I don't want to gain the whole world...

New - from my latest obsession

2009-09-08T22:02:00.000-07:00

These are my new hand drawn greeting cards that I've recently listed on Etsy. They are all one of a kind. I will not make duplicate cards and purchaser will receive the original. Cards are blank inside so they can be used for many different occasions. Each card measures 5 X 7 and comes with a plain white envelope. Cards are also unique pieces of art that are suitable for matting and framing to display as you please. These cards can be card and gift all in one. As stated before, these cards are on sale on my Etsy account. Info at right. I have signed and dated each card on front and also, signed, dated and numbered on back. Thanks for looking.

I'm so ridiculously obsessed

2009-08-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

My Ridiculous Obsession:
(click on pic for a larger view
it will show more details this way)

Okay, I got this new thing going on in my life and I can NOT stop. I've started drawing these "things" - doodles - zendalas - mandalas - zentangles - fundalas - what ever you call them, I just can't stop... I am Ridiculously Obsessed.

I finish one and think to my self "Okay, I'm done now, this is quite enough!" (At last counting I had over 50 and I've done them all in the last 6 weeks - ridiculous) Then I see SOMETHING, ANYTHING, some kind of pattern and I'm off again. I've uploaded these things onto like 4 or 5 different sites.

But... I do love doing them. I call them my therapy. I get so much out of creating one and its even been lots of fun with my little girls and me to sit and pick out all the hidden images that you can find when you sit and study them.

I've posted some here. I hope you enjoy looking at them and finding some images of your own.

Have a blessed day from our Lord.

Remember - Every good and perfect thing comes down from the Father of Lights," James 1:17

Daddy, I love you and I will miss you so much...

2009-06-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

CWO II John Kenneth Barnett Sr. December 25, 1935 to June 20, 2009

Yesterday on June 22, 2009 my family buried one of the most honorable and decent men that ever walked the face of this earth. John Kenneth Barnett Sr. Retired US Army Officer died on June 20, 2009 after a year and a half long battle with pulmonary hypertension. His heart gave out Saturday morning around 7:oo. He left that battled body to spend a glorious Father's Day weekend with his Heavenly Father in a new body that breathed pure air and gave him no pain.

There is so much I could say about my dad. I wish I could tell you word for word what was said about him at the funeral yesterday. The words were so amazingly perfect. He was the best father, the best husband, the most amazing pappy to his 28 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. For the 5th one that was born yesterday on the day we buried him, I feel such a tremendous loss for. He will never get a chance to know this awesome man personally. He will be blessed to learn of him from the many, many family members who did know and love him so very much.

My dad was a most honorable patriot and soldier of the US Army. He loved this country. Over the years his disappointment with our government and politicians never caused his love for the country to waiver. In so many ways he truly was all about serving. He proudly gave this country 20 years of his life and he loved, absolutely loved being a soldier.

More than that, my dad absolutely loved his family. Every single member was precious to him and they all know it. From my dear mother who spent nearly every second of every day and night over the last year and a half caring for him to the former grandchild, former because due to the marriage that ended her "legal" tie to our family over 14 years ago. She was there with us crying and missing him like the rest of us, because we all have lost this beautiful amazing man from our lives until we all meet again in Glory. I have even more reason to look forward to that day now. I can't wait to hug him again. I thought about it yesterday. He was sick for so much time I can't really remember the last real hug I got from my dad. He could hardly stand, for several months now so the hugs weren't what the use to be. I will though, I will get a marvelous hug one day and it will be wonderful.

Daddy, I hope you knew how very much we love and already miss you. But don't be sad, enjoy heaven, we'll be there in what I hope to you is only a moment. You deserve this. No pain, no sorrow and beautiful pure air. I can only imagine what that first, second and third breathe must have been like for you when you entered heavens gates. I'm so glad you have that. Your mom, your dad, your precious daughter Brenda and so many more, what a reunion you are having. You must have met Jesus face to face by now, and our Father. Oh what a glorious time for you!

Until I get to enter those gates, I'll miss you and I'll love you. I'm so very proud that I was able to call you my dad.

"What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see

when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace.

When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land.

What a day, Glorious day, that will be."

