246. That is the number of pictures I am uploading from my camera at this moment. I knew I had a ton of pictures to deal with so when we went to Matt's family's I didn't even take any. GASP! I know! Not a single one. Sometimes I wish someone else would be photographer. Keith did for Christmas for me. That was nice.
I was really into Christmas this year. I'm bad to start too early and be tired of anticipating it by the time it gets here, or be stressed out making last minute gifts or something. This year was nice. I was steadily excited, I paced myself with my gifts so everything was done in plenty of time. I created several Christmasie things for me and the house - my advent calendar that I've wanted to do for years, my set of 3 Christmasie wall hangings, my set of 3 dishes decorated with ribbon, thread spools and glittered chipboard letters, and my "daily card" til Christmas thing. I hope all future Christmases will be as pleasant. - Except for the spending too much. ;-)
And so speaking of Christmas, we had a great one. Not everything went as planned but that was ok. I had picture gift tags this year. Yeah, I was on top of things and in the mood this year! The plan was that Andrew would help Madison give out all of the presents THEN he would sit with each family member and they would give them the gifts they had for him. No. He would take a present to someone and proceed to open it. So Madison and I took over the passing out of presents. Mom helped Andrew open and said that he did really good this year taking his time with each gift and not just ripping open one right after the other. Matthew was taken with one of Jaxon's gifts - the Thomas the Tank couch. It was way cool - and WAY expensive. But he got in it and we couldn't get him out - so I just handed him presents while he was sitting there. When he finially got up Jason sneaked it out. Matthew's birthday is right around the corner.
So, the whole opening thing was crazy anyway this year. I was hoping to be the one taking pictures and it being all calm but that stuff is for when the kids are grown. I'll just be thankful I actually HAVE any pictures at all this year because I think there were none taking during the festivities last year.
Got a really cool gift from Dad & Lynn this year. She printed pictures off this disc I gave them last year onto this photo fabric stuff and stitched them onto a blanket. It was truely great! We had a good time over there too. Got to see Brent and his fiance. They are both so adorable - Brook too. Then Christmas day was low-key and relaxing. Went to dinner at Mamaw's, played with toys, watched movies, set up my new scrap stuff. Very nice.
Then Wednesday we took off for Matt's Mom's house. We spent the night! It was our first family overnight trip since Andrew was TINY. They did good until we turned the TV off for bed. Andrew was ready to go home. He was fine though. The next day we visited Papa John. I'm very taken with him. Probably since I was so close to my great-grandfather. Papa John is getting old though. He said he's not walking well anymore and he doesn't hear well. His mind is still pretty good but Matt said he could tell he forgets words - has to think of what he's trying to say sometimes. We did get on a topic he was interested in - stocks. He took me to his computer and showed me some things then sent me an email with more information - then two more the next day! I really wanted to learn about it and it was just nice that he could teach me a thing or two. Now if I will just MAKE myself sit down and read and research NOW so that he will be around and able to answer my questions.
So anyway, nice visit with him, then lunch with Danny & family & Papa Bill & Kaye. Then we went back to Bill's and stayed for a while & let the kids open presents from them. Andrew really enjoyed the Batman stuff - and I was worried since he's been Spiderman-everything here lately. Matthew played with his Gorilla Mtn set for quite a while too.
Today Matt took me to the mall - with kids in tow- but it was very nice. He doesn't often want to do that - understandably. I finially gave in and told him he could get his "old man hat". It does look nice with his coat but it's still old-man-ish. It reminds me of hats Papaw Kilgore used to wear. I got a puzzle that I had wanted at Target on sale - hot air balloons. It was a triangular puzzle which means the pieces are triangled and the outside shape is also. - which means you can't simply pick out the edge pieces like you can a regular puzzle. It should be interesting. We also got one of those puzzle roll-up things too. A must with small children.
Tonight I am back in my routine. Doing bills, grocery store, bath & bed for the kids. Routine is nice after a week off. Matt being home throws my routine off. Which can be both good and bad. Ok, so my 246 pictures are now on my computer. Pray it doesn't crash til income tax when I can get the last few months printed off!
Random verse - this is from my reading today. What's done is done - this is just what popped into my head.
2 Samuel 12:22-23 "While the child was alive," he said, "I fasted and wept, thinking God might have mercy on me and the child would live. But now that he's dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can't come to me."

So, can you tell I'm a bad blogger. Lazy may be a better word. I think I may have one reader - hi Mom! - so I'm sure no one else is missing my fabulous posts. lol!

