Cindy

This button came from Nana Diana. (Thank you Nana Diana) hugs!
When I think about Cindy Adkins, this quote comes to mind: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.  Cindy has touched the lives of so many of us.  Now it is a time that we can touch her with our prayers for she and her husband, Ralph.  Please visit Cindy's website to learn more and keep her in your prayers.  If you like, you made add this button made by Tete at Beyond the Garden Gate. (Thanks, Tete).  The link for this button is: 
http://cindyadkinswhimsicalmusings.blogspot.com/We love you, Cindy!
Blessings,

The best time. . .

I saw such a great quote yesterday, but have "misplaced" it.  So, until I find it, I am leaving you with this quote:

“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” African Proverb

 I hear so many people talk about the "shoulda coulda, wish I woulda."  

So, what if you just go and do it now?  So, you didn't do it then . . do it now.

By the way, what is it you are going to do?

Blessings,

Blog Giveaway

I am so excited to be able to do this!  I am finally having a blog giveaway.  I chose for this special giveaway this amazing Hope ring.  Pink is my favorite color and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sparkly things.  This ring is in honor of those who also love all things that are pink and sparkle. 
Its' clear and ruby pink crystal-studded “ribbon” is tied in a glamorous bow. It also has clear baguettes form the bow’s center knot. One look at this Hope ring and they’ll never forget you!
Here is what you can do to enter. It's up to you what you decide to do.  Please leave me a message so I know.
For one chance you can leave a comment on this post.
For a second chance, post this on your sidebar with a link back to this post.
For a third chance, become a follower (and I will follow you too).
And, for a fourth chance, stop by Cindy at Cindy's Whimsical Musings who made this beautiful blog button for me and leave her a comment too!
That's it.
Happy Pink Saturday to everyone especially our hostess, Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Blessings,

Meet Miss Abby

One of the marvelous things about blog land are the wonderful people that you meet.  To think that someday we will meet and say, "Thank you for praying for me", or "Your words meant so much to me."  We have been given such a wonderful opportunity to be connected with each other.  Well, I found Abby's blog because I saw a picture on The Writer's Reverie(another wonderful blog), clicked on it, you know how it goes.....you go to the next wonderful site and start looking around and love what you see.  Abby creates beautiful downloads which she shares with us today, as well as is a speaker for women's retreats.  Abby, thank you so much for sharing this post with us.  It is wonderful!!
Hi, my name is Abby from Little Birdie Blessings.  Holly discovered my blog and then I in turn discovered hers, and you know how that goes.  At any rate, we’re glad we found each other.  She has asked me to share a guest post on the subject of prayer and I’m very happy to do so.   In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3  The morning is my favorite time of day. It’s peaceful, the phone isn’t ringing, there is minimal noise outside except the birds, and there are no interruptions. It’s a quiet time. A time this scripture takes meaning for me.  God calls us to pray through the many references in the Bible such as… ask and ye shall receive,pray so that you will not fall into temptation,pray without ceasing,brethren pray for us,is any afflicted let him pray,the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. These are just a few of the examples. 

I know with certainty, God hears and answers our prayers. At a particularly low point in my life God revealed that he had not forgotten me in ways that were beyond coincidence. I have countless examples but this one stands out, perhaps because it’s small but mighty. It was my birthday and I wanted to make shredded wheat bread but didn’t have the ingredients or the money to buy them. Feeling defeated, I sat at my kitchen table and began to pray. I was interrupted by a knock at my door, it was my neighbor with a loaf of warm homemade….that’s right….shredded wheat bread.   It brings tears to my eyes, just to retell this story. It’s SO powerful to me. God ALWAYS answers our prayers, it may not be as we want Him to, but remember he is ALL knowing, He knows what is best for us. If God answers your prayer right away, be thankful; if it’s denied, be patient; if we are to wait, then wait with expectation as the scripture says.  I found this among the many notes of my husband’s grandmother:
P – Praise
R – Remembering
A – Asking
Y – Yielding
E – Expecting
R – Receiving 
I enjoyed making a 12x12 scrapbook page that reflects Psalm 5:3 and what it means to me.   

The image at the top of the post is a vintage postcard from my collection, which I added this scripture to.  It is free to you for personal use. Thank you so much Holly for inviting me to share on your blog.   It’s been a blessing for me, and I pray that your readers would be encouraged by it.

Blessings,

Meet a Prim Girl

Woman of Hope Interview Questions

Octobers Woman of Hope

Char Hosea     The Rusty Knob Prims and Dolls

 What gives you the most hope?

 My hope is built on Jesus protective love and faithfulness to me I’m blessed to have faith, hope and purpose in God.

