Over Here Again
I'm spending more of my time over here at my Photo a Day Blog...
posting pictures and thoughts there.
So, if you're looking for me I'm probably still over here!
my personal corner
Today's post is over here at my photo a day blog...see you there!
wise words
Food for Thought...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit. ~Mac Anderson
llustration: Willow Leaves by Felix Fu
{blessed}
I think I am one of the most blessed mamas in this world, because all three of my girls "get it"....
Leah, my youngest, saw this picture on my Project 366 Photo a Day blog and responded to it this way:
Why do You love me
You have pursued my wicked and debauched heart
That only blasphemes Your name
You saw through my ugliness
My sneering demeanor
And You loved me
I laughed in Your face
Spitting on your pity
I mocked Your grace
And I trampled Your mercy
And yet You loved me
When I made every effort to drive You away
You drew me
Nearer
Closer
Deeper
Because You loved me
You gave me a home
You gave me a share in all that You had
You gave me a kingdom
What’s more You gave me Your name
For You loved me
And when I had grossly used
Abused
And shamed all these things
I sold my soul
My birthright
My identity
For nothing more than a bowl of soup
A sensual pleasure
A feeling
Yes for a feeling that was fleeting
It only lasted for a moment
And then it was gone
Yet I did not learn
I did it again
And again
And again
In spite of the fact that You
loved me
Here I am
Here I stand
With nothing to give
With nothing to offer
With nothing
And yet I have the audacity to come into your throne room
And to beg You to fulfill my needs and desires
Presuming that You love me
My very best
My righteousness
My holiness
My spirituality
All the good things that I have done
Are nothing but a degrading sight for you to look upon
My goodness is but mud upon the bottom of your boots
Oh beat me off
Scrape me away
Throw me out of Your presence
Cast me off
But do not love me
For I am ashamed
I have taken Your name in vain
I have been unfaithful to Your trust
I have laid your temple waste with neglect
I have allowed Your worst enemy to infiltrate and cause destruction
I have done nothing worthy of
Your love
But even though I am unworthy
Your character remains true
Your goodness
Kindness
Holiness
Showed no bounds
When You forgave me
And loved me
My heart was a lock
Crippling my soul
Which was chained and bound
To death everlasting
But Your touch was gentle and firm
There are no keys to the kingdom
There was only one
A son
A prince
You
Yes You slid inside
And unlocked my heart
You made me free
So that I may depart
This brothel of sin
This life of harlotry
Hell I deserve
But Heaven I get
Pearly gates
And streets of gold
Not to mention a crystal sea
But what’s more
I get a home with Thee
Why
Because You loved me
© 2008 by Leah Dellicarpini
please do not use without permission
{366 days}
I am so grateful for those God has placed in my life, who, plus me, make two!
Especially on stormy days...
Tho' weathered and worn...together, we are victorious!!
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. --Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
This is today's entry in my 366 Project~Photo A Day Blog....for more photo's look here or click the button on my sidebar.
{new beginnings}
Monday I did something I haven't done for almost 30 years...I threw my glasses and a notebook in my purse and drove the 12 minute drive to the local community college where I attended my first National Government class of winter term.
I can already tell this will not be a routine memorization of statistics and facts sort of course but one full of dynamic, thought provoking discussion.
The professor came highly recommended by my oldest and youngest daughters, who, collectively, have taken several classes taught by him.... I would have been perfectly content to have just audited the class, but they insisted I sit for the exams.
"It'll be good for you," they said.
I suppose they expect me to get an "A" too....hmmmm it's tough feeling like you have to live up to your children's reputations.
When I went to register the class was full, but I was told I could call the prof to ask if he would let me in.
"This is beginning to be a pain," I said to Leah.
"It's part of it; it's good for you" she said.
Good thing I had contacts; [thanks Jenna and Leah] he did let me in.
After he signed a permission card, I had to go back to the registrar's office where I was told there was a block on my registration because they had no record of my ever having taken English 1101...
ha ha ha ha ha...
I have a BA in English....
[Of course, my English professors would probably take back my degree if they ever read this blog and saw my abuse of grammar with all of these "........'s" ]
ha ha ha....they didn't care....
they needed proof....
I quickly managed to get a transcript and then made my THIRD trip to the registration office.
