Thrifty Love {link party #29}

It's Thrifty Love time! One of my favorite things about thrift shopping is the opportunity to redo or upcycle things. Something that the someone before you was just done with and instead of going into our landfills they donated to a thrift shop. Donated so I can snatch up!

Take this wire basket for example. (I love those little ball feet!) When I picked this up I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

Not bad eh? I think it's pretty great! I thought about painting it but didn't want to deal with peeling paint down the road. I do think a pretty color would really make the detail in the wire pop. This ended up being a Mother's Day gift for grandma from my boys. So what thrifty items have you redone or upcycled lately? 

Sorry I have no features this week as I have limited internet access for a couple of days. Had to pop in and get the thrifty love link party posted though!

{What Do I Know of Holy}: Is Jesus Welcome at Your Church?

Thank you for joining us today as we continue our I HATE RELIGION discussion, which is based on this incredible video.

Let me clarify. I love the church. I love the Bible. And yes, I believe in sin. But if Jesus came to your church, would they actually let Him in?

Have you noticed how much time we spend judging others? Does it bother you too?

I believe that most people tear others down to make themselves feel better. The only way that they can move up the ladder is to push others down it.

And one of the worst ways we moms do this is by criticizing other moms. Ugh.

Like we need anything else against us. Being a mom is hard enough as it is.

And yet we take part in The Mommy Wars.

You know the game - to home school or not to home school? to work outside of the home or to stay at home with the children?

The list goes on and the blows get bigger. Instead of being confident in our choices and in who we are in Christ, we let our insecurities bash other people's choices to confirm our own.

Who says there is only one right way?

Please take a moment to read The Only Mommy War Worth Waging.

If grace is water, then the church should be an ocean.

Jesus did not take part in the games. He hung out with tax collectors, thieves, lepers, those rejected by society. 

He preached a message of hope, one in direct conflict to what the religious leaders of the day were claiming...that you had to be "good" enough.

But how "good" is good enough?

It's no wonder they hated Him. He was making them and their self-righteousness look bad.

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. {Matthew 20:28}

Would He be welcomed at your church?

Go here to read the previous posts in the I HATE RELIGION series.

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

May's "Chosen" Family

Every month we support a new adopting family by donating $10 from every Chosen necklace sold. Worthy of the Prize also donates the entire proceeds from the sales of their Chosen Child Fit Band and Half Loop.

Each family has an entire month to earn, this money is then donated to their adoption agency. For the month of May we have the Dyer Family. There is just over one week left in their month so I thought I'd post this little reminder. If you purchase of one of these products you are also helping a child get a family!

The Dyer Family

(Our names are Matt, Amber, and Brock Dyer. Matt and I have been married for 9 years this summer. Our son is seven years old and looking forward to officially calling himself a 2nd grader in a few weeks. Even more, he can’t wait for the title of “Big Brother”. We were selected on March 30th by an expecting mother who is due at the end of this month in a neighboring state. After seven years we don’t really have any baby stuff left around the house and are on a mad dash to prepare for the arrival of our newest blessing. After two surgeries, a hysterectomy, two failed rounds of IVF with a surrogate, and a broken heart we are so happy to be building an open adoption relationship. While my husband was attending the police academy last summer, several things fell into place for us and we were accepted into our agency. We feel very strongly that this is the road we have been lead to after all of these years. Things have moved very quickly since then and it’s been a roller coaster of emotions! I’m nervous, excited, scared, and about everything in between. On behalf of the three (soon to be four) of us, we thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity.)

You can learn more about this adopting fundraiser at Worthy of the Prize. If you are interested in fundraising with us contact Julie for more info at  worthyoftheprize.julie@yahoo.com.

Thrifty Love {link party #28}

Welcome to Thrifty Love! It's that time again where we link up some of the great things found at thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales and so on. Be sure to grab a button if you like and share our party with your thrifty lovin friends!

 

Here were some from last week that caught my eye.

The Pickin Pair joins us for the first time this week with these old rusted date stampers.