2009-06-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Today I would like for you to meet my new friend Jeanna. She is a fellow Etsian artist who creates beautiful pieces of jewelry and a few other things as well. Recently I met Jeanna through a conversation on Etsy. Jeanna was interested in using some of my photos to make some of her glass pendants. After looking at her work, I was thrilled to oblige. Below are a couple of my own photos that Jeanna has used in two new pendants she has created. I hope you enjoy taking a look. I would really like to encourage you to go by her Etsy Shop and see all the marvelous work she is doing. Don't forget to go by and read her profile as well, so you can get to know her better yourself. Her Etsy shop is called BeansThings(cute story on her profile as to why it's called that).
The link to her shop is as follows:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6662740
Please take a minute and go by.

This is my photo called "Two Old Sisters"

Jeanna's glass pendant from my photo "Two Old Sisters" http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26232417

My photo "Crazy Pink Tree"

Jeanna's glass pendant from my photo "Crazy Pink Tree" http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25957832

As always I hope you have a wonderful day greatly blessed by my loving and merciful Father in heaven and by my precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Mighty God is my God

2009-05-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

"This is the day which the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

I am thankful for the blessings that God alone has given me. He has blessed me although I have failed Him so many times. I thank Him and Him alone as I know that all good things come from Him.
Sometimes in our lives Satan will do all that he can to try and steal everything he can from us in order to hurt our Precious Lord. Even people who claim to know him will allow Satan to fill their heads with lies, they will listen to any sort of evil and proclaim it as truth.
I choose to believe God's Word, His is the only truth and He tells us that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. I believe Jesus!!
As you may have gathered, someone has tried to hurt me by using lies from the father of lies himself. I know what is the truth as much as this person and I will not give place to the devil and entertain a heart of vengence. I know that my Father knows all and sees all and I can rest in His promise that vengence is His.
As I stated above, He and He alone has blessed me. I have an incredible husband, one who makes me feel the love and compassion I longed for for so very long. He is not perfect just as I am not perfect, but for me he comes pretty close. I have 6 amazing children. My four daughters (pictured below) and 2 sons. My oldest is in Atlanta, GA and my stepson is in Lagrange, GA. Again, my children are not perfect, but I am so very blessed to have them. We have such an incredible relationship. Especailly my daughters and me. We can talk about anything and they have no or at least very little fear of coming to me with anything. Their only fear is a fear of hurting me, not me accepting them. For this again, I know I am blessed.

God is good and He is all in all. I love Him, I praise Him, I adore Him. Again I will say God is good.

This is Jessica, my first born daughter, she is my loyal and complete confidant. I love you, Jess

This is Abby, she is my last little baby girl, she lives for the joy of life itself. I love you, Abby.

This is Tess, the one in the middle and she holds it all together for us with love. I love you, Tess.

This is Annie, my second born daughter, so full of mystery, so much depth. I love you, Annie.

My sons are amazing as well, I have incredible pride in them both. They have grown into wonderful young men who show great maturity. I love you both, Chris and Kyle.

May God Bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you all.

Mother's Day Weekend 2009

2009-05-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

What a great Mother's Day weekend for me. I spent all of Saturday in Panama City with all my girls. We had so much fun at the beach. The waves were crazy high, knocking us all over the place. We all laughed so hard. It was a beautiful day. Got some sun but not too much.
I woke up Sunday and got a call from my son first thing wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. A very nice thing to wake up to. My family took me to my new favorite resturant (Sakura) for an awesome lunch of sushi. We all loved it, even my two picky eaters, so looks like we will be going back... YAY!!
I praise God for giving me such a wonderful family who gives me so much love. He is so good to me.

Here we all are at the beach on Saturday. We did have lots of fun - This is actually Mexico Beach
We drove over to Panama City later for dinner and to see a movie. (You can click on this picture to enlarge for a better view if you like)

I hope you all have a wonderful week and that God blesses you greatly!!