Tell us about yourself.

I like long, tall wide narrow things, love the primitive look and feel of yesteryear, I love the gentle breeze on a warm day, and I enjoy watching children play in the snow and rain.  I like the deep rich colors of fall, I like who I am and I’m excited to see how God will shape me and who I become.  I’m a Christian wife, mom, grandma, and doll artist. I have lots of close faithful friends who love and encourage me. I am also unable to speak.  In July 2004 I became ill and by October I lost my ability to speak with many other health issues attached.  In 2007 I began making Primitive dolls as my sister-in-law said in passing “I’d like one of those as she points to a primitive doll.  That’s how the Rusty Knob Prims and Dolls began. I bought a few Primitive doll patterns and thus began this sweet journey as a doll maker.  Creating handmade dolls has helped me over come in so many ways.  The dolls help me keep my hands busy and my creative mind creating rather than on ME and my circumstances.  These silly dolls give me hope as each one is created and she develops her own personality. They give me a purpose as I plan to move forward each day.  I paint or stitch a heart on each doll.  I give each prim doll a name and I just can’t make two exactly the same each one has her own primitive personality.  Sometimes they talk to me like… you know I want wings or I’d rather have a rusty knob (red hair) and Annie legs for my dolls. (What I, Holly, want to share is that Char recently entered her dolls in the State Fair and was the winner in so many categories. AND, last year she sent some of her dolls to Somerset Publications and this September she will be in PRIM magazine along with some of her wonderful dollies). Go Char!

What do you consider your gifts?

I can look at something and then I create my own rendition with my own Primitive style incorporated.  I have to think and mull it over for a few days or weeks to get to where it comes to me then I go for it.  Sometimes it will come to me in the middle of the night so I get up write down what I’ve come up with then I can finally sleep on it.

I have enjoyed many of your creative gifts.  What is your favorite way to be creative?

 I enjoy each part of the creative journey a doll makes from the design decision to dressing her. The cutting is therapeutic the sewing is soothing as the machine raps along with the motion of movement, then comes the turning and stuffing, and hand stitched assembly.  My favorite part is when I have a whole bunch without faces and they fill a bucket or I have painted legs hanging on the cloths line in the kitchen that to me is Beau-t-i-ful.  Then comes painting and hand stitching faces, color choices oh, that lets the creative juices flow and she becomes a doll of beauty and personality.  And best of all is when someone picks out a doll it’s the giggle and laughter that it music to my soul.  That’s when you know the girl and the doll are kindred spirits. I kiss them good –bye as they leave to go to their new home.

What do you do to relax?

 My best down time is when I go with my husband while he metal detects or golfs. I relax as I watch him and read or do hand stitchery that’s relaxing for me. I love my family and of course my new grand baby I’m in love all over again when I see him, I sure love to hold him and play as he lifts my spirits to new heights. O the blessed joy of grandchildren.

What is your favorite saying or verse?

 My favorite verse is Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

My favorite quote comes from Oswald Chambers “our circumstances are the means of manifesting how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure the son of God is”.

What color is hope for you?

I believe the color of HOPE  is RED for me.  We purchased our little home with the intention of redoing the inside plus adding on to the existing house then building a new home for us on the lot next door.  Well plans change seasons come and go and  in God’s plan for me I became ill and all those dreams went to the way side as my health became first priority.  I’ve had a long wait for my kitchen to get done. Yippee!  It’s almost complete now its red and tan with primitive stars I love it!  It’s warm and comforting to me I can appreciate it a whole lot more.  It has been a good lesson in hope and patience because something’s are worth waiting for.

What is hope to you?

Hope knows and believes God has created you to be a person of worth.

Hope it the joyful day you say I do.

Hope is a new born child and the future he holds.

Hope is a life lived for God and with purpose.

Hope is knowing life is short, a moment in time, soon I will meet Him face to face with a voice that sings and shouts as this life’s trials will be over.
As always on this fun day, please stop by to say hello to Beverly and the other Pink Saturday ladies!

Blessings,

Happy Pink all!  Oh, how I have missed seeing you.

I haven't been ignoring you. . .

I have been running around . . .

Last week I had a party to help introduce my new business. . .

Jewelry!  And, look, they even have PINK!  (Guess who bought this? You guessed it! Moi!)

I'm doing lots of traveling and haven't been home much

But, I do love mail and I would be tickled PINK if you would leave me a note that you stopped by!

