Friday, July 31, 2009

Making lemonade

Lemon Pendant by Artsy Clay, necklace by Joy

I love this poem. It's a different way of looking at things instead of complaining. You know that expression, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade! Thanks to Jill for finding this online.


"Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something.
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary.
It means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment
comes to those who are also thankful
for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings."

By John Kaiser

Fingerprint Friday - Rose of Sharon

My Fingerprints of God today are these gorgeous Rose of Sharon bushes, in full bloom this week in front of the administration building where I work. Simply breathtaking.

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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Where do you see God's fingerprints? In nature? kids? animals? They are all around us!

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

H is for.......



My happy little bird pendant is featured on the Boomers and Beyond Blog!

Available in my etsy shop

Monday, July 27, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

Fingerprint Friday - Baby Amber


My Fingerprint of God today is Baby Amber, now two months old. Her mom and dad both work with me and are the greatest. Her mom brought Amber into the office a couple of weeks ago so I got to meet her in person, and I'm going by their house on my way home from work this coming Monday for a "Grandma's Play Date." :)





~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Where do you see God's fingerprints? In nature? kids? animals? They are all around us!

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Food for Thought


From an email I received this week. It does check out as "true" on snopes.com
Musician playing violin in a Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning
in 2007.
He played six Bach pieces for about 60 minutes. During that time
approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on
their way to work.


After 3 minutes
A middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his
pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his
schedule.
4 minutes
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in
the till and without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his
watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes
A three year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly,
as the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed
hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time.
This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent,
without exception, forced them to move on.
45 minutes
The musician played. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About
20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected
$32.
1 hour
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one
applauded, nor was there any recognition.
This is a real story. The Washington Post, as part of a social
experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities, arranged the
entire scenario. Playing incognito, no one knew the violinist was Joshua
Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days prior to this, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where
the tickets averaged $100 per seat.

The questions raised:
In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive
beauty? do we stop to appreciate it;
do we recognize talent in such an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written,
with one of the most beautiful instruments ....... How many other things
are we missing?

Friday, July 17, 2009

Fingerprint Friday - Prayer for a New Day

My Fingerprint is a prayer I wrote many years ago that is still the prayer of my heart each morning. (The angels are my clay art.) May God bless you today.



PRAYER FOR A NEW DAY

Gift-wrapped in the burnished golds of dawn
a new day greets my sleep-filled eyes.
Yawning, stretching away the drowsiness,
I arise.
The twittering of the birds
sets my heart a-dancing with thanks
for the splendor of unmarred hours
shining with promise.
I cup the hours in my hands
and hold them up to you, Lord.
Show me how to use them for your glory.






Teach me how to live like the lilies and the ravens,
trusting you moment by moment.
Burn away all regrets of yesterday
in the fire of your forgiveness,
and banish all fears of tomorrow’s "what ifs" from my heart.

I fling open the doors of my inner being
and invite you to come in,
filling every crevice with your goodness and joy.
Make me transparent, Lord,
so that all whom I meet today
will see your light shining forth from my soul.
Help me give cheer through gentle words,
tender caresses, smiles and laughter.




I whisper prayers of blessing
for my loved ones near and far.
I ask you to send by angels' wings
a cloak of love
to wrap around each one all day,
keeping them safe from harm
and counting them worthy in all they do.
Thank you, Lord, for this new day
and the chance to fall ever more deeply in love
with life and you.

© Judy Tanner 1982

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Where do you see God's fingerprints? In nature? kids? animals? They are all around us!

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

New in my Etsy shop



Meet Eloise. She is a new brooch in my Little Friend series. Wear her on your lapel, vest, jacket, tote, etc. Custom orders welcome for an Eloise pendant, magnet, ornament or paperweight.

Also new, cords for your pendants. This one is made of polyester and has the deep rich black color and soft feel of suede. Shown with an Over the Moon pendant.


Friday, July 10, 2009

Fingerprint Friday - In the Hands of God

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Flowers in the garden at my church, a tiny sample of what His hands have done.

My fingerprint this week is one of my current favorite songs on the Christian radio station, "In the Hands of God" by the Newsboys. I love the words.

We have raised our hopes and our cities high
We have followed fragile dreams
But only One could take the measure of our goals
And we've stumbled over the trials of life
And we've wrestled the unseen
But only One can calm the storm inside our souls

In the hands of God we will fall
Rest for the restless, and the weary
Hope for the sinner
In the hands of God we stand tall
Hands that are mighty to deliver
Giving us freedom

When our strength gave way to the weight of guilt
'Til we strained for every breath
Only One could lift our shame and make us well
And when all is finished and we face
The fearsome power of death
Only One has overcome the gates of hell

You're amazing
You're amazing, You are
And we praise You, Lord
For what Your hands have done


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Where do you see God's fingerprints? In nature? kids? animals? They are all around us!

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

New bracelets in my Etsy shop!



Sometimes I like to take a break from polymer clay and play with my beads! Here are some new memory wire bracelets just listed in my etsy shop.







Thursday, July 02, 2009

Fingerprint Friday - Enjoying the grandkids

♥ My Fingerprints for today are my grandkids. We visited them recently and had fun watching Ty's baseball game, playing with clay (and the dogs) at their house, and cooling off at the lake. ♥










Paige dressed up to go out to dinner.



♥ Thank you, Lord, for Ty, Meg and Paige...and their dad and mom too! ♥

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

Where do you see God's fingerprints? In nature? kids? animals? They are all around us!

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.