Sunday Devotional: Encouraging One Another

Speak encouraging words to one another.  Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.  I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG

In the spring, geese instinctively fly in a V-shaped formation when they travel north.  The flock all work together in unison.  As each bird flaps its wings, it reduces the wind resistance on the bird behind it.  Thus, each goose cuts an easier path for the one following it.  This allows the geese to cover a greater distance that if each bird flew on its own.  Some fly as far north as the Arctic Circle, and some as far south as Mexico.  Amazingly, they can soar as high as twenty-nine thousand feet!

     Interestingly, when the lead goose becomes weary, it drops back in the formation and allows another goose to fly point.  The geese at the back of the formation honk to encourage those in front of them to keep going.  The geese stay in their perfect V-shaped formation, and not one goose is left behind.

     Just as God prepares geese for their migration, He also takes care of His people as they journey through life here on earth.  He never intended for us to "go it alone."  Through His grace we find comfort and strength, and He often uses others to love and encourage us.  Since He cannot be seen, often His light shines best through people-through their caring, their listening, and their understanding.

     Try coming alongside and "honking" to encourage someone who is feeling the weary from experiencing downdrafts, drop back in formation for a while to receive encouragement from God.  Call on a friend, so you can gain the strength to keep going.

Barb's Note:

Sometimes it is hard to understand that God is here with us everyday to give us the strength and encouragement we need.  Then I read this and I am reminded that my family and friends are just a phone call away and God will give me what I need through them, how great is that?!  I love knowing God can hug us, wipe a tear, give us a smile to brighten our day, make us brownies or bring us flowers just because, and even laugh with us until we want to cry don't you?  So remember God loves you today and it comes in people you know and love!! :)  May you all be blessed today.

xo

barb

A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blows the rest away.

Arabian Proverb

Savannah's St. Patrick's Parade

My hubby had to work on St. Paddy's but that didn't stop me from going to the parade!  My son was in the parade so I had to go and support him and  for sure get some pictures!! I won't bore you with all the pictures I had taken but I will show you some of my faves.

Ryan was in the parade so I was able to get this shot with him next to his float before it started.

One of the guys in charge asked if I wanted a t-shirt and of course I said yes!!!  This was taken at the end of the day.

It was fun just to people watch and as you can see she was not in the parade but just dressed up, I am still not sure how she kept the wig on.

I was lucky to get a spot close to the road and when I spotted a Johnny Depp pirate!  Wow, did he look like the real thing!!!

The bag pipes are my FAVORITE and it was awesome to hear them playing.  There was more than one of these bands so I was in heaven.

Here is the Budweiser's wagon with the Clydesdales.

Do you just love the dog?  He just sat there all so proud of his spot in the parade.

There were plenty of bands and I liked this shot because of the horns.

This is the Oriental Band and they were so great and colorful!!

This by far was my favorite float!! The coconut cups swaying on the top of the bar area and the outstanding band on the front!!!  It was so colorful!!!!

I loved the large gold horn standing out.

Do you just love the guy just singing his heart out?

They had a ton of skateboarders as a group and this guy could really show off for the crowd with his handstand.  He could do this for a good stretch without falling neat to watch and the crowd loved it!

I guess the bigger the better on the necklace!!  How funny

There were tons of people with just big strands of beads I never saw anything like it before.

This is my son's float. Because he does some carhop at work he had to skate for most of the parade.

Ryan and two of his fellow skaters.  I waited in the scorching sun for his float which came close to the end and when it came I didn't get any good pictures because he was skating and on the other side! I kinda panicked and was bummed but did that stop me from leaving my spot and high tailing it down a block and a half to were they had to stop!! When I got close I just ran out onto the street and got his attention in front of everyone and took some great shots and he loved it!!!  Was I embarrassed, I guess I did what any proud mom would do to capture the moment!!! lol :)

This was another colorful float.  The Chapel on Tybee Island.

And of course you couldn't have a parade without the clowns!!!  They came at the end and I loved them, they were one of my favorites as a child and I still enjoy them.

This clown saw me taking pictures and grabbed this girl and posed for me!!!  I am not sure if he thought that she was my child but who really cares I love the shot!!

