A Teachable Spirit 8-31-2011

Blessed Hump day.. To God be all my Glory.

Love you Guys , stay blessed...

Todays Daily Bread! Why! cause we all need it!

Just before our church service began, I overheard a young man behind me talking with his mother. They were reading an announcement in the bulletin about a challenge to read one chapter of Proverbs each day for the months of July and August. He asked his mom, “What will we do with chapter 31 in August since there are only 30 days?” She said she thought there were 31 days in August. He responded, “No, there are only 30.”

When it was time in the service to greet each other, I turned back toward him and said hello. Then I added, “August does have 31 days.” He insisted, “No, it doesn’t. There can’t be 2 months in a row with 31 days.” The singing started, so I just smiled.

This brief encounter made me think about our need to develop a teachable spirit, seeking wisdom beyond our own. In Proverbs 3, the attitude the father recommends to the son is one of humility: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord” (v.7). In chapter 2, he says, “Incline your ear to wisdom . . . ; search for her as for hidden treasures” (vv.2,4).

Knowing whether August has 30 or 31 days doesn’t matter much, but having a teachable spirit does. It will help us gain wisdom from God and others. Reading a chapter from Proverbs each day next month may give us a start.

Lord, teach us from Your holy Word
The truth that we must know,
And help us share the joyous news
Of blessings You bestow. —D. De Haan 

True wisdom begins and ends with God.

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! ~Love Barbara~

Christ Living In Us 8-30-2011

As we strive to live a God-pleasing life, we realize that in spite of our best intentions and determination, we often stumble and fall short. By our strength alone, it is impossible. Oh, how we need the Lord’s help! And it has been provided. Paul declares it with these insightful words, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20).

We cannot finish the Christian race on our own. We have to do so by depending on Jesus living in us.

With longing all my heart is filled
That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell,
That Christ liveth in me. —Whittle

Faith connects our weakness to God’s strength.

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!

~Love Barbara~

GRADUATION - Save the date June 6th, 2012

Class of 2012 Graduation Info

GRADUATION

FRIDAY, JUNE 8 6:00 PM
Progress Energy Performing Arts Center (Memorial Auditorium)

GRADUATION PRACTICE

THURSDAY, JUNE 7 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Progress Energy Performing Arts Center (Memorial Auditorium)

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 

~Love Barbara~

ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #12}, Lonely (6-5-2011)

Challenge Word #12: Lonely

Lonely. Have you ever felt truly lonely? Take a moment and remember what it felt like. Could it be that you were walking through a difficult time and felt alone? Could it be you were isolated, out of work, sick and in a hospital, an empty-nester, etc., and felt all alone? There are many reasons we may feel lonely at different times in our lives, and feeling lonely does not have to mean we are actually alone. We could be surrounded by many people yet still feel that way. Have you ever felt like crying out Psalm 38:21 “LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.”

As you thought about how you felt when being at a lonely point in your life, now let’s think about how Jesus felt on the cross. As Jesus hung on that cross, darkness overcame all the land (Matthew 27:45). Even God could not look at His Son as He carried all of our sins. Jesus must have felt extremely lonely. Probably more lonely than any of us have ever experienced or can even imagine. Sin separates us from God. But as we confess our sins each day, we can approach our Holy God. He will never leave us or forsake us. With God, we will never be truly lonely. Joshua 1:9 says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” He is with us where ever we go and whatever we are going through! He is there. Call out to Him. Jeremiah 33:3a says “Call to me and I will answer you . . .” He knows how you feel. He knows what you are going through. He is truly the only one that can fill those lonely places in our hearts. He is always there and always will be. Will you reach out to Him today?

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!
~Love Barbara~

Just Saying Thank You! (This had me in tears as I wrote it so u might wanna get some tissue)...

As I sit here and think of where GOD has bought me from - all I can do is CRY.. When I'm sitting here listening to my IPod and songs like.. Avant's -My First Love and Separted and Buju Bunton - Wanna be loved - all I can do is CRY, Thinking about all the stuff  I've been thru to make me stronger. This is what I came up with when the tears we all gone and I STOPPED... Thank you guys .... Just in case you had no idea ... your  now a part of my life story....


Here we go.....(can't use real names- but they are recorded on layout)
It might be time to write this letter to every man that was a major part of my life:
I first wanna thank (TB), for beating me as a young lady and telling me he loved me, thanking GOD for given me enough since to walk away, and help me stay away even when he kept calling and tell me he needed me and loved me. (approx 1986) TB you will never hit me again.
I wanna then thank (CB) for knowing what I went thru with (TB) and having the malice in his heart to do the same. I am not a pounching bag. What a total mistake, you will not beat me.. once was enought, and I thanks GOD for allowing me to know and experince if you hit me one time you will hit me again....and again..... Incase you didn't know that's why I walked out!....I do Thank You (CB) for given me my son Nicholas Baker. (apprx 1991)Thank you GOD for given me the strengeth to know I deserve better than him (CB). I wanna also thank (LJ) for begin a good privider in the begining, but after seeing what allowed you to be that Good provider realizing that was your life and not mine, and to know I wanted and expected better for my boys ( a better role model) - one of them being your son Najee Johnson now 17. I'm Thanking GOD for allowing me to see what you were into and know that, that life was not for me....Given me that working spirit and attutude to make my own money to support my boys alone. I Started Going back to school to better myself for them. Knowing that once again I deserve and desired better than you.

