I Am American and this is My Country!

I believe in my heart that the anger and revolt that people are voicing in the social media groups, in protest marches, in truly very small ways are simply trying to convey as do I the words that here to follow. Though extremely simple, I believe it is how most of us truly feel.
My heart feels such great sadness and such heaviness to see this country, the place that I have called home for all of my life, turn into a place that I can barely recognize any more. Considering that true, honest, hard working, Americans have sacrificed so very much for the freedoms that we see being taken from us by our own government, no less, on a daily basis. And with each new election of government offices we find ourselves governed by those who work against the further building of this once great, unified nation, but rather they only seek to tear down all that is good, and honorable. Stomping under their own feet the blood, sweat, agonizing tears of loss that help to build this country to the great nation that it had become. A refuge to those who had none in their own land. A new beginning to those who had lost everything in their own place of birth. A place shelter of protection from the dangers that ensued them.
Not that these peoples should come in among us and take from us all that we as Americans have given our lives to build. Our beliefs, our priciples, our unity.
All of the things whirling around in the news and media is not about any prejudices at all what-so-ever. It is about one thing and one thing only. This is Our Country! We have and continue to work hard to make it the place that all other people of the world can come to if need be for peace, for refuge, for safety, for a new hope, but not to flood into our borders and take it away from us by imposing on us other religions, other languages, other equalities that we are not willing to accept. This si our Country, The United States of America, the one and only and just as we would not go into your borders as a people and seek to change all of your ways of life, we do not accept any other nation or people to come into our borders to take away, force us in any way to give up all that we have stood for as a nation. No more! I am American and this is my Country! Amen.

"He Created Me"

"Creator." What other title brings such feeling and flood of emotions like this one can? This title alone allows us to pass on a part or portion of who we are to that which we have created. With that being said, we will go to great lengths to guard and protect that which we name as our own creation.
I posted a couple of videos yesterday of children grown into young people who had found themselves abandoned of those whom they believed would always protect them and keep them safe from all harm. But I am posting this so that they and those like them, and those who find themselves feeling like them, lost, abandoned, undone, with no source of hope it seems... to let you know, no matter in what situation you find yourself you can know your Creator has not or never will abandon you or leave you without anything that you have need of, ever. Our Creator gave me the following lyrics and I want to you to read them, believe them, and never, ever, forget them. This song is for us all because we are all God's creation.
****  **** **** **** ****
He created me.
He created me.
My every need He sees.
He created me.

He is with me always.
Every moment of the day and night He sees... Me.
He watches over me
He created me.
In His shape, In His form
He created me.

He'll never leave me alone
He's always at my side.
I am never alone
No matter where I roam
Near or far I am always at home.
He created me.

He made a lot of things
Gave them all a place
He spoke the word, they came to be
But He created me
With His own hands
He created me.

I am the jewel of His eye
I make His heart skip a beat
He is Almighty God
and He created me.

I love Him! I love Him!
I love Him!
He created me!

He knows all that I need
And He will take care of me.
When I reach out and call out His name
Jesus.
I will find He is right beside me
Right where I need Him to be.
To comfort and help me.
He created me.
Don't you see?
He created You and Me.
*******
Forever in His debt. Thankful in His Service.
Loving Him ever,
Julie Lane 

A New Project and Back to my first Love in 2014!

I have wanted to make something for my Aunt Shirley for a couple or more years now, but i wanted it to be something she would use practically. Since I have been heavy into creating books and mini albums, my sweet, dear mom has not been so thrilled with me, even though she tried her best to love my newest craft as much as I did. She even bought all of the tools and wares of the trade to feel more a part and to show her support. She tried so very hard, but my mom's side of the family are mostly all seamstresses you see! For my mom, her mom, and her two sisters, it was all about sewing of any kind. They could sew anything they wanted. 

My grandmother, who is no longer with us, was the most excellent seamstress I have ever yet known. She basted her seams by hand before she ever took them to her tread peddle singer. She made all of her clothes! She made her aprons, everything! She even made her own, most beautiful, full length coats to wear in winter. All her hand work was always beautifully done. So, naturally, her grand talents and love for perfection was passed on to her children and to some of her grandchildren, and yes one of them is me. I am so proud of my heritage in so much more than just the talents I've been blessed with, I am thankful most for the Godly heritage my grandmother passed on to us all. But for now, back to this project...

 Even though my mom was and still is an excellent seamstress, she did her best to teach the basics of sewing, but I seemed to have ideas of my own. So, one day, I took some money I had earned, bought some fabric and a pattern and jumped out of the nest all on my own! And after putting a hidden pocket in that wrap around skirt at least three different times, I was in love with sewing and I never looked back! So, my very first love was and still is being a seamstress you see? Now, you will understand my choice in this project. It is for a seamstress who is not a scrap booker, card maker, or anything that has anything to do with paper. Fabric is her passion. 

I had thought about, and may still do it, making her a practical recipe album, but for now, I am making her this one of a kind sewing notions book, so to speak. It will open like a book and have pages inside like a book, the difference is that it is made of fabrics rather than papers. 

So... I am so happy with the way it is turning out so far, I thought I would share a few pics with you now. The first pic is the front cover.

God bless you all and thanks so much for stopping by my blog :o)

Julie

Finally!!

