Fruitful? Or Needing Some Pruning?

Click to enlarge!

My lovely wisteria bush that is beginning to really blossom. Can't wait for a couple more days to see the changes.

The above picture is our flowering plum (or cherry) I can never remember, I would remember if it had fruit but all it has is blossoms then leaves, no fruit :-(

After typing that I thought about the spiritual application in that!! Oh the analogies I could go into but it's late! So,I'll try to put it in a nutshell....

It is of utmost importance that our Christian walk is not just for "show" there needs to be substance, which would be the fruitfulness in our lives.

(Read Galatians 5:13-26)

Is there fruit in our lives available for others to pick?? Are our branches heavy with fruit to share? Good questions to ask ourselves. Or do we need a little pruning?

I'm so grateful that the Lord gives us the privilege to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith or not. The best and only way to examine ourselves is in the light of God's Word. I encourage you to read His Word and meditate on it daily. Cultivate your relationship!

Have a super excellent and fruitful Monday,

Natalie

But also for this very reason giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowlege of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Sugar and Spice...

As you can see this blog is not about food!! Sorry...

It is about BABY GIRLS. My daughter Kelly, a niece Lara, a friends' daughter Jaimee, a friends' daughter-in-law Sarah, and a young lady at our church named Kayla (due any minute!) are all pregnant. All are having girls!! Five girls not one boy in the bunch! So, I'm getting myself busy with girlie stuff! My friend Tina's daughter is due in May and she is the second one scheduled to deliver. Her baby shower is next Saturday two states away so I won't be attending but my gift will. Which is why I'm writing. I finished my first baby girl project. Whoo-hoo!!! I posted a sneak peak of the beginnings of it a few days ago and

I've finally put the finishing touches and can call it good!

The paper I used is from DieCuts with A View "Nana's Nursery - Baby Girl" (I've stated the obvious!) and the chipboard album is from Bo Bunny. I'll share a little about the details/embellishing I did. Also I'd like to share that to adhere the paper to the chipboard I use "Yes!" paste a Gane Brothers & Lane, Inc. product. It doesn't bubble and I just prefer it. Dries clear and easy to clean up. I use an old credit card to smooth it out over the chipboard for an even coat.

The tag shown I sprayed (both sides) with Glimmer Mist (pink taffy), and I hand wrote the date of birth etc., then stamped "bundle of joy" with a clear stamp from Studio G and added ribbon.

I used my Cuddlebug to emboss the tag holder using the swiss dot folder, I also Glimmer Misted this paper and added photo corners of that same pattern paper w/o the "misting". I also addded eyelets to the corners. Hopefully if you can click and enlarge the photo you'll be able to see the details clearer. The Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels give the paper a really pretty shimmer.

This photo shows how I distressed the "A" with white paint around the edges and added the flowers. There are 3 flowers layered which I Glimmer misted and added the button (flowers/buttons from Making Memories) and the eyelets at the bottom of the "A" are from Making Memories, too.

Here is the backside of the "A" I had a leftover frame from an old baby kit so I added a bow to the bottom corner and a Scripture at the top (clear sticker) I left the side of the frame unattached so that it would be easy to slip a photo into it.




Ah, the letter "B" (I sound like Sesame Street!) Here I used a new technique. The wording at the bottom is a transparency and I painted the backside of it green to match the photo corners (Paper Shapers: Scallops). I saw that technique (painted transp.) on a blog recently and couldn't wait to try it.

I love this little stamp from an All Occasion Kit from Inkadinkadoo (Christmas gift from the kids!). I stamped it on cardstock then used a Zig pen to color in the petals, cut it out and added a tiny pink button. The white paper strip downside the "B" is actually the backside of a hot pink strip from Doodlebug's Paper Frills.

Here is the backside of the "B" and I've used an EK Success corner punch on the cardstock mat corners. Did another painted transparency, this time in pink and added 3 small flower buttons.

(I love this next page, probably because I was winding down.... and it was the last one!!! And if you have read this whole blog, I applaud you!! Thank you cause I know it's long. I hope you'll leave a comment)

The pattern paper had some yellow in it so I choose cardstock to match then painted around the edges with pink and added white dots. The daisy is from an EK punch and I added a green button. I also cut two strips of paper from a coordinating sheet from the line (Nana's Nursery) and made a border. Looks like I cut it off at the bottom when I took the picture.

