Well Look At That, She Hasn’t Fallen Off The Face Of The Earth!

Hi! Welcome “back” to any of you who have waited patiently for me to write again. I do plan on writing more but will not be blogging as much as I had been, unfortunately. I love blogging but have to keep my priorities in proper focus. One of those priorities is to list my work (cards) on eBay at least twice a week this year, more for special occasions (such as Valentine’s Day, which I need to jump on now). But the blogging is very important to me so you’ll still get some of me. Lucky, lucky you! (No, actually, lucky me, because I get to express myself and share my life with you. What a blessing!)

In case I don’t get to this in the next couple of days: Happy New Year! I pray you each will feel the Lord’s love and presence in every part of your lives throughout 2008. Sometimes I find it dismaying to meet a new year with the Lord not having come back for us yet, but He also gives us all we need to get through each new year. He is just so good to us! The Lord be with you this year!

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Thursday Thankfuls

  (AllPosters.com)

Blessed Thanksgiving Greetings! How wonderful that Thanksgiving and my Thankfuls fall on the same day! It reminds me that I have so much to be thankful for, each and every day. So, without further ado…

1. My God, the ultimate love of my life

 (drawn by Hayden at age 5)

2. Cory, my sweet love

 (This pic evokes too many feelings to mention.  It epitomizes my sweet Cor.)

3. Hayden & Isaac, my wonderful guys

 (Back when they would ham it up…)

4. The United States of America, the greatest nation on God’s green earth (as Michael Medved says)

5. Bouts of feeling okay in the midst of this storm

6. Family and friends

7. Kammie, George & Abi, who help keep me sane these days

          (Without kitties, what is life?)

8. Good music to lift me up

Michael W. Smith
Leigh Nash
Mannheim Steamroller (this album is quickly growing on me; if you know Mannheim, think older stuff)
Cusco

9. My friend Susan is home after a brief stay in a care facility

10. Cardmaking, which has also saved my sanity lately

        

11. Crisp but sunny autumn weather

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I wish you a truly blessed day, full of Thankfuls.

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Happy Birthday, Aquilla!

Our niece Aquilla is 14 today! She’s been looking forward to this since…well, since the 19th of November last year! She’s always been one for wanting to be older. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s now counting the days until she can get her driver’s permit next year. Aquilla is a sweet spunky girl with a loving heart and we adore her. Happy birthday, Sweetheart!

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Veterans Day was officially yesterday but since it is being observed today I can still post about it, right?

My sincerest gratitude to all the men and women who have served (and are serving) our country! No matter what is going on in current events, the fact is that these people really do serve us in many ways. They make sacrifices for each of us, even knowing they may die for us. That is truly noble! Thanks to each of you, including my dad and brother, who are both vets. You are all awesome!

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Huge Thanks

Wow, I’m blown away. Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! I feel so special. God is good! You are all dear to me and I pray the best for each of you.

(One of my cards)

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Thursday Thankfuls

I’m especially thankful today—it’s my birthday! Today I’m 39. I don’t feel one bit old and for the first birthday in many years I don’t feel like I’m getting older and older and still am not doing anything with my life. I am doing something with my life—I’m a disciple of Christ, working to spread the Good Word and His love. I’m also a wife and keeper of our home. I know some people do not feel I contribute much to society, what with being on Social Security and also a homemaker. The thing is, they don’t know me well at all and don’t know how I do contribute. I may not pay taxes or send big checks to charities, but I do contribute in ways that most people don’t think about. Anyway, enough rambling—happy birthday to me, today is the day God chose for me to enter the world!

1. My God, my Lord, my All.
2. My dear, sweet husband, whom I love with all my heart.
3. Hayden Andrew.
4. Isaac William.
5. My brother Dylan.
6. Lots of free apples to make into applesauce and apple butter (and more, I’m sure).
7. Strawberry banana smoothies.
8. Plenty of tasty, healthy food.
9. Losing 8.5 pounds in the past 6 weeks!
10. The kitties.
11. Autumn leaves.

Here’s my “recipe” for the smoothies: In a blender, pour 2 cups milk (I use 1 cup vanilla soymilk and one cup cow’s milk). Add a cup of frozen strawberries. Add 1 banana that has been sliced and frozen. Blend at a fairly high power until smooth, then add ice cubes until the mixture is too thick to blend anymore. (If you need to, add another dash of milk or a bit of water.) Yum!

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Anniversary Card and Gift

I thought you all might enjoy seeing the gift and card I made for Cory for our anniversary. I made the frame first, then made the card to match. I think they turned out quite well! I think I’ll use the card design as a regular on eBay as soon as I start listing again. The frame design is totally my own–I started with a frame I got at the craft store. The card design is loosely based on something I saw online (can’t remember where, sorry). Hope you like them!

I printed 3 pics of Cory and me together to put in the frame–they didn’t scan well enough to show in this picture.
(Click the pic to see better detail.)

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Anniversary Letter to My Husband

My sweet Love,
Happy First Anniversary! What a thrill to be celebrating this day! It hasn’t been an easy year for us but we made it! I feel we’ve finally turned a corner and really will be okay now, I really do.

I’m so proud to call you my husband, Cor. It means so much to me to be your wife. As you know, before we met I thought for sure I’d never have anyone again. Then you came along! The Lord has really blessed me!

Thank you so much for loving me. For seeing something in me. For marrying me. For listening to my concerns and working to make our marriage better. For putting up with my moods when I’m dealing with issues. Thank you for being you. There is just something about you, my love, that I cannot resist. There always was, right from that first night. You have me under your spell!

I love you so very much and am committed to making our marriage last ‘til death do us part. There will always be times when we’re not getting along the best. For us, there will always be times when our illnesses get in the way. There will be times that are low on money. There will be trials. That is part of life and God’s plan. But we’ve made it through the stretch that can be the hardest, and now here we are. We made it! I love you for it. Thanks for loving me.

Happy Anniversary! I look forward to many, many more!

Cory’s Dad marrying us in my dad & stepmom’s home–a true family affair!

First kiss as a married couple.

The wedding party: Cory’s brother Larry, our niece Aquilla, Cory, me, my friend Deena.
(Not sure what that weird spot on my dress is, a spot on the lens???)

And the still-somewhat-newlyweds, less than a month ago.
(Sorry about the “digitally-ness” of the pic, it’s an issue with my camera, argh!)

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Patriot Day

May we never forget the thousands of innocent people who perished that day.
May we never forget the carnage of destroyed aircraft and buildings—and destroyed lives.
May we never forget the broken hearts of the families and friends of those who died.
May we never forget how this event changed everything for our country.
May we never forget that the perpetrators need our prayers too, to this day.
May we never forget the heroes involved.
May we never forget that we are still a target.
May we never forget how the event brought us together as a country.
May we never forget the miracles that occurred through the tragedy.
May we never forget God’s hand over us through it all.
He is good. Always.

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Happy Birthday Amos!

Today is my brother Amos’ birthday–he’s spending it on a short vacation hiking in Alaska with his mom (my stepmom). Sounds great to me! Amos is a fine young man who works hard when he needs to and enjoys life all the time. He is fantastic with computers (that’s his job) and enjoys reading, hiking and other outdoor activities, and working out, among other things. The amazing thing is that he will be 30 in just two years! How can that be when he’s my sweet little brother?!

Happy birthday, Amos!

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Happy Birthday Billie Jo!

Today is my sister’s birthday! Billie Jo is married and has five fantastic kids, ranging in age from 6 to 15. She lives in Wisconsin, right next door to both our mom and our brother (next door being a relative thing out in the country). Billie is a midwife, just like our mom–they attend the ladies together. (Thinking of them all today makes me wish to be there, where it’s so wonderfully rural and where most of the family (7 siblings) lives within about 10 miles of each other.)

Happy Birthday, Billie Jo!

(Sorry for switching the text size again–I had to decide which I prefer and which would be easiest for you all to read.)

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