. As I got closer to the house, I seen Mamaw on the back porch. I kept my sight on her while walking to the house. All of the sudden, she started waving her arms and yelling "RUN, RUN, RUN!" I did not look back, I just started running as fast as I could. I never looked back, but just ran for all I was worth. As I ran, I could hear Roast Beef right on my heels, he was getting closer every second. I did not know how I would get across the fence, because it was barbed wire. Fortunately for me I didn't have to think about that but once, because when I got within fifteen feet of the fence, my knee buckled on me and down I went! I never knew anyone could roll faster than they could run, but so help me I did. I rolled under that fence and my grandmother was there and in one fell swoop, she jerked me up off the ground onto my feet and we both was running and did not stop till we hit the porch. The fence stopped him but he stood there and snorted and scraped at the ground till dark.

I made it home with my leaves and got my collection together, and ready to turn in the next day. I did not tell my parents about the run in with Roast Beef. I was afraid they might think I did something to him to provoke his reaction, so... I didn't mention it. The next day, my dad went to see Mamaw, and she asked him if I told them about being chased by the bull. He said that I hadn't told them. Mamaw told dad how scared she was when she seen it happening. Dad said, well, it won't happen again. Dad and my some of my brothers got Roast Beef put up in the barn to grain feed him for a couple weeks or so and then off to the butcher Roast Beef went. I have to say, I did not hate to see him go.

I made an excellent grade on my leaf collection. I actually collected more leaves than anyone else, and the quality of all my leaves were excellent. A couple of weeks later we went to pick up a freezer full of "Roast Beef". Oh, by the way, did I say "I love Roast Beef"! Put a few potatoes and carrots and onions with him, and yum yum, my favorite meal. I like meatloaf, hamburgers, steak, but nothing goes down as well as "Roast Beef". There just has to be some satisfaction in that. And there you have it, just another "fun little piece" of my life. (written by:pjg on 03-05-13)

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me for a while. I hope and pray that each and every one of y'all have some fun memories that you can share with the people in your lives. There is nothing like passing on the good stuff. I think I've said this before, but when we can pass on the good stuff to the younger generations, then a part of us can live on in them. I used to love to sit and listen to the stories of the "old timers". I still do love to listen to the stories of the older generation. I can't call them "old timers" now, because that's what I would be calling myself. ggg When you can go back to a time when life was slower, but much harder, you can see that we now live such fast paced lives that we don't have time for the stuff that really makes life worthwhile.

When you stop and think about, that is how the traditions and stories of the Bible were passed down from generation to generation. The elders passing the stories down to the younger generations. We haven't always had the written Bible that could easily be picked up and read to the family. And in a lot of families, the stories of the Bible are still passed down thru story telling. If you really want your children or grand children to learn the Bible, start telling them the stories that are actually written in the Bible. Tell them in an interesting way, but make sure that the stories are scriptural and not taken out of context. What about the story of David and Goliath. How about the story of Moses. Then there's Joseph. Esther would be a wonderful story for the little ladies in your lives. And what about Ruth and Naomi? For all the little fishermen out there, what about Jonah? And then the fishermen in the New Testament. Jesus said He would make them fishers of men. There are many exciting stories in God's Word that is so captivating. There are many love stories in the Bible and the ultimate love story is about how much God loves us; so much that He provided for us the only way to be in a right relationship Him, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

I pray for y'all to have a wonderful night of refreshing sleep and a great weekend ahead. God loves y'all and so do I!

Goodnight Ladybug, Sweet pea loves you!!!!!

Hugs and much love, Patty

Sympathy Card and Calendar says "Spring"!

Yay!!!   The calendar says Spring has sprung!    Well, has it, or is it just pullin' our leg?    The sun is shining beautifully right now, but is it just deceiving us?    I, for one don't know.   But, I have heard that we are in for at least one more round of mixed precipitation.    It is always a "hurry up and wait" situation.    But, for right now, I'll take the sunshine and be ,"happy, happy, happy"!

I wanted to share a sympathy card I made for a dear friend who is grieving the loss of a family member.   I love making cards, but, sometimes I don't enjoy the reason I make them.    As is the case for this one.   I loved making it, just not the reason for which I made it.

I bought a cheaper set of alcohol markers just to start learning how to use them.   I had watched several videos.    I only have 24 diff colors, so, as you can see, I really don't know what to do with them, yet.   But I tried.    Hopefully, I will learn and not be so heavy handed with the markers.    I do hope to be able to get a nicer set of alcohol markers.   I know the set I want, but I just have to wait till they are on a really good sale.    I don't like to pay full price for ANYTHING!    I love the word "SALE", don't y'all!    

This is the card I made for my friend.    Friend, if you see this, just know that I love you and am praying for you.

This is one of my favorite stamp sets.    I just love it because it is calming for me to look at.    Now, maybe, my coloring of the stamp isn't very calming, but I really tried hard on it.    I hope at some point in time, my coloring and blending skills will get better.

I love my "clear star jelly roll" Sakura pen.    That is what gives it that little bit of glittery affect.    That is my bling on this card.    It really isn't color, it is just a little shimmer.

This is the inside of the card on the backside of the front, if that makes sense.   Psalm 121 is one of my fav Psalms.    This one in particular has been my "go to" Psalm for many occasions.    I have several of these printed and cut out, ready to be used in my cards.   I use a deckle edged cutter to cut them.    It sort of mimics a rough tear.     Then I ink the edges and splotch up the top of it with my little ink pads.    I try to make it look old and dirty from lots of use.

Well, y'all, that is what I had to share with y'all today.   I do hope you enjoyed looking at it and maybe getting ideas.    If you have a fav brand of alcohol markers, let me know.    If you have any tips on using your markers, I'm open to those also.    I really hope that you come back sometime in the near future and see what else I have going on, one little "fun piece of life" at a time.

As I leave you today, I ask you to read the above scripture, Psalm 121.    I love to read it in various translations.   Where does your help come from?     If it comes from the world, it may or may not be in your best interest.    If your help comes from God, whatever it looks like, it will always be for your best interest.    Whatever God does for us is ALWAYS with our best interests at the forefront.    We will not always get what we ask for.   Praise God!!!     I know there has been times when I have asked for something specific but God gave me something altogether different from what I was praying about, and Praise God, He had my best interest at heart.   Sometimes, we don't know what we need, but God always knows your needs and my needs better than we do.    If your prayers are not answered in the way you had hoped for, just be thankful, and know that God is always watching, He never sleeps or slumbers.    Just keep looking up, my friends, toward the hills, from whence cometh our HELP!     God always hears our cry for help!     God loves you more than you could ever know.     He provided the only WAY for us to have a right relationship with Him, and that is thru Jesus Christ.     My prayer for each and every one of y'all is that you can call Jesus Christ your Savior!

Have a wonderful rest of the day and tell someone that Jesus wants to be their friend.    God loves y'all and so do I!      Hugs and much love, Patty