Forgiveness

So here's the thing - how do you let go of the pain and anger when it is so deep, so real, so justified?  Make a choice, yep make a choice, but not just to let go and forgive, but also to release all of the pain and anger to God and let Him heal it.  Sometimes forgiveness doesn't always mean having a relationship or contact with the person who hurt you but it does ALWAYS mean releasing that person to God.  Let HIM deal with them, let HIM be the one to visit justice in whatever way He sees fit.  You will never ever be able to pay back the pain so let it go. 

To forgive is to let a prisoner go free, and discover that the prisoner was you. -Lewis B. Smedes

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Finally Time for Me!

Now that my 4 little birds are a little bit older, I finally have some time to focus on me and I've started by trying to update my wardrobe and accessories.  I'm super excited to announce that I have decided to start selling Stella & Dot jewelry!
Their pieces are divine and such nice quality.  They can be worn with jeans or with a ball gown or anything in between - hek, I might even wear them with my jammies - LOL! 
Click HERE to visit my personal website. Have a look and feel free to order online!  If you have any questions, I'd love to help you style a look that is all your own.  Feel free to email me!

Here are a few of my favorite peices that I KNOW will look great on any lady!
This is the beautiful Madeline pearl necklace!

 Pair it with these Maddie pearl earrings for a stunning look for daytime which is easily carried into the evening!

Another favorite is the Sanibel pendant:

This pendant looks amazing with the sanibel chandeliers:

Then choose from an array of our beautiful bracelets and rings and you have created the perfect jewelry outfit to go with shorts and a tank, jeans and a t-shirt or a more elegant work or evening outfit!

We have an amazing promotion on in June too so your jewelry is almost 1/2 off - you can see more of

 that here: 

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Sent With Love

Stampin Up just came out with this new stamp set that I think is SO cute!  Its called Sent with Love and they have bundled it for us with matching bakers twine and designer series paper!  From now until 

April 30th, you can order this bundle for 20% off!  

 Email me today to order yours!

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February's Best of 25 is HERE!!!

Here it is!

HOW FUN!!!  I remember many of these images from years ago and how much I enjoyed playing with them!  Hmmm, maybe I'll see if I can find some of those pics and post them here!!
Remember each of these sets comes with a sticker and when you have collected 6 stickers you can get a free stamp set!  Email me to order your Febuary set today! Pin It

There's Love in the Air

Or at least on the shelf - LOL!  I've been busy doing some Valentine's Day decorating.  Wanna see:
Ok, my first inspiration was this banner I made:

I've been thinking about it since Christmas and all the great banners I've seen on pinterest definitely inspired me!  

I found this great free printable here:  

Then I added some candy dishes and candies.  I couldn't resist adding a little heart shaped frame of Andy and I kissing in the back of the limo on our wedding day which usually resides on a shelf above my dresser.  

Finally, I needed some height on the right side behind the candy dishes so I made this little banner:

And finally Voila:

I'd love to hear what you think!

PS - I'm selling the banners for 12.50!  If you're interested in purchasing one, you can email me here.


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What Have I Been Up To?

So you want to know what I've been up to?  Well, here it is!  Last night we had the first of our Scrapbooking classes!  Here are the girls working away at their masterpieces:

And here are the layouts with pics!

A few of these were actually digital layouts I found on line and changed into the real deal!  LOVE that scrapbooking is so versatile! Pin It

Add a Little Healthy

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions.  In fact, I can't remember what mine was and its only the 17th - oiy!  One thing I am trying to do this year though, is just to be healthier - no crazy diets, no extreme work out programs - just trying to do better.
One of the things that I'm doing to head in that direction is to incorporate smoothie's into the boys breakfasts every other day!
They seem to be liking them and I'm going to try some new ones next week.
The boys love helping out!  Here is Eli helping me make the morning smoothie!

Here is my recipe for the smoothies that have been a hit at our house:
Makes 3:
3 c vanilla almond milk
3 tbsp honey flavored greek yogurt
2 cups frozen berries
1 frozen banana
1 large handful of spinach (like large - as much as you can hold with the leaves sticking out between your fingers)
3 tbsp ground flax seed
3 tbsp chia seed
6 mushrooms
1 capful of Starbucks vanilla syrup

And the verdict is:

He likes it!!!  It makes my heart happy to know the boys are going to school full of nourishment to start their busy days!

MOM TIP:  If you are having a hard time getting the kids to eat/drink something healthy you are making them, involve them in the process - it makes a world of difference!  If that and/or common sense and gentle discipline don't help - hide your veggies by pureeing them and adding them to other concoctions! My boys would seriously have never known there were spinach and mushrooms in this smoothie if they wouldn't have helped make it!

