Saturday, September 29, 2007

What a crazy week..


it was so insane that I actually passed on scrapping last night just to stay home. It all started last week with a church meeting. Then a Bears loss. Bible study, book discussion, lunch, niece and daughter visits, baby showers, MOPS, Soul Sisters...and 2 trips to Target, 1 stop to return things at Old Navy, 1 trip to the bread store, 2 runs up to the mall...laundry, cleaning, making food. Yep. Glad that week is OVER!!

The best part of the week? Well, it was seeing pix of our grandson to be...and the long, meandering talk Cassie and I were able to have on Thursday. You can really see his head and tummy in the top picture!!

Now for this week: Rex on the bench. Cubs in the playoffs (that's for all my friends who love the wrong bear) Yep. Hopefully a GOOOOD week in store!!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

I kept putting off blogging


because I was going to "catch up" on my life and blog. But I decided I'm not going to do that. I'm just gonna keep moving on.

Life has been, weirdly, mundane and hectic all at once. One thing...so many people have lost loved ones lately. Literally six people I care about have had someone pass on in September alone. Makes me want to reach out and hug everyone. So consider this a hug...

Been scrapping alot...way too much in fact. Neglecting my fam. Well, really. Neglecting the dust and laundry. Not the same as neglecting the people. But still need to do that this weekend.

Things are starting up for the fall. I'm in a different MOPS group, as a mentor mom, and am waiting to hear from another group that may be interested. AND...a dream I've had for two years is coming to fruition. It's called Soul Sisters and I'm so excited about how it's starting. What a blessing.

Prison Break started last week. I don't know that I will be as compelled one week at a time as I was when I watched it all at once, but we'll see. The driving force of a family love that overcomes all obstacles and forgives and works together for the common good is a powerful one in my life...

Read a book that disturbed me. Not that I didn't like it. Just struck a little close to home sometimes. It is called Glass Castle. If you get the chance, read it.

Spent Friday flitting about in Paul's red convertible with the top down. What fun that was...I may keep that car. There may be three way fights over it in the near future!!

Joseph got a job...he's a Dippin Dots professional now. And more importantly to him, he's getting a paycheck which means he can afford insurance which means he can get his license. So attempt two will be Tuesday. He went today and the DMV has lost his uploaded driver's ed info and couldn't test. Which was just as well since Paul didn't have the right insurance info and he wouldn't have been able to take it anyway.

So Joseph is driving and graduating and working. Cassie is married and felt the baby move and is having a son. My little ones are no longer little. But they will always be those little ones to me. I am blessed to have them in my life.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou
It's good to be back...


Monday, September 10, 2007

What a weekend!!

I was, at long last, reunited with a serving platter that I've been looking for for EIGHT MONTHS. My sister has had it on her counter for that long...and we freakin' see each other at least once a month and for the last couple of months, once a week at a book study. SHE NEVER SAID A WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been wondering and lamenting and asking...I knew I had to have brought it somewhere with food on it, but I could NEVER find it!!
So happy day...it's come back home!!


Bears...well. The game was fun. We went to friend's house and watched it!! Food was great, conversation fabulous, TV huge and HD...that's definitely the way to watch a game!!!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Work, work, work...



My latest layout...and I'm "tada!!!" done with Meesh's graduation album. And speaking of done..

Got my albums done. Yeah!! They are all lined up and I'm way more plugged in on what pictures I've done and what ones I haven't. And I've done ALOT!! Some pictures I've done twice. Sheesh. Like I don't have enough to do that I'm double dipping!!


Went to Theresa's today and packed up Lindsay's room and purged Theresa's kitchen. WOOHOO!!! I love doing that stuff. Seriously love it. But I forgot how exhausting it is...And she made a huge effort to get rid of a boat load of stuff before moving it. I'm fairly certain that there will be more on the other end, but a huge dent has been made.


And...started taking an online scrapping class called Choosing Joy. It's 8 weeks and the first week I was to make a binder and journal on some "stressors" and what makes me laugh. I'm supposed to include pix of myself and, once again, I find myself not having what I need. Sigh.
For the cover of the binder, I took ribbons strips and lined the left side, used rubons to make "joy" and stickers to spell "choose". The center of the flower is just a green circle with my initial stamped on it.
This is the inside cover. I used a couple of Stampin Up kits to make a book plate with my name and the date/time I started the book. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but I might have to add some sparkle to it tomorrow.
This book will be entirely created out of my stash. That excites me almost as much as the book. And it will be my 21st project completed this year.
Pulled out the stuff to start BBG on Monday. Then had a burrito for dinner. Probably not on the plan!! LOL


Tomorrow...Bears opening game. YIPEE or is it YIPPEE????

