Two Sisters

Do you ever have certain stamp sets that you just can't part with? i do, and lots of them. This stamp set, Seaside Sketches, has been one of my all time favorites, along with all of the "sketches" sets. There's just something about them that says "peace, solitude, and contentment" to me. i know i could always use more of that in my life.

Well, when i saw the color challenge at Colour Q this week, i immediately thought, "these are colors that i would not normally choose to put together," but that's what makes it a challenge, right? My next thought was, "what do these colors remind me of?" Nature, outdoors, sunny skies and green grass. So that's where this card came from.

i just love these two little girls, hand in hand. It reminds me of my sister and myself when we were little. She, being the big sister, always leading me around and telling me what to do. She is my very best friend today, and i am so glad to have been blesssed with a sister. We share an awful lot together. The good, the bad, and the ugly, and she always loves me.

Just the other day, i had to text her because it was finally official. i found my first gray hair!!! It was devastating to me (but in a funny sort of way), and she texted me back, "i've been waiting for this day--ha ha!" Only a sister could get by with laughing.

So, i think i will send her this card just to say thank you for being my friend...always.
Love ya, Julie!

Debi

Conviction!

Again, it's been awhile, but there is always a reason. God has been moving in my heart for the past year or so and He has been convicting me that i spend WAY too much time in the stamp room, spending WAY too much money on myself and my "hobby" as my husband likes to call it. :>

Conviction. i don't like it. Especially whenever it involves me, which it always does. But, having put my trust in Christ, i must allow for it. It is necessary if God is going to use me, if He is going to change me to become more like Jesus. Have you seen the movie "Voyage of the Dawn Treader"? There is a scene where Eustice is turned into a dragon and toward the end of the movie he meets Aslan for the first time. He begins to scratch at his scales, not liking who he has become and wanting the hard callouses to be gone. Aslan changes him back to a young boy, and he later shares with his cousins that what Aslan did kinda hurt, but it was a good kind of hurt. i guess that's kinda of the process i'm in right now...

Man, i hate it whenever God begins to do something in my life. It hurts sometimes, but in order for God to create me into who HE wants me to be, it is necessary. So, the journey i have been on this past year or so has been a difficult one. i have felt Jesus telling me that i have grown to love stamping (and other things) more than i love Him. And after really searching my heart, it is true. Ouch! My desire to be in the stamp room, on the computer, and create has grown to where i enjoy that MORE than i enjoy sitting with my Lord. i have grown to prefer that, and that has been a hard mouth to swallow.

So, where does that take me? i'm really not sure at this time. As we have been reading in the Old Testament about all of Isreal's idols, this has become an idol for me. So now what? How can i enjoy a talent God has gifted me with and not let it be an idol? Do i destroy it completely like the Isrealites had to? Do i try to find a balance? i don't know. And that's where i'm at. Still waiting on the Lord. i am so glad He is patient with me.

So, in the midst of all my "inner termoil", i do have a little something, something to share. Here it is...

TTFN,Debi