so anyway....

I am always stunned when someone posts something nice about one of my digiscrap pages.  I know that sounds dumb but I've been doing this for 7 months now. There are incredible layouts out there done by so many talented people (ladies and gentlemen).  I feel mine often pale in comparison.

Back to work.  It was a long weekend.  4 days in fact.  It was nice.  Chaz played soccer on Monday.  He got his FIRST yellow card ever.  In 9 years of playing soccer, he had never had one.

Wednesday....a week later.....
So.... Chaz now has TWO yellow cards!  BUT his team won their two playoff games (Monday & Tuesday).  They play for district championship on Friday.  Breezy and I'll be going to the game as well to cheer!  Also, there was a great picture of him in the newspaper and online!  Yah!

Taxes were filed on the 14th.  It's nice to be done with them and actually getting a nice return.  On the agenda?  Tithe.  Some toward credit card bill.  Acoustic-Electric guitar for the kids.  PhotoShop Elements 9 for me.  GPS for the car.  Register and insure Chaz' truck.  Some in the bank.  Some toward the band's bill for the artist.

Still digiscrapping.  Entered a CT contest.  Should have the results for it tomorrow.

Going to post my last 7 layouts here.  Well, more than several.  Enjoy 'em!

Quote: All God's angels come to use disguised. ~James Russell Lowell  

Image taken by me of my daughter.  Kit by PrettyJu ScrapDesigns (Un brin d'air frais by PrettyJu).

Photo taken by me of my son and modified using CoffeeShop Actions.  Song lyrics by Rascal Flatts (My Wish).  
Kit by PrettyJu ScrapDesigns (Un brin d'air frais by PrettyJu).  Scraplifted from layout by kakleidesigns. 

 Done for my friend Suzanne who totally enjoys Panda Cam from ZooAtlanta.

Journaling from ZooAtlanta.  Digiscrap kit by Sweet Blossom Designs (In the Jungle). Film Strip and frame by Ange Design (Clic). Word art and Alpha by Word Art World (Our Moments and Got it Covered).

My children in elementary school and then in high school.  Digiscrap kit by Kaklei Designs (An Ode to Memory). Font: Bohemian Typewriter.

Photo by my dear friend Jolie who actually sees snow, unlike those of us in Florida who were the only state in the US without snow recently! LOL

Digiscrap kit by Kaklei Designs (An Ode to Memory). Fonts: The King and Queen (dafont.com) and Microsoft New Tai Lue. Photo edited in Photoshop Elements 6 (no actions used. Just playing.)

My sister and her husband. They celebrated their 25th anniversary on January 21st. True Love!
Digiscrap kit by Soval Designs (Eros). Word art from Word Art World (Only Love).

yrics: I Can Love You Like That by John Michael Montgomery. Word art by Word Art World. Digiscrap kit by Raspberry Road Designs (Kindred Spirits). Font: Bohemian Typewriter.

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?

Happy New Year!

We are going into 2011 with new kitties!  We are so excited.  I even scrapped it!

To anyone who happens by here, may 2011 bring you all the desires of your heart.  May you draw closer to God (as I hope to).  Be safe this evening!

I'll be delivering luggage and Chaz and Breezy will be at a friend's home with her 2 girls and a couple more people to celebrate together.

Thanks to the generosity of a man and his wife from Tennessee, we have TWO fur babies instead of one.  We are so grateful for that generosity.  Because of it, we got Merlot.

Journaling reads: “About two months ago, our kitty, Sammy, was killed while he was outside in the yard. Sammy had always been an indoor/outdoor cat because he had been a stray. He was a sweet cat. And a wonderful mouser considering he had been declawed before we got him. 

About a month ago, Brianne, Chase and I decided it was time to get a new cat. So Bri and I made a visit to the local Humane Society. We checked out all the cats but our favorite was Pickles. Pickles, as you can see in the photo, is a long haired gray kitty. She currently has a lion cut. However, we could not get her at the time because we just didn’t have the funds. Liz, the director, told us if we were to have her, she’d be here when we came back. We left with the intent of coming back to get her.

