Devotion from Streams in the Desert

Good morning my friends. It has been a long time, I apologize. I have not had much time for my hobbies but am doing very well. Being in the classroom after all these years has posed some challenges but nothing that can't be overcome. I have been getting every sniffle, cough and cold imaginable but God is good. He sure is teaching me resilience.
I do however think of all of you often. I wonder when I will create again and wonder how your lives are and what God is doing. Please leave me a message if God is doing something in your life, I am so encouraged by that.
This morning in my quiet time I read a devotion from Streams in the Desert that really spoke to me. I know times are tough right now for so many and it is often difficult to see the light. This devotion put a beautiful perspective on things. Sometimes the darkness can be the most beautiful place to be, it's all how you view it. Here is the devotion:

In the famous lace shops of Brussels, there are special rooms devoted to the spinning of the world's finest lace, all with the most delicate patterns. The rooms are kept completely dark, except for the light that falls directly on the developing pattern, from one very small window. Only one person sits in each small room, where the narrow rays of light fall upon the threads he is weaving , for lace is always more beautifully and delicately woven when the weaver himself is in the dark, with only his work in the light.
Sometimes the darkness in our lives is worse, because we cannot even see the web we are weaving or understand what we're doing. Therefore we are unable to see any beauty or any possible good arising from our experience. Yet if we are faithful to forge ahead and "if we do not give up" (Galations 6:9), someday we will know that the most exquisite work of our lives was done during those days when it was the darkest.
If you seem to be living in deep darkness because God is working in strange and mysterious ways, do not be arraid. Simply go forward in faith and in love, never doubting Him. He is watching and will bring goodness and beauty from all of your pain and tears. J.R. Miller

The shuttles of His purpose move
To carry out His own design;
Seek not too soon to disapprove
His work, nor yet assign
Dark motives, when , with silent tread,
You view some somber fold;
For lo, within each darker thread,
There twines a thread of gold.

Spin cheerfully,
Not tearfully,
He knows the way you plod;
Spin carefully,
Spin prayerfully,
But leave the thread with God.
from the Canadian Home Journal

To you, all my friends, from church, school, family and cyberspace, I pray blessings upon your lives and the joy of the Lord to fall upon you.

Hugs,
Melanie

Grand Opening!!!

www./folderfun.ning.com/page/grand-opening

Check it out. I love this site. I highly encourage file folder games as an inexpensive tool to engage your child in the learning process. They are adding to the library weekly. They have more pre k and kindergarten right now but you can adapt them to fit your needs if you are creative. They have a blank pumpkin template that you can use to adapt to the skills you are working on. So check it out and print away!!!

Thank you girls!!!

Here are some cards that I have recently received in the mail as well as this special wall hanging
Ok, This one really made me cry. This wall hanging was handmade by Adrienne. When I went into my classroom on Fri it was in a pink gift bag on my front table. I first opened the beautiful card, how cute is that Bella????????? Then, when I opened all the bubble wrap I found this beautiful glass frame with my favorite scripture on it. Did you know that was my fav scripture Adrienne???? I totally know that was the Lord. I was so touched and blessed, I couldn't help but to get emotional. I am so clinging to this verse right now in this particular season of life. Thank you my sweet and talented friend.
Love the Bella from Adrienne!
This cute card came from a SCS birthday RAK from Amy
These 2 came from my SBS sister Tracy.This Sarah Kay card came from my SBS sister Shazza, check her out on my sidebar under SBS time to craft. I absolutely love these images and would love to get my hands on some. How cute is this card. Oh I love it! Thank you so much!!!
This card came from my girlfriend LeighAnn, isn't it cool??? The circle in the center is a peekaboo window. Thank you for the thank you card Leighann!



Thank you all for thinking of me. Tomorrow is my birthday for those of you who thought you missed it. I will be turning 36. I never will get too old for cards, that's for sure. Thank you for blessing me!


Hugs,

Melanie

Some vacation pics!

