Tulip Vase

Someone at church gave me this vase. They didn't want it because there was a chip in the front on the left. I remedied the chip and now I'm going to give it back to the church. It was simple and fun doing it. The flowers were my addition to go with the vase color. Though they are not real, which I greatly prefer, they are all a lovely combination. Just wish I was a better photographer. Where's my husband when I need him?

Garden Visitor

This little Ukrainian imp explored around my garden not long ago. She even found a little duck to carry around. I love having visitors in my garden. Isn't she a doll?

Ukrainian Independance Day

Today is Ukrainian Independance Day. We are having a quiet day at the house. It is nice to have my husband Jeff home. In my kitchen I put a door where a window once was so we would have access to the back yard. Of course, it is a glass door so I can look out into the yard. Everything is so nice and green now, but I know it won't be long before it is a beautiful white landscape. Makes me all the more appreciate that today three white butterflies twirl around in a lovely dance back there. I've tried to plant flowers that attract them. I plant the flowers and Jeff and I both photograph them. It is as if we are trying to capture their beauty, as if we are trying to hold onto the moment, but alas it is only a few days and they fade. It is a reminder that our time on earth is also very short, like a breath of air and we are gone. Oh for the glory of what is yet to come and the memory of what is behind. Photo by Jeff Franks in our garden.

Last Camp for the Summer

Sorry I have been so silent, but I have been doing kid's camp this week. It takes a lot out of me. In addition I've been doing it with quite a painful back, but pain meds help. We are in a little village west of Kiev called Gorenechi. Each child is crafting their own scrapbook of their camp experience. I keep thinking they will finish and we will do another craft, but they just want to keep working on their albums. Many are truly beautiful. I'll try to get some pictures on here later. Pray for a strong finish today, Friday.

River Rock Path

Jeff took the lower photo from this. I wanted to show you the new path I am working on. We buy these rocks a bucket at a time and have been doing this for several years, so I have a couple such paths around the yard. They really do make for a lovely touch. And as we approach fall, the garden is in all it's fullness and glory. I love spring with everything new and surprises, but I so enjoy fall for all the lushness and abundance that surrounds me. It is a time, for a short while, when everything is so beautiful and made more so by the fact that in, not so long a time, it will all be asleep under a deep blanket of snow. Already our temperatures have started to moderate. I still have flannel sheets on the bed, no a/c and I wore winter pjs twice this week. May your Sunday be blessed with the joy and love of the Lord.

Samson in the Garden

Jeff took this picture of 14 year old Samson, who in the heat of the day (almost 90F. on some occasions), finds a cool spot mashing down my flowers. It's a good thing he takes the same spot over and over or I'd have to do something about it. Of course, at 14 (98 people age) one can't help but make a few exceptions. We used to have his sister, Delilah who was white, but she is romping in doggy heaven now. LOOK for the good today so you can see how God is blessing you.

I Couldn't Resist!

This is something funny I ran across on the internet. Again another example of far-flung creativity. As ingenious as this is, it must be someone with a lot of spare time on their hands, which is not the case for me. Nonetheless, it is funny and worth the minute it takes to watch.

Perfection

This rose came from a bush I started with a rose stalk (stick) under a bottle. I learned this from a Ukrainian lady many years ago and thus have started many this way.

Jaime Jorge, Poltava, Ukraine

My dear husband, Jeff and the violinist, Jaime Jorge left today for Eastern Ukraine to do a concert tonight in the town of Poltava. Leah and I stayed behind. It used to be that on the first day after Jeff left (he travels A LOT) I would be a bit aimless for a day and sometimes a little bummed, but that doesn't go on now and I look forward to the times alone. I suppose you could call that growth, as I am now better at planning projects, listening to Christian music and spending time with the Lord. No, I don't sit around on my knees all day. I'm much too hyper for that, but as I work in the garden or in my studio I practice His presence in my heart. It is a time of peace and joy and a time of prayer. Today I'm praying for safety in travel for Jeff and Jaime. In addition, I'm praying that the concert would go well and many would come and be touched for the Kingdom, that there would be no interference and all equipment would work well. Would you join me in this for the next week? They will do a concert every night this week and two mornings. Altogether he will do 11 concerts in 8 days. They need our prayer support. May God be glorified.

