Pink Paper Peppermints Sweet ♥ Crafty ♥ Goodness

ten on tuesday

ten random thoughts on tuesday (on thursday)

*I'm thinking maybe I should change the name to just "time for ten" or something, huh?*

one
Remember this post? and this one?  According to sitemeter I had visitors from Fannie Mae and Target Corporation on those two days.  Weird, huh?

two
I think it is time to give up the ghost on these little turkey candlestick holders, what do you think?

I love them so much because they were some of the first holiday decorations I ever bought when I was first married.  I have such a warm feeling and fond memories when I look at them.

Well, I did until they became headless and tail-less.

I think the head may be rolling around in the thanksgiving box somewhere. 

Maybe I'll glue it back on and give them one more year.

three
I was right about the candy problem.  Right now there are three different bags of candy in the kitchen. 

The orange slices are calling my name.

four
Sometimes when I pray I think I must sound like a five year old little girl to the Lord.  I can just manage to get out, "oh please, oh please, oh pleeeeeasseee Lord."  

I don't think He minds though.  He did say we're supposed to come as little children.

five
I'm not telling you what the above prayer was in reference to.

six
I've been working on a really fun project this week.  I'm a member of the Christian Paper Artists group and every couple of years, 52 of us get together and design a deck of cards around a scriptural theme.

Last time the theme was "proverbs".  Here's my card from that deck:

The edges are square when we send them in, but the card company prints them on rounded cards. 

The deck came out so, so pretty last time.  52 little works of art.

seven
This year the theme was love.  I chose Romans 8:39 as my scripture.  One of my favorites:

I printed the scripture on the back of a pink ticket. I have to say I was pretty excited when it worked without jamming up my printer...heh-heh.

eight
We also vote on our favorites for the back of the card.  I entered this design:

It's a compilation of all the love scriptures that everyone chose.  Just reading those all in a row will bless your socks off!

nine
If you're interested in purchasing a deck of these cards let me know and I will get you in touch with our group leader.  She's taking orders right now.  I gave some out for Christmas last time and they were a big hit.

ten
Finally here is a fun freebie for crafty types and homeschoolers! 



DJ Inkers is giving away a "Vote 2008" set of clip art and borders!  One of the sheets would make a great notebooking page. 

Here's the link:

DJ Inkers Freebie

Hope you're all having a blessed week.

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:38-39

did someone set my clock forward early?

I was at basketball practice with my boys for fourteen hours today.

Then it took me four hours to drive home.

Then hubby called me with a dead battery and it took me three hours to pick him up.

Now it's like 3 am or something.

Ok, I may be exaggerating a tiny bit on the hours...but where does the time go??

Still working on posting those gorgeous Caddo Lake photos.

In the meantime, here is my new favorite quote...

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and
our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

- Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Whom the Son has set free is free indeed."
-John 8:36

ten things God wants you to remember

I will give you rest.


I will strengthen you.


I will answer you.


I believe in you.


I will bless you.


I am for you.


I will not fail you.


I will provide for you.


I will be with you


I love you.

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"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  -Jeremiah 29:11

even more stuff about me

100 things part 3

71 I'm not really a "pet" person, but maybe I will be when my boys are grown.

72 I took ballet lessons, tap lessons and piano lessons as a child.

Me (in the center) during a ballet recital in the seventies.

73 I can't dance or play the piano now.

74 I'd like to try again with those lessons someday.

75 And the samba. (it just looks fun)

76 In junior high my mom wrote me a note to get out of school early so I could come home and watch Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital.

77 I may occasionally still watch General Hospital (especially if Laura is making a guest appearance), but I will never admit it.

78 I was a "wench" at medieval times for a very short time.

79 It was one of the hardest jobs I've *ever* had (and in a somewhat demoralizing costume no less).

80 I'm a very visual person.

81  I can read something a thousand times and not get it, but show me a picture and voila! (I know...don't say voila)

82 I ♥ photography

83 I love love love trees

84 I have pale skin, green eyes and freckles from my Irish heritage and straight, thick black hair from my Cherokee Indian heritage.

