Frugal Friday!

My sweet daughter has been water coloring more paintings than I could possibly keep! I thought I'd cut them into stationary cards. I might gift them to eager grandparents or I might use them myself. I thought it was a great choice for Frugal Friday! Nothing is wasted and everything is cherished!

I happen to have a bunch of assorted envelopes, that I got for 10 cents at a garage sale last summer. If you don't have extra envelopes you can make your own. Click this link to see a good video tutorial.

Some of the paintings are a bit wrinkly from mass amounts of water....so you might need to lay a heavy book on them for a bit to flatten them.

Checking In for January...

I Samuel and II Samuel-
-I love Hannah's prayer in chapter 2. I was interested to learn it has been called the Magnificat of the OT--compared to Mary's prayer song in Luke 1:46-55. I think it is also similar to David's prayer at the end of II Samuel. Both talk about being delivered from disgrace to a position of honor and strength.
-Have you ever noticed...that Saul tried to skewer David, not once, but twice! I Sam. 18 & 19 hold and account.
-Anybody else feel bad for Uzzah in II Samuel 6? It seems like a harsh punishment...especially in connection with some of the rotten stuff David did...but the point is that he shouldn't have had the ark on a cart in the first place. God doesn't like irreverence.
-I LOVE the accounts of the mighty men, which is strange to me...since I can't stand watching gory war movies with my hubby! I had never noticed II Samuel 23:39 mentioning Uriah the Hittite among the thirty!

Proverbs-
I have read it through in its entirety...and will do so every month. I like the habitual...it's easy with 31! Check out the sidebar for some of my favorites.

Philippians-
In case you're wondering...check out Memory Monday. That's one of my favorite parts!

Daniel-
-I was very interested in the insult of changing their names in chapter one. The first meanings are Daniel-God is my Judge...Hananiah-the Lord shows grace...Mishael-who is what God is...Azariah-the Lord helps. They were changed to Belteshazzar-long live Babylon...Shadrach-command of Aku the moon-god...Meshach-who is what Aku is...Abednego-servant of Nebo (god).

Tube Tuesday!

Latin
Pie Jesu
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem
Agnus Dei
Dona eis requiem sempiternam

English
Merciful Jesus
Who takes away the sins of the world
Grant them rest
Lamb of God
Grant them everlasting rest

Source: Jos van Geffen

When I was in my teens we had a video collection of Webber songs, mostly featuring Sarah Brightman. This one is hauntingly beautiful. I couldn't remember all the words in English, so I looked it up for you. I also discovered that he wrote this around the time of his father's death...so it did not coincide with any war like the video might make you think. The voicing of this is what makes it so gorgeous...with the soprano, boy soprano and choir behind!

Memory Monday...Phil. 3:7-15...

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Next week I'm doing something....much, much shorter!

Frugal Friday!

I've finally filled a journal! HA HA HA! I love journals and usually start them but don't fill them completely. I have a short attention span, what can I say! This Vera Bradley journal has been my prayer journal...and I'm happy to say it is full of prayers! So...I needed a new one...

Being Little Miss Cheap, I googled DIY fabric journals and came across this tute. I followed it...mostly. I didn't have spray adhesive...but could see that it would work better, probably!

So, I gathered my stuffs....and

Anyhoodle, I'm very happy with the results. Now I have a "new" fabric journal made out of stuffs I already had. Just like Joanne said, "Nothing is wasted."

I must be texturally conscious or something cuz it is important to me how something feels as I hold it in my hands. I feel this way about fabric journal and very old books with yellowed pages. Simple goodness!

A Mother's Prayer...

A few years back, my Mom decided to go to quilting "full time" and not keep her cross stitching stuffs. Therefore, I happily inherited all her DMC colors, patterns, aida, and the like! I even got half finished projects--wah hoo! Truly, it was one of those wonderful gifts! So, recently I decided to hunt through my "new stuffs" for a new project...after all it's wintertime! I came across this slip of notebook paper with this poem written on it. My Mom must have come across it at some point and put it in as something good. I graphed it out and put it on my devo. table...the best place for me to see it as a reminder. It fits my life so perfectly right now!

An observation about my blogging self...

...when I am going through stressful times I post more poems and songs. This makes perfect sense because they comfort me, soothe me, and help me express myself. Sometimes my own words fail to fit that spot. When you see lots of songs and poems...you are pretty safe to assume I could use some extra prayers. Thanks!

Tube Tuesday!

Memory Monday...Phil. 3:7-11...

Phil. 3:7-11..."But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Okay, so it needs lots of work. This is highly pertinent to my life right now...and I think that has slowed me down. I've been focusing on the meaning...and in my book...that's okay. I plan to have it all memorized for next week.

Phil. 3:7-15
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

Little Eyes Upon You...

Awhile back, I posted one of my favorite poems, "Little Eyes Upon You." I was reminded of how true this really is lately. Emma has been copying everything I do! Grams bought her a journal for her very own while she was visiting at Christmastime...and now it is her prayer journal. In the morning...she'll get her pen, and journal, and sit on the couch by my chair. I'm usually writing in my journal...and periodically, she'll show me what she's writing. It is very peaceful...and makes me happy to know that she is learning that time spent with God is important in our house!

