hmm, scrapbooking....

So , I figured out that I really haven't worked on my albums in almost a month.... UGH!! if you know me , you know who insane that sounds.... I did 15 pages for my Mother-in-laws Christmas gift album (there is a pile of photos and pages ready to work on ...) ... My budget has really put a damper on my creativity and my scrapping... so, I decided I would do whatever I could as far as planning goes and go to an All Day Crop till you Drop in McMinnville tomorrow... These are a monthly thing, but I haven't been in a long while... (since before she moved her store)... This is also my only chance to crop and not work as I am usually hosting the events and helping my customers (I love them but I miss my albums)...

So, tonight I planning out approx 100 pages (4 different albums) and stacked the photos for Mother In Law's album.... In hopes that I get a babysitter (Thanks to my Mom) for the day and can go hang out and work on my albums...

I have been planning the journalling and thinking about using lyrics from songs related to the holidays and some of my own poems in at least a couple of the layouts...

This should also help my mood.... My birthday is just around the corner and I'm not finding much to celebrate so I'm hoping a day out will help the over all mood...

Glitz and Bows or NOT

So this week has been a rollercoaster... but, tonight I realized the season is more than just the glitter and bows we all put on for the holidays.

The Christmas Season is about families and friends, the people we really care about and the greatest gift of all the birth of the Savior.

I've been rehearsing for a solo at Church this coming Sunday and fighting a cold as well... That said, Mike has been a supportive guide through the struggles of getting ready to put it all on the line in front of family and friends. It is said, "Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord," but sometimes I feel like it is more Noise than Joy... It is frustrating to me as we use to practice and expect perfection in our music and now with life and family it is hard to achieve that.... Don't get me wrong perfection was never attained for me, but I always put my best foot forward where my music was concerned... That said, I am going to put it all on the line and get up their and sing, in my heart it is Joyful and the meaning of the words is really more important to me than the notes...

So on that it really isn't about all the glitz and glam of the lights and bows, it is about the strength that God gives me to conquer my fears and give it all to him...

There are moments in your life when you realize this is not a game.

There are moments when you see you future and well it ain't pretty.

There are moments when you look back on life wishfully thinking, What if?

There are moments in your life when you really have to wonder, WHAT THE.?

There are still moments in my life that amaze me,

but mostly

There are moments in my life I simply miss

Misson Organization

So for those that have been following my life and such I guess I should give everyone an update.

Last night my boys stayed with my Mom for the night... Gave Mike and I a much needed break and from what I hear they got a lot of sleep and good Amma Gamma Time..

I am still working on my Mission Organization, but have taken a few steps back... I made a mistake when I was working on my office and put stuff in boxes without actually organizing them... So I have been working on the boxes this week. I love my Creative Memories Decorative Cart!! I have almost all my 12x12 paper sorted by theme or color depending on the papers (CM is by pack/theme, other is my color). I sorted a bunch of my stickers (wow didn't realized I had collected so many) and sent a bunch to school with Cameron... (NOTE to anyone reading, check with your preschools and Sunday SChools if you need to get rid of stickers, etc... The kids love things like this).

I am trying to get going with FlyLady again... if you haven't tried it or don't know what I am talking about, check out FlyLady.net. There are wonderful tips and tricks... Even Mike took to the idea... It makes a huge difference in our moods... (perfect example is today... I didn't shine the sink last night before I went to bed... so this morning I have a sink full of dishes staring me in the face, makes for a hard morning..)

We are getting ready for our church Harvest Festival tomorrow... (See my other blog for details).. We are a small church, but the people in our church family are so real and sincere. I love our little church family, they have been a rock in our shaky lives this year.

I am continuing work on my Sunday School lessons (I have 3 more to finish up for the group). Cameron has been enjoying it and the teachers seem to like it...

I am considering going back to school to finish my degree. I found a local College that offers an online Adult Degree program in Family Studies with a religious base. I really think I am at a point where something has to give. If I do the program it won't start until January so I have a little time to figure it out and pray on it. I really feel like this degree can lead me in a positive direction.

So there it is a Glimpse into my world..

9/11 reflections

I've been thinking about this blog all day and wasn't sure I was going to write it..

I've had the Allan Jackson song in my head all day...

Where were you when the world stop turning????



Mike and I were getting ready for work and since we didn't have a TV at the time we listened to the radio... 99.5 fm with Mike and Amy in the Mornings. Now anyone that has ever listened to Mike and Amy knows Amy would cry or get teary eyed for almost anything... so I didn't register anything when I heard Amy "crying" on the radio... Then it dawned on me, something was really really wrong... I hooked up my laptop (the only computer at the time that had internet (dial up at that)) and tried to find a news station online that would show me what they were talking about... I was in awe.

I went to work, I was working for Bank of America at the time in mortgage lending and the entire day was surreal. We waited to hear news of our fellow employees as well as the rest of our fellow Americans. Since the markets were closed the entire day was spent waiting and watching while trying to keep focused on our work. By the grace of God we only lost 3 fellow employees but the loss to the Nation was so deep.

Last year , on 9/11 Cameron watched a program and asked me about the airplanes and the towers. I couldn't figure out a way to explain it to my then 3 year old son... So I did the only thing I knew and showed him the pages in my scrapbook, a tribute to the lives lost on that day and the strength we showed as a Nation following. The awesomeness of the field of flags, the candles on the water, the people gathering. I want my children to know that One Nation Under God is one of the most meaningful messages we can send to the world outside.

Never forget...

I am reminded on a verse in Deuteronomy.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deut 4:9 (NIV

first day of preschool

Well we survived the first day of Preschool.

Cameron was so cute. I took him into his class and helped him find his name tag. We looked around the room a little and thats when I started to tear up, he sweetly said, "it's ok Mommy" as he wiped a tear from my cheek and gave me a kiss.. (what a gentlehearted child I have) anyway, we met our neighbor girl at school and Cameron told us his favorite part of the first day was Snack Time (this coming from the kid who doesn't eat..).

He loves his teachers already and said he thinks he is going to like school.

I got a picture but will take some more tomorrow now that he is excited about school the pictures might look like it..