short & sweet + a printable

download here

We often think of gold as a color, but it's not.  Gold is a way of life.

Go be golden.

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Destroy Negativity + Free Printable

This week I had an interesting and very real conversation with one of my high school seniors.  She is quite accomplished as a vocalist and will be attending and very prestigious fine arts school in the fall.  More than anything she wants to be on the stage.  And maybe, someday, she will be.  But until then she has determined to put out of her mind all other option.  For her, there is only one option--the stage--and if anybody else says anything else she refuses to listen.

Parent types will say that idea is ridiculous or naïve, and truthfully it is.  But I would rather be ridiculous and naïve than to never reach my dreams.  

There is but one dream and because there is only one there can only be one solution.  Squash all negativity and listen to the voice within.

I hope you enjoy this printable.  And remember go for it.  Go for the dream.

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Guest Post from Aubrey of Oh So Lovely

When Danette asked me to guest post, I knew immediately that I wanted to design and share some free wall art printables.

So I came up with this set of adventure prints (available in 3 different colors). Perfect for anyone with a sense of adventure!

All you have to do is click on your desired print(s) below and drag to your desktop (mac) or right click and save (pc), open and print to your desired size on a color printer.

These prints are sized to 8" x 8" at full size, but can be printed at any size by choosing the print % size on your printer. 

I personally like to hang wall prints in different sizes and odd numbered sets like the example below:

For these prints and many other free printables head over and check out my blog. 

Set #1

Set #2

Set #3 

                               

                         
                              

I hope you enjoy these (and have an adventure or two in your future)!

xo
Audrey

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my Prayer for you + a Printable

Today, this is my prayer for you.  May you find God's sweet peace, joy like you've never know.  May God's love surround you and may your heart be full of love.

To download, click on the image.

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Take the Plunge: Getting Started as a Mentor + Printable

Doing life alone has a tendency to become very boring, very lonely, and something scary.  Here's the great thing: we're not supposed to do life alone.  We're called to live life together.

Relationships are a crazy thing.  In order to be growing as an individual, there are three types of relationships that we should be actively cultivating.  First, we need to be learning for someone more experienced.  Second, we need to surround ourselves with people at the same level that we are.  Last, we need to be sharing our life with someone who can learn from our experiences.  In other words we must be mentoring other people.

If you've been a reader for a while, you might remember that I shared my passion for the mandate of mentoring about a year ago.  (You can read more about that here.)  Over the past year, if anything, my passion for this has only grown.  Let me explain why.

As Christ followers, there are very few of us who have not heard of the Great Commission, but just in case, I'll share it with you again.  Before Jesus ascended into heaven the book of Matthew states Christ's last words to His disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit and teaching the to obey everything I have commanded you."

When I hear or read this verse, I often think of missionaries who have given up their lives to take the Good News of Christ's love all over the world.  As Christ followers we get beside them.  We send them.  We finance their endeavors.  After all, some will send and some will go.  But Christ's message from this verse is really much more than just telling someone of Christ's love.  It's more than just saying a prayer.  It is a mandate to make disciples--teaching them, instructing them, guiding them, doing life with them.  It's what we do to help the ladies in our communities.  It's how we raise our sons and daughters.  It's the relationship that we foster with older and younger women that enhance our lives.  It's making disciples!

And that, ladies, is mentoring.

Mentoring is a commitment of time and energy and talent and even money, but it is so worth it.  You will help someone else grow, but you will grow more into the image of Christ too!  As a Christ follower, that's what we're all aiming for: to be more like Christ in His love, compassion,  holiness, and mercy.

There's a good possibility that as you read this you are ready to take the plunge.  You're ready to find a mentor and become a mentoree, but where does a person start with all that?

Most likely we would all agree that a task becomes much easier when we know what we are actually supposed to do.  I know my major fear in branching out is a fear of uncertainty.  Thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way.

Today, I want to encourage you to take the plunge.  Find that lady in your life who's probably a little older and a lot wiser.  Ask her to meet with you once a week or a couple of time a month and then do it.  Keep that appointment.

When it comes to finding someone to mentor, there a good chance that she's already in your life watching from a distance.  Look for her and then invite her to "hang out" sometime.  I hear coffee is always a great way to connect. :)

Below is a guide to ease the intimidation.  Print it off and stick it in your Bible.  Think of mentoring like making a new friend.  Take the plunge and become a mentor and find a mentoree today!

click to download

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Welcome May + May Desktop Calendar

May is here!  The flowers are bursting out of the ground and the business of summer has started too soon.  But there is one thing about all this business.  The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can leave for vacation!

Enjoy this desktop calendar!

1024 | smaller

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Mother's Day Printable

Over the next few weeks my life will be busy with end of the school year activities one of which happens to be Mother's Day.  We all want to make Mother's Day special for the women who have impacted our lives, but especially for our mothers.

