Lisa's Corner

Mission Alushta - more

2011-09-19T16:06:00.010-05:00

Another little girl, Katya is 7 with Cerebral Palsy affecting her legs and a dislocated hip. A very bright girl who can walk short distances if both hands are held. When she received her chair she wheeled over to her daddy and said, "now don't you wish you were an invalid too"!

Dennis age 7 also from Russia. He has Cerebral Palsy quadriplegia with very high tone. He had had 8 surgeries on his legs, 4 in the last year in St. Petersburg. (this was the only child I had who was actually better after surgery) We gave him a wheelchair and a cut down walker with wheels. His mom was afraid he couldn't handle the wheels but he took right off in it with minimal assistance. He was so excited and said this day was better than his birthday. After "racing" Libby in his walker he said this is such a fun place.

Now although we are assigned teams, we all help out where ever needed. Each team is comprised of a seating specialist (a physical or occupational therapist), a mechanic, a support person and an interpreter (without whom we could not function). Tom spent several hours one day helping another team's mechanic, first by trying to repair the chair and then by actually taking one that functioned but was the wrong size and "building" a new chair from the both of them that both functioned and fit.

After a long and short very busy week the part of the team that stayed in Alushta packed up the remaining supplies and cleaned and put the church we've been working in back together to ready for church services on Sunday. We enjoy one of those evening walks down on the waterfront and worship together with our volunteers and the rest of the church congregation on Sunday. After church we split into small groups to visit at some of the homes of those in the congregation. A true blessing to sit and enjoy fellowship with the dear Ukrainian families of this church.

Olya with the help of her 18 year old grand-daughter made us a delicious borsht for lunch. We enjoyed visiting with her and her grandchildren for the afternoon.

All of the people we encounter have a story. And God knows each one by heart. We came for a short time, provided help and aid and most of all we shared God's love and His plan for salvation. A piece of my heart is left each trip and yet my heart grows beyond what I can imagine at the same time.

The team bonds through it all, working side by side, taking evening walks in search of Coke Light (aka in America as Diet Coke), walking down by the Black Sea and some even playing Bananagrams and Scrabble in the hotel lobby. We share a special bond, a bond of family in Christ. We may not be so good at keeping in touch, but I assure you when we meet again we are filled with joy at our reunions and seem to pick up right where we left off.

As we board the bus to start our journey home, a few of our Ukrainian family come to see us off.

On our way back to Sevastopol for our flight to Kyiv, we stop in Yalta at the Livadia Palace. Famous for being a summer retreat for the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II and host to the Yalta Conference in 1945.

Mission Alushta - Andre

2011-09-19T08:25:00.003-05:00

I mentioned in the last post that the team went out to Evpatoria and Simferopol. Simferopol is about an hour drive from Alushta with Evpatoria being another hour and half farther yet. These two offsite visits occurred at the end of our week, Friday and Saturday after we discovered we had a lot of people in those areas who were not able to get as far as Alushta to be seen. But some did come.
Details provided by Cindy - the therapist who worked with this family.
Andre, age 8 was brought by his mother, carried in her arms. Andre has Cerebral Palsy and cortical blindness. They traveled 5 days from northern Russia and were staying in Evpatoria at a children's sanatorium for treatments. They heard about our distribution from a woman on the street who saw Andre being carried by his mother. She told them about our giving out wheelchairs and gave them a handwritten invitation with the address of the church we were at in Alushta included. They came the next day to see us. The mother knew God had sent them to us and it was a miracle how they found out. Andre received a wheelchair and other gifts. Sasha, Andre's 3 year old sister when given some butterfly clips for her hair kissed each one. When they returned to Evpatoria they posted an announcement on the bulletin board and many others came because of it. The very next day the father returned with car load of people and came to tell us how appreciative he and his family were. Ruslan said it reminded him of the 10 lepers and the one who came back to thank Jesus.
Now I have to tell you that we don't advertise our wheelchair distributions. The local social services people line up appointments for those who are determined to be in need of a free chair. We have no idea how on our first day of ministry that someone two and a half hours away had knowledge and a written address of our distribution to give Andre and his family. Like Andre's mother, we believe in miracles and angels from God.

Mission Alushta - continued

2011-09-17T17:06:00.007-05:00

So far as going day by day for this trip I have to say all the days blur right along together, so the posting will just be about "the trip". Doesn't matter to God anyway so long as He gets the glory.
Monday turned out to be a slower day...some of our appointments are no shows, but we were not idle. Refining our set up and spending time getting to know our interpreters and of course those who did come for wheelchairs. We prayed that the week would pick up, and it certainly was not as we had planned it, but God sure used our ministry to reach those who it needed to reach. I have not seen the final tally, but it is somewhere close to 140 wheelchairs and 40 other mobility devices (walkers, canes and crutches). Some 60ish (again with not seeing the recorded numbers) non-believers accepted Christ during our ministry time. Praise the Lord and praying for them as they grow in their walk with Him.
The team did a few home visits and ended up with two other cities by the end of the week for ministry as well ~ Evpatoria and Simferopol. Part of the team stayed at the church in Alushta while the others went for a road trip to serve those who were unable to come to us.
I am sorting through the hundreds of photos, let me tell you an overwhelming task to choose what to post. So bear with me as it may take a few days to get this trip posted.

My lovely friend Cindy is writing up a story for me to share...I asked her since she was the therapist who saw this family, I was simply a bystander to God at work. So let that be bait for you to return and read it.

Mission Alushta

2011-09-16T17:23:00.005-05:00

We are home from another fabulous short term mission to Ukraine. This trip was a partnership between Global Aid Network and Wheels for the World a ministry of Joni and Friends. Our mission to share the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ and to distribute wheelchairs to the disabled people of this area of Ukraine.
The team of 24 Americans left the U.S. on September 2nd and met up with 5 more missionary partners and our Ukrainian nationals to make up a team of over 40! It is always amazing to see what team God has put together. I comment every trip "this was the best team" and Tom always says "honey, I don't know why you are surprised...God hand picked each of you for a purpose". So right he is!As you may guess, getting there is quite the process. Packing, weigh suitcases and repacking, re-weighing and then repacking yet again for starters. Praise God all of all luggage arrived with the team this year! Last year we were short 10 suitcases for a couple of days, and it is quite common to be missing at least a couple so this is definitely a PTL thing.
We travel from our home airports and meet up in New York to fly on together to Kiev. In Kiev we have a long layover, long enough to get a bus to do a short bus tour and have pizza in Kiev before checking bags for the flight from Kiev to Sevastopol. The next morning is a 3 hour bus ride from Sevastopol to Alushta where we will be ministering for the next several days. It was a beautiful drive along the Black Sea and once in Alushta we hit the ground running. Meeting our interpreters and setting up the wheelchairs and our work areas for the people we would see starting on Monday.
I will be adding more stories and photos this coming week. Thanks so much for your prayers and support.

Ukraine Summer Trip Continued

2011-09-15T08:30:00.010-05:00

Tuesday July 5th -
Another full day with a morning visit to an elderly home and in the afternoon another visit to a nearby village for clothing distribution.
The elderly home is home for aprox 200 residents from ages 18+. You may not think elderly for an 18 year old, but when an handicap persons caregiver is their grandmother this is one way they live together. I met one couple who had been married just 9 years and they had met there in the home.
Sally and I present the aprons in the kitchen here and are not allowed to leave until we are fed! An early lunch for us today. : )
Kristin shares the gospel message with this man who did not attend our group program. And her daughter 9 year old Brooke tries to feed the pigeons with this man.
In the afternoon we visit Lyshche Church for distribution of clothing and carepacks. Used clothing is sorted and packed at GAiN's Pennsylvania Distribution Center and then shipped to Ukraine to the port of Odessa. Sometimes the ministry is able to save on shipping costs by shipping space available on government cargo ships.
Our Gospel presentation before the distribution of aid is a outreach program to demonstrate the love of God and introduce the "non-churched" to a protestant church.
The team distributes CarePacks to the kids and entertains them while the adults pick clothing for their families and reuse the boxes they come out of.
Wednesday July 6 -
Today is a bit different with the team working the next village door to door inviting people to the afternoon program and distribution. We get off the bus on the edge of the village and work our way into the center where our meeting site will be. We distribute books and invitations and share the Gospel at every chance.
This man invited us to sit, making several trips in the house to be sure we all had something to sit on and then brought out cherries and blueberries sprinkled with sugar. He listened intently while Jim shared with him the Gospel and he later came to the program with a clean shirt and shave.
While waiting for the program to begin the team spends time playing with the local youngsters, tossing frisbees, short foot races and a hearty game of soccer/football.

Thursday is another children's rehab center. We get a tour of the facility after our presentation of the Gospel and distribution of books and CarePacks to the kids and families. They offer some alternative treatments such as therapy with horses and a nature walk highlighting different plants that have medicinal properties and scents.
As always at some point it is time to say good-bye to Ukraine and to the new friends we have made in our interpreters. Without them we not be able to do what we do. God works with these amazing young people and strengthens all of our faiths during our time together. They put together a song for us, singing "You are the Champions of our God" (to the Queen tune of "we are the champions").

Ukraine Summer Trip

2011-08-19T22:19:00.010-05:00

As promised, albeit a bit tardy...the summer Ukraine trip report. Thank you to all who support my mission trips both financially and in prayer. Your support is appreciated!

June 29th-June 30th

The team of 15 Americans left JFK airport for an end destination of Lut'sk Ukraine. Lut'sk is located in the area near the border of Poland. We arrived in Kiev, transferred to another flight to Lv'iv and arrived there with all but two pieces of luggage. They were on the next flight, so the delay in receiving them was minimal. After a bus ride of about 3 hours we checked into our home away from home in the Ukraine Hotel in Lut'sk.
We have another great team and a very diverse one as well. Of the 15 we have a 9 year old, 2 17 year olds, a 19 year old and up to age 72. Quite diverse for such a small group. I don't know why, but I am always amazed as what God brings together and how well He has it all figured out.

Friday July 1st

This morning after breakfast (which here this week is a buffet) we jump into orientation and meet our interpreters for the first time. After getting to know each other and going we are off to our first site, a baby home. The baby home is an orphanage for ages 0-4. We met with the director of the home and the team saw the aid that Global Aid Network had delivered to the site...blankets, shoes, clothing, books for the staff etc. We split into smaller groups and received a tour of the facility as the children were down for naps. After the children woke up we were able to play with them outside and share the gospel message with the staff who were caring for them. It was a joy to spend the time just loving on those little ones. Unfortunately the director had signed an agreement that did not allow us to take photos, but imagine 15 of us, plus 5 interpreters playing with all these little children on a warm summer afternoon and hearing their giggles and seeing their smiles glow in the sunshine. It was hard to leave.

Saturday July 2

We start our day with walking the streets of Lut'sk on the Plaza and distributing books. These books in Ukrainian are More Than a Carpenter/Book of John, How To Be a Hero to Your Kids and The Deceiver (a book that talks about cults and false teaching). We were also blessed to have some bibles with us, but they were translated in Russian and we actually had a couple of refusals due to that...we were in western Ukraine and the political sentiment is umm, well Ukrainian.

We strive to leave politics at home, both our views of their politics and our own.

We met many who accepted the books, some who wanted to know more about what we were doing and shared the gospel message and we pray that all of the seeds we planted that day are grown in the hearts of those that heard.

We took the later afternoon to see a bit of Lut'sk including it's historical focal point of the Lubart Castle.

Sunday July 3

What a blessed morning to be able to gather at the river to witness 37 members of 4 area churches come together for their baptism. Four at a time walked out into the water to four waiting pastors. It was a sight to withhold.

Afterward we attended church service at Pastor Sasha's church where one of our team gave a message and another shared his moving testimony of how God gave him strength in time of great grief. The team also participated with singing for the congregation. During the service one man walked forward, crying and wished to repent and receive Christ. He said he could no longer wait after witnessing the baptism and hearing the word spoken to this point. The service delayed to have the pastors pray over this man. Thanks be to God for opening his heart.

We learned that this church was one that remained open during the soviet years of control and all the sermons had to be approved by a government official during that time and only spoken of at the pulpit. Now new freedom has given new life to this congregation.

After church the ladies had prepared finger sandwiches for us for lunch and we quickly ate and were off to a village about 40 minutes away. There we met with a missionary couple from Lut'sk who have been ministering in this area. We did a group presentation of introducing our team, singing songs and sharing the gospel message. Then we in smaller groups spent time interacting with the children while the parents were able to select clothing for their families that was sent by GAiN. The children received CarePacks and children's bibles in Ukrainian and the parents also received the above mentioned books.

Monday July 4th
This morning we visited a Veteran's Hospital/Home. 200 men and women are cared for by a staff of 275 workers in a facility 4 stories high. During our auditorium presentation TJ, a 17 year old on our team, played The Star Spangled Banner on his sax in respect for our Independence Day at home in the U.S.. All of the veteran's who could stand did. When we finished we asked them to join our interpreters in singing their national anthem, with our American team standing tall while they sang. We all clapped together. The respect in their eyes shown as we respected their independence and we had a attentive audience for the remainder of our presentation. After our group presentation we were able to visit the floors and see those who were not able to come to the auditorium. We helped to distribute clothing and slippers that were sent ahead of the team via shipping container from our Pennsylvania Distribution Center. We shared other small gifts of handkerchiefs and socks that were carried in by the team in our suitcases.

In the afternoon we visited a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities. The children receive care and training in communication and motor skills and the parents also receive support and training on how to care for their disabled child. We were given a tour of the facility and therapy rooms and received explanations on some of the therapies used there. Each of the children received a CarePack and Children's Bible and the parents received the other books we distributed.

