one little word.
My One Little Word for 2013.
Clear: clean, pure, capable of discernment, free from guilt, unhampered by limitation, empty of contents, free from haze. (via Webster’s dictionary.)
1 Peter 4: 7-8 | … So keep a CLEAR mind. Control yourselves. Then you can pray. 8 … love one another deeply. Love erases many sins by forgiving them.
This is my prayer for this year.
- That God will show me how to keep my mind clear.
- To let go and be present.
- To learn from yesterday so that today might be better example of who God is.
- To create more, worry less.
- To learn.
- To give forgive and accept forgiveness.
- To become clear.
(You can read more about One Little Word here.)
Holiday Cards By the Dozen
In this class we will create 12 fantastic holiday cards (three each of four designs). Not only will you use fun and festive products but you will be learning new techniques. Make all the cards the same or mix and match different sentiments. You will leave with a dozen cards ready to send to family and friends this holiday season. $25
To reserve your spot today, email me at: hopegustafson@gmail.com
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL NOVEMBER CALENDAR.
It’s back! #clubfx — don’t miss it @firsthattiesburg 9:30 & 11:00 tomorrow! (Taken with Instagram at Club FX)
How To Make Vietnamese Coffee (x)
I love coffee. I love artfully things that are artfully done. This satisfies both of those.
Enjoy.
baby A
And here is my take on another one of Heidi Swapp’s memory file creations.
This one belongs to Matthias — baby A, my other first born.
I feel the same about the pictures I chose here as I do about the ones in Graham’s album — I might not have used them. I definitely wouldn’t have used them all together. I just how they tell the story of who Matthias is — and each of them are needed to make it complete. All 35 of them.
In the picture below there is a red arrow — it’s pointing to the fact that is is actually pushing his brother to get a good start in the Fun Run. He says it’s much more fun if you actually do well. Ha.
And there you have it - baby A - there’s no nutshell for him. You can’t confine this child. My all out, confident, competitive, physical touch, adventurous, empathetic, lover of new things boy.
I tell myself that someday — when I’m not here to tell them anymore — they will be able to read what I’ve written and know how dearly they are loved.
* linking up over at 
The Southern Institute: Creative Me Linky Party
baby B
With four sons running around it can be easy for me to get distracted and think of them as a whole instead of individually. Creating this file was time I needed to focus on the traits of just one. The twins get lumped together so much more than they should so I chose to do an album for each of them. I let them pick the folder and papers I would use — it’s funny, they chose the the same folder and completely different papers. That sums Graham & Matthias up in a nutshell. They’ve SO loved looking at them. And I confess — a bit of the journaling brought tears to my eyes. This has me striving to slow down and be more conscious of each child as an individual.
- warning: lots of pictures. lots.
Look! I even broke out the sewing machine.
This another one of the projects from the Heidi Swapp class that I took. I love all the little pockets and mini albums within the project. And wait for it ——- 33 pictures! Yes. You read right. THIRTY-THREE! And truth be told, probably all pictures I may not have scrapped alone because I am so behind. I chose pictures of him that I love for different reasons, ones that totally tell the story of who Graham is. This memory file makes my heart sing!
I love this metal word — it’s a bookmark from Hallmark’s old Product (Red) line.
And so the story of my sweet baby B is told — my laid back, attention to detail, striving to be different, quality time, easy to love boy.
File #2 coming soon ….
