A Pink Giveaway

A giveaway for you.  

The winner will receive the book "A Survivor's Gift", a soft sculpture ornament of a woman that has a ribbon draped across her that says "Survivor" and a One of a Kind dress form in pink and white stripes, pink polka dot wings and the word "HOPE" and finally all served on a plate of "hope".

You can win by doing the following.  You will be entered for each one you would like to do:

1. Leave a comment on what hope means to you

2. Become a follower

If you are already a follower, then let me know

3. Post this on your blog to let others know of the giveaway and let me know that you have done this.

Thank you so much!

Linking today with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. 

This giveaway will be open through Friday, November 9th, 2012.

Blessings,

Only if..

 
 

What did you find that was possible?  Here is to all those who believed!

Blessings,

Is the glass half full?

 
                                   I found it here
Are you a half full or half empty kind of girl?
It reminds me of that great story:
…a little boy is placed in a room with a huge pile of, well, manure. Rather than crying or trying to run away, he dives right in – digging through the muck with his bare hands, poop flying in all directions! Those watching are baffled – what in the world is he thinking?! They run to the room and ask the child “What ARE you doing???” Grinning, the boy responds: “With all this manure, there’s just got to be a pony here somewhere!”
Did you ever find a pony?
Blessings,

Trust Issues

 
his just cracks me up!!  I saw this on Dear Helen Hartman's facebook page.  You should stop by and visit her sometime or "like" her on fb.  She's got some great quotes.  I don't think that anyone ever tried to trick me with raisin cookies, but I do remember a friend once telling me to try her mom's "lasagna cookies".  You know, to this day, I don't mind a "bite size" of cold lasagna.

Have a chocolate chip cookie day - that is, if you like them!


Blessings,

Listen to the whisper

“When the world says, 'Give up,' hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.' ”Author Unknown
This made me think of the wonderful story in I Kings:

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13 NIV)

Did you know that the word LISTEN and SILENT have the same letters?  Interesting...

Blessings,

He has a plan

Last week I was checking my email and found the most wonderful post from Abby over at Little Birdie Blessings and asked if I could repost it here.  I hope it speaks to you as much as it did me!

The timing of your life is unique.
You are a woman handmade by God
to fulfill wonderful plans of His.~ Anne Ortlund ~

Digital Photo and Graphic I made for you ~ free for personal use or sharing
Click for larger image ~ right click and save to your computer

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.Jeremiah 29:11  (NIV)

Just think..... of all the millions of people on this earth, you are unique and like none other.  God made you that way, and He does not make mistakes.  He has specific plans for your life, you need only to ask Him to show you what it is, and ask Him to help you follow His plan.  

He's the only one that knows the future and sees the whole plan laid out ahead.  How better to leave our day to day plans in the one who knows our future, than to try to get through it on our own strength.  

I hope you enjoy the graphic Abby made for you to help you remember this promise.  

Blessings,

A mini how-to

Joining Beverly for Pink saturday  at howsweetthesound.typepad. A year ago I saw this idea somewhere in blogland.  (If anyone knows where, I will gladly give credit).  I decided to give it a try.  Sometimes there are cute ideas that are just calling to me to try.  So, here is a mini how-to.
Supplies: newsprint, pencil for tracing, striped stockings, and black boots from a thrift store.
1. Have your daughter or some other willing female lay down on their side on a roll of newsprint.
2. Trace around their legs and cut out your pattern.
3. Trace the legs onto a light solid colored broadcloth or other non-stretchy fabric. Cut out 4 pieces - 2 leg pieces for each side.  When you are cutting, make sure that you add approximately 1/2" seam allowance.
4. Stitch both sets of legs (right sides together) together and turn right side out.
5. Stuff legs and insert a 3/4" or large dowel in each leg.
6. Pull striped tights over each leg.
7. Put cute black boots on the feet.
8. Place legs in an outside garden container.  Make sure the dowels are planted firmly into the soil.
9. Wrap nylon thread several times around the ankles of both legs so that she is not doing the splits one day when you come home from work.
10. Enjoy your creation!
Blessings,

Just a laugh or two...

 
 
 

Blessings,

Making Wings

 
                       From sheworered.tumblr.com
I rather like this idea!  What leap do you want to take? 
Blessings,

Gone shopping

I love to go shopping with my husband said no woman ever!

 Now, I realize that a few lovely readers may have husbands who are great to shop with.  So, you may exclude yourself from this post.  I'm just sayin. . .
So, here is how it went down.  I asked my husband to go with me last weekend and he reluctantly agreed.  Here are some clips from the whole shopping experience.
We don't need that.
What do you need that for? and. . .
What are you going to do with that.
You want to know the worst part?!!  We were at the grocery store!!!  Can you believe it?  Remind me ladies not to do this again....please!!!  When I do go out of town to do some shopping retail therapy and my husband asks what all we are doing (in case he wants to come along), the answer is either a list of rules he must agree to follow or convincing him that it will not be fun.  That reminds me of a comic.  Do you remember the cartoon "Herman"?  I love Herman!!  He ranks right up there with Maxine.  When I saw this cartoon in the paper years ago, I cut it out and put it on our refrigerator.  I just loved it.  Here's hoping you have a  Terrific Tuesday!

