Hi Y’all, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I’ve been very buys with life and going to school. I was blessed last week to receive a visit from my daughter and her family, who live in Nashville. Four of my grandkids were her for a visit. All my grandbabies know that a visit with grammy means arts and crafts. This time I was catching up with some of my Drawing 1 homework while they were doing homework at my kitchen table. As soon as they finished with school work they looked to see what I was doing and they all wanted to join in the fun. My two granddaughters have always been in art, but I was surprised to see my 8 year old taking such an interest this time. My newest grandson, Josiah age 7, who was adopted from Ethiopia last August even wanted to get in on the art activity. Drawing and coloring is not an activity that most African orphans get to take part in and his fine motor skills are very undeveloped, so he lost interest quickly and went to sit with his papaw and watch a ballgame.

Cassidy, my second granddaughter, has always been my little artist and receives art supplies and projects for birthdays and Christmas each year. Her big sister, Savannah, now a teen, usually gets some arts/crafts stuff and music or clothes. Jamison’s gift of choice has always been Lego’s for the past few years. I think I will have to send him some art supplies now that he is expressing an interest. I’m posting photo’s of the pictures he drew of me and his papaw, please note his eye for detail in the drawing of me, he drew me drawing (I have a pencil in my hand).

My daughter is working with Josiah to improve his fine motor skills and I plan to do some drawing lessons with him in the future. I thought all kids could draw but I could see vast differences between the two boys. I think that is why it’s so important to work with preschoolers to develop their skills ande husband I have, add a few dreadlocks and he would look exactly like Jonny Depp’s character Capt. Jack Sparrow LOL!

Joe aka. Capt. Jack Sparrow

Mother's Day Cards

The cards below are some I made for Mother's Day, my favorite ones are the

purse shaped cards at the bottom.  I used several Stampin' Up sets as well

as several odds and ends single stamps I have in my stash.  All cards were

made with left over and scrap papers.

Stamp each day with God's love,

Frankie

In The Wild

Here are several sets of cards I made using one of my favorite Stampin' Up sets called

"In The Wild", which retired a few years ago.  I also used Provo's "Safari Kids Stack"

and SU scrap papers and ribbons from my stash.

Christian Paper Crafts Blog Hop

The following 3 post are for the CPC May Masculine & Father's Day Blog Hop.  Be sure to check out all three!

Stamp each day with God's love,
Frankie

Winds of Grace

Hi Y'all,
I can't believe it been almost a year since my last post! Where has the time gone? I went back to school last fall and must have kept my head in the books, but it did pay off. I have a 4.0 average. YEA!! I have about 2 more weeks off before the summer semester begins. This past week I have been stamping up a storm. Below are some of the masculine and Father's Day cards I've been working on this week.
The 3 sets posted today are: Winds of Grace, On the Fly, and Thinking of Father. All theses stamps are retired Stampin' Up sets. I used both new and retired inks and papers along with odds and ends from my stampin' stash. I found an unopened package of Kraft cards and envelopes and used them for all the sets. I used Soft Suede ink and watercolor pencils along with Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla card stock. When other colors are used, I will list the colors under the card. Enjoy and remember...
Stamp each day with God's love,
Frankie

The paper is Cool Caribbean

On the Fly

This is one of my favorite sets. I have fond memories of going fly fishing with my father. On his days off, he would go up into the mountains and fish. Sometimes he would let me tag along, he knew that he would bring home less fish on those days because I would get bored with fishing and start playing and splashing in the water. My dad was a very kind, loving and patient father, I miss him especially at this time of the year.
I used Kraft cards and envelopes for this set. Soft Suede ink is used on all the cards and the stamp set is On the Fly by Stampin' Up.

Thinking of Father

This is a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up called Thinking of Father. This set is also stamped on Kraft cards and envolopes. I used the Soft Suede ink, Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip card stock, and a yellow watercolor pencil.

The card above has Soft Suede ribbon and some scrap printed paper from my stash.

More scrap patterned paper and ribbon. I distressed the card with Soft Suede ink.

Scrap paper and twine.




This card is one of my favorites. I loved the soft color of the Baja Breeze paper added to this card. The ribbon is the old Stampin' Up Moss Gingham.


