Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hackers Suck!

So, my computer got hacked and a virus and I'm not happy about it...
Do people (hackers) have nothing better to do with their time? It isn't like my computer is full of money or great valuable information... It is full of photos and digital scrapbooking stuff along with story notes...

Today I am using my husband's computer to get caught up a little... I have managed to reformat my computer to take it back to the begining and add a new virus scanner... I decided while I was doing that I would run scanners on this machine as well as my laptop... Keep in mind my laptop is from college so it is about 10 years old (it had Windows ME on it if that helps in dating it..)

So, today has been spent fixing and creating something from nothing on these old machines because some dork had nothing better to do then send me a freaking virus!!!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Scripture Challenge: Peace

It seemed appropriate this week to post the Scripture Challenge Card for Peace (week 6 of the Scripture Challenge at Triple the Scrap and Faith Sisters)


I used Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus to create the card using pieces from ScrapWow's monthly kits. I hope you enjoy

notes from "Peace" at Women's Bible Study.

As promised I am blogging after our session tonight. I have to admit there are sections of my notes that are deep and cut through some baggage I hold on to...
This week's subject was Peace and as I was listening to Beth Moore's words from the DVD lesson I had a hard time staying focused as my mind wandered to places it would rather not go, but I feel those places are the places that God is saying, better yet YELLING, "Wake up and LISTEN!!!, I'm talking to YOU!"... This was definately one of those weeks... Now I just have to come to grips with some of the issues and figure out the direction the spirit leads me.
Personal Peace.... I bow down to his rule... I know I need to let Christ rule in my life, give my concerns to Him. The personal rule of Christ in our lives can bring the greatest sence of peace.
One thing Beth Moore mentioned and caught my attention was the "Applied Authoirity of Christ"... Peace comes to those who follow the rules laid out my Christ. Sometime we don't like the rules and don't follow them to the letter (I know I'm guilt of that!) , but by not follwoing the rules we are seperating ourselves from Christ and the WORD of God. Let Christ rule through out our lives. Letting go of that control has been one of the toughest trials for me. Letting someone higher hold Authority over my life is a struggle for me like many others.
The Beautitudes are a wonderful set of ideas laid out in Matthew. Ms. Moore sets before us one in particular, verse 9; Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God. referancing back to Isaiah 9: 6 it is inspiring to let Him shoulder our arguments. Even when there are 2 sides , especially when there are 2 sides , let the Lord's shoulders be the solid ground we come to and look to for guidance and answers to keep the peace.
Another area we looked at this evening were peacekeepers rather than peace makers... Peacekeepers are those that try to keep the peace no matter what the cost. Selfishly trying to keep the peace in our relationships can lead to such discord and conflict that we become walking time bombs waitiing to explode.
She also made a very strong point that seemed to strike a cord with me... " Peace comes with authority , not with the answer." sometimes God can grant us Peace but not always give us the answer to the conflict at that time. Answers can come later...
She also reminded us to come clean with God, he already knows but coming clean with God gives us the Peace that we are waiting for and the strength to deal with the conflicts and the answers that come...

if you would like more information on this study check out www.lifeway.com/bethmoore

Notes from Beth Moore Bible Study

As promised I am blogging after our session tonight. I have to admit there are sections of my notes that are deep and cut through some baggage I hold on to...

This week’s subject was Peace and as I was listening to Beth Moore’s words from the DVD lesson I had a hard time staying focused as my mind wandered to places it would rather not go, but I feel those places are the places that God is saying, better yet YELLING, "Wake up and LISTEN!!!, I’m talking to YOU!"... This was definately one of those weeks... Now I just have to come to grips with some of the issues and figure out the direction the spirit leads me.

Personal Peace.... I bow down to his rule... I know I need to let Christ rule in my life, give my concerns to Him. The personal rule of Christ in our lives can bring the greatest sence of peace.

