M&K's Pallets

Matt and I are having a ball making these pallet projects. He loves to use his strength to hit and saw things (there are plenty of opportunities to do this when salvaging pallets), and I love painting. It's also giving me something constructive to do with my time off this summer.

Please check out our Facebook Page: M & K's Pallets

Small - Dance Studio Logo

Small - Citadel Blue

Small - USC Black & Red Pallet

Small - Coffee and Jesus Quote 

Large - Rustic American Flag

Small - Navy/White

Large Navy/White

Large orange/white

Custom Church Logo

We have had a lot of inquires about making these for people, so I just wanted to have a place with the details.

Right now we are doing two sizes--small and large.

Small pallets measure: approx. 30 x 20 inches 

Large pallets measure: approx. 50 x 30 inches

We will use your pallet if you bring it to us.

Color choice is up to you.  

Currently we are doing a lot of palmetto flags, but would be open to doing other designs on the pallets if you can give us an image or good description of what you want. You can see some of our custom work above. We can also add name personalization.

All images are hand painted without stencils--therefore, no two are exactly alike. Also, natural cracks in the wood are left unless they weaken the strength of the pallet.

Pallets can be sealed for outdoor use for small cost.

Pallets have a sturdy piece of wood across the back for hanging. 

Cost

Small Simple Logo: $30
Palmetto Tree, Clemson Paw, MC, Dance Logo, etc.

Small Detailed Logo: $45

Large Simple Logo: $50

Large Detailed Logo: $65
American Flag

Sealing for outdoor use: $5

Shipping: TBD based on location

DISCOUNT: $5 off for each person who orders a pallet based on your reference. Tell them to mention your name when ordering. One reference per new order please.

Please e-mail me at katiecfreeman@gmail.com with inquires or to place an order.

"Do Not be Anxious"

There has never been a point since I have been out on my own that I didn't have to live by a strict budget. I don't know whether this surprises you or not, but the various careers and callings I have pursued (youth ministry, nanny, bank teller, graduate school and teacher) do not lead to piles of excess cash. I've always been okay with my money situation, and while I have never gone hungry...

I HAVE cried over my inability to get a pedicure. I HAVE had one dollar in my bank account that had to last a week.

Sunday night, I was able to hear one of a series of money messages from Midtown Fellowship. They provided each of us with the list of these 10 Money Principles.  Being at a point in my life where many financial changes and commitments are taking place, I decided theses were definitely worth studying. I'd like to share a few of my thoughts on each one and hear some of yours.

PRINCIPLE 1: Jesus gives status, comfort, and security–money does not. 

The link above gives a few scripture references for this statement, but the verse that sticks out to me most holds the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Jesus commands: "Do not be anxious." 

Being anxious shows my need for CONTROL in my own life.  My mind says, "If I have money in my savings, we are SAFE and SECURE. I need to be saving for retirement and investing, so we will be COMFORTABLE when we are older. Dave Ramsey talks about investing and how IMPORTANT that is, so I better get ON THAT." While all of these things are great, and I know I should do them, I have to realize that I am ultimately not in control of any of them. I also cannot let them become idols. If my desire to SAVE keeps me from helping a friend in need, I have done exactly what Jesus warns of in  Luke 12:13 - 21. I have stored things for myself, but have not been rich toward God.  

My savings can be swiped in a second. I may not live to retire. I may invest in something that never makes a single profit (no matter what Dave R. says). If I am putting my trust in anything I CAN DO to be SECURE, SAFE, COMFORTABLE and in CONTROL...I am missing the blessing of trusting JESUS to meet my needs and be in control of my finances.

I found a sweet reminder in Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." It may not be in pedicures or excess money in my account, but it will be in ways where HE gets the GLORY--not ME. 

A little personal story. 

Matt and I are on the SAVING rampage this month as we prepare for the closing on our first home. We hit a wall this weekend and knew we needed to freeze spending as much as possible for the rest of the month. We had an invitation to eat with friends this weekend, but knew we did not need to spend the money. Our plan had been to go out to eat and just enjoy the FREE chips and salsa at the Mexican restaurant. We discussed splitting an entree if we were hungry enough. All went as planned and we were enjoying the abundance of chips and salsa, and our friend told us an "anonymous donor" was covering dinner. WHAT!? That doesn't just happen for a group of 10 or so. Now I know, you're thinking... CHIPS and SALSA, MEXICAN, those aren't needs. I agree. But this just reminded me that God has always got it. A great night of fellowship and glory to HIM came out of that night.

Any anxiousness I feel over money shows that I don't take Jesus' command of "Do not be anxious" seriously. It's like I'm saying, "That's not for us. I'm allowed to worry. I'm just making sure we'll be OK." The truth is, WE WILL NOT BE OK, unless Jesus is in charge and we are always being RICH toward him (see Luke 12).  I think this means tithing, giving offerings, and also using our resources to for His purposes. 

I have posted the question I am reflecting on below, and would love to hear your comments. 

How can we be both responsible and rich toward God in our spending? 

That's "pinteresting"

My husband is always cracking this little joke at my Pinterest creations....saying how "pinteresting" they are... 