The apron ministry is especially impactful, reaching the often overlooked and forgotten kitchen staff. On each trip one of the team is assigned kitchen duty, a coveted role I assure you. This trip it was my turn and as a veteran of the GAiN trips we try to take new people along with me so they can see the apron ministry in action and participate. This time it was Brooke's turn. Brooke at 9 years of age had learned to sew these aprons at the PDC and was now able to also deliver them. Best of all she shared with the kitchen ladies the message of the gospel using the colors on the apron pockets. Great job Brooke!

A new beginning...again

2011-08-16T12:59:00.002-05:00

So as you can read from my last post oh on January 3rd...I had the intention of blogging regularly. The best laid plans...
One of my friends started her own blog yesterday and it reminded me that I already have this outlet as a place to communicate whatever it is I wish to communicate. This blog is my personal space and doesn't owe any allegiance to anyone but myself. I can be opinionated, political, religious, crafty and even wrong (yes it happens and I can admit it).
My intentions when I started this blog was to have an outlet for my creativity in paper crafting and a place to share about my short term mission adventures. So while I still intend for those two things to occur here, it may also be a place for my political opinions, you are free to agree or not, but if you choose to read it, remember it is my opinion and you can disagree, but IF you decide to post, be respectful. I intend to be. *reference above comment about being wrong

It's a new day, so let's see if my intentions in keeping up with my blog, followers or not, comes to reality or not. My first goal would be to blog about my trip to Ukraine in July before embarking to Ukraine again on September 2nd.

May God shine His light on your day!

A New Year and a new post

2011-01-03T16:01:00.002-06:00

Sorry I have been absent for a while here...my bad...and if I am talking just to myself, well we'll just call it cheap therapy. ; )

Let's see...since our return from Ukriane in September I seem to have only posted once...okay my really bad, probably am talking to myself for sure now, but just in case I am not...in October I spent a week in Pennsylvania at GAiN's distribution center packing aid that will be sent all over the world, some of which I have in the past helped to deliver on short term missions.

Check out this link to see what I do for and with GAiN. Advocate video.

In November I spent some time hanging with my girly friends at two different scrapbooking events, one for an entire day and one for an entire weekend! Oh what fun (except the falling on the ice bit that left me with a few bruises ouch!). Thanksgiving was low key, spent with Tom's parents and then off to Walt Disney World the day after for the next week. After that was a couple days for me in Dallas working with the GAiN team. The two escapes south were welcome as we have already had a lot of snow this season. Christmas with family two full days in a row and then some snowmobiling before the rain fell and washed away a lot of the snow. Right now the snow is falling again, looks like powdered sugar dusting the yard, so pretty.

My goals this year are to post regularly, whether it be a creative creation to share or a mission note to share. The Ukraine trip in January was cut, but I will be going in July and again in September. I am always looking for people to join me on my globetrotting, so feel free to ask about it.

Now that this sounds like a condensed Christmas letter...A Happy, Blessed New Year is wished for all of you!

Sumy, Ukraine - Day 9-10

2010-09-28T21:02:00.010-05:00

On Saturday morning we say a tearful farewell to most of the interpreters that we worked with all week long. Each team toasted their interpreter and after all the teams were finished the interpreters wanted to get up and each said a few words to us. We were all moved by the impact of our week together, and for one interpreter especially after seeing how we worked for the disabled, witnessing our compassion and how we treated and supported each other she said "it opened my heart". This young lady after breakfast that morning prayed with Dave to accept Christ as her Savior. Praise God.

Above, Our Ukrainian interpreters and below

the American team with Uriy, Sergi, Oksana

and Nadia. Jim is not in the picture, well, because he

is our photographer. Ruslan is also not pictured.

After breakfast we loaded up on the bus and took a short tour around Sumy and a walk with a bit of shopping. Then it was back to the hotel to check out and load up for the long bumpy ride back to Kiev. We stopped to shop along the way at a couple of roadside stands. We watched as crops were being harvested and fields being tended. The sunflower fields that just weeks ago would have been in all their splendor are drying in the sun waiting their turn for the harvest. Sunflower products are a large crop for Ukraine.
Back in Kiev - Sunday morning we go to New Life Church for worship, then on to lunch at McDonald's. Yes, Mickey D's is worldwide and the same everywhere you go for the most part. Their may be some different menu items, such as a raspberry pie (still deep fried vs our now baked).

Then off to the "hill" for traditional Ukrainian souvenirs. The "hill" ends at St. Andrews, a beautiful church. Sunday evening we have one last goodbye - to Oksana and the boys (as they are lovingly referred to as), Ruslan and Uriy. It was a wonderful experience working with these guys who normally work behind the scenes for the ministry, trucking the aid we distribute from the warehouse to the sites. Oksana, our in country liaison works hard organizing everything before we arrive so as to, with the help of God, have everything go smoothly while the team is there.
Monday morning is an early morning and we are off for home. First from Kiev to Moscow for a layover then on to JFK. There we get in too late to catch a flight home so we are forced to hotel near the airport and arrive home on Tuesday. An uneventful travel home, thank you God.

Sumy, Ukraine - Day 8

2010-09-21T08:42:00.013-05:00

Thursday Evening -

Thursday evening we got back on the bus and headed to the country to see the rehab facility there. They have a garden where they grow their own food and a beautiful facility to house the children and their caregivers sometimes over several months. We were treated to a demonstration of the horse therapy they do and got to feed sugar cubes to the horses.

We greated the families staying there, handed out care packs of school supplies to the kids and delivered blankets too. While taking the blankets out of their bags and placing them on the beds, we found a tag on one that said it was made by a Girl Scout troop in MN! It had the girl's photo and hand written note on the back. I took photos and have contacted the troop and forwarded on to them the photos and the information about where their efforts ended up. The directors of the center were very appreciative of the donation and were happy to pose for a photo with the blanket.

Friday -
This morning we start like every other in praise and prayer. Then off to the center. Today we will gather items after our therapists review our home visit assignments and prepare to take our mission mobile for the day. 4 teams will do home visits and the rest of the team will visit a home for the elderly.
Our team will do 4 visits today, sharing the center's van and driver with another team. This only proves to be most challenging before the first stop where we have too many people and mobility equipment to all fit in the van. Employing a taxi to follow to the first stop solves that challenge.

Our last visit was to an elderly couple in their mid-80's. He is a WWII vet and they have been married for 63 years. The appointment was for him, for a walker and possibly wheelchair. After watching her get around we wished we had a walker for her as well. Well, God took care of that when the van returned to pick us up. The team we were sharing the van with had brought along a walker that they did not use, and knowing they were already done with their visits, there was our walker for her as well. Praise God!

Each and every one of the disabled and their caregivers this week were absolutely priceless in the heart of Christ. All 367 of them heard the Gospel message and 77 accepted Christ. The local pastors we worked with this week will be there to follow up with all of these people, to help grow that seed that was planted by the love we shared half way around the world.
I could post all of my photos one by one and give you all the stories, but I fear that my blog would explode with the volume of it all. I hope that the small glimpse of what I do post inspires you to reach out of your comfort zone to be the hands and feet of Christ in some way, either in your church, your neighborhood or abroad.

Sumy, Ukraine - Day 5-7

2010-09-20T14:56:00.005-05:00

Tues, Wed & Thurs

Today we have a tent set up by the military. This serves us well for controlling the people at each station and provided a nice wind break as well. Wednesday is did want to sprinkle on us here and there throughout the day as well.

Monday evening we had the director and her assistant director with us for dinner. They talked to us about the rehabilitation center and their center in the country that uses some alternative therapys and invited to come to the country center (which we will did on Thursday evening).

Wednesday evening we were joined by a local pastor and assistant pastor who thanked us for our service to their community and talked to us about the outreaches at their church.

We had many volunteers during the week that helped with sewing, refreshments and registration. Above is the seamstress who came and gave of her time everyday for God's glory. Depsite our language differences, we managed quite well in instructing her as to what we needed to have done. Our interpreter for the sewing and cushion area was a very busy gal, especially without volunteers to cut the plywood or foam for seat cushions. She learned a lot of skills very quickly.
A busy 3 days more at the center. I can say that for each person we served it was amazing to see God at work. From the team that He handpicked for this mission, to the wheelchairs that were shipped for us to distribute. To see the transformation in the faces of the caregivers as their load was eased and the same for the disabled whose lives were made easier with whichever mobility devise they needed, it was immediately evident the impact this mission was having on the lives of the people we served.

A budding artist, she paints with her feet! And here to recieve a walker, this guy takes home a PET (personal energy transportation) Cart as well.

Tom working on modifying a full size walker to fit a little pink peanut...it ended up being 18" high maintaining some height adjustability and reduced to 12" wide. This little one, not only being so adorable capturing our hearts, was learning English at her young 2 1/2 years. We were thanked by her in English which I have to say was completely priceless!

Another PET Cart going home with this family. Mom will hopefully be a candidate for a prothesis in the future. For now the mobility she has gained will help not only her, but her family as well.

While we were busy working away at the rehab center a neurologist from the center was sent out to gather information on some of those not able to get to the center for our help. They came back with measurements and other data so that our seating specialists could best gather what they thought would be needed to bring along on a home visit. Thursday Kathy's team visited and served the 5 disabled that the neurologist visited on Wednesday.

Sumy, Ukraine - Day 4

2010-09-17T05:00:00.003-05:00

Monday - Sep 6

At home in the U.S. today is set apart as Labor Day. Today in Ukraine, we labor for the Lord.
Each morning our day starts with prayer and worship and of course any last minute announcements. This trip we were especially blessed with a teammate who brought his guitar to lead us in worship. Thanks Bob! What a joyful way to start off the day.

It rained a bit yesterday and since we will be working outside all week, we were praying for fair weather today and our prayers were answered.

Here a few stray puddles stand no chance next to this broom.

We set up benches and chairs, bathe everything in prayer and begin.

Tom and Donna confer about adjustments and decide whether or not this chair is right for this energetic little guy.

Our little team had a challenging day today. Tom without his own tools (as our suitcases are on their way from Kiev to Sumy) and the challenges of finding the right equipment for the people we were seating. Our 3rd gal, an artist with her feet, had to leave without her chair today and had to come back later in the week after it was modified for her.

I don't know how many the entire group did day to day, but each one was a labor of love. To find the chair that would meet the needs for each person out of the donated supply we had, to make adjustments, pads and safety straps.

We have word now that our luggage has been delivered to the hotel, so tomorrow, Praise God, we will have all our missing tools and supplies.

Note: I am leaving names out on purpose of those we served. Please do not use any information of photos from any of my posts on my blog without express permission. Thank you.

Sumy, Ukraine - Day 3

2010-09-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know I started with day 1 and jumped to day 3...but if you read the post you will see that we actually used up both day 1 and 2 with traveling. It's a long way to travel halfway around the world after all!

Today after breakfast we gather to meet our interpreters, go over team assignments and some other training including a language lesson of basic words before lunch.

Each team (7 teams in all) - include a Seating specialist (a physical or occupational therapist), a mechanic (all of our wonderfully gifted tinkering men), a support person (jack of all trades to help do anything and everything for the team - including reminding the others to eat lunch) and an interpreter, without whom we would be lost.

Tom and I are assigned together with Donna (our seating specialist) and Julianna (our interpreter).

The entire team also has a gatekeeper - the person with an interpreter in charge of checking people in for their appointments, an evangelist with interpreter, and an interpreter to work with volunteer carpenters and seamstress and a floating interpreter to help where ever needed. And of course we would be lost without our in-country liaison, Oksana.

After lunch we haul what supplies we have (still waiting on baggage not yet arrived) to the site, a rehabilitation center, that we will be working at all week. We will review the site and devise our strategy for where to set up, unwrap and sort all the wheelchairs and get as ready as we can for Monday's appointments.

Sumy, Ukraine Trip - Travel day 1

2010-09-15T15:48:00.000-05:00

Here we are traveling again for God's glory. For this trip Global Aid Network (GAiN) is partnering with Joni and Friends Wheels for the World. If you have not heard of either ministry, I encourage you to click on the links above and check them out. GAiN, the relief and development side of Campus Crusades for Christ has been a passion of mine for some years now since my first mission trip in 2003 to Russia. I can only begin to tell you the impact of these trips on me has been profound and grown me in my faith much more than I ever imagined. All that totally aside from the impact they have had on the many lives we have touched overseas on these trips both practically meeting needs and spiritually by sharing the love and message of our Savior Jesus Christ.

So, on to this trip -
Sumy, Ukraine
Mission focus - fitting wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and canes (donated from all over the US to Joni and Friends) to those with disabilities in the Sumy region.

Day 1 is a travel day. Starting in Minneapolis for us and meeting up with the rest of the American team at JFK International Airport in NY. Tom and I started our day with our gracious neighbor taking us to the airport (Thanks Brian!). Leaving the house of course is just the first step in out long journey to Ukraine. After spending the afternoon at JFK airport we are on our way to Moscow, Russia for a short (okay 3 hour) layover before continuing on to Kiev, Ukraine. Praying all the while for all of our luggage to arrive intact, no flight issues and sleep. Upon arrival in Kiev our team is short many bags. Apparently the flight was full and they ran out of room for all the checked bags so they will follow on the next days flight. Trusting God will give us what we need as we continue on, we board our bus for the 5 hours bus ride to Sumy. Our suitcase did arrive in Sumy on Monday afternoon so Tuesday we were fully loaded with all the supplies we needed to continue with our work.

We stopped at a delightful Ukrainian Restaurant for supper en-route to Sumy and ate outside. Arriving in Sumy just before midnight on Saturday night we all crash for a much needed sleep before our meeting our interpreters and training and set up on Sunday.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support!

