Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Looking Back {2013}

It's New Year's Eve, guys!  I decided to jump on the bandwagon & do a quick year in review post.  I was surprised at how much I did here on my little ole Bag as I started looking over old 2013 posts.  Here's some highlights...

I made lots & lots of printables & crafts.  So fun!






Here's some more of my favorites.  Read the snippet & click the link for the whole enchilada!

"Somehow in my years I’ve mistaken “trust” with “everything’s good & working out smoothly.” But that’s not trust – trust is continuing to believe when nothing makes sense & the trail markers are long gone.  After deep prayer & stillness, sometimes you have to step out into the mysterious – not sure if it’s the right way or not - & trust. No matter what it will be okay with Jesus."  

"It was an elderly lady, mid-sixties Maggie thought, wearing camo & a red sweatband on her curly gray head with a bow in hand & arrow tips sticking out of a long skinny satchel on her back. As she approached, Emma stammered under her breath, “Y-Yo-You don’t suppose she’s the Cupid Killer I read about on the Internet, do you?” Maggie shook her head, “Wasn’t that reported on another continent, Em,” Maggie whispered. “Hello, airplanes!” Emma declared as if they were a new fangled invention." 

"[I've often wondered] if I wasn't made for a simpler time, when "tweets" only came from birds & nooks were just cozy corners {& that was enough}... but, truthfully, there has been confusion & drama in the world since Eve took that first bite of forbidden fruit all those thousands of years ago {no technology required}."

"When I think of the word trust, as in “trust God,” it implies a trait that I must have ownership or mastery of. But, the word trustworthy, as in “He is trustworthy,” takes away all my striving. My Father is trustworthy, & because of this I can trust Him completely with everything."

"Some days I look in the mirror at reddened eyes from tears the night before, & feel less like I’m on the beauty trail & more like I’m lost out in the desert. It’s then that I remind myself this is a time of beautification of my spirit. You only need to have tried Nair once to know to beautify isn’t a painless process {Isn’t that an understatement?!}!" 

"Once upon a time there was a girl with a glowing smile, who would twirl her frilly skirts in abandon, & grin at every clicking camera with an ever-obliging “cheese!”  As time went on, however, enemies slowly invaded her castle. Ever so slowly they came in such a way that she welcomed the foe as friend, not knowing the danger that awaited her… Her princess stories were replaced with teen magazines, her fancy whirly dresses all but disappeared, she hid from any & every flashing camera, & her smile – when she did smile – was often put upon her face like a masquerade mask."

"There's a unique camaraderie born when a group of people share in like experiences.   Chowing down on Ramen Noodles, burning the midnight oil cramming for an exam, & living in the commune known as dorms is part of that fellowship that is quintessentially college life."
 
"If I surrender the pen {i.e.: past, present, & future outcomes of my story – not evaluating my own next to anyone else’s} to His hand through prayer, reading His Word, & seeking His will, then my story will be sweet & speak of His redemption, power, mercy, & grace… that doesn’t mean it will be easy or full of fairy tale-ish escapades where knights pack up their chainmail, hitch up the dragon, & cross kingdoms just to dwell in my neck of the enchanted {or not-so-enchanted} forest."  

Love & Happy 2014!  Thanks for reading Bess' Bag!
-Bess-

Sunday, December 29, 2013

{Free} New Year's Printable

There's something unnameable I adore about New Year's day.  It's a sweet concoction of hope, a fresh beginning, a clean page for God to write His story, dreams & plans of new adventures to be lived out...  In honor of all this, I've created a little printable for ya!  {I'll let you choose whether you want the one with or without the tag "the best is yet to be."}
INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the image you choose & then right click & save to your computer {or copy & paste}.  Open in a word document, resize if necessary, print, & frame {or you could turn it into a card/invitation, etc.}! 

CONDITIONS OF USE: My printables are free for personal use only.  Feel free to share them on Pinterest provided you credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag}.  If you want to blog about these printables, or share a project you created using them, it would be fabulous, just be sure to credit & link back to http://bessbag.blogspot.com/ {Bess' Bag} (feel free to use 1 or 2 of my photos, but please don't share the actual printable on your site - just add a link to it).  Thanks & enjoy!


Happy New Year,
-Bess-

P.S.: I made this printable using PicMonkey Royale.  Haven't tried it yet?  Click here for a free day trial!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Try PicMonkey Royale {For Free}

I love PicMonkey!  If you haven't tried it before it's a super fun way to edit & embellish photos & more!  The best thing is that it's free, however they do have an upgraded membership with more snazzy stuff to use.  I've always opted for the free services, but now you & I have the chance to try out PicMonkey Royale for free!


Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: Here's some printables I made using PicMonkey!





Wednesday, December 25, 2013

O Happy {Christ}mas!


Merry {Christ}mas to you & yours!



Thank You, Father, for the greatest gift ever given... Jesus!

Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: This is my favorite Christmas song!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Song Love {December}


"Just a Girl" by Brandon Heath


"Jesus is Alive" by Josh Wilson


"Christmas Makes Me Cry" by Mandisa & Matthew West

Hope you were blessed by some of my favorite Christmas songs this year!

Musical Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: What tunes are you loving this season?

Sunday, December 22, 2013

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like {Christ}mas!


Welcome to my Christmas-y nest!  I put up my tree on Thanksgiving night, but I've been so busy since then that I'm just now getting around to showing it off...  {Click here for how to make your own easy Christmas art like mine above!}



Last year I picked up this musical nativity at a thrift store for an amazing price {it plays "Silent Night"} .  This is the 2nd Christmas of having it nestled under my tree {a new tradition of mine}. 





With my Bible open to the most extraordinary {true} story of love ever written.


The sign of a hopeless romantic.  Oh, dear.


One new addition this year are my snowy mason jars & little glass boxes.  Did you know Epsom salts make dreamy snow?  They do!  Just add a bottle brush tree or 2...




{Christ}mas Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: Sorry it's been awhile!  I've missed you!