Celebration finally realized

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba !!!!! I saw the Lion King on stage this weekend. I cried during the opening scene. What wonderful art!

Once upon a time, a long time ago...my brother purchased tickets for him and I to see the Lion King on Broadway. It was to be a celebration for my 30th birthday--I told you it was a long time ago-lol. As my excitement grew, I thought "What a perfect gift idea for a drama queen." You agree--right? Well, the travel company that was hosting the bus trip to New York, filed for bankruptcy right before the show date. My brother never got his money back, we never saw the show, and the case is still in litigation. My dreams of seeing the Lion King were crushed. One day I mentioned to my friend, "I would love to see the Lion King, I heard it was coming to Philadelphia" Fast forward to modern day...that same friend was celebrating her granddaughter's birthday and got us all tickets to the Lion King. I think I was smiling more than the children in the audience.

Rafikki (the monkey) opened the show with the African chant...Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba! The whole theater shook and my bones trembled at the sound of the magestic voice enveloping the onlookers. I have been singing the chant and the 'Circle of Life' ever since Sunday. If I could, I would be on tour with the company right now...carrying a prop, sewing a costume, running some lights, being a tree in the background... something... anything...just to be connected to such wonderful art!!!!! I am so grateful to God for allowing me to have such an awesome experience. My spirit is full and my creativity has been sparked. I think I just may live happier ever after.

Mission Possible!

One of my 'Scrapping Sistahs' facilitates a group of blog owners. She noticed the lack of updates, so she issued a blog challenge: "Your challenge this week, should you choose to accept it, is to update your blog with 10 Fun Facts About YOU!!!"

1. Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water...(Simon and Garfunkel) I am so thankful that the LORD carries me through life! I love the LORD.

2. It's fun to be at the YMCA... (Village People)
I go to the Y 5 times a week. I love water yoga, it helps me to manage chronic pain.

3. I'll Always Love My Mama...(Intruders) She truly is my favorite girl. I am so glad that she nurtured my creativity.

4. A Spoonful of Sugar Helps The Medicine Go Down...(Mary Poppins) I try to tell the truth all wrapped up in love.

5. Let's Just Kiss and Say Goodbye (Manhattans) When necessary, I clean out my friendship closet, because not everyone was meant to be in your life forever.

6. Oh Miss Celie, I feels Like Singing!...(Shug, Color Purple) I frequently blurt out lines from plays, movies, commercials and books. I am a DRAMA QUEEN-I view it, I perform it, I teach it, I write it, I love it!

7. See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the dancing queen...(ABBA) In my heart, I am a dancer; but I can only get on point in the swimming pool. In the pool-I AM a ballerina!

8. Let It Be...(Beatles) I am learning how to rub my ears, exhale, and let things go.

9. Waiting On The World To Change...(John Mayer) I am a warrior for social justice or in simpler terms a community organizer.

10. I Need Thee, Oh, I Need; Every Hour I Need Thee! O Bless Me Now, MY Savior, I Come to Thee! (Annie Hawks) I sing this hymn every morning. It helps me push through pain and get out of bed.

Bonus fact: When I hear music it makes me dance!(Debbie Deb)

Nothing like a loving kick in the pants...thanks for the challenge sisterfriend.

I was wondering...

I have never been accused of being a talker. There is no need for folks to tell me because I know that I am. So, I was wondering...why I am not talking/writing...hmmmmmmm? My new friend, Nancy, said not to worry...just go with the flow. I am trying to heed her great advice and not sweat my sporadic posts.

Well, I went to the Stamp art Tour in PA. I traveled with my gal pals Diane and Melissa. It was a girls weekend...so my eating plan was out the door. I managed to choose kinda wisely at the dessert buffet. BTW...does green icing or mint leaves count as veggies? I had a wonderful time and I met some cool ladies. The projects and the event were wonderfully organized. I didn't win any prizes, but I had fun. Here is a card that I made.

Baby Gift Baskets

Hello blogger friends. I was invited to a baby shower recently. So, I finally tried my hand at making a diaper cake. Boy was it fun! I am already gathering items to make more. I now see why other crafters sell diaper cakes for such a large sum. The cost of the baby items can add up really fast. But the look on the face of the gift recipient was priceless. I just love giving gifts!

The teacher in me came to the surface as I created a 'Basket 'o' Books' for a baby shower gift. I wanted the little tyke to be well read. Plus, I wanted the first time parents to know what it will sound like to constantly hear "read it again!" I had a great time making and giving these gifts. The baby shower hostess was making a scrapbook for the baby. So, with primitive tools in hand, I even got to make a scrapbook page at the baby shower. Ok, alright already, I made TWO pages. Ok...and I also asked to have some embellishments to make a page at home. Confession is good for the soul.

Scripture Challenge 2010: Word # 3 Abide

Boy this word was difficult to scrap. So many scriptures came to mind. Many more resulted from the study. I thought of using eagles, doves, houses, crosses, hearts...and a whole bunch more things. In the end, I decided to keep it simple. The flower on this page is the sun in this scene. Sure, hard times come, but with the Savior, even storms are sprinkled with sunshine. Dear LORD, teach me to consistently abide in you. Help me keep your commandments that I may abide in your love. May your word abide in me. And overflow into my life guiding every decision that I make. Thank you for allowing me to dwell in that secret place. May I forever abide under your mighty shadow. Protect me from the treacherous storm that beats against your wings. I want to feel your wings around me. Thank you for being a faithful covering. You and you alone hold the power to protect me therefore, I declare that "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the cover of thy wings. Selah." Psalm 61:4. Amen.

Scripture Challenge 2010: Word # 2 Temptation

Thank you Patter for this word! I want to be like Forest Gump and say "...that's all I have to say about that." However, sharing is good. It allows me to relive God's blessing, and perhaps it will encourage someone else. I could talk about many different temptations, but there was one in particular that I was facing at the time of the challenge. As a single, Christian, woman trying to live holy, this word came at a perfect time for me. I desire to be married and in dating I am often being pressured to engage in pre-marital sex. We all get bombarded with sentiments like 'you deserve it', 'do whatever makes you feel good', 'God wants you to be happy'. Meditating on the word temptation led me to a lot of scriptures. I received just the strength I needed to gird up my loins...pun intended. Also, the LORD used my girl friend to remind me that God calls Christians to be holy while the world suggests that we be happy. Well, happiness is based on happenings. We all fall down sometimes and strive for happiness instead of holiness. Seeking holiness brings a constant kind of happiness that we call JOY. Thank God for the signs He strategically places along the path to help us go in the right direction. Even when we do not follow the signs God forgives us, teaches us how to forgive ourselves, and then HE leads us back to the path. Therefore, we can still have joy!

By the way, the same aforementioned girlfriend also gave me the black and white background used on this page. She was trying to achieve something on a scrapbook page and it didn't come out right, so she gave the page to me. Well, since there are no mistakes in scrapping, I put the page in my scrap box. I decided to do this mini album using all scraps. So, here we are several years later and I finally cut it down and used the page. Now whenever I look at that page I will be reminded of her sweet spirit, her choice to endure her current hardship, and the awesome advice she gave. I am glad that the page survived all the purges of the scrap box.

Scripture Challenge 2: Cover page

Patter Cross posted this challenge on her Triple the Scraps blog. This is my first challenge and I am so grateful to be participating. What a wonderful way to be encouraged and study the bible while scrapping. In my life I have learned that a passage of scripture is like a healing ointment, it will soothe your aches and pains and even mend what ails you. 'It's all good when it's all God.' That is why I used II Timothy 3:16a to represent the 26 pages of this mini album. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. II Timothy 3:16-17 KJV