YOU in one word

I was in a group of people once, long ago, who were posed a question...

"What would you want to be remembered as, in one word." I may have changed the exact wording, maybe it was "What one word would you have define you..."
Well, whatever it was, when it came to be my turn to answer, I did not hesitate.
My answer was "Wise".

That question has haunted me throughout the years since then. I am not satisfied with my answer. I do value wisdom highly and I search and ask and long for it. I even made a chart of all the verses containing "Wise" and "Foolish" in the Proverbs... quite fascinating. Must finish that!
But, sometime in the last couple of years, I decided to change my answer.

If asked that again, I would most definitely answer "Loving".
Yes, and also "Gracious".
Those two words have become very important to me, maybe because I see a lack of those in myself. I would sure love to be thought of as wise, but that can maybe carry a hint of pride in it. I could be very wise and yet, not have love or grace toward others.

What would your answer be? Do tell!

~christa jean

Ideas Please?!

I have been telling my dear daughter for what seems like ages now that she needs to earn some of her own money to be able to buy things! Without fail, she will see something at a store that she desires and then ask me if I can buy it for her and she can pay me back... I gave in a couple times and then thought, this is not a good money ethic I'm teaching her.

I have thought of a couple of jobs that she can do to earn some money, above and beyond normal duties:
~ Pulling weeds (maybe get paid a dollar per small bucket worth?)
~ Cleaning out the van
~ Dusting

But, that's all, folks! I could really use some feedback here, Mommies!
How do you help your kids earn money, how much money do you give, etc., etc.

Thank you, kindly,

~christa jean

The Much-Awaited Reveal!

Here it is, Ladies!

I'm sorry to all you who voted, 'cause in the end I chose totally different clear beads, but in this pic (silly camera, there is a bunch I need to learn) it doesn't look that fabulous.

Can you see that I have Spring on my mind?! Please, Sun, come out, come out wherever you are!

I was feeling Funky when I made this one... the copper and robin's egg blue together really rock my world! ;-D

And, inevitably, whenever I sit down to make some pretties, some dear child of mine decides it's time to boogie down on the drums! Notice how she's not using a drumstick?!


~christa jean~

What it's really all about...

I am a Goodwill junkie! I love to go there with the fam and look at old junkie pieces of furniture and dream of ways to give them new life! Old becoming New... yes, I really like the sound of that! ;-D I also get thrilled when I find old jewelry or a cool book or ENZO ANGIOLINI shoes, like new, for only 8 BUCKS!!! Yes, that was a score! This last week I picked up a couple of books (okay, more like 10!) that were really gems! Did God secretly place them in that pile knowing that I would find them? Maybe... He does cool things like that.

This title caught me eye as it peeked out from under some sweaty romance... "God Meant it for Good; A fresh look at the life of Joseph". I snatched it up and flipped it over, so pleasantly suprised by these words: "Have you ever wondered why a sovereign, all powerful, loving God would allow His own precious children to suffer injustice, humiliation and persecution? Have you ever gone through a trial and felt like the Lord was miles away and the heavens were brass? Do you feel like you fail many of the tests which God allows to come your way?" Hmmm... sound familiar? I'll be reading that one soon.

The next gem of a book looks fantastic! "Ask What Ye Will" with the cover teaser, "A challenge to troubled or dubious minds! Is prayer demonstrable or just a mere mental fancy?"
This book has the old crackly pages that I'm afraid will fall out of their binding soon. I just flipped it open this morning and delighted to read: "The great fulfillment comes when one's life is filled full of the blessings of God. When the heart overflows with the riches of His love; when self dies and the Spirit of Christ is born within, and you live in perfect love to God and your fellow man. Then and only then do you begin to sense the meaning of the GREAT FULFILLMENT for which all your life you have striven." Ahhh, God truly meant for me to find this book at this time.

My thoughts have been on Love of late...
Love is what it's really all about (definitely not the Hokey Pokey!)
I think I've had the wrong focus for a little while. I've been getting discouraged about character flaws I see in me (that nasty inner focus again!) and issues I see in my daughters. It came to my attention while driving recently that I have not focused on my wife relationship in a while. Not long after that, a dear friend reminded me that the greatest gift we can give our children is a great marriage. Hey, are you a mind-reader?!