Thursday, September 6, 2007

So I'm reading anOTHER book

and realized I haven't started my book club book. GOtta read that one next. Anyway. Reading Tony Dungy's book, compliments of my niece. I thought I'd read one chapter and before I knew it, had read 4. The guy is really humble. His parents taught him to value the precious gift of education. He's a man of unbelievable faith and grace. And I can't wait to continue reading...
I started sorting my scrapbook pages that were randomly put in albums. Darn it...I should have taken a picture when they were all pulled out. I'll go take one now. I realized a couple of things...
1) It's not as hard as I thought it would be.
2) I'm glad I started it on Thursday so I can be done by Saturday.
3) I have scrapped a freakin' lot of pages.
4) My style has changed eNORmously. My old pages...well...you have to see them.
5) I STINK at dismantling albums and putting in spacers. I ruined an entire album today. GOod thing it's one I don't even like.

AND>>>>My Prison Break DVDs came!! Joseph and I cracked open disc one and watched 4 shows tonight. I have to finish watching them so Meesh can have them to get Lauren up to speed before the premiere in 11 days. Oh the pressure....

I have had a few insights last night...

and honestly, I don't know that any of them are good. Ok, well, some of them came over night and first thing this morning.
1) I am gaining weight. (Big clue: broke a belt loop getting my jeans on today) Ridiculous that I don't work out when I have plenty of time to sit in front of a computer screen but not enough time to work out.
2) I expect to lose weight by complaining to myself that I"m gaining weight. And I'm telling you, I'm going to be in big trouble by October if I don't do something. I don't think any of my jeans will fit.
3) I"m overwhelmed by the idea of working out the rest of my life. Why can I be fine with scrapping and reading the rest of my life and not this? I think it's because I can stop scrapping or reading for a while and pick it back up with not so much effort. But working out it more like eating...do it regularly, ongoing, or else.
4) I want immediate gratification for working out...like do it on Monday and drop lbs on Tuesday. Not gonna happen. And that's my big stall...I don't see results fast enough or on an ongoing basis enough. And I quit.
5) I hate clothes that don't fit right. I feel bloated and crabby and depressed.

Anyone got some motivation? Because even with those realizations, I STILL don't want to work out. Not one bit. And my shoulder is bothering me again from not doing it. And I STILL don't want to do it.

On the other hand...I"ve scrapped almost 900 pix this year and over 300 pages. OK, off to start my day and dry my hair before it's another baaaaaaaad hair day.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

someone sent me this list of questions...

