I'm one of the 99% . . .

...who is not currently serving my country in the military.  But I am very greatful for the 1% who are (and the many others who served in the past).


(Info on 1% from NPR broadcast I heard today and referred only to people in active duty...according to another NPR article veterans make up 10% of the US population.  Sorry I don't have a link to the broadcast.)

The Best Gift

What's the best thing you've ever been given?  I've been given a lot of precious gifts in my years on this earth, but the one gift that means more to me than any other is the gift that Jesus gave when he took the punishment for my sins and gave his life in my place.  He didn't do it just for me but for all who would believe in him, so that we could have God's forgiveness, not have to live under the condemnation of our sins, and be free to follow him.  If you would like to learn more about what this means, click here.

Praise God for his mercy and grace!

(My Own Story of Faith)

St. Patricks Day Blog Crawl

Hello everyone!  I'm stopping in for the Annual St. Patricks Day Blog Crawl at Cuisine Kathleen.

I've become more of a fan of St. Patricks Day since I learned more about St. Patrick...a man who was kidnapped as a teen, sold as a slave in Ireland, escaped, and later returned to preach the Gospel in the land where he was once enslaved.  I'm not inspired much by luck and leprechauns, but that's moving!   Ironically, I learned that from a small clip of a Veggie Tales Video called Sumo of the Opera (which doesn't seem like it should have anything about St. Patrick in it, but it does).  I've read up a little more here, and  plan to read his Confessio before this this week is over.

This year, inspired by all this and wanting to learn more, I started a little linky party of my own to celebrate the religious roots of this holiday....you can find it on my other blog by clicking the button below:








I've also been collecting some lovely printables I've found on various blogs...here's my fave by Lady Bird Ln (yes, I asked permission, and she was nice enough to give it).

Find More Free Printables Here

You see, while I don't believe in luck, I do believe in providence...that God intervenes in our lives.  Coincidence is just when God performs a miracle and chooses to remain anonymous.

So...

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

St. Patrick's Day Printables - Blessings

Though I don't believe much in luck, I am a firm believer in providence...that what seems like chance or luck may be the hand of God.    So, I am really loving these Blessings printables.

This printable is by Nifty Thrifty Things.

This printable is by Auntie LOL Crafts.

These two printables are by Lady Bird Ln.

St. Patrick Day Printables - Humor

Yesterday I featured some nifty free Shamrock Printables I found online.  Today, I've got a small collection of  witty St. Patrick's Day Printables....all free.

I'm loving these next to "Keep Calm" Parodies...

This one is by Two Twenty One.

And here's one by The Answer is Chocolate.

Now, I'm not much of a believer in luck (yeah, honestly...kind of ironic for a giveaway blogger...though I enter free blog giveaways with fairly good odds, not the lottery.)   Maybe that's why I love this tongue and cheek snarky quote by Thomas Jefferson that was made into a printable on C.R.A.F.T..

Check in Monday for some Blessings Printables!

Aloha Friday - St. Patrick

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question for you to answer--nothing that requires a lengthy response.

Last week I asked what was the first that came to mind of when you thought of St. Patrick's Day.  Here's the answers I got, in order of most to least...

• Green (or wearing green) - 5x*
  *more than that if you include green clover or green beer, or green Shamrock cookies.
   
• Corned beef and cabbage - 5x (2x with potatoes 1x with carrots mentioned)
   
• Shamrocks, clovers, or 4 leaf clovers - 5x (if you count the shamrock cookies)
   
• Green beer - 3x
   
• Irish Soda Bread - 2x
   
• Leprechauns - 2x if you count...
   
• Leprachaun, the Movie - 1x
   
• Posts of gold - 1x
   
• Gold coins - 1x
   
• Rainbows - 1x
   
• Guiness - 1x
   
• Green shamrock cookies - 1x

I was surprised that Ireland or Irish wasn't mentioned (except as part of Irish Soda Bread).  What I wasn't surprised about was that St. Patrick himself, or anything in did or was thought to do, wasn't mentioned.  Until a few years ago I had no idea who he was or why a holiday was named after him.  Turns out he was a fascinating man with a fascinating story.   If you'ld like to learn more about him, there's a great blog post about that here.  But before you read that, please answer my question...

• What do you know about St. Patrick?

You can answer in the comments.  Thanks!  And, if you would like to join me for a Linky Party celebrating St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday, I will be posting up a linky at my other blog, Scribbleprints sometime today.

Aloha Friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday. Every Friday (well, ok, almost every Friday) I ask a simple question for you to answer--nothing that requires a lengthy response.


So, this being March and all, my question is...

• What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of when you think of St. Patrick's Day?

You can answer in the comments.  Thanks!

Happy Valentines Day!

May you enjoy this sweet and cheesy holiday!

Valentines Day card by EventsandHolidays

Austrailia Day Giveaway and Game!

Happy Austrailia Day!

I wanted to wish all the Australians who may be visiting a Happy Austrailia Day!  


For those of you non-Austrailians, there's a fun Australia Day game going on at Make it Crafty, and its introduced me to some fun new Austrailian phrases, like...

Bob’s yer uncle
(No, actually, he's my dad.)

Good Onya!
(Hmmm...some sort of Austrailian blessing)

She’ll be apples

(As opposed to "she'll be oranges")

You can see a bunch more at Make it Crafty, and come up with your own meanings for them if you like!  But of course, she didn't tell us what any of them actually meant, so...if you happen to have some Australian knowledge or are willing to take the time to look it up, you can win a postcard from me here in Texas by telling me the meaning to the phrases about or any of the other ones listed on Make it Crafty in a comment below.  And if you happen to BE AUSTRALIAN you can win an even cooler prize here (no phrase interpretation required).

DETAILS

This givaway is only open to Austrailian residents over 18 (though you can ask your mom and dad to enter for you if you're younger).  I'll need your e-mail or your blog address where I can leave you a comment so I can contact you if you win.  Prizes not claimed within two weeks will also be forfeited.  Postcard Giveaway Ends February 1st (because I'm not sure about the time zone differences I will wait until the next morning close the giveaway for new entries). 

Merry Christmas!

Fun Holiday Fanfare at She Scribes

Over at She Scribes she's put on the Holiday cheer recipes, ideas and giveaways including a Beer Bread Recipe of mine. See a sampling of what you can find below...

Wowzio

grab this · widgets