It was a wonderful and exhausting day but wouldn't trade it for a moment!  I had to stand (didn't bring a chair, not thinkin) in my claimed spot for 5 1/2 hours without going to the bathroom!  I didn't drink to much either since It would have been my luck that just as I left my son's float would come and I would have missed it!  So I stood in that wonderful sun until I saw him and chased him down and finished the parade in the shade. What a relief!! Did I tell you I got a real nice sunburn on the left side of my face and neck looks funny and hurts to but who cares I had fun!!!  The only thing I would have change was that I wish my hubby was with me and I had a chair, but next year is another year and we will plan ahead so he can see it to.  I hope you all had a wonderful St. Paddy's Day!!

xo

barb

Photo Challenge Week 10

For this weeks photo I pick one for St. Patrick's Day since it is really BIG down here.  I spotted this bale of hay decorated with a leprechaun on it on our way to Tybee Island.  This particular spot changes these with the seasons I guess because I remember one of Santa Clause in December.  I will have to keep my eye out to see what they do next!

Week 10: St. Patrick's Day March 12th

I didn't have any festive papers so I just used green and that works too!  I decided not to paint by the spine since I will have to take this apart because It doesn't close now and there is no way it will close when the year is done.  I will cover that area when I decide to take it apart.  Isn't the picture great?  The hat is constructed of a wood pallet and a box on top and the beard is branches from a pine tree so fun.  On the left side I cut one picture up and glued the hat to some chip board and attached it with a foam sticker so it would be raised then added green glitter around the picture.  I love the green glitter and it was funny that I found a radio station only playing Irish music called Shamrock 107.9 when I went to get the glitter, now how crazy is that!  It really puts you in the mood for St. Paddy's Day. I still think I will put something on the left page under the text because it just seems bare.  I just couldn't find anything that struck me so I will see about that later. Well, to all of you Happy St. Patrick's Day!! :)

xo

barb

Sunday Drive

My hubby told me about a festival that was going on in Claxton (1 hour away) and I said well lets go so we headed out in hopes of seeing all the vendors and their creative wares.  As we approached the town to our dismay it was no longer going on.  We weren't able to go on Saturday because my hubby had to work but in Minnesota the craft fairs always includes Sundays but I guess not in this small town.  I was so disappointed but then I thought this wasn't a total bad idea because I love taking road trips with my hubby.  This is a time that is focused on just the two of us without any distractions and I love that.  After we left Claxton we headed back home to take a walk on Tybee Island since it was a beautiful day, so this is our day.

My hubby wanted first to stop at a place that constructs metal garages just to see about size and cost because we currently just have a shed and that is not big enough to do the pottery business in.  So someday in the future we will need a garage.  I wasn't so excited to look at them but you know this is considered a date to our men when we go with them and they can bounce their ideas of on you.  While I was taking this shot I stepped in a fire ant hill and boy do those little things sting!!  All for the shot for my hubby.

Now we are on the road and don't you find it hard not to put your feet on the dash?  I do and since I had just done my toenails, pink of course, and I like to take pictures of my feet I thought this turned out nice.  Silly I know. Plus, those are two frogs on the dash and I made them more then 10 years ago when I first started doing craft shows.  I was glad that I saved some of my items and these guys change cars when we do.  I just love them even thought they are fading.

This is one of the things I love about road trips, when my hubby puts his hand on my knee so we can hold hands! That little gesture goes miles with me since my hubby is not a verbal love showing kind of guy so when he does this, to me, it means I love you!!

When we first got to the beach this is the first thing my hubby found, I am still not sure how he saw this tiny sand dollar.  He is so quick with the comments and he said it should be called a sand dime. lol

Then he spots this on the rocks that someone must have left.

Here is a foot shot on the rocks.  You know I just have to do it. :)

This was cool, there were two guys wake boarding (I think that's what they call it) and I couldn't believe the great shot I got of it!  Not sure how they are enjoying it because the water is really cold.

Right now there are tons of shells up and down the shoreline, so lots to pick from.  I hope to do three picture frames with these.  There are three colors which is so cool, black, rust, and white so I want to do one in each color with my favorite beach shots.

