Made it...

...through New Years.  Kitties are doing great.  They have turned out to be best buds.  So cute curled up on the "box" together. 


Breezy is at a conference this weekend.  Chaz is out on a luggage run.  I sort of recommended he go.    Not sure how he likes that.


The last 5 months have been so challenging with the kids.  It seems like for every step I take forward, I take two steps back.  I've cried more in the last months than I probably have my entire life.  And they both think I'm "pretending."  No pretending involved.  Truly upset.  I spend a lot of time praying but feel like I'm getting nowhere.  I know God hears.  I know He has plans for them.  I'm going to continue to stand on the prophetic word that has been spoken over them both.


Getting back to school was good.  Our Christmas tree is still up.  I like looking at it.  I think my nurse does as well.  I may leave it there until the end of the school year!  LOL


In other news, I'm going to attempt a 52 week project.  I did the cover and the first 2 pages last night.  I managed to get 5 scrap pages done this week.  That is good.  Right?


I'm sitting here watching the wedding planner on tbs.  Never seen it before.  It's cute.  And clean.  Not many clean romantic movies around.  I'll add it to You've Got Mail, 2 Weeks Notice, and Letters to Juliet.  

 The cover to my Project 52.  Digiscrap Kit by Dawn Inskip (Project 365). Cluster from Raspberry Road Design and created by Ellen. Coffee Shop actions run on photo.

 Journaling reads: 

January 1st: We started the year with new kitties. Pickles and Merlot joined us from the Humane Society of Pensacola. 

January 2nd: Incredible service at our Foley Campus followed by communion with New Covenant Christian International and lunch. 

January 3rd: Back to school. Kind of tough to get back into the swing of things but glad to be there just the same. 

January 4th: Senior Night for Girls Varsity soccer. Got to take pictures for the girls.

January 5th: Chase’s first game of the new year. They played hard but lost. 

January 6th: Brianne’s first game of the new year. Sadly, it may have also been her last one of the season. She was in so much pain when she came off the field that I ended up taking her to the emergency room. Doctor gave her a mobilizing brace to keep her from bending it. She must wear it for 5 days. 

January 7th: Brianne is off to the YMCA CLC meeting in Montgomery, knee brace and all. I took the day off to drive her to Navarre. Chase had a soccer game. He drove to Taco Bell to meet some friends for dinner and then back to the school for his game. I began my modified P365 scrapbook. I’m just doing the year by week. We’ll see how it goes!

Digiscrap Kit by Dawn Inskip (Project 365). Cluster from Raspberry Road Design and created by Ellen.

 Photo taken at Blue Angel Recreation Park the summer of 2000. 

Digiscrap kit from KellyJo Scraps (part of the Just Beachy collaboration with ScrappyBug). Word art by Bethany at Elegant Word Art. Photoshop Element Actions run on photo by Coffee Shop.

Journaling reads: Jolie and I met during Base Indoc at Atsugi, Japan in January 1991. We explored Tokyo that first Friday (or was it Thursday?) after we met. What a trip! A stop in a stationary store, Tokyu Hands, the Sake place (where you could try 5 types of sake for 100 yen), and so many other places. She was there when I bought my first Japanese car and went driving down the wrong side of the road! Well, it was the wrong side as far as Americans are concerned! LOL

After I left Japan, I only saw Jolie once more around 1995 in San Diego. I lost contact with Jolie sometime around 1997.

Although I often searched on Google for Jolie, I never located her. And then, a search on Facebook the summer of 2010, brought me back in touch with my wonderful friend. 

Life has changed greatly for both of us. I’m now a divorced Mom of teenagers and she, the Mom to her nephew.

And yet, after all that time apart, it was like we had never lost contact! How wonderful to have a friend like that!

Digiscrap kit from chriscrap (Japanese Moment). Word Art from Word Art World.


That's it for now.  I'm off to clean the kitchen.  It needs serious help.  Go figure.  Doesn't everything?

still creating....

So, I'm still creating although I took about a two week break and didn't do anything.  These first 4 pages were done before the break.  The ones afterwards were done in the last two days.

I went out yesterday and took pictures of some young adults/youth from our church.  They were going to print pictures and give to their parents for Christmas.  I think they turned out rather well.

