Create With Joy

WOYWW – Masculine Collage Card

Create With Joy — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:57:43 +0000

Happy WOYWW dear friends! This week, I thought I’d step outside of my girly comfort zone and create a card and envelope that’s fit for your favorite outdoorsman! You can easily create something similar using the products you have on hand! Enjoy the photos and the challenges!

Collage Card

Choose five stamps in a coordinating theme as the basis for your collage. Use colors that convey your mood - I chose vintage inks that conveyed my masculine, sea-faring theme. Use sponges to lightly dab and blend the background colors together.

Scenic Envelope

I created the envelope from a standard legal size #10 envelope, folded over to custom fit the card.

A cut-out of one of the stamped images serves as the envelope’s seal!

Card Challenges

For More Creative Inspiration
Join Us At

Wordless Wednesday – Cupboard Kitty

Create With Joy — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:40:05 +0000

Photo Of The Week
Legend – Cupboard Kitty

Thought For The Day
Curiosity never killed anything
Except maybe a few hours.
Unknown

Do you ever wonder what goes on in your home when you’re not around?

This week, I caught Legend – better known to some as Mister Naughty Pants – lurking in a new-found kitchen cabinet space! Now I am constantly dragging Legend out of forbidden spaces (for his own good!) but in this instance, I could see no harm in him inhabiting this particular piece of real estate for a little while, so I did what any good mom would do: I tip-toed down the hall, got the camera, and snapped a few candid shots as we both secretly delighted in his misdeeds!

Wordless Wednesday – May 16, 2012

Happy Wordless Wednesday, dear friends! It’s time to share your favorite family-friendly photos – with or without words – at the friendliest party in town!

To participate, please link directly to your Wordless Wednesday post – leave a comment – then visit your fellow photography buffs! You’ll make some wonderful friends and see some fabulous photographers along the way!

Please spread the word about this party by displaying our beautiful Wordless Wednesday button and linking back to this post (the code is on my sidebar!) It would also be great if you could use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!

Enjoy the party and have a fabulous week!

Want To Host Your Own Party?
Click Here To Get Started!

Inspire Me Monday – Week 19

Create With Joy — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:18:15 +0000

Meme Theme
I like the idea of Inspiration Monday.
Monday’s often get the short end of the stick
But they are fraught with potential!
Judy Palmer

Welcome to Inspire Me Monday –
A place to share your creative inspirations,
Sharpen your creative vision, and
Showcase your creative talents!
I invite you to inspire others and
Nurture your creative spirit by
Joining our Creative Blog Hop!

To participate, simply join my creative community and
Follow the guidelines at the end of this post!

What’s Inspiring You This Week?
Here’s What’s Inspiring Me…

Moms

Momumental by Jennifer Grant

This week, I had the chance to review Jennifer Grant’s
Newly released book MOMumental –
A humorous and poignant look at her Adventures in the
Messy Art of Raising A Family!

Hurry Less Worry Less For Moms by Judy Christie

I also had the opportunity to review Judy Christie’s
Hurry Less Worry For Moms,
Which is brimming with encouragement and useful tips!

Both are great books to add to your summer reading list!
For more inspiring ideas,
Visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!

Pets

Specially-Abled Pets

Did you know that May 3 was
National Specially-Abled Pets Day –
A day dedicated to people to consider
Adopting specially-abled pets!

Seven years ago, Mixed Media Artist
Mary C. Nasser opened her heart and home
To a very special dog named Daphne!
Be sure to read their heartwarming story!

You can learn more about dogs like Daphne and Lucy
(shown below) at BlindDogs.Net
Where dogs “see” with their hearts!

And you can learn more about Guide Dogs -
Which were featured in Week 18 - in
Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson

This book tells the heroic story of Roselle
Who heroically saves her owner Michael
From the twin towers on 9/11!

Highlights From Week 18

Fifi – About Blogging Time
Project: Embroidering

Once upon a time,
Fifi thought that embroidery
Was an “old folk craft”.
That was then… this is now!

Now, Fifi is hooked on the art
As is evidenced by midnight hours she is burning!
Be sure to check out her beautiful projects!