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More Single Stamps

You wanted more? You got more! We’ve had a great response so far to our experiment with single stamps. So much so that we are making ten more never-before-seen images available as single stamps available through March 31, 2013.

Here are the images that will be available:

BUT remember, you can only get these images until March 31st so email me today to order yours!

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Ridiculously Late but...

I couldn't help myself.  This is the first time I've had a chance to sit down and go through our Christmas photos and I just have to share them!

For family and friends, or any of you that are interested, here is our 2012 in a very quick recap:
Jan to Mar - found Isaiah in Chile doing a Skate and Surf outreach with Youth with a Mission and I was working away frantically on the Perioperative Nursing Program
March - Andy and I were off to LA for Isaiah's grad!  He shone - just like he always does - yep, I can say that, I'm his Mom!  and we were so proud of him!
April to June- found me in the city doing my practicum and Andy and the boys left to fend for themselves - OIY!  Without the help of amazing friends, we could have never done this!  Jacob, Eli and Benjamin were playing baseball and what great little players they are!  WOW did I ever miss them but so glad to have accomplished this goal in my career.  I now work in the Operating Room!
May - Isaiah headed back to California to do the School of Ministry Development with Youth With a Mission again!
July - Isaiah came home after finishing the SOMD and we had a whirlwind family overnight vacation (pics of that are posted below in another post)
August - December went by in a blur and flurry of ALOT of work.
September - back to school for J, E and B - Jacob and Eli are in grade 4 this year and Benjamin in grade 2 - wow - didn't they just turn 1 last year?
November - hockey started again and all three little guys are playing again
December - things finally slowed down and we were able to enjoy a really nice Christmas together before Isaiah moved away just last week!
After all of that - here are our Christmas pictures, I was just thrilled when I got to finally sit down and look at them!

We had such a nice relaxing holiday season together!  Reminds me to be thankful for such great times! Pin It

Valentines Bundles!!

VALENTINE TREAT BUNDLE

Dates: January 3-21, 2013

Details:

From January 3 through January 21, you will have the opportunity to purchase the exclusive Valentine Treat Bundle. This bundle, created specifically for this special offer, contains the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp (English only) and a package of 1" x 8" cellophane bags.

Bundle Item	Description	Retail Value	Special Bundle Price
132771	Valentine Treat Bundle Includes the Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp (clear-mount) and 1" x 8" cellophane bags	$9.20	$7.25

The Fine Print

Promotion

• The promotion will run January 3-21, 2013.
• The Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp coordinates with the Full Heart Punch (item 119883; $22.95), but the punch is not included in the bundle.
• There are no limits to the number of Valentine Treat Bundles that you can order.

AND

During the My Little Valentine promotion, your customers will get the Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit FREE-a $9.95 value-when they purchase the brand-new My Little Valentine Set. This four-piece set was created exclusively for this promotion and will not be available again after January 21!

The My Little Valentine Stamp Set is only available in clear-mount.

Buy one of the following:

Item	Description	Price
132242	My Little Valentine (English; clear-mount)	$11.95

Page	Publication	Item	Description	Retail Value
35	holiday catalogue	126923	Sealed with Love Simply Sent	$9.95

The Fine Print

Promotion

• The promotion will run January 3-21, 2013.
• For every My Little Valentine Set that you purchase,you will get a Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit FREE!
• There are no limits to the number of My Little Valentine Sets that you can order and the number of Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kits they can earn for free.

Email me to get yours today!

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Best of 25 Years

Best of 25 Years Stamp Set: Birthdays

 

As part of Stampin' Up!'s 25-year anniversary celebration, they are bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will release-one set per month-during 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!

Available starting today, the January theme is Best of Birthdays!

Please note:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $17.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.
• A new flyer will be released every month for each new Best of set.
• All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.

This is my favorite part!! As a special incentive to collect the Best of stamps, starting in February we're including a collector's card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every Best of set. Collect six stickers, and send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $17.95! (Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.) Click here to download a Collectors' Card.

Email me today to start your collection!

 

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Stamping for Dudes!

Dude, You're Welcome . . . New Kit from Stampin' Up!

 

 

This kit debuts today! I like it! Here's the video we watched at Leadership when this kit was revealed. Enjoy!

  Popout

 

As a guy, it’s not always easy to express yourself. You know you want to say it, but you just don’t know how. That’s why we’ve created the Dude, You’re Welcome! Kit. Quickly build a card that says just what you want it to say, whether it’s “#%&@!” because you messed up (when does that happen?), for a Special Occasion (you know the occasion), “I _____ You” (love, adore, miss, see?), or a simple “Thank You.”

We’ve got your back. Dude, you’re welcome.

Kit includes:

* Four wood-mount stamps (double-mounted) with the perfect sentiment for every occasion
* Twelve 4" x 6" postcards in four different (manly) colors
* Twelve gray envelopes
* A Basic Gray Classic Stampin’ Pad
* An instructional guide (for the most novice stamper!)

