I know it's a little late but I just now saw this post ...Linking up with Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Series...

Faith † Family Frames was started because my 3 loves God, my family, and photography. First and foremost I thank God for every opportunity that He provides us. He has been there beside me cheering me on. My family is my 2nd love and I am always striving to be better for them. We all keep each other accountable to be better people. My third love is Photography and that is really my hobby. What better thing to go with pictures then something to put them in. With this page I hope that I glorify God, and in the mean time show His unconditional love to everyone that comes across my page.

Here is a little preview of what I make and sell. Please keep in mind that this is very new  venture and I will have more designs up so if you know of a design you would like to have a frame in. Please feel free to contact me. You can keep updated with Faith † Family Frames on Facebook as well.

All my frames are $10.00 each. If you are interested in one please email me at thedowneys09@gmail.com.

-Patty

Straight Talk

 

 Christmas Present

Making Bubbles                                         

 

Waiting on it....

Today has been a pretty lazy Sunday. We had the privilege to go to our Church early this morning to greet the congregation as they came into the building!

This was a treat for me because we usually arrive late and miss getting to mingle with everyone before church. I teach a children's Sunday School class so I had to leave to go spend some time with my kiddos.  We attend 1st service so today I got to see the people that attend 2nd service. 2nd service is the younger crowd so it was good to get to meet new members.

Have y'all heard about Jesustattoo.org? If you haven't, here is the link to check it out.

Jesus Tattoo - Website

Jesus Tattoo-Facebook Page

 


There have been 59 of these billboards in Lubbock go up. It has drawn ALOT of attention, some bad and good each. Whether you may or may not like the billboards image, the message is still the same through out time.
Let me know what you think?


So after church, we did what any other church going family does, we headed to Furr's!! I couldn't tell you when the last time I ate at Furr's, but today, it WAS SO GOOD. We got to eat with our best friends and it was just a good time.

I want to wrap up by telling you my lesson of the day:

God has amazing timing. Sometimes you have to wait for an answer for a very long time. An answer to one of my prayers came today. It was very unexpected. It took me by surprise! I have waited 20+ years for this answer. I have prayed constantly for God to reveal a "Why?" Tonight He revealed it through this billboard. Folks, that is the power of Jesus! So next time you think God doesn't hear you, keep praying..it's all in his timing and do not be disappointed if it doesn't come in your timing. For when it does come it will be more amazing that you can ever imagine!

Randomness

So it has been quite awhile since I have posted! I feel like I haven't even had time to breathe let alone actually sit down and think about writing a blog post.

Well a lot of things have been going on..
My daughter started Pre-K, she is such a joy and I love seeing her get excited about her drawings that she drew during the day. Here is her 1st day of school pic

 

 



 

I have started my actual teaching classes. Please pray that I learn all that I can during this semester. Also that I keep my sanity, because I tend to have lots of irons in my fire!

 

I have been getting a lot of photography sessions. I am working at my church on Sundays, I am teaching the 1st graders! They are such a blessing. My daughter has started soccer, so we have practices twice a week and games on the weekend. School has started for me, I am back in full swing with my City job. I have a bathroom redo in progress, and have a few other projects dealing with my photography that I have going. Like I said LOTS of irons!

 

 

 

 

 

Question: How do you discipline your children? Do you spank, use time out, or another form of discipline? When do you discipline them?

 

 

Heros in Christ

Last summer, I had the privilege of hanging out with the residents of Cricket Court. What is Cricket Court you ask? Cricket Court is a way of life for its residents. Cricket Court is an apartment complex. I am not going to lie. The residents of Cricket Court are rough. They live in poverty. They kill. They protect their own. They are greedy. There is a murder at Cricket Court frequently.

And God gave me the privilege of hanging out with the residents of Cricket Court.

They are people, children of God, just trying to make it. Some residents are there because they do not have any other place to go. There are older adults and on a fixed income. Some women are there to look after the little kids.

After last summer I hadn't heard about the families of Cricket Court.

Until today.

Today, again, God gave me the privilege of seeing some of the kids at Cricket Court. After having a really rough morning and asking, pleading to God to tell me why am I at this job. I went out to teach at a summer camp. It was only going to be 30 minutes so a real quick lesson. When I walked in there was one little girl that had on our VBS shirt from last year.."Taking It To the Streets" When I saw this I thought oh my Cricket Court kid! Little did I realize there were about 10 kiddos from Cricket Court. They were awesome! Just to see how they have grown after a year.

