Faith Discovery Challenge - {Woman of Virtue} and a FREEBIE

Hello! Before I begin, I wanted to feature this beautiful LO posted for the previous Faith Discovery challenge -Stay Focused. This was created by another beautiful and extremely gifted CT member of Faith Sisters, Cheryl in FL a.k.a. gonewiththewind in the gallery.
She is such a beautiful person inside and out and it definitely shows through in all her creations.

Her journaling reads:

"The Road goes ever on and on down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say."

And this is what she says in regards to the quote:

"I am not sure where my path is going, but I must follow it with eager feet, knowing that God will place me where many other paths and errands meet. Although I often want all the answers and struggle, it is so refreshing to lean on Him and know that He has my path, my road, in His Hands."

Please check out her gallery for more inspiring layouts and you will definitely be blessed, I promise!

Featured Layout for "Stay Focused" Faith Discovery Challenge

By Cheryl in FL

Can you believe it's MAY already? I can't! May is one of my favorite months of the year and also one of the busiest aside from the holidays. To name a few of the reasons I love the month of May is because of the annual National Scrapbooking Day that everyone all across the nation and even in some other parts of the world, is excited about. So much is happening in all the scrapbooking communities and it doesn't matter which way you scrap--paper, digital, hybrid--we all have the same passion to preserve our memories and tell our stories for our future generations. Woohoo, I can't wait! If you want to know what's happening right here at Faith Sisters, please check back here often during this weekend. You won't want to miss it!

{Woman of Virtue}

Another special reason I love the month of May is, Mother's Day which is on the 11th (also the day my DH proposed to me :). Not only do I love being pampered, but it's always a special moment for me to remember how extremely blessed I am to be a mother AND it also serves as a reminder to me that we should honor and give appreciation to our own mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends and relatives who share the common gift of motherhood. My own mother went home to be with the Lord when I was only 11 years old. And even though it's been a very long time since then, memories of her life and godly example has never left me. There was one day at the hospital before she passed away that I clearly remember and the last words she spoke to me was something that I believe were words that God knew would help me stay close to Him throughout my life. This is what she said,

"Always remember to love Jesus and to keep serving Him because He will take good care of you. Be a good girl and finish school so that you will live a good life. Pray for your sisters and Daddy to keep going to church and to always love the Lord."

I believe that was her prayer and God definitely heard it because most of it has already come to pass. After so many years of being lost, I found my way back to the Lord, I'm currently in school and blessed with a wonderful husband and two precious children, and my Dad re-dedicated his life to the Lord 3 months before he died. So, it's only a matter of time before my sisters and their families receive the gift of salvation which I have been fervently praying for and know will also come to pass. I guess what I want to share is, the prayers of a mother are very powerful. Like my pastor, Rev. Mary Stewart (wife of our beloved Rev. Ed Stewart) would say,

"Don't underestimate the power of your prayers. God listens and He hears and is faithful. Your prayers have value and we have such a privilege to be able to pray to our God who is alive and is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."

So in honor of all the mothers that we love and care about, this week's challenge is based on a passage that I think describes the highest standards of what a mother is and the beautiful role that they play. I know that we all would love to be as perfect as this proverbial woman, but I know that even if I may not do all that it says, there's one verse that I believe we should all focus on and it's Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." My mother was hardworking and sacrificed so much of her life for her family but. the one thing about her that was unforgettable was her love and faithfulness for the Lord, which is my understanding of what true virtue is. My prayer is to do the best that I can be to be a woman of virtue and to leave behind for my family, a legacy of faith, just as my mother did...

Challenge #11 - In honor of Mother's Day that is just around the corner, this challenge is based on scriptures found in Proverbs 31. This passage has always given me a glimpse of what a virtuous woman is like especially Proverbs 31:30 - "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." For this challenge, I thought I'd ask you to read and study this chapter in Proverbs and create a LO of your mother or someone that reflects the character of a proverbial woman. For some of us who may want to scrap about a sister, a friend, or a relative would be perfectly fine, too. Another option to this challenge if you'd like, is to scrap about what you feel in your heart when it comes to the person you are and the things that matter to you as a woman of virtue.