I read these wise words over at Amy's Humble Musings... "Tons of people want to do 'great things for God.' Instead, we ought to do small things for God, everyday, right now, not tomorrow. He has already given us instructions: love God and our neighbor, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. In the smallness, there is greatness. In the ordinary, there is extraordinary. Paul Tripp once wrote, “Remember, it is not your weakness that will get in the way of God’s working through you, but your delusions of strength.”
And I really enjoyed this response by one of her commenters... "I once heard Elisabeth Elliot answer a written question during a Q&A at the end of a women’s conference (the gist of the question was 'How do I love God and other people when I can’t even love myself?') by saying, in her matter-of-fact way: 'Well, of course you love yourself. After all, you take the time each day to clothe yourself and feed yourself and get yourself something to drink when you are thirsty. Do that for others and that looks quite a bit like love. Next question…' There are many speakers who would have told that woman (and her false sense of humility) to go get a new haircut or a pedicure or something so she could feel better about herself. I love EE’s consistent reminder to 'do the next thing.' There is something inherently humbling in the daily tasks. So, I’m off to clean out the refrigerator." Um, can you come clean mine as well?!

Maybe these questions should be what I examine my life against:
~ Have I shown Love to my Creator today?
~ Have I shown Love to my husband today?
~ Have I shown Love to my daughters today?
~ Have I shown Love to my neighbor today? (and, not just the ones who live next door. You!)

I am certain that I will not be lying on my death bed some year in the future regretting that I did not keep to my schedule, nor keep my closets clean, or attain the perfection I thought I should! No, but I would lie there in utter devastation if my faith was dead, my husband barely tolerated me, my daughters despised me, my friends all lost to me because I was too busy focusing on my failings, my grievances, my self.

Thank God that I still have time to express love...
And Thank you, Lord, for the gentle reminder to refocus.
~christa jean

Bathtub Epiphanies!

I guess I should take baths more often, because the last few have been rather enlightening!

Epiphany:
a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
b. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization:
"I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself"
~Frank Maier.

Before I delve into my epiphanies, I would like to say Thank You to all you commenters. Your words were encouraging and caring, thank you. And to those of you who emailed me privately, thank you for being real and telling me I'm not alone. And to that one girl who posted a reply to me on her blog (you know who you are... ahem, Sarah! ;-), definitely some things for me to chew on, I'll comment on yours later! And to that dear husband of mine, who read my post and then called to pray for me, thank you. But, now I know that I can't say anything incriminating against you! ;-D Har Har, never would anyway, nothing to tell!

Okay, here are my thoughts from the tub in random order, some may have been divinely inspired, some not...

• I have A LOT to learn from my 5 year old, aptly named Grace. Faith like a child says, receive the forgiveness granted you and go play!
  
  
• I am still just a babe, learning how to walk and like a babe, will fall many times. He is holding out His hand to help me.



• Maybe I've been trying to help myself climb out of the "pit" still, and haven't learned to totally lean and rely and trust in God's strength yet.



• I should know better by now, the devil is a scam artist (great analogy, Liz!) and he loves to, among many things: Isolate ~ I am the only one or the worst one dealing with these issues. Debase ~ make God seem powerless in my case, "You are beyond God's help, Christa". Destroy ~ while God says "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer.29:11) the devil may have plans for me as well, plans to destroy my children and beat me down until I am non-existent and ineffective for the Kingdom.

I thought about that nasty old thing called pride last night too. I wanted to end yesterday's post by saying, "Please don't give me any advice, just pray for me" but I left that out and was glad I did because that would have probably been my pride thinking, "I've heard it all, tried it all, there's nothing new you guys can say to me that will help me." I think pride can have two extremes--which I seem to swing between frequently--arrogance and insecurity. At times I think I'm the best wife, mother, Christian... then later will think the exact opposite. Liz, you also said, "The enemy would want to keep you focused inward... " I totally agree! And think that may be all wrapped up in the web of pride as well, where examining self all the time becomes my god. It is ultimately pride when I think that I am such a hopeless mess that THE AllMighty God can not possibly heal me. HA!

