November 2011 Faithbooking Lesson

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Faithbooking Devotion #42 ~ Stones of Remembrance
Creating Rock-Solid Reminders of God’s Presence
©2011 Tina Vega

Our attitude affects every aspect of our lives. It not only sets the tone for our day, but greatly influences our relationships, the way we view ourselves, and the perspective we have on life. It is a powerful thing. A bad attitude, for example, will not only ruin your day but rob you of peace and contentment long afterwards as well.

God’s word has a lot to say about our attitude as you will see in the following verses:

Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CEB)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Several recent studies have suggested that people who are more grateful have a higher sense of well-being. Grateful people are happier in general – they are less depressed, less stressed, and have a greater sense of satisfaction within their lives and social relationships. They also have a higher level of control of over their environments, personal growth, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. These studies have also shown that grateful people tend to cope more positively with difficulties they experience in life, being more likely to seek support from other people, grow from the experience, and spend more time planning how to deal with the problem. They are less likely to try to avoid the problem, deny there is a problem, blame others or themselves, or cope through substance use. Grateful people also sleep better – likely because they think less negative and more positive thoughts just before going to sleep.

♥ Create a list of benefits in your life and ask yourself, "To what extent do I take these for granted?" What steps could you take to begin cultivating an attitude of gratitude in your own life?
♥ Try reframing a situation by looking at it with a different, more positive attitude.
♥ Take a moment to reflect on the benefits of a grateful attitude listed above. What most appeals to you? Why?

You might want to begin by keeping a gratitude journal or taking on a daily gratitude photo challenge. Within time, you will develop an attitude of gratitude as habit instead of exercise.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
– Melody Beattie

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Ideas and tips:

1. Create a "thankful" framed project, similar to what is pictured above (Becky Higgins is the inspiration behind this project; you'll find her gratitude project HERE). Purchase a frame (I'd recommend nothing smaller than a 16x24) and art paper from a local craft store. While the felt alphabet stickers were from Making Memories, any 1-inch letters will do. Temporarily mount the art paper outside of the glass, add your title, and keep a marker handy for family members. Have everyone add something they are thankful for each day, using pictures and/or words. At the end of the month, simply slip the art paper back behind the glass and you have yourself a beautiful piece of art. (You can see how it looks on my wall HERE.)
2. Using this same idea, create a 2-page layout in your scrapbook album and encourage your family to document things they are thankful for on a daily basis for one month. An alternative would be to have everyone add something to the page on Thanksgiving Day as we did in the layout below:

Especially meaningful in light of her recent cancer diagnosis, is my grandma's addition to the page:

3. With the first of the year approaching, you might want to consider a Project 365: Gratitude where you take a daily photo of something you are thankful for. If that's a bit much for you, a gratitude album would be an ongoing project with a little less pressure.
4. Keep a Gratitude Journal. While doing "research" for this lesson, I discovered some amazing things about this practice. Several studies have clearly shown that participants who began keeping this type of journal experienced significant mood changes for the better. This is the best way to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude" as you get into the habit of recognizing and appreciating blessings in the everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

October 2011 Faithbooking Lesson

You are the light of the world.
Faithbooking Devotion #41 ~ Stones of Remembrance
Creating Rock-Solid Reminders of God’s Presence
©2011 Tina Vega

My son has been sporting a colorful new bracelet this month, one he received at a teen church event. Stamped on it are the words: GLOW IN THE DARK – MATTHEW 5:14. It literally even glows in the dark. Intrigued, I decided to look up the passage in scripture:

14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

We have been talking a lot about what it means to “glow in the dark” – walking with integrity (even if that means walking alone at times), being a leader vs. a follower, and the importance of loving others.

Especially loving others.

When Jesus was questioned by the religious leaders of his day and asked what he considered THE MOST IMPORTANT commandment of God to be, he in essence replied, “Love God, love others.” Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37-40 to love God with our whole being (body, mind, and soul) AND to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

What exactly does it mean to love? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, love is defined as the following: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another as: (1) the fatherly concern of God for humankind, (2) brotherly concern for others. A few synonyms for love would be attachment, devotion, and fondness. A few antonyms would be antagonism, animosity, and hatred.

If I want to be that light Jesus refers to in Matthew 5:14, I must also be a beacon of love. Loving others where they are at. Loving others even if they disagree with me. Loving others even when I disagree with them.

♥ Take a look at the verse below. Have you ever challenged yourself to love someone who was perhaps “unlovable” in some way? If so, how? What was the result?
♥ Are you struggling with feelings of animosity towards any one person or group of people? If so, how might God be challenging you to radiate love instead of hatred?
♥ What could you do differently to make your light shine a little brighter?

My friend, being a light in the world all hinges on love. (Click HERE for further a further reading on this topic - great article that will get you thinking.)

You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete.

