Top Ten

10 Reasons I Believe In God

By Bill Shuler
Pastor, Capital Life Church, Arlington, Virginia

1. An innate sense of right and wrong came from somewhere.

2. The universe is far too organized and intricate to have come about by chance.

3. Seeing chimps doesn’t compel me to organize a family reunion.

4. Anyone who has witnessed a baby’s birth will attest to miracles.

5. He has appeared in history.

6. There must be a reason the heart hungers for truth.

7. People since ancient times have sought Him.

8. People since ancient times have found Him.

9. I see Him in the lives of those who forgive.

10. I spoke with Him this morning.

The major questions of life demand a verdict. Where did I come from? Is there more to life than what I am experiencing? Does God exist? The Bible says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Instant change

Wanting to add a little pizazz to this lamp, I got my scrap-booking supplies out and covered the candlestick portion with a piece of paper. You can get so many different looks just by changing out the paper...I'm lovin' it!

C I R Q U E

Cirque was great fun...the show was spectacular. Of course, there were no pictures allowed so I can only tell you about it. The clowns were very talented, but at times a bit off color. :( But the acrobatics were sitontheedgeofyourseatgaspforyourbreathriveting!!! :) We had a wonderful weekend in Atlanta...spending time together...just the three of us!

Heroes of the faith

Hero - distinguished for exceptional courage, fortitude, or bold enterprise; idealized or held in esteem for superior qualities or deeds of any kind.

Every year our church holds a Global Impact Conference. It is a very special time where we celebrate those who make many sacrifices in order that people all over the world might come to know Christ. It is always such an exciting time to hear how God is working all over the world...a time to celebrate our heroes...a time to reconnect with old friends...a time to reflect on how God would use each of us in reaching a lost world for Him!

Feeling Blue

I have wanted a blue bedroom and bath for a very long time. Over the past year or so, I having been piecing my bedroom together. First , I found some blue and white window treatments, then a comforter, next some plates to hang over the bed. Little by little, I am getting there. Recently, my DH and I began painting. We started in the bathroom and still need to get another coat on the walls before moving to the bedroom.

I am wanting to paint the ceiling in my bedroom, too. Anyone out there know whether I should use the same color as on the walls or do I need a different shade?

Letters from the heart

Last year, for Valentine's Day, I sprayed a metal mailbox hot pink and stuffed it with goodies for my DD.
It has a special place on her bedroom wall, but I haven't been as diligent as I had planned about keeping the lines of communication open with letters. This Valentine's Day, I'm going to make sure it is full of heart notes and that it stays that way during her teen years! :)

One thing leads to another

This is what I've been doing................rearranging!


I tried hard to rearrange so I wouldn't have to change the grouping on that red wall. That paint is not very forgiving and if you look closely, you can see that I'll be doing a little patching and painting to fix that place where the sofa left it's mark. I now also have to get those dents out of the carpet where my furniture has been sitting for YEARS.

I had to rearrange my great room furniture so my dining area could accommodate this baker's rack.


That's because I had to make room in my guest bedroom for a couple of pieces that are now in my master bedroom. Remember that armoire? Yep, it's still in my garage and before we can move it in, my DH says other things have to move out.

One thing I know for sure...I'm going to be rearranging for a while!

Guess what I got for Christmas?

CIRQUE

I am sooooooooooooooo excited and patiently (o.k., maybe not patiently) awaiting the arrival of February 20th. That is the day that we head to Atlanta for Cirque Du Soleil! My DH surprised me with tickets on Christmas morning! I have wanted to go to Cirque ever since I became fascinated with their acrobatic abilities and their artistic expression through the use of brilliant color. I LOVE color! Don't know if they allow pics, but I will definitely share anything I can capture! Stay tuned!

From Our House To Yours

Snippets of Christmas 2008...

Customer Satisfaction

SHE came to pick up her ornaments and she liked them...well, all except the horse. Now, we both know the horse needed work. She said, " could you make his neck a bit longer"? And I did...and guess what...he actually looked like a horse! And SHE was a happy customer! :)

Stretched

This holiday season, I have been making and selling personalized pet ornaments and initial ornaments. And there is a very good reason why I stick with those two items...because I can make them. When one of my customers asked me for four ornaments, one with a chili pepper, one with a bunny, one with an angel, and one with a horse, I said O.K.! Did I really say O.K.? What in the world was I thinking? Always wanting to please, I began about the task of envisioning what she had asked for and begging God to help me! (seriously)
Now you must know that I truly cannot draw a stick figure...but here is what I ended up with...


























...So, if you think they are alright, well then to God be the glory! If you think they're not so great, well, then you didn't really understand what God had to work with! :)

Tray Chic

Wanting to preserve those beautiful fall leaves, I decided to make a tray. I had seen this idea in a magazine years ago and had always wanted to give it a whirl. First you take a picture frame...remove back, place leaves on glass...add a second piece of glass as a backer...screw hardware in place for handles...AND you have a beautiful, useful tray!

Happy Fall

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:29

Re: Chicago

Chicago in a nutshell:

Refreshed
Rejuvenated
Revitalized
Reexamined
Repentant
Rekindled
Reignited

REMARKABLE!

Chicago's calling

I can't wait...I can't wait for "true woman 08".
Tomorrow I am off to Chicago with a girlfriend to attend a woman's conference. I am looking forward to being encouraged and refreshed as the speakers lead us into a more intimate relationship with Christ. If you are going, e-mail me...maybe we can meet in real live person! :)

Designing for Life

Kari and Kijsa are at it again. Those two talented sisters are hosting a "share your own personal design for life" party. So, I decided to give a glimpse of one of my very favorite spots in my home.
It's the Kitchen table.




This table is special for many reasons. My husband got this table for me on my birthday a few years ago. While I slept into the night, my sweet hubby stayed up very late putting it together, so that he could surprise me in the morning! This table is a place where family meets...where meals are served...where coffee is consumed...where the Bible is read...where games are played...where conversation flows...where tears are shed...where discussions abound...where joys are shared. I love this place, because life is truly lived out right here in these chairs!

I consider my style an eclectic mix...I love casual elegance...nothing pretentious...just easy living.

One of my favorite items here in the Kitchen is this collection of coffee mugs.



I pull one off the wall nearly every morning to begin my day with a steaming cup of java! There's just nothing like it first thing in the morning! :)

My House is Sparkling

...yes, my house is sparkling! No, not sparkling clean...just sparkling. That's because I've been busy busy busy making these







...and there is glitter EVERYWHERE!
I am personalizing and selling "bow-wow baubles" this holiday season. My first event was yesterday - Bark in the Park! I sold enough to cover my event donation... and then some! I don't know if I'll actually make any money, but I'm having fun... and when you catch me in the right light, even I sparkle all over!!

Oh...and for those of you who can't live without a personalized pet ornament for that pampered pooch, just click on the little envelope and e-mail me! I'll send you all the details! :)

In search of the perfect pair

Where have I been? What have I been doing, you ask? Well, I've been making sure (like any good mom) that everything was in order before HIGH SCHOOL began. And this included the search for the perfect pair of glasses for my DD!


like these?


maybe these?


what about these?


here's some


and then some more


o.k., what cha think?


too much like my last pair?


these are different

love leopard

blue and lime...good colors


solid blue...even better


and then FINALLY
she found these

...and
the SEARCH WAS OVER!