99 Days of Summer: DIY Week. Since it is already August and the kids
are getting ready to head back to school, the days are getting shorter,
and we have occasional days of a little cooler weather, the tendency is
to start looking at those nesting type projects around our homes. We
want to start baking, we are putting up fruit and veggies like our
grandmothers before us, and today we
should talk about Christmas. Any of you that follow my "Tip of the Day"
regularly know I bring this topic up several times a year. Since I was
a teenager I have loved making homemade gifts to give. I love
receiving gifts that someone put a lot of thought into whether store
bought or handmade. Realizing the giver took the time to really think
about me as they chose that gift makes it delightful. One of the brain
savers I have developed over the years due to the size of our family, is
to choose a theme for gifts for the year. I choose a theme for
Birthday gifts and am able to pick within that theme an item
specifically fitted for each individual. This year the theme was beach
towels. I have found everything from cute hooded towels for the little
girls to beach mats for the older ones. It saves time, but is still
personal as I individualize within the theme. Every other year I make
pajamas for the entire family at Christmas. I skipped a year figuring
they wouldn't notice and boy did hear about it. :) As a crafter I see
many items throughout the year and think of things to make, but often
they get put away and I forget about them. So, my challenge to myself,
and to you, is before you do any more shopping, go through what you
already have, consider what you can make, or personalize. I picked up
several of one generic item yesterday with specific people in mind and
will be personalizing them. If you are a Pineterester, take the time
today, or this weekend, to go back through what you pinned, see what you
have on hand, and get busy DIYing some awesome gifts for this year.
Perfection isn't the key ingredient, your love and time are.
Word for Today, Separated: There is an old saying, " The only things
certain in life are death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin Since man
began venturing out once they became adults to settle new lands or seek
adventure, families have been separated. Abraham was sent many days
journey from his family and told to leave them behind. Missionaries
often left to travel, in the days before airplanes, to
countries across the ocean and never saw their family again. Many
young men and families set out from our eastern shores of America to
settle the west. Due to Richard's years in the Nuclear industry working
in start up of new facilities we moved frequently and have only spent a
brief time of the past 32 years living near family. We have daughters
and grandchildren from Chicago to California. As difficult as it is to
be separated from family in this age of technology, imagine what it was
like in the days before even reliable mail service, much less phones,
email, and Skype. When we moved to Africa 13 years ago I had never been
there before, so I know that feeling of leaving behind everything
familiar. Without email I might have gone a little loopy. Today I can
Skype with my precious grandchildren in Shreveport, I can chat all day
with friends from Nairobi to down the street without ever leaving my
house. I don't always know when the next time is I will be able to hold
them in my arms, but I am grateful for the technology that allows me to
remain connected. As we go through this life it is guaranteed we will
be separated from someone we love, whether by a move, or death, or their
choice, but there is One who will never move away from us. Even if we
make the choice to not be with Him, He will always be right there
waiting for you to speak His name. His love is the ONLY thing that
comes with a lifetime, and eternal, unconditional, permanent, fixed,
unchanging, no fine print, guarantee. How can you pass up an offer like
that? "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
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