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My favorite backyard activity!

I have been trying to get 2011's scrapbook pages done.  I do one every few days so I can stay caught up. 



We were able to see a bunch of Florida lights last year!





The most fun and frightening thing i've done!




Sometimes I miss the old house.



Hymn Challenge #2

Turn Your Eye Upon Jesus was written by Helen Lemmel.  You can read Patter's devotional at Triple the Scraps, HERE

Helen wrote over 500 hymns.  This LINK is the history of this wonderful hymn.

Fix your eyes upon JESUS!  Have great weekend everyone.

Visitors

I received a call yesterday from my good friend Jule.  They were driving back from Florida and wanted to meet up for dinner.  But I thought why not just spend the night at the best B&B in town (aka our house)!  So they spent the night and we had time to catch up before they headed home today.  We met back in 2001 when we were stationed up in NY and we have kept in touch for, WOW, almost 10 years now!  How time just flys by.  She has been a great friend and christian mentor to me over the years. They show us so much love and hospitality when ever we come to visit.  I am glad we were able to reciprocate.  MISS you JULE! 

I usually do my art journal on Wednesdays so I had to leave you with this today!

Have a blessed day !

Hymn & Scripture Challenge

I began a new study this week.  Over at TRIPLE THE SCRAPS  they are starting a Hymn & Scripture challenge for 2012.  Click the link to go look at the challenge.  We will be studying the history behind hymns and the people who wrote them. 

This weeks hymn is Amazing Grace written by John Newton. 

You can read more about Mr. Newton

HERE

Also, there is a movie called Amazing Grace  that was released back in 2007 that speaks to the history of the slave trade and the people who fought to abolish it. 

 

For my HSCRC12 page, I went to a used book store and bought an old hymnal.  I am using the pages as my background.  I will be posting my pages in a tab at the top of my blog, so you can reference them anytime throughout the year.   

Scrapbook Life Journal 2012

This year I am creating journal along side 250 of my internet friends, hahahaha.  I am taking an online class with Stephanie.  Check it out HERE

It is a year long art journal with prompts, doodles, and Bible verses.  Here is my January pages.  The theme verse is Matthew 5:5

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment

you find yourselves proud owners of

everything that can't be bought."

Taken from the Message Bible

Take time to be honest with yourself and pray about how you want to be a better YOU this year.  For me it is accepting myself as I am and drawing closer to God through his word.

I am making a tab at the top of my blog for the rest of my entries throughout the year.

The Venue

Today we took Sarah to see the place for the ceremony and reception.  It is barn on property near our home.  We think it is perfect for the carnival themed wedding!

Imagine the inside decorated with twinkle lights and carnival banners strung throughout the room. 

It has a nice bar area for our buffet.

A cozy firplace (gas) to sit around. 

It has an upstairs area we are not sure what to do with yet???  Any ideas? 

If it is nice that day, we will have the ceremony outside and dinner too!  The sun sets right over those hills.  It is hard to imagine with all the bare trees and snow, Brrrrrrrrrrr.

Word Filled Wednesday

Engagement Photos

For those of you that don't follow my photography blog, here is the link to my son's engagement pictures.

Engagement PHOTOS

Word Filled Wednesday

Birthday Boy Goes Home

Yesterday was Matthew's 24th birthday! 

We spent the day playing games, going out to Red Robin and eating cupcakes.  But today he left... insert sad mommy face.  He went back to Colorado.  Back to his internship with Cadence International.  Back to Bible college studies.....  But I can't wait for him to come BACK in May for his wedding.

Notice I made cupcakes for his birthday.  My cake making days are over. 

Joy Dare 2012

I am taking the the JOY Dare. Recording 1000 gifts from God.

Keeping a list of His LOVE!
Just three gifts a day.
The whole earth is full of His glory.

Along with reading One Thousand Gifts by, Ann Voskamp, I am starting a tab ABOVE to record my 1000 gifts.  Please join me in a journal, blog, post-its (thought that would would look really cool covering a wall space) or pictures......  If you are going to join me in this journey drop me a comment to let me know!

A Holy Experience is the site with more information.  There is also an APP for all you Apple junkies out there.  It is called 1000 Gifts and its FREE.

Word Filled Wednesday

I made this journal cover while I was taking an online class at Homegrown Hospitality  Stephanie is a wonderful Christian woman who teaches us less artistic people to doodle and create art.  I took a composition book and decoupaged, painted, and stamped on the front. 

Now I am using it as a inspirational art journal. 

I don't know if you have heard of Pinterest but it is quite addicting. I have found lots of get quotes and Bible verses on that site. So I am going to

make a page in this book each week.

 Mostly I copy what the other artist did and then tweak it how I like it. Maybe I will begin to create on my own as the year progresses. So every Wednesday I will be sharing a page out of my journal with you.

A Look Back at 2011

Here is a quick look back 2011.

Built a snowman with my MAN!

Took a break from the cold in the Florida Keys

We're on the move AGAIN. 

Easter service at the Lincoln Memorial



Brookside Gardens on Mother's Day




Father's Day



Looking for shells on Sanabel Island, Florida

Day trip to Lurrary Caverns, VA 

Kayaking on the Chicago River

Sitting on the top of the Shenandoah Mountains

We get some real nice sunsets in our backyard!

Christmas Dinner, we are BLESSED!

This year flew by and we were blessed to be able to travel and spend some great quality time with our family. 

Each day is a gift.
There is much to be thankful for every day of the year.

Look around.

2012 looks to be even more exciting.  Thanks for stopping by and following us in our journey through LIFE!