New Necklaces. . .

PLEASE BE HONEST. . . I'm not sure if I like either of these.  But, I had gotten the idea while I had the collar of an old cut up sweater lying around.  Both are made almost entirely of re-purposed material (the thread isn't re-purposed).

Without further ado:

Ignore the girl in the photo.  This is the mustard cream and gray sweater necklace.

The main part is mustard and yellow re-purposed sweaters.  The gray part is a recycled t-shirt.

Just a close up.

Re-purposed t-shirt necklace

 Entirely made of t-shirts. 

Please Pray

God has been opening my eyes and heart to the wonderful life of adoption.  Children are meant to be in families. God is all about the family.  That is why He set it up EVEN before the fall of man.  It was the first and only covenant before the fall!  (Marriage that is).  As a result, I've been reading a lot more on families attempting to adopt.  Please Please Please visit this blog and pray for this family.  They are trying to bring home their son.  Please join us in prayer and fasting on Wednesday.  I will be fasting Wednesday for lunch.  My heart is breaking for this family that is right now separated.  Please help them be together soon!

Heartbreaking

I've spent the last hour and a half or so having my heart broken over and over again.   I have been following Carrington's Courage ever since a friend shared it with me.  She is an adorable little girl who is fighting for her life right now.  I wish I could support more than just through prayer but unfortunately it's just not possible right now. Recently, Sarah who operates the blog, has posted Carrington's Challenge.  Well I looked at the website she had posted.  These children weren't as "lucky" as Carrington.  Reading this post started the tears flowing.  Then I started clicking on the other links.  Andrew, just stood out to me.  Such a sweet boy.  How can people abandon these children??? And while Tara, I'm sure, no longer looks like the little girl listed here, I'm sure she's just as sweet as she is described.  And little Jimmy, who doesn't want to kiss his face?

Is your heart breaking yet?  How about going and reading more stories here and here.  Alright enough of the posting for tonight.  It's time for me to go pray for these kids.  I do hope you take up Carrington's Challenge.  Please start praying for these children.  More than anything they need our prayers.

Melanie, thanks for introducing me to Carrington.

Karen, thanks for giving me an opportunity to love some of the children in the orphanage you will be going to.

Sarah, thanks for updates on Carrington.


Isaiah 1:18 Seek justice, 
   encourage the oppressed.^[a] 
Defend the cause of the fatherless, 
   plead the case of the widow.

Zechariah 7:9 

This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’

Saturday CraftDay!

So today I will be linking up again with Laura from Along for the Ride.  I love her blog and her Etsy store.  That's beside the point though.  She has a wonderful series which allows me to post on here the crafts that I've been working on during the week.  Without further ado, here are some of my recent craft projects.

I made this hair clip recently.  I love it.  Aaron doesn't, too bad! hahaha

And then there's a picture of me looking goofy, but it's the best of the ones my husband took. 

My friend, Karen, is asking for some donations to take with her to an orphanage.  I made these little mittens this morning for a young child.  Love them!

These headbands are almost done.  I need to get some buttons. . .

to cover up the center of the flowers so they don't look so messy. 

I made some bean bags, and two that are filled with plastic bags, which make fun noises for babies.

And lastly, these two bracelets finished off my crafting for today.  

Now I am going to play Dance Praise 2.  It's basically DDR but with Praise Music!!! What could be better?  For me, not much! Love it!

Saturday Snapshot

So funny!  I had to pick this one this week.  Last week I posted a wedding photo.  This week I posted another! My husband wanted dinosaur cake toppers for our wedding, I said no.  We already had a cake topper that I really liked.  One day when we were at the craft store, he and his friend Brandon (our best man), were playing with some dinosaurs there.  I said, "Pick out two."  He had no idea why I was allowing him to get the dinosaurs, which was awesome.  Then as a surprise for the rehearsal dinner, I made these into the cake toppers.  He's the groom of course, and I'm the bride.  I think my favorite part is the top hat on the groom.  Love it! They still reside in our home, on our end table by the door.  They are very special to us. 

Hope you enjoyed looking at these.  Please feel free to link up with Kim over at Yellow Songbird.  Look over the rules first, then view the other entries. :)

Thankful Thursday

It's that time again!!! I'm so glad I started this feature on my blog. I love that this gives me a chance to reflect on my week and the things that I am thankful.