*click on images to see credits*

By Dahlia Co

In honor of my mother, Erlinda A. DeGuzman

By Terrie L.

By Jackie Ann

By Tammy

By Rita S.

I do have one more thing to mention!!!! Don't go away just yet! I have a free download for you and maybe you'll be able to use it for this week's challenge! I hope you like it!

Download here.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing your work! It's never too late to do any of our previous challenges so feel welcome to join in at any time! :) For discussion and info, please visit our FDC forums as well. Take care and have a blessed weekend!

Faith Discovery Challenge {February Highlights}, Announcement, and a FREE Gift

February is now behind us and we’re now approaching the end of the winter season for most parts of the world. Springtime is starting to make its way back and from where I live, I’m already seeing the changes that are taking place outside. The air is warming up under the sun, flower buds are opening, leaves are starting to sprout from the bare branches, and I’m beginning to see more birds flying around the neighborhood. I guess I’m one of those people that really love to watch the different transitions between seasons and the little changes that take place especially the RENEWAL of life in different forms. It’s something that keeps me reminded of how God renews us when we grow weary or tired, He gives us strength when we need it most, He lifts up our heads when we feel suppressed, He makes us new inside and out. He is our redeemer that keeps us from stumbling and helps us on our journey through life. Every day is a new day, a new beginning. One of my favorite verses that I love to read when I'm feeling spiritually or physically exhausted is in Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."

Speaking of RENEWAL, I’d also like to make a little ANNOUNCEMENT! I will be taking a few weeks off to take care of some business with housework, family, and my wonderful taxes, so please know that the FAITH DISCOVERY CHALLENGES IS ON BREAK! Spring break that is! I do want you to keep coming back for updates on some new changes and new things that I’m going to be doing when I do return so, please don’t forget to check back in a few weeks! And because I appreciate you all so much for being so wonderful and supportive of me throughout this all, I made a little freebie for you!

Download here.

Anyways, the Faith Discovery Challenges for February were about things that dealt with love and hopefully gave us a better understanding of God’s amazing love towards us all. It also gave us a chance to remember certain loved ones in our lives who were great examples of Christ-like love, a love that simply surpasses our expectations. To me, it was a challenge to really pick the topics that I felt the Lord wanted to have me share because there’s such a wide range of themes that I could have touched on. But what I came up with was to emphasize the love of Christ and His ultimate demonstration of real, immeasurable, sacrificial, selfless love that nothing in this world can compare to and how we can follow that example. I appreciate all of you who participated and gave me an even greater appreciation for His perfect love, just by reading some of your precious words concerning the love of Jesus. Thank you so much for being a blessing to me as well as to everyone who were touched by it!

Again, I have prepared slideshows for all the layouts created for each FDC challenge in February weeks #4 - #8. If you’d like to take a closer look at these galleries, please go to our Faith Discovery Challenge Gallery and leave some love for these talented ladies! These layouts were taken directly from our gallery so, if you do have a layout for these challenges that are in a different place in the gallery, please let me know and I will add it in.

Week #4 - {Desires of the Heart}

Week #5 - {A Pure Heart}

Week #6 - {Lover of My Soul}

Week #7 - {Sacrifices of Love}

Week #8 - {Unconditional Love}

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FDC Forum

FDC Gallery

Faith Discovery Challenge #8 - {Unconditional Love} and a FREEBIE

There was a time that I felt like nobody cared and that I had no one to trust my heart with because I always felt like the moment I’d let someone grow close to me, I would just end up being hurt. I felt that if someone really knew all my faults and weaknesses, it would just give them a reason to shut the door and leave. Deep down, I felt alone and wanted so desperately for someone to care about me regardless of the things that aren’t perfect about me or my life. When I came to know the Lord in my early years of being a Christian, I still had so many insecurities about myself and kept this guard up so that no one would be able to see how vulnerable I was. There was this distance that I kept between myself and everyone I met. I just felt like I needed to protect myself even though I knew I was being surrounded by so many well-meaning, compassionate, and godly people who only wanted to help me grow and mature in my relationship with God.

