Crafted by Grace

Better Bread starts with fresher yeast.  Here's how I keep mine:   I purchase the large, vaccuum-sealed package for about $4 at the local Amish or bulk dry goods store.  (This lasts several months, baking bread every week).   Then I pour it into small jars I have saved from special jams, candles, etc, and store them in the door of my freezer.  I learned the hard way that yeast can get stale and not produce the nice, fluffy loaves we want.  So these small jars, tightly sealed, are just the thing. When it comes time to bake, I remove one jar from the freezer, measure out my yeast (onto a small saucer) and let it come to room temperature as I work on the rest of the recipe.  Voila!  Perfect bread.

This weekend I had the awesome privilege of helping behind the scenes for the Annual Spring Showcase of  Houghton Movement and Arts Center .  My ballet teacher and dear friend Sarah Badger put together an amazing performance of tap, jazz, vocal, lyrical and creative movement pieces in the first half, followed by excerpts from Swan Lake for the second act.  My husband and I were blessed to be behind the cameras for this event.  What an absolute joy to experience. I cannot say enough good things about this school ... so I will explain this one thing for now.  In the arts world, the culture is typically cut throat and competitive.  It is common for dance teachers to look down their nose at others, to compare, harshly critique or even steal students and business away from other schools.  Though that is commonplace, it should never be the case for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ.  Our relationships and businesses should be run with th...

Eary Fix for Chrystalized Honey

Last weekend I had the shocking realization that our home needed a week of love ( see previous post ).  Here's some progress we've made: Before:                                                             After! Cleaning takes time.  But this week I discovered that the actual job of organization goes quickly , once I have taken the time sit and think it through first. These problem areas of our home were like weeds - they kept coming back no matter how many times I "cleaned ."   So this time I did much more thinking, researching, and problem-solving before attacking the area.  Voila'!  I am very happy with the results! Now here's a close-up of my favorite features.  They are so   Fun! (I think EVERY laundry room should have them.) The Sock Toss!   Scott and the boys i...

Sunday afternoon, lying on top of my nicely made bed, talking with my best friend, I realized something.  MY HOME IS A MESS! Wasn't it just last week that I walked around, surveyed the situation - and thought, "Wow, we are really on top of things and organized.  What a nice place to live!?"  Didn't I wake up every day, tidy and clean up after us ALL day long, even folding laundry late into the evening?   WHO RANSACKED THIS PLACE ???!!!!!    Sigh.  It was us.  Five of us, plus a sweet, crazy cat, and an adoring dog.  We live here.  The problem is, we are not robots.  We smell bad and need to take showers.  We eat and leave behind crumbs, dirty dishes, and compost.  We have creative ideas that turn into wonderful things .... and leave behind MESSES, that are anything-but-wonderful to put back into order.  Sigh.  No one broke in and ruined our nicely ordered home.  IT WAS US. A tear comes to my eye. ...

Today I am thankful that my husband does not measure my worth based on how often I have scrubbed the shower.  Yuck!   I am a blessed woman. And happy to take care of this TODAY.

This is why I spend my mommy time scrapbooking our memories. My time 'away' from them becomes joy back to them!!  With a few time-saving tips, I can teach you how to get your photos into books faster, simpler and easier. If I can do it so can you! Contact me: Rebecca Laird text: 716-640-5702 Facebook: http://facebook.com/simplyscraphappy

Here's my first ever link-up for the wonderful ministry o f Women Living Well.  Click on the Living Well Wednesdays button to read more inspired entries and get filled up with good things ! I just might have the nicest kids in the world.   Today, in perfect God timing, they have brought me to tears with their words of grace. I have been studying grace this month.  I know the word well, and live as a child who knows she doesn't deserve God's grace every day.  Yet still, with my black and white personality, I am disappointed with my lack of grace in certain scenarios.  I see this also in our boys, (of course) and it breaks my heart.  How can we all grow in grace? Fast forward to tonight.  There I was, downstairs in the basement, se ar chi ng box after bo x of Christmas decorations for that elusive wreath hanger. Such a small thing, but it quickly helps make our kitc hen so beautiful every year . That one silly wr ea th bri ghtens the who...

Unexpected blessings!   Sweet crispy October beans - even after first frost!     This morning I am full of thanks for the little things.  I am turning 40 in two days, and this time of year is just especially beautiful to me. The frost was here, but it didn't touch my few remaining tomatoes and peppers.  The last ones are SO yummy and precious, before we have to go back to buying the store produce again.  Thankful!   My husband was kind enough to go out in the cold and cover up the beautifully blossoming zinnias that my firstborn bought and planted for me this year for Mother's Day.  They lasted all summer and were still shining when we took off the sheet this morning. Then I checked the beans, found these especially sweet beauties to cook up for lunch ... and saw more blossoms still ready to go!  Got to walk around my garden, see the pretty, healthy chickens which have given us an unbelievable amount of beautiful ...

Heating up my tea for the 5th time. I can be mad about this, or thankful that I have tea, and a warm, clean house full of little interruptions!

The mice will play!  With my husband and eldest away tonight on a Scouts canoe trip, I decided to help the little mice play with me ... scrapbooking!  I am amazed at what their little imaginations can so quickly come up with.  This is the gift of innocence.  Creativity abounds!  Unfortunately it is not matched with equal amounts of hand-eye coordination OR wisdom yet ... which results in: spinning office chairs, tape runners occasionally running along the desktops, and glitter where it absolutely should NOT be.  But that's where I come in.  I simply use every ounce of patience I have to keep my helpful "nice words" flowing instead of the glue.  Well anyway ... Here's what my Nathan saw when I opened the first page of the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge booklet ... A COMPASS!  Really?  I thought it was a flower on a tag.  What do I know.  Look what we made! We couldn't resist adding a belt to match ....

When you have three sons, GIRL birthday parties take on new meaning! What a great way to get my fingers on all those pretty pink florals and purple hues in my stack. We have enjoyed two school friend parties for girls this year - and I enjoyed creating from my heart on both occasions. Late into the wee hours of course:), when everyone else who needs me was asleep. Ian's third grade friend Haley came first - she mentioned that she enjoys crafts. I constructed a little mini-album for her to complete, and since Haley chose a luau theme for her party, I responded with Hawaiian flowers and colors. With just a couple of cardstocks and two patterned papers, I was ready to go. What I did: - Began with two 5x6 background papers (folded from 12"). - Cut coordinating sheets of CS and PP to lengths of 5" and 6" in various widths - Made fun, easy layouts with the cut pieces and scraps! It was enjoyable and easy. Try it yourself! Next was little Samantha, a kind...

We have just recieved the most fabulous news! My firstborn Ian(7) has won first place in the Young Author's and Illustrators contest for second grade! The contest is open each year to students K-3rd grade, as both a national contest with Reading Rainbow and also in each local television viewing area. Ian's story, Captain Kitten was chosen out of almost 200 entries. We are invited to the WNED studio for an Awards Ceremony in June. Ian has been asked to read from his story, and we are excited to accompany him to this special event. We will have more photos and news for you as we find out more. Congratulations, Ian! We are proud of your diligence to use your gifts in a way that both honors God and delights your readers.

Hello and welcome to my new blog! If you know me, you know that helping others learn the art of scrapbooking is very close to my heart!  Now I am thrilled to have find a line of products that help you celebrate relationships through scrapbooking and stamping faster, simpler and easier!  Visit my online store and training site at www.rebeccalaird.myctmh.com and let me show you how!