Home again

2010-09-15T10:40:00.000-05:00

We arrived home yesterday from our mission to Sumy Ukraine.

Over the next few days I will be posting our trip summary and photos. Please be patient as we unpack, sort through photos and notes and get over jet lag.

I can tell you God is an AWESOME God and it was an amazing trip with an amazing team of people hand picked by God for His great works.

Please check out the following links for the Ministries we served with.

Global Aid Network

Joni and Friends, Wheels for the World

Harvest Time

2010-08-14T21:34:00.003-05:00

It's that yummy time of year again - fresh veggies from the garden. Pickles done yea! Corn well on it's way, first batch shucked today as well. There is just nothing better than fresh picked sweet corn and all it crunchie goodness. I had 3 ears with grilled chicken for supper tonight.

July Gathering

2010-08-01T20:35:00.004-05:00

So yesterday's post was my card for our demo get together. Here are the others the ladies brought for us to do. Great cards! Love the smooch accent paint on the sun/moon on the sailboat card and I got to try out the builder wheels for the first time on the birthday package card. The new rhinestones are fabulous bling and we used a stencil for a card too! Super variety for us to try and have samples for our friends and customers to see.

A Happy Stamping Day

2010-07-31T09:06:00.004-05:00

I have a group of great friends that love to stamp, and wouldn't you know it we all met through Stampin' Up!. All of these ladies are Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrators. Some do it for a supplement to their family income, some because they just love it and enjoy a discount. Whatever the reasons we all became demonstrators, we love to stamp and get together to share ideas, both creative and business.

Today is my turn to host the gathering. Besides lots of great food and of course chocolate there is stamping going on. Each of us brings a project to share - we call it a shoebox swap. Everything you need to complete the sample card is in a container (roughly the size of a shoebox) and passed around the table. We each supply our own snips and adhesive and when we get done we have several more new ideas, to share with our customers and friends.

Well many of you know I am a very accomplished procrastinator. Why do now what you have plenty of time to do the night before right? This time was no exception...expect sometimes the creative juices are just not cooperating when you now need them to. So in search of inspiration I scan the catalog, magazines and stamping blogs to jump start my creativity. I found a sketch challenge on Stampin' Addicts and a card in the gallery on Splitcoaststampers for some color inspiration and came up with this card for my contribution for today.

When we get together we try and issue a challenge or some sort of guide for our swaps. Well since the new catalog was just released, the objective was to use something new. I think you get the hint from previous posts that I like this stamp set ; ) well, I have been working on new catalog swaps.

Stamps: Kimono Kids

Ink: Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Paper: Elegant Soire DSP, Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Accessories: Basic Grey Satin Ribbon with linen thread

New Catalog Swaps

2010-07-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

My friend Kim, who I met through being a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! has been hosting a new catalog swap every new catalog, well...since I have known her. This year I signed up on two different boards - one Stampin' Connection, an exclusive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator site and the other on Stampin' Addicts, a forum for all stampers, demonstrators or not to connect with each other.
Stampin' Connection Swap ~
Sometimes you want a card that is not your typical A2 card size. This one uses the Big Shot and the Circle Scallop die. The DSP layer was cut using the Big Shot also with the clear Circle die. I love the bright colors in this new Designer Series Paper - Sunny Garden.

Stamps: Countryside, "thank you" from Because I Care
Ink: Black, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Delight and River Rock
Paper: Poppy Parade, DSP Sunny Garden, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Brad put through the holes in a Bitty Button, Poppy Poly Twill Ribbon

Stampin' Addicts Swap ~

I attached the Daffodil ribbon to the pear twill using a glue stick. Yup, for me who never uses a glue stick for anything I was amazed I even had one. Guess never say never, cause it works great for this skinny ribbon.

Stamps: Longfellows (Hostess L2)

Ink: Pear Pizzaz

Paper: Pear Pizzaz, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pawsitively Prints II

Accessories: Button, 1/8" Taffeta in Daffodil, Pear Poly Twill Ribbon

Another Swap Progress Interruption

2010-07-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ever get an idea and think "Oh, I shoulda done something like that!", or "I will try that just as soon as I finish this"? Well sometimes, especially if you don't keep a note pad handy to jot down and/or sketch those thoughts you lose them. So, again I interrupted my swap progress to just do it. I made this one a 3x3 to help expedite my thought - perfect to go with a gift!

Stamps: Hostess L2 Longfellows, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Pear Pizzaz

Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz and Pawsitively Prints II

Woodland Walk Kimono

2010-07-29T14:05:00.003-05:00

We interrupt swap progress to turn a random idea into a card. While looking through my DSP for now I don't remember what, I came accross this paper from Woodland Walk and thought this would be perfect for Kimono Kids.

Stamps: Kimono Kids

Ink: Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Garden Green

Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch

Long Fellows Card

2010-07-24T14:50:00.002-05:00

Long is right, long in coming together. I have been working on this for 3 days and still it is not like the idea in my head, but at least I am satisfied with the result. I was trying for a swap card for a New Catalog swap, but have moved on from this to another idea for the swap card.

And then there were 2

2010-07-23T18:43:00.004-05:00

Well that time came sooner than I thought! And now we both have new 4 wheel toys to play together. Matching wasn't exactly planned, but this particular type only comes in two colors and well this is what they had...which really is okay with me, cause I like the sunset red better than the green they had to offer. Mine is a smaller version, not just due to the absence of the larger wheels and lift kit, but his is an 850, mine a 550. And plenty enough spunk at that. Just riding around the yard I can tell ya I like mine way better! I think its the tires that make that difference. The round canister additions to Tom's are actually speakers. Yup, the man just has to have music on all the time. It plays off his MP3 player. I have no further comment on the matter.

So I guess the next step is finding a campin' place not too far away that has access to trails to try them out in a couple of weeks. Next weekend already being booked with other activities (such as stamping with friends).

New Toy for a Boy

2010-07-16T16:24:00.005-05:00

So my last post was all about me playing with my new stamps...new toys for me. Well today Tom got his new (new to him anyway) toy and couldn't wait to get it home and take it for a spin. Now he wishes we had two so "we" could go for a spin together. : ) That will come in time, just not today.

New Stamps!

2010-07-12T17:28:00.002-05:00

July 1st marked the release of Stampin' Up!'s new Idea Book & Catalog. It's fresh and colorful and I am having fun creating with my new stamps.

This one from Kimono Kids and Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper accented with the stitched poly-twill ribbon and bitty buttons. The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Group Meeting Cards

2010-06-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

Here are the 10 cards we made at our demonstrator group meeting last night. We used all new items from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog - begins July 1st!!!

Summer Project

2010-06-28T21:15:00.005-05:00

Well we have been busy. Not so much going here and there, but staying home and digging up the yard. We finally are doing so landscaping and well I have to say it is a lot of back breaking sweaty dirty work! But with the help of some strong young youth from our church this weekend, we managed to get a huge chunk done done done! There is still much to do with obvious need to add plants and shrubs and then there is staining the deck too, but the accomplishment this weekend was very satisfying.

If you hadn't seen before there was sod all the way to the house with the exception of under the front kitchen window where we had a retaining wall box with the barberry shrubs there. They were transplanted to the side of the house. And the work that is not pictured is our big tree across from the deck is gone and the rest of the yard trees are now ringed and mulched too.

More to do won't wait because I bought some more plants today, so tomorrow in the dirt they go!

A Card of a Different Shape and Color!

2010-06-11T17:44:00.003-05:00

So this is take 3 of my flower card. A much brighter version using the new In Color Poppy Parade and the new core color Daffodil Delight. The stamp is from Charming and I also used the Bitty Buttons and the new Daffodil 1/8" taffeta ribbon. The texture this time comes from the also new Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I am excited to share this card tomorrow with some of my demonstrator friends. Oh yeah, and spritzed again with the Smooch Spritz. : )

Take 2 also for a swap, another group is this one using Charming and Rich Razzleberry. The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and again using the Bitty Buttons, this time on the main image. Also again spritzed with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.

A Card of a Different Shape

2010-06-08T17:46:00.002-05:00

As I am typing the title I am thinking of a horse of a different color, you get the idea. Anyway, here is a card I did using the clear Flower Sizzix die and my Big Shot. After punching out the flower I used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on the front. The center yellow is a peak at Daffodil Delight and uses Bouquet Bunch from the Summer Mini Catalog. Not sure if you can tell in the photo but I spritzed the front of the card with the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz as well. And don't forget the Bitty Buttons! They are so stinkin' cute!

Another Swap from Milwaukee

2010-05-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

I got this card idea from my upline who got it from a swap she was in, and so on and so forth and the ideas are as endless as there are creative minds out there creating!

This card style is so fun and easy! Call me and I will be happy to share it with you and your friends.

This one is a baby card, but so easily can be made for any occasion at all! Be sure to get your package of this Tale Tales Designer Series Paper before it's gone - the sooner the better. Remember July 1st is a whole new catalog of fun, but let's not forget to grab our favorites while we can!

Easel Card

2010-05-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

So now that you don't think I have forgotten again to post for a long long while, this post I am doing right now (or was right now when I posted the great Coaster Bag) and scheduling this post in advance (how's that for using technology to my advantage!).

This easel card I made for a swap at Stampin' Up!'s regional event in Milwaukee. A great opportunity to gather with friends and make new ones while being energized by Stampin' Up!'s presenters, swapping and of course stamping!

2010-05-03T17:10:00.006-05:00

Unbelievably the best of intentions to get back and post, what a couple of weeks ago was sadly overlooked and well here I am hanging my head. But hey, I am posting now and if there are any persons interested here is a super 3D project that my friend Holly created...this was my take on her 3D challenge over at Stampin' Addicts.com

If you have not visited the site yet, you should. Plain and simple. There are great creative things in the gallery and lots of challenges and tutorials to help you get started.

Here is the link to Holly's Coaster Bag

This uses Tall Tales designer series paper and the Animal Stories stamp set.

There will be a new post tomorrow, really. I promise. And one the next day too!

New Post - It's about time!

2010-04-17T08:23:00.003-05:00

Sorry I have not posted anything in like forever! Okay, an exaggeration, but it has been a while.

I was just at the Stampin' Up! Regional Event in Milwaukee so I should have something to show you right? Let's see what I can come up with here...ooh, I have a few to share so lets see if I can get a post or two this week.

Here is a party favor I did for the Stampin' Addicts dinner on Friday night. They were made using a wedding favor that you can buy at your local craft supply store. I happened to find a container missing only one tin at a garage sale for only a buck! Score for me!

The flowers are stamped and cut out from Vintage Vogue (using Rich Razzleberry and Orchid Opulence), the leaves from the Little Leaves Sizzlit die - Stampin' Up! exclusvie and the rhinestone brads for the centers.

I have a card and 3D item that we swapped that evening too, so look for more posts this week.

Happy Spring!

Happy Birthday Stampin' Addicts!

2010-02-21T18:09:00.006-06:00

My favorite online place to hang out is a place called Stampin' Addicts. Aptly named for those of us who are stamping obsessed, demonstrators or not. It's a fabulous online community with a gallery for inspiration and challenges to help you get out of a creative rut. Plenty of chatting going on and always a positive place for to seek or share those stamping or paper crafting tips, ideas and to just be connected with others who share the love of rubber stamping and scrapbooking.
I invite you to come check us out! We have a ton of fun and it's all FREE!

WWW.STAMPINADDICTS.COM

Mobilize help for Haiti!

2010-01-28T19:42:00.004-06:00

You can help!

Help by putting together hygiene kits for Haiti with your school group, church group, scout troop, any group you can get together. For a bulletin insert with the kit information please visit www.gainusa.org and click on “Download this 2-sided bulletin insert.”

GAiN - Global Aid Network has:

3 staff in-country at this time working in water and logistics. Mobilizing the aid being sent in, including food and water filters.

The GAiN website is fully equiped to handle donations and provide information on the relief efforts.

The Pennsylvania Distribution center has already sent a least 2 shipping containers of food (food partner is Feed My Starving Children)

GAiN is partnered with a group in CA (Helping Hands) for 2 medical teams now and possibly 2 more in March.

Providential Jump Start to Haitian Relief Efforts

2010-01-14T14:33:00.000-06:00

Prepositioned Food and Shoes Provide Assistance to
Haitian Earthquake Victims

“Several months ago we shipped a container of food and shoes to Haiti ‘just in case disaster hit.’ It’s incredible how God uniquely positioned us to be ready at Haiti’s greatest time of need.”

- Duane Zook, Global Chairman of Global Aid Network

DALLAS, Jan. 13, 2010 - When a container of food and shoes was shipped to Haiti and stored in a local warehouse for emergency use, no one knew how quickly the Haitian people would need it. In response to the deadly earthquake that shook Haiti, Global Aid Network is assessing the situation and determining how to distribute some one million pre-positioned meals to earthquake victims.

In addition to items already on the ground, Global Aid Network, the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ, has eight containers of supplies poised for shipment as soon as an appropriate port is located. In the meantime, Global Aid Network is collecting funds for staff in Haiti to purchase more food, medicine and supplies.

Esperandieu Pierre, national director of Campus Crusade for Christ in Haiti, will coordinate disaster relief efforts on the ground. He will work with a network of some 75 churches and pastors—some of whom participated in 2008 hurricane relief efforts—to distribute food and supplies.

“My people are hurting and we want to do whatever we can to help them in this time of great need,” said Pierre, who was out of the country when the earthquake hit, and scheduled to fly in on Thursday morning.

Individuals can donate to Global Aid Network’s disaster relief efforts in Haiti; visit gainusa.org.

Global Aid Network, the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, partners with businesses and churches to provide hope and compassionate aid—including food, clothing, school supplies, and other necessity items—to hospitals, orphanages, and schools in needy communities around the world. In 2008, Global Aid Network provided relief assistance to hurricane victims in Haiti.

