Because Each Day is a Gift DIY

Sometimes we forget each day is a gift from God.  Late January is a time I tend to think of days as dreary, cold, & gray...  I forget that each new morning is a blessing!  So in order to remind myself that days are special - & "every day matters" as I like to say here on Bess' Bag - I whipped up this easy-peasy tutorial!

All you need to do is wrap an empty box & add a tag.  The tag could read "Today is a gift!" or "Each day is a gift!" or "Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present!" or you could use the scripture below or whatever else you can think up.  I keep my "present" on my bedside table as a daily reminder.  

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

-Psalm 90:12 NIV

Love {Each & Every Day},

-Bess-

40 Years Ago

Forty years ago today Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the U.S.  Norma McCorvey was the plaintiff {"Jane Roe"} in the case.  Back then she was fighting for rights to abort her unborn baby; today she stands & speaks out for life.  When God gets a hold of a heart, He does amazing things!  Her story reminds me of Paul's in the Bible.

Every life is precious.  Choose life today.

Love,
-Bess-  

DIY Bunting

This is the continued saga of a thrifted purse...

{click here to revisit part 1}

That met her match, namely a Mr. Scissors.

What resulted in this opportune meeting was quite unexpected...

& now to add to the crafted sistren...

I made bunting!

All I did was sew the squares onto some lovely twine.

You can make your own by cutting squares of fabric & then sewing each corner onto twine, ribbon, or any other strong thread.  

A few squares remain.  Who knows, this may not be the last of this story...

Crafty Love,

-Bess-

Sanctity of Life Sunday

It's Sanctity of Life Sunday - the day to remember how precious life is & to remember the unborn who weren't given that life.  

What's quite amazing is that the old abortion clinic in my city {which hasn't been used for aborting babies since 1993}, is now the site of a pregnancy resource center that's all about giving life.  Out in front of the building is a memorial to the unborn.  It's such a beautiful "God thing" that this place that used to be a building of pain & death is now a haven of hope & healing for not only women facing an unplanned pregnancy, but also to the women who have had abortions & are finding forgiveness & peace through the blood of Jesus.  God is good! 

Babies are the most precious gifts!  Let's give them life.  If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, seek out a Christian pregnancy center where you live.  There is hope always.    

Love to You {& All the Little Ones},

-Bess-

Song Love {January}

"Slip On By" by Finding Favour


"Bloom" by Moriah Peters


"Why Worry" by Newsong

Musical Love,
-Bess-

Failing Miserably

This is the time of year when we make goals & resolutions to do better – eat healthier, exercise routinely, leave past sins behind us, read the Bible daily {do more of the good things, less of the bad}.  The New Year looks perfect & like a new fresh beginning… for a while, that is.  Then it happens, sooner rather than later, you fail.  You misstep, you get back into old habits, past sins reemerge, & resolutions are left by the roadside without change in their pockets for bus fare home.  Your new fresh beginning feels blotched, spotted, & stained.  It’s only the 17^th of January & I already feel as if I’ve failed miserably. 

In past years, when faced with January failings, I have thought somewhere deep down in my being, “Another year ruined.  I’ll have to try again next year to get rid of this stuff.”  You know what?  It’s a big bunch of evil one malarkey!  Sure, I’ve messed up, but I don’t have to wait until January 1, 2014 for a new start.  God renews His mercies each day!  He knows we will fail at times {it’s part of being a human in a broken world, unfortunately}, but Jesus’ blood holds the same power as it always has.  In fact, it’s pretty much like a pride issue, when we think we have failed so much & so miserably that our Savior’s blood can’t cover it.  Christ died for all sins: past, present, & future.  It doesn’t matter that we’ve already failed miserably & found ourselves in ugly sin this year.  Come to the heavenly Father with your hurting heart, admit your sins, & seek forgiveness.  If we are His, we have forgiveness & grace & our sin is not stockpiled against us.  We’ve accepted the free gift of God’s Son & we can live in freedom!   There is renewing each & every day in Him.  Today is a new day; strive to live it for Christ.  When you fail, there’s always forgiveness & a fresh start in Christ Jesus, no matter the calendar date! 

This passage of Romans 5:20-6:14 {& beyond that, too (look it up in your Bible)} =) fits well with this topic.  If you feel, like me, that you've already "failed miserably" this 2013, you just might want to read this...

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?  Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.  For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him.  The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."

Covered by His Grace,

-Bess-

DIY Coasters

This is the story of a thrifted purse...

That met with a tall shiny stranger {ahem, Mr. Scissors}.

Two things happened with this chance meeting {Or was it fate?}.  Here's the first thing...

I made coasters!

All I did was embellish the emancipated squares using my handy dandy Sharpie.  I think they liked it {well at least I did}.

You can make your own by cutting squares out of pleather {or whatever} material.  However, if you use any cotton-y {or any other non-plastic-y fabric}, I'd recommend using fabric markers.

Wonder what else happened with these squares?  To follow the adventure stay tuned!  

To be continued...   