I wanted to share this last little "delightful detail" I used white embroidery floss (doubled) and tied a bow, used a glue dot to adhere the two diaper pins and used another glue dot to adhere the pink button. Just a fun little embellishment that made me smile :-)

That took quite some time to post (whew!), longer than it' going to take you to read, thank goodness!! I appreciate you looking and I hope I've inspired you in some small way!

And Everything Nice...

Natalie

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Baby "Boy" Chipboard Album keepsake

Just had to share the last chipboard "Baby" I did using Nana' Nursery - Baby Boy. This was for my nephew Haven. The chipboard album is from Bo Bunny.

(click on photos to enlarge to see the details)

This last page I put a little note for him on a tag that talked about starting small, he was a preemie. I wish I had saved it and I forget where I got it from!!

I used my Cricut and the New Arrival cartridge for some of the diecuts.

Have a blessed day! I hear the birds chirping outside!!

Natalie

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Baby Chipboard Album

I'm finally being "crafty" it's been a couple of weeks!!!

Here is a sneak peek of a project I'm working on. Hope to finish it before Friday.

It needs to be mailed to Washington State in time for a baby shower.

This is a BoBunny chipboard album and I'm using the paper from

DieCuts With A View "Nana's Nursery - Baby Girl"

These are fun to work with and I love to embellish them with all sorts of goodies! When I have the finished product I'll definitely post the results. I did this once for my great nephew and it turned out wonderfully, I even had pictures of him to put in it that I had taken.

Blessings!

Natalie

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing. But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

Whatever!

It's a beautiful day today (see the blue sky!) Chilly but sunny!

(click to enlarge)

The buds are beginning to open! Just as our lives are a beautiful blossom in this world and hopefully a fragrance of life to those who don't know Christ.



I love this scripture:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Join me today and let's "wallpaper" our mind and hearts and meditate on that Word so that we can bloom for Jesus!!

Loving God's instruction!

Have a blessed day,

Natalie

A Time of Refreshing! Relived...

I've been neglecting to get pictures posted from my trip. But finally I'm motivated to do so! This is a long post so I hope you can stick it out!!

DAY ONE:

This is Highway 101, approx. one hour north of the Oregon border.

Some of the photos turned out great but most of them were not as good as I had hoped. But here is my photo journal of my trip to Nashville. It starts in Humboldt County (Northern Calif.) where I begin my drive to Oregon to meet my friend Donita in Yoncalla. From there we drive to Eugene, Ore. to fly to Denver then on to Nashville

. This is the beautiful California coast near the lagoons. It was a perfect day for traveling and the beach looked so pretty!

I'm still on the coast driving through the Redwoods near Crescent City, Calif. .

This picture was taken north of Grants Pass, Oregon (Interstate 5) I'm about an hour away from Yoncalla, Oregon.

DAY 2: On the plane. We are just getting ready to make our descent into Denver. Yes that is snow covered mountains, an airplane wing and a scratchy window making a poor quality photograph!

Yahoo!! We made it to the Opryland Hotel!! Yes you do see correctly that is a waterfall outside the french doors off the balcony!

And this bed was as comfortable as it looks. I almost needed a step to get up into the bed!

DAY 3:
Breakfast at the Cracker Barrell

Shopping at the Hotel

Shopping at the Bass Pro Shop at Opry Mills Mall (this picture was taken for my husband and son's benefit!)

That evening Donita and I enjoyed being ministered to at the Lifeway Women Event called Between Us Ministers' Wives : Called, Equipped, and Encourage. We met and heard some wonderful women teach and encourage us as pastors' wives. The breakout sessions were excellent. I just got my CD's in the mail today! Now I'll be able to listen again to the teaching and absorb all over again!

I believe the hardest thing about being a wife of a pastor is that people tend to forget that we need encouraging, too. A kind word of encouragement goes a long way!! We get caught up in the expectation of others and get overwhelmed(and overworked)! We also must minister to our husbands who are spread so thin that they are exhausted too! And when there are church problems, we know that there are sleepless nights ahead! The incredible thing about this calling, is that the Lord gives you strength to endure, He expands our hearts to love all the more, and gives wisdom and discernment to lead. If this was just a job I probably would have been looking for new employment a long time ago! You see, ministry is a joy and I'm so glad I'm set free to serve Jesus Christ with joy, peace and total victory!! But I must keep my heart and mind steadfast on Him and His Word.

