New Blogs for Me

I am splitting my blog up. I will now have one just for crafts and scrapbooking - check out My Reckless Abandonment and for daily life, musings, and other snippets of information Somewhere between Going and Crazy.

Layout Share

It's been a while. I just finished this for the Bad Girls Top Designer competition. The design principle this week was layering. The N appears off in "UNCLE" due to the scan. The colors aren't as vibrant as IRL too, especially since I used glimmer mist on the cardstock and denim stars. But the word art overlay is from wordle.net. I just typed in my journaling and printed it on a transparency. If you haven't wordle'd yet, GO check it out. It was a tool in my Type+Write class at the Spraground.

Everyday Sibling Moments

Those moments that all too often don't make it into my scrapbook albums, because I didn't capture the moment with words or photographs. Those moment spent in constructive play together, which usually requires the destruction of some part of my house. Today you were protecting the 2 worms you found from vicious birds of prey. What looks like a scattering of toys to the untrained eye is really a complex contraption to ensnare unaware birds who get to close and battle gear to fend off the enemy. These are the moments I'm thankful to watch and blessed to stay home for. I love you both!!

I did it!

I signed up for the Type+Writer class at the Spraground. I so admire Jessica's teaching style anyway. The class started today. Part of the assignments are just to write. And here's my first.

A cloudy overcast day. Just awaiting the inevitable rain that will come. Logan has been dropped off at school, a load of laundry has been folded, a load is washing and another is fluffing for folding. Gabriella found the xylophone downstairs and brought it up to the family room. As I emerge from the basement, she wants to put on a concert for me. I'm thinking of all I need to get done. I scan the family room, there are many things I can do in this room while she performs for me. --She says pointing "sit on the step here." I don't really have time. I sit. My mind makes a list of the next few things I should do, as my daughter plays her first song. She's seated on the carpet her legs bent. She extrudes a happy aura at being the center of my attention -- and I decide right then it will be UNDIVIDED. She performs. I applaud. She ends. I yell "encore" (and then explain what that means). She happily complies, thrilled to be asked for another musical masterpiece of her own making. An she ends with a standing ovation.

(Note: I did ponder taking a picture to capture the moment, but quickly dismissed it as to not deter from the moment itself.) I also read this aloud to Don, who is a wonderful story teller and writer, and his response, he liked it. A simple statement, but for me, a gushing accolade.

I also wrote about where I write best. Usually that when I'm cooking dinner, possibly doing the dishes, and after I thought some more, putting the kids to sleep. It really shouldn't be too big of a surprise. I'm only concentrating on the 1 thing and not multi-tasking. Most nights the kids get TV time while I prepare dinner, and if I'm doing dishes Dad's home and probably has them, so I only have to lightly listen for them. And well, when I'm putting them to sleep, they are suppose to be quiet. So I'm free to think, to ponder, to pontificate. I realize and revise layout journaling, blog entries, and daydreams. The problem seems to come with the idea that I'll remember it when I finally get to a piece of paper --sadly, this never happens. That thrilling beginning, the majestic middle, and compelling conclusion all become forever lost.

You're looking at the new PreK/K Sunday School Teacher

Let me say that again....You're looking at the new PreK/K Sunday School Teacher. I was asked a about it, and well quite frankly I didn't want to do it. And a little while back I had wanted to start possibly applying for design team positions and when I prayed over it, my answer became clear that I should concentrate on my home. So when I was asked about being the younger kids teacher, I didn't even think my answer would be a yes. And with everything going on in life and the adjusting to school life and an early bedtime and wake up time, I didn't even have a chance to pray about it until Friday afternoon, and even then I was interrupted 2x with phone calls and 2x by kids. And I was confused about the scriptures I had received, and told Don that the first 2 passages were all about me being a sinner. The next one was from 1 Timothy 1
Warning Against False Teachers of the Law 3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law[a] is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The Lord's Grace to Paul 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So I was like the first part in conjuction with the sinner afirmations, I would say not only should I not be one, but I'm worried about my future in Christ. To which my DH said, You're not going to like what I'm going to say. But I would say He says your a sinner, but that His best teacher was the worst sinner. Ok, Ok. He always gets His way, but He has to drag me kicking and screaming most of the time. Today was my first class, and, of course, I only had a couple of hours to prepare. It went well, however, I prepared for a more kindergarten age and most of the kids were only 3, yikes. So I'll be better prepared next week.

GM 1st day, & fun

GM's first day of preschool.




Today at the popcorn festival.

A fun time at the popcorn fest today. First a parade, followed by some inflatable fun, lunch out with friends and now home & preparation for tomorrow's church picnic (carnival theme).

School Started. LC's in K and doing well. GM had her first day of preschool last Tues (haven't downloaded those pics yet). Daddy walked her over, but I was room mom that day, so I joined the class after dropping off LC at K. Don actually called me as I was on my way to her school & said he left her. She was doing fine & I was in the classroom about 5 minutes before she realized I was there. Then she came & gave me a big hug & kiss. Thursday, she decided she wanted to be dropped off first as she didn't want to miss a single minute of free play time with her "friends". She's such a big girl. I spent the entire morning editing photos and printing them so I can scrapbook them. It was nice to be able to do it during the day without interruption and without guilt, but boy did I miss her.

I'm really starting to gear up for starting both of their school 12x12 albums. I've found the color of Bazzill cardstock I'd like to use, now I have to order several packages. Still looking for the right pattern paper mixes. I've found some in the past, but I think all but 1 is discontinued as they are from last year. A real problem with scrapbooking in my opinion. I think each year will be at least 4 pages (more can go in as they get older and the year has more involved). Of course, I'll have to have a pocket for memorabilia.

As for paperwork and art work, I just can't see saving every scrap of paper that comes in the house. I think I'm going to save everything for the school year. Then go through the box and pick things that are meaningful for the year. Some may get scanned and printed on a much smaller scale to use. Some may go directly into the pocket. Heck, I may even use some as my background paper (have to make sure I use that spray stuff on it). Of course, my son has asked about his paperwork/art and how we're going to save it. He has issues with not saving every scrap. I wonder how other's handle it. My SIL put my niece's into a binder at the end of every day last year. I should go see how full that binder is & if she kept everything. What grade do you stop keeping everything? Will I have a big binder for every year? I don't have the space for that. hmmmm.