One thing Beth Moore mentioned and caught my attention was the "Applied Authoirity of Christ"... Peace comes to those who follow the rules laid out my Christ. Sometime we don’t like the rules and don’t follow them to the letter (I know I’m guilt of that!) , but by not follwoing the rules we are seperating ourselves from Christ and the WORD of God. Let Christ rule through out our lives. Letting go of that control has been one of the toughest trials for me. Letting someone higher hold Authority over my life is a struggle for me like many others.

The Beautitudes are a wonderful set of ideas laid out in Matthew. Ms. Moore sets before us one in particular, verse 9; Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God. referancing back to Isaiah 9: 6 it is inspiring to let Him shoulder our arguments. Even when there are 2 sides , especially when there are 2 sides , let the Lord’s shoulders be the solid ground we come to and look to for guidance and answers to keep the peace.

Another area we looked at this evening were peacekeepers rather than peace makers... Peacekeepers are those that try to keep the peace no matter what the cost. Selfishly trying to keep the peace in our relationships can lead to such discord and conflict that we become walking time bombs waitiing to explode.

She also made a very strong point that seemed to strike a cord with me... " Peace comes with authority , not with the answer." sometimes God can grant us Peace but not always give us the answer to the conflict at that time. Answers can come later...

She also reminded us to come clean with God, he already knows but coming clean with God gives us the Peace that we are waiting for and the strength to deal with the conflicts and the answers that come...

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Women's Bible Study Notes and Thoughts

So I posted this on my myspace blog but felt I should share it everywhere...

Ok so I've been planning on blogging about this Bible Study for a while now...
Lifeway's "Living Beyond Yourself" by Beth Moore. exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.
It is a 10 week series and our group is 4 or 5 weeks into it now and I have a pile of notes/thoghts I've been meaning to post... so here goes (some might seem a little random and some yhou might have to work for a little...)
So back in the first week , it was an introduction to the series and here is what I wrote down and thought on....
She mentioned this several times... God is STILL happening!, Wow, what a serious concept... the timelessness of his word. The begining and the end, the alpha and the omega.
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me" NIV.
John 14: 15-17 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. An I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Conselor to be with you forever- The Spirit of truth, The world can not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you knowhim, for he lives with you and will be in you." NIV
so here is a list of verses I wrote in my notes regarding the journey we were going to embark on.
Psalm 27:13
John 10:10
1 Corinithians 2:9
Philippians 3:12-14
John 11:43-44
2 Corinithians 1:8-9
Collosians1:29

Session 2: Living by the Spirit
Confessions and concerns need to be dealt with before you can begin to take in the WORD of God and share the WORD.
Sometimes we are overcome with a desire and need to figure out what is leading us to that desire so we can ask for God's help avoiding those situations and handling them better.
Identify the feelings in the moments be for we take an action. Knowing the feelings we have before we act on a desire can help us again avoid those actions that are not Godly in nature.
So here is the list of verses:
1 John 1:9
Psalm 139:23
salavation versus satisfaction
Proverbs 13:12
Psalm 90:14

Session 3: Love
This was an overwhelming week and I will save it for another blog as I am still sifting through the notes and emotions. Hopefully I will be able to put into words the experiences we felt.
Session 4: Joy
Choose Joy!
Luke 10:20 rejoice in knowing our names have been written in the heavens.
Especially during this time of year, I grab onto the Great Joy in the resurrection and the power of God to overcome and grant us salvation through Jesus.
Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weekping may remain for a night,
but rejoiceing comes in the morning.

This coming week is Peace, what will it hold... I'll try and post after our session tomorrow night...

Notes from Beth Moore Bible Study

Ok so I’ve been planning on blogging about this Bible Study for a while now...

Lifeway’s "Living Beyond Yourself" by Beth Moore. exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.

It is a 10 week series and our group is 4 or 5 weeks into it now and I have a pile of notes/thoghts I’ve been meaning to post... so here goes (some might seem a little random and some yhou might have to work for a little...)

So back in the first week , it was an introduction to the series and here is what I wrote down and thought on....

