need a thank you card

for this next week. My car has been in the shop for 4 weeks and this past week a dear friend offered to lend me one of theirs while they're away on vacation. When the offer came, I really didn't think I would need it. After all, the guy at the shop only needed a couple more hours and my car would be finished. Not so much. Computers just don't always cooperate and the control module in my car was no different.

Once I realized that I wouldn't be getting my car back anytime soon, I quickly called my friend before they left and made arrangements to borrow their car. It's been an absolute lifesaver for me this week.

That said, I need a thank you card for them. I've been playing with an idea all week and tonight it finally came together for me. The pond reed image is from Gingerloft; the card also qualifies for the challenge at There's Magic in the Air.

in an attempt . . .

to try something new, I trekked north a ways. Landing in Anchorage, AK I found myself with a beautiful knife in hand (made for me by my brother) and a stick of wood. Learning how to handle said knife was a challenge; I lost control a couple of times and once lost a cheekbone. Mistakes happen.

Frustrated with the process, I took a break for a few days. Coming back to the stick of wood was easier the following week. I had taken time to reflect on a few things and realized that artists will make mistakes. However, they won't throw away the work of art but will rather take those mistakes and work with them.

I decided I wasn't going to aim for perfection but rather focus on using this opportunity to whittle, carve, gouge, and otherwise work this piece of wood. Pleased with my progress, I set aside the beginnings of this winsome, yet imaginary, character only to pick it up the following day.

What did I learn? to make the best of mistakes; to relax and enjoy the process.

The end result? my first wood spirit

(p.s. The cheekbone that I lost wasn't mine. It belonged to this spirit - it was his left cheekbone. He underwent re-constructive surgery LOL)

Rumors of God by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson

Can God love someone like me?

How can I remain passionately in love with Jesus?

Would God forgive me for all that I have done?

How can I find complete freedom?

Everything seems so hopeless. Is there really hope for me?

The authors, Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson, have identified ten rumors of God and situate them within the context of the church and North American culture. Addressing each of these as truths of God, they then turn to challenge the believer in how these truths are being lived out in the lives of those that they encounter each day. They challenge the church to reach out, to take each of these fundamental concepts and move them from rumor to truth.

Using examples from their own lives, they show how the church can be a place where those who are hurting can find forgiveness, freedom and hope for their lives. Drawing from passages of Scripture, they present each of these challenges in a biblical light. They are passionate about reaching out to a hurting world and it is evident that they eagerly desire more for both those who claim to be Christians and those who are seeking the truth about God.

I was a little disappointed in the book in that it did not seem to present anything new. However, the approach the authors have taken is new and fresh. This book is worth reading, if only to be reminded of the impact that a vibrant and passionate faith can make in the lives of those around you.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I've been reading. . .

and have been scrounging for bookmarks to use. I finally decided today was the day and made one. I will probably have to make a few more since I have just a few books on the go! LOL

The Victorian Fan image (priscillastyles) is a freebie should you choose to participate in the Progressive Challenge over at CDAC. You have until the Aug 29th to sign up. The only condition is that by requesting the images (there are 6 different images being offered), you agree to make at least one project by the end of the month.

This also works for the SCS Challenge for this week!!