"Happy Mother's Day"

As I sit here right now the sun is shining beautifully, but it is just a wee bit cool outside and "I LOVE IT"!!!!!!!     Oh yes I do!!!!!     The rainy weather makes me hurt so bad, but the hot weather makes me glisten!!!!    hahahaha     I heard on a movie one time a few years ago a wonderful saying and I haven't forgotten it.     The setting was the "Gone with the Wind" type of movie, not that particular movie though, just another one similar.    A southern belle was sitting in the upstairs window fanning herself and a maid came in to wait on her.     The maid said something about being hot and sweating.  The southern belle looked at her, with sweat rolling from her brow, and said in her best southern drawl, "ladies glisten, gentlemen perspire and horses sweat!"    I cackled out screaming and laughing, and said that's it, I always knew I was horse!!!!     Let me tell ya, it's hard to be a lady when you're sweating like a horse!!!   hahahaha     I have to admit that I do love the creature comforts of today.    I think we have the capacity to make do in what ever situation we happen to find ourselves.    I just always hope and pray that where ever I find myself that they have excellent air conditioning!!!!    hahaha  

I went shopping for a new pair of Crocs on Thursday and met a new crafting friend while she was helping me look at some tops.   I was over the top excited.    I had on a "tree of life" necklace that I had made a few weeks ago.     I was dining with a wonderful Sister in Christ and she has a "tree of life" necklace and I was admiring it and mentioned it to her and she told me, "Make one", you can do that.     I told her it made my head hurt just thinking about trying to figure it out.    Well, I went home and watched a few Y T videos and seen how to do, and lo and behold, I did it.    Everyone loves it.    So when my new friend and I was talking, she mentioned my necklace and I told her it was the very first one that I had made, she was really thrilled about it.    That sparked a conversation and we chatted for a few minutes and I left knowing that I had wonderful new friend.     I can't wait to get together with her and chat some more.     We will make it happen.  

This is my "tree of life" necklace.     I am very happy that I made it and I hope to be able to make some and get it to the point that it's not such a struggle.    It is kinda crude, but it is still an attention grabber.    So, I am very thankful that God helped me to get this done.    Had it not been for my friends insistence that I could make one, I would never have attempted it.

So, here it is Sunday night and I just got home from  a weekend visit with my Mom.    I got to spend Mother's Day with her and I am truly blessed to still have my mother and get to spend a few days with her every now and again.      It was such an awesome visit.    I got to see ALL of my brothers and that means more to me than words can express.    We was looking at old pictures and one of my brothers had posted a couple of pics on face book so I decided I would share some of them here.    We'll call them "then and now".      It is always fun to take a few trips down memory lane and see how the years added up.   gggg   We are all truly blessed by God beyond measure that He has let us have each other as long as we have.    We'll go from black and white to color, or from the "old days" to the new days and somewhere in between.    

Ok, so this is the "old days'!!!     Hahaha     I just love it!!!!      This was an Easter Sunday and we was ready to go to church.    I was about 10 years old in this pic.    Lots of sun frowns.   hahahaha      Daddy was taking the picture.    At Father's Day, my brother plans to post the one where daddy was in the picture and mommy was taking the picture.     I wish you could see mom's and mine outfits real well.    She made all of our clothes for many years and a lot of the time our outfits was very similar and I always thought that was so neat.          

Ok, this one was at Christmas several years ago.    All 8 of us are in this one.   My husband was the photographer and we all loved this picture.     I went to Mom's a couple of weeks ago and she had found this picture in a frame and had it setting out and I took a picture of the picture, that's why there is a glare on it.     I was about 25 years old in this picture.     We was all slim and trim and young looking.   hahahaha     I had all this long hair with a spiral perm in it and LOVED it!!!!!     hahahaha    We were rock stars, or so we thought!!!!     Someone said, "A picture that only a mother could love", and my mother said, "Yes, and I do love it!!!"    And she does love her family.  