She mentioned this several times... God is STILL happening!, Wow, what a serious concept... the timelessness of his word. The begining and the end, the alpha and the omega.

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me" NIV.

John 14: 15-17 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. An I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Conselor to be with you forever- The Spirit of truth, The world can not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you knowhim, for he lives with you and will be in you." NIV

so here is a list of verses I wrote in my notes regarding the journey we were going to embark on.

Psalm 27:13

John 10:10

1 Corinithians 2:9

Philippians 3:12-14

John 11:43-44

2 Corinithians 1:8-9

Collosians1:29



Session 2: Living by the Spirit

Confessions and concerns need to be dealt with before you can begin to take in the WORD of God and share the WORD.

Sometimes we are overcome with a desire and need to figure out what is leading us to that desire so we can ask for God’s help avoiding those situations and handling them better.

Identify the feelings in the moments be for we take an action. Knowing the feelings we have before we act on a desire can help us again avoid those actions that are not Godly in nature.

So here is the list of verses:

1 John 1:9

Psalm 139:23

salavation versus satisfaction

Proverbs 13:12

Psalm 90:14



Session 3: Love

This was an overwhelming week and I will save it for another blog as I am still sifting through the notes and emotions. Hopefully I will be able to put into words the experiences we felt.

Session 4: Joy

Choose Joy!

Luke 10:20 rejoice in knowing our names have been written in the heavens.

Especially during this time of year, I grab onto the Great Joy in the resurrection and the power of God to overcome and grant us salvation through Jesus.

Psalm 30:5

For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weekping may remain for a night,

but rejoiceing comes in the morning.



This coming week is Peace, what will it hold... I’ll try and post after our session tomorrow night...

Run the Race

Lyrics for "Run the Race"

RUN THE RACE
Running scared and afraid for so long
And thinking that I was not strong
Enough to live and fight the good fight.
Wondering had I run in vain.
Like a fool I knew I could not
And if I could I knew I would not
I ran away from righteousness
Because I was ashamed.
Starting out it was all so easy
Believe in Jesus and live to please Him
Then I walked by faith not by sight.
But somewhere along the way
I let my first love slip away
It's only by His precious grace
That I can run the race.
Can't even pick myself up off the floor
You know I just can't take no more.
But in my weakness this I know
Jesus is made strong.
On my own can't reach perfection
Because I go in the wrong direction.
It only goes to show you
My heart is made of stone.
Starting out is was so easy.
Believe is Jesus and live to please Him.
Then I walked by faith not by sight.
My hope's to stand on solid ground
Because in Jesus' love I've found.
It's only by His precious grace
That I can run the race.
I know full well what I should do
I've got to live by Jesus' truth
The things that can not be undone
He will work out for His good.
I don't know what got in to me
It never was my works you see
They are just the proof He's done
All that He said He would.
Starting out was so very easy
Believe in Jesus and live to please Him.
Because I walked by faith and not by sight.
Because He is alive in me,
I know someday He will set me free.
It's only by His precious grace
That I can run the race.
Now I can't live by God's solution
And follow still my own polluted
Mind the lust and the desires
Of a sinful heart.
Grace by faith was once my plea.
The only thing that will save me now
Is to let the Spirit's burning fire,
Keep me set apart.
Starting out is always easy
Believe in Jesus and live to please Him.
Got to walk by faith and not by sight.
I've got to keep on pressing on
And fight until the battle's won.
It's only by His precious grace
That I can run the race.
© 1992, 2007 Carl Dudley


I'm listening to my friend Carl Dudley on my computer while I'm doing my Bible Study for this week and the lyrics struck a cord with me... Life is a Race and without God's help and solution we are lost and will not finish the race.
Thank you Carl for sharing your words with us and helping us see this batle belongs to the Lord.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Sleep off the grougies...

Sometimes sleep is a necessary, but sometimes I feel like I need to "no sleep" grougies (I think that is the word) to do my best work. It may sound like ramblings when I write but if I don't start somewhere I won't have anything to edit and work with...