1. What’s the last mistake you made? I made toast and then forgot about it till lunch...so now I'm eating old toast and blueberry jelly
2. Is the sun shining? Sort of. It's bright but there's no yellow orb
3. Can you successfully blow up and tie a balloon? Only if I stretch it and stretch it beforehand. Asthma and balloons don't really go together.
4. Do you like text messaging? Much to my husband's dismay. My nieces are my top texting pals!
5. Are you having a good/bad hair day? Bad, it's going in more directions than it should
6. What was your last purchase? Hmmm...scrapbook paper this weekend.
7. Are you wearing any make-up right now? Not today
8. What are your plans for later? Have bible study class at FAOG.
9. What is your favorite DDR song? I don’t do DDR.
10. Is there any drama within your life? Not at the moment..thank God!!
11. What is a song they need to stop playing on the radio? Hey there Delilah
12. Are you content with life right now? Content...yep. That's what I feel.
13. Does anyone like you? I think so
14. What is your current obsession? Organizing my scrapbooks...nightmare but an obsession. Well, that and waiting for my Prison Break DVD to come. Well, that and the Bears.
15. Do you have your license? Yes...
16. Ever been kissed under mistletoe? Every year we have one.
17. Would you ever smile at a stranger? Yup, I do it all the time!
18. Ever done a random act of kindness? Yes, I believe in paying it forward. I hope you do too.
19. Do your toenails have nail polish on them? Yes, OPI red like roses I think.
20. When is the last time you wore eyeliner? Sunday
21. Last curse word you said was? probably have to ask my niece what one...
22. Are your lips chapped? Nope, being September chapping isn't a problem
23. Are you currently jealous? No. Well maybe. Of people who are in better shape than me.
24. Do you own an iPod? SIgh. No. But I do have an mp3 phone
25. Did you have a dream last night? Yes, but can’t remember what it was. I know it involved Lynda's kids...
26. Are you mad at anyone? No
27. Who is the most random person you know? Joseph is pretty freakin' random
28. What’s going on this weekend? Gloriously, nothing. I might scrap alot. Or see #14. Definitely #14 for Sunday at 3:15
29. Done any spring cleaning lately? Yes...well. it's fall cleaning now, right?
30. Anything bothering you? When I can discuss some private news...or really, to act on it.
32. Did you wish for anything last night on 11:11? nope
33. Do you drink coffee on a regular basis? If a regular basis is NEVER.
34. Do you wish you were someone else? No
35. What jewelry are you wearing? Diamond studs (two pairs in each ear)
36. Ate any exotic food lately? Oriental eggplant is about as exotic as we got.
38. Are you easily amused? I think so
39. Can you lick your elbow? What kinda freaky question is that???
40. Do you know this song, “we stay fly no lie you know this”? Nope!
41. What piercings do you have? 2 holes in one ear, three in the other.
42. Do you have a crush right now? Just the usuals...
43. What are your plans over the fall? Scrapbook, see my niece-y, spend more time with my dd, survive my son's foray into working (when he gets a job), hang out with my girlfriends, start a bible study, forgive easily, be thankful often, laugh out loud, read lots of books, and get off my lazy butt and start working out again.
44. How’s life going for you? It’s really good...
45. What is on your mind just this second? This asthma inhaler tastes like crap, even after I rinsed my mouth.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

We're in our 2nd week of school

well, actually, we completed it!! So far, so good. This school year will bring lots of changes...Joseph graduates this year and will be at JJC next fall. I won't be a mentor mom any more. So sad about that. I hate politics. But the blessing that may come is other women will be, perhaps, able to step in and experience the amazing gift of mentor-momdom. I know that's not a word, but it is NOW!!
My schedule went from Tuesday and Wednesdays being booked, to having literally the entire week free except Friday afternoons. Joseph will undoubtedly benefit, although I'm sure his opinion of mornings aren't shared by me. I'd like to be up and at 'em, doing school by 9 am and I've had to wake him every morning except one. So, he either sets his alarm this week and gets his booty out of bed or his father wakes him up before he leaves. I want to be done iwth school by 2...including checking his work...
Cassie called from her honeymoon. She called during that excuse for a Bears' game. They ended up going to Chattanooga and Nashville and will circle back to Bowling Green , Ky. She sounded relaxed and happy and just plain good. I'm glad for her...glad that she's sounding so good, glad that that had a honeymoon, glad that it wasn't 42 hours round trip in the car. Can't wait to see the pix of the wedding...
We told them we'd take them out for a "welcome to married life" dinner when they get home. There's a restaurant that Chris wants to try and this seems like a good excuse to do it. I pray that I can continue to support and celebrate them in the coming days and months and years. And that our family, now one larger, can really put these past 2.5 years in the past and begin to heal and LOOK like a family, not "Intervention"...that show on A&E I think.
OK, so I'm ready to start scrapping again. I want to crop. I want to go out and laugh with my friends. I checked out Crop Paper Scissors, which has free crops all the time and the new one back on 30 in Plainfield, ScrapAddict. I like them both. CPS is more laid back and SA is way higher energy. I guess it depends on what I'm in the mood for!! Both have free crops...but SA has free crops even on Fri/Sat and CPS has free crops when their normal Fri/Sat crops and classes aren't going on. Decisions, decisions.
Today is the first of a 30 day class I'm taking online called Choosing Joy. This is my second time doing it and I'm going to TRY to do it this time!! LOL

"He'd heard people ask, 'If you could have anyone, living or dead, come to dinner, who would it be?' Shakespeare's name usually came up at once; he'd also heard Mother Teresa, the Pope, St. Augustine, Thomas Jefferson, Pavarotti, Bach, Charles Schultz…"
"For his money, he couldn't think of anyone he'd rather be having for dinner than the very ones who were coming."
-Out to Canaan by Jan Karon

This is how I feel every single time I have an even or go to one. There are people I wish could come that maybe aren't there that month, but I love every single time I hook up with people. There's always something to think about and learn and laugh about.
Who would YOU want to come to dinner?