PAPERCRAFT MEMORIES

I just had to share with my readers. I found another blog that offers free, personal use WORDart and printables. All scripture used is KJV.
It's Karen over at Papercraft Memories. I am loving her designs. She will even make personalized gifts and cards.
You might want to stop on over and see what she has to offer!
Have an awesome and blessed day!
Beth :-)

PAPERCRAFT MEMORIES

HOW GOD SEES YOU

Not too long ago, while I was shopping at the Salvation Army (one of my favorite places to shop!), I saw this:

I am guessing it was a plant holder of some sort. It was very plain and unattractive. Yet, in my mind's eye, I saw this:

Much prettier! (I will be posting about this simple craft a little later).
Well, this whole experience got me to thinking. Sometimes, we feel like the first picture-simple, unattractive, not qualified or talented enough to work for the Lord-you get the picture.
Well, today, I just want to let you know that God sees you much differently. Although you feel like the first picture, He sees you like the second-a beautiful creation of His hands! You are special in His eyes. Did you know that the Bible says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.
He loves you so very much! Please don't ever forget that!
Has God been asking you to do something, but those feelings of inadequacy are holding you back? Do you want to do something, anything, for Him, but are homebound, have your life full and busy with small children, are disabled, etc? Look around! There are still alot of things you can do! Write cards of encouragement. Bake something and take it to the shut in down the street. If you like to talk, call someone up on the phone and let them know someone is thinking about them. Pray for people! Prayer warriors are always appreciated!
What if you don't feel qualified or talented enough to do what you know that God is asking you to do? Know this-He wouldn't be asking you if He didn't think you could do it. There are alot of people in the Bible who God called to do things they didn't think that they could do, yet they followed His calling anyway. Go ahead and do it! You won't be sorry!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

HANDWRITTEN NOTES-A LOST ART

A handwritten note. What is that? In today's society of social networks, email, etc., handwritten notes seem to be a thing of the past. It's a lost art. It's so much quicker to post to someone's wall on Facebook or send them an email when you want to tell them something. I am very guilty of this myself. When I tell myself that I am going to grab a piece of paper or note card, sit down and actually WRITE a letter or note, I quickly get aggravated at the slow process of writing. I have noticed that I am slowly losing my handwriting abilities. My hands tire quickly trying to hold the pen and write with it. My mind starts to wander to thoughts of just typing this note out. Stop!
Although messages through the internet are widely accepted these days, a handwritten note just says so much more. It tells the person that you are sending it to that they were actually worth the time that it took to write it. This also applies to businesses, as well. I am always impressed when I receive something that I have bought and find a handwritten note on the invoice or even on a separate sheet of paper, thanking me personally for my order.
Do you know someone who has recently lost a loved one, gotten married, had a baby or given you a gift? Send them a personal, handwritten note! As the pastor's wife, I try to send cards when one of our people are sick or mourning. I like to use blank note cards when I can, but if I use a card with a pre-printed message, I still write a short note on the blank side.
We also need to teach our children to write these notes. I have heard that some public schools are taking the emphasis away from handwriting all together, and focusing on the children's computer skills. What a loss! Children need to be taught to write thank you notes when they receive a gift, or when a friend or relative is ill or just feeling down, to send them a "cheer up" card.
Yes, handwritten notes are slowly being lost. But they don't have to be! Let's try to save this lost art! Send someone a special, handwritten note today and let them know how much you care.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

VBS, 2011-"TREASURE QUEST-PURSUING THE RICHES OF CHRIST"

At last! Here are some pictures from our VBS this year. The Lord blessed us tremendously! The children and adults all had a wonderful time.
The descriptions are below the pictures. If you need ideas, I hope that some of these pictures help. Also, I found the ideas at http://bogardpress.org/vbs2011/index.html helped us alot!

OUR SAPPHIRE GLACIER ROOM

TOPAZ RIVER ENTRANCE

TOPAZ RIVER CLASSROOM

ANOTHER VIEW OF TOPAZ RIVER

THE SANCTUARY

(WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL WHEN WE DECORATE THE SANCTUARY)

ENTRANCE TO DIAMOND MOUNTAIN CLASSROOM

EMERALD FOREST CLASSROOM

(WE USED BRANCHES FROM A COUPLE OF TREES BEHIND THE

CHURCH THAT HAD BLOWN DOWN IN A STORM)

OUR LITTLE ADDITION-THE GEM MINE.

