Challenges & Thangs!

Participated in a few challenges this month...both challenges came from my very super artistic scrappy friends: Brenda & Rochelle! They are the bomb yes they are!

They have been gracious enough to do challenges in my scrapbook group, WhoGivesAScrap!?

My first challenge, we had to make a layout using the items in a tic-tac-toe pattern, so whichever way we decided to go, we had to use the items in the pattern. Whether its diagonal, horizontal or vertical!

Here is the challenge:

For this challenge I used Circles, Chipboard, and Washi Tape! Tic-Tac-Toe Baby! That was fun!

 
For Ms. Brenda's Challenge, I did a combination of things...I used the sketch from pagemaps and did a combo of Rochelles Lyric Challenge.

 

For more challenges please be sure to visit these ladies blogs! They will get your creative juices flowin!

Why I Left....But Now I'M BACK!

Part II....Why I vanished from my church home...

Well...I am trying to determine if I had a bunch of lame excuses or is it the truth.

Well when Paul Donaldson called me to ask if I would speak and basically give my testimony to the church as to why I came back to my church home, I frantically thought to myself and asked, what am I gonna say!?
It came to me early Sunday morning as to what I was going to deliver....just be real! Is basically what I was told by God...keep it 100% If I did not keep it 100% then whats the use of giving a testimony.

Okay, so let me set you up here.
Me and my ex-husband joined Life Changing Ministries in 2009. I had been going for awhile before he decided to start coming with me and then we later both decided it was time to become members. I was very excited that we would travel this journey together, so we did. We became members! When one finishes their "boot camp" New Members class, you are introduced to the congregation....and the entire congregation is invited up to welcome you and give you love!
So it was an awesome experience! The entire congregation was so warm and welcoming!
Pastor Woods and my ex had the same first name...so everyone remembered my ex-husbands name.

After separating I continued to attend, but with each attendance someone would ask me, "How is your husband!?", "Where is your husband!?", "Is your husband ok, we haven't seen him..."...so I kinda started getting I guess a little embarrassed, ashamed, feeling like I was somewhat on display, and everyone was watching me and my every move. So...my attendance became close to non-existent. Not only did I feel those things, but I would also get emotional when someone would ask...I mean I couldn't just start bawling my eyes out and pouring out my feelings to people I barely knew, so I had to keep it bottled in. It just became harder and harder. I think I would use the excuse that it was the distance that kept me from coming...but that was a pretty sorry excuse to say the least.

I began trying to find other churches close to my home...attended a few..and I just wasn't feeling it...either the congregation was TOO big (for me), or I just wasn't feelin the spirit move. So I had to do something.....had to make some moves..I was dating for a while and began to attend his church...LOVED the church but the distance was HUGE. Fontana to Moreno Valley, a good 45 minutes...compared to my Fontana to San Bernardino was nothing then! After some time had passed...I finally decided to just freakin go back HOME! Go back to my home church!

So I went back. It was hard at first, wondering what would my Pastor say...well when he saw me in the congregation..he made direct eye to eye contact...no doubt about it...he was looking at me and gave me the famous head nod that folks do when they say whats up, without actually saying it. I forget what the message was...but he was definitely speaking to me.

What do I love about my church? I LOVE the fact that its just the right size for me...I LOVE the fact that MY PASTOR knows my name and he will take his time to hold a conversation with me. He knows how to educate his congregation! My church is a Bible Teaching church...and he breaks it down to a sense where we all understand! My Pastor is down to earth! My church family is awesome! Everyone welcomed me back with open arms. We are really like family up in there.

So basically, I stopped goin simply because my church family cared...they cared enough to ask me how I was doin...I didn't see that 3 years ago...but I realize it today...because when I came back...better believe they were still asking! But...I bet you they won't ask no mo...that is if they were listening to me speak. =)

Okay...Robin...hope you enjoyed that one... =)

Part III will actually be on the message last Sunday...was so bomb...and it pertains to ALL of us!

Ciao for now!

Tricia

You Want Me To Do What!?

All I can say is WOW! Today was an awesome day...

Today was my churches 28th Year Anniversary and we celebrated and had a few words from some members of the congregation (including me!), an awesome slide show and an awesome message!
It's late and I am trying to post this tonight as I feel someone may read this tonight and it may speak to them! This is the purpose why I share these types of things.

Allow me to rewind a sec, so I can set you in the right mood.

I went on a crazy strenuous hike yesterday, in which I am STILL sore from...and once I got home, I showered and pretty much straight crashed...there was nothing else to do!
So...I'm sleep for several hours like its nobodys business....all of the sudden, I get a phone call...like a THIEF IN THE NIGHT! lol...so I answer...its the Executive Director of Life Changing Ministries on the line...conversation went a little something like this...

