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Dorcas - Favored By Her Giving

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:59:00 +0200

In the book of Acts - chapter 10 we learn about a woman named Dorcas ("Tabitha").

Dorcas was an ordinary woman who truly believed in God. She spent her life constantly doing things for others especially giving to the poor.

There came a time when Dorcas became ill and she passed away. As is customary and through their grief her friends washed her body and prepared her for burial. Laying her in the upper chamber for viewing.

It was at that time that Peter had come to Joppa spreading the news of the goodness and blessings of the Lord to all those who believe.

When these friends of hers heard of his presence they sent two men out and begged Peter to come to them. Being a diligent servant of the Lord Peter went with them.

Upon his arrival Peter was escorted to the upper chamber where Dorcas was laid at rest. In the room there were many widows weeping about her passing. When Peter entered they began to show him the beautiful garments that Dorcas had so unselfishly made for them.

Seeing their pain he asked them to leave the room. Peter then knelt beside her body and prayed.

When he had finished his prayer he turned to the body and said "Tabitha arise". She instantly opened her eyes and upon seeing it was Peter she sat up. Peter then stretched forth his hand and Dorcas got up from where she had been laid.

Peter then called all the saints and widows and presented Dorcas to them once again alive and well. What a glorious time it was for the word was spread throughout the land.

When I read this passage it made me think of how wonderful it would be to be so favored by our Lord by our giving so unselfishlessly to those less fortunate than ourselves that he would give us life again.

In essence that is what his promise is to us today. Over and over again we find scripture that talks about helping the poor. Giving to them and helping them through their troubled times.

Proverbs 22:9 (KJV) He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Wouldn't you say that Dorcas was blessed with a renewed spirit due to her undying generousity to the poor.

Are you feeding the lambs, taking care of the sheep?

Share with us how you are following Christ.

Christian Blogging / Does Your Purpose = God's Plan?

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:18:00 +0200

Do you blog? What do you write about? When I first began to blog my initial thoughts were what would I blog about?

In the beginning I wrote exclusively about my business - the products in my retail store, their beginnings, uses and concepts.

In an attempt to network and meet new friends, business associates and / or potential customers, I wanted to reach out to Christian women everywhere.

As Christians we are to go to the Lord with everything we do, always remembering to put him first, and he will direct us and crown our efforts with success.

In Proverbs 3:4-6 we are taught: ⁴So shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men. ⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

Scripture instructs us that if we want favor with both God and men as well as a reputation for good judgment and common sense then we must trust in the Lord. We must not only believe in the Lord but trust him exclusively never relying on ourselves.

As time has evolved, I began to blog about Christian issues. Women to be specific. Reading my scriptures on a regular basis brought to mind the "Women of the Bible".

Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks of the "Virtuous Woman". Here we learn what it means to be a good wife in the eyes of the Lord.

Scripture tells us that this woman is more precious than gems. She is trustworthy, eager to satisfy the needs of her husband. She is never a hindrance always helpful. This woman works diligently with her hands. Preparing meals and planning the day’s activities are par for the course for her.

She looks for income opportunities and works them tirelessly. Ever energetic she generously helps those in need. Never afraid of the elements her household is well protected.

Strong and dignified she has no fear of old age. From her mouth flows words of wisdom and kindness. Her children and husband call her blessed.

For she is a woman who fears the Lord and with this she will be greatly praised. Her good deeds will bring her honor and recognition from those of importance.

Reading about this remarkable woman has shown me that even though times and circumstances have changed the way we handle our situations remains the same.

Always believe and trust in the Lord. He answers prayers.

God Bless you and yours,

Does Your Purpose = God's Plan? Click here to comment

A Passion Most Pure - Julie Lessman

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:44:00 +0200

It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter! Plus, with this tour, you can win a copy of Julie's book! Leave a comment saying you wish to be in the drawing for the book.

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Read more through this RSS Feed.

Today's Wild Card author is:

Julie Lessman

and her book:

A Passion Most Pure
Revell (January 1, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. Her first book in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Most Pure, was released January 2008, to be followed by the second in September 2008, A Passion Redeemed, and the third in May 2009, A Passion Denied (working title).

You can visit Julie at her Web site.

Product Details

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800732111
ISBN-13: 978-0800732110

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

“To the man who pleases him,

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,

but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to

hand it over to the one who pleases God.

This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

– Ecclesiastes 2:26

Chapter One

Boston, Massachusetts, Late Summer, 1916

Sisters are overrated, she decided. Not all of them, of course, only the beautiful ones who never let you forget it. Faith O’Connor stood on tiptoe behind the side porch, squinting through her mother’s prized lilac bush. The sound of summer locusts vibrated in her ears as she gasped, inches from where her sister, Charity, stood in the arms of––

“Collin, someone might hear us,” Charity whispered.

“Not if we don’t talk.” Collin’s index finger stroked the cleft of her sister’s chin.

Faith’s body went numb. The locusts crescendoed to a frenzy in her brain. She wanted to sink into the fresh-mown lawn, but her feet rooted to the ground as firmly as the bush that hid her from view.

Three years had done nothing to diminish his effect on her. He was grinning, studying her sister through heavy lids, obviously relaxed as he leaned against the wall of their wraparound porch. His serge morning coat was draped casually over the railing. The rolled sleeves of his starched, white shirt displayed muscled arms snug around Charity’s waist. Faith knew all too well his clear, gray eyes held a maddening twinkle, and she heard the low rumble of his laughter when he pulled her sister close.

“Collin, nooooo …” Charity’s voice seemed to ripple with pleasure as her finger traced a suspender cinched to his striped trousers.

“Charity, yes,” he whispered, closing his eyes as he bent to kiss her.

Faith stopped breathing while his lips wandered the nape of her sister’s neck.

Charity attempted a token struggle before appearing to melt against his broad chest. She closed her eyes and lifted her mouth to his, her head dropping back with the ease of oiled hinges.

Faith rolled her eyes.

Without warning, Collin straightened. A strand from his slicked-back hair tumbled across his forehead while he held her sister at arm’s length. His expression was stern, but there was mischief in his eyes. "You know, Charity, your ploy doesn’t work.” His brows lifted in playful reprimand, making him appear far older than his twenty-one years. He adjusted the wide, pleated collar of her pink gabardine blouse. “You are a beautiful girl, Charity O’Connor. And I’m quite sure your doe-eyed teasing is most effective with the schoolboys that buzz around.” His fingers gently tugged at a strand of her honey-colored hair before tucking it behind her ear. “But not with me.” He lifted her chin to look up at him. The corners of his lips twitched. “I suggest you save your protest for them and this for me …"

His dimples deepened when his lips eased into that dangerous smile that always made Faith go weak in the knees. In one fluid turn, he backed her sister against the wall, hands firm on her shoulders as his mouth took hers. Then, in a flutter of Faith’s heart, he released her.

On cue, Charity produced a perfect pout, stamping her foot so hard it caused her black hobble skirt to flair at her ankles. Collin laughed out loud. He kissed her on the nose, grabbed his coat and started down the steps.

"Collin McGuire, you are so arrogant!" Charity whispered, her voice hissing as if through clenched teeth.

"And you, Charity O'Connor, are so vain––a perfect match, wouldn't you say?" He headed for the gate, whistling. Charity stormed inside and slammed the door. Collin chuckled and strolled toward the sidewalk.

Faith crept to the lilac hedge at the front of the house and peeked through its foliage. A stray ball from a rowdy game of kickball rolled into the street. Collin darted after it just as a black Model T puttered by, blaring its horn. He jumped from its path, palming the ball with one hand. In a blink of an eye, he was swarmed by little boys, their laughter pealing through the air as Collin wrestled with one after another.

All at once he turned and loped to a massive oak where tiny, towheaded Theodore Schmidt sat propped against the gnarled tree, crutches by his side. Raucous cheers pierced the air when Collin tossed his coat on the ground and bent to carefully hoist Theo astride his broad shoulders. The little boy squealed with delight. A grin split Collin’s handsome face. He gripped Theo’s frail legs against his chest and sauntered toward home plate. Scrubbing his palms on Theo’s faded, brown knickers, Collin dug his heels in the dirt and positioned himself. The pitcher grinned and rolled the ball. The air was thick with silence. Even the locusts seemed to hush as the ball wheeled in slow motion. Faith held her breath.

Collin’s first kick sailed the ball five houses away. Champion and child went flying, the back tail of Theo’s white shirt flapping in the breeze as Collin rounded the bases. They crossed home plate to a roar of cheers and whistles and all colors of beanies fluttering in the air like confetti. Theo’s scrawny arms flapped about, his tiny face as flushed as Collin’s when the two finally huffed to a stop.

Faith exhaled. Everybody’s hero, then and now.

Collin set the child back against the tree. He squatted to speak to him briefly before tousling his hair. Rising, he snatched his coat from the ground and slung it over his shoulder. The boys groaned and begged for more, but Collin only waved and continued down the street, finally disappearing from view.