– Matthew 5:43-48 (CEB)

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Ideas and tips:

1. Create a page spread that focuses on someone in particular in your life who radiates love like no other. This could be a friend, family member, or simply someone you admire (teacher, author, artist, athlete). Make their image (an enlarged image) the focal point for your page and journal about the light you see in their life. How do they inspire you to live differently? What is the message of their life?
2. You could take this idea a little further by creating a page about yourself and the person you are striving to be. Do you have a heart for hurting people? Do you love making a difference in the lives of children? Perhaps you are in ministry or otherwise serving a group of people. Again, this type of page could feature one image (yourself in action serving others or of the people you serve). What inspires you to do what you do? If faith is a motivating factor, how did God use your life story to bring you to this place of ministering to others? Perhaps you're still searching for that place... journal about a dream you have for reaching out to others.
3. You could even create an entire album about ministry or volunteer work. For example, I create pages about the people and projects God puts in my path - the lives I have been blessed to be a part of through our faithbooking crops, my time at Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and various album projects I've had the honor of being part of over the years. Journaling includes prayers and verses that God led me to, how I saw Him at work in that particular situation, and how the situation changed me. Albums like these offer inspiration when things get difficult and give a strong sense of God's guiding presence and purpose. Through this process God has given me a heart for those who grieve... I think in part because of those who showed me love when I was in a very dark place. God used them to make Himself and His love real to me. Because they glowed.

September 2011 Faithbooking Lesson

With my limited blogging/computer knowledge, I've struggled with the best way to share the monthly faithbooking lessons. The old way... well, just seems so OLD! Once I have a few more under my belt, I'll bind them together somehow and make them available to anyone interested. For now, I'll just share them fully in a regular blog post with tips at the end for incorporating the ideas into your own album. If you have any questions or technical tips to offer, send them my way by email to acvega at frontiernet dot net.

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Feelings. Whoa Whoa Whoa. Feelings.
Faithbooking Devotion #40 ~ Stones of Remembrance
Creating Rock-Solid Reminders of God’s Presence
©2011 Tina Vega

When I first entered treatment for an eating disorder, I was numb - detached from all emotion. Without even realizing it, I had slipped into a major depression. [How could be depressed when I feel nothing?] Nine years of burying emotions had left me a broken mess. Surprisingly, the focus of treatment was not on food but thoughts; the root of the problem was my thinking – lies I had been feeding myself inside led to destructive behaviors outside.

Learning to take charge of my thoughts not only allowed me to break free from the grip of my addiction (see Faithbooking Devotion #19 for more on this topic) but from depression as well. I have maintained this emotional freedom for 22 years and long for others who are struggling to experience it as well. While your “jail” may look different than mine, some of the thoughts/feelings we are can be held prisoner to include: fear, shame, guilt, depression, bitterness, low self-esteem, jealousy, rage, hopelessness, and anxiety. All of us get stuck at one time or another, knowing what is “right” but letting our feelings drag us all over the place. Some may even try to escape by using food, the Internet, shopping, exercise, alcohol or other “tools” to avoid painful emotions – but feelings do not go away just because we ignore or drown them out. We need to be honest with ourselves and God about the state of our hearts, working through difficulties head-on.

♥ Take a moment to think about your emotional health. Do your feelings serve you or do you tend to cater to your feelings? Do you ever lean on feelings as fact? If someone treats you poorly do you tend to respond purely in an emotional way (feeling angry or rejected) or do you try to process the situation by asking questions or giving the person the benefit of the doubt?

♥ When feelings serve us, they are like electric fences – letting us know when emotional boundaries have been crossed. Are you sensitive to your body’s stress signals? Do you make changes in your life based on those signals (i.e. getting more sleep or exercise, reducing time commitments, etc.) or do you tend to ignore those signals and push through?

♥ What pulls at you emotionally? What drives you absolutely bonkers? Do you see emotional trends in your family?

Facing and processing emotions is a skill that anyone can learn. Some great resources follow:

Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild
Living Beyond Your Feelings: Controlling Emotions So They Don’t Control You by Joyce Meyer
Get Out of That Pit: Straight Talk about God’s Deliverance by Beth Moore
Life Development Resources (www.lifedrs.com)

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.
– Psalm 42:5

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Ideas and tips:

1. Create a page spread that focuses on one particular emotion. You could use the name of the emotion you choose as a title for your scrapbooking page. For example, one woman explored three of her fears by creating a page about it HERE. I created a page about "Peace" HERE. You'll even find a whole blog devoted to the topic of scrapbooking grief HERE (named appropriately, "Good Grief").
2. You could take this idea a little further by creating an entire album devoted to working through the grief of losing a loved one or family pet or an album that chronicles the ups and downs during some other difficult season or transition in your life (i.e. cancer journey, unemployment, starting a new school or moving into a new home). I will be using this same idea to create an album for each of my boys to take with them as they head off to college. While I plan to duplicate many of the pages (words of wisdom, favorite family recipes, relational advice, cooking and cleaning tips) each album will be personalized with special memories and notes. Believe it or not, creating albums like these can help you process even the most difficult emotions, to truly work through them and move on.
3. Go even deeper by creating a scrapbook page regarding healthy and unhealthy emotional trends in your family line. So often we barely scratch the surface of our family story and future generations could greatly benefit from our wisdom and insight. Does alcoholism rage through the family line? How about fears or phobias? Depression? Perhaps you have experienced emotional freedom some area of your life - document that story for the benefit of someone else. A scrapbooking spread like this could include a lone self-portrait, an enlarged photograph of a giant tree (representing a family tree), a symbolic photo that represents addiction, etc. - while the focus will be your journaling, a striking image can add to the emotion of your writing. [Journaling of this nature works best for me on the computer.] Your journaling could even be printed up as a vellum overlay so traces of the image bleed through.

