I love being loved too . . . . .

I could have just added a link to what I wanted to share today but I decided to copy it instead. Hopefully I'm not breaking any copyright laws but since I'm not getting any financial gain from this I think it's okay. And it came directly from an email that is sent to millions of people, I think, so it was intended to be shared. And I'm sharing it here because it was truly a message from God that I needed to hear in my heart TODAY and maybe whenever you find it here, it is meant for you on THIS day. Do You Love Being Loved? Gwen Smith Today's Truth "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) Friend to Friend: Every once in a while one of my children surprises me with unexpected sweetness. Don't get me wrong. My kids are sweet on a regular basis, but I'm talking about a special, take-my-breath-away sweetness that creates a time capsule moment for my mommy heart. A moment that I'll remember forever. I had one of those special conversations recently with my nine year-old son, Hunter. It was bedtime. Teeth were brushed. Jammies were on. Prayers had been prayed. The smell of Pantene lingered from his freshly showered head as I brushed a stray hair from his eye. That's when he initiated "project: unexpected sweetness" with an innocent question: "Mommy, do you know what I love?" "What do you love, Hunter?" I asked quietly. "I love being loved," he said. "Yep. I really love being loved." As I lay beside him in the dark room I could scarcely process the vast paradox of his statement. It was the simplest of thoughts, delightfully honest, yet one of the most profound and insightful statements I've ever heard come from his lips. From his heart. When he spoke those four little words, "I love being loved," he communicated several things to me: He knew he was loved. His love tank was full. His greatest need is love. Like Hunter, our greatest need is also to be loved. To feel safe, adored, and content in love. I don't know where this devotion finds you this morning, but I sense God nudging me to tell you that He loves you. Completely. Perfectly. Eternally. (Yes, I'm talking to you!) He knows your name, He knows your heart, He knows your circumstances, and He hears your prayers. He loves you and desires for you to rest in His love. God's love is not based on performance or beauty. It's not based on position or abilities. Many times we mistakenly think that if we could just do this or that better -- that God would love us more. That if we just hadn't done this or that -- God would love us more. The truth is this: God will never love you more or less...no matter what. His love is complete and you are the object of His heart. Savor the special sweetness of God's love for you today. Linger on thoughts of His affection for you. The Bible tells us, "...that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." No matter what you've believed in the past, choose by faith to believe this now: you are valued, priceless, and adored by God. "Take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18--19, MSG). Let's Pray "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:16-21). Amen? Amen!

January 1st. Are you SHOCKED????

Okay, so I'm a lame-O blogger. No entries for way too many weeks now. Sorry. Just one of the many reasons for my reluctance to start one in the first place. However, I am still going to try to do something here at least once in a while.

So for now, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!

We had a nice evening last night. There is a couple we know, (a childhood friend of my husband and his wife) that live in Albuquerque, NM that come home to Ada, OK every year right after Christmas to visit with family and then they stop by our house New Years eve with their kiddos and we all ring in the new year together. This has been a tradition for the last few years now and I really enjoy the low key celebration. Sometimes I think I miss my younger, pre-kids days and want to celebrate in a big way but honestly, this new way fits me so much better.

I haven't made any new year's resolutions, have you? I don't like making promises I can't keep and generally resolutions (those are promises to yourself, right?) get broken in the first week or two, so there really is no point! And besides, I'm perfectly grateful and happy with my life and the many blessings I have right now (remember my mentioning that I am going on a cruise in just a few short days?). What more could I ask for except "world peace" and really God is in charge of that one so I'll leave it to Him.

I have to say that I am looking forward to the new President's Inauguration for various reasons and even though this is my blog, I won't get in to any political discussions right now. I just think it's a very exciting time for our country and I'm looking forward to seeing how God uses Obama for His greater good. Aside from the fact that I really like Obama, I truly believe that even if I'm wrong, there is a very good reason why he got elected!!!

And now for a little artwork for those of you that may have just tuned in for that instead of all of my other ramblings.