I'm kind of in love! They've got lots of other old rusty goodies too.

Land of EnCRAFTment come in with this set of 4 mugs. Pretty cool I think!

Thoroughly Modern Me shows us this great tin child sink.

Is it small? Is it for a doll? Either way it's lovely!

Show us whatcha got!

{What Do I Know of Holy}: Romans 15:13 Printable

I missed last week because it was the day that the moving truck showed up to our new house and I was running crazy between getting things unloaded, doctor's appointments and church.

Today it is my birthday and on top of that, my mom is here helping us get stuff unpacked and settled in.

I did want to pop in for a second to share this free printable that my friend Mary Jo designed for our weekly {Hope for the Home} series, that takes place every Monday over at my blog.

It is one of my favorite verses of scripture and it is my birthday wish for you.

If you'd like to download this verse to print it for your own home, simply right-click on the picture and save it to your computer.  Then print it from your home printer or send it to your favorite photo processing shop!

Have a wonderful week filled with joy and peace, whatever you encounter!

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She has been a recreation intern at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas and the recreation ministry coordinator at Anderson Mill Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.

Mustache Bottle Cap Magnets

Do you remember the Bottle Cap Magnet Tutorial? Well I recently made some pretty dang awesome mustache magnets for my friends birthday. There she is right there! She's one of those friends, you know the ones you hold on to. ;) I've know her since elementary school.

You can get the mustache bottle cap art on my etsy page for only $2! It's 4x6 and includes 12 mustaches. Get it HERE! Or check out the Cap Creations facebook page through Wednesday for a chance to get it free!

Thrifty Love {link party #27}

It's Thrifty Love time! Welcome to our (our meaning me and you) weekly thrift inspired link party. Be inspired to get out there and find something neat.

Quickly want to mention that there is a giveaway for my Mom Power necklace going on at Worthy of the Prize through Sunday only so hurry go enter HERE! They have several giveaways going on so look around while you are there.

This week I ask, what do you do with your thrifty finds? Do you use them, do you sell them, do you give them or all of the above? Many times I find it hard to part with the things I find cause I actually use them or decorate the house with them. How about you, do you have a favorite thrifty find that you absolutely love and use?

Here are some features from last week.

Something to be Found shares this terrific lantern lamp. Burlap shade, wooden details and the chippy shabbiness of the lantern. Love every bit of it!

Raised by Culture shares these old childrens school books. Don't you love the pictures?

A Little Bit of Everything found these great forks for 25 cents! Great deal!

I've got a couple of things to share this week. I picked up this lovely tin.

But I love it mostly because it's the perfect size to hold my dryer sheets! Yay pretty dryer sheet holder for the bity laundry room. One of those thrifty finds that I use!

I also picked up this adorable Poppy Trail creamer. Again with the colors I just love em!

Creamers are the best. I have a bit of a creamer collection going on. I'll have to share my collection someday. They are so cute cause of their size but I actually use them to hold everything. They hold my pens, paper clips, business cards, jewelry bits and on and on. Pretty and functional!

So what have you found lately? Share it!

Linking up at:

S- Fleamarket Finds  M- Apron Thrift Girl  Tu-  Coastal Charm, Frugal Treasures Tuesday T- Vintage Thingie Thursday, Treasure Hunt Thursday, Blue Eyed Owl, The Haps F- The Thrifty Groove, Vintage Inspiration Friday S- Penny Worthy Project, Happy Girl Collectibles

Mother Card {Free Printable}

Are you ready for Mother's Day? It is Sunday you know! I've uploaded a free printable card for mom to get you started (or finished). It's on the website, go get it HERE in the Tutorials & DIY section.

Pretty Yellow detail is from Mel Stampz.

Do you have any special plans for Mother's Day? My brothers and I and our individual families are taking our Mom to Mother's Day Brunch.

Also today is Teacher Appreciation Day and this entire week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Go snag our free Teacher thank you card. We used them just this morning too!