Here we go again I am sure that what's he is thinking another foot shot.

As we were heading back to the car this was on the beach just before we left.  What a nice sand castle.

They even put shells on top, what a nice touch.  Well, this was our day and it was wonderful.

xo

barb

Art Journal Challenge: Week 4

Well, I am starting to work on my art journal challenge pages again and I am really behind!  You just can't get behind on these types of things.  I got caught up on the photo challenge and should have done the current week's art journal page instead of thinking I needed to try to get caught up and not doing any of them.   I am going to start on the current week and then go back and catch up when I can, that way it won't continue to stay behind.

 Week 4: My Word For The Year Jan 29th

This week's challenge was on My Word for the Year and I chose TRUST.  I thought this fit because since we have moved to a new city and home and not sure what life will bring I just have to remember to trust God and know that he is in control.  Some days this is very challenging for me and I am not sure why we are here and I just want to go back home to Minnesota to everything that is familiar to me, so that is how I picked my word. 

This page took me awhile because it just wasn't turning out like I wanted and I walked away from it and had to come back and try again.  The cloud and hand of God idea came from a cartoon I kept from a newspaper over a year ago and thought it would work great for this challenge. The woman on the page is, of course, me and I just love doing female faces.  Why? not sure so you will see a lot of this type.  I am starting to see a pattern on how I paint them and I like that.  I used coordinating  scrapbooking paper for the clouds and one of a four sided stamp on the background.  I also, keep all different kinds of covers from soap to v8 bottles to make the circles.  To do them I just twist them in paint and then press them onto the page, I love the messy look it creates.  I have found that doing art journals has allowed me to keep things messy and not be so perfect, so this is a plus for me.  Thanks for stopping by and joining me in art class today. Blessings

xo

barb

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Sunday Devotional: Our Hero

God has rescued us.....and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.  God has purchased our freedom. Colossians 1:13-14 NLT

"Once upon a time..."  Those words signal the beginning of a story filled with adventure and romance, where great battles are fought and where good always wins, tales that have been retold for centuries.  While the details may change with each new generation, the basic plot remains:  transformation.  Cinderella the servant girl becomes Cinderella the queen; a kiss makes a prince out of a frog; a beauty tames a beast with true love.  Inside us all is a longing for these stories to be our story-we want to be transformed.

Another beautiful story has been told throughout the ages.  It begins, like many fairy tales do, with a poor but loving family.  They go through many harrowing adventures, facing long journeys and evil kings.  The firstborn Son grows up to be a great hero although in the beginning, not even His closest friends realize it.  The young man does great deeds for good and inspires many to follow Him in His quest to rescue people from bondage.  And one day, the young hero gives up His own life, as the ultimate expression of love.  But unlike any other story, our hero's tale doesn't end here.  In the greatest act of heroism ever, this brave man defeats death itself and is resurrected to lead His people to freedom and eternal life!

Did you know that you are part of this hero's story?  You are the reason this brave hero faced dangers, battles, and finally death.  For this is the true tale of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  And if you will take His hand and give Him your life, not only will He transform you, but you will be assured of the ultimate-and very real-"happily ever after."

I love women devotionals that will speak right to me and give me what I need for that moment don't you?  This is a great story that I can see myself waiting for that prince on a white horse to come with the the glass slipper on the pillow, the knock at the door, the I can't believe he is here just to see me, the feel of the cool smooth glass as he begins to place it on my foot hoping all the while is it going to fit, can I have this unbelievable dream and will we live happily ever after? To all of that yes I can, and how wonderful to know this is my story and yours too!!!  He has placed the glass sipper on and has taken us by the hand and we do live happily ever after.  May God bless you today.

xo 

barb

700 Drayton Restaurant

I thought I would do a post on the 700 Restaurant since that was part of my color inspiration for my header painting.  This was one of the places I wanted to go into because it was part of the Mansion Hotel.   When my sister came to visit we were heading downtown and I always park by the Mansion Hotel and walk because of the free parking but mainly because we can walk around and enjoy the site seeing and not worry about the meter.  So this day we were actually heading downtown but needed to stop at Forsythe Park Cafe to use the restroom but we found out that on Mondays they are closed, along with many shops, so into the 700 restaurant we went.  I was captivated the moment we walked in!!!!  This was right up my alley of interest that I just couldn't get over it.  After we were showed where the restroom was we came back out and asked if we could walk around and take pictures and they said sure, so we did!!!!  WARNING: Tania if you do not want to see this before you come skip this post!:)

The entrance had this colorful light and a sneak peak of a chandelier in the window.