Two weeks later, Chase and I went back to see if Pickles was still there. She was but there was someone interested in her and they planned to take her home that day. Instead, Chase and I checked out the older kitten room. There we discovered Merlot. Merlot followed me all over the room. He was so sweet. And, black cats are difficult to adopt so Chase and I decided he’d be a great addition to our family but again, the funds were not available. 

Today, the funds were finally available! Brianne and I went to the HSOP to pick up Merlot if he was still there. When we got there, Pickles was there! Yahoo! We immediately decided to get her. I took Bri back to show her Merlot and felt so bad that we would be leaving him behind. 

While we were out front filling out paperwork for Pickles, I joked with the man filling out the papers about a “Buy One Get One Free Offer.” Oops, no BOGO offers. I told him we’d be back for Merlot.

A few minutes later, a man who was there with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law, tapped me on the shoulder and said he’d like to pay for our other kitty! I was stunned. And in tears! He handed me the meney and we started the paperwork for Merlot. 

Isn’t God so cool? We have desperately wanted a kitty since Sammy disappeared. We wanted to give a home to an older cat which both Pickles and Merlot are. And we wanted a black kitty since they are so hard to adopt. 

We start 2011 with two beautiful new members of our family.”

Digiscrap kit by Trixie Scraps (Defining Me) and word art by Word Art World (Moments).  Both are available at Gotta Pixel.

Merry Christmas!

So grateful for the sweet baby Christ given to us for our salvation!  Praise God!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  And God bless all of our military men and women serving around the world tonight.

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.

Senior Night...

Friday night was Chaz' last football game.  I got the opportunity to walk him in front of the stands. When he handed me the football that he had written a note on, it was so hard not to just burst out in tears.  I am so very proud of him.

Journaling reads: 

"Chaz’ last football game was also Senior Night. I was able to escort him in front of the crowd. (or did he escort me?) Either way, I was tearful all the way through the walk. At the end of the walk to the center of the bleacher area, we were met by Mrs. Mims, the School Principal, who handed Chase a football that he had written a message on for me. Then Chaz presented the football to me. By this time, my tears had dried and I was just incredibly blessed to be with him. I started tearing up all over again when he gave the football to me. Imagine my surprise when I read it. The football reads: Mom. I love you! No matter what's going on, even if it doesn't seem like it. Thank you for believing in me no matter what. You mean so much to me. All your love and support helped me through these many years. Love you, Chaz I am so very proud of the incredible man that Chaz has grown into. I love you Chaz. ~Mom"

Word Art by Word Art World. Digi Scrap kit by Raspberry Road Designs. Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.

Word art by Word Art World (Kid 101) at Gotta Pixel. DigiScrap kit collaboration by KellyJoScraps & Scrap Happens to Me over at Angel Baby Scraps. Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.

I also did something I consider brave.  Or at least different for me.  I applied to be on a creative team.  Will find out official word later this week.  It is good.  :o)


I was given a new Bible this week.  The Bible I was given is a Youth With a Mission Bible (YWAM).  The extra parts of it are written with an eye toward missionaries.  I bought my first Bible in 1997 after my Daddy passed away.  It's started falling apart at the binding years ago.  A friend of mine and I were talking about it a few years ago.  I told her I'd like to get a new one but the only place you could get it was from YWAM.  Crazy part of this?  I bought mine at a Pacific Stars and Stripes bookstore in Guam!  Lord only knows how it got there!  My friend who used to be a YWAM missionary went to their conference last week.  She brought me back the 50th anniversary edition.  How cool is that?  God has a way of reminding me how faithful He is even when I'm "fighting Him" every step of the way some days.  


I am so grateful that God loves me like this.  And for the friends He has placed in my life.

Veteran's Day

To all who have served, past and present, gone on and still living, thank you for your service our great country.

This year was the most special Veteran's day I've had.  The daughters of my nurse made me a card and bookmark to thank me for serving.  And then the SGA at the school also made cards and handed out to the veterans.  It's the first time I ever remember being thanked in this way.  It was really special.

