Marvelous Monday!

Congratulations to the winner of our Yay...Free Friday Giveaway this week!!

#39 "Pick me, pick me!!!" is the winner!

(You'll have to email me #39, because when I set up the contest linky I hit the wrong setting and do not have your email -sorry!)

Thanks to each of you who entered and be sure to stop back in in Friday to see what this weeks Yay...Free Friday Giveaway will be!

Have a FANTASTIC week!

Yay...Free Friday!

Our Giveaway this week is a lady bug print doll dress for your Baby be Blessed doll and a scripture crown for your sweet girl! The scripture reads: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16. The removable bow is from Sugar-n-Spice Boutique!

To Enter: Please leave an entry in the linky tool below.

Extra entry's for each of the following:

- If you are a "Follower" of our Blog (link at the bottom of the page)

- Have our button on your site. (Must leave link)

-"Like" Baby be Blessed on Facebook

~Only 146 more "likes" away from 2,000 on Facebook! Would you share Baby be
Blessed with your friends and family?? We're giving away something to the
2,000th person AND the friend who shared BbB with them!! -And it's something
good!!

-Blog post, Facebook mention or ReTweet about Yay...Free Friday!

-Count a blessing! Look around and share a praise!

*please leave one entry for each in the linky tool, not the comments. I know this is a pain...but it makes sure I don't miss any of your entries!

Have a wonderful weekend!!
As always, I'll be back to announce the winner on Monday!

Pray without Ceasing....

I praise God for the absolute privilege
of praying for each child we make a doll for!

With each order sorted and scripture patch cut and placed accordingly, the names and scripture flow out as prayer.


Words read. Prayers offered.


When cutting with all the pieces and parts and fuzzies everywhere, prayers!


When all orders are bagged and ready to be sewn...prayer.


When Lori and Denise trim and sew and stuff...there are prayers!


When smiles and faces are stitched and cheeks blushed. Prayer!


When boxes are packed and loaded up. Prayer!


Morning, evening and daily quiet time with God....more prayer!


Would you join us?
Here are a few of the dolls we are working on this week.



Mya Jian
"Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." Psalm 106:47





Ella Faith
"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him." 1 Samuel 1:27





Evangeline Kait
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13





Brooklyn
"The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song" Psalm 28:7





(This doll is for our daughter in Ethiopia. We don't know her name, age or anything yet, but God does!)
"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17





Summer Elizabeth
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17





Annabelle Grace
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever." Ephesians 3:20-21





Hadassah Eleanor
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17





Dallison Faith
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13


"In the Lord I put my trust" Psalm 11:1





Zaynah Lauren
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
"In the Lord I put my trust" Psalm 11:1





Katherine Sims Wiggins
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27





Edyn Suzanne
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6





Lorelai Olivia Michele
"So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:4



Choosing to be still, embrace and praise God for this opportunity.
Thank you, for praying with us and for us!

Too Cute...Tuesday!

Here are some pics of our Emma-bug opening her baby doll for Christmas- as you can tell from the picture, she loves it! We truly appreciate the gift that you gave us. Thank you again for all that you do over at BBB!
The Klein Family

Yay...for FREE FRIDAYS!!

Enjoy Miss Emma!!

Do you have a picture to share on Too...Cute Tuesday?
Please email them to babybeblessed@gmail.com .

Thank you so much for sharing your family with us! -When emailing your photo's you are giving BbB permission to edit and post on our blog and website.

Marvelous Monday!

Congratulations to #1
(yes, that's right...you can be first and still win!)
for winning our Yay...Free Friday giveaway of a signed copy of Ann Voskamps wonderful book, One Thousand Gifts!

I encourage you to read this book and don't forget to follow along with the (in)courage book club .They just reviewed chapter 5 and it is a MUST watch!

Praying that you each have a wonderfully blessed and JOYFUL week in Him!

All IS Grace!

Yay...Free Friday!

A few weeks ago, I entered into a DaySpring giveaway.

I rarely EVER enter into giveaways. I don't know why...but I feel guilty when I enter.

