Card #10-Mojo Monday #211–Happy Birthday

Today is my daughter’s 26th birthday!  We’ll be celebrating later, but for today I want to show the card I made for her.

 

I used the Mojo Monday sketch and it came together quite easily. 

 

The flower in the corner?  I *MADE* that!  It was so simple and as soon as I read about it on Stampin’ Pretty’s blog I knew I had to try it.  The only problem with finding something that cool and that simple is that I fear I’ll be using the same flower on everything I make for awhile.

Supplies used for card: stamp from Stampin’ Up’s Well Scripted set

** Linking to Mojo Monday, Make It Monday

{Saturday Stumbles} 10/15/11

This week I’m going to share some of the bedroom ideas I’ve found on Pinterest.  Really some great inspiration out there and it continually amazes me the level of creativity of people!  Just click on the photo to go to the blog of the person that did this and read their entry in its entirety. 

 

I *love* the quilt on this bed!  I know she’s showing the picture for the whole room, which is sooo pretty, but I’m mostly enthralled with the quilt.  It just goes to show that even a simple pattern can look stunning.

 

I’m in love with this lampshade and the most fun thing about it – for me – is that I had bought a lamp at a garage sale and was unhappy with the shade.  Now I know exactly what I plan to do.

 

This says so much to me and I definitely am going to do this in our room.  Isn’t it amazing how something “simple” can be so awesome?

 

Right now we play Words With Friends a LOT, so I really think I love this idea.  Not sure what word I would use, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.

 

Enjoy!  And if you’re on Pinterest let me know so I can follow you!

Brooklyn Loves Weddings

We recently were so thrilled to attend the wedding of a young couple that just mean the world to us.  Danny has been a friend of my son’s since they were in the 8th grade.  I always felt close to him because during the 8th grade I picked them up from school and took them home every day.  You don’t spend that kind of quality time with kids and not learn a thing or two about them!

And through the years we’ve gotten close to his bride, Rachel, as well.  They’ve spend several weekends at the lake with us and again, you don’t spend that much time with people without getting to know them!

This wedding was made extra special because my son was the Best Man, daughter-in-law was a Bridesmaid, and granddaughter was the Flower Girl!

 

This is little Brooklyn after the wedding was over.  She did a spectacular job of dropping the rose petals down the aisle.  In fact, she was very, very meticulous about the whole thing!  {love her little shoe peeking out from beneath her dress}

 

Our son and daughter-in-law….aren’t they beautiful?  The fun part of this picture is that Brooklyn took the picture of her parents!  Of course, grandma did assist a little in the post-processing, but nobody really needs to know that.  Love, love this picture of the two of them.

 

This picture makes me giggle!  We discovered that little Miss B LOVES to dance!  She was on the dance floor for practically every dance and her dance card was never empty.  Here she’s dancing with Grandpa and the camera caught her in a bit of a mid-twirl.

 

This picture dad was trying to get her to look at the camera, but she was very intent on “Gotta Dance!”

It really was a night to remember.  These are the times that a person feels truly blessed.

{Review} Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards

Zombie Church
by Tyler Edwards
211 pages
Kregel Publications

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  There is something missing in the church today. Stuck in a rut of routines and rituals, the church is caught up in doing what it is “supposed to do” but is lacking the true essence of what it is supposed to provide: life. Real faith--and a real relationship with Jesus--is not about playing by the rules, attending services, and praying before meals. Real faith is more than religion.

Believing there is a way to breathe life back into the church, Tyler Edwards adopts a contemporary and entertaining metaphor--zombies--to highlight and challenge the problematic attitude of today’s believers.

Written for the discouraged, disenfranchised, and anyone unsatisfied with their same-old church routine, Zombie Church challenges readers to turn away from hollow religious practices, which characterize “zombie Christianity,” and turn toward a radical relationship with Jesus.

While other books have addressed legalism in the church, this is the only book that effectively capitalizes on a popular entertainment genre in order to diagnose and correct the problem. Realizing that even his own church is part of that problem, Edwards has written an accessible and often humorous book that will help believers change the Spirit-draining (or life-draining) habits that stop them from achieving a full, fulfilling life in Christ.

 

MY REVIEW:  I’ll be the first to admit that the title is what made me look into this book.  As the mother of two 20-somethings and a family of zombie fans, this caught my eye.  When I read the back of the book and saw what it really was about I was thrilled.

Instead of being a book content to throw stones at churches that “do it wrong”, Tyler Edwards gives us both the diagnosis and the cure.  I found myself actually taking notes while reading this book and pondering his thoughts late into the night or while driving to work.  The church is definitely ailing and maybe if we’d all take a hard look at ourselves and begin within it would be our first step.

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but I can say wholeheartedly that this book should be read by all.  The smaller thickness of the book might fool you into thinking it will be a fast read, but the reality is that there is so much content in those pages that you will want to ponder and reread quite often.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Tyler Edwards is the lead pastor at Cornerstone Christian Church in Joplin, Missouri, where he works to help people learn how to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and look like Jesus—so they carry out the mission of Jesus to the world. He graduated from Ozark Christian College with bachelor’s degrees in both Biblical Literature and Christian Ministry. He has written articles for Lookout Magazine, spoken at various campus ministry events in Missouri, and served overseas in Mbale, Uganda.

Tyler loves cheesy horror films. He is particularly fond of movies like Dawn of the Dead, The Signal, and 28 Days Later, where zombies run wild and threaten to infect an entire town. Connect with Tyler on Facebook.

 

The publisher is sponsoring a $50 Amazon.com giveaway!

About the Giveaway! To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about Zombie Church or share about it on Facebook!

If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use @litfuse. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let us know (info@litfusegroup.com).