Baby it's cold outside!  Well, not yet but it's getting there.  I was trying to figure out something to scrap using parts from the Shabby Holiday Blog Train (hosted by Digital Scrapbooking Studio) and finally decided to scrap a picture I took in January 2010 of the "ice trees" that were made when people left their sprinklers on overnight to prevent the piping from freezing up.

Word art is by Jennifer at Word Art World.  It's from the Kids 101 pack on Gotta Pixel.

And I was brave this week.  Well, brave for me.  I applied to be on a creative team for a digiscrap designer.  Will find something out next week.  Either way, she's got the best word art!

The kids have settled with the phone thing.  It took Chaz a couple days to apologize.  Breezy hit the ceiling the same night when I told her there were limits at night.  Told her to keep it up and she'd have no phone either.  And that ended that.

Last week was the toughest week I have had parenting in a long time.  I spent a lot of time praying last week.

Work is still good.  I am grateful to have such a great nurse to work for and the school staff is awesome.  Still enthralled with the windows!  LOL

I'm off to find something to do.  Well, I have something to do, guess I better get on it!  LOL  (cleaning.  YUCK!)

Phones....

Phone restrictions.  That's what comes from abusing the privilege you've been given.  Texting during school hours?  Texting after you should be in bed?

I logged into Verizon to pay the bill and check usage on all phones to be sure we are not near going over our minutes/data.  Imagine my surprise when I saw huge numbers on my son's account.  So... I decided to review the text messaging.  One phone had over 1,200 text messages during the school day this month.  The other phone had over 40 text messages after midnight!  Not pleased.  The only text messages during school should be to me or maybe their brother/sister.  And there should be absolutely no messages after bedtime.

Both kids are extremely upset.  They feel I've invaded their privacy.  I'm the parent.  Part of my job is to monitor what they are doing.  I didn't read the text messages.  Only discover when they are being sent and received.

.
Digi-scrap kit by Raspberry Road Designs (Java Joe).  Watch faces, hands, and frames by Scrappin Cop.  Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.  Not the best layout but how I feel at the moment.

Fail

It never ceases to amaze me. It seems no matter what I do, how I do it, or how it comes out, it is wrong to my daughter. Period. And don't even try to correct her. Just stand by for heavy rolls.  Tonight was another of those days.  I had to leave the house.  I am one person.  That's it.  I've been doing this "alone" for the last 11 years.  Without God, we wouldn't even be where we are.  But just the same, lately, it's just nothing but banging my head against the wall.  And I'm tired.

Amazing Rescue!!!

Praise Yahweh!  The 33 Chilean miners have been rescued after 69 days in the mine.  Nothing but a miracle!  All of the rescue workers are also up.

The last rescue worker coming up in the Fenix.  

End of official coverage from the live feed out of Chile.

Rebroadcast picture of the rescue workers after the last of the 33 miners had gone up in the Fenix.

In case you wonder... I took screen shots of my computer screen as it was broadcasting.  Wish I had done it all along today.

Moved!

Well, moved to a different school to work that is.  But a move just the same.   LOVE IT!

I did have a revelation after changing schools.  If you dislike what you are doing or have stayed past when you should have gone, your frustration does not help you keep your witness.  I don't think I was much of a witness for Christ when I left because of my frustration.  Lesson learned.  I'm a wee bit slow some days obviously.

Chaz tried for a walk on position on the football team.  He's now a wide receiver.  Yah!  Well done.  Hopefully he'll get some game time.

Breezy is playing soccer.  This week is tryouts  And she is playing powder puff football.  Yes, that's my beautiful girl.  She'll either be the quarterback or a wide receiver. Yah!  Well done.

Me?  I'm downloading digi-scrap kits and still digi-scrapping.  Totally enjoy extracting the subject of the digi-pages.  So far I've printed 30 pages  and put them in a real live scrapbook!  Amazing I know!

A very old picture of my Mom.  Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.  DigiScrap kit from DigiDesignResort (Natural Breeze).  Word art by Elegant Word Art.