She'll inform her brother, "No touching, Cawub...I's talking to God!" He seems to know to leave her alone...and he goes about his business of block building or reading a book.

American Frugal Housewife

I have finally come up with a good blog for Joanne's Frugal Housewife Button. I am enjoying my other friend Beckie's last days of pregnancy projects...and was inspired by her baby legs post.



I followed this tute...and now you can follow mine...

Use rotary cutter to cut feet off of knee socks.

Make sure they are even.

Turn them inside out...and fold down a small hem.

Whip stitch hem.

Isn't she adorable!!!

Stripedly gorgeous!!!

SOOOO, then I was thinking..."Hey, I could make these feet into footie socks!" Which makes this qualify as a Frugal Housewife entry!

Used some leftover scrapbook paper scraps to trace feet...cuz I didn't have posterboard.

Used bubble paint to mark the bottoms...cutely for Valentine's...Awww!

Later, they worked quite well! If I had pom-poms I would have attached one to each heel...cuz it reminds me of my Mommy!

Proverbs 31: 21-26, "She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness."

Wordless Wednesday...

Tube Tuesday!

Scripture Reading Accountability...2009

Just for the fun of it...I thought I'd create a little cute button. Whenever you see it...I'm just Checking In...about my Scripture Reading for the year.

I've decided I DO want to read through the Bible in a year...one of my resolutions...however, I don't do well with the list schedules. I find that on the schedules I end up behind, and eventually, just reading words...and getting little or nothing from what I'm reading. This, of course, leads me to wonder...why am I doing this?... and then before you know it, I've quit!

So, drum roll please....

I created my own...very complicated plan...

There are 66 books in the Bible.... divided by 12 months...er, doesn't come out quite even...so...

I'm alternating months...Jan. I read 5 books....Feb. I read 6 books, etc. until they are done! I can choose any books I desire...although, of course, not more than once!

Anyone still with me? Why...you may be wondering? Well, because I figured I better come up with a plan I liked...cuz it is important to read God's Word...ALL OF IT!

The purpose of Checking In will be to tell you what I'm reading...and hopefully, something that I've gotten out of those particular books! Even if it's something like..."I read the geneologies aloud for fun." Feel free to join me if you wish...or tell me about your schedule. If you don't have one...think about getting one. It's never too late!

Memory Monday....James 1:17-20

Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruit of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Argh, well...that could have been better. I want something new for next week...but I promise to keep working on this one. I totally missed the "word of truth" part! I knew something was missing! Most of my problem is knowing parts of these in various translations. It messes with my head!

Happy Memory Monday!

Family Friday...

Here are my darling children waving goodbye to Daddy this morning! This is precious to my heart. I desire to develop my kids' relationship and love for their Father...both earthly and heavenly. It is sweetly sad to see them wave, "Bye bye Daddy." Oh, how I love the bedlam when he comes home. The toddler tromping, running feet and screams of, "Daddy's Home" bless my heart! Work and life have been challenging lately...and I just love this bookmark I got at ladies Bible study yesterday. Here is the link to getting one for yourself. If you don't already...PRAY for your man! It makes a difference...as this bookmark points out...not just in him and for him...but in you!!

Kitchen REDO? What? Wait...

Sometimes I make myself wonder...What was I thinking? I knew when we moved in that I wasn't going to keep this kitchen border. While there are many worse ones I can imagine...it just isn't me...plus, the more wallpaper I take off in this house...the more I DETEST IT! The kitchen was not on the top of my to dos...and I had no real plans for what or when. But then, I was feeling stressed the other day...and just gave it a pick...ya know, where it was loose. And now, half of it is off!

I lightly use apples in my decor...You have to be careful what you say or you wind up with tons of apple stuff! This border has apples....and also has pansies, ferns and long scientific names for flowers. Hmmm.

The yellow walls I don't mind but will still change. Notice...the top layer of the wallpaper peeled right off leaving the backing...that must be soaked with my mixture (fabric softener and water) before scraping off. Eww! I just redid the upstairs bathroom...and had no adverse reactions to the stuff...but for some odd reason have been SNEEZING my head off in the kitchen. Humph...well, it's coming off anyway! I think I'll paint it a warm carmel brown and make a dark red curtain for the window. For those interested....NO BORDER will grace the walls!

Daily Sufficient Grace...

Memory Monday....James 3:17-18 NASV

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."


Wow...I got it! First time! Yeah...

I thought the order was interesting....

FIRST pure....then peaceable, gently, reasonable,

FULL of mercy and good fruits...unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Darren and I were noticing that the NIV refers to the last part as a harvest...interesting. A harvest of righteousness.

Thanks for your patience...

I'm sure some of you have noticed my changing blog. I know there are awesome graphic designers out there who will "glam" up your blog for you but...

...well, I like doing it myself (I sound like my three year old).

The results aren't even close to some of the gorgeous blogs I see out there but...

#1. I'm CHEAP

#2. I love learning new things, and

#3. I'm afraid I'd get bored keeping it the same old way for long.

So, if it looks weird...it probably won't last long. Just sigh, roll your eyes, and figure that I'm at it again!