Off to Baltimore

I had about a 45 minute phone conversation with the Assistant Principal for Calvary Baptist Church Academy in Glen Burnie, MD, last night. We were able to talk quite a bit about the church and school and the ministry there. It seems like a really, really good opportunity. They would like me to come and see the ministry and interview. I have a plane ticket as of about noon today. I'll be leaving Thursday, Aug. 2 and returning Sunday, Aug. 5.

So, I appreciate your prayers that the Lord would keep all of the doors open if that is where He wants me to go.

If you are interested in learnig more about it, the school website is http://www.cbcaknights.org/index.htm

And, since this started out as a STAMPING blog, I thought I'd share another of my passions with you -- 6x6 recipe pages. Aren't they fun? They make such GREAT gifts!!!

On the top picture with the chickens, the recipe slips into the green traingle -- it's a pocket. On this one, the ingredients part flips up to reveal the directins underneath. Fun!

Attention Stampin' Up! Customers

For the months of July and August, my special is:

Buy 1 new stamp set from the catalogue and receive 5% off your entire order.

Buy 2 new stamp sets from the catalogue and receive 10% off your entire order.

Buy 3 or more new stamp sets from the catalogue and receive 15% off your entire order.

In addition, anyone who hostesses a workshop for me during July or August will earn 20% off any one item from the catalogue. So, if you have something "pricey" you want to get, this would be an excellent chance to do so!!

Some Work and Some Fun

Work: I weeded my flower beds this morning. Ick! They were such a mess!! I filled a five gallon bucket and then some full of weeds and debris. It has been way too long since I worked in them. But, now my flowers look pretty again. Ok...ok....you can actually SEE the flowers. LOL! That took me about 2 hours or so. Then, I went upstairs and cleaned out my stamping room, and re-sorted my stamps. I keep them seperated between current and retired sets, and I have to tell you - when the catalogue updated, I lost a lot of my stamps to retirement. Oh well...I'll just have to buy more stamps I guess. LOL!!

And then for the fun part -- I spent some time stamping tonight JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO!! Yay!!! The last few weeks....months....I've been stamping cards to make at workshops or swaps I needed to get done. But tonight, it was stamping just for fun. I got to play some of the Splitcoast Stampers challenges. That is always such a fun way to get the creative juices flowing!! There is a challenge for each day of the week. My favorite are the sketch and color challenges.

So, here are my cards and a little bit about each one:

I'm not sure what inspired this card -- the ribbon or the image. But, the kitty cat is an image that someone sent me a long time ago. It's been floating around my stampin' room for quite a while. She is TTerquoise and kissed with Green Galore flowers, all embossed and a little sparkly. I got this ribbon about a month ago, and I really (HEART) it! It matched the image perfectly, so VOILA....there ya go!

I really love this sketch. Thanks, Roxie, for mixing it up a bit!! The dragonflys are embossed with white detail EP and the main one is popped up on dimensionals and covered with stickles. I had some ribbon that my DSS gave me the last time I played, and it just happened to match my colors perfectly. I used jumbo eyelets to attach it. I used DTP to edge the circle and triangle with Basic Black ink, so it would help define the edges just a bit.

I think this one is a little plain, but oh well....It is what it is. I love the ribbon that I used. I got it at Mike's for $1. It is some of that ribbon with the loopies on both sides.

If you want to learn more about what supplies I used on my cards, you can check out my Splitcoast Stampers gallery.

I ((HEART)) the new In Colors

I made this card for a workshop I did tonight. Isn't it great?? I really ((Heart)) the new In Color selection from Stampin' Up! This card uses Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranite, and Blue Bayou. I also used the Big Pieces, Little Pieces, and Hugs and Wishes stamp sets.

So, let's see....what else has been going on?? Not TOO much. My family went to Freedom Celebration at Northland a week ago today. That was fun. Mom, Dad, and I drove up and had dinner with Phil and Shirley Reese and their clan. It's always good to see the Reeses again. I also caught up with a friend from college, Trisha. Her husband is on staff at Norhtland, and they have a brand new baby boy. He is sooo cute!! PLUS I saw my friend Karis, too. That was fun!! Her little girl, Kayla, is sooo cute!! Wow....I love that red hair!

Other than that, not much has been happening. I've been working and looking for another job, but nothing has come up as of yet. So, I hope something will come up soon. My current job ends sometime in September.

Well, what's been up with YOU?

The Cat

I heard this poem on NPR this morning, on the way to work, and wanted to pass it along. It is really very thought-provoking.

The Cat by Ryan Alexander


More later

Hi, Cynthia!

I felt you move inside your mommy's belly tonight. That was such a wonderful experience. I could actually see your little foot (or hand) push Mommy's belly up. We are all excited for you to be born! We have been talking about you since you were so teeny tiny that no one could see you, even before we knew that you were a girl. Then, we called you Noah. Grandma and I imagine what you will look like. I'll bet you have dark hair and big, chubby cheeks just like your mommy did when she was a little girl. When I saw your first ultrasound pictures, I cried. It was so exciting to see the first pictures of you as a teeny tiny baby tucked away safely inside your mommy's tummy. No matter what you look like, you are a beautiful baby already....I just know it! It is only three more months until we can meet you face to face, and hold you. I am so glad your mommy and daddy are having you. They will be FANTASTIC parents and take good care of you (but don't tell your Daddy I said that....).

Cynthia, I pray for you every day. I pray that you will stay safe inside your mommy's tummy, and that when you are born, you will be a healthy little girl. I also pray that you will get saved early, and you will grow up to be a wonderful Christian lady who loves the Lord and desires to serve Him.

I love you, little Niece, and I can't wait to meet you in person!!
Love,
Auntie Melinda

P.S.
Uncle David thinks you are a boy.