2013: Looking Back at my Blessings

As some of you know, I am pretty much a newbie at this blogging stuff. Back in June, after being inspired by so many great blogs that I had been reading, I decided to try my hand at it—a way of sharing some of my photos and thoughts.

In January of 2013...almost exactly one year ago, I had my eyes opened...literally...after having early onset and fast growing cataracts removed from both my eyes. My vision was already quite compromised due to having other issues since childhood and the cataracts drastically compounded those issues. After about a year and a half and numerous attempts to tweak my prescription lenses, a whole new world was opened up to me. Praise the Lord, my vision is now better than I remember it being in many, many years. It was like I was seeing everything for the very first time. I had always been quite the shutterbug but hadn't taken many photos for a while due to my dimmed and blurred vision. The vivid colors and brightness and clarity of the world just astounds me!

This was my facebook post (and my selfie :)) the afternoon after I walked out with my new glasses:

So....finally after about a year and a half of living in a very blurry world, I can see every leaf and branch on every tree, read the license plates of the cars in front of me, see all road signs and everything else one normally sees on any given day. Never again will I ever take my eyesight for granted. My eyes are healed and I got my new glasses today! Being able to finally see clearly was quite an emotional experience for me and I am so grateful! Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

After that, I began to notice the smallest of details that I had missed and wanted to capture the wonder of it all so I began snapping photos here, there and everywhere! I guess I became sort of consumed by it all and I wanted...I needed...a creative outlet. So began "My Favorite Things". Within a few weeks, I actually had a few followers and I was stunned that anyone would give my little blog a second look. Through my posts and photographs, my intent is to bring glory to my Father, not to myself.  

Here's a look back at some samplings from my 2013 posts...June through December.

June...

In June, I started getting up close and personal with weeds and chasing sunsets.

July... 

I took you on a tour of our mountain get-away in Fancy Gap, Virginia...



...I showed you how I repurposed linens purchased from Goodwill...



...and the Dollar Store into making cute aprons...

...was reminded by a leaf about beauty in living and in dying...

...and brought you my "stump garden"...among a few other things.



August...

...came and found me singing the blues...

...searching for and finding precious jewels...

...and being reminded of where I was going and where I have been.

 

September...

I went on yet another trip down memory lane...

... a nature walk with my best friend, Jesus...



...and we saw lots of these fuzzy little guys...

...and as we were having a wonderful time, I further realized I'd rather have him than anything...
...or anyone.

I was also made aware of what my life would be without Him...

...when I saw this abandoned house. Empty.

October...

 

...ah yes...October...spilling over with vibrant color galore...

...the farmer's markets abounding with goodness...

...the leaves...oh yes, the leaves...and tons of acorns.

And we certainly can't forget about the decorations! 

 

We had fun times on a foggy Blue Ridge Parkway with the grands, too!

October...also a bittersweet time, with the passing of my dear Aunt Clara...
...she had just celebrated her 103rd birthday the month before.

 

November...

There was also that foggy morning when I was reminded Who gives me my direction.

And as the last of the leaves had fallen, the frosty mornings came...

...it was getting close to, well...you know...

December...

...so much to do...so little time!

Decorating...

...remembering why we do this...

...remembering... He is the Light of the world!

Which brings us up to...

Happy New Year!

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to those of you who have encouraged me and decided to follow. Never did I imagine how communicating with other ladies...from all over the place...could bless me like it has. Your blogs have inspired me, convicted me and taught me that as Sisters in Christ, we can all learn so much from each other. I do feel a kindred spirit with many of you and I want to thank you for your support and encouragement! I pray that 2014 brings forth wonderful things as God's blessings overflow! 

 

Sharing here:

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/12/197th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/12/mosaic-monday-goodbye-2013.html
http://www.impartinggrace.com/2014/01/grace-at-home-no-87.html

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2014/01/home-sweet-home-151.html

http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/2014/01/from-farm-blog-hop-and-mocha-hot-cocoa.html

Repurposing Christmas Cards

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas! It's always a little sad when it's over but now that it has come and gone, what do you do with those Christmas cards that you have received? I don't save all of them but there are certain ones, depending on the designs, that I save to repurpose. I actually started doing this years ago...long before blogging existed and before the word repurpose was in our vocabulary. 