Scrap in Style is having their big thing this month. It's pretty cool - the new boutique and all. And yes - I do have a wish list ;-).

I'm thinking I'm going to open an Etsy shop. I'm making some kits for an advent calendar and it's going to be cute and other people may actually want one too. I'm going to do a class at Cropper's in JC but that's a toss up. Hopefully it will be good. I'm also making one for my pastors. What's cool is - I didn't have to ask them for pictures! I just high-jacked their family's myspace sites to get them! Loving that!

So, very excited about Christmas. Did some major shopping last week - mostly for my famliy to my kids. I got them a few things and I have a couple other things in mind I want them to have so hopefully there will be a decent raise coming as of next week - yeah Eastman! Unfortunately since he's in a new department starting Monday, there will be no overtime between now and Christmas. Bummer. He is working on Thanksgiving so that will be a little extra - we'll save you a plate babe! Maybe I'll take him one to work. Yeah I'll do that. Then there's my little mini-job for a bit of cash - $20 for 2 hours of babysitting - oh yeah! And who knows? Maybe I'll make it big with my little kits and class and I'll just be rolling in the dough! lol!

So, loving the new Target. I could live there. Seriously. And speaking of 'seriously' I'm kinda happy that it seems like Grey's is going to save Cali & George's marriage.

Ok so that was random - from Target to Grey's in 2 seconds flat!

Well, I guess that's it for today. Random verse:

Psalms 14:4 (from the Message translation)

Don't they know anything, all these impostors? Don't they know they can't get away with this— Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they're too busy to pray?

I love that translation. I just couldn't get over that the words "fast-food meal" were in the Bible!

I found this on my fav Fashionista's blog and thought it was super cute!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
cocoa civic
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
orange no bake
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
M.dot
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
blue dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
michelle kingsport
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
dotmi
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The")
pink the coke
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
brice william
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy)
romance choxie
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names )
gail allen

Just a little fun!

OMGosh. A whole month. No blogging. Bad me! Bad! Ok so let's see. What's up? Umm... the first thing on my mind is that I'm SO ready for help in the wee ones class at church. I had it last week, am filling in for someone tomorrow who couldn't switch so I've got it next week too. Yep, 3 weeks in a row and no church. I've got 2 little kids by myself an I'm just not staying for both services. I don't think it would be good for my patience or sanity.
Ok, so that was boring - what else? Andrew had his first official soccer game today and he actually did pretty good. It was better than practices because he didn't have to constantly focus for a whole hour. They would play 3-4 of them at a time while the rest sat down then switched them out several times. He did much better that way. I can see now that I need to keep that in mind for future school stuff too. I'm a little worried he's going to be ADD or ADHD or whatever. I read this post from Kelli Crowe about her son who has a mild form of Autism and how he didn't fit into the mold. I get that. I think that in the pre-school class he is in now that Mrs. Kirby is able to recognize and cater to that but I'm concerned about the church school next year. I'm still going to go and try it I think but I'm going to keep watch to make sure they're not pushing him too hard to be something he can't be.
Ok next...birthdays. Matt's is Monday and mine is the 29th. He's turning 40! and I'll be 30. I started out planning a party for Matt but due to scheduling conflicts it ended up being ON my birthday. Matt wanted to make it for both of us but I wasn't about to throw my own party. So Mom took over - which was very sweet. I think we're going to do a covered dish thing in the park on Sunday the 30th. I'm anxious for my Scrap in Style Kelli Crowe kit that Mom got for me. Way cool! I'm hoping for a little $$ for some shoes and maybe some October Afternoon stamps. I just discovered these and LOVE them!!! I want SO many of them! Bad news is that they are a new company and I can't find out how to buy them. I'm hoping they'll reply to my email soon.
Very excited for the new season of tv shows to start. SO tired of the junk that's on now.
Well, I have been wanting to teach scrapbooking or be on a design team or something for a while. I just read this and think I may have changed my mind. They were all good tips for someone who wants to scrap for a living but for little ole me who would just like a free kit every month and a little recognition - it seems like some major stuff. I want scrapping to be fun. I'm not good at it when it becomes work. So, I guess I'll be buying my own kit. :-P
I'm ready for fall. It is still SUPER hot and I still don't have air conditioning in my car. Not fun. I really stink tonight after an hour of soccer in the hot sun and driving around with no air. Yuck!
I have 2 other people coming to my scrappy ladies meeting on Tuesday! Maybe more too! I'm having it at Atlanta Bread with no kids. Yummy treats and no kids - who can pass that up!?
I'm working on an album for my Mom's friend Lisa who is leaving the hospital where they work. It's a 7x7 album (I used one of Elsie's square chipboard albums and it was that odd size) and I got 7 pages done at Jenny's tonight! I was thrilled how quick and easy it came together. I'm the type that can make anything hard so when it just fell together I was so happy!
I've did tons of new pages here lately but I'm too lazy to post them here tonight. Check out my new stuff over at Scrap in Style.
I'm very inspired by this. I found it yesterday on ScrapScene. Check out her Etsy too - more examples there. I MUST do one of these! I need to do an album for this lady who adopted at church - maybe I'll do it for her.
Ok, I'm ready for bed. Random verse -

