Being Thankful

I'm doing it again!  I've used another digital project as a DT project for this week's CASE challenge at Inkspirational! Maybe this will turn into a regular thing...we shall see! ;)

Here's the CASE inspiration~

Original artwork by Vicky Hayes found HERE.

My digital print~

(I was inspired by the layout.)

I used digital paper (textured white) by donakat and a digital flower by One of a Kind Design Studio.  The fonts I used are Birch Std and Channel.

I have always found in my life that gratitude is something incredibly important.  When I saw this quote on Teresa Kline's blog, I just knew that I had to make it into a digital print to make for my home!  I find that when I am most grateful for things, I am the most happy I've ever been.  We have so much to be thankful for each day!  In the midst of trials and hard times, gratitude helps us to keep our heads above water and continue on in hope.  Isn't that we all want?

Thanks for popping over and taking a peek at my digital artwork!  If you'd like a non-watermarked version of this quote for PERSONAL USE ONLY, please email me!  HUGS and hope you join in our fabulous challenge this week at Inkspirational! :)

Finding Beauty

Well, I hope you liked my DT post last week for Inkspirational because I've got another one for you this week, lol!  This week we're challenging you to be inkspired by a fabulous photo.

Here's the inkspiration~

 

And my digital print~

I've used digital "paintings" found at Eclectic Anthology (our monthly sponsor) and elements and paper by Dusty Bear.  The font I used is called Jane Austen.

Sometimes we just need a little reminder that life is beautiful.  I think that we can all make this possible for those around us.  We can give a smile, send an email or card, make a phone call, help out with some small mundane daily task, the list goes on and on!  Each small act of service not only brings beauty to the lives of those we serve, but it also helps US to find beauty every single day.  So, what will you do today to beautify our world?  

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my digital artwork!  I hope that you join us this week for a fabulous challenge! If you'd like an non watermarked version of this print, please email me and I will send you one to use FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.  HUGS and happy creat{ink}! :)

Trials of Faith

Well, it's been a little while since I last posted a General Conference quote and I think I'd better hurry up or else I won't have them all posted before April's conference rolls around, lol! ;)

Here's the print~

So, today I'm sharing thoughts about "Trial of Your Faith" by Elder Neil L. Andersen.  This talk really struck me as I read it and I think that today is the perfect day to talk about it because I've had "one of those" weeks.  We all have them, but let me give you some background.

Some facts you need to know to understand where I'm coming from that contributed to my mini trial of faith:
1. My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for about 7 years.
2. We are in the process of getting out of debt after a fraud hit our bank account a few years ago.
3. I have been suffering this week from severe insomnia and haven't had much sleep.
4. I work in a high stress job with children who are severely mentally disabled.  LOVE them, just a very hard (but very rewarding) job.

Okay, so now that you know those four things, let me tell you about my week/the past few months.  My husband and I started discussing our desire to be temple workers about 18 months ago.  We prayed about it and felt that it would be a good decision, but I was taking fertility medication to help us get pregnant and so my hormones and blood sugar levels were being messed with.  We decided that I needed to go off the medication so that we could proceed with our plan, but it was hard to give up the thought that maybe we'd get pregnant.  Finally, in September 2012, I went off the medication and we decided that perhaps we are not meant to be parents of our own children in this life.  It was a very hard decision and sometimes I still wonder if we are doing the right thing and second guess it, so that stress is always present in my life.

A few weeks after ending the medication and after we had discussed the idea again, a sweet sister in our ward, who also works at the temple, came up to me after sacrament meeting and told me that she had an application for us to fill out and an invitation from the temple president to become temple workers.  I am not a sign seeker, but if there is a clearer sign that we were on the right track, I can't think of one!

So, we set up an appointment with our bishop.  He's only been bishop for one week and had only been in the ward for about two months.  All three of us had no clue what we were doing, but we got it together and were able to proceed to the next step--an interview with the stake president.  That would prove to be easier said than done...

After trying to get an appointment for about 3 months, we finally were able to see the stake president a couple of weeks ago and he told us that he would send the paper work on to the temple.  We were excited and a little bit apprehensive.

Fast forward one more week.  That would be this past week.  I had been having severe insomnia issues and other emotional issues dealing with our infertility issues and was also incredibly stressed out with work.  We hadn't heard back from the temple president and so I tearfully told my husband that maybe this was a sign that we shouldn't be temple workers.  He reassured me that we were trying to do something good and that he would call to see what was going on.  We were planning on going to the temple tomorrow (Saturday) because it is our ward temple day, but my husband had promised to help clean the building.

So, my husband worked it out that we would be able to make it in time for one session if he went early with another brother in our ward and did some cleaning earlier.  He also called the temple and was told that we would be set apart when we came down for our ward temple day.  To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement.  I had been toying with the idea of not going because I have had literally about only 4 hours of sleep a night plus work and other things that I've had to do.  I told my husband that I thought we were making a mistake.  He reassured me that we were not and that every little thing would be taken care of.

It was.  I was finally able to get a full night's sleep last night, wake up and get all I needed to done and MORE, plus I am actually very excited to go down and be set apart as a temple worker with my husband tomorrow. 

Some other blessings that have helped me this week as I've gone through my mini trial of faith:
1. We found out that our tax return would be enough for us to pay off the debt that occurred when then fraud hit our bank account.
2. Because of the debt being paid off, I will be able to quit at the end of the school year so that we can serve more in the temple.
3. I was able to finally sleep last night.  I know I already said it, but seriously, this REALLY helped me.
4. We were able to have the missionaries in our home for dinner.  I don't know why, but this always makes me happier.
5. Each person that I've had to explain about our new calling has been so incredibly excited for us.

