"ABIDE IN ME"

Melissa and our Carrie.... Our daughter-in-law is beautiful, even when she sticks out her tongue!..... Karen (Janel and Carrie's Mom)....where were you when I needed you!? Corie and Janel..... happy faces..... Grace seriously looking for the right scriptures.... Amy's hands working her artistic talent ...... Amy 's end result of going a step further with her bird's nest ....... These look like bees!!..... Now the "LOVELY" results of each one........plus the first one at the top! Janel, Melissa and Amy with their necklaces...... Corie, Grace and Carrie with their creations...... These cloth pouches for their necklace charm were made with ideas I gleaned from Deryn, and other artists I have gleaned from on the super creative blogs I find.... and in books........ The bird's I purchased from a collage artist recently .... sorry I can't remember each person I have gleaned from..... I'll try to add them.... but all you have to do is go to Deryn's blog and start clicking on the blogs that she recommends.... beautiful blogs to inspire your creativity ... I got a piece of jewelry from Deryn in one of her sewn pouches.... which gave me the idea....of adding sparkles and the netting..... Just Wal Mart fabrics, twigs from my peach tree, purchased birds and nest paper, brite cut felt pieces (vintage from Great Grandma's bag) and the little piece of crochet..... then I printed and added a scripture I picked for the girls..... because they are so valued by the Lord .... and lastly a ribbon with brite felt sewn on the ends for a little punch. These were fun, fun...... my grand- daughter, Olivia and daughter, Kellie helped me design them while she was here from out of state...... my other JOYS!! We had the pleasure of hosting a small retreat group of young women this last week. They are the Bible Study group of my my awesome daughter-in-law, Carrie, the beautiful one with her tongue sticking out ..... a joy! They had personal study, prayer time, great food and some fun time as well!! My email friend Deryn Mentock gave me the "blessing" of letting us use the tutorial I bought from her of the "bird nest charm" to do with the group of girls, so here are the photos, Deryn .... Thank You!!! They each picked their "nest eggs" .... and then after twisting the wire and adding beads they searched for the scripture or words they wanted to add to the leaves ....each one with their own "heart reasons". As I photographed each one, I came across one that said "Abide in Me" ...... and I thought about what a bright future this country, their children and friends have because of "THEM ABIDING IN GOD'S LOVE". Just to watch their faces and experience their faithfulness to a God that will never fail them. They think and prepare their lives with "Eternal Purposes" and results that can't help but make a Nation have Hope for the Future ...... Wow,..... we know they have not had the perfect life without great hurts or disappointments, but we see where they have turned ...... to direct their lives and in whose hands.....they put it all..... the Living Word. Dick and I .... being older relished the fellowship, faithfulness and friendship we saw, not only with each other but their personal relationship with the Lord. I don't know what their study was on(to see what they studied, see Carrie's comment below, click comments), but I know when I saw the words of Christ to us on one of the necklaces that said..."abide in Me" .....John 15:9 and John 15:5 ..... "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." and "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." ...... I knew I had evidenced it in them and it gave us joy and hope for the future of our grandchildren and beyond! Thanks girls for blessing us with your presence!!! Come back, ANYTIME..... OH!!!! I MUST thank and praise some husbands and Dad's who took care of things and the children so these awesome women could get a break!!! THANK YOU..... YOU AWESOME BOYS!!!!!