I Found It!!!!

I had been pulling out my Spring Decor and couldn't wait to pull out this quirky clay bird but to my dismay it wasn't anywhere!!!!  I have been looking all over for the past couple of weeks, I looked through everything in the attic when it was 90 degrees with sweat running down my face and in every tote in the shed with no luck.

We moved here a year ago and there is so much to organize.  I had almost given up on finding it then one day I was moving a bookcase in my craft room, trying to organize it better, when I took down a cosmetic luggage case, that I am doing some altered art on, from the top of the shelf and I heard something inside.  When I opened it there it was!!!!!  I was so excited and thought to myself in a million years I wouldn't have thought or remembered to look in that spot.  I was trying to protect it in the move with a couple other items so they wouldn't get broke.  Sometimes you need to make a list of the places you put things so that you can remember where you put them for safe keeping!  I thanked the Lord for stiring me up to move this case that day and finding my bird.

So I thought I would dedicate this post just to this little bird that I have in my bathroom toothbrush holder.  I so enjoy looking at him when I brush my teeth instead of all the work that needs to be done in this room.  I love the style of it, the color of the clay used, and the colors of the glaze that was applied. I like that the glaze wasn't applied all over it just adds to the character of it.   I found this little guy at a thrift store before we moved here and am glad to have finally found him.  I will do a post on some of my other spring decor later.

xo

barb

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.

author: Rabindranath Tagor

Sweet Indulgence

When I was buying all my supplies for Easter dinner I decided to stop at the Dollar Tree and see if I could get another bag of jelly beans.  You say why didn't I buy some while grocery shopping?  Well, you see this particular bag of jelly beans were called gourmet jelly beans, and they just had a certain tang at the end of the chewy delights. Really how could they be called gourmet if you buy them at the dollar store right, or if it didn't say jelly belly on the bag.   I had bought some for my grand children's Easter baskets a week ago and fell in love with them but when I went back to get more they were all gone!!!  I was so bummed since the remaining jelly beans that didn't go into the kid's basket stayed with us and yes we at them all up before Easter. 

When I got home I had noticed that I didn't buy any color egg dye so back to the dollar store since I new I had seen tons of those packages earlier in the week.   I go there quite a lot for convenience since it is close and when I was a child this was one of the things I will always remember we did as children.  Also, I had remembered a lady talking once that she uses these dyes all year for her hard boiled eggs so she knows which ones are which.  So as I am heading back to the dollar store I think to myself I will get a few extra so the next time I do hard boiled eggs I will use them. 

Since I am such a color person I was excited to have remembered it.  Well, when I got to the store they were all gone too!!!  So I looked around the store, none, then decided to go back to the Easter section one more time before leaving and then I spotted one box of color dye!!  I snatched that up so fast your head could spin.  Then as I looked on the last Easter display just to see if I could just find one more I spotted one bag of gourmet jelly beans!!!!  I just couldn't believe it I mean I really shouldn't even be eating sweets and had come to the conclusion that it was better that I didn't find any but did that stop me from grabbing that bag out of the box?  No way!!! :) Can you say score.

I got home and enjoyed coloring my eggs and finding one of my pretty dishes to put the jelly beans in and of course I always have to snatch a orange one and black one which are my favorites. We had such a wonderful dinner with our son and stuffed ourselves silly and thought to myself I can start that diet tomorrow!

Well, today I will be trying to finish a painting I started last week on the song/video call "Paint your Picture" by Julie Meyer it so touched me that I new I had to try to do a painting of the colorful video.  So stay tuned for that post, I will show you the process as well. I also have tons to do on my photo challenge and art journal pages and hope to get caught up this week since last week was so busy. So in the mean time have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by I so enjoy our visits.

xo

barb

Christ is Risen!!

Christ is Risen Hallelujah!!!!! I pray that you have a wonderful Easter with family and friends today as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!
One of the reasons I chose this one is because I just love the pictures of some of the people in them, they have that vintage look of my elementary days reading out of Dick and Jane! Watch and see if this reminds you of the same if you are old enough to have used them in school!   It just makes me smile.

Matthew 28 1-10 NIV
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the wee, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tom, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said.  They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

xo

barb

While I'm Waiting

As I was looking for a Easter video yesterday, at the same time in my mind, I was wondering what I should do for Saturday. There really isn't much to be done on this day as we wait for Easter morning.  Then when I woke up this morning playing in my head was this song "While I'm Waiting" I thought yes that is it!  We truly are waiting for Easter Morning to go to church to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Then I thought when Jesus was crucified they waited too but to be eyewitnesses of this glorious day, the first resurrection!! Can you imagine? I know this song has been used for different reasons of waiting but I believe it does apply to Easter. I hope you enjoy it while we are also waiting for this wonderful day.

