13 Weeks til Christmas!!!

     Ok, I can hear you all snarling at me saying "thanks ALOT for putting even more pressure on my already full calendar!" No worries!  13 is a pretty big number actually.  Besides, everything is relative.

     Do you love the fall season?   I do!  We are a football family and I love decorating the house with all of the gorgeous fall colors...the pumpkins, mums, dried leaves...But, (confession time) I don't have anything but a pathetic little flag hung outdoors  at this point.  I usually pride myself  try to set the pace for the decorating in the neighborhood...and I especially love decorating our porch...tons of potential and places to decorate.   Well, let me tell you, I am waaaayyyy behind this year!  But that's OK...we start where we are.  Some years we have more time, others, not so much.  The important part is to not miss the joy that you can put in or find in... THIS day.  You are breathing right? and reading this right? Two gifts God has given you right there!  An attitude of gratitude...it can be very humbling.  Our youngest daughter specifically tries to write something in her Gratitude Journal every day. Check her blog out here:  http://staceyanndesigns.blogspot.com/2013/08/attitude-of-gratitude-july.html  I keep saying I'm going to start a journal like that.  For now, as I plop into bed at the end of the day, lights out, getting my pillow "just right" ... I close my eyes (sometimes I don't close my eyes, cuz then I fall asleep in the middle) praying and thanking God for all that he's done and for all the ways he's blessed me/us in the last 24 hrs.  (A journal would be soooo much better though, because then when you have those "down" days or feel like you've just. had. it!, you can look back and remind yourself of all that God has done!. . .  Gotta start that journal...)

This attitude "thing" has been especially on my mind and heart as we have said goodbye to a dear family friend, Patsy Pittinger, two weeks ago.

"Grandma Patsy" adopted we Harburns (and even our dog Oreo ~ and she's definitely NOT a dog lover) into her heart and her family... (our "in" was that one of our daughters, Stacey, fell in love with~and married~ her youngest grandson, Michael ;). She was almost 85 years old and still unbelievably independent (sometimes to a fault her daughters will say) and always ready for the next "adventure" or event.  Her attitude always seemed to be "I can do it!  Let's go!"  I want to be like that when I'm 85!  Thank you Grandma Patsy for making a difference and for blessing our lives.  Thank you also for reminding me that it's the little things that can make a HUGE difference.  Thank you Lord for Patsy and the reminders each day...

One of the things that Grandma Patsy always seemed to enjoy were the handmade cards I would make and send/give to her.  When she would thank me, I would always just shrug off the compliments from her (no big deal right?)  but honestly...I was so tickled that she loved them!  So let's keep making those cards and touching lives. . .

The new date is set for our Christmas Stamp A Stack II class!!!!  (Friday, Oct. 4, 6-10 pm or Sunday, Oct. 6, 2-6 pm)  Location:  My house  Cost:  $30 and includes 16 ready to send Christmas Cards (4 designs, 4 of ea.) a package of Vellum Cardstock  and the Season of Style Designer Series Paper Stack. That's a great deal!!!  Place an order the day of the class and receive a $5 rebate on the cost of the class!    NOTE:  you must rsvp and Prepay by this Sunday, Sept. 23rd ~slharburn@gmail.com...sorry for the short notice...time is flying by!)  Here is a sneak peak at 3 of the 4 designs we will be making!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to be able to stamp with you soon!  

Have a blessed day and stop by again soon....

Shirley

slharburn@gmail.com

Can't come to a class but want to order?  You can always order Stampin' Up! products 24/7 from my website www.specialteastamping.stampinup.net!

p.s. I'd love to hear your comments...