25 to 30 years later, this morning, as a matter of fact, here we are.    Mother's Day 2016.    We all got together at Arby's and had breakfast this morning.     It was wonderful time!!!!!    The waitress was in awe that we all was there.    Still a family that only a mother could love, and my mother does love her family!!!     I really wish this picture wasn't as dark in the back as it is.    I really tried to lighten it up in my software, but it's still pretty dark in the back.

At nine o'clock, we all parted ways and some went on home and some went to church.     Mom and I went to her church and it is always good to go to church with her.    She got a beautiful big pot of flowers for having the most children.    She held up all the fingers and thumb on one hand and the thumb on the other hand to represent the head count of her children.    I reached over and grabbed the thumb on her hand and said, "this one represents me, "I'm thumb-body!"   hahahaha

It was a blessed day!!!!    A day I thank God for!!!!     I hope and pray that everyone of y'all got to spend time with your mother today.     I hope and pray that you made good memories today.    I pray that you have good and great memories in your memory banks to reflect on if she is no longer with you.    I pray that you all have had a "Happy Mother's Day"!!!!    I am so thankful and grateful to God for my day today and I hope and pray that y'all are too.

Ladybug, it was such an awesome time this weekend and I look forward to many more with you!!  Sweetpea loves you!!!

As I leave you tonight, I hope and pray that y'all have had a wonderful praiseworthy day and that you have a rest filled night.    And I hope you have taken the time to thank God for your mother.     Remember, God loves you and so do I!!!      Until next time, love and big hugs, Patty

Gelli Plate Pulls Play Time

Good afternoon everyone.     I hope and pray that y'all are high and dry today.     We woke up with rain today and I don't think it has stopped all day.    It's still raining even as I type.    It is a good day for the ducks and geese out at the city park.    As my husband drove off to work this afternoon, I was at the kitchen widow praying for him as he drove on up the road and looking out over the front yard.  There's  some places in our front yard where bradford pears used to be before they were attacked numerous times with the wind blowing up the hollow.     After having branches and limbs and even the whole top of one twisted off, hubby decided to cut them down.    They were really ratty looking after all the wind damage.    The areas where the root systems were are still rotting.    He did rent a stump grinder and got most of the stumps out, but there is still this big root system under ground.    We noticed early on that where the root system was, there would be mushrooms to come up.    Sometimes there is even what we used to call as kids; a fairy ring.    Today, when I was watching my husband drive off, I noticed there was a very large mushroom where the middle tree was.    I hope it gets dry so I can go out and get a photograph of it before it starts deteriorating.    At some point in time before the wet season is over, there should be a very large fairy ring in our front yard.    If there is, I will get a pic of it too.    So, stay tuned, you just may be seeing some mushrooms here.

I had an afternoon yesterday of playing with my gelli plate for the very first time.    Today, I played with a couple of them and here's what I came up with.    The befores and after.

 This is one of them from yesterday.   I like the circles and colors.

This is another one from yesterday and I really like the feather and colors.

This is how they turned out today and I just love them.   I used some of the paints to put tiny dots on them.    I drew squiggly lines on the edges and I traced around the feather and I colored the white circles that was left behind when I used the little white lid.   It was just some fun little extras and I love the little pieces of art that I have now.     The ladies over on the Kraafters Kommunity and the Gelli Plate Anonymous Club can do some very awesome things with their gelli plate pulls.     I love watching what they do, it makes me soooo happy to see them do their "thang"!!!!    So, this is my homage to them.    Thank you so much for all the inspiration that I have gleaned from all of you!!!!

I hope y'all have enjoyed a peek at some the pulls I made.    I sure did enjoy making them and sharing them.     I hope to venture into more different types of arts and crafts.     Tonight is Card Making Ministry night at church, so I hope to have some beautiful cards to share soon.  