Matthew 27 62-66 AMP
62The next day, that is, the day after the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate,
63And said, Sir, we have just remembered how that vagabond impostor said while He was still alive, after three days I will rise again.
64Therefore give an order to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear that His disciples will come and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception and fraud will be worse that the first.
65Pilate said to them, You have a guard [of soldiers; take them and] go, make it as secure as you can.
66So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.

xo

barb

Good Friday

As we reflect on the sacrifice of God's only son Jesus Christ today, let us rejoice in his suffering knowing that it was done out of love for us. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes  in him shall not perish

but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

xo

barb

Alabaster Box

Since this week is all about Easter and I just learned how to put videos in my posts I thought I would see what I can find about Easter and do posts on them. This one is on the Alabaster Box and how God can save anyone no matter what they have done if you believe in Him.  Mary pouring the oil on Jesus head was an action that was preparing him for burial. (Matt. 26: 6-13) This one has an artistic look to it and that is why I chose it. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by.

xo

barb

Paint Your Picture by Julie Meyer

I was reading a new christian blog I found and I usually keep my speakers off because of the playlist being funny when you move around from blogs, but today I decided to turn my speakers on and when I went to the blog http://www.justfollowingjesus.com/ (not sure how to rename yet) this song came on "Paint Your Picture"!!! It made me cry and I just had to find the playlist so that I could see who was singing it.

When I went to the bottom of her page I saw this wonderful video that went with the song!!! I cried through the whole song and just loved the video!!!! On my last post I showed you my page on how God Paints my World so this, to me, was a touch from God to my very SOUL!!! He was telling me I am right where I am supposed to be and doing what I should be doing with my art!!!  I hope you enjoy the video and please visit her blog you won't be disappointed!!

xo

barb

Art Journal Challenge: Week 13

Week 13: A Wonderful World April 2nd

This weeks challenge was based on the Song  "It's A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. It's on what makes your world beautiful. As you can see from this page that I choose to focus on COLOR.  I notice everyday all the colors around me and how God places them there for our enjoyment.  I love color and I would think the world would be pretty bland without it.

On this page I placed some of the lyrics from the song around all the edges and you can get just a glimpse of them, I didn't want to make it the main focus.  I love using my brayer lately so I used three colors to created the background, pink, purple, and white.  Another thing I like to use in my pages is magazine images and I think these two says it all don't you?  I love all the crayons in the glass jar with the many colors and I just happened to have a picture of the world so how perfect.

I used my ink well pen with my homemade ink to do the main writing on the top and on the bottom I used a wonderful pen I bought at Books A Million with 10 different colors to choose from.  I chose a purple and then added a few stenciled flowers on the page with two square bling gems. All-n-all it is a very simple page but I think it speaks volumes.  Thanks for joining me in art class today I so enjoyed our visit.

xo

barb

Hershey's Vintage Cookbook Page

I haven't been feeling well lately with all the allergy's and on top of that I got a cold.  I think I got it from one of the grand kids when they were here.  Austin wasn't feeling well on the last day we had them so now I may have what he had.  No Fun!!!  So I really don't feel like doing anything so I thought I would do a quick post on my vintage cookbook page that I have on display now.

The reason I chose this one is because it has been in the high 80's and that means cold drinks.  I usually change from hot coffee to iced coffee so I thought this was fitting.  Don't they look yummy!  I have a partial to the pictures with the vintage ladies in them and choose those first.  I love this one also because I love to use a straw with my iced coffee. This just makes you want to go to a diner doesn't it?  One of my favorite iced coffee flavors is hazelnut, funny since I am allergic to hazelnuts but that doesn't stop me.  Well, I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by.

xo

barb

Sunday Devotional: Grace In The Garden

You should not be like cowering, fearful slaves.  You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family--calling him "Father, dear Father."

Romans 8:15 NLT

Think for a moment about the Garden of Eden.  Wouldn't you like to live in a place of such incredible beauty--with flowing waters, lush forests, and the perfect atmosphere?  Adam and Eve did not fear the animals or anything else on Earth.  What must it have been like to walk with lions and tigers, yet have no concern of being gobbled up?

