Vacation Time

Flying to Seattle today to meet up with the rest of my family.  It's cruise time!  I'm sad Mike wasn't able to experience this cruise with me.  I'm sure it's going to be an amazing cruise! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and share them when I return.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. 
He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that.

The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren. 

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. 

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

Contest Fun

 Kathy had the day off work because of the holiday so we decided to make some cards. While we were in the craft room stamping away I had a brilliant idea to do a little challenge between me and Kathy.  We make a card with the same stamp set and then put it up for a vote to see who likes which one better.  We were talking on Skype with my 9 year old niece and she wanted to join in on the challenge.... so here are all of our finished cards.  Leave a comment with your vote for each challenge.  We will pick a random winner from those who participate and they will receive some of our cards as the prize.

This stamp set is called Fun Pun.  

 Which do you like better A1 or A2?

A1

A2

This challenge is between Kathy and Rachel.  

Which birthday card do you like best...B1 or B2?

B1

B2

This stamp set is called Birds of Prey.  It's a really old Stampin' Up set but I really like it.

Do you like C1 or C2 best?

C1

C2

One last challenge... to make a thank you card.

Which one do you pick D1 or D2?

D1

D2

We had a fun filled day of stamping and it was very productive also.

Thanks for taking the time to play along with us with this contest.

P365 ~ Week 21

It was a craft filled week for me.  I even got Kathy to spend more time crafting this week.

I borrowed a sewing machine from a friend and Kathy helped me with some cards I wanted to sew ribbon on.... pictures of the finished card will be posted next week.

This isn't the greatest picture but I had to share this beautiful card Kathy made for our Pastor's wife whose birthday was Saturday.

 Kathy and I watched these precious kiddos so their parents could go on a date and watch The Avengers movie.  We had fun and they got a little break to spend time together.

 I finally made it to the Hobby Lobby that just opened up by our house.  I even drove myself.  Now that I know where it is, and how to get there, I am very thankful I don't normally have a car at home to use on a daily basis or visiting Hobby Lobby would become a problem for me :-)

 After physical therapy Paul wanted to stop by our local library... I noticed these signs and I thought they were interesting.  I have never seen special reserved parking for "low emitting or fuel efficient vehicles only"

 I learned (I think on Pinterest) that you can use dry erase markers on mirrors.  I finally decided to try it out and I love it.  I write the Bible verse on the mirror that I am working on memorizing.

 I received a special order for two teacher tins... I personalized them and everything.  I hadn't decorated tins in a while so I had some issues but I finished them and the teachers loved them.

 Here are some more cards Kathy made this week.  I am so happy we have been able to spend more time making cards.  It's so much fun, so relaxing and such a blessing to be able to send friends and family home made cards. 

Hope you had a blessed week.  This was our last full week before cruise.  We fly out on Thursday and I cannot wait!

TSMSS ~ His Robes For Mine

P365 ~ Week 20

We had another celebration for Kathy's birthday.  This time some sweet friends from church planned it.  We had a fabulous meal at Top of the World and we ended it with this delicious dessert!

We delivered this container of goodies to a family from church.  The mother/wife was going in for surgery and we wanted to help out with meals and snacks so she wouldn't have to worry.

 Made some graduation cards and also learned about Instagram which allows me to play around with the color of my picture.  I am having lots of fun with it and you will probably notice a change because I am going to try to use Instagram for my blog pictures from now on.  I just love how it makes the colors pop!

 Two more trips to physical therapy for Paul.  He is doing really well.  The doctor says he on track with his progress.

 I went for a walk and it was so beautiful outside...I really enjoyed it... the sky was so clear and the air was crisp...just a lovely day in Las Vegas!

 Now that it's getting hotter outside I started drinking my smoothies again...so refreshing after a walk.  Frozen banana, a little orange juice or water, a scoop of NatraBurst and any berries I have on hand....yummy!

 Made some thank you cards for a dear friend at church who is having her first baby.  I had so much fun making these cards and now I'm in the process of making the baby shower invites which will actually coordinate with these thank yous.  I'll be sure to share a picture of the invites once I get them done.

 These beautiful flowers were a sweet reminder that I am loved...thank you to Kathy and Paul for giving me these flowers to brighten my day... and thank you all who were lifting me up in prayer.  God was faithful to answer your prayers and bring me through what would have been my 10 year anniversary.

 We went out to Michaels (restaurant) to officially celebrate Paul graduating.... Congratulations Paul... We are all proud of you!

I know this post is late but I still wanted to share my week with you.

On the Countdown

One week from today we will be flying to Seattle to enjoy a family cruise to Alaska....I can't wait!!

TSMSS ~ Make Me a Servant

Anniversary

Today Mike and I would have celebrated 10 years of marriage.  I am so thankful for all the wonderful memories I have of our 8 married years.  Mike was a loving, loyal, creative, romantic man, as well as detailed, thorough and dedicated.

I was going through Mike's external hard drive and I found this list.  He had kept track of what we did on each of our anniversaries.  For our 5 year anniversary he planned a trip to Niagara Falls and as soon as we got back from that trip he started planning for our 10 year anniversary.  He had decided that every 5 years he would surprise me with a trip somewhere. 

Mike was always thinking, calculating or planning something.  This note that was on his iPhone always makes me smile but also makes me miss him more.  He actually took the time to calculate how many days we had been married, taking into consideration leap years.  It's little things like these that remind me of how uniquely special Mike was.

