A Sweet Journey

I have been busy going through a sweet friends scrapbook collection.  While I know in my head that Becky is with Jesus and at total peace, my heart misses her and still aches.  The amount of "goodies" that she had was "a bunch" to say the least! I was afraid of being thought of as a hoarder for anyone that saw my house during this time! The process was tougher than I thought.  To go through someone elses things - it is hard.  The things had her smell, and made me miss her even more.  The thought when I saw something and wondered, "how did she do that?" realizing I will not get the answer from her. I cannot thank my boys enough, Greg and Treg helped me haul and held me as I cried, each time I left Becky's house. Greg cracked me up on one trip - he said, "when I get to heaven and see Becky I am gonna ask her just what in the world she thought she was gonna make with all this paper!" I shared this with Amber and it made her giggle. 
 Many tears, many prayers, and many good memories, a slow healing was taking place.  I know God had me in the palm of His hand and was giving me strength. I made the decision to share the things I didn't need with others.  I contacted all of Becky's customers, a newsletter at her church, and told some ladies that I knew loved to scrap, we set a date, and decided we would have a party of remembering Becky and just blessing others with her things.
On Thursday night we set up (thank you Ann H., Gaylene, and Shannon for your help) and then on Friday night we opened it up.  Bittersweet. Most of the night went well, it is hard to see different peoples reactions to a situation like this. - I had a friend about halfway through that brought me a copy of a picture that Becky had in a book - she told me it was very fitting, and she felt God wanted me to have it.  Now you have to realize that this was in a notebook with hundreds of other pictures, and Tammi found just this picture.  The picture was of a poem typed out. I will copy it exactly and I hope that you see, as I did, that it was if Becky was speaking this straight to all of our hearts. 
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Weep not for me my loved ones, dear ones that I adore, for I have taken earthly leave, to a far off distant shore.  I've taken nothing with me, though onward I proceed, where all my wants of love are met, there's naught that I could need.
My path on earth was rugged, my walk of life unsure; but you were there with cheerful hearts to help me to endure. Your strength and love surrounded me, to help me through my life, your steady hands held tightly, as I walked through bitter strife.
Rejoice in my sweet passing, and let your hearts find ease, for I have found a wondrous land, of beauty and of peace. Remember that I love you, for that is meant to be; ah this sweet and lasting love that fills eternity.
So now my days are ended, at a seeming hurried pace, and yes I've fought that goodly fight; I've ran that timely race. Dry those tears of sorrow, fill not your hearts with pain; for I have found my lasting peace, on a far off distant plain.
I'll always be there with you, locked within your hearts, to give you peace and comfort; though we are worlds apart. I now have my happiness, and sweet serenity; so comfort one another, but do not weep for me. 
Is this not the most beautiful thing?  I loved how at the beginning it said, "I've taken nothing with me" Yes all of the stamp sets, and paper and little gadgets are a wonderful blessing and I just want all to use them and bless others with them, but in all things to remember that they are just that - things.  Just a good healthy reminder of our time on earth is just a vapor.  Make a sweet impression to others.
On Friday night I had a few blessings, to see a young married girl that money is tight and she was so excited to be able to have some goodies, the smile on her face was priceless!  I had several calls on Saturday from ladies that had gotten some goodies and calling to tell me what they had made, or asking questions about a certain gadget, that's great! All is being used, not stored in boxes or crammed in a closet.  All of Becky's cards that were left I gave to her church to send out to members. A sweet reminder.  The items that we had left, Kasity will take and use in their new journey with Christ, and will bless the town of Cisco of teaching classes of art.  God is so good, and I pray that the joy Becky found in card making will spread and be shared with others.
Next thing I cherished in the poem, is the sweet reminder that Becky has arrived!  We will all meet again, she just got there ahead of us. 
Thank you to all who helped, thank you to all who are continuing to share, and most of all thank you God for loving us so much.
pl

Rock the Block

Watch the video - so cool!
I will be ordering in December - if you want to get in on this special please give me a call...
We are going to be doing a class in January - Scripture Box Class
Order a paper pack and a Memory Game box and an embellishment and you will be qualified $25.
This special has tons of great gift ideas!