1. God's providence - this week, we had to make a decision by Wednesday, we were given our answer on Tuesday morning.  Praise God for His quick reply.  We had only started praying about a week ago.
2. The girls that I watch.  They are sooo adorable.  I love them very much.  In the car the other day the 2 year old sang to me, "Night, Night Manda, It's time to go home."  While we were going to pick up her sister.  Too silly!  When I put her to bed, I always sing "Good Night M, Good night M, Good Night M, it's time to go to sleep."  She decided to adapt it.  I love it! =D

3. These guys

They are our youth group kids.  We love them sooooo much!!! We weren't able to have youth group last week because of my tooth pain.  This week we are having it and I'm so excited.  We're having breakfast for dinner! Yum!  Chocolate chip pancakes for dinner.  Amazing =D

4.  My Church Family - I love these people soooooooo much.  Went to prayer meeting last night.  there are only about 20 of us that go.  It's such a sweet time of sharing and praying for one another's needs. I love Grandview Alliance Church.  I'm so thankful for what they are doing.

5. Seeing two of our youth group kids that haven't been at youth group in a few months at church on Sunday morning. Praying they come back tonight.  That'd be so amazing! :) Love them so much.

6. Seeing my friend Melanie on Tuesday and teaching her what I know about sewing.  She's going to be making a purse soon.  We cut out the pieces on Tuesday and she practiced just straight stitching on some scraps on Tuesday.  We'll practice some more probably next week.  She's going to teach me to play guitar in return.  Awesome! I've had a guitar for a year and half and still don't know how to play. I'm hoping that once I learn how to play I can lead some worship for our youth group.  Right now we don't have worship and that makes me a little sad. 

7. The blog Melanie showed me.  http://carringtonscourage.blogspot.com/ < Please visit this website. This little girl is so precious!!! I'm so thankful that there are people out there willing to adopt children and be the hands and feet of Christ as we should be.  I hope someday the Lord allows Aaron and I to adopt.  I've always wanted to adopt kids.  Perhaps that's because I'm adopted.  Not by my parent's but by a Loving, Holy Father through the work of His Son!

8. That my dad has been ok for so long even though he apparently fractured one of his vertebrae in a fall at work about 25 years ago.  He also has Spinal stenosis on two of his vertebrae.  He also has artheritus all along his spine.  I'm so thankful that he's been able to do so much for so many years.  I'd also appreciate prayer for him for his back but more importantly for his salvation.

If you'd like to participate in Thankful Thursdays please feel free to do so :).



Best Husband Ever

This is one of the reason's my husband is the best husband ever.

He went out for a hair cut and came back with this =D. 

He remembered that I had been talking about them this month.  Then he brought one back for me as a surprise.  It's a Shamrock Shake.  We almost NEVER eat at McDonald's for many reasons, but I do love a Shamrock Shake during the month of March.  Thanks wonderful husband. =D =D

Oh and today he told me to go craft. Best. Husband. Ever.  Just saying!

Crafty Saturday

So these are some of the projects I worked on last night and this morning.  I will be linking up to my friend Laura's blog.  You can check out the other entries over here.  She's soooooo awesome.  I absolutely LOVE her etsy shop.  She's a believer and always posts things that are so encouraging. :)

And without further ado, here is the frog I made for a friend's bridal shower this weekend.  They have a frog theme for the baby's room so I made this little guy.  I used this pattern, sorta.  I made it bigger and added more detail.  And I still didn't make it big enough.  Turning those front legs was nearly IMPOSSIBLE.  I ended up ripping out one seam and then turned the foot and sewed it by hand.  :/ Not the best job I've ever done, but I am learning.  I still think  he's adorable. :) :) :)

 I made this little pillow last week.  Gah, I keep calling it a pillow, it's not.  It's actually a rice filled heating pad you put in the microwave.  I looked at it and loved it immediately when I was done.  Until I noticed I forgot one of the most important words in the entire verse.  BOOOOOO!!!

I can't believe I forgot that little word NOT.  It makes all the difference in the world with the verse though.  I tried squeezing it in by hand stitching it, I don't really like it as much, but I do still like it enough.

I made this little heating pad out of desperation last week when my tooth pain was soooooooo intense I was trying everything to make it stop.  Through prayer and the help of a wonderful dentist, I've been pain free for two days :).  Thanks be to God!

I made this little headband for a one of the girls I am a nanny for.  She LOVES pink and purple.  Oh and red and violet, but I just stuck with pink and purple since that's what I had.  I'm going to give it to her on her birthday.  April Fools Day.  Maybe I'll go in wearing it and saying it's mine, but then tell her April Fools and give it to her.  We'll see. Ignore the angry look on my face, I wasn't really angry but a little frustrated because I couldn't stop shaking the camera and all my photos were out of focus.

