It's my birthday!

And a birthday at ScrapMatters digiscrapping store too! How cool is that?

In honor of the 3rd b'day of ScrapMatters, Happy Scrap Girl has a giveaway.  Check out her giveaway and maybe pick up some amazing digiscrap stuff for your pages!

As for me, I turned 47 today.  I'd like to say I feel different but it's just another day.  I'm extremely grateful to God that I have another day to spend with my amazing children and serving Him.  Some days I don't do so very great but I know that each morning His mercies are new and my page is blank and I get to start all over again.  So I'm taking today to "start all over again."  Thank you God!

different....

I am usually in my own little word over here on my blog.  It's been nice to have visitors again.  Maybe I should post more of these layouts.  Or.... my Mom asked if she could see, maybe I should just create a blog for digi-scrapping?  No idea.  I'd have to tie it to a different email addy though.

Surgery and digiscrapping

I had surgery on my left knee yesterday.  There was a tear in the meniscus.  I'm doing well.  Not a lot of pain fortunately.  Removed the big knee brace last night.  Doctor said start bending knee as soon as possible.  So I'm bending it already.

Did a couple scrap pages last night and today.  

The first is Breezy in crazy high heels.  Kit is Glamouricious by Jabi Scraps.  Didn't it turn out cool?  I tinted the shoe pics to make them coordinate a little bit better.

The second is from Chaz' hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail.  The kit is from Saphira's World Scrapdesign and is part of the Great Outdoors Blog Train.  Word art is from Create with TLC.  She has amazing word art!

That's all for now.  :o)

Digiscrapped

Yes, I have continued to play with digi-scrap kits.  Even spent a little bit on kits that just make my mind spin with possibilities.  I heard that.  Really?  Paid for?  Yes.  And so worth it.  I'll show ya. 

This picture is from Chaz and Breezy's trip to Blue Ridge for the YMCA Christian Values Conference.  Last year's conference made a HUGE difference in their relationship for the good.  This picture was taken at the conference this year.  

The kit "A Perfect Day" was a collaboration kit and I got it at Scrap That Idea.  Isn't it marvelous?

I love these snapshot pictures of Chaz.  I was taking pictures of all the kids in the band preparing for the cd cover art and these ones just tickle me to see.

The kit is "Let's Hear It For the Boy" by Rebecca B.

My friend Debi was having a bit of trouble with her computer so we downloaded her photos from Disney to my computer until hers got fixed.  I think this is such a sweet picture of she and her husband that I had to scrap it.

This is part of the JacaBean Summer Smiles Blog Train Collabration.  This one was free! The papers I used are from Mandy of MandyCrafts.  The frame is also part of the collaboration is by Kala of The Kaleidoscope.

I actually ordered eight 12x12 pages in print from Scrapbooks Please last night.  At 99 cents apiece for matte finish 12x12's, I couldn't resist the savings.  I also ordered the picture of Debi and Dennis that I plan on framing.  Yah!

p.s. I think that's the most links I've ever placed in a blog post!

Men at Work

I finished another layout today.  This one of Chaz.  He was jumping off the wall at Fort Barrancas.  I was on the wrong side to catch the look on his face but loved the picture anyway.

The scrapbook kit is Angel Baby Scraps "Let's Hear It For the Boy!"

Fishy take 2

As I was driving to church for a teaching, I had this great idea for the little fish.  It so matches my daughter's personality.  The picture was taken at a Reimagine event earlier this year.  She was abandoned in her worship.  The place I'd like to be.

Back to School

This layout is for Create with TLC's fish challenge.  The little fish are cute and remind me of time to go back to school.  It's not so far away for us.  Kids start back up on August 22nd.

Scrapbook kit is A Perfect Day by ScrapThatIdea.

Tis been a while.....

Life has been busy as always.  Go figure. 

Working summer school.  It ends on July 22nd.  Kids head to the Blue Ridge Mountains on Saturday.  I'll have surgery on my left knee on August 3rd to fix the tear in the meniscus.  Back to work on August 19th.  It's all good.


What else have I been doing?  Learning about digital scrapbooking and downloading digital kits.  Up until last week, everything I did I've been doing with PhotoShop Elements 6, brushes, and images I have on my computer.  I'm going to learn to use kits to get more variety.

