Sending Smiles Across Miles

Do you remember to thank God for prayers answered?  How easy it is to pray when we want him in our lives, but too soon we forget to thank Him for prayers answered and unanswered. Today, I am getting into answered prayer.  I love to share my love for creating.  I was blessed to be able to volunteer in a shop last year about this time.  I helped in a bookstore in exchange for a place to help others.  It gave me a place to have others in to get out of their homes, and as I say, see new walls.  Some needed 15 minutes, some would come in and spend the day, it didn't matter.  We would get together to craft, laugh and yes, cry.  But it was a healthy environment for all of us. Here in Alaska the winters are long and SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is very common.  As life happens, and it surely and sorely does, in May I was no longer able to utilize that space. I truly missed all the people that came in.  I spent most of the short sp...

Can you handle new routines?  I know it is hard and can totally ruin your day.  Our new routine is meal time.  Diet has started, yes that can ruin a day all by itself. So how to handle this.  Of course, cry is always a consideration.  Let's face it, tears get nothing done.  They will make you tired, I guess that can qualify as getting something done.  But, then again, naps do not count.  Yes, we need them occasionally.  Sorry, of track, moving on. We could complain.  But who to?  Would they really listen?  Will they ever want to talk to us again?  Does it make us look strong?  Better question:  Does it accomplish the new routine any faster? The next time your routine changes, I would like for you to consider this: What would be your choice if given? Your new routine or: Walk across the desert Have a day or more without food or even consider: Die for a friend. My poin...

Do you take care of His blessings? Are you able to identify His blessings? Identifing your spouse, children, extended family and friends are easy to see as blessings.  But what about your home?  This is where I tend to fall.  I know my home is a blessing, but don't tend to take care of it as I should.  I know I should find laundry as a blessing, that means I have a family.  I should find dishes as a blessing, that means we have food.  But there are so many other fun things to do, crafting, sleeping, talking to friends and of course posting on my blog. So am I on here just to degrade myself on my downfalls.  No.  I am here today to say that I have been in our home for 7 years and I finally have my kitchen in running order.  Everything has its place.  My husband now says he needs a map, so that he can help keep it this way.  Did I do this on my own.  Well, not completely.  A dear friends encouragment along with ...

Have you ever wondered, "Am I living God's plan for my life"?  Then pondered, "If I am did He really plan for me to have bad things happen in my life"?  You are definately not alone.  So many have had these same questions.  I have always been careful what I pray for.  As they say, be careful, you just might get it.  Praying for patience, sure, but you will have to earn it.  God is our Father, and as a parent, allows us to live our lives, allows us to make mistakes, loves us all the time, gets disappointed in us, but is always there.  Sometimes you have to fall, in order to walk.  We pray for days to pass, to get past a hurdle.  Rather than sharing our fears and concerns with God, allowing Him to comfort us with His grace.  Imagine yourself, crawling into His lap, letting Him cradle you, caress your hair, let you cry, tell you He loves you, and this is a time in your life that you need to grow, so that what comes next will not be...

I think every parent has said this at one time or another.  And it is true.  Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world.  Of course, we all think we are going to be better parents than our own parents.  We go through the, I am never going to raise my voice, I am never going to spank my child, then we all grow our parents finger and wonder, where did it come from.  We realize that there is a difference between a spanking and a beating.  We wonder if anything we do is right or wrong.  We laugh, we cry, we hold them, we let them spread their wings, we allow them to fall, we allow them to pick themselves up.  All because we love them so much.  Let's face it.  We are all human.  We will all do our best with what we know.  We will make mistakes and so will our children.  I read somewhere once, God couldn't control Adam and Eve, what makes you think you can control your children?  It is so true.  And when ...

Seriously, it is.  Termination dust on the mountains.  A really good frost last night.  Moose season has started as well as grouse season.  Gotta dig up the potatoes today, as well as bring in the last veggies from the greenhouse.  The tourists are heading back to the lower forty-eight.  First fire in the fireplace.  So what to do in a small town, in the middle of no-where, during the winter months?  Bake, can, craft, write, read?  I guess the one thing I do miss is my country music.  Yes, I could buy CD's and I do have a few, but you memorize them and always know which song comes next.  I don't have radio reception at the house.  During the summer months we do alot more traveling and I can listen in the car.  But at home, no.  Well, enough camplaining.  I will get more cards made and plan to do some scrapbooking.  This summer I got the house more together, so that housecleaning will be faster and I can pl...