I made this flower headband for myself.  But I did this close up because I made the same flower into a little flower clip for the other little girl that I watch.  Love it.  You can see in the bottom photo that it's lime green and denim. 

 Some day I'm hoping to be able to sell some of the things that I make so I am trying to practice for now.  I made this headband for myself.  I made another one for myself, and I made a wonderful mustard hair clip I will have to share tomorrow.  I'm hoping to wear it to church tomorrow.

I am having so much fun with crafting lately.  I realized that I do much better with smaller projects than larger projects like quilts.  I need to finish my husband's quilt.  I promised one to my nephew too, but after that I'm not sure I'll make any more quilts.  Maybe I will, but send them to someone else to quilt them.  I love piecing them.  I dislike quilting them.  

I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with time this weekend to craft.  It's so relaxing and fun for me.

Oh and before I forget.  A very happy birthday to my nephew Ryan and My friend Sky of Many Dreams Come True & Some Have Silver Linings.

Have a Happy Lord's Day tomorrow everyone :) 

Just for Sarah

This is a special post for you Sarah Lou!  You wanted to see some pictures of our "old" oven.  I love our oven but these pictures don't do it any justice.  I love it so much :) I feel like I don't take very good pictures so sorry about that.

Our BeautyRange :) :) :) Love this oven :)

There you have it Lou.  Our "vintage" oven/stove.  Love it :) 

Saturday Snapshot

Kim at Yellow Songbird does a link party on Saturdays called Saturday Snapshot.  This week she posted a photo from her wedding.  I'd been thinking about what I would use this week and also thought I'd post a wedding photo. I LOVED our wedding photos.  Our photographers Kat and Jake Ritenour of Kat Ritenour photography are AMAZING!!!  Just love them :).

Here is one of my favorites of the wedding photos.

Photo taken by Kat Ritenour Photography!

Love this shot!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! 

I love my husband :) He's a handsome, Godly man who loves me and makes me laugh, wipes away my tears, shares my joys, and is an all around great guy!

Thankful Thursday

I've decided I'm going to start a new series on my blog called "Thankful Thursday."  The only problem is that I decided that today, Friday.  So I'm doing a thankful Thursday for yesterday.

Things that I am thankful for this week:
1. God's mercies which are new every morning.
2. My dentist.  My tooth was bothering me sooooooooooooo badly recently that Wednesday night I was crying from 6pm to 4:30 am.  I finally passed out from exhaustion and got up at 6 am for work.  I had a dentist appointment yesterday at 3.  The dentist shot me up with some novocaine (my new best friend) and then drilled in my tooth to relieve pressure and put in a sedative filling to calm the nerves down so they can work on my tooth in a week and half.  Yesterday he said he wasn't going to talk about what we'll do with my tooth in the near future because I was too emotional, tired, and pain ridden to think clearly.  I can appreciate that.  Very thankful for my dentist.
3. My employers.  The dad came home yesterday early so I could make it to the dentist.  Then last night he told me he was taking the day off and I should stay home and get some rest.  Praise and thanks be to God.
4. The Go-Fish Guys.  These guys are fantastic.  They are great at amusing the 2 year-old that I watch which was sooooo important yesterday as I was just in agony all day until I got to the dentist.  This is one of my favorite songs of theirs.  They are great ministers of the Gospel to children.  If you have children check them out.



And for the fun side of the GoFish Guys.



5. The 2 year-old that I watch.  She is just turning into the sweetest little girl in the world.  Love her.  "Madda, why oo cying?" (Manda, why are you crying.) Me: My tooth hurts a lot M.  M: "Dat's sad.  Ov oo Madda"  (That's sad, love you Manda).
I handed her her milk, M: "Dank oo Madda" (Thank you Manda), Me: "You're welcome.  Nice Manners, M." M: "Dank oo Madda"
Gah, she's so cute.  Love her!
6. My husband, the guy pictured below.  I love him sooooo much!!! He takes good care of me.


7. That I get a day to clean. (and hopefully craft).  YAY.

Anniversaries

March 12th was my grandparents 58th wedding anniversary.  Here they are with their grandchildren:

Back row: Lisa (married to my cousin Charlie), Charlie, Nan, Pap, Me, Aaron (my hubby)

Front Row: Kristin, Colleen (my sisters)

And my parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on March 13th.  Here is a picture of them with their daughters.

Me, Collen, Kristin

Dad, Mom

I thought I had one of my nephews and hubby in the picture but apparently that one didn't get taken on my camera.  

Here is my grandma with her brother Bud.  LOVE HIM!!! 

