Meanderings of a Mommy's Mind

Lessons Learned from a Week of Mondays

2012-02-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

Last week was, well, pretty crappy. Errr...pukey. VERY pukey. Started on Sunday afternoon with a houseful of kiddos feeling so ill they were completely disinterested in SuperBowl snacks. (Crazy, right?) *sigh* The week just "got better" from there...and even Friday brought little relief. (Though my attitude was much improved just by virtue of Fridayness.)

The good news is that I had the opportunity to prepare for half-times at Saturday's Upward Basketball games. I got a little tired of listening to myself whine. (OK, a LOT!) So I decided to see if I could tie a week of Mondays to Valentine's Day and the Universe's Ultimate Valentine. Rather, I tuned into some major Divine prodding...and this is the result, which I shared (in random iterations) during half-times on this last Saturday. I was incredibly blessed by the opportunity to share these thoughts with the Upward families. After a few requests for the write-up, I thought I'd share here on my blog:

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…anyone know what Tuesdayis?? (Valentine’s Day)

Anyone here hoping for one of those BIGmushy, flowery cards cut in the shape of a heart? Maybe some flowers? A box of chocolates? A stuffed animal? Got big plans for a romantic night out?

No plans? Going through a dry spell or a loss?

Well, I’m not trying to be a wet blankethere, but, well, get ready for disappointment. What if the card isn’t mushy enough? The flowers wilty the chocolatesall those weird nutty ones? What if youare alone? What if the stuffed animal isn’t big & fluffy enough?

Don’t worry!! No need to turn into a Valentine's Day Protester…you’ve got a chanceto get to know the best Valentine EVER. You could even say the Universe's Ultimate Valentine!! In the Psalms, we are told: Foras high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those whofear him (Psalm 103:11).

I don’t know about you, but I have no CLUE exactly how highthe heavens are above the earth, so I’m just going with “that’s a really longway.” And let's assume that I've accepted the reality of God's love for me. But I'm a people. And people need reassurance sometimes. So, just how do I know? How does He show it? (I'm hearing that song from the movie "Enchanted" in my head right now!) Just ask Him!!!…later in the Psalms, we find outthat David did just that! In Psalm 143:8Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way Ishould go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Have you ever had one of THOSE weeks? The kind where you muddle through, prayingfor Friday? Well, long about Monday #3, I got pretty sick of wallowing in myself. So, I went looking forencouragement this week and I found it in a rather odd place—the book ofLamentations. YUP, Lamentations!! (Okay, I'll admit that I usually skip that one--right up there with Leviticus!)

Lam 3:32Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, sogreat is his unfailing love.

Lam3:22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for hiscompassions never fail.

So there you go… God’s love is there even in a week ofMondays—and sometimes easier to spot because we need to be LOOKING for itactively. No great big stuffed up bearsfell from the sky into my arms, no M & Ms rained down on me, but rather small, unexpected moments brought Him tomind. A few examples from my week, inretrospect:

a 7 year old beastie who thanked me for cleaningup her puke (no, really!)
a surprise latte delivered straight to my deskby a thoughtful co-worker
the *right* song playing on the radio at just the right time (Check out "Lift Me Up" by The Afters--GREAT song!!)
a brilliant, clear 4am star filled sky and alovely bright crescent moon on my way to work
a 16 year old joining in a family Veggie Talessing-a-long when she thought we weren’t looking
And my favorite…a random conversation with mychildren about WHY God made a bazillion kinds of flowers instead of justone. (I LOVE this idea!) Think about it...He loved us soooo much that he gave us a HUGE variety of flowers, trees, what have you, knowing that, like him, we would enjoy variety. WOW!

Here’s what else I’ve learned this week. God’s greatest gift of love is the Cross,true. That kind of amazing event doesn’t happenevery day…but the demonstrations of His enduring love DO! It’s not just hearts& flowers that romance us to His side. We have His love letter—the Bible—and we haveeach other.

So, Upward families…a challenge for you—be on thelookout. What Valentines did God sendYOU this week?

Everything Wendy Vecchi: Making Art Challenge #26

2011-09-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

This week Making Art Challenge #26 rolled around on Everything Wendy Vecchi ...and List Hostess extraordinaire Lori challenged us to create a Studio 490esque project based on Page 27 of Wendy Vecchi's Making Art Book #2. Rough guidelines were to use polka dots, a face and, of course, at least one Studio 490 stamp.

Inspiration struck when I received my package from the wonderful gals over at Absolutely Everything which included a sampler package of Wendy's Clearly For Art. I decided to try to play with it a bit for this project...learned a few things! (Um...this stuff gets hot. So does the air coming out of a heating tool. So do the tweezers or clamps you use to hold your Clearly for Art embellishment.) I have a lot more to learn about this fun medium...in the meantime, I like the flowers. ;-) Also tried a different--for me--color palette than my usual blues & greens, and I think I'll have to try these colors more often.

EVW MAC #26: Face & Polka Dots

Lacking possession of a Wendy face, I had to go a different route. Luckily, I benefited from a recent stash sale by Susan K, a fellow Wendy Vecchian. I started with a Studio 490 Art Parts ATC, thinking I would crop the face quite a bit, but when I saw the whole face together, I just had to leave her the way she was. ;-) (She did lose a bit of her mouth...but the eyes were the key feature here anyway!) The lady on the base is stamped on a background of Dried Marigold, Antique Paper, Scattered Straw and a wee bit of Pumice Stone. Script background is from Hero Arts stamped in Pumice Stone. My gal is stamped in Frayed Burlap.

Wings are more Art Parts, stained with Fired Brick. I softened the color a wee bit with some Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on top. To make the flowers, I used a couple of different Wendy stamps on Clearly for Art and grunge paper. Orange floral bits are punched from the same background as the framed sentiment. The grunge paper flower is stained & inked with Fired Brick & Dried Marigold.

Sentiment is Wendy's, stamped in black archival. I wanted to punch up the color a little--was hoping to pull more of the orange tone from the base--so the sentiment background is Wild Honey, Dried Marigold and Scattered Straw. Frame is another Art Part, stained in multiple layers of Dried Marigold. Polka Dots on sentiment background are in Frayed Burlap; on the frame in Vintage Photo. I put a layer of Rock Candy Distress Stickles on the grunge flower, wings and the small frame to give 'em some sparkle.

Artful charm is from Tim Holtz. Random other stuff from my stash.

Thoughts? Tips? Suggestions? For TRUE inspiration, join the fun with the talented ladies at Everything Wendy Vecchi ...Challenge #27 should kick off on Wednesday morning!

Catching Up: Everything Wendy Vecchi MAC #25

2011-09-19T17:19:00.000-04:00

I've been behind the 8 ball for a few weeks....in my house, this is how we know that school started again!!...jumped into the Making Art Challenge #25 over at Everything Wendy Vecchi, but didn't finish it before the challenge time was up. But since I went to all the effort to finish it up, I'm gonna inflict it on you, despite my tardiness!! hee hee hee

The challenge was to create a tag using only one or two of Wendy's Studio 490 stamp sets. Since I had a crazy idea to do a tag that told a little story, I picked Gentleman's Art and Residential Art. Tried my hand stamping onto an Art Part, too.

