Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A MESSAGE FROM ST. BASIL THE GREAT

I received a call from the Kidney Foundation 
yesterday asking if we had anything to donate 
next week since their truck would be in 
our neighborhood. 


I replied "Yes, I have a box of things to donate and 
will have them out at the door on the designated day."

Last month I received the same call and I said "No, 
I don't believe I have anything for you." 
The disappointed voice on the other end said 
"Even if it's only one item, a pair of shoes, a 
sweater, a kitchen item, a stack of magazines 
you no longer want and are throwing away, we'll 
take them!" 
It made me rethink my answer... 
was saying "No." a lazy response on my part?
So I changed my mind.
I agreed I must have "something" for them. 
To my surprise I had 2 boxes of items and 2 trash bags 
of clothing! I was amazed what I could come up 
with to donate to them! I've always been fond of 
that charity having kidney issues when I was a wee 
one. A good friend and co-worker of many years 
died of kidney disease. One of my "adopted" daughters, 
received a kidney transplant that saved her life.
Plus others that have called 
on the Kidney Foundation for help. They are 
very willing to help in anyway they can.

Well, I was cleaning up the desk drawer 

(okay it wasn't quite this bad)
 
and ran across a newspaper or magazine article that 
my dear friend Cindy sent me. 

It was an article written by Sister Mary Thill 
called "Spiritually Speaking". 
Her topic was 
"How to respond in these trying times"

In the article she quotes St Basil the Great, 


The bread you do not use is the bread of 
the poor. 


The garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of 
(someone) who is naked. 


The shoes you do not wear are the 
shoes of one who is barefoot. 



The money you keep locked away is the 
money of the poor. 


The acts of charity you do not perform 
are so many injustices you commit. 

It reminds me of the words of our Savior, 
Jesus Christ in Matthew 25:31-40
When the Son of Man comes in his glory,  
and all the angels with him, he will sit  
on his throne in heavenly glory. 
All the nations will be gathered before him, 
and he will separate the people one from 
another as a shepherd separates the sheep 
from the goats. He will put the sheep on his 
right and the goats on his left. 
Then the King will say to those on his right, 
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father: 
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared 
for you since the creation of the world.


For I was hungry and you gave me 
something to eat, 


I was thirsty and you gave me 
something to drink, 


I was a stranger and 
you invited me in, 


I needed clothes and 
you clothed me, 


I was sick and 
you looked after me, 


I was in prison and you came to visit me.'


Then the righteous will answer him, 
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and 
feed you, or thirsty and give you something 
to drink? When did we see you a stranger 
and invite you in, or needing clothes and 
clothe you? When did we see you sick or 
in prison and go to visit you?'


The King will reply, 
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for 
one of the least of these brothers of mine, 
you did for me.'


Of course scripture goes on to tell what happens to those 
that have not helped others in some way. 
I'm trying to stay positive here... so you get the gist I'm sure. 

These are very hard times for most of us. 
We have to be very careful with our funds and with our 
trust in others. But we can give a bit of what we are NOT 
using, even if it's a can of soup. 
It's something!
It's something to the person that will receive it!
It's means a great deal to our Lord! 

PLEASE don't think this post is a guilt trip! 
This post is just as much for ME as anyone. 
When times get hard it's hard for me to feel 
benevolent. But I'm changing thanks to that 
darling lady that called me last month from 
the National Kidney Foundation.

I love you dear friends! 
May the Lord bless you and keep you 
til we meet again...

Friday, January 20, 2012

Mirror, Mirror in my hand...

You know that magnified side of the mirror on 
your standard "from the drugstore" 2 sided 
mirror that makes you look like a monster? 
Or makes you appear larger than you 
actually are??

I removed that clear sticker that told 
the purchaser that the side was 
magnified... MISTAKE! 
Every time I picked it up I was 
looking at the back of my hair and 
scaring myself LOL... so...



I used this fabulous sticker image of the 
Eiffel Tower to mark that magnified 
side of the mirror! 
I already had the sticker in my 
stash of travel stickers so 
this quick project 
cost ZERO $$s!!