I had forgotten what it's like to have to stand in line FOREVER x 3 to register for classes and to stand in line FOREVER to get into the bookstore to buy your books and to drive around the parking lot FOREVER looking for someone coming out of class to follow as they walk to their car as you stalk them like a vulture to get their parking space while, at least, 400 others drivers are doing the same....
Anyway...to make a long story just a teeny bit longer...I FINALLY got legally registered and got my book and have been able, so far, to find parking to make it to class on time [a bigger challenge, I think, than making good grades] I am also the oldest, and quite possibly the dumbest, student in the class....and...
Don't say it...I know what you're thinking....
It'll be so good for me.
llustration: Scholar and Scribe by Felix Fu
{these}
The alarm rings at 4:15 AM reminding me that it is time to send her back.
On the way to the airport I "hear" myself thank God for these days we have had with her...
these days we have had...
I know the expression well.
How often I have heard my father use it.
There is something about the words that grabs my attention this morning
and then, I remember their doing so...when he has said them... in times past,
these days we have had...
As always, I feel a kind of nebulous awareness of their poignancy...
Today, I trace the thought a little further:
these days...
we have had...
together...
with each other...
ordinary days,
full of meaning and purpose,
planned and known by Him
even before we had them...
these days...
the sheet music
upon which is written
the symphony of Redemption
And I cherish them even more.
llustration: Music Class by Felix Fu
{blog sick}
It has been a little over two years since I have been sharing snippets of my heart and life with you. I feel so blessed to have each of you as friends and still feel called to write here....
but...
I have noticed that I have become a blogging hypochondriac; I am constantly taking my blog temperature, measuring the value of this space by evaluation of statistics and comments.I hope you will understand my need to close the comments for a while until this self-imposed malaise subsides.
Feel free to email me....I love hearing from you and promise I won't start counting how many emails I receive :)
llustration: Vintage Typrwriter by Felix Fu
{the perfect gift}
Hoping you all have had a very very Merry Christmas....we spent a leisurely day eating Christmas Morning Rolls and egg casserole, opening gifts, throwing steaks on the grill, savoring yummy Key Lime Bundt Cake while sharing life stories with each other, and taking a walk over to John's parents' to visit them, his sister Laura, and her daughter, Allison.
We have enjoyed visiting with Katy and getting acquainted with her friend, Joel, and are looking forward to spending more time with them this week.
I want to thank all of you who were so kind to respond to my last post. My father and mother also appreciate your prayers, and I am grateful to be able to report that they, indeed, have experienced that perfect peace that only Christ can give during these difficult days and have been able to make major decisions guided by that Peace!
Please continue to pray in the coming days as our family walks out this journey...
I appreciate each of you! You've given me the very best Christmas gift of all...the gift of yourselves! Thank you...
llustration: Merry Christmas by Felix Fu
{all i want for christmas}
I am asking each of you
for a very special Christmas gift....
Could you please pray for my father
who is experiencing critical health issues
and will most likely have to make some very
major decisions in the coming days.
Could you pray for him to have wisdom and
peace and comfort?
And will you pray for my mother also...
and me...and my family?
Thank you.
llustration: Christmas Holly by Felix Fu
{news}
hmmmm...just in case you're wondering what's going on here....
My grandson, Trey, is going to be a big brother! Jenna is expecting again : )
Leah made it through finals and is now luxuriating in her homecoming sans homework...
Yesterday, I accompanied John to the doctor to have MOH's surgery followed by a visit to the plastic surgeon for a skin graft... it was a 7 hour ordeal... I am sure he is grateful it is over... thank you to those of you who have called to check up on him
I have a very very part [about 4 hours a week] time job doing light filing, bookkeeping, etc.
Randi sent me the most adorable apron and potholders! What a pleasant surprise....thanks Randi! Visit her Etsy shop to see all the fun things she sells there.
During our time in the waiting room yesterday I started reading a book my father gave to all of his grandchildren on family vacation this year, The Little Red Book of Wisdom , authored by Mark DeMoss, brother to Nancy Leigh DeMoss [Revive our Hearts] ....Leah loaned me her copy ;)
The bad news: This lil ol computer is about to die
The good news: Growing up, I always got fruit in my Christmas stocking, and this year my husband is graciously putting fruit in my stocking too!