Shortly after being settled in my new church home, I began to open up and met this wonderful young man who became nothing to me but, a very good friend or should I say ‘brother in Christ’. I actually felt like I could be myself with him and share everything about the person I am, even things of my worldly past without feeling at all embarrassed. It was a wonderful feeling to be honest with myself and know that this person honestly still cared about me despite my past. He made me realize that God does love and care about me even when we I mistakes or have fallen short. His friendship was one I had never known in my entire life, one that was literally genuine and real. Eight years later, he is still my best friend and also the man I’m happily married to! We’ve been through so many changes and so many struggles in life but, as time went by we have learned that nothing can separate the love we have regardless of how imperfect we are. God would reveal to us every day that His love is faithful. We’ve grown to always turn to the Lord when we fall short and know that when we repent and ask forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive and His love is unfailing. He is our rock, our redeemer, our everlasting Father! And forever, He will keep us close to Him if we seek Him and love Him with all of our hearts…

As I think back of all the things that I did against the Lord’s will, and wonder how can God still love a person like me? Have you ever thought that? Even today, I feel so undeserving of His love and grace as He continues to bless my life. I believe we all should be reminded of the unconditional love of our Savior who died for us. I know that every challenge so far has been about the love of Christ and how it cost His life to give us salvation. I just can’t stress it enough how amazing His love is that even when we fail, He never fails. His love can never be measured nor will anything we do to fall short is ever too much for Him to not love us. No matter what we do, we can never change His love for us. His love is eternal and endless and what a privilege it is to belong to Him!

Here are some verses that have spoken to me during this challenge:

Psalm 103:12 – “So far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Challenge #8 –Create a layout of what unconditional love is to you. What things has God revealed to you about His love for you even when you feel like you don’t deserve it. We know Christ loved us unconditionally and went to the cross for our sins... But, what are some of your experiences? With your spouse, children, family or friend? Maybe someone taught you the meaning of what it means to love someone despite their failures or mistakes. Or maybe someone loved you enough despite all of your imperfections. Whatever it may be, let God speak to your heart and have Him reveal His love to you in a deeper way...

Here is my layout:

All designs are from this week's free collab kit, "Unconditional Love". See below!

Be sure to upload your layouts to gallery for this week's challenge!

This week's giveaway is a lot bigger than what we've normally been giving so, I hope you leave us some love and post some comments! Also, it would be great to see your work using this kit so, please share in our gallery! Also, I know a lot of people download the freebies we give each week for these challenges but, don't take time to participate... Also, I know a lot of people enjoy our freebies we give each week for these challenges but, haven't been able to participate... So, even if you can't do some of our challenges, it would be great if you could let others know about our site so, they can also be blessed to meet us and know all about Faith Sisters! Thank you very much for supporting us and please come back again each week for more challenges to deepen your faith!

This week's collaboration, Unconditional Love, will be free for one week only! If you come back and missed the free access, don't worry because you can find it in our shop under "Collaborative" as well as our past collaboration kits. Enjoy!

Unconditional Love

Download here.

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FDC gallery.
FDC forums.

Faith Discovery Challenge #7 - {Sacrifices of Love} and Paper Pack Freebie!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! The timing seemed kind of off for me considering the long weekend we just had for President’s Day. Having DH home an extra day for the weekend made Tuesday seem like Monday so evidently, I didn’t expect Thursday to come so soon! And on top of that, while Faith Sisters was closed for the server upgrade, it felt like time was slower than usual and waiting for it to re-open seemed like forever! However, the moment could not have been at a better time for me because I was knocked down with the flu while at the same time, both my boys had ear infections! Ha! So, even though it would’ve been the perfect opportunity to catch up on house chores, clean up my computer files, and yep, even do some long awaited scrapping, all I did was lounge and cuddle up with my DH and kids on the couch. Then, I realized what a blessing in disguise that this server upgrade was for me! J Now, I’m wondering…what did everyone else do besides anticipating and waiting for FS to come alive again?

For last week’s challenge {Lover of My Soul}, I really enjoyed the wonderful pages that everyone created about the people they love especially the ones of husbands and wives. There was one outstanding layout that one of our digital CT members, Terrie aka ScrapEvangel came up with that I just had to share with everyone. I just love the three dimensional design of her page! The depth of her layout really draws your eye in!

Check it out!

By ScrapEvangel. See her gallery.