What do you think of when you think of Paradise.  The blue waters, sandy beaches and nice breezes of Hawaii, the Bahamas or some other tropical place?  For me, It is where I live.  Not just Alaska, but my home, the property where my family lives.  So much so that when my husband asks where I would like to vacation, my answer is always, where would we go, you bought me paradise. Why here, you may ask?  Oh, why not?  On Sunday, the mountains were gorgeous.  The sun was shining, the wind a little cooler than the day before.  Monday, I could not see the mountains, they had their heads in the clouds, it was pouring rain.  A new canvas, still just as awe inspiring as the day before.  Then today,  I wake up and look out it is still raining, the clouds have lifted and we have had the first snowfall of the season.  Today, my favorite!  God paints me a new canvas almost daily.  There is no way to put into words how spectacula...

I am often asked about the daylight and darkness in Alaska.  Does it really stay dark all year round?  Do you get depressed from the darkness?  And so many more. So, to the first question, no it is not dark year round.  Darkness is happening now.  When it is dark it is pitch black, we have no street lights.  The kids will eventually go to school in the dark and come home in the dark.  The school takes advantage when they can to see to it that the kids go out to play.  One of the teachers even wrote a book Recess at 20 Below.  Yes, the kids really do go out at 20 below.  They love sledding, the static the dryness puts in their hair, and even eyelashes that freeze to crystals.  Do I get depressed?  Not usually in the winter, but I did last year.  I always look forward to winter.  Alaska is beautiful year round, but winter has captured my heart.  Makes me feel like God has wrapped the earth in a beautiful blanke...

I made this card from Stampin' Up's Happy Hour Stamp Set.  It was so much fun.  It fell right out of my head onto the cardstock. Creating cards is a wonderfully relaxing experience for me.  I love getting my creative energies flowing and see what comes out.  Hope you enjoyed this card.  As Rush Limbaugh would say, "Talent on loan from God". My Aunt and I talk for hours on the phone, so I made this card for her bithday. Take time to love what you do.  Smiles from Alaska!

You may be asking yourself, "Does this lady really make cards, I never see any on here?"  Yes, I do and love what I do.  I finished 50 birth announcements today.  But why am I so behind on posting, when this is a Stamping Out SAD blog?  I have been in the process of making a craft room that is efficient.  I am finally getting close to achievement.  I am truly getting excited about making cards again and being able to find what I need to make what is overflowing in my head.  People ask, "How long does it take you to make a card?".  I always laugh at this question, because I really don't know.  Some cards are in my head for weeks before they end up on card stock.  I do apologize if you have come by to see a card and can't find a new one.  I promise there will be new ones coming soon.  I am always open for new ideas, so if there is something you would like to see, please let me know.  I will rattle my brain tomorrow and...

Is it really August?  And it is half over?  Sounds strange for all of you, I'm sure.  But for me, what a hurdle.  I made it through July.  Seasonal Affective Disorder really hits home for me and July is usually my worst month, and I just realized I made it through.  I had many hurdles during the month of July this year and I made it through.  I am so excited!  A couple of years ago I had told my doctor my life would be so much easier if we could just wipe July off my calendar.  Come to find out I have reversed Seasonal Affective Disorder.  The summers too much day light affects me.  Last year I started going down in July and by November found myself so depressed, yes, I wanted to leave this beautful place, didn't know how, just wanted to leave.  My doctor then prescribed me Cymbalta.  I feel refreshed and new.  How amazing is that?   I am able to live my life without wanting to stay in bed.  I am...

Have you ever thought, "There is not enough time in the day?".  I know, I have many times.  Today, I decided that I am making more time in my life.  I deleted my FACEBOOK!!!!!!! I am very excited about my new life.  I went out on the Ranger (6 wheeler) for 2 hours with friends and my kids, then went berry picking with them and we picked over a gallon of raspberries.  I believe my life will be happier, more fulfilling and full of life with my loved ones.  I will keep you updated on how it is going.  Love to all

...Love Follows Bad things happen to us all.  Whether is comes in the shape of a death, a financial crisis, personal or family health, bad decisions, car accidents, what ever the case maybe, we have all been there.  No one can truly tell us why.  But we can say, that after a bad time happens, it brings us closer to the ones we love.  So, the next time, life happens, focus on the love that is coming, rather than the saddness you feel.  I know it is hard.  I know it all too well.  And no I haven't always focused on the love surrounding the crisis, but in hindsight, I totally see it.  If you have someone in your life that you wonder, do they really care?  Think about the last crisis, where were they in your life at that time?  Whether they were by your side or praying from a distance (and you may not have even known it) the love was there.  Give them a chance now in your life...Show them the love you want to feel...Don't wait...