Old Olive paper was added to this card.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the retired set again.

The Last Liberia Journal Entry

I've been away from my computer for a few days and I just finished the last post from my Liberia trip journal. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my trip. I've decided to try to keep up two blogs. This one will be go back to being my "stampin' only" blog. My new blog will be called "My Master's Pieces" and it will be a sampling of lessons I've learned from God and will also showcase some of my other creative pursuits. The URL is http://www.mymasterspieces.blogspot.com/ I hope you will subscribe to it as well as to this one.

Stamp each day with God's love,
Frankie

I will exalt you, my God and King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday will I praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:1-3

Sunday

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it! Today we are the be the honored guest at Champions of Faith Church. Ginger will deliver the sermon, Leah will give her testimony and I will exalt. We will be leaving for church soon. I packed most of my things last night so I will only have a few things left to do when we get back from church today. We are a little nervous about how long the service will last and if we will have time to shower and change before we have to go to the airport. Our plain leaves at nine tonight and we have a lot to do today.

Shortly after the service started this morning, a heavy downpour struck. It was so loud that the speakers could not be heard so the singing continued until the rain stopped. The shower cooled things off and with the fans going, it was quite pleasant for Africa. The service started again and then the generator stopped. A few of the men went out to check on the problem and get it started again. I forgot to mention that there were 16 points in the order of the service. I was to be #7 and Ginger preaching the sermon at # 9. Leah was to give her testimony at #11.

The service continued after a brief interruption of the generator problem. Then the generator stopped again, it was fixed a second time and the service started again. The third time, it could not be fixed. Someone had stolen a part of the generator while it was running and the service was going on! The pastor called someone to open their store so that he could to buy the part that was missing. All this happened before point seven, my part in the service, and we still had eleven points to go! It was getting on up in the afternoon and we were getting a little anxious about having time to get ready to leave the country and catch the one and only plane leaving until next Wednesday.

They were delaying the service until they could get the generator fixed so that we could have a microphone. They thought that white people could not talk loud LOL! We convinced them that we could talk loud enough to be heard and the service started again. I didn’t have a microphone for my exaltation, point #7, Leah was moved to #9 and did not have a microphone either. Ginger was pushed back to # 11 and shortly after she started, we had electricity and her voice came in loud and strong. Satan had tried his best to stop us that day but God’s word was heard!

Next came a “Gowning” ceremony and a special prayer time to send us off. Then at # 14, Remarks of the service and overall programs. Announcements and at # 16 the Benediction, which was not like any closing prayer I ever heard here in the states. It was usual to say the least, but I did get a special souvenir to bring home. By mid-afternoon the service was over and Ginger had done a fantastic job delivering God’s word. I had also enjoyed Leah’s testimony.

When we arrive back at the compound, we find the dinning room set up for a banquet. We were surprised to learn that the WACSN team and the pastors of the churches where we spoke were coming to have lunch with us. Ervin out did himself today, the food was superb!

We have about 3 hours to finish packing, take a shower and a nap and get to the airport. We really need a nap, we are all pooped!

I feel a little better after a shower and a short nap, we need to leave for the airport but TIA (this is Africa) No one seems to be in a hurry to get us there, I wonder when we will leave?
It's time for us to be at the airport, our bags have not been carried down and no one seems concerned about the time. The compound is not close to the airport, it will take some time to get there. We're waiting... we're still waiting...

Well, the ride to the airport was a little scary, to say the least. There is no speed limit in Liberia, you can drive as fast as you want. We made it to the airport with little time to spare. Maria had people waiting for us and they got us and our luggage through quickly. Ginger was called out and questioned because her curling iron looked like a gun LOL! But we made it on the plane and are flying home. Praise the Lord!

Frankie

As we drove in downtown Liberia, we saw some kind of a ceremony taking place.

The ladies are singing and dancing.


One of the better homes we saw in Liberia. All the walls were still standing
and the house had a roof.

Journal Entry #7

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Psalm 106:47

Saturday

We move to a different church today. It is located downtown but it has no walls. There is a roof, which is a very good thing since this is the rainy season. Hopefully it will be a little cooler without walls and it should less smelly, unless there is a sewage problem.

