It's Official Autumn is Here

It's officially Autumn! I know this because my husband turned on the heater this morning!! If he turns the heater on you know that the mornings are cold!! Brrr! It is a cool one it says 39 degrees outside so I guess I will have to resign to the fact that summer is over. It was a quick two weeks, let me tell you (ha!) I actually love the beginning of fall, the leaves turning color, the cool mornings and evenings, the days stay comfortably warm until the middle of October, I can live with that! Driving thru the redwoods is beautiful and although they don't turn color the others around them do and it's a beautiful sight! Definitely a photo opportunity waiting to happen! Marcelle has a wonderful devotional that she's written over at Christian Paper Crafts concerning the leaves turning and being fruitful. She lives on the east coast so she is particularly blessed with changing seasons. Here we are surrounded by the majestic redwoods and although there is a beauty about them they are evergreens so we don't see them change color, however I'd like to share an analogy about them as well. This giants grow in groves, clustered together for a reason. Their root system is very shallow and it goes out rather than down and they intertwine with one another. I find this fascinating because when the wind storms come they gain strength from one another so that they won't topple over. I love that this is how the body of Christ should work as well. We get our source of strength from Jesus through His Word then in turn reach out to others to interwine our lives with them and get strength through those wind storms of life. An isolated life is not only lonely but is not healthy (spiritually speaking) either. The Word of God says, "that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." (1 Corinthians 12:25) The apostle Paul writes a lot about this in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, I encourage you to read it today. Well, the grandbabies are arriving for the day so I'll close for now be sure to check out the card Chelsea has made to give away for WAIT ON THE LORD WEDNESDAY at Christian Paper Crafts, she is so talented and has such a giving spirit!

Wait on the Lord Wednesday and the Dreaded Wednesday Workout

Can you believe Wednesday is here and almost gone!! Speaking of gone, I'm running into a creative brick wall! Ugh!! I'm having a hard time staying focused. Although I am just about done with the 20 altered notebooks for our Ladies Retreat! But I want to do more in the way of creativity!! Ahh... can't force it! I'll just keep doing the rounds of my favorite creative blogs to get inspiration! And choose a few challenges to incorporate into a card or layout! I'm still trying to do my own notebook with this weeks wonderful Sketch Tuesday! Alisa has a very cool sketch posted, I just need to buckle down and do it!! Can't wait to get my package from Cindy at Christian Paper Crafts so I can do my share of designing with the team!!

Can't let the day get away without posting about WAIT ON THE LORD WEDNESDAY be sure and check out the cards that Chelsea's made. You can find one at CPC and one at her blog here. Please read about this wonderful card ministry and then leave a comment at Christian Paper Crafts or on Chelsea's blog. You have until next Tuesday 11:59p.m. to get your comment in to qualify for this weeks card. Just a reminder for you to leave a prayer request so that we can lift that need up to the Lord!

Well, I can't end this blog without sharing that I'm still staying on track with the weight loss and exercise plan. Today is applicably named "Kill-Her" Wednesday Workout, it's the day I get together with my oldest daughter to workout. (and I'm not sure if she's trying to kill me, or I'm going to kill her.... of course I'm joking!) But I think she intensified the workout tonight and told me (as I was leaving) she wants me to do 10 pushups or did she say 20 daily? Do I dare ask her... if I don't do the 20 then next week it will show in my workout, I just know it! So, the good thing she said is I can start out trying to do just one regular and the rest "girl" style from my knees but do them in increments of 5 throughout the day and then increase the number of regular ones. That sounds easy enough, right? right? come on now... right? I guess I'm needing some convincing! I will share the good news: I've gone down a size! Whoo-hoo!!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

I Might Have Car Lag...

Hello!

I'm so late in posting this weeks challenges from Christian Paper Crafts, I guess I have "car" lag! Can I use that as an excuse? You all have heard of jet lag, right? We returned late Sunday evening after being gone for a few days up in Oregon. Here it is Wednesday and I'm still trying get my "crafty" side back in the creative flow! I think it will hit me on Friday! I've got two grand babies all day on Thursday (today as well) so I probably won't get too much done in the way of creating unless it's getting down on the floor and playing cars and making roads out of miscellaneous objects! And that is okay by me :-) I do that a lot!!! So in the meantime let me get you caught up on the fabulous challenges going on!! I hope you will venture out of your comfort zone and play along with us and when you do be sure to upload your creation in the gallery for all of us to see over at CPC! Don't forget the membership drive that's going on too! This is an opportunity to win some fabulous stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs.