Also, this was another LO that really catches your attention because of the powerful truth it holds when it comes to a LOVE that is beyond our comprehension, the LOVE of a risen Savior who gave His life for us in exchange for our sins that we may have hope of eternal life with Him…

By Helen Parker aka sbg3396. See her gallery.

This week’s challenge is almost similar to last week’s but, I guess it takes it a little bit further into detail. This week is about the sacrifices of love that we or someone has done for another. Sacrificial love is a selfless act that a person is willing to give of themselves even if it costs their time, their energy, and freedom. It isn’t out of obligation but, of true servant hood motivated by genuine love and honesty in order to seek the best interest of that person. It is the act to serve rather than to be served. In John 13, Peter was astonished when the Lord came to wash his feet and was resisting that He would do so, because Peter felt that he should be the one to wash the Lord’s feet. But, after Jesus finished washing all of the disciples’ feet, He told them that they needed to follow His example of being a servant. Jesus taught His disciples the importance of sacrificing their self-will if they wanted to have a true part in Him. Jesus also said in Matthew 16:24 - “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” That seems like a huge price to pay but, when we look upon what Jesus did for us, it shouldn’t be hard to understand that if we want to tell someone about Jesus, the best way is to love them the way Jesus loved us—selfless, enduring, and unconditional. Jesus didn’t have to go to Calvary, He didn’t have to take up His cross, and He certainly didn’t have to die for us but, He did. He did it out of a sacrificial heart that was willing to serve and obey our Father’s plans and to demonstrate His great love for those who believe in Him. To Jesus, we were worth the sacrifice and there's no other way to repay Him but, to love Him with all of our hearts...

Challenge #7 – This week’s challenge is to create a layout about the sacrifices of love that you or a person has made in order to honor the Lord and be obedient to His word and His command to love with a love that is selfless, long-suffering, patient, faithful and true. Ideas come to my mind that may be common to most of us is our choice to be a SAHM to our children rather than work outside of home or vice versa where you are working hard to make sure your child is blessed with everything they need. Again, it doesn’t have to be about you but, of someone you know that has had an impact upon your life or others because of their act of sacrificial love. There’s probably many situations where people serve others in various ways to seek their best interest and the sacrifice may have been big or small but, the point is how this sacrifice was done out of sheer steadfast love.

Here is my layout:

This is my DH's grandmother and great grandmother to my children. She is such an amazing woman of God and her life has made an impact upon me in such a huge way. All the sacrifices she has made as a mother, a grandmother, and now great grandmother has surpassed my understanding of what sacrificial love is about. I love her sweet and gentle spirit, yet her strong and enduring faith in the Lord and to those she loves....

The papers in this LO are from the "Sacrificial Love" freebie down below.

Credits here.

Here is this week's free download! Enjoy! Remember, it'll be gone for one week! If you use them in your layouts be sure to upload it into my design gallery! Thank you so much!

**Download expired.**

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FDC gallery.

FDC forums.

Faith Discovery Challenge #6 - {Lover of My Soul} and a FREEBIE!

Hello and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! I’m sure most of you have special plans on this day to celebrate with the one you love. Every year that this day comes around, it causes us to stop and appreciate that special person in your life, the things they do for you that often go unnoticed or taken for granted, the time and effort they put into making your relationship work, or simply because they are who they are and day after day, their lives bring joy and laughter into your world, not to mention purpose and meaning in your life. Traditionally, Valentine’s Day would be more suitable for couples in love but, today many have come to include their children, their parents or grandparents, best friends, or even their favorite pet or stuffed animal (as a child would see it). =) However, I believe that God puts special people in our lives to be a vessel of His love and to bless our lives in such a way that we know that they’re a gift from God! So even though Valentine's Day is a day to cherish others by giving them gifts, cards, flowers, and chocolates... Be sure to let that person know just how thankful you are that God created them to be a part of your life and the love that you share!