You will find an inspiring blog post on the topic of scrapbooking and healing HERE. And a great article on emotions in scrapbooking HERE. And a list of superb page titles HERE.

Once you get past the hump of "this feels weird", expressing yourself on paper can be quite rewarding. I promise.

August 2011 Faithbooking Lesson

With my limited blogging/computer knowledge, I've struggled with the best way to share the monthly faithbooking lessons. The old way... well, just seems so OLD! Once I have a few more under my belt, I'll bind them together somehow and make them available to anyone interested. For now, I'll just share them fully in a regular blog post with tips at the end for incorporating the ideas into your own album. If you have any questions or technical tips to offer, send them my way by email to acvega at frontiernet dot net.

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Gain a new perspective.
Faithbooking Devotion #39 ~ Stones of Remembrance
Creating Rock-Solid Reminders of God’s Presence
© 2011 Tina Vega

Although we may not have control over our circumstances, we do have a say in the way we choose to view those circumstances. Our perspective can dramatically affect the way we endure life’s past, present, and future difficulties. In fact, adopting a healthy perspective can prove to be LIFE CHANGING by allowing us to reframe challenging situations in a whole new way.

The angle at which we approach life – our perspective of God at work in our lives – can sometimes be skewed. We often have a tendency to look at things one way, limiting ourselves and thoughts to only one possibility. Here are some things I try to keep in mind when life simply does not make sense:

1. Who is God? What do I know about His character? What does the bible say about His character? What have my experiences taught me about the Lord?
2. He is in charge. He is in charge. He is in charge. He is in charge. He is in charge.
3. With all of this in mind… knowing He is FOR ME – good, kind, loving, fair, just, all-powerful, all-knowing, honorable, righteous, faithful, LOVE => What other perspective could I take regarding my situation? What other approach could I use to look at the situation?

When my hopes and dreams were crushed by circumstances, I chose to view God biblically. Despite my feelings, I chose to believe He was FOR ME when it seemed the world was against me. Perhaps the season of loss was preparing me for bigger things ahead, by drawing me to very near to Him. Perhaps it led me to appreciate the everyday, seemingly boring things of life. He made the unnoticeable, very noticeable. Perhaps He allowed the experience to show me the true meaning of peace. Whatever the reason, I have chosen to trust His decision and get on with the business of living.

♥ Take a moment to think about a situation you are currently facing. Think specifically about the perspective you have been taking, whether negative or positive. Try to look at the situation from a new approach: What good thing(s) could possibly come out of this spot?
♥ Take a look at a photograph and journal about it from a new perspective. For example, instead of journaling about what you SEE try journaling instead about the FEELINGS or THOUGHTS the image elicits.
♥ Back it up even further and try photographing your subject from a new perspective by zooming in on otherwise missed details.

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. And entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.
– Psalm 39:4-5

* * * *

Ideas and tips:

1. Create a page spread about one day in your life. Document the day with photographs - challenge yourself to snap at least 50 images throughout the day. Focus on details you might otherwise miss: photograph a clock at significant times during the day (i.e. morning, lunchtime, middle of the night feedings, etc.), pay attention to facial expressions (good and bad), look for things that make you smile (a cup of coffee in the morning, reminders of your children, colors, the sunshine). Let the images tell the story of one day in your life.
2. Take it a step further and photograph things that irk you - pet peeves & other assorted irritations. Include journaling that explores the way you feel. Perhaps there is a story behind why something jabs you the way that it does. Try to look at the irritation from another perspective, perhaps even seeing something "good" within it. For example, we live in the dustiest house I know - it's been like that ever since we moved in eight years ago. While the dust certainly increased during the time of our basement remodel, my children's response to it remained the same:

They have a habit of turning the dirt in our home and vehicles into works of art. And that ALWAYS makes me smile.

3. Go even deeper by creating a scrapbook page regarding difficult circumstances (past or present). [Working through challenges and difficulties by way of our albums can offer encouragement and wisdom to others long after we are gone.] If it is a private situation, tuck the journaling into a pocket or envelope marked as such - this allows for freedom of expression while maintaining boundaries (some things I share are for the future or for family alone). Try to reframe the situation by using God's word as a filter for your experience. For example, while working through the grief of pregnancy loss I came across several verses that were particularly meaningful for me. I began looking at my situation in a whole new light, finding beauty and hope in the midst of one the most trying times in my life.

