This is thirty....thirty-two!

Another year. Another day. My 30's have been great this far. I dreaded turning 30 but quickly realized it was pretty amazing. This morning I woke up with "This is the day the Lord has made". Thank you God for another day of life, another year of life. I often dip into pieces of my past and wonder how on earth did I make it this far? God...that's the only explanation. Through all my life experiences and now working through my awful mood swings, He is the only one getting me through it. 

Today, I am here raising six babies and trying to be a "good" wife. After almost 14 years of marriage I still haven't figured out how to be a "good" homemaker, but I'm trying. 

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

The year ahead of me will be a year of healing my body & mind. I need to learn patience and grace. It will also be filled with lots of coffee drinking! 
~Cheers!~

Morning Glory Muffins with a Twist

Hello Spring!

I've taken quite a hiatus from blogging. I've missed the bloggy world but it has been refreshing. What's new? I had baby number 6 on May 1st! Baby Girl Averie. I'll do a blog post when I'm up to it. We've been taking it easy this last week.

I've had a major urge to clean and bake and organize lately. Making up for lost time in the last 9 months I suppose! Last evening, I began the process of emptying our gigantic freezer in the garage. It has lasted for the past 6 years and a previous 20-30 before that with different owners....it's on the verge of dying now. :( Time to do some spring cleaning! Lots of berries out there that definitely needed to be used up ASAP. So, what do I make? MUFFINS! With all these ever growing bodies to feed, muffins are a quick and easy breakfast or after school snack.

The recipe is adapted from a cookbook gifted to me many years ago. The book is called 'Muffin Mania' by Cathy Prange and Joan Pauli.

note* I am a one bowl kinda gal, so I really just throw everything in and mix it up! The muffin man would be very disappointed in my kitchen logic!

Morning Glory Muffins with a Twist

2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cranberries
2 cups Saskatoon berries
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup almond milk (optional, mine was a bit on the dry side so I added this)
Lemon zest to taste.

Mix it up. Fill greased muffin tins. Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes. Yields 24 nice size muffins.

These muffins remind me of McDonald's Fruit N Fibre muffins. But you will have to see for yourself.

note* I like to add what is on hand in my cupboards, You have nuts, add nuts, Craisins? do it. Raisins? Be my guest! Play it up to what you and your fam jam like! Have fun with it and make it your own!

Until next time,

The Abstract Mama - Winging it, One day at a time.

Word of the Year 2017

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33

Thanks to The Paper Shelter for this freebie background this past week!

It's a good day to start a new year! And with this new year comes another Word of the Year! My word is....

it is my hope and prayer that I can & will endure and persevere through whatever is thrown my way this year. All with God's strength of course, because I know I cannot do it on my own. 

Today has been a quiet, peaceful, & relaxing day. We made a huge breakfast, the hubs took all the kiddos sledding while I stayed home with the baby so he could nap. It's been a day of coffee, food, and family. I am grateful for the year behind us (the good and the bad), and looking forward to whatever is in store for this year. I am choosing to look at this new beginning with joy, and not fear. God is still in control no matter what is going on in our world...

Creative Corner Challenges - Once Upon a Time - Sponsor

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics...even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty or smart or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he? " A Little Princess - 1995

When I was trying to create something for this challenge over at Creative Corner Challenges, the first thing that popped into my mind was the usual Cinderella, Snow White, etc. And of course the ever popular TV show Once Upon A Time - although coming up with something reflecting that would be a little difficult I do believe! Anyway, going back to the original princesses. They all started where little Sarah did on A Little Princess. Beautiful life, loved by family, and some force that destroys their family. All to defeat the evil step mother (because let's be honest that's usually the culprit!) be reunited (in some cases) or find their Prince Charming, and yes, live happily ever after...

I am so in love with A Day for Daisies stamps so when I saw Fairy Queen Violet I knew I had to have her! Here's my rendition of Once Upon a Time...I love using watercolor technique in an abstract way. I can never have too much art work so as soon as I find a frame for this that's where it will be going!

As a side note: This will be my last post as a Designer with Creative Corner Challenges on Team Jess. Thank you to Jessica for inviting me to a whole new level of crafting and trusting me to be on her team! It was a great experience and I had so much fun exploring the world of digital stamps. Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors I've had the privilege to work with. Thank you to my Design Team family, you are all super talented and I wish you loads of crafty dust to continue to keep on creating. Thank you also to everyone who has visited the blog! Much love! 