Speaking of love, let’s not forget that we have a Savior who loves us, who cares about us more than we can ever care about anyone. He laid His life down for you and me. John 15:13 says, “No greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The cost of his love was free but, it was not cheap. That is something that my Pastor would always preach in His sermons. It’s one thing that I’ve always meditated on as I thought about the love of God. That although our gift of salvation and eternal life was freely given to us, it came with a huge price--the very life of God's only Son. The most common verse that speaks of this love is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but, have everlasting life.” Although, I learned to recite this verse at such a tender young age, it really never occurred how significantly this speaks to us about love—unconditional love that is—until later in my adult life. Especially since I am a mother of two boys, I often agonize at the thought of being in such a position to allow my son to willingly die for the sins of all mankind. But, God had a plan however and out of His grace and mercy for us, He allowed a way for us to know that love in such a real and tangible way through Jesus Christ. The life that Jesus lived amongst humanity was the greatest example of love in every way. But, as He chose to sacrifice His life for our sins, it was an ultimate act of love that nothing in this world can compare to. So for Valentine’s Day, even though we would normally focus on the people we care about, take time to thank the Lord for all He has done in your life and most of all, for loving you with a selfless and enduring love….

Challenge #6 – This week is pretty simple and sweet. Basically, create a layout about that special person who God has blessed you with and what that person has done to make your life meaningful. Like I mentioned above, it doesn’t have to be about a spouse (although generally that would be the case) or someone you’re in love with, but you can also scrap about a family member or special friend. I believe God puts certain people in our lives to demonstrate His love to us and that’s simply what this challenge is about. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to share about the special blessings in your lives!

Here is my layout:

The journaling reads: Our purpose is to LOVE each other, so that other purposes will be fulfilled.

That was something that the Lord put in my heart when we were engaged because I remembered praying and asking God, what is our purpose together? And that was what I heard in the form of a quiet voice within my heart.... And after 4 years (seems like a long time but, really isn't) I have seen countless confirmations of why God has put DH and I together. One very significant proof of that is our two beautiful children. I know that God has special callings for my two boys and see how this purpose of ours is important for them, that they may fulfill the plans God has destined for their lives. There's more I wish I could share but, for now this is my take on this week's challenge! Thanks for looking!

Credits: Papers, frame, ribbon, felt heart, scalloped trim, chipboard bracket, chalked heart and wax seal from this week's freebie collaboration kit, "Lover of My Soul". Watercolor swirl and label from my "Heart's Desire" kit. Flower from my "Gift of Faith" kit. All found in the shop at Faith Sisters!

This week's free download is another collaboration brought to you by Susan Godfrey, Eressea Designs, and myself--Dahlia Co! For now, you can download this freebie from my 4shared account since our site is temporarily unavailable due to the the upgrade initiation. Then, once that's been successfully completed, you'll be able to download it in the shop! Remember, free for one week only! Enjoy!

**Download expired.**

Faith Discovery Challenge #5 - {A Pure Heart} and FREEBIE

If you're wondering why I'm posting this week's challenge a day early, it's because we thought it was best to move it to Thursdays. New freebies in our shop are announced on Fridays which covers up my post for the challenge which we would rather not happen! We try to keep watch over how things flow on our blog so that every post gets a chance to be read. Just trying to be fair and square! :) So, don't forget! FAITH DISCOVERY CHALLENGES ARE NOW ON THURSDAYS! Don't mean to shout, just trying to get it out there clear enough for you to see... {HUGS}

Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far. I'm actually under the weather with a yucky cold which normally happens to me when my kids get sick. So here I am, hoping to relax and recoup over the weekend...

So, last week's challenge #4 was about {Desires of the Heart} and if you remember in the post, I mentioned that for the month of February, the challenges will be based on our HEART. Even after this month is over, I hope God will continue to work deep into our hearts throughout the rest of the year as we do these challenges. So, keep your hearts open and allow God to minister to you and show you how important it is to have a pure heart...