Faith pressed a shaky palm to her stomach. She closed her eyes and leaned against the

porch trellis. A perfectly wonderful Saturday gone to the dogs! All she had wanted when she slipped out the back door was to escape to her favorite hideaway in the park. To write poetry and prayers to her heart’s content in the warm, September sun. But no! Once again, her sister had managed to strike, foiling her plans for a blissful afternoon of writing and reverie. Her eyes popped open and she kicked at a hickory nut, sending it pinging off her mother’s copper watering can.

It was bad enough Charity attracted the attention of every male within a ten-mile radius. Did she also have to be the younger sister? It was nothing short of humiliating! Faith plunked her hands on her hips and looked up. “Really, Lord, she’s sixteen to my eighteen and fends off men like a mare swishing flies. Was that really necessary?” She waved her hand, palm up, toward the infamous porch. “And now this? Now him?”

Faith jerked her blanket from the ground and slapped it over her shoulder. Retrieving her journal and prayer book, she thrashed through the bushes. She glanced at the side porch, leering at the very spot he held her sister only moments before. The impact hit and tears pricked her eyes. She swatted at something caught in her hair. A twig with a heart-shaped leaf plummeted to the ground, in perfect synchronization with her mood.

Her sister had it all––beauty, beaus and now the affections of Collin McGuire. Where was the justice? In Faith’s world of daydreams, he had been hers first, smitten on the very day Margaret Mary O’Leary had shoved her against the schoolyard fence. Helplessly she had hung, the crippled runt of the fifth-grade class, pinned by bulbous arms for the crime of refusing to turn over her mother’s fresh-baked pumpkin bread.

“Drop her, Margaret Mary,” the young Collin had said with authority.

The pudgy hands released their grip. “Cripple!” Margaret Mary’s hateful slur had hissed in Faith’s ears as she plopped to the ground, the steel braces on her thin legs clanking as she fell. The girl’s sneer dissolved into a smile when she gazed up at Collin, her ample cheeks puffing into small, pink balloons. “Sorry!” she said in a shy voice. With a duck of her head, she wobbled off, leaving Faith in a heap. Bits of bread, now dusted with dirt, clumped through Faith’s fingers as she stared up in awe. It had been the first time she ever laid eyes on him. Never again would her little-girl heart beat the same. He was tall and languid with an easy smile—Robin Hood, defending the weak.

“D’she hurt you?” he had asked, extending his arm.

The gentleness in his eyes stilled her. Shaking her head, she opened her hand to reveal a mangled piece of bread. Without thinking, she tried to blow off the dirt, misting it with saliva. “I don’t suppose you want some?”

The grin would be branded in her brain forever.

“That’s okay, Little Bit,” he said with a sparkle in his eye, “I’ll just help myself to some of Margaret Mary’s.”

Her mind jolted back to the present. Faith blinked at the lonely porch and sniffed. Jutting her chin in the air, she flipped a russet strand of hair from her eyes. “I refuse to entertain notions of Collin McGuire,” she vowed. Her lips pressed into a tight line. It’s just a crying shame Mother hadn’t found them first!

As if shocked at her thought, the sun crept behind a billow of clouds, washing her in cool shadows. She crossed her arms and glowered at the sky. “Yes, I know, I’m supposed to be taking every thought captive. But it’s not all that easy, you know.”

A curl from her half-hearted chignon fluttered into her face. She reached to yank the comb from her hair, shaking her head until the wild mane tumbled down her back. Hiking her brown gingham skirt to her knees, she ignored the curious stares of children and raced down Donovan Street.

She was almost oblivious to the faint limp in her stride, the only mark of her childhood bout with polio. Some of the children still laughed at the halting way she walked and ran, but Faith didn’t care. If anything, it only made her chin lift higher and her smile brighter. That slight hitch in her gait––that precious, wonderful gimp––was daily proof she had escaped paralysis or worse. She needed no reminding that countless children had perished in the Massachusetts polio epidemic of 1907, her own twin sister among them. She shuddered at the memory while her pace slowed. God had heard the prayers of her parents––or at least half. She alone had survived. And more than survived––she’d never need braces again.

Masking her somber mood with a smile, she waved and called to neighbors, flitting by the perfectly groomed three-decker homes that so typified the Southie neighborhood of Boston. She hurried beneath a canopy of trees where mothers chatted and toddlers played peek-a-boo around their petticoats. A tiny terrier yipped and danced in circles, coaxing a grin to her lips, while little girls played hopscotch on cobblestone streets dappled with sunlight.

In the tranquil scene, Faith saw no hint of impending troubles, no telltale evidence of “The Great War” raging in a far-off land across the sea. But the qualms of concern were there all the same. Insidious, filtering into their lives like a patchy gloom descending at will––in hushed conversations over back fences or in distracted stares and wrinkled brows. The question was always the same: Would America go to war? One by one, the neutrality of European countries toppled like dominoes. Romania, who had entered the war with the Allies, was quickly overrun by German forces. Now, within mere days, Italy had declared war on Germany as well, sucked into the vortex of hate. Would America be next to enter World War I? Faith shivered at the thought and then gasped when she nearly collided with a freckled boy darting out of Hammond’s confectionary.

“Sorry, miss,” he muttered, clutching a box of Cracker Jacks against plaid knickers.

“No, it’s my fault.” She rumpled his hair. He smiled shyly, breaking through her somber mood. Flashing a gap-toothed grin, he flew off to join his friends. Faith laughed and rounded the corner, sprinting into O’Reilly Park. She breathed in the clean, crisp air thick with the scent of honeysuckle. Exhaling, she felt the tension drift from her body.

Oh, how she loved this neighborhood! This was home, her haven, her own little place of belonging. She loved everything about it, from the dirty-faced urchins lost in their games of stickball, to the revelry of neighborhood pubs whose music floated on the night breeze into the wee hours of the morning. This was the soul of Irish Boston, this south end of the city, a glorious piece of St. Patrick's Isle in the very heart of America. And to Faith, not unlike a large Irish family––brash, bustling and brimming with life.

Out of breath, she choked to a stop at a wall of overgrown forsythia bushes that sheltered her from view. Emptying her arms, she snapped the blanket in the air and positioned it perfectly, smoothing the wrinkles before tossing her journal and prayer book to the edge. She kicked off her shoes and flopped belly down, popping a pencil between her teeth. Thoughts of Collin McGuire suddenly blinked in her brain like a dozen fireflies on a summer night. Her teeth sank into the soft wood of the pencil. She tasted lead and spit.

No! I don’t want to think of him. Not anymore. And especially not with her. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the fluttering pages of her prayer book, conspicuous as it lay open at the edge of the blanket. Her chest heaved a sigh. “I’ve gone and done it again, haven’t I?” She glanced up, her lips quirking into a shaky smile. “People always seem so taken with my green eyes, but I don’t suppose ‘green with envy’ is too appealing, is it? I’ll get this right, I promise. In the meantime, please forgive me?” She breathed in deeply, taking air like a parched person gulping cool water. Her final prayer drifted out on a quiet sigh. “And yes, Lord, please bless my sister.”

She reached for her journal and flipped it open, staring hard at a page she’d penned months ago. Her vision suddenly blurred and she blinked, a tear plunking on the paper. Collin. She traced his name with her finger. It swam before her in a pool of ink.

Dreams. Silly, adolescent dreams, that’s all they were. She had no patience for dreamers. Not anymore. After years of pining over something she could never have, she chose to embrace the cold comfort of reality instead. No more daydreams of his smile, no more journal entries with his name, no more prayers for the impossible. She would not allow it.

She flipped the page over and closed her eyes, but it only produced a flood of memories. Memories of a gangly high school freshman, notebook in hand and heat in her cheeks, trembling on the threshold of the St. Mary’s Gazette. She could still see him looking up from the table, pencil in hand and another wedged behind his ear. He had stared, assessing her over a stack of books.

“Uh, Mm … Mrs. Mallory said … well, I … I m-mean she said that I was to be on the p-paper so I—”

Recognition dawned. His eyes softened and crinkled at the corners just a smitch before that slow smile eased across his lips. “Little Bit! So, you’re the young Emily Dickinson Mrs. Mallory’s been going on about. Well, I am impressed—we’ve never had a freshman on the staff before. Mrs. Mallory told me to take you under my wing.” He pushed pencil and paper across the table and grinned. “Better take notes.”

And, oh … she had! In the year they’d been friends, she’d taken note of that perilous smile whenever he was teasing or the fire in his eyes when somebody missed a deadline. She adored that obstinate strand of dark hair that tumbled over his forehead when he argued a point. And she loved the way his voice turned thick at the mere mention of his father. His love for his father had been fierce. He’d often spoken of the day they would finally work side by side in his father’s tiny printing business. McGuire & Son––just the sound of the words had caused Collin to tear up.

The death of his father a week before graduation had been a shock. Collin never showed up to claim his diploma. Someone said he’d found a job at the steel mill on the east side of town. Occasionally rumors would surface. About how much he’d changed. How wild he’d become. The endless string of hearts he always managed to break. Almost as if his passion and kindness had calcified. Hard and cold, like the steel he forged by day.

