Christmas & New Year

The usual Christmas parties are over, the annual family gatherings are finished, and all the Christmas gifts have been opened. On Monday we will begin a new year and the moments in 2012 will be just memories. Now is the time when we all start asking ourselves; “what have I really done this year”?

Hello Folks! It’s me again. Bringing you the scoop this Holiday Season. Yes, I know…I’ve neglected “bloggy” once again. But {on the oft chance that you’re still there} I’m posting.
Well, It’s snowing outside, but, thankfully its warm and cozy inside! I’m having a fantastic winter... Despite the snow, clouds, winds and ice. If you haven't guessed it, my favorite season is summer! I do love the four (various) seasons we have here though :) Burr...all that snow outside is making me feel chilly. Mmmm, I'm thinking about making myself a mug of hot cocoa, or better yet a cup of chai tea! I’m using that thought as my motivation for this post. If I don’t write a post I don’t get it. (Really, it’s simple, I’m bribing myself)

Here is a slide-show for your enjoyment...now I shall go and put the kettle on now for that cup 'o tea!

Christmas & New Years - slide show

A Post

I gasp. I point. I shudder. Has it really been that long since I’ve posted? It sure doesn’t feel like it… Did I just admit to not missing posting? I think I did.

Lately I’ve been having difficulty with Picasa Web Albums {the storage center for bloggers pictures}. I’m almost past my limit of picture storage space!!!  I can’t decide if I want to buy more storage space or to switch over to a different blog sponsor.  That and the fact that I’ve been lacking a little in the “inspiration department”, doesn’t make for “happy” blogging.

So, while I’ve been wondering what to do, I have left you behind in the dust.  My life has kept moving even though my blog has gotten behind “in the times”. 
I think I'm going to share some things about our latest Keepers meeting :) Enjoy!

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Last Thursday, there was a Keepers meeting at our house. It was the last meeting of the year!
My Aunt Jen was kind enough to teach us the art of Canvas Painting. It was amazing. I think we all walked away a little overwhelmed with the all possibilities of Canvas Painting!

Pictures:

The 4 Steps to Canvas Painting

 above: Hard Workers                               below: finished products

Busy Bees.

I don’t know where to start. So many things have gone on in the 3 weeks since I’ve posted! I have lots of excuses for not posting though...

The Wallace’s came down to visit us and so did my Grandparents from Illinois. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. We moved 60 dump truck loads full of dirt out of our backyard. We took care of 48 calves for a friend. We played Ping-Pong, Foosball and Basketball uncountable times. 2 Birthday's happened. The first snow of the Winter fell. We went to Sight and Sound to see Jonah, we went shopping {a lot}. My little sister Bethany lost her first tooth, and my younger brother Lincoln shot his first deer. We talked and laughed a lot… and I made a slide-show full of pictures... take a look:

Blog PO\st - slide show

Now, that is why I haven't posted {are those enough excuses?}.

Thanks for coming over!!

Iris Folding

You probably wouldn’t believe it, but we had another Keepers meeting yesterday.  It’s hard to fathom how time can fly so fast!  Aunt Jody hosted this week’s meeting and taught us how to do Iris Folding!

-  If you’re anything like me you might think that Iris Folding has something to do with folding flowers… or bits of paper. So, just to prove myself wrong and teach you some new things… I’ll give you a little background  info on Iris Folding -

Point 1: Iris Folding originated in Holland.
2: The word “Iris” refers to the iris of an eye or a camera.
3: Iris Folding is a  paper craft technique that involves taping strips of paper to form a design.
4: In Iris Folding, strips of paper are layered upon each other to give a dimensional/layered look.
5: It has nothing to do with origami and it does not involve folding of any kind.
Iris Folding can be put to use on cards, scrapbook pages, envelopes, etc.

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Here are some pictures of us girls hard at work:

Elizabeth 

Joanna 

Abigail 

Bethany

Grace & Emily 

Lillia 

Faith

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It all starts out with a pattern. {You can find patterns online or in a book}

Here is a sample square pattern.