I love the verse at the end of the lesson, Psalm 39:4-5:

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. And entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.

How much more differently would we live our lives if we took these words to heart?

crazy little thing called love

With it being Valentine's Day and all, I thought it the perfect excuse for sharing yesterday's faithbooking lesson in a timely fashion. The lesson itself was based on THIS RECENT POST... the idea being, love requires more than just words - we are called to act.

Little children let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity). 1 John 3:18

With that in mind, what are some examples of love in action? Here are a few ideas I stumbled upon:

1. Send a note of encouragement.
2. Smile at a stranger.
3. Generously tip your waiter or waitress.
4. Be a courteous driver.
5. Leave a gift for your mailman.
6. Open a door for someone.
7. Return your grocery cart.
8. Send “Happy Valentine’s Day” gifts to the single women in your life.
9. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
10. Pay for someone else’s meal in a restaurant or drive-thru.
11. Pick up trash you didn’t drop.
12. Give up your parking spot.
13. Give up your seat.
14. Keep items in your car to give away to those in need.
15. Refold or rehang clothes in a store.
16. Get to know a neighbor.
17. Be nice to a telemarketer.
18. Donate books to your local library.
19. Listen to someone who needs to talk.
20. Share your umbrella.
21. Leave an inspirational book at a coffeehouse.
22. Babysit for free.
23. Pay for someone’s groceries at the market.
24. Leave treats on your coworkers’ desks.
25. Give city workers a bottle of water.
26. Give someone a gift you know they’ve wanted for a while.
27. Invite someone out for coffee.
28. Invite people over for dinner.
29. Get to know the cashier at a grocery store.
30. Leave cookies/coffee/tea with someone along with the note: You deserve a break!

Looking for more? Be sure to check out THIS WEBSITE and THIS BOOK. Our February faithbooking lesson is below:

Just click on the image to enlarge. (Or maybe not... I'm still trying to get it to work!)

May Faithbooking Lesson

Oh me oh my, where did the month of May go (or June for that matter)? Sorry for the delay in posting our lesson for last month's crop. And seeing there are only five days left until our next crop, I suppose it's time for a little reminder. (I'd give you a hint but it's sorta hard to do without a lesson, or even the seedlings of one. Lord help me.)

So, here it is. (The reminder part.) Our next crop is on Saturday, June 13th from 9:00 am-4:00 pm at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville. The crops are FREE and include snacks, beverages, and make-and-take supplies. Feel free to work the crop around your schedule, just let me know if you plan to attend and I'll be sure to have a spot ready for you.

While I'm at it, I should probably fill you in on the next few months because there are changes. Here's the scoop:

July 11 - no crop

August 8 - 9:00 am-4:00 pm

September 12 - 9:00 am-4:00 pm

October 10 - still waiting on a confirmation of this one

November 14 - no crop

December 12 - 9:00 am-4:00 pm

The church has done a wonderful job of accomodating our group but we are occasionally bumped for an important large event. Because my schedule (and my family's schedule) revolves around our crop dates being set the second Saturday of the month, I just don't have wiggle room to change the date. I figure it's God's way of helping me keep things balanced ;-)

If you have any questions about the changes or plan to attend an upcoming crop, just let me know.

April Faithbooking Lesson

So the whole "convert the lessons into PDF documents" thing still hasn't happened. I tried a free online service and it simply turned the document into a 4-page piece of mush. Perhaps I'll have better luck next time.

The theme of this month's lesson was "Rutbusters" and will hopefully provide insight and inspiration to those who are spiritually and creatively challenged... from one who is often spiritually and creatively challenged. (Just click on the lesson to enlarge.)

Here's are some of my tips for breaking out of a CREATIVE rut:

1. Take a look at what others are doing. Visit Two Peas in a Bucket for some great inspiration and ideas: www.twopeasinabucket.com/.
2. Go to the library and pour over scrapbooking magazines and idea books.
3. Take a look around you and zero in on ONE THING, especially something you might have overlooked in the busy-ness of living. Create a page layout after first sketching out a few ideas on paper.
4. Purchase one new embellishment or piece of paper and use it to create a page layout.
5. Browse through your images and find a few that grab you. Create a page layout using those images.
6. Visit one of these blogs for creative inspiration:
   Elsie Flannigan www.abeautifulmess.typepad.com/
   Ali Edwards www.aliedwards.typepad.com/
   Kelli Rae Roberts www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/
   Donna Downey www.donnadowney.typepad.com/
7. Shake up your surroundings by taking in some creative sites:
   MIA www.artsmia.org/
   Uptown Art Fair www.uptownminneapolis.com/art-fair/
   MN Landscape Arboretum www.arboretum.umn.edu/
   Walker Art Center www.walkerart.org/index.wac
   Lakeville Art Festival www.lakevilleartfestival.org/
   Scrapbook Expo www.rubberstampandscrapbookexpo.com/
   ScrapFest ’09 www.archiversonline.com/scrapfest08.html
8. Keep a journal.
9. Do you save notes and other memorabilia? Create a page that focuses on a recently saved nugget.
10. Work on a small album project – a paper, PicFolio, or chipboard album can be a great place to start.