Beth Moore's Ministry "Living Proof Live" (on Friday & Saturday)top

Donita & I! (middle)

Julie & Emily from Missouri (bottom photo)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Embraced in His loving grace,

Natalie

Welcome Spring....or Not!

There were dark menacing clouds this morning, as I looked out my front door. However, that didn't dampen my spirit! I'm still feeling revived and refreshed from the Ministers' Wives Event!!! It was fun reliving the conference with some of our ladies this morning as I was sharing a little bit of the teaching I heard and the encouragement I received! I brought back a real nice canvas book bag for the ladies that are so faithful in teaching the kids in Sunday School and Kids Church. Thanks Annette, Stephanie, Sharon and Susie for your faithfulness every week!!! (and they loved the bag!)

I can't believe the turn in weather! How fickle spring weather can be! Snow level is down to 2,000 feet.

We are a little above sea level but we still feel the effects of it. Brrrrr with a capital "B" we even had a hail shower as I was getting ready to walk over to the church. I don't know why I'm surprised I can remember when I was in high school that it snowed the last week in March at sea level, it was a memorable day, I was getting my braces off! It's rare to snow in Eureka (where my orthodontist's office was located) which is right on the coast but it actually snowed at the beach, it was a strange sight!

My camera's not the greatest but you can see the hail leaving it's mark here in my backyard.

Well, this afternoon the hail is all melted but the cold remains! I think I'm going to snuggle under a blanket with a magazine and just rest a bit before the evening service. It would be nice not to have to go out in the cold but... I'm the pastors' wife! I'm called and I've been encouraged! I guess I will sneak over there and turn up the thermostat :-) I know the ladies won't mind that at all!

This is certainly not the most exciting post and if you've managed to read to the end, I just want to say "bless your heart!" Keep me in your prayers, I've got to get my part of the "tax stuff" together for our appointment on April 3rd. But if I hurry and get it together then I can get back into my scrapbooking mode and create!!! I'm missing that a lot. Have a wonderful day and stay warm and dry!!!

Embracing His Grace,

Natalie

And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Welcome Spring!

Welcome....to you and to Spring!

Yes! Spring is popping out all over my yard! That means there is major work to be done!! Speaking of which, my son just got here, he's been laid off from his work (he just got his building contracting license last month) for a week so he's going to help us out by doing some of the yardwork and clean out the gutters (bless his heart, I think I'll sneak and get a picture or two of him working - I'm sure he'll be thrilled about that one!!)

Here are a couple of pictures I took this morning. It's an overcast day, I'm waiting for the sun to spring out some of that warmth we had for the last two days.

This first picture is of our flowering plum tree. You can barely see the pink buds but by next week this will be covered with darker pink buds then it will turn to light pink blossoms, it is gorgeous. So my plan is to do a weekly or perhaps daily journal and share with you all the beauty of this spring season here in northern California! Since yesterday there have already been changes!!

This is the wisteria that surrounds my back porch. There will be purple and white flowers and it is beautiful. Can't wait for another month before it's in full bloom. The thermometer says 50 degrees out. Brrr still a bit too cold to sit on the back porch with my coffee.

Well, that's all for now. I hear the lawn mower (my son, Sean!) in the front yard doing his thing! I'd best get my self dressed and sneak out there with my camera!

Have a super blessed day!

Natalie

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men the Lord is at hand. Philipians 4;4-5 (my scripture to memorize )