85 My first job was teaching preschool in South Africa.

86 Those kids are in their twenties now.

87 That cannot be true.

88 I swore I would never get married when I was a teenager and now I cry when my husband goes out of town and have an overwhelming urge to go stay with a friend 'til he gets back. I guess I like being married after all. :)

89 I was home skipping school and watching tv when the news broke that President Reagan had been shot.  My dad called the house looking for my mom and we talked about it and he never asked me why I was home.

90 That combined with #77 makes it sound like I skipped school a lot, but really I didn't.  Junior high was just a nightmare...and then in high school I became a homeschooler...and there is no skipping when you're a homeschooler...*LOL*

91 I am not very good about writing back to people, keeping up with email, etc.

92 It's something that I really need to work on.

93 I have an obsession with old black & white photo booths.

94 I just think they are so cool.

me in a photo booth at Amy's Ice Cream in Austin, TX

95 I would love to have one in my living room someday. Wouldn't that be the greatest?

 

96 I love my morning coffee, very, very strong with cream and sugar.

97 I love my husband & kids more than anything else in this world.

98 I once was lost, but now I'm found.

99 His grace has set me free.

100  I love my life.

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Whew, so a hundred things you now know about me.  I hope we're still friends.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His,"  -2 Tim 2:19

more stuff about me

100 things part 2

34 I used to teach scrapbook classes; first in my local store (which is now closed and still makes me sad to think about) and then at conventions like CKU, GASC and ME.

35 Because of the above I attend some crafty trade shows which really was one of the funnest things I've ever done.

36 My friend and I saw the guy from 24 at the JFK airport on the way home from one of the trade shows (the NY stationery show).

37 It was right after 911 and he was getting frisked.  He was wearing all black and looked very annoyed.

38 That's pretty much my only brush with fame.

39 My most favorite holiday in the whole wide world is Christmas (I also love valentines day a lot).

40 I don't really like wearing make up, never wear it at home, but if I'm going somewhere I'll put a little on.

41 For extra self-indulgence on a rough day I will go for a Wendy's Chocolate Frosty Root Beer Float (sounds gross, but oh so good)

42 Speaking of self-indulgence, I have never had a massage.  I'm not sure I would like some stranger's hands all over me like that.

43 My brother and his wife are both police officers I am so proud of them.

44 I normally don't watch the news, but during the elections I have watched *way* too much of it.

46 I love to go camping with my family (with qualifications, we have an air conditioner in the camper and campground bathrooms have to be semi-clean and bug free, the second doesn't always happen).

47 I think tivo and air conditioning are two of the best inventions *ever*.

48 I love going to the movies, but rarely go because they're mostly garbage (expensive garbage at that).

49 Favorite non-garbage movies: Singing in the Rain, Mr.Smith Goes to Washington, It's A Wonderful Life, (I'm sure there's more but those are the ones I can think of right now).

50 I enjoy reading, love books, my favorite all time fiction series is the Black, Red, White series (aka The Circle Trilogy) by Ted Dekker. Changed my walk with God. seriously. read them.

51 Madly in love with my husband after ten years of marriage.

52 Absolutely love going to thrift stores and garage sales and flea markets.

53 Love anything from the forties.

54 Chips & salsa is my all time favorite snack.

55 I got on an airplane eleven days after 911 to teach at a scrapbook convention in Denver, Co.

56 It was one of the eeriest and yet strangely unifying experiences I've ever had.

57 I've never seen so many determined people being so quietly defiant in all my life.

58 There was just this feeling of, "go ahead and try something." in the air. I don't think I'll forget that day.

59 I have a love/hate relationship with spell check (see #31)

60 My greatest desire is that people would see Jesus for who He really is and get to know God in a meaningful way.

61 It's the main reason I keep coming back to blogging.  Because I'm able to reach out to people who I would never meet in person.