Here's are some of my tips for breaking out of a SPIRITUAL rut:

1. Establish a consistent time and place to taste the grace of silence. Turn off all technology, grab a warm drink, and open up your Bible. Use the concordance to look up verses on guidance, encouragement, hope, or anything else that comes to mind. Write down the verses that speak most to you.
2. Pray about everything.
3. Attend church. Regular participation is just another way of staying plugged-in.
4. Set the pace of simplicity:
   * Are you keeping regular hours? Are you going to bed at a decent time and allowing yourself at least 7-8 hours of sleep?
   * Are you eating balanced meals at least three times each day?
   Are you allowing time for exercise?
   * Have you been making the most of your family time? Do you engage your children or have a tendency to run away?
   * Have you been building into your marriage by setting aside quality time with your husband?
   * Are you carefully guarding your calendar? Do you have some margin built into your life?
   * Have you been consistent? In parenting? In honoring commitments? If not, it might be time to reevaluate.
5. Pick up a copy of Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King.
6. Visit these websites for inspiring messages:
   Cross Point www.crosspoint.tv/media/
   Beth Moore www.lifetoday.org/site/PageServer?pagename=bth_media
   Joyce Meyer www.joycemeyer.org/ourministries/broadcast/
   James MacDonald www.walkintheword.com/broadcast.aspx
7. Keep a journal.
8. Listen to AM 900 for inspirational teaching and FM 98.5 for inspirational music.
9. Take a day to declutter: your closet, your basement, your kitchen cabinet. Check out this website for great tips and ideas: http://www.flylady.net/index.asp.

If I am continually losing my peace, feeling stressed or frazzled, chances are I am unbalanced. It's important to look closely at my priorities to see that first, they line up with God's priorities. And second, that my daily/weekly/monthly commitments reflect those same priorities. If my calendar is overloaded, then some things will need to be cut off.

And that can be tough.

It's a whole lot easier taking charge of things at the front end, carefully guarding our family's time by wisely choosing commitments.

And that can be tough sometimes, too.

February Faithbooking Lesson

Better late than never. (Though it was getting pretty close to never!) This lesson is entitled, "Loving Legacy Letters" and is centered around the lasting effects and life-changing potential of handwritten words. (Just click on the image to enlarge. I am still trying to figure out how to convert my lessons into PDF documents... once that happens, I'll give a loud shout out.) The March Faithbooking Crop has been cancelled because my son needs me this weekend.

For those of you familiar with Destination ImagiNation - it's tournament time! (If not, just click on the orange link to learn more.) The challenges are extremely complicated. Meeley's team has been working long and hard to pull things together, I can't wait to see them perform.

I have another great recipe (or two) to share. Made these for the Thursday ladies and they made my house smell SOOOOOO good.

Cinnamon Chip Scones

SERVINGS: 12
CATEGORY: Breads
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min.

Ingredients:

3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold butter
1 cup buttermilk
1 package (10 ounces) cinnamon-flavored baking chips
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Fold in chips. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 10-12 times or until dough is no longer sticky. Divide in half; gently pat or roll each portion into a 7-in. circle. Brush with butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Cut each circle into six wedges. Separate wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.

Mock Devonshire Cream

SERVINGS: 16
CATEGORY: Appetizer
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 10 min.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:
In a small mixing bowl, beat whipping cream for 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar and continue beating until stiff. Place the sour cream in a bowl; stir in a small amount of whipped cream. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: about 1 cup.

The cream is served on top of the scones and is TO DIE FOR.

Pray for me as I've just begun pulling the rest of our tax information together. (You should see the piles.) Can't wait until it's all behind me so I can turn my attention to the upcoming scrapbooking retreat!

Soon. Real soon.

January Faithbooking Lesson

This lesson was written on the heels of some very stressful "things" taking place in my life... the sort of stuff that knocks the wind right out of you. It happens to all of us at one time or another - you're cruising along at a smooth pace and WHAM!, you hit a pothole. The road of life is full of uncertainties, though we may not understand all of its twists and turns one thing is sure: God is in control.

I was reminded of this as I sat at my computer, gathering notes and numbers for an important telephone call. A dreaded telephone call. An email popped up on my screen entitled, "Waiting for God's Answer."

It couldn't have arrived at a better time. Here is an excerpt:

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

The Christian life would be easy if the space in time was small between when you first believe God's promises and when you receive what He promised. If you could read about it one day and get it the next, wow - wouldn't that be great!?

But life's not like that.