I'll be sharing a few affordable items that can just brighten the ladies of your life who have impacted you.

The first a set of bookmarks.  After downloading the PDF (here or click on the image) print it on card stock.  Use a paper cutter or really sharp paper scissors to give help give you a clean line.  Then just pass them out.  You might choose to pair the bookmark with a vintage book or cookbook.  Most women I know, including myself, would love that!

Linking Up With

Live Laugh Rowe

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Making Circles

I have a confession to make.  

No, it's not that I'm a shoe-a-holic (although I am) and it's not that I love the smell of gun powder.  (Don't judge.)  It's not even that I believe in Big Foot and in the possibility of aliens.  (It is possible.)

I'm terrible at navigation.

If you ever spot a little red Ford Fusion stopped on the side of the road with a woman looking at her phone trying to recalculate her position, there's a good chance that's me.  I'm just terrible at directions.  Turning
around two, three, even four times because I've missed a turn is not uncommon for me.  

But there are few things that drive me crazier than when I'm lost on a highway and can't find the exit I'm supposed to take.  Even worse, when I'm lost on a turn-a-bout with other vehicles headed straight for me.  I don't know where I'm going.  Am I supposed to yield or are they?  Why did that car just pass me on my right?  What's going on?

Maybe you've been there to--frantically looking for your turn and second guessing which one you're supposed to take.  You find yourself circling again and again.  Is this the one?  No that one.  No, no, no.  It's this one.

I've found that life can be very similar to that monotonous circling looking for the correct turn, but never finding it.  So round and round you continue to go.  Moving is better than standing still, at least that's what they say.  But the point is that you're moving just to stay alive but never leaving the dizzying circle.  

For a while, making those circles can be entertaining...fun even.  But eventually the merry-go-round of life looses it's flavor and all you want to do is get off of the ride.

But how?  Which turn is the correct turn?  And how did we get on this never ending turn-about anyway.

First, we can't be paralyzed by fear.

Fear might be the most effective of all robbers in the world.  Fear will absolutely de-habilitate us leaving us paralyzed inside our own mind.  The Bible says that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind."  John wrote that God's perfect love for us cast other all fear.

Because of His love we don't have to be afraid of that car headed straight for us.  That's just an illusion.  That car that we think we'll strike head on is enter the turn-a-bout too.  We're safe if we'll follow the directions.

Second, we have to keep an open mind and avoid a critical attitude.

I have found myself becoming so critical of other people.  It's wrong and I know it and it keeps me from moving on to my destiny.  I judge people for having, what I consider, double standards.  And I am enraged with those double standard.

I get so angry and I don't know how to deal with that anger.

But...it's none of my business.  They're the ones who'll answer for their actions.  Not me.  I'll have to give an account for my actions.  I'll have to answer for why I let that judgmental, critical attitude grow into anger and even hate.  I'll be judged because I didn't act in love.  

The Bible is very clear on this.  It says, "Judge not or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1).  Jesus said that people would know we were His disciples by our love for one another.  If you're judgin' we're not lovin'. 

Kill that critical spirit and learn to act in love.

Third, remember that we've got to let go of the past.

The enemy's greatest trick is the lie of condemnation.  Over and over again we rehash what we did wrong and how we could have changed it, but we fail to realize that the past can't be changed.  We must work hard to forgive ourselves and move on.

In Romans 8:1, Paul writes, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus (and His redeeming work on the cross) I've been set free from the law of sin and death."

So let's break this down again.  How are we going to avoid the stagnant, unmoving circles that can come our way and keep us from moving towards or our God-given purpose?

Here's a "cheat sheet" to help you out.

click to download

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Happy {February} + Free Download

It's February!  The month of love.  Here's you February desktop calendar created for your enjoyment and usefulness.  Just download the size that fits your screen best.

Enjoy and live love.

2560X1440          1600X1000          1024X640

Linking Up With

Get Crafty Friday

Fancy This Fridays

Show Off Friday

Freedom Fridays

Weekend Wonders

Do Something Crafty

Inspiration Gallery 

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make Christmas bright...a Christmas Free Printable

Today I'd like to share with you a printable to brighten up your day.  Just follow the link below and save.

link to download

Hope you enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

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November Free Printable

I hope you enjoy this printable.  Please feel free to download and enjoy!

Download Here

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a Note to You, Woman

Printable 

(source)

To the women of the world

     To the ladies of the present

     To the females of tomorrow

Value who you are.

Remember your past, yes, but remember that it is this: your past.  

Learn from it.  

Grow from it.  

Avoid repeating it.  

       But leave it...Leave it all in your past.

Step up

Step out

Step forward

     For yourself

          For those who are paralyzed

               For those left in the bondage of self doubt

You can do this.

Be bold.

Be strong.

Classy.

Loving.

Compassionate.

       Be more than the women of the past.

Have passion and always act in wisdom

Respond always in faith.

Be more, because you are more.

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