So, dear sisters (and brothers), I have had my testimony strengthened not only by personal experience this week, but also by the words of our living prophets.  I feel so blessed that I could just burst into song!  Except that each time I do, I find myself crying with joy.  What a blessing the gospel is in my life!

Please feel free to save the print above and use it for PERSONAL USE ONLY.  Other disclaimers and printing policies can be found in the tab up top.  HUGS and happy printing, friends! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!  If you feel like you're not loved today--you're wrong!!!  YOU ARE LOVED!!!  And the best way to feel loved is to share YOUR love with other people!  You'd be amazed how loved and how much love you feel for others when you serve them.  It doesn't have to be a gift, it would be something as simple as a hello or a smile!  Start small, then work your way up!!!  God's love will then fill your entire being!  Now, for some crafty & YUMMY sharing...

Here's a little treat I created for my co-workers~

Isn't that fun?!  Heart shaped jelly beans!  All different cherry flavors!  The glitter paper I used is by Recollections and all other supplies used are by Stampin' Up!.

The love of MY life~

What my darling husband made me~

He's so amazing to me!  I'll never forget how upset I was when we were first married and he didn't bring me flowers (still doesn't) and/or candy or any of those other romantic things husbands are "supposed" to do.  You want to know what I discovered within the first few months of marriage?  He shows his love for me by serving me.  And he was much happier than I was about our relationship.  So, I now appreciate his service--that is true love--and I try to reciprocate...so I guess I'd better get offline and go make his Valentine's gift! (It's food again...Neapolitan cake balls to be exact...maybe I'll blog about them later...)

Anyway, don't ever forget that you are loved!  If you don't believe me, email me and I will send you proof!  If you know you're loved, pay it forward in an act of service today, friends!!!  HUGS have a Christ centered day!!! :)

Purple Pansies

Well, hello there!  I bet you didn't even know that I had a digital art blog, did you? ;)  Well, I've done something NEW for a project for my DT work this weekend over at Inkspirational!  I just adore this month's sponsor's images and so I had to make a digital print with one of them to show their versatility!

Here are this week's colors~

And my digital print~

The pansy painting is from Eclectic Anthology--this month's sponsor--and all other digital elements are by Dusty Bear.  The font I used is called Janda Elegant Handwriting.

I adore Shakespeare and Hamlet is my favorite play.  I have always felt for poor Ophelia--such a tradgedy!  I feel her story is even more tragic than Hamlet's and so when I saw this quote about pansies, I just knew I would have to use it for a project!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my artwork!  If you'd like a non-watermarked copy for PERSONAL USE ONLY, please email me!  Do come join us this week--what fabulous project do you have up your sleeve for us?!  I can't wait to see!  Hugs and happy creat{ink}! :)

Crying

Photo source.

I deal with a lot of crying in my line of work.  I work with children who have severe mental disabilities.  Their inability to communicate makes for some sad days and some hard lessons for them AND me, too.  It's such a rewarding job, though, and I have learned SO MUCH about the Atonement of our Savior as I've worked with these amazing kids.

So, anyway, back to crying.  We had a day where it seemed like there was non-stop crying going on in our class last week.  It was enough to drive someone mad.  I can't say for 100% certain why this child was crying, but it got me thinking about our Father in Heaven and why/when we cry to Him in prayer.  His responses make so much more sense to me as I've worked with children and been in a "parenting" role.  I'd like to share my thoughts about this with you.  I'll relate situations that have happened in my experience and then a parable of how this relates to our relationship with God as our Father.

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Situation #1: A child falls down, or is pushed down, or comes to harm in a way that is definitely not his fault.  We immediately run to the child to help them and comfort them.  Sometimes the child pushes us away or thinks they don't need us.  We still try to help them.  Sometimes the child rushes into our arms and sobs.  We allow them to calm down and help them up again.

Parable #1: Something happens in our life that  is not our fault and we get hurt--physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  We can either shun God's help and not ask Him for help (He still will try to reach out to us) or we can rush to Him in prayer and receive strength as we feel of His love.  The choice is ours.

Situation #2: A child is doing something that could hurt him unwittingly.  You tell the child to stop--he will get hurt if the behavior continues.  The child stops and we praise him.  OR, the child doesn't stop, gets hurt, and we are less quick to comfort him.

Parable #2  We are doing something that God does not approve of.  He gently chastens us to help us understand that our behavior is not worthy of a child of God.  We stop and repent--He blesses us.  OR, we don't stop and we cut ourselves off from the blessings of the Lord.

Situation #3: A child is doing something that they KNOW is wrong.  They get hurt.  We don't seem to have much sympathy for this child's crying as they knew that what they were doing was wrong.  We do not rush to their aid.  However, because we love them and they are our child, we counsel them about what they did wrong and why it is that they are unhappy.  We encourage them not to do it again.

Parable #3: We are intentionally sinning.  God cannot dwell in unholy places.  He puts warnings in place to help us to change our ways.  He sends guidance from scriptures, living prophets and church leaders.  He lets us feel sorrow in hope that this sorrow will bring us back to Him.

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I guess that I could go on and have a situation/parable about continually doing things that are harmful to us, but I think you get my drift.  So, I hope that you can see a little bit of God in your everyday life!  He is all around us and He loves us.  He is our Father and wants what is best for us.  I've recently started taking a deeper look at my life and am changing things that are not right.  Because I know that we are all human and all have things to change, I encourage you to pray and ask our Father what it is He would have you change.  I promise you'll be much happier if you take His advice!