Working for the Lord

Good Morning! I'm so happy that I get to share another page of my desk flip book today! I started my book as part of the Scripture Challenge hosted by Lori. You can find the details here in her original invitation.

It's brought me so much joy to able to work on this project, so Ephesians 6:7 was the perfect verse to add this month. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. What an awesome reminder!

This past weekend was a great example of Ephesians 6:7. God has opened doors for my church, Christ Community Church, to partner with my school, Chesebro Elementary. I call it my school, but really I'm just the Office Assistant. ;) God brought me to Chesebro late last school year, in mid-May. With a population of 260 some students, more than 65% of our families are low-income. It's simply impossible to work there and not feel the desire to do something for, and with, the students and their families.

Over the weekend, my family, along with a dozen other church members met at the school to host a pancake breakfast fundraiser to help send the fifth graders on an overnight field trip to a nature center. It was a wonderful morning of fellowship and service!

My older boys were flipping pancakes, making juice, washing dishes and asking, "what else can I do?" From the kitchen, amongst the cracking of eggs and sizzling sausage came chatter and laughter from busy church members. Fifth grade students happily served guests. My younger children were busy making new friends with some of the kids from Chesebro that they'll go to middle school with in the coming year. The cafeteria was buzzing with families from the school and the church visiting with each other. And with God's blessing, in just a few short hours, we raised what was needed for the trip. Praise God!

I hope you'll take some time to join in the scripture challenge this month. If you do, please be sure to leave me a post with a link to your design! Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day! :) ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps- SU! Garden Collage
Paper- Basic Grey Periphery, SU! Old Olive & Whisper White
Ink- SU! Chocolate Chip & So Saffron
Embellishments- Dew Drops, Primas
Other- SU! Pastels

An Award

Thanks Juli!!! What an awesome surprise after a long day! You totally made my day! (((hug))) Thank you!

Here are the rules: In order to display this "You Make My Day Award" proudly on your blog you must re-present it to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know through email or by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware, you may get the award several times yourself, and if you do, consider yourself really, really loved.

Here's my list: (BTW, it's really hard to choose just 10). I visit these blogs each and every day, even if for just a minute.

1. Priscilla
2. Paula
3. Angel
4. Beate
5. Lori
6. Laurie
7. Lindsey
8. Sharon
9. Julia
10. Juli

These women are truly an inspiration and I appreciate their willingness to share not only their beautiful work, but also their hearts with the papercrafting community. You REALLY do Make My Day! Hugs~ Patti

Live Your Bliss

What does that mean exactly? According to Wikipedia...Bliss is a state of profound spiritual satisfaction, happiness or joy.

The birds outside my bedroom window always sound like they are in a state of profound happiness, crooning their lovely songs of praise as the sun starts to peek over the horizon each morning. I thought this bird from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore was a perfect match with the PTI Mixed Messages saying "Live Your Bliss"

In Matthew 6:26-27, Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

So, Live Your Bliss today and rejoice in knowing that God is watching over you, mindful of your every need... and sing His praise! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps- Inkadinkado Birds Galore, PTI Mixed Messages
Paper- SU! Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste
Ink- Versamagic Midnight Black, Stampin' Pastels
Embellishments- SU! Black Organdy ribbon, Queen & Co. Black Vine Felt

Tag, I'm It!

I've been tagged by Kim at http://basementstamper.blogspot.com/. Kim's blog is really nice, with lots of great card designs!

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment on their Blog.
2. Post the rules on your Blog.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself on your Blog
4. Tag 7 random people, linking to their Blog.
5. Let each person know by leaving a comment on their Blog.

Since I've done this before, I'll try to keep them short and sweet.

1. I believe that strawberries are God's perfect fruit. Yum!!!
2. Sunday is my favorite day of the week!
3. I'm a huge fan of LOST. Love it!
4. I color my hair...Clairol Natural Instincts Toasted Almond.
5. I like Jane Austin movies, but have yet to read one of her books.
6. I seriously dislike rodents. Ratatouille creeped me out!
7. I'll be 40 in June and I'm mostly OK with it. ;)

Thanks for the tag Kim! Now to tag 7 more people...
1. Priscilla
2. Paula
3. Juli
4. Angel
5. Lindsey
6. Corie
7. Anyone else who wants to play along! :) Be sure to leave me a comment with your blog link if you do!

Sing a Song of Thanks

Hello! :) I don't know about you, but my week sure has flown by! I think the next couple will too. We have a lot on our calendar. My son, Justin and 14 other young men from DeKalb High School recently received first place in the midwest region acapella competion. They are now one of four groups that will be competing at the national level in New York this month! We are so proud of them! They work countless hours practicing and perfecting their songs.