I have for so very long, a few years now, wanted to make a doll house album. I have talked about it, drawn out ideas and designs for it, and mulled over it for quite some time. The only other project that took me this long to pull together was my first Recipe Album!! Yesterday, I decided on a design and today a theme! Two elements one absolutely must possess in order to create any thing at all! I was thinking I should like to have my book designed so that I can have interactive paper dolls in it. I thought that I would design them as well, but as I glanced through an old 2009 desk calendar by Mary Engelbreit, I decided I would try to use the many paper dolls I have in the magazines I have collected of hers over the years instead. I think I have found a suitable paper line as a base to start. So! Onward and upward I go in true Mary Engelbreit fashion!!
Wish me luck!
Julie

Words we can live by...

“Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become.
My father always said that... and I think I am fine.”
― Margaret Thatcher

   I so agree and believe these words.

Julie Lane

It's Christmas Already?!

Yes, yes, yes, I am still here. And, yes, it has been a good while since I have posted anything at all on my blog. I do miss it. I have spent most of my time on... You guessed it! Face Book, Pinterest, Hay Day, (the game) and doing a little scrapping on the side. I had started a Christmas Daily Journal and was breezing right along with it until I had to lay it down to go out of town for Thanksgiving. When I returned, I was unable to work on it like before due to several reasons, so I won't be finishing it before Christmas but I look forward to working on it in January. I am determined to better document our Christmas this year than any before. I may be able to grab some pics with my IPad to post for you to see my progress so far.
I have been really busy trying to get everything ready for Christmas. I am almost finished decorating, but still have to decorate the tree! I've been working on my menu, recipes, and shopping list today.
I have revised a breakfast casserole that I intend to make for Christmas morning and I am thinking I will have some sort of sweet bread with it as well.
For Christmas Eve I plan to have a small family party just for us consisting of a spread of yummies I will be making shortly.
Well, that is the plan! Hope all of your holiday plans are going well.
God bless you all.
Julie

Change... It Does Come!

There is absolutely no way that I can settle down long enough to put into words all the change and emotions I am and have been experiencing over the past two weeks! So, for now, I am just going to share a little with you.
I have less than one week now before I move to the Raleigh area with my hubby and grandson! I know! This simple sentence in no way explains anything at all! I have a sister and her family who live in the area. I have an Aunt, an Uncle, three cousins, who live in the area, not to mention nieces and nephews who have grown into young adults without me. Two of my grandchildren live there as well.
Lifetime of a story put short? My husband and I have lived away from home and family since we were first married and this December we will have been married for 32 years! I know! A whole 3/4's of a lifetime! LOL! We have been apart due to his job in the area for almost 18 months only seeing each other on the weekends. But two weeks ago we decided we were not waiting on the house to sell any longer! We have rented an apartment and will be moving in, by the grace of God this coming Sunday! I am ecstatic!! After living in this small town with very little stores and resources for the past 8 or so years I am moving to a tri-city area! Enough said?! Well, I am excited! In so much that I just had to share it with my blog readers! Changes and lots of 'em are on my horizon and I can barely wait! I feel like a bird set free from a lifetime in a very small cage! If I knew it, I would sing that old song "Feeling Good!" These are the words.

Birds flying high you know how I feel 
Sun in the sky you know how I feel 
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel 

It's a new dawn 
It's a new day 
It's a new life 
For me 
And I'm feeling good 

Fish in the sea you know how I feel 
River running free you know how I feel 
Blossom in the trees you know how I feel 

It's a new dawn 
It's a new day 
It's a new life 
For me 
And I'm feeling good 

Dragonflies out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know 
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean 
Sleep in peace when the day is done 
And this old world is a new world 
And a bold world 
For me 

Stars when you shine you know how I feel 
Scent of the pine you know how I feel 
Oh freedom is mine 
And I know how I feel 

It's a new dawn 
It's a new day 
It's a new life 
For me 
And I'm feeling good

Okay! Gotta get back to packing! Thanks for sharing in my joy!
Have a great day!
Julie

Jasmine's Sock Monkey All Dressed Up!

This is the sock monkey I had Lynn of "Handmade Creations by Lynn", to make for my granddaughter. I made a flower for her head and a cute tu-tu for her to wear. I love how she has turned out :o) I think Jasmine will love her too don't ya think?!
Happy Creating!
xoxo:)
Julie

More of "A Gentleman's Organizer/Calendar 2013"

Here are some more pics of the 2013 desk calendar I have been working on for the past couple of weeks now. Now on to June through November!

Thanks for your comments and thanks for looking!!

Julie

William's Space for Christmas 2012

Although we still have to stain the bed and add the painted trim, this HUGE project is almost complete!! Hubby and my BIL Benny, made this possible for my youngest grandson who lives with us. He just luvs it! I was so pleased that he did!! I re-made his bedroom for him as part of his Christmas! It was a chore pulling everything together but I had a blast doing it for him! I still have to finish his curtains that match that smaller pillow underneath the bed. The toy chest is from Ikea. It cost a small fortune to get it delivered but it is just what he needed to organize his space. Now he has his own place :o)

A Gentleman's Organizer/Calendar 2013

Here are the pics of the 2013 desk calendar I have been working on for the past week. Of course, there is more to come.

Thanks for looking!!

Julie

January's calendar section displayed on the stand. (above)

The picture below is the A Frame sitting on the matchbox for the calendar organizer.