Knowing at a young age that I was a diamond and should always be treated as such, were did I go wriong... I will always Thank GOD for allowing Eddie Wellington and Chris Myers ( Postive males in my LIFE) to be a Major Part of my life, and allowing these two men to encouraged me in my teenage years.

Why didn't I keep the thoughts in my mind of me being a Diamond?
Not all my relationship were bad they were just not the men for me...Knowing something was missing when Eddie Passed away,(Aprox 2006)I prayer to GOD to let me know that the man that I loved in HIGH SCHOOL would be ok....But Trusting and Praying to GOD for his promise on my life.

Then I wanna thank (AM) boy could I pickem, for all of you that know the story, thank you (AM) for thinking and treating me like an round the way girl,( LL Cool J) (not knowing when GOD has Blessed you with an Angel - how crazy were you) I told you when I'm done ..  I'm done, I even told you to ask my son's father but no your knew better. Thank you for making me feel like I wanted to erase the 2 years we were together FOREVER, What HELL you made me live in, but it's all good I stayed and tried to help. I told you ... you would never find another Barbara and in 2007, when you can to the job to tell me WOW! Bee your right they no others Barbara's out there .. all I could say is TOLD YOU SO! ( and yes I'm patting my own back .. cause yes i'm a great person and a wonderful friend to have) .... 

Still Thanking GOD that I came out with a sound mind, the head games were the worst. And after all that I wanna also thank (RC) for being Mr. GQ or thinking he was. He did always showered me with expensive gift with no true love behind then. ( what is a gift if it's not from the heart) SINCELESS !..... Walking out on me when I was dignosed with CANCER what a special man. Having the nerve to tell me It's my LOSS, are you really for real....

I thank GOD for allowing me to focus at this time more on GOD and not running behind another no go man....I wanna also thank (BRW) for begin a majoy part of my life getting married on Oct 3,2009 and deciding to file for a divorce Oct 2010, realizing that this man and marraige is not for me. I didn't get maried for my hubby to live in NYC, (Asking my in May 2010 for 2yrs more to relocate, also telling me that he married me so that I would not marry someone else... How selfish..... I told you I can pickem). Honesty why would I marry you if I knew you needed 2 yrs to move....


Update Happily Divoriced August 12th, 2011

GOD knows, I'm Not bitter just thanking GOD for all that he has done in my LIFE, I have relized that (BRW) was not the man that GOD had picked out for me. Learning from my Pastors sermons some things are God allowed not God ordered. (That is so true)


What i'm sorry for is trying to make a life with men that I knew would never love me .. like i should have been loved or ven uncondionally...So for that i'm sorry.....


*****What I had asked for from all these men were to just be HONEST, what is it that they could not be HONEST? It's not a trick question, anywhoo.... I'm still Praising  GOD and will continue to Praise Him, I know i'm not bitter, I know that God has a purpose on my life. Sometime GOD sends us on a path and because we think we know what better we have to take the long way, well that's where i'm at ... talking the long road. GOD has been with me all the way and That's a blessing in it self.


Thank you GOD , for answering my prayer back in 2006, with just a Mustard Seed of FAITH .....  I trusted in you to do what you promised you would, I now know that I'm a Diamond in your kingdom, Thanks You Lord!
Thanks you God for making me always feel like something was not right and never Give up on my purpose.

Never knowing love with my WHOLE HEART. Feeling upset and heart broken when things Didn't work out. Thank You God for allowing me to feel love with less then a whole heart, because now I've found my WHOLE HEART LOVE, and it because of you That I can now LOVE WITH A WHOLE HEART.


Looking for that someone, that I wanted to just know he was ok. (I asked GOD to show me a sign back in 2006 that you would be ok, never in a million of years would I have though you would be here)..

Thank You Lord.....
In the right time part two will be posted.....´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!
~Love Barbara~

One more post today then i'm done...

Thank you everyone for all the kings work of encouragement when visiting my blog.. Just one more post for today ...
Altered Envelope...one more for today that is....

 That the page view under the flap...

 I've added the Bling and inked the edges and added some stardust....I love my stardust pen...

Hope you enjoyed veiwing...

Leave a comment please.. thanks.

Close up of the Bling....

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! ~Love Barbara~

Hello again still working on my Travel album....

And now my idea after watching a video on you tube... i put a little twist on it and Altered some envelopes...Her are some of the creations....The first one I made a mistake a glued the entire envelope together, and the second one i left and opening at the top... for a take or postcards....


I'm hoping this all is making since to you!

Items nevered 2 paper that work well together....and two enevlopes (any size will work)

 I inked the edges...

I cut a stip 5"long and 2" wide scored it at 1" .. taped it in 1/2 and the punched holds for the Eyelets...

I used large eyelets..

 Stillnot finished, but i'll posted pictures once this side is complete.