I hope and pray that y'all have a wonderful evening and a great night of rest.     I pray for the peace of God to settle over each one of you and that you have a wonderful restful night of healing refreshing sleep.    Take care and remember that God loves y'all and so do I.     hugs, Patty

My VERY First Gelli Plate Pulls

Good Sunday Y'all!!!   As I sit here typing this blog post the sun has been shining, it has been raining hard and the thunder has been banging all around.   The weather is about fussy as I am, I don't know what I want to do so I make a lot of noise.   That's what the weather is doing.    hahahaha     If you don't like the weather in my neck of the woods, just wait for a few minutes and something you like will roll around.    hahahaha     Just praying it stays mild and does not kick up a bad storm.    I hope and pray that where ever y'all are today that you are safe from the weather.    Even more than that, I pray that you are resting in the arms of Father God this blessed day!!!

Did you see the title of today's post?     Hehehehehe, I am so stinkin' happy, yes I am!!!    I done my very first gelli plate pulls!!!!     Ohhhhh, yes I did!!!!     I'm just silly giddy with excitement.    In a Google+ community that I belong to, Kraafters Kommunity, the ladies over there are always experimenting and doing all sorts of cool fun stuff.    They talk of their love hate relationship with the gelli plate to do printing with.   If you don't know what that is, google "gelli plate" and you will find more than enough info to keep you busy for years.   hahaha     Anyway, I have watched with envy and joy and happiness as they have lots of fun and have been very hesitant to do it.    Why?     Heck, don't ask me, I don't know why!!!!    Anyway, about 3 weeks ago I gathered the supplies to make my own gelli plate and set out making one.     (You can also google "how to make a gelli plate" and find recipes and how to's.)    The purchased ones are better and will last longer than the homemade ones, but making one is a good way to determine if it's an investment you want to make, because they are kinda pricey.  

With all that said, this afternoon, I bit the bullet and played with my gelli plate!!!!    The gelli plate I made is about 9 x11 inches.    I took a spatula, hahaha, and cut off a corner that is about 3 x 4.5 inches.    It didn't seem to be quite so intimidating when I cut it down.    I used a very small water color pad to make my pulls with.    It is 2 x 3.5 inches, so they are really tiny little pieces of art, or will be when I get thru with them.    I had a stinkin' blast!!!!    I used Folk Art paint, Apple Barrel Paint and some Martha Stewart Glass paint.    I had some very specific images in my mind of what I wanted to do and what I had hoped my pulls would look like.    I had had those images in my mind from the very first time I seen gelli plating and I guess that's why I had not ventured to do it.   I was actually afraid that I would not be able to recreate the images in my mind.    Well, I am very happy to report that with the help of God, I did just that!!!    Now, with the pulls that I have on the heavy water color paper, I just have to do some finishing touches on them to get my tiny pieces of art to look exactly as I had wanted them to look.

Woohoo!!!  Yay!!!   I did it!!!!

I just used a few stamps to make images and impressions.

On a couple of them I used a lid from something to make circles and I used some feather stamps on some.

This is some of the paints I used.

This has a mini quilt stamp on it.

I think this one with the faint feather image is close to my favorite one.

 This is the mini water color pad I used.   I hope to get more of these.

This is another one that I really like.  I stamped the images after I had used it on the gelli plate to lift color.

 I really like the purple and bronze circles.

 These quilt pieces are fun.

This is the one I really like.  

I just have to say that I am now hooked, like so many others!!!!!   I can honestly say that there are many more worse things to be hooked on!!!!    Ain't that right y'all?   Woohoo!!!!    I can"t wait to play more!!!

I hope and pray that y'all have had a great day and that what ever you done today, you kept God first place in all you done.    God loved you enough to give His Son as a pardon for your sin and that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, you will be saved.

Ladybug, hope you had a great day today and look forward to seeing you soon.   Sweetpea loves you.

Have a great night, y'all!    Share what you seen here today with someone you love.    Stay safe.   Remember God loves y'all and so do I!!!    hugs, Patty

Mystery Craft and seeing stars, again......