EWV MAC #25

I started with a manilla tag, stamping a Stamping Up background stamp called "Ticking" in Scattered Straw, embossed with clear. Inked it up with Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters. The gentleman is one of Wendy's Art Parts; he's inked up with Distress Stain in Story Skies. I stamped the coordinating stamp on top of him in Black Soot, then embossed with black Zing powder. Helpful tip...make sure you are stamping the right side of the guy!! (That whole spatial relationships thing still eludes me!)

A few Creative Memories punchies--flowers & heart--and some thread from my stash make up the bouquet. Journaling ticket is from Tim Holtz; edged Pumice Stone. Last touch? A few dots of black Enamel Accents and....VOILA!!

Never guess it took me so long to finish this simple project...but packing 5 lunches is really time consuming!! LOL!!

We've moved on to Making Art Challenge #26 (post to follow soon!) and Challenge #27 will begin on Wednesday this week. But do check out the fun by clicking here: Everything Wendy Vecchi.

Everything Wendy Vecchi...MAC #22

2011-08-16T17:11:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge from Lori at Everything Wendy Vecchi is from Wendy's first book, page 15. We needed to make a card using two similar border strips and a scalloped edge. Use of at least one Wendy Studio 490 stamp goes without saying, of course! I learned three valuable "whoops!" type lessons with this project...

Keeping with my plan to learn some new techniques and try working with new materials this week, I made my base from a piece of grunge paper, something I'm still trying to figure out. I used Peeled Paint distress stain to ink it up...I really wanted a nice brightish color. (Sidenote...cannot seem to get a decent picture of the colors here...in real life, the greens are nice and bright, offset by nice light, medium & dark blues. *sigh*) Once it was dry, I spritzed it with a little Faded Jeans. Rounded the corners on the left edge; used a Martha Stewart scallop punch to create the required scallop edge. Okay, not so creative, but well...

EWV MAC #22

I used two coordinating pieces of Making Memories paper--a light blue gingham print and a bright green stripe--for my borders. Stamped 'em with Wendy's polka dot and splatter background stamps in CTMH Outdoor Denim. On the blue gingham, I topped it off with some Pumice Stone just for fun. 'tude Lady was stamped on grunge, inked in Outdoor Denim and embossed with clear. Lesson Learned #1...If you are going to cut out your image, do it BEFORE you emboss!!

Lesson Learned #2...heating grunge makes it curl, which makes it even weirder when you've already attached regular paper that doesn't curl. Harder to flatten, too. How did I learn this? I stamped & embossed Wendy's sentiment (and my little twist--there's a question mark under the flower petals) AFTER I had the border strips attached. Also added part of another Wendy sentiment in Peeled Paint along the right edge..."Attitude.:

The crown to go with the royal sentiment is a bit of grunge board from Tim Holtz's random die cut package. First attempt, I inked it in Outdoor Denim, then embossed with both clear and diamond sparkle powders. Lesson Learned #3...apparently, you CAN over emboss. You'll note that the crown now bears a coating of Stickles in Tiara. ;-)

Rayon seam binding dipped in Peeled Paint and Faded Denim stains makes my card a tag. Flowers & buttons are from my stash. Needed a wee bit "more" so my Peeled Paint distress stickles came in handy for some dotty fun.

Join the fun yourself and check out the talented contributions of fellow Wendy Vecchians by clicking here.

PS: Lesson Learned that I Should Have Already Known...when used to cover up embossing mistakes, stickles take a REALLY long time to dry!! But I have a nice sparkley thumb now...

Simon Says...Stamp & Show us some Tim Holtz

2011-08-15T00:08:00.000-04:00

The talented folk over at Simon Says Stamp & Show asked us to show them a Tim Holtz technique. I pulled out my personal copy of A Compendium of Curiosities and perused the volume on a quest to find something new and fun to try. Settled on a couple of new—to me—techniques: Rusted Grunge (page 45) and Double Distress (page 40). Here goes:

Simon Says Stamp & Show Us some TIM HOLTZ

My base is a piece of grunge paper inked in Vintage Velvet and Peeled Paint. After it dried, I ran it through my Texture Boutique with a Postcard texture fade (also from THE Tim) Next, the Double Distress technique calls for you to take a coordinating color and rub the pad direct over the raised areas. I used Forest Moss for that step. Next, you take a darker color—I used Black Soot—and wipe the pad directly on your nonstick mat. Face down, swipe the embossed item across the darker ink. I like the results…the second step only hits the highest points and really highlights the texture of the design. That Tim Holtz is a smart guy!

The Rusted Grunge bit is the bookplate in the upper right corner. Originally, it was a grunge board bit from Tim’s assortment of pre-cut designs. Embossing ink, Vintage Photo Distress embossing powder and a few swipes of Vintage Photo Distress Ink later…and there we go! Years of rust in a few short minutes.

The photo, clock face, ticket & 27 are from Tim’s Lost & Found Idea-ology sticker book. Sentiment is also Tim’s, as are the foliage leaves and paper clip. Crackle Accents helped age those up a bit. Flowers, brads, rhinestones & charm are from my stash.

Ended up mounting the whole thing on a piece of cardstock that I inked up in the same colors—Vintage Velvet and Peeled Paint. I like how the white cardstock took the ink differently from the grunge, but sets it all off well.

This was a great learning experience…thanks Simon Says Stamp& Show!

Making Art Challenge #21...Distress Resist

2011-08-10T06:53:00.000-04:00

Howdy, howdy, hi HI!! Welcome...please do NOT fall out of your chair. Two posts in one week? YIKES! This might just become a habit!

This week's Making Art Challenge over at Everything Wendy Vecchi was to create a card based on Wendy's book 1, page 15. Wendy's fabulous example uses a pigment ink resist technique. But since I'm not overly successful at doing it myself, I'll let you see it from the wise woman herself...click here to check it out!

Here's my take:

EWV MAC #21

I struggled with this one a bit, since when I tried it the first couple of times, I ended up with more white pigment ink on my inky blender than was left on the cardstock. *sigh* So....I used the couple that turned out well--smaller bits!--and used them for accents on a larger card. Pretty simple, but I think hubby will like it when he finds it on his car seat tomorrow morning!

Base is a simple kraft cardstock. I covered it with some 7 Gypsies paper from their Lille 8 x 8" pad. Top edge continues into the inside of the card and is anchored with another freehand pink heart. I inked the base patterned paper with Worn Lipstick & Antique Linen. The patterning on the paper was so pretty I didn't want to mess with it too much.

The brown distressed items are actually two torn pieces of the same stamped & inked image. Base stamp is the ledger from Studio 490 Artfully Noted, stamped on kraft paper in white pigment, dried, then distressed in Vintage Photo. I tore the whole image into a few pieces and roughed up the edges. Added more Vintage Photo to the torn edges and called it 'mah-velous, dahlink'! Stamped the "happily ever after" sentiment from Homemade Art on the larger bit.

Hearts are freehanded from a piece of cardstock that was also resist stamped. For those, I used the number background from the Studio 490 Dimensional Rose Art stamp set. Inked in Worn Lipstick over the resist, cut out and then edges inked in a bit of Vintage Photo & Fired Brick. Here's a close-up so you can see the resist background a bit better--but you still have to look closely to see the numbers in the background:

Close-up of Hearts

Inside, I stamped the "Let your heart lead the way" stamp from Gentleman's Art--from Wendy Vecchi, of course!! Hubby will find this wee bit of lovey-dovey-ness in his car tomorrow morning...hope he likes!