Nothing is more Sacred

I've just returned from the Ministers' Wives Event in Nashville and what a wonderful experience. I not only was ministered to but I came away refreshed and reminded that God has chosen me to be the wife of the pastor of our church and that God is not sorry He chose me! This calling can be aggravating at times but I choose to trust and seek God's approval not man's. I can look back on my life and see how God has been drawing me to this place of service and I'm so grateful. Even through the hard times I'm going to choose to be thankful. Anytime you work with people and so many different personalities you can expect "titanic problems" and I'm so glad my God is so much bigger!! One of the many things that Beth Moore shared was to "Keep the King the Thing: JESUS" We work for God and nothing is more sacred!! I want to thank the women from Lifeway who shared their hearts at the Called, Equipped and Encouraged (pre-event to the Ministers Wives Event) that was an incredible time as well. I just wish I could have attended more of the Breakout sessions. The host church Two Rivers Baptist Church and their Women's Ministry were wonderful, a huge thank you to them.
I was privileged to meet some incredible women! I had a great time with my friend Donita Walker, also a pastor's wife and I know we both learned and were encouraged so much. (And we laughed so much! I'll have to write later about our experience at the Nashville airport!) Thanks to Pat Champion who was so gracious to pick us up at the hotel and take us back after each session. She and her husband are church planters in Nashville. God bless you, Pat!! I got out of my comfort zone and went over and introduced myself to "Georgia Jan" who I recognized from Lisa McKay's Preacher's Wife blog. What a sweet lady and I can't wait to check out her blog. We also met some young ladies from Missouri, adorable girls and funny!! We had fun talking with them: Hi Julie and Emily if you are reading this!!! Okay, I really have to get off the computer and get ready for work... I would love to spend time just reconnecting with those I met but I've got to head out the door and get to work. I'm going to end this post with a HUGE THANK YOU to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you Lord for allowing me to go to this God-ordained event. I'm blessed among women!!

"Cleared out voices
Heard God speak"

Love In Christ,
Natalie

Nashville

I'm so excited to be in Nashville, Tennessee for the Ministers' Wives Event!! I drove about 6 hours to my friend Donita's and we flew here tonight from Oregon. The pre-event begins tomorrow (Thurs) evening (it's now Thursday in Nashville, but not in California!!) It's so good to be back at my favorite place: Opryland Hotel. What a beautiful "getaway" Well, tomorrow we do a little bit of shopping then it's off for ministry encouragement! We are so looking forward to hearing Beth Moore share her heart with us all.
Blessings to all!
Natalie

Girls of Grace

Hello!

I wanted to share a little about my Sunday School Class. My class consists of 5 young ladies ranging in age from 9 to 13. They are so dear to me! What a joy to teach them about the Lord. These girls are so precious, they love the Lord and have a real knowledge of God's Word. I thought it would be fun to have a name for our class and they came up with "Girls of Grace." I'll have to post some pics of them later on but I wanted to share what I am teaching them because not only is it fun but it will be a keepsake for them. We are learning some of the attributes of God and we are making a booklet (using the Bind-it-all). We take two weeks to study each attribute and I got this idea from Patter Cross (http://triplethescraps.blogspot.com/) She has quite the following on her blog and has a Scripture challenge as well as His Holy Name challenge. I've taken this and adapted it to the younger girls and it has been an excellent study as we are learning some of God's attributes. It's also generating talk around the dinner table (part of their homework!!)

Here are four of the attributes so far (these are my samples, and are not nearly as creative as Patter's!) Some of the stamps I've used are from Inkadinkadoo and Unity Stamp Co. The papers are Basic Grey, Making Memories, Bazzill cardstock.

This was the first week: Holy

Class 2: Sovereign

Class 3: Protector

Class 4 : Righteous

This is a fun project and lots of scripture is involved. As I said earlier, I adapt the lesson to be age appropriate and add other ideas to it for the girls to do during the week. For example: Listen for a song on the Christian station about "Righteousness" and there are suggestions for things to discuss around the dinner table with parents (name some Bible stories where God protected His people was one from last week!). It's pretty simple stuff for home but it keeps them thinking about God and His goodness to us. I also communicate this with the parents so that they know what to expect and they seem to be excited to participate as well! Our class time is too short to finish the 6x6 page so they have decorated tin pails to take their work home in. It usually takes two weeks to finish the project. I provide all the materials, (paper, glue stick, 2 zig pens, some embellishments) but if they take them home they can use items from their own craft supplies.

Just thought this was a fun thing to share and maybe you work with kids and are looking for something different, yet a little challenging. This may be the perfect blend! Definitely check out Patter Cross' blog and see all the creative things that she does, it will inspire you.

Well, I'm off to the Minister's Wives Event in Nashville. Leaving tomorrow to meet up with another MW and we are flying out on Wednesday. We are so excited to be going, I can hardly contain myself!! It's going to be a long flight and a long drive tomorrow so I'm going to say good night - sleep tight!! Please keep me in your prayers.

Embracing God's Grace,

Natalie

Ps Granddaughter Riley came and visited on Saturday, she's a doll! Hope someday she'll be in my Sunday School class!