Global Aid Network USA has its root in a humanitarian aid project to the former Soviet Union, “Operation Carelift," originally started under the Josh McDowell Ministry. Since then Global Aid Network has since distributed more than $175 million worth of aid and has conducted projects in more than 60 countries.

Christmas Card and gift in one!

2009-12-15T13:12:00.002-06:00

This is a card I made for a fabulous swap with friends on Stampin' Addicts.com

You could call this folder card the Christmas card and gift in one, the snowflake removed becomes an ornament and the inside card is the perfect place for that family photo to share!

Retired Stamp Sets for Sale - updated 12/23

2009-12-06T18:07:00.006-06:00

Some of you know we are working on finishing our basement. Along with that project is a new craft room for me! WooHoo! That's the good news...the bad is it is smaller than my current room and I really need to purge some things to make the best use of my new space. That means it's your lucky day - you get great stamp sets for 50% off!!! NUM = new unmounted, that's right not ever even used (sad I know).
I accept paypal for payment or contact me via email and we will work out all the details. Postage will be priority mail flat rate only. I will post updates as items are sold. Please contact me if you need to have a photo of a particular set.
Thanks for helping support my new stamping space!

A Light Heart $10
A Little Bit of Happiness NUM $5
Alphabits $5
Basket Full of Fun NUM $20
Big Blossom $5
Collage Alphabet $13
Collage Numbers $8
Congrats NUM $5
Congrats NUM $5
Delight in Life $5
Essence of Love NUM $9
Fontastic $5
Free & the Brave, The $15
Friendship Gardens $9
Furnished with Love $10
Headline Alphabet $20
Headline Numbers NUM $12
Independence Day $10
It's a Date $5
Itty Bitty Borders $5
Itty Bitty Buds $10
Little Layers $8
Little Shapes $5
Looks Like Spring $15
Occasions Collection $5
Playful Petals NUM $15
Punches Three NUM $5
Seasonal Birdhouses (well loved) $10
Seeing Spots $5
Simple Shapes $10
So Many Scallops $5
Stained Glass $12
Stardust $10
Stars & Swirls $5
Tropical Blossoms $13
Very Merry $5
Watercolor Minis $9
Whimsical Alphabet Lower $15
Whimsical Alphabet Upper $15
Whimsical Numbers $10

Stampin' Up! Retiring Stamp Sets January 4

2009-12-02T09:42:00.002-06:00

The following stamp sets that are available for purchase, but are not pictured in the current Idea Book & Catalog are retiring effective January 4th. Don't miss out on your last chance to order these sets. Contact me if you need more information.

Item Number Stamp Set
113407 Back Woods
114492 Beautiful Baby
114486 Birthday Wish
113200 Branch Out
114496 Celebrations
113732 Central Park
113206 Classic Sketches
113226 Classy & Fabulous
114498 Flowers in Silhouette
113405 Font of You
113216 For the Bride
114494 Forever
109425 Friend by Definition
114488 Fun Flowers
113716 Garden Greetings
114490 Glad Friends
111580 Grand Soiree
113242 Hit the Road
113710 Lexicon of Leaves
113236 Man's Best Friend
114423 Ocean Commotion
113728 Playful Petals
109276 Polka Dot
111544 Putt Putt
113240 Quilt Quips
113754 Really Retro
113403 Sip by Sip
113726 Sweet Stems
113250 That's Funny
113688 Wonderful Watercolors
114028 Para la novia
114032 Acuarelas Maravillosas

Holiday Extravaganza!

2009-11-24T18:46:00.003-06:00

Start your shopping engines and don't miss out on these great deals from Stampin' Up! now through November 30th.

Order through me or online through my Demonstrator Business Website by clicking on SHOP NOW.

Holiday Extravaganza Bundle Offering:

Item Description Regular Price Discounted Price

120280 Framed with Love Bundle
• Framed with Love stamp set
• Full Heart punch $43.90 $21.95

120281 Thank You Kindly Bundle
• Thank You Kindly stamp set
• Scallop Edge punch $29.90 $14.95

120976 Thank You Kindly Bundle (French)
• Tous mes remerciements stamp set
• Scallop Edge punch $29.90 $14.95

120282 Animal Crackers Bundle
• Animal Crackers stamp set
• Star Designer brads $25.90 $12.95

120283 Corduroy Button Bundle
• Kraft Corduroy buttons
• Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons
• Summer Sun Corduroy buttons
• Basic Gray Corduroy buttons
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons $49.75 $24.88

120284 Game Night Bundle
• Card Games stamp set
• Game Night stamp set $40.90 $20.45

120285 Four Square Bundle
• Four Square stamp set
• Scallop Square punch $30.90 $15.45

120286 Heart to Heart Bundle
• Love You Much stamp set
• Heart to Heart punch
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $49.85 $24.93

120310 Heart to Heart Bundle (Spanish)
• Te Quiero Mucho stamp set
• Heart to Heart punch
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $49.85 $24.93

120311 Heart to Heart Bundle (French)
• J't'aime beaucoup stamp set
• Heart to Heart punch
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $49.85 $24.93

120287 Chipboard Letter Bundle
• On Board Timeless Type
• On Board Loads of Letters $25.90 $12.95
120288 Double-Stitched Ribbon Bundle
• Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
• Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon $17.90 $10.74

120289 Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle* (while supplies last)
• Best Wishes & More stamp set
• Eight Great Greetings stamp set
• On a Pedestal stamp set
• Earth Elements Stampin' Spots
• Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Flower Designer brads $127.70 $76.62

120290 Build-A-Brad Bundle
• Calendar Alphabet stamp set
• Pewter Build-A-Brad
• Antique Brass Build-A-Brad $40.85 $24.51

120291 Enjoy Every Moment Bundle
• Enjoy Every Moment stamp set
• Circle Designer brads
• Flower Designer brads $43.85 $26.31

120312 Enjoy Every Moment Bundle (French)
• Profiter de chaque instant stamp set
• Circle Designer brads
• Flower Designer brads $43.85 $26.31

120292 Cheep Talk Bundle
• Cheep Talk stamp set
• Note cards
• Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons $42.85 $25.71

120293 Sock Monkey Bundle
• Sock Monkey stamp set
• Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons $58.85 $35.31

120313 Sock Monkey Bundle (French)
• Sing-chaussette stamp set
• Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set
• Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons $58.85 $35.31

120294 Alphabet Bundle
• Jayne's Type Alphabet stamp set
• Lovely Letters stamp set $87.90 $52.74

120295 Simply Said Bundle
• Simply Said stamp set
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Full Heart punch $52.85 $31.71

120314 Simply Said Bundle (French)
• Amitié stamp set
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Full Heart punch $52.85 $31.71

120296 On Board Bundle
• On Board So Tweet
• On Board Batch of Blooms
• On Board Essentials $42.85 $25.71

120927 Christmas Décor Bundle #1
• Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Kraft, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements $74.85 $44.91

120298 Christmas Décor Bundle #2
• Holly Beary Wreath Décor Elements (Chocolate, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements $74.85 $44.91

120299 Christmas Décor Bundle #3
• Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Old Olive, Real Red)
• Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements
• Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements $74.85 $44.91

120300 For All You Do Bundle
• For All You Do stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads $36.90 $25.83

120315 For All You Do Bundle (French)
• Merci pour tout stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads $36.90 $25.83

120316 For All You Do Bundle (Spanish)
• Por todo lo que haces stamp set
• 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads $36.90 $25.83

120301 Striped Ribbon Bundle
• Bashful Blue 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon
• Real Red 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon $47.73 $33.41

120302 Bling Bundle
• Sticky Pages
• Sticky Cuts Sweet
• Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter
• Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter $43.80 $30.66

120303 Fresh-Cut Bundle
• Fresh Cuts stamp set
• Fresh-Cut Notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $37.85 $26.50

120317 Fresh-Cut Bundle (French)
• Fraicheur exuise stamp set
• Fresh-Cut Notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $37.85 $26.50

120304 Pendant Note Bundle
• Pendant Park stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $39.85 $27.90

120318 Pendant Note Bundle (French)
• Adorable parc stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $39.85 $27.90

120319 Pendant Note Bundle (Spanish)
• Un dia en el parque stamp set
• Pendant notes
• 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $39.85 $27.90

120305 Sporting Bundle #1
• Large Night of Navy Sporting Décor Elements
• Night of Navy Just Sports Décor Elements $67.90 $47.54

120306 Sporting Bundle #2
• Large Chocolate Sporting Décor Elements
• Chocolate Just Sports Décor Elements $67.90 $47.54

120307 Sporting Bundle #3
• Large Black Sporting Décor Elements
• Black Just Sports Décor Elements $67.90 $47.54

114864 Ginormous Flowers I Décor Elements $39.95 $27.97
114863 Ginormous Flowers II Décor Elements $39.95 $27.97
112534 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads $7.95 $5.57
112533 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads $6.95 $4.87
112081 Scallop Square punch $15.95 $11.17
113693 Full Heart punch $15.95 $11.17
113694 Heart to Heart punch $15.95 $11.17
112091 Scallop Edge punch $15.95 $11.17
112571 Circle Designer brads $5.95 $4.17
112579 Flower Designer brads $5.95 $4.17
112572 Star Designer brads $5.95 $4.17
114785 Small Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements $39.95 $27.97
114786 Medium Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements $69.95 $48.97
114791 Small Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements $39.95 $27.97
114792 Medium Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements $64.95 $45.47

Thinking of Christmas

2009-11-06T12:31:00.004-06:00

Yup, it's that time of year again. Time to think about getting those Christmas cards started and those pencils sharpened for shopping lists, to do lists, party and meal planning and let's not forget the all important cookie list. I have some family favorites I make every year, but I digress, this post is not about the cookies...save that thought for a future posting. This post is to get you started thinking about your Christmas cards.

This is one I did for a swap with other demonstrators - it is a Free Standing Pop Up card. It folds flat and fits in your A2 size envelope (depending on how much embellishing you do that is!). I used a non-traditional stamp for the main image. What does that mean? It means the image was not intended for use as a Christmas image, but as you can see it works perfectly well for it. Medallion is one of my current favorite stamps and I think it will remain in my permanent collection for a longgggg time to come. If you didn't see it before, check out the Medallion used in my Woodsheets post of Aug 31.

Deals of the Week Oct 19-25! Embellishments

2009-10-19T11:44:00.003-05:00

Embellishments are a great way to add a little personality, style or just the "ooh, it needs a little something" to any of your paper crafting projects! Here are some great accessories for a great deal - this week only! To order contact me or go to my business website HERE and click on Shop Now.

Mini Library Clips 109857 Sale Price $8.99
Let your inner librarian run wild when you clip a tag to a project with one of our adorable Mini Library Clips. These clips are 1/4" x 1/2" and each package contains 12 each of 4 colors (Black, Silver, Antique Brass, and Pewter).

Circle Designer Brads 112571 Sale Price $3.99

These high-quality cast brads are so easy to use and come in custom Stampin' Up! designs. They're finished in our Styled Silver, and can be used separately or with our Hodgepodge Hardware.■ Assortments include 16 pieces; 8 each of 2 sizes (1/2" and 3/4")■ Use to embellish cards, scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts

Basic Jumbo Grommets 114348 Sale Price $4.49

Custom designed, these large grommets add some real spunk! These grommets can even frame small images for real art appeal. ■ Colors: Basic Black, Silver, Very Vanilla and Whisper White ■ 5 each for a total of 20 pieces

1/2 Inch Library Clips 112581 Sale Price $3.99
Let your inner librarian run wild when you clip a tag to a project with one of our adorable Mini Library Clips. These clips to add the right touch to your projects. ■ Contains 24 pieces■ 8 each of 3 colors: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White■ Powder finish■ 1/2" x 3/4"

Deals of the Week Oct 12-19th

2009-10-12T14:35:00.006-05:00

This weeks deals are:

Flower Burst Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die 114515 on sale for $5.99With a little effort, this burst of sunshine will add volume and dimension to any project. The modern flower has an Eastern influence, and would look stunning used with the Eastern Blooms stamp set.

■ Use a Sizzix Big Shot machine, standard cutting pads, and multi-purpose platform with this die
■ 2-1/4" x 2-1/2"
■ Chemically-etched die that includes negative and positive images for cutting and embossing at the same time
■ Stampin' Up! exclusive die

Perfect Setting Stampin' Up! Bigz Xl Die 115961 on sale for $25.99
A perfect event needs a perfect setting. We've got you covered with our Perfect Setting Bigz XL die. With it, you can create cupcake holders and napkin rings from card stock, Designer Series paper, or other material. The cupcake holder is designed to hold a standard-size cupcake. This design is part of Shelli’s Signature Collection.
■ Can cut through multiple sheets of card stock, Texture Cuts wood sheets, window sheets, Décor Elements sheets, and more
■ Use with Sizzix Big Shot machine and extended cutting pads
■ Die size: 6" x 13-3/4"

Three Tier Cake Pop-Up Bigz Xl 116760 on sale for $25.49Order by contacting me or going to my website HERE.

Deals of the week are good until 9am Mountain Time Monday Oct 19th. Check back here next Monday for next weeks deals.

Deals of the Week!

2009-10-05T19:40:00.003-05:00

Stampin' Up! is at it again! Super duper deals coming your way for a limited time only. Each week in October Stampin' Up! is offering Deals of the Week.

The Deals for this week are:
5 Petal Punch for $10.99
Trio Flower Punch for $10.99
My Way Punch $11.99
Punches are a quick and easy way to add interest, dimension, and color to your cards, tags, and scrapbook pages. You can glue punched shapes directly onto your projects or layer a sheet of card stock that has been punched over a coordinating card stock for a reverse effect.