I may be on from time to time writing whatever strikes my heart. But for now, my craft room packed away (and lack of a computer) has made this decision for me. I'm looking forward to spending this upcoming year diving into home-making and taking a break from cyber-space. 

Take care all, God Bless, & HAPPY CRAFTING! 

Creative Corner Challenges - 3 Layer Card - SPONSOR

Welcome back to the last challenge of the summer (sure flew by fast!). Today's challenge from Team Jess at Creative Corner Challenges is a sponsored one! Always happy to have Bugaboo on board with us!

Our theme is a 3 Layer Card this week. I hope you will join us! Let's see what you got!

Creative Corner Challenges - Anything But a Card

Hello August! 

Alright folks, get your thinking caps on! I want to see what you've got!
No cards this time, so I decided to make up some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) or you can also use them for your lovely planners! (Who doesn't love stickers?!) PicMonkey has done some upgrades and they are amazing! Creative Corner Challenges is where it's at, so head on over and check out all the fantastic projects our Design Team has created!

Please feel free to use this sheet for your own personal use.

       

Creative Corner Challenges - CONGRATULATIONS! - No Sponsor

Welcome to another summer edition from Creative Corner Challenges! Half way through July...I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer?!

This week's challenge from Team Jess is a Congratulations theme and we have no sponsor this week!

I did up a baby card for this challenge. It was fun to use a Peas in a Pod die from Sizzix. Here's what I came up with! I hope you will join us and play along!

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.

Don't let Satan
Blow it out.

Quite often songs will pop into my head for different situations. This morning's drive out to pick the kids up from VBS, was one of those times.
So many upsetting events have happened in the last little while. Families have lost their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers....so vague but just look/listen to the news and you'll see what I see.

I can't shake this huge overwhelming feeling of needing to pray. Praying for our nations, government, families, "bad guys"...falling on my face & tears pouring kinda prayer.
Lord use me.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

Creative Corner Challenges - Cute & Cuddly

Happy July Long Weekend to my Canadian friends and family!

This week's challenge over at Creative Corner Challenges is sponsored by Scribbles. Our theme is Cute & Cuddly.

It's always one of these projects that one or more of my tools mysteriously disappears. For this project I was wanting to do some fussy cutting. Well, do you think I could find my micro tip scissors anywhere? I swear, I lose these ones the most! I'm actually thinking of attaching one of those strings that people use around their necks for glasses! Oh well. So I improvised.

I've been on a planner/agenda kick lately, so I decided to turn this adorable little Halloween Hedgie into some stickers {using my XYRON machine} and paperclip goodies (using my birthday gift!!! A Laminator! WOOT!). They turned out super cute!

I hope you enjoy and will play along at Creative Corner Challenges!

Thunderstorm & Grandma

Our first real thunderstorm of the summer! The lightning leading up to it last evening was spectacular. It was full of orange hues and sheet lightning. It looked to be leading up to a powerful storm; I was gearing up for thunder throughout the night, but if there was any I didn't hear it, as I slept like a log. This morning I was sipping my coffee and I could hear the thunder rolling. It rained for all of 3 minutes. Just enough to water my plants for free and the children to dance in the rain.

*update* more rain showers throughout the day. It was refreshing!

Thank you God for the rain! Thank you for the rainbow that follows. Thank you for the promise of your rainbow.

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth". Genesis 9:16

Today marks my Grandma Lois' 73 birthday. She left this earth twenty years ago. I was 10 when she died. I'll never understand how someone that young is taken away from loved ones. I would have loved to have her around to share in this part of my life. There have been times where I wish I could pick up the phone and ask her a question about what I should do, or how I should handle something. I wish my children would have had the chance to meet such an incredibly self-less, & strong woman. 
Happy Birthday Grandma. We miss you.

This is the only photo I can find
of my grandmother.
I'm on a mission to find some more.
{Circa 1970's - Photo Permission
 from her daughter, my mother, Anna) 

Creative Corner Challenges - Glittermania - SPONSORED

Hello my crafty friends!

Today's Creative Corner Challenges by Team Jess is GLITTERMANIA! Get those jars of glitter out and show me what you got! It is also sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps!

You can find the digi stamp I used here.
Thanks for joining us today!

My Purpose for Today...

I often wonder what marvelous purpose God has set me up for! Ok God, how can you use me today? 