Here are a couple of photos of the gifts I made as Christmas gifts for my son's teachers:

And here is a card I made using the new January Stamp of the Month from Close To My Heart for a virtual swap that I'm in.

If I get a chance later today I'll upload some of the other participant's entries so you can see just how versitale this stamp set really is.

In the mean time, if I forget to get back here anytime soon, here's to all of you (raising my non-existent glass in the air as a toast!)

Love to all.

When we ask the right question. . . . .

God will answer us with His full glory!!! I apologize now if this offends anyone but I am so thankful for his answers right now that I need to write about it and perhaps in doing so someone will come to know that God's love for us is so strong that there is nothing that he won't do for us! Some of you may know that my husband and I have been on a long road to recovering our marriage over the last 3 years or so. We have made good progress and I have seen God's hand in so much of this process. It has been truly remarkable. Today, this morning, we experienced the answer to my latest prayers. Our intimacy level (in the bedroom, she whispers) has been, shall I say, lacking for some time now. I have been praying that not only would it get back on track but that I would feel the loving feelings that I used to feel for him in that way. After our beautiful and perfect union early this morning I realized that God had been guiding us to that special place for several days now. Even this morning as I almost let the opportunity pass. I could finally see it all so clearly. I don't remember, even in the beginning of our relationship, feeling such strong love and connectedness to my husband and I was just so thankful! It may seem silly and crazy but I am just about one of the happiest women on earth this morning and it really has nothing to do with the (whispering again) s-e-x! Ask with love in your heart and God will answer your prayers!!! Amen.

HELLO!!! Anyone out there?? I'm Baaaaack!!

Okay, I didn't really fall off the face of the earth but it sure seems like it since it's been forever since I've posted and truly this is the one reason I didn't want to start blogging in the first place. I stink at this!!! I would have liked to have used another "s" word back there but I just got on to my son's friend for using that word so I'm trying to do better myself!

I'm going to upload a few pictures of things that have occurred over the last several weeks so that you can get a feel for what I've been doing.

Soccer practice and games.

Puppy sitting; this is Princess, my friend Julie's husband's dog. The husband was in the hospital for a time so I got to be her fairy godmother for a couple of days and take care of this precious little ball of fur!

Photographing the family picnic at my son's school. I was out there boogying (doing the Electric Slide) with these fun ladies but of course I can't take a picture of myself now can I???

Taking in a professional soccer game (in Kansas City). Yes that's Beckham! I got several really good shots thanks to my handy-dandy telephoto lense and I posted this one instead of the next frame because, well. . . ., let's just say that soccer and baseball players have a lot in common and the next one was just a little bit indecent!!!

Football practice and games. And, yes my DS (#28) is playing both sports at the same time. Something I said I would never do (duh, never say never!). We were going every night for either soccer practice or games or football practice or games. I pretty happy that that is all winding down a bit.

And then there's me playing golf (another thing I was pretty certain I would "never" do, lol!) I was so happy to get this picture so that I could prove to my DH that my head stayes down (sometimes). See, the ball is gone and my head is still looking down!!! A very proud moment, I must say!

And then one of the most exciting things ever. . . . the return (for good this time) of my DS-S from Iraq. This was his second and LAST tour over there and I can't begin to tell you how happy we all are that he is back. And just to share with you how handsome he is I'll provide a close up of him. . . . .

He understandably had a hard time taking his eyes (and hands) off of his fiance so this is the best close-up shot I got. There were other good ones of his face but there was always some-one totally wrapped around him hugging him to death!

I also went on a weekend scrapbook retreat and got lots of pages done. I had hoped to have some scrapbooking artwork to share but I dropped my camera yesterday (yes, I'm totally sick about it) before I got those photos taken so it could be a while before that all gets posted.

In the meantime, take care and post all the replies that you like!

