Hosanna in the Highest!

Palm Sunday. The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

There's my sweet Samuel, serving as acolyte. This morning, he lead the procession into church, carrying the cross as the children followed shouting their hosannas of praise. It warms this mother's heart to see her son serving in the house of the Lord.

In our adult Sunday school class, we have been following the video lessons from teacher Ray Vander Laan (from Focus on the Family) called That The World May Know: The Mission of Jesus. Ray takes his students on a tour of the Holy Land, teaching us about the historical importance of lessons, and connecting the dots between the old and new testaments. If you ever get a chance to see any of his videos, I highly recommend them!

Last week, he spoke of the concept of Triumph, and how it related to the Roman tradition and ultimately Jesus procession into Jerusalem.

Jesus triumphed over sin on the cross, and Jesus triumphed over death on Easter morning.

And now Jesus reigns as King...not our future king, but our very present king today. Not only king of heaven, but king of earth.

God's kingdom reigns wherever His word is accomplishing His work, where God is "kinging", where His will is being done.

I made this page in my bible today to remember that though the world seems at times like a dark place, Jesus rules this world with his grace and truth.

Hosanna in the highest!

Mapping The Garden

Last spring, I made the smart decision to map out my garden. I wanted a record of what seeds I planted and where. This helped me immensely as the season progressed. I learned a lot about what seeds did well in certain locations, and what seeds would no grow in other locations.

For example. the corner of the yard that gets plenty of afternoon sun seemed to be the best location for seed planting. Cosmos, zinnias, and bachelor buttons did well. The delphinium did not grow from seed, the marigolds were too spindly, and a few of the hollyhocks did grow, but not to maturity.

The opposite corner of the yard gets mostly morning sun, and it was not a good spot for seed planting. The marigolds and nasturtiums only began to grow and bloom at the end of the season, and they were spotty at best.

I will have to come up with a better plan for this shadier spot under the evergreens. If anything will grow here, it will have to be larger established plants that can handle part sun and part shade. Maybe hostas and impatiens...if the dog will leave them alone!

Most of the seeds in the herb garden did best when planted in pots, although the dill did grow from seed. In the end, I did have to purchase some chives and rosemary plants from the garden center.

Now that the season is winding down, I will take some notes on the back of these garden maps and store them for next year.

Recollections Creative Year from Michaels

Today I thought I'd show you some items I picked up this weekend from the Recollections Creative Year planner system at Michaels.

Originally, I went in to the store for just one thing (yeah, that's how it always happens!): this personal planner punch that I'd found after a lot of digging on the internet. And let me tell you, it's a very nice punch! Heavy and well made. The fact that it's gold and matches my Webster's Pages planner is just a bonus! I really wanted a punch that would allow me to make my own pages, dash boards, and dividers using all of the pretty papers I already own. This one will work very nicely, and it's a fraction of the cost of other punches sold online. Even better, use a coupon like I did and get it at a great price.

Of course, while I was there I happened to notice that Michaels carries a LOT of planner stuff now...Happy 365, Heidi Swapp, and their own in house brand Recollections. Stickers, stamps, binders, you name it.

I really liked the Recollections line because I knew it would fit in the Webster's Pages pumpkin planner that I already own. They did sell monthly kits in four different palettes, but none of them rocked my boat.

And then I saw these super cute journals. They have them in just about every category you can think of: academics, monthly budget, fitness, meal planning, and more. I picked up these four: Calendar, Spiritual, Journal, and Inspiration. These sell for 4.99 each, but this weekend they were on sale for buy one, get one half off. And did I mention I had a coupon?

I liked the calendar, and I was pretty sure that I had plenty of accessories from Simple Stories Carpe Diem to go with it. I used my sticker tabs to divide the months...easy.

The paper quality is really good, with nice tooth and no bleed through.

I liked the calendar for several reasons:

*It is undated, so you can start the calendar whenever you like.

*It features a month on two pages spread, which I find very handy.

*Following each monthly spread, it features weekly pages with plenty of room for notes.

* I like the printed colors of the graphics...clean and simple, so I can embellish as I choose.