The hard part is in the waiting between God's promise and His answer; and even harder, when the waiting comes with uncertainties. We all have areas of uncertainty where we need to hold tightly onto what God has said while we wait for Him to work. I couldn't go forward another day if I didn't believe what He told me. So here's what we each must do: We must review His promises all the time. We must remind ourselves that our faith is in God and not in what He does for us. He knows what He has promised, He can't lie, and He can't forget. He will deliver on time, all the time.

God knows that it's hard for us to walk by faith. So He assures us, I'm not going to leave you wondering what I'm going to do. I don't want you to be overcome by fear. So I'm going to make some promises to you so that you can get through the difficult days. You don't have to take your view of life only from what you can see happening right in front of you. You're not imprisoned by the crazy talk someone is putting into your head that you know isn't true. Hang onto the things that I told you.

And while we wait, God builds our faith. ~ by James MacDonald

It was meant for me, of this I have no doubt. As I made my way through the day, through the difficult phone call and the many more that followed, things looked bleak. But I continued to remind myself of His well-timed message and the one thing I am certain of: God is in control.

This lesson isn't, of course, about making real predictions about the road ahead (God is the only one with that information). It is, however, a great way to put your hopes and dreams for the year ahead on paper.

• Where do you hope to see yourself a year from now in regards to your home, job, and/or relationships?
• In what ways would you like to see yourself grow?
• Do you have any unfinished projects looming? If so, list them on your page.
• Are any of you facing difficult circumstances that you would like to see resolved by this time next year? If so, add them to your scrapbooking page.

For more journaling ideas, just click on the lesson to enlarge. My page is below (the design came from THIS BOOK):

December Faithbooking Lesson

Better late than never! The lesson is entitled, "A Year in Review" - you should be able to click on the image above to enlarge it (if you have trouble viewing the lesson and would like a copy, just let me know). In keeping with the theme, I thought I'd take a moment to highlight ten memorable blog posts from 2008 (okay, more like fifteen):

10. The most controversial post of 2008 most certainly is THIS ONE. Thankfully, we were able to salvage the friendship.

9. My favorite God Moment story is HERE but you'll probably need to see THIS ONE as well.

8. We probably had the most fun HERE and you can certainly count on the fact that we will do it again in 2009.

7. I shared a little of my story HERE. A significant post for me.

6. There were sad goodbyes... HERE and HERE and HERE.

5. My favorite product post has to be THIS ONE.

4. Remember THIS POST? And what happened AFTERWARDS. Boy, how things can change in one year - Tina Vega Photography was launched on March 1, 2008.

3. THIS POST makes my head hurt just reading it!

2. I laughed until I cried with THIS ONE.

1. And of course, our first *real* vacation in years (click HERE). Believe it or not, my 8-year old is still wearing the bracelet... a white, crusty-looking thing now.

If you haven't yet had a chance, be sure to check out Angie's recent friendship post - the video she created in honor of her friend's birthday is beyond beautiful. (Click HERE to view, just be sure to pause the blog music at the bottom first.)

baby's got hat

Trying to finish up photos from both the baby and baby bump sessions :-) Too, I was also reminded of the fact that I hadn't yet released the hint for Saturday's crop. First things first. Here's the November Faithbooking Crop lesson:

The idea stemmed from my recent Week in the Life Challenge, details of which are featured in THIS POST. Variations of the week-long project would be to create a Weekend in the Life or Day in the Life, which you could limit to a 2-page spread. Mine was compiled into an 8x8 album and included a mix of digital, hybrid, and traditional pages. It makes for a fun way to capture those everyday moments most easily taken for granted.

August Faithbooking Lesson

I'm a little late on getting this one posted, sorry for the delay! As a reminder, there is no Faithbooking Crop in September or October but we'll be back on schedule come November. I hope you can join us!

To see the September lesson in full, just click on the image above. And on a related note, you'll find a great devotion by Beth Moore located HERE.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

July Faithbooking Lesson

Wowee... I'm so sorry for the delay my friends! This month's lesson was centered on the value of traditions. The world we live in is fraught with change; traditions give us a sense of certainty in the uncertainty of life. They are the cement that keep the family together and help us withstand the storms that come. Traditions enhance a family's sense of identity and serve as a connection between generations.

Here are some ideas for creating new traditions of your own:

1. Have a special dinner plate to be used by a family member who has a reason to celebrate.
2. Collect or make one ornament each year that has special meaning to the family.
3. At Thanksgiving, help serve food at a homeless shelter or invite those without families of their own to dinner.
4. Draw names for secret pals the before Valentine's Day. Perform small acts of service and kindness for that person, then reveal your identities on Valentine's Day.
5. Make heart-shaped cookies and give them to those in your neighborhood or congregation who are alone.
6. Make it a tradition to do something special on the last day of school.
7. Christmas Card Prayers: After dinner but before everyone is excused, read aloud the Christmas cards that arrived that day. Take a few minutes to pray for the senders and then display the cards on your Christmas tree.
8. Make the first morning in May a special one for a friend, neighbor, or teacher by leaving a May Day basket for them.
9. Saturday is Dad's day to make breakfast with the kids.
10. Use resources from Heritage Builders to create your own fun-filled Family Night tradition.