Order by contacting me or by going to my website HERE

This weeks deals are only available until Monday morning 9 am MT. Check back here next Monday for next weeks deals.

Holiday Mini Swap

2009-09-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

So this is for another Holiday Mini card swap - again using the square scallop...yup, sometimes you get a theme stuck in your head and you just gotta go with it. Oh and again with the iridescent ice embossing powder (and glitter all over the house!). All the snowflakes are done with the EP over Not Quite Navy craft ink. Serene Snowflakes is the stamp set and I love these snowflakes!!! The patterned paper is Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper. Ribbon from the Elementary Ribbon Originals. The new ornament punch too! I also used Very Vanilla CS for this to match the Bella Bleu.

Woodsheets

2009-08-31T22:15:00.003-05:00

Finally playing with the woodsheets that are in the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog...ah can you say LUV them! So easy to work with and stamp on. Lookie what I created in just minutes. The fabulous Medallion stamp in Old Olive on the woodsheet, DSP on the insides of the covers. A little binding and voila, a note book! Look for these fun notebooks at an upcoming class. A great inexpensive gift idea.

Head Start on Christmas

2009-08-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Here is another card I got out while "just stamping" on Wednesday afternoon. My friend had come over and we ooohhhed and aaahhhed over all the swaps I brought home from convention and then actually got down to business, her working on scrapbook pages of her too cute son and I to stamping.

This one is again using one of this years fabulous In Colors Soft Suede and the perfect coordinating ribbon of course! Stamps are Sweet Season and the scallops are embossed over with Iridescent Ice embossing powder to add a lot of sparkle (not so as you can really tell in the photo, but it is all "sugared" up) and garnished with a Rhinestone brad in the center. Oh and the fab scallop square shape came from the Bigz Clear Large Scallop Square die for the Sizzix Big Shot. This one I like so much I think I will have to use it for a Christmas swap!

Charming

2009-08-20T19:16:00.004-05:00

I got in some stamping time yesterday, just stamping, not working on a swap for convention, not preparing for a class, just stamping! Something it seems I haven't done much of recently. Here is one of the cards I "just stamped".

This is using two stamp sets - Charming, which is featured in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog and shown in the catalog with the Simply Adorned jewelry pieces* - and Simply Thanks, which is one of the single under $10 stamps featured in the 09/10 Idea Book & Catalog. I also used this years In Color Melon Mambo (and you can kinda see in the background two others, one in Crushed Curry and the other in Rich Razzleberry) and used the coordinating In Color ribbon. Stampin' Up! is so smart giving me perfectly coordinating products like that! It was sooooo easy to come up with this cute (IMHO) card. I am pretty sure I need to use this for my Fine Line swap card for September. :)

*Reference the post below of the Build-a-Bear contest on Stampin' Addicts...I won the Simply Adorned piece shown on my bear and the stamp set Charmed too! It is so much fun to play with Free stamps!!!

Build-a-Bear

2009-08-17T12:38:00.005-05:00

One of the coolest announcements at Stampin' Up!'s annual convention was SU is partnering with Build-a-Bear Workshop! Stampin' Up! will have exclusive BAB stamp images and Sizzix dies for sale beginning September 1st in our Holiday Mini Catalog.
At convention we demonstrators have what they call Memento Mall - a shopping place where we can purchase SU logo merchandise to keep for ourselves, give as rewards or incentives to our downline, hostesses or customers etc. The HOT HOT HOT item this year was the Stampin' Up! Build-a-Bear. Here is a photo of my decked out bear I named Caramel. She is decked out with one of the new Simply Adorned Charms, hand stamped and signed by Shelli! that I won during one of conventions prize patrols. You can find out this new product in the Holiday Mini Catalog as well.Now here is a way for you to get your hands on one of these great exclusive bears (and please note, yours will not come so adorned - to see the actual bear for adoption please see more details below):

To celebrate the release of the Stampin’ Up! Build-A-Bear Workshop collection, Stampin Addicts dot com is giving away an exclusive Build-A-Bear teddy bear that was only available at the 2009 Stampin’ Up! convention. Check out the contest rules by clicking on Build-a-Bear teddy bear above. To join the Stampin' Addicts forums click HERE.

New Catalog Swap Card

2009-08-12T13:25:00.005-05:00

I did 30 of these cards for a new catalog swap at convention! This bright card uses the new Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper and Made 2 Last stamp set.

I got some fabulous swap cards in return! If you want to see all my samples call me to book a workshop today! My schedule is filling up and you won't want to miss a thing!

Join Stampin' Up!

2009-08-12T11:24:00.004-05:00

Going on right NOW is a great recruiting special to become an independent demonstrator with Stampin' Up! If you have ever thought about signing up to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, now is the time!

For only $85 you can join Stampin' Up! and get all the great benefits of being an Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up!

Here is what you get in your mini starter kit:

Become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator with the limited-time $85 Mini Starter Kit. The Mini Starter Kit contains the following products:
Item Code Page #*Description Retail Value**
115360 118 For All You Do stamp set $28.95
115658 155 Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
115656 155 Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
115659 155 Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
115654 155 Dusty Durango Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
115655 155 Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
115657 155 Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad $5.95
100730 155 Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $7.50
115315 155 In Color assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11") $7.95

*All page numbers refer to the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog**All products may be substituted for like items; see Mini Starter Kit order form for details.

You can also purchase the full starter kit and receive the new In Color ink pads and variety pack of In Color card stock as a bonus!

Enjoy benefits such as 20% instant income/discount and much more!

Contact me for all the details! This mini kit offer ends Aug 30th!!!

Remiss in posting

2009-08-12T11:16:00.002-05:00

I apologize that I have been remiss in my stamping postings. It has been a busy summer with all of our travels and time spent with family as we dealt with cancer surgery and other misc little things that seem to have evaporated summer. Well, not quite, we still have a lot of August left!
This week Tom and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on Monday and Friday is his birthday.

Amongst all of the other things going on, I just got home from Salt Lake City where I attended Stampin' Up!'s annual convention! It was a blast and there are so many exciting things coming up starting with the Holiday Mini Catalog that is just around the corner September 1st. Be on the look out for more details on that soon!

For now I need to post about the great recruiting special going on with Stampin' Up!

Our travels in Alaska

2009-07-05T19:55:00.019-05:00

I have to say I could not have asked for a better vacation. I don't always like traveling about like a typical tourist, but I must say that the experience was perfect for us this time traveling with Tom's parents.
The timing of everything worked out well for just enough with down time in between, ample driving time between places to stop along the way if we liked and to take our time.
We started out flying into Anchorage on Friday arriving at noonish after a 3 hour time change. Asked for a recommendation at the hotel desk for a place to eat and we were not disappointed in the Glacier Brewhouse. A quick stop after that at the Ulu Factory where they actually make an ulu with windows into the workshop. A restful evening. The next morning we are off to Denali park entrance area, but first a browse around the Anchorage S aturday Market. I am providing links to many of the places/activities we stopped at/for so as to not make this post a mile long!
On the road to Denali is where we spotted the black bear with triplet cubs (see earlier post for photo). We also stopped at one of the Denali viewing areas and although still a beautiful scene we were not able to see the summit today. See photo of the 4 of us in the earlier post. It was nice to get out and stretch the legs a bit.
Now we left all the arrangements as I said earler to the travel group. Sometime before we left I was notified that our hotel in the Denali entrance area was changed/upgraded due to some remodeling at our original hotel. No problem. So we arrive and the manager greets me and lets me know that they are overbooked, but not to worry. They have a view room for us at our original hotel and will reimburse us $100 cash for our trouble. Now, this worked out to our advantage for more than one reason...we catch the bus for our park tour at this hotel and we now are downgraded to a hotel that provides a continental breakfast. :) We are there for two nights so that is two free meals and not having to get in the car and park it before getting on the bus for the tour. Plus the cash. I think we did just fine. :)Sunday is the bus tour into the interior of the park. Kantishna Roadhouse Tour. It is a 13 hour tour that travels 90 miles into the park and back. The weather is unpredictable and it is a bit rainy on and off, but a good day none the less. We see moose,a moose with a calf, a brown bear and her cub (see below for photos), snowshoe hares, caribou and Dall sheep. I cannot even begin to tell how beautful the country is there in Alaska. Wild and true to it's name of final frontier. 1 in 60 Alaskans have a pilots licence as they aren't much for roads to places.This little guy decided he wanted to try my shoe for a snack, um, not exactly a good diet for a ground squirel. I was just fine with him sniffing it out but had to jump back when he decided to try a bite! It was a delightful day in the park, even with the bit of rain.
The next day we are headed north to Fairbanks and a visit to the El Dorado Gold Mine. A demonstration of sluice mining and we get to try our hand at panning for a grain or two of gold ourselves. We get to see, even hold a nugget worth about $40K but no big strikes for us five minute panners. Here is Vern and Irene trying their hand at panning.
The next stop was a side excursion to North Pole. North Pole Alaska that it. The street lights are candy canes and everywhere you look you would think Christmas was right around the corner. All the streets are aptly named for a town based on Santa.
The next day we travel on the Riverboar Discovery and get a sled dog demonstration from Susan Butcher's husband and a stop at Chena Indian Village. Another recommended spot for lunch at Wolf Run and on our way back to McKinley Princess Lodge. We arrive at the resort to a sight that happens only 20% of the time, a view of the summit of Denali! The clouds had dropped just before our arrival we were told and we were also told it had been raining and hailing for the days we were farther north. An even lovlier sight as we awoke to a clear view of the entire range before heading off on our glacier landing flight tour with K2 Aviation.Now as you know there is no way to convey the dimension of the real thing in a photo. It was an amazing sight! And even more amazing to fly amongst those mountains at 11,000 feet. The pilot told us when you get up there you lose all sense of size and he was right. It appeared we could reach out and touch the mountains and yet we were still a great distance from them. We landed on the Ruth glacier. Irene was not with us as she unfortunately was ill that day. The pilot took a photo of us with the summit as the backdrop.

I do believe this was the highlight of the trip. Especially for Vern. After this we drive to Girdwood on the south side of Anchorage. We stayed at the Alyeska Hotel. Talk about a fancy smancy place. We even got pillow chocolates before bed! We rode the tram up the hill to 2300 feet for a view.Tom and Vern taking photos over the edge.

The next morning we hit another recommended spot for lunch in Girdwood called simply The Bake Shop. The sticky buns are to die for and everything is homemade. Then we head to Seward.
In Seward we visit the Alaska Sea Life Center which was built after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It is a research and rehabilitation center for sea life. We see a bald eagle on a nest in the park and have an ice cream cone in town. Every 4th of July the town's population booms from roughly 3k to 20-25k for the annual Mount Marathon Race. Now 3 miles may not seem like a race for marathoners, but at 3000 feet up over those 3 miles I think it deters the likes of me very easily!
Our last full day in Alaska we take a scenic cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours. The 8 1/2 hour tour takes us out to sea and up into the Aialik Bay to view the Aialik Glacier. Enroute we were blessed to see a few humpback whales, several Dall porpoise, sea otters and Stellar Sea Lions. The one whale gave us quite the show with his rolling and diving and breaching! So very cool!!!
At the glacier we get to see a few chucks calve off and a harbor seal resting on an ice chunk too. The Common Mere and Puffins are abundant everywhere too.I think my favorite baby animal shot is this Stellar Sea Lion pup. :)
A fabulous trip! If you ever get a chance to go to Alaska, no change that, be sure to make yourself an opportunity to get to Alaska someday! We certainly plan to go back again!

Alaska

2009-07-02T18:18:00.002-05:00

We are into our last two days in Alaska and I have to say we have had a super time! I would recommend Alaska Tour & Travel to anyone looking for some guidance in planning a trip here. A couple of other recommendations we received from others were well worth passing on as well; For a great lunch in Fairbanks stop in at Wolf Run for a great soup/sandwich and please do not forget dessert! Fabulous and fresh! In Girdwood stop at The Bake Shop for another great sandwich on fresh baked bread or try their soup of the day. They serve breakfast too and I have to say no matter what you have, get a sticky bun!!! Melt in your mouth heaven!
I will add more to this post later with a bit of our itinerary and more photos. :D

Alaska

2009-06-30T00:01:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted in a while, sorry, I really didn't even get the Zimbabwe experience finished up for you and here we are in Alaska on vacation. We are having a wonderful time, good weather and I am enjoying good fresh salmon (the "others" don't like salmon!). We started out in Anchorage on Friday, drove up to Denali on Saturday, took an all day bus tour through the park on Sunday into the interior to Kintishna Roadhouse and back. Today we left Denali and headed to Fairbanks and a gold mine demonstration and then North Pole, the city of North Pole, AK that is.
Here are a few photos of the wildlife we have been blessed to see. A black bear along the road trip into Denali with triplets! A rare occurrence according to a park ranger who stopped along side the road with the rest of us. I was able to get a photo of all 3 cubs in one shot!!! On the park tour we say the moose and a grizzly and her cub. Such a beautiful part of the country!

Video Summary

2009-06-03T17:17:00.012-05:00

Tom produced this video as a summary of our ministry time in Zimbabwe. It's just under 9 minutes. All the songs they are singing are praises to God.

Thursday

2009-06-02T18:19:00.009-05:00

Another full day again today. Again we do our planned intro at this school. This photo is our group singing for the kids.

This is one of many huge termite mounds/hills that we saw all over the countryside. This one is near the school yard. Tom is 6' 3" or better and as you can see that is a mighty termite hill!!!

Marilyn and I again have the youngest kids. Today she is teaching the teacher how to make balloon animals. We, along with two teachers and Pastor Jeffrey made a balloon animal for each of the kids in the group. The kids loved them of course!

