I can't believe that yesterday I flippantly said, "Well, could we pack anything more into this weekend!?" I wasn't complaining but I wasn't exactly being thankful for the blessings of this full life with which God has blessed me. "But now that we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Numbers 11:6
Once again I am reminded of how good God is even though I don't deserve his daily blessings. How patient and loving He is while in return I grumble and complain about his blessings - even if only kidding. Thank you God for daily manna!
How deserving He is of our utmost praise. How blessed I am for His mercy and forgiveness. How reassured I am of His presence.
How ironic that as I have read about the Children of Israel in the past, I was judgmental of their grumbling and complaining in the presence of God. Here I sit overcome with shame over the same sin. God be merciful to me a sinner!
O God, forsake me not!
Take not thy Spirit from me
And suffer not the might
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which Thou Thyself hast wrought.
Be Thou my Strength and Power--
O God, forsake me not! Amen
Could we pack anything more into this weekend? YES WE CAN. And by the grace of God we press on. An emergency to trip to Madison; wonderful care from doctors and nurses; many prayers from family and friends and God's mercies are new each morning. God is good!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Building those memories
Today was an ordinary day.
I woke up to 5 screaming boys. What a treasure. My two sons, my grandson and two of their friends.
I was tired. So much so I felt ill. But I got up and I pushed myself.
I made chocolate chip pancakes for "my" boys.
Gage left with his dad and the rest of us got ready to go to the pool.
David and Jack laughed and screamed and ran and played. I was a little tense as you could expect with 4 year olds around water.
And then I looked -------- really watched ------- and David, with a big smile on his face, was running into the water and then onto the dry cement in awe of his footprints. I had no camera with me but my heart took a picture.
So special to see these moments of pure joy and happiness experienced through innocence and youth. From a mind not yet burdened with life. From a boy whose energy level was unaffected by the 4 times he was up last night.
The house is quiet now and I am going to bed. Just another ordinary day . . .
I am so blessed. Thank you God.
I woke up to 5 screaming boys. What a treasure. My two sons, my grandson and two of their friends.
I was tired. So much so I felt ill. But I got up and I pushed myself.
I made chocolate chip pancakes for "my" boys.
Gage left with his dad and the rest of us got ready to go to the pool.
David and Jack laughed and screamed and ran and played. I was a little tense as you could expect with 4 year olds around water.
And then I looked -------- really watched ------- and David, with a big smile on his face, was running into the water and then onto the dry cement in awe of his footprints. I had no camera with me but my heart took a picture.
So special to see these moments of pure joy and happiness experienced through innocence and youth. From a mind not yet burdened with life. From a boy whose energy level was unaffected by the 4 times he was up last night.
The house is quiet now and I am going to bed. Just another ordinary day . . .
I am so blessed. Thank you God.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Memory Work
I have been wanting to share this for awhile and today is the day! Many women have asked me about this since I have shared it in a Bible class and with a few others. It works for me so it may work for someone else too.
I love to study the Bible. I also really love to memorize scripture but I find the older I get the more difficult this becomes. I piece of advice I would give younger folks is making reading scripture part of your daily routine when you are young and don't forget to add memorizing a passage here and there to that!
To help me in my goal to add scripture to my life I use my scrapbooking - of course. I'll wait now while you put on your surpised look. I use a little photo book that can be purchased at Walgreens between $1 & $2. It holds about 36 photos or I should say 36 memory cards. (See photo above - this is one of the unaltered photo books) As I am reading the Bible I have my blank index cards close by. When I see a passage I really like I flag it and when I am done with my reading I put it on a card. I usually use my colorful markers. Sometimes I just use the computer and use color. The color seems to help me memorize. Once in a while I even doodle on the cards to help me memorize. I also get a lot of my passages from books I read like the ones by Elizabeth George - whatever speaks to me at the time.
When I go for a walk the little book goes with me. I keep two books. One for passages I want to memorize and one for passages I have already memorized and keep reviewing. I usually take the one of passages I have already memorized with me and just stick a passage I haven't memorized in there too for the 20 min walk. That way I can review and look at the new passage. The book goes with me while I fold laundry or when I am making dinner. I can usually get a passage down in a few days (with verse) if I stick with it. The review really helps. I just can't seem to keep this all in my head for long but this really works for me. Now I fall off the wagon for days sometimes but then I see my little book (sometimes it is in my purse) and I am reminded to get back on that horse.
What do you do to memorize scripture?
Blessings!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Why do I scrapbook?
It's been a while! But with a free weekend ahead I had to update my blog. Scrapbooking is definitely taking off. I love to surf the net and look at everyone's scrapbook pages. Everyone seems to have their own reasons to scrapbook!
Why do I scrapbook?