Any psychological explanations for that?? =)

But I really thought, why not? One of the items was a copy of Ann Voskamps, One Thousand Gifts!

I had already read her book and was planning on giving a copy away for Yay...Free Friday so I thought that if the Lord would bless me to win I would give it away.

And guess what?! I won! Can you believe it?? The one who never enters or wins anything!! I was so excited and feel very privileged to give this copy away.

Because it's just not any copy.

It's a signed copy!

Isn't that awesome!! I must say that this book has really opened my eyes to what God would have me see...His blessings all around me. His desire for me to live joyfully now...right where he has me placed. His desire for me to worship Him through thanksgiving. Eucharisteo!

Thanksgiving and praise is splattered all over the Bible. How many times did my eyes pass over words that my heart did not feel?? (sigh) But He knows and He is always teaching. Always loving on us! Pouring Grace!

This is just not a simple read. It is plum packed full of goodness to savor over! A journey of a beautiful woman searching, struggling for this wonderful thing called joy....and she finds it! And once you find it, you simply must share it with others! It's a choice. A choice to give God praise in EVERY situation and place -even in the hard.

FOR EXAMPLE!

I am typing this blog post after an insane morning of getting the kids off to school. We follow the same routine every morning. Why do some mornings go so crazy?? And then why do I go so crazy? It's stopping. Getting a grip. Taking a (deep) breath. And then praise!

Praising God opens the blessing -the joy!

Here were some of my thoughts. (literally just moments ago!)

Thank you for all these children.

Thank You for Natalie finding her lost lunch box.

Thank You for brushing rats and fixing hair.

Thank You for having to constantly ask if the teeth have been brushed

Thank You for the bickering

Thank You when papers are lost

Thank You for not knowing if it is crazy sock day at school or not. Just pack extra socks.

Thank You for the stray dog running in our yard.

Thank You for the mud that is all over my shoes from trying to catch OUR dogs from running.

Thank You for being able....

Thank You for shoes to be tied

Thank You for the "Have a great day!"

Thank You for a smiling Mama as they leave the door instead of a yelling ranting lunatic.

Thank You for healthy bodies able to go to school

Thank You for the sunshine this morning

Thank You for allowing me to be home and embrace this madness!

Do you see how my thoughts changed? I absolutely DID NOT feel like giving any sort of praise when I'm biting my lip at them. But I choose to. And then the praise turns to joy. The high wave of frustration calms. I praise. I am joyful!

So I dare each of you! Start counting your blessings. Literally write them down one by one! I'm on #469! My journal always out.

Have any of you read the book?

Are you following along with the (in)courage Book Club?

Give us your thoughts in the comments (under the linky)!

Lets share and encourage each other!

...and if this ever crosses sweet Ann's eyes, Thank you for sharing your journey with us. God used you to increase my praise to Him -forever! ~Tina

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If you would like to enter in this giveaway to win a signed copy of Ann Voskamps book, One Thousand Gifts, please leave an entry in the linky tool below.


Extra entry's for each of the following:

- If you are a "Follower" of our Blog (link at the bottom of the page)

- Have our button on your site. (Must leave link)

-"Like" Baby be Blessed on Facebook

~Only 160 more "likes" away from 2,000 on Facebook! Would you share Baby be
Blessed with your friends and family?? We're giving away something to the
2,000th person AND the friend who shared BbB with them!! -And it's something
good!!

-Blog post, Facebook mention or ReTweet about Yay...Free Friday!

-Count a blessing! Look around and share a praise!

*please leave one entry for each in the linky tool, not the comments. I know this is a pain...but it makes sure I don't miss any of your entries!

Have a wonderful weekend!!
As always, I'll be back to announce the winner on Monday!

Living Proverbs 22:6

I just love it when you find Jesus in simple moments!

Last Saturday I set out all the ingredients! Too many years have passed that time wasn't taken to roll and stamp out the hearts for Valentines day. This year...I'm learning to slow...learning to "live fully in the now". Choosing to hold on to those traditions almost lost!

Eyes sparkle and excitement fills the room. Little hands begging to dig in!!

