How is your Glass?

Is it half full, or half empty this topic has been on my mind in the last week. Lord what are you trying to tell me? Where is this leading? So I began by looking at my life right now at my glass. I could say it's half empty, but then I thought how can it be half empty if I serve a God who quenches the thirst. Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. There are times that in the midst of the storm I am reminded to be still. So I have to say my glass is half full, my faith in Him reminds me each day that I am in His presence. John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
I took a photo of a glass half full, and today when I went to create I began cleaning my scrappy table but as I began putting my scraps from past projects this is what found on my desk. So I decided to work with what was on my desk. Thanks for stopping by.

Beauty & Faith blog Hop

Welcome to the Loved by God Faith Blog Hop! We are so blessed to have you be a part of it. If you arrived from (Nicole's) blog you are in the right place. If you just happened to have landed here, go on over to www.nanacampana.com so that you can catch the beginning of the hop and get a chance to win a spot on the Ashes to Beauty Program (a $597 value).

This month we want to share with you about the beauty we find in Christ through Psalm 45:11 "let the King be enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is our Lord..".

I am again honored to be part of this blog hop. I want to share how God has begun a transformation in me and showing me what real Beauty is. This past week I had an opportunity to speak to Nana on the phone, it was the first time and it was a scheduled call. I was getting prepared writing my notes prior to questions I thought she would ask "like what ashes I wanted to turn to beauty" Oh I thought I was ready, but not so. I was having a really bad morning and though I knew she was going to call I thought God please don't let her call me cause the truth is I'm not ready. It's really a bad day, and she is going to hear that. Well she did call, I did tell her it was a bad day thinking she would say " I can reschedule this call" but she didn't and I am so glad. Remember those notes I took, out the window they went. LOL. Nana thought it was a good time she called being that I was having a bad morning. She prayed for me, and then she began to ask questions about what my dreams were? yes can you believe it, I thought me or in my walk with God. She said we are talking about you, truly it took me aback a little. I will share just a little of what I told her, I wanted to be able to teach women. Wow did I just say that I thought, Yes I did. Of course it would be crafty, but it would be to use your Art as a healing process. Whether to journal, to create so you can let go of what binds your heart. Wait!!!!! Stop the brakes right now, you have shared too much I thought. Next question is what holds you back? NOOOOO I thought why is Nana making this so difficult, but it was not Nana it was God at that very moment showing me that I am not completely healed. I told Nana that I was afraid of being rejected, of not being good enough. OMG I am thinking Dolores don't do it, don't share your fears. I am so glad I shared, I realize that the fears I had were of a little girl not being wanted, of a little girl who was made feel rejected, of a little girl who felt abandonment. I grew up and still somewhere in my heart I was this little girl. After speaking to her I had a real heart to heart with God, and I had never before questioned why would God allow this to happen to this little girl{ME} I cried and asked why? but our God is such an awesome God that when looking through His word I found He had never abandoned me. My heart was broken as a child, and as an adult I had not allowed God to completely heal those issues that scarred my heart. So here is the beauty of having faith is that God has transformed, and restored this heart so that I may be able to teach. What an awesome God I serve. I feel that a heavy burden has been lifted from my heart.

thanks for stopping by and don't forget your next stop is

Marjolaine Simard Walker:

Here is the list of beautiful and bold women sharing their stories and talents:

1. Nana Campana

2. Wendy Swenne

3. Nicole Griggs Brenna

4. Marjolaine Simard Walker:

5. Tammy Bartlett

My Mojo is back....

I have really enjoyed these past few days just taking out a little ME time to create. Today I submitted one of my layouts so wish me well. Hopefully it gets picked up, if not it was so much fun to create. Here are a few of my layouts, thanks for stopping by.

OLW {One Little Word}

{Strong} that is the word I have chosen this year. I discovered a Faith Based Blog Adore Him Creations: One Little Word through faith blog hoppers a group on Facebook. One of the members named Diane Marra is the creator of the Adore Him Creations blog. I was so excited because not only am I still able to create, but I am encouraged to continue my journey in Christ. I love that we have to follow up with a worksheet. In other words I am accountable. I want to share why I have chosen Strong.
I have to say that 2011 was a bit challenging, but in October our family decided we would begin our journey with the Lord. Oh and let me tell you there are some that may not be happy, but what is my life without God. I know it's going to be a struggle, there are going to be obstacles but I know I need to be strong. Some will judge, and that's alright cause God has my back. Dt: 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Definition of Strong- Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.
When I see this I think who more powerful than God, no one He can remove the heavy weights and this could be what lays heavily in your heart, your mind. I thank you for reading, and being part of the people who continue to encourage me.

Wow me MIA!!!