So if you are interested in doing some cheap, cute crafts, here is a super easy way to do some...

 Cost, about $5.

Time, about 1 hour.

• Buy a cheap wooden frame. Paint it. 
• Buy a wooden initial. Paint it. 
• Buy any embellishments you like, and hot glue them to the frame. 
• Then, hang your initial from the frame using fishing line. I just tied a loop around the frame and the letter. I cut a small grove in my "F" for the fishing line to slide into, and then added a little hot glue to hold it. 
• Cut two equal lengths of ribbon, loop them around the frame top and tie them together at the point where you want this to hang from a nail (creating an upside down V, and use a double knot). You can tie on extra ribbons or a bow if you want.
• I hot glued my ribbons in place as well just in case some wind comes along.

AND YOU'RE DONE~!

Cost, about $7 (but still have 1/2 roll of hemp left)!

Time, about 45 min.

• Take a bottle of your choice.
• Using Elmer's glue, wrap thick hemp around the bottle adding glue to the glass as you go. Close gaps between the hemp rings as you go, and continue wrapping until you reach the top!
• Let dry.

SUPER EASY & pretty!

Stumbled upon this page and couldn't help but share. There are so many wonderful ideas here about prayer stations and creative ways of connecting with Jesus. 

CREATIVE PRAYER

There are so many, I haven't been able to read through all of them yet. 

One of my favorites...looking forward to trying it out tomorrow over coffee.

"Conversations with God"

Instructions:

The Bible constantly refers to God as our friend, but sometimes He can feel very distant. At this station you will get an opportunity to try and close the gap.

Take a seat in one of the chairs,

And in the chair opposite you imagine God Himself sitting there.

Take a few moments and have a conversation.

Ask Him questions,

tell Him your thoughts,

or just have a conversation.

And don’t just talk;

Wait awhile… be patient,

And see what God says to you.

Cast all your Anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

~ 1 Peter 5:7

"Kisses from Katie" by Katie Davis

I have been literally blown away by this book I'm reading... 


"Kisses from Katie" by Katie Davis was a gift from a friend, and I cannot tell you what a gift it was! I'd like to share a little about the book with you and then encourage anyone with a heart for children living in poverty, or just living a life sold out to God's purposes to order a copy from Amazon right now (click here!). If you'd rather just read about Katie's work through her blog (click here), or her non-profit's website (click here).


Stuff from the book...

• If a child has never experienced love, how can we expect him to accept the love of his Savior? We need to show children who have never experienced it REAL, TANGIBLE love.
• "If I am afraid, I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable."
• "We were each created to change the world for someone."
• God is asking me to share the tremendous love I have been given with others.
• God did not make too many people or too many resources to go around. 
• "I was in no way qualified, but I was available."
• We serve them, because the Lord Jesus who created them, loves them.
• God wants us to CARE FOR THE POOR, not just CARE ABOUT them.
• We do not live in different worlds than these children, we live in the same world.
• We cling so tightly to what we have because we are scared of what would happen if we didn't have these things.
• I made peace with feeling inadequate, because the truth is, I AM.
• In America, do we really have to trust God to meet our needs or can we just do it on our own?

"I never chose these 150 children. God gave them to me. I never planned to send them to school; He did. It wasn't Katie carrying out Katie's plan; it was the Lord, for who all things, all things, are possible." ~ Katie Davis

If you do pick up the book, please comment here. I would love to have the blessing of hearing your thoughts!

Also, consider purchasing or gifting one of these beautiful necklaces! I just did!

You can buy this necklace for a little over $25 with shipping!

All of the proceeds go to working women in Uganda and help feed precious children. I want to ORDER!

More pantry cooking! Sugar cookies = Christmas deliciousness...

Craving something sweet or need some last minute Christmas goodies? Try these tonight! (May want to cut the recipe in half ...this recipe makes 48 cookies)

Prep Time:
15 Min

Cook Time:
10 Min

Ready In:
25 Min

Easy Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened (very important!)
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

TOP with your choice of topping!

We chose peanut butter & left over funfetti icing!

(Recipe courtesy of All Recipes)

We wear robes of white...

How many times have we fallen into sin, and then longing to reconnect with God, tried to delve into the Word? How many times after truly repenting, do we then read God's precious words as if every chastisement or criticism in the Bible is directed toward us? How often (because of Christ's righteousness) is God willing to let go of our sins, but we are not?

When we become followers of Christ, realizing that we are in no way righteous without Him, His righteousness COVERS us.

Romans 3:21 - 23 ~

 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:5-7 ~

5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

 7 “Blessed are those

   whose transgressions are forgiven,

   whose sins are covered.

(David’s words) Psalm 32:5 ~

 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you

   and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess

   my transgressions to the LORD.”

And you forgave

   the guilt of my sin.

When God looks upon the repentant heart, He no longer sees our sins and past regrets, He sees the white robe of our Savior.

Revelation 7:13-14 ~

 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

   And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

With truly repentant hearts, we can read the Word with anticipation of God's promises and purposes for the righteous.  We no longer have to dwell negatively on the words that are spoken about those who do not live by faith.

Thank you Lord that your righteousness covers my every failing!