Blessings,

A Monday Mini Tutorial

Well, I thought that I would change things up a little bit and show a mini tutorial on making a cover for your printer.  I had been thinking for a long time that I needed to cover ours because it gets so dusty in our family room. (I am blaming that on two 60+ pound dogs who love to run in and out and bark at NOTHING!)  Anyhow, I got this great printer/copier/scanner at a yard sale for $5.  Can you believe that?!  And, it works like a charm.  I just hope I haven't waited too long to protect it.  Anyhoo, here is what I did:
1. I went to the local mall Wal Mart and bought some of the flocked table covering fabrics they have to use for picnic tables, etc. I chose this because no dust should find its' way in because it is plastic.  Plus, if it gets dirty, all I have to do is wipe it off.  I found a fun black and white damask print.  I bought 1 1/2 yards because I wasn't sure how much to get.  A yard would have been great.
2. I laid it over the printer and marked the fabric where to cut.  Keep in mind that anytime you cover something, you need to allow some "give".  How do I know that? (Well, that's another post...)

 3. Cut your fabric on the lines marked.
4. Lay the fabric inside out over whatever it is you are covering and pin.

5. Then measure and mark where your pins are and make the same marks on the opposite side. Make sure your edges are even and readjust if necessary.
6. Next, miter your corners and lay over your printer and double check your measurements.  Once you are satisfied, go ahead and stitch all 4 corners.  Trim 1/4 - 1/2" away from the seamline and turn right side out.
7. Wallah...you have a great looking cover.

Blessings,

This is success

Blessings,

this is so true!

Amen and amen!

Blessings,

Burglar proof

Yep.  That's my motto and I'm stickin' to it.  Besides, don't they say that a messy house is a sign of a creative person?  Or, try this one...


 To all of you who are really organized, I just want you to know that I secretly wish I was too!

Blessings,

Wisdom

Don't you just love this quote?


Blessings,

Have a Maxine Monday

I thought that we needed to start the week off with Maxine.  She makes me laugh!! 



Happy Monday all!
Blessings,

Kids say the Darndest Things

Do you remember Art Linkletter?  I didn't appreciate that show then, but I do now.  Children make me laugh.  I do love their pureness of heart.
 
Last week in class one of the kids asked me how old I was (seems to be one of those Frequently Asked Questions).  Now, mind you, usually I say that I'm 80 to watch for their reaction and then I add, "I look really good, don't I?"  And, then they say, "Oh, Mrs. Lewis, no sir."  I don't know how it happened, but it slipped out of my mouth without thinking and I said "20".  It also made me laugh because a couple of the boys got real serious all of a sudden and bent over to whisper to their neighbors, "No she's not."  I think they were worried that some of them might think that and they wanted to set the record straight.  I don't think I'll ever answer back with 'how old do you think I am?"
What fond memories of children do you have?


Blessings,

The Workout

 I'm the one on the right...not!
 So, yesterday I think that I mentioned that my body is sore.  Can you say painful?  I am taking self defense classes because one of the things I've always wanted to do is to karate or the equivalent thereof.  Have I lost you yet?  Are you still reading?....hello?....okay, well, anyway...Yes, I am old, out of shape AND the only female (at the moment) in the class.  Thankfully, the class is small, so that isn't to big of an issue.  The workout was good and did I mention EMBARRASSING? I am sure that I look like a total moron and I really do hit :like a girl".  Okay, let's just be honest....assuming you are still with me.  We are all girls here, right?  Well, do you remember (okay, maybe not you, but I did) way back when you were young and you thought you were fat weighing more than you should've?  Oh, what I wouldn't give for those days!!  Because now it IS true and what's sad is, no matter what kind of a perky outfit I wear, nothing is going to look very perky, SO, I just go however because I am old and don't care AS MUCH as I used to. 
I have enjoyed telling people of my "woes" from the whole experience and have even signed up for this month.  I'm sure that more good stories might come from this, so I leave you with this thought:


 

Blessings,

A Greateful Heart

I thought this was such a wonderful quote.  How many blessings do we have and don't realize it?  I know that I do!  So, here is to the midweek hump to help you think about the blessings in your life.  What blessings can you think of today?  Me?...Well, I have a beautiful family who all have a heart for God, I have a job where I get to work with children and they make me smile,...how about you?
Blessings,

Strength

With October being breast cancer awareness month and we tend to focus on hope and courage, I thought I would begin with a quote that fit that.  I think a lot of times we don't know how strong we are until something unexpectedly difficult challenging happens.  I am still working on being braver, but like Tiny Tim said, "I am getting stronger every day."


Blessings,