A week has gone....

and there is no kitty.  We weren't able to get the kitten because my friend couldn't get back in touch with the gentleman who had it.  So..... we wait.  We actually want a full grown cat.  A cat that might not have had a wonderful family to love it.  As my daughter says a "fat lazy cat."  My son wants a kitten.  And maybe there is room in the house for both.  We will see.

Work has been absolutely crazy.  That's all I'll say.  C R A Z Y

I'm still playing with Pinterest.  If you come by here and haven't tried it yet, leave me a note and I'll send you an invitation.  It's nothing but a huge web page of inspiration.  You name it, it's there.  Sometimes, it's just fun to find something that hasn't been pinned already.  I did discover a pet peeve.  If you want to "pin" something, please make sure you open the post that the image is in to a separate window.  So if there is a picture in this post, click on the permalink and open in a new window.  That way when the next person clicks on the image in Pinterest, it goes to where the picture is and not to the main page of the blog/store/web page.  *s*

Other than that, life is life.  I'm grateful to be alive.  I turned 48 a couple weeks ago.  I have amazing children. A great job.  Super church.  Nice place to live.  Vehicle to drive.  So many people don't have half of that or even a third.  I'm thankful to be so blessed in my life.

Niters. I think I'm headed to bed early.

Belt Deconstruction

Breezy gave me a couple of her belts that have fallen apart.  They are made of these really rows neat "brads."  As the first belt was peeling on the back, I grabbed the peeling piece and yanked it.  When it came apart from the rest of the belt, all the little "brad" pointy pieces came up.  This made it easier to straighten them and remove them.

Here's the pictures:

I'm going to use these "brads" on the covers of journals.

Colors and Pinterest

Today, I had a luggage run.  Not too long.  Chaz and Breezy cooked dinner.  It was so good!  Sirloin roast with potatoes, carrots, and corn on the cob cooked in the crock pot.  I have no idea what sauces/spices/seasonings they used but it was fabulous! I'm letting them cook more often.

I spent some time reading journals and "pinning" to my Pinterest page.  Here are a couple noteworthy before I go to bed.

Source: michelleward.typepad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: michelleward.typepad.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I have found some amazing creative blogs.  Blogs of women who have been published in some of my most favorite magazines ever.  Which ones you ask?  Why that's be nearly anything published by Stampington.  Somerset Studio, Somerset Life, Artful Blogging, Art Journaling, and so many more.  Ah....  These are the magazines I splurge on when I get extra into the household every now and again.

kitty....

My friend called earlier.  She was making a delivery and there was a little cat outside that kept trying to get into the house she was delivering to.  She said the owner offered her the kitten.  She asked me if I wanted it.  But of course!  She is going to call the man back and ask him if he was serious.  If he's serious, Breezy and I'll go get him tomorrow!

work...

Just wanted to post a couple things that I made for work today.

Source: thepinkandblueblog.tumblr.com via Deborah on Pinterest

and this:

Source: likecool.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I posted a set of them inside the bathrooms, one set on the door to the clinic, and one set on the outside of one of the bathrooms.  :)

I'm thinking about taking my window with the chicken wire to work and using it to hang photos and artwork on during the year.  Not sure yet.  Will have to see what my nurse thinks about it.

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the banners I made.

I haven't been here in a while as you can see.  I am not on any creative teams for digi-scrapping right now.  I so need to take my computer in for repairs.  Both the usb ports on the right side are messed up. I've gotten a memory error and a display error in last couple months.  Of course, I'm over due for a backup and for a defrag. But it has been virus scanned thank goodness. :)

I am thinking about starting a new blog.  This one has been around a while.  I'm thinking photo blog?  Art journaling?  Digiscrapping?  Who knows.  Just feel like it's time for a change.

School starts back up for the kids on Monday.  Breezy is a Junior in high school and Chaz is a Freshman in college.  Hard to believe we're at that point!

I'm headed to bed soon.  Another early morning so I can get to SHO for training.  Niters!

Moments in Time by ScrappinDsigns

Awesome kit!  18 papers and 74 elements to scrap those great outdoor moments!  Great variety of frames and flowers.  Got garden pictures that you want to scrap?  This would be an awesome kit.