It started as a little hobby. But after 10 years of collecting stuff for this hobby and never producing anything I had to think about why it was I wanted to do this. After the addition of our little surprise package (see page below) my reasons started to change. I basically decided to scrapbook after David was born to be able to leave him some of the things I have given to my older children and may not get a chance to with or for him.
Most of my scrapbooks deal with David and then Richard. Why? Because Katie and Mike have already had me for 25 years and David and Richard haven't. I have set my priorities for scrapbooking accordingly. I obviously don't keep track, lol but most of my stories etc., are geared to help teach the younger two things I hope Katie and Mike have already learned from me. You never know.
How do I scrapbook?
In 15 minute chunks of time. I have tried setting aside an hour or a day or a weekend and have always just set myself up for disappointment. I was just never productive during those times. When inspiration strikes for a story I want to write I take a few minutes and write out the story. Next time I have a few minutes I go pick out some pictures to go with the story. Next time, the papers, then figure out how I want to throw it together etc. Sometimes I will leave the gluing until I have several pages and then if I do get that golden hour or more to myself I let my creativity (ahem, scraplift) go wild and add embellishments and glue everything down. It feels so good to finish a page - even if it does take me a few weeks. ;)
Here is one that took me a week to complete. Happy David will have this to look at some day!
Why do I scrapbook?
It started as a little hobby. But after 10 years of collecting stuff for this hobby and never producing anything I had to think about why it was I wanted to do this. After the addition of our little surprise package (see page below) my reasons started to change. I basically decided to scrapbook after David was born to be able to leave him some of the things I have given to my older children and may not get a chance to with or for him.
Most of my scrapbooks deal with David and then Richard. Why? Because Katie and Mike have already had me for 25 years and David and Richard haven't. I have set my priorities for scrapbooking accordingly. I obviously don't keep track, lol but most of my stories etc., are geared to help teach the younger two things I hope Katie and Mike have already learned from me. You never know.
How do I scrapbook?
In 15 minute chunks of time. I have tried setting aside an hour or a day or a weekend and have always just set myself up for disappointment. I was just never productive during those times. When inspiration strikes for a story I want to write I take a few minutes and write out the story. Next time I have a few minutes I go pick out some pictures to go with the story. Next time, the papers, then figure out how I want to throw it together etc. Sometimes I will leave the gluing until I have several pages and then if I do get that golden hour or more to myself I let my creativity (ahem, scraplift) go wild and add embellishments and glue everything down. It feels so good to finish a page - even if it does take me a few weeks. ;)
Here is one that took me a week to complete. Happy David will have this to look at some day!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Taking a writing class
It is the best class. It helped me journal on this layout that is very important to me.
If you press on the picture you should be able to blow it up big enough to read the journaling. People have asked me how the family does with all these hospitalizations and I think it answers what it is like. It is what it is. It pulls at our heart strings and we move on. But the biggest thing I think this layout will do is help David and maybe even Richard to someday understand how tough these decisions and situations can be. It is not easy to leave Mike alone in the hospital for days and it is not easy to leave small children at home without their mom. I hope this just lets them see into each others world a little better. Teenagers can spend a fair amount of time feeling sorry for themselves. Siblings of chronically ill children are no different. When those times come I hope this and other layouts will help them remember the feelings of love that we all share.
Peace out!
Gina
If you press on the picture you should be able to blow it up big enough to read the journaling. People have asked me how the family does with all these hospitalizations and I think it answers what it is like. It is what it is. It pulls at our heart strings and we move on. But the biggest thing I think this layout will do is help David and maybe even Richard to someday understand how tough these decisions and situations can be. It is not easy to leave Mike alone in the hospital for days and it is not easy to leave small children at home without their mom. I hope this just lets them see into each others world a little better. Teenagers can spend a fair amount of time feeling sorry for themselves. Siblings of chronically ill children are no different. When those times come I hope this and other layouts will help them remember the feelings of love that we all share.
Peace out!
Gina
Saturday, March 28, 2009
This was fun
I worked on this a lot today! It sure was fun and very difficult. The last in my class. I haven't done anything for weeks and it felt great. Completely digital. Learned some really cool stuff. I needed the distraction!
I did this one a few weeks ago. I sure love learning new stuff on the computer! And I really love looking back at the layouts. My Library of Memories is growing!
I did this one a few weeks ago. I sure love learning new stuff on the computer! And I really love looking back at the layouts. My Library of Memories is growing!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
New Class - New Post
This class is so intense which means - I'm having SOOOO much fun. I love to be in a class. It's something to look forward to for me. I like the self-paced ones the best because I can usually firgure things out from videos and handouts. This layout probably took me about 3 or 4 hours with watching the videos and moving along with them. I would now do a few things differently but I am really pleased with the result and the ability to document something that just happened a couple of weeks ago. Love the Helen Keller quote too - may change it to a scripture passage before I print this!
Hope you like it too! Blessings on your day!
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