Faith dropped back on the blanket, her body still. She squeezed her eyes shut. Despite the warmth of the sun, her day was completely and utterly overcast. How dare her sister be so familiar with the likes of Collin McGuire? How dare he be so forward with her, in broad daylight, and right under their mother's nose? Faith was disgusted, angry and embarrassed, all at the same time. And never more jealous in all her life.

***

With coat slung over his shoulder and a stride in his step, Collin whistled his way to the corner of Baker and Brae. Slowing, he turned onto his street, keenly aware his whistling had faded. The bounce in his gait slowed to sludge as he neared the ramshackle flat he shared with his mother. At the base of the steps, he glanced up, his stomach muscles tensing as they usually did when he came home.

Home. The very word had become an obscenity. This house hadn’t been a home since his father’s last breath over three years ago. She’d made certain of that. Collin sighed, mounting the steep, cracked steps littered with flowering weeds. Sidestepping scattered pieces from a child’s erector set, his eyes flitted to his mother’s window. The crooked, yellowed shade was still down. Good. Maybe he could slip in and out.

He turned the knob quietly and eased himself into the front room, holding his breath as he closed the door. The click of the lock reverberated in his ears.

“It’s a real shame you don’t bother to dress that nicely for the good Lord.”

Collin spun around, his heart pounding. He forced a smile to his lips. “Mother! I thought you might be in bed with one of your headaches. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“I’m sure you didn’t.” Katherine McGuire stood in the doorway of her bedroom with arms folded across her chest, a faded blue dressing gown wrapped tightly around her regal frame. Her lips pressed into a thin line, as if a smile would violate the cool anger emanating from her steel-gray eyes.

When his mother did smile at him, an uncommon thing in itself, it was easy to see why his father had fallen hopelessly in love with her. At forty-one, she was still a striking woman. Rich, dark hair with a hint of gray only served to heighten the impact of the penetrating eyes now focused on him. Before she had married his father, she had been a belle of society. The air of refinement bred in her was evident as she stood straight and tall. She lifted her chin to assess him through disapproving eyes.

“She’s too good for the likes of you, you know.”

He stared back at her, a tic jerking in his cheek. Every muscle and sinew were poised to strike. He clamped his jaw, biting back the bitter retort that weighted his tongue. No, he would not allow her to win. Ever. He tossed his coat on the hook by the door and turned, a stiff smile on his face. “She doesn’t care, Mother. She’s in love.”

“Her father will. It’s not likely he’ll want a pauper courting his daughter.”

Collin shook his head and laughed, the sound of it hollow. He avoided her eyes as he headed to his room at the back of the flat. “I won’t be a pauper forever,” he called over his shoulder. “I’ve got plans.”

“So did your father. And you saw where they took him.”

Collin stopped, his back rigid and his eyes stinging with pent-up fury. He clenched and unclenched his fists. How had a man as good and kind as his father allowed her to control him? His mouth hardened. It didn’t matter. She would never control him. Not in his emotions, nor in his life. He exhaled slowly, continuing down the shadowy hall. “Have a good day, Mother,” he said. And closing his bedroom door behind him, he shut her out with a quiet click of the lock.

***

“But, Mother, it’s not fair! Why can’t Faith do it?” Charity demanded, wielding a stalk of celery in one hand and a paring knife in the other.

Marcy O’Connor didn’t have to look up from the cake she was frosting to know she had a fight on her hands. Usually she enjoyed this time of day, when the coolness of evening settled in and her children huddled in the warmth of the kitchen near the wood-burning stove. Tonight, five-year-old Katie sat Indian-style, force-feeding her bear from an imaginary teacup while her brother, Steven, a mature eight years old, practiced writing vocabulary words on a slate. On the rug in front of the fire sprawled twelve-year-old Elizabeth, a faraway look in her eyes as she lost herself in a favorite book. Marcy set the finished cake aside and reached for the warm milk and yeast. She poured it into a bowl of flour and began rolling up the sleeves of her blouse.

"I don't understand why Faith can't do it. She doesn't have anything else to do." Charity turned back to the sink to assault the celery with the knife.

"But, Mother, you know I'm reading to Mrs. Gerson Saturday evening or I’d be happy to stay with the children." Faith's tone sounded cautious as she appeared to devote full attention to chopping carrots for the stew. In unison, both girls looked up at their mother.

Marcy couldn't remember when she had felt so tired. Her eyes burned with fatigue as she kneaded the dough for the bread she was preparing. With the back of her hand, she pushed at a wisp of hair, a stray from the chignon twisted at the nape of her neck, feeling every bit of her forty years. She eyed her daughters with a tenuous smile, her mind flitting to a time when she’d been as young. A girl with golden hair and summer-blue eyes who’d won the heart of Patrick Brendan O'Connor and become his “Irish rose.” Marcy sighed. Well, tonight, the “rose” was pale, wilted, and definitely not up to a thorny confrontation between her two daughters.

She paused, her hands crusted with dough. "Tell me, Charity, why is it so important you’re free on this Saturday night, in particular?" Marcy didn’t miss the slight blush that crept into Charity's cheeks, nor the look on Faith’s face as she stopped to watch her sister’s response, cutlery poised mid-air.

"Well, there's a dance social at St. Agatha's. I was hoping to go, that's all."

Marcy resumed kneading the dough with considerably more vigor than before. “And with whom will you be going, may I ask?"

"Well … there's a group of us, you see …"

"Mmmm. Would a certain Collin McGuire be among them?" Marcy's fingers were flying.

Charity’s blush was full hue, blotching her face with a lovely shade of rose. "Well, yes … I think so … perhaps … of course, I'm not definitely sure …"

A thin cloud of flour escaped into the air as Marcy slapped the dough from her hands. "Charity, we've been over this before. Neither your father nor I are comfortable with you seeing that McGuire boy. He's too old."

"But he's only three years older than Faith,” Charity pleaded.

"Yes, and that's too old for you. And too old for your sister when it comes to the likes of him. Absolutely not. Your father will never allow it."

"But why, Mother? Mrs. McGuire is a good woman—"

"Yes, she's a good woman, who, I'm afraid, has let her son get the best of her. Ever since his father died, that boy has been nothing but trouble. He's fast, Charity, out for himself and willing to hurt anyone in the bargain. You can't possibly see or understand that now because you're only sixteen. But mark my words, your father and I are saving you a lot of heartbreak."

Marcy dabbed her forehead with the side of her sleeve while Faith scooped up carrots and plopped them into the boiling cauldron of stew. The kitchen was heating up, both from the fire of the stove and Charity’s seething glare.

"It's because of Faith, isn't it?" Charity demanded, slamming her fist on the table.

"Charity Katherine O'Connor!" Marcy whirled around, her tone scathing.

"It's true! You don't want me entertaining beaus because poor, little Faith sits home like a bump on a log and couldn't get a suitor if she advertised in The Boston Herald!"

Faith’s mouth gaped open and color seeped from her face. Her knuckles clenched white on the carrot she stabbed in the air. "I could have more beaus, too, if I flirted like one of the cheap girls at Brannigan’s!”

"Faith Mary O'Connor!” Marcy’s tone suggested sacrilege, her fingers twitching in the dough. The kitchen was deathly quiet except for the rolling boil of the stew. Katie began to whine, and Elizabeth bundled her in her arms, calming her with a gentle shush.

Charity leaned forward. Her lips curled in contempt. "You couldn't get beaus if you lined ‘em up and paid ‘em!"

"At least I wouldn't pay them with favors on the side porch …"

Marcy flinched as if slapped. "What?” she breathed. She turned toward Faith whose hand flew to her mouth in a gasp at the shock of her own words. Charity’s face was as white as the flour on Marcy’s hands. “With whom?” Marcy whispered.

“Collin McGuire,” Faith said, her voice barely audible.

It might as well have been an explosion. Marcy gasped. “Is this true, Charity? Look at me! Is this true?"

Charity's watery gaze met her mother's and she nodded, tears trickling her cheeks.

Marcy barely moved a muscle. "Faith, take the children upstairs."

Faith was silent as she picked Katie up to carry her from the room. Elizabeth followed with Steven behind. Charity was sobbing. Without a word, Marcy walked to the sink to wash the dough from her hands, then returned to her daughter's side, wrapping her arms around her. At her touch, Charity crumpled into her embrace like a wounded child. Marcy stroked her hair, waiting for the sobs to subside. When they did, she lifted Charity's quivering chin and looked in the eyes of the daughter-child who so wanted to be a woman.

"Charity, I love you. But that love charges me with responsibility for your well-being and happiness. I know you can’t understand this now, nor do you want to, but you must trust us. Collin McGuire is not the boy for you. He’s trouble, Charity. Behind that rakish smile and Irish charm is a young man whose only thought is for himself. I've seen you smile and flirt with a number of young lads, and I suppose with most young men, that's innocent enough. But not with him. It's stoking a fire that could seriously burn you. Now tell me what happened on the porch."

Charity sniffed, wiped her nose with her sleeve and straightened her shoulders. "He … he wants me to go to the social and he … Mother, it was only a kiss!"