Linking up with Beverly and all the other Pink Saturday ladies!
Blessings,

Love this Quote

I love quotes - especially when they speak to me.  During a message this week I heard our pastor share this:
We judge people by their past, not their future.
Wow!
Here's to seeing people (and myself) in a new light. 
Blessings,

Gluten Free Oatmeal Pumpkin Bars

 I love the fall season!  It's full of cinnamon and other spices, pumpkins, warm days and cool nights.  I just found this recipe on Pinterest and wanted to share it with you.  It's awesome too because it is another gluten-free recipe.

Oatmeal Pumpkin Bars
Makes enough to fill a 9×13 pan
Ingredients:
For the oatmeal crust:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup pecans, chopped very fine (you can run them through a blender or food processor if you like)
• 1 c. Amaranth flour (or Sorghum, or probably several other gluten free flours would work)
• 3/4 c. agave nectar (this is more than I usually use, but this makes like 24 bars so per serving it’s not too high)
• 1/2 cup canola oil (or other neutral oil)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp salt

For the pumpkin filling: (very lightly adapted from Pure2Raw)

• 2 15 oz cans pureed pumpkin (just plain, not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1/2 cup hemp or soy milk. (I haven’t tried it but I bet coconut milk would be awesome here also)
• 2/3 cup agave nectar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 heaping cup of arrowroot (you could also use potato or corn starch. I mean it when I say heaping cup, it’s probably closer to 1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine all oatmeal ingredients and stir until well combined. Spread evenly into a greased 9×13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, combine all pumpkin filling ingredients until smooth. Spread evenly over the oatmeal mixture in the pan.
Bake for 30-45 minutes, until a fork inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean and the whole thing seems solid but not too browned. Chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes or more (an hour is good, and they are even better the next day) and slice into 2 inch squares. Serve with coconut whipped cream, top with pecans, or sprinkle with some more cinnamon and nutmeg.
This recipe came from cleangreensimple.com

Blessings,

Wake Up Call

Tonight I had the privilege and honor of hearing Joel Rosenberg and 
Anne Graham Lotz talk about how Christians are asleep to what is going on around us.  It spoke to my heart as I know it spoke to many.   One of the things they talked about was the woman who touched Jesus' garment and was healed.  I thought about how we are to be ambassadors in this world and be such a testimony of God's grace and love that people will want what we have.  Then I thought. . .may I be like the hem of His garment. . .that God flows so freely through me that others are brought to recognize Him.
Blessings,

still counting

There is always so much to be thankful for. 
Funny commercials (I just heard one now and it made me smile).
knowing that when I "wish" that I would've said or done something different that it reminds me that I am open to God's gentle hand guiding me and knowing that He loves me enough to show me The Way.

having two feet to take me places

having hands to create

having a sense of smell and a nose to breath

eyes to see

freely being able to read God's Word
being able to pray with Julia as she travels back home to Germany
being the part of an amazing Sunday School class full of women who share their insights and seeing what God is doing in their lives.

having a great pastor and his wife

seeing God at work in our church, in my work, in my family, in me . . 
Blessings,

Christy Meyers aka The Whimsy Queen

If you know Christy Meyers of CC's Whimsies, then you know what I'm talking about when I call her the Whimsy Queen.  She is the BOMB when it comes to making warm and wonderful characters that pull at your heart strings and make you want to buy everything she creates!  Not only is she a master Whimsitarian (I just made that up - can you tell?), but she freely shares her "how to" secrets.  Recently, I had the great joy of taking an online class with Christy through Artful Gatherings.  (If you were thinking about taking one of their classes, but didn't, then do it next year.  It was awesome!)  Christy took us step by step and we each created a pumpkin fairy.  Many of the women taking the class were ambitious and made several pumpkin fairies.  And, then there were some highly ambitious women who took several classes through Artful Gatherings. (How do they do it?)
Anyway, I wanted to share my pumpkin fairy.  She is about 90% done and quite frankly, it may take me another year to get the last 10% done.
Christy, I can hardly wait for your next class!
Blessings,

still counting

Life

Silence

A good night’s sleep

Cooler weather

Answered prayer

Baby back ribs

Having someone offer to help me at church

Paper towels

Being able to let go of some things that weigh me down

Having time to be creative

Light up shoes

Having coffee with my daughter this morning

Baking with my daughter

Trying new recipes

Cool breezes

Farm markets

Local honey

Fried eggplant

New perfumes

The smell of a baby

 The feel of a newborn’s head

My children

Holding a newborn against your chest

White shirts

Fun belts

Cute shoes

Pink hair

Stretching beyond my comfort zone

Seeing the evidence of things hoped for . . 

joining today with Ann at 1,000 Gifts

aholyexperience.com

Blessings,