Hope you like it, too! Somehow, my stuff never quite makes it to the level of the other players in this game, but that's OK. hee hee hee Just bought a Stampotique stamp that says "Bad art is better than no art!" I quite agree... Now...get out there and join in the fun. Get a little--or a lot!--of ink on those fingers! (or glue, or marker, or whatever floats YOUR boat!)

Simon Says...Stamp & Show Us a TAG

2011-08-07T22:07:00.000-04:00

Greetings & Salutations, Fellow Travelers of the Crafty Road! This week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show was to create a tag. Now, I'm throwing my creation in the ring, but I gotta tell ya'...these gals are AMAZING with the stuff they can figure out how to put on a single tag.

SSSS a Tag

I picked up Tim Holtz' Umbrella Man in a set just last week, so I felt the need to get him inky. ;-) Brolly Boy needed a storm to back him up...mine was created with Ranger's Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Dusty Concornd, Faded Jeans and some Black Soot. A spritz or two of water with my mini-mister and one stormy background was in play. I stamped my guy in CTMH black archival directly on the tag. Stamped him again on another bit of cardstock in Black Soot DI and embossed it in clear. Fussy cut him out and then popped him up on a few foam dots to give him some dimension. Rain drops are both "Rain Dots" by Cloud 9 Designs and some Glossy Accents.

I filled in one of Tim's memo pins with Glossy Accents to highlight the word "be"--a tidbit from another Tim stamp. (Can you tell I just read that part of Tim's Compendium of Curiousities book?!) Tacked on the "Courageous" token for a bit of an accent in the corner. The sentiment, of course, is but a well-worn cliche...the extra is my own take on making lemonade out of lemons. ;-) I printed it on plain paper, snipped the words apart, then inked it up with a bit of Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans. The brackets are brads from my stash. I thought I was done but for the ribbons, but when I looked again, it didn't have that "pop" factor, so I added a backing of textured black cardstock spritzed with some Tsuneninko Frost. Now, the ribbons could finish things off!

It's not too late to join the fun...I'd imagine you're much faster at this than I am! Check out the weekly challenges over at Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Now off to work on my Challenge #21 for Everything Wendy Vecchi!

ANYthing Goes at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

2011-07-31T20:14:00.000-04:00

This week, the gals at Simon Says Stamp & Show are busy with Design Team selections, soooooooo it was time for an ANYTHING GOES Challenge. I figured that since ANYthing would go, I could try my hand working with some new things for me...ATCs and grunge paper.

SSSS--Anything Goes!

I bought the grunge paper awhile ago, but haven't had the courage to play with it yet. Dove in today...errr...dipped my toe in. I inked it up--both sides!--with Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, and Broken China. Then I kinda thought.."now what?" Stamped a whole buncha different Wendy flowers and fussy cut 'em out, when I remembered that flowers weren't really part of the original plan. hee hee hee But now I have a random stash for when I need 'em! And--as you can see--a couple even made the cut. ;-)

The ATCs are another item I bought awhile ago after seeing the amazing ones created by my fellow Wendy Vecchians in a swap. The smaller format is appealing, but WOW! smaller is right!! I started with a sticky backed canvas ATC that I inked in Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Dusty Concord and a smidge of Faded Jeans. Added the birds in black archival from one of Tim's stamp sets, but only used a few of the larger ones. Decided I needed a few more and a little depth, so I stamped the same birds on the grunge paper and fussy cut those out, too. Popped 'em up on varying heights of pop dots. Then I stuck the canvas onto an ATC Art Part...wanted to give it some heft.

The sentiment is one of Tim Holtz's. I was really happy that I bought the smaller size of this sentiment...it's the perfect size for creating ATCs!! The tickets are Tim's, too. Brushed those with the Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass. Ribbon trim is rayon seam binding dyed with Distress Stain in Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass--that was another first for me, too! I love how the colors just mixed themselves all up!! Added the grunge paper flowers and a dangley jewelery bit (Industrial Chic from Michael's) for the finishing touches.

So....whaddya think? I know I've only scratched the surface of these new (to me!) things, but this was FUN! Suggestions are welcomed!!

Walkin' on the Wendy Side: MAC #20

2011-07-31T00:55:00.000-04:00

EWV MAC #20

Greetings! Faithful List-Mom Lori over at Everything Wendy Vecchi threw Making Art Challenge #20 at us this week. If you are lucky enough to have Wendy Vecchi's Make Art, Studio 490 Style Book 1, take a peek at Wendy's creation on Page 12. This week, we were to use 4 squares as our background and at least one Wendy Stamp. Since I'm on a Basic Grey roll this week, figured I'd work that in, too. I've been itching to start working with my newest of the BG Collections...Out of Print. I just LOVE this paper.

I started with a black 5 x 7" folded card. I trimmed about 1/2 inch from just the front along the long edge. For the first layer, I cut the BG stripey paper so that the stripes would be horizontal. Embossed that layer in my Texture Boutique, used Tim Holtz' Tonic distresser on the edges, then ran a little Black Soot over it to bring out the pattern (that's the Xs you see). I also cut a 3/4 inch strip from the stripey paper and adhered that to the inside of the card, along the open edge. So...when the card is closed, you can see the vertical stripe along the right edge (can't see it in the photo..oh well!).

Since I'm a scrapper first, I decided that I just couldn't mount squares straight on that stripey background, so..I cut 4 squares of light pink paper (the reverse of one of the patterns on my squares). Distressed each one with a little roughing up and more Black Soot ink. After I stuck those down, I used a script stamp across the pink tiled background for another layer.

Each of my other squares is a different bit of BG Out of Print paper. A couple of different tries with different background stamps turned into several "well, THAT didn't work" moments. Ended up leaving the squares 'as is' with just a wee bit of Black Soot on the edgest...and just a smidge of Spun Sugar & Worn Lipstick. Each square is embellished with a variety of flowers, brads, bling & ribbon from my stash. The sentiment is a Wendy stamp, stamped in black archival and embossed in clear. That last square, I popped up on foam dots and tried to make it look like it's hanging from the square above.

So there it is...MAC #20. Now, y'all oughtta play along! Hope on over to the Yahoo! EWV Group, check out the fun and then..GO MAKE ART!! Thanks for stopping by! Please do leave me a comment...would love to know what you think!

Everything Wendy Vecchi--MAC #19

2011-07-26T23:14:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge over at Everything Wendy Vecchi--use a bird and at least one Studio 490 stamp--was truly a challenge for me.

EWV MAC #19

Not really sure why, but I just struggled with finding ANY kind of creative mojo this week. Admittedly, it's been a wee bit of a rough one with the Zoo Crew, so...anyway, inspiration was running low. But I felt like I REALLY needed to do this...stretch a little, FIND a little something. So, without further ado, my MAC #19.

Taking a page from Marjie's book, I decided that I REALLY needed to use some of my Basic Grey paper stash. (Hi, My Name is Angie and I'm Addicted to Paper...I'm working the steps, but seem to be stalled outside the local scrapbooking store!) Anyway, the papers are all from the Origins collection, as are the bird and the chipboard embellishments.

The "a little birdie told me" is a Pink Paislee stamp.

Wendy's Studio 490 stamps used are the sentiment (black archival, embossed in clear), Queen Anne's Lace flowers (stamped multiple times in Frayed Burlap), and the bubbly background (Tea Dye). Added some texture & gloss with Glossy Accents and some bling from my stash...VOILA!

Check out the creations by my fellow Wendy Vecchians by clicking here: EWV! Great gals with amazing talent!