Me: Hello?
Paul: Hi, Pat? (I only let a few people call me that, that I just cannot bring myself correct!)
Me: Yes, hi Paul
exchange of greetings...then he gets right to the point...I'm laying down while my baby girl has Tangled playing loud in the background...
Paul: Well, I wanted to call and ask you 2 questions..
Me: Sure!
Paul: 1st Question...are you coming to church tomorrow (This call was on Saturday)
Me: Yes!
Paul: Okay, cool. 2nd question...how do you feel about public speaking?
****I think my heart skipped a beat, I wasn't sure if I heard correctly, say whut!!? Oh Lawd, are they about to ask me to step out my comfort zone!?***
Me: Hold on one second, let me get to a quiet spot so I can hear you correctly...
Paul: Sure...
Me: Okay, I'm sorry...say what now?
Paul: We are putting together a program for tomorrow (Sunday) and Pastor wanted me to find a few people to speak very briefly. We were thinking of who and his first thought was to ask you. He wants to you to speak on why you chose to come back to your church home, and what you love about LCM.
****Oh Lawd...I still can't tell this man NO! So I had to put my big girl panties on and just DO IT!***...end of convo

Okay, so I'm basically messed up for the remainder of the day, because I have not spoke in front of a crowd this LARGE before! SO I am just in straight PANIC MODE! What am I gonna say!? Do I really tell the congregation why I stopped attending my church!? What in the heck am I gonna say, Oh Lord, help me get through this and help me choose what my words will be, may it be a testimony to someone else. So...by the time I go to bed, I still have no idea what exactly I am going to say! Man!

Alarm was set to go off at 6:30, something or someone woke me up...before my alarm went off...and basically told me to just BE REAL! Be REAL with it then it shouldn't be so hard. You won't be making up no crazy story or telling something that just wasn't true..I'm a horrible liar so that wouldn't be too good! So that's what I did...I was just real with it.

I was on the program at church, got introduced and everything and my heart was literally in my throat. 2 of my really close friends were there to support me and one of their sons. I got love from everyone in the congregation...even Pastor.

This post is turning out to be longer than I thought...to keep you interested, I'm going to break this up into 3 parts. Part I is what you just read, Part II will explain my vanishing from my church home, and Part III I will share with you what this AWESOME message was...and I KNOW alot of yall could benefit from it.

I'm tired...had a long day...enjoyed Disney on Ice with my daughter, mom and some friends and Bre's friends...and I have my first full week of work in a while...lol...so I really need to bounce off this laptop and shut her down!

Till tomorrow with Part II!

Deuces!
Tricia

52 Week Money Challenge...Check it Out!

I challenge you! I think I will do this! Anyone else? It can be January 2014's treat to yourself, it could be holiday shopping money, your very own shopping spree...try it..may be worth it! Looks worth it!

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Laurie on Pinterest

Happy New Years!!!

Happy New Year Peeps! I usually do a recap of my year in pics, but I failed to keep my pics organized! Anywho...I am posting on a few things I have done while off work for a mini vacation, bringing 2012 to a close and open new doors to a new year!

I ran across this prayer that I simply loved...and wanted to share with you. This prayer is awesome...if you need to print it out and read it daily until you memorize it...then do so. Post it at work, near your monitor, in your locker, in your purse, in your glove compartment...anywhere where its in close reach..I aim to be a better prayer warrior this year...

 Well on to some fun stuff...I did some 1st bringing in the New Year...it wasn't as bad as I thought...being that my baby girl was gone for 9 days come tomorrow. However, she will be back! She's been gone since Christmas and I can't wait to see her play with all of her new goods she got from Santa! *wink wink*

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my friends for trying to keep me busy and keep my mind occupied while Bre was gone. My sista from another mista declared that we were going Ice Skating at the Mission Inn in Riverside on New Years...ok! Sure why not! So her BFF came and I invited my sister Kiesha and my nephew Jalen to come along. We really had a blast...NO ONE fell..no one! I was scuuurd though, I am not even gonna lie! I might have spent most the time in the rail...but its all good! Here are a few photos that captured my day.. 

Me & Keisha...

Me tryna pose on the ice, simultaneously trying to hold my balance! LOL!

Me and my sista from anotha mista...Miss Alondra Ladison...havin a great time!

Me and my nephew Jalen...he was all smiles!

IT's ONLY A POSE...lol..I promise I was not fallin for real...I said no one fell...trust me...!

Okay...now back tracking a bit...my sister usually asks us what we want for Christmas and I really couldn't figure out what I wanted and then it came to me! Go ahead and get me that Hip Hop Dance Experience! So I decided to play it today...played that thing solo for about 1 1/2 hours...got down with Snoop, Ciara, Chris Brown, Drake, Lil Wayne, Amerie, and so many more...it was fun but I bet funner with more people! So yeah I have had a nice work out today! Thanks SIS!

Okay...another 1st I accomplished...was going to the movies on Christmas Day. Since Bre left, my friends were quick to get me out of the house...so we went to see DJango Unchained. I liked the movie...there has been many different opinions. I am not too much Tarentino, I know he has crazy movies, but hey...I enjoyed it...it was hard to watch of course, and also this movie has no true representation of what slavery was truly like. I am thankful for the funny parts in the movie...cuz man oh man, otherwise I am not sure I would have lasted the entire 3 hours of the movie!

A message to my crafty friends & blogger friends...my online scrapbook group has been hopping the past 2 days. I challenged the group...to "Get that old thang back!!" In 2012 it seemed that we lost our mojo in getting crafty. Even some of my blogger friends kinda fell off! I miss yall, come back! Lets enjoy what we use to! There's a reason why we use to do what we did...why not continue what made us happy! Lets roll and do this! Lets get that old thang back!

Last but not least...the last 1st I did was I brought in the New Year in church. It was cool glad I went. There was fellowshipping, playing games, and finally ended with the message. I will be working on the message daily. Basically Pastor Woods, was speaking about letting the past be the past! Move forward! Can you imagine if God did not let the past be the past? What would that do for us??
So my message to you...LEAVE 2012 in the past...even 2003, 1999, the past is the past! LET IT GO! Lets move forward!

Holla!!!
Happy New Years!

Tricia