Deut 18-21 Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you'll live a long time

You can see more of my "Recycled" album here.

Ok grrr! I accidentally deleted some of my picts and it won't let me get them back so just go here if you want to see my latest stuffs.

Hmm... I'm averaging a post a month. Well, what can I say!? Online time is precious! I've got to make sure I keep up with the happenings at SIS. So, my furniture sold - YAY! We are now sleeping on the box springs and mattress on the floor. Our clothes are in piles and laundry baskets all over the room. Matt said it's like we're at a hotel somewhere with all our stuff scattered. Hopefully our new stuff will be here this week.

School is starting soon. I think I've forgotten what it's like to have one in school. Andrew will be going 4 days a week now. SO big. Matthew is doing ok potty training. Ah the wonderful conversations of a stay-at-home Mom. We went and got pull-ups yesterday because let me tell you - cleaning up poop out the floor from a child with no diaper and just PJs is not fun. So hopefully he will still go pee with a pull-up on.

Lets see- what else. Oh, I just got a copy of Big Picture by Stacy Julian. Really enjoying it. Can't wait to re-think my system and go back through my albums and make notes on what I want to scrap.

I did finially scrap a couple pictures of my great-grandmother. I loved the way they turned out. I think the papers really suit the pictures. Maybe now I won't be so nervous about them. I think I'm finially starting to get over that anyway. Except when it comes to classes. I started this cool mini album for a class and I'm 1/2 way through and stuck. It looks AWESOME so far but I'm afraid to continue. Every page has to be SO perfect and cool and blah blah blah pressure pressure pressure. I'm starting to think more and more that I'm not cut out for the whole teaching thing even though I want to be. I think I'm going to just make pages and if it turns out I can make one into a class then cool.

Oh, you know how I ATTEMPTED to do a scrapbooking interest group at church? and how only my best friend and 1 other person came - and that's just because she bugged her and went to pick her up? Yeah well I think when I start it back next month I'm going to focus on scrapping or journaling about your faith. I got that book (confessed idea book junkie) Scrapping Your Faith by Courtney Walsh - very good - and got TONS of subject ideas from it. I figured I would do a topic and a design challenge each month. I think I may also see if Cropper's would be interested in me hosting it there too - or maybe I'll try it at Hobby Lobby.

Well, I think that's all I know for now. Here's some of my latest pretties -

Random verse today is -

Ephesians 1 3-6How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

This is for the funny I left here.

This is my hubbs - the pro-wrestler. His "gimmic" name is Oleg Romanov and yes he does a pretty good Russian accent. Yep - I giggle when I see the spandex. Seriously - he's good. And he loves wrestling as much as I love scrapping. Which is cool he has something like that. He's getting ready to start his own fed called IWA. It would be like owning your own scrap store. Now it sounds cool - right? ;-) Anyway - this is hubbs and I lub him!

The Pool. We went yesterday. Warrior's pool. Spur of the moment type thing. I haven't been in a pool since Andrew was a baby - so that's like 3 years. I was happy with my cute new Target swimsuit. Andrew had LOADS of fun. There was a little slide in the deep end. He slid & Matt caught. He even went under for a split second but was ok with it. It's a good thing and a bad thing that he doesn't have ANY fear of water. Matthew on the other hand, screamed for the first 1/2 hour at least. He fell asleep on the way there and woke up when we tried to lay him down. I was determined that one of us was NOT going to chase him around in the grass the whole time. So I took him in, held him tight, he had a death grip on me, and just bounced back and forth and hummed to him. He finially quit fussing, then let his legs float - instead of being wrapped around me - and eventually decided this was fun after all. It was a good day. No pictures though. It's hard to fool with a camera and a kid and water all at the same time. Plus there's the thought in the back of your mind that someone will steal the camera when you turn your back. I hate that I think about that or at least I hate that I feel like I have to think about that.

