Last Night

Well I uploaded these, backwards! Anyway the bottom picture is the plain box, and if you move upwards you can see the different aspects of the box. Enjoy the pictures.

All of the outside of the box is covered with Close To My Heart paper, then I used various embellishments. Again enjoy!

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We had a great time last night at our Romans 8:37 Small Group! The group surprised JB and I with a gift for each of us. I was honored that they consider us their small group leaders, when truthfully I consider them the core and strength of the group. Our group has been together for two years and I feel like I have grown up with them all of my life. They truly are my extended family, and I love them!
So, my gift was The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren, they gave me the book and CD/DVD.
They gave JB The Legacy of Norman Rockwell, this is the official Norman Rockwell site, but if you are interested in the book just do a search. This was a gracious, kind act, since JB loves Norman Rockwell's work!
We also had wonderful food, a gift game, fellowship, how much more could you ask for?!
I am considering making Sugar Cookies from a recipe I got off of the House Wren Studio typepad/blog. Sounds delicious, I just need to muster up the energy.
If you get the chance check out some of the blogs I follow, you will be inspired to create.
I have created something that when I get the pics, I will share them.
Have a wonderful Saturday.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)

Can We Talk About

Christmas?

Christmas is just around the corner and I don't feel the stresses that has tortured me in the past. I have always worried (concerned myself) about the what ifs. What if there isn't enough money to buy gifts? What if I don't get the right gift? What if they don't like the gift? What if there aren't enough gifts? What if? What if? What if?.........
Well, let's turn that around by looking at what we have and what we really can give .
We can give of our time, now this is a gift that we can offer to those around us. We can give a few moments to listen to someone. We can give the gift of companionship, spending time with someone, we can give the gift of a phone call to someone who is alone, or a knock on the door of a neighbor who will be spending the holidays alone. Maybe we could give the gift of food, that is invite someone for dinner, take a plate of goodies to someone.
The true gift of what I have mentioned is the gift of giving of yourself. These gifts cost little to nothing but are *PRICELESS* to those who are receiving them, and the BONUS of this gifting is you immediately receive a gift, knowing you have been an important part of someones life.
One thing about giving the gift of yourself is it is memorable to both you and the recipient. The tangible things wear out, they get put away, (or re-gifted), or often forgotten about.
Christmas is about giving, God gave of himself in the human form of Jesus, so that he could walk with us, talk with us, spend time with us, comfort us and just love us for who we are and where we are at this moment. Let Jesus be an example of how we should celebrate Christmas.
Let us be a gift to someone!
Blessings and Hugs!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son,
so that none should perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Now that's a gift !