Self Portrait Challenge - { guilty }

As I looked through the list of the Seven Deadly Sins for Self Portrait Challenge this month, it was with humility I was brought to my knees again at the reminder that I have committed them all. Not, perhaps, where it has been visible to others. But according to these verses, even when there has been just a thought in my mind in that direction, I have committed the sin in the same way as someone who has gone full-blown in pursuit of it.


"You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a [someone] with lust has already committed adultery with [that person] in [their] heart.

You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder....'But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."

Matthew 5: 27-28, 21-22


Everything good in me is actually Jesus in me -
without Him, I'd be a messed up mess without hope.

if you have a moment...

...please cast a vote for me!

I entered my Little Sailboat Plush in the
Etsy Texas Crafters design challenge for July, "Summer Magic" -
here's the link to vote - voting ends tonight!

Thank you!!

A Bend In the Road

by Helen Steiner Rice

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the song has ended,
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,
Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying?
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God,
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side.
And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision,
And He tells us it's only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the pause in the song is a rest,
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best.
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load.
Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to a bend in the road.

Fingerprint Friday { a new baby }

the hope and excitement of a new baby who is to make her arrival soon

the expectation of this new life and all it will be

the love already felt before her face is seen





There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.

2. Be sure to link so others can find the entire list of participants! Go over to PamperingBeki's blog to add your link to the list of participants.

me and my sis

My sister and I took a short roadtrip with me this past weekend,
for a good friend's baby shower
(more pictures from that later)...





She'll be really happy I decided against using the shot with her sticking her tongue out...

Oh, and it's shots like these that remind me of how different we look from each other!

Julie & Julia

If this movie is half as funny as the preview, I'm going to really enjoy it!

b l t ... all dressed up

Tonight's dinner:



Dressed-up BLT's

(ingredient list from top to bottom)
croissant rolls
mayo
fresh spinach
sliced tomatoes
sliced swiss cheese
turkey bacon
sliced avocado



Fruit Salad

(tossed all together in a big bowl)
one large gala apple, cored & chopped
half a 20 oz. can of pineapple chunks, drained (fresh would be better but I didn't have any)
several large strawberries, sliced (an egg slicer makes quick work of this)
a drizzle of honey

vintage blue revisited

I've been taking a bit of a break from sewing for July, to spend time doing fun summer stuff with the girls.

But Debbie got me in the mood to use the rest of this vintage tablecloth, when she made this.

So I have two new listings in my etsy shop - one of which you see Claire modeling above.

Have a fun weekend!

:: pool party! ::

We had lots of fun on Sunday,
at a friend's home who just put in a new pool!


Claire had lots of fun balancing on several noodles at once...



Nicole set up shop in the pool's fountain...



and she asked me afterward why her toes were so sore!



Another couple who came brought their 9-week old Shih Tzu puppy, Howie - adorable! The girls had so much fun with him, they completely wore him out, so he took a nap in a pile of stuffed animals......

Self Portrait Challenge - { wanna play? }

This month's Self Portrait Challenge theme is The Seven Deadly Sins.
Yikes.

My chosen sin of the week - Greed.



I play to win.

Ok, I play nice, really I do. Most of the time. But who doesn't like winning, right?

{ succulent }

Remember this coffee cup? Here it is, in action...

I was playing around with lighting angles & depth of field, as well as hoping to capture the ethereal beauty of water droplets...

:: summer projects ::

For me (for once!), I finally finished the Cabo Halter from the Amy Butler pattern...




little sailboats made from recycled scraps...




a baby blanket...




I've listed custom options for the sailboats & blanket in my etsy shop, too!

recycled crayons

This is a fun, easy project for the kids when they're bored one day...
the wrapper peeling kept my girls busy for an hour yesterday, plus we had all sorts of fun conversations at the same time...




Unwrap all the broken crayon pieces from the bottom of the crayon container, and sort them by color into muffin cups.

Put the muffin tin in the oven & melt them down... if you don't want to have to heat the oven up just for this project, just put it in at the same time as something else you have to cook, for 10 minutes or until they're melted.

Cool completely before removing. They popped out much better after I placed the cooled muffin pan in the fridge for an hour.

These "crayons" are great for toddlers, because they're easy to hold & don't break.

Self Portrait Challenge - { shoes - adventure }

I woke Nicole up at 6:30 this morning to head out for an early morning walk. It is glorious to go out before the sun up, beating down its summer rays, scorching the pavement and my skin. That time is almost like a summer treasure, hidden away in those early morning hours, when there is fresh, dappled light and coolness is still in the air.





This shot was taken after our walk this morning,
the evidence of a lovely time with a little girl's hand in mine,
as we climbed around the empty, sometimes muddy, lots in our neighborhood.


This is the final week of the "Shoes" theme for Self Portrait Challenge - there have been some amazingly creative submissions this month!