Well Howdy Y'all!!!!!     I do hope and pray that this day finds everyone doing well.     It is a very soggy, wet Saturday morning in my neck of the woods.     As they say, "April showers bring May flowers".     There has been so many very beautiful flowers in April already, so I can only imagine that the flower show that comes with May will be even more spectacular!!!!     I LOVE the beauty of nature, even though I can only enjoy it with my eyes.     In reality, nature makes me itch, sneeze, swell up, scratch, wheeze and any other number of things.     So, I have to enjoy it from afar, but at least I can enjoy it.    It blows my mind that for someone who grew up in the country, out in the nature around me every day of my life for many years, is now allergic to the very thing that I always loved.     Thank God for allergy meds!!!!!     I am very serious about that!!!!     One other thing about nature is all the little creepy, crawly, buzzery (my new word, you seen it here first y'all) things.    I have always said that if it stings, stinks or bites, it will be after me and leave everyone else alone.   My husband even notices it.     We can go out on the back porch and it starts as soon as the door shuts behind me, so help me it does.    hahahaha     Buzzzzz, swat, slap, knock, flailing arms like a crazy woman, and I just give up and go in!!!!!     hahahaha      A stroll thru the grass, unless I have winter boots on, will leave me with itching ankles and calves and then itching all over and nothing will stop it till I take a shower, even if it has just been 30 minutes since I just took one.    grrrr     I guess I have resolved myself to being a concrete and asphalt girl instead of the country girl I once was.     But as another saying goes, "You can take the girl outta the country, but you can't take the country outta the girl".     So, I may live in an area considered city, I still bleed country!!!!!    I always will!!!!   hahahaha     God knew what He was doin' when He made country folk!!!!!!

So, y'all know I love to do all different kinds of crafts, whether I have success at it or not.    Last Saturday, I was involved in an online all day stamp kaarving fest in a hangout over on the +Kraafters Kommunity on Google+.    You could pop in and out of the hangout and kaarve along with the other ones or you could just watch, as I did.    I tried to learn from them and after it was over, I kaarved something I had been wanting to do for a long time.    I got out my carving stuff, don't remember what it's called, just pink stuff.   Looks kinda like an eraser, just not as crumbly and drew on my feather and started carving it.    Had no idea what I was doing, but I got it finished and lo and behold, the angels were singing, "it stamped beautifully!!!!!    Yeah, I'm hooked!!!!  

The image with the circle at the top of it is the one that blurred when I tried to stamp it on my knee, so it blurred, but the others are great.    Was kinda proud to finally get a carved stamp under my belt.  All of the gals are really fantastic.     I hope to be one day too, but till then, I'm giddy over my stamp.  Yay!!!!!

A month or so ago, we had a Mystery Craft at the Extension Office and of course, I went.   The only ones there were ladies from my church and my FCE group, there may have been one lady there that wasn't, but I just can't remember.    If it wasn't 15 seconds ago or 40 years ago, I can't remember.   hahaha     I've always heard that called "selective memory", I guess that's right, I  can't remember.    hahaha      Anyway, the craft turned out to be decorating gift bags with supplies she had on hand.    We had to bring some paper or cardstock, a pair of scissors and ribbon.    I forgot the ribbon.    hahaha     Anyway, the lady in charge was wanting our ideas for decorating bags and then she will use those ideas and more later on in the summer when they have the regional meetings and do crafts for two or three days.     So, her craft will be decorating bags.     We all made totally different bags.    I was really proud of mine when I finished.    I had no idea what I was gonna do, I just started doing.   This is the result.    I hope y'all like it.

This is my finished bag.   I was really happy with the way it turned out.    I cut a circle from plain paper and then cut the center from it and was left with a wreath shape.    I took the My Creative Memories punch and punched hexagons from two diff pieces of decorative paper in the two diff sizes the punch made.     I found a little ink pad with a complimenting color and inked all the edges of the little pieces.