This was the first inspiration I had for my header.  Orange, Dark Brown, and Leopard Print.  So Stunning when you first walk in.  This is the lounge.

Not sure what this is, bar maybe, in same room.

A small setting area off the fireplace.

Love these two chairs! Main Lobby

Do you just love the leopard print on the stairs?

I love the two tone curtains and how they twisted them for a nice effect.

This is on your way upstairs to the bar and three dining areas. I also, love the long chandelier of course! Also, I really need to learn how to use my camera with all the light coming in the windows, doesn't make for a perfect shot.

The walls are full of artwork and they are so colorful!!  The artwork looks great on this white wall and all white frames it just shows off all the colors and yes the wonderful chandelier.

This is at the top of the stairs and going into the bar.

I loved the orange fabric on the bar stools look great next to all the dark brown.  Plus, they way they have the stools tilted slightly and not just pushed straight in looks great two. 

Sitting area off the bar to the right. Love all the colorful curtains and accessories.

Of course I had to get in the shot. I pretended I was all dressed up with my pretty scarf and that I fit right in.

Another shot of the bar from the other side.

They had so many chandeliers and this one is so colorful hanging over the bar area.

This was on the left side of the bar a sitting area with a piano.

Could you just see yourself sitting and enjoying a nice glass of wine and listening to the piano player and just enjoying the atmosphere?

This is a hallway on the left as you come upstairs and wait for the picture of the room that is straight ahead.

The curtains where heavy brown velvet, so luxurious.  Plus, what a beautiful mirror.

Dinning area room one with blue chandelier.

Dining area room two.  I loved the dining area in the round corner, and of course, all that window light didn't help the picture much.

How unique is this chandelier?

Here is dining area room three and the one I spoke of earlier, this is my favorite one.  Do you just love the gold fruit.  When my sister saw this she new I would instantly love it and so she turned the lights on, she was so right.

I loved the color of the chandeliers and the over all look and of course the artwork so colorful!

Now we are heading back downstairs.

Oh, and this is Craig Carter who we got to chat with and who was so nice to talk to.  He was willing to spent some time with us and tell us a bit of the sites of Savannah. I would just love to have him as a friend!

I loved all the turns on the staircase along with the leopard print.

My sister Pam and the two fun chairs.  I know this wasn't her thing but she allowed me to browse every inch and I loved her for that!

Lighting in the hallway going to the bathroom.

This was another dining area on your way to the bathroom. 

Of course I love the chandelier!!!  I am in chandelier heaven here!!!!

This is a shot looking up into it but darn it didn't come out clear but pretty none the less.  The gold glass against the blue ceiling.  I am not sure if the ceiling was blue but cool in the picture.  I think I need to get rid of the exit sign kinda distracting in its pretty pink glare.

We are heading outside now and love the entrance with the beautiful light and curtains.

As you take a left coming outside you will come to this and way in the back is another area with, of course, a chandelier and another surprise.

I love the color of the white ceiling, the glass chandelier with its black prisms, and the orange brickwork.

Here is the surprise.  A fountain and how cool is she!!!

I love the twist it has and the umbrella with the water coming off of it. 

Here is a shot going back to the entrance.  I love all the white marble (I think it's marble) walkway.

Through the window was another dining area but I didn't take any pictures in there because there were people eating.  Maybe next time I will take a peek.

There is so much detail in this restaurant.  This is by the front step going into the restaurant.

This is the outside patio.

Oh, and do you remember we originally came in here for the restroom?  Well, do you just love the wash bowl?  I really wasn't dressed for such a beautiful experience but who cares I was in heaven!!!  I hope you have enjoyed this day trip and to my friend Tania this is the place I was talking about to go to and have lunch if you are interested, you know I will be so into going! :)

xo

barb