CSD ~ DSA ~ DSO ~ DST ~ GP ~ My Blog

CSD ~ DSA ~ DSO ~ DST ~ GP ~ My Blog

A kit right up my alley! I love Japan and my heart is breaking for what they are going through.  This kit has lovely papers with cherry blossoms, beautiful flowers, ribbons, and more.  Did you know cherry blossoms have just started blooming in Japan?  10 papers and 48 elements.  (Images linked).

 

What an awesome kit from ScrappingMar!  This kits lends itself so well to development of scenery type layouts.  23 papers and 71 elements.  :)

Kylee taking pictures at my house. 
Digiscrap kit by ScrappinMar (Sunrise). Photo Mask by e-lena Designs (Photo Masks 3). Font: Bohemian Typewriter.

Digiscrap kit by ScrappinMar (Sunrise). Word art by Jen at Word Art World (You - Volume II).

Calm Savour by Kaklei Designs

Calm Savour is a great kit! The colors are marvelous. Very calming! 16 papers and 36 elements. The papers are lovely! I picked this wonderful kit because it reminds me of all the paper scrapbook papers I used to buy! Isn't it awesome to be able to scrap and use the same pages over and over again? Thank you so much for the awesome kit Kaklei!

Sneak Peak! Playtime Fun

Upcoming collaboration between Jen of Word Art World and Lorie M.  Playtime Fun!  It'll be at Gotta Pixel on March 1st.  10 adorable papers, 14 word art images, 5 coordinating alpha sets and a ton of fun elements perfect for your "playtime fun" layout.

Kindle....

a fire for books! I bought a Kindle!  I'm so stoked!  I didn't think I'd like it even though I bought it but it's great.

Years ago, I sold my book collection.  Nearly 4,000 pounds of books.  The overwhelming majority of them were science fiction/fantasy.  My favorite author is Mercedes Lackey and her Heralds of Valdemar series.  I had read nearly all of them.  Those, too, I sold.  I miss them.

I purchased 3 of Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series for my Kindle and have finished the first two.  Arrows of the Queen, Foundations, and Intrigues.  I have read Arrows of the Queen at least a dozen times.  Foundations, I had read once.  It was the first time for Intrigues and I totally enjoyed it.

A couple of friends liked mine so much and the review that they are going to purchase Kindles too!  Man, I should be on commission for these things!  LOL

Magical Sea by Chili Designz

What a great kit to work with!  I had a great time doing layouts with this.  Beautiful shells and leaves to arrange around your images.  Awesome!

Kaylee, Dori, and a Hawaiian Dancer.  Hawaii, 2007.

Digiscrap kit by Chili Designz (Magical Seas).  Font by Kevin and Amanda (Pea Amy).

Chase, Zac, and John cheesing it up while we wait for admission into WinterJam 2011.

Digiscrap kit by Chili Designz (Magical Seas).  Alpha by Free2Scrap (Oriental Inspiration).  Font by Kevin and Amanda (Pea Amy).

Jardin en fleurs by Louise Scraps

Lovely kit! The floral pieces here are gorgeous! Would be wonderful with little girls or big girls! :) I think my favorite color in this kit was the warm orange!  I'm desperately wanting some warm weather right now! :)

Journaling reads:  "This is my Sweet Pea Freya.   I also call her "The Lidda-dog.” 

When she was a puppy, I came out of the shower one day and

couldn't find her.  I finally stood in  the center of the apartment

and started singing "Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone"

& she came running.  To this day she still comes when I sing that."

Journaling reads:  Finding a camel tied up outside the local Sonic next to our church was pretty surprising! While they wouldn't let Chase and Brianne any closer, I just had to have this picture.  Definitely a PRICELESS moment!

I had a great time using the SteamPunk kit from EMS Arts.  There's just something about gears and rust!  LOL

Chaz' soccer team took District Championship.  Digiscrap kit by EMS Arts (SteamPunk).  Font:  Bohemian Typewriter.

My sweet friend Andrea and her son.  Digiscrap kit by EMS Arts (SteamPunk).  Font:  Bulky Refuse.

Summers Rainbow by Athena

Great summer kit from Athena.  My summer pictures are few and far between so thought I'd get a little outside the box.  Great for Birthdays!

Here are a couple of layouts I did with Summers Rainbow.

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.