Let's face it, we all have it.  It is part of life.  We don't like others to see it.  If you hang it out, you don't like others to see your families personal items, especially when they are well worn.  If you have someone come help you clean, you wash your families personal items yourself.  We are uncomfortable folding others clean personal items. So what is my point?  We are more protective of our families dirty clothes than we are of our families lives. As with our laundry, there are things in our families lives that are considered dirty laundry.  It makes others uncomfortable.  It hurts the people involved when it is shown.  But yet, we get on Facebook, our phones, face to face, and let the world see. I ask you today to make a change.  Care as much for your families wounds as you do their personal laundry items.  Be supportive.  Pray for them and for yourselves to contain yourself when you feel the need to air things ot...

Do you spend your days, like something is missing, like you are not feeling your life is being fulfilled?  Hunger pains are not comfortable.  They can make you miserable and grumpy because you are missing something.  Like your stomach, your life needs to be fulfilled with Christ.  You need your daily prayers and vocations to fulfill the hunger.  Daily prayer takes worry off your plate and into God's hands, where they should be.  Daily prayer of thanks puts food back in your plate and keeps you full.  So why do you go around hungry?  Afraid others will look at you or talk behind your back?  Pray for them, that is their sin, don't make it yours.  Take it off your plate, for a healthier relationship with God. So start this week off with a full healthy plate.  You will be glad you did.  Keep it going daily.  You can only control YOU, give the rest to God. Love, hugs and smiles Have a very blessed week

Yes, life changes.  We don't always know when or why, but it does constantly change.  Not always for the good and not always for the bad, but still guaranteed to change.  This was sent to my by a dear friend, and like most, I knew the beginning and didn't realize there was more to it than that.  I pray for you that this Serenity Prayer will help guide you throughout your life.  That you will daily remember that God is in control, when we remember to give him the wheel.  He is here to help us through and although He prefers to not see us fall, He will allow us to fall so that we learn.  Keep Smilin'.  Find reasons to love your life and yes, accept hardships as the pathway to peace.  Love and Hugs to all!

Oh, how beautiful to see a rose garden.  Makes me smile already.  Roses are calming to look at and admire.  Enriched with color and aroma.  We can look at a rose and think that is what we want in life, the way we feel when we see a rose garden.  Then we walk in and feel the thorns, see the blood, feel the tears and realize that is what we do have in life.  God never promised that life would always be easy.  But did promise He would always be with us.  So the next time you see a rose garden, admire the beauty and remember the walk Jesus made for us.  After the thorns, the blood and the tears, our Savior rose again to save us from ourselves.  We will always have good and bad in our lives.  But will we always remember to look to Him for all that we have good and bad?  Remember to smile, to laugh, and yes, to cry.  When you feel your lowest He is there with you to the end.

You remember hard times?  Still having hard times?  You know the times that others, label people, place judgement on them.  We have all been through that and let's face it, we are all guilty of it.  We are sinners.  None of us are perfect.  I pray we all can find it in our hearts that when we want to do this, we will have the power to put our stones back in their place and look in the mirror and ask God to forgive us and remember God loves us all equally.  Even when it may be hard because we have let Him down.  Please take the time to help those that have let Him down, to see Him, to know Him, to have the courage to turn from their ways and to ask for His forgiveness. Let your light shine, so that others may open their hearts and receive His comfort. Hugs to all of you.

Get out of the chaos of everyday life and get back to the simple things.  My idea of the simple things are spending time with my family, picking berries, and baking.  Do I do these daily?  Of course, not.  But strive to get my life back in order to accomplish them more often.  Today, I want to share my bread recipe.  This is my basic recipe that I use for all breads.  I just change it to suit my families needs for the day. Homemade White Bread 1 Cup Milk 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp butter or oil 2 Tbsp sugar or honey 3 Cups flour 1 Tbsp yeast I use a bread maker for mixing.  Ingredients go into the bread maker in the order listed.  I like the bread maker because I don't have to be concerned about the rising temperature or time.  I put it on the dough setting and it is ready in 90 minutes.  I take it out and make rolls or loaf.   I put it in the oven at 170 degrees til it has risen to the size I want, then turn the...