"Yes, and I'm only your mother. Charity, I love you very much, but you’ll not be going to the social this Saturday nor anywhere else for the next month. You will come straight home after school each day and complete your studies. And you will have the chore of doing the supper dishes for four weeks." Marcy's tone softened. "But only because I love you."

Charity’s eyes glinted as she spun on her heel and headed for the door. "I could certainly do with a little less love, Mother," she hissed.

Marcy couldn't help but smile to herself. She had been sixteen once.

***

The door flew open and a blast of cool air surged in. Faith braced herself. Charity stood, wild-eyed, hands fisted at her sides. “I hate you!” she screamed. She slammed the door hard and leaned against it, her chest heaving from the effort. "I will never forgive you for what you did. You are a wicked, evil person, and I hope you die an old maid!" She lunged and knocked Faith flat on the bed, yanking a fistful of hair.

“Ow!” Faith hollered, pain unleashing her fury. She kneed Charity in the stomach and

rolled her over, pinning her to the bed. "Stop it, Charity––I mean it! I never meant to tell Mother anything, and you know it. But you were so mean and hateful, it just popped out.” Her breath came in ragged gasps. “Look, I don't want to fight with you."

Charity scowled. "Fine way to prove it. I still don't know if I'm going to forgive you. You've gone and ruined everything with Collin. It’s going to be twice as difficult to see him now." She tugged her arms free and pushed her away.

In slow motion, Faith sat on the bed, incredulous her sister would even entertain the thought of defying their mother. "But you're not supposed to. Not now, not ever––that's the whole point Mother's been making. Don't you understand that?"

"Yes, I understand that," Charity mimicked. "My head knows it, but I’m afraid my heart’s having a bit of a problem." She stood up from the bed and smiled. "But you don’t quite get it either, do you, Faith? I love him. It's as simple as that. Mother may forbid me from seeing him, but she can't forbid me from loving him." Charity posed in the mirror, then hugged herself and whirled around, her golden hair spinning about her like a fallen halo.

Faith’s jaw dropped. "You can't love him! You’re sixteen, and he’s twenty-one. You don't even know him!"

"Oh, yes, I do,” she breathed, “and he’s wonderful!” She gave Faith a sly smile. “You know the studying I've been doing at the library? Well, I've been studying all right––my favorite subject in the whole world."

Faith’s facial muscles slacked into shock, prompting a peal of laughter from her sister. Charity plopped on the bed and grabbed her hand. "Oh, Faith, he's amazing! He's funny and bright, and all I know is I'm happier than I've ever been.”

"You didn't look so happy on the porch this afternoon." Faith snatched her hand away.

A flicker of annoyance flashed on Charity's face and then disappeared into a sheepish grin. "Yes, I know, he can be maddening at times. It’s part of his charm, I suppose. But I can handle him." Charity stood and reached for the hairbrush. She began stroking her hair in a trancelike motion.

"You didn't appear to be the one doing the handling …"

The brushing stopped. Slowly Charity turned, all smiles diminished. "I know what I'm doing, and I'll thank you to stay out of it. I love him. That's all there is to it." Charity tossed the brush on the bed and turned to leave, but not before bestowing one final smile. "I trust you, Faith. We’re sisters. And sisters love each other, right?"

Faith gritted her teeth. The Bible she read to Mrs. Gerson every Saturday night claimed "love never fails." She certainly hoped not.

Thought For Today

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:53:00 +0200

Today starts a new chapter here at Laurel Tree Creations.

I have been blessed to have a very articulate and spiritual niece Rose Britt-Gordon who has been very inspirational to me.

She has been providing our family with the "Thought for Today" for years and has so lovingly agreed to allow me to post her thoughts here for your enjoyment.

Stay tuned her words will calm your spirits and inspire your soul.

Reading - Living, Learning & Sharing The Experience

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:41:00 +0200

Why do we read what we read and what do we do with the knowledge and/or wisdom that we have acquired?

I have always been a lover of books. As a child, I would prefer to sit with a good book and take myself away to far away places. Lazy afternoons spent with a strawberry shake and a book bought me so much pleasure. Experiencing the lives of others different from myself taught me that even though we live in different places we are all experiencing life in much the same ways.

As I grew into maturity my reading preferences changed. Ever searching for knowledge and wisdom. I found myself drawn towards everything that would help me grow. Whether academically or spiritually life was a lesson to be learned.

In Titus 3:4-5 Paul says "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV)

Entering in a new phase of life I find myself wanting to share the knowledge and wisdom I have experience. I find that I am being drawn to share life's experiences with women not only of my generation but more so to women younger than myself. To help them grow in the peace and joy that is so readily at hand, if only they seek the goodness and grace of the Lord.

Deciding what to read is a choice. Living life victoriously is a choice. Are your reading choices making a difference in your life? Are the books you are reading equipping you for your walk with Christ? Are you reading as you did as a child taking yourself away to far away places escaping the life you now live? Or are you preparing yourself for the task at hand. Living, loving and enjoying the life that Christ our Savior died on the cross for?

Please share your thoughts?

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Preparing & Expecting A Season of Suddenly's

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:05:00 +0200

What do you do while you are waiting on the Lord for your blessings? Are you just sitting, hoping and praying that your ship will come in? Are you trusting but not seeing any results? Are you truly preparing for your season?

These words of wisdom may help you jumpstart your season of suddenly’s.

Understand the power of repentance

(Matt 4:17 KJV - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.) Have you gone to the Lord and told him of your sin? Have you asked him for his forgiveness? No sin no matter how big or small should go un-repented. Even though the Lord knows all he wants to hear from your lips that you are aware of the wrong you have done and he wants you to ask him for forgiveness. Just ask him and he will wipe the slate clean.

Have A Heart of Forgiveness

(Matt. 6:14 KJV - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.) Have you been hurt by something someone said or did you to? Are you holding onto unnecessary pain? Let it go. Go to them and make amends. They may or may not accept your gesture of love. But the Lord knows your heart and in doing so the Lord will rain down upon you many blessings as he loves you and does not want you to suffer.

The Spirit of Praise

(Psalms 149:6 KJV - Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;) Do you realize that the more you praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the more joy you bring into your life? The constant affirmation of the goodness and the glory of the Lord will naturally bring peace and comfort to your soul. How good you will feel knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is always there to for you. With God on your side nothing and no one can harm you. The evil of the world may come a knocking at your door but praising the Lord will not let it enter in.

Power of the Cross and The Blood of Jesus

(Col. 2: 14-15 KJV - Blotting out the handwriting or ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.) When Christ died on the cross, all your sins were forgiven. They were cast down and nailed to the cross never to be held against you if only you would follow him and obey the commandments of the Father. With the shedding of Christ’s blood Satan’s power over your life was no more. Use the power to show the world you are free and that you can have everlasting life.

These are just a few revelations to help you prepare in your period of waiting.

Be triumphant in the Name of the Lord while you wait for your season of suddenly’s and he will bless you with unexpected riches far beyond your earthly needs.

First Fruit - Love

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:08:00 +0200

Love is an emotion that causes us as human beings to do things that we may not ordinarily do.

When we are in love we sacrifice for those we are in love with. We give of ourselves for the betterment of those we love. Love is a feeling that is like no other. The world is brighter, life is happier and our outlook of our circumstances is seen through a different viewpoint.

The bible tells us that Jesus loves us not for what we do but for who we are. Jesus died on the Cross because he loves us. He made that sacrifice so that we may be saved from our sins.

Deut. 6:5 tells us "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

As Christians this is something we should strive to do everyday. The love we have for the Lord will surely be seen by all those we come in contact with everyday in all aspects of our lives.

When we truly love the Lord we are instructed to keep his charge, his statutes, his judgments and his commandments (Deut. 11:1). We are to love the Lord and follow his plan for our lives. Clinging to him and serving him enthusiastically (Josh 22:5)

We are to love our neighbors as we love the Lord. Not just saying we love them, but hating that which is evil and clinging to what is right. Taking pleasure and delight in loving and honoring one another (Romans 12:9-10).

In Neh. 1:5 we are told of the blessings and promises of the Lord to those who love and obey him. Blessings abound to all who truly love one another. The protection of the Lord is with those who love him. He watches over all and keeps them safe and secure. (Psalms 145:20)

The love of a husband or wife should be second only to the love of the Lord. Loving each other as you love the Lord.

With all this love that we should have we must remember that (1John 2:15) instructs us to "Love not the world neither the things that are of the world. If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him." In other words we should not under any circumstances love the evil of the world which include the desire to buy everything that appeals to you and the pride that comes from wealth and importance as these are not the way of the Lord.

Take a moment today to show someone how much you truly love them. You might be amazed at how truly blessed your day will be.