AND it's beautiful too!

Til next time...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Saving with Sara: Coupon Basics

 PLEASE take time to go to Sara's site to read her 
tips on saving with coupons on you groceries. 
She made me understand so much about using coupons 
that I DID NOT KNOW!!
I am amazed at how much you really can 
save at the grocery store. 
Once you go to her site and read and finally 
"get it" like I did you will be so excited about 
what you can do to save $$$$! 

My dear friend Cindy goes to church with 
Sara and the savings she talks about is REAL! 



If You Just Don’t Get It – Read This!
 This is something that I find people asking about all the time.
 I had got this in a ...


Read it and read it again... I did and I'm amazed 
at what you can save. Sara has some great links on 
her site for you to get coupons too. 
Did you know you can buy coupons on EBAY?? 
I didn't! 
Have fun saving!! 

Blessings and hugs to all of you, 
Sherry

Friday, January 13, 2012

LAMPSHADES GET A NEW LEASE ON LIFE! AND PRAYER NEEDED!

My lamp shades were looking a bit dingy and 
dated as the holiday season approached but 
new lampshades were NOT in the holiday budget! 

They're sizable and not available on a shelf in 
the nearest Target or Lowe's. Which means going 
to a lamp shop where I found prices starting at 
$150 per shade (she said making a choking sound).


So I resorted to a fast and cheap inexpensive 
trick I've used in the past to give new life to old 
lampshades. 

I went to the dollar store and purchased 4 or 5 rolls 
of white tulle on the spool (hey that rhymes) from 
their little wedding department, pulled out my 
wide ribbons and my vintage brooch collection.



I tied the end of the tulle to one of the crossbars at the top and 
started winding and gathering the tulle a bit as I went, making 
sure I overlapped the edges of the tulle with each vertical trip around 
the shade.


I had a wide cream satin ribbon and a slightly narrower 
dark brown satin ribbon in my stash that I layered and 
brought around the shade and pinned with a very 
sparkly blingy vintage brooch.





The result was quite lovely and received several 
compliments over the holidays.



So if you need a quick fix for your shades try 
my dollar store makeover... you'll be surprised at 
the years it takes off of them and the money it 
leaves in your pocket!!(for other spending LOL)



Love and blessings to all of you my friends!

Sherry


1-14-12
ATTENTION! PRAYER NEEDED
URGENTLY!
Please PRAY for Stan Butler @
According to the Book and his wife.
Stan's wife is recovering from a surgery on a left frontal
brain mass that is a cancer called Glioblatoma.
Please pray for healing, comfort. strength and courage
for Stan & his wife during this time.
Stan has a wonderful inspirational blog.

Monday, January 2, 2012

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY

 HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR 
HOLIDAY SEASON... 
WE SURE DID! 

JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME HOLIDAY 
DECOR SHOTS BEFORE THEY GET 
PACKED AWAY TIL NEXT CHRISTMAS... 

  




MY GRANDMA MEME'S ALUMINUM TREE







 BRING ON THE BLING!














 CHRISTMAS CARD SLEIGH I MADE WITH MY UNCLE
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 YRS OLD...
I USE IT EVERY CHRISTMAS!






















A FAVORITE HALLMARK ORNAMENT -
YES... I STILL BELIEVE









MY MOM'S LARGE NATIVITY MADE BY MY SISTER NANCY AND ME - 
MY BROTHER LARRY MADE THE STABLE FOR IT 
















 DOLL ORNAMENT FROM MY MOM




 EIFFEL TOWER FROM MARIE 
AND MY HOWDY DOODY
 



 
 A NEW SWAN ORNAMENT FROM CHRIS & MATT 
IN MEMORY OF OUR SWANS, HENRY & MINNIE






 A VIOLIN IN MEMORY OF MY SWEET DAD - 
ALWAYS REMEMBERING THE MUSIC HE MADE





MY MOM'S LITTLE ELVES... SHE DISPLAYED THEM 
EVERY CHRISTMAS











 LOVE THESE CONES... 
LET'S MAKE SOME THIS YEAR!