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So often I go against the grain of God's will and purpose for my life. Right from the time I was a toddler I was turning my mom's hair grey! I remember (or think I remember) packing my bags to "run away"; or getting lost in the mall because I was riding the escalators. I've tried to forget about a lot of stuff that happened in my earlier pre-teen/teenage years. But as I'm getting older and now raising a teenager of my own, I'm finding my baggage has caught up with me. I have been forgiven and set free, so I know this is just Satan digging up dirt. But it hurts. And I don't want my children to be hurt. I know they will make their own choices and have their own paths, so my purpose for today, is to pray. 

My children need me home & God will provide. He placed in my care 5 precious lives, and I am here to raise them; to raise them up to be a generation of people who turn to God for decisions, choices, in their good times and in their trials. I pray for their futures, their health, their schooling, their husbands and wives, that they will grow up to be God-fearing/God following individuals. I cover them in prayers and try to lead by example - that is all I can hope for. 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..." Galatians 5:22-23

This seems like a good place to start in prayer...for my children, but also for myself.

Creative Corner Challenges - Just for Men

Hello & welcome to a brand new month...JUNE! Holy smokes, half way through 2016!! June is my favorite month. But I'm a bit biased because it's my birthday month!

This week at Creative Corner Challenges our challenge is Just For Men! No sponsor this week so it's  a free for all!

Here is my creation for this one. The fun little bbq is from the 'My Kitchen' Cricut cartridge. The sentiment is a super cute wooden letter stamp set from Michaels ($1.50!) The red picnic paper in the background is from AMBillustrations I found on Etsy. Super cute digital paper!
I hope you enjoy and will play along!

Creative Corner Challenges - Clean and Simple SPONSOR

Hello Hello!

Welcome to another challenge from Creative Corner Challenges - Clean and Simple - We also have a pretty cool sponsor - Scribbles Designs.

Now this challenge is hard for me. I don't think I can do clean and simple. I had every intention of creating a clean and simple little mason jar filled with fireflies....this is what it turned out like:

Not very clean and simple hey? But I love it. I'm having so much fun with my Tim Holtz Distress Inks as watercolors.

This project will be framed in an 8x10" frame with a matted background.

I hope you will join us for this super clean and simple challenge! ;)













{GO.CREATE.ART}

Creative Corner Challenges - Ladies Night

It's May! I always love this time of year! Fresh starts!

We have a great challenge from Team Jess at Creative Corner Challenges.

Ladies Night! Have fun with it! What does your ladies night look like?

Here's mine! Well, it was Valentine's Day but my sister and I had fun!

{GO.CREATE.ART}

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #157

Good Morning all!! 

It's been a pretty crazy couple weeks at my household. But I'm glad I am still able to get some crafty time in!

The gals over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  are pretty talented! I love these sketches!

I hope you will play along!

Creative Corner Challenges - Spring Flowers SPONSOR

Hi all!

We have a lovely challenge this week at Creative Corner Challenges - Spring Flowers! We are also sponsored by a lovely company - Sami Stamp.

I had fun playing with layers for this piece. Scrap papers can be so useful when creating layers! And we all know how fast scraps pile up! I used my Tim Holtz Distress inks as watercolors on this beautiful flower digi. Thank you Sami Stamps!

Please stop by the other blogs and show them some lovin! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will play along with us!

{GO. CREATE. ART}

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #155

Hello there! Welcome to a new sketch week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

Here is what I came with! The feather is hand painted with acrylic paint on watercolor paper. The "love" was cut out on a cricut at a crop. I do not remember what the name of the cartridge was as it was quite awhile ago. I haven't decided if I will frame this or add a quote with it....time will tell!

I hope you will join us for this beautiful sketch!

Creative Corner Challenges - Must use embossing powder!

Hello!

 It's April. I can hardly believe it!
Our challenge this week with Team Jess is you must use embossing powder! How fabulous is that?! Check out Creative Corner Challenges  for more fun ideas & make sure you head over and show all our members some blog lovin'!

I'm a Paris fanatic!  I thought it would be fun to use this pretty stamp as my tool of choice!

Hope you will play along!

UPDATE! This week's challenge has a huge prize to be won!! Check it out! Crafty Individuals

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #153

Hello! Happy Easter Monday!

Here's a fun little sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge ! We are on #153.

Hope you will play along with us!
{GO.CREATE.ART}