I discovered Create with TLC several days ago.  Paulette has the most fabulous word art I have seen.  I shared her site with my Mom and several friends already.  They are all excited!  Yah!

She is having a creative challenge with a "Park It" theme.  The image below is my submission.  Every image/background on it came from Create with TLC.  Thanks Paulette!

Southern Hospitality is giving away a Silhouette Digital Cutting Tool! WOW! This is the bomb-diggity! Would love one!  My spins with the possibilities.  All those vinyl designs that I would like to put on my walls! Etching glass! Designs for cards and scrapbooks.  Whoa!  

dislike

You know how Facebook has a like button?  Right now, I'd like to have a dislike button.  I'd stamp it on the forehead of my ex.

Breezy has loved her dad although he's only seen them 2 months in the last 10 years. The first year we moved back to the states, I gave her a little photo album with pictures of her dad and her.  A couple years ago, she started scrapbooking those pictures only.  Only the pictures of her and her dad.  About 3 weeks ago, she took those scrapbook pages and tacked them on the walls around her bed.  6 pages of scrapbook pages.

She's still waiting for her dad to be the knight on a white horse who cares for her.

And this week, he blew it again.  He called Sunday.  Told her he couldn't remember if her birthday was the 12th (and had missed it) or if it was the 27th (which it is).  I thought it broke her heart.

Tonight, I said something about calling her dad for Father's Day and she said "maybe I should call him a day late."  Maybe he'd get it.  Or better yet, she is at the point she'd like to forget.  Because if she forgets she can't be hurt again and again and again.  And the knight on a white horse fades.

My heart breaks for her.  She wouldn't sit with me and let me pray for her.  And even now, I think that she is in the shower crying so no one will see.

God please bring healing to my baby.

Memorial Day

For all who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice, I salute you. To those who served and remain, God bless you for your service.  For those currently serving, my eternal thanks.  I LOVE our military!

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, sisters, and beautiful girlfriends who are mothers.  May God tremendously bless you today for all you do for your own children and those around you.

Z's Divine Coffee

I was wandering around my twitter and facebook feeds and found alice.com.

One of the contests it is having is for a giveaway of Z's Divine Coffee.

I started my coffee drinking late in life.  Strange considering the Navy way of life includes coffee and when I retired I had only been drinking it for 2 years!

So anyway, I was reading the descriptions of the different coffees available in the giveaway and the Blue Velvet sounds yummy!  Who knows, I could start drinking coffee at home again!

My nephew came through his knee reconstruction with flying colors. Praise God!  

He was on a roll though with the one liners.

"Do you think they will give us a family discount?"  This is the 2nd time in 16 months he has had his ACL replaced in his knee and this time they had to fix the meniscus as well.  In January, my sister had to have a plate and 10 pins put into her ankle.

"Man, ice cream would be good."  When told it would probably curdle, he said "it will still taste like ice cream going in."

His recovery was much faster than last year and he was able to get himself into the car to go home and onto the crutches to get in the house this time without having assistance.  Last year, we had to half carry him in!

I hung out with he and my sister until a little after 7 this evening.  She made dinner for us.  It was yummy.

The ride home was nice.  I went through Gulf Shores on the way home and stopped at Books-A-Million to pick up the 4th book in the Dragon Series by Chris D'Lacey.  I've been reading the series from the school library.  I'll donate the book to the library when I finish it.

I'm glad to be home though.  My own bed.  Yah.

Anger and Bitterness

I tend to stubbornness.  God is working on me.  I've been hanging on to anger and bitterness for almost 2 years.  He's saying it's time to let it go.  I can't move forward with it.  I can't have true hope in Him with it.

God, I release this anger and bitterness that I have been carrying.  I give it to you.  I ask for your forgiveness for carrying it.  I thank you for redemption.  In Jesus name, Amen.

yah!

I have my computer back. Wait, you mean it was gone?  Alas, yes.  The wireless card went out on my laptop.  The tech at my local BBuy told me the computer would be gone a month!  I took my laptop home, downloaded everything off of it (just in case), and drove to the Spanish Fort BBuy on Saturday.  They told me it would be back in two weeks so I left it there.  It took 11 days for it to be repaired.  That includes the time for shipping, work and return.  Beats the heck out of a month!