Our Christmas tree is up.  Lights on it but not decorated.  It's one of the skinny ones this year.  It's got over 200 bulbs on it!  Christmas for the kids will be different this year.  Mostly cash and it won't even be available until January.  Their father is also giving them cash.  They'll get a couple small things under the tree but otherwise, everything else will come after the new year.  

Chaz got his driver's license.  That hurt.  I took him in to get his permit and we left with a license.  Ouch.  The insurance flat out hurt.  It more than doubled when I added him to it.  And I've not even added the truck yet.  Well, gotta fix that first.

Was teaching a friend about digiscrapping and did this page as a sample. No journaling at all but fun just the same. I may redo later but in the meantime....

Digiscrap kit by by SKrapper Digitals (Sherah Kraan) and TrishF.

Journaling reads "Chase and Brianne visited with Santa during the USS Frank Cable's Children's Christmas Party. This was the last time they sat on Santa's lap."

DigisScrap kit is from Christmas Love Blog Train (December 2010). Individual pieces as follows: santa moon (Scrapping Serenity); blue swirl, green star, blue star (Designs by Snow Lady); white "snow" (paper), 3 ornaments, blue button, red star, red/green tree (Giggly Polka Dots); bird, frame by Luna Rosa; skinny tree with star (Scraps By Andrea); green tree w/star (Lady Saphira); Blue background paper (Dewdrop Scraps). Word art from Word Art World.

Digiscrap kit from Dewdrop Scraps (My America). Font is Bohemian Typewriter.

Journaling reads: “I enlisted in the Navy’s Delayed Entry Program in Janurary 1981. I signed up to be a Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) (CTM). My recruiter was Chief Petty Officer Sanford Flach. I began my active duty time on September 24, 1981 when I entered bootcamp at Naval Technicial Training Center, Orlando, Florida. I was part of Company 128, the last female company for fiscal year 1981. Our Company Commander was AZ1 Adair.

I graduated from bootcamp in November of the same year. Mom and Dad both came to Orlando for the graduation ceremony. One of my favorite memories of graduation was Mom and Dad eatting in the chowhall. The dressing was green because it had so much sage in it! Daddy used to always joke about the Havy food after that.


I spent December 1981 through March 1982 in Basic Electricity and Electronics School. It was self paced. After finally finishing the course, I transferred to Pensacola, FL for my Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) “A” school. 


I classed up in March or April of 1982. I was in “Bravo” Company during school. We marched in formation to and from school each morning. The first 10 weeks of school I was on a day schedule. The next 2 or 3 weeks of school was on eves. During these weeks, the CTMs and Electronic Warfare (EW) technicians went to class together. The final months of school were the actual CTM portion of the school. I graduated in November 1982 as a CTM3 and spent December working “On the Job” training in the maintenance shop in Building 514.


I transferred to Fort Devens, Massachuesetts the end of 1982 to attend AN/GSQ-76 (Tebo) “C” School. Our school days were only 6 hours long. The rest of the time we spent exploring the area around Ayer and Boston. Boston is still one of my favorite places in the United States. After graduation, I was moved back to Pensacola for my first CTM tour. 


I was assigned to the maintenance shop in Building 514. While doing preventive maintenance on an AN/FRA-86, I took a 750 volt shock! Oops! It gave me a huge fear of electricity. After 13 months working in the mat shop, I moved to Building 511 to work Supply. I learned to type while working supply. I typed 1000’s of supply requestions. I signed for incoming materials and helped distribute them to where they needed to be. And soon, my time in Pensacola came to a close. I received orders to NCTAMS WESTPAC Guam. One of my chiefs in the supply office used to ask me every day what the temperature was in Guam. And every day, he told me it was 86 degrees. Little did I know at the time, 86 degrees is the average temperature for Guam always. 


Enroute to Guam, I spent a month assigned to Naval Technicial Training Command Detachment, San Angelo, Texas for Statuette “C” school. Again, days were short and extra time was spent hanging out with friends and exploring the area.