I then just started placing the pieces on my paper wreath, varying papers and sizes until the whole wreath form was covered and making sure no white showed.    I then glued the paper wreath to my bag and added dots of bronze glitter glue.

I really love the colors in this, even though no purple was used.    hahaha    I just can't believe it, really I can't.   gggg

Then I made a bow and added a drop bead hanging from the center of the bow with jewelry wire and then added a button after I cut the shank off the back.

So, this is my bag and the punch I used.    I loved the punch and I didn't have it, so I got on Ebay, ordered it and got it shortly after.   I don't know if you can see it or not, but I glued my hexagon on in such a way that I could raise the hexagons, just a bit to give it a bit of dimension.    That's why I didn't glue them directly onto the bag.

Ok, I just have to warn you, really I do.     Crafting can be very dangerous!!!!!    Oh, yes it can!!!!    There are various ways one can get injured while crafting.    Burning yourself with a hot glue gun, cutting yourself with sharp tools, picking up the wrong end of something...........and the list goes on and on.      Well, I was in my craft room shortly after getting my hexagon punch, pictured above.    I went to one of my cabinets that house much of my supplies and opened the door.    I have all my hand punches in box that is more than overflowing.    Well, I opened the door looking for something and bumped the overflowing box and my new punch started falling towards the floor.    In my mind I was saying, "Oh, please don't break my new punch, please don't break my new punch.......!!!"   That  quickly changed to, "Oh, please don't break my little toe, please don't break my little toe.......!!!!     Hey, don't believe me, look at the last picture!!!!      That's why the title of the post had, "seeing stars, again....", in it!!!     I wasn't seeing hexagons, just stars and a nice lump and bruise just about 10 minutes later!!!!  

See, I told you crafting can be dangerous!!!!    I may have to start wearing steel toed shoes when I craft!!!!!!   hahahaha    On the redeeming side of this little mishap, I must say that I bruise beautifully!!!!!!    I am beginning to think that may be why I love purple so much, because I wear it so well in the form of bruises.     hahahaha     This pic was just about 10 minutes after it happened.   It got even more beautiful the next day, I just forgot to take a pic of it.    hahahaha     Oh well, bruises heal; the main thing is that my punch was ok.    hahahaha    Lemons + sense of humor = Lemonade!    That's what I made, Lemonade!!!!


What do you look for?     What are you searching for?     Have you been looking all of your life for something?     Have you been searching for something, but you have no idea of what you are searching for?     I have heard people say that they have been looking for something and don't quite know what they are looking for.    Back when I used to sew all the time, I would go on a fabric hunt.    I would have an image in my mind of what I wanted to make and nothing would do, but to find that piece of special fabric.    I didn't know what I was searching for till I laid my eyes upon it, and then and there, the "God-given" image in my mind started coming to fruition.    Just any piece of material would not do!   It had to match the image of what was in my mind and the second I spotted it from the corner of my eye, I knew that was it!!!     I never went on a search for fabric but what I came away with the perfect piece for the outfit I was making.     I knew then and I realize even more now, that God was helping me find what He wanted me to have.

The only way that He could have helped me find what He had placed in my mind, was for me to have realized at some point in time that I was on a search for Him.    He was never hidden from me, but sometimes we don't know what we are looking for and it turns out to be God.    God does not hide Himself from anyone.    Every person has the same access to God that I have, they just have to want to access God and then He will make Himself known to any seeker, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.    The redeeming work of Christ on the cross is the ONLY door to God the Father!!!!

1 Chronicles 16:11   Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually.

What ever we are searching for, we will find it!!!!    If we are seeking the Lord, we will surely find Him!!!!    Our lives will produce the fruit of what we are seeking after.    If we are seeking the world and all that it has to offer, we will surely find that!!!!     Our lives will produce the fruit of what we are seeking after.

