Works of Heart

Through the Eyes of an 8 Year Old

I have to share this amazingly "deep" conversation with Grant, my 8 year old.

As we were driving down to see my nieces skate on Saturday morning, Grant called out "Cool Sky Effect"!  Hmmm... hadn't heard that phrase before but I knew exactly what he meant.   The sky was still mostly cloudy after the overnight storms and really was looking pretty cool. :) 

And when a few rays of sunlight filtered through the clouds, Grant noted that "God is peeking down on us!"  (That's what we always say when we see streaks of sun peeking out from mostly cloudy skies.)  But this time, it sparked a little conversation.

Me:  "God is ALWAYS looking down on us, watching over us."
Ryan:  "He can see us during the day but can he see us at night?"
Me:  "Sure he can.  Just like dogs and other nocturnal animals, God has the ability to see everything.  Even at night."
Grant:  "And even is He was blind, all he'd have to do is touch himself and he could see again."

Took me a minute to grasp what he'd just said, but then all I could think was WOW!  THAT from an 8 year old!  I know I've never even considered that perspective before.  Wow.  Just Wow.

Grant, you are wise beyond your 8 small years!

My Angel, My Sister

My twin sister, Cindy, is truly my angel sent by God above to walk beside me through life.  I don't know how (or even *if*) I'd have gotten through these past couple years without her. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how often she's "been there" for me. 

How many times I've cried on the phone to her. 
How many times she's sacrificed personal priorities to help me out instead. 
How many times she's encouraged me and uplifted me.
How many times she's prayed for me. 
How many times she's gotten me through the "overwhelmeds". 
How many times she's made me laugh until I cry. 
How many times words aren't even necessary because she already knows what I'm thinking.

People often ask what it's like to be a twin and I usually respond "I don't know, what's it like NOT to be a twin?"  And the truth is, I don't ever WANT to know what it's like to be without my twin.  At this point in my life, she is probably the ONE person I could not life without. 

I wanted to have a picture of my sister of her to put on my desk at work, so I created this frame today.  CI Bare Elements 12x12 frame; Fancy Pants Designs patterned paper, chipboard & stamps.

Thank you, my dear, dear sister.  You inspire me in sooooo very many ways.

Pure Joy

Just finished up this layout.  Created a real challenge for myself because I wanted to enter 2 contest and don't have time for more than one layout.  So.... I used the sketch here for the createmykeepsake.com contest and used all Fancy Pants products so I could also enter the PubCalls Fancy Pants contest!

This is the result... kinda crazy for me but I had fun with it and I think it's a solid entry into both contests. :)  Photos are by the uber-talented Sue Thomas (thank you girlfriend, you are AMAZING!)TFL!  ~Christine

The Last Room To Be Cleaned... My Scraproom!

My scrap room has been the default dumping grounds during the past 2 months of cleanup/fixing/getting ready to list my house.  So yesterday I finally tackled it!  It feels soooooooo incredible clean and inspiring now!  I'm totally loving and can't wait to scrap on my nice clean desks. :)

Here are some pictures to prove to myself that that job that I've been dreading for the past year is finally DONE!!!

Can't wait to see the next creation out of my new space!  I'm feeling like I need to enter the Fancy Pants blog contest! :D

Happy scrappin' ladies!

Sharing pics of my house... almost ready to list

Well, it's been a TON of work... probably 300+ hours over the past 2 months getting this house looking presentable.  Still have 20-30 hours of work to do before it's ready to show... staging the basement after last of the finish work, installation of 2 new windows, cleaning the furnace room, finishing organizing my scrap room/closet, exterior trim paint touch ups, weed whacking, etc, but it's actually "getting" there!

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm SO SICK of shopping... Home Depot, Kirkland's, Kohl's, Target every day for this or that.  And my bank account is one E-E-E-E.  But in this market I need to put the $ into the house to sell... too much competition on the market.

Sooo. here are some pictures of my house.  If you know anyone looking for acreage in the NW burbs of Mpls, please e-mail me!

Front of house (still need to get some trash/good will items unloaded) and 40x70 lighted Sport Court in the back of our 2.5 acre yard:
 

And the great room (12 ft ceilings peaking to 15 w/brick gas fireplace & built-in bookcases) and main level bath:

Dining room w/bay windows & huge kitchen w/TONS of cabinets and kids upstairs bath:

Lastly, the basement family room and the master suite:

I must say, that despite the work that still remains to be done, my house feels so FRESH, and DECORATED and CLEAN!!!  I'm really loving it right now, but there is no way I can afford it long-term so I am anxious to get out and find something new and less-expensive.

Say a prayer for me that my house sells quickly!  Thanks everyone. :)

I'm so delinquent...

Dang!  Life has just gotten in the way lately... sooooo busy trying to finish up all the work on my house.  The good news is that all that's left to clean up is my scrap room (ugh though... SUCH a heap!) and a section of the basement.  Otherwise all the other rooms are pretty well staged & ready.

I never thought I'd say this, but "I'm sooooo sick of shopping!"  I know... can't believe I just said that either!  But seriously, I have been running every single day to either Home Depot or Lowe's for maintenance items or to Kirkland's, Kohl's or Home Goods for new home decor items.  I do really LOVE all the new furnishings I've bought though and they'll all go with me to my new house. 

The style throughout is mostly Tuscan with a little cottage/shabby chic in my bedroom & bath.  And the new carpet looks WONDERFUL!!  I LOVE the caramel-y brown color that I chose... so warm & matches perfectly w/the warm brown I chose for the walls in the living room.

The agent who's listing my house will be out on Friday to take pictures.  So hopefully by early next week I can post the listing here. :D  Yay!   My whole house has been transformed in the past 6-7 weeks!  I'm so mad that I didn't take before pictures cause it truly is amazing.

Not doing too much scrapping lately, but I did create this layout for Becky Fleck at Pagemaps for the August newsletter.  Recognize those pics from over the 4th?!  That my adorable nephew Bryce... .such a cutie!

Heading to WI again this weekend for our 3rd annual "Thanksgiving in August".  I'd share a LO I did about it but you'll have to wait for the November issue of Making Memories. ;)  Can't wait to see all the cousins, aunts & uncles this weekend!

God bless.  Christine