Christmas thoughts.....

sorry couldn't get the video to play straight from my blog - click on the link and it will take you to You Tube - worth watching!
We have a family tradition to watch Christmas movies throughout December.  Last night we watched The Grinch - I have always liked this song - but this year one thing that I couldn't stop thinking about was Cindy Lou's heart.  With all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the Lists.....the Parties.....the cooking.....the deciding when and where to go each day, school plays and parties, the fear of forgetting someone or not having a gift to give them when they give you one! working in all the families, what to get, how much to spend, rush here & there, stress, Money, losing control!!!!! the list goes on and on.  In the movie little Cindy Lou was very troubled by all the "materialism" and "commercialism" is what I got out of it this year.  In a Bible study I had done it was talking about being content....vs. ........materialism.  In the movie it was like everyone was so "busy" buying their gifts, and trying to out do the neighbors lights, hurrying around to get the best deal - that they lost sight of each other, the true meaning of Christmas and of those in need. 
I know you must think I am crazy - it's just a Dr. Seuss movie, but last night I couldn't stop thinking and asking myself....if I woke up Christmas morning and every single gift, every thing in my house was GONE..... would I "SEE" my family and be thankful that they were not harmed or gone?  Would I be able to hold their hand and look up to God and know that as long as I have God, and my family that all is well?  Or would I be screaming, crying, counting up in my head how much money we spent, and it was all gone? It might be radical, but it makes me think how would I react? How is my heart? 
In the Bible study I was talking about it said, "Materialism is fueled by greed and a hunger for security. Status is grounded in the things that I own. The quest for just "a little more" drives the direction of my days."
The God-view of it is - "Contentment is the God-view Christ wants to weave through my life.  He longs to give me an eternal perspective about the things around me - to see them as blessings and tools for His glory.
So it's not wrong to receive, just see them as a blessing and use them to give God glory in all things! I just have to pray not to be consumed by what I want and what I don't have!
To be content.....in all things.
Like the song above says, find the LOVE in Christmas!
I love Christmas - I love the decorations.  I love making Christmas candy with my mom and aunts.  I love traditions that we have come to cherish over the years.  I love the excitement of Christmas morning watching the kids go through their stockings and open their gifts.  I love our families being all together.  I love to give (and yes I love to receive!). 
Yes I know Jesus is the reason for the season, but Jesus should be celebrated every single day of our lives! 
I pray that God will help keep me grounded to open my eyes to SEE those who need a hug, a kind word, a helping hand.  If I come across a "Grinch" that I will not run away, but give them a smile and a kind word. :-)
1 Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Merry Christmas....

Becky Lu

Becky Lu showing her beautiful creation -

Kasity showing her scripture album with her love tree...

 DeeDee and Ann having fun - we have grown so close and had to laugh at each other just a tad....

 Bea - the expert!  She was fast and gott'er done. Always bubbling with joy and smiles-

