Handmade Holidays!

Wow... it's November already...

Today is the start of the highly anticipated  Handmade Holidays over at Sew, Mama, Sew!

I'm so excited!  Today is the first day...

If you are unfamiliar with Sew, Mama, Sew's Handmade Holidays it is an online event in which you can win prizes, see free tutorials for Christmas gifts, and free recipes! Every day is a different theme... Today's is "Passion for Accessories"
 This is their 5th year doing it so the past 4 years of tutorials is still on their website and worth checking out...  I've been all over it ;-)


Here are some of today's tutorials:
(Click the photos to be directed)

Pleated Headband Tutorial

Cake Batter Chocolate Bark

Here are a few of several prizes for this week:

Are you as excited as I am?!?!?


Have a wonderful day!
~Amy

Faith Like a Child

My almost-five-year-old sister, Abigail, came to me a few weeks ago tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Amy, something's w-wrong with m-me!"

Me: "What? What's the matter?"

I get on my knees next to her and put my arm around her as she continues to cry.

"I f-feel like I'm gonna throw up!"

Poor baby. I tried to comfort her, thinking she was going to- you know- and said,

"Ok, go ahead- it's gonna be all right."

Abigail: "But I drank too much water!"

Me: "You will be fine- it's okay- it just probably went down funny so it's making you feel weird."

Abigail getting more upset: "No!  Water I got out of the bathroom!"

Me: "That's okay, sweetie!"

Abigail: "No it's not!  It's bad water! We w-wash our h-hands with it!"

I proceeded to explain how the water was really just the same as we drink in our kitchen except we have a filter for our drinking water in the kitchen but that some water from the tap wouldn't hurt her.

I went on to say that I was going to pray over her to ask God to settle her stomach.  Her answer surprised me.

"I d-don't think H-He can!"

In a bit of shock I went on to explain how God can do anything and even if He doesn't do wha

t we want Him to He has a reason for it that is good for us.

So we prayed... and I turned on a short movie to get her mind off her nausea... she didn't throw up.

A little while later I said to her, "I guess God really can can't He?"

~

A few days ago it happened again.

"W-will you p-pray for m-me?"

I thought you'd never ask, Pumpkin.

~

Yesterday it happened again- but this time she came to Daddy. He picked her up and was holding her when she cryed,

"W-will you p-pray for m-me?  It always f-feels better w-when we p-pray for it!"

It's like a sweet reward- those words.  I felt so honored to be instrumental in building the faith of my little sister.

It in turn built my own.

Photo Challenge: Music

Hello, all...

Kelsey over at A Ray of Sunshine is having a photo challenge... but I'm late and it ends today!

The theme is music... here's a photo I took a year or so ago for a friend who builds guitars:

Have a wonderful day, y'all!

 

~Amy

And the Winners are....

Congratulations to my winners!

(So sorry it took me so long to post... we had a VERY busy day yesterday!)

 

The winner of the Pinecone Votive Candles is.....

Alyssa at Alyssa Rose!

 

The winner of the Vegan Shea Butter Candy Corn Soap is...

Kara!

 

And the winner of the Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Soap is...

Kelsey at A Ray of Sunshine!

 

And the winner of the 3 sets of fall earrings is...

Vanessa!

 

And the winner of the Fall Leaf Soap set is...

Kara!

 

And the winner for my brother's adorable leaf coasters is...

Kelsey R. at Like a Tree!

 

The winners were pulled by my two wonderful assistants, Emma (9), and Violet (2 1/2)- so you know it wasn't rigged ;)

 

Please email me at aheartsurrendered@gmail.com with your mailing address before next Tuesday... if I do not receive it by then I will choose another winner...

Today's the Day!

Yay!  All the giveaways ended yesterday- the winners are to be announced today!!!

Please be patient as the entries are tallied... winner to be announced shortly!

(Unfortunately I may not get around to posting them until tonight or tomorrow morning... we have a busy day planned today- apologies, apologies...  :)  )

 

~Amy

It's Cold Outside!

I am wearing long sleeves.  I am wearing long sleeves.

I AM WEARING LONG SLEEVES!

Yesterday it was an average warm day here in the south- this morning it is actually COLD!

I was so excited- I finally got down my "cold clothes" bin and picked out a long sleeved shirt...  I'm looking forward to going through the whole bin soon (I would today but I'm working on Abigail and Violet's closets today!)...

We have the back sliding glass doors open in our living room- aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh....

Thank you, Jesus, for seasons!

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Where's Your Heart?

"for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:21

Most of the time when we hear this verse we think of "treasure" as our money, but what else do we treasure?  What do we hold dear- everyone has it- that is much more valuable than all the money in the world?

Time.

(Clock sold here)

It's a tough thing.... so much can steal our time away if left unbridled- TV, movies, Facebook, Twitter, hobbies.... the list could go on and on.  Are we investing our time into things that really matter?  Because whatever the activity, worthless or not, our hearts are in whatever we spend our time on.

Food for thought.

When I sat down to write this post I was specifically thinking about my brothers and sisters.  Do they have my heart?  Am I spending enough on my "treasure" of time (and/or money!) on them?

What about the Lord Jesus? Are you spending your most precious possession to read His Word- to pray to Him and to enrich your relationship with Him?  Your life is a gift- He gave you the time that you spend now as you please... how are you using it for His glory?

Just been thinking...  I know I need to work on prioritizing where my time is spent!