I'm still Alive!!!

I apologize...between my computer being in the shop for a week to be repaired and preparations for our local county fair AND my hometown county fair I have been racing around like a kid hyped up on Christmas AND Birthdays AND Halloween (It's honestly THAT bad!). I am hoping to get focused next week and share with you all that we've been up to craft wise and LIFE wise. I appreciate your patience...you know how summer gets. ;)

Until then, please pray for the spouse's hometown of Minot, ND...his family is safe and their homes are untouched, but their church and several friends' homes are destroyed. Minot is HOME...can you imagine seeing that destruction in your HOME? Needless to say, there is much sadness and grief. If you're able to make a donation to help the victims please consider donating to the Red Cross or message me and I can get you directly connected to people who live in Minot.

Questions Saturday**Getting it "All" Done

Q: How do you do it all?

A: I don't! Seriously...I know how it is...you look at someone else and they TOTALLY seem like they have it together. Let me assure you...I am NOT that person! I don't have it all together and I hope I haven't given anyone the impression that I do!


Here's the reality:
My house isn't spotless.
I don't always finish a complete thought OR sentence.
My kids don't have a bath every night.
I don't know much about what's on t.v.
My van is usually a disaster.
Our laundry pile rivals Mt. Everest at times.
Not every meal is a square one.
We've been known to eat on the floor because the kitchen table is covered in a project of some sort.


Sometimes I get down on myself and wish that the above wasn't true...then I think of something my good friend Julie said to me, (I can't remember her exact wording, but essentially it was), "I wish I hadn't worried about a clean house and done more cool stuff." Am I blessed with amazing mentor-friends or what!? That ONE comment has brought me so much peace...her wisdom has reminded me to look at my life and think, "What do I want to look back on my life and see?"

(For the record, Julie has done a TON of cool stuff...her kids' theater productions would have been NOTHING without her hardwork in finding props/costumes, not to mention that her four kids are all AMAZING people...to just name a few things.)

So I ask myself, do I want to be able to look back and think, "Good job. The house was always perfect."? That might be what someone wants...a tidy house is definitely a nice thing!

Do I want to look back and think, "My kids were spotless and perfectly cared for." Again, that would be nice.


But for me, that's not my ultimate....mostly I want to look back and think, "I took what God gave me and did my best." God gave me a creative mind, able hands, and a husband that supports my crazy ideas and doesn't seem to mind that the house is less than perfect...that's HUGE! I WANT to create, I WANT to volunteer and help others, I WANT to teach my kids the importance of creativity, of serving others, of loving and being loved. I hope that what I'm doing today brings that to fruition.

So, no, I don't do it all. Not even close. But I try to strike a balance between what must be done to keep my kids healthy and cared for and what is fun and life-giving to my soul. Isn't that what we're all trying to do?

Craft Time...Beach Glass Vases

Another wedding craft...but SO fun and would look AMAZING on a mantle or on a patio table.

Things You Need:
Vase
Beach glass or glass gems
Heavy-duty glue or silicone
Patience

I rolled two beach towels...and laid them side by side, resting the vase in between them. Work on one area at a time...glue the gems on; wait for it to dry, then rotate the vase and work on some more. I used slender tapers and placed them in the sand.

Craft Time...Chicken Wire Bulletin Board

So, this was actually for a wedding, but would be SUPER fun for a kids' room or a family organization area....

Things you'll need:
Wooden frame
Chicken Wire
Spray Paint
Staple gun with staples
Felt or other sturdy fabric
Wire cutter


Begin by priming and painting your frame, as well as your chicken wire, if you desire.

Turn your frame over and cut your chicken wire to the size of the frame.


Being sure to pull the chicken wire as flat as possible use your staple gun to staple the edges into the frame.































Lay your fabric over the back of the frame, cut, and staple while pulling it tightly. We used a heavy felt and it worked well for holding its shape.







Turn over and use paperclips, binder clips, or clothespins to place favorite photos, momentos, or schedules to your new board.

Craft Time...Rocks

Skip to my Lou is doing a super fun 30 Day Craft Camp...you should DEFINITELY check it out...I don't have 30 days of crafts, but here's a fun one we've done at our house...huge kudos to Jean for teaching us this SUPER easy way to do this (we used to color first, THEN heat...this is WAY better!).



First off...you'll need some flat rocks on a cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and heat the rocks for about 10 minutes.




















Peel paper off the crayons.












Then place the hot rocks on a paper towel...warn your child(ren) NOT to touch the rocks...they are HOT. The crayons will melt as they draw.







Once they are done let them cool and buff them with a cotton cloth to make them shine.

FLAG DAY!!!

Maybe you didn't realize this, but....TODAY IS FLAG DAY!!!

Maybe it doesn't matter to you, but....IT MATTERS TO ME!!!
(and Betsy Ross, I'll bet!)

Here's WHY this day matters to me...

Once upon a time my dear friend Ryn and I were in 4-H and did a team demonstration on flag etiquette...not to brag, but we rocked that demonstration. We received a Grand Champion on the spot at the State Fair (okay, THAT was a brag...sorry!). Anyhow, Flag Day makes me happy because it makes me think of Ryn. And thinking of Ryn makes me smile and floods me with amazing memories.

May YOU have a great Flag Day and be reminded of a dear, dear friend. The sort of friend that, no matter the distance or the time between chats, you KNOW loves you with the heart of a true friend.

Hugs, Ryn...
"It's us! Which one do YOU want to be?!"

If you'd like more information on flag etiquette you can check out this website...cannot resist an opportunity to teach about this topic. ;)

Scripture Verse Week 3

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well.Thumbs up to those who have been able to get some verses memorized…keep it up! If you haven’t been taking part, it’s NEVER too late to start…you can dive right in by learning this week’s verse:


And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. Exodus 14:13

The bolded portion is what kids can learn that part and we adults will learn it all.

To help solidify the concept consider with your kids…

What might we be afraid of? Why are we afraid?

Read Exodus 14:1-14

Paint a mental picture with your kids…imagine the water on one side, 600 chariots on the other…What did it smell like? What do they hear? What were people around them saying?


Why were the Israelites afraid? What do you think would happen to them if the Egyptians caught them? What would you have said to Moses if you were in that situation and he told you not to be afraid?

Read Exodus 14:15-31

How did God save them? Did God do what Moses said He would? Did they need to be afraid?

Create your own re-enactment of the parting of the Red Sea by using the printables found here; add a few toilet paper rolls and you’re set for fun!

As adults let’s consider this…
Check out Exodus 14:11-12
Did you catch that?! Moses worked his tail off to get Pharaoh to free the Israelite Slaves and they are complaining about being free…are you KIDDING me?! What a bunch of WHINERS! Of course as I point a finger I have four pointing back at myself…how many times has the Lord answered my prayers and then, because I couldn’t see what was coming next, I started to whine? Something like, “God, where are you going with this?” or “Could you PLEASE tell me what to do next?” Isn’t that essentially what the Israelites were doing? They couldn’t see what God’s plan was…sure, they knew He had delivered them from one bad situation…but instead of rejoicing in that they focused on what they didn’t have, what they didn’t know, the bad situation that they saw coming toward them…never mind that God was WITH them, that He had promised to take care of them, that He had shown Himself faithful time and again!


This week I plan to take some time to consider the following;
• What am I afraid of?
• How might I “stand still” and WAIT for God to do something amazing…maybe just WAITING on the Lord is what is needed in the areas I have fear and doubt…so often I want to see ACTION.
• What are the “Egyptians” God might be promising I need not see anymore?

Won’t you join me?