More Changes

 My brother, Wayne, moved to Colorado. Not sure how I feel about that. It's not like we saw each other on a regular basis when he was 15 miles up the road from me but just knowing he's not as close makes me a bit sad.

We had known he had applied for a job there and it took a while before he knew he was accepted. He reported for work on Monday August 3rd,



Mom and I managed to have lunch with him a few days before he left. We took a selfie. Not sure what Mom is looking at. I looked better in the first one. She looked better in the second one. And Wayne...well he looked great in both!

He is coming home this weekend as he is still trying to get the house ready to sell. His girlfriend is staying there in the mean time. She is supposed to join him Labor Day weekend last I knew.

Not sure how the holidays will look this year. Hoping he will come home for at least one of them but only time will tell how all that will work out.

I am happy for him and want him to be happy. Who knows....maybe it's time to take a vacation to Colorado!

Have a good one!

Timeless Toys

In preparing for the kids to move we've all be going through and getting rid of stuff. In cleaning out of garage I came across Vanessa's Barbies and Barbie Folding Fun House. We had been keeping these for when the girls were old enough. Now seemed to be the perfect time. Monday, July 27th Vanessa came to look through what we had kept and carried it home for the girls to play with.

I showed them that the bathtub actually holds water. They were so excited about that and had to "wash" every Barbie!

Whose this little cutie?

Korin wants to play too!

They are in "Barbie Heaven"!



Have a good one!

Straight From The Horse's Mouth

Have I told you lately I love this horse! He's so pretty and I love his personality. He's a sweet boy!

I find it so comical that almost without fail he yawns after he is through eating! It's the craziest thing. I have never seen a horse do that consistently like he does. He makes me laugh. It also makes it easy to get a picture of him doing it!


He begins with sticking his tongue out.



Wait for it.....

wait for it.....

And here it is! I posted this one last week on Facebook with the caption "Good Thursday morning to ya, straight from the horse's mouth!"

Here's one more for you! Isn't he funny?!


Have a good one!

Baker Silhouette

Saturday July 25th made for some pretty pictures. As I said in a previous post it has been very hot here so I have been waiting until nearly dark to feed horses. Right around sunset to be exact. On my way to feed I took a little detour to capture the back with this colorful backdrop.

It was just so pretty.

The view from the pasture was very different. Hard to believe it was the same day!

I also got this silhouette of the Church of Christ that is neighbors to the horses pasture.

It was a beautiful evening!


Have a good one!

Come and Gone

If time goes by any faster I just don't know if I will be able to keep up. I already feel like I'm losing ground and quickly! Remi has come.....and....already gone home! She went home Friday August 7th. Where on earth did that 3 weeks go to?!

With the kids preparing to move into the Peanut Palace they have been packing and moving stuff to storage. We have also been going through and weeding out things we no longer want or need. My work load at the office has also increased with our church moving into this new digital age.

That's doesn't mean I haven't had time to "play" but I've not had a lot of time to blog!

Vanessa brought the kids over on July 21st. Kashton had fallen asleep and managed to stay asleep after Vanessa laid him down. Gracie decided he needed a nap buddy!







A little later the girls got in my hall closet where I keep games and came across "Twister". They didn't play it exactly by the rules but they sure had a good time!

After feeding horses I got this shot of the sunset on my way home. I try to get a shot of the Baker as one of my friends I make a pictorial calendar for really likes the Baker. I thought it was interesting how the color in the sky was isolated to one spot!

After feeding the girls wanted to craft. Kennedy has a painted tattoo on her face from something they went to. I don't remember now. She is stamping here.

Remi found a little chipboard album in the shape of a purse I had put in her craft tote that she wanted to decorate. Here she's tracing and cutting out paper to put on it. She did a really good job. I didn't think to take a picture of it when she was through.





Have a good one!

It's a Birthday Party Challenge

Oh my goodness is it ever summer! Although our temperature here in my home town has yet to break 100 degrees our heat index has been consistently over 100 degrees making it miserable for any outdoor activities! We have been in a "Heat Advisory" for several days and will continue through Tuesday.  I'm not even feeding horses until nearly dark! Needless to say I've had a little time to craft.

Once again I missed the last Card's in Envy challenge. I'm bummed but I won't let that deter me from continuing to try to make a card for each challenge. This Challenge is "It's a Birthday Party". Any birthday card A2 size and flat enough to be mailed with regular postage is eligible.

This is the card I made. It's pretty simple. The background was a 12x12 paper I bought on sale with the sole purpose of using for making cards one day and that day came! The sentiment and balloons are acrylic stamps by Hero Arts. The balloons was the hardest part of making this card. The balloons were together. I stamped them on white for a base then I stamped five more times using Versa Mark ink and embossing with clear powder to be able to see the color of the balloons. I then cut out each balloon and pieced it onto the white base I created and added twine for the balloon strings. I used foam tape behind each balloon to give dimension. I also used foam tape on the sentiment. Although cutting out the balloons was a bit tedious I like the way the card turned out!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Have a good one and stay cool!