62 I love reading the Bible so much.  It's amazing how God will show you something different every time you read a passage. 

 

A picture I took of my Bible while camping last year.

63 When I gave my life to Jesus, it was like I was handed this special decoder ring that makes the Bible make sense in ways I never expected. 

64 I wish *everyone* would give their lives to Jesus and get that ring! It is so cool!

65 I love anything and everything crafty.

66 I'm learning to sew and crochet and embroider.

67 I want to learn to knit and quilt next.

68 I love to cook, but I'm still learning.

69 I'm not very good at housekeeping, but I'm working on it. (thank goodness for flylady)

70 I absolutely *love* homeschooling my boys and wouldn't even consider any other option.

             

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Stay tune for the final installment tomorrow.  (If you can stand it)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you"  -Jeremiah 1:5

more than you ever wanted to know

In honor of my 100th post (which went by many moons ago):

100 Things About Me

1 I love Jesus and have for 25 years. Before that I just didn't know Him, but I would've loved Him if I had.

2 I met my husband thirteen years ago in a christian chat room called "net central" .

3 I feel awkward telling people that.  It sounds so cheesy.

4 I haven't been in a chat room since shortly after we met.

5 I lived in Africa with my family for almost four years when I was in high school.

6 It was absolutely some of the best memories of my life so far.

My brother and me at a church service in Africa.

7 I spent the summer in Italy when I was 16.

8 I had a 110 camera and still cringe when I think of the missed photo opportunities.

9 It was so beautiful though and I hope to go back with my husband someday.

10 I won a coloring contest when I was in elementary school and the prize was that I got to be in the Ringling bro circus. It was pretty cool for a little kid.

11 I don't enjoy the circus now and will probably never take my kids to one.  I think it's mean to the animals. It makes me sad.

12  I used to teach cake decorating and make elaborate cakes. I even owned a cake decorating business for awhile.  You cannot believe the amount of money some moms are willing to spend on a birthday cake.

13  I was a preschool director for a few years.  It was not an easy job, but I loved those kiddos so much.

14 I was an elementary ed major, but if I could go back (when?) I would (will?) be a photography/graphic arts major. Is that a major?

15 I would rather be cold than hot.  If you're cold you can always get warmer.  You can snuggle with someone, put on a jacket, start a fire, wrap up in a warm blanket.  When you're hot you can pretty much just get naked and then you're still hot...and naked...which in itself could be uncomfortable.

16 I graduated from bible school, Christ For the Nations Institute, before I went to college.

17 I feel like I should know more scripture due to number 16

18 I'm also a homeschool graduate (and shockingly I'm not socially stunted or inept at life).

19 My family and I lived in Memphis when I was five and I have been told that my two best friends were the mayor's daughter and Jerry Lee Lewis' daughter. I can't really remember that though.

20 I love a hot chai latte, even homemade with *egad* a mix.  There is something so soothing about a cup of warm spicy tea.

21 The style of decorating that I love and the way my house actually looks in most rooms are worlds apart.

22 Sometimes I get sad about this, but then I just remind myself that it's a process and everyday and every trip to an antique store or flea market brings me a little bit closer to my vision.

23 I am not a mall person.  I really just like being home, but if I'm going to go somewhere the mall is absolutely my last choice.

24 I overuse exclamation points and ellipses (and apparently the words "just" and "so")

25 I am not a grammar fan

26 In spite of what the two above may imply I love the English language and words.

27 I love the color red

28 I love the color pink

29 I really love pink and red together (and sometimes orange and aqua blue)

30 I refuse to pay money to watch a movie with a sad ending (actually I won't watch a sad movie for free either -  ha!).  I mean isn't life sad enough for a lot of real people without me paying to cry about a fake person's fake life??

31 I hate when I misspell a word so badly that the spell check offers me choices that aren't even *close* to the word I was trying to spell.

