Blogging Break… December 26, 2008

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to take a blogging break until after the new year.  We will be traveling a bit and I have TOO much to do before the CHA show in January.  I’ll have lots of good stuff to share when I return – maybe even some giveaways!

Happy Holidays to all of you!  See you in 2009!

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Merry Christmas! December 25, 2008

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the
Government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall
be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Merry Christmas Everyone…unto us a SON is given!  We are so thankful for everything in our lives and are so blessed to be enjoying this beautiful day with our 3 young children.  As you can imagine it’s so much fun to see the excitement in their faces and joy when they see that Santa brought them presents.  This weekend and next, we will join family and celebrate with them – we are thankful to be able to share in the spirit with our families.  Again, we are so very blessed and have the Lord to thank for all of it.

I’m hoping that all of you are enjoying this day.  I’ve been lifting up some people in prayers lately that are in need this Christmas season.  They are dealing with issues that I can’t even begin to know what they are going through.  Some of them have been listed in recent posts.  I ask you to think about them again on this day.  Prayers for peace for families in need and for Karen’s husband Mark.  Prayers of hope for families who recently experienced the fire.  Prayers of joy for the donor who donated $1,000,000 to the tenants of that fire.  Prayers of faith for those struggling with their lives right now with money and lost jobs.  Prayers of love for those who are lonely this Christmas season.  Prayers for many blessings for all of you in the coming year. 

My sister in law sent an e-mail recently with a friendly reminder of what we have and what we should remember to be thankful for.  It’s cute and simple, but it’s a great reminder…

I AM THANKFUL: 
FOR THE WIFE 
WHO SAYS IT’S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, 
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, 
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE . 
 
FOR THE HUSBAND 
WHO IS ON THE SOFA 
BEING A COUCH POTATO, 
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME 
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS. 
 
FOR THE TEENAGER 
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES 
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, 
NOT ON THE STREETS. 
 
FOR THE TAXES I PAY 
BECAUSE IT MEANS 
I AM EMPLOYED . 
 
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE 
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. 

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG 
BECAUSE IT MEANS 
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. 
 
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK 
BECAUSE IT MEANS 
I AM OU T IN THE SUNSHINE 
 
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, 
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, 
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME 
 
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING 
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT 
BECAUSE IT MEANS 
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. … 
 
FOR THE PARKING SPOT 
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING 
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION . 
 
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL 
BECAUSE IT MEANS 
I AM WARM. 
 
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH 
WHO SINGS OFF KEY 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR. 
 
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR. 
 
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES 
AT THE END OF THE DAY 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN 
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD. 
 
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF 
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS 
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. 
 
AND I AM THANKFUL: 
FOR THE crazy people I work with 
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun! 
            
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL 
 
BECAUSE ? IT MEANS 
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME. 

Thanks Kathy for sharing!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  May God bless you and your families.

More prayers needed… December 23, 2008

I just received an e-mail from my friend Karen concerning her husband…

Mark has been admitted to Dublin Methodist Hospital with a hemorrhage in his eye.  This was caused by extremely high blood pressure (245/140) and they said he was on the verge of a stroke.   The vessel in his eye is still bleeding.  He has been on an IV since about 2:00 and has had 4 shots of medicine to bring down his BP and it got down to 187/125 but, at 8:00 pm, 20 minutes after his last shot, it rose to 210/120.  He is still considered high risk and they are concerned that his BP is not lowering.  I just got home a few minutes ago.  Please say a prayer for him. 

Please say an extra prayer tonight for Karen and her family.

And the winner of the stamp set is…

#14 Sue – congrats!!!  I will send you an e-mail to get your info.

I saw a couple movies this year , can’t say either one was a favorite but I did see ” I am Legend ” on dvd and I really liked that one .

Thank you everyone for participating! 

That’s it for the giveaways this year.  Happy Holidays to all of you!  Wishing you many blessings in 2009!

Fun Bits for the Week

Fun Bits for the week of December 15th…

• First of all, I can’t believe I’m typing December 15th – yes, it’s even a week past that but where did 2008 go?  2009 – what? 
• I attended the Columbus Scrappers’ (shout-out) ornament exchange get together last week.  I received this beautiful ornament from Lynn (I think…someone please correct me if I’m wrong).  She drew the scene on this ornament!  She’s incredibly talented.  Pics of her ornament below.  I, on the other hand, just gave a pre-made ornament (can you say “loser”). 

• Brooke is attempting to say Kami now…it sounds more like “Mea, Mea”.
• Kami using the word “actually” like a big girl.  “Actually, I don’t want any more peas”.  🙂 
• Lily does not like this cold weather…she just shakes and shivers when she gets to the door.
• Leah participated in a Nativity story at her enrichment class.  What a cute shepherd she makes!   She had a speaking part and did great!

• Brookie…up to her old tricks (see below).

Take one bib out of the drawer…put it in a pile on the floor…get another bib…put it on the pile…get another bib…and the pile just keeps getting bigger.

Have a great week everyone!  Merry Christmas!!!

Need some help…please read!

Jana (who posts here regularly and has become a friend via Jillibean Soup) posted this on her blog today…

 

Destroyed

 

My mom, brother, and his girlfriend’ lives are destroyed due to a massive fire that engulfed their apartment and is a total loss.

 

They have nothing besides what is on their backs; my mom didn’t grab her purse. They get by barely pinching pennies, barely paycheck to paycheck, this is just life shattering.

DH and me are so helpless. We can’t get home due to work. We have nothing to send them. We have no places they can go. They are homeless, broken. I am so anxious: can’t eat, can’t focus, been organizing everything just to keep my mind busy. This is absolutely awful. Why? the minute my mom gets a tiny bit ahead, her world always comes crumbling down. Why???? I just want to flick off the big guy sometimes.

 

First of all, if you pray…please pray for this family.  Next, I want to help Jana and her family.  I feel a calling to help so, I’m asking all of you if you have “stuff” to donate, whether it be used pots n’ pans, bedding, clothing or gift cards…I’m sure they can use it.  I know many of you live out of state…if you have the opportunity to send a gift card, I will get it to them.  I know times are tough right now, but atleast we have food on the table and clothes on our backs.  Whatever it is, I am taking the donations and will find a way to get it to them (they live inMinnesota).  

 

UPDATE: Gift cards can be sent directly to…

 

C. Prall
637 McFadden’s Trail
Eagan, MN 55123

 

This is Jana’s in-laws.  They will make sure Jana’s family gets the cards.

 

Thanks in advance for your generosity.

 

Jill

One more giveaway… December 22, 2008

How about this adorable stamp set for Hero Arts?  I’ll throw in some Jillibean Soup too (some cute tree/bird papers and goodies to go with them). 

Comments, hmmm…what should be talk about this time?  How about movies…what was your favorite movie of 2008.  I don’t get to see movies very often, so when I pick one…I want it to be good.  Anyone have any good recommendations?  Leave a comment and the winner will be picked via random.org tomorrow at 9:00PM EST.  

Good Luck!