There is a rain delay this morning so we have a little time to relax before the conference. This is the closest church we’ve been to and since it’s Saturday there will not be a much traffic. Today the ladies are making sun visors. I hope they enjoy them.

Another great service today, I made a very special friend. A darling little boy who looked to be around three years old decide to take up with me. The children who live in town have seen white people before but the ones who live farther out in the bush seemed to be afraid of us. One little girl was terrified at one of the other churches and screamed every time she saw us. Bless her heart, she was so cute, we would have loved to hold her.

I met a lady who had beautifully braded hair. I commented on it and learned that she was a hair dresser. She ask if I wanted her to brad my hair, I told her that I didn’t have time since we are leaving tomorrow. But the next time I come to Liberia that she can. I got her to give Maria her number and when I come back I’m going to set up an appointment with her. I think it will be neat. I hope to come back next year if the good Lord is willing. I’m really looking forward to coming back. I’ll take lots of pics of my new do ;o)

After the service we went to an area where some refugees lived to give some candy to the children. We were told not to get out of the van, just hand the candy out the doors of the van. We started a small riot and I thought some of the smaller kids were going to be crushed. I stopped giving out the candy and put the box to the inside of the van. I tried to make them get in line but the only stormed the van and took the candy. The driver was trying to move slowly to get the children to back up but that didn’t work. I was so afraid that hey would be run over. Eventually we were able to move and get away from the mob of kids and adults that appeared from nowhere.

The pastor of the church wants Ginger to preach the sermon tomorrow at their church. Leah is to give a testimony and I’m to exhort! I’m not sure what this is or how to do it. I’ve never done this before but I’ve been watching the ladies at the services we’ve had. I think it’s just praising God. I can do that, I think?!?

We’re back at the compound now and Ginger, Leah and I are trying to prepare for tomorrow’s church service. It’s very hot and we’re all trying to find a cool place to study and pray.

Frankie

The ladies in their sun visors



The guys who played for us

My little friend and me

Journal Entry 6

The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121: 7-8

Friday
Today we’re went back to the church at the orphanage where we had the conference yesterday. It was another good service and very long one. Ervine sent us a wonderful lunch of fried chicken smothered with tomatoes, zucchini, onions and carrots steamed with melted butter and seasoning.

Even though the weather is a little bit cooler today, It’s still hot! I really enjoyed our time with the ladies singing, dancing and praising God. The organist gave me a few lessons on playing my gourd instruments. The shaker, beaded gourd is made locally and use at all the church services. The other gourd piece shaker is made in Guinea by the Fula tribe from the Futa Jalon Highlands.

On the way home, a drunk man walked out on the four lane highway in between our two lane of traffic to get a cab. He was in the road with his back to our van trying to stop the cab that was right beside us. He stepped back into our van and pitched forward hitting the cab and hanging on for a few seconds as it traveled along. Thank goodness traffic was moving slow at that time. I thought I was going to see him thrown under the wheels of our van or the cab. But he staggered around and managed to right himself. He grabbed our van door and kept shouting, “Why are you trying to kill me?” over and over again.

A crowd was beginning to gather and it could have turned really ugly. But a policeman was really close and headed our way. Everyone here tries to avoid the police. The drunk leaned in our passenger side window and spit in the face of our driver and Maria, who was riding up front. He left then so the police would not come to see what the commotion was. We drove a few feet and another man came running up to the van and apologized for the actions of the drunk. The rest of the way home was pretty uneventful, thank goodness.

We arrived back at the compound much later than usual, it will be dark soon. They will start up the generator then and we might have some air conditioning. I hope ours decides to work tonight. I also hope our shower works, but at least we have running water for the moment. I was thrilled when I flushed the toilet and it actually flushed a little while ago. The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is take a very long very hot shower :o)

I’m so glad that God has not called me here on a long term or permanent basis. With God’s help, I guess I could do it, but I don’t think I would like it! Liberia has not been able to pull it’s self together since the war. There are bombed out buildings that still have people living in them. They have no money to fix them and nowhere else to go. Debris, dirt and lots of litter are everywhere. This is a very dirty and poor country, the infrastructure has collapsed. The president has her hands full trying to get the country back to it’s original state before the war.
The ladies, all of them, just throw trash on the church floor! After craft time there were piles of litter in the floor. They walked out and just left it there. I suppose someone will come and sweep it out the door later and the wind will carry it where it will. It’s hard to understand the mindset of the people here. I’m very thankful for our litter laws and our sanitation system back home. Sewers and septic tanks now hold a special place in my heart.