 This side is complete only waiting for pictures that will go under the flap.

 *´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 
~Love Barbara~

Blending sponges for my Distress pad...

I'm still in the Organization stages - It's taking sometime But i have decided to store the blending pad with the matching stamp pad together.. all I needed was Velcro to place on the back of t he stamp pads and this way when I stamp I'll all ready have the blending sponge attached...

 Above- They used to be stored in the yellow bucket.. And as you can see, some color are blenind with others....so now one color per stamp pad....(well at least for my Distress pads anyways).

 This is a picture of the back of the pad with the Velcro..

 Bledning pad attched - see how easy this will be .. another organzation project done..

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 

~Love Barbara~

Happy First day of Senior Yrs.. Knightdale high!

First day Of High school - Knightdale high - Gooooooo KNIGHTs........I'm so excited Najee didn't seem to excited but ... hell  what kid does about going back to school.. Well i was excited about school.. I had a Ball in High School.. Well anyways here are some Candid shots taken this morning... of you know who...Mr. Najee Johnson....17yrs old....Dang i'm getting younger and younger everyday....

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!
~Love Barbara~

Birds, Lilies, And Me 8-24-2011

After reading this I Pray That you have an awesome day..Stay Blessed..

In the episodes of an old television show, the veteran police lieutenant always said this to the young officers on their way out to the street for their day’s assignments: “Be careful out there!” It was both good advice and a word of compassion because he knew what could happen to them in the line of duty.

Jesus gave His followers a similar warning, but in even stronger terms. Luke 11 ends ominously with these words: “The scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things” (v.53). In the continuation of this account, Luke says that Jesus compassionately instructed His disciples to “beware” (12:1) but not to worry or be afraid (vv.4-7,22).

Jesus was promising to guard, protect, and care for them as they went out into the world. He assured them that because He cared for simple things like birds and lilies, they could be certain that He would take care of His “little flock” of believers (vv.24-32).

We cannot know the future. But we can know this: No matter what comes, we are under the loving, caring, watchful eye of our great Shepherd, who also happens to be the Son of God!

I walked life’s path with worry,
Disturbed and quite unblest,
Until I trusted Jesus;
Now faith has given rest. —Bosch 

If Jesus is concerned about flowers and birds,
He certainly cares about you and me.

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 

~Love Barbara~

P365 - Week 34 - Whatever.....

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011 - copied and pasted from www.faithsisters.com

Welcome to week 34 of Providence 365. Here in Colorado, the sun is shining and we’re looking forward to another beautiful day in the Lord.

Today’s bible verse is a favorite of mine. WHATEVER!

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

My first thought when I hear WHATEVER is when I hear it mumbled by a sassy teen. Deep down, I know that it means, “I know you’re right Mom, but I need to express a little independence”

WHATEVER!
In the “urban dictionary” – the definition is as follows: used in an argument to admit that you are wrong without admitting it so the argument is over. (my sassy teen)

WHATEVER!
In a more traditional dictionary, it mean: ‘anything or everything that’ or ‘no matter what’ (our focus today)

Look at the last line of Philippians 4:8 – THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS. The bible instructs use where our thoughts should be – no matter what.

Do you ever have those days where things are not going quite right? Or those days where you are anxious – about everything? What about times where you are struggling with a personal decision or choice? We can get buried in our own negative thoughts. And our own negative thoughts contribute to our confusion, anxiety and sadness. However, when we focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy –our thoughts become positive, uplifting and godly. WHATEVER!

This week – when your thoughts are buried – read this verse – and think about WHATEVER! It’s amazing what a shift in focus can do. We would love to see a layout using WHATEVER….whatever you care to share. 

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! ~Love Barbara~

Najee "Brooklyn" Johnson turned 17yrs old......snatched these pictures..

Najee "Brooklyn" Johnson

 Random 17yr old Shots.

 Hopefully I'll get more pictures later.. what is it when they get older it's harder to get a picture....wow.. I'll snatch them from facebook....

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 

~Love Barbara~

My Sunset over AAA Cooper....8-22-2011

I love taking pictures of Sunset, clouds and things that happen in the sky.....

Here are some photo I tool yesterday....

 Southwest Airline landing at RDU

 Today I'm ready I have my Camera on me... Looking for Great Sky's.

 You can almost see God peeking thru the Clouds and sunset.

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!

~Love Barbara~

My Rolodex - Yellow is my color.

It all started with a Rolodex swap on 2peas - which went it's over I'll have 16 quotes and 12 monthly Rolodex index.... I'm working on my Alphabets ( not sure if a swap is coming down the line on that one)... I have ordered my Rolodex.. and yes it's yellow.... To bad they didn't have red.....

Some of the additional Rolodex cards I have finished... for the Rolodex swap..

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!
~Love Barbara~

new sketch layouts completed..

 vacation layout sketches - can't wait to add the pictures...

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day!
~Love Barbara~

Sketch Saturday! UPDATED ADDED LAYOUTS!

 Fun Sketch Saturday - Working on these Sunday...

 I'll be scrapping these pictures also....

*´¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•' Have A Great Day! 

~Love Barbara~