Quote and Instagrams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe that curiosity, wonder, and passion are defining qualities of imaginative minds and great teachers; that restlessness and discontent are vital things; and that intense experience and suffering instruct us in ways less intense emotions can never do.  I believe, in short, we are equally beholden to heart and mind, and that those who have particularly passionate temperaments and questioning minds leave the world a different place for their having been there.

It is important to value intellect and discipline, of course, but it is also important to recognize the power of irrationality, enthusiasm, and vast energy.  

Kay Redfield Jamison

This I Believe

I loved this quote.

So I'm sharing it today.

Because life is messy and wonderful and exciting.

And a little irrationality and restlessness can be a good thing:).

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

PS, Shannon you won a Vampire Rose rubber stamp from the Little Darlings hop, Christy and Maria Therese you won the Evalicious giveaway, and Olivia you won the Neesie Deigns giveaway!  Ladies please email me to receive your gifts!  Thanks and congrats!!

Let it Snow!

Here is a fun handmade snow "globe."  

I made this one for Niamh's room, so it is kinda princess-y...but, depending on which image you choose, it could be made to look very Christmas/holiday--ish:).

Here is what you need:

canning jar with lid (I used a vintage one).

strong glue.

snow, the puffy kind and the little pieces kind.

a digital stamp (I used Princess Zella).

a game piece that will hold the image...

(the kind you find lying under beds and in corners of kid's bedrooms:)

and a pretty ribbon.

 

 

Print your image out and then flip it and print it out again.  Color.

 

Cut both images out and glue together.  

Make sure you keep a tab at the bottom.

Put some glue on the tab and slide it into the game piece. 

(It is okay if there is some oozing glue:)...It will get covered by the snow!)

 

Put glue on the underside of your lid.

 

Place your game piece in the middle of the lid.

Surround her with some puffy snow:).

 

Pour a few table spoons of the sprinkle snow into the jar.

 

After your glue dries, turn the lid upside down and tighten the ring/cap.

 

Put a pretty bow around the bottom.

And place somewhere lovely for everyone to enjoy!

It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas...

 

 

 

...Until Pokey, our Elf on the Shelf, arrives.  

And this year, we found him a friend.  Her name is Peppermint.

His cheeks blushed a little deeper red when we introduced them...She is cute like that.

Now the festivities can begin. 

Also, bedtime is like a breeeeeeeze for the next few weeks.

That elf is so awesome.  

No whispers or giggles or anything...Just quiet.  

And good reports to Santa;).

 

Does your house have any tiny Christmas visitors?

Does God Laugh?

 

 

 

 

A few days ago, I found a note from Niamh.  She had put it in a red envelope and on the front it read, From: Niamh, To: Jesus.

When I read it, I had tears on my cheeks half way through.  

She asked Jesus to please help her grow in her walk with Him.

And help her bring others to know God.  

And then she signed her name.

And PS'd the letter with, 

"...and do you think anything is funny?"

She had asked me that a couple days before. 

And I told her, Sure! I think God laughs.  

And she said, "Really?!"... Like she had just been told the best thing ever.

I think God has a big rumbly laugh.

...I imagine it sounds kinda like Santa on steroids; if that makes any sense.  

It probably rumbles right through the heavens.

And is super contagious.

The angels must really get a kick out of it.

It is so important to Phil and I that we bring our kids up in a Christ-centered home. 

We go to church.  And they go to a Christian school.

And we have rules based on what our beliefs are. 

And their behavior is suppose to reflect those values and beliefs. 

But then there are those sweet moments when we realize how much they love Jesus.

He is their friend. 

They talk to Him; and it isn't formal.

They trust in Him; and it isn't with hesitation.

They depend on God because they know they need Him.

And they love Him because they can't imagine any other reaction to His love for them. 

And in that moment when Niamh realized that God has a sense of humor, seeing her so excited and stoked that this Friend of hers laughs like she does, I realized that is the humility of a child that Christ speaks of in Matthew.  It is reckless and real and genuine.  It's being in awe of the Savior.  It is a feeling of new found friendship that never gets old.  

Niamh's note totally refreshed my heart. 

I love that kid.

I want to be like her when I grow up.  

And I know Jesus smiled when He read the letter.

Probably even lol'd.

Because He is awesome like that.

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4 ESV)

Blondies by Erika.

 

 

 

Here is a yummy recipe for you courtesy of Erika from Southern Girl's Kitchen.

I love.love.love Blondies.  

That sounds really funny when you say it out loud.

But.

It is true.

They are pretty awesome.  

Here is Erika's recipe...

Brown Butter Blondies 

2 cups bread flour

2 ½ cup light brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 stick & 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

3 large eggs

Preheat oven  to 350

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

Using a small skillet, cook the butter over medium heat for about 6 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Be sure to keep an eye on this.. you want the butter slightly brown not burned..

Pour browned butter into a small bowl to cool for about 10 minutes.

Combine butter and eggs stirring with a whisk until combined. Pour butter/egg mixture over flour mixture: stir until moistened.

The batter will be very thick, somewhat cookie dough-like (this is ok.. I promise) 

Spoon batter into a 9x13 baking pan  lined with parchment paper, smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (better known as the tooth pick test) Cool in pan and cut into squares. 

You can find more of her delicious makes on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

There are few better things in life than staring at photos of yummy food, people!

Go have a drool look!:)

 

SC Rubbers, Released!

 

 

 

My Traveling Colors digi traveled right on over into rubber:). Yup!  She is a new rubber stamp in the Little Darlings second release of Saturated Canary rubber stamps.  There are three retired digis brought back as rubber, too!  Oh...and a few exclusives that will not be available in digi.

So, this is one stop on a pretty AMAZING blog hop, filled with beautifully colored rubber images:).  You may have come here from June's blog...But if not, you can start at the very beginning by clicking over to Alyce's blog:).  Be sure to leave comments as you go.  There are rubber stamps to be won along the way!

I used Traveling Colors on a Daybook Delight page.  You know those 'I <3 Copic' stickers you get with Copic orders?...I save mine:).  I thought about putting it on the window of our truck, but didn't think the big guy would like it so much:)...So, I used it in my book.  It was a perfect accent for the girl with the markers!

If you'd like to do a little practicing on your own rubber stamp, I have a Vampire Rose to give away:). She is perfect for all those Twilight lovers in your life!

 

Please leave a comment for a chance to win Vampire Rose.

Comments close on Thursday.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Maria Therese is next on the blog hop!

Have fun and keep on hoppin'!!