Acts 4:12   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

How much plainer can this be said?    Not much.     Just about as plain as it gets.     Yet, people are still searching and seeking after other ways to Father God that simply DO NOT exist.    There is NO other way to be in presence of Father God, except thru the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ, that's it!  
I hope and pray that today, if you are still seeking after the way to Father God, that you will realize that there is only One way to Him and that way is Jesus Christ.    God loved you enough to provide you with a way to Him and that way is Jesus.     Jesus is as close to you as a whisper of His name.     At the mention of His name, demons flee!!!!     If you don't know what else to say, simply say "Jesus", He will hear you.

Ladybug, can't wait to see you again, real soon.    Still enjoying our time the other day with the "5 Cracker Barrel Cuties", such a great day!!!!    Sweetpea loves you!!!!

That's about it for today.    Share what you have seen and read here with someone you love, you won't regret it and neither will they.    God loves y'all and so do I!!!    hugs, Patty

Seeing Stars and "You can't do"..............

Good afternoon Y'all!!!    I hope and pray that y'all are enjoying this day, where ever you are in the world.    While hubby and I were setting in the living room just a little while ago, we could hear the sounds from outside.    A lawnmower in the distance coming from one direction, a weed trimmer coming from another direction.     Birds singing loudly, proclaiming that they are happy that with each passing day Spring gets a little warmer.      Amidst all the noises, there is a lone little frog that has made his or her home in a shrub just under the living room window.     And when all the other noises are taking place, this little frog is making noises just as loud and making itself known.     When everything else quietens down, so does this little frog.    I would love to know what's taking place in this frogs mind.       It really doesn't matter, I don't guess.      I think God put it there for me to hear and take pleasure in.     If we delight ourselves in the little things that God puts before us, think how much easier it is for us to delight ourselves in the bigger things He does for us.     I got out of the car yesterday and noticed some of those little wild purple violets in the yard and oh my, it just thrills my soul to see those things.      Along with the wild strawberries that are in bloom, just gorgeous.      And then there is a tennie tiny little 5 petal flower weed in the yard that is also in bloom.   It's little bloom is no bigger than my little finger nail, but it really stands out in the green grass.     I just love the little things that God puts in front me, waiting for me to see and then thank Him for those things.     So, today Father God, I thank you for the small things that you put before me!!!!!

I have a craft project I wish to share with y'all today.     I had seen the sizzix five pointed star die and wanted it, but not bad enough to pay the price, so I went to ebay and looked for it and found it for 5 bucks and I snatched that thing up!!!!      Quicker than you can say"snatched that thing up" 5 times!!!   hahaha     Anyway, I had in mind of making some of the stars to put in our Country Bazaar we will be having at our church in June as a fundraiser.     I quickly got busy and made some and I have to say, the image I had in my mind, manifested itself in the finished pieces.     I love it when that happens.     In one of the pics you can see what all I used on them and it was basically the same on all of them.    Other than the clear crackle paint.      I just used it on 2 of them.      One of them I just put one coat of it and just got small fine cracks.     On the other one I put two layers of it and got big cracks that allows some of the coloring I done to shed off and then I had to put a finish over the top of to prevent any more from coming off and it looks like an old weathered piece of metal that has tons of peeling paint and rust on it; JACKPOT!!!!!    That is what I was going for, yay!!!!    Anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics.

So, the pic above is the first one I made.    It is just a frozen pizza box chipboard with aluminum foil glued to it and then die cut using the sizzix 5 pointed star die and my old worn out cuttlebug.     I cut five points and glued them together.     The star itself is about 8.5 inches across, point to point.     I used a chicken wire embossing folder for this one.    Then I put the first layer of color on and it was one of the folk art colors.      All the colors I used were metallic in nature.      Blingy, you know.    hehehe    After the first color, I just started putting a drop of color on an old cd and using that as my palette and spritz the color with water till I got a real soupy runny mixture and then started smearing and dobbing with my fingers.      I done that about 15 to 20 times alternating colors and just doing spots here and there but making sure all the foil had color on it.

