Prayer for Newtown, CT (and all of us) : By Max Lucado

Dear Jesus,

It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. 

But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,  
Your Children

To Those Who Have Lost Someone Too Soon

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold. 
Her early leaf's a flower; 
But only so an hour. 
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief, 
So dawn goes down to day. 
Nothing gold can stay. 

- by Robert Frost 

Pinterest Craft Day with the Family

After spending hours (and hours and hours) on Pinterest over the last few months and finding some things I wanted to make, I thought it would be a lot more fun to create my Pinterest treasures with the girls in my family.   I thought it would be fun to wait until the crisp fall air moves in and everyone starts thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays.  So I mentioned it to the fam on Facebook and everyone thought it sounded like fun.  We picked a date and got our plans and supplies together.

My family is full of creative people who are fun to be with so what better way to spend a fall afternoon than with them, creating fun and interesting crafts.

We all met up on October 13th. We didn't really know what each other wanted to create so finding that out was just as much fun as seeing the finished product at the end of the day.  As each person filed in, we found out what craft they were planning to make and looked through the supplies they brought. 

Allison and Jen got to work right away, sifting through the supplies each one brought and sharing stuff each other could use.   Allison decided she would make some Christmas tree trim from beads and bells and stuff she's had around a while.  Jen pre-painted two canvases and she will apply cut paper in a cool flower design.

 Liz has a canvas that she is taping off to paint a modern design in multiple colors.

 Rosie is going to make some jet packs for the kids to use at her school.  They're gonna love them, Rosie!

 Jill is taping off votive cups and will glue glitter to the rims for festive everyday decorating at home.

 Sarah will cover 3 pails with black & white fabric.  She's going to use them for storage and put them on the  yellow etagere she inherited from Grammy.  Jan is going to fold festive paper into envelopes. 

 Jill's cute glittery votive candle holders, underway.

 Me, busy at work on my fabric covered button bracelet.

 Rich wouldn't tell anyone what he was making!

 Jen has all of her paper cut out and arranged in her design.

Allison keeps stringin' those beads and bells.

 Liz gets her painting underway!

Sarah is mod podgin' her pails.

 My buttons are all covered in fabric and ready to go on into the bracelet!

 Allison strung a ton of beads and bells!

 Rosie completed her jet packs!

 My fabric covered button bracelet turned out cute (well I think so!)

 Liz puts the finishing touches on her painting.

 Jen's picture is all done & super cute!

 Jill's glittery glowy candle holders are awesome!

 Amanda's boyfriend, Chris, created a planter for his gecko tank.

Mom bejeweled a pumpkin and made these gorgeous velvet & silk pumpkins.

Jan's paper folded envelopes turned out really cute!

 Olivia created this super cute spooky house.

 Rich made a bunch of masks that had various magnetic accessories that attached to them.

Amanda made this awesome Thanksgiving wreath.

 We didn't tell anyone there would be awards, but they should have known better!

 Jen & Liz fill out their ballots.

 Amanda tallied the votes while we all anxiously awaited the results!!

 The votes are in!  Jill wins "Most Likely to Duplicate!"

 Allison wins the Cutest award!

Rich got two awards.  Most Creative & Most Complicated for his interchangable magnetic masks.

 Jen is shocked to win Grand Supreme Champion for her cute paper cut design on canvas. 

 She can hardly contain her joy, as you see above!

 The award winners!!

 Everyone agrees, this was one of the best parties we've had and it was fun watching everyone use their creative juices to make something special for themselves or others.  We've decided there will be a Holiday version of this Pinterest Craft Party at Thanksgiving time.  We can't wait to see what John might create!!!!

The Grand Supreme Champion has to return the trophy at the next Pinterest Family Craft Event.  Maybe she'll win again, maybe she won't.  The trophy will be in possession of the winning crafter until the next Pinterest Craft Party.

In the meantime, happy pinning and planning for the next party!

Set Up a Gmail Account for your Baby

I just read an article online.  In it, the dad said he set up a gmail account for his newborn son.  Throughout his son's life, he's going to send him funny stories, pictures and keepsakes of his life.   What a great idea!!!!