EP had their band retreat over Spring Break.  It was nice down time.  The kitchen, living room and porch areas had been renovated and were lovely.  Even got to go on a boat ride to see nesting hawks.  Too bad the camera didn't cooperate.  Kids got plenty of work done.

ReImagine Warrington turned out great.  There were several bands, three or 4 dance/drama teams, food, manicures, haircuts, games for the kids, food and clothing giveaways.  What a joy to be part of what God is doing in our city.  I got some great shots using my camera.

I jerry-rigged my camera to get the flash to work.  The focusing takes longer as does the time it takes for the flash to recharge.  I desperately need to get a good working camera.  I'd really like to have something that I can change lenses on and use filters.

I'm having surgery on my left knee in July after summer school.  I have a small tear to my meniscus.  The pain is extreme some days and milder on others.  I just want it fixed before I don't have the option.  With our "new" healthcare nightmare, I probably won't be able to get it within 2 years.  Really sad.

Still loving our new church.  We've been there for 8 months now.  Time seems to be flying.  I love how Pastor J.P. starts the morning with "hello church, welcome to liberty."  I love that he prays for the other pastors in the area and for their services before we get started.  The visuals are still great and leave a lasting visual in my mind.

Both Chaz and Breezy had good report cards.  They both had mostly As and Bs with a couple Cs each.  I'm grateful Chaz is off probation for his scholarship.

Last summer, Chaz and Breezy went to the YMCA CVC camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Chaz was not pleased that Breezy got to go too.  But when they came back, their relationship had totally changed.  Prior to the trip, they argued or fought about stuff constantly.  They are closer now, more apt to encourage one another.  There is still a competitiveness between them athletically but otherwise, it is so much better.  Thank you Lord for growing them both.

I forgot.  I updated my graphics with a new set from Cutest Blog on the Block.  I may leave it this way for a while.  I really like these colors.

So I sit around and play with photoshop elements when my mind is busy.  It seems so strange at times.  I know I hear God.  But two days ago, I did the flowering tree branch with "Mercy" on it. And on Sunday both at small group and church, I heard about mercy.

Sanctification has been on my mind the last week or so.  Am I allowing myself to be sanctified in Christ?  Or am I fighting every step of the way because of the hurt I've felt over the last couple years?

I almost feel as if I am regressing rather than progressing.  God, I really need to get over this place.

No job.

I'm not sure if it's my resume wasn't good enough, $12 an hour was too much, or the answers to the questions I put weren't good enough.

Or maybe, I'm not supposed to leave the school until the end of the year.

I'm sure God has some idea but I don't at this point.

carts and horses

Today, I got the cart before the horse. Not the first time but probably the worse time.

I am considering a job change. I have a bit of work to do on my resume but it will be ready to submit on Friday. I'm going to apply for 2 or 3 jobs at a local university. Administrative type positions.

The benefits, pay, and working environment are good. No shelter duty either. I know several people who already work there are love it. It would give me employment over the summer as well.

My cart before the horse moment occurred when I let my supervisor know I was going to send in several applications. I've been told that was a really bad thing to do. I think I did it more out of guilt for wanting to leave before the school year is out.

I've been miserable lately. I know I work for God. His opinion is what counts. But lately, it seems there is pretty much nothing I can do that is right. I talk to almost nothing but pre-teens all day long. I don't mind doing behind the scenes work but the last year has been rough. If I screw up, go ahead and chew on me. But when I'm getting chewed for things I didn't do, I'm kind of over it. I'm tired of pre-teen attitude, pants to the knees, and a hundred other things. And I know it's not really a hundred other things but I am tired. Probably the least appreciated job I've ever done. I truly don't feel like I make any difference to anyone there. Is that such a bad feeling? Am I wrong to feel this way?

I'm also ready to go to college. I believe I've finally got it figured out. I want to study Library Science (maybe specializing in Research) with Art on the side. I wanted to be a librarian most of my childhood. I love books, libraries and everything to do with libraries.

We'll see. So if anyone is still around, please say a prayer for me. I've been told my cart before the horse moment could be costly.