A couple of great books on the subject include The Intentional Family: Simple Rules to Strengthen Family Ties, Creating Family Traditions: Making Memories in Festive Seasons, and Family Traditions: Practical, Intentional Ways to Strengthen Your Family Identity (just click on each book title for more information).

"All we have to work with is today. We must maximize the opportunities we have today and memorialize the moments, making impressions that will last a lifetime - through traditions." ~Author Unknown

June Faithbooking Lesson

Our sense of smell can evoke strong emotions and memories. The scent of freshly cut grass can return us to carefree summers of youth while a whiff of men's cologne could stir up painful memories of an abusive relationship that ended long ago. Smells stick.

With that in mind, what is the "fragrance" of your home and its impact on your family? Is it chaotic, tense, and angry or warm, stable, and fun? Although most of us would prefer the latter, we rarely take the steps necessary to sweeten this lasting legacy. By taking a closer look at the legacy we've been given, we can determine exactly what we want to pass on - breaking cycles of hurt to create a new legacy.

For this lesson, you could create a lighthearted page with the focus being your literal sense of smell. I created a page entitled, "Five Favorite Fragrances" and included photos of my smelly faves; the journaling focused on the feelings those scents evoked.

To go even deeper, you could use the journaling prompts on the handout to explore your own childhood legacy. Using a photo from your family of origin and another of your family today, you could create a page that talks about your ideal "family fragrance" and the steps you are taking to make the most of your legacy.

If you'd like to explore this topic further, check out THIS BOOK. You will also find a free Study Guide for it HERE.

May Faithbooking Lesson

It has been said we carry on an inner dialog of between 150-300 words a minute, up to 66,000 thoughts a day. Most thoughts are likely neutral, such as reminding ourselves to TiVo "The Office" or sketching out weekend plans. Others, may actually be quite corrosive:

• You have no will power.
• You're a horrible friend (daughter, wife, mother, sister).
• You're weird.
• That was really stupid.

The bottom line? Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down and bring life or death in the way we think and live our lives. God wants us to be deliberate in both our thoughts and words:

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25

For as he things in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

It is not enough just to stop the faulty thinking; we must replace destructive thoughts with truth! We created a scrapbook page using scriptural affirmations in place of journaling (see Mellissa's page HERE). The lesson was inspired by Jennifer Rothschild's new book Self Talk, Soul Talk.

March Faithbooking Lesson

As you know, February was a BIG month for me. This is "midlife" - the thing that drives rational adults to do very irrational things. The old age of youth and the youth of old age. A turning point.

Thankfully, it isn't a wrinkle-free face that will see me through. The Bible says that wisdom is the principal thing. Wisdom requires that we seek out and take in all God has for us; we must listen, learn, and apply everything that we learn. If we do that, we will live out the rest of our lives with a beauty that surpasses anything even the best wrinkle cream could provide.

The idea for the lesson was to share nuggets of wisdom with your children, nieces, nephews, younger siblings via your scrapbook albums. You could do this by creating a pocket page and writing specific notes regarding different aspects of life - anything from household tips to handling the challenges of marriage. I share a story in this month's lesson (just click on the lesson above to enlarge) about a wise and loving high school teacher who made an impact on my life with her written words. We can do the same for our loved ones by passing along nuggets of wisdom through our albums.

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all of your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, ad she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver you. Proverbs 4:5-9

February Faithbooking Lesson

Do you ever find yourself struggling to keep up with the frantic pace of life? Do you look forward to a time when you will have time to do the things you love? Do the relationships in your life take a backseat to activities in your life?

Time is a precious commodity. We all receive the same amount and when it's gone, it's gone. So what do most of us do with this daily gift? Work it, squander it, rush it, dread it - that is until tragedy strikes and forces us to face the reality that our days are numbered.

Take for example the song I posted as a hint for the lesson this month. "Cat's in the Cradle" was originally performed by Harry Chapin. It was written by his wife Sandy after their son Josh was born and became a self-fulfilling prophecy. When Josh was seven, Harry was performing 200+ concerts a year. Sandy asked when he was going make time for their son; Harry promised at the end of summer. He never kept that promise. A truck hit his Volkswagen Rabbit that July and Harry was killed.

Time is precious.

How many of us put off our relationship with God, thinking we'll tend to it "someday"? How many of us put off forgiving someone, thinking we'll tend to it "someday"? How many of us put off relationships with family and friends, thinking we'll tend to them "someday"? The truth is someday may never come! The time to begin living is right now.

The goal for this lesson was to reflect on your life - this moment. I used the following questions to create a "worksheet" to add to a scrapbook layout (with or without photos):

• Today is a gift because...
• What really matters to me is...
• I see beauty in...
• I spend most of my time...
• I have my heart set on...
• I am thankful for...
• I am struggling with...
• My family means...

Live a life of intention, making the most of every opportunity. God wants us living not just BUSYING!