More hands takes more time. More patience. Two things I have lacked but strive to grab hold of once again. Why you ask? I've just chosen to make the cookies myself. Not every time...but most of the time. Either the kids are were at school or sound asleep in bed because I wanted to get it done quick! Checked off the list. Oh, and of course they had to look really good. You can't give away messy looking cookies! I'm leaking all my self issues! =)

We mix. My Lola reads from the card written by the hand of whom she is named after. A recipe handed down. The same hand who taught me how to roll out the dough. It's a skill that must be learned.

I smile remembering how Grandma stood with me at the table that day. Patient. She taught how to roll out dough on the hide away cutting board from under her counter. Letting the rolling pin glide across the dough. Years had passed since I had married her Grandson. Maybe she prayed over my lack of skills....haha! But I do remember that sweet moment! One of many that I cherish. A simple rolling out of the dough!

And now its my turn to teach just like I was taught. I explain the process. Rolling it this way and that, flipping and flouring. I show Lola how to keep her heart cutter dusted and she takes the lead. Determined she stamps away! Taking the spatula and scooping them up to the cookie sheet for baking. Overlapping hearts and snipping edges. She smiles big! I smile back. I fight the urge for them to look perfect. I see the joy and accomplishment in her spirit. I remember the why of what we are doing. I smile and praise her beautiful work. I relax. They are beautiful!

(Kolton not too thrilled with the idea of Lola's turn first! =)

Next round -Finally!! Three year old fingers so fast at work! I hardly could capture the moment because the blurr of speed. Dough hearts crumpled and stacked and he moved to repeat what he just saw his sister do. He smiles up at me. "Kolton's turn!" Yes! My heart so filled with joy!




My sweet Natalie stands now with me. 10 years old and I watch her work. She was watching me with the other two. She did the same things that I had shown...didn't need for me to tell her. She floured the surface and flipped the dough. Grandma would be so proud! She rolls this way and that...dusts her cookie cutter. She watches me. Seeks my approval.( Maybe she saw through my smile with Lola... fighting the urge to fix). "How's this?, Did I do it right?" "Do they look okay" I see myself in her. I stroke her beautiful long brown hair. Those blue eyes shine! Perfection!!

I stand and look at all the hearts baked.

All sizes and shapes...some pieced together, some cracked and my heart rejoices!

The Lord teaches!

As I looked at all those hearts the Lord reminded me that He just wants us how we are! We are still in the learning process. We still may fight old habits and urges to fix...but He wants us to come to Him. We are cracked and messy. But that's okay. When He looks He sees beauty! Joy! Perfection! All He desires is for us to submit our imperfect hearts to Him!

Isn't it wonderful! Beautiful grace?!

We had so much fun! The crumbs, pink icing, smiles, and sprinkles were everywhere!

A memory was made. Tradition kept.

Living fully on a Saturday afternoon taught me much...and Jesus teaches and loves on us through everything, even cookies!

Too Cute...Tuesday!

Tina and all,

Following the loss of our newborn son, we discovered your ministry in 2008. We immediately fell in love with your dolls and with your mission. In December 2009, we were blessed with the birth of our daughter and were beside ourselves that we had a girl (after having only boys and a family history of predominantly boys). We still are in awe that we have this beautiful little girl who just celebrated her first birthday. It was not long after Lydia’s birth that I began planning when she should be blessed with a Baby Be Blessed doll. Here she is with her baby doll ~ her 1st birthday gift. Love your ministry!

Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Jason & Heather Lilyquist
www.fullness-of-grace.blogspot.com


~Thank you so much for sharing with us Heather!
Lydia is so beautiful! Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite verses!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
The most beautiful hearts are those which

might seem imperfect to others but precious to Jesus!

Marvelous Monday!

Our Marvelous Winner on this Marvelous Monday???

#17 -I mentioned it on facebook!
from Pics, Pages & Purls!

Congratulations!!




A BIG thanks and much love to all our friends today!!

Yay...Free Friday

This week we are going to give away a set of scripture crowns!