Speaking of pure hearts, this week's challenge is about keeping our hearts pure. There are so many things in life and situations we face that tests our heart in making the right choices and keeping our hearts pure. It seems like in these days, people are consumed with what the media says is right for you, how to be happy, what to wear, how to be rich, how to look attractive, how to meet the person of your dreams, what you should eat, how to make your marriage last, how to raise better children, etc. You get what I mean? I'm not saying that everything out there is bad for you but, I believe that the Bible holds a lot of the answers to all of those questions that many people have including myself. And if we take time to read what God says about our life and how to deal with real life situations, I'm sure our hearts would be kept safe from those things out there that are deceiving. King David cried out to God in Psalms 119:11, "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I may not sin against you." King David, had sinned and knew that God's word would keep him from sinning but, he also had a repentant heart. We are human and are imperfect creatures but, we can seek God's help to live a pure and blameless life by reading His word. So, the key to maintaining a pure heart is simple: READ GOD'S WORD DAILY. It's so important as a child of God to feed your soul with the living bread of God's word that you may know the difference of what's real and what's not. As you read, pray for the Holy Spirit to help you receive and understand the truth, so that you become a man or woman of conviction, willing to turn away from things that may contaminate your hearts. And being able to hide His word so deep within, that nothing can lead you astray from keeping a pure heart and obeying the Lord.... Matthew 8:5 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." I'm definitely not perfect but, I know that because of His word my heart has been protected from making mistakes that would have ultimately brought suffering and shame upon my heart. So, I am so gratefully blessed for His word and for the power of His word to keep my heart blameless and pure.

Challenge #5 - Create a layout about what things have challenged your heart from keeping it pure either in the past or present. How has God helped you in keeping your heart from being impure? What things do you do to prevent yourself from being led into temptations? Or, if these are too personal for you, then you can definitely create a layout with your favorite verse, favorite song, or things that remind you of what it means to have a pure heart such as little children for instance. Remember, have fun and don't be too critical of yourself because this should be a layout that will inspire and encourage you or others that having a pure heart is a blessing and it is possible through the power of God's word!

Here is my layout:

Everything in this kit is from this week's freebie, "A Pure Heart", created by our Design Team except scalloped trim from "Cottage Chic" by Leora Sanford @ LDD!

Credits here.

This week's freebie is going to be an awesome one! I had asked the Design Team to help me out this week and ended up creating one fabulous collaborative kit! But, wait... It's FAITH SISTER'S FIRST COLLABORATIVE effort and guess what? It won't be the last because from now on, we are going to do this regularly! Once the week is over however, the kit will go on sale in the shop. So expect to receive one awesome freebie each week for these challenges, put together from most, if not all, talented designers here at Faith Sisters! Yay! So, hope you enjoy what we've come up with and don't forget to post your layouts using this kit in the gallery! Blessings!

**Download expired.**

Rainbows after the rain....and a *Rise UP* FREEBIE

Rain. Something about rain that fascinates me. It rained almost everyday when we were in Seattle, except for one day - my birthday - which was also the day before we returned home. We called it the real Seattle experience so we couldn't complain. Usually, the summers there are hot and humid but, it so happened that this was the one week that it had to rain. Sigh. Each day that it rained, we still made the most of our vacation. Still made it to the Spaceneedle, Westlake & Pacific Place Shopping Centers, Pioneer Square, Pike Place market, Snohomish (very rustic, but simply beautiful), Tukwila to visit my favorite store - Impress Rubber Stamps, and visited with family I haven't seen in years in Tacoma. We did all this with our kids and my sister, Daisy, all in a short period of a few days.

Seattle Center - Lucas & Josiah

Impress Rubber Stamps store

Everyday was an adventure. We did get lost not once, twice, or three times but, several times. Yet we didn't mind, it was pretty exciting if you ask me, to explore and discover the streets of Seattle. If we needed help with directions, there was always a friendly Seattlite who was more than willing to help us. Although, their information was often inaccurate and we'd get even more confused, it's what made our trip a trip to remember. All the while that we drove almost everywhere, my two boys were surprisingly tolerant and didn't seem to mind at all except when of course they were extremely bored and so desparately needed some "playtime".

To be honest, it was a major challenge traveling with small children and it made this vacation more of a learning experience. There were times that I felt like I never left home and that I couldn't really enjoy myself. But, I had to slap myself out of that attitude and choose to live my life with gratitude and to see that we were making memories as a family. Memories shared with each other that I hope one day we can laugh at and reflect on when we look at it in a scrapbook. Memories that even though my children may not remember it when they're older but, will always warm my heart in my aging years when they're away from home. It was our first family vacation and it will definitely not be our last. So, the least I could do is learn and grow and adapt to the fact that my kids will only grow bigger and traveling will only get easier. Let them be little because they're only little for a little while. I had to have this reality check and remember that it's not all about me anymore whether I'm at home or someplace else. As long as my kids are happy, I'm happy. End of story.

