This week while engaging in God's word I have been given an enlightened prospective of grace and what it truly means to show someone else grace. When we show others grace we should do so without strings attached because by definition grace is " free unmerited favor" that means we did nothing that would cause us to deserve it! We can't forgive and then put expectations on others, if we do is that truly grace? I have learned this week that the word grace get thrown around a lot but that the word itself implies so much more.
    "And now that Christ has come and died and thereby satisfied the Father's demands on sin, all we need to do is claim His grace by accepting the free gift of eternal life. Period. He smiles on us because of His Son's death and resurrection. It's grace, my friend, amazing grace." (from The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll)   
     For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16  Let this be our perfect example of GRACE!
   
     This week has been busy, busy, busy! I am getting ready for my daughter's 10th birthday and my youngest son's 5th birthday. Their birthdays are just days apart so we are going to celebrate them together, not sure how much longer I can get away with it either. So.. I am throwing them a beach themed party with some home made decor.
     I love creating banners with fabric squares. I have done many of them as a matter a fact, almost one for every holiday or season. They are so much fun and really quick and simple! For the beach party theme I went with bright colored fabrics, and then I always choose something representative of the occasion to hang on the banner as well. So for this occasion I chose surf boards!  I cut felt in the shape of surf boards and then decorated the felt with scrap fabric, spangle and some pre-cut felt flowers and I even attempted to cut my own felt flower.

The blue flower is a pre-cut flower and the black flower is one that I did.

                    These are 6in squares folded over a piece of rope I had laying around. Thought the rope added to the beach feel but I have, in the past, used yarn and raffia. 

I will be making two banners and these are the other four surf boards that I designed.

                    I would love to hear about what you are crafting!

                                                                                                   Hugs.....Naomi