Janna Wilson

stop.

Spinning spinning...spinning, the world is spinning, everybody around is spinning...busy, running, on the go, in overdrive, to and fro...

Then it will...

STOP.

in an instant.

And it turns upside down, shakes like an earthquake and the aftermath is almost unfathomable, unimaginable-- can't be real?

The last three days have been filled with grief, for which I've kept mostly to myself, thats okay.  I've have somberly and prayerfully carried on.  Feeling a gaping hole for the loss of a dear friend of mine.  A friend that is part of the wonderful, crazy, woven tapestry of my life.  I can't hardly feel sorry for her, for I know she has passed through the glorious gates of Heaven...mostly feeling- grieving for her precious family- their loss. Feeling grateful for the precious gift of having the pleasure of knowing, working with, laughing with, having some most memorable experiences of my life with and crossing paths with Micah Hogan for the last 17 years.  Feels like...my heart has been rubbed against a cheese grater.  Feels shredded and wounded.  I don't even want to imagine what it feels like for her husband, parents and children.

The world lost one of the most beautiful girls on Friday.  

A mama to two young kids.  

A wife.  

A young, beautiful, shining light for God.  

As I've said many times- it's God's plan, not for us to understand or question.  For we know everything has its season and all of those experiences (good and bad) are meant for us to grow in His Word and in our faith.  Still doesn't lessen the pain of a loss, the realization and reminder of how short, sweet and fragile life is.

Stop.

Realize. Treasure. Remember. Say. Do. Don't wait. Cherish. 

For there is no promise of tomorrow.

 

IU peeks going up this week!

Thilled, excited and a little nervous to share my peeks for my class at the Inspiration Unlimited event!!!  Funny story...have you seen the Artsy Fartsy shirts we are doing?  Well, my class is just that..."Artsy Fartsy Scrapbooking!"  If you're not familiar with my style -- basically it goes like this:

1.  Start with a great basic design.

2.  Add lots of {colorful} pretty paper, priceless memories, touchable textures and handmade elements.

3.  Make it pop with fabulous finishing touches and details!

In my workshop we'll create a collection of scrapbook layouts (even a two pager!!!) filled with touchable textures, fresh ideas and some of my original transparency designs created JUST FOR YOU!!!  As always, I want you to leave my class inspired with dozens of ideas that you can use again and again!

We'll create with eye popping products from some of my favorite manufacturers such as Bella Blvd., Cosmo Cricket, Core'dnations and more!

 

 

(hint: the page directly above includes my TOP 10 favorite ways to add the WOW factor!!!}

Looking so foward to another over the top time with you gals!! So blessed to be a part! 

xoxo ♥Janna

Ten things on my mind...

maybe you can relate?

1.  My mind is still wrangling this college thing...feet are a little cold, but it feels so right.  Just worried about kids, family and finances...aren't we all!!?!  

2.  Inspiration Unlimited.  Excited, nervous, anxious...need to start ordering.  Photograph sneak peeks, start writing instructions, order kitting supplies, getting everything organized on my excel sheet, price printing costs, set up files...I could go on :)

3.  Hubby.  Love, LOVE, Love him...he had a bad week last week.  Thinking and praying about that for him. 

4.  Need to get away from this dumb computer and start laundry, tidy kitchen, get ready, decide on lunch and dinner menus, and get the kids all dressed and motivated for the day. 

5.  Praying for God's divine inspiration to entertain, amuse and (most importantly) TEACH while doing the previous two the kiddos at church TWICE a week (Sunday school and Wednesday night).  Anybody got any good advice on where to pick up some fun (free) church teaching material?

6.  Thinking back on the weekend.  Really enjoyed the family-- mini stay-cation at home.  Scott was home Friday...just relaxed (so happy he did for once).  A little yard work, everything looking nice a kept outside...love my flowers. 

7.  Just bought the domain www.jannawilson.com in anticipation of being a "real" designer someday :)

8.  School starts in a month.  Life could change big time in a month.  People do this all the time...what am I worried about?!  Eating beans and cornbread eight nights a week is fine.  LOL!  We love beans!

9.  Need to do some fun stuff with the kids this week...hmmmm...

10.  I'm hungry.  :)  Time to get busy.

Free for ALL Friday: Printable Prayer Journal project

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!!!

So far so good on my Free For ALL Friday freebie posts!  Two weeks in a row! WOOT WOOT!!!  Well, I'm looking forward to a blessed weekend to enjoy Easter and remember my Savior Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me.  What a glorious holiday!  I wanted to share something special this week in honor of that!  This Prayer Journal is a super simple project you can create in 15 minutes, literally.  Go check it out and make yourself a little prayer journal!

I will not eat cupcakes, I will not eat chocolate...

In fact...I probably shouldn't eat anything for the next week!  Between Valentines sweets, a birthday party and church Valentine potluck last night...I'm still STUFFED!

But these were oh so good...

 

I resized my printable Valentines to about 2" , printed and punched them out with circle punch to make double sided picks for the cupcakes we took to our church potluck.  CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!

 

Sara found the recipe for the frosting online...from scratch!  Easy and berry SWEET!  We were out of toothpicks, so to make the picks...we just cut the "swab" ends off of NEW q-tips and taped them between the two punched circles.  The were plastic (not cardboard) swabs, so they were perfect!  Even better than toothpicks I think!

We suited up in our aprons and spent the afternoon in the kitchen...it was fun.  The girls really like cooking.  Abby made homemade  potato soup with spinach and bacon.  Sara did the frosting for the cupcakes and made cornbread.  Good stuff for a cold winter day!  

I woke up to find my Valentine in the kitchen waiting for me by the coffee.  Scott got me this interesting vintage looking chest and filled it with treats...chocolate, raspberry chocolate coffee beans and popcorn!  It was so cute and he was proud.  My funny Valentine...I swear he can't take a straight picture!

 

 

I felt like a slacker with the kids a bit, I usually do a lot of handmade stuff...but spending the day with them in the kitchen was fun and made up for that.  I fixed them each a little mailbox (from Target) filled with treats (cute little monogram magnets I found at Old Navy)...

 
They had lots of fun with their treats!

 

Too FUNNY!!!

We ate ourselves silly and shared out hearts at our Valentine Potluck at church last night.  We were supposed to bring a verse to share--it had to have the word LOVE in it.  Did you know there are 314 verses in the Bible with the word LOVE.  Interesting!  Here's mine:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 KJV

I think I've mentioned this here...but this is my Bible favorite verse.  I know it, though I revisit it often because it means a lot to me.  It's one of many of God's promises to me, it reminds me that I am called for a purpose, HIS purpose...and that as long as I remember this and LOVE God, good will come to me.  It's all part of HIS plan.  Sometimes we get lost in the busy-ness of life and lose our direction.  This verse reminds me which way to go...I'll keep going with HIM, and of course, with him too...