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Hannah - Blessed By Her Sacrifice

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:23:00 +0200

The name “Hannah” has many meanings and interpretations such as beauty or passion. Hannah is one of two wives of Elkanah; the other, Peninnah, who easily bore children to Elkanah, but Hannah remained childless. Nevertheless, Elkanah preferred Hannah perhaps because of her beauty and passion.Shiloh sanctuary. It was during this celebration that Elkanah would present to his wives and his children gifts. Even though he preferred Hannah he could only give her one gift as she was childless. Eli the High Priest was sitting in his usual place on a chair near the doorpost. In her prayer she begs for a child and in return for God’s favor she promises to give the child back to him for as long as the child lives. Song of Hannah. The poem (1 Samuel 2:1-10) was a prayer delivered by Hannah, to give thanks to God for the birth of her son, Samuel. The prayer of Hannah paves the way for the theme of the Book of Samuel, the "power and willingness of God to intrude, intervene and invert.

Each year Elkanah and his family would go out of the city to worship and to offer a sacrifice to our Lord of hosts at the

Every year it was the same but as time passed Penninah began to mock and torment Hannah because she was still barren. Things got so bad that Hannah cried all the time and even stopped eating. Her husband could not understand saying to her “Why do you make such a big deal of having no children?” “Isn’t having me enough”.

On one of their annual outings Hannah went up to the temple, she was feeling deep pain and prayed silently.

The High Priest thought she was drunk as he saw her lips moving but heard no sound from her. He chastised her for drinking and told her to get rid of her drink. Instead of getting angry at him for his assumption she explained her situation. Upon hearing her story he sends her away and effectively says that her prayer will be heard and her desire granted. She immediately was filled with joy. Thanking the high priest, she returned home and resumed eating once again.

On the family’s final day at the tabernacle they worshipped the Lord once more and then returned home to Ramah. That night she went home with her husband, and gave herself to him. The Lord remembered her petition and soon afterwards she became pregnant.

As promised, when the child was born, and she had weaned him she returned to the temple on her family’s next annual trip. She brought her son with her and gave him back to the Lord. Hannah left her only child at the Tabernacle with the High Priest Eli just as she had promised she would.

It was at that time that she prayed a song of praise for his birth - the

Subsequently, when the child (Samuel) proved himself a good worker, Eli blesses Hannah again with prayer asking the Lord to give her more children to take the place of the child she so willing gave to the Lord. And the Lord answered the prayers blessing Hannah and her husband with more sons and also daughters.

Hannah’s faith and trust in the Lord proved to be beneficial to more than just her and her husband. Her sacrifice to the Lord made it possible for her son to find favor with the High Priest and to subsequently bless all who heard his voice.

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Fruits of the Spirit - Friday

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:49:00 +0200

Each Friday for the next (9) weeks I will be writing about one of the nine Fruits of the Spirit and what I have learned and how I have or have not implemented these fruits into my own walk with Christ.

To thank my readers for their loyalty, I will be giving away a framed 4 x 6 version of the Fruit of the Spirit designed by Laurel Tree Creations. To qualify to be entered into the drawing you can do either of three things:

1. Sign-up for our newsletter (receive updates of new and exciting events)

2. Sign our guest book and leave a comment

3. Sign our feedback page (quality conversation here)

The more you enter the better your chances are of winning.

One entry per blog post please

Anyone commenting or leaving feedback on more than one Fruit of the Spirit post will be entered into a drawing to receive a framed 8 x 10 version of the Fruit of the Spirit designed by Laurel Tree Creations.

Mark your calendars the fun begins June 20, 2008 and runs every Friday until Aug. 15, 2008.

The drawing will be held on Sat. Aug. 16, 2008. Winners will be posted on Sun. Aug. 17, 2008. Be sure to check back to see if you have won.

Blessings to you and yours.

Fruits of the Spirit - Friday

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:13:00 +0200

I came across this challenging meme while doing my weekly research for blog topics.

The challenge is to take a look at each of the Fruits of the Spirit. One per week and to see where you are with the particular fruit.

So each Friday for the next (9) weeks I will be writing about what I have learned and how I have or have not implemented these fruits into my own walk with Christ. This learning experience will help me and maybe help others who may be struggling in some way.

For those who are not aware of just what the Fruits of the Spirit are I will list them below:

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering (Patience)*

Gentleness (Kindness)*

Goodness

Faith

Meekness (Gentleness)*

Temperance (Self-control)*

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

*Galatians 5:22-23 (TLB)

As an added bonus, I will be giving away a framed 4 x 6 version of the Fruit of the Spirit designed by Laurel Tree Creations. To qualify to be entered into the drawing you can do either of three things:

1. Sign-up for our newsletter (receive updates of new and exciting events)

2. Sign our guest book and leave a comment

3. Sign our feedback page (quality conversation here)

The more you enter the better your chances are of winning.

One entry per blog post please

Mark your calendars the fun begins June 20, 2008 and runs every Friday until Aug. 15, 2008.

The drawing will be held on Sat. Aug. 16, 2008. Winners will be posted on Sun. Aug. 17, 2008. Be sure to check back to see if you have won.

Blessings to you and yours.

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The Power of Journaling

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:54:00 +0200

If you're like most women, you need a private outlet to communicate your fondest memories and your deepest fears. I'd like to introduce you to the age-old tradition of journaling. The word "Journal" may be sometimes used for "diary" but really the two are different because in a diary you usually write everyday , while in a journal you don't have to. Journals were originally used with the end result being publication. Today they are also being used as a way to leave important information to our loved ones about our daily lives and heritage.

Your journal does not have to be fancy and expensive. A notebook preferably spiral will do because this allows you to fold it back and write comfortably. If you are crafty this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge in your creativity. Making the cover your own would encourage you to use it more often.

Journaling is a pastime some of us have always enjoyed. It gives us a place to record our observations and our memories before life gets too fast for us to remember the small moments which brought us joy once upon a time. Some women use journals to records important events such as vacations, weddings, and the joys of motherhood.

From journaling your hopes and dreams as a teenager to journaling your doubts and fears as an adult, journaling has been a part of some of our lives through the years.

I can remember my first experience with journaling. It was as a new bride & mother. I was so unsure of what life had to offer and journaling was a way to get those fears out of my head and onto paper. Seeing things in black & white helped to sort them out and gave me the ability to tackle them one at a time.

Years later I remember reading through that first journal and seeing how I had grown as a person. It also brought back dreams that I once had and renewed a spirit to continue on without looking back.

As I renewed my walk with Christ I began to journal my daily readings and the thoughts and questions which arose from the scriptures. Having spoken to other Christian women it appears that this is a way to stay focused on the purpose and plan for their lives.

Would you like to learn more about how to recollect fond memories and create new ones. Would you be interested in learning how to release and express your creativity? If so, then I'd like invite you to download the 30 Day Personal Journaling Guide and begin your journey today!

Beauty By Design Ministries has created an easy to use 30 Day Personal Journaling Guide to aid you in developing this valuable hobby.

Click on the link on the home page or on the left to discover how to obtain this wonderful guide.

Happy Journaling.

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Lydia of Thyatira: An Evangelist and Kingdom Financier

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:16:00 +0200

This week's guest is Jill St. James. Jill St. James is a native Chicagoan, currently residing in the Las Vegas area with her son. The former Ebony fashion Fair model has enjoyed successful careers in the fashion and airline industries.

Jill shares the Good News of Jesus Christ through her book ministry . Her current book titled "God's Love" depicts a journey through the amazing life of award winning Gospel singer, Jordan Alexander. You can read more at www.JillStJames.net

Below is Jill's inspiration on Lydia of Thyatira.

As a prosperous business woman who worshiped the Lord, Lydia dyed cloth and traveled to Philippi to sell her goods. Paul was teaching the Good News there because the Spirit of God forbade him to preach in Asia.

Upon hearing Paul preach, Lydia's heart was open to receive the Word. She, along with her entire household were baptized and welcomed the apostles into her home, which immediately became their church.

Lydia is known as the first European convert, and took the message of Jesus back to her hometown city in Asia...the very city Paul was forbidden to go!

Because of Lydia's open heart and obedience, she helped spread the Gospel of our Savior in a region that didn't know of Him.

This is a great lesson to us, to always be available to follow the LORD's will. Great things can happen when we trust and obey His voice. He places us exactly where we need to be, when we need to be there. It's up to us to be aware of our surroundings and the opportunities available to advance the message and love of Jesus where ever we are.

Be a blessing!

Schools Out For Summer (Faithbooking)

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:08:00 +0200

School is out and the grandchildren are already bored. What do you do with them so they and you are not climbing the walls? How about faithbooking (scrapbooking)? Sharing family memories while making new ones.

As I attempt to come up with a curriculum for the little ones so we are all constantly learning I have decided that at least once a week we will do scrapbooking (faithbooking) my new term of choice.

So the first step will be to organize all the supplies. Here is what I did:

1. searched the house in all the known places for supplies. Paper in one box, stickers in a

cabinet, specialty pens in a canister.

2. sorted all the paper by color and design

3. categorized all stickers, embellishments, etc.

With everything all laid out I then began the task of making sense of it all. Along the way I thought what if I created a system (like the pre-made kits) where I would start to create pages with like items.

So I put some of the pages into the Faithbook sleeves (scrapbook). I then took some of the embellishments and added them to the pockets accordingly.

