Getting Cricky Hijacked!! Day #3 - Attitude is Everything!! :)

Did ya hear?  The Getting Cricky Design Team has HIJACKED the Getting Cricky Blog while Kristal is away!!  I'm so happy to be able to share something near and dear to my heart with you today....

It is your ATTITUDE, not your APTITUDE that will determine your ALTITUDE in life... -Zig Ziglar

It's a quote that often graced our erasable message board in the kitchen...  The kids who would float through would often ask me for the definition of "aptitude" -- Those who were very brave would ask me what the whole quote meant...  As the quote would reappear from time to time, I would begin to hear them share with each other what it meant, each offering their own interpretation of something that had the power to change their lives...  Because attitude really is everything!!

A few weeks ago, The-Girl-Child was having what some might call a not very good day (I mean, we ALL have those!)...  But the next day, she was back to her positive, encouraging self...  What changed?  The friend who had spoken mean words hadn't apologized, she still wasn't going to be able to attend the graduation party she had hoped to, and she was still 100 miles away from the friends she wanted to spend time with...  So what really changed?  Why wasn't she still miserable and unhappy?  In a word...  Attitude.  Somewhere during the evening of her bad day, she did something that gives her peace -- She climbed out on the roof to stargaze.  I find she does this when she needs some time alone with God.  After all, who wouldn't feel closer to God while star-gazing???  The next morning, she woke up and told herself, "Today is gonna be goooooood!!"  How do I know this?  She tweeted it.  :)  Marvelous invention. :)  Know what's even better?  She really did have a goooooood day!!  :)

Each day, we will face new challenges, new obstacles, new problems...  It is in these moments that we make a choice...  Be miserable or be happy anyway...  You see, happiness isn't situational...  Happiness isn't a new house, a new car, or a new wardrobe.  It's not friends or loved ones doing what we want or blogger always cooperating.  Happiness is a choice...  And, honestly, it's not an easy one.

Right now, I have many friends in pain...  Lost jobs, illness, marital problems...  Each of these friends is facing challenges...  Challenges that they have a choice to turn into opportunities...

Sometimes the challenges we face can feel like a HUGE net -- We feel more caught up in disaster the more we try to struggle and break free!!

Image by Dustin Pike, Doodle Dragon Studios

Sentiment from K Andrew Designs Stamp Art Set: Positive Thoughts

Other supplies:  Stampin' Up! ribbon, cardstock, and watercolor pencils for coloring,  Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder, and 'found' buttons.

So when you feel like you're caught in a net of challenges...  Just remember...  It's only an opportunity in disguise!! :)  And if that doesn't help, try the very best medicine...  Laughter...

 Even when things go embarrassingly wrong, we can always look for the humor....

Image by Dustin Pike, Doodle Dragon Studios

Sentiment from K Andrew Designs Stamp Art Set: Positive Thoughts

Other supplies:  Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils for coloring, scrap cardstock, sheer ribbon,  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, and handmade stick pins.

Looking for the positive in things isn't always easy or even fun...  But it gets easier the more you do it...  So go ahead and try it out... 

Whatever YOU are facing today -- Remember that you are NOT alone...  And whatever difficult task you have ahead, you do not have to face it alone either...  There's a new quote near the message board today (it's permanent though).  My mom gave me this little sign with the first verse and the chorus from one of my favorite hymns...  I am sharing with you the entire song (Hymn #720: God hath not promised skies always blue)...  I hope it will bring you peace while you read it, so that you might be able to face any challenge from a higher altitude.  :)

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep.

                                    - Annie Johnson Flint

Want to be energized and uplifted by an amazing group of women?  Would you like to share your talent and love for  K Andrew Designs Stamp Art sets?  Have you applied for the Getting Cricky Design Team yet?  Kristal is looking for new members for her AWESOME team!!  Get all the details here:  Getting Cricky Design Team Call...

For more info on the "Positive Thoughts" Stamp Art set, please click on the image below:

$1 from each set benefits Storefront Shelter (Homeless shelter for children and youth)

If you've never visited Kristal's blog (or if it's been awhile), I'd love for you to pop over and say 'HI!' there...  You'll be able to read the posts from my wonderful Design Team sisters...  You can even stroll through and find more inspiration with the K Andrew Designs Stamp Art Sets!!  Please leave a message letting Kristal know that I sent ya -- I hope to see ya there!!  :)

And finally, I'd like to thank Dustin Pike of Doodle Dragon Studios for creating some incredible images that coordinate perfectly with Kristal's stamps!!  I'm entering my card(s) in the "Pike's Playground" challenge on Dustin's blog:

You can find the hippos that I've used in  Dustin's Blog-iversary Digi Set HERE...  and a sample of all the digis included HERE (it's 207 digis, and they are ALL awesome!!)...

Until next time,