Behind Closed Doors

Behind closed doors we keep our hearts, so safe and sound all in the dark. But trust we must for hope of day, That we'll be saved from gone astray. That we can show our hearts the light, and know there's hope in life so bright.

New Widget

If you'd like to see some craft videos just page down to the very bottom of this blog and you will see a YouTube screen. After the first craft plays you can jump around to other crafts. Or you can push the button to the end to speed that up. Have fun!

Creating an Album

Front of album Back of album. This was made for a Ukrainian friend's birthday. I had the scrapbook, but decided to decorate it for her. I love creating, but even more when I can make things that go to a ministry purpose, which is about everything I do since I do classes and children's work in crafts. New camp coming up at the end of August. Lots to prepare for it.

Albino Peacock

How can anyone not believe in a marvelous Creator when you see something like this. Could this possibly be random chance, evolution or big bang? I don't think so. My daughter sent this to me. Probably one of those things circulating on the internet, but it was too beautiful for me to pass up and not share with you. We need more beauty in our lives. Enjoy! Thank you, Sarah.

Last But Certainly Not Least

Grandbaby number three, Tripp, shown with sister Jordan, had a birthday also in May and turned one year old. Here he is seriously studying one of his new birthday presents. Just a "chip off the ol' block" with his curly red hair and what a toughy he is. They are all such gifts from God.

July Birthday

Here's another little princess who had a birthday in July. Jordan turned four. Growing up so fast. This is granddaughter number two.

Birthday Number Six

My granddaughter, Julia had her birthday while we were in the states in May. We had a lot of fun. She was the royal princess of the day. I'm just starting to do a bit of blog catching up before my next camp at the end of this month.

Gift Box

The last few days have been about catching up on a lot of things, but this afternoon I took some time to just play. This box was inspired by "The Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge

New Gadgets

There are some new gadgets on here you might want to investigate. Look down the right side panel to find "Craft Critique" and "Making Mini-Scrapbooks." Then go down to the very bottom for some more. You could spend a fun afternoon just exploring these sites. The internet can be so fun and so addictive. Enjoy.

Pretties from June

These were done for a 4th of July challenge, but with the busyness of camps and visitors I just was not able to get them on. The challenge was from this location: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-books/ Also for some fun and easy instructions, check out: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/ Have a great day with joy in your heart and a song on your lips. Coleen

Sunset on the Kiev Sea in Ukraine

I caught this shot on my way home from a tent camp on the Desna River. We had a group of Americans come and do camp with a group of Ukrainians. It was a great inter-cultural exchange and a lot of fun. If you look closely in the hillside you will see a cathedral. Ukraine is famous for its lovely Orthodox cathedrals.

Pure and Pristine

This beauty, shot by my husband Jeff, from two different angles, opened in my front yard this morning. I take great joy in going out in the mornings to see what has changed since the day before. God himself, is a marvelous artist.

Making Bracelets At Camp

I'm the one smiling to the left. I love showing kids how to make bracelets and they love doing them. People in the states send me old jewelry which I break up and use in crafts of all sorts. Here necklaces become bracelets. Showing her new creation. These pix were at the Desna River Camp last week.

Tanya and Danna

These are two youth friends who helped prepare crafts for camp. They also made wrist cuffs (laying on table), for a trial run project for youth girls, using E-6000 glue kindly brought over by Dan and Cindy Williams. Glue is one thing we use alot in this ministry, so finding the right kind, for the right project is important. Thanks Dan and Cindy.

Altered Candy Box

Our Marvelous World - Truly Amazing

Check out National Geographic's Best Pictures of the Year for 2009 on this link: http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/spiritual/pictures/news.php?q=1245101530">

Smile Cards

Thank you to all who have sent "Smile Cards." This is Pastor Misha with whom I worked last week during one of our camps. I asked if he ever visited the sick. He said, "Of course," which I expected. So with some further explanation I sent him off with a handful of cards to put a "Smile" on someone's face. He thought it was a very interesting idea. These Ukrainian pastors are paid little, if at all. Most have side jobs so buying cards is just something they've never done. I hope to give him more soon. I feel so blessed to be able to do this. Thanks again for being a part of something bigger than all of us.

Scrapbooking in Camp

We just finished a week of kid's camp at our church and what fun it was for the children to be able to scrapbook their whole camp experience. Besides beginning to learn how to scrap, these albums the children made have another great purpose behind our doing them. When they go home and are shown to friends and relatives, they are full of verse, Christian songs and pictures, besides being pretty in themselves. They are a witness for Christ and His love in the church. To Him be the glory.