In June 1985, I transferred to Guam. I was assigned to the maintenance department in Building 200, the “Elephant Cage.” I only spent about 4 months working in the mat shop. I spent several months working in Facilities Maintenance and eventually, I was assigned to work in the Administrative Office for the Maintenance Department. Here I learned the Navy filing system, message preparation, preparation of evaluations and military correspondence. I finally had found my “niche.” It was here that I decided to apply for the SCORE program to convert from CTM to Cryptologic Technician (Administration). I was approved for conversion and in December 1985, I was transferred back to NTTC Pensacola for “A” school. I was still a CTM3 when I left.”


(Note) I plan on continuing to do pages for my military career.  What this page doesn't note is that I married and divorced twice in my first 6 years of military service.  Not generally something you get into with your children.  *grimace*

Santa and his elves made an early stop at our home at 33 Betel Palm, Dededo, Guam on Christmas Eve 1997. Chase and Brianne both got movies from Santa.

Word art by Word Art World. Digiscrap kit by Kim B's Design (WinterSong).

I redid this page as I was not happy with the last one.  Because of it, the red page above about the first 6 years of my Navy career came about.

Chaz.  Just playing around.  Word art by Word Art World.

Yah!

I'm so excited!  I was selected by Jen of Word Art World to be part of her Creative Team!  Jen makes awesome word art!  She's got word art for nearly anything!

We had a little excitement at school last night while I was at Breezy's soccer game.  Someone set a garbage can on fire.  The garbage can was on the breezeway of one of the buildings.  One minute, there was a small puff of white smoke and then it was a little darker.  I couldn't figure out what it was.  AND then, there was the heavier puff of dark smoke and I realized what it was.  I ran over to where smoke was coming from as did a couple co-workers.  911 was called by someone who was nearer where the fire was.  A student put out the fire with a water hose that wasn't far from the garbage can.  He had seen the smoke from the front of the building and ran to the fire.  He did an amazing job!

Today was "Friday" at school.  How cool is that?  Yesterday was Monday and today was Friday.  We are off the next five days.  Going to spend a little time with my Mom, her husband, my sister, nephews, and possibly my brother over the next few days.  It's going to be good.

DigiScrap Kit from Fall Carnival Blog Train (2010) (Paper by Stargazy, Feather by AlbinaD, Flowers and twine by DedeSmith, Postage frame by Dylabel, Leaf by CCL).  Masking Tape by Scrappin Cop.  Font is Waltograph.  Word Art by Word Art World. 

Journaling reads:  "I nearly missed the incredible Animal Kingdom parade the day I was there.  On my way to he gate to meet up with one of the kids and leave, I got STUCK on the wrong side

of the ropes.  Best time I have ever had being on the WRONG side of anything. The costumes were AMAZING!!!  The detail in each one was like nothing I had ever seen, including at Disney.  The “floats” were sort of primative in construction and yet at the same time beautifully detailed. 

 The joy on the face of each of the parade participants above was so obvious.  I loved it!  This parade is without a doubt one of my FAVORITE memories at Disney ever!"

 DigiScrap Kit from Gotta Pixel (From Boy to Man by CVisions and MBatton).  Word art by Word Art World.

Journaling reads:  Phillies themed birthday party invitations and cake were a great start to begin Austin’s 12th birthday.  Friends from school and family played baseball, ate pizza, and had a great time."

DigiScrap Kit from Christmas Treasures Blog Train (November 2010) (Paper by AndyDesignz; Ornament cord by ericamade, Ornament by JMS, Frame by JAM, White swirl by GetDigi, Notepaper by sjs).  Word art by Word Art World.

Journaling reads:  "Arranging presents under the Christmas tree each year is one of my favorite things to do on Christmas eve.  You know, getting  the presents “just so” so that when the kids see the tree in the morning there is the ahhhhhhh” moment.  Christmas 2009 may be the last year that we have presents under the tree.  2010 will have a small gift in the stocking and cash.  I will miss these days."

DigiScrap Kit from Cinnamon Scraps (Christmas Time).  Word art by Word Art World.

Journaling reads:  "Austin, Chase, Brianne, and Tyler in front of Bass Pro’s huge Christmas Tree.  We had so much fun there on that I think it should be an early Christmas tradition!"

These are my first layouts for Jen.  I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to create for her!  And it gives me extra incentive to scrap my own special events with my children.

In the case I don't make it back by before Thanksgiving, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your time with friends and family.  Take time to remember those far away from home serving their country.