Love, Fun and Six wheeling! I absolutely loved getting out and enjoying the beautiful area near our home.  Have to say, I love getting on the six wheeler.  Today, was loads of fun, lots of water, mud, dust, bear tracks, wolf tracks, and more.  Now I want to drive our sons truck, when it is finished.  Time for some Mud Bogging for Mama. Pray each and everyone of you are enjoying time with your families.  Life is too short, to not enjoy! 

Really, it is time to shake off the grime.  Not grime, as in dirt, grease or the like.  It is time to shake off the dirt and grime that keep our lives in chaos.  You know the mud that keeps our brains from seeing clearing what we need to see.  Or the Goodnight Irene Song, my dear husband is singing now, not realizing I have other mud I am clearing right now.  So how do you clean out the mud?  For me, being able to discuss it is very helpful.  A nice realaxing hot bath, making a card.  Although, giving it to God should be number one, I am human and when your brain is muddy, you don't think clearly. I think this week, I will work on how to start my day clearing my brain with God.  I will let you know, if I find myself thinking more clearly in a week.  So, let the sunshine in meet it with a grin.  Hugs and Smiles!

I am an avid stamper, as Rush Limbaugh would say, talent on loan from God.  As we live life, many of us tend to get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to be happy.  When this happens, we start looking for happiness.  As Snoopy is showing us, we look everywhere.  But what we need to be doing is looking within.  Remember what it is within ourselves, we enjoy and enjoy it to the fullest.  We cannot look for happiness in places, things or in others.  Happiness is found within.  Look for the seed of happiness that God gave to you and nurture it to full maturity and you will find yourself smiling before you  realize it and maybe even skipping, like Snoopy.  Hugs and smiles to all.

Are Old Wives Tales true or false?  There are many out there, but you don't normally hear them from doctors.  Chicken soup for colds, Apple Cider vinegar for tonail fungus and acid reflux, Vicks salve applied to soles of the feet for night coughs.  I love to hear about Old Wives Tales and will admit, I have tried my share of them.  I won't recommend any to you, they are for you to decide and there are so many websites out there that have them. Please use caution when trying them and make the decision for yourself. Come back tomorrow for Saturday Stamping with Shelly.

Is your week flyin'? I can't believe it is already Thursday.  What a wonderful week.  It has been filled with ups and downs.  But what is life with out them?  You need a few waves to make life interesting.  Have you ever flown with Flylady?  What a fun and wonderful way to bless your home and family.  You can check her out at http://www.flylady.net/ .  She helps get you motivated, lookin' good and FLYing (finally loving yourself).  As well as gettting your home out of CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome).  I do suffer from both of these disorders and she is a huge help.  She has also helped me to get my closet to a minimum and what clothing to wear to help me enjoy how I look and feel about myself.  So what is stopping you?  Perfection, the thought of: Why start something if I can't do it right.  She covers that too.  She takes you back to baby steps.  Your home didn't get in the shape it is in, in a...

Wednesday-- Sending out prayers for all of you, God knows your heart and your needs.  Enjoy your day and look for Gods many blessings.

I will start to day off with my smiles found yesterday.  I actually found a lot to smile about.  But will give you the funny smiles.  Our youngest son has a Thomas the Tank bed, that he claims is not his.  So we put it outside and filled it with dirt for him to play in.  Today, him and his sister filled it up with water, making an ooey gooey mess.  They painted pictures on each others backs, splashed, oohhh the joys of being a child.  Then they filled the water trough and played in it to clean up a bit.  It was so nice watching the two of them having so much fun.  God has totally blessed my day with smiles. Now for Tuesday Tantrums:  A day to complain?  Why not?  What are some of the complaints you hear daily?  Too hot?  Too cold?  Too much rain?  Too little rain?  Can you imagine being God and having so many people requesting weather in their favor.  He  made all of us different, how could...

WOW!  It is Monday! (Well, in the lower 48 anyway) My how the weekend passes.  Hope all of you had a great weekend.  Now it is time to start our week.  What better way than to start a week than to start it with smile.  I am sure that while Jesus walked among us, He found reasons to smile.  Have you ever looked for joy in strange places?  For instance, as a carpenter, you know Jesus had to have hit is thumb or fingers on more than one occasion.  So do you think, like most today, He cursed, or did He thank our Father that is was only this thumb and not his hand?  Did you at least crack a smile on that one? Now for one in our modern everyday life, have you ever gotten stuck in traffic and been madder than a hornet?  Turn that around and thank God for the extra time with Him.  What a better time than that to ask God for some smiles to help you through your day.  Even if it is as your sitting there a bird poops on ...

