Sweet As Can Be

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!  Yay for being the middle of the week!!  Are you ready for Valentine's day tomorrow?  I have everything purchased {I think}, and I just need to get some packages together.  We are having a split Valentine's day, because we have things going on tomorrow night that can't be skipped.  SO- we went to the movie "Warm Bodies" last night {which was SO cute}, and then are going to make a big breakfast together tomorrow & exchange gifts.  It's fun kind-of celebrating all week long, don't you think?

I have a sweetheart of a Valentine's day card to share with you today!  I am just LOVING how this car turned out....I think it is one of my latest faves!  It's a mix of Studio Calico & Crate Paper, with some older odds & ends thrown in here and there.  Can I tell you my fave part?  The fact that I left the stiching strings as is...no pulling through and making all perfect.  I love the little bit of eclectic that it adds to the card front.  Might seem silly...but I LOVE it! Tee hee!  Without further ado, here is the card-

Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from kraft cardstock.
2. Cut background paper slightly smaller, then adhere a banner cut paper strip to the middle.
3. Add the pink paper square to the middle, then layer a tag, and 2 hearts to it.
4. Zigzag stitch down the middle of the hearts, then adhere the entire paper block to the card front.
5. Tuck a tab sticker in the upper right corner of the pink block, then accent the tag with a fabric brad.
6. Layer the sentiment stickers & dies to the middle of the card, overlapping the hearts.
7. Add the wood veneer & arrow diecut below the tab sticker.
8. Embellish the front with sequins, gems & pearls to finish.

Challenges:
-Studio Calico Sunday Sketch - Sketch
-Runway Inspired #29 - DSquared2 Insp. Photo
-Divas By Design #81 - Love & Romance
-Penny's Paper Crafty #114 - Favorite Colors

There are a couple things I used on the card that are older and not available in the stores on my linking thing.  The gems & sequins are from Michael's, and the fabric brad is from K & Company a few years ago.  The diecut arrow & little circles are from Teresa Collins "Sweet Afternoon" collection, and the glitzer behind the map heart is from the "Happy Travels" collection by Glitz Design.  I think everything else is accounted for....ask questions if you have them!! ;)

Alright...so I introduced sharing my Bible Study notes last September, but have been so busy that something had to give a little.  Now- I have not given up doing my Bible study....I just haven't been posting my notes.  Well, we have started studying Paul's letter to Rome....and I figured it was time to bring the notes back.  Romans is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and I am excited to study it further, more in depth and share my findings and feelings with you!!  Just to serve as a reminder...this is a judgement free zone.  I will not ever cast my judgement upon anyone...I might even be annoyed with what I read or how I feel at times.  This is me, sharing about what was stirred in my heart as I read....which might not be what someone else would take from the same words.  So, without further introduction...

Romans 1:1-7
Belong.
1. to be the property or possession (of)
2. to be bound to by ties of affection, dependence, allegiance or membership
3. to be classified
4. to be a part or adjunct of
5. to have a proper or usual place
When I read Paul's introduction in his letter to Rome, the sense of "belonging" jumps out at me.  As humans, we all want to belong somewhere, with someone...to be important in some way.  And the thing is....we are.  "And you also are among those gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." (verse 6)  One of my latest fave songs is "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers.  There is a part in the song that says, "I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart."  I read an interview with the band, & it was interesting to find out that the song was not written as a love song.  It was about a time when they were struggling as musicians, about lost love & lost dreams.  While the band didn't expound much further on that, I do wonder if the song was written as a reminder of how much they love music...no matter if they never made it big.  As I go back to the scriptures I studied for today, I think it is amazing how often we are reminded throughout the Bible of how much God loves us.  But, I think there is a purpose behind that....we NEED the reminder.  We have been freely given grace through Jesus.  I can belong to Him if I want to.  I just think we so easily forget that when we get caught up in our daily lives & relationships. Earthly relationships can be fleeting, but Jesus is with me forever.

So- today is Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent.  Are you giving up anything for lent in order to focus on God more?  I have one thing I am giving up, more for health reasons....but then it is also my intent to very specifically pray for someone very dear to me....every. single. day.  I am giving up Coke Zero (well, all soda in general).  It's not like I drink gallons of it per day or anything, but I have made it my treat for drinking water.  And I want to get past that....thus giving it up for Lent.  It might be the only way that I actually do it.  So- here's to trying! Ha!

That is all I have for you today!  I hope you have a great rest of your Wednesday!!

Until later,
~L.