The Refreshment of Rain

I've discovered an interesting phenomenon in my garden. We can go for long dry periods where I water heavily to keep things alive and preserve my blooms. Yet, after a rain, regardless of the watering I have done, things just sprout up with new life. It truly does show who is the One in control of things. I can keep them alive, but God is the one who really gives the beauty. Maybe that is how our spirits are in life. We can live what seems like a pretty good life. We pat ourselves on the back and say, I'm not doing too bad. Yet, we really don't know the missing piece, because we don't even know there is a piece. There is a yearning in our hearts that we try to fill with all sorts of things. It can be TV, shopping, busyness so we don't feel the deep sadness, friends, workaholism, and all the other ism's. There is only One who can fill that empty spot, but it requires something from us. It requires our trusting. It requires our asking Jesus to intercede in our lives,,, to help carry our burdens. He knocks on our heart door, but he never pushes on it. He's waiting for you to open the door. Well, you say, I don't believe in all that! That my friend is what your head says, now ask your heart. Deep down, ask your heart about the pain and the emptiness. Or maybe you are too busy to even get in touch with such things. On the other hand, maybe it is too confronting. These things we can't understand with our heads, our thinking, these are things of the heart. Jesus said; "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." Rev. 4:1 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!" Ps 84:10-12

First Day of Camp in Bucha, Ukraine

Craft team along with the guys from Antioch Baptist Church of Conway, Arkansas did a great job of decorating for our week long kid's camp. Today we had 60 children and it will grow from there. The sign in the window greets the children with "WELCOME" in Ukrainian and you can see the kids sitting beyond that. Please pray that more will come and God will bless.

The Weedy Berm

We live in the woods. It really is much like Arkansas, only more pine and less deciduous trees. We really like it. As a matter of fact, we feel extremely blessed to be placed in such a lovely location. When we moved here our yard was all woods as well. This is a shot of a portion of our back yard. The bermed flower bed happened out of a bare weed pile of dirt that was left from some of the early construction. It is rather like us when we start out in life. God carries us through many trials during our lives and slowly replaces the weeds with lovely flowers. That is unless we allow bitterness to come in. That comes out of not trusting in the One who really is in control of all our circumstances. Some of us have been through early and difficult tragedies. Amongst several lifetime challenges, my mother died when I was the oldest of four, age 15. We can take such things and we have a choice...."we can get bitter or we can get better." We won't know the "why," answer to some of these things until we arrive in heaven, but we can be sure that God has a plan and uses "all things for good to those who believe" ....to put flowers where there were once weeds. So despite your difficulty today, or in the past, trust the One who loves you with a tenderness even your mother didn't have, for he rejoices over you. Just think of how he loves loves. "The Lord they God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Back Yard Beauty

I just cannot resist these marvelous creatures. Yesterday my dear husband was in town for only 8 hours so I picked him up at the airport and we were together until I took him back. While out, I spied a garden center (these are relatively new in Ukraine) and had to go take a peek. As if I don't have enough lilies in the yard, a good price on one almost done for the season, tempted me and came home with me. Though this is not it, I wanted to show you the richness of this one in my back yard. I have to keep hunting new spots to tuck in the lilies and roses. So far no new roses this year, but along with the lily came home a chrysanthemum of variegated red and white. Maybe I'll get a picture of it on here later, but it was so lovely I couldn't resist. Good thing I don't do the same with lost dogs or I'd really be in trouble.

The Gratefulness Spot - 365 Days of Gratitude

Now long ago I posted a picture of our ladies class. Now I'm showing you what we are doing. These books are very simple, but we work with what we have and these ladies have never done this before. We are documenting our gratitude daily and posting it in a book where we can also put photos, verse, poems, songs and just whatever they want. These first pages give honor to the church and pastor. The rest is monthly gratitude. We meet on Thursday this week, so I would appreciate your prayers for them as they get in touch with all the blessings God has given.

Princess

We have three wonderful grandchildren. This one is Jordan and she is the middle child who will be a whopping 4 years old very soon so I made her a special birthday greeting from Grandma. She does look like such a princess, doesn't she? I was able to be at her big sister's birthday and her brother's, but since I couldn't be at hers I sent her this surprise card. We miss a lot of birthdays and special events being on the mission field, so we just have to be creative in how else we do things. I do miss them, though. Fortunately, God gives the grace.