Thought I'd get a picture in our cabin before it got too messy


Day one from the ship - Key West, Fl
Just a couple of the towel animals left by the room attendant, too cute!

It took us about 2 hours stop and go to get all the way around cozumel on a scooter




I couldn't resist. I made Vic stop to pose with this statue! This is a gym we passed in Cozumel.

What an awesome Creator!!!! Thank you God!!!

All the earth declares His glory!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought it would be a cool reminder of the scooter to include the mirror in the picture
The last of the beaches before heading back to the port
We stopped to enjoy the beach, but the water was pretty rough, nearly took Vic's shorts off!
Margaritaville in Cozumel

We stopped at a light house to take a quick pic in Cozumel
I love you hunny. Happy Anniversary!

Sept 17 we celebrated our 9 year anniversary. We were in Cozumel that day! Wow, thank you Jesus

We also went to Belize in Central America but I had to buy a disposable camera because I left my charger at home and my camera died. I still haven't used all the film on it.

HEllO FRIENDS!

I just wanted to say how much I miss all of you my friends. I have just returned from Florida and a 5 day cruise for my anniversary which was Sept 17. It was a trip planned before I accepted my teaching position so it definitely will not be the norm. It was a such a blessing to spend quality time with my hunny after being like ships passing in the night. Plus the kids got to stay with grandma and pop-pop which was a blast.

I am pretty busy with work so I have not been able to fit in anything else. I have about 600 emails in my box and pictures on my camera that need to get uploaded. I am hoping to get some time this weekend to catch up.

I wanted to say a special thanks to my blogging sisters who sent me anniversary cards and birthday cards. I will post them just as soon as I can. I have been so absorbed in work and estranged from my friends, so it blessed my heart when I received these cards. It is such a gift to be thought of. So to my sistahs, thank you, you truly touched my heart.

I miss all of my gal pals at CCGV, I think of you often and keep you all in my prayers. I thank the Lord everyday for each one of you. I pray that all you homeschooling moms are being abundantly blessed. What an amazing privilege you have been given. Go all out for God and He will go all out for you!!!!!

God bless you,

Hugs,

Melanie

Trying!!!!!!!

Ok, I thought I would try out the blog templates but they are not accommodating my 3 column blog very well. I love this one but as you can see the text is really hard to read now on the side bars. I kind of started something I can't finish. So when I get some more time I will try to resolve my layout. There are not many to choose from for 3 column and when I did it did not fit the whole layout either the sides got cut off. I really like this one but the side bars are too hard to read, waaaaaaaaaa! Any suggestions???? I don't have the time to redo my whole blog but I've always loved the really artsy looking ones. My gal pals have all made beautiful changes! Any other layouts that accomodate 3 column blogs please come my way!!!!

Smiles,

Melanie

Hello Friends!!!

It feels like its been forever since I've blogged but I come to you bearing gifts. Here are some cards I made last night using the new Just Because card kit. While my hubby was watching the TN game, I decided to open up my kit and play. Well, let me tell you...if you are a busy bee like I've been, this is the kit for you. It is so easy and quick and look how cute the cards are! I couldn't wrap my brain around anything too difficult. I wanted to relax with something rather thoughtless yet beautiful.

This kit is available for free or discounted depending on your purchase until Sept 30. It comes with the stampset, pre-cut card pieces, ribbon, sparkles, 2 ink pads, card bases and envelopes. It makes 16 cards, 2 each of 8 designs.

I have not finished all of the designs yet, but I got off to a great start.

Visit my website for more info


And here is the finished layout that I started a few weeks ago of Missy and Lexi. I thought I would show you per the suggestions that were left for me. Adrienne said "How about a flower?" Leslie said "how about some brads?" and I said I was going to add ribbon and of course I couldn't leave out the bling! So here it is. Thanks for all your suggestions, here's what I did..................

I used chocolate brads for the flower centers and small rhinestones for the smaller flower centers. I added ribbon to my fabric flower and voila, a new revised page!!!