Not sure what to tweet/post? Here's an idea:

TWEET THIS: Zombie Church by Tyler Edwards - a fair-minded & tenderhearted critique of the church http://ow.ly/6Nv05 @litfuse RT for $50 to @amazon

FACEBOOK THIS: Don’t miss Edwards - a fair-minded and tenderhearted critique of the church. http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13424384 Written for the discouraged, disenfranchised, and anyone unsatisfied with their same-old church routine, Zombie Church challenges readers to turn away from hollow religious practices, which characterize “zombie Christianity,” and turn toward a radical relationship with Jesus. Share this for a chance at $50 to Amazon.com

 

** Thank you to Litfuse for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest review.  Click here to see what other reviewers have to say about the book.

{WIP} Wednesday

So many wonderful projects in progress, so little time!

 

I *finally* got the muslin and batting cut for the first square in the Christmas Stitchery Banner Sew Along (do click through and see what the finished project will look like – I’m excited!)!  Traced the first pattern, then since it was late in the evening and dark (and I was already dressed for bed) I decided not to go out in the backyard to spray the basting spray.  Instead I went in the garage and thankfully at the last minute grabbed one of the old bath towels to set the fabric on.  Let me tell you something – basting spray is VERY STICKY!!!  Worked like a charm on my project, but I ended up throwing away the towel.

I’m behind on this stitchery, but have to say that once you get to the point of stitching it goes oh so fast.  And this weekend I’m heading out to a crafter retreat with girlfriends and I’m going to bring this with me for those times when I just don’t want to have to think.

 

This is the Melody scarf, still with very little progress.  I see that I posted it in WIP Wednesday on August 31 as the ball of yarn and wow see how much is done now!  What happened though is that I cast on over Labor Day weekend and knit during a movie. At the end of that time my arm/shoulder hurt so bad that I put away all knitting until last night – oh the horrors!  I think I’m going to take it a little slow to start and see how we do. The Malabrigo Sock yarn is a dream to knit with though and so hard to put down.

 

No Progress:  (both projects found here)

* American Girl Doll dress
* Scrapbook Challenge Project

 

New Projects – Ahem….:

* Bloggers BOM Quilt Along – I kinda sorta bought some fabric for this…..

* Christmas Cards for OWH – the prototype is done and I plan to make the remainder of the cards during my retreat this weekend.

* She-Knits Mystery KAL (Ravelry link) – so even though I can’t really knit right now, that doesn’t seem to stop me.  She-Knits does such beautiful patterns and she has a new mystery KAL that starts November 1. I kinda sorta bought the kit for it, but in my defense the yarn is by Studio June and in addition to loving her yarn we met her at The Loopy Ewe Spring fling this year and she is delightful.

 

** I’m linking to Freshly Pieced for her WIP Wednesday, where I might or might not have found some new projects…….   

{Review} Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy

Reclaiming Lily
by Patti Lacy
373 pages
Bethany House Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK:   A storm the size of Texas brews when Gloria Powell and Kai Chang meet in a Ft. Worth hotel. They have come to discuss the future of Lily, the daughter Gloria adopted from China and the sister Kai hopes to reclaim. Kai is a doctor who had to give up her little sister during the Cultural Revolution and has since discovered that an inherited genetic defect may be waiting to fatally strike Lily.

Gloria's relationship with her daughter is tattered and strained, and the arrival of Kai, despite the woman's apparent good intentions, makes Gloria fearful. Gloria longs to restore her relationship with Lily, but in the wake of this potentially devastating diagnosis, is Kai an answer to prayer--or will her arrival force Gloria to sacrifice more than she ever imagined?

 

MY REVIEW:    Once again Patti Lacy has given us a book with characters filled with such depth that you hate for it to end.  The first Patti Lacy book I read was The Rhythm of Secrets and from that moment I keep an eye out for her books as I know she will not let me down.

The book opens with Rev. and Mrs. Powell in China, having arrived to adopt a baby.  Upon arrival they are told that there are no babies, and through disappointed eyes Mrs. Powell spots Lilly, a ten year old girl that she knows  they were meant to adopt.

Fast forward to “today” when Joy (Lily’s new name) gets into serious trouble and the family gathers around, including her new to her older sister Kai.  Kai seems to be just what this family needs as they struggle through tumultuous times…or is she?

This book receives the full 5 stars from me as I was fascinated right from the beginning.  The story goes back and forth between continents, cultures, families and time in history.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   Patti Lacy graduated from Baylor University with a BS in education and completed master's-level courses in English at Indiana State University. She taught at HeartlandCommunity College until May 2006, when she resigned to pursue her passion of writing. The author of three previous novels, Patti is the mother of two grown children and lives with her husband in Normal, Illinois.

For more about Patti and her other books, visit her website at www.pattilacy.com.

 

WIN A KINDLE TOUCH FROM PATTI LACY!

Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book, Reclaiming Lily,  with a KindleTouch Giveaway, blog tour and FB Book Chat Party!

Follow the blog tour and read the reviews!

Patti and her publisher, Bethany House, are giving away a Reclaiming Lily prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!!

Enter the Reclaiming Lily Giveaway and you could win:

• A brand new just released KindleTouch with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift cetificate to Amazon.com

But, wait there’s more!


Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/19! Patti will be announcing the winner of the Reclaiming Lily Giveaway at her Party on Facebook October 20th! She’ll be hosting a book club chat of Reclaiming Lily (it's okay if you haven't read it - you could win a copy!) and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Amazon.com, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on 10/20/11 at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)! RSVP today!

 

 

** Thank you to Litfuse for providing me a copy of the book for my review. Click here to see what other reviewers have to say about this book.