  THIS CANDLE A GIFT FROM OUR NEPHEW'S 
MOM'S HOME WHO RECENTLY HAD TO MOVE TO 
A NURSING HOME.





CHRISTMAS EVE
*******

WE WERE INVITED TO OUR SON RUSSELL'S 
HOME FOR THE EVENING. 




WE DINED ON ROAST DUCK, A FABULOUS 
PASTA DISH AND A GREAT BROCCOLI SAUTE.  




 OUR DESSERT WAS FIGS & DATES - DELICIOUS! 




WE MADE MOST OF OUR GIFTS THIS YEAR. 

THE SWEETIE GIRLS LOVED THE JENNIE LIND 
TOY BOX THAT WES REFURBISHED AND I DID 
DECORATIVE PAINTINGS OF "TOTORO", 
A FAVORITE CARTOON OF THEIRS.  

  


HERE'S A BETTER LOOK AT IT. 
 



THE FRONT SHOWS TOTORO SITTING ON 
A BRANCH WHILE TWO SISTERS FISH
IN THE RIVER.




THE TOP IS THE "CAT BUS" FROM TOTORO. 
I THINK HE'S SOOO FUNNY!! 
RUSS & JEN THOUGHT MY PAINTINGS WERE 
FABULOUS. I WAS SO HAPPY!
 




I MADE PRINCESS PILLOW CASES FOR 
THE GIRLS BED PILLOWS. 



RUSS IS SHOWING YOU THE BEGINNING 
OF A SCRAPBOOK I CREATED FOR HIM 
THAT GOES FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS 
FIRST BIRTHDAY. 
 




I MADE A PILLOW FOR JEN BY TRANSFERRING 
A PHOTO SHE HAD TAKEN OF 
THE EIFFEL TOWER TO FABRIC. 

(I'LL DO A FUTURE POST ON THE PHOTO TRANSFER 
METHOD TO FABRIC. I LOVED DOING IT!)
 


CHRISTMAS DAY
********
LOOKS LIKE SANTA HAD ARRIVED 
AT OUR HOUSE! 
 


CHRIS & MATT CAME OVER TO SPEND THE 
DAY WITH US. 
 




MATT SEEMED TO ENJOY THE SCRAPBOOK I 
MADE THAT INCLUDED PICTURES FROM 
HIS BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OLD. 
 




WE MADE A FAUX TWINKLING FIREPLACE 
FOR CHRIS TO USE IN HER CABIN ROOM/CRAFT 
STUDIO. WE SAW ONE IN A GIFT SHOP THAT WAS 
NOT FOR SALE THAT SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH. 
WES & I PUT ON OUR MCGUYVER HATS AND 
CAME UP WITH OUR VERSION!  




ONE OF MY GIFTS WAS A SIZZIX MACHINE 
TO USE TO MAKE IMPRESSIONS ON PAPER 
FOR CARDMAKING & SCRAPBOOKING. 
I CALL IT MY "PRESSER MACHINE"! 
THANKS CHRISSY!  




A TOTAL SURPRISE GIFT FROM WES. 
I SAW THIS BUTTER DISH IN AN ANTIQUE
SHOP WHEN VISITING MARIE DOWN 
SOUTH. WHEN I WENT BACK TO PURCHASE 
IT THE SALES LADY SAID SOMEONE HAD 
COME IN TO BUY IT... I WAS SO BUMMED. 
WELL THAT SOMEONE WAS CHRISSY AND 
SHE BOUGHT FOR WES TO GIVE TO ME!! 
HOW SWEET! 
 


WE ALL HAD SUCH A GRAND WEEKEND! 

THANK YOU TO BOTH OUR SONS AND THEIR
FAMILIES FOR MAKING IT SO PERFECT!  


THAT'S RIGHT... 
WE'RE ALL DOG TIRED AFTER 
ALL THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS 
BUT WHAT SWEET MEMORIES TO CARRY 
US THROUGH TIL NEXT CHRISTMAS.  

BLESSINGS TO YOU AND 
YOURS IN 2012 MY FRIENDS! 

(NOW TO PACK ALL THIS STUFF UP!)