~One to keep and one to give away! ~

The scripture reads:

"God is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20

TO ENTER: Simply leave an entry under this post in the linky tool!

Extra entry's for each of the following:

- If you are a "Follower" of our Blog (link at the bottom of the page)

- Have our button on your site. (Must leave link)

-"Like" Baby be Blessed on Facebook

~Only 176 more "likes" away from 2,000 on Facebook! Would you share Baby be
Blessed with your friends and family?? We're giving away something to the
2,000th person AND the friend who shared BbB with them!! -And it's something
good!!

-Blog post, Facebook mention or ReTweet about Yay...Free Friday!

*please leave one entry for each in the linky tool, not the comments. I know this is a pain...but it makes sure I don't miss any of your entries!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

As always, I'll be back to announce the winner on Monday!

Living Proverbs 22:6

Embrace every moment!

The snow was falling in big heavy flakes as the kids waited outside, covered from head to toe, flakes sticking to eyelashes, slipping, sliding, snowman making, giggles and smiles...waiting for the bus for school. I watch out the window. In the warm! Holding a steaming cup of coffee. They are filled with such joy. All I could think about is how cold they will be the first few hours of school because they are dusted all in white. They didn't seem to care. The big orange bus (20 minutes late) finally pulls to up, breaks squealing to a halt and they all poor in. Giggles, smiles and white all in tow! I watch them pull away and pray over them like I always do.

In walking to the door. I smile. A sweet note left for Mama. "Snow Icecream (get snow)"! My heart rejoices! Oh how I love them! Because the BESTEST of snow ice cream is made with the scoops of freshest snow (within two hours of falling the experts say!) I hear my Lola's voice in my head "And NOT THE YELLOW SNOW!" I love them.

I scoop up my coat and slip on some shoes. I slip and slide, smile and giggle as I scoop us piles of joy for the making...get dusted in snow. Stumbling my way back in dusting off, kicking off shoes. My cold fingers stumble through all the cards until I find just the right one!

Ah, yes. There it was!

Written by little hands.

A treasured keepsake...a new family tradition!

"5 Cups of CLEAN snow...." We always scoop way more!

I leave out the card all day, smiling and giggling when my eyes would catch it! I watch the clock and the time has finally come to gather them all up again. The first words I hear..."Did you get it?!!" Natalie smiles excitedly! "Yes my love, I got it! Thank you for the note!"

We couldn't mix it up fast enough.

The conversation flows from one thing to another and runs into something else.

Time together.

Loving, embracing and TRAINING

in every single moment given to us!

Thank you Lord for ever single one!

Snow Ice Cream:

5 cups of CLEAN snow! =)

1 cup of Milk

1/2 cup of sugar

1 tablepoon of vanilla extract

1 dash of salt.

Mix together and place back in the freezer to firm. LOAD with Sprinkles and love on those babies!!

The questions answered!

Lately the sky has been celebrating at dawn and dusk! The beauty! God marking the sky with His wonder!

I love it and praise God for drawing my eye out the window for His praise!


This has NOTHING to do with this post...but I guess I just had to share my quiet moment with you!! =)


So this afternoon I thought I would take a quick minute to answer the questions you left for us last week.

I'm a curious person...so I thought maybe you were curious about a few things too! Loved reading through all your questions!

Here are the answers!

1. How many dolls do you think you've made?

-To be honest...I really haven't kept track of how many dolls we have made over
the past few years. But in starting to work through tax numbers I know that we have made over 1000 dolls in 2010 alone.

When I think of all those dolls...I think of God tossing up a handful of seed. It drops and scatters everywhere! He has done the same with these dolls. Scattered all over the world and I ask that you would pray along with me. That those seeds of Truth would take root and grow strong in Him!

Are you still going to do Give A Blessing every other month?

Yes! We are still doing Give a Blessing! We plan for every
other month...but really desire that God would choose each
person/family/organization that we are to support. Sometimes this falls in
our timing of every other month...but when He has not clearly shown us who -we
wait on Him and trust in His choice and His timing.

Do any of you work outside the home?

