Finally, Some Crafty Things!

I finally managed to get some crafty things done this week and am excited to share. This first one is a two-page layout that I did awhile back for the Pink House. We had a design team challenge using the Zach's Life product line. I loved the papers and thought they went so well with the beach pics of Brayden. I was nervous though because I had never, ever completed a layout in one sitting and this had to be done in one night! I was so proud when I got it done on time and was even more proud when I won the contest!

This is a layout that I finished this week for the Pink House. I was so excited when Skylar wanted to sit for a photo shoot with the hat while we were in San Diego. I could just see the pics printed out in Sepia to look vintage. I am very happy with the way this one turned out because it again took me out of my comfort zone. For this one, we had to use a sketch as our inspiration and I discovered that I have an extremely hard time doing that. I had two main problems. The first was that I am a very visual person and in looking at the sketch, I could not see passed it to decide how I wanted to proceed. The next was my need to always go against the grain and break the rules so to speak. In this layout, I just could not follow the sketch exactly. I replaced one of the photos with the tag in the center, I rotated the focal picture and I eliminated the journaling under the title. All in all, I am pretty pleased.

This is another layout I finished this week. Not as thrilled with it. I still can't decide if it needs more or if it is finished. I am really a throw-it-all-on-there type of girl and don't normally leave a lot of "white space" but then there is the saying "Sometimes less is more". I still feel like it is missing something but I have got to get it turned in tomorrow so I may revisit it once I get it back. lol

Then last but not least, these are the two cards that we made at Patti's stamp club on Friday night. I love them both and can't wait to try my own spin on them. This first one is using markers and a glue pen with glitter to color an outline stamp. Very cute!!!

And this one we did using the "faux silk" technique using tissue paper. Hard to see the detail in the pics but it is really cool in person.Hope you enjoyed these. I have really enjoyed the creative time so hopefully will have more to share after the weekend. Take care and God bless.

Every Day Blessings

So, I mentioned the other day that I was going to sit down and write a list of all the things that I am grateful for in order to stop looking at the negative things. I did that and what a list! Lol I am definitely grateful for the Lord, my family and my friends. As you can imagine, they top the list, but I wanted to share some of the smaller things that I am grateful for here as they demonstrate the amazing things that the Lord is doing in my life.

Let’s start with yesterday. On the way to work, my “Low Oil” chime started ‘singing’ (Okay, I know it is the second time, Mom! Lol) So, at lunch I took it to get my oil changed and low and behold, it just so happened to be Ladies’ Day. Not such a big miracle, I know, but hey, in these tough times, $8 is $8!!! Lol Then on the way home, I knew that I needed gas but I wanted to stretch it. The gas station was on the other side of the road, not too easy to get in and out of, and frankly I just didn’t want to stop at that point. I figured surely I could make it the 15 miles to Moncks Corner. Well, something just told me that I needed to stop despite the obstacles and fill up. Not wait to get home. So, I listened to that voice and stopped to get gas. Well, would you believe that I ended up putting 17.905 gallons of gas into my 18 gallon tank??? I would never have made it home. Definitely the hand of God on that one!!!

Some of the other things that I am grateful for: my car is still running after 12 years and 279,000 miles, I have a wonderful hobby that I love and hopefully I am pretty good at, I got to visit with my family in San Diego and few weeks ago, I have a job that most days I enjoy (lol) and of course to quote Ronee, smaller boobies! LOL.

Life may not be perfect nor is it a piece of cake, but overall when I look at things, it is pretty good. I have decided to get back to crafting because that is something that is all mine and that I truly enjoy. I have a couple of things that I am working on for The Pink House so hopefully I will have some stuff to share soon. Until then, take care and God bless!

The Mustard Seed

I recently went on a trip with some of my family to San Diego (as most of you know, lol) and while we were there, my daughter and I went to a wonderful church that my cousin belongs to called The Rock Church. It was amazing and what a variety of people that it reaches out to on a daily and weekly basis. It was flashy and ultra contemporary and very, very loud, but I loved every minute of it. As my great-aunt said, it certainly "serves its purpose" and reaches out to those that might be turned off by an ordinary, more "boring" type service. (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those too. lol) But this was something special. Anyway, while we were there, I bought a bracelet from one of the vendor booths outside and with the bracelet, the lady gave me a mustard seed attached to a bible verse. I put it in my purse and forgot about it until today. My amazing great-aunt, who reads this blog, has had me on her heart lately and so she sent me a card and a Footsteps publication to remind me to keep my eyes on the path. On the front of the card was the verse from the little card in the bottom of my purse. The verse is Matthew 17:20 and it says: "...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you." Thank you so much, Auntney! What an amazing piece of scripture and a great reminder for all of us to believe in the Lord and trust that when we walk with Him, we can overcome anything. I hope that I can pass along the importance of that passage to my children and to those around me who may not believe or who may question. While it is true that I may have been a little down lately, I have never once faltered in my belief that the Lord will see us through this troubled time. I pray tonight that I can be an example of the power of that small kernel of faith and I intend to fish that seed from the bottom of my purse and place it on my key chain to remind me in those times that I might get down. Thanks to all of you that are keeping us in your prayers and know that you all are in mine as well. Much love!
KT

Thanks!!!