I'm Back! Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Hello friends!

I'm so excited to be back in the blogging world!! My guest room/scraproom/office has been vacated and I can now create!!! Yippeee!!! I felt like I was going through withdrawls.... that's not a good sign, of course I'm joking, but I can see my tendencies to overdo! I consider myself a pretty balanced person so it was an eye-opener! Moderation, moderation, moderation! I enjoy this so much (scrapbooking, writing, being inspired by other bloggers, etc.) it's my "getaway" from my busy life. I just don't want my priorities getting skewed.

I've been reading a lot of other blogs and there has been a theme of making lists of what makes you happy, so I'm going to get on the bandwagon here before I post my layouts...

First, I want to share a scripture from Proverbs 16:20
"He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he."

So, here goes!
#1. The LORD

2. My family (husband, kids, grandbabies - not always in that order - ha!)

3. Reading the Bible and coming to a Scripture that really ministers to me for that moment of time so I know the Lord is speaking to little 'ol me! Just makes me want to shout with joy - if you've never experienced this - there is nothing like it! It makes me realize that this book just isn't written by mere man but is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

4. First sip of coffee w/cream in the morning! (I say "Ahhhhh")

5. A finished scrapbook page

6. any chocolate (as long as it's without coconut)

7. playing the piano (by myself no audience but One)

8. Opening up the boxes of freight at Scrapper's Edge and seeing all the new scrapbooking "stuff" it's like Christmas every week!!!

9. good harmony in a song

10. a good fitting pair of pants that make me look smaller (ha!) haven't found one of those in awhile! Of course it may not be the pants....... blahhhh!

11. A CLEAN HOUSE (that should have been up in the top 5)

I'm going to stop there! Cause I could go on and on and on and bore you to tears!! But I do want to say that the word "happy" for me is determined by what's "happening" so I'd rather have "joy" that is from a contented spirit - and I truly have that and it's a wonderful gift from the Lord!

So here's what I've been working on (and it makes me happy because it's pics of my grandson Jakob's birthday one year ago) what doesn't make me happy is that it's taken this long to get to it!!

This is before I attached anything - I took a picture because there were a lot of layers and I wanted to get it back in the right order: The layout is from a sketch from CMK's Friday Formula 3/6/09. http://www.createmykeepsake.com/ (sorry the pic is so busy, but that's what my table looked like!)

ALL the pattern paper comes from PINK PAISLEY's Captivating line. http://www.pinkpaisley.com/ Isn't it beautiful!

Here is page 1 of a 2 page layout:

Here are some of the Delightful Details:

On the next image I had a "swirl" of chipboard in my stash so I traced the design onto cardstock so I could have duplicate images. I like to repeat designs, color or embellishments on my layouts, it's just what I do! After cutting them out, I painted them Expresso (Making Memories) and then sprayed them with Tiger Lily (Tattered Angels) Glimmer Mist. It's hard to see but they do "glimmer!" It's more noticeable on the other pictures at the end.

Obviously I've used buttons to embellish but I did add a blue ribbon and brown rickrac (American Crafts) underneath for the layered effect. I LOVE my Xyron Create-a-sticker for attaching my ribbon!!! The blue "celebrate" came from my stash and it's metal.

"Fun" I did on the computer at the church and I'm not sure of the font, I forgot to write it down, sorry! But it's on a transparency as is all the black writing on this layout. (except my own journaling with I did in my own handwriting) The blue cardstock was cut out from a Marvy punch. Can you see the glimmer on the swirl?

Here is the second page to the layout: Again the PINK PAISLEY Captivating line and the alphabet stickers are from that line as well. I outlined them in black because they were hard to see. It says "Babycakes (left) So Sweet (right) The "Happy Birthday" is a transparency I did on the computer. The blue scallop I did on my Cricut and I used the Celebration cartridge. I inked the edges with Tim Holtz's Antique Linen Distress Ink, then added a little tail of ribbon from American Craft, I wanted to highlight the birthday cake. It was so cute!

Here are the two layouts together and hopefully will soon be in an album!

Have a great weekend and I'm going to head back to my craft table!!!

Blessings,

Natalie

PS. I hope to get in another post before I leave for Nashville on Tuesday for the Minister's Wives Event! I'll be gone for almost a week counting my traveling days... I think I'll be too busy for withdrawls :-)