Crafty Love,

-Bess-

"Unglued Devotional" Book Review

Unglued Devotional by Lysa Terkeurst

Have you ever felt unglued? It’s pretty much an occupational hazard of humanity. In fact, it’s one human condition I’ve felt a lot lately. So, when BookSneeze provided me with the opportunity to review Lysa Terkeurst’s Unglued Devotional (I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review), I jumped at the chance.

The author begins her book with “A Personal Word for You,” a short letter directed at the reader inviting them into the 60 day journey of what is tagged “imperfect progress.” Lysa Terkeurst’s honesty about her own “imperfect progress” & her own frank struggles is refreshing to my own unglued self.

The paperback book is in traditional devotional form – it starts with scripture, then a “Thought for the Day,” an approximately 2 & a half page reading, & then a short prayer… perfect for a daily devotional or quiet time reading. Some of the daily devotional titles include: “I Don’t Think You’re Wacky,” “The Scribbled Truth That Changed My Life,” & “Pizza Man Grace.” This easy to read, honest (have I mentioned that already=), devotional geared toward women (young & old) is a daily fresh coating of glue, reminding you of God’s perfection even in our “imperfection,” for when life gets sticky... & don't we know it does!

Bookish Love,
-Bess-

*I received this book from the publisher for free (through the BookSneeze program) in exchange for my honest review.

Disney Movie Quotes Quiz {The Answers}

Source: annasquotes.tumblr.com via Brea on Pinterest

The other day I posted this little movie quote quiz {click here to revisit}.  Spoiler alert - the answers are below!

Here are the champs of this challenge! 

One reader got all the answers correct!  She is...
Erin of High Heels & Pencil Skirts - She is not only a Disney quote champ, but a delightful blogger.  Please do visit her blog! =)

Runner Up:
Kristin of Sew Technicolor {She only missed 1!}

1. “Find your humanity! Haven’t any of you ever had a dream?” 
-Tangled

2. “You’re not the same as you were before. You were much more muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.”
-Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton one)

3. “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell, & for once it might be grand, to have someone understand.”
-Beauty & the Beast

4. “Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.”
-The Little Mermaid

5. “You can’t have living without dying. Don’t be afraid of death, Winnie, be afraid of the unlived life.”
-Tuck Everlasting

6. “I don't want to get married, I want to stay single and let my hair flow in the wind as I ride through the glen firing arrows into the sunset.”
-Brave

7. “I just kinda hope that if he kisses me, my foot pops.”
-The Princess Diaries

8. “I was saved! I was saved by a flying wild man in a loincloth.”
-Tarzan

9. “You don’t meet a girl like that every dynasty.”
-Mulan

10. “I’m a big tough girl. I tie my own sandals & everything.”
-Hercules

Disney Movie Quote Quiz

Source: disneyandquotes.tumblr.com via Aimee on Pinterest

Yesterday was National Trivia Day {thanks to J.C. at Ever Me for sharing that info – check out her lovely blog HERE}! So, I decided to post a little trivia challenge {sorry it's a day late}. Can you name the Disney movie from whence each quote comes? =) Leave a comment with your guesses & I’ll post the answers in a day or so & the names/links of the champs! =)

1. “Find your humanity! Haven’t any of you ever had a dream?”

2. “You’re not the same as you were before. You were much more muchier. You’ve lost your muchness.”

3. “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell, & for once it might be grand, to have someone understand.”

4. “Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.”

5. “You can’t have living without dying. Don’t be afraid of death, Winnie, be afraid of the unlived life.”

6. “I don't want to get married, I want to stay single and let my hair flow in the wind as I ride through the glen firing arrows into the sunset.”

7. “I just kinda hope that if he kisses me, my foot pops.”

8. “I was saved! I was saved by a flying wild man in a loincloth.”

9. “You don’t meet a girl like that every dynasty.”

10. “I’m a big tough girl. I tie my own sandals & everything.”

Love is Never Trivial,

-Bess-

Fashionable Resolutions: 2013

{in no particular order}

Style Love,

-Bess-

New Year - New Dress {Origami Tutorial}

I once sent out New Year's cards with an illustration of a frock on the front & I wrote inside, "Put on the new dress of the New Year!"  Kinda strange, I know, but it's sort of symbolic of a fresh start & today is the perfect time for such starts to happen.  Here's a simple nest feathering idea to remind you that each day is a fresh start & new beginning.  Carpe diem, sister, & seize that newness each & every day!

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

-Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

What You Need:

-any size square practice paper

-1 sheet of 12X12 scrapbook paper

-frame {11X14 fits it well - I found mine at the Dollar Tree}

-some kind of backing to place or mount the dress on {I used bookish wrapping paper, as you can see}

What You Do:

Follow the video tutorial I found on YouTube using your practice paper first.  Once you've got the hang of it, use your 12X12 scrapbook paper.  Then cut your mounting {background paper} to fit your frame.  Secure dress to mounting with a little tape, place in frame, hang on wall or wherever, & enjoy!  New beginnings are tres chic!

Happy New Year {With Love},

-Bess-

P.S.: This year I'm going to try to do something new, brave, &/or bold each day.  It's a 365 project for the entire year & I plan on journaling my experiences.  I'm not making any promises to myself; I'm just going to try.