Might as well get Crafty

So, I'm home sick today...

Blech.

I have been waiting since last Spring to have the opportunity to train in cashiering at work.  It's a chance to get out of the kitchen and interact with the students in a different capacity.  Finally, yesterday, I recieved my first day of training!  It's intense and very fast paced, but I'm excited to get the swing of it. 

Then, blammo!  Yesterday afternoon I felt like a Mack truck hit me head on. 

Sinus crud. 

My head is so full I feel like I'm swimming.  Sooooo, no work for me today.  My training is put off yet another day.  Hopefully I will be better tomorrow...  gotta see what tomorrow brings.

This morning I dropped my son off at school, then came home and slept for another hour or so.  I finally peeled myself out of bed and came down to watch some TV.  I'm really enjoying the Nate Berkus Show.

It's a very casual show - not so "uppity" - and he has really great ideas for home decorating without spending a lot of money.  Plus, I really like his style.

I'm one of those who can't just sit there and watch TV.  I have to be doing something with my hands, whether surfing the net on the laptop of being crafty in some way or another.  So I was checking out some of my favorite blogs and remembered this project I had been wanting to try.  What better time than when I'm sitting around, home sick, with no energy (or desire) to tackle my responsibilities?  Here's how it turned out:

What do you think?  It really only took me about 30 minutes!  I'm happy with the results.  Not bad for my first try.  Even my son says he really likes it.  :^)  (He even told me I looked pretty today - when I'm feeling like dirt.  What a sweetie!)

Hope you have a blessed day and find some time to do what you love to do!

And stay Healthy!  ;^)

Just for fun

Saw this in a store yesterday.  It made me laugh so I had to share...

Is it Hamburger Helper??  No - it's Panburger Partner!!! 

The busy housewife's best friend in the kitchen.  ;^)  LOL!

 Hope this gave you a giggle.  Have a joyful day!

Can't Stop This Train

My heart goes out to those of you who have lost your parents or had a less than desirable childhood.  I consider myself very fortunate to have had a healthy childhood with two loving parents who raised me the best they could.  Growing up, it seemed all my friends lived in single parent or blended family homes!  It saddens me to think this is the norm. 

I'm going to be 45 next week, and to this day I still need my Mommy and Daddy!  Life keeps chugging along and I feel I can't keep up with it sometimes.  I tend to be a nostalgic person, wanting to hang on to the past in some way or another.  I am extremely grateful for the way I was raised and have fond memories of life at home.

A couple days ago I got to take Andrew to my Mom and Dad's house on Vashon Island.  It was like going home again.  Here's my beach:

During our visit, we talked about their parents, my grandparents, and what loving people they were.  I can't stomach the thought of my own parents passing on.  I pray they have at least 20 more years!  What a blessing they are to my son too!

John Mayer states this well in his song, "Stop This Train,"

     Don't know how else to say it
     I don't want to see my parents go
     One generations length away
     From fighting life out on my own

     Stop this train
     I want to get off
     And go home again
     I can't take the speed it's moving in
     I know I can't
     But honestly, won't someone stop this train?

I want every moment I spend with them to be rich and meaningful.

In my nostalgic state of mind, I decided to post my pcitures in black and white.  :)

We used to pass our time on the ferry playing "Uno" at these tables.

Approaching the Tahlequah Ferry Dock on the south end of the island.

The welcome sign upon arrival.  ;^)

And another shot of our beach, with a flock of birds flying by.

It was a wonderful, peaceful day!  I will miss this place terribly.  The Lord and I have had some great talks there.  Much of my heart holds dearly to this beach.

Of course we hunted for Sea Glass while we were there!  Andrew has developed this love of the hunt as well, and is really good at it!  He found a couple great pieces on this trip.  My Mom and I joined him, and together found a great collection of treasures.  We take a seat on some driftwood and sift through the rocks, hoping for that unique treasure to catch our eye.

I may post a picture of our latest loot next time so you can see what it is we look for.

Thanks for joining me on this trip!  The train keeps moving, but I'll enjoy life along the way.  I am thankful the Lord holds me in His hands and in His sovereign care.  Until the next adventure...