Hey, hope everyone remembered to set the clocks forward... I did one of the clocks (my night stand clock) It looks like the computer reset itself so we are ok there... I will go around and set them all this morning.

I'm sitting in my office (It is choas) while my younger son (2 1/2) plays his Easy-Link game. If you haven't seen this thing in action, go check it out. I love that he can play games and not mess up the computer... He is learning his ABC's and counting and is recognizing colors and shapes as well as order... We have most of the characters (decided against the Barney/ Wiggles set since we aren't Wiggles fans)... Today he is playing Lunch o Matic with Arthur... he is actually making good food choices... It lets me do my blogging and know where he is at the same time... Glad we rebuild the older machine for the kids...

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Life journey's

Life is a journey, wow that was about as cliche' as it gets.
Anyway, this weekend has been a crazy ride and along the way I have seen sides of my life and inside myself on a new level. I really need to get focused and simplify this journey or I'm not going to make it to the end.
I am slowly moving in a new direction as far as my business. I'm taking a break for a while. I need to find out what I am really doing and treading water and sinking fast in a business that take more time and energy than it reaps doesn't make sense. I love my hobby but see my other journey suffering desperately. I know I will always love the underlying aspects of the business and the people I have encountered because of the business but my other passions need me more.
I see so many projects laying around that are screaming for attention. I have stories in my head that need to be told. And, I feel like I need to give myself more deeply to my faith and family.
My writing and photography are things I can include in my faith and family. My hobby, while it does produce lasting outcomes, it seems to be conflicting with my faith and family right now. Someday, it may not, but now it is causing more of a strain than it is worth. I know that I can continue to inspire, but can not commit the money or the time that my customers deserve.
I also feel pulled toward my summer projects in faith so passionately that my business would only be a hinderance.
I will continue to post examples of my hobby as I am not quitting the art just the business.

Ground Breaking of sorts....

I broke ground, for lack of a better term, on my newest idea today.
I'm blogging my novel , well kind of... I am using curtainjourney as my novel's termporary home. This way I can write and save from anywhere. I'm hoping this will help me stay on task with it... I feel like so many things are shifting in my life right now, this just seemed like the thing to do.
She is pretty vague right now, but I hope to have a background design created this next week and some base line characters listed and introduced...
Stop by and say hi, and join the journey.

Monday, March 3, 2008

DigiScrap and other Themes for the day

So I love Digital Scrapbooking, but I have been a traditional scrapper for a long time (almost 25 years) and have acquired a lot of scrap supplies... Today I decided to think outside the box a little and am going through my supplies and scanning pieces I really like (premade borders, stickers, papers, etc..) that I know I can use in my digiscrappin'. Some days you gotta love technology...

This weekend I hosted a crop locally and while the girls were busy on their projects, I worked on sorted and "journaling" photos in my Memory Manager Software. I have just about 10,000 photos stored in the program in various folders (people, events, holidays, places, and photo shoots to name a few) and was able to go for approximately 1600 unsorted to just about 500. So I am making progress getting my photos sorted... It makes it alot easier when I am working on a project and can't remember the date or the details of the event. I can go to MM and look up the photo. I can also share my photos and use them in my digital scrapbooking software...
I was also able to combine 2 photos into 1. I will be doing that more often and hope to share a combined photo I am working on with you later this week.

On the Sunday School front, I have to say I am loving watching these kids grow. We are on a rotation for teachers; at the end of the month I check with my 4 teachers and assign a week to teach the older kids, then depending on how many kids we have we can split the class and someone else takes the 2's & 3's... I am praying our young adult/ teen group grows as well, I would love to see a class for the teens at some point. Hopefully before the summer, I see such a need for a positive place for the teens to learn and grow in Christ.

I will be posting some more of my scripture cards this week. I am finishing up a set and hope to have them online by Wednesday.

I'll check back later...