Anyway, a few new layouts. Jenny and I went scrapbook shopping and I got that green KI color theory paper. Yeah, I dreamed about that paper. So the next morning I got up and made a page with it. Mandy and I ran away last Saturday. We are SO doing that again soon! We went to Mom's and she was out of town so it was just us, a few movies, yummy lunch, and lots of scrapping. I got 3 pages done! I think I'm going to try and start planning out a few pages at a time so I'm ready when I sit down to scrap. I did that for Saturday and it worked out pretty good.

Oh, the pages - Paci - and - You Climb - were TOTAL lifts of Anne Langpap and Shannon Tidwell. Thanks girls!

Anyway, here they are!

I can not believe it's been 3 weeks since I've posted! Lazy me! I've been addicted to that new Scrap in Style site - SO COOL! I feel like I'm with the "in" crowd - which in the whole scheme of things is NOT important but some days it's a nice feeling. Everyone is very nice and chatty and it's a nice little BIG thing they've got going on.
I also got to order their first collection by guest designer Kelli Crowe. She's my favorite. I would love to go hang out with her and watch Star Trek & scrap. That's how she scraps - watching Star Trek. I MUST have a silly-faced picture with her one day - MUST. I'll have to take a class or find her at one of the scrap conventions or whatever - but one day I WILL get my pict! Oooh - maybe we can plan our beach vacation next year around some kind of scrap thing! Happy thought!
Today is hot. I'm inside doing laundry where it's cool. Maybe we'll do the kiddie pool thing later or go to the park if I get desperate to leave the house. My sister and I are going to take a mini Mommy break this weekend. We're going to take off one day without any kids and shop (without spending any money - boo! :-p) and eat lunch somewhere yummy and just escape! And yes, it will involve a scrapbook store or two. ;-)
Not much else to report.
Random: Exodus 13: 3 Moses said to the people, "Always remember this day. ...

New Layouts!

My friend borrowed my camera to take some pictures at our church school and I got it back today. I seem to be getting things done a little quicker these days and I like that. Letting go of some of the hang ups of perfection!

Happy Thursday!

Random - Exodus 14:14 God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

RANT
I just read a post on another blog that got me going. Someone had the nerve to go on this lady's blog - HER space - read the blog and send the blogger a note telling her she was offended by what she posted there - on HER space. That is not the first time I've seen that either. What is with people? If you're offended by what you are reading THEN DON'T READ IT! Go somewhere else. I think it should be that way with a lot of things. If you're offended by prayer in school then don't pray! Why should we stifle the free speech of others just so a handful doesn't get "offended".
I also miss the days where people knew how to act. They just knew. Teenagers were mostly polite to their elders and didn't act like they didn't have a mama in public. I just came out of Walmart Monday and had Andrew with me - age 4- and there was this bunch of teens in this old suv with the back window up. One of them shot his head out the back to puke. Nice. Then they proceeded to exclaim that it was from too much liquer. Then they cussed. The second time I yelled - hello - he's 4! - but by that time their sorry excuse for an adult came back. That may be a little harsh but I can guarentee you my boys won't be acting like that. Yeah, yeah, I know - never say never. They will be raised to not act like that - how's that one. They'd better never be caught acting like that.
Ok, I need to end on a lighter note! ;-) I won something on NSD! Over at http://coconutgoddess.typepad.com/ and I would tell you her name, but I can't think of it and for some reason my computer DOES NOT like her site right now. It lets me see it for a second then gives me an error and takes me off the page. Yucky computers. Anyway, I won a little vintage pack. Can't wait to see it! I've entered a TON of contest lately - it's always nice to win! Oh, I HAVE to tell you about this AMAZING minibook I saw - http://gigikennedy.typepad.com/littlegi/2007/05/tim_tams_a_tag_.html
I left a comment on how cool it looked and begged for some picts of the inside. Ms Gigi was nice enough to reply and let me know that it was blank inside but that she would post picts once she does something with it. It makes me want to run out and buy fabric! So cool!