Kathy working hard, smiling joyfully, and cutting away!  Such sweet memories.
These pictures are from a scripture flip album class that we had in April 2010. 
My heart is so full of sadness and also full of joy for my dear sweet friend Becky.  She left her earthly body and leaped into her precious Saviors arms last night. Cancer didn't win, God overcame! How fitting that she went to meet her Lord on a Sunday.  I cannot imagine my life without her - she brought such joy, laughter, creativity, excitement, wisdom, fun, and what an amazing prayer warrior!  Becky had such a passion for Christ and a love for anyone that came into her path.  She was a dear friend to me and I am honored to have been blessed with her friendship.  As tears are pouring from my eyes, I just have to share the way that God works His Word into our lives when we seek Him.
This morning got up early and was doing Bible study and had earlier texted some friends with the news of Becky.  Ann  texted me back and said she was on a certain page in our Bible study book (exact same page as I was on) the question in our workbook was "When all seems lost, when a terminal disease is diagnosed, when a loved one dies, what does Jesus reveal at the well of heartache (John 11:25)?
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
Amazing what comfort and a peace that came over me.  God gently reminding me that yes Becky believed with all her heart, and even though she died....she lives!!!!!
Then in our Jesus calling it gave the scripture of John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
K-love exact same scripture of the day except different translation -
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'Then later on in our workbook  it talked about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:28-30 "leaving her jar" - speaking of our water jar, "Leave them (water jar) at the well and be filled with Him. Then, my friend, when you get jostled, what spills out will be life-giving, life-sustaining water.
Just let God fill us....Becky lived her life allowing God's living water just to flow straight from her....
Isn't God the most amazing, loving, compassionate, knowing God.
I ask that you please pray for Becky's daughter Amber, her parents, and all of her family and the tons of friends that loved her dearly.
Becky Lu, my sweet precious friend I thank you for the example you have been in my life. I pray you are dancing with your sweet son Brian, and I know that you are spreading your joy and letting your light shine in heaven! Words cannot express what my heart is feeling at this moment - I love you bunches and will miss you always.

This little light of mine...

Heard this song a couple of weeks ago and immediately loved it!  I have been studying about growing through study.  I came across this scripture this morning  -
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
I am so thankful for God and all the precious gifts He gives us each day.
Hope this song makes you smile, pl

Long time no see....

Labor Day weekend I had the joy of having all 3 of my kids (less one son-in-law!) I am so blessed to have such great kids. Oh how I love them.
Sorry it's been so long since a post. My summer has been quite crazy!!!!
I have had the blessing of having Brennon come and stay with us while doing his pharmacy residency since July 4. He will be going back home Sept. 23, so I have tried to enjoy each day with him. We have had to move my office and relocate to a new location. Treg turned 16 this summer and has been working on getting in enough driving hours. Greg has started an online college course. Our Bible study group has been hit so hard with sickness and heartaches, and other things, my time for blogging has been put on hold.
One thing I have not given up is my study time. It's been different studying by myself, and I miss our study group, but the studies I have done....I know it's all in God's plan. I just love the way He weaves all things together.
One study was Kay Arthur and knowing God. It was a study on the names of God. The last chapter took Jesus, and she went through and showed by scripture how Jesus fulfilled each name of God that I had studied from the Old Testament! It was great.
I pray that through all the trials and daily struggles we are faced with that in all things we turn to God....who Is ALL we need.
Lord willing we will be starting a new study in October and I pray will be able to stand firm together and pray that our "Bloomers" will be able to once again be back to our weekly studies!
Have a blessed week. Never cease praying.

2 Dogs and a Frog

We found a hole in our grass and discovered that it was home to a couple of frogs. Lucy & Dexter are fascinated by them. Dexter flops both ears back and touches the frog with his nose and when the frog jumps forward - Dex jumps backwards! Lucy just has that yappie bark and bounces all around! This night they are waiting for the frog to come out of his hole. They made the mistake this time and kind of either tried to bite the frog or lick - resulted in toxins from frog.....

Here is a picture of Dexter pushing Mr. Frog with his nose -

In this picture you can see the foam coming from Lucy's mouth! Both dogs started foaming at the mouth and quickly learned not to mess with the frog too close! We had to laugh at them...silly dogs.

Isn't it strange - reminded me of sin.

Looks good

Looks fun

Looks harmless.

Sin is also very full of toxins and evil consequences. Too bad it can be hidden and most people don't have the obvious outer symptoms! Some sin although hidden from man, is Never hidden from God's eyes.

Praying that your summer is full of "toadally" good pure fun!

Phillippians 4:8

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.