In the last six months, I've found great peace in the fact that my girls will know (firsthand!) what it means to forgive and be forgiven. I have had to ask it so darn much! I have also seen how much they have been protected from the angry spirit taking deep root in them. The one question that still trips me up though, is this... will they eventually decide that God is not powerful enough or doesn't really answer? How, when they see me on my knees pleading with God to help me overcome and have self-control, and then I still fail, will they believe? That is what I worry. Lord, help my unbelief.

My final thought came from a library book we were reading today and it perfectly coincided with what you commented, Tiff, about pressing on... "Sooner or later we must all face a defeat. Greatness lives in one who knows how to learn from victory or defeat and goes on to carry out his duty."

What a blessed gal I am, to be surrounded with such wise and considerate ladies!

~christa jean

P.S. I truly intended yesterday's post to be an "expose" and confession, not a feel-sorry-for-Christa-attention-getting-scheme! Just in case you wondered...

P.S.S. I DO NOT excuse my behaviour whatsoever because of the malfunctions happening in my home... the malfunction is in me. Of course, hubby fixed the disposal, the dryer seems to be working... I've just been throwing soap into the dishwasher and being thankful that I don't live in Pioneer days!

Me and the appliances brokedown.

Yep. That's what happened unfortunately.
The dryer won't dry, the dishwasher won't release the soap, and the garbage disposal stopped disposing. Add those things to some internal propensity to get angry and watch how quickly I fall.

I yelled at my daughters. I slammed my fist on the counter and received such an ugly bruise that will remind me of my sin for a week.

Not knowing what else to do, I left my daughters crying downstairs and went upstairs to sit in the dark. Shame. Guilt. Despair. My companions.

Grace walked upstairs and said "I forgive you" and gave me a picture of the sun shining on a girl standing by a house. I said "Thank you" and she said "Come down, Mommy". "Not yet" I said, I guess I want to wallow some more. She walked down by herself, crying. Daddy came home and I could hear them telling him all about my problems. Grace brought re-inforcements with her the next time she came up. She said, "It's okay, Mommy, you're forgiven. Just get the devil out and come play!"

I wish it were so easy. I felt the darkness closing in around me again, hopelessness...
You see, this is not the first time and other times have been worse. I would have never considered myself to be an angry person, but something happened to me after I had children. Somehow, a monster was released in me.

The self'-loathing I have fought with over the last few years, is debilitating. I have cried out to God so many times to take this from me, make me free. The worst part is that, for the last 6 months, I have felt more free than ever. The hope had returned, also a new trust in His power in me, "Christ in me, the hope of glory". I felt like I had almost reached the top of the pit I've been in, could see the light, feel the warmth, fresh air. But with my fingers on the edge, the devil rushed in to stomp on them. No, I don't blame my problems on the devil... somewhere, I let this in, but now that he knows my weakness, he is profiting from it.

It occurs to me that some of you who don't know this about me, may think less of me now. And to that I say, PLEASE, think less of me! I'm tired of the comments like, "I'll send my kids over to your house for you to train" or "I can't ever see you getting angry" or "How do you do it all so well?" It is my fault if you have thought that of me. I tried so hard for so long to keep up appearances, keep the facade, keep my pride. But pride goes before a fall. Yessiree, it sure does! If I have to tell the whole world about my problems to be humbled and receive grace and be free, I will.

The problem is, I can ask God and my daughters to forgive me, but I can not forgive myself. Just like this ugly bruise, I think of all the blotches woven into the memories in my children's minds. If I struggle to forgive myself and receive love from God, how can I properly show love and forgiveness to my children?
How many times do I have to fall before I can be raised up and victorious?

I'm sorry this is so heavy, this is where I am. Numb.
Maybe if you say a prayer for me after you read this, God will collect those prayers and pour them out upon me to cleanse me!

~christa jean

What for?

I used to think that good things come from God and bad things from the devil.
I've changed my mind.
One can not reconcile the above thought to the story of Job.

This has been a conundrum for me in the past, whether or not a troubling circumstance is an attack on my life from the enemy (devil) or whether it's from God to make me stronger. How do I pray then? Do I pray for relief from the attack or for strength to persevere?

This last year is when my mind truly changed on the subject. Isn't it amazing how the mind can be changed so easily? You read a book or talk to someone you trust and there you go, a change of thinking has been introduced... but I digress. My mind was changed at a time when I was really struggling with issues inside and out. I had to ask myself what do I really believe and why? I became grounded in the thought that God does not cause bad things to happen.