As I did this all sorts of creative ideas came to mind. First I searched for inspirational bible scriptures. I then created clear decorative labels using a quirky font and printed them out. These can be add to the pages as I see fit.

The I took an empty binder put in some plastic sleeves and began filling them with all the stickers, etc. Having the embellishments in a handy binder with clear sleeves lets me see at a glance what I have and what I might need.

While doing this I re-discovered so many things I purchased and did nothing with because I thought I had no themes to go with them.

At the end of the day, I now have 12 sleeves set and ready to go, of course, I will added details as the project progresses, but now I have a place to start.

Now the Faithbooks (Scrapbooks) and supplies are prominently displayed in the family room for easy access and as reminder to faithbook regularly.

Now to find a container that I can re-purpose after decorating that can be used for all the specialty pens and pencils.

Let’s make some memories and leave our legacy behind for generations to see.

Happy Faithbooking (Scrapbooking)

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Esther - Finding Favor

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:06:00 +0200

Mrs. Dana M. Neal is a wife, mother, and a dedicated business woman. She is walking in God's plan, striving to build his kingdom. A professional event planner, referral travel agent and CEO of a non-profit organization. Mrs. Neal never forgets her first love; Jesus. Here is her latest article on Esther. My desire is to be like Esther, to my husband and for my husband; to find favor in his eyes and the people around me. To serve my Father in heaven in obedience and submission to my king on earth.

She was a woman that found favor in Mordecai her cousin and Hegai the one who had charge of the King's Harem and then the king; even after the thirty days she was separate from her king she found favor in him. Haman even pleaded for his life knowing she could help save him.

A woman that finds favor in all the men around, at different levels and different aspects of her life, has me in awe. God made Esther to be a woman "of noble character .... worth far more than rubies" (Psalm 31:10 emphasis mine) as he made all other women. We just have to walk in what he has already done for us.

Because she had pleased Hegai, he provided her with special foods and beauty treatments, as well as, being assigned seven maids while she was being prepared for the king.

Esther was a woman that settled into life without forgetting her heritage. She was able to obtain the finer "things" in life by obeying the laws of the land but protecting her nationality in the mist. (Chapter2:10, 20) In this book, you can almost sense her spirituality without the author even saying it. She had kept her connection with the Lord. She knew to fast and pray first before "challenging the world" (Chapter 4:15). She remembered her people and protected them. She also remembered her spirituality and focused on that to help her continue to find favor with her king. (Chapter 5: 1-8 and 7:1-10)

Esther showed women how to love their husbands. Before she became queen, she took with her, to please the king, whatever Hegai told her to take. (Something he/she knew would please the King). She always stated when she spoke to the King "if it pleases the king" saying whatever you like my husband, whatever you want my love, if what I suggest to you pleases you my king. Her husband, the king, was never displeased with her.

Esther was and is the biblical woman to help all other women to stand in their marriages and not be in bondage to situations. She is the one that never forgot her spirituality; remembers to pray first before going into "battle" a battle that was not hers to fight. I admire Esther because she never forgot herself and continued to be a help meet to her husband the king.

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Christian Scrapbooking - Faithfully Yours

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:46:00 +0200

Do you have tons of photographic memories just lying around waiting to be made into a beautiful scrapbook? Are you constantly on the look out for embellishments to show your faith? Here is a wonderful company that I have found while surfing the web dedicated solely to faith based scrapbooking. The term they use is "Faithbooking".

If you are like me you search through the craft stores for just the right sticker or ribbon only to find that there is only one left or the space designated for that item is now EMPTY.

Or perhaps you find a scrapbook or craft catalog and they have a limited supply of items that just don't say what you would like to say. Been there, done that.

At Faithfully Yours they encourage you to remember and share God's goodness with family and friends through your scrapbooks. What an awesome witnessing tool!

Here is a sampling of the items that can be found at Faithfully Yours:

Albums

Books

Calendars

Cardstock/Paper

Embellishments

Ribbons

Stamps

Mini-kits ()

Punches

Stickers

and much, much more.

Some of the many manufacturers that you will find there are American Tradition, Crossed Paths, Reminders of Faithfulness and Veggie Tales.

Take a moment and surf on over. You will find faith based scrapbook ideas and supplies to delight your spirit and remind you of God's goodness. Click on their banner on the left to be directed to their site.

Happy Scrapping

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Ruth - Blessed By Her Obedience

Mon, 26 May 2008 10:41:00 +0200

The book of Ruth teaches us about a woman's obedience and how her dedication led to her many blessings.

In the days of Ruth judges ruled in Israel. There was no democratic society, no presidents, congressman, governors or the like. The judges' decision was law.

A man by the name of Elimelech who was from Bethlehem left his country because of a terrible famine. He settled in Moab with his wife Naomi and his two sons (Mahlon and Chilion). As the years passed Elimelech passed away. Naomi's sons were grown now and had taken wives (Orpah and Ruth) so she was not alone although I am sure she missed Elimelech terribly.

In time Naomi's sons passed away leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law all alone. With nothing left to keep them in Moab, Naomi decided to return to Israel where she had relatives. She had heard that the Lord had blessed the people by giving them good crops once again. Of course, she would take her daughter-in-laws with her as they were all the family she had in this strange land. And so they began their trip back to her homeland.

As they journeyed to Israel Naomi began to think about what she had asked of her daughters-in-law. They were young and attractive and could surely make new lives for themselves. They had fulfilled their duty to her according to the law of the land and she had nothing left to offer them to keep them with her. As she was old, had no more sons, and even if she could marry again and have children she could not ask the women to wait for them to become men.

So Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law "Why don't you return to your parents' homes". You have been faithful to your husbands and to me. The Lord will surely bless you with another marriage. The women all cried and insisted that they go with Naomi.

Eventually, Naomi convinced Orpah it was the right thing to do, so she reluctantly left and returned to her parents. But Ruth refused to leave Naomi alone. So they returned to Israel where they caused quite a stir upon their arrival. Naomi was bitter now because of the circumstances surrounding her return home. No husband, no sons and no way to survive.

Since their were no men in their lives at the moment Ruth decided it was up to her to provide as Naomi was old. She said I will go to the fields and glean the free grain left behind by the reapers.

Ruth set out to find a field and found herself in the field of Boaz. Now Boaz was a relative of Naomi's and he was very well off. As Naomi worked diligently in the field Boaz returned and asked who was the girl in the field. He was informed that she was the daughter-in-law of Naomi his relative. She had been working hard all morning never stopping except to get a drink of water. This impressed Boaz.

After introducing himself to her he instructed her to stay in his field - never to go to another and that he would make sure that she was protected. He also instructed his reapers to leave additional heads of barley for her to glean. Boaz showed her favor because of her love and kindness to Naomi.

Upon returning home that evening Ruth brought with her all the barley she gleaned and even the remainder of her lunch. She told Naomi of her days adventures and they both rejoiced as surely the Lord had blessed them and Moab as well.

As time passed Naomi said to Ruth it is time for you to get a husband. She immediately thought of Boaz as he was a single man. In those days it was proper for a relative to take the wife and inherited land of a kinsman so as to continue the bloodline. So Naomi instructed Ruth as to what she should do to gain the favor of Boaz.

Ruth being the obedient daughter-in-law did exactly as Naomi had instructed. She put on here finest clothes and went to where he was. Taking precaution as to not let him see her until the evening was done. As he slept she lay down at his feet and slept making sure not to wake him.

When Boaz awoke startled in the middle of the night he discovered her there. They talked as to why she was there and it was settled he would handle all the details in the morning. Quietly she returned to Naomi with a gift from Boaz and awaited the details to be worked out.

Now there was a slight problem with this arrangement there was another relative who was in line before Boaz. According to the law of the land this relative was to have first priority and if he could not or would not take on the responsibility then it would go to the next in line.

Down to the marketplace he went to find the relative and some chief men of the village to handle the business. The details about the land and Ruth were presented but the relative was unwilling to take on the task as he did not want Ruth's children to become heir to his land when he died. With this he handed off the responsibilities to Boaz who gladly accepted.

After the proper traditions had been taken care of Boaz married Ruth. The Lord blessed them with a son named Obed who brought much joy to the life of Naomi. For now she had a grandson whom she could care for and bring joy to her days of old. This small boy grew to be the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David.

Through the sacrifice, dedication and obedience of Ruth her family tree was blessed for generations to come.

What about you? Has life dealt you an unexpected hand? Do you have the faith in the Lord to wait on his blessings for your future? Or have you decided to take your life in your hands and make your own way?

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The Winner Is ....

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:48:00 +0200

Mia

NubianGraphics.com

Mommyfest 2008 has ended and I would like to thank all those who visited my site and left their comments. I pray that everyone who participated made new friends and/or found products to enrich their lives. Here is a photo of the gift.

Have a blessed day.

Gift Baskets Then & Now

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:50:00 +0200

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When the Mayflower landed on the shores of America, the European settlers were greeted with the first gift baskets.

Dried fish and meats, corn, beans and other vegetables were presented to the settlers, by the American Indians, to welcome their arrival.