Monday Color Challenge by Janette Olen: This week your colors are to use:old olive, ruby red, and more mustard This should be a nice fall combo for you. Please feel free to use anything close to these colors for your papercraft. You can create any papercraft that you like for the challenge and there is no time limit to play.When uploading to the gallery please use the keyword CPC-CM20

Sketch Tuesday by Alisa:

Here is this weeks sketch. Use it to inspire your layouts, card making or altered projects this week! I can't wait to see what you create! Twist it, turn it and make it yours! Don't forget to tag it with CPC- St21 when you upload to the galleries!

Love this sketch!!! CPC-ST21

Wait on the Lord Wednesday here is Chelsea's message to you:

Hi all! Thanks for stoppping by! We are on our fourth week here with Wait for the Lord Wednesdays! If you are new to this RAK that is each week here and on my blog, then feel free to read the first post HERE. It might help you understand just a bit more about this ministry that I believe the Lord wanted me to lead. Here is this weeks card made by Chelsea:

Is this not a beautiful card? Chelsea has such a heart for the Lord!

To God be all the glory!! Enjoy the rest of your week and I hope you'll visit often!

Wait on the Lord Wednesday

Can you believe it's already the third week here with Wait for the Lord Wednesdays! If you are new to this RAK that is each week at Christian Paper Crafts and on Chelsea's blog then feel free to read the first post HERE.
It might help you understand just a bit more about this ministry that she believes the Lord wants her to lead. You must check out this weeks card it is beautiful! Have a wonderful day!

Wait on the Lord Wednesday and How About a Thought Closet Makeover?

Hi and thanks for visiting!! I'm so glad you stopped by.
Today is Wait on the Lord Wednesday over at Christian Paper Crafts so be sure and check out what Chelsea is doing, she has a beautiful card this week to give away and you can find the details: Here Don't wait, go check it out!!

Our Ladies Morning Bible Study just completed the series "Me, Myself and Lies" a study by Jennifer Rothschild. We have been learning that our thoughts can be so destructive and we aren't even aware of it. (for example: have you every called yourself dumb or stupid.... see what I mean?) Did you realize your words can either build up and promote life or tear down and disturb your spiritual growth? We speak words to ourselves all the time! What are your words saying to you, today? This study was excellent to help us recognize what we were speaking to our souls. Jennifer shares practical ways of applying Scripture to overcome destructive patterns. We truly enjoyed our "thought-closet makeover!" Be sure and check out her blog HERE .

Count down to our anniversary: 3 days!

The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gently, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 (NASB)

Wait on the Lord Wednesday

So glad you are visiting!! I've got some great news to share.

Something brand new at CHRISTIAN PAPER CRAFTS. Design Team member Chelsea Cook (http://hapemome.blogspot.com/) is sponsoring a wonderful card giveaway ministry! Here is what she says about the ministry of "WAIT ON THE LORD WEDNESDAY"

"I know there are a lot of people out there that could use a cheering up, encouraging words, words of wisdom and to know that Jesus loves them. That no matter what they go through, they are loved and have something much greater to look forward to. Do you know someone who is down and blue? Maybe has just lost a loved one? Lost a job? Has been diagnosed with a disease? Is ill? Has given up hope? Feels like they don't have a place they belong? Is concerned about the paths someone dear to them has chosen? This is our chance to let that person know that we care and that the Lord cares.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Hence the name for this ministry. He is always there, always hearing your cries, and your praises. He knows the desires of your heart.

Each Wednesday I will post a new card (or maybe cards) that I will be giving away. I would love to hear your stories - who would you give this card to and why? This could be an opportunity for us to pray for that person as well. I believe in the power of prayer and I know many others do as well. You will have until the following Tuesday night at 11:59 pm Pacific time to post your comment to this thread explaining who you would like to give this card to and why. From those comments, I will choose a story that has touched me. Then, on Wednesday I will announce the "winner" along with the reveal of the new card (or cards). Then, I will be in contact with the winner and they can choose to have me type something inside the card and I can mail directly to the person they desire. Postage on me."

So please check out the Wait on the Lord Wednesday at CPC and see the beautiful card Chelsea has designed for this weeks giveaway. Also visit Chelsea's blog for even another opportunity to win a beautiful handmade card for someone who is in need of a gentle reminder that Jesus loves them.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you, what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21