Mid-Week Joy Report

NOTE: I have two blog posts today. This one and the Dueling Darling post which can be seen  by clicking HERE... or just keep scrolling. It's the post right after this one.


Oh my goodness! I wish you could have tagged along with me this week! Our state convention (Illinois Baptist State Association) hosts Children's Ministry Day every year. This year it was on Saturday, March 11th. There are several sites all across our state where children can take part in ministry projects of their choice. Nearly 1,000 children were involved in hands-on ministry this past Saturday.

I had the privilege of going to one of the sites to offer any assistance needed... and to go see the children in action and take lots of pictures. The site I attended had 8 project...

 Laying down a ton (literally) of mulch at a local day care:

Frosting/decorating cupcakes to give away:

Making gift bags/gifts for teachers at a local school that is closing 

at the end of the year:

Laying a patio for a swing at a local women's shelter:

Making tie blankets for the local pregnancy center:

The other three group projects were: going to the store and buying lots of groceries to replenish a church's food pantry, going to the laundromat and washing/drying/folding clothes for the clothes closet, and doing clean up at the park (they were going to paint benches, but the temperatures were too cold for painting.

All in all, it was a HUGE success!!! I enjoyed being there and watching the children having fun doing ministry!

Another thing that brings joy to my life is coloring (I'm doing the Daily Marker's 30-Day Coloring Challenge, so you know I like to color). I also find joy in making - and sending/mailing - cards. I made 14 this week. Not too bad. I think I mailed 5 this week. Oh and I experience JOY when I find a new ink that I love!!! It's Lawn Fawn's Jet Black - and it works GREAT with my Copics. A word of warning though: it does tend to stain my stamps a wee bit.

It's been a good week - well, if you don't count the snow we got. I am so ready for spring. LOL!

* * * * *

Every Wednesday I've been posting a card on my blog that is based on a chapter/excerpt from the book 50 Things Worth Knowing.

Chapter 11

"You Can't Fail Unless You Stop Trying"

Julia reflected on a time in her life that was not a happy time. She was 40 years old. She had an amazing husband and a 7-year-old son. Life should have been good, but instead she was disgusted with herself. In particular, she was disgusted with a habit that she couldn't seem to kick - smoking.

She'd tried to stop. She'd even had seasons of success. But hen she would be drawn back to the nicotine. It was a vicious cycle. And the end result, she feared, would be emphysema, lung cancer, heart attacks, stroke... not something she wanted to experience.

The thing that wouldn't let her give up on her desire to quit smoking though was her son. She knew he depended on her... a healthy her. So after each failed attempt, she'd try again.

One night, at a very low point, she cried out to God and begged Him to help her.

His response to her: "Are you willing to let me help you?"

She was and as a result she experienced a peace as she'd never known in previous attempts to quit smoking. This time she knew she would stop smoking for the last time - one day at a time.

It wasn't always easy, but she held on and she succeeded.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Images: Two Paper Divas Splatters

Sentiment: Two Paper Divas End of Your Rope

Ink: Lawn Fawn Jet Black (my new favorite black ink!) and Memento Cottage Ivy and Lady Bug 

Papers: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Ruby Red Cardstock and DP from my scrap file

Embellishment: Twine from an unknown vendor