My cousin Tess & I

The highlight of this trip to Seattle was the day of my birthday. Like I said, it stopped raining and the sun was shining! But, what really made my day was all the rainbows that peeked through the clouds. I recall Josiah screaming from the backseat, "Mommy, look! Wainbow!" , over and over and over again. It something we rarely see here at home in San Francisco. I thought of how beautiful everything turned out to be despite all the muggy, rainy, gloomy days that greeted us when we got here. Also, my cousin Tess who I haven't seen in years was so very generous to welcome us in her home, made us lunch, and took us to this beautiful garden. She and I were childhood playmates yet, we were separated by thousands of miles which made it complicated to really keep in touch. Growing up, we tried to stay close by writing ( when email wasn't popular ) and also during times that I would come visit her when she lived in Hawaii. Then, we got busy with our lives, finishing college, beginning relationships, getting married, having kids and time just slipped in between us. Reuniting with her again was a blessing and being able to see our own kids playing together was timeless. I look forward to many more gatherings together. The garden she took us to not only had roses, but it also had dahlias, too. The flower that I was named after didn't become my favorite flower until my husband started growing them for me in our own backyard. After such a wonderful day with family, my husband treated me to Ruth Chris Steakhouse and it was the BEST dinner ever. Steak and lobster did it for me. It was da BOMB! Expensive, but worth it. And thanks to my sister for putting the kids to bed for me even though she couldn't wait for us to get back so she could go out and have her some fun, too. I didn't expect her to really like it in Seattle but, when we got back, she expressed how she actually misses it.

Now that we've been back, it feels like I'm in zombie mode. All that walking and eating we did has left my body in complete shock. I've been slowly getting back into the routine of the normal life. My body is here but, I feel like I left my heart in Seattle. :( If I want a taste of Seattle, I'll go to Border's bookstore and grab me a cup of Seattle's Best coffee. Or, I'll browse over 1000+ photos that my husband took and try to recapture those moments. The one photo that I absolutely love is the one of my babe and I at Kerry Park. It gives me this magical, nostalgic feeling everytime I look at it. We got lost before we got there and was rushing to make it before the sun went down. As soon as we arrived, another rainbow appeared right above the Seattle skyline. It was the perfect moment to capture on film and is what made this birthday as memorable as can be. It wouldn't be so bad if I blew up this picture and hung it on a wall would it?

You can't have rainbows without the rain. Call me corny or weird but, this is what it means to me. Life will always have storms and unexpected pitfalls, let downs, disappointments, defeats, and sorrows. But, the beautiful thing is, the sun always shines after the rain. Life gets better as we grow wiser, stronger, humble, thoughtful, compassionate, and most of all thankful. Even more, our faith continues to perservere. It gives you the belief that even if the world falls apart, with God you're life can never be shaken. He is our foundation, our stronghold, and our refuge in time of need. That is what He has taught me throughout the years and I will continue to hold on to that as long as I live. Sometimes we have to see through the rain and know that there is a rainbow waiting to adorn you with renewal and hope for a better day and the determination to not give up and keep moving on. So, rise up people and enjoy life. You only live once so live it, not waste it.

Here is my FREEBIE that I created in memory of this soul searching adventure and also of the beauty of Seattle even though it rained and poured, it's beauty still existed and brought some sunshine into my life....

You can download this here. Leave me a comment and remember to respect my terms of use! If you create a layout with this, I'd love to see it!

Bittersweet FREEBIE

As I wrote down my list of things I need to get done before our trip to Seattle, I just had to stop and let myself be still for a moment. Sometimes my life slips away when I get too caught up in life's endless responsibilities. I know that when the load starts to get too heavy, my only retreat is to give it to God and cast my burdens upon Him. What helped me feel at peace was Psalm 42 and it taught me not to be discouraged because God is my helper. So, if anyone is discouraged right now, I hope I can encourage you to keep your head up and don't give in to life's pressures. Tell yourself it will only make you stronger and wiser.