Yep! Denise, who sews all the scripture animals works full time outside
the home. My sister Michelle works full time. She sews/stuffs all
the arms and legs for the dolls. Lori sews the dolls and though she
doesn't work outside of the home, has the wonderful privilege of homeschooling her daughter, Naomi. Laura is blessed to stay home with their three wonderful children and I also am able to stay home with my four children while still providing daycare part time after school.

There you have it! =)

Do you have a storefront? If so where?

Nope. We do not have a storefront. It's more of a homefront! All the dolls
scattered around my house! HA!

How did you get started? Where did the idea come from?

I've always been "crafty" always needing to have my hands busy with a
project. I started making primitive dolls in 2003 and then dolls for
children in 2007. While standing in my laundry room I held a doll and the
Lord simply pressed upon my heart to use the gifts He has given to me -back to
Him. To glorify Him and spread His word. That is when I started
putting scripture on all of our dolls. In 2008 Baby be Blessed came to
be...

How do you select Give a Blessing families?

We select our families through people nominating them. Also in the past
the Lord just allowed us to cross paths with their blog or a prayer request that
led to them being chosen for Give a Blessing. As I mentioned before, we
really seek out God's will for each person selected.

How did "your girls" start sewing for you?

It was simply a TOTAL God thing! I should write a post about each of
my beautiful girls and how God brought them along side me. He is awesome
and faithful to provide every need!

Why such a long lead time? Can you hire more people sew?

Our lead time is based off of how many orders we have in house. We
have groupings of on average 10 dolls and animals per week. Animals will
vary but the dolls have been steady. Baby be Blessed falls behind keeping
God first and then our families second.

As far as hiring more people...I desire the Lord to direct that. He
has brought people to help us in times of need and then has taken them away when
that season was over. I trust in His will for Baby be Blessed.

When are more finished items going to be ready?

Finished items come second to the orders we have in house. There are weeks
that I am able to work on items but it always comes in between other things.

Have any tips for cleaning marker (possibly permanent) off of the scripture patch?

That's a tough one! Permanent markers are "trouble" around my house
as well. I've had to hide them all because they end up in little
hands. I really don't know of anything that takes it out. If anyone
has tried something...please let us know!

Do you hire SAHM to help sew the dolls?

Three of us are SAHM's as mentioned above and I have received lovely
emails offering their sewing services! Thank you so
much! It really works best (from past experience) that all my
girls live close. We all have sat around my kitchen
table...machines lined up and learn together!

How did you and the "Chapmans'" become linked together, and then create "Maria's" memory princesses?

Again, this is simply a God thing. We offered to make Treasure a Memory dolls in
2008 after Maria went home to be with Jesus and our relationship has simply
grown from there. They love the Lord and we have been blessed and give God the
glory for the dolls we made for them. Again, I just look at it as another vessel
for God to work through to spread His word.

Which was the original first doll and what was the first scripture used?

I just posted this not too long ago...so it was easy to find! You can
read about it here. The verse read:"For I know the plans I have for you." Declares the Lord. "plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Fitting right?!

Thanks SO MUCH for all your wonderful questions!

Too Cute...Tuesday!

Hi! We gave my daughter, Josie, one of your precious dolls for Christmas. I have been wanting to give her one for some time now, and I thought Christmas would be the perfect time. She is 3 1/2 and really loves her babies. The picture included is of her and her her "baby" on Christmas morning. Thanks for such a beautiful doll!
Whitney Benson

----------------------

Thank YOU for sharing such a cute picture!

Josie is precious!

Marvelous Monday!

Can you believe that I forgot to post the most important detail on this doll?! It shot right threw me when I was folding a load of laundry yesterday! The scripture!!!

It reads: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Praise God for His loving grace and mercy as we continue to move forward in Him!


The Marvelous Monday winner of this sweet doll is....

#212! Miss Heather from Fullness of Grace!
Congratulations!!! =)

Thank you all SO MUCH for all the name suggestions! It is hard to choose one because I really think they are all beautiful...but the one that kept ringing out is Caroline!
I think that she really looks like a Miss Caroline!

Have a wonderfully BLESSED marvelous Monday!!