Trace the pattern to the front of a card. Cut out. Lay pattern face down and tape onto the front, turn card inside out [You should be able to see the entire pattern]. Start with the number 1 and lay a piece of paper over it {to the line} and then go to number 2, number 3 and so on....  When all pieces are taped, take off the pattern and turn it over....then you can embellish to your hearts delight!

When you are done it should look something like this:

Cute :)

If you need ideas...just check out some of these awesome cards:  

Lillia 

Anna 

Grace 

Joanna

Keepers ended with choir...

...and singing Happy Birthday to Joy :)


So, what do you think? I hope you are just as inspired by this Keepers meeting as I am... You should try it! It's a ton of fun... if you do try it, be sure to tell me! I'd love to hear about it and see it :)

                     Z♥ë

I Went to a {Gospel} Concert

4 girls, a concert, gospel singers, high anticipation, night out, music, and 1 chaperone!
What could be better? A night out with girlfriends and other kindred spirits to enjoy a night of gospel music...Could you blame us for being excited, giggly, hyper and totally thrilled?

We couldn’t wait for the concert to begin!

The Collingsworth, The Hoppers & Tribute Quartet were on the program for the night.  Settling back into our seats we waited as the lights dimmed and the concert began. Tribute Quartet came out on stage and we climbed the clouds into 7^th heaven!

We decided that our favorite song by Tribute was  Homecoming Day [listen for yourself]!

[right to left]

Riley Harrison Clark,Gary Casto, Josh Singletary & Anthony Davis

Tribute Quartet whetted our musical appetites, then The Hoppers came out! [You might know them from one of their “hit” songs:  Jerusalem]  

The Hoppers

And last [but not least] The Collingsworth Family! Perched on the edges of our bench we listened to them sing and climbed a little higher {all the way up to cloud 6}….what awesome harmony! Listen to this: I Found it All

Collingsworth Family

After a short intermission we came back for more… When the concert was over [4 hours later], we pushed our way through the crush of people, then we stopped {in the freezing cold} to have our chaperone take a picture of we girls, by a lovely bush… for y’all [and to prove we had been there]!

Kaitlyn, Joanna, Me & Abigail ;)

Then we had a short stop @ Micky Dees for smoothies {and a Peppermint Mocha for the chaperone} After that we headed home for a sleep {less} sleep over! A perfect way to cap the night off, dontcha think?

{compliments of an i-pod}

 ~It was a wonderful night-out with you girls, I loved it and had such an awesome time...thanks for wanting to go! Thanks for being such a willing cohort Papa, you were the perfect chaperone ♥

~Well, I hope you have a very wonderful rest of the week...
                   

             ♥ Zoë

It's About Finger Painting

-This past Thursday in Keepers, we took finger painting to a totally new level-

Aunt Jennifer was our finger painting teacher, and she got us really, really inspired. By the time she was finished with her instructions and demonstration, we were all excited and ready to paint! The inspiration and creativity flowed freely and many amazing canvases were created.


Take a look at all the creative artists:

  Some random canvass:

Aunt Jen's inspiration table:

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Hope you got inspired to go out and do some finger art! {Hint: check Pinterest for tons of cool ideas}
 
~Thanks for stopping over~

A Luncheon {w/Sister Mary}

Yesterday [Sunday] the Keeper members, their parents and some youth gathered for a luncheon.

Amidst much talking and laughing Uncle Philip picked up the microphone and called everyone to attention.    

He explained the reason for this gathering….  Sister Mary Norman; a wonderful 89 year old lady was going to share some stories and testimonies from her life with us! He introduced Sister Mary Norman, and her daughter {also a Mary}.  

Quietness reigned as Grandpa prayed over the food and then lunch was served.  