I finished another lesson in Illustrator and still have 3 more classes due before the end of this month plus 2 more classes in Color Theory. I'm doing so well that it gives me this sense of accomplishment that even though I'm at home raising my kids, I can still achieve my goals to finish school. It's such a blessing and I praise God for it. I look forward to what this will eventually lead me to do in life and hopefully it will be very rewarding. Because money is no object to me, it's about fulfilling my purpose in life.

Last week was awesome! I couldn't believe how many people downloaded my Wild Tropics freebie. Those of you who left me comments are so very welcome and I truly appreciate your thoughts and just taking the time to say "thank you". It really blesses me. So in return, I created another FREEBIE for you. It's called BITTERSWEET. It was a name that just came out of nowhere. I guess it's something that reflects what I think of life sometimes, it has it's good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet, it is what life is all about and it is what makes me who I am. Just like ingredients in a cake recipe--the elements combined together make it taste wonderful but, if you were to sample the ingredients separately, it would be unpleasant.

Life is somewhat the same but, in the end I'm just grateful for the lessons learned and have a deeper appreciation for life, love, and my family. God bless! Enjoy this paper pack called "BITTERSWEET".

You can dowload it here.

Dreaming of paradise and another FREEBIE

Do you ever close your eyes to picture you on an island of beautiful imagery everywhere, feeling the warmth of the sun, and smelling the sweet smell of flowers in the breeze? I do, all the time. For several years in the past, I made yearly trips to Hawaii to visit family and also to get away from the busy life. But, long gone are those days and all I could is just dream about it. So, that's why I created these papers and perhaps it would take some of you back to that place where summer days were spent in the tropical sun. Scroll down to see the preview and download link.

Our Fourth of July celebration was our usual annual gathering of close family and friends. This year was my youngest son's first time to see the display of amazing fireworks. To my surprise, he loved it and didn't cry at all despite all of the loud sounds. The photos that my husband took weren't quite as amazing since our Canon SLR doesn't have a good flash attachment. So, they were pretty dim and blurry. I guess we'll try again next year. But, our good friend Josh, the other camera guru, took some pretty good shots and you could check out his album here. I'm not sure but, you might need to have a Snapfish account or create a free one. The one thing I did enjoy this year was the view from our back deck which we did not have a year ago. This year we cut down all the trees that blocked the gorgeous view of the Montara mountains and the valley below. I just couldn't help myself but get chills just seeing all the firework shows that were going on in all directions. Too bad, I couldn't take photos of it because everytime I tried, I had the worst timing and all that came out was just a black photo.

Okay, 9 nine days and counting until we leave to SEATTLE! I'm so excited and will be sure to take photos of our vacation. This year, we're bringing our kids and my sister Daisy with us. I'm sure it'll be a blast celebrating my birthday with them. I took some photos of my last trip to Seattle with just my husband and I so if you want to check those out, just click on the link "Yahoo Photos" on the left.

Well, here is the freebie for all you fabulous scrappers out there! I enjoy sharing them with you and love hearing comments because I know that I'm blessing someone with the creativity that God has given me. But, be sure to read and respect my Terms of Use. Don't be a pirate and what I usually would say to my kids, "Do unto others, as you would do unto you."

Download Wild Tropics papers here.

New link to freebie

First of all, I want to say thank you for all those who left me comments about the freebie. It's all new to me and I didn't know what to expect whether or not it would do well but, to my surprise it did. If it were not for all the talented designers, amateur and professional alike, I probably would not have had the inspiration that I do now. Therefore, I'm grateful that I'm a part of this digital scrapbooking community because we're here to inspire and encourage one another.

I uploaded a new zip file that included my TOU agreement with special thanks to PODGURL who was kind enough to point this out to me. I originally did have it typed up but, forgot to include it in the previous file. So, if you would like the Lotsa-Polka-Dots freebie, you can download it here.

Need feedback!!

I'm thankful for the comments that people have made so far for the freebie but, I'm curious to know if anyone is having trouble downloading the file. Please let me know if you're able to download it so I know it's working. On my end, I see the comments but, I also see that the file has not yet been downloaded. I just don't want anyone feeling empty handed! So, please leave me a comment! Thanks!