Pap was totally sick of taking pictures at this point.

We all went to Das Dutch Haus in Columbiana, OH for the anniversaries.  It was nice, but there were 6 people I didn't really know there so that was interesting.  The food was tasty, company was good and the cake was DELICIOUS!

More craft projects lately

So not only did I make pillows from my grandpa's sweater for the girls in my family.  All of the gifts that I made, I made using recycled fabrics (except nan's pillows).

I also made these pillows for my mom (sweater from the thrift store for the pillow and the hearts):

And this one for Grandma Hennessey (Pap's sweater and sweaters from thrift store):

And this purse for Kristin (a pair of my old jeans and a skirt from the thrift store for the lining):

And these pillows for Nan (made from fabric left over from quilts I made for Colleen and Kristin a few years ago):

And this purse for my sister Colleen (sweater from thrift store and an old pair of pants of mine for the lining):

I forgot to include a picture of the body pillow I made for Ryan, but that's ok.  

I've had a lot of fun creating lately.  Praise God :) 

Baptisms

Are awesome!!! I was so excited to get to go to a baptism a week ago at our church.  There were 3 people there who were baptized.  Now, just a few heads up.  In our church we believe in "Believer's baptism."  That means no baptizing babies, no forcing people to be baptized.  Baptism is a choice that those being baptized make.  People must first confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of their lives and meet with our Pastor before they are baptized.  Being Lord means that you have given your life over to Jesus.  He is now the driver, you are the passenger.  You are the tool He is going to use to bring His Word to the world.  Being Savior means that He has saved you.  What has He saved you from?  Well, He's saved you from your sins.  The Bible says in Romans 3:23, " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  That means to miss the mark, it's an archery term. That means, we can't get to Heaven on our own, where God's Glory resides.  We also find in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." So the wages (your earnings) for sin, is DEATH.  This does not mean physical death but spiritual death.  In that death we deserve to go to Hell.  Thankfully, God doesn't give us what we deserve. It doesn't end there, the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE in CHRIST JESUS.  God gives us a gift when He gives eternal life in Christ Jesus.  The three that were baptized at our church recently were publicly stating that they have received this free gift and that they have surrendered their lives to Christ.  


With that said, I want to also acknowledge that baptism does NOT save someone from their sins.  Romans 10:9 tells us how we will be saved.  "That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."   That's it.  No other way to heaven but through Jesus Christ, which He says also in John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 


I would also like to point out that baptism does have to occur AFTER accepting Jesus.  In Acts 8:26-40, Peter comes across an Ethiopian eunuch.  The Ethiopian is reading scriptures but can't understand it, so Peter starts with the passage the former is reading and presents the good news of Jesus Christ.  Then the Ethiopian says, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” Then they went down INTO the water.  In our video you'll notice that Robin is taken down into the water.  It is a picture of what happens when I person is saved (receives Christ).  Romans 6:4 says it best, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." When we accept Jesus, we are a new Creation, a new creature, the old has passed away.  What an exciting change!!! 


I asked Robin, of our youth group, if I could post her baptism on my blog and she gave me permission.  So here is Robin's baptism.  I hope it is an encouragement to you.  The sound isn't great.  If you'd like to know what she says, I can post it in a later post.  

I made my family cry last night

But it wasn't a bad thing.

I gave my mom this:

And Colleen got this one:

And Kristin received this one:

To you, these may look like ugly old man sweater pillows.  To us, these have sentimental value.  The blue, white and mustardy sweater belonged to my grandpa who passed on in September 2003.  That Christmas my Grandma (his wife) gave each of the grandkids one of his sweaters and one of his watches.  I wore the sweater a couple of times in college but realized that I didn't need to wear it to remember my grandpa.  Because he died before I became a Christian, I don't know if I'll see him in Heaven some day, but I certainly hope so.  He was one of the sweetest guys I've EVER met.  I loved him sooooo much.  His dad left him when he was young and he dropped out of school in the 8th grade because he didn't like the nuns.  Even still, he taught me how to read by being willing to read to me often when I was little.  He bought me a huge book of nursery rhymes which I kept in my dresser drawer.  When I'd see his truck pull up I'd RUN to the bedroom to get the book and be back in "his" chair before he even came in the house.  He was the one that would watch my sister and I when we were sick.  He gave us "soda" (ice cream with pop).  HAHAHA probably great for us when we were sick, but we loved it.  He also was a single dad for a while when my Grandma (his first wife) passed on from breast cancer when my mom was only 6 years old.  He would sew mom's dance costumes, he would put her hair in rollers, and worked 3 jobs.

