Long List to Read

I have a stack of books I need to get read. Here is my updated shelf...

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Obsidian Dawn

For those of you that like to dabble in (or completely dive into) graphic design, you'll know what I'm talking about in this post. My wonderful husband (see My Husband Rocks Mondays) knows I love messing around with designing, art and photography. For Christmas he got me a new HP Touchscreen computer AND The Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection! Basically, it is every Adobe program in one box! WOW! I have no idea how to use 95% of it but I am stoked! I also got the "Dummies" book for it and am very slowly learning new tricks. There are millions of tutorials online, as well. I found a great resource for paintbrushes, images, tips and tutorials. Obsidian Dawn has all these things for FREE! There are a few rules, which I am abiding by doing this post. There are also instructions on how to download everything. So many sites expect us rookies to know how to do everything. Anyway, this is a post to thank Obsidian Dawn for helping out the rookies! and sharing lots of free stuff! I made the banner on this post using free paintbrushes and Photoshop CS4!

TGoF .1

WOW! Is it Friday already? My week went by really fast. Spring has sprung (and will hopefully be here to stay) here in Sicily. It is a gorgeous day and we had some great playtime with friends this morning.

I am going to continue my weekly post "Thank God on Friday". You can post yours in the comment section or on your blog and then put your address in the comments to share.

Lord God, I am so thankful for/that
#1 YOU! Your grace, love and the joy that you bring into my life!
#2 my wonderful, supportive, handsome husband!
#3 my family's health.
#4 my boys are thriving, loving and potty training.
#5 awesome Christian friends that are supportive, giving and "local" family.
#6 the internet, seriously! For connecting with family and friends, as well as learning resources.
#7 the Bible, I really need a hands on guide to life.
#8 we have freedom to worship you.
#9 we don't have to be scared on a daily basis for our safety (just watched Slumdog Millionaire).
#10 while our country is in a recession we are still amazingly rich and spoiled by worldly standards.
AMEN!

We are starting "My ABC Bible Verses" by Susan Hunt;
A soft answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Colossians 3:20

Have a wonderful weekend! Looking forward to reading what you are thankful for!

TGoF!

I'm thinking this will be my regular Friday post. TGoF! Thank God on Friday! I also challenge any readers to this with me. List ten things that you are thankful for, other than the obvious. Really think about your list. Here is mine...

I am thankful for/that
#1 God was holding my husband in His hands on Sunday when he crashed his motorcycle.
#2 we live in a country (even outside the US) in which we are able to worship our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, not in fear but with joy.
#3 my boys are healthy, happy and thriving.
#4 my husband has a secure job.
#5 the internet. Honestly, it is a necessity living here.
#6 my patience is getting better.
#7 Joshua is finally figuring out the potty thing.
#8 I have amazing friends.
#9 a great family (even my in-laws!).
#10 God puts up with me and all the junk I do and still loves me for me!

Some verses to think about...

Psalm 7:17
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I love BibleGateway.com! Search all the versions of the Bible by keyword, chapter or verse.

Have a blessed day! Enjoy your Easter holiday!

P.S. Thanks to the Company Girls for stopping by and saying hi!

A New Design

I am really excited about my newest design on CafePress and I have to share it. I have been playing with some new paintbrushes and colors in Photoshop CS4. Let me know what you think! If you look around in my store, you'll see how far I've come. I love creating and sharing. I also made my new header! What a productive day even with the sickies!

Compromising and Balancing in a Marriage

I'm sure that this will be the first of many posts on the subject of marriage. My husband loves to ride his sport bike (a bright green Kawasaki zx6r, for those that care). Once again living overseas has its limitations in purchasing things he needs, especially for this [ridiculously expensive] hobby. But he finally got a trailer to tow the bike to the track. And was finally able to go spend the day at the track with the boys today.

I, on the other hand, was really looking forward to going to Stamp Club with the girls. My friend Mary is a Stampin' Up Consultant. Every month we get together and learn new techniques and do projects. This is one of the highlights of my month. I love crafting and more than that I love fellowship with the girls. I couldn't find a sitter, which is partly my fault for waiting to call them. I'm bummed!

But my husband rarely gets to visit the track. I know how much he loves riding. So, I make the sacrifice for him. My happiness is so important to him and I really want to give him back the things he does for our family. And not be bitter about missing something that is important to me. My husband's happiness is so much more important to me.

1The Song—best of all songs—Solomon's song! The Woman!

2-3Kiss me—full on the mouth!
Yes! For your love is better than wine,
headier than your aromatic oils.
The syllables of your name murmur like a meadow brook.
No wonder everyone loves to say your name!

4 Take me away with you! Let's run off together!
An elopement with my King-Lover!
We'll celebrate, we'll sing,
we'll make great music.
Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine.
Everyone loves you—of course! And why not?

~Song of Songs 1:1-4 (Message)

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ~Ephesians 4:31 (NKJV)

A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
~Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing this man into my life. He is all earthly things to me, he gives me joy, he challenges me. In loving him, I am loved. In understanding him, I am understood. Help me to honor him, to share all things with him, to be one flesh with him. Amen.
(Bible Verses for Busy Moms from Meredith Corporation)

I Must Share This!

I have found a great way to balance the house! Home Sanctuary is new favorite place!

I love it but...

I love reading. Books, magazines, blogs. I love to fill my mind with new information or romantic notions. I try to read a book (not including a Bible or Bible study) at least ten minutes a day. If I commit to ten minutes, then I can usually get enough time to finish a chapter.

Here is my current book list for your enjoyment...
1. California (4 short Christian fiction stories)~Billerbeck, Leonhardt-Koehly, Laity & Yapp
2. Adobe CS4 Master Premium for Dummies ~This book is thick and I probably won't ever finish it but it is full of information for the Adobe programs that I (TRY) to use.
3. John 3:16 ~Nancy Moser, technically I haven't started this one yet but I might when I'm done here.

I also am doing two Bible studies and hopefully one more soon.
1. First Place 4 Health's Begin With Christ -This is a weight loss study that I am leading.
2. A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George -This is great and I highly recommend it!
3. I'm really hoping that my husband will be able to re-prioritize so that we can do The Love Dare study together.

As I am writing this, I'm really thinking that I need to put more book time on my schedule! Happy reading!