Vera Bradley... New Fall Colors!

Can we just say Lov'em!?!?!  

Vera Bradley always has the nicest things, and their new fall colors are no exception.

Give a Greater Gift this Christmas!

This Christmas give gifts to kids who would normally get nothing for Christmas.

Every year since 1993 Samaritan's Purse has collected shoe boxes for children around the world that would normally be getting nothing. They call this effort Operation Christmas Child. These gifts send the message of hope and God's love to the children they reach.

Donate gift boxes in honor of someone you know that you never know what to buy. Let them know you gave a child a gift in their name(s). It's a thought thing...

For more information on Operation Christmas child, click here.

It is a very rewarding thing to pick out gifts for a child you don't know. My church has been involved for several years and it is a fun project. We usually set a congregational goal every year to make it a challenge.

Red Envelope Day... March 31st!!

What is it all about?

Red Envelope Day in short, is meant to show our government how we feel about abortion.

Did you know the government is working toward making our tax dollars pay for abortions and our pro-life doctors go against their values and their Hippocratic Oath to keep their jobs? It's real, it's true.

Abortion. A child, a life. When so many in this country long for an infant to adopt. Why does it have to happen?

The idea is to send an empty red envie to the White House representing a child lost to abortion.

If you feel the same way I do.. Do something about it! Start by sending a red envelope to shower the White House with symbolism. The symbolism of a life lost needlessly.

As Notes of Jubilee said "Doing nothing is making a choice too."

90 Minutes in Heaven...

I don't often get to read like I would like to, but I love to read.

I picked up the book 90 Minutes in Heaven at my church library this past week & have to say it's given me a new perspective of Heaven.

I've only had the chance to read from it briefly twice and am surprised at how quick a read it's been.

It's about a man that is basically considered dead at the scene of a car accident. The other victims of the accident are being treated, he is left alone with a tarp over his car, waiting for extraction equipment... not to save him, but to get his body out for his funeral.

During the time he is "dead", he speaks of his experience entering heaven. What an amazing account of what he experienced and how he had to deal with life after that!

Although I've not finished the book yet, it is definitely a recommended read!
If you can't get it at your local library, or would like a copy for yourself.. check out Amazon. They often sell used books for less.

90 Minutes in Heaven: An Inspiring Story of Life beyond Death

Baby thrown away!

What a heartbreaking story I just came across, a baby born alive in an abortion clinic thrown in the trash. See the story here for yourself. Thanks An'Re for posting this.

I just want to go back in time, pick up the baby and take her for my own... if only women really knew all of their options and how badly babies are wanted in this country.

We all need to be in prayer for our nation! This is how it treats life... so sad!

Storing & Using old Grocery bags...

As lots of you probably do, I reuse my grocery bags as trash bags in my bathrooms and in the small can under my kitchen sink. I always leave a few in the bottom of the trashcans to make for easy changing too.

I know, I know... I should use the re-usable canvas bags already! But, I've been patiently waiting for a store to give some away with a promotion. After all, wherever I buy them, I will be advertising for them... shouldn't they give them to me if I'm a valued customer? We'll see if that happens. In the meantime I may have to buck up and buy a few to keep the incoming bag supply down.

Other uses...
I take extras along when we travel or go camping, you never know when you'll need an extra bag.

We often have a self-serve roadside vegetable stand with our excess veggies and people often take more when there are bags available. We have actually run out and someone left some behind for people to use!

We've used them to save a wet paint brush for another day. Simply place the un-rinsed paint brush in a bag and twist the bag tightly closed, then put in your freezer (works with latex paints). Pull it out a short time before you're ready to work on your project again.

Storage...
Storage of the bags can be a problem. They take up a lot of room and can accumulate quickly!
I have a holder that I bought at a craft store that stays visible in my kitchen, but is easily accessible.

You can buy modern ones at places like Amazon.com and Bed Bath & Beyond if you need something with a sleek design.

Other possible free storage options... great way to have a few in your car, "just in case"
Empty Kleenex or tissue boxes
Chip containers, like Pringles or Lays
Thanks Randall and Donna at The Frugal Life News for this tip

Please recycle!
By all means, if you're like me and haven't invested in the re-usable bags yet, please recycle them. Just use one of the bags to store the rest of them in as you unpack your groceries and put them in the trunk when you're done. Most Walmarts and many grocery stores offer a box in the entryway for recycling these bags.

Harvest....

What a great time of the year! The leaves are changing, the farmers are in the fields. It's all the sudden getting colder, especially at night. I love it, except for the cold part!

As I think about the seasonal changes, I think about how much we change throughout our lives. Much of the time our change is due to experience. Maybe we don't like barbeque potato chips because we got sick on them once when we were young or we enjoy strawberry ice cream because it reminds us of our favorite childhood vacation.

No matter the experience, whether it big or small, it affects us inwardly.

We need to realize that God is shaping us for his plans. Even when things seem downright unlivable, God has a mission for the pain that you're going through. We can't see it at the time, but given enough patience you will see the results, the reason, the purpose in the pain, sorrow, or grief. The Bible says, "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." He's already got things set, we just have to follow his lead with patience.

Likewise, we must be careful how we as Christians affect those that are around us. A bad experience with a Christian can turn someone away from God so easily and it can be hard to recover their thoughts. We are looked at in everything that we do. We make mistakes, but sometimes others don't consider that we too are humans and we mess up, we sin. From my experience, so many people expect a Christian to have it all together when we don't, we're just forgiven.

I love that bumper sticker... Not Perfect, Just Forgiven. I wish everyone looked at Christians that way. I don't mean to say go on being sinful and with the mindset to make mistakes, not at all. Simply living as we feel God has intended for us to, knowing that we will unwittingly make mistakes along the way. Lets make an extra effort not to blow our top when things get heated or to say one thing and do another. We all mess up, but sometimes we can tough it out better than we do, and for God's glory let's try.

Gladly forgiven...