We have also been teaching the kids songs...this is a photo of the kids doing the "ape" motion in the King of the Jungle song. They also loved the "bubble, bubble, bubble" for King of the sea.

While we are with the kids at the school, Tom was asked to speak to a group that had gathered at the church nearby. Public speaking not in Tom's comfort zone he went with Jack and Joshua and introduced himself, shared about what he does for a living, about his faith and answered questions they had regarding us Americans. He said afterward that his "box" (comfort zone) was completely obliterated. A very humbling experience.

This afternoon after lunch Ephesians arranged for us to tour the crocodile farm that is next to the place we are staying. Now looking at a lot of crocs up close and personal, even behind a fence is a bit disconcerting, watching them being tossed food was another thing all together! They move a lot swifter than you would imagine and thank God for the distance we had during that experience! A healthy dose of respect for such an ancient looking beast.

Jesus Film

2009-06-01T21:25:00.008-05:00

While in Zimbabwe we partner with Life Ministry Zimbabwe, also referred to as the Harare team. Harare team because that is where their home office is. They receive the shipping containers sent by Gain and oversee the distribution of the aid. While here we also are partnering with the Jesus Film ministry.

3 evenings of our visit the Jesus Film team goes out and shows the film near or at the sites we visited that day. It was estimated that 1500-3000 people attended each showing of the film. It is a wonder to watch the people come and to see their reactions to the different parts of the film. The crowd may be small when the film begins but they still be trickle in as late as the 4th real of the film as they all are on foot and may walk many kilometers to get there. You get a huge turnout as the movie is entertainment and some may have never seen a movie before. The great thing is they all get to see and hear the gospel message. And many step forward to receive Christ or to be prayed for by our team. It is an experience beyond words as we lay hands and pray over hundreds of people; to hear what their concerns are for God and to feel the fever on those suffering from malaria, to see up close the need for clothing and shoes.I have seen the film now in three languages, none of which is my own English. I have seen it in Ukrainian, Shona and now Tonga. The movie still surpasses the need for words when you know the story being told.

Wednesday Ministry Sites

2009-06-01T20:46:00.008-05:00

After a full day yesterday and a debrief of what was working and what may need to be tweeked, we slept fast and were up and at 'em early again. We ran our program today about the same as the day before. Today after we are done with the classes though we help with lunch prep and feeding the kids. The feeding program uses food packaged by Feed My Starving Children and partnering with Global Aid Network for distribution in over 40 countries.

We each took a turn at stirring the pots to keep them from burning over the fires as well as a turn dishing up the kids. While we are stirring the ladies who cook for the kids each day are hearing the gospel and recieving an apron from the ministry. These aprons have the same colors as the bead bracelets that we use to tell the gospel message to the kids.

The needs here in Zimbabwe are evident every where you look. The torn and ragged clothing and lack of shoes. The lack of clean water and the many bore holes (wells) that were not functioning. The lack of medical care - there were many children with malaria in all of the schools we were at. No school supplies...how does one learn without anything to take notes on or with? And with no furniture in the classrooms and some without classrooms, just a tree and a chalkboard on the outside of a building. It is a humbling sight to see the need and to hear the children sing and see them dance in their barefeet.

Tuesday's Ministry Sites

2009-05-30T20:12:00.016-05:00

Lots going on today. First we travel to school site #1. A long and bumpy road. Bumpy is an extreme understatment to be sure! We regularly looked out the rear window to see if we had left any parts laying in the road, and in fact had to stop after one of the vehilces quit running. A bit of duct tape and Tom and we were back on the road. It is truly a miracle those poor trucks made it to the school and back again and to run the remainder of the week. At the school sites we are greated in an assembly fashion and go through the group introduction. Jaye performs some magic tricks with the kids and we do a song and skit. This was the same for each of the school sites. The students sang for us as well. The photo is the entire school body trying to cram into the shade of one tree. Personal note...there is no personal space what so ever here (here being Zimbabwe).
Then we break into 4 groups (which with 300-1000 students at each school our groups were rather large). In our smaller groups we share about ourselves, sing songs and present our sanitation and hygiene training, the gospel message and then each of the students received pencils and toothbrushes (for my age group - the older kids received carepacks). For the team I was on, we also gave away stickers and balloons and finger puppets. Marilyn and I, along with Pastor Jeffrey had the grade 0-1, the youngest of the children at each site. We use glitter to illustrate germs and for that age group focused on hand washing and teaching them to cough and sneeze into their elbows instead of into their clean hands or not covering at all. After leaving the school site, we visited a village that supports 53 people. These two women are the Chief's wives and the matriarchs of the village. We were able to witness how these people live everyday and see how slowly time moves here in this area in regards to changing of traditions and rituals. It was a culture shock for most of us...the women and men are very much separated and have their distinct roles. They demonstrated for us grinding of cornmeal and we even got to give it a try. Those women have arms of steel, not to mention the abuse their knees get! The Chief told the men how he would protect his village from lions. We installed/left a water filter with the village and demonstrated the difference before and after water quality. Water samples were taken from both before and after and tested for bacterial contamination. The photo is water before and after the filter. It was a truly amazing sight!

Being in the village left us with a feeling of being in an episode of National Geographic. After that unique visit we traveled back to the school site where our lunch was brought in and then were off to visit the community at the church near the school.
At the church visit our team leader, Jaye, spoke and shared with the people why we were there and two of our team also spoke, sharing their testimonies.

Onward to Binga

2009-05-30T20:01:00.006-05:00

After breakfast we head out in the trucks for Binga. Six or so hours later with a roadside stop for meat pies for lunch we arrive in Binga and meet our Binga and Bulawayo Teammates. The two Bulawayo guys are on the Jesus Film Project team and two Pastors and another interpreter form our Binga team. The Binga and Bulawayo teams will interpret the Tonga language for us as our Harare team primarily speaks Shona. Most of these guys actually speak several languages.

At our home here in Binga as we drive in we see two signs...Beware of Crocs and Beware of Hippos!!! Don't tell my mother - I promised her we were safe in going to Zimbabwe! Really Mom, no danger at all.
And Ah, okay...but they forgot about the beware of giganticly huge ugly harry spiders too!!! Same as last trip I had to find a spider the size of Montana in the wardrobe in our room - and Tom had to dispense with it! At least I managed not to scream, unlike another of our teammates who also had a vistor in her room - which brought about lots of laughter and guys making fun. Our dear Ephesians was actually trying to catch it not kill it to prove to us it was harmless...ah, pass thanks! And we just won't talk about the bats and listening to them sqeak living in the ceilings of our rooms...
Anyway, we did not have the opportunity to view the resident hippo and babies, but did hear them. And besides the scads of crocs in the river (no croc sightings at the hotel either) we were across the inlet from a crocodile farm that we were able to visit while we were here. More about that later.
This evening we review the sanitation and hygiene materials and the plan for the next day.

Sunset at Kulizwe over Lake Kariba.

Arriving in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

2009-05-30T19:53:00.005-05:00

From the air as we approach Victoria Falls Airport we have a view of the "Smoke that Thunders" - the mist rising above the falls.

We have finally arrived! We met up with our last two teammates in South Africa and we arrived in Vic Falls with most of the luggage. All but one piece arrived the next day. The one missing piece we found out upon our return to JFK left JFK the morning we got back to NY for Vic Falls!!! I do have to say that Bob exhibited the most grace I have yet to witness for not having his personal belongings for the entire trip. We are greated at the airport by our Harare teammates. Time for hugging old friends and making new ones. Two of the 4 we served with two years ago on our last trip to Zimbabwe. One other we met up with later we also served two years ago as well. Outside the airport we are treated to a welcome of traditional song and dance.From the airport we check into Victoria Falls Backpacker's Hostel for the night before heading out to our ministry area in Binga. We have a bit of time to rest from the travel, have dinner and be ready for more traveling in the morning. Now this is Sunday and we left New York on Friday so we are a bit traveled out. A good nights sleep and a shower were very welcome.

Travel to Zimbabwe via London

2009-05-30T19:39:00.005-05:00

Well in the effort to save many dollars on travel for missions, sometimes we have layovers that seem a bit odd or long. This trip we begin at New York's JFK airport as usual, have a bite to eat, meet most of the team (2 were meeting us in South Africa as they were in Uganda the first half of the month) and off we go.
Across the pond to London's Heathrow airport for an 11 hour layover. Not wanting to be stuffed in the airport for that many hours 8 of the 10 of us stowed our luggage and headed into London via the London Underground or Tube.
We did pre-plan this bit of excursion with sites to see and aprox time needed to carry out our plan. Well we soon found out that some of our tube routes were not running on Saturday - but this did not dampen or delay us, we just rearranged our route and walked a lot.
We happened upon Buckingham Palace just prior to the changing of the guard (which they no longer do the big pomp and circumstance ceremony about every day anymore). We were not able to see really well, but got a taste for the ceremony around it all.

A bit of fish and chips for lunch and off to Trafalger Square, Big Ben, House of Parliment, Westminster Abbey (which unforetunately closed 30 minutes prior to our arrival) and the London Eye over the Thames. I know I am probably missing something here, but these are the highlights. We had a very pleasant day with some sunshine and just a sprinkle of rain. The team was able to get to know each other a bit and tire out before the long leg of travel, 11 hours from Heathrow to Johanesburg South Africa.

Home again!

2009-05-29T11:29:00.003-05:00

We arrived home from our trip to Zimbabwe on Wednesday evening - just in time to crash headlong into bed! It really is a long trip - an amazing 24 hours just in air time, not including the airport time in between flights.
Unpacking is done, laundry is now done and mail sorted. Tom this morning is mowing and taking care of the yard while I went to work for a bit to organized my desk for Monday. We have a ton of photos to sort through and organize so I can get the trip posted here for ya'll to share in. Hopefully a week from now that will be completed, if not, please be patient with me.
It was a wonderful trip and we experienced so much in such a short time. It was also heart wrenching at the same time to see such needs with malaria and hunger, no shoes, torn clothing, lack of school supplies etc.

Take off to Zimbabwe...

2009-05-12T13:23:00.006-05:00

We are almost done packing...just those last minute things and then to double check the list. We will be leaving first thing Friday morning and arriving in Zimbabwe on Sunday. Sounds like a long trip and you are right! A bit longer than last time with a layover in the UK for 11 hours. But making lemonade out of lemons (not staying in the airport for that long!) we have planned a little excursion into London. It will be a nice break from the airports and planes and hopefully the walking tour will make us tired enough to sleep on the long part of the flight to Johanesburg South Africa. Then a short flight from there to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and off we are on our mission.

Check out this post's video for a snapshot of our last trip to Zimbabwe in 2007.

http://lisascorner2008.blogspot.com/2009/01/mission-update-zimbabwe-2009.html

And this post from 4/28 for what we will be doing this time there

http://lisascorner2008.blogspot.com/2009/04/preparing-for-zimbabwe.html

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support.

Blog Hop

2009-05-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the link for the blog hop! Enjoy!

Click here to Blog Hop!

BOLO

2009-05-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

Although I myself am not one of the blogs participating I wanted you all to know about this really cool blog hop taking place this upcoming weekend.

BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for a Parade of Paper Blog Hop to showcase each of Stampin' Up!'s beautiful Designer Series Paper packs. On May 8th and continuing ONLY through that weekend, I am part of a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from Stampin Addicts who are hosting a virtual tour through their blogs.
Each blog will showcase a different package of the fabulous Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! and will also link to another blog participating in the Parade of Paper Blog Hop. You may start at any post, stop and pick it back up later, or visit all of them in succession. You will eventually wind up back at the blog where you started.
Just like Cinderella at the ball, however, all the fun ends at midnight on Sunday, May 10th. The tour will be over and the blog links will be broken. So check back here on Friday, May 8th at 8:00 am when the Parade of Paper Blog Hop links go active and join in the fun by clicking the links to visit all of our blogs.
We hope you will be inspired by all the creative projects and beautiful scrapbooking pages and cards. NOTE: Some blogs may have additional contests or blog candy. Each will show off our expertise with one particular package of DSP, as well as give you a little taste of our personalities and our blogs. You can find all of us in the chat threads at Stampin' Addicts, a great site for demos and non-demos alike!

May is National Scrapbook Month

2009-05-01T09:38:00.004-05:00

May is National Scrapbook Month and Stampin' Up! has a great promotion to help you on your way to beautiful scrapbook pages with our Designer Series Papers and a Special Sneak Peek on an upcoming alphabet set that will be in the new Idea Book & Catalog, but you don't have to wait, you can order this set right NOW and for 20% Off!!!

Get a FREE package of Designer Series Paper or 12x12 Textured Cardstock when you purchase three.

Q: Is there a limit to how many free packs of paper I can get?

A: No! For every three packs of Designer Series paper and/or 12" x 12" textured card stock that you buy, you'll get one pack free.
Q: To get the free pack of paper, do I have to buy three packs of Designer Series paper or three packs of 12" x 12" textured card stock?

A: No. You can mix and match your paper; for example, you could buy two packs of Designer Series paper and one pack of 12" x 12" textured card stock, then choose either a pack of Designer Series paper or textured card stock for free.

For more information you can call, email or visit my demonstrator business website at http://www.lisascorner.stampinup.net/ where you can order online anytime, just click on SHOP NOW.

Preparing for Zimbabwe

2009-04-28T11:59:00.003-05:00

Life will be busy around here for the couple of weeks as we prepare for our missions trip to Zimbabwe (for more information on short term missions please click on the Gain logo on the right side of my blog).
This will be our second trip to Zimbabwe so we are a bit more prepared than the first time. We will have no contact once we reach Zimbabwe so please know, no news is good news. We are excited to see the familiar faces of our ministry partners and friends there and to be off on a new adventure there. We will be ministering to the Tonga people in the Binga Region, providing and installing water filters in schools and churches and teaching sanitation and hygiene to the students and community. We anticipate sharing with thousands during the week, a daunting number when you think about our small team of 11.
We look forward to being greated with the same warm welcome we recieved two years ago, meeting new people and making new friends.