Today, I would like to give you point to ponder: We have all heard the old saying, "When God closes a door, He opens a window".  I have come up with a new swing on this.  "God sometimes leaves a crack in the door, do not open further than He intends". I know that I have thought there were doors that were closed and come to find out, it was not completely shut.  So how open should you let that door open?  You never know what is waiting on the other side.  First:  Pray about it. Second:  If you feel that it is time to consider opening the door, take a peek. Third:  If you at this point you feel this is all God has intended, then close the door. Fourth:  If you still feel inclined to move forward, move with caution and open the door carefully. Fifth:  Now that you have the door open, ask why and what will be accomplished by this now open door. Sixth:  Once you have the why, decide if Gods intention was fulfilled and close th...

Mother's Day is almost here.  Have you made a plan to call, send a gift, stop by her graveside.  What ever the case may be is awesome.  For those of you that have trouble with Mother's Day, I want to help you enjoy this one.  There are many out there that do not appreciate their mother.  We can all find things that we don't agree with that our mothers have done or are still doing.  Let's face it, like the rest of us, mothers are not perfect.  If you are expecting perfection out of your mother, you are holding on to an unrealistic person.  This year I challenge you to make a change. God is amazing.  You don't think so in this area.  Well, think about it.  You are who you are.  You are a well rounded individual.  Had you been given a different mother, you would not be who you are.  So this year, thank God for the blessings he gave you in a mother.  And take the time to say "I love you" to your mother.  And...

He is Risen! In today’s hustle and bustle, it is easy to get caught up in commercialism.   We also tend to get caught up in what the world considers important.   So what is important? When asked about the most important holiday of the year, most would say Christmas.   But I would like to give you something to ponder. We are all born into this world, of course not by a virgin, but none the less we are born.   But what we do with the life God has given us is very important.   Jesus did many things during his short life on earth.   But he did listen and did God’s will with his life. We are all asked to do the same, to spread the word of God, to live a life for him.   Jesus fulfilled God’s plan.   Are you willing to do the same?   I am not saying die on a cross, but am saying, live your life daily in His word and to seek His plan for you.   And look for the gift He has given you and to use it to His glory. It is ...

So, when do you become old?  At 1 day you are no longer 1 minute.  As a teenager, you think 30 is old.  At 25, you think that is a quarter of a century.  At 30, I thought, well thirty isn't old.  At 39, I thought, oh I am almost 40, but forty was not a big deal.  I turned 45 yesterday, is that old?  Inside I still feel young, my body tells me so much more.  The eyes are not as good as they used to be, nor is my back.  Memory, well that could be much better.  But does any of that truly mean a person is old?  We start using the word old at 1 day OLD.  So is a one day old, then old?  As with most things in our society, words describe so much.  Often times changing the way we see ourselves. For instance, the word normal.  Well, what is normal?  Who decides, who is normal?  We are as God makes each and everyone of us.  Did he really make some so called normal and some abnormal.  We are w...

My first card is now posted on etsy.  I loved making this card.  Sparkles in the snow, so Alaskan.  I never seen the sparkle like I do here.  It is so amazing.  Keep your eye out for the next card, coming soon!  Have a blessed Palm Sunday, everyone. 

YES, my blood runs Purple!!! I loved watching the U of K vs U of L Basketball game today.  I have lived in Alaska now for 8 years, and the game gave me a little taste of home.  Which team is actually better is not always what it is all about.  I grew up with my dad and brothers loving U of L, as my dad would say the "underdog".  But for me it was more fun to be for U of K, so that we could all argue over it.  I have stayed a Kentucky fan all these years and will admit that as a teenager alot did have to do with Kyle Massey being on the team.  Now I have grown up and moved past the days of watching all the games.  But did enjoy watching the two teams today.  Whether you are blue or red, lets face it we are all Kentuckians and you mix them together and our hearts bleed purple.  Sometimes you have to move away to see it.  When you are away from Kentucky and you meet someone from there, it is no longer it is red or blue.  It ...

ESKIMO KISSES FROM ALASKA! Welcome to Alaska, via my blog.  This card is first featured here, and will be the first in my etsy shop, coming soon.  Believe it or not this is the same card, lighting is better in the second card and more true to color.  Stamps are by Happy Stamping.  I truly enjoyed making this card.   Always feel free to stop, say hi, give me a funny quip, I love to laugh.  I do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder as do many here in Alaska, so I am looking forward to meeting new people.  Have a blessed day and please come back again.  Shelly