Ok - random scripture.
Proverbs ? - Raise a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

I've been tagged! Claire tagged me and I have to name 7 random facts about myself then tag 7 other people. So here it goes -
1. Right now I'm totally obsessed with putting as much of my scrap stuff as possible into clear jars and sitting them on my desk. It's starting to get crowded!
2. I just ate a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast.
3. I'm organizing ALL my photos and putting them in photo boxes and I'm a bit obsessed about that right now too.
4. I can't wait to go back to Dollywood without the kids so we can ride the new roller coaster they have.
5. I'm also looking forward to going to the drive-in next Friday to see the new Spiderman movie.
6. I love Sour Patch Kids and have asked my husband to get me one of those old fashioned looking candy jars filled with them for mother's day.
7. The reason I just asked for a jar of candy for mother's day is because I just got a Canon 350D and that covers all gifts for all holidays until my birthday in September. ;-) Which is just fine with me - well worth it!
Now, who to tag?
Shelly B
and some more of the girls at Scrap Happy KT!

Random verse: Genesis 45:24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!"

WOOHOO! We have pictures! I've not done a thing since last time I tried to upload picts from my new camera so I don't know what the problem was. This is from the train ride yesterday. Glad to be up & running again!

More Dollywood
The first thing we got on was the carousel. I stood next to Matthew on his horse. He put me in a head-lock when it started. I had to stand on my tip-toes when the horse went up. He wasn't upset by it but it was a new experience.
Then we went on the train. Matthew was fine after it FINIALLY started and even sat on my lap 1/2 way through so he could see better. The whistle perked him up but didn't really bother him.
Next we rhode the flying elephants. I rhode with Andrew and he loved going high in the air. Matt said Matthew wasn't too happy about it. Andrew went on the ducks, the bees, the bumper cars twice with Matt, the swings with me, the scrambler with me, and the teacups - or "lemon twist" is what they called it - with me. He is definetely at daredevil - I asked him if he wanted to spin faster on the teacups and of course he did. I had that thing going almost as fast as I could make it go. I had to sit a minute for the world to stop spinning when the ride was over!
We played in Dreamland Forrest for a few minutes. Matthew didn't like the whole water-shooting-up-from-the-ground thing. Then we tried the new little Beaver Creek water thing and that was a big hit. He was timid at first but then he got in that little stream and danced and spashed and even almost laid down in it. We had to keep him from sticking his face in the water. Andrew loved it too - he liked the water that was squirting out from the little wall. Andrew and I rhode the Lumberjack Lifts where you pull on a rope to get your seats to the top then it gently lets you fall. I felt like I had muscles after that! We got to see a bit of the new coaster and it looked COOL! We can't wait to go by ourselves so we can ride it. We tried to get Andrew on the Blazing Fury but he wouldn't stand up good and tall and he was less than 1/2" from being tall enough. If he would have stood up he could have gotten on because he was JUST tall enough for all the other 42" rides. He wanted to go too.
I had so much fun watching them yesterday and experiencing things with them. They're getting bigger and this was just a taste of what's coming. Bigger and new things all the time. I'm so thankful I'm able to be RIGHT THERE with them.

Genesis 40:8 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

Today we went to Dollywood. Me, hubby and two kids. It was actually pretty good. Matthew was only a little fussy and it wasn't very crowded - which was VERY nice. We hardly had to wait in line for anything. Andrew rhode his first big roller coaster today! It was Splash Mountain - I think. Anyway, it was a log flume type thing - bumps you around a few curves, then up-up-up, turn the corner, and HUGE drop. Now, I am a roller coaster gal. Love em! Will go on anything. I don't think I have EVER been so nervous about a roller coaster like I was today. And this one was really nothing - just one drop. But I was nervous for Andrew. I was so afraid he was going to be too scared. But he wasn't - he loved it! And he even went again with his Daddy. Of course we HAD to buy the overpriced - but AWESOME picture they took of us while screaming so we could scrap his first coaster. We wanted the one of him and Matt too but man they run it into you on those things! Well, more later about our big day. I'm off to watch Lost!