Please pray:
For our preparations; both spiritual and physical prepartions such as packing
For the team to remain healthy during these next weeks as we prepare, travel and are in country
For those that we will encounter that their hearts are open to hearing the messages we are bringing
For our safe and uneventful travel

A Spring Swing

2009-04-25T19:58:00.003-05:00

Here is a cute card to make, a swing card. It was a fun card, although a bit challenging maybe the first time through. I am happy with the way it turned out, as were the gals I taught to do it Friday night.

Maybe

2009-04-17T16:32:00.000-05:00

Maybe...
Maybe . . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.
Maybe . . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way..
Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more..
Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone..
Maybe . . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.
Maybe . . .. happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
Maybe . ...... .. you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
Maybe . . .. you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Spring!

2009-04-15T14:03:00.005-05:00

Here is a window box I did on Monday. I found these tins at the Target Dollar Spot and the idea came to me so of course I had to buy a few to take home and try it out.

I used a styrofoam block with green craft ink on it (could not find green foam that day!) and lollipop sticks wrapped with flower tape. The rest are all Stanpin' UP! materials and a Sizzix die you can purchase through Stampin' Up!

I used Baja Breeze Textured card stock, So Saffron - which is embossed with a Stampin' Up! Background Texture Plate for the Big Shot, Pretty in Pink, Flower Fusion Too felt flowers, Courduroy Buttons in Baja Breeze and Summer Sun, Soft Subtles brads, Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set. The edges of some of the flowers are sponged too. It looks so much better in real life! The paper curls are SU paper too - Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper from the Ocassions Mini Catalog. Oh and not to leave out the So Saffron grosgrain ribbon the tin! I used my crop-a-dile to punch the holes in the tin for the brads/flowers (which is like punching butter!).

I hope you like my spring flower box!

Dinner Swaps

2009-04-06T13:51:00.003-05:00

For the Minneapolis Regional Seminar in addition to any general swapping we had two organized (sign up for) swaps that we did at dinner. These are the card swap and 3D swap I did.

You see me posting about different swaps that I participate in...swapping for those who don't know is a great way for us demonstrators to get a ton of ideas without going broke or creatively crazy! Each of us comes up with one idea and re-creates it - in this case 14 times - then we exchange (think of a cookie exchange) with each other and go home with 14 different ideas using stamps and accessories that we may not have ourselves (no commenting on what I may "not" have!).

This box was created using the new exclusive Stampin' Up! Matchbox die for the Big Shot. I used Kim's tip of puching a half circle on the end of the box to make it easier to open. Thanks Kim! The bling on the button is a rhinestone brad fed through the button holes and snipped off and folded over on the back. And as you can see I just love this gray paper from the Walk in the Park Designer Series paper featured in the Ocassions Mini Catalog. The Matchbox die and coordinating stamp set are also in the Ocassions Mini.

Minneapolis Regional Dinner

2009-04-06T13:47:00.003-05:00

Here we are at Buca for dinner after the seminar. 14 of us and what a great group to have dinner and swap with! Old friends, new friends and now all friends! Lots of good food (too much of course!).

Minneapolis Regional

2009-04-06T13:44:00.004-05:00

So last week Friday and Saturday Stampin' Up! had a Regional Seminar here in town. I was able to hang out at Mall of America on Friday with some of my friends that don't live closeby and we had a blast! Here's us in front of one of our favorite non-SU stores, Archivers.

Left to right, Kim, Me, Mary and in front Holly and Amy.

And thank you to Holly's husband for taking the photo for us and putting up with us crazy ladies at a mall!

North Shore

2009-03-28T11:07:00.004-05:00

So this weekend I am up on the North Shore enjoying company with girlfriends and celebrating 40th birthdays (3 of the 5 of us are turning 40 this year - Amy and Sara last week and Kristin later this year in Nov). Gail and I have already had the pleasure of that milestone birthday.

This is the view from our cabin. Most of the snow that was here in January when Tom and I were here is now gone. This taken yesterday when we arrived now looks like someone sprinkled powdered sugar on it. Although the light snow is pretty today it is pretty gray out. We are enjoying the fireplace, having had to call for more wood twice already! (So nice they deliver it to the door!) Playing cards and watching good chick flick movies our husbands just roll their eyes at (but we love them just the same!). Later this morning we will venture out for a bit to Two Harbors to visit the gift shoppes and maybe - weather depending venture up to Gooseberry Falls. There is plenty of water going over the falls this time of year so it would be a sight to see, but having run out for a couple pictures this morning it is a bit chilly out for a hike.

I hope you all are having as a delightful weekend as I am!

Recipe Swap

2009-03-20T22:06:00.004-05:00

This is my first ever recipe swap. I am excited to get this one back (due to arrive soon) to have a selection to not only show off to my customers, but to get all the yummy recipes my SA Sisters are sharing! I am not sure whose idea it was to do all the cutting out of the chef x2 and the little "burgers" but I am certain it was putzy.
Now the grilled burger recipe has been in the family for years and years, but we really cannot take any credit for it. My parents have been married for 45 years and my mom or Nana got the recipe out of the newspaper before then. Some of my friends dubbed them Lisa Burgers, but I cannot take the credit for this yummy recipe at all. I do have to say that this is the first thing I made for my now husband. :) I hope my SA Sisters enjoy them as much as we do all summer long.

Simply Scrappin'

2009-03-20T21:57:00.003-05:00

Circles cut using the Circle Scissor Plus and the Scallop Big Shot Die.

Simply Scrappin' Kits are just what they say! Due to my jet lagged brain and well, really I can't use that as the excuse...I booked a scrap demo before leaving on my trip that was scheduled for just 2 days after getting home and I neglected to prepare for it. Okay - well I at least had an idea about what materials I was going to use because I did get them ordered before leaving.

So the night before my demo I opened my Simply Scrappin' Kit - Sunshine Garden and tossed together in just a very short time these few layouts. No stamping here at all, just the kit, some ribbon and a couple of buttons. I think they turned out pretty cute for a quick project!

Goodbye to Kherson

2009-03-18T16:58:00.004-05:00

Monday morning is goodbye to Kherson and our interpreters. We have come to love them as a part of our family this week and there are many tears and hugs and lots of laughs too. The interpreters join us for breakfast today and we toast to each of them. I can say with my heart I hope each of them has an opportunity to work with the Gain teams in the future, their help and friendship was valuable and appreciated.

This photo is of the whole team, interpreters included. :) Our week has grown us all closer together and closer to God.

Sunday in Kherson

2009-03-18T16:48:00.003-05:00

Sunday in Kherson. Our last full day here is spent with our interpreters first at church services and then to their homes afterward to share a meal and meet their families. Today is also a special holiday in Ukraine, International Women's Day (March 8th). This a holdover holiday of the former soviet union, honors all women. At church the women in our group were honored right along with the rest of the congregation with a gift of a porcelain mug made in Ukraine with pretty blue flowers painted on one side.

We had a bit of time for sightseeing this morning and a brief walk through a market too. Church did not begin until 1pm.

Olga was a gracious hostess and her husband Sergey helped with the kitchen chores (in honor of Women's Day). :) We ate yummy borsch and another dumpling dish filled with pork. She made homemade bread for us too! And you can never say no to the chocolates over there, these dark chocolate with hazelnuts.

Saturday's Ministry

2009-03-18T16:25:00.003-05:00

Today we are working with House of Hope, reaching out to the neediest in the area delivering clothing and food donated by Gain. Each small group (5 groups today using all of our interpreters) and a representative from HofH will visit 3 families. We were able to spend a little time at each place just visiting and sharing the love of Chirst with them while delivering the aid.
Their stories vary from having a single parent with a small income that doesn't meet medical and food bills with a disabled child (whom does not receive a government disablity check becasue she has not yet be classified as to what is specifically wrong with her), to one working for the railroad and not knowing if she will have a job much longer to another who's job has not paid them in 3 months - they keep working though because there is a hope they will get paid vs not having a job and for certain not getting paid.
Our first and second families were in the same building. No elevator, walking up to the 3rd and 4th floors. Then into a common area shared by 5 families - one kitchen, one bathroom, shared by these 5 families and the rooms off the common area being 10x14 for two twin beds that are shared and everything they own crammed into this space. Both of these families have 3 children at home. The second family we learned has a son who was at a boarding house (sanitorium) for mentally disabled young that we had visited this week.
Dasha and her one brother Vitaly road in the mini bus with us back towards the HofH kids center after our visit so they could have some lunch.
The 3rd family we visited has 4 children and one of them diabled. The mama works very hard to keep her family well and together, but it is hard for her having to stay at home to care for her disabled daughter. The two youngest kids 11 & 12 made a card for each of us - which is really special to me since it is one of my hobbies. Before leaving I was honored to be able to hold one of their new puppies! I would say just about 4 weeks old with eyes just open, but not yet walking or weaned from mama dog.
Please keep House of Hope in your prayers. The community outreach and compassion they have is outstanding and my prayer is for provision to them so they can continue loving people for Christ.

Friday's Ministry Sites

2009-03-18T16:10:00.006-05:00

Well now the week is winding down, but we still have 2 sites today and a special ministry day tomorrow.

Two more boarding schools today. The first site a delight to share with the younger children here. Their biggest need here is food. A lot of the things we see at these sites have been donated from one ministry or another. The beds in this dormatory were donated from another group. This is a typical dormatory room. This site had a small office in the middle from the hall with a room off to either side of that office. One for girls, the other for the boys.

Our afternoon site we visit a group of kids a lot of whom have been brought here from the streets. House of Hope has been an influence on these kids to a great extent and many of them have already heard the message of salvation and could recite it to us. We were able to reinforce what they have already learned. They were excited about the carepacks of school supplies and children's bibles.

Thursday's Ministry Sites

2009-03-17T15:35:00.006-05:00

We start today at an Elderly home. Here the folks are unable to care for themselves without assistance and have no family to care for them. Unlike here in the states, most elderly family is cared for in the homes of other family members.

These folks were happy to see our young faces and smiled huge smiles as we sang to them. We shared the gospel, talked and gave hygiene carepacks to each of them.

Yelaina was a dear sweet lady, 89 years old whose story broke my heart. During presumably WWII, her baby daughter was killed in her arms by bomb shrapnel and while fleeing from those bombs she had to bury her in the woods without a priest or funeral. As you can imagine even after all this time she cried while telling the story, demonstrating with her arms how she was holding her dear little girl.

A home connection was also made at this site. When I announced that I was from Minnesota one of the staff had family in Duluth and has been to Minnesota herself. She talked about the lake (Superior) and the lift bridge.

This afternoon's boarding school we tried shoes sent from Gain on the children. We saw two groups here - the older children were split into 3 groups and then we all saw the younger children in one larger group. When talking about who we are and where we are from we use one of these cloth maps. On the reverse side is the United States so they can see closer up the states (regions) we each came from.

This guy here was in the back corner of the class and when given anything from the team he kissed and then hugged each and every item.

Tonight at dinner we are joined by Andrew, Galina and Natasha (not the one pictured with the interpreters) from House of Hope. Andrew spoke to us about his testimony and life and about House of Hope and how it started with Galina and Natasha trying to provide a safe place to get the kids off the streets and either into homes or into boarding schools where they would be fed, clothed and educated rather than prostituted. The ministry has grown and has a kids center when the kids can come for recreation, meals and a community outreach for the needy.

Wednesday' Ministry Sites

2009-03-17T15:08:00.008-05:00

Wednesday morning we were off and running beginning at a hospital. We split into two groups, one headed for a unit for children being cared for before being placed in a baby house or orphanage and the other group to the Opthamology department. There we saw many who were being treated as outpatients, so with their families with them for their appointments. I had the opportunity to share one on one the gospel message with a young lady named Katya (Kate). After praying the salvation prayer, Sergey who interpreted for me commented that he could really see in her eyes that she meant it, that she accepted the gift of Christ. We praise the Lord and pray the seeds we plant are grown to maturity in a personal relationship with Christ.

At the hospital site we meet with Father Sergey, an Orthodox Priest whom we are partnering with here. Dave and Fr Sergey look through the clothing aid boxes while Fr Sergey gets a smile out of placing his hat on Dave. His church is the chapel on the hospital grounds. He works alongside other Pastors in the area doing community outreach, together regardlets of demonination.

Another boarding school in the afternoon. This one we all cram into a classroom for a group presentation. As you can see we don't have much room in here to move around! After presenting the gospel and passing out carepacks and bibles the team heads to a play room where we put out the bears for the children to receive later.

On our way back to Kherson we stopped at a beach on the Black Sea. A popular spot in the summer months to escape the heat of the indoors without air conditioning.

Our interpreters from left to right: Natasha, Alla, Sergey, Irina, Natasha from House of Hope and Olga.

Tonight we had a free night. Before dinner we tried to get into an internet cafe and arrived to find out they closed in just minutes. Most of the team ate dinner at Nobel in Kherson. A few went for pizza (which most of the rest of us will do later in the week). It was a nice evening of fellowship with each other and our interpreters.

Tuesday's Ministry Sites

2009-03-17T14:48:00.009-05:00

Our first boarding school this morning no photos were allowed. The children here were physically handicapped to many different degrees. A lot in wheelchairs and using walkers or crutches. We met many of the children in an auditorium where we were able to greet them and share the gospel. The team handed out carepacks, bears and childrens bibles. We received a tour of their crafts classroom and were thanked at the end of our visit by the director and each of us received an art piece that the students had done.