Virtual Open House

Welcome everyone to my virtual Open House. I've never done this but thought I would post the photos of the tables I set up with all the new Close To My Heart products on them and let you browse around here. Click on the photos and it should bring up a larger version for your viewing pleasure, then hit your back button to see more. Obviously there is not as much stuff left now on my Operation Smile table (read the previous post, please) but you are welcome to make a donation and I will send you a little something, something (?) in return. Thanks for checking it all out!

The welcome table. Post a reply or place an order with me and I'll send you one of the little gifts that the live (as opposed to the non-live) guests got for coming!

Check out the new Voice Recorder next to the sign in front of the basket! Can't you just see the wonderful possibilities for this????

Had lots of money donated for this very worthy cause. Thanks so much. I'm starting on next month's goal so donations still being taken, (smile)!

First table: new Aspen paper set. Just beautiful if I do say so myself!

Second table (next two pictures) holds the Magic Moments papers, several new Ribbon Rounds, new Mini Medleys, and my new favorite fonts: Chocolate (how could I not love them) in BIG and small!

The next table (next two pictures) has Even Song, more new Mini Medleys, and Christmas fabric tags featured on the left. The new Acrylic Album there is also done with this paper set and I'll be hosting a workshop for it so watch your emails closely. On the right side of that table is Perfect Day. This bright new paper features the 4 new exclusive CTMH colors; Juniper, Sorbet, Tulip and Creme Brulee! So exciting!

The next table features my personal favorite for the fall line up, Notebook. Check out the Memory box (also on the upcoming workshop list) done with these papers. This box is a big hit with all of us CTMH consultants and we're sure you'll love it as much as we do!

Also, it blends in just a little too much in the photo, but can you see the new Stamp Pad, Marker and Re-Inker Organizer on the left side in the back? I can't wait to start using this great organizational tool.

And the last photo is just to tease the heck out of you as you could have had one of these (not the fly but I'll send that to you if you want!) if you had been here in person, LOL. Sorry! (Well not too much.) Anyway, thanks for checking this all out. If you are having trouble seeing the details on anything please just give me a shout and I'll be totally happy to share with you in person or by regular email.

Remember, SMILE!

SMILES; Important Stuff

Okay, yes, I've had this heading before but that was the one that got me started and this is the one that THANKS all of you that donated this month to this charity. I reached my GOAL (exactly $245) of getting one child's smile for the month!!!!!!! I'm thrilled to meet my goal but Blessed beyond belief that together we did this really great thing! Thanks again everyone!

Operation Smile Update

$45 so far this month. I've got more opportunities for donations at my Open House this next week so hopefully it will be a whole lot more before the month is over! Please keep this endeavor in your prayers. I really really want to help these kids! Smiles to everyone!!!!

A Special Album

Recently I entered a contest (why, will be explained at the bottom) to create a scrapbook album for a family who had lost a 17 year old (daughter) to cancer (brain cancer, I think). I did not have any photos in hand, just a list of the things the family wanted to include in the album and a Youtube video that someone had created of her for the family. I knew basically that she was a preemie, her favorite color was orange and I got a sense of her "style" from the video. So here are the pages that I submitted. (And I apologize now for the way they are posted, having a hard time figuring out how to get them all straight!) If you click on the picture, you'll see a bigger, clearer version. Then hit your back space.

Okay, so why did I enter this contest and what was the prize (that I won!)???

Just my all time dream job!!! I get to teach scrapbooking classes on cruise ships. There are four different cruises that will be taking place over the course of the next year and 1/2 or so and I get first pick of any or all of them that I want!!! Here are some of my choices: A Western Mediterenean (sp?), a Northern European, a 15-day Hawiian Islands and one to Mexico. The Mexico one will be a repeat of one that I am definitely doing this coming January but hey, I could definitely go back!

Anyway, aside from the obvious delight that I have in winning the "audition" contest, I was truly honored to be able to create an album for this deserving family. I prayed that God would inspire me for each page that it would be just the right design for the pictures they would put on them.