I have come to the belief that God allows difficulty into our little spheres of life. But, God, what for? I don't always understand the what for, but then, I don't understand His ways either. They are so much higher than mine. My answer to the "what for" question can only come from experience then. It has been in my difficult times--whether they be money issues, relationship issues, internal struggles, sickness, loss--that I have been made to run... run to the Father, my refuge, my help. I have also seen, in my experiences, a purpose in the difficulty, and usually that purpose involves a type of refining or sifting of character. I can list so many things that I have seen sifted out of me: pride, unbelief, worry, selfishness, etc... and they will need to be sifted again, I'm sure ;-D.

"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.'" ~Luke 22:31
Whoa! Satan asked for him? That is kinda scary. And yet, that shows me, that ultimately, satan is just a puppet, used by God for His purposes.

I have really been enjoying the book "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" by Beth Moore. It has been especially good for me to read it coupled with her other book, "Breaking Free". In the "Godly People..." book, she studies Job and Peter and asks the same question, why? Why would God allow the devil to "sift" us. She makes a good point in that, if there is sifting going on, then there is something to be sifted out! God wants to refine, sift the fake right out of us, so that we may be genuine. In "Breaking Free" she speaks of the captivities we get entangled in and says, "A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for him/her." I bet those hindrances are ones God aims to get at as well. He sometimes desires our freedom even more than we do!

Of course, I do not welcome difficulty nor look forward to it, but if it means that I will be a little more refined, that He may see His reflection in me, then So Be It! I will try my best to accept it. And to ask, when the difficulties have passed, did you get it out, Lord?!

"THOU givest within and without precisely what the soul needs for its advancement in a life of faith and self-renunciation. I have then only to receive this bread, and to accept, in the spirit of self-sacrifice, whatever Thou shalt ordain, of bitterness in my external circumstances, or within my heart. For whatever happens to me each day is my daily bread, provided I do not refuse to take it from Thy hand, and to feed upon it."
~FRANCOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON~

~christa jean

Sneak Preview!

Take a look at some of the pretties I'll be working with for my upcoming Jewelry Show! And that's only half! This may mean blogging a bit less frequently...
like, OMG, every other day... ;-D.
If you'd like to see some of the current items for sale, just scroll down my sidebar. Sorry, I haven't posted the names/prices yet, but if you're just dying to have something, contact me!!!

~christa jean

Sometimes I laugh so!

Her signature pose.

~christa jean

More to it than I thought!

Well, here it is Wednesday and I haven't yet implemented a schedule...
Boo hoo, woe is me, I'm such a bad mom. No, not really. I could be tempted to feel guilty, but I'm not taking the bait. I am realizing that there is a lot more preparation that goes into making a schedule than I originally thought.

I used to read The Little House books and think, maybe their schedule could work for me! It sounds so quaint:

"Wash on Monday

Iron on Tuesday

Churn on Wednesday

Mend on Thursday

Clean on Friday

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday"

It's simple and easy to remember, right?! But, then I remember that I don't iron, churn, mend, bake, or sometimes clean. So, I guess that's out.

This book (Managers of Their Homes) is making me write out all the activities I want to have in my day, in 30 minute increments. And then I would write one for each of the girls. Sounds simple, right? HA!

It may take a little work, but I can see the benefits in the end result. When Gracie asks me "What can I do, Mom?" I can say, "Go look at your schedule." I also really like the suggestion to schedule sibling play times. For example, if I want to work with Olivia on her letters and such, I can have Gracie playing and reading to Joy Joy during that slot. Many of the "test moms" for the book are praising the fact that their children do not bicker nearly as much anymore, especially since play times don't just run on and on... you know, until someone starts yelling. ;-)

There are some activities that I for sure want to squeeze in...
Devotions
Worship/Dance
Scripture memory
Bible story
Chores
Table time (schooling, art, etc.)
Reading
Play
Nap!

What other types of activities are important to you, my fellow Mommy friends?

~christa jean

Sooo cool!

