Bad Apples

Just the other day I was feeling so completely weighed down. It seems that everything around me is being negatively affected. I see people that have been stricken by misfortune and tradgedy, others by illness, and some experiencing life changing events that affect others. It has really opened my eyes to see that no matter what you hear, say, see, or do, it has an affect on someone else. Some things are positive, but it's the negative things that leave a lasting impression on someone. It really is true that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch; but I feel like it doesn't have to! If you see the bad apple, and you know it's going to affect the others, do something to stop it. You could take the bad apple away and toss it, but first, check closely to see if part of it still isn't salvagable. You could leave the bad apple and remove the rest so that they don't become contaminated. That's what elementary minds do. You know what I'm talking about. The idea that "You've got cooties" so everyone avoids you! I'm of the frame of mind that you should save the bad apple, carve away the part that isn't good and then all the apples can bake together and they sure make one tasty apple pie! Isn't that what God does to us? As christians, we are to be in the world but not of it. Some christians would have the "bad apples" plucked out, and other christians would avoid the "bad apples", but I think that both of those solutions are not quite what God had in mind. He wants us to figure out how to make apple pie by trimming away the bad parts of all the apples.

Ph.D. Certified

I received my Ph.D. certificate and pin in the mail today. Now I have to paper to back me. I finished my Close to my Heart degree program a little over a month ago. I am now a certified Creative Advisor for Close to my Heart. The fleshly part of me says, " It's about time somebody recogonizes my abilities." Honestly, I am humbled. It's my creativity that I use most to work for the Lord. He blessed me with my talents and He can certainly take them away. I hope that I may always use my gifts to honor and glorify Him. Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon me thru sharing my creativity.

My first technique class starts this Saturday. Words can hardly contain how excited I am to finally be fulfilling my passion of teaching others how to be creative. This group will meet monthly to learn new techniques to help enhance their scrapbooking. Contact me to learn how you can learn these techniques too!

God's Orchestra

When I was a young child, I played the clarinet. For the greatest portion of that time, I was first chair. But no matter how good I might have been, I could not have effectively played it if the instrument was not working properly. In psalms, we are told to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Imagine you are an instrument...who's playing you? Is it God or someone else? How much sweeter a sound you would make if you are played by the master. Grow weary out of use. Don't waste away from apathy. Play in harmony. Are you in working order? Life has a way of bumping us around knock us out of tune, but that doesn't mean that we can never be in one accord. Sometimes we need an adjustment. We can be repaired through forgiveness. Are you producing a joyful noise unto the Lord or is God having to assign your task to someone else because you refuse to be an instrument for Him?

God on the mountain

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

We had a blast on our vacation, my only regret is that it was over way to soon. We were gone nine days in all, but when you are blessed with the goodness of God's hand, you just don't want to leave it.
As soon as we returned I began working on VBS stuff. I'll save that for another entry. For now I want to share a little from my travel journal with you.