While Mommy Creates...

2011-07-25T10:43:00.000-04:00

The Zoo Crew crafts right alongside me....

How I love sharing crafting time with the beasties! Patrick likes to do things on a grand scale, thus the poster board cards. The best part of this project was the caption he put on the picture of Daddy..."You take that picture and you're dead meat!" Almost verbatim a quote from Dad when he saw me taking pics for the blog, LOL!

Ben is all dialed up on techniques and how to get the best detail in his designs--and he's not afraid of mixed media and 3D. His most amazing creation used 100 bright red plastic cups and army men...sadly, no photo exists of THAT lovely item. Oh...and he wanted me to take it to work for my desk!
Abbey digs the bling & the bright colors--she is the queen of more, MORE, MORE!! is better. (hmmmm...wonder where she gets that from?) Matthew is more of a straight-line guy...and he prefers to work in pencil and monotones.

Katie has moved away from paper crafting and is loving her ceramics classes at school; she's made some wonderful animals...including a purple porcupine with hand sculpted quills!!

We have fun planning "projects" for our company, too. For the Fourth of July, Abbey and I chose some cool summery paper palates and set up a card-making session for the Pigg-Kabrick ladies:

I'm glad these guys share my love of crafting!

Challenge Two-fer! MAC #18 & SSS

2011-07-17T21:16:00.001-04:00

Greetings! I know, I know...it's not 11:57 pm!! Pick yourself up off the floor...

FIRST things FIRST: HUGE big THANK YOU!! to Simon Says Stamp and Lori for my new Wendy Vecchi stamp set, Nature's Art. I am sooooooo appreciative of your generosity! And very much in love with this set!!!

Now, on to the deets:

EWV MAC #18 and SSS Some Stitching!

Lori, hostess extraordinaire at Everything Wendy Vecchi, challenged us to work with Book 1, Page 20's example and create with striped paper and a rectangular frame. I'm tweaking that a bit, as I believe squares are just an extra special rectangles. ;-) Hopefully, my fellow Wendy Vecchians will agree. My base is actually a random dollar bin find at Jo-Ann; it's a slightly padded frame with a lovely texture...but you have no way of knowing that since my original plan to ink the frame fell through. I have NO IDEA what kind of paper was covering that thing, but NOTHING I tried worked..not even alcohol inks. Weird. Could be lack of expertise, but what a MESS! Thank God for Backup Plan A! Textured chocolate brown cardstock to the rescue!! Rubbed some Vintage Photo DI on the top to give a little more depth to the design, but the swirls were handily already on the paper.

Striped papers are from the fabulous Mr. H's Retro Grunge stack--an interesting combo of deep greens, reds & cranberries that I did NOT want to go "holiday" with. Inside the frame, I inked the stripes with Fired Brick DI and a little Tea Dye. Then used my brand spankin' new Wendy gingham background from Nature's Art in CTMH Brown Bag. The sentiment is Tim's, stamped in CTMH Archival Black & embossed in clear to give it some pop. The brads are from Bo-Bunny, Mamarazzi. The outer frame is one of Wendy's Art Parts, covered in the same striped paper. Edges inked in Fired Brick and Tea Dye. I left the background stamp off this frame use of the striped paper. A few brown toned buttons and Voila!

The flower is also a Wendy Art Part, the smaller of the two flowers in the Florals set. Paper covering the flower (and making the butterfly) is from My Mind's Eye LifeStories stack. Flower edges are lightly inked with Fired Brick, then brushed with Tea Dye. Flower's center is a Wendy stamp from Homemade Art stamped in CTMH Garden Green on vellum. Roughed up the edges a wee bit, then inked with Antique Linen DI. Finished the flower with a button, key and Cranberry Waxy Flax (CTMH). Tag is from 7 Gypsies. That one came down to a choice between one that said "Real Life" or "Become"...went with this one because the tear-off bit at the bottom says "No. 47." Forty-seven is a bit of a cultural phenomenon at my alma mater, so I just HAD to go with the 47!! Actually kept wondering if the tag crossed into 'too much of a good thing' territory, but now that I'm looking at it more, I like how it offsets the symmetry of the piece a bit.

Butterflies are both stamped from the super awesome dotty butterfly in my new Wendy set. (Have I mentioned that I LOVE it?? THANK YOU again, Simon & Lori!!) Bottom layer was given the same treatment as the center of the flower. Top layer matches the flower, but is stamped in CTMH Barn Red. Both layers were embossed in clear. Butterfly's body was given the Glossy Accents treatment.

This week, our friends at Simon Says Stamp & Show asked to see some stitching (faux or otherwise!). Since I'm not so handy with a needle, this artist greatly appreciates the leniency to be faux! I incorporated "stitching" on the striped frame & flower on this creation. Stitch stamp on two sides of the frame is from Tim's Seamless Experience set. "Hand-stitching" around the flower done courtesy of my CTMH Chocolate pen.

I'm liking this project so much, it just may go with me to kick it in my cubical at work!

Still time to get yourself inky and play along--Simon's challenge goes 'til midnight tonight. EWV 'til Tuesday midnight. Click the links above to get started!

Simon Says...Show us a FLOURISH!

2011-07-10T23:59:00.001-04:00

Simon Says Stamp & Show...a flourish!

So the team over at Simon Says Stamp and Show challenged us to show 'em a flourish. And here's my valiant effort, LOL.

The base is a light cadet blue, inked in Vintage Photo over a Tim Holtz compass mask. I added a wee bit of Antique Paper DI after I removed the mask. Then, I used my favorite Wendy Vecchi spotty background stamp from A Ticket to Art in Tea Dye lightly misted with water.

The flourish in the upper left corner was stamped on the reverse side of some Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante paper with a CTMH stamp, then cut out. That brown paper has got a small print of lighter brown & golden gears all over it. Finished off that element with a Tim swivel clasp and tag charm.

The reverse side of the darker brown paper is used in the lower right corner as a mat for a Tim Holtz stamp "Not all who wander are lost" which I stamped in Faded Jeans on vellum.

NOTE: ANY and ALL tips on working with solid stamps like that so they turn out more legible will be gratefully welcomed!

Under that matted stamp is pleat folded vellum, stamped with a map background. Another couple of flourish-y stamps and some random gears and brads to round out the fun. Top it all off with some Vintage Photo Distress Stickles...and VOILA!

Now...since I'm posting this at the last possible second, there's not much time to play along this week, but DO join the fun for the next challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

Wency Vecchi: MAC #17 Red, White & Blue

2011-07-03T16:33:00.001-04:00

The challenge at Everything Wendy Vecchi this week was to make something Red, White & Blue. And, of course, a Wendy stamp is required! I decided to try my hand at using a bingo card as a base; last week at GASC I saw some lovely things done with bingo cards. Mine is from Jenni Bowlin. Not sure I did it justice, but well, I'm still claiming "newbie"! Thanks to another nice sale at Jo-Ann, I'm also the proud owner of Wendy Vecchi's Seriously Art stamp set...one I've been coveting for quite some time. Pretty much all of the stamps on this 'creation' are from that set.

EWV MAC #17: Red, White & Blue

I started with a bingo card with HOME as the title. A little distress ink in Fired Brick, Faded Jeans and Broken China turned it into the beginnings of my base. I stamped the polka dot background in both Fired Brick and Faded Jeans by dabbing both on the stamp at the same time. Using a large star as a stencil, I lightly sprayed sparkly mist in a star shape...mostly on the larger red section in the middle. Doesn't really show up here, but you can see it better in person. The red got a little watercolor-y and darker. It's a nice effect and I wish it showed up better on the photo!

