Archives for posts with tag: crafts

Your valentine from God (and 3 decorating tips)

February 6, 2013 //
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It’s hard to pick just one verse about love to put on the chalkboard in the kitchen. But this one… well, it seemed like the perfect valentine message for us all:

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

This Valentine’s Day, may you know that you are loved beyond measure and held by a love that never stops.

Want to celebrate? Here are three easy — and inexpensive ways — to add a little love to your home:

IMG_12281. We each drew or cut out hearts and put them in inexpensive frames. (I bought these about a year ago from the Dollar Tree and I just change the artwork out seasonally.) For the two younger boys, I drew hearts and they colored them in. These should help liven up our mantel.

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IMG_12412. Who doesn’t love the amazing pipe cleaner? With just a few twists and tugs, you can easily make this garland. (Some of my hearts are a bit crooked but don’t judge me.)

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IMG_12663. I’m a bit unconventional with my China cabinet. I try to put things in there that are meaningful and make me smile — but are not necessarily related to dining. For Valentine’s Day, I pulled together some pictures from our wedding, a Bible that Daddy gave to Mama the Christmas before they married, my grandma’s wedding rings and a figurine of an angel with “the greatest of these is love.”

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Do you have ideas to share, too?

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Categories Christianity, Religion

Boss me around: Organize my life

April 22, 2012 //
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It’s not that I have an overly complicated life. Its just that I need a new perspective — and I want you to help. I’ve been thinking about rearranging my schedule, but I keep coming back to what I’ve used in the past.

So, here’s the deal. I’d like to tell you the main things on my schedule and have you tell me how you’d arrange things. Are you in?

 

 

Here are the basics:

  • I work from 8:30 to 5 and my commute is roughly 30 minutes each way.
  • The boys are in bed around 9 p.m.
  • I do freelance work and blogging on the side. I’d love to dedicate eight to 10 hours to that each week.
  • Getting up before 6 a.m. is difficult, but I could try to do it if that turns out to be the best way to rearrange things.
  • I like to watch “Castle” with my hubby. That comes on at 10 p.m. Mondays.

What I’d like to work into the schedule:

  • I’d like to stop piling up housework for the weekend so I can have more time to relax and enjoy my family.
  • I used to do freelance work in the mornings but I think my oldest son would enjoy it if I had breakfast with him and visited.
  • I’d like to make one-on-one time for the boys, but it needs to be scheduled so we don’t ignore it if we get busy.
  • The boys like it when I plan special adventures and fun food. That means time on Pinterest and other blogs to get ideas, though.
  • I’d love to improve my family’s social life. Maybe we could have people over more often?
  • I thought it might be fun to have a family devotional after dinner or schedule time to send cards and make gifts for folks.
  • I also like to craft, but it seems I’m always too busy.

How do I fit those things in — should it be before work? After the boys go to sleep?

What works for you? What things do you make time for?

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Categories Religion

Families built on faith and fun

April 11, 2012 //
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Laurie Moulton knows that life is fleeting – and she knows that she wants her two sons to have a storehouse of family memories. When her oldest son was 18 months old, cancer took her sister-in-law and left four children without the chance to grow up with their mother.

“Now I’m intentional about making great memories,” says Moulton, who lives in Webster, NY, and recently published Let the Adventure Begin! Theme Nights for Families with Young Children:Fun & Easy Family Night Activities ($14.99, Family Theme Night Books). She has released a companion book, Memory Making Meals: Fun & Easy Family Dinners ($12.99).

The Moulton family aims for one family theme night a week, where they might build a pyramid out of toilet paper rolls, walk the plank on pirate night or pretend that Mom and Dad’s bed is the whale that swallows Jonah, a biblical prophet. But usually it’s more like every other week.

“You have to keep it easy or you’re not going to do it,” says Moulton, who included a chapter on faith-themed nights.

Experiences that are out of the ordinary, like eating dinner under the table on backwards night, are more likely to stick with us because the brain stores those situations more permanently than the day-to-day experiences, says Daniel DeMarle, an education specialist who works with families touched by behavioral or developmental challenges.

The making of a spider bread bowl for our "Man vs. Wild" theme night.

Of course, leaving a memorable legacy might not be the real goal, DeMarle adds. What most people, like Moulton, want is a meaningful legacy.

Vacations and theme nights aren’t enough on their own, he says. Loved ones need traditional, or routine, experiences like eating dinner together, too. Sprinkle in some chances to build confidence, like a long hike or building a tree house, and before you know it you’ve got yourself a stockpile of meaningful memories.

"Worms" made of hot dogs and barbecue sauce to go along with our theme of living off the land. (That's a gummy worm in the sippy cup.)

“When my children are grown and look back on their childhood, I don’t want them to only remember that mom was always busy cleaning and doing the dishes,” Moulton writes in Let the Adventure Begin. “I want them to have fond memories of fun times we had together as a family.”

Something tells me she’ll succeed. I hope we all do.

Mmmm... Crumbled up cookies and chocolate pudding look like dirt but taste great!

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Categories Religion

How to create scripture cards

March 9, 2012 //
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I fell in love with the idea of scripture cards when I first saw them at http://www.pinkroomponderings.blogspot.com/. Thankfully Angie, also known as BritChickNY, graciously agreed to write a guest blog here at Simply Faithful so we could learn more about the cards and about creativity. May you be inspired…

Hello all you creative souls out there! Yes! You! (Oh, you don’t think you are creative? Hm….you might be surprised) Think about it. What does being creative mean? Well, to be honest I believe that many of us think that it means we make a living creating something that someone else wants. It means that nobody can do “this” better than we can. It’s having someone compliment us on our handiwork. I beg to differ. To believe that, denies us the joy and freedom of expressing ourselves in a way that He intended to glorify Him and not us, and to use His gifts regardless of the stamp of approval from others or even ourselves.
Anybody who knows me will tell you that I always have projects on the front (and back!) burners. Just gotta be “doing.” Always on the look out for ideas. And completely inspired by what I see other artists/quilters/sewers/knitters works in progress. Here’s a little project that I did back in 2010. Rolodex Scripture cards. Go-ahead, Google that one! Whoa. Little works of art, touchy feely and so accessible. All jumbled together and taking up so little space and yet the possibilities are endless. And so….I participated in a scripture card swap. These are the cards I received.

Look, His word, in lovely bite size pieces, decorated and embellished and ready to encourage the recipient. And I am encouraged! Creatively and Faithfully! They all fit so nicely in a rolodex on my desk. Daily reminders.

Each person took the time to search the Word, thinking all the time about the others in the swap. Spending time putting papers together, gathering the trims and embellishments. All of us using the same “template,” but look how individual they are.

And these cards lend themselves to other “themes.” How about “thankful for” cards with your children? Perhaps a family photo album with special thoughts or memories of that person, or a shower gift for a newlywed or new mom with scriptural encouragement. The possibilities are endless but they do not have to be complicated. We ARE all creative, sometimes we just need some inspiration (and a little nudge) from each other. Please visit or contact me at http://www.pinkroomponderings.blogspot.com/
I would love to hear from you and look forward to see Him work in your creative world.
Angie (aka BritChickNY)
Pinkroomponderings.blogspot.com

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Categories Religion
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