Hanging out__Hope, Faith, Lillia, Bethany, Elainah & Joy

Sweet Girls__ Elainah, Ella, Joy & Bethany

Talking__ Anna, Joanna, Me, Grace, Abigail & Kaitlyn

When everyone was full of the [delicious} soup and sandwiches, they pulled their chairs closer to Sister Mary and listened as she began to speak. Story after story was told... We heard about; how she came to the message, the time she was prayed for, and so many other instances! Her memory was so sharp and it was amazing to hear [and see] how God had richly blessed this special lady.

Sister Mary Norman

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Above: Keeper Members [below: with Sister Mary & Sister Mary]

It was such a wonderful time of fellowship, and we all enjoyed ourselves...I would like to thank Uncle Philip, Aunt Jody and all those who worked to make this luncheon possible!   --"Thanks"--

....Oh, and I'm sorry there are no pictures of the tables or food.... very sorry!

Fall Wardrobe {new blog look}

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely fall weather as much as I!

 Well, the reason for this short post is that: ... I've changed my blogs entire wardrobe once again :)
It is now fully fall-e-fied!   And the Pages are [finally]  written in and published - [So, why not check them out?] -  


I also wanted to share this totally cute cookie I saw [on Pinterest]....

 Isn't it cute?

Unfortunately it didn't have a link. But, I think that you can sort of tell how to make it!


Thanks for stepping over :)


Happy Fall,
           Zoë

Raking...and...Serving Others

-There’s just something about making others burdens lighter that always makes your day a little bit brighter-

Today in Keepers we learned about:  “Serving Others"

Our Keepers meeting job was to clean up all the fallen fall foliage from Brother and Sister Brandt’s yard.  Us girls {and boys} put on our sweatshirts and picked up our rakes. For about 2hours we laughed and raked away.... and took pictures!

It was so much fun, and I think that all of us learned our lesson well!

Acts 20:35 ...It is more blessed to give then to receive.

Kayla's Shower

There was yet another bridal shower held this past Sunday… This time it was for Mark’s [a cousin] Fiancée. Her name is Kayla :)  She is from Missouri and met Mark [through FB] about 6 or so months ago. They are the cutest couple, and so happy together!



[A painted canvas by: Aunt Jennifer]

Anyways, let’s skip the rest of the preliminaries and go directly to September 30th; date of shower.

Mom decided on a wine and cheese theme [without the wine, of course!] And….It turned out beautiful.

Right after Church and a stop at Mickey Dees, we went to get ready for the shower….

The tables, flowers and most of the decorations were already up and ready, having been put up the night before.

[all the ladies, who helped with the shower]

We set out the food and did some other last minute things. Then everyone started arriving! Gasps of delight and shock were frequent.

 

You walked up the steps and were greeted by Joanna. She gave you a card to write a memory or some advice on. Faith took your gift. You paused in the doorway. Bright shades of pink and orange bounced out at you. Your eyes wandered around looking at the food, drink table and the guestbook table.

--Tables scattered around the garage were full of laughing, talking people. There were tall vases as the table centerpieces, beautiful flowers were clustered in small groups.

The drink table stood in a corner. Cute little “black boards” [tied on with pink ribbon], told you what each beverage was.  Sparkling Grape, Green Tea, water and coffee were prepared and ready to drink.

Next you walked to the food table. Cheese of all varieties was sliced, cubed and chunked. Bundt cakes and Peanut Butter Balls called your name. But there was more! You walked around the table. Everything looked beautiful, as well as yummy : D [sorry, the pictures aren't edible!]

 

TIP!!!! Click on pictures to make them larger!

Then you took a seat and the games began! [what fun]

[one of the many!]

 

Next it was time to eat. You filled yourself with cheese, crackers, dessert and more cheese!

 

Kayla opened her presents and thanked you for the nice gift you had brought her....

 Then it was “go home time”, you took a little favor bag. It had 2 chocolate dipped pretzels, [your favorite]
[you munched on them as you drove home]

Kayla and her Mother-in-law-to-be

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Well, "thank's" for coming to the shower! [I hope you had a wondeful time]

See you next week............... 

                    Zoë