Locks, Gates and Walls

This blog post is 3 years over due. I had told a friend of mine I would write it when I got home but well....time got away from me and the post never happened. It's not one of my "usual" posts. The subject matter is as relevant today as it was 3 years ago.

Three years ago August 25, 2012 I was at a scrapbook retreat in Canton, Texas. This one is a little different than the ones I usually attend as it has a spiritual bent to it. It has been nicknamed "Revival at Ragles Retreat". Six women come together over a weekend to share a hobby and their love for God. There just isn't anything else like it!

This retreat I did what I always like to do and that is take some time away from crafting to explore my surroundings with my camera. This time was no different. I'm not the best photographer but I rarely take pictures that I don't have an encounter with God while viewing His wondrous creation through a camera lens.

I will write this post as if it were today.

I went on a walk as I typically do when I'm on a retreat. It helps clear my head and stretch my legs.As I begin my adventure, my eyes are drawn to a clearing that the sunlight is shining on. From my view its as though Papa has put a "spotlight on that area. There are trees all around and its shaded where they stand but in the clearing it's bright. It reminds me of a quote a preacher made one time "Be dancing when the spotlight hits you."

As I continue walking down the road I hear an animal sound of chatter. I've heard this sound before. It sounds like a very agitated squirrel. The closer I get the louder it is. I am intrigued and want to see where this squirrel is and why he's so upset. I spy the squirrel in the tree. I don't see anything else in the tree but he's still giving something the "what for"!

Then I see what has the squirrel in such a tizzy! This sweet looking little kitty. When I enter the yard the cat comes up to me for affection. I give her a few strokes then resume my walk while the squirrel continues to berate her to no avail.

I don't walk very far before I see this beautiful scenery. A field of yellow flowers. They are stunning against the bright blue sky and white fluffy clouds.

In the very next pasture are my most favorite animals....horses! They are beautiful! One in particular is a tri-color paint. He's a bit leary of me but does pose for me. Such magnificent creatures!

As I'm walking down the road I begin thinking about using my pictures to blog about my walk and what I see. I think about how good Papa is to me. How He provides things I enjoy. I smile and tell Him "Thank You". About that time I see a closed gate. It's a week day and I'm sure many people who live along this road are at work.

There is another road next to this one. It's gate is closed too but I take a picture through the gate to get the shot I wanted. There is something about roads like this that are inviting to me. It's as if they say "come see what lies ahead".

Another "inviting" road.












A little farther down the road I see a sign on a fence that says "Private Property. No trespassing". It is then that I realize Papa is speaking to me. I began to make a connection with what I was seeing in the physical. I don't usually carry my journal when I walk but I chose to that day. I am so glad I did. I took it out to start writing because I was afraid I would forget. I began with jotting down key words then quickly realized I just needed to stop and write what I was hearing.

Everywhere I walked by there were closed gates

and fences.

Not only were gates closed but chained and locked.

I began to see the parallel between the gates and locks and my own life.

There are places in my heart where I have signs that say "Private Property. No Trespassing. Keep out."  These are because of hurts and wounds in my life. Harboring offenses and unforgiveness.

And to insure that no intruders invade I have placed locks on the gate of my heart. My soul told me "if you don't let people in they can't hurt you. Guard your heart at all costs!" Has your soul ever told you that?

Papa speaks - "It's not good enough to just remove the locks from the gate. The gate needs to be open so I can have free access at anytime."

I told Him I wanted to be a treasure hunter. That is someone who looks beyond the dirt (mistakes and mess-ups) in someone and draws out the gold (their true potential and destiny). I wanted to see people the way He did.

Papa says "You can only be a treasurer hunter when you take down the locks, chains and open your gate wide.

It's okay to have 'fences' (boundaries). These are good as long as your entry (gate) is open to me. It's okay to close the gate and lock it at times. It's important and sometimes very necessary. Trust Me. Listen to My voice. I will tell you when it needs to be closed and if it needs to be locked. Most of the time you choose when it is to be closed and locked. You lean more toward keeping it locked. 

What's locked and closed not only keeps things out but it keeps you"in" and separated.

There are different kinds of fences and gates. Some are solid and you can't see through them.

Some you can see through. You can see what's on the other side but you still can't enter."

Let the road to your heart be open and inviting.

Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter. Psalm 24:7 NLT

The things of God are not easy to understand. They are treasures, mysteries to be discovered. As His children it is our birthright, our inheritance to know the "secrets of God". When we seek them as a treasure, He reveals the truth, the mystery with great reward. 

Isaiah 45:3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord the God of Israel the One who calls you by name.

Have a good one!