Picture Perfect Cards

What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other? ~George Elliot

In the United States 7.8 billion cards will be sold this year. That averages out to about 30 cards per person. 235 cards a second! I love sending--and making cards to send. Now I'm not a professional by any means and if you're looking for that I'd suggest you check Shore Girl's Creations. (And you'll find many other projects, too.)

I do love making cards with Emily's photographs. First of all is the joy I get from knowing she took the photos. But it is also makes a striking card with a small amount of time invested.

The top card says, "God's answers are better than our prayers."

This is the inside of the above card.

Excuse the strange "hues" of these pictures--the photographer was babysitting.

I like the flag card for the men who are protecting our country.

Emily took this at the dedication of this flagpole honoring her Pawpaw Sankey.

My Daddy bought these roses for my Mother.

We were visiting them and Emily took the pictures. Very vintage looking in sepia tones.

These are some that I've made into cards or plan to.

I like to include a Scripture verse with my cards.

Some of my favorite ones to include are:

Praise the Lord; Praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. Psalm 58:19

Those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Isaiah 49:23

I am glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I have pitched my tent in the land of hope. Acts 2:26

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land,

and will strengthen your frame. Isaiah 58:11

Picture This

A picture is worth a thousand words.
~Napoleon Bonaparte


Napoleon Bonaparte didn't aim high enough. Why not make a picture worth two, three, or seven thousand words?

As old-school as it seems, I have a hobby. Pictures can equal a thousand words but words can also paint a beautiful picture. So I love making pictures that make us think. Think of how blessed we are. Think of how, when things are rough, we have a Best Friend who will never leave us.

Think of biblical promises that will fill our hearts with happiness. Think of how complete joy belongs to us as children of God. Think of love. Pretty much I'm a believer in all things happy.

I love to edit pictures. I love to fill them with inspiring quotes. I especially love to fill them with my favorite Scripture verse. I love to give them as gifts to people who may be struggling with certain situations. In my own life, I find as I search the Scriptures for verses on joy, love and peace, I feel comforted and uplifted.

Come back tomorrow to see how my mother uses my pictures to shelter others.

Magic in Giving

A person's a person, no matter how small. ~Dr. Seuss

Number 1: Wanted to try a new fudge recipe I found online. Tried it. Won't bother to share since I didn't care for it.

Number 2: Wanted to take a cute treat to some kids we were going to see on a recent weekend.


(In a sing-song voice) ...put 'em together and what have you got, bippity-boppity-boo!"

If you are polished up on your fairy tales (this being Cinderella), the phrase would mean magic just happened.

Now, I did take one thing (fudge) and turn it into something else (an edible owl), but I don't think mine is as magical as making a pumpkin turn into a coach...oh, well.

• The way I see it, little people are in need of special attention just like the big kids. Ethan, Landon and Morgan helped make these yummy, fall treats for their friends, and a few days later I was with those friends again and one of them mentioned the treats by saying "Thank you" and that they really liked them. Bottom line: they felt love as they remembered the special treat.

Now, the cost of the ingredients? Fudge, candy corn, icing, chocolate chips--This doesn't get very pricey, right? But the payback for my children and myself? Priceless. The magic in giving is that it just takes hold and keeps on giving back so you want to keep doing it again and again and...

Gifting Books

That is a good book that is opened in expectation and closed in profit. ~Amos Bronson Alcott

Do you think there's any gift better than a book? I'm sure some of you would give me varying answers. If Steve, Janene or Jeren are reading this, then the answer would be, "Books are the best." But I also know others whose eyes glaze over when books are mentioned. It's easy to tell who the book lovers are because they get the small talk over within one sentence so the book discussion can begin. I like to collect book people: I see Phoebe at Emily's volleyball games and she's always reading something interesting. I get to discuss John Maxwell, Zig Zigler and Tony Dungee's books with Scott. Lorna and Renee read novels and although I don't read many novels, I love hearing them talk about them and even sometimes get interested enough to read one. Steve loves Henri Nouwen and the same thriller authors I like. Jeren gets tired of authors about the same time I do and it's off to find a new favorite.

Some days Francine Rivers is my favorite, while other times I'm devouring Beth Moore or Ravi Zacharias. After talking to Carisa, I come home and dig out my copy of Jane Austin's Jane Eyre. Then my mother brings me a tiny book on hope and I sit and let the quotations speak to me.

Right now by my chair I have quite a range of reading material:

• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• Handbook of Magazine Article Writing (Writer's Digest)
• Simple Pleasures by Seaton
• Steps of Grace by Stephen Gibson
• Women of a Generous Spirit by Lois Mowday Rabey
• Culturally Incorrect by Rod Parsley
• The Power of Less by Leo Babauta
• Creative is a Verb by Patti Digh
• With Open Hands by Nouwen
• Searching for Mrs. Oswald Chambers by Martha Christian

And yes, I'm reading all of them. A wide range of reading material keeps our minds fresh and ready to absorb the ideas from others. It also helps us critique the writings and see if they measure up to God's standard. Maybe there is a statement in one I don't agree with and can discard, then read on to discover pages of truth to feed my soul.