The house was quiet last night, with three little heads snuggled down in the covers and I thought, "Now's my chance!", so I jumped into the tub! I spent way too long in there, but loved every minute of it (except for the pruny hands, ugh, major pet peeve!), just soaking my cares away. I decided I was pruny enough and let out the water. Instead of hopping out, I stayed in. The water slowly slipped down the drain and it gave me such a strange feeling, like I was being sucked down with it! I suggest you try it sometime, so weird! As I was lying there half cold, half warm, this came into my thoughts, "washing with the water of the word". Whoa! Where did that come from? Is that a verse? I began to ponder that as I looked at the not-very-clear water (no, it wasn't yellow! ;-D) draining past me.

Like I said in my post last night, I need to employ the Word in my battles, and it seems to me, that most of my battles begin in my mind. Lies believed and dwelt upon. Those lies can become strongholds. But, if I can just replace those lies with the Truth of His Word... oh happy day! His Word can wash all the junk, gunk, garbage, filth, refuse out of me!
I just have to be faithful to wash daily!

And, yes, it is a verse...
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." ~Ephesians 5:25-27

Isn't that sooo cool?! Thank You, Jesus!

Ahhh, I just love it when thoughts come together and make sense.

~christa jean

You just wait!

It was a rare moment. I was actually all by myself, walking cartless down the pickle aisle at Winco. I should have been living it up, skipping through the store, but all of a sudden, it happened. Time slowed down, my feet seemed to shuffle and the dreaded question suffocated me. What am I doing here? Not, what am I doing here in this store, but why am I here, stumbling around on this earth like a fly crawling on a piece of garbage?

Fortunately, I snapped out of it. That thing called HOPE welled up in me to replace the hopelessness.

I struggle with feeling like one of these days, I'll just wake up and really be alive in Christ, living a life full of joy. I suppose I have improved a bit in that I used to beat myself up for never seeming to reach victory. But, now and then I catch glimpses of that Hope again. That Hope is Jesus. NOT my efforts at being good, right, perfect or even victorious.

I had a vision of myself a while back. I was standing with the Armor of God on, only my sword was missing. There I was, with the Devil beating down on me, and I could only cower in defense. I felt like God was revealing to me that I have not employed His Word (the Sword of the Spirit), especially in regards to believing who He says I am. Thus, I can not fight back very effectively against that enemy.

He says of me that I am a new creation.

A few days ago, I was reminded again by one of my favorite authors how I should be believing.
"'As we have worn the likeness of the man made of dust, so we shall wear the likeness of the heavenly man' (1 Cor 15:49)
What a word of hope for us when we are discouraged with our own sinfulness! The old Adam is always there, rising in rebellion against the new life which Christ has given us. There is constant struggle, daily reminders that we are yet very unholy, very un-Christlike, very dusty. But a day will come when even I, with all my glaring faults, will wear the likeness of the heavenly Man. This gives me ammunition to fire at the Accuser. I shall be like Christ--just wait! You'll see!"
~Elisabeth Elliot

Someday, I will truly be transformed.
~christa jean

I need your votes!

When I saw this pretty little birdie pendant, I bought it excitedly, with the hope of including it in my 2008 "Spring/Summer Collection". Then we lost our baby and I decided that I would keep this as a memento for the little bird that flew away.

Isn't it so delicate and lovely?

Here is where I need your help! In my indecisiveness, I can not choose which beads to pair it with. I really want the pendant to shine, so I'm trying to keep the strand simple.

Which combination is your favorite?!

Thanks!

~christa jean

Deep Thoughts

I recently scrawled the statement, "Friendship gives us wings". I truly believe this is true. How many of us have been blessed by a friend who encouraged us, told us to stop thinking those crazy, negative thoughts, or just listened to us as we mumbled through tears? I know I have. I do not what I would do without the friendship of my husband, who loves me unreservedly. Nor what I would do without the love of my friends, who often see my potential when I can not.

Unfortunately, the opposite of my above statement can also be true, and most undoubtedly will become true at one point in our lives. Friendship can bruise our wings. It is inevitable that we will stumble upon difficulty in our relationships. We will stumble upon hurt and selfishness and pride. We are selfish beings. Whether the difficulty is with our spouse, family, or friend, we will be put to the test.