I stamped the Serious dude twice..first in Faded Jeans, then in Fired Brick. Embossed both in clear. To give him more dimension I mounted the blue version on cardstock inked in Black Soot. I cut out the Fired Brick hat and bow tie, then popped them up on him with foam dots. I think he's my favorite part of this project.

After I goofed up the letter heading that was on the card, I attempted to resolve the problem with some chipboard letters. Inked 'em in Fired Brick, then embossed with clear.

Fireworks on the left upper side are done in stickles over a lightly inked Wendy Stamp--it's a Queen Anne's lace looking floral that, when upside down, looked firework-y to me. Patriotic brads, red rhinestones, chipboard button are from Jenni Bowlin. (I scored a $20 grab bag at their booth at GASC that had TONS of awesome goodies!) The jean pockets are die cuts from my stash. I roughed 'em up a bit and then put Crackle Effects on them. First time using the stuff. I think I'll get better. ;-) Stars are chipboard from my stash inked with Adirondack ink in Denim.

I'm glad I dove into this one...my fingers haven't been inky in a few weeks, but...this is one of those "it looked better in my mind" projects, LOL. Anyway, my friends from Everything Wendy Vecchi have done some AMAZING stuff (REALLY--don't let my ineptitude keep you from checking out their talent!). Join the fun and check it out by clicking the link above.

Happy 100th, Marjie!!

2011-06-22T18:45:00.001-04:00

YAY for my friend Marjie! She's already hit her 100th blog post...and to celebrate, she's giving YOU the chance to win a present! An AWESOME prize package, really, that goes wwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy beyond a mere "present."

Check out her super creative artwork on her blog...leave a comment on her 100th post and you just might win!! (And even if you don't, we are all a little richer for her presence on the web! So check out her blog and get inspired.) On the other hand....maybe don't...betters my chance at winning, right??

Keep blogging & making art, my friend!

Tear it Up!! Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge

2011-06-19T23:06:00.001-04:00

This week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show...Tear It Up! And get a little Distressed. Here's my pitiful attempt...

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Tear it Up!

Never have been very good with the whole "torn paper" thing, but I have to admit that I do LOVE the way the distress ink makes the edges pop. My card is simple enough...chocolate brown 4 x5 base with edges distressed in Tea Dye, Frayed Burlap and a wee bit of Faded Denim. I used a Stamper's Anonymous script background in CTMH Chocolate over that.

Cadet blue card was stamped in the bubbly background stamp from Wendy Vecchi's Studio 490 She Created Art set. First stamped in Faded Denim, then in Frayed Burlap. Misted with water and pounced. I let it dry, then used the watercolor stamping technique to stamp the dotty background from Wendy's Ticket to Art set in Tea Dye. Next, I tore the edges, then inked 'em up in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap.

The saying is from Tim Holtz, stamped on dotted vellum in CTMH Chocolate. Roughed up all the untorn edges with a Tonic Distresser (on the brown base, too!).

Butterfly charm is from Industrial Chic and is hanging on a Tim memo pin. Waxy Flax from CTMH; bling flourish is from my stash.

The whole thing is a wee bit simple (and perhaps too boxy), but since I stink at tearing it up, I'm gonna call it a win. ;-) Check out the entries this week by clicking the link above. And...if you're up for more fun, a new challenge will post each Monday!! Now get out there and make some art!

Simon Says Stamp & Show: A Tag

2011-06-12T11:09:00.000-04:00

This week, at Simon Says Stamp and Show, our mission was to create a tag. Yup! That's it...a tag. Overwhelmed by the abundance of the mailman's offerings yesterday--4 new Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 stamp sets, courtesy of a fabulous sale at Jo-Ann's!--I puttered with this assignment for quite some time. The final project uses not a single one of those new stamps, LOL. But I like it anyway! (And all the other puttering has lead so some elements for future challenges...so YAY!)

So here you go...

Simon Says Stamp & Show: TAG

All the paper is from the LUSH collection by My Mind's Eye. I love the deep blues and textures of this line, but the ivory background seemed a little bright for me, so I used Faded Denim distress ink with just a touch of Broken China mixed in. The base tag is stamped with a script Stamper's Anonymous stamps in Outdoor Denim from CTMH. Stamped the flowers (from my stash) with the same stamp.

The next layer is the LUSH Navy Dot paper, also distressed; I used CTMH Liquid Glass on all the dots to give 'em a little UUMPH. Tried a bunch of different ways to use the flocked Fleur-di-Lis paper and ended up just cutting one of the elements from the paper. Popped it up with some foam dots.

DREAM is just a snippet from one of Tim Holtz's stamps: LIVE, LOVE, DREAM. Couldn't resist a splash of hot pink...

Brads are also from the LUSH collection. Ribbons, pearl flourishes, charm & flowers are all from my stash. Upper right edge element is from CTMH.

Thanks for popping by! Be sure to visit Simon Says Stamp & Show for more fun weekly challenges...then grab your gear and get a little inky!!

Making Art Challenge #15: BLING it ON!!

2011-06-06T11:12:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge from the Yahoo! Group, Everything Wendy Vecchi is to model a card after Page 14 in Make Art, Studio 490 Style II and use some BLING--oh and don't forget the ever crucial Studio 490 stamp! Inspired by some funkadelic projects I've seen lately (and the coupon code provided by a fellow Wendy Vecchian!), I recently acquired a pad of Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante paper. Seemed just right for this challenge...so here you go:

Be Yourself: EWV MAC #15

The gal looked pretty kinda just like she was, so I cut that frame from a sheet of the Graphic 45 paper; she's distressed with a bit of Peeled Paint and Antique Linen. I inked the backside, too and turned the corner down, anchoring it with a brad and some layered flowers. After painting her fleshy parts in Spun Sugar Distress Stain, I blinged the babe out with some clear crystals. Here's a wee bit of a close-up of the corner:

I found the mirror charms at Michael's and had been looking for an excuse to use one with some girly thing. I'm thinking if I were gonna get all dolled up and blinged out, I'd be lookin' for that mirror!

Butterfly close up

The teal paper was already printed in an accounting style ledger, so I just added some distressing with Tea Dye and Antique Linen and then overstamped with another background, using Wendy's ledger script background stamp from her A Form of Art set. Be Yourself is also from A Form of Art. I can't remember which butterflies I used, but to keep them teal, I stamped them on the backside, then cut 'em out. The butterfly bodies are pearls by Amuse and match the smaller ones along the right side of the card.

Layered flowers & Paper flower

To pull more of the roses from one of the background papers into the design, I stamped several small flowers from A Ticket to Art on a scrap...ended up only using one, but I like it as a small accent item. ;-)

Hard to see in the larger photo, but I swiped a quote from a Johnny Diaz song to put on a journalling spot. It's printed on regular paper in a black text box, then inked with Peeled Paint, mounted on coordinating Graphic 45 scrap and attached to the background paper with a Tim Holtz mini-clip.

Quote is from a Johnny Diaz song

Other flowers are painted with Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen stains, then splashed with a bit of Tsunineko Frost.

All the brads, bling & pearls are from my stash.

So..............now, what're you waiting for? Grab your gear, get some ink on your fingers and MAKE SOME ART!! Click the link above for more inky inspiration and fun.

Thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Your Favorite Stamp

2011-06-05T23:53:00.001-04:00

Life is too Short to Match Socks

FIRST...a quick shout out and THANK YOU to the Design Team over at Simon Says Stamp and Show...last week, my entry was chosen as one of the Top Three in the Challenge. Little Ol' Me! Check out my super cool blinkie on the sidebar! I'm so very flattered and honored...thanks folks!

Okay, so this week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show assumes that I could even choose ONE. Do they realize they are challenging a woman who picks 3 entrees from the menu and doesn't decide until the server asks?? I mean REALLY! Okay, venting done, the challenge was to use your favorite stamp. Yup, easy peasy breezy, right? WRONG!

Now, y'all might make the assumption that I'm going with a Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 stamp. But I just couldn't choose ONE of them. So I went a TOTALLY different direction...and took off from the goofy scrappy angle.

I found this stamp at Angela's Happy Stamper...it's by Unity Stamp Company. Two pieces that say so much about my life. Truly. Been meaning to make a scrapbook page with it and this challenge just gave me the kick in the rear I needed!

The papers are from Close to My Heart, the Sweet Home collection. Rick rack also from CTMH. I stamped the min-title with the sentiment; socks are stamped, embossed, colored with Pebbles colored pencils and then cut out. Photos are the actual feet of my family. Yes, this was a weird photo shoot...you should have heard the beasties complaining. Katie kept trying to primp, but I told her I was just interested in her feet, LOL. Photo across the top are my kiddies feet. And, of course, the Zoo Crew Sock Bucket...the true star of this layout!

Here are a couple of close-ups of the stamps:

Close up of Socks--both are one stamp, but I cut them out.

Unity Stamp Company: Mini-title of Page

In case you've made it this far and want to continue...the journalling on the page reads:

With 7 people in our family, keeping up with the laundry is an ongoing challenge. A continual reminder of that struggle is the dreaded sock bucket. Yes…BUCKET! Most people use buckets like this for toys, outdoor equipment, beverage coolers…but not the Zoo Crew. Nope. Our 14 feet worth of socks go in…and sometimes never come out.

*sigh*

Sorting the sock basket is not a happy task…sometimes used as a punishment, sometimes bribery works (a dime for each matched pair!), and sometimes a source of family fun (Sock it to ‘em, Daddy!). But rarely is that bucket empty. *sigh*

How we look forward to summer days…Bring on the barefooting!!

Thank you for checking out my creation for this week's challenge!! Check out the fun and join in!

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Wendy Vecchi Challenge

2011-05-24T20:01:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge for Simon Says Stamp & Show was to create something in the style of Wendy Vecchi a la Studio 490. Since she's become my new favorite, both a difficult and an easy challenge for me...but I gave it a whirl.

Simon Says Stamp & Show Challenge

I started with a square Art Parts frame & backing. The leaves are from Ticket to Art; those are inked with Distress Stain in Peeling Paint, then pounced in Shabby Shutters and then outlined with Peeling Paint Distress Embossing. The ink bottle is from Wendy's Destination Art stamp set; inked that in Antique Linen Distress Stain, pounced a little Tea Dye on, then embossed in clear over Java Versa Mark Chalk. Sentiment is from Tim Holtz.

Kaiser Craft paper is used throughout, with the exception of the ivory cardstock I covered up in ink. I used a combination of Shabby Shutters, Peeling Paint, Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress Inks to jazz up the backgrounds and frames. I haven't yet acquired any of Wendy's amazing flower stamps, so I used Martha Stewart punches on coordinating papers, layered with some fabric flowers inked with Antique Linen and Spun Sugar Distress Stains. Brads are Bo Bunny from my stash; copper pearls are from Amuse.

Thanks for checking out my creation this week. Grab your gear and join the fun...or do like I did...lurk for awhile and get inspired as you get up the courage to toss yourself out there!

Everything Wendy Vecchi #13

2011-05-21T01:31:00.000-04:00

This week, Lori at Everything Wendy Vecchi spurred us into action with Challenge #13...use the Brushless Watercolor technique highlighted in Wendy's first book on page 19. Pretty fun technique...ink your stamp, spritz it with a wee bit of water and stamp. What fun was this? I made a graduation card for my colleague Carly, who just received her MBA. YAY Carly!

I started with a black matte 5" x 7" card and a chunk of watercolor paper. Using Tim's Distress Ink in Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans, I inked a Wendy background stamp from Ticket to Art--that's the little bitty dotty thingies in the background. (Hmmm...wonder if that's why it's a background stamp?) LOL! The lady--a fellow Wendy Vecchi group member calls her "The Impatient Woman"!--and the sentiment are also Wendy's. I did the brushless watercolor thing with the Tim Holtz bird stamp in Faded Jeans and with Autumn Leaves flourishes in Peeling Paint and Shabby Shutters.

So Marjie tells me that you can "paint" with Distress Stains. Of course, I just had to try it for myself! Thus the wings! Stamped the outline on vellum in black archival, then I used Spun Sugar in the middle and Dusty Concord on the outsides. LOVE how they turned out!

All of these colors look a wee bit off in the pic, but they blend pretty nicely in person...looks like I'm gonna have to break out the big camera again...this little "go anywhere" guy just ain't cuttin' it!

Grab your inks and join the fun by clicking the link above!

Mother's Day Creation

2011-05-15T11:03:00.000-04:00

Now that Gramma has received her package, it's safe to share with you the shadowbox I made for her gift. I'm REALLY excited about this project!!

My mom has long been the caregiver of our family photos--both sides, too! On a recent visit, she brought out quite a few to share with us. We missed them when packing for her return trip, so I had the bright idea to have them all scanned and put in electronic format. Had that done by Harbor Scrapbooking (MARVELOUS LADIES...I'd trust 'em with my life!!). While we were sorting through the pics that they were going to scan, we stumbled upon a letter, written by my grandfather (now passed) to my mother. The letter accompanied the original of a photo of my mom with her mother (also passed), wearing dresses made by my grandmother. Grandfather's letter talks about how Grandma loved her children and delighted she was to be a mom. My mom is 1 in the photo and my grandmother, 21. Also in the stack of pics was a shot of just my mom, taken at the same time. I got to thinking that these items needed to be displayed together. So here we go...

Straight on view.

This one shows the colors a little better.

My Wendy Vecchi Art Parts arrived just in time, so I covered a flower with a paper that was sprinkled with little blue flowers--like Grandpa described the dress fabric. I scanned Grandpa's letter, then printed it on vellum to give it a parchment type texture. The kids helped by inking the edges of everything and picking out the ribbons and other embellishments. (Ben has a GREAT eye for layering the flowers! Abbey picked the ribbons. It was Matthew who suggested the bow on the Art Parts flower stem.) We played with the arrangement, then layered 'em into the shadow box with a whole lotta foam pop dots.

On of my favorite parts of this creation? The deal I got on the now repurposed frame! I went looking for a largish shadow box, but found that they were rather pricey. For Mom, no problem. But then I noticed that the pre-framed artwork at JoAnn's all clearanced at 75% off. Found a few candidates...and ended up with this one ($7.50). Took about 10 minutes to pull everything apart and cover the old background. Previously the clearance rack UGLY seashell print nightmare...now a lovely (if I do say so myself!) personal Mother's Day presink.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Everything Wendy Vecchi Challenge #12

2011-05-14T23:41:00.000-04:00

This week's challenge on Everything Wendy Vecchi (an awesome online Yahoo! group of folks) was to create a card based on Wendy's book #1, page 32. We had to stamp on patterned paper and use a bookplate. Of course, using Studio 490 stamps is also a must!

