JAPAN!!!!

YES. I AM GOING THERE.

CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT?!?!

In 6 days, I will be on a plane. For a loooooong time. Staring out the window dreamily (if I am lucky enough to get a window seat!) and trying my darnedest to not spontaneously freak out. I have been making strange noises at odd times. The hubs just shakes his head (with a smile, of course. He is so wonderful. And supportive.).

( Tachikawa )Tokyo Japan, here I come!!!

Once there I will be witnessing and helping to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Japanese people! I love love LOVE these films:

God's Fingerprints in Japan 1 and 2.

They are beautiful and well researched and really celebrate the fact that the one true God and his son, Jesus, are NOT just a "western" thing... that from ancient times the "one creator God" has been found in Japanese history. Amenominakanushi = one creator God. God in his sovereignty created the Japanese people and their culture and traditions and thinks they are beautiful. I love that this movie celebrates their culture and repeats the fact that God made them who they are and they should never change!!

I have been in love with this culture and it's people for more than half of my life.

I am beyond excited to visit the place of my dreams. And I am so excited to see what God will do there!

Pray for me please!! I get back the 18th of December.

Love to all,

Amy

Thanksgiving Update!

Hooray!! I didn't think I would even find the time to do it - but I did!

So here it is!

"Sharing" - available in 8.5 x 11 and 5 x 7

and

"Give Thanks" - giclee available in 5 x 7

Hope you guys like em!

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I have a VERY busy November ahead of me - a marriage retreat with the hubs this weekend, 5 commissions to finish and a giant order of bows. Not to mention teaching my art classes and working at my other part time job! Eeep! But it's okay - Jesus, coffee, and your support will get me through it!

Lots of love,

Amy

A Little Bit of Spice...

..makes everything nice! Don't you agree?

Lately we've been enjoying the spicy flavors of fall and are fortunate enough to live right down the street from The Crystal & Spice Shoppe- A lovely family owned business (in it's 27th year!) that sells gourmet coffees, teas, and loose spices.  I loooovve the couple that runs the store - you can totally tell they have worked side by side every day for almost 30 years (just like my parents), but in a good way. They have a great system worked out and are constantly finishing each other's sentences. It's really cute. And it feels so good to support a family owned business...

...and when was the last time you had your groceries tied up with a cute brown ribbon?

The Diva Delight coffee is flavored with nothing but Ghirardelli chocolate - yum!

These yummy bits were put together to steep into your cider (like tea). 

And here's the spices: Basil, Thyme, Sage, Cumin, and Cinnamon.

If you are ever in the Belleville, IL area and get to visit Main Street (the longest in the country at 13 miles!) and are a coffee, tea, or spice lover, you MUST give this little place a visit!

AND they have free coffee tastings on Saturday mornings! 

I'm still busy working on some new drawings and greeting cards for the holidays! I'll let you know when I'm ready to put them in my shop.

Love,

Amy

Halloween Has Come and Gone...

..and now it is November!! Wow - how did that happen? The year is almost over already (and what an amazing year it has been!). 

Hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween! The hubs and I enjoyed ourselves. We had to figure out costumes last minute with a very very very small budget. For under $10 we were able to transform into something we are both very passionate about...

GRASS FED BEEF! hahaha. Oh, silly us.

We attended a sweet little party with some great church friends. 

What were you for Halloween?

.....

Now with Halloween over, I am drawing and preparing for my thanksgiving etsy update! Not sure of the exact date yet, but when I know I will post it here first. 

Love,

Amy