Just wanted to thank everybody for all the thoughts and prayers. They have really meant so much. Still no job but there is progress. Matt has an interview tomorrow at the College of Charleston so keep him in your prayers! I am keeping my fingers crossed. Things have definitely gotten a lot harder and more strained at my house. It is hard to keep putting on a happy face every day when you just aren't feeling it. I am sad to say that I haven't been very good at it lately. I guess I need to go back and read my last post again and start looking for those blessings in the midst of the troubles. I am sure they are there. I have just stopped looking for them. Tomorrow I am going to sit down and make a list of everything that I am thankful for. Despite all the tough stuff going on right now, I truly do have much to be grateful for. I think I just lost sight for a moment.

Feeling like Job...

Well, it has been a rough time since I posted last. When I got back from CA, my plant manager and our purchasing manager were let go. Budget cuts and all that. Ben is a wonderful man though and like family so he has been greatly missed. The new plant manager is a different breed and not sure yet if that is good or not. I have had a lot of additional responsibilities added to my already full plate and have been really stressed at work. Then two weeks ago, Matt lost his job. He has been looking but the market is horrible and with the teens out of school, even the "tide us over" type jobs are filled. Don't know what we are going to do. Since that time, my car needed repairs to the tune of $600 and now we are sitting in our sauna because last night, our air conditioner decided to quit working. With temps in the 90's today, it has not been pleasant. Poor Peyton just fell asleep because she was so miserable and can't understand.

So, anyway, not to leave all of this on a sour note, I have been trying to take a page from Ben's book and putting my faith in the Lord. I know that he has a plan and that he will provide. And to quote one of our favorite movies, Finding Nemo, we are just going to "keep swimmin', swimmin', just keep swimmin' Looking on the brighter side of things, here are my thankfuls:
1. With the greater responsibilities at work, I was able to finally get my raise.
2. Matt has been home and able to get the kids when I have had to work late.
3. My tires did not blow out and the car was safe long enough for us to get it in and get it fixed.
4. I was able to wear my bikini today to stay cool that I swore I would never wear again. lol
5. My IL's and my parents have been wonderful about helping with whatever we need.
6. Ceiling fans and desktop fans are wonderful things.
7. I am living on faith and it has been amazing. For all the things that have been going wrong, everyday God shows in some little way his mercy and Love and I praise him for all that is good in my life. I know that I am being tested and with His strength will come out on the other side a better person.

For those that are still reading after another long absence, thanks for sticking with me. I hope to get back to regular posting again soon. Say a prayer for us. Know that we are strong. And thanks for all you do.

Welcome Home...

Man so much to catch up on. We are home from California and it has been a busy week. I have much to type but not much time so I thought I would just share a few pics for now and catch up later. While we were gone, the kids went and learned how to swim on me.
Isn't she just too adorable?

Swimming on her own. She is getting so big!

Even Brayden got over his fear from last year and loves to demonstrate how he can go underwater. I am so proud.

Skylar of course has no fear and jumps right in the deep end. (Notice that nose hold though. lol)
They are all getting so big and are enjoying the summer time. Lots of activities at daycare for each one and lots of swimming in Nana's pool. Oh, to be a kid again! lol

Another Skylar Funny

Skylar and I went and ran some errands on Memorial Day and had a very interesting conversation on the way.

Skylar- “Mommy, there are a thousand Gods.”

(Oh no! What am I teaching her? Where is she getting this from? Surely First Baptist isn’t preaching of more than one God! I have got to do better.)

Me- “No, honey. There is only one God.”

Skylar- “Nooooo, my Sunday School teacher said that we all have God inside of us and there are a thousand people so there has to be a thousand Gods.”

(Okay, so maybe not so bad. At least she has the main concept right. Now to tweak it a little bit.)

Me- “ You are right. We do all have God inside our hearts but we just carry a little piece of him with us. Not the whole thing. There is just one God.”

(There, that should explain it. Whew, fixed that one.)

Skylar- “So, which piece do I have? His elbow or his knee or what?”

(LOL I think we have a little more work to do!)