     After Adam and Eve chose to sin, they became fearful and tried to hide from God among the trees in the Garden.  They attempted to cover up their sin with fig-leaf fashion, but man made garments could not cover their shame.  They knew instinctively the trust and fellowship they had shared with God had been shattered.  Yet God wanted to restore their relationship.  He sought them, and Adam had to confess, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid" (Genesis 3:10 NIV).

     God reached out to Adam and Eve by clothing them with the world's first leather garments.  Although the Bible does not go into detail, these garments suggest an animal had to be sacrificed and symbolized a coming sacrifice, perfect and complete.  Only God can atone for our sins.

     Jesus is that sacrifice for us.  He is the Lamb of God, who not only covers our sin but also takes our sin away.  Aren't you thankful that when you sin, you do not have to cower in fear?  You have only to ask the Lord for forgiveness, and He is faithful and just to forgive your sins.

Barb's Notes:

Wouldn't it be wonderful to be in the Garden of Eden just for a day?  To have complete fellowship with God?  To walk among the beautiful gardens and streams with God in perfect peace and harmony.  What would we talk about?  My life here and how it is so uncertain and how I struggle from day to day just to have one moment of complete fellowship with him.  We have all those distractions that pull us away from Him everyday and it starts as soon as we wake up!  Would it be about our family and friends or would it just be about all the good things in life. 

     I think it would be a wonderful day that I am sure that I couldn't fathom.  He would give me a tour of the garden and show me all the wonderful things he has created and then we would find that perfect spot and He would talk to me, just me!  Could you imagine Him talking to just you, just for one day?!  He would give me everything I would need to make it through this life in victory but most of all he would show me His love.  A perfect father's love towards his daughter one that is without hurt and pain.   My father was full of hurt and pain so this is something that I think I would cherish the most.  That perfect love.

     Then He would show me that I can have that perfect love here on earth when you spend time in His word.   Sometimes it's hard to think that you could have that love when your real father has disappointed you so. But through the pages of the Bible He will reveal His love towards us. What a wonder thing to send me home with that He is actually coming home with me!!!   I can have that Garden of Eden everyday that I spend in fellowship with just Him!!!   This is also for anyone who spends time with him and that includes you!!   So pull out that Bible and sit in the Garden of Eden and let God speak to you this week.

This Weeks Blessing:  May the Lord bless you, may the Lord make his face shine upon you, and give you his peace.

xo

barb

Grandkids Visit

It was a blessing to have the grandkids for a few days!  We had so many things we wanted to do but didn't get to do them all, time just got away from us.  They have so much energy from the time they get up until they go to bed and that was something we had forgot about with young children.  They wore us out and on the first night, my hubby said the next morning, that "I don't remember putting my head on the pillow!!!  I just had to laugh because I saw him sleeping in the living room chair as I was playing dress up with Cheyenne and new that he was done for the day.   

We had found out that they will be moving to Fort Campbell (parents are in the Army) which is on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky at the end of June!  This came with much sadness since they currently live just 3hrs away and now it maybe about 10-12hrs away!  So since the kids were on spring break we had a chance to have them here for a few days.  So here are some of my favorite pictures and ones I will cherish.

They are just so lovable and that is a real treat for me!!

Austin is always so full of smiles and funny too!  This was taken at the Crab Shack in the gift store.  He just had to put on the hat and when he spotted the crabs in a bucket he grabbed two and we just had to get a picture!!

They so enjoyed seeing the alligators at the Crab Shack too.

This was one thing that Cheyenne had to have done while she was here was her fingernails and toenails!! She is such the girly girl and I just love that about her!!!  We had to paint flowers on them and we had to match to she said!  And of course it had to be pink because that is her favorite color and mine too!!! 

She really loves to play dress up and loved all the things I had for her to play with.

  Do you just love this pose?  She loves to pose for me and that is wonderful because you know I love to take pictures.  She loved the beaded gloves and the large diamond ring and the Cinderella dress but bummer that the flash from the camera was there.

My hubby had a guy project for him and Austin and that was to build a bird feeder for him to take home.  My hubby got up early to drive around the neighborhood just to find the right size log for this project!!! Our neighbor, who loves to help us with all kinds of things, took all our fallen limbs to the dump so that is why we didn't have any.

The completed project and doesn't he look proud! They had to drill holes in the log and put peanut suet in them and put a hanger on the top to hang, pretty simple but something for him to remember he did with his grandpa.

