Poppies

i just love Pauline's ATC from australia.

thank you for all your prayers. Waiting!?! focus

headed to work.

Prayer Appreciated

Yesterday my mammo and utrasound revealed some unusual formation plus cysts. So they have scheduled a biopsy on tuesday and surgeon visit on friday. my head is still spinning. i've not had time to think this through. Prayer Appreciated.

Many Artists-One Piece of Art

i framed all my birthday ATCs. it will hang over my studio doorway.

they came from near and far:

Australia, Sweden, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Italy

love this quote

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live."

-Dorothy Thompson

Birthday ATCs and ER

The Netherlands, UK and US

i have had more wonderful ATCs arrive in the mail, so many i am working to get them posted. The artists are wonderful and full of creativity. thank you everyone from around the world.

Health

well Thursday evening proved to be interesting, a squad ride, ER and home after 1am. unfortunately i could not work on friday. had to call my doc and get in to see him. my pain may

be cysts in my breast. being sent for a mammo and ultrasound then to a surgeon. it was so bad my breath was being cut off, don't like the feeling of suffocation. my middle son took me and stayed with me. i love that matter-of-fact son.

i finished my can cans for trade. Red Bull, Mtn Dew and V8.

aluminum can postcards can become addicting.

The Red Bull reads "ain't no bull the rooster rules the roost."

and

Mtn Dew is about climbing the ladder, corporate or otherwise, staying busy,

and

enjoying your life bc you are 2 busy, busy, busy.

The fabric around the edges is "The Name Game".

motions

boy it didn't help me emotional that yesterday a friend lost two of her friend's sons in

different accidents this week. one a soldier in Afghanistan.

(oopsey correction: the soldier was in critical condition,

parents were able to talk with him, he's doing better.)

and

i was watching TBN and they had an interview on with Mathew West.

what an amazing story of God's healing love.

after surgery to repair his vocal cords and losing his voice for a while

he went on to write "Motions".

out of the darkest hour can come the most wonderful revelation of all.

GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE NO MATTER WHAT.

National Guard

in one hour my youngest son meets with a recruiter. he feels he should signup to help him pay for his college. BUT his father and i have been able to pay for every bit of his college so far. He
has one year left until graduation from college.

i'm not really sure why he feels compelled to seek out this way. I am really praying about his decision, but as he reminded me last week, "he is an adult and can make his own decisions." He has a friend who wants to join bc his brother and father served in the military. Praying for a wise decision and one that God wants for his life. I'm not God and don't pretend to be just mom.

Be Your Hands

Youngest Graduation Pic - Play For ME

with his dad's acoustic

I wanna be your hands

I wanna be your feet

Go where You send me

Go where You send me.

Audio Adrenaline lyrics from "Hands and Feet"

this son has the most beautiful, handsome fingers and hands.

off to see my oldest lead us in worship and then to work.

What an Amazing God I serve!!

Grateful Birthday

I think my youngest son's birthday card sums it all up for me too. GRATEFUL to GOD for everything HE has done for ME.

i've been enjoying a fancy paper, vellum library book. And you know what GOD did - well, the card my son gave me for my birthday has a beautiful lacy ribbon bow and vellum front. How GOD to give me the desire of my heart.

and

the words my son wrote - well tears are staining my blouse.

some of what he wrote"

"I want you to know you are amazing and special and I hear every word you say and take everything to heart. Without you this family wouldn't be what it is today"

i am so grateful for my family. Praz Be 2 GOD!!

off heading to work.

Lutradur Quilt & Birthday ATCs

here is the top in one piece. now what to do with the borders

and what type of thread to decorate the charms?

and the birthday ATCs keep coming. they are so amazing. i am enjoying my birthday month. yesterday there were 5 ATCs from around the world in my mailbox and a lovely card from a friend we met on our second cruise.