Here's a look at the Spiritual Journal:

I really liked the simple prompts. I plan on using this now, as well as with the new women's bible study that begins at church next month.

Recollections also offers notepads with a side bar already punched for six ring binders. But I decided to cut off the holes and just slip it into the back slot of my planner. Perfect!

There it is: a planner full of happy! I'm so glad that I can use all of my Simple Stories Carpe Diem accessories with this system.

For now, I'm only putting my calendar and spiritual journals in my planner. I figure I can swap the journals out pretty easily.

It's that time of year when schedules become important. I'm adding new volunteer work to my monthly schedule, along with exploring some different social opportunities. The Fixer Upper is no longer requiring so much of my time, and Jemma the Yeti puppy is happily settling into routine.

Happy plans, cafe friends!

Gettin' Stuff Done!

 Ah, carefree summer! The time when schedules get tossed aside for road trips, bike rides, trips to the pool, and car rides with puppies.

And then the calendar flips to August, you realize you only have two weeks left until school starts, and you are in a mad scramble suddenly to get stuff done.

I realized this week that I was not getting nearly enough accomplished in my days. That's when I pulled out my Simple Stories Carpe Diem planner and got to work.

I am one of those people that needs to write it down if I have any hope of getting jobs finished. If I don't make lists, my day seems to go something like this:
*coffee, coffee, coffee
*maybe throw in a load of laundry
*is it dinner time already?
*time for bed

Take, for example, a simple mundane task like fill the hummingbird feeder. I forgot for three days in a row, only to remember each night around bed time. When I finally wrote it in my planner, I actually got it done. Silly, I know. But that's how I roll.

I've always used the two-month calendar spread faithfully, but my daily pages are often neglected. Not anymore! Now I'm using them to make daily lists of the important things (register for school, make appointments, return library books), and the not so important things (hummingbird food, weed garden, fill the pool for Jemma).

I'm feeling a lot more productive now. I can feel a momentum picking up speed as we head back in to the school year. I'm making plans to alter my daily schedule and structure of life...all good and positive changes that need to take place. I'm so glad I have the planner to help motivate me!

Planners and coffee. The perfect motivational tools.

Blessings on your day, cafe friends!

Creativity On The Go

It's been a busy summer!

We've had a steady stream of visitors and activity this summer, along with more than a few miles of road travel. And when I haven't been cleaning or cooking or driving, I've been in the garden weeding and watering.

It doesn't leave a lot of time left over for crafting, and when there is time, I'm not really keen on the idea of spending a beautiful day in the basement.

I put together a Creativity on the Go kit this summer. I gathered together a journal, a pack of watercolor papers, my new Prima watercolor pencils, a collapsible water cup, some brushes, and Prima water pens.

I found this bag in my closet just looking for a new purpose. Voila! Everything fits inside perfectly!

Now, on a nice evening, my husband and I sit on the front porch with drinks in hand...he with a book, and me with my bag full of goodies.

I'm using my journal to inspire me. It's part bullet journal, part scripture journal, with lots of lists and quotes and ideas thrown in to the mix.

I purchased these Prima watercolor pencils at the beginning of the summer, and oh are they ever wonderful! They apply to paper in a creamy, consistent fashion, and then blend so beautifully with just a little water. You can also combine colors for blending, and you can either apply pencil directly to paper, or you can pick up color directly from the pencil tip with a wet brush and paint. For about ten dollars, you can get a tin with a dozen colors. I think that's a great deal.

I made a few color swatches that I keep in one of the pockets of my journal for easy reference.

Creating outdoors, crafting on the road...savoring summer any way that I can.

Glory Art Scripture Challenge #4: Legacy

One of my sons, who shall remain unnamed, forgot my birthday a few weeks back. And then, to make matters worse, he told me that he made his father the beneficiary of his Roth IRA.

"That's it!" I told him. "First, you forgot my birthday. Second, you made your Dad the beneficiary? That does it! I am cutting you out of my will! You aren't going to inherit ANY of my stamp sets when I die! I'm leaving them all to your brothers!"