More on the Family

2009-04-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

Well, okay so not the next day but the next week. And actually these are pics from back in September of last year when Susan came down to see my dad while he was feeling bad. I just realized I didn't get many pics of the rest of the family, they were mostly of Susan and her gang. We don't get to see them very much so I guess I concentrated more on them.
I'm still not so good at this whole blog thing cause I was hoping to put up a few more pics but I couldn't figure out how I did it last time. I'm missing a pic of my little brother so I'll just have to get him next time I guess. There are so many more in my family, we all have bunches of children and so if you are interested you can see more of us on my Flickr account. It has the same name as one of my Etsy accounts - HeidisPhotoShop. Okay, that's all for now.
I haven't forgot about an update on the bees. It's going really good - they are loving there new home and have even gained a new sister hive which we've got way out back where we discovered we had some tupelo trees. This is really exciting to me because tupelo honey is often the best honey for diabetics and being I just found out I have that dreaded disease I'm pretty thrilled. Take care all and as always God bless you all.

Okay, this one is Susan and me.

This one is my older brother Ken (and me)

My youngest Sister Marcie (and me)

My mom and me

My dad and me

Family Reunions are Wonderful

2009-04-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is little Mishpat

This is little Caleb

Susan and Gary's youngest

Rishah

Susan and Gary's oldest daughter
and husband Livi and Shemuel

Susan and Gary's youngest daughter
Shashua

This week for the first time in four and a half years we saw my sisters family. It was wonderful because the last time they were all unmarried and without children of their own. Now three of her five have married and there are 4 soon to be five little ones to love and adore.

My sister and her family live somewhat differently than the average American, or most other folks in the world. They belong to a group that began, I think about 40 years ago in Chattanooga, Tn. They are a very spiritual people who live in a communal way. As I understand it they pattern their lives after the first church in the book of Acts and live "having all things in common". Meaning the basically live in large homes together and share all that they have with those of their community.

My sister, Susan, has been in this group since the late 70's. She married a man who was part of the community (Gary). They had five beautiful children and as already stated their three oldest have married and begun families of their own.

I also come from a family with five children. Most all of us were able to come to my parents home and be together for this reunion. I have posted several pictures that I took while at my folks house the other day while visiting with my family. If I was unable to publish pics of family members at the reunion, I've included others that are fairly recent. I'll include names and who belongs to who underneath each picture. Oh, and another unique thing about my sisters group is that they name their children Hebrew names, ones that have particular meaning. I'm not sure of all the meanings but I do know the names and I'll try to give you a spelling that will help you pronounce it.

Susan and Gary's oldest son, his wife and their first son:

Nezer, Alac (aloss) and little Caleb

Susan and Gary's first grandson, son of their first daughter

Livi, This is little Qadosh (quadosh)

This is my sister Susan and her husband Gary holding
Livi's baby boy Mishpat (mishpot)

My mom and dad and my oldest son Chris

Nezer's wife Alac and little Caleb

I'll try to post more pics tomorrow to show some of the rest of the family. My brother Ken and his wife Kim have seven children. I'm in the middle and my husband Mike and I have six children. My younger sister Marcie and her husband Rick have nine daughters. My youngest brother who we all call Flip lives at home with my mom and dad. He is has Downs Syndrome and will not marry. We all feel very blessed to have him in our family. I hope you will stay tuned for more family updates and pics. Also I feel honored when you ask questions so please don't hesitate. God bless you all. :D

2009-04-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

Today we became beekeepers and harvesters of honey

Today my husband Mike and our two middle girls took a trip to Wausau, Fl and picked up a couple of "nucs" These, as I understand are like little mini bee colonys.
Each nuc has a queen, a bunch of worker bees and some frames, already started with wax and honey and all the things little bees need to get a big hive going. Mike had already purchased a couple of bee boxes. He put them together and painted them. He and our girls took them across the street and placed them between our two little ponds. Here they should get plenty of sunshine and water. We have so much vegatation growing around there that we should have some fat, happy little honey producers in no time. This is a project my husband has been wanting to do for many years and I'm so happy this day has finally come for him. Send up a pray that all will go well and that the giant gator he saw this weekend doesn't like honey or bee hives!!

Below I have posted several pictures of honey bees. These are all from photographer I have discovered at Etsy.com. I will put the photographers etsy shop address and the link to each picture below each photographers picture. I hope you will take the time to visit each shop and maybe take a look around. There are some amazing photographers at etsy and if you are in the market for some awesome pictures you will surely not be wasting your time shopping there. Oh, and I have a couple of etsy shops too, ya know, if your so inclined to take a peek.