Jesus was put to the test on all fronts. He went before us into every difficulty imaginable. Think of Him kneeling down to wash the feet of those who would desert Him. Then gently scrubbing the dust off of the feet of the one who would deny Him. And finally, kneeling before the very one who would betray Him.

Did you know that Jesus called Judas "Friend" even after Judas gave him the kiss? I had never seen that before. But there it is in the book of Matthew 26:48-50
"Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.' Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, 'Greetings, Rabbi!' and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, 'Friend, why have you come?' Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him."
There, at the very moment of betrayal, He still called Judas "Friend". Whoa. I don't know if I can follow this example! In fact, I know I really can't, not by myself at least. Please, don't ask me to follow You in this way!

I look at places and times in my life where I have suffered difficulty in my relationships and compared to His sufferings, they are miniscule. Yet, He cares for me in my difficult times. I believe He has allowed my difficulties into my life, to mold me, purify me, sift me. To make me just slightly more like Himself. "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death..." Philippians 3:10. I still have a very, very long way to go...

Lord, help me as I dare to follow You.
And as I stumble down this path, make me more humble, more like You.
~christa jean

Creation complete!

For all of you holding your breath...


TA DA!


It really looks best on a neck, not lying on a piece of paper (although it is lovely paper!)
I put it on last night and wished I'd had a tiara on my head, I felt like royalty!

~christa jean

Okay, maybe I like this thing too much!

This thing called blogging.
You know you're a blogger when:

~You stop right in the middle of something, run to get your camera while thinking, "This would be great blog material!"
~You take pictures of silly things like food and lamp shades (when my camera's charged, you'll see...)
~You lay in bed thinking about what the next blog title will be!

What can you add to my list?

Maybe some of you are wondering about how my scheduling attempts are progressing...
I'm wondering too.
Well, I'm all for it still, we've just had some interruptions and I am only on chapter 3 in the book!

My oldest daughter reminded me today that I had previously said we could read her Bible every day. Dang it! She has a great memory! So, I said, "You are right, we should be having a Bible story time every day. I'm working on a schedule for us and next week I am going to implement it." Now I've done it. I've committed myself to have one ready to go on Monday. And I will be reminded of it, I'm sure. ;-D

Sweet dreams to all.
~christa jean

Our little bird flew away...

I lay awake last night with my thoughts wandering down odd trails... have you ever stopped mid-thought and thought, "Now, how did I get to this thought?!!" I'm not sure how I got to this thought, but it happened, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

My little dead baby is lying down there in my backyard.

I know, I know. Such a morbid thought. Please, don't decide to ditch my blog and never come back yet! I promise, I won't always be this depressing! But, before I take another blogging step, I have to get this off my chest.

Dr. Seuss was divinely inspired when he penned: "A person is a person, no matter how small."

That little baby person was inside of me and would be growing right now if God didn't have other plans for her. I take comfort in the fact that all the days planned for her were written in God's book. It has only been just over a month since our loss, and I'm okay. Life happens and you just move on. I still cry sometimes, though.

I was 15 weeks along when I knew something was really wrong. The baby had died at week 9, how many weeks did I carry around a dead baby? You can do the math. To think that all that time, I thought she was alive and kicking... and she was not.

That silly doctor at the hospital said the baby wouldn't look like much at week 9, just a bunch of stringy gray and pink mass. But she was wrong. That baby came out and, although she was only an inch and a half, she still had little eyes and ears and arms and legs that were being formed. I call her a "she" because that is what I am accustomed to, she was too small to really confirm the sex.

The night before we went to the ultrasound appointment to determine if indeed our baby was really gone, I lay in bed thinking (I know, too much thinking). As I thought, I felt that I was given a name for the baby... Christine. Now, I had not planned on ever using that name for any of my daughters, it's not at the top of my list, but it would not leave my head. Of course, I had to get up and find out what it means... "Follower of Christ". That settled it.

She followed Christ all the way back up to heaven.

Our little bird flew away, straight into the arms of Jesus.

~ Christine Bird Cheston ~

Born February 26th, 2008

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, And a time to die...

A time to weep, And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, And a time to dance..."

~Ecclesiastes 3:1~

~christa jean

New Creation!

I saw these baubles at the last bead show and my glamorous side had to have them!

Stay tuned for the finished product!

~christa jean