He laughed, and so did I. When it comes to worldly possessions, my sons will have nothing to fight over when I'm gone except who is going to post the photos of my craft room on Craigslist with the heading "Free To Good Homes!"

This begs the question: What will be my legacy?

My hope is that each of my sons will grab one of my bibles.

My one year chronological bible, where I wrote in the margins while propped in bed each night.

My journaling bible, where I poured out my creative offering to the Creator.

My tear-stained, coffee-splashed, worn out NIV bible that I bought at the bookstore of my St. Louis home away from home church more than ten years ago.

Three testaments of my faith. Three records of the journey God has brought me on in this decade of my life.

Deuteronomy 6:4 opens with the Shema, the great statement of faith of the Jewish people.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."

The Shema. The Hebrew word for "listen".

And then it continues:

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Here is our legacy.

When I walked in to our Pittsburgh home for the first time, I told my husband and the realtor that it made me happy. I didn't know why. It just did.

And then I met the sweet couple who had raised their sons in this happy home.

They made it happy.

It wasn't until we painted our front doors that I finally discovered the foundation for this happy home.

There, on the doorframe, I had discovered the spot where the previous owners had once mounted their mezzuzah.

In Jewish tradition, a mezzuzah is a small cylinder mounted to the doorframe where a roll of scripture is placed, in keeping with the command here in Deuteronomy. Through all of their comings and goings, they built their home upon the word.

This is the same legacy I inherited from my own parents, who studied the word and spoke about it with their children.

I have a family where I can talk with brothers about the theory that young David was really a pretty skilled warrior when he took on Goliath. I can sit at mom's table and hear my sisters speak with passion about their new missions and ministries.

And I can come home to my own table and talk with my own family about what it means to be a Berean, and how I had to testify to the visitors at my front door with the message of grace.

When we sit at home, and when we walk along the road.

When we lie down and when we get up.

This is the legacy of love. Because the word wasn't God-breathed. The word IS God-breathed. He breathes it into my life every day. It is there, like a breath of fresh air ready to fill my lungs.

To my sons: I'm sorry if you were hoping for earthly riches, but you know me. I spent it all at the craft store. Serves you right for forgetting your Mama's birthday! {just kidding}

I made this page today for Patter's Glory Art Scripture challenge!

Blessings, cafe friends!

Musings on Easter

I was sitting outside, singing hymns to Jemma the other day.

What?

Doesn't everyone sing hymns to their dog?

I figure if Father Tim could quote scripture to his dog, Barnabas, in the Mitford novels, then surely I can try singing hymns to Jemma to make her behave.

Right now, she's at that toddler phase of parallel play. She wants to play by you, but when she plays with you, it's usually inappropriately. Like biting. See? She really is like a toddler. I am constantly redirecting her behavior. It's a good thing all those skills from all of those years of teaching preschool can still come in handy.

So there I was, singing hymns to Jemma. And she seemed to like it, so that's good.

I was singing the words to one of my favorites, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

"Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
 The mount of Thy Redeeming Love"

And I started to weep, right there on the back stoop of the patio, with my dog playing in the sunshine.

It hit me. The mount of His Redeeming Love was right there, on the cross.

Have you ever wept for that kind of love?

If not, then you have to ask yourself if you are really seeking His presence.

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13:
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you."

It's pretty hard (okay, I will even say impossible) to look for Jesus and not hear him say "Here I am, at the cross. On the cross for you."

For all of my pettiness. For all of my selfishness. For all of my moodiness. For all of my brokenness. For all of my sin.

I find Him there, on the cross for me.

Redeemed. For me. Because He loves me that much. And because He loves you that much, too.

I made this journal page to remember that love. And I am laughing because I spelled Redeemed wrong. Apparently, only God is perfect, so I can quit trying. (Will I fix it? Probably. Because I'm OCD that way.) But see? I'm showing you my mistakes, so that means I'm making progress.

Praise the mount! It leads to an empty tomb! And because Jesus conquered sin and death, I have eternal life...today. I don't have to wait for it. It is mine. The gift of God's grace. His Redeeming Love.

Peace to you, cafe friends! Blessings on your Easter.