 The above star is actually my fav.     I put two layers of the clear crackle paint on it and let dry really good between coats and brushing off some of the crackle after each time.    Then I went back in and put on just a really watery layer of some of the colors and actually left some of the aluminum showing then I put two coats of diamond glaze over the top of it to seal it and keep any more crackles from falling off.     This one looks just old painted and rusty metal, where there is layers and layers of all diff colors paint showing.     Hubby could not believe the texture and color of this one!!!!     I really wish you could see and feel the texture on this one, it is amazing.

 I tried to get a good shot of some of the colors and textures on this one.    I used a paisley embossing folder on this one.

 It looks just like rusty old painted metal and it feels like it too.

The above star I did not use any crackle paint nor much of the folk art paints.    I did use a copper folk art, but I thinned it down to really watery consistency, just like I did with the Inka Gold metallic rub.     That stuff is better than squeeze cheese!!!!    No joke, I just love it!!!!!

I used a quilt embossing folder and put the pieces in the same place on the embossing folder each time.      I had no Idea that the center point would match up like it did!!!!!!     If I had planned it that way, I guarantee it would not have worked out like it did.     The foil on this is the tape foil I got at Lowe's.     It worked so much better than the others with the foil that I glued on.     It wanted to tear the foil when I bent it in the scored marks after die cutting.     But the foil tape didn't tear and it also made a little firmer star.      This is what I will be using from now on instead of glued on aluminum foil.

 This one I used a brick pattern embossing folder.    I like the way it turned out too.    I just used all my fav colors on the four of these stars and I'm thrilled with how they turned out.      I made a wire hanger and glued it inside one of the points on the backs of each one.

 You can see a little of the cd pallet on the left.    They are really great for that.   When the paint dries on it, just use it again for a diff color.     On some of the places on the palette that I used inka gold, I would just re-wet it and used till it was all gone.      So if some is still on there a month from now, I can re-wet it and use it till it's all gone.

This all four of the stars I have made so far.      Each one is different and unique.     Each one was fun to make and I hope to make a few more between now and June.      Just trying to get a few things made to put in the bazaar.    


What have you or someone else told you that "you can't do"?

Imagine yourselves, if you will, at 8 months old, but with one catch...you have all the life experience in your head, of all the years you have already lived.   Chew on that idea for a second.    I know, it's not the usual thought and until the Holy Spirit led me in this direction, I had never thought about it either.    Now, with this really weird image of yourself in your mind (hehehe), what have you done or accomplished in your life that you would have told your 8 month old self that you couldn't or would never ever do?    What about the simple basic stuff.    Would you have ever learned to walk, by taking the "risk"  of falling?    Would you learned to talk, by taking the "risk" of not saying words correctly?    Would you have ever learned to feed yourself, without the the "fear" of dropping food on your clothes?    These are just some of the basics of life that we learned to do without having to tell ourselves that we can or cannot do those things.   We just DID  those things and more out of basic necessity.    Now I realize that at 8 months old, we didn't have rational thoughts like that.    Survival instinct kicks in and has a lot to do with what we learn at the encouragement of our parents and those around us.  

But, at some point we learn or are taught to be "afraid" to take a chance or a "risk" at doing something.  How old were you the first time someone else told you that "you can't do" that?    I'm not talking about doing something harmful to ourselves or someone else.     I'm talking about the things that we would have loved to do, but for some reason, someone told us "we can't do"  that.     What dreams have we or someone else kept us from living?????     When did we stop taking the "risk" simply out of "fear" of failure?

What if we tackled life as adults, with the mind set that there are NO limits to what we can do, what we can learn and always telling ourselves that we CAN do those things.     That no dream is too big or too small.    What about "perfection", has that ever gotten in your way of doing something?    I'll bet it has!!!    "Perfection" is one of those words that can suck the life right out of a dream or desire!!!!     Did people ever praise you for coloring "outside the lines"?     Probably not!    And that's what I'm talking about.    Of all the things that people may have said to you, what are you most likely to remember?     The time the teacher wadded up your coloring sheet and tossed it in the trash because you colored outside of the lines?     What about the time someone told you that you can't sing, or you have no musical talent?     Or you can't draw good enough.    Or you are not smart enough.    You get the jist of it.     One person, at some point in time, having said "You can't do".... has shattered more dreams than we can even imagine.    Why do we give others that much power over our lives?     As kids, we may not have a choice, but as adults we do!!!    