Hugs-n-Kisses Lutradur Quilt

i am sewing each 5x5 word quiltie into a larger XsOx (hugs-n-kisses) quilt. the O's blocks are all similar with dryer sheet painted/chalked flowers which have brad center and stems of ribbon. I've incorporated charms into the seams to make it look more tictactoe-ishy. this is really turning out to be a great challenge for me thanks to leilani. closeup of Hug-n-Kisses dryer sheet flower

oh i just love how my lutradur quilt is turning out. used many different techniques and products sitting on my shelf. the challenge was so inspiring and really worked my creativity. thank you leilani for the challenge to express myself in word.

Issues of Love from God

my son's are having issues of unconditional love. well truth be told we as parents are struggling with what that looks like with one son. A God Story as told by my oldest son:

tonight he came to trade vehicles so the car can go in the shop for repair from the rear-end accident last month. i ask him to call his brother to encourage him. he needs so desperately to know we love him even though we don't approve of some decisions he has made. my son left to return home back to the beach.

he called his dad just hours ago to say he stopped by Busch and going into the parking lot he spotted a police charger; wondering who could be inside. as he was wondering that, the police officer spotted the ole' beatup truck and knew it had to be his oldest brother. as the police officer approached the ole' struck my oldest chuckled bc he knew God had made time for his God-appointment with his brother. He was working Busch area and taking a guy to jail.

when my hubby called to share this story with me he said my oldest told him to tell mom, "i know what she will say - "it was a divine God-appointment; a setup by God". and yes indeedy he is correct. that is just what i said as i began to laugh wildly with the Lord of Hosts, Almighty God.

Are you ready for a setup from God?

More Birthday ATCs

Kathy from UK

love this little book and the textiled atc is marvelous.

Joy from Australia - wonderful fibers/yarns and this kimono atc is divine.

she even included a postcard from her home area. love it.

Hanging On By A Thread

Hanging On By A Thread

is the title

the one word challenge: SORROW

it reminded me of the sound waves on the monitor of our last breath.

i used the words "blah, blah, blah" for chatter and then "flat line" for the final voice we make before passing into the Heavenlies.

For my 5x5 challenge i am trying to go abstract creating the movement of voice waves. i love watching them on the computer screen. i'm practicing my decorative stitches on my sewing machine. my background is lutradur, using caran d'arche crayons, and thread. this is a fun, challenging exercise.

Monster Pitt

here is a aluminum energy can postcard. i decided to send it to my boss today. the can is "monster energy" and i added the roller coaster add from our work. we have a stray kitty that guards our office. he's so sweet, sitting in the window greeting all the employees. i used a label maker to write "bad 2 th bone." we are trading popcan postcards in FAT. what fun!!

Happy Birthday ATCs Arriving

this month my mailbox will be filled with ATC birthday wishes. hurray!!

Cindy H from Chester

scissors with decorative machine stitches, button and button heart. love the card with tattoo lady of guys names X'd out except for Joe. Card is named Curvaceous. just love it!!

Happy 4th of July

Believe The Seed Became a Flower that Produced More Seed

and Independence Day. Freedom cost us - 1st through Jesus Christ and then all the soldiers that have risked their lives to keep us free.

hot shots from front yard

relaxing in the front yard with mom.

life is easy and i'm content.

Hydrangea Blue

My bird house and broken bird bath.

taking pics in my front yard.

Heart Burning Passion

Burning Passion

"You can't press a caterpillar into a butterfly mold and make it fly.

It has to be transformed from the inside." a quote from the book


Yesterday while shopping at Walmart I felt drawn to the book section. One "alone" book sitting
on the shelf drew me. I could actually hear in my spirit the Lord encouraging me to pick it up.

Long story short i just finished the book through me sobbing and longing to know Jesus even more. The title was a strange title but not what you would think. That's the problem with people - we try to size someone/something up in a seconds notice.

When are we going to stop doing that?

"So You Don't WANT to Go To CHURCH anymore - an unexpected journey"

is co-authored by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. I even went to B&N an purchased another copy for my son and girlfriend feeling they should read this together.

I SO DESIRE to know/have a deeper relationship with Jesus every day - not one through someone elses eyes but a personal, did i express how deeply even more personal one than yesterday.

THAT is my GREATEST DESIRE!

when will we learn church is not a place but the BODY OF CHRIST?!!

what does the "Church" really look like according to The Word?

what's your interpretation of the "church"?