God's Splendor

I hope I don't bore you with these beauties from my garden. I find myself these days continually being drawn outside and this is lily time. Lilies and roses are amongst my favorites, therefore, I have several varieties. I am so often just amazed by God's great creation. The detail and variety he makes is truly incredible. Have you taken time to stop and really see what He's done? If you want a real treat, go to a botanical garden, but I can tell you His wonder is as close as out your back door. You know the old saying...."Stop and smell the roses?" Just do it and remember Who made it all.

Pretty Boxes

My daughter Leah brought these two plain cardboard boxes home from her camp week in the Carpathian Mountians of Ukraine and I thought they would be perfect to decorate for giving bracelets that I make. The interior is done with felt and mesh and includes one of my bracelets done with a vintage button. Though I've decorated many things before, the immediate inspiration came from a challenge at Secret Crafter that you can find here if you'd like to see more others have done: http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/

The Gratefulness Spot - 365 Days of Gratitude

This group of ladies are the prayer warriors of our church. As pictured here, they are also scrapbooking what they are thankful for every day of the year. We meet monthly to set up our pages for the following month. Then they do some decorating, but also continue it at home. We all are learning to stay conscious of God's many blessing in life by simply writing at least one thing each day that he has done for us. It is a lot of fun as we get to add pictures of loved ones or even magazine pictures of things we just like or represent something we are thankful for. In addition it is a place where we can chronicle events that happen in the month and so it makes a diary-like record. Some also add verse, songs, poems, just anything that suits your sense of gratefulness. Why don't you try it? Any notebook will do and then let me know what you think. I'd love to hear.

Mini-Book for a Friend

Front cover of this book measure 3"x3" making it a very small mini-album. Leah and I had fun doing some of these.

Interior page

Interior page, picture tag: Leah.

Back Cover

Jewels for Ukrainians

Many have sent us their old costume jewelry to take apart and use in crafts. Well, not long ago I thought of another use for it. Some things were quite lovely and I thought it a shame to break them up. Therefore, we now do a board of jewelry for the Children's Fair. This fair is held at the end of each Sunday school semester. The children earn points for memorizing verse, good behavior, etc. At the end of the semester we have a big assembly and fair where they are issued play money with which to buy goodies. The kids, especially the older ones, really like the pretties. This photo is Leah, our daughter, manning the "sale" as the kids buy with fun money.

Cracow, Poland

This is one of the doors of Cracow where we visited last week to do documents for Jeff's visa. If this isn't art I don't know what is. I have a thing about ornate doors and architecture so I take lots of door shots to use in my art work. Living in this part of the world has given me much material. When I retire and actually have time to do my own art work, I will have plenty to draw on. As for now, I am preparing for kid's camp starting on July 14th. It will be fun.

New Generation Wedding Invitation

This is to tell you a little bit about our family. Leah is 22 years old (just 2 days ago on the 16th). Since she was a little bitty thing she used to emote over wedding processions when she saw them drive by. I suppose it was that fairy tale thing about little girls and weddings. Well, that interest has never left her and I know she does hope to marry someday. Thus, we make it a habit to collect wedding invitations in a file since we know, as missionaries, that will probably be a do-it-yourself project. Well, this is not one we can put in that file, but it was so clever I thought I'd show it to you all here. Have fun. Oh, and don't let the title throw you off...no vampires.

Maps-Europe

I don't know about most folks, but Jeff and I love maps. Our geography got a lot better about this part of the world when we moved here 15 years ago. This one shows where the Ukraine is in relation to Europe. Also, notice Poland next door. That is where we were last week to get a new visa for Jeff's (my hubby) passport. Cracow, Poland is a lovely historical town. We rented an apartment for less than a hotel room and had all the amenities.....except an elevator. We walked up 5 flights daily, but by the time we left it wasn't feeling so hard to do. From this map you can see why they call Ukraine "Eastern" Europe. We border Russia on the east.

Gone Sooo Long

I made this little ditty to apologize for the long period of silence. After two weeks in America, home two days, then a week in Poland, well, I just fell behind, but I'm back. I also made this flower and card for a challenge sponsored by "The Secret Crafter" Saturday Challenge located here. Don't be gone long, more to come.