The afternoon site was further out in the country. There my group met with children from 7 and up to 13. We enjoyed sharing with them about America and ourselves and they sang a couple of songs for us. We gave backpacks with carepack inside, children's bibles, and the always popular bears. One of this sites biggest needs was food, especially fresh fruit for the kids.

Tuesday evening at dinner we were joined by Father Sergey and his wife. We will be working with Father Sergey at the hospital where his chapel is on Wednesday morning. He shared with us his community ministry outreach that teams with pastors from other churches in the area to help meet the needs of the people there.

Baby House & Children's Shelter

2009-03-16T13:35:00.005-05:00

Our first day of ministry got off to an easy start with a visit to a baby house where the children are kept until their fourth year. Sergey’s (one of our interpreters) youngest sister had been adopted by his parents from this orphanage, and he knew the director and the facility. We were treated very hospitably and the children were a delight to visit. The GAiN boxes and wheel chairs were out on display and many thanks were relayed to us for this aid. We split into smaller groups and soon many of the children were being held. My team headed for the "special needs" children. The children were in play time so we were able to get down on the floor with them to play and interact. Nazar and Vanya have downs and were such fun tossing balls. A few we saw were in cribs, some with CP and some blind, or blind and deaf. Alina captured my heart. She was aprox 14 months old, blind, loved to suck on her little fingers and had such a sweet smile when talked to or held. We gave gifts of teddy bears to the infants and gospel explanations to the care givers. Later we were treated to chai in fine china cups and cookies. Karla experienced another joy in the kitchen as all four cooks prayed the prayer of repentance. Then it was back to the bus for our sack lunch, but the bus would not start. So we had time to eat our lunch without the usual bumpy jostling.
I should explain that years ago it was put on the heart of one of our dear sisters to not forget about those giving care behind the scenes. The apron ministry was born - the aprons have pockets in the colors of the gospel bead bracelets and each pocket is an explanation of the color. We designate a team member to visit all the kitchens to share our praise for their care of the children and to share the love of Christ who died for them as well as us.
One group got on a “mastruka” or mini bus to collect supplies at House of Hope and then visit a hospital. They limited us to a small number to the rest of us enjoyed a stop at a park while waiting to meet back up for the last site of the day.
The last site was a shelter. Due to an outbreak of chicken pox, only those of us who had contracted chicken pox previously were allowed to go into the youth shelter. These children are temporarily cared for at state expense until one parent is again able to resume custody. The children are not at fault, but simply victims of parental indiscretion. Often it is a single mother who has received a short jail term and thus no other care is available for the child. There were older siblings here taking on the role of guardian for younger ones. I have never had chicken pox, so this one I had to sit out on the bus. During the visit one of our team spoke to a young lady Lila. In their conversation, when asked what she wanted to become, Lila replied that she wanted to go to school to join the police force so that she could protect children from abuse. I am certain there are reasons unspoken for her passion to pursue this career at 13 years old. I pray she can fulfill her dream.
The bus thankfully worked well the remainder of the trip.

Ukraine Notes

2009-03-15T16:02:00.002-05:00

We are experiencing some connectivity issues today so we'll see how far I get.

Mar 1
The road to Kherson
After eating breakfast in Odessa we boarded our transportation for the week and headed out for Kherson. Our driver this week is Ura. Along the way we came upon a mile or more convoy of trucks parked along side the road. We learned later they were parked there in protest of the rising fuel costs and the previous weeks protest was in the capital city Kiev and there they blocked traffic.
During the bus ride we gathered in our small groups. In my group Bill and Adelle have been many times to Ukraine and for Marilyn this is her first time. This is my 2nd trip to Ukraine and my 4th trip with Gain. We arrived in Kherson to the Frigat Hotel, overlooking the Dnieper River. We stashed our stuff in our rooms and then after lunch met our interpreters for the time in Kherson. Olga, Natasha, Alla and Sergi. Our bus guide, Irina and our ministry partner representative from House of Hope, Natasha joined us the following morning.

First I will pass on my bit of understanding and I may be not completely accurate, but the general idea is this – the following are all orphanages, but for different ages: Baby House 0-3 years, Kindergarten 4-6 years and Boarding House 7-16 years. The children live, eat etc and attend classes all on one site. Some are orphaned due to having no living parents, some have been removed from parental custody and some have been abandoned or custody voluntarily relinquished.
Although the sites have been pre-arranged for our visits and delivery of aid, things are ALWAYS subject to change, thus the theme word for all of the trips is “Flex”. We have a general plan of how we would like to interact with the children, but some site directors have their own ideas and we do whatever we can with the circumstances we encounter when we arrive. And unfortunately, sometimes we are not allowed to come, even after all the preparations – and thus too the reasons vary.

Travel and Arrival

2009-03-14T08:28:00.006-05:00

Feb 27 started early. Before ya'll were even thinking of getting out of bed I was awake and on my way to the airport. And in good Minnesota fashion, it had to snow the evening before leaving, which stranded fellow travelers Bill and Adelle at our lovely airport for the night. They were coming from CA and missed their connecting flight in MN enroute to NY. With the wind and the travel time required they stayed at the airport and I stayed home (albeit only for a few more hours) until I had to head that way for my own flight.

Now as a result of the wind and snow my first flight from MSP to Atlanta was delayed in taking off for de-icing. Tick tock...arrive in Atlanta running for the connecting flight - changing terminals to of course the one farthest from where I landed...get to the gate and am hurried onto the plane. I said "thanks for waiting" to the gate agent and was told we were waiting for a crew member before taking off and otherwise I would have missed the flight. The weather had delayed the original flight crew and the one on the plane was called in at the last minute. By God's design of course!

The group all met up together at JFK in NY and our journey together began. We flew on Czech Air through Prague to Odessa, Ukraine. After the long flight and a layover for a few hours in the Prague airport we arrived safely, tired and all but one bag in tow. Gratefully, the one bag arrive later in the week and was even delivered to the hotel in Kherson.

We spent the remainder of the arrival day in Odessa at the Black Sea Hotel, had dinner and blissfully slept.

Now I know you want more than the travel blah, blah, blah and there will be more to come later when I get a chance to get back online. The photo is out of our room window in Odessa. The traditional onion dome of the churches. This one now under some renonvation. I have the same view from 3 years ago too!

Home from Ukraine

2009-03-12T12:26:00.002-05:00

I am now home, safe and sound, bags in tow. A bit jet-lagged, but not too bad. Landing at 11:30pm helps with that, you get home and get to go to bed right away for the whole night and hopefully changing to the correct time zone transition will be easier.
I am looking forward to sharing with you my stories from Ukraine - please be patient as I adjust to my regular life and spend some much missed time with Tom.
Thank you all for your prayers.

Ukraine

2009-03-04T11:28:00.001-06:00

Privet from Kherson!
We have been having a wonderful experience here in Ukraine, so sorry we have not been able to get to an internet cafe before now. We tried the other evening and they were closing in just a few minutes and I was not able to get posted.
So in a nutshell, we all arrived safely, only one piece of baggage did not leave NY, but has just today arrived in Kherson. The team of 14, plus intrepreters, bus guide and of course Oksana are all well and a very cohesive team. We have been at two ministry sites a day all week and tomorrow we will be partnering with House of Hope here in Kherson to make deliveries of aid to some peoples homes. Sunday we will church with our interpreters and join them in their homes for dinner.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. We can feel them here and are so blessed to have this opportunity. I cannot wait to get home and tell you more about each day and share a few photos too. There is just too much to say here right now and we have still to have dinner - tonight Olga (my interpreter) is taking Rhonda and I to a pizza place for dinner.
Love, Lisa

Mission Ukraine

2009-02-26T10:26:00.004-06:00

Well I am off to Ukraine tomorrow morning with a team of 14 traveling with Gain (Global Aid Network). I meet up with the rest of the team in New York at JFK. We are traveling on Czech Air through Prague and on to Odessa Ukraine. From there we will travel by bus to Kherson for the bulk of our mission.
Please pray for: the health of the team, safe travel and that all our luggage arrives when and where we do! That we are filled with the Holy Spirit. For hearts to be open to hear the saving message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That the work we do there serves God's purpose and plan.
I hope to have access to an internet cafe while we are there so I can post updates here throughout the trip. If not, I will have a lot to update when I get home! Photos will be added when I get back home as well.
Thank you all for your prayers and support!

With Gratitude

2009-02-22T17:24:00.003-06:00

We touch so many people in our day to day lives. Some directly and others indirectly - some unintentionally, some with much intention. My hope today is that all of those I come into contact with are touched by a positive result of my presence. Each day I try to be a better person than the day before. At some moments I succeed and at other moments I fail miserably. What I do know is that the people in my life right now, at this very moment are friends beyond my deserving and for that I am grateful. Most of all, for the love of Christ who gave His life for me and my short comings, I am forever grateful.

Sometimes we forget to say "thank you". Sometimes "thank you" doesn't seem to be enough.

In this case many thanks from many friends of a grateful person helps to re-enforce that no thanks can be enough for what you do, for the peace of mind you give by doing what you do. I hope the recipient feels the gratitude sent by many on behalf of one and knows how much she is appreciated.

This is a card I made using a retired set "Measure of a Life".

Cupid Swap - Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T08:38:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!
In keeping with the spring theme, today I get a cube organizer - way cool, has a "dry erase" side, post it's on one side and a clipboard side, jumbo paper clips monogramed, a beaded pen and dry erase pen! A clipboard with super strong magnets on the back! and for my upcoming mission trip, hand sanitzer 3 pack!!! I love the flower elements that were created on several of the pieces. And last but not at all least, Lavendar seeds for my garden come spring in the card from...KIM!
Thank you Cupid Kim!

Cupid Swap Day 2

2009-02-14T08:34:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the late post! It was another wonderful SA swappie day!

My secret cupid stays on the spring apricot and celery color theme (yeah!) with a cute tag kit in the decorated tin. A super huge binder clip (where ever did she find those?), chocolates and day of the week magnets.

Tomorrow is reveal day - get to open the last giftie and find out who my secret cupid is. Whomever she is I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

SA Secret Cupid Swap

2009-02-12T17:27:00.003-06:00

So my Swapper Anon Sistahs are at it again! This time a 3 day secret cupid swap.

Today is day 1 and this is as much fun as the secret elf swap was. My cupid has made for me a darling card folio with mongramed cards inside, matching magnet clip and yummy cinnamon jelly hearts! I really like the apricot and celery colors together - like a bright spring day! Which is much appreciated with this cloudy weather!

Free Stamps, Designer Series Paper and Ribbon

2009-02-02T10:23:00.007-06:00

Sale-a-bration is here! We have a new Idea Book & Catalog and it's Sale-a-bration time too! During February and March you can earn free stamps, designer series paper and ribbon from the SAB Brochure for each $50 purchase! No limits! Spend $50 (before shipping and tax) and choose one item from the SAB Brochure. Spend another $50 get another selection! Hostesses earn a Free SAB selection for each $300 on your workshop. Contact me to book a workshop today!

Plus, if you order from my website:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lisascorner/
you get a FREE Spring/Summer Idea Book & Ccatalog from Stampin' Up!
Important Note: When Placing your order online with me you will see a RED PROMOTIONAL Box at the bottom of your order form before you check out . Inside this Red box you will see The amount of FREE Sale-a-bration items you will get to choose from for your order of every $50.00 increment. You will need to Click on the CLICK HERE in this promotional box. This will allow you to add the Sale-a-bration items to your order. Stampin' Up! has NO other prompts set up to notifiy you. If you have any questions feel free to call me!

Click on the SAB Brochure photo for SAB Brochure pdf.

Mission Update: Zimbabwe 2009

2009-01-30T21:07:00.008-06:00

Previously I posted with some dismay that our planned mission to Zimbabwe in May may again be postponed. We had planned to travel to Zimbabwe in August 2008 and due to the political climate and inflation over there, our trip was postponed until May 2009.
Well today we learned we are a GO for May's trip. I am both surprised and joyed at the decision. There's a lot going on over there if you follow world news at all...a cholera outbreak and still a lot of political unrest. Also with the inflation rate in the country, shelves empty and basic services are unreliable. We trust God is in control and are ready for whatever adventure he has in store for us. Please pray for us as we prepare ourselves and our hearts for what we will encounter there. Pray for the team there as they prepare for our arrival.
We have a lot to prepare for, Tom is already thinking about portable solar power options for keeping those batteries and such charged up and what tools he can bring that God may lead him to use like last time. Filtering water will be a necessity this trip as well. The team will only be 10 this time. Pray for a cohesive team, for an adventurous spirit and most of all for God's leading in everything we do.
If you would like to support us on this mission, please send me an email and I can let you know how you can help.
God Speed.

The video is from our previous trip in April 2007.

My Very First Blog Award

2009-01-29T16:45:00.008-06:00

I am flattered to receive my very first blog award given to me by my awesome SA sistah Kim http://stitchinnstampinonpaper.blogspot.com/

Check out her awesome blog. I am always insprired by her work.

And now I am granting this award to the following creative stampers.
Please check out these blogs and leave a comment or two...
http://pammybabystamps.blogspot.com/

http://www.roamingstamper.com/

http://burninrubber-anotherstampblog.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much Kim. You Rock my Stamping World!

Kraft Swap

2009-01-28T20:02:00.002-06:00

Here's my card for a recent kraft swap.

Mourning Glory

2009-01-28T19:51:00.002-06:00

I know, it's a morning glory, but the card as you can see is for sympathy. The flower is popped up with dimensionals and the colored leaves are paper pieced on. I didn't have a background stamp with me so I just dragged the ink pad over the card stock for the background.