We made it to the park about 5:30 pm CST. We stopped at Wal-mart in Broomfield on our way to the park to buy food and other things that we needed for our stay. We got the tent and the canopy set up shortly after arrival. Upon entrance to the campsites, we saw 2 bull elk drinking from the brook. While the tent and canopy were being set up, an elk was close enough to our campsite that the kids and I walked up to it within 20 feet. It was the first of many elk and other animals that we saw while here at the park. While driving down the road, we had to stop to allow 3 mountain goats to clear the roadway, and another time we just missed some elk that had crossed the road ahead of us. We have seen mule deer, and been close enough to feed a chipmunk. We have enjoyed seeing the various wildlife that are indigenous to this area.
I think my favorite part though has been the view. It is amazing and breathtaking. I try to capture it's beauty with my camera, but I just don't think a picture can really do justice to what the eye can see in this case. I love the sound of the nearby rushing water. While in the tent at night, it is especially soothing to fall asleep by.
On the first full day we were here, we went for a drive around the park. Last time, we only drove to the hiking trail heads. But this year, we decided we would see what else was around here. As you drive along the road, you gradually increase in elevation. You get to a point where you are atop the mountains and you can look down into the valleys. It can be a scary drive if you let it. There are no room for driving mistakes. Most of the roads are on the edges of the mountains, yielding a wonderful view, but dangerous drive. There are several areas along the roads that you can pull off, park, and just take it all in. We stopped on the side of the road in one place where the snow was higher than the van on one side of the road and the terrain was green on the other side.
Continuing on a little further, we pulled off at Forest Canyon and we were able to play in the snow. The kids built a tiny snowman. They had snowball fights, and we all enjoyed a little laugh at papa's expense. He stepped out into the snow, lost his balance, and went down face first up to his shoulders into the snow. It was only funny because he wasn't hurt, and his reaction would have even made a humorless person laugh.
After enjoying some of the scenery, we came back to the campsite and ate. The kids were out playing in the empty field area next to the campsite when the Park Rangers asked them if they wanted to be Junior Rangers. They gave the kids an information booklet that includes the instructions for obtaining a Junior Ranger badge. I went over the park rules and some of the things they had to do in order to earn their badge.
Needing to do a little laundry and to take a shower, we decided to drive down into Estes Park to a laundromat. We washed clothes and took showers (at the same place). Then we went into Loveland, to Wal-mart, for some things that we had forgotten. We made it back to the campsite at nearly dark. The kids had just enough time to write about the events of the day in there trip journals.
On Wednesday, we had pigs in a blanket for breakfast. A little charred on the bottom, but still edible. As soon as breakfast was over, Gary put on a stew in the dutch oven. Papa sat with it while Gary, the kids and I played. We tried to teach them to jump rope. They lack a good bit of coordination. I'm still not sure that they ever figured it out really. Then we got the flyer (fancy frisbee) out and tossed it back and forth to each other. At one point, I took the kite out and put it together and then flew it for a little while. I guess the kids are still a little to young to grasp just how to fly a kite. It was the first time I had ever flown one, and I really didn't know how to teach them to fly it. One of the kids went and got the ball so that we could play kick ball, but it started raining. That's when I decided to take this moment and record some of the memories from the trip so far. Currently, I have taken 420 photographs since we crossed the Colorado border.
This is only a portion of our trip. There was no internet connection there, so I just saved it into a file and added to it as I could. I ended up with over 1,000 photos in all for the whole trip. Some of them are very similar to each other. I have decided that I am going to have to create a book for this trip alone, and just take a few of the highlights and add them to our annual scrapbook album. I may post a photo here periodically from our vacation, so check back often.

Help me tell their story!

For some time now I have been seeking God's guidance and direction in regards to how I could honor and glorify Him using my talents. After the recent passing of my niece, I was asked to create a scrapbook for her mom. Until that time, I really hadn't realized just how important a legacy I was involved in. I have been scrapbooking for 9 years now. With the pieces being revealed to me a little at a time, the picture is starting to form. I see how I can use my talents now. I am starting a Nursing Home Ministry. The plans are to seek out the stories of the elders before they leave this world. It's common knowledge that most people in a nursing home are on a limited budget and are most likely there because they can no longer care for themselves. I am seeking donations or contributions for scrapbook supplies for this ministry. I have been in touch with several major scrapbook manufacturers, and of the ones that have replied, none are able or willing to donate. But I am not going to let that stop me. I have posted a thread on www.Tallyscrapper.com and on www.twopeasinabucket.com and a few of the ladies there have been so kind and gracious as to donate from there personal supplies. May God bless them for there efforts. With plans to visit at least monthly, those supplies won't last forever. I know that God will supply according to His riches in His time, even if that means I am only able to sit down with a spiral notebook and write their stories as the tell me.

If you want to assist with this ministry, contact me and I will send you the necessary information, and if you aren't sure how you can contribute, simply PRAY for this ministry.