Download this 4x6 PRINTABLE for personal use HERE. 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. It's often quoted and probably used more than another scripture for weddings. This love chapter is full of "what if's." What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? What if I had faith that moved mountains? (from 1 Corinthians 13 CEV) What if? Our what if's could go on forever. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for … [Read more...]
Can you believe it?! Thanksgiving is just 26 days away! I've already shared a wreath that you can create for Thanksgiving and I have two more fun posts on the way for you very soon, including a beautiful Thanksgiving table and centerpiece for you on Monday. This weekend's Project Inspire{d} features are designed to help you get ready for the holiday now. I think you're going to LOVE these fabulously creative printables! Get your "pinning finger" ready for these all Great Ideas... Fabulous Free Thanksgiving Printables to Make the Day Amazing Free Watercolor Thanksgiving Printable by I … [Read more...]
I have several friends going through hard times right now. One trying desperately to regain her footing after divorce, one recovering from a bad fall and brain surgery (with a setback today), another fighting a debilitating virus for 8 months with no end in sight, one struggling through the process of seeing her sister-in-law go from home to hospice, and still another dear friend in the throes of dealing with a family member battling addiction. Tremendously hard times. My difficulties seem small in comparison. Yours may dwarf those, or possibly you are in a time of calm. When we are faced with … [Read more...]
This morning I was reading some writings of C.S. Lewis, when these words leaped off the page at me: It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He was talking about how we start our days. If we were meeting each other for coffee at Starbucks in the morning, I might ask you, "Did you have a good start to your day?" It's an innocuous question. Purely conversational. And of course, I would hope you had a great start. Because we're friends, you won't cloak your answer with the usual dismissive remark. Instead, you'll tell … [Read more...]
How's your day? I'm hoping that today's been a good day, or at the worst, something we can call normal. Do you mind stopping a second to look back over the past several hours? We've had numerous blessings... A bed to sleep on, a bite to eat, dishes to wash, places to go, people to see... And so much more! Consider each a blessing. Give thanks for each one. We often take these common, everyday blessings for granted. Tomorrow, things might change and we may or may not have one or more of these blessings. When that happens... our worlds just might come undone. Or will … [Read more...]
Do you have a best friend? Since selling our "forever" home, we've made five moves to addresses in four states. At each new town, I've been blessed to make wonderful friends. Each friendship is a special treasure... but there's something special about long-time relationships, regardless of the miles. Because I treasure my friendships, when I came across this wonderful Irish friendship quote, I immediately wanted to create an art print for you. It's early for St. Patrick's Day, but I decided you should have it in plenty of time to print and frame, so you could enjoy it for more than a few … [Read more...]
There's a saying... "Talk is cheap." I'm pretty sure I used to hear my dad say that. Lately I've been thinking about love and I think we could say, "Love is cheap." There's the controversial movie... the broken relationships... the 400,000 children needing a home in the U.S. alone... the issue of human trafficking... and on I could go. If you were new to our world, you would think that love was cheap and love had no apparent value. Times were probably like that back when the Apostle Paul penned these words to the people in Philippi. And this is my prayer: that your … [Read more...]
Do you love secrets? I'm thinking that secretly you do. Who doesn't love being an insider and knowing and hearing the secrets behind someone's success, recipes, DIY projects, relationships, or just about anything? There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. ~ John Holmes This quote passed by my screen and I immediately loved it. And then I immediately tweaked it... There is no better exercise for the human heart than laying self down to lift others up. ~Diane Miller This is my secret. Available as a 5x7 art print … [Read more...]
Download your Free 8x10 Creativity Quote HERE. You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have. Maya Angelou It's really true, too! When I get on a creative flow, the ideas come more quickly, and I seem to improve my craft with everything I attempt. It also inspires me to want to try new things and express myself in new ways.... like creating more printables such as the creativity quote I made for you. Would you like to be a better photographer... or maybe get ideas to jump start your art? Would you like to create some beauty for your home, but aren't quite sure how to … [Read more...]
