And the Winner...

And the winner of the digital software giveaway was -K- from CA!! Email me, my friend! Congrats!

Photo Friday!

I haven't posted a Photo Friday in a long time! I love my country!

Creative Thoughts and a Give Away!

There is just something about the cooler weather and the holiday season. It brings out the creative side of me. I've been dreaming of finishing a quilt which I started a long time ago - but that's for another story.

I've also been learning some digital scrapbooking. Here are some of the pages I've created rather quickly - much quicker than traditional scrapbooking...

Some of the pages I created are from templates and others are my own design. It's been rather fun. I liked being able to quickly create pages and have in my books! I then sent them to Costco for printing (I did two of each page - one for each child's individual scrapbook). Outside of the busyness of the store, printing them was fast and

I thought I'd share the opportunity for you to join in digital scrapbooking. With My Memories Suite, I am hosting this giveaway of digital scrapbooking software (a $40 value).

Here are the guidelines for this giveaway:

• Visit Mymemories.com and choose your favorite scrapbook design kit.
• Come back to my blog and leave a comment about your favorite. Remember, only the software is in the giveaway, not the scrapbook design kit.
• Only one entry per person.
• Deadline to enter - Friday, November 18th at midnight (Pacific time)
• Winners will be announced on Monday, November 21st.

400 and counting

I can't believe this is my 400th post! I haven't been blogging much the last year or so. Nevertheless, 400 seems like a big number. Do I really have that much to say over the years? I guess so!

This has been the most popular readers' post - Christmas Tour 2010.

I would say my favorite post about my husband - Thankful Thursday - My Husband; about my daughter - Back to School Blessings, and about my son - Binky, Oh, Binky 

I can't even begin to think of which is my favorite about the Lord. That's because He's so wonderful and gracious to me!

Looking Forward

I feel like I spend the majority of my time looking forward and planning. I like to be prepared and ready. I plan and research. Currently, I'm working on a weekly glance. What am I doing within the next week? What do I need to be prepared and ready? I spent a part of my day today just planning menus for the next week. I got on the computer to check email and then work on next week's lesson plans for the homeschool. I'm looking forward to the women's retreat beginning next Friday.

However, it comes to mind that God doesn't promise me tomorrow. He only supplies what is needed for today. He gives the strength and grace for the place I'm in today. I'm thankful for that. I'm appreciative of His blessings on my plans and need to be grateful of His changes in plans - not see them as inconveniences. He is ultimately in control and although I want to be the one in control, it's nice to be able and let He direct our family's path. As I learn more about Him, I see places where He has altered, stopped, or reversed what I had planned - all because He sees the entire picture of my life and I only see the step I'm on.

Jeremiah 29:11 is what I call my California verse. It is the one I've claimed when God changed my plans and transplanted me to the west coast. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." I'm glad He is all-knowing!

Building Others Up

God instructs us to build one another up in the faith. What have I been doing lately in this area of my life? Have I been encouraging to others?

I started this by asking myself if I'm encouraging my husband in his walk with the Lord. We've had a busy week with Harvest Festival and all it's craziness. Have I always had something good to say to him each day?

Then I've been confronted by my daughter that I'm not always encouraging her (specifically with her occupational therapy or schoolwork). I admit to wanting things done the correct way in these areas - mainly because with the OT, I'm thinking she may hurt herself. Am I allowing my daughter to learn from her failures? Oh, I am so struggling with this thought tonight. I don't even want to discuss if I'm encouraging her in the Lord

Then there's my little boy. Am I encouraging him is his walk with the Lord and his life? Am I always presenting the Lord to him? Am I person to whom others gravitate because of my love for the Lord?

So my goal for Thursday is to encourage those whom the Lord sends my way. Offer someone some encouragement and bless them as the Lord Himself would do.

I Thessalonians 5:14 ~ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.