My card is a thank you note for a wonderful gal who has been picking Matthew up from Lego Robotics when I've been stuck in traffic. I started with a brownish copper metallic finish 4 x 5 card. I picked paper by Kaiser Craft from the Chanteuse collection--two different florals in shades of rose & greeen. The pad of paper I picked had a couple of sheets of diecuts, including borders. Nabbed one of those (the pink floral running vertically on the fold of the card). Last paper is a brown with coordinating green & pink polka dots--also vertical on the left side of the card.

I put the two florals together, and used Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters and Worn Lipstick to give it some dimension. Next layer is background stamped in Tea Dye and Shabby Shutters with the dotted background from Studio 490's "Ticket to Art" set. After that dried, I used Versa Magic Jumbo Java chalk ink to stamp Autumn Leaves flourishes. Flowers are done in Antique Linen and Spun Sugar Distress Stains. Sentiment is from "Regal Art" by Wendy Vecchi. Bookplate is Heidi Swapp. Copper pearls are from Amuse. Brads & charms from my stash. There are some spritzes of Copper Tsukineko shimmer mist randomly applied in there, too.

Join the fun & play along by joining the group! Then...go make some art!! (to quote one of my new favorite artists!)

Zoo Crew Ticket to Ride

2011-05-08T22:31:00.002-04:00

Okay...here's my very first Everything Wendy Vecchi group challenge entry. Whoo hoo! This week's challenge was to create a wall hanging and to incorporate at least one ticket. My hanging is inspired by our crazy family. We call ourselves the Zoo Crew and our family motto is: We don't just go places, we have ADVENTURES!

My hanging is done on a 5" x 7" flat canvas. I used Ranger alcohol inks (another first!) in Sail Boat Blue and Metallic Silver and Gold. I stamped a random background of arrows in a light metallic gold (Autumn Leaves stamps). Truck is stamped from Wendy's Destination Art set, covered in Glossy Accents and then cut out. The big ticket is from Wendy's Ticket to Art set, as is the "find the adventure in every day" sentiment along the left side. On the ticket, I added the words "destination unknown" from the end of one of her other stamped sentiments. The big "ADVENTURE" across it is from a Studio G $1 set from Michaels. Other stamps are from Close to My Heart--Ticket to Ride and Giggle Alphas.

The quote in the circle is "What I love the most about this life is the adventure of it all" from Juliette Binoche, which pretty much sums me up! The hardware are items I found at Michaels in the clearance section--meant to be beading, Industrial Chic. The one on the ticket looks like an antiquey subway token. The 5 is for our five children. ;-) Flowers and ribbon are from my stash.

Join the fun by clicking the link above....these are some awesomely creative gals!

Praiseworthy Performance: Shout out to Scotch / 3M

2011-05-02T07:01:00.001-04:00

A little overdue, but I need to let y'all know about some excellent customer service I received recently.

Back in March, I used my 50% off bonus coupon at Michael's to purchase the wonderful Advanced Tape Glider (ATG for short); even found one in pink! Bought an extra box of refills so I was well-stocked for my scrapbooking weekend with Steph. Loaded up my ATG with the tape glue and headed off to Pennsylvania. No problems....fell in LOVE with my new toy, um, TOOL. Until I tried to refill it....I just could NOT get that glue to come out the right way. I followed the diagrams and everything. One benefit of being in a room with 150 other scrapbookers is the readily available wealth of expertise & know-how. The general consensus was "Hey, something is NOT right with this refill roll!"

At the suggestion of one of my fellow croppers, once I was back at home, I let my keyboard do the surfing on over to the Scotch / 3M website. I contacted customer service and explained my challenge with the refill. Have to admit that I wasn't overly optimistic at first (okay, so I got a little huffy) when their initial response was "did you read the directions on how to reload?" and "please mail us the defective roll so we can consider the issue." (Good thing I had kept it!) They did agree to send a label & envelope, so I felt a *little* better.

Imagine my excitement when the package with the pre-addressed, postage paid envelope ALSO included not one, but FOUR refill rolls!!!! I would have been happy if they had just replaced the wonky roll, but they went above & beyond to make sure that I was happy.

It worked.

YAY Scotch & 3M!!

Diving In--Simon Says Stamp & Show Button Challenge

2011-05-01T22:56:00.000-04:00

So here it is...my first attempt at a public challenge:

Going back to the whole "Marjie's Fault" thing...she pointed me to a wonderful source of inspiration and fun: Simon Says Stamp & Show. Of course, it's more fun if you participate, so after lurking for a few weeks, I figured I should join the fun. This weeks' challenge is to use buttons in your project....right up my alley!

Gotta admit that this turned out nothing like I had pictured or sketched--but those versions were FAR too busy and a wee bit schizo! I'm not 100% happy with my "Happiness" plaque. (!????!!) (Too empty, too weird, too esoteric?) Sentiments are hard too read, too. *sigh* But not bad for a first shot, me thinks.

Since it's all in the details: paper and tag from Close to My Heart, Notebook; bicycle & birdcage stamps from TPC; bird stamps from Close to My Heart, Free Spirit; sentiments Wendy Vecchi; flourish rub-ons from Basic Grey and Kaiser Craft. Buttons are from my stash. Everything was distressed with Antique Linen and Tea Dye. Embossing was all done in clear. Birds are stamped in CTMH Outdoor Denim and layered with Glossy Accents.

Be kind...

I blame Marjie!!

2011-04-24T23:12:00.000-04:00

Yes. It's ALL her fault! Yeah, so what if I got her started on scrapbooking all those years ago...she has taken it to an all new level. (Really--you should have seen the layout she did of her boys in their favorite jammies! She SCANNED the jammies, then made paper pieced paper dolls from the matching scanned printed paper! All back when I was still in my "Fast Formulas" phase!) Talk about upping the ante.

Anyway, this talented gal, Marjie, has gotten hooked on other kinds of paper crafting, including stamping. I love the look of all the distressed vintage craftiness from artists like Tim Holtz and Wendy Vecchi, though my style tends to be rather different. However, the spark keeps striking, so after quite some time of enjoying her amazing talents, I've felt inspired to give stamping a "go." Here are a couple of my first baby attempts:

New Home Card

This is my VERY first try, once I received my very first set of Wendy Vecchi stamps in the mail. 'Homemade Art' provided the house stamp and the included Wendy idea sheet gave me the idea for the layered papers and textures. Other stamps are from Autumn Leaves and Close to My Heart. Other embellishments from Prima and Amuse. The photo shows front & back of the postcard sized "congrats on your new home" card, happily mailed off to the intended recipient!

Laundry Tag

I've been holding on to this laundry paper from Cosmo Crickets Boyfriend collection for awhile now. Seemed appropriate, given the massive quantities of laundry this family produces on a daily basis. ;-) Hadn't come up with a project yet, but I have a small shadow-box type wall hanging with this sentiment on it and it struck me that it might be fun for a tag. Not 100% sure I like the way the dial came out, but hey, not so bad for a newbie. (Any ideas?) Curly-q stamp from Recollections is embossed with Tim's Distressed Embossing powder in Peeled Paint; I used Tea Dye distressed ink around the edges and on the dial. Oh, and a Tim Holtz game spinner, too! A little Glossy Accents for fun, and VOILA!