He loved my sisters and I so much.  He would come to all of our dance recitals and dance competitions.  He would watch all of the Disney princess movies we could watch in one day.  He would give us apples cut up with salt on them (back then we used to like it).  He made my younger sister disgusting PB & hard salami sandwiches because she liked them even though they were disgusting for him.  He took Kristin and I on vacation with my grandma (his second wife) 3 times when we were younger.  That was sooooo special to us. He would take me in the ocean because he knew I loved it even though he was tired.  So special!!!

So that was why those pillows although made from old man sweaters, are soooo special for my family.   Hope you have a great Sunday, expect more pictures to come for other craft projects that I did as birthday gifts recently.

Excited. . .

So. . . I found another blog to follow. . . I know it's my new Facebook, but bear with me.  I love Piper at http://revivingremnants.com/.   I just fell in love with what she's doing.  And right now Aaron and I don't really have a ton of extra cash but I really want to craft still. She has some unique things on there.  Well, I've got a lot of left over fabric from different quilts and left over from the wedding I want to try some things with, but then I thought, hmmm I could get old sheets from thrift stores, (when I run out of stuff I have) and then use them for different projects too.  And I really want to make some sweater pillows, because they are honestly just adorable, and who can beat getting fabric for like $1 which is often what you're pay at SalVal.  Gah, soooooooo many ideas floating in my head.  I just can't wait to start creating but in order to do so I need to get this apartment in order again now that my bug is mostly gone.  I don't want to push myself too hard but I also am sooooooooooo excited to get started that I need to start getting stuff done.  EEK!  Tomorrow will be a day for planning (hoping the girls naps cooperate so I get at least an hour to start laying out my ideas.)

Thanks a ton Piper.

*Photo used with Permission from Piper Post at Reviving Remnants, don't forget to check out her site.  (How cute are those pouches, seriously!!!!)

Pay it Forward 2011

I’m participating in Handmade Pay It Forward 2011!

Here’s how it works. The first 5 people to comment on this post will receive something handmade by me. Now before you start scrolling down like crazy, by choosing to be one of my 5 payees you are also committing to Pay It Forward yourself via your blog, twitter or facebook.  The things must be handmade by YOU.  :) :) :) How fun is this??? I'm excited :)

I found out about this from someone I recently started following: http://revivingremnants.com

Her name is Piper.  She's awesome.  She's got some really great things in her shop and I appreciate that she's trying to make a difference.  :)  It also gave me a chance to kick start making more handmade things, something I enjoy.  The deadline for sending your handmade things is the end of 2011.  For myself I hope to have them sent to you by August 1, 2011.  If I hold out too long I'll forget.  I will try to make everything something that you will like/appreciate/be able to use (Hint: give me some ideas of things you like).  They probably won't be quilts this year, but maybe next year ;) 

Love,

Amanda

Twitter

Recently, I have discovered the wonderfulness that is Twitter.  In the past few weeks, I have been reading more from my favorite Pastors, learning from wonderful people in the handmade community, and being encouraged by other Christians I find on Twitter (usually small business owners).  I am so blessed.  I never knew what a great resource Twitter could be.  I would like to share some of my new favorites with you.

Meet Gussy.  She sews ruffles. Lots and Lots of Ruffles.  And she has a dog named Bauer, he's adorable.  Check out her blog.  Or her Shop.  LOVE the Woodgrain tote.  Just love it.

Then today I found another new favorite: The Vintage Pearl.  If I were infinitely wealthy (Yes, I realize that the love of money is the root of all evil) I would probably want one of everything in this shop.  Best of all.  These ladies are Christians who give back to the One Who gave them Everything! :) :D  I seriously can't wait to have a family so that I can have this piece:  our family tree.  It was love at first sight.  And guess who I thought of when I saw this one.  LOVE that shop :).

And today while I was busy being home sick, I found a new favorite blog to follow.  (I got sick last night in a different way and ended up taking the day off).   This one amazes me with all the talent on it. (in)courage me is just fantastic.  Check out this post if you don't believe me.  LOVE LOVE LOVE

These are just SOME of my new favorites.  Oh and I finished up Left Behind today.  Well, the first book of the series that is.  I love reading and it's sooo nice to have something to do while you're sick.  I got sick again tonight but I am feeling much better, and I think I will be back at work tomorrow.  Just hope there are no more trips to the porcelain throne :(.  Please pray I get better soon.  I don't want to miss prayer meeting tomorrow.  It's such an encouragement to me.  And I really don't want to miss youth group.  No more sickies!!!!