Charlene – A Pinch Of Joy
Project: Buttercream Cake Icing and Writing Joy

Beautiful buttercream.
Fanciful buttercream.
Delicious buttercream.
Yum!

Charlene just completed a
Wilton’s Cake Decorating Class
And shared her final project on this fabulous post!

Dawn – Beneath The Surface
Article: Miraculously Speaking, Dawn

Recently, Dawn lost her beloved Father-In-Law
Angelo Paoletta
And paid tribute to him with a beautiful poem
And a beautiful commemoration of his life.

What struck me most was her perspective on her loss:

I realized how much God has grown me over the years this past week;
How I am able to behold the pain and beauty in living and dying without fear.
This was not always the case.
This is seed faith nurtured by His grace:
Without doubt but peace and quiet confidence
In the One who is bigger still.
Heaven is rooted deeply in my heart.
Surely, I have a firm foundation in my God,
My Rock and Fortress.
My Beautiful One.

Be sure to visit Dawn and read her beautiful post in its entirety!

Laura – Beholding Glory
Guest Post: Blueberry Bush
Author: Nicole from Motherhood Confessions

Nicole is also dealing with loss…
The loss of her beloved grandfather.
As part of her grieving process,
She spent time some time wandering
In her grandfather’s beloved blueberry garden.

The story she shares shows how God spoke to
Nicole’s heart in the garden that day
And how He personally finds ways to
Make things new in each of our lives
If only we will open our eyes.

Thank you, Dawn & Nicole,
For taking the time to inspire us
Even in the midst of your loss!

Talent is timeless.
For more fabulous features,
Visit my creative friends at
Inspire Me Monday – Week 18!

****************************************************

Inspire Me Monday #19 – Week Of May 14, 2012

Now it’s time to share your inspirations! You can participate in Inspire Me Monday in the following ways:

1) Share “What’s Inspiring You” by creating your own Inspire Me Monday post! You can include any creative challenges you’ve discovered – any books or quotes you love – any bloggers who have inspired you – anything that has inspired you and will inspire us too!

2) Share your creative projects with us! You’re welcome to link up your Arts & Crafts projects – your Recipes – your DIY, Home Décor and Organizational Ideas – your original Writing, Music & Photography – you get the idea!

3) Visit the participants – share some comment love – let them know what’s inspired you!

When you link up, be sure to include the Inspire Me Monday button and a link back to this post on all of your entries so that your readers can join the fun! The blog code is on the side bar if you need it!

Be sure to link directly to your Inspire Me Monday Posts and Creations using the permalink to the individual posts – not your blog’s home page URL – so that participants can easily find and comment on your creations!

The party will remain open all week so have fun sharing – inspire me with your comments – and please, use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!

Want To Start Your Own Party?
I Recommend Inlinkz!
Click Here To Get Started:

MOMumental by Jennifer Grant

Create With Joy — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:07:13 +0000

Book Review

Are you a woman who dreams of motherhood and raising the perfect family?
Are you a new mom who is both excited and anxious about your new role?
Are you an overworked mother of six who is yearning for a time out?

No matter where you fall on the “mom” scale – Jennifer Grant’s new book, MOMumental – Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family, is for you!

MOMumental is a delightful memoir that pays tribute to the highs and lows of motherhood. Jennifer approaches motherhood as an adventure. Here’s a sampling of the destinations she’ll take you to in her book:

Do you dream of being the perfect parent? Make Velveteen Parenting – Adventures In Becoming Real your first stop!
Have you ever wondered if you’re raising a compulsive liar or a potential sociopath? A quick visit to On The Bwight Side – Adventures In Mistaking Kids For Mini-Adults is in order!
Do you sometimes feel like you’re losing your sense of self? An Escape To Gordon’s House – Adventures In Friendship will revive you!
Have you ever felt like you’re a terrible mom because of something you’ve done? You’ll find yourself in good company over at Mommy Misdemeanors – Adventures In Messing Up!