The really good news: All three of my girls will be here to spend Christmas day with us!
The really really good news: "Christmas means God loves you....loves you so much He sent His Son to earth Christmas day to tenderly say, 'My child, Christmas means God loves you!'"
llustration: Morning News by Felix Fu
{simply}
I have never felt the need to fill the spaces of our relationship
with obliging words or gifts or deeds, because
your heart has never demanded that I perform a list of acts
to prove my love for you.
If there is one thing you have taught me...
are teaching me...
by the example of your own life
it is this:
Genuine relationships are organically grown
from hearts free of
bitter poisons of imposed expectations
that imprison others
So today, I simply celebrate the beauty of
your life
who you are
and are becoming...
simply you!
Happy birthday...dear Mother...happy birthday to you!
llustration: Garden Cut by Felix Fu
{tomorrow}
I will get up before the sun rises and spend time with the Son, emptying my heart, listening, dreaming, searching, waiting as He washes me with His Word:
We will make a pie, and chop celery and onion to put in the Thanksgiving stuffing.
We will vacuum and mop floors, wash sheets, arrange flowers, and set the table with my grandmother's china.
We will check the menu to make sure everything is in order.
We will listen to beautiful music as we work to ready our home for those who will gather together to remember and celebrate the year's blessings.
We will sing.
We will dance.
We will delight in the joy of preparing to serve.
And then we will rest...
Illustration: Birdbath by Felix Fu
a.w.o.l
Sorry I haven't been around here lately....
I hope to get back to routine posting very very soon...My parents came for a visit a couple of weeks ago, last week I was totally un-motivated....ever get that way? :)
This week I've been spending time learning new photography skills and posting at my photoblog...
I grabbed this picture from one of my daughters that someone took with her camera in August on our annual family vacation....with all three of the girls in it!
It's not often I get a shot of all three of them together...
and here's one of the college frosh.... who comes home in just 2 short weeks that really aren't short enough for mom.....can't wait...can't wait....
fun cookie gift bags
After baking and decorating 120 cookies on Thursday for the shower Jenna helped host this weekend...my husband even helped :)...what a great guy, huh? She and I made favor bags to put them in, on Friday.
I thought I would do a tutorial on how to make these cute little bags. We got the idea from...Martha...but tweaked them to help stabilize the cookies. These are the cookies we made, the only difference being that this time we used a knife to ice the background of the cookies and a #3 Wilton decorating tip to decorate them; the gift bag tutorial follows:
Supplies you will need:
EDITED: I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT YOU NEEDED BAGS WITH A DEFINED BOTTOM BUT HAVE SINCE REALIZED THAT THE CARDSTOCK ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR BAG BOTTOM.
Clear cellophane bags *
Pretty Cardstock
Colorful Ribbon
1. Determine how tall you want your bag to be....what will look best with the size cookie you will be filling it with.
2. Cut the bag to that height + the width of your ribbon x's 2....so, if you want your finished bag to be 7" and your ribbon is 1/2" wide...you would cut your bag to a height of 8"...make sense?
3. Once you have determined that, you are ready to measure for the size you will cut your cardstock. You will cut a piece of cardstock the length of the height of your FINISHED bag + the width you want the bottom of the bag to be [ you can kind of puff the bag out to find out how wide it naturally is ] + 1/4" for little front facing you see at the bottom front of the above pictured bags.
4. Now measure the width of your bag and cut the cardstock that wide.
5. In other words, you will be cutting your cardstock by the measurements you determined in steps 3 and step 4.
[Click on any of these images to enlarge]
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NOTE: You can omit steps 10-12 if you are filling your bag with candy or light cookies. We added it, because we found that the weight of our cookies made them lean forward too far in the bag. By making this little "step" and placing the cookies between it and the 1/4" lip, we found that our cookies were stable. Of course this will vary according to the size of the bottom of your bag , etc. You'll just have to play with this....
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If you are pressed for time, you could always just slip a piece of cardstock in the bag as a backdrop to your treats and finish with the ribbon. But if you can find them....make the extra effort....these are easy and attractive!
I hope you have as much fun as we did!
~Debi