If you are wondering what a post on books has to do with Sheltering, I assure you, it does. Books shelter ME! After Sarah died I read everything on grief that I could get my hands on. Safety Zones by Elizabeth Ruth Skoglund was invaluable as I learned to shut of the tapes running in my mind and find a safe place. I also was able to shelter another young woman who worried something would happen to her husband (and would run the scenarios through her mind).

I guess this has been a long introduction to say that from time to time we will show you what we are reading. Maybe you know of someone the books will help, or maybe you need a bit of sheltering yourself.

The flyleaf of Women of a Generous Spirit (Lois Mowday Rabey) says, "Thankfully, becoming a woman of a generous spirit is not about achieving an unattainable ideal or copying someone else's behavior. Rather, it comes from a relationship in which we encounter and get to know God from within. The result is the spilling over of life-giving love that changes us and allows us to touch others with the love of God." The book is very practical and easy to read.

Melanie is reading Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching them to appreciate an extra-ordinary God in ordinary places by Susie Larson. This book was just released in March and already has received rave reviews. Gary Chapman wrote in the introduction, "What you read in this book may bring tears, will certainly spark smiles, and most importantly will give you ideas to help you become the responsible mother you want to be. I predict you will become a better person and a better parent by reading and applying the principles shared in Growing Grateful Kids.

Emily loves to read, but doesn't get much reading time during the school year. For Principles of Godly Living class she is reading the book You Can Make a Difference by Tony Campolo. She had us laughing at dinner last night relating an illustration that reminded her of RB. To quote the back of the book, "Tony Campolo challenges young people to move beyond good intentions and set a course for a lifetime of spiritual adventure. Instead of settling for half-hearted conformity, you can embrace life and become the world-changing person God created you to be."

Morgan just loves being read to. She likes to turn the pages--sometimes before you are finished reading the page. One book I like to read to her (because it's MY favorite) is Max Lucado's Small Gifts in God's Hands. Cheri Bladholm is the illustrator, so you know the artwork is amazing. This book never fails to bring me to tears. As someone said, "Good children's literature appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child."

Joyful Hospitality

What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest? ~Aeschylus



Is hospitality a dying art? Sometimes I think so--and blame myself. But then I am invited to dinner and am reminded that hospitality is alive and well in the homes of my friends. Whether I am enjoying Lorna's expansive cooking with recipes Jeren brought back from Greece or her famous two crust lemon pie, laughing around the Clemens' Amish-made table while Sheryl serves my favorite fruit salad and hot homemade rolls, or discussing church dynamics with the Scott and Carmelita over best-ever chili and peanut butter and syrup crackers (which I had never heard up before, but quickly found out how good it is with chili), I find women who entertain joyfully.

Last week we were invited to Sunday dinner with Mark and Eleanor. Their home is Emily's home-away-from-home. If she's not at home or Melanie's home then you can find her at the Grafs. Eleanor has a decorating gift--her home is peaceful and inviting. And though I love the elegance of their home, it's not what makes her hospitality special. I've tried to dissect it and the closest I can come to is the the peace you feel. Eleanor isn't running around trying to get food on the table. Her preparation is organized. Yes, her china is beautiful, the crystal bowls glisten and the sparkling grape juice is chilled. But the secret is that you feel they are delighted to entertain you.

Their hospitality is a family affair. Mark grills the salmon. I have eaten salmon in some high-end restaurants--and take it from me, Mark's is the best! Kayla helps Eleanor with last minute preparation. The food is delicious. Conversation is never boring--discussions topics range from Biblical practices to the morning sermon (complimentary!) to politics.

We lingered over our cheesecake topped with blueberries and chatted over clean up. While not all of us have a gift of hospitality, it is a command from God. Not only does Scripture tell us to offer hospitality, but to do it without grumbling. Nor does it tell us to only entertain with crystal and china. I had a friend tell me once, "Everyone is so worried that their home isn't as nice as ours. I'd be happy to sit on the floor and eat popcorn if someone would invite us over."

I know I need a nudge to offer some hospitality. Maybe some of you do, too. Let's get out our ice cold water--or popcorn and ice cream--and offer it in Jesus' name. Then will our guests be blessed and encouraged. And like Abraham, we may be serving angels without being aware of it.

~~~~~~~~~

Hospitality Gifting

It's fun to take a small gift to your hosts. Candles, candy, an appropriate book, flowers--the gift doesn't need to be costly. One day Lorna brought me a big, beautiful pumpkin. Janelle came with a bunch of lavender tied in ribbon with a tiny note. Here's the gift I took yesterday. The tiny place setting candles came from the Dollar Store--3 in a pack for a dollar--12 candles placed in a little basket, wrapped and tied with ribbon. What made it personal is that RB printed the G on each one (good old sharpie). The total cost of the gift was $5.00 plus wrapping and ribbon (I already had that on hand, and of course it didn't hurt to have the calligrapher available!).

Melanie gave me the idea of printing letters to form words--like GIVING THANKS. Lined up on a window sill they would look so neat. I'm hoping our Dollar Store still has a supply.

What have you used for hostess gifts? I'd love to have some new ideas. You'll see more posts on hospitality because it's a great way to shelter others.