Sometimes, we need a little help from our friends to get through our days! Here are a few of the aids – some helpful, some humorous – Jennifer provides:

Are you a stress mess? Take the Signs You Might Be Burned Out and in Need of a Getaway With Friends test to see if you need a girl’s night out!
Are you on overload? Discover Five Multiple-Duty Products Busy Moms Shouldn’t Be Without!
Do you pray? You’ll appreciate A (Sort Of) Serenity Prayer for Mothers Of Young Children in an Anxious Time!

Jennifer’s book is helpful, humorous, insightful and poignant – a real joy to read. If you’re ready to take a foray into the MOMumental world of parenting – let Jennifer Grant be your tour guide!

MOMumental – Video Overview With Jennifer Grant

If you are reading this post in a format where you cannot see the video, click here.

Jennifer Grant

Jennifer Grant is a journalist and mother of four who currently freelances for the Chicago Tribune and regularly contributes to her.meneutics, Christianity Today magazine’s blog for women. In 2011, Thomas Nelson published her first book, a memoir entitled Love You More: The Divine Surprise Of Adopting My Daughter; Momumental from Worthy Publishers is her second book. Jennifer is also the co-founder of the Redbud Writers Guild.

You can read more about Jennifer at her website.
You can read an interview with Jennifer at Women Of God Magazine.

More Great Resources

If this book interests you, here are a few more books you may enjoy:

He Heard Hannah by Lynnette Kraft
Hurry Less Worry Less For Moms by Judy Christie
Selections From One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

For more great books, visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!

Stay In Touch

Keep the inspiration coming – subscribe to Create With Joy by:

Follow Create With Joy on:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Worthy Publishing for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Book Blogger Hop – May 11-17, 2012

Create With Joy — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:07:09 +0000

Time for another edition of the Book Blogger’s Hop – hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books! This week’s question is:

Who is your favorite book character?
I’ll give you a maximum of two choices, but they have to be from two genres!

This is a challenging question, but the first character that came to mind was Frodo Baggins from The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy! I like Frodo for many reasons:

He’s a loyal friend.
He knows how to have fun.
He isn’t afraid to face a challenge.
He doesn’t lose hope, even in the face of adversity.
He faces his fears.
He isn’t afraid to ask others for help.
He has heart.

So, who’s your favorite character? Let me know and if you’re visiting from the Book Blogger’s Hop, leave your link so I can visit!

For more fun, please join me at Friendship Friday and check out my latest Book Reviews!

Click here to see the Upcoming Questions for the Book Blogger Hop!

Friendship Friday – Childhood Memories

Create With Joy — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:11:47 +0000

Question Of The Week
Last week, we celebrated Motherhood.
This week, let’s celebrate Childhood by
Sharing a Childhood Memory!

Here are a few quotes to get your creative juices flowing.

Food For Thought

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life’s seasons.
Author Unknown

Childhood is a promise that is never kept.
Ken Hill

If you carry your childhood with you,
You never become older.
Tom Stoppard

It is never too late to have a happy childhood.
Tom Robbins

Childhood is a short season.
Helen Hayes

What we remember from childhood
We remember forever –
Permanent ghosts,
Stamped, inked, imprinted,
Eternally seen.
Cynthia Ozick

Childhood is that wonderful time of life
When all you need to do to lose weight
Is take a bath.
Author Unknown

What memories come to mind?
Have fun walking down memory lane and
Sharing your memories!

Friend Of The Week
As Snug As A Bug In A Rug

As Snug As A Bug In A Rug is an Australian blogger
Who loves to knit and is currently “knitting a square a day”!
She will be celebrating her first Mother’s Day this year and
Wrote quite a thought-provoking Friendship Friday post.
Be sure to visit this week’s Featured Blogger
And give her some love –
I know she would appreciate your follows!

Friendship Friday #18 – Week Of May 11, 2012

Welcome to Friendship Friday – a week-long opportunity to:

Foster friendships with other bloggers!
Share what’s unique about yourself and your blog!
Grow your blog and social media networks!

Are you ready to make some new friends? Then, come join the fun! Please follow these friendly guidelines:

1) Each week, I’ll post a question that’s designed to help you get to know one another a little better. To participate, simply create a Friendship Friday post that includes the Friendship Friday blog hop button and/or a link back to this post – then add your permalink to the party!

