It's For Good Reason...

I happened upon this poem on my friend Elizabeth's blog, who found it on her friend Amy's blog. I'm going to keep it "going" by posting it here. It's a healthy reminder that God IS there, even when we think he might not be listening...

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

Picture courtesy of
Diana Wolverton Studio
Hymn Script ~ The Art of Hymns

If you love abstract art arranged with layers of color and words (in this case, hymns), you should go and check out her site. She has a ton to offer: inspiration (of all kinds), art prints, art on t-shirts, mugs, etc., as well as some FREEBIE DOWNLOADS of greeting cards, note sheets, bookmarks, etc.

Have a blessed weekend... I'm off to Women of Faith!

Gearing Up & A Winner...

It's that time again... the summer is winding down, and school is about to start. We have dance classes that start this week. Bailey has decided to take ballet this year... She has not taken ballet since she started dance waaaay back. She is a bit nervous (silly girl). I told her it'll all come back to her, once she starts. The new dance studio isn't quite ready yet, so we are still in the old location. We are all anticipating the new move over though! CAN NOT wait! It will be soooo nice! If you are in the Lewisville/Flower Mound area and looking for a studio, you definitely want to check out Amy's studio:"Footlights Dance Studio". She's been in business since 1996, is a Christian, and a wonderful instructor and mom. We love it there! ;)

We spent the weekend (TAX FREE!) shopping for back-to-school clothes and shoes.... Yikes, these kids grow too fast! They had fun, and mom and dad were thrilled to save (much) money between all the sales, coupons, and NO TAX!!! Yippee! I had forgotten to take the camera with us, which is too bad, I could have had a couple good "bargaining" pictures of Bailey! ;)

Thursday is meet the teacher night, and then I'm off to Women of Faith! I'll be going with the same bunch from last year, and I can't wait! ANOTHER dose of Anita Renfroe is what I'm needing. And she will the speaker for the pre-conference on Friday- YAY! She is such a hoot! If you have not heard (which I can hardly believe) her Momsense song,then click on over to her website... she also has the new "Dadsense" song... ;D LOVE IT! lol I feel so blessed to have met and speak with her not only once, but twice last fall. She is just so hilarious! Her comment on this picture taken with my sister and myself was, "Gee, let's take this picture, I feel like I'm a boob-sandwich!".

Then after a wild "girly" weekend, the kids will be off to school bright and early Monday morning... It's gonna be tough. Normally we would have started the earl(ier) bedtime routine to get them in sync before school starts, but they have been staying up late watching the Olympics. They love watching, and I figure it's better than all the other junk they get too much of!


So..... waiting, waiting for a winner of another MINI ART JOURNAL..... I drew a name last night, but could not post... Blogger/Google give me fits with my password sometimes. I change it to the exact same thing, but yet it doesn't let me log in... Ugh. So here I am finally logged in and ready to reveal.....
But first, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU who left a comment. I appreciate you taking the time to do so. Each one means alot to me! This blog is always a work in progress... so tips and ideas are always welcome!

And the winner is?

Thanks for stopping by and go and check out Linda Jo's Obsessions... Linda, send me your addy, and I'll send your little gifty (and November can't come soon enough ;)!!


Again, thank you all for your comments!

YOUR TICKET TO A GIVEAWAY....

Thanks to my friend, Nancy, I've been messing around with the background, the colors, fonts and such.

Now tell me what you think...
Do you like the colors? Does it flow? Tell me what your thinking... ~but please be gentle!~ ;)
I'm putting together another mini journal and thought of giving it away. If you leave a comment on this post through Sunday evening... I'll randomly draw a name and it'll be yours. Sorry I don't have a picture yet... but it'll be good, don't worry!
{{{HUGS}}}

GIRLS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES

that have fun here...
the boys in the house have just as much fun too!

Braden loves, loves, LOVES Legos... he first got a couple of the Star Wars ships, added a small Nascar set, and then an original Lego set. He's been creating new ships, vessels, maps, you name it! I'm so glad he loves playing with them. He takes them apart as fast as he puts them together though! So here's the one shot I have of his creativity as of recent...

HUH? WHAT? WHO?
I'M 40?
wHAT hAPPEneD?...

Sorry sweet, for the picture post ;)... but it was just too good not to!

My wonderful hubby turned the big 4-0 on the 7th. He IS taking it well, considering what the picture might portray... (better than I will!). All of us headed to the Blue Goose Cantina for the big celebration.... Mmm, Mmm, Mmm... how it was so yummy!

Look at those smiles... I just love my boys!

Back at home, we showered him with gifts...Bailey made him a little desk organizer from a kleenex box, a picture holder from modeling clay and paper clips, and doodads just because. They also gave him a T-shirt from Family Christian Store. He LOVED it! (the back is shown at the bottom)

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY!!!
Here's to another 40+ years of loving you!
I love you 4Ever and Always, my Bubba! ;)

ATCs and some PAPER ARTS FUN!

So, in my last post I said I was feeling a creative jive... joined some swaps, and here's a little bit of what I've been up to:

ATC International Swap

Crowns and Tiaras ATC
Bailey joined in with me, and even swapped ATCs with another girl her age! Here's what she's been working on... quite a little budding artist, I must say! I am so thrilled she loves to be right at my side creating, it's a ton of fun when were singin', inkin', paintin', cuttin', gluein'... hmmm, there's a little jingle in there somewhere. ;) (She's a little busier than I am, hence more production takes place). lol

Then... I am sooooooo excited! Last year I attended Silver Bella Paper Arts Retreat for the first time. I went by myself, which was a little bit frightening ( I have never traveled by myself before). But it was in Omaha, Nebraska- How bad could it be? That was practically back home where I grew up! So I felt like I was in some-what familiar territory... I was so lucky to have been able to register after someone had canceled, because it ended up a sold out event. (Miss Foof sure knows how to put together one doozy of a retreat!) I then made flight and hotel arrangements, and Little Miss Cinderella was on her way! I am so glad I went, it was total paper arts heaven! And now I'm attending again this year, and I am sooo excited to go and see friends I met from last year! Yay!

And not only Silver Bella, but I'll be headed south to the Paper Cowgirl Retreat in September. Tina, who hosted the Cowgirl Swap a couple months ago, along with her friend Cindy, are going to be hostesses of this big paper pow-wow! (Tina will also be one of the talented artist, teaching a class!) I am so excited because I'll be going with Valita (who I met at Silver Bella last year), and I'll be meeting Ms. Nancy ,(whom I've never officially met in person... we met via swapping over the internet and have been blogging "friends" ever since! I never thought when I started blogging, that I would have met soooo many talented and absolutely wonderful people. Oh so much fun and excitement!