The year is still brand new, and in this season my mind hums with thoughts. Always, I want to be better at whatever I do. It's in my DNA. I'm wired to strive towards excellence. These days I'm reading more, spending time fine tuning the behind-the-scenes parts of the blog, learning, and dreaming. I've also taken a back seat to my online social activities, which I sort of miss. It's all part of this internal drum in my heart and head to thrive. I know all that sounds like I've got a map and charted my next steps, knowing where I want to go. I wish. Lately I've been chewing on the idea of … [Read more...]
Imagine yourself standing in a large atrium in which there are many doors spaced along its walls and no other hallways in which to exit. In my mind, my life is like that atrium. It's filled with beautiful plants, some flowers, and beautiful daylight streaming down from the upper story windows. For too long, invitations to exit into a new world have appeared on countless doors in the atrium. However, the doors are locked and access to the new world is prohibited through those doors. Remember when you were in high school, standing in the hallway at your locker on the first day of … [Read more...]
Are you always on the look out for great graphics? Especially at Christmas time? Today I have some Free Printable Graphics for you... and a terrific tutorial! It's been a long time since I've shared any printable graphics with you, so I decided to take some time and create a few graphics in PicMonkey. And then, I thought I'd show you... How to Create Your Own Christmas Graphics in PicMonkey This isn't going to be a full-blown tutorial with screen shots and such. But it will be a very detailed tutorial for the novice or newbie. It was easy for me to create this graphic and the others that follow. … [Read more...]
I cannot believe Thanksgiving is just about here! Did someone push the accelerator button? Because time seems to be whizzing by at warp speed. All the more reason to take a few minutes to slow down... breathe... and acknowledge our blessings. I love this quote and printable from the archives... “When it comes to life the critical thing is, whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” Gilbert Chesterton I know you'll want to download my free gratitude printable, to post at your work station, on the fridge, or even frame and place in a vignette for a constant … [Read more...]
Have you ever been sitting absolutely still but found your body trembling? Were you trembling from excitement? Anticipation? Anxiety? Or maybe fear? Lately that is a state in which I often find myself. Some days it's much better than others. This week has been a mixture of joy and sadness. Over three days I was blessed to have out-of-town guests. My friend and her daughter came for a brief overnight visit, and another friend and her husband came to spend the day with us. I can't tell you what bright spots those days were in my summer. It was so good to see far-away … [Read more...]
Live An Extraordinary Life Are you really living? Download your 8x10 Free Printable here. If you're reading this I'm sure you're living. [wink] However, I'm not talking about whether you're breathing, though I must say, I am grateful for every breath I take. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that all we have is this present moment. Yes, we have hope for the next moment, day, week, month, year. But, in actuality, all we have is this present moment. Are you in the moment? Or, are you living in the past? ....recalling missed moments, relational regrets, and a host … [Read more...]
I've been doing a lot of chewing lately and I'm not talking about burgers, potato salad, or s'mores. Maybe you're like me....one day it's disappointment, the next it may be weariness or lack. Some days I chew on blessings, a faithful husband, dear friends, good food, wildflowers, and sunset reflections over a beautiful lake. You can pretty much tell what I'm chewing on. It shows all over my face. What have you been chewing on lately? For quite a few years I saved my calendars. My favorites were always the ones featuring a Bible verse and the artwork of Ellen Stouffer. As I … [Read more...]
Camera in one hand and dog leash in the other, I went for a walk hoping to see some woodland flowers along the roadside. At first all I saw were mats and mats of decomposing leaves. After this past winter...that was no surprise. But...remember I wanted very much to see some sweet woodland flowers proclaiming, "It's spring!" As we walked along, squinting into the sunshine, hope ran high in my heart. I was not disappointed. Click here to download this quote as 5x7 free printable. I doubt that most people would see anything besides the twenty shades of … [Read more...]