You can also participate by adding the Friendship Friday button to your sidebar and answering the Question of the Week in the comments!

2) Please follow Create With Joy and leave a sweet comment so I’ll know you stopped by! If you’re a new follower, let me know how you are following so that I can reciprocate! You can follow me on:

3) Visit your fellow participants and get to know them – building friendships is what this community is about! Support the bloggers you connect with by leaving a comment and following their blogs through one of the available subscription methods on their blogs!

The party will be open all week so that you have plenty of time to post, link and mingle! Have fun making friends and be sure to join me next week for Inspire Me Monday and Wordless Wednesday!

Want to host your own party?
Click here to get started!

Hurry Less Worry Less For Moms by Judy Christie

Create With Joy — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:18:46 +0000

Book Review

What type of mom are you?

Do you tend to put the needs of others ahead of your own?
Do you find it difficult to say no?
Is quiet time a luxury you only dream of?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, perhaps it’s time to read Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms by Judy Christie!

Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms is the latest in a series of books that Judy Christie has written to help women slow down and get more out of life. After interacting with thousands of overloaded, overscheduled and stressed out people each day, Judy wrote a book specifically for moms because they topped the list of worn out people she was meeting! Motherhood adds extra layers of responsibility and activity into women’s lives. Judy provides strategies for lightening their loads!

Judy believes it is impossible for moms to live fully when they are hurried and worried all of the time! To help moms live the most rewarding lives possible, Judy offers small but powerful steps they can take to immediately regain a sense of control over their lives. Her advice is practical and her priorities are well-placed. Judy’s book contains plenty of encouragement, anecdotes, and biblical wisdom, as well as a discussion guide moms can use to support one another in changing their lives.

What I enjoyed most about this book was that it was full of gentle reminders regarding things I know but often forget. Here’s an example of a passage that really spoke to my heart:

Remember: Wherever “here” is in your life, it is a perfect spot from which to take a new look. “Here” is the place where God is going to use you; it is the place where you will grow; it is the spot where you will touch the lives of your family members in a way that no one else on the entire planet can.

“Here” is the jumping-off point for making changes you have needed or wanted to make for a while or for helping you find contentment in the life you have.

To see what others are saying about Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms and to read interviews with and guest posts by Judy Christie, please join my other Tour Hosts at the Hurry Less Worry Less For Moms Virtual Book Publicity Tour 2012.

Judy Christie

Judy Christie is an inspirational fiction and non-fiction writer who loves to help people slow down and enjoy life! She lives in North Louisiana where she loves to spend her free time walking through the park and wandering through flea markets. You can learn more about Judy by visiting her website.

More Great Resources

If this book interests you, here are a few more books you may enjoy:

A Collection Of Wednesdays by Amy Gaither
Rules To Live By by Jerry White
Selections From One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

For more great books, visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!

Stay In Touch

Keep the inspiration coming – subscribe to Create With Joy by:

Follow Create With Joy on:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Abingdon Press for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

WOYWW – Tips For Making ATCs

Create With Joy — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:55:06 +0000

Happy WOYWW to you all! We are just a few weeks away from the great WOYWW ATC Swap of 2012 and I am excited to learn that so many 1st-time ATC makers will be joining this event! To encourage those of you who are still on the fence, here’s a few more ATCs to get your creative juices flowing! Included in this week’s batch are a House-Shaped ATC (#5) and a JAMS ATC (#4). For another variation, click to see my Folded ATC!

The best way to get started is to create lots of card bases in different colors so you’ll have a good supply of cards on hand when inspiration strikes! Gather an assortment of cardstock and your paper trimmer and start cutting! Here are some templates to help you maximixe your cuts:

1) If you are working with 12 x 12 Cardstock, use the fabulous 12 x 12 template provided by Club Scrap Addicts! You will find the complete instructions here to get an amazing 16 cards out of each sheet of paper!

2) If you are working with 8.5 x 11 cardstock, you will want to use the 8.5 x 11 template provided by Mirkwood Designs. You will get 10 cards out of this pattern. Mirkwood Designs has an extensive collection of papercrafting templates, including an Artist Trading Card Envelope template and an extensive gallery of samples!