 

Dude, You're Welcome! 132807
Price: $30.95 Email me to get yours today!

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My Paper Pumpkin

My Paper Pumpkin is a GREAT Paper Escape

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create your projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone can enjoy!

How to Get Started .....

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting https://mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.  Select me (Christie Ortman) as your demonstrator and then every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

Here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month you'll receive a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $24.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership.

The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

I'm super excited about this and I think it is a great option for those of you who want to paper craft but don't want to collect a bunch of stamps, etc.

Here's a picture of the first kit:

Please remember to select me as your Stampin Up! Demonstrator when you join (Christie Ortman) My Paper Pumpkin. 

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Studying the Bible

Why is it that we - or maybe just I - find it so tough to study the bible.  It seems so much easier to read a book by a Christian author based on the bible and glean from that all I can.  I guess there is more of an entertainment factor?  It delves deeper into a particular subject?  I don't know but the one thing I do know is that God said, "in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word WAS God".  That means that it is of utmost importance for me to study God's word.  Please hear me!  I AM NOT saying that it is wrong in any way to read books by Christian authors AT ALL, but I don't believe it should be a substitute for reading the bible.
Having said all of that, I stumbled across this site:  Good Morning Girls.  It is a web site devoted to women studing the bible and being accountable to each other by sharing what God has shown them through the particular passage they are studying!  Each morning - Monday thru Friday, you post on our private fb group what God has shown you, what you have learned, prayer requests, etc.  As a group we support each other and will sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron and become all that God has intended us to be!
I have started my own facebook group to lead to the study and I'd love to have you join me.  We will be studying Luke 1-8, Living like Jesus.

If you'd like to join my in this journey I'd love to have you along for the ride!  Just send me a friend request on Face Book, or if we are already friends, just message me and let me know you'd like to join me.

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Rest

Strange name for a Christmasy type post hey?  That's what I'm feeling I need this season.  Rest and Peace.  I  VERY easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle that is Christmas.  Shopping, spending, baking, decorating, carols, lights, concerts, banquets, parties, etc etc etc.  The list goes on and on and as fun and festive as the time is - at the end of it we feel exhausted.  We have overspent, over extended, and over eaten.  We begin our new year with over working to try to pay the bills for all the shopping we did and acru more bills by joining the gym to try to deal with all the over eating that went on for the last 2 months.

I love all the festivity that goes with Christmas but I don't love the Christmas hangover.  I don't love the pressure of perfection that takes over at this time of the year.  The perfect gift, the perfect tree, the perfect turkey, the perfect lights, the perfect hostess, the perfect outfit and of course the pressure you put on your family to have the perfect husband who gives the perfect gift and the perfect children who have a hard time even remaining sane because of all the sensory overload that takes place at this time of the year.

WOW - is that what its really all about?   When I think about the Reason we even have Christmas - I don't see any perfection - except in the peace.  The journey wasn't perfect, the marriage wasn't perfect, the accomodations CERTAINLY weren't perfect but that day the PRINCE OF PEACE came to dwell among men to bring us Peace.  Not peace on earth, not peace among men but peace and rest to our spirits.  Peace between God and man...

I'm turning myself around this Christmas - that pattern is coming to a screeching halt!  While I will still give gifts, bake for my family, enjoy the festivities, and listen to carolls; I will rest.  I will encourage my family to rest and relax and have peace this season.  I WILL NOT take on the pressure of having to be at every party, concert, banquet, take part in every secret santa, etc.  I may send my Christmas cards out in March - lol.   I will celebrate the gift of peace that God sent that day.  The peace that we so easily forget in the hustle and bustle of life.

I don't think the night Jesus was born there were cherabim and seraphim in that stable, with kings and wisemen with all kinds of elaborate gifts; those came later - but what I think the scene looked more like was this:

A husband and wife, in awe of the miraculous gift that had been given to them.  Probably an amazing feeling of overwhelming responsibility but I'm pretty sure there was peace and joy.  And, after Jesus was born, I'm sure they all laid down together to rest.

I LOVE Christmas, but this year, starting today, I'm going to focus on the Peace that Jesus came to give, the rest that we so need at the end of the year and I'm not going to put pressure on myself to attain perfection, instead, I'm going to rest.  I'm going to spend time with Jesus - the source of my peace and let Him renew and restore me at the end of this year in preparation for all the great things that lie ahead in 2013.  I'm going to love on my family and friends and try to be a blessing to them by not putting the pressure of perfection on them.  I'm going to try to focus on the beauty around me, the gift of Christmas and remember to breathe.

 Will you join me in celebrating the peace that Jesus brought and rest this season.  Be good to yourself and those around you and don't forget to rest...

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