32  I could eat Mexican food everyday for the rest of my life. Fajitas are my favorite.

33  I love being a stay at home mom, more than I ever dreamed I would

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Stay tuned for part 2.  (or if you are bored beyond belief just come back Monday...heh-heh)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and You know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven You discover my thoughts."
-Psalm 139:1-2

so this is what it's like to be a rock star

I wasted an obscene amount of time playing with this yesterday:

 

 

My favorite is the Target one.  But I really like the Warhol one of my mom and me too.

Here's the link if you want to play:

Photofunia

(Warning:  Some of the choices are not entirely appropriate for family viewing. Just so you know.)

We're off for a long weekend of camping!

I thought I'd post my "100 Things About Me" post while I'm gone.  Hope it's not too excruciating to read.

(I don't know who started the "100 things about me on my 100th post" thingie, but...um...do people really want to know 100 things about me??  Not sure, but who am I to buck tradition?)

Thank you all for your warm "welcome back" messages. I apologize for not writing to everyone personally, but my computer time is pretty limited right now. Please know that I really value every one of your comments and emails and,

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." -Philippians 1:3-4

Hope you all have a fantastic rest of the week/weekend!

His peace and grace to you,

♥ Melissa~

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"The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
-1 Samuel 16:7

feeling fallish

Today I felt very fallish (like lemurish, but more pumpkin spicy, heh-heh)  I got all the fall decorations out and started planning pumpkin spice bread and pumpkin cranberry muffins and other wonderful fall baking moments.

 

I think what started it all was this little glass turkey I found at Jo-ann this weekend.

Isn't it sweet?  My grandmother had one like it, (or maybe it was my great-grandmother, sort of  hard to remember now) and I just felt all mushy when I saw it. 

(Plus it was 60% off and I had a coupon so they practically gave it to me.

No. Really. They said, "Please, take this turkey and here's five dollars too"...

well, you know what I mean.)

The coupon I had was a teacher discount coupon.  If you're a homeschooler did you know that you can sign up for the teacher discount program at Jo-ann?

I don't  know about you, but I buy a ton of supplies there for school projects and crafty educational things.

There are all kinds of specials for teachers and you get a card for 15% off *all* your purchases!  You need a homeschooler I.D. card (like from your support group) to sign up in the store.

Or you can get an access code from PEAH (Parents Educating at Home) here if you want to sign up online. Neat, huh?

While I'm on the subject, another great place for homeschooler bargains is the Homeschool Buyers Co-op.

We've been able to get lots of great deals on educational supplies through the group buys they set up.  Plus they have a field trip database and free printable student/teacher I.D. cards for members. And it's free to join!

So back to my fall feeling.  I thought I'd share one of my family's favorite fall recipes and a little flickr inspiration too.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (can be replaced with applesauce)
2 eggs
1 15 oz can of of pumpkin (not pie mix)
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup of chocolate chips plus a tablespoon of additional flour.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Prepare muffin pan with grease and flour or use paper tin liners. (look at these cute ones! Or maybe you are the eco-friendly type!)
3. Mix sugar, oil and eggs.  Add pumpkin and buttermilk.
4. In a separate bowl mix together the baking powder, baking soda, flour, spices and salt.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
6. Add tablespoon of flour to chocolate chips and stir (the flour keeps the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of your muffins.) Add chips to batter.
7. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full with batter.
8. Bake in pre-heated oven for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on your oven.

