Monday, January 25, 2010

Lovin' playing with Photo Shop

I am going to scrapbook our trip to Arizona last August. Thought I would do a few more in PhotoShop just for the fun of it.



Friday, January 22, 2010

First Official Photoshop Layout

I am finally figuring this out and it is fun. Here are my buddies from Creative Escape 2009. Get to scrapbook all weekend next week and will do traditional layouts of the other fun parts of our Arizona trip



and here is the second LOL

A Biscuit for You and Me

(Note: I forgot to add that my friend Stacy sent this to me - Thanks Stacy :) )

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Dad good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

That's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.! And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life... I just did

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Going to sell CTMH - looking for hostess club members

Hi all,
I am going to start selling Close To My Heart. I need 6 friends to spend $25.00 a month for 6 months and during one of the months you will receive all the hostess benefits. Interested ? Let me know Hugs, Faye

Friday, January 15, 2010

My comfort

Be Still and Know I am God - Psalm 46:10

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Go Check out Teresa Collins new line

http://teresacollins.typepad.com/teresa_collins/

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A special treat for me...........

Since I will no longer have a craftroom, I will be getting this to have in our new bedroom so I can still do all my crafts. Still a couple months out but I am excited.



http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Journal My Christmas ~ January 6th

Until next year ~

Wow, it is now at the end of the journey and I am so glad that I jumped onboard this year. What matters most to me is my relationship with God and my family. Both remained my focus this season and that made my month so much more worthwhile.

I can focus on all the things I didn't do, but what I did do was awesome. Spending time with Michael and seeing how he has grown up was so special. My only sadness is that he will be done with Job Corps in September and has no where to go. He has considered coming here to work in the casino kitchens but needs a place to live. With our living arrangements changing, we don't have the room. Mom has said he can stay here for a month, and I so appreciate it but without assistance from his dad, I don't know how he is going to make it right away. I have always been so fortunate to have support from home, I can't understand when parents basically throw their kids out into the world with little or no support. OK I will get off my soapbox.

This month has been about acceptance also. Having reconnect with Dale has been hard and awesome at the same time. God has a plan for bringing him next door and I know that as long as I trust in Him, I will be able to handle whatever comes of this. I can get past all the hurt especially if God uses me to bring Dale to Him. That is my prayer.

I was thrilled to get the Christmas cards out and have been blessed by many friends with awesome cards and notes. It has been so great to reconnect with everyone. That is another treat of the holidays. I need to be better about sending cards and notes during the rest of the year.

I am looking forward to next year and celebrating Christmas again with my family. I have learned though that you don't need all the decorations and stuff to make Christmas matter. You just need your faith, your family and your friends. That is all that matters and it was good to put it all in perspective. So to finally close this out - all I can say is; " Until next year!"

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Journal My Christmas - January 5th

Packing ~

Packing it all up --- that is something that started happening before Christmas began. We only put up a small pink tree in our dining room and the presents sat around it. The pink tree is actually still sitting there - it is so cute, just not ready for it to be boxed again.

Since we are packing to move, everything right now is either in one of these groups. To keep, to donate or garage sale so packing is not as simple as loading boxes full of stuff.

Normally we have our tree in a large tote and lots of other totes for ornaments and other decorations. We have so many decorations for indoors and outdoors. My favorites are our inflatables.

Next year the decorations will be combined and our home will be full of the joys of the Christmas season. I can't wait, so this month that we spent in transition will make way for future holidays and celebrations full of cheer. I can't wait.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Journal My Christmas ~ January 4th

Remember for next year ~

I am seriously hoping that next year things will be much better. The past 2 years have been full of struggles. Though we have kept the perspective of Christmas in tact there have been losses, financial struggles and hard times that have made the mood somber at times.

This December I hope for the following:

Jobs for those who need them

Secure homes for my loved ones

Financial stability and able to bless other lives like ours have been blessed.

Keep the focus on the Birth of Jesus

All my family attending church

Continuing our brunch tradition and find fun new recipes to enjoy.

Decorate and have fun.

Enjoy Jodi's childlike enjoyment of Christmas decorations.

Know that through it all God was glorified.

Health for my family

It is just time to be thankful, reflect and know that through it all God will lead us.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Journal My Christmas ~ January 3rd

Favorite Memory ~

My most favorite time this season was cropping with my girlfriends on December 20th. Treion, Bev, Colleen and Julie (who was working) spent the day cropping and just relaxing. I was working on getting my journal posts into an actual album. I did make some headway. We had a gift swap and a stocking swap. Since Saren was unable to make it, I saved my stocking for her and swapped with her. I have to say, my friends are my lifeline. I know that they are 100% there for me and I am there for them too.
We all have things going on in our world but we still take time to be there for each other and help when we can.
We were supposed to have a girlfriends crop weekend during the first of December but had to cancel it, so we are scheduled now for the end of January and we are so looking forward to it.
My day with my friends was relaxing, fun and stress free - just what I needed. So the best gift I got this year was time with my friends and I am so glad that we had it.
Never underestimate the power of a girlfriend and how even the hardest of times can be made better just by a smile from a dear friend.
A friend loves at all times - Proverbs 17:17

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Journal My Christmas - January, 2nd

Renewed Faith ~

Many things happened this month that gave me pause to realize there are many out there who want to help. Sometimes it is easy to feel alone and that no one understands, but from the lady at the department store, to our realtor to a friend at church, many others are trying to keep their homes and fighting with the banks to do so. We are not alone but somehow it doesn't make it easier. I really am not mad just sad that some banker can turn my world upside down.

The blessing is though that we have a place to live that is not in danger of being taken by the bank. Living with my mom will be awesome and actually I can't wait for it. I just need to be out of the house and home again.

I have found that chatting with others going through the same thing, it actually seems to bring comfort to all of us.

This year as we became the recipients of Christmas food and help, it was humbling to find myself in this spot but thankful for a church who was willing to help those in need. This year that was families in our church and not in the community.

I try to be more patient and understanding to those around me. Everyone is having a hard time and they may just need that smile and not grumpy attitude. A smile and God bless you seem to bring more cheer and that is my goal for 2010 is to spread happiness and be a shining light for my Lord. He is faithful to provide, sometimes it is just not in the way we anticipate but it is His provision anyway.

I am very thankful for my wonderful mom who is always there, she is my best friend and I am excited to be back with her again.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Journal My Christmas ~ January 1st

2010

We bid farewell to 2009 earlier this morning and now it is 2010. We are hoping this year will be full of great things for our family.

Our morning started out with meeting with our realtor, Sandy Gabrielli to sign papers and officially put our home on the market. She is going to try and sell the house for $130,000.00. I am so not ready for realtors and people to be walking through the house. I hope it is painless.

The rest of the day was spent cleaning, organizing and packing the garage. My dear nephew was helping me but almost made me work twice as long and hard.

We finished up for the day and then headed to Mom's for ham and bean soup, cornbread and cake. Dave and I worked on the internet and watched TV. Though it was a busy day, it has been very productive. Happy New Year!!!!