Well I know it's been awhile, but the Holiday season always takes a toll on me. For some this is probably the happiest season, for me it's been like the Holiday Blues. I don't know if it's the season, the weather, or more than likely is memories I would rather forget. So today I decided to brave the blogging world and give you a year in review both personal and crafty wise. As many of us scrapbookers do I started this year with a word for the year that word was GROW. Can I say that I thought at first it would be scrappy wise, but I have grown. What do I mean by this, well not in inches, but just at look at my life a little differently. It was not an easy year at times, but I was able to take action in a more positive way. I seeked council, I asked for help physically and emotionally, but most of all spiritually. I remembered that prayer always helps, I decided to ask God yes God to help me with the issues I was having with Chris. Can I say how that prayer continues to be answered in so many ways, step by step. My son Chris has an awesome MSC(Medicaid Service Coordinator) Jazmene. She has helped us in so many ways, from respite programs, to now we have a home attendant on the weekends to help with Chris. This is a blessing, the funny thing is she doesn't feel she does enough, Girl let me tell you , she has given me peace of mind. There were times when I knew I was losing it, and I would call her and cry, scream, but yet she listened and I think at times cried with me. So for this I am thankful that God put her in our path.
In prayer I also found my way back to church, and because of that change my son has been so much better, he is calmer on the weekends especially when he is at church it's like a peace comes over him.
This year has been difficult, and yet I am blessed. What you may not know is that my husband had an accident on the job, this has not been easy. It's been about 4 mos, of him being home still trying to recover from his surgery. It's a long process, but yet I'm blessed because he is still here.
Oh and did I mention somewhere that I'm going to be a Grandma, I know I didn't lol it still sounds weird, but you see how I have been blessed. I am so looking forward to May and holding my first grandchild. I will really be scrapping then!!! lol

Scrappy wise I was able to be part of the She Art Classes, I really enjoyed being creative using paint and really looking within my soul. Christy Tomlinson is an amazing teacher if you have never dabbled in her art classes you really have to just give it a try. You will be amazed at what you create. It's truly inspiring. Girl it's all about you!!!
I have not recently created but, I do have a lot of scrappy new stuff to play with. I already have a New Years Day planned with my sister in law to just create. Looking forward to digging my hands once again. With that said here are some of my favorite projects this year.

Being Thankful...

I am thankful to have these hands. Yes you have read correctly, let me share why. You see God has blessed these hands. These hands went from holding my mothers hand to being a mother and nurturing my own children. These hands were held by a grandfather who adored his granddaughter and taught her love. These hands were burned by a father who taught her fear, but these hands learned that abuse was not passed on. With these hands I took and oath to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. These hands learned to caress, to show love, to create, to cook, but more importantly these hands have learned to lift up high and praise the Lord in the Good times and in the bad times. Many times as a child these hands covered my face in fear, these hands held my tears then, and hold them now. These hands wipe away the tears, but OMG when God is in the midst those tears are somehow turned into joy. Because even at my lowest these hands have been able to seek God. So I am thankful for what God has allowed my hands to do. thanks for stopping by....

My Paper Treehouse is having a Being Thankful Faith Blog hop, you can follow along and be blessed by all the testimonies the ladies have shared.

Winner of Whom Shall I Fear Blog hop...Blessed layout

First I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments. As I read them I was not only blessed, but also encouraged. It's awesome to be part of a group of sisters who love God, who are not afraid of what people will say. Who would have known 6 yrs ago when I began scrapbooking that my passion for this art would 5 yrs later lead me to a woman who had a passion for God, who was not afraid to freely speak what the Lord had in her heart. I know being part of her team for a brief moment that there were some obstacles that I will call stumbling blocks, and yet she persevered. She continued her work, because it was a calling. I'm sure there were times where she must have felt should I continue, can I say I am so glad she did. Let me share why? One year ago I was at one my lowest moments when I found a call for a Design Team call, this was different it was not only about promoting her store then, but it was more about sharing the love of God. When I say I was at my lowest it had been 5 yrs that I had stopped serving the Lord and I felt as though my whole world was coming down on me and for a brief moment I thought of yes ending it all. Suddenly I remembered God, and I exclaimed loudly with heart wrenching tears for God's forgiveness. That weekend I reconciled my life to the Lord once again, and the road has not been easy. I was going on and off to church yet God always found a way to speak to me. How? well how funny that Nana Campana continued fiercely with her Blog Hops the reason why was to encourage, bring the lost souls to God through His word. I had stopped being part of the Blog Hop, but I always read of God's love through the Hops. When I found myself recently in one of those heart wrenching moments I got the notice of the Whom Shall I Fear Blog hop, and I thought Lord I know you are speaking to me. I need not be afraid, I have you back in my heart, my life and even better my family is slowly a part of that vision you once promised me. How can I be afraid, yes I had little faith yes I had stumbling blocks, and yet the Lord was able to pick me after each fall. I am slowly building my house on the Rock, but I know that this house will not fall. I thank you Nana for continuing your Calling, your courage, your faith has blessed me in so many ways. For me it's not easy to say I love someone, but I feel this for you not because of your works but because I am truly blessed to have you in my life. thank you all for stopping by.

Ephesians 4:11-15

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Here's a layout to share with you all, my beautiful daughters and I.

The winner for GC from Scrapbook.com is

Patsy

please send me your email info.