What I want us to see is this:   We are all teachers!!!!     We can teach those around us and maybe even ourselves to have the "courage" to pick up a pencil and just draw.    Pick up a brush and just paint.    Open a song book and just sing.     Walk out of our homes and just volunteer.    Go to the local area of higher learning and just take a course.     What ever your passion is, just do it.     Leave the "I can't do"..... in the trash.     Prove yourself and the nay sayers wrong.    Will you be great at what ever it is you desire to do?     Maybe so, maybe not.    But we'll never know!!!!     Why?     Because we have told ourselves and listened to others that have said "You can't do".......!       Does being great at something really even matter?      NO, it does NOT matter!!!!     Willingness to take the "risk" is all that matters!!!!    Who am I writing this for?     ME!!!!!!!    And, who knows, maybe you.    
Philippians 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!!!!!

Psalm 37:4  Delight yourself in the Lord. and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

Do you tell God about your dreams?    Do you just enjoy spending time with Him?   I do and I enjoy telling God how I love to do the things He has allowed me to be blessed enough to do and I also enjoy telling Him about the things that I would love to do.     So, for myself and all those out there that have told themselves or had others tell you "you can't do"......, DO IT!!!!!!!     Dream big!!!!!     Give that dream to God!!!!    I have a friend, and she will know who I am talking about when she reads this, who has taken up ball room dancing and she is so beautiful!!!!   I haven't seen her dance yet, but I hope to one day.    I have seen pictures of her in her ballroom dresses and she could be on Dancing with the Stars, easily!!!     She finally told herself that she could do it, and she HAS!!!!     She has also started painting and loves that!!!!!     We just need to realize that, as adults, we are the ones that set limits to what we can do.    God doesn't!!!!     He wants us to dream big.     He doesn't want us to limit our dreams or anyone elses dreams.    Let us be encouragers to those around us and to ourselves.    Step out and do that thing that you had dreams of doing years ago.    Or, it may be a new dream.     Talk to God about it.    Do it!    Go for it!    I feel like every time I go into my craft room and do something, "I win"!     Dream big, share the dream with God and just do it!!!      Live life with God sized dreams!!!!!     God sets no limits on dreams because He is limitless!!!   WOOHOO!!!!!!!   Shout that to the mountain tops!!!      There has got to be someone that can say "Amen" to that!!!!

I went to church last evening and while walking thru the Fellowship Hall, I noticed some vases of fresh cut flowers on most of the tables.     They were beautiful.     I took a few pictures and wanted to share this one with y'all.     It just wanted to have it's picture taken, so I obliged and I'm thrilled I did. Hope you are too.

How's that for a beautiful dogwood?   I couldn't believe it when I got home and looked at it on the computer.     I even love the white background of the table.     I was so tickled with this and I hope y'all enjoy seeing it too.

As I leave you, I would like to ask you to remember the ones that are sick or going thru tough times, whatever the situations, remember them in prayer.     One of my Mom's really good friends is in desperate need of prayer!!     Please remember her in your prayers.      God knows who she is.     Another one of her friends was at church Sunday, the first time in a very long time and she didn't think she would ever be back.    "But God!"      Don't you love that!!!!    I do!!!!     Just pray for God's will in all circumstances.  

That's just about it for this afternoon.     I hope you seen something here that inspires you to just do something, something for others or for yourself.     Tell a friend about what you seen here, share it with someone.     I hope to be back soon with some crafty goodness and maybe a word or two that will encourage us all along this road of life.     Remember, God loves y'all and I do too!!!    hugs, Patty