In the 1700 and 1800’s, individuals created baskets full of fruits, foods and candies for Christmas, Easter and other holidays.

Today’s gift baskets are designed with the individual recipients tastes in mind for holidays, special occasions such as showers, birthdays and anniversaries or “just because”.

Books, music, figurines, and photographs are being used to create memorable keepsakes. Fruits, foods and candies now share space in gift baskets with “useable” items for the baby, the bride, or for play.

Perfumed soaps, lotions, and specialty loofahs are often found in baskets for the bath. It is not uncommon to find recipes, potholders, kitchen utensils and even coupons in baskets designed with the cook in mind.

Today's baskets or boxes themselves are designed to be used creatively by the recipient once they’ve enjoyed the contents of the gift basket.

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MommyFest 2008

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:00:00 +0200

MommyFest 2008 is in full swing and will be ending soon. It has been so much fun reading the blogs of other Moms. If you haven't had a chance to visit take a few minutes to stop by and see all the fun that is taking place.

There are lots of giveaways and some contests from the other bloggers as well as short audios from guest speakers. Really good information is being given away there.

Don't forget to sign my guestbook to be entered into a drawing for a free Inspirational Gift Basket. No purchase necessary to win, just sign the guestbook with your comments and you will be automatically entered to win. Deadline to enter - Sun. May 18, 2008.

Have a Blessed Day

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Women's Equality Day

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:10:00 +0200

This is the beginning of a new and exciting series from women that I highly respect. Our first guest is Anne Schrock, a christian sister whom I have come to love as my own. Here is an article that she has generously shared with many others and has now graced us with here at Laurel Tree Creations. I pray this speaks to your heart as it has done to mine.

Within my favorite local market, a huge blackboard displays the store’s monthly events and special days. August 26th marks Women’s Equality Day. Upon seeing the notice, I wondered, have I been missing something? I decided to do a little research.

August 26th, I found out, was designated as Women’s Equality Day in 1971 by the U.S.Congress to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote.

Such a victory might seem like eons ago to younger women, but I remember growing up in a time of "little girls are to be seen and not heard" and "because I said so." Women chose from three "careers"—secretary, teacher, or nurse. Talk about a glass ceiling; you could barely get on hands and knees to crawl! With much fortitude, however, the secretaries,teachers and nurses of yesteryear paved the way for female bosses, principals and doctors of today.

Wow! Have we come a long way!

Women have been struggling with equality for centuries, although our Maker granted her equal status from the beginning. Woman was created in the image of God as a suitable helper for man [ezer in Hebrew] and as an equal custodian over all His creation.

(Note: ezer not ebed which is servant) NIV Genesis 2:18; NIV Genesis 1:27- 28

Recently, I was seated at a table of women,ages ranging from 30s to 70. All mothers, many had pursued corporate careers and now elected to stay at home with their newborns, while the remainder had opted out of their careers at a later time in their children’s upbringing. In listening to the three generations of stories that circled that table, I realized that certain aspects how we as women are viewed had not changed. Advancements in rank and pay require women to think like "the guys".

Additionally, the executive, MBA moms who had left their corporate worlds behind felt their status in their different roles as the suitable helper had dropped. It saddened me that they weren’t seeing themselves as the helper—the woman created in the image of God.

I love the woman of Proverbs 31, one who is looked upon as capable and strong in her convictions. She brings honor to her husband with her wisdom in being responsible to business affairs, managing the household activities, and nurturing the love and respect of her family.

And how does Proverbs 31 woman gain her status? She is a savvy business woman, praised by her husband and honored by her children. She runs a busy household, leading by example. She is a seamstress, accountable to her customers to deliver on time, thereby, providing additional income for the family.

She goes the extra mile for quality in provisions for her family. She is the model woman as portrayed in this poem.

How does Proverbs 31 woman multi-task and maintain her health? She is certain to give herself the same measure of care she bestows upon her family. She eats fresh foods, she is rested, she is well-read, she gives of herself to the needy, and she is organized.

What ultimately sets the Proverbs 31 woman apart? She understands the need for God. He determines her priorities. Therefore, who must the virtuous woman as portrayed in Proverbs 31 be— married, children, businesswoman, and homemaker? The answer is that one can be single or married, with or without children. She can be a designer, author, or stay-at-home mom. Imperfections and all, the virtuous woman puts God first.

Several years ago I attended a women’s retreat at which we each were asked the question: "Who are you as a woman?" When it came my turn, after hearing the numerous adjectives others had chosen, I could say only, "I’m not the woman I use to be." I’d been growing into the Proverbs 31 woman, and I realized just then that I’d been set apart.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he shall not turn from it"

NIV Proverbs 22.6

by Anne Schrock

or view our web site www.healthierskinnaturally.com

With an inquisitive nature, Anne Schrock sees her self as a lifetime student of healthier living. She is eager to help today’s generations achieve vitality as well as longevity. A woman passionate to be in God’s grace, through her company La’ NE, Anne hopes to encourage others to adopt small changes along the way that eventually lead to major improvements in their health and happiness.

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The Organizer Goes On Tour

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:24:00 +0200

Alyssa Avant is our guest this month and she is currently hosting the Organizer on Tour. Alyssa is a Christian author and speaker, blogger, podcaster and ghostwriter. Her passion is helping others, specifically teen and tween girls and their moms.

Organized Life by Design, is her newest venture to help Christian women through one of her other great loves, organizing!

Her philosophy for organization is ""Applying practical knowledge and Godly principles to life.”

To kick off her new ministry and site the right way, Alyssa, the Organizer on Tour, wants to be of service to you! That’s what it is all about so she is going on tour, a blog tour that is.

Members of her social network were asked to submit two or three questions and each day a member's questions with answers would be posted on their site as well as the Organized Life by design site,

If you work from home these tips may help to organize your space and make life a bit easier. Take note of the questions I submitted about organizing your shared home office space.

Scenario/Question #1

We are renting a home and when we originally moved in we were suppose to have two rooms as work places. Currently my husband and I are trying to make one room serve for the both of us. It is a 11' x 11' room with one bifold closet approximately 11' long. The closet is being used to house my business supplies. We have studio equipment along one wall and the computer and bookcases along the other wall spaces minus windows and door space. We can't work in this space at the same time and projects and/or work has to be put away when we leave the space. Needless to say this is not working.

Any storage solutions for a temporary office/studio? [Alyssa Avant] Without seeing the space Daphne I would suggest wall shelving to store any equipment that you need to get your hands on quickly but need to get up and out of your way.

Scenario/Question #2

The grandkids are spending considerable time at our house. They are growing rapidly and so are their toys, books, etc. Any suggestions for a piece of furniture to store their STUFF that will fit in a Family Room environment? [Alyssa Avant] Yes, My best suggestion would be an ottoman or table that has the option of storage either in drawers or by taking the top off. This stylish ">Storage Ottoman is an example.

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"Feeling Blessed" - Gift Basket Giveaway

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:39:00 +0200

Would you like to win an Inspirational Gift Basket. Just sign our guestbook with your contact information, be sure to leave your comments and you will be entered into a drawing to win an Inspirational Gift Basket (no purchase necessary to win). Details & photo to follow about basket contents.

Please be sure to leave contact information so you can be contacted should you win.

Promotion dates May 15, 2008 - June 15,2008. A winner will be randomly drawn on June 16, 2008 from the guest book participants. The winner will be posted on June 16, 2008 on our website.

Check back then to see if you are the lucky winner. Guestbook

Please note: Your name and information will not be used for solicitation or sold to any third parties. Your contact information will be strictly confidential.

Guest Bloggers - Women of the Bible

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:36:00 +0200

Watch for our newest addition to the site. Each week we will host a new guest blogger. We will be featuring their favorite women of the bible and their impact on society then and now.

You don't want to miss these exciting and thought provoking words. Women of the Bible

5th Annual MommyFest

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:39:00 +0200

You're Invited Come & Join Our Blog Party

What is MommyFest you say?

MommyFest is an Interactive Online event for Moms of all kinds. Stay at home, work at home, business owner, babysitter, grandmothers, everyone is invited. Doesn't matter what kind of mom you are its a Blog Party.

Just like a regular convention, there will be exhibitors and workshops during the entire event. Exhibitors will have booths with links to their site with details about their services and any other information that they wish to share.

A list of the workshops being offered and all details can be found by clicking on the following link http://mommyfest.com/2008 or by cutting and pasting it into your browser. Or simply use the link on my home page to be taken directly to the party.

Participating bloggers will be given on opportunity to receive a “MommyFest Convention ePacket”. Some bloggers are also doing some kind of giveaway at their own blogspots during the week of Mommyfest.

There will be games, special give-aways and tons of fun. All this for free. This event is as being designated as a tribute to all moms.

Come and help us celebrate all the joys of Motherhood - Join us at MommyFest.

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MommyFest Gift Basket Giveaway

Wed, 07 May 2008 18:43:00 +0200

For a limited time, in honor of MommyFest we are giving away an Inspirational Gift Baskets to one lucky guest.