Once you’ve made your ATC bases, you will want to begin collecting materials to use on your cards. If you begin making ATCs on a regular basis, you will want to keep your eye out for items that specifically work well on with ATCs! Next week, I’ll share some items that I’ve found make particularly nice embellishments for ATCS that you probably have lying around your craft room!

Before you go:

For your weekly does of Inspiration – visit Inspire Me Monday!
For your weekly Feline Fix – visit Wordless Wednesday!
To celebrate Mother’s Day – visit Friendship Friday!
To see what’s on everyone’s workspace – visit Stamping Ground!

Have a wonderful week, dear friends!

Wordless Wednesday – Charm

Create With Joy — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:12:57 +0000

Photo Of The Week
Legend – Charm

Thought For The Day
Kittens believe that all nature
Is occupied with their diversion.
F.A. Paradis de Moncrif

Wordless Wednesday – May 8, 2012

Happy Wordless Wednesday, dear friends! It’s time to share your favorite family-friendly photos – with or without words – at the friendliest party in town!

Enjoy the party and have a fabulous week!

Want To Host Your Own Party?
Click Here To Get Started!

Inspire Me Monday – Week 18

Create With Joy — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:04:01 +0000

Meme Theme
I like the idea of Inspiration Monday.
Monday’s often get the short end of the stick
But they are fraught with potential!
Judy Palmer

To participate, simply join my creative community and
Follow the guidelines at the end of this post!

What’s Inspiring You This Week?
Here’s What’s Inspiring Me…

Ann Voskamp
Selections From One Thousand Gifts

Every now and then you come across a writer
Who changes your perspective on life.
I’m delighted to introduce you to the
Amazing Ann Voskamp and her latest book
Selections From One Thousand Gifts!
I anticipate more sharing about my experience
With Ann’s books in the weeks to come!

Jennie Allen – Anything

What happens when you tell God
That you’re ready to give Him everything
And do anything for Him?

This is what Jennie Allen and her family
Discover – and share – in her latest book!

Beth Moore – A Heart Like His

If I were asked to describe God’s ideal person,
I’m sure I’d come up with a glowing list of accolades
That probably, no one could measure up to.

That’s one of the reasons I find the biblical character of
David – shepherd, refugee, king – so intriguing.

God called him “a man after His own heart”
Even in the midst of his many flaws and sins!

I believe that why God gives David so much space in the Bible.
He wants us to know that He does not require perfection
For us to be “women after His own heart”!

If you’d like to learn more about this fascinating man,
Check out Beth Moore’s book!

Highlights From Week 17

Connie Arnold
Inspirational Poems Of Joy And Peace
New Book: A Symphony Of Seasons

This week I’d like to welcome new community member
Connie Arnold and congratulate her on the release of her
Latest volume of poetry, A Symphony of Seasons!

Here is a sampling of her work:

Each of the seasons has its harmony,
with various melodies raising,
As a natural reaction that is expressed
when lives formed by God are praising.

Connie is currently in the midst of a 2-week blog tour –
Visit her blog for the details and to hear her read!

Life As We Know It By Paula
Project: Mother’s Day Cards

This week at Friendship Friday,
We’re celebrating mothers!
Paula is too –
Check out her collection of beautiful cards!

Annie’s Home
Recipe: Broken Jello Dessert

Now that warmer weather is upon us
Annie’s Broken Jello Dessert is the
Perfect seasonal delight!
It’s cool – it’s quick – and it’s colorful!
I look forward to sampling it this summer!

Brianne – This Is My Offering
Collage: Kept

In case you’ve ever wondered –
Artist Brianne proves that
You can make art out of anything.
She creates collages out of images she cuts from
Magazines, catalogues, brochures and cards.

Here is what she says of her art:

Sometimes I feel like…
All I have is crumbs,
All I gather is crumbs,
And it’s amazing,
A miracle, really,
How those bits & pieces come together
To create a cohesive whole…
But I suppose that is what happens
As I offer them up to Someone Greater…

Beautifully put Brianne –
Thanks for inspiring us with your Bits & Pieces!