God is soo amazing and he gives you the strength to carry one in ways you may not even know it. I am so glad I didn't walk out of my job this morning. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten an update on these beautiful faces from Cricket Court. Most are thriving. All were well behaved. After having a bad attitude from all the adults around me, it was refreshing to be around energetic children.

We all have burdens, some are more pressing than others. Some burdens are dealt with differently than others. But in the end, we are all the same. Children of the Gracious God. He gives us just what we need when we need it. In His timing. My savior is amazing.

He has a plan for all of us. You may wake up and one day realize His plan for you. It may take you 10 years for God to reveal it. But when He does, He will guide you to it. Just have faith in Him and open your heart to fully trust Him. He has shown me mine. I have fought this for many years now, God has quietly told me that I am going to be a teacher. I have "faithfully" said "Yeah right, not me!" We have been going back and forth for YEARS like this. God has tested me and tested me to see if I would listen. After I finally gave in and trusted His plan, the pieces are falling into place. After today I really feel like that is where I belong, inspiring the kids that have no inspiration. To show the underprivileged that they are loved. They have a caring Heavenly Father who loves them unconditionally.

I will leave you with this verse. I love it and it says it all.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

You are my precious blessing

Samantha, Monday you turned 4 years old! I am soo proud of you and I am loving this stage of your life. This year you said that you wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party but since you have already had one we decided on a Painting Party! I took NO pictures of your party because I was enjoying it way too much! I am hoping to get some that Aunt Tammy took! Luckily she was snapping pictures!

Over your 3rd year, you have evolved into a young lady!

 You are finding your way in this world!

You test your limits pretty much every day!

We are so alike, we butt heads! But I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is a learning experience and you are not the only one who is learning!

 

 

 

You still won't eat green beans! But are eating more meat!

Your favorite food group is Sweets! I have thought to limit these because you LOVE them soo much.

You love to help me cook and prepare meals. You even have started to set the table without asking!

 

Every day, you crack me up, you have the wildest imagination! Your teachers at school tell me daily that if they didn't know better they would believe you when you say you have brothers and sisters.

Your favorite saing is "All my people" say so or I have to go tell "All my people". Your vocabulary is grand for a 4 year old! I just love hearing the $10 words that you use! It makes my heart happy.

Your father and I pray daily for you sweet girl! We love you soo much! I pray that you will grow up to be a kind, smart, and bright young lady! Enjoy every minute of your 4th year because your 5th year will sneak up on you!

Some girls just glow Pink!

Have you ever wondered where your going in life? What God has in store for you? What your gift is that He gave you? I have and I am still trying to figure these things out. In the mean time, I will keep loving people like He has directed me. God is SO active in my life these days!  I see Him in all the areas of my life. I don't know His plans but He is growing my husband's faith and growing us stronger as husband and wife. I am just curious where He is taking us! I can only relate it to a present you have been wanting for awhile and you know it's coming but just don't know when the UPS driver will get it to you! This present is AMAZING! But you just have to wait for it to be delivered! He is delivering soo many presents to us all!

 

As I sit here and write this, I think what will I do as I wait here for my present! One of the things Jesus tells us to do is GO!

 



Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Mt. 28:16-20).

 

 

 



Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)

 

For in You the orphan finds mercy. (Hosea 14:3)

 

These verses keep reappearing in my life! I am glad that I attend a church that this is their main focus both these things that are commanded of us! I am beyond blessed!

 

What will you do as you wait for that amazing present you know is coming?

 

 

Blueberry Muffins and Lessons

So today is the 2nd day of January,  Today has been a pretty good day! I received more information on my "big move" at work. ( They want my workshop and I am being booted out-but it's ok because where they are "fingers crossed" moving me, is SOO MUCH better!) I will get a bigger office and have my workshop right there, no more walking across the parking lot in the cold!


    I cooked dinner and was done early! Kitchen is cleaned and Shane made blueberry muffins. Here is Sami and Daddy sharing the muffins

 

HAHAHA! So I caught Samantha in the bathroom and just told her to get out..lol..Well She went back in there, when I caught her a 2nd time, she ran out and this is what I found! (oh please excuse the lovely wallpaper, pink shower curtain, and granite shell counter top-we didin't update the bathrooms when we bought the house-that is our next HUGE project hopefully complete by the summer) I refuse to take the shower curtain down because it matches the wallpaper..lol..IT IS HORRIBLE!!

Sami is going to clean this up here in a little bit! LOL She is going to have sooo much fun with all the lotion that is in the sink..hey on the bright side because for 2013 I am trying to find the humor in everything..It's baby lotion so the bathroom does smell good! /: