Craft Show Goodies

My craft shows are done for the season but I wanted to share some of the items I made to sell.

Update

Thank you to those who have prayed for me and let me know that you were praying!  I can not see an orthopedic doctor until Dec. 8th but in the meantime my primary doc has up'd the steroid dosage and that seems to be reducing the inflammation in my shoulder.  I've been stronger today than I have in weeks.  Keep the prayer coming!  Praise God for medicine:)

Inspired Stamps Dec. Sneak Peek

 Welcome to the Inspired Stamps Sneak Peek Week! Antoinette just keeps creating fantastic stamps at inspired stamps! Orders are shipped very quickly so rest assured you will have your stamps in hand in plenty of time to create for Christmas.  Deneen and I are getting to show you the fabulous Ask, Seek, Knock stamp set.  I made a tag card by welding 3 tags together with my Gypsy.  I used scraps from my card making to cover the tags with sparkly, snowy goodness.  The front panel above actually uses a stamp from "Perfect Christmas Sentiments" stamp set.

The inside of the card uses "Thankful Girl" along with the tree, bird, door and scripture from the new stamp set Ask, Seek, Knock.

Be sure you check all the Design Team's blogs this week for other fantastic designs and stop by inspired stamps blog as well.  All new stamps will be available on Friday at noon at the inspired stamps store.

Prayer Request

Hello my friends,

I need to request your prayers today instead of my usual Monday Musing.  I have been having issues with my right shoulder for several weeks now and the doctor has not pinpointed the cause of my pain.  First I was treated for rotator cuff strain and seemed to get better.  Then I became much worse 2 weeks ago when it seemed my bursa sac "popped" so they treated me for bursitis.  Again, I improved but this last week the pain has increased and I have been weaker than normal.  So, tomorrow I am going to call and request an MRI and try to get to the bottom of this.  Since I rely on a wheelchair, my arms become my legs to push myself up to transfer, dress, etc.  I HAVE to have my arms in shape in order to be as independent as possible.

Pray for my healing and for extra strength for my hubby who has had to be my strength all week!

Thank you so much!

My First Recipe Post-Pumpkin Bars

Hello to my blog readers.  I know it's outside my norm but today I have a recipe for you!  I haven't been creating in my scrap room this week but I have been creating yummy food in my kitchen for the big day!  Here in America, we will gather as families and friends and celebrate the spirit of gratitude on Thursday.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it's not about gifting, it's about giving thanks.

I am so thankful to my Creator for His provision and for His love.  He has blessed me with a wonderful husband, 3 amazing sons and a daughter-in-love that is so very special.  I pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

This recipe is from my sister-in-law who got it from her Pennsylvania family.  They are delicious! If pumpkin pie is too heavy in the pumpkin flavor for you, you will love these.  They have all the pumpkin pie goodness in a cake-like bar without the pumpkin being overwhelming. Hope you take a few minutes to make them today.

Pumpkin Bars

   4 eggs

   2 cups sugar

   1 can pumpkin

   1 cup vegetable oil

   2 teaspoons baking powder

   1 teaspoon baking soda

   1 teaspoon cinnamon

   2 cups flour

   3 ounces cream cheese

   3/4 stick butter

   1 teaspoon vanilla

   3 cups powdered sugar

Beat together eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil.  Add baking powder, soda, cinnamon and flour.  Bake on jelly roll pan at 350* for 30 minutes.  Beat together cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar.  Spread on bars.

Enjoy!

A Decade of God's Sustaining Power

Today I thought it would be appropriate to post the very 1st devotional that I posted in January of this year.  This Wednesday will mark a DECADE since my MS diagnosis!  I can't believe it has been that long.  So much has happened in our family-my boys were 14, 7 and 5 at that time and now they are young men!  My youngest is a sophomore, about to get his learner's permit, my middle son is a SENIOR and about to become an adult!  My oldest is married and serving full time as a youth pastor 2 hours from our home.  

At the time of my diagnosis I was so frightened I would not be able to fully participate in all their activities and their growth but God has allowed me strength beyond measure and given me stamina that defies the disease.  God is amazing in His love for us and has fulfilled the desires of my mother's heart.  Here is the devotion I first shared on the blog:

My Thoughts-  Written by Belinda Kersey 1/07/07 (first posted on blog in Jan 2011)

Writing a devotional book has been in my heart for about 4 years but I believe it began on the day my doctor told me he “thought” I had multiple sclerosis.  I saw him in September 2001 with a complaint of blurry vision.  He sent me to an ophthalmologist, who couldn’t pinpoint the problem, so he sent me to a specialist who sent me to another specialist.  I really wasn’t too concerned, I just figured it was a temporary or repairable problem.  But I was about to learn the truth to this line from the song,  “Life can be so good, life can be so hard.  Never knowing what each day will bring to where you are.”  By late November 2001, my legs weakened.  I tried to ignore it until I was in our backyard trying to gather up herbs in my garden before a freeze arrived.  I walked with difficulty and actually staggered around the yard like a drunk. 

This finally caught my attention so I made a doctor's appointment for the day before Thanksgiving.  Dr. B asked me if the eye specialists had determined my eye problems.  I told him, “no and I was scheduled for a retina test the next week”.  With a look of concern, he told me I could cancel that appointment because he thought it was optic neuritis from MS.  I was shocked.  I expected him to tell me that I needed vitamins and a little rest, not I had an incurable disease.

Unfortunately, he could not schedule an MRI for me since it was the day before a holiday.  He told me to “go home, have a good Thanksgiving and try not to worry.”  Yeah, sure doc!  When I got in the car, the tears and prayers started.  As I drove home, this song came on the radio.  I completely believe God sent it to me at the very moment I needed to hear “My life is in your hands,  my heart is in your keeping.  I'm never without love not when my future is with you.  My life is in your hands And though I may not see clearly, I will lift my voice and sing”. The words I’ve repeated through the  last several years have been “Lord, I know, my life is in your hands.”

My friend, if you are going through a time where you “can't see that whatever comes (your) way.
(God will ) be with (you)”. I want you to know you can find your way, yes,  you will find your peace.  You can know He will meet your every need.  Don’t ignore the One who has your life in His hands, turn to him in your time of trouble!

At times, my journey with this disease has been difficult.  I was hospitalized within 3 months of my diagnosis unable to walk or control my bladder.  I left a job I loved and declared full disability.  I've had many hospitalizations, surgeries and physical therapy in the ensuing years.  But, I can say with certainty “when I'm at my weakest (He will) carry me.  Then I become my strongest in (His) hands.”  

 Your Response
Let your heavenly Father know you believe He holds your life in His capable hands.  Tell Him your fears and ask Him to replace them with His peace.  Thank Him for turning your weakness into strength.

 

Happy Birthday Inspired Stamps!