Happy New Years!

Isn't it always the case that we look back at resolution from the new years past & think "if I would have stuck that out, that would have been great!"

Not me my friends.....I don't really set up high and lofty goals for myself. No, I am not an underachiever. I just like to see where life leads, if you will.

However, I think I will change that a bit this year. I am making a few goals (not record setting in way, mind you!) to keep myself accountable my desires. So here a few that I am setting down in black & white for all the world to see:

1. get to weight loss goal of 15 lbs by feb 1. (already lost 12.6, put on a couple over the past 2 weeks, yuck!)

2. submit my pages and projects to more contests & hopefully get one page published.

3. be more deligent in my time with God (seeing as how this is #3, you can see my priorities are messed up!)

4. journal more to remember the little things of everyday (a la Ali Edwards!)

there you have it folks, my 2008 goals & aspirations! Please share some of yours w/ me!

I pray that you all have a wonderful New Years w/ blessings abound!

It's a green light...

This has been a crazy week of shuttling my husband around because my car was in the shop for a recall, he sold his truck, new truck in the shop for minor repairs and over-all checking out. So I pick him up from work tonight and let him take over driving because people are insane out there right now!! He's driving along and waiting to make a left turn at a green light and then we hear Bryson yell from the back seat, "It's a green light, why you not going?". We all got a chuckle out of that. So Chris proceeds to try and explain the law of the road to our 3 year old. When he is done, he asks Bryson "Do you understand now?" His response, "yeah, it's a green light but you not going!"

PRICELESS. Gotta love their little minds and the one-trackedness they have. :)

So Thankful

This time of year always makes me so thankful for all that I have. I see so many in need and hurting & I realize how much I take for granted. I am so thankful to have been blessed with the amazing man that God gave me as my husband. This man does everything he possibly can to be able to provide for our family. But not only is he an incredibly hard worker, but he loves his family so much. I love to see how into our kids he is. I see him light up everyday when he walks through the door and he is bombarded by three totally pshyched out kiddos. He loves to hear them shriek "Daddy!!!". It just warms my heart. He is the father I never had, always wanted, and so thankful that my own children got.

i am thankful for my three crazy kiddos. yes, there are many days when I am certain I can not do this mothering gig a moment more. but with God's grace, I can start new everyday & see my children the way my Father does. They are truly amazing people. They make me want to be a better person. They bring me to my knees & bless me greatly. i am thankful that they are healthy and that God trusted me with them.

i am thankful for the country I live in. I am very thankful that I am free to worship God & be able to have the rights that I do, especially as a woman. I am so very thankful for the military that serves and protects this mighty nation. I am thankful for the leadership of this country who seek the guidance of the Lord.

i am so thanful for my family, friends, and all that God has seen fit to give me. But most of all, i am thankful for the little baby boy that was born to save me 2000 years ago. Merry Christmas everybody.

what have I been doing?

Is this not the MOST WONDERFUL piece of Christmas holiday decor you have ever seen??

ok, the two of you who read my blog are wondering where are those swell Christmas projects Ericka was raving about?? or maybe not. but I am going to show you some today anyway. My scrapbook room looks like it has been ransacked by other crafters who have a vendetta against me. There is absolutely NO method of organization in place at the moment. It is really starting to bother me. I can't find anything in here but instead of cleaning and try to sort through this madness....I will post pictures of my beautiful projects instead!! hehehe!

My Noel sign (tribute to Noel Joy! ;) )makes me so very very happy!! I used the chipboard letters from Creative Imaginations Bare Elements. The paper is from MM and BG. I inked the edges (because there is very little that is safe from inking with me around!) and added some gorgeous BG white swirl rub-ons. Add a little paint, some jingle bells and pretty ribbon and you have this wonderful piece of lushesness to decorate your home!! Maybe I am a little over the top with excitement but it just makes me GUSH!!!! LOVE IT!!

I have also been a card making fool (Mandy can attest to that, the card-making that is, not the fool part). Besides the 40 Christmas cards I hand made, I am making 5 sets of 12 cards as gifts for teachers and Grandmas. Here are just two sets-already gave one set away & working on two more sets.

throw in some frames to alter

and I am tired but ready to keep going!!! I still have ornaments to make, art boards, and some more frames before everything is done. But I love creating & I can't wait to get back to scrapping actual pages again!! So, there you have it! This is what I have been doing!! :)

In the beginning

this blog is an attempt to capture my daily life as a daughter of God, wife, mom, and scrapbooker. it is just another tool to help me remember the daily musings of our family & the creative process to capture them for generations to come. I want to be able to share my thoughts, my passions, my lunacies, and my happiness.

God has given me a tremendous desire to create. Never knew it was there until 5 1/2 years ago. It has been growing and I don't know where it will lead me but if it is only for my family and friends, then that is great! I enjoy sharing this love of scrapbooking and the journey it has taken me & to see others embark on the same, yet very different journey.

so hang on my friends...let me try to inspire you today.

• Take a bunch of random pictures of your daily life. It doesn't have to be posed or even include people, but do try to get yourself in one of them. Whatever it is you do today, capture it on your camera!
• find a project you really like and try to make it yourself and make it your own!
• Sit down and reflect on your blessings and joys. Make a scrapbook page about it!

that's about it for today. I am working on a TON of Christmas projects and will be posting them within the next few days. So I hope you visit again & let me know if you were inspired to do any of the things above!