Frankie

Photo's of Monrovia

Journal Entry 5

This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Thursday

I woke up to rain this morning, I think it rained all night. I woke up several times in the night and heard the rain. We’re leaving early this morning, to go further out into the “bush” as they call it, for the 3rd conference. I’m looking forward to seeing the country side of Liberia.

We’re back! The service was great. There was 92 women attending today’s session and I had 94 pair of flip-flops. I left the last two pair of shoes at the orphanage where we attended church for the conference. I sang praises to the Lord, danced before God and played a gourd instrument in the service. The place was really ‘jumpin’, very loud, very happy. I taught the ladies two new songs and tried to learn some of theirs.

Leah and Ginger did a great job as usual and the ladies were really blessed by the message they heard. The words they heard had such an impact, some of the ladies decided to rename their children. Here in Liberia, life is very hard and the people are still trying to recover from a war that lasted thirteen years. It is common practice here to name your baby after whatever the mother is going through at the time. They name their children war, trouble, bad bay, poor boy, garbage, dun hill, rape, hard time, lonely, struggle, hungry, pain, etc. Several of the women stood up and said that they were going to give their children good names, Biblical names, positive names. Just think, because of some positive actions, these newly named kids could grow up to change the face of the nation!

We got to tour the orphanage and meet the kids today. In their compound there is a birthing center, a medical clinic and a medicine store (like a pharmacy). The surrounding community also uses the birthing center and the clinic.

On the way back to the city we stopped at an art doll shop. How the artist started making the dolls is a sad but interesting story. Dolle, the artist, has a sister who had a child that was born with all her internal stomach organs on the outside. The people of the village thought the baby was “witchcraft” and wanted the parents to kill the baby. The mother refused to kill her child and she tried to bind the little girl so that people would not know about the deformity. The intestines, liver, kidneys and bowels soon became badly infected. The parents lived a long way out in the bush and there was no money for a doctor.

Dolle, the baby's aunt, talked her sister into bringing the baby to the city so that they could try to get some help. By the time they arrived at Monrovia, it was almost to late. The baby way battling a massive infection the doctors gave them no home that the little girl would live. But she survived and a surgery was performed to enclose the organs for the time being. The baby named Dolle, after her artist aunt, is now five months old and needs another every expensive surgery to make things right. The type of surgery needed can not be performed in Liberia. The aunt is making art dolls to sell so that the money can be raised for the trip, surgery and extended stay of the parents. Thousands of dollars are needed but they will not take money without giving something in return. I bought two larger dolls and twenty ornaments to give as gifts to my friends along with a different type of gourd instrument.

We arrive back at the compound very hot and sweaty. I went to the potty and discovered running water, YEA!! I’m going to take a real shower, the first one I‘ve had since arriving Sunday night! I get in the shower, turn on the water and find that the shower head is broken, so it’s back to using the trusty bucket but at least it’s private and somewhat warmer water.

It’s getting to dark to see to write, maybe we’ll get electricity later tonight. Here comes the rain again. Ah-h-h-h the sound of rain on a tin roof. We had another fantastic dinner tonight. It was some kind of a beef dish with sauce, sauteed carrots and zucchini in butter. We had fresh pineapple and fried bananas for dessert. I’m pooped and I’m going to bed before I get any more mosquito bites!

Frankie

Here is sweet little Dolle and her mother.

Here the orphans are showing off their M&M candy.

Ladies this is the birthing center, can you say I'm glad I live in the good old US of A?

Part of the clinic at the orphanage.

A typical bedroom for the kids. They are luck and only have to sleep 2-3 per bed.


This is the kitchen where all their meals are prepared.

Here is the class room, on rainy days it also doubles as a laundry drying room.