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