The Fine Art And Ramblings
Of Lisa Isabella Russo
Article: PierScape Featured Watercolor & Acrylic Artist
Jo-Ann Dziubek-MacDonald

This week, Artist Lisa Russo shared the work of
Canadian Artist Jo-Ann Dziubek-MacDonald with us.
You will not want to miss Lisa’s post or
Jo-Ann’s beautiful art!
You can visit Jo-Ann at JDMStudios.Com.

Becky – Painting With Picasso
Article: I Wish I Didn’t Have Asperger’s

It all began when an anonymous Google searcher typed
“I wish I didn’t have Aspergers” and visited
A blogger who cared.

In response, a number of bloggers – including Becky –
Have written posts to respond to the anonymous blogger
And to all those who are feeling the same frustration
Of the anonymous searcher.

If there is only one post that you have time to read this week –
This would be the one I send you too.

Beautiful job, Becky, on raising awareness
And responding sensitively to those who “wish”!

Lydia – See Beautiful
Article: Guide Dogs Of America

I wanted to take a final moment to give a shout-out
To Lydia who is featuring the Guide Dogs of America
As her sponsored Non-Profit Organization this month!

This is a fabulous organization that I had the privilege
Of touring many years ago!

I actually wanted to apply to be a guide dog trainer
But Prince Charming wouldn’t let me.
He thought it would be too hard for me to say good-bye to the dogs
At the end of their training period!
Can you imagine that!
For the record – I totally could have –
But he still doesn’t believe me!

To learn more about Guide Dogs –
Visit See Beautiful!

**************************

Talent is timeless.
For more fabulous features,
Visit my creative friends at
Inspire Me Monday – Week 17!

Inspire Me Monday #18 – Week Of May 7, 2012

Now it’s time to share your inspirations! You can participate in Inspire Me Monday in the following ways:

3) Visit the participants – share some comment love – let them know what’s inspired you!

The party will remain open all week so have fun sharing – inspire me with your comments – and please, use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!

Want To Start Your Own Party?
I Recommend Inlinkz!
Click Here To Get Started:

Selections From One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Create With Joy — Sun, 06 May 2012 02:46:33 +0000

Book Review

How do you find joy when your life is filled with sadness?
How do you find meaning when you’re surrounded by the mundane?
How do you go from ordinary to extraordinary?

It all begins with gratitude.

Selections From One Thousand Gifts – Finding Joy In What Really Matters is a small book filled with exquisite photography and profound insights from Ann Voskamp and her best-selling book One Thousand Gifts, which graced the New York Times best-seller list for over 30 weeks.

It’s the perfect gift to give yourself and someone special in your life. It’s a book you’ll treasure for years to come.

Central to the theme of the book is a challenge that stems from a dare a friend once gave Ann:

Can you list a thousand things you love?
A thousand blessings?
A thousand gifts?

It’s a challenge that changed Ann’s life. It’s a challenge that will change our lives too.

Along the way, we will discover God’s blessings and God’s grace as He awakens and transforms us. As Ann observes:

Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will.

And I can empty because counting His graces has awakened me
To how He cherishes me, holds, me, passionately values me.

I am full of His love.
I can trust.
I can let go.
Surrender that gives thanks for what is given –
That is joy!

And so, we are encouraged to begin our own journey of transformation – our own journey of a thousand gifts.

Figuring Life Out – A Video Excerpt From One Thousand Gifts

If you are reading this post in a format where you cannot see the video, click here.

Ann Voskamp

Ann Voskamp is an award-winning author who writes for Dayspring and Christianity Today and travels for Compassion International. She’s also a homeschooling mom of six who once upon a time left the university she was attending – on full scholarship – to marry her high school sweetheart, her father’s hired farmhand. You can read more about Ann and her amazing life at:

More Great Resources

If you enjoyed this review, here are a few more books you may enjoy:

Live Like You Mean It by T. J. Addington
Same Life, New Story by Jan Silvious
Where Will You Go From Here? by Valorie Burton

For more great books, visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!

