Solar System

I found these stickers at Dollar Tree and thought they were pretty as well as a fun project for a 5 year old! I saw an example of them placed directly on a wall, but I like the black background.

Yum!

Last week we enjoyed these delicious prawns from Costco. They are already marinaded and ready for cooking. I put them on skewers and a couple minutes on the grill they were ready for devouring. An easy delicious meal!!!

Melting crayons

Crayons ready for de-papering. Since I didn't have a box of old broken crayons, these from $1 store were next best! :)

Peeling the papers off.....quite a job!

Ready for melting in foil lined muffin tin.

Anxiously waiting!

After 3 minutes had passed, "Krista, I don't think these crayons work, they aren't melting!"

Finished Product

While these aren't very "user" friendly, my little buddy doesn't seem to notice. He made them and that is what matters! They turned out pretty.

Bold Magic "Nuudles"

Yesterday my little buddy made these creations with Bold Magic Nuudles. These things are a GREAT invention and likely the person who is responsible, has had many kiddos! They are so easy, no mess, and low maintenance! All you do is "dob" whatever side of the nuudle you wish to have "sticky" on a damp paper towel and then stick it to whatever....another noodle, paper, windows, walls, themselves....and they stick! Until you "unstick" them and wipe with a wet rag or towel. They are made of corn starch so they just dissolve. I found them locally at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

Crocodile Stitch Booties

#1 fine chroma yarn from Knit Picks. This is the "New England" color grouping.

I can finally post these little darlings, as the mama received them today for a little that is due in 2 weeks.

I LOVE how they turned out. And am already working on the next set. They crochet fairly quickly, even with the fine yarn and small hook.

Can't wait to see them on the little feets!

Dirt Cake

The request: "Dirt cake, that is really chocolate, with worms, beetles and bugs. Green grass that is really colored coconut."

I have to say that this kind of birthday cake is my favorite, as "messy" is acceptable. :) Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, topped with either green coconut or crushed oreos. Then the bug placement.....chocolate covered raisins for an ant trail, gummy snake in the grass, and an entire worm farm, sticking out everywhere. I added some butterflies, ladybugs snails, frogs, crickets, (all gummy). Since I couldn't find a candy beetle, I put a couple plastic ones. The rest was edible.

Little person was quite pleased at the finished product!

"Season of Death"

The guest book for Grandpa B's memorial service

Flowers for "Dad"

More flowers, Gpa B's boots and tin hat

Picture board of family and friends.

These pictures are a few weeks, out-of-date, but because of recent life circumstances, I am just "tending" to them.

I don't think there is a specific "season of death" but lately there have been SO many different ones that have received their "home call", repeatedly bringing death and dying to mind. Since the beginning of this year (2012), I have attended a funeral or memorial service every Saturday with the exception of 2. As well as some in-between. And 3 of those Saturdays, there were 2 others services taking place nearby. Some of the deaths were expected, some not-so-much.

I suppose with communication and technology the way it is today, we hear more often of happenings than we used to, but as I think back on even the last month and all the deaths that have happened in other places (outside of Oregon). Servants of God, young and old, saints, young and old. Accidents, illness, disease, old-age. Just this last weekend, a faithful man, I knew, living on a WA conv grounds passed away. Parkinsons took him prisoner 25 years ago....now he is free from that prison.

Death is a part of life.

It has been good for me to consider again my own end, mortality. Yesterday in morning meeting, we heard that the way of God is never more narrow than at the point of death when NOTHING goes with us but our soul. In that light, I want to search my heart and soul...daily!

A few:

*Uncle D....served many years in God's ministry, foreign countries, loving souls of men. At his service, "I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord" was beautifully sung by 6 men. D chose the hymns/songs to be sung at his service. Beautiful spirit.

*In my Sunday morning meeting, there is a couple of whom have both had to say good bye to their father (just months apart). R's father passed away last fall and D's father passed a month ago. I didn't know either of their fathers, but my heart was affected because I know R&D and cannot imagine what it must be like to say good bye to someone so close.

*There was a local man who struggled with substance abuse, but had been "clean" for 130 days. On the Saturday night before Portland special meeting, he went to bed with the intention and desire to attend sp. meeting the next day. The next morning, his brother went in to wake him and found him dead with his Bible open beside him. The thought at his funeral was that "perhaps God took him on a good day". I love that thought. God's thoughts toward us are of peace and hope.....not willing that any should perish.

*Alzheimers and complications with it, took a lady that I have VERY fond childhood memories of. She and her husband, new acquaintances to me at the time, saw a great need in my family and were moved to help meet the need. I will NEVER forget what they gave up for my family's sake!

*The last one I will share about is a man whom I had only met a couple of times, and with each occasion, he had such a warm, welcoming smile and spirit. This death probably had the most effect on me because I am so close to his family. I personally watched the grieving process take hold of a son, saying good bye to a father, granddaughter and grandson saying good bye to a grandfather. People I am very close to, losing a loved one but not wishing him back to a life of suffering. One thought that was shared by many and at his funeral: when he was visiting with you, he made YOU feel special. He always saw the good in everybody, because that is what he was looking for.

And so, death leaves it's impressions on all of us, in one way or another. For this, I'm thankful.