Karla's Korner

CHA CHA CHA

No. The CHA CHA in my life story is not a dance... it's a convention. A place to go to see all the incredible tools and toys designed by the Craft and Hobby Association member manufacturers to inspire crafters of all sorts to dream big.  So... I am here in Anaheim, CA to be inspired and, believe me, creativity is in the air!  I came in yesterday to take a Photoshop Seminar... mostly learned there's so much I don't know but now am eager to experiment with.  Today the show floor opens and I'll be browsing all the wonderful booths looking for things to bring back home and either use to create new product to offer to you or maybe even a new "favorite thing" to add to the store.

I am hanging out with best friends, Audrey Jeanne and her husband Steve.  Audrey Jeanne is an incredible artist and designer... you can see a delightful sampling of her work in the form of digital downoads at D.A.I.S.I.E. Company.  We had dinner Friday night with Stacy, the Creative Director of D.A.I.S.I.E Co. and Andrea, another of their designers.  It's wonderful how with some people, after just a few minutes of talking, laughing, and eating together you feel like they've been your friends forever... that's how it was with Stacy and Andrea.  We had a great time and stayed up way too late!

Mike's Handyman Service

This is my dear husband Mike... and I am so proud of him.  He has just taken a huge leap of faith by starting his own business... Mike's Handyman Service. He's so perfect for it. He is a "handy" man by nature... he has always been good at working with his hands and has great woodworking skills. He has always been the person others have looked to for the wisdom or the help to fix things or do home improvements so I believe God has created him for such a time as this, when so many people, with such busy lives, need a helping hand. I just know he is going to be an enormous blessing to a lot of folks. If you live in our neck of the woods and need some help with that never-ending to-do list, give him a call!

A Year to Remember

It's a New Year!  I love new beginnings and clean slates and fresh starts.  As I've spent time in prayer about my goals and aspirations for this new year, I believe God brought two thoughts to my mind.  The first is that this is to be "a year to remember."  But in order for 2007 to be a year to remember, I must be willing to LIVE a year to remember... on purpose and with purpose.  I must be willing to choose life... to step out of my comfort zone... to create opportunities for God to move in ways that will be unmistakenly Him and not me.  I am willing.  Now we'll see how the year unfolds.

The second thought, was that this will be a year of preparation. I immediately began to think of Esther and how she went through a year of beauty treatments in order to be made ready to meet her King face to face.  I don't know exactly what this means for me but I do believe that God is at work in each of us... offering us beauty treatments of the heart that will prepare us to go into the presence of the Lord in prayer and ultimately to meet Him face to face when He arrives to take us home. I have said I am willing Lord... again, we will see how this unfolds in the reality of everyday life.

Willl you join me with a willing heart to say, "Lord, I am willing.  I pray this new year unfolds in such a way that I will make choices that will enable me to live the full and abundant life Jesus came to give me and, at the same time, prepare my heart to meet my King and Bridegroom face to face.  Amen"