Stay In Touch

Keep the inspiration coming – subscribe to Create With Joy by:

Follow Create With Joy on:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Shelton Interactive for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Book Blogger Hop – May 5-11, 2012

Create With Joy — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:58:15 +0000

Jen at Crazy For Books has just revived her weekly Crazy For Books Blog Hop, where she invites Book Bloggers to answer a weekly question and connect with other Book Bloggers! This week’s question is:

What are the next five books in your TBR (to-be-read) pile? And, don’t worry, you can change your mind and read something different – we won’t check!

That’s actually a challenging question to answer because the stack on my desk is piled particularly high at the moment, but here is what I’m working on:

Selections From One Thousand Gifts
Finding Joy In What Really Matters
Ann Voskamp

Momumental
Adventures In The Messy Art
Of Raising A Family
Jennifer Grant

Hurry Less Worry Less For Moms
Judy Christie

Barbara Sher’s
Discover Your Dream Workbook

The Trauma Took Kit
Healing PTSD From The Inside Out
Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW

What’s in your TBR pile? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Click to see the Upcoming Questions for the Book Blogger Hop.

To read my reviews, please visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews.

To meet more bloggers, please join us for Friendship Friday!

Friendship Friday – Mothers

Create With Joy — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:49:11 +0000

Question Of The Week
Mother’s Day is just around the corner…
This week, we’re celebrating Mothers!

What do you love most about your mother?
Do you have any special Mother’s Day traditions?
What are your favorite childhood memories of your mom?
Are you looking forward to being a mother or grandmother?
What do you love most about being a mom?
How has motherhood changed you?
Do you have any tips for mothers-to-be?
What are the best (and worst) Mother’s Day gifts you’ve received?

Be sentimental.
Be heartwarming.
Be funny.
Whatever you choose to share,
We look forward to reading your ancedotes about
Mothers, Motherhood and Mother’s Day this week!

Quotes About Mothers

Here are a few quotes to get you creative juices flowing:

God could not be everywhere, and
Therefore he made mothers.
Rudyard Kipling

The most important thing a father
Can do for his children
Is to love their mother.
Theodore Hesburg

My mother is a walking miracle.
Leonardo DiCaprio

All that I am, or hope to be,
I owe to my angel mother.
Abraham Lincoln

Motherhood:
All love begins and ends there.
Robert Browning

It would seem that something which means
Poverty, disorder and violence every single day
Should be avoided entirely,
But the desire to beget children is a natural urge.
Phillis Diller

All women become like their mothers.
That is their tragedy.
No man does.
That’s his.
Oscar Wilde

Parents often talk about the younger generation
As if they didn’t have anything to do with it.
Haim Ginott

A mother is a person who seeing
There are only four pieces of pie for five people,
Promptly announces she never did care for pie.
Tenneva Jordan

By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers
Who do not have regular time off.
They are the great vacationless class.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Happy Mother’s Day to you all
And especially to my beloved Mother!

Friend Of The Week
McGuffy Ann – McGuffy’s Reader

McGuffy Ann is a nature-loving bibliophile who has been
Married to her musician husband for over thirty years!
Animals are an important part of her life:
She shares her home with four fur angels
And is heavily involved in animal rescue!

Cruelty makes her cry and last week,
Her simple wish touched my heart:
She wished that people would be kinder.
Be sure to read McGuffy Ann’s
Friendship Friday Make A Wish post!

Friendship Friday #17 – Week Of May 4, 2012

Welcome to Friendship Friday – a week-long opportunity to:

Foster friendships with other bloggers!
Share what’s unique about yourself and your blog!
Grow your blog and social media networks!

Are you ready to make some new friends? Then, come join the fun! Please follow these friendly guidelines:

You can also participate by adding the Friendship Friday button to your sidebar and answering the Question of the Week in the comments!

The party will be open all week so that you have plenty of time to post, link and mingle! Have fun making friends and be sure to join me next week for Inspire Me Monday and Wordless Wednesday!

Want to host your own party?
Click here to get started!