I am not very good with expressing myself and so I often keep my thoughts and feelings inside but I came across this on Facebook and thought it was perfect.

P365 ~ Week 19

I received a request for a nurse themed greeting card.  Since I don't have any nurse type stamps I wasn't sure what I was going to do.  I ended up looking through clip art and got an idea...this was the result.

 This is a picture of me driving... I decided to take a picture because this doesn't happen often.  I have driven more this week than I have in the last (almost) 2 years of living in Vegas.  Paul has physical therapy twice a week and someone has to drive him.

I was sitting in the waiting room while Paul was in physical therapy when someone went in and left the door open so I snapped a picture. 

To celebrate Kathy's birthday Paul took us out to her favorite restaurant... Roy's.

They even printed Happy Birthday to Kathy on the menu... how cool is that?

 Happy 38th Birthday Kathy.... We love you!

 We came home and played Hand and Foot.  This was Paul's first adventure out (besides doctors visits) and it was probably too much for one night because he had a rough night and day following.  He is learning to be patient as the healing process takes time.

It was a great week and hope next week will be another fun filled week.

TSMSS ~ Servant's Heart

A Woman After God's Own Heart ~ Reflection

The Legacy of Your Heart

2 Timothy 2:15 ~ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Becoming a Woman After God's Own Heart

Key #1 ~ Obey God's commands

• Your greatest impact will come as you "serve your generation by the will of God"--which means choosing to do things God's way, not your own way.
• Obedience is not always easy.  In fact, it's usually very difficult.
• There is a battle going on in your heart between doing what you should do and doing what you want to do.

Key #2 ~ Walk in the Spirit

• Galatians 5:16 ~ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 
• Looking to God for His help and obeying this one command will do away with the works of the flesh, which destroy lives, marriages, families, and homes (verses 19-21)
• As you ask for help from God and walk with Him according to His ways, you reap instead "the fruit of the Spirit," which is "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control" (verses 22-23)
• Imagine the heart, the life - and the marriage, family, and home! - where such fruit abounds.

Key #3 ~ Pray regularly

• Prayer acknowledges your dependence on God.
• Prayer opens your heart to knowing and fulfilling God's will.
• Prayer gives you the assurance and confidence that, as you carry out God's priorities, He will give you the strength to see it through to the end.

Key #4 ~ Adopt a long-range view

• Something as important as doing God's will and living out His priorities will take a long time to complete. -- It will take a lifetime!
• It's a long-range, life-long, wholehearted assignment from God.
• This lifestyle is lived -- and built-- by following after God just one day at a time... and another day... and another day.
• So each day focus on the tasks and people in front of you.

Key #5 ~ Accept your roles

• It's one thing to have a goal, but it's quite another thing to actually accept the challenge, develop a strategy to press for the goal, make the sacrifices, pay the price to move forward, and blessing of blessings, to realize some part of it.
• This is where resolve and desire come in.
• We simply cannot play around with taking such a high calling lightly.

Key #6 ~ Ask "Who am I, and what is it I do?"

• Whatever your age and stage/season, you must be constantly asking yourself, "Who am I?"
• "I am a woman after God's own heart!"
• And the second question you must constantly ask is, "What is it I do?"
• The answer to this question will constantly change.
• As you daily seek with all your heart to follow God's laid-out plans and priorities for you, to walk by His Spirit, and to pray faithfully, He will help you make the choices that guide you into His path for each stage and age of your life.

Feta and Vegetable Frittatas

6 large eggs
4 large egg whites
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups fresh spinach, baby leaves, coarsely chopped
1 cup canned artichoke hearts, without oil, cut into chunks
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup roasted red pepper (packed in water), chopped
1/2 cup uncooked scallions, sliced
1/4 cup low fat cream cheese, at room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat muffins pans with cooking spray.  In a medium bowl, beat eggs, egg whites, water, salt and pepper until blended.  Stir in spinach, artichoke hearts, feta, roasted peppers, scallions and cream cheese; mix well.

Spoon about 1/4 cup egg mixture into each prepared muffin hole.  Bake until just set, about 18 to 22 minutes.  Cool in pans on a wire rack for 5 minutes.  Loosen edges of frittatas with a rubber spatula, sliding spatula underneath frittatas to loosen bottoms and lift frittatas out of pans; serve.  Yields 1 frittata per serving.

Freeze extras for last-minute breakfasts on-the-go.

P365 ~ Week 18

 The week started off with Paul having knee surgery.  Thank you for your prayers, his surgery went well and he is on his way to recovering.

 He came home and Kathy got him settled in downstairs in my room since walking up stairs to get to his room was totally out of the question.  We are very thankful that we have this room on the first floor.  I don't know what we would have done otherwise.

Kathy took off work to take care of Paul his first week of recovery.  This gave us some time for stamping.  We had fun creating cards.  On a side note - for the month of May you can get 20% off on my Zizziecards by using coupon code MAY2012.

Kathy made these delicious frittatas... I will share the recipe tomorrow.

 Paul has had lots of visitors.  Our church family was so kind to organize meals for us for the week.   It was a huge blessing!

 Paul's first physical therapy since the surgery.  He did really well but he was in a lot of pain when he got home.

I had a surprise in the mail that brightened my day and put a smile on my face.  I got a sweet note from my niece Rachel and with the note she included money for me to put towards my missions trip.  It was so sweet and I will never forget it!

 I walked my first 5K and I can't wait to participate in the next one.

Now I'm heading over to Sara's blog.