"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT)

7 Random Facts

I want the journaling in my scrapbook albums to be more than a restatement of the obvious, to go beyond the "Who, What, Why, When and Where" of my older, redundant style. In addition to using these albums to make statement about my life, I want to celebrate the everyday things we typically take for granted. These albums are teaching tools for my children and a written record of God's amazing activity in my life. Faithbooking is all of this and more!

The lesson this month centered around seven random facts (just click on it to enlarge). The idea was to create a list of facts concerning chocolate, your favorite coffee shop, marriage, motherhood, yourself - anything that strikes your fancy! Page spreads like this one creatively capture your personality and perspective on paper, lending insight into the real "who" of you.

When writing the lesson, I came up with seven random facts for each decade of my life. After working on the list, I realized that no matter how much time I devoted - I would never be able to list every fact about myself. I don't even REMEMBER every fact! On the other hand, God knows and remembers it all - every thought, action, and deed.

The bottom line: I am precious to Him and never out of His sight! Isn't that an awesome thought?

Here are my seven random facts (drum roll, please...):

1. I begin each day with a cup of Pacific Chai Tea.

2. My sister Stacey and I are the same age for one month.

3. I own a pair of jeans that were signed by the members of Judas Priest as I wore them. (I didn't even know the band but received free tickets and a backstage pass; I had nothing for them to autograph until my hip & cool friend suggested I put a leg on the table). Watch out eBay!

4. I don't like the taste of fish.

5. I am a rule-follower after years of being a rule-breaker.

6. I once won a $50 scholarship for a pencil drawing I created in 6th grade.

7. My family nickname is "Crash" - a title earned shortly after receiving my driver's license.

I found this beautiful reflection on Psalm 139, the foundation for this particular lesson. May the truth of these words bless you today!

Father, you know me better than I could ever know myself.
You know in all truth what I have been, what I am, what I will become.

You know me when I am loving and when I am selfish.
You know when I succeed and when I fail.
You know everything about me
And yet, Father, you love me more than I will ever know.
You don’t hold it against me that I fail, or am discouraged.
You try also to show me that I should not hold it against myself,

Because by doing so I will fail to love more.
You are forgiving and loving.
It is beyond my understanding.
I read your word and am inspired,
But then immediately I feel its poverty in my own life.
But Father, if I do try to escape you, really where can I go?
Deep down I never want to escape you, but at times I try.
Help me to realize that at these times you will support me,
You will send the light needed,

You will send your consolation through another,
You will send your strength and courage.
God, my Father, know my thoughts.
Guide me to you.
You know what I desire
Even though I do not always move toward my goal.

~Author Unknown

December Faithbooking Lesson

Here's the lesson from our crop on Saturday (just click on it to enlarge). With each monthly lesson, I offer journaling ideas that are light and fun with the option of taking it deeper - something for everyone. Those who attend receive the lesson, along with a photo of the page I created, and supplies to create their own. Since you don't have the benefit of seeing my page, I will explain what I did.

The topic was "delight"; a word we tend to see a bit more at Christmastime. It's pretty easy to think of people and things that evoke feelings of delight, but what about God? The Bible talks about God delighting in us - his children - and tells us to delight in Him as well.

A tough thing to wrap your brain around!

The bottom line is that if we want to take delight our Father's presence, we need to know Him. To do that, we need to spend time with Him. You can use this page in a deep way to create a page about that relationship. Or, you can lighten it up by focusing on another special relationship. You could also use this idea to create a two-page spread of every person and thing that brings you delight. Pages like these lend insight into your personality and desires - something very important to those who love you.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

November Faithbooking Lesson

Here's the lesson from our crop on Saturday (just click on it to enlarge). With each monthly lesson, I offer journaling ideas that are light and fun with the option of taking it deeper - something for everyone. Those who attend receive the lesson, along with a photo of the page I created, and supplies to create their own. Since you don't have the benefit of seeing my page, I will explain what I did.

There's been a lot of talk lately around church about "service" so naturally, this month's lesson runs along these lines. You could create a page about yourself using the journaling prompts on the handout. Or, you could use this as an opportunity to create a page about someone who serves you, a person you wouldn't typically consider adding to your album. Is there someone you see regularly at a local gas station or bookstore? How about a favorite doctor or pediatrician? This may sound strange but I'll share a bit of mine as an example.

The page included a photo of my hairstylist. Stacey introduced me to Ming Chu 20 years ago, insisting his spiral perms were THE BEST (they were). Ming continues to serve both my sister and I, which means he knows a lot about the inner workings of our family. He is also a great storyteller - one of my favorites was when he went to Chicago with some friends and ducked into a salon for a quick trim. There was some sort of miscommunication and the woman cut a chunk out of Ming's shoulder-length hair. The more he tried to explain/correct, the more she continued to cut!

What if I showed up Aafusion one day and Ming were no longer there? We may not have a relationship as deep as others in my life, but I am thankful for the fun stories and years of faithful service. I would miss him!