This post may have no picture! {GASP!} That's right -
no
picture.
I am SO loving my new camera AND I got all my computer problems fixed but now the computer is getting lazy on me and not liking the new bigger sized pictures I'm throwing at it. A friend said I need more RAM. Not cool. I may just wait to get some, which will just mean no printing or posting pictures. Which is not cool but you do what you have to. Unless I make the design team! Then I'll HAVE to be able to post my picts. I love a good excuse! But I really don't want to get it right now cause it's expensive. And I'm getting ready to buy Dollywood tickets. WOOHOO! Yeah, that's as close to a vacation as we're gonna get this year. I THINK we may have the $$ to go to the beach next year though. I'm ready. I haven't been on a real vacation in 4 years. I think it would be so fun to see the kids at the beach too.
Anyway, we had an AWESOME time at Andrew's birthday last Saturday. The weather didn't cooperate but that was just a minor inconvience. I looked hilarious and had fun doing it too. I wish I could show you the picture! I had my supermom tiara and big hair and loud makeup/face paint. I loaned out my cape but it would have just been in the way anyway. We had a very tasty and not bad looking Batman cake that I made. We did a little superhero training course and the kids earned Super League badges that I made with my handy dandy Cricut. Love that thing! Then the bad guy {Matt dressed in his wrestling mask} stole the candles and the kids {the ones who weren't afraid of either him or his silly string} went after him with {empty} water guns and saved the day! Then after cake and presents, we led Andrew to the toy room and showed him his big present that several people donated towards - a bounce house. Very cool! Yep, I'm THE Mom. ;-)
Well, let's go scrap, or look at scrappy things on the web, or think about scrapping or....something!

Random verse for today
Job 40:3-5 Job answered:
"I'm speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen."

Here's the latest. I tried to post picts yesterday but the computer has been acting up and wouldn't allow it. Right now it's too late to think. I just finished and entered my little ugly dolls in a contest over at - http://redvelvetgirls.typepad.com/. I was asked to come up with a craft for the girls on Wednesday nights at church and I thought they would be perfect for them to do.

The tissue box is something I've had sitting around FOREVER. I have been meaning to finish it for months. It's for Mom for her office. I love how it turned out - simple but pretty. Well, let's go to bed. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

Oh - Happy Late Easter. I hope you didn't let the bunny overshadow the REAL reason for this holiday weekend. He loved and loves us THAT much. Pastor talked about how Jesus had to battle his flesh before going to the cross - when he prayed for God to take this cup from him but even though His flesh didn't want to, He prayed and submitted to God's will. It's still hard to fathom that He was a man too. Pastor pointed out that Jesus prayed for strength before the battle and often times we don't pray until we're IN the battle. Awesome stuff to think about.

Long time no blog. I've been busy working on my first ever design team submission. I'm trying out for the one over at ScrapHappyKT. Very nice girls over there. I did 3 new layouts, an altered canvas - LOVE IT! - and a card. {Shhhh! Don't tell KT but I'm not that great with cards!} I don't do cards. I dont' give cards except when I'm feeling EXTREMELY mushy or something. But I can. If they want cards - I'll give em' cards!

Other than that, some bad luck on ebay - hate those scammers! I haven't mailed the camera yet but I could have sold it to someone else. Oh well. I'll just relist it. I did order my *dream* camera though. VERY excited! I'm sure there will be tons of gorgeous pictures coming soon! Well, let's go work on Andrew's birthday invites. I need to get those out tomorrow.

Random Bible verse for today: Don't run away from God. He loves you enough to send a storm after you. - Jonah 1:4 But God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering.

Someone had this fun little thing on their blog about the 80s. You had to post your favorite 80s stuff and she would draw a name for a prize. Well, I knew my memory wasn't all that great but I couldn't believe how many things I remembered when I started reading the other comments. Jelly shoes, cabbage patch dolls, strawberry shortcake, the skate inn, Paula Abdul, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, big hair, the Goonies movie, carebears, tight-rolling your jeans, those brown shoes and wrapping your laces in a coil instead of tying them, Punky Brewster, Cindy Lauper, my little pony, schrunching your socks, Footloose, Dirty Dancing, crimped hair, Keds, Cocktail, Electric Youth and Exclamation perfumes, the Smurfs!, the Babysitter's Club books.

When I think about my childhood my thoughts go directly to the bad stuff. Like being chubby and shy and the not-so-great friends. Why is it you usually remember the bad stuff first? But these things definetely brought a smile to my face. I'll have to refer to this list when I go to scrap my childhood.

Anyway, this is my latest page. I was trying something new with the white background, watercolored title and all that stitching. I like it but it's not my favorite. Good but not fabulous - dharlingk.

So, your random scripture for today is from here.

{For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10}

Our new baby! I've just got a minute but I had to show her off! She's such a doll! I think I'm going to name her SweetPea. She's a Shih-poo and weighs about 2lbs. SO cute! Thank you Lord for our new baby!!!