Sunday, October 19, 2008

Register for Jessica Sprague's free class!

You can now register for Jessica Sprague's FREE class! Open to everyone, class size unlimited. Registration is open until Nov. 8th.
Go to to login and register!

Here's what Jessica says about this class:
"I decided to create a system for capturing the stories I would like to tell, so that when I sit down to story tell (whether that's scrapbooking, taking photos, blogging, or any other of the various ways I can record the stories of my life), I can have some stories in hand.:

I'll see you there!

The Grocery Fairy Came to Our House!!!

With Rod not working, just going to school full time, it's put our finances in an interesting situation. Honestly, I try day to day to reassure myself that I really do know that the Lord will take care of our NEEDS. It's a tough day when you have to decide to pay your power bill when your cupboards are empty.

Rod is currently getting unemployment checks while going to school.... which is lots less than he used to make. Funny, before when he had a "good" job, I used to say that we were "scraping by." I think I was wrong. Things are much harder now.... maybe it's more difficult because we don't see the end. At least hard times with a job you could hope that it would be better after the next paycheck or next month or in a few months. Right now, it's so up in the air that we are just hoping that we get our rent paid. Literally.

A few days ago, I mentioned this to a friend. Not in a complaining manner (or at least I hope not) but that it is such a struggle. Personally, i'm trying to find a way to deal with the struggle. Rod and I really do believe that the Lord has asked us to do certain things right now in our lives.... That if He really wants us to continue to do what we are doing, that He WILL provide. Although there are plenty of days where I can't seem to remember this at all... there are others where I really can see His provision, right up close & personal!

Today was one of those days! The Grocery Fairy came to my house!!!

My friend who I had spoke with a few days before, contacted us, and they (she & her husband) decided to bless our family with groceries! Woohoo! (First off I couldn't believe they would do that for us... but they are friends & isn't that what friends (and family) should be for?) They were so gracious.... letting us know that it blesses them to bless us. It really touched my heart! We all felt so blessed... a couple of whole chickens, fish, cereal, milk, canned corn, canned beans, mac & cheese, spaghetti noodles & fixings, grapes, fixings for a homemade soup and many, many other items!

We've given to others.... And I know how heart warming it can be to give a gift in love. But I haven't had to be the person on the receiving end in a very long time. Very humbling... Yet it felt so good to know that someone cares.

It feels like God is letting us know that he will walk with us a little further... He will provide. My Thanks - Thank you Lord for providing for our family in our time of need. Thank you for our good friends who walk with us and who show us your love in our day to day lives. Thank you for sending us the Grocery Fairy!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Pilgrims Progress Curriculum Giveaway

PhotobucketA fellow Crewmember is offering on her blog, a giveaway of The Pilgrims Progress Curriculum. It's by Answers in Genesis. Want a chance to win it? Click on the picture, it'll take you to her blog then leave a comment in the giveaway comment box.
I love good giveaways! Thanks Sallie!

Friday, October 10, 2008

FREE (Digital Scrapbooking) Class!



Eureka! I'm all about free! And what's even better is when you can get something of quality for free. My favorite digital scrapbooking instructor Jessica Sprague, who's known for teaching online Digital Scrapbooking classes, at www.jessicasprague.com is offering a free class, Stories in Hand, November 9-16, 2008. All you need is to do is to sign up for the class on/after October 20th.

For more information CLICK HERE. I'm not exactly sure of the nature of her class, but she teaches about Digital Scrapbooking. If you have any desire to learn about Digital Scrapbooking, this would be a great opportunity to take a peek into that world!

This is the story of a girl who loved music....

There once was a girl who loved music. Her older brother played trombone in middle school and high school. When it was her turn in middle school to pick an instrument, she chose the flute. Not the piccalo, the flute. She loved her music and learned to play well. She learned to read notes, count and play in the band. She played in the high school marching band before she was ever in high school.

When time came to become a freshman in high school where she had to pick classes, she did not realize that she loved the flute. She chose wisely and picked typing classes in lieu of music. Time passed without regret and she grew up.

Then she married a handsome young man. She finished college. They had four beautiful children. Times here and there she considered playing with an orchestra. Sometimes wishing she had a hobby outside of the home, but she never really pursued it.

After the birth of their third son, she realized that there is no music in their home. They homeschool, so "What will they do?" with musical instruction for their children? This was something that from time to time, hung heavily on her heart. For she had a desire for her children to have a love of music as well. They would visit friends and see the evidence of music in their home, and yearn for it in hers as well.

Occasionally, her children would listen to her play flute in the living room of their home. Though she realized that for real life activities after high school, it would be pertinent for her children to learn music such as guitar and piano. Guitar is the instrument of choice in small group, home worship. Piano on the other hand is a pillar of our musical society. So she decided that she would really love for her children to learn the guitar and the piano.

Some time later, she began to look for a piano. The cost was prohibitive. With sadness in her heart, she gave up looking for an inexpensive, used piano. She gave it to the Lord. If He wanted music in their home, He would need to provide it! She had visions of a family, her family, gathered around the piano on Christmas Eve singing the songs of Christmas. What a beautiful dream....

Then, through a mutual friend, she was reunited with an friend from years gone by who desired to give their piano away. She found out about this and inquired about the piano. Her old friend gave her the piano. What a bulky, hard to move, blessing, in disguise!

Then she thought, how will my children ever learn to play the piano that we now possess? Her husband had been laid off from work, so she knew that they could not afford a teacher for music lessons. What was she to do?

She bought a piano instruction book. Borrowed a few more. And she began to play. All of her music lessons flooded back to her. It was like riding a bike! It all was still there! It may not be shiny, delicate or light-weight, but the basics were all the same! One still counts, reads music and learns to play by ear. Her heart sang!

Thereto lies the future of her family. A family that plays (music) together; that sings together. This is a story of a dream come true! And one day, she will teach them to play the guitar (and the flute as well).

This is something that I wrote about myself. I'm taking a digital scrapbooking class where we were to come up with something written in 3rd person, story-ish. It needs some revisions, yet I hope you like it... I do!