WE HAD A "GEM MINE" THAT THE CHILDREN WALKED THROUGH. AFTER GOING THROUGH, THEY EACH RECEIVED A SMALL CLOTH BAG WITH DIRT IN IT. WE THEN LET THEM DUMP THE BAG INTO SOME SIFTERS (BEACH SAND SIFTERS FROM THE DOLLAR GENERAL-SEE 3 PICTURES DOWN). INSIDE WERE ABOUT 5 JEWELS THAT THEY COULD KEEP. THE CHILDREN LOVED IT!

Please let me know if these helped!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

AN ORGANIZED MOM (OR A REASONABLE FACSIMILE!) :-)

I was walking in Big Lots yesterday on my lunch hour, just kind of browsing, when I saw this 17-month Planner laying on the shelf in the school supply section. It was not just any old Planner, it was a "busy Mom's" Planner. Yes! Just what I needed. It was the only the only one of it's kind there. It was meant just for ME! Well, atleast, that's the way it seemed! :-)
So I bought this wonderful Planner. Now I am bound and determined to be THE organized mom this year. It starts in the month of August, 2011 (how convenient!). It is broken down by weeks, with spaces for notes, events, and, yes, even a grocery list. Now I can jot down during the week everything that I will need when I go grocery shopping at the end of the week. No more guessing, because I have a LIST.
No more missed homework assignments, appointments or school projects and reports! Everything in one convenient place.
Now, if only I can find where I put that Planner.....Just kidding!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Beth :-)

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2011-TREASURE QUEST

Wow! What a very busy couple of weeks we have had at the church! And it's not stopping any time soon.
Let's see...between weddings, wedding showers, baby showers, getting ready for VBS, regular church activities, etc, the time has flown by quickly.
Everyone is excited as we gear up for our VBS on Saturday, July 16th. I chose to go with Treasure Quest-Pursuing the Riches of Christ by Bogard Press this year. I have enclosed their link bogardpress.org/vbs2011/ . We always like Bogard Press as they use only the KJV scripture in all of their material.
Everyone always tells me that they wouldn't like to be the director. But, I'll tell you something. Yes, being the director is VERY stressful at times because you have to organize and get everything together and in order. But, when the day of VBS comes, even though I still am going back and forth making sure everything is running smoothly, I get to go to each area and watch the program unfold. I get to watch the teachers and children as they go through their day. I can mingle with all of the classes and talk to everyone.
For the past couple of years, we have done our VBS as a one-day program on a Saturday. Although it was hard at first figuring up a one-day schedule, it is finally at a point where all I have to do is just change the information from year to year. Finally, this year, Bogard Press even had a sample one-day schedule in their material. I believe alot of other churches are finally trying that route.
A one day VBS works out so much better for everyone involved. In today's society (unfortunately!), just about everyone in the church is employed outside the home. It is extremely hard to find volunteers for a whole week. Also, if one would admit it, the children are SO exhausted when it comes to the end of the week. Attendance is usually down by that time.
With our one day VBS, everyone is there for the whole program. The children get to hear all of the lessons. Do they actually learn their lessons? Well, let me tell you. When we do our closing program the Sunday night after, I usually have my teachers do a quick "question and answer" session with the children. You know what? These children can answer all of the questions! And, I might add, with great enthusiasm!
Well, I've got to go for now and start my day. I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed day. Please remember our VBS in your prayers. Please pray for salvation and life changing decisions!
Beth :-)

IDEA!

Last night I found out that my oldest son has a history report due on Friday. Now, I KNOW that no one else out there has been caught off guard like that! :-)! I guess I know what we'll be working on tonight. It's a good thing that he is only in the third grade, and that it only has to be half a page.
Aha! I have an idea that I think will work. I am going to buy a dry erase board for each of my boys and mount it either just outside their bedrooms by their doors, or inside their rooms (I haven't decided where, yet). That way, we can write down things that need to be remembered and done. As we complete each item on their "agendas", it can be erased. Yeah, I think that will work! We'll try it, atleast. That's the fun of raising kids. Always something new.
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thursday!
Beth :-)