I hope you all have a marvelous week. Come on back soon for new posts on our new Bee Farm. (Bee Farm name coming soon...)

www.janettemaher.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19498923

www.lavendersundesign.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22297349

www.cowtownphotog.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20782412

www.Mylittleeye.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16217014

www.ValentinePhotography

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23123501

My God bless you all this week and may we praise His name forever and ever.

2009-03-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

SPRING - A TIME FOR CHANGE - A TIME TO START FRESH

It's funny how life can change in just a moment of time. People can come into your life and out of it. What was good can become bad just as what is bad can become good. As a christian I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that God allows many things to happen to bring us to the place He wants us to be.

Spring reminds us of the newness of life. What a wonderful time to see just how beautiful and fragil life can be. We have an awesome opportunity to repair broken relationships and to show love to those we may have ignored. We can accept the gifts of love and friendship that others offer to us with an open heart.

Beauty is within all of us. We just have to have eyes to see and courage to show it to those around us. Truly, God does not make junk. We are created in His marvelous image. We can easily be His child and share in His wonderous treasures. Jesus is the way.

Spring is here and it is beautiful to behold. Look and see the beauty before you. God bless.

Getting to know...

2009-03-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of mine: A Time to Rest

Okay, I'm finally blogging. I don't really know what I'm doing but I'm going to give this thing a try. I know I should be able to do this stuff by now but I guess I'm still just an old fashion girl who only feels right doing old fashion kind of things. Of course I think my VERY old fashion husband would disagree with me on that one. He thinks I'm way to modern thinking, so go figure. He is really an awesome guy though, and all though we do disagree on a lot of stuff we are right on when it comes to the things that we both find important.
Because this is my first blog post, I think I'm going to tell you a little about my self.
I'm 49 with a (I know, I already mentioned it but...) great husband. I have 3 little girls at home. Annie is 11 and is my sweet little servant child, she does love to help people. I think she would make an awesome nurse one day. Tess is 9 and is so much a girly girl. She loves everything frilly and feminine. She owns 35 purses to date. My baby Abby is 7 and I would say she is most assurdley a free spirit who will probably do anything she sets her heart on. At the moment she is planning on being a missionary to Turkey. A thought that leaves my husband in bouts of fear and trembling. He tells her that something terrible will probably happen to her there, she says God can take care of her no matter where she is and if she dies there thats okay cause then she will be in heaven and what could be better. I also have 2 children who have left home. Jess is 19 and lives in Atlanta. She goes to school and works all the time. She is very dedicated to what she has going in her life right now and I'm really proud of her. Chris my oldest is 29 and he also lives and works in Atlanta. I don't get to see him very much and even after years of this I still miss him terribly. I have a stepson Kyle 16 who lives in Lagrange, Ga. He is an awesome young man. He does great in school and has made some great plans for his future. He shows a maturity that we are all really proud of. Then there are the others who although there are no blood or legal ties I still feel like they are mine too. First there is Erica, she is 29 and was once my stepdaughter, now she is my dear friend. She has 2 of the most beautiful children you have probably ever seen. Her sweet husband is away in Kuwait supporting our country. (We love you and pray for you Seropio)

I work at an area hospital in the ER as a registration clerk. I love working around people who I can have a part in making them feel better. I could never do the nurse part because needles scary me in a ridiculus way. I do like my job though so I feel blessed in that. I like to sew and I like to take photos (I will be posting lots of these) I also love to garden when its not too hot outside. I have two shops on Etsy so I hope you'll come see me there some time. Oh and I have an account on DeviantArt and you are also invited there too.

My husband and I both come from large southern families who love big get to gethers and good southern food. I love to get to know folks from all over the world and I really hope this blog will give me the opportunity to get to know more of you.

One more thing about me. I really and truly LOVE my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is the only thing worth living for and He is the reason I have the wonderful and precious family that I have. I give Him praise and honor for every good thing in my life. His love is abundant and free for anyone, anywhere and anytime. If you don't know Him, I can tell you with every ounce of my being, man, you don't know what your missing. He is awesome and great and beyond any words this simple southern lady can come up with. I look to the skies in hopes of His return and my getting to see Him. May His name be praised forever and ever.

Gos bless you all and please come back to see me.

I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul. Mark 8:36