Do Not Fear

"Do not fear."  I recently heard this phrase is used in the Bible 365 times.  How incredible that God would give us the strength and encouragement we need for every single day of the year!  The Lord desires to comfort His people.  No matter what struggles we face, He will give us the courage to make it through each and every day.  And on the days when we can't lift ourselves up, He carries us!  Isaiah 40:11 says He gathers His sheep in His arms and carries them close to His heart.  How comforting is that?!?

Yesterday was a very difficult day.  But I have a God who loves me and cares for me.  Today is a new day, a fresh start, and I have hope beyond what this world can ever offer.  A friend encouraged me with this verse:

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
   along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
   and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
   I will not forsake them."  Isaiah 42:16

These are things he WILL do!  So when those surprises come that throw us for a loop, we can trust that God will never, ever let us down.  He leads us in ways we don't expect, and then always surprises us with how He brings us through!  It is never fun to get bad news.  However, after the shock dissipates, I get kind of excited to see how God will work in that circumstance!  We have SO many stories of miraculous ways the Lord has provided for us in difficult times.  He will provide through this one too.

Here is a recent picture of our family...

The Lord is our strength.  He is our provider.  He is sovereign and He is Almighty GOD!  What could we possibly have to fear?

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

I am comforted to know that no matter what comes my way, no matter where I go, I have my God with me.  I pray you know this same comfort for yourself.

Vashon Ferry

I guess this weather has me dreaming of warmer days and the sun shining in my eyes!  I'm getting the urge to hop on the ferry and head back to Vashon for a day.  Perhaps soon.  :^)  Gotta call Mom and see if she doesn't mind us invading their space for a while!  In the meantime, here are some pictures I took one day when I was feeling nostalgic and artsy.

Our family has owned property on Vashon Island for 30 years now, so I grew up traveling on ferry boats regularly.  If you have never been on a ferry boat ride I recommend you do!  It's one of those things everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Here's Andrew, our son, enjoying the ride.  He loves to look over the side and count the jelly fish he sees as we cruise along.

Andrew and I spent as much time at the beach as we could this last summer.  My parents are trying to sell their home, so our time there may be limited...  Have to enjoy as many visits as we can!

Have a wonderful weekend!  Blessings to you...

Treasure Hunting

Treasure hunting.  Life is full of treasures when we take the time to look for them.  What is  considered treasure?  I think this means something different to everyone.  Many of the things I consider to be treasures might be considered trash to others.  What I value and hold dear to my heart may be considered foolishness to others.

What do I hold most dear?  Above all else, my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I truly cannot imagine life without my Savior.  He is my very source of greatest treasure.  He reveals Himself to me in ways that are special, meant just for me.  I may share some of those things here, but I don't expect you to understand quite the way I do.  I love that Jesus is the One and Only, yet, He is personal to each one of us who put our trust in Him.  Only God could know how to love us exactly the way we need to be shown love.

Next to the Lord, come my family.  My husband, Herm, and I have been married for 15 years.  Each year brings new challenges, and with them a greater love between us.  Through the good and the bad, the easy times and the difficulties, we have grown closer and closer together.  The Lord has used our challenges to deepen our faith and to learn that we can trust Him in any circumstance that comes our way.

We are blessed to have our beautiful boy, Andrew.  He is 9 years old this year and never ceases to amaze us!  He has the most tender heart combined with a keen sense of humor.  He is bright beyond his years and I know the Lord has some special purpose for him.  He will impact lives for the better, some how some way.

My heart is at peace at the beach.  Most would likely think of some tropical paradise and soaking in the sun.  Not for me.  I prefer the salty, rocky, driftwood covered beaches of the Pacific Northwest.  Andrew and I have discovered our own special spot where drifts of sea worn treasures collect.  I could spend hours sifting through rocks, listening to the sounds of the waves rolling in and the seaguls squawking in the distance.  The fresh sea air and gentle breezes...  No T.V., no telephone, just peace.

Realizing how much peace this brings me, I've begun to add touches of beach-like decor to our home.  Again, this does NOT mean palm trees and tiki huts.  ;^)  I'm talking about sea glass collections, weathered wood, old bottles and various other "treasures."  I love old, worn, weathered, beat up, paint-chipped, and rusty kinds of things.

I hope to use this blog to share my treasures.  These treasures may be found in God's Word, in something funny my son said, on a trip to the beach, or in a thrift store.  Life is an adventure and there are many treasures to be found along the way!  Happy hunting!