A Heart Like His by Beth Moore

Create With Joy — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:57:00 +0000

Book Review

One of the most beloved characters in the Old Testament is David. There are many reasons he captivates our hearts:

We love him because of his courage: this lone shepherd slew a mighty giant with a slingshot!
We love him because of his sensitivity: he had the capacity to calm a crazed king with his harp-playing!
We love him because of his authenticity: when we need to pour our hearts out to God, we turn to his Psalms, for who else expresses the highs and lows of life like David?

I believe that the biggest reason David captivates our hearts is his humanity. Like so many of us, in spite of his great strengths and accomplishments, he demonstrates an equally great capacity for sin.

David did not always own up to his actions:

He is prone to lying and covering up his wrongdoings.
His unchecked desires lead him to adultery and to murder.
He has a child out of wedlock.
His sins don’t just affect him – they affect his family as well!

In spite of his failings, however, God calls David “a man after my own heart” – which has great implications for us. If God can love and forgive David in spite of his shortcomings –perhaps He can love and forgive us too!

In A Heart Like His – Intimate Reflections On The Life Of David, beloved Bible Teacher Beth Moore provides us with an in-depth look at the life of David – the shepherd turned refugee who is destined to become King of Israel. Beth’s book takes you into every nook and cranny of David’s life – starting with his back story and ending with his legacy. Beth says that as you read this book, you’ll complete a detailed study of 1 and 2 Samuel, and find yourself immersed in many portions of Psalms, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and other Old and New Testament books as well. The book is so fascinating, though, it reads like a story – you won’t feel like you’re “studying” a thing!

As Beth writes, her goal is to help you answer the following practical questions:

How can a person be forgiven and restored after sin?
How can a person continue to be faithful to God when nothing seems to be going his or her way?
How can a person find God when he or she feels all alone?
How important is God’s influence on the family?

From start to finish, I could not put this book down. I found each of the 52 chapters captivating, and the review questions at the end of the book thought-provoking. This is another great book from Beth Moore!

Beth Moore

Beth Moore is the best-selling author and Bible teacher who first sensed God’s call on her life at age 18. Although she had no idea where she would be led, she decided to say yes to whatever God asked of her. She fell in love with the Word of God when she took a Bible doctrine class at her church under Buddy Walters, a former college football player who taught Scripture with tears streaming down his cheeks. She prayed that God would instill that same type of passion for His Word in her.

In 1994, Beth founded Living Proof Ministries, an organization dedicated to teaching women how to fall in love with God’s Word and live it out in their lives. Today, her speaking engagements take her all over the United States and around the world. She has been married for over three decades to her husband Keith, is the mother of two adult daughters, and a proud grandmother.

More Great Resources

If this book interests you, here are a few more books you may enjoy:

Anything by Jennie Allen
A Year With God by R. P. Nettlehorst
Deeper Into The Word by Keri Wyatt Kent

For more great books, visit Create With Joy – Book Reviews!

Stay In Touch

Keep the inspiration coming! Follow Create With Joy on:

WOYWW – Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)

Create With Joy — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:34 +0000

Wow… how many of you can you believe that it’s not only time for another week of WOYWW, but that it’s also time to ring in the month of May! Before you know it, Week 156 of WOYWW will be here… the week that many of us will be exchanging ATCs with one another! To help set the mood and build anticipation, I thought it would be fun to share a few ATCs I’ve made in the past as well as a few tips for those of you who are new to this art form!

ATCs are 2.5” x 3.5” cards that are designed to be traded among artists. You can create them out of just about anything – paper – cardboard – acrylic – fabric – wood – and draw, paint, color, stamp, and embellish them to your heart’s content! The creators sign, date, and number the cards (if part of a series) and trade them with other artists or use them as calling cards. Because of their size, they are perfect for trying new techniques – for using scraps – and for incorporating both recycled and one-of-a-kind materials! They are tons of fun to make. If you’ve never tried it, give it a whirl – you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to create miniature pieces of art!

Now, before you go, please:

Stop by Inspire Me Monday to see which WOYWWer is featured!
Visit Wordless Wednesday to see what My Sweet Legend is up to!
Make A Wish at Friendship Friday!

Have a fabulous week and a fabulous What’s On Your Workspace Wednesday!