Chaz and Breezy with Tigger at character breakfast at Walt Disney World. Sweet memory. Definitely worth the splurge in expense.

Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.  Word art by Word Art World.  Kit is from Gotta Pixel (Ephemeral Soul by Designs by Helly).

I love this picture of Breezy.  Although I know she was having a marvelous time in the rain, the picture always reminds me of the song "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns.

Created using PhotoShop Elements 6.  Digi scrap kit by Polka Dot Chicks (Reflections).  Fonts:  Pea Noodle for song text and "Praise" "in the Storm" and The King and Queen for "You."  Photo modified with PSE Action by Paint the Moon.

I'm off to do a special page for my friend Debi and her husband.  They are such an amazing couple and speak  such encouragement into not only my children but so many others.

Ohana!

Family. We are a family. No matter what our differences. No matter where we are.

Sometimes God gives us extra family.  Extended.  From other places and other families.  Debi and Dennis are part of our extended family.

I met Debi through our church during Vacation Bible School 2004. I remember thinking "Man, I want to get to know this lady." She's incredible with children and has a story a minute. Former Navy JAG officer. Now a medically retired lawyer. Children's pastor. Band manager. Amazing friend. Her husband Dennis is steady. Nearly unflappable. Sense of humor is cutting when you get to know him.  AND they love my children and I just where we are.


I don't know if they'll ever really know how much they mean to us.  But they are family.  Love 'em!

I made this digi scrap page using a quick page (from Vicki at A Work in Progress) and word art from the Polynesian Blog train (KellyBell Designs).  Debi was excited!  She's thrilled that there are quick pages to start from and she won't have as much to learn when she starts digi-scrapping.

Love ya my friends!

rearranging, prayer, digiscrapping...

So, I'm headed to my new school in the morning to rearrange.  Our supervisor doesn't like the last layout I did, so I drew up a little sketch and sent it to my new nurse to see what she thinks.  She likes it.  And so, I'm going to be there at 7 a.m. to help her get it rearranged the new way BEFORE I take the kids to school and BEFORE I go to work.  Yeah, long day but so worth it.

I've learned new things the last few days.  I've been helping my nurse review files.  WOW!  Lots of paperwork.  It's nuts but I know it will help her tremendously with the work she is about to start.

I'm learning to pray in a different way.  I know my daughter needs more help than I can give her but she doesn't "hear" me.  I'm just noise to her.  Any and all prayer is appreciated.  God, we need an intervention.

Made a digiscrap page tonight. DigiKit by Bruissements (Raccrocheuse). Yeah, the French site. Word art by Word Art World.  Jen has fabulous word art!  Check her out!

Starry Night

One of my favorite new songs is "Starry Night" by Chris August.  I find myself singing it randomly during the day.  Thank the Lord for amazing music that helps bring Him to mind and helps lead me into worship with Him.


From the Birds that Sing, In the Tallest Trees.
To the Human Life, of you and me.
From the Desert Sands, to the place we stand.
He is God of All, He is Everything.

Waohhh

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything
'Cause he is everything

From the Autumn Leaves, that will ride the breeze
To the Faith it takes, to pray and sing
From the Painted sky, to my plank filled eye
He is God of all, He is everything

Waohhh

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything.

Ohhhhhhh (everything)

Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Hallelujah
I believe
Ohhh
Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Hallelujah
I believe

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun
On that Starry Night, He changed my life.
I'm giving it all to the only son who gave me hope when I had none.
So let the praises ring,
Ohhhh Let the Praises Ring

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the Angels sing, that he is Heavenly

So let the Praises ring
'Cause he everything

Even as I'm creating this post, I'm listening to it.  I added it to one of my "mix" cds that play 24 hours/7 days a week.   I want the enemy to know who's worshiped in my home... and it's not lord of the airwaves (satan).  It's the Creator of the Universe!  

Night of Joy at Disney in 3 weeks.  I have been saving a little each month for the kids and I to go.  I'm still not absolutely positive I will be going.  Considering taking my portion and paying bills that are behind until I start getting paid again.  We'll see.