They loved playing on the old chalkboard.  I got this from my grandpa a long time ago and was the one I used to play on when I was there age.  The picture they did together was just for me (I didn't know they were doing it), and something I will cherish.  I just wish I had a picture of me at their age playing on it.  I also, would do ladies faces so it was funny that they chose to do that too.

When I took them to see the very large mermaid at the Fish Art place, I parked in front of these hearts and said I need to take a picture of them when we leave.  The funny thing was that Austin remembered and wanted to be in the picture. 

Ryan got to spend Sunday with us and he just loved every minute of it!!  He hadn't seen them in 2yrs so this was special for him too.  They would fight over who got to sit next to him!!

They loved feeding the birds and the park!!!  They thought it was fun to throw the bread up and see the seagulls catch it in the air.

Cheyenne really loved the beach and wanted to go everyday if she could.  She is holding up some shells she got from the sand.

Austin had to get buried up to his neck and wanted to do this more than once!!  He is so much fun to watch.

Cheyenne wanted to do this too since Austin was doing it but she wanted to be a mermaid!!  Girls and boys think so differently don't they?  I thought this turned out just perfect and she thought so too.

On the way back home to drop off the kids, I had to stop at the Fireworks Shop to get a picture of them with the elephants and they thought this was so much fun!!  They each got one and Cheyenne thought it was great that there was a pink one.  I just love this picture of them. 

It was so wonderful to have them and to have these memories of all of us together.  We met their parents half way at a McDonald's and sat and chatted a bit before parting.  The thing that really tugged at my heart was when we said we should be going and Austin grabbed both of my legs and stoped me and looked up at me and said "I don't want you to go and said I love you"!!!!  If that ain't enough to make you cry!!!  I thought I would have a chance to really say goodbye before we got in the cars but with all the moving of the luggage and daddy putting the kids in the car I really didn't get to hug them both to say I loved them and this hurt some.  But I thought that is okay since we will see them in two weeks to celebrate Easter with them and then I will hug and kiss them for sure before I leave!!!  Thanks for stopping by and enjoying the visit with my grandkids I am so glad you came.

xo

barb

The hardest thing is to give your heart to someone when they're not yours to keep.

author: Ashly Patton Picard

Look Who's Here to Visit

Cheyenne and Austin (grandkids) were so glad to come and visit us and couldn't wait to go to the beach! We will have them until Monday late afternoon before they head back home but while they are here we have so many things to do!!! So, I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

xo

barb

Sunday Devotional: Training Your Soul to Be Thankful

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God

works all of them in all men.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 NIV

First Thessalonians 5:18 NIV tells us, that we are to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  This includes giving thanks for how God has made us.  God has something wonderful in mind for each of us that no one else can do quite as well.  So we need to put our false perceptions aside and ask ourselves, "What is the best way-given my gifts and abilities-to fulfill the calling God has given to me?  When I focus on these things, my heart is freed from the feeling of needing to be like someone else.  God didn't make us all alike, anyway.  If we're not careful, looking at how others do it can eventually crush us, leading us to be more discontent and ungrateful.  It can also prevent us from doing things the way God wants to do them. 

     Next time you're tempted to compare yourself to someone else, remember that God wants to use you in the place of His calling, a place that only you can fill in His Garden of life.  Then you will be able to shine contentedly.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive me for comparing myself to others and for trying to be someone I am not.  By your grace, you give each of us unique gifts and talents, and I do you a disservice when I covet what you've given others.  You hold the master plan, and I ask you to help me fulfill the part you've assigned to me.  Help me develop my abilities to the utmost for your glory. Amen

Barb's Notes:

Sometimes it is hard not to compare yourself to others, more Godly people, and not help to want to be like them.  I know I have and sometimes wishing I could be more than I am right now.  I ask myself quite often where does God want me?  He has given me a gift of artistic ability but it is not really helping the Kingdom of God right now.  I have such a small mind compared to Him and wish He would just email me and tell me what I should do and go.  But you know this isn't the way with Him he wants us to learn a few things along the way so that we will be ready to be used by him in his timing.  So as I refect on this devotional I will remember that I am exactly who I should be, and where I should be, and doing just what I should be doing right now and so are you.  We are being used everyday of the year even if we don't think so.  Isn't that a great thought! Touching lives for Him.  Thank him today for the talents and abilities he has given you and pray for Him to use those for His kingdom. So May the Lord bless you, may the Lord make his face shine upon you, and give you his peace today.

xo

barb