Snowmen Stirrers

Posted: December 3, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Cooking and Baking, Working Mom | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Inspired by a Pinterest pin, I created these little thank you gifts.  I should have gotten a shot of them melting into the cocoa, but you can see that on the original page of the creator of these cute little things.

I put three into a little gift bag along with three packets of cocoa & a candy cane.  I wish I had taken a better picture of some of the best ones, but I was having so much fun, I didn’t think of it!

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I made Royal Icing for the orange carrot nose, and just used melted chocolate and a toothpick to dot on the eyes and buttons.

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Happy Christmas!

A Gift for Doogie #DFTBA

Posted: September 6, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Family | Tags: , , | 2 Comments

I made this for our youngest. She is 15 and the house is strange with just our oldest here and the 2 middle kids away at college. Wanted to give her a little “I love you” gift.

Just a quick little craft and the photo taken with my phone. This is made of a wooden block (from a toy set), painted and Mod-podged with scrapbook paper. I printed out the letters and cut them out, Mod-podging them on as well. Cute, lots of meaning (love those guys), and will go nicely on her desk!

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Romans 11:29
For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts – What a gift!

Posted: June 13, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Book Review | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Have you read Ann Voskamp’s book yet?

For months I have followed Ann Voskamp and enjoyed her uplifting posts. I have observed dozens of other bloggers who join Ann in maintaining a list of things to be thankful for. I watched as Ann’s book went up the charts, and enjoyed when Ann shared Kathy Lee Gifford’s promotion of the book last fall with a video clip on her website.

I knew I was going to read it, but I hadn’t bought the book yet and wasn’t in a hurry,… after all, I keep a gratitude journal and I am a generally thankful person…

But in our church this winter, we formed our first ever women’s group. And one of our summer projects is to read and share about Ann’s book, One Thousand Gifts.

So today I started her book. And already I have been blessed. On the one-hand I am glad I waited, so that I can share my feelings with the women in our church group. But on the other hand, boy do I love the book and can’t believe I waited!

The first three pages alone brought me to tears. I see that I have to pace myself so I don’t gobble it all up in one sitting. I want to savor it, to feel every feeling, and enjoy her writing style.

Have you started reading it yet??

Peering into passing cars

Posted: June 7, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Behavior, Thanks, Working Mom | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments
Photo by Patricia

Photo by Patricia

Do you live somewhere other than where you were raised?

Another city, another state, or country?

I live in a state different from where I spent my childhood.

I have fond nostalgic memories of my childhood, and many regional specific  sights, sounds, and scents made indelible memories for me.

So when I see a car with the license plate from that state, I look twice to see if I can recognize the driver or the inhabitants.  Of course I expect to see ONE person from ONE town out of thousands! And of course, chances are SLIM that I would even recognize anyone I knew from my childhood. After all, I’m… well, over 45.

But what I am hoping to get out of this? It’s not like the person would stop the car if I asked them to (IF I recognized them – and they recognized me). And it seems pretty dangerous for two cars on a highway to try to communicate while driving 65 mph.

I think what I’m looking for is a re-visit to my past. To connect with someone who can bring those memories back to life for me. Which can’t really happen, of course. For numerous reasons. And not only was I a loner, but the few people I was extra close to as a child are still in contact with me (albeit sporadically).

But still, I look. I strain my neck trying for a chance recognition.

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When in truth, I need to live more in the moment.

Paying attention to the minute details that make up my life TODAY.

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This is God’s gift. Life. And he wants me to enjoy it fully, working on perfecting my mission of serving Him as I do so.

I find it harder and harder to do as I get older. As my children get older. But still, I am so blessed to be able to enjoy this wonderful gift of TODAY.

                     Forget about what’s happened;
                                 don’t keep going over old history.
                Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
                               It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?

           Isaiah 43: 18-19 (from The Message)