And here is more fall decorating inspiration for you.  My favorites from flickr:

1. Fall Centrepieces, 2. Candle Light Glow, 3. Pumpkin Centrepiece, 4. Centerpiece, 5. Pumpkin Centerpiece, 6. more pumpkins!, 7. fresh pumpkin and white chocolate cupcakes, 8. pumpkin pie pumpkins, 9. Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins, 10. A Sea of Pumpkins, 11. Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes, 12. Scarecrows guard pumpkins at Matices Riversbank Farm Blenheim, 13. Thanksgiving Table, 14. Thanksgiving Table Detail, 15. thanksgiving decorations, 16. Thanksgiving Decorations, 17. Pumpkin family, 18. DSC07468, 19. autumn decor, 20. Cute pumpkins in Mishawaka, 21. Fall Cookies, 22. Fall Decorating, 23. Autumn's Bounty, 24. Fall Decorating

So have you started decorating for fall yet?  What are some of your favorite recipes or traditions?  I'd love to hear about them!

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"...the Word of God makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do."
-Psalm 1:2-4

so where were we?

It's a beautiful, crisp fall day outside; my boys are finally humming along in their new learning routines and I have received what must be the millionth (though probably just the ninth or tenth) guilt-inducing (and very sweet) email inquiring about my well-being.  So I thought I had better get to posting again.

Thus:

Tuesday Ten Returns in Triumph (with an extra three and photos no less!)

*posted on Saturday for old times sake*

one

I could go the rest of my whole life without hearing the names fannie mae and freddie mac *ever again*, how about you?

two

I wish the phone book people would stop leaving their 5 lbs of instant garbage on my doorstep. 

Seriously, phone book people...have you heard of the internet? Save a tree why don't you?

On second thought, maybe I should do this with it.  heh. heh.  pure marketing genius.

three

I'm teaching kindergarten and high school this year.

four

My head hurts a lot because of number 3.

five

I'm wondering why every time I blink it's almost Christmas again.

six

I'm so appreciative of all of you who have written and left comments inquiring about my demise.

seven

The rumors of number six have been greatly exaggerated.

eight

Socialism seems to be making a comeback.

nine

My head hurts a lot because of number 8.

ten

Here's a question, has anyone read Animal Farm lately???

(If you haven't  click here and read it for free.  I have no doubt you'll find it enlightening.)

eleven

I've been thinking about starting a bakery business because obviously I have nothing else to do with my time.

Plus I have some recipes for cakes, muffins and cookies that people offer me large sums of money to bake for them. (really...huge sums....)

twelve

And I figure, as long as I don't make more than $250,000 a year I should be super successful, huh?

Ok, sorry.  I'll drop the politics now. 

*think crafty*

thirteen

I've learned how to crochet!  Oh my gosh, so fun!  I'm just at the beginning stages, but I am *crazy* about yarn now! (just what I need a new crafty supply to hoard!)

Some of my flickr crochet faves:

 

1. Crocheted blanket halfway done!, 2. Pink and white granny, 3. sweet peas, 4. crocheted ripple blanket, 5. Mitten edging, 6. Irish crochet necklace, 7. Multi-colour Moebius, 8. Crochet baby blanket, 9. Crochet flowers, 10. Crochet tea cups, 11. crochet bottle cover - detail, 12. Colorfull Cushion, 13. now comes the oh so enjoyable task, 14. Aqua red Crochet, 15. wool crochet flowers, 16. colored crochet, 17. Crochet Bird, 18. Crochet Flower Garland, 19. Crocheted Ripple Throw, 20. My favorite crochet rug, 21. crocheted heart valentines card, 22. Granny triangle blanket wip, 23. crochet scarf, 24. longer trousers

fourteen

I used these free online lessons at Crafty Daisies combined with looking up video tutorials on youtube for stitches about which I was confused.

It took me quite a few squares that came out completely crooked and strange before I figured it out, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now. 

I'm making a pink & white (of course) afghan for my first project. These are the squares I've finished so far, all stacked up & pretty.

Look at this texture!  Isn't it wonderful?  I can't wait to curl up under this with a good book.

 

If you haven't tried crochet before you really should.  It's so easy once you get the hang of it and very relaxing.

Okay that's my ten fourteen...Hope you're having a fantastic weekend! 

Thanks again for all the sweet emails.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Jesus said to them, 'Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.' "
-John 14: 1