Please sign our guest book and feel free to leave comments and or questions. Please be sure to let us know how you found our site, (internet search, etc.)

All comments will be entered in a drawing to win a Laurel Tree Creations Inspirational Gift Basket.

No purchase necessary to win.

Drawing ends: May 18, 2008

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Thank you for taking the time to review our site and have a Blessed Day.

The Origin of Mother's Day

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:24:00 +0200

The second Sunday in May is set aside in the United States to celebrate mothers. Many churches have special services in which they honor Mothers.

Anna Jarvis, succeeded in introducing Mother's Day in the sense as we celebrate it today. Anna had spent many years looking after her ailing mother. When her mother died in Philadelphia on May 9, 1905, Anna missed her greatly. So did her sister Elsinore whom she looked after as well. Anna felt children often neglected to appreciate their mother enough while the mother was still alive. Now, she intended to start a Mother's Day, as an honoring of the mothers.

In 1907, two years after her mother's death, Anna Jarvis disclosed her intention to her friends who supported her cause wholeheartedly. So supported by her friends, Anna decided to dedicate her life to her mother's cause and to establish Mother's Day to "honor mothers, living and dead." She started the campaign to establish a national Mother's Day.

Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. She wrote letters to newspaper editors, and church leaders and organized a committee called Mother's Day International Association to promote the new holiday.

She hoped Mother's Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds.

As a result of her efforts the first mother's day was observed on May 10, 1908, on the second anniversary of her mother's death by a church service honoring the late Mrs. Reese Jarvis, in the Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, where she spent 20 years taking Sunday school classes. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine.

There is a custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. The carnation is the floral symbol of Mother's Day and the holiday is associated with the colors red and white. Some people wear white carnations on this day to honor mothers who have died and red or pink for those who are living. The "founder" of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, urged people to wear carnations because carnations had been her own Mother's favorite flower.

Jarvis wanted Mother's Day to be close to Memorial Day so people would recognize mothers for the sacrifices they made for their families in the same way that service people had for their country.

The first official Mother's Day observance was in May 1907. It was very successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. At the general assembly in 1912, a delegate from Andrews Church introduced a resolution recognizing Jarvis as the founder of Mother's Day, and suggested that Mother's Day be observed on the second Sunday in May.

On May 9, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

Nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. While honored for her part in the growth of the holiday, Anna Jarvis' last years of her life were miserable.

As the observance of Mother's Day enjoyed increasing popularity, new dimensions came to be added to it. This made Anna Jarvis disillusioned with her own creation. Though the original spirit of honoring the mothers remained the same, what began as a religious service expanded quickly into a more secular observance leading to giving of flowers cards, and gifts. And Anna Jarvis was unable to cope with this changing mode of expression.

Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. occasions. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States. The occasion is now celebrated with gifts, cards, hugs, thank you’s and other tokens of affection.

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Upcoming Events / New Items

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:44:00 +0200

Coming Soon!

Gift Basket Giveaway - Watch for the announcement about how to win a free gift basket. No purchase necessary

Girlfriend Events - special time away just for the girls who want to have fun.

Couples BBQ / Picnics - events designed to bring you and that someone special closer together

Handcrafted Handbags - lots of styles, pattens, sizes

Stay tuned you don't want to miss the fun.

Laurel Tree Creations

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:44:00 +0200

Our new blog has been launched today. Stay focused on it and we will try to keep you informed. You can read new posts on this blog via the RSS feed.

Welcome to Laurel Tree Creations. This inspiration was give to me with the divine guidance from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The purpose of Laurel Tree is to help you or someone you love with their walk with Christ. These items are designed to bring you peace as you get closer to our Lord who lives within each of us.

One snowy day in 2006 as I was literally climbing over a mountain of snow and talking to the Lord as I usually do I was asking the Lord about a better way. He said to me you love giving gifts of inspiration and you are a great salesman. An thus Laurel Tree Creations was born.

Here at Laurel Tree you will find gifts that inspire the soul. Give hope for when you are feeling down and out. You will find reassurance for your soul or the soul of someone you love. We all love giving gifts. So why not give a gift that can be used over and over again.

You will be able to find Inspirational Gift Baskets of all types. Baskets themed Just Because, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Baby and Bridal shower, Graduation and much more.

Here you will also be able to find, Christian music, books, angel figurines, bible covers as well as home decor. In our home decor section you will be able to find mugs, plaques, windchimes, candles, and handcrafted items.

We will also be including handcrafted handbags with a Christian theme in the near future.

Thank you for visiting and God Bless.

Website launched

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:43:41 +0200

Our new website has been launched today.

Tell your visitors why you have started a new presentation and how it benefits them. Mention your goals and project advantages. Try to briefly give your visitors reasons why they should return to your pages.

New event

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:43:41 +0200

This is a sample event description. You can edit this description as you wish or remove the entire event.

All articles - onelilrose.webnode.com

Dorcas - Favored By Her Giving

Christian Blogging / Does Your Purpose = God's Plan?

Do you blog? What do you write about? When I first began to blog my initial thoughts were what would I blog about?

In the beginning I wrote exclusively about my business - the products in my retail store, their beginnings, uses and concepts.

In an attempt to network and meet new friends, business associates and / or potential customers, I wanted to reach out to Christian women everywhere.

As Christians we are to go to the Lord with everything we do, always remembering to put him first, and he will direct us and crown our efforts with success.

In Proverbs 3:4-6 we are taught: 4 So shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men. 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

Scripture instructs us that if we want favor with both God and men as well as a reputation for good judgment and common sense then we must trust in the Lord. We must not only believe in the Lord but trust him exclusively never relying on ourselves.

As time has evolved, I began to blog about Christian issues. Women to be specific. Reading my scriptures on a regular basis brought to mind the "Women of the Bible".

Proverbs 31:10-31 speaks of the "Virtuous Woman". Here we learn what it means to be a good wife in the eyes of the Lord.

Scripture tells us that this woman is more precious than gems. She is trustworthy, eager to satisfy the needs of her husband. She is never a hindrance always helpful. This woman works diligently with her hands. Preparing meals and planning the day’s activities are par for the course for her.

She looks for income opportunities and works them tirelessly. Ever energetic she generously helps those in need. Never afraid of the elements her household is well protected.

Strong and dignified she has no fear of old age. From her mouth flows words of wisdom and kindness. Her children and husband call her blessed.

For she is a woman who fears the Lord and with this she will be greatly praised. Her good deeds will bring her honor and recognition from those of importance.

Reading about this remarkable woman has shown me that even though times and circumstances have changed the way we handle our situations remains the same.

Always believe and trust in the Lord. He answers prayers.

God Bless you and yours,

Does Your Purpose = God's Plan? Click here to comment

A Passion Most Pure - Julie Lessman

Thought For Today

Reading - Living, Learning & Sharing The Experience

Why do we read what we read and what do we do with the knowledge and/or wisdom that we have acquired?

As I grew into maturity my reading preferences changed. Ever searching for knowledge and wisdom. I found myself drawn towards everything that would help me grow. Whether academically or spiritually life was a lesson to be learned.

In Titus 3:4-5 Paul says "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV)

Please share your thoughts?

Enjoy more through this RSS Feed.

Preparing & Expecting A Season of Suddenly's

First Fruit - Love

Hannah - Blessed By Her Sacrifice

Fruits of the Spirit - Friday

Fruits of the Spirit - Friday

One entry per blog post please

The Power of Journaling

Lydia of Thyatira: An Evangelist and Kingdom Financier

Schools Out For Summer (Faithbooking)

Esther - Finding Favor

Christian Scrapbooking - Faithfully Yours

Ruth - Blessed By Her Obedience

The Winner Is ....

Mia

NubianGraphics.com

Mommyfest 2008 has ended and I would like to thank all those who visited my site and left their comments. I pray that everyone who participated made new friends and/or found products to enrich their lives. Here is a photo of the gift.

Have a blessed day.

Gift Baskets Then & Now

MommyFest 2008

MommyFest 2008 is in full swing and will be ending soon. It has been so much fun reading the blogs of other Moms. If you haven't had a chance to visit take a few minutes to stop by and see all the fun that is taking place.

There are lots of giveaways and some contests from the other bloggers as well as short audios from guest speakers. Really good information is being given away there.

Don't forget to sign my guestbook to be entered into a drawing for a free Inspirational Gift Basket. No purchase necessary to win, just sign the guestbook with your comments and you will be automatically entered to win. Deadline to enter - Sun. May 18, 2008.

Have a Blessed Day

Women's Equality Day

The Organizer Goes On Tour

"Feeling Blessed" - Gift Basket Giveaway

Guest Bloggers - Women of the Bible

5th Annual MommyFest

You're Invited Come & Join Our Blog Party

MommyFest Gift Basket Giveaway

The Origin of Mother's Day

Upcoming Events / New Items

Coming Soon!

Stay tuned you don't want to miss the fun.

Laurel Tree Creations

Website launched

New event

In Proverbs 3:4-6 we are taught: ⁴So shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men. ⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)