The {Jamie Grace} Joyful Girl Songbook {Compiled by Bess}

Stumbling upon the following videos was such a God thing! I love these sweet little sisses-in-Christ! They just make me happy & I love to sing along with Mandi... Mandi, if you ever read this: You rock, sister!  Okay, so all of these aren't Jamie Grace, but I had to add 'em anyways.

Love & Joy,

-Bess-

Dollar Store Fall Crafts {Yeah!}

I was recently perusing my fave crafting blog “Ruffles & Stuff,” when I found this simple idea… Disney {that’s the fabulous blogger’s name (yes, really)} always inspires me. So, I took her project & ran with it!

Here’s my version…

What You Need:

glass vase (mine is from the Dollar Tree); small limbs/sticks (gather outside=); old books (I got mine out of a free box); scissors; pencil; glue; leaf pattern (optional); decorative moss (again, Dollar Tree); stones/pebbles (optional)

Pour a small layer of stones into your glass vase, and then place decorative moss on top of that layer. Insert sticks into moss at different angles. Next cut out (using a template or freehand) a bunch of leaf shapes from old book paper. Next, fold “leaves” a little to make them look more authentic & then glue onto branches {I also scattered a couple on the table, too, for a little extra effect.}. Finally, wrap a ribbon around the vase. There you have it, a simple, cheap chic easy fall fix for your table!

total cost: about $2

Autumn Leaf Garland

What You Need:

twine; silk flower leaves (I found 50 for $1 at the Dollar Tree!); needle/thread/scissors

This is so completely simple! I love it! All you have to do is sew (by hand) fabric leaves to your twine (you could also use hot glue). I alternated the colors (red, yellow, red, yellow) and left the spacing between leaves pretty much the same. I think I’m going to hang mine outside!

total cost: about $2

I hope to do some more crafting during my break!  It's very therapeutic!

Love,

-Bess-

Falling Back In

Autumn always makes me smile.  It's pretty amazing that after all these 20-something years on this planet seasons still catch me by surprise...it's funny...

As you know, I've been absent lately from Bess' Bag, but {thank You, Jesus}, I finally have a break from work and I'll be back in full force for the next week.  Let me tell you, girls, that my job has been the most uber stressful thing... I can't even begin to explain.  After so much prayer to find the right job, I'm not sure of the reason why God has brought me to this... but I don't have to.  The only thing I have to know is that He will bring me through.  I have felt Him carry me these past couple months when I couldn't imagine taking another step forward.  Jesus knows my pain & struggle {of this I'm very sure}, & I know He perfectly planned the following song to play on my car radio, too many times to count, as I've taken the dark winding path to work each morning...  I hope it gives you strength {His perfect kind, which we just can't understand or measure} to face whatever it is that stands in your path...

Autumn Love {with His perfect strength},
-Bess-    

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

-Philippians 4:13

Thank You, dear Lord, for showing up through my radio those dark early mornings, for giving me the power to continue & hold my head high as Your beloved, standing by my side, being for me, & carrying me when I couldn't go any further on my own strength... & for the comforting beautiful surprise of this season.

Love, Your Daughter Forever,

-Bess-