Mr. Travis Erikson is their Director and he has been such an inspiration and encouragement to the group. But there is also another person, behind the scenes, who does a tremendous amount for our boys. She's the music secretary, Angel Smith. Angel has been on the computer and the phone for two weeks now, finding plane and hotel reservations and looking for things for the boys to do while in New York. She's also been working on press releases and fundraising and keeping all of us parents up to date on things. I have come to appreciate her so much and wanted to let her know by sending her a card.

My new Inkadinkado Branchful of Birds stamp and Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste paper from Jacksonbelle Embellishments were the perfect combination for my design. The birds are embossed with clear EP and Chocolate Chip Craft ink. The saying is straight from the Fleuriste 8x8 paper pad. The faux stitching was done with my Crafter's Tool Kit from SU! And how 'bout those Dew Drops!? This is my first time using them and they are fab!!! I used SU! Crystal Effects to adhere them. (It only takes a drop!) After assembling my card, I sprayed the whole thing with Sugar Cookie Glimmer Mist. Love it!

With all of the details in it, this was such a fun card to make! Hope Angel likes it. :) Thanks for visiting! ~Patti

Project Details
Stamps- Inkadinkado Branchful of Birds
Paper- SU! Baroque Burgundy & Chocolate Chip, Cosmo Cricket Fleuriste
Ink- SU! Chocolate Chip Craft
Embellishments- SU! Clear EP, Mens Dew Drops, Making Memories ribbon, Sugar Cookie Glimmer Mist

The Winner Is...

...#6...Paula! No foolin'! ;) Paula said...

Hi Patti! Our spring break is this week. Our sons are very similar it seems, because Mark just got to Montana yesterday for a mission trip at the Blackfeet Indian Reservation there. I'm glad you are back to blogging. I like visiting your blog and seeing all of your lovely creations!Let's see. My favorite weekend activity is not working! Haha. I work every third weekend, so I do enjoy the weekends I am off. I like Sundays mornings. We go to church as a family.(which doesn't always happen when I work, since I usually go alone on Saturday night when I work the weekend) After church we usually go to Panera and pick up some coffee and. Then we enjoy paper together, and just relax a bit. Sometimes we go to Evanston to visit Daniel at school. It's especially nice along the lake if the weather is warm.:)Thanks for the chance at the blog candy! You are too nice! Paula

Thanks Paula! I think our families are pretty similar. Boys, scouting, church, stamping... ;) I agree, Sunday mornings are the best! Church, family and going out for lunch is a favorite around here too. I'll get your goodies off to you soon! Thanks for playing along everyone! :) ~Patti

Bloggin' Buds

Isn't this card adorable? My friend Priscilla made it for me. She's so sweet! One of the many things that Priscilla and I have in common is that we "don't do mornings". I need to leave for work at 8:05 am and I have my morning routine down so I don't have to hear the alarm scream until 6:40. Allowing me just enough time to walk a mile with Leslie (Sansone), shower, eat breakfast, dress, do my hair and make up, take my multi-vitamin and let the dog out and back in, all the while checking with the kids to make sure they are doing what they need to do while getting ready for school. Whew! Of course, that does not allow any time for a morning crisis, so we just don't have them. LOL


Besides not being morning people, Priscilla and I also share a love for the Lord, our families and stamping. ;) In addition, Priscilla recently decided to join the wonderful world of blogging and since she is one of my dearest friends, I am excited to share her blog with you. You can see her delightful designs at http://2kidmommy.blogspot.com/.

I would be remiss if I didn't offer you two other terrific blogs to visit. The first belongs to my friend Paula. We met nearly 6 years ago at a SU! meeting hosted by my upline. Paula and I hit it off right away. I always enjoyed visiting with her at our meetings each month. We got to hang out and play the slots together at Convention in Las Vegas and shared a table at Regionals in Milwaukee with several of our other stamping friends. I don't get to see Paula as much as I'd like to which is why I love the fact that she has a blog! I've always admired her lovely cards and I really enjoy hearing what's going on with her and her family. You'll find Paula's blog at http://www.stampinspy.blogspot.com/.

The second belongs to my friend Juli. Juli is a part of my SU! group, Pure Inkspiration. We met at the SU! workshop of a mutual friend about 5 years ago. It was during SAB and Juli ordered a LOT of stuff! She also asked a LOT of questions! Which prompted me to ask her if she would be interested in joining the SU! family. LOL Well, after a few days of some serious prayer, Juli said yes and the rest, as they say, is history. Juli 's got such a genuine, caring spirit and her enthusiasm for stamping and SU! is highly contagious. You'll see what I mean, when you visit her blog at http://www.stampinjewels.blogspot.com/.

It's so fun to have bloggin' buds! Now if only I could get Amy and Tina to join us. ;) ~Patti