If you notice, many of them are designed with a border of some sort, printed or embossed around the edge...sometimes in different shapes...rectangles, ovals, circles, etc. I cut these out to make pretty mattings for Christmas photos and most of them can fit into standard size frames. The one above was a card I received last year and found it in my wrapping supplies a few weeks ago. I love the embossing on this one and it could actually cut twice and make two since there is a border within a border. This one only needed a slight trim to fit the frame.

I have done this through the years. Below, is the first one I remember making. I actually didn't have to do any cutting on this one because the card was already made for a picture to place in the oval. Remember the Hallmark photo cards that they used to have every year? Of course, that was back in the day before the digital cards we can make ourselves. These are my two boys...just a few years ago. Notice the acid washed jeans? Gotta love those 80's! :)

I will say that I have learned a few things over the years. This frame is actually too small to show this one off like it should. That sweet little cardinal should not have had his head nor his tail feathers cropped! I got a little carried away and cut too much off so it would fit in this frame I guess...oopsies :( You get the idea though, right? Here are a few other examples.

Son, Adam and his wife Carrie with our Hunter, sporting the lovely Santa hat.

Younger version of Adam and his cousin, Stephanie sitting on Santa's lap.

Son, Aaron and his two boys, Dacey and Dylan when they were just little guys.

This one and the one below were trimmed, miter cut in the corners and taped together.

Here is a closer look at the mitered corners...the frames were square and the cards were rectangular. 

I really liked the borders so I needed to improvise a bit.

And of course, I have to include this sweet photo of Dad kissing Mom's cheek...
under the mistletoe. They are kissing in heaven now :)

Now, back to the beginning of this post.

I had found this frame at Goodwill a few months ago and it was nearly a perfect fit...

...only a little trim was all it took. 

Now it's ready for the perfect Christmas photo from this year.  

Then, as I was looking through some of this year's cards, I found this one that simply say JESUS.

.

Hmm...I see possibilities here...

...not only will this gold embossed green border make a lovely matting...if I decide to cut it...

...look how beautiful the whole card is and it fits perfectly inside the frame!
I think I'll add this one to my collection for next year!


What do you do with your old Christmas cards? 

Sharing at:

http://www.craftsalamode.com/2013/12/what-to-do-weekends-52.html

http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/12/amaze-me-monday-39.html

Come and worship...

Merry Christmas to all of my blogging buddies!

You have blessed me beyond what I could have ever imagined when I started this back in June.

I feel like I know many of you personally, if that is possible.

Thank you for your encouragement and I am looking forward to what 2014 has in store!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

More Than Meets the Eye...

You know, when your kids (or grand kids in my case) get older it's kinda sad...

...especially at Christmas time.

It can be a real challenge to surprise them.

It seems like we mostly give money or gift cards these days...

...but I always try to do my best to keep some element of surprise going. 

What do you see when you look at these?
M&M's, right? (actually, one of them is Skittles)

What you can't see is the secret compartment that holds something that everyone loves...

...CA$H!

I first saw the idea on Pinterest using a pint jar and a toilet paper roll.

 You create a center compartment to hide the money, pour the candy around it and...viola!

 I was so going to do this and I was extra excited when I found these adorable plastic containers.
Dollar Tree...just had to get them.

One problem. The toilet paper roll was way too skinny and short...

...and I needed a TON of candy to fill the gap!

Do you happen to know how expensive M&M's are these days? 

Plus, I was not going back to Walmart on the Saturday before Christmas...just to get them!

So I rummaged through my cupboards...
...aha...red SOLO cups to the rescue!!

Here's what I did...

Cut a circle of white paper to fit the bottom and place inside the container.

I cut the white rim off the cup with scissors...the candy hides the cup better without the rim...

...then I cut a slit up one side to allow it to fit down in the jar.

Insert the money...or gift card...or diamond ring...whatever you want to hide.

The possibilities are endless :)

Turn the cup over...

...and fill with candies...or nuts...or whatever...

...these happen to be the Skittles :)

As you are filling, make sure to hold the cup in place so it doesn't shift on one side.

Jiggle the jar around a little so all the spaces get filled...clear to the top. 

Do you see a red SOLO cup?

I didn't think so :)

It only took about one and a half bags of candy to fill in the side areas.

Of course, you can always use a smaller jar and go back to the toilet paper roll if you want:)

 

 And there you have it...it's better than Cracker Jacks...

...because you weren't expecting the prize inside!

Sharing at:

http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/12/amaze-me-monday-38.html

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/12/196th-inspire-me-tuesday.html