Heart-Head Tag

This last one (for today!), was inspired by a quote on my "Wild Words from Wild Women" desk calendar. I printed the quote really small and glued it to the back of one of Tim's raffle tickets--"The head never rules the heart, but just becomes its partner in crime." (Mignon McLaughlin) Wendy Vecchi's 'A Form of Art' provided the mannequin and the background stamps; the winged heart is from Close to my Heart. I discovered Sheer Shimmer Spritz by Tsukneko on a trip to AC Moore yesterday, so had to break it out and mist a little Sparkle on. (Had to hold myself back...I do love my bling!) Background and edges are done with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo by Tim Holtz. A little more Glossy Accents--can't get enough of that stuff!--and we're good to go.

Sure had a lot of fun diving into this! This process is a little more on the self-indulgent than my usual scrapping efforts, but I think it's a fun way to let a little more "me" out to play. Now, off to sign up for some of the challenges...

Finally had a chance...

2011-04-24T20:16:00.000-04:00

to upload a few pictures of my latest scrapping creations. Steph and I were fortunate enough to enjoy another wonderful weekend with Harbor Scrapbooking. For me, it was more productive than usual--I finished 21 pages, plus added finishing touches to a few other leftover pages. YAY me!!

Last Spring, our fabulous Close to my Heart rep (shout out to Kelly Rizzo!) introduced us both to Flip Flaps; we made some adorable mini-albums with the 4 x 6 size. Since then, CTMH has come out with 'em in different sizes. I spent a lot of time playing with them...and falling in love with the way I can use the various sizes to maximize the number of pics on a single two page layout. I'm really happy with how those pages came together, though they don't photograph well. *sigh*

You can check out the pages here: Fun with Flip Flaps (can't seem to get the slideshow thingie working right now, DRAT!!)

It was nice to mix it up with those techniques, since I was really focused on finishing several years' worth of kid sports. Can I confess that I'm STILL basketballed out? So glad the season is over!! (for now, anyway!)

Can't wait 'til November's crop! My goal is take a whole new set of pictures with me on that trip...which, of course, means I have to finish the batch I've got printed and ready. Hmmm...guess that means I'll have to spend more time scrapping...such a hardship, truly.

It's not perfect....

2010-12-30T19:21:00.002-05:00

In the way of so many of us, I tend to obsess about Christmas. About making it just the perfect blend of family traditions and “us.” About spending QUALITY time together. About doing things the “right” way—cookies from scratch, punch in the percolator, beautifully wrapped gifts with bows “just so.” You get the gist of it, right?

I’m a first born and female. Oh…and a Scorpio (if you buy into that stuff). Toss that in a salad bowl and you get a rules-oriented perfectionist--who just happens to live in a large, busy (read “chaotic”) household. Not always a comfortable fit for me, but mostly, I’ve adapted to my surroundings and I thrive in the Zoo Crew Zone.

Except at the holidays.

Now, I’ve never aspired to a perfectly symmetrical Christmas tree thematically decorated with lights & tinsel perfectly spaced. I love our crazy family trees, selected with quite serious care (but strikingly different, random criteria) by Zoo Crew inhabitants and decorated enthusiastically by those same creatures. No two years will our trees ever look the same…and I’m good with that. But I DO like to inject a little tradition into the moments when we decorate the tree…Daddy always puts the seashell ornament we received as a wedding present on the tree. Mommy always places Santa & his Sleigh toward the top. And every child receives a new ornament to add to their growing collections that will move onward and outward when it’s time. And I like to remind the kids where some of our special ornaments came from or when they came to us.

Sometimes said children don’t seem to respect these tiny traditions. Or chaos breaks out with a mob at the ornament box. Things break. Feelings get hurt—usually mine.
You should know that both chaos and breakage are no strangers to my household. But why can I deal with it more calmly at other times? Why do I cry at Christmas?

This weekend, as we were muddling through a strange Saturday morning and preparing to decorate our tree, we watched the movie Santa Clause 3. Toward the end of the movie, Santa says “You know, you don’t have to be perfect to be a family…you just have to be together.”

I think I’m going to focus on the togetherness and try harder not to aim for near-perfection.

I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2009-12-23T07:43:00.001-05:00

I'm starting to get the "fearfully" part....what's up with the old lady whiskers?

SHEESH.

I mean, WHERE do they come from?

and, WHY do they grow faster than any other hair on my body? One day, nothing...the next a big ol' black one an inch & a half long.

WHAT's the deal here?

Post-40 gravity is bad enough...but I have to be hairy too?

*sigh*

Frosted Flakes

2009-08-12T20:15:00.000-04:00

I've been stewing for awhile about this great health care debate.

I will freely admit that parts of the current system need work. Even the best of private health care plans can be a challenge to navigate and sometimes fail the patients who need them the most. I will also admit that I have been blessed to have had decent and consistent coverage offered by my various employers thus far in my lifetime. Those admissions made, I just don't see how the plan in front of Congress can help fix what ails the system.

I thought I would steer clear of this topic on my blog because, well, it's just something I'm a little edgy and passionate about, but today I read something that really frosted my flakes...

Health advisor (and possibly eventual Health Care Czar) to the president, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has been a key proponent of this legislation and it's important to know his thoughts. He said this in January of this year: "When implemented, the complete lives system produces a priority curve on which individuals aged between roughly 15 and 40 years get the most chance, whereas the youngest and oldest people get chances that are attenuated."

My kids are all under 15. Hubby & I are over 40. Where does that leave us? Yup, outside the priority curve. Should the ER have denied my then 2 year old the surgery he needed when he shattered his elbow? Or my 4 year old the stitches she needed when she split her pretty little head open? Or my husband the medication he needs to keep his diabetes in check?

In November of 1996, that same individual is quoted as saying: "Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed."

In November of 1997 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, our second child. We named him Patrick William; Patrick because he was scrappy lookin' and William after his father & great-grandfather.

In February of 1998, my husband and I were told to prepare for the worst...the loss of our son. We were told that his chances for survival were slim, but if he made it past his first birthday, then we could expect little from him as a participating member of our family. We were told he'd never walk, communicate, or care for himself. We were told that if we weren't planning a funeral, we should look into long term residential care in a "facility" for him. In other words, he would never become a "participating citizen."

In August of 1999, he underwent the same battery of tests he had 18 months before. Guess what? The 'extreme' brain damage diagnosed earlier had largely repaired itself and he was a wonderful, funny little boy with an inquisitive, teasing nature...who was learning to walk!

In the years that have followed, we've received as many diagnoses and prognoses for him as we have had specialists who poked and prodded. "They" call them "conditions" or "disorders" or "syndromes"; we call them "bonus features." (EVERYone has those, it's just his are more obvious and have names.) It doesn't really matter what the labels are, but I will share them with you: profound deafness, autism, spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, behavioral disorders, impulse control disorder, & developmental delays. He's had several corrective surgeries, numerous consultations with specialists, various therapeutic interventions, and lots of physical therapy.

In September of 2007, he figured out BY HIMSELF how to adjust the settings on our DVR--including closed captioning.

In October of 2008, he taught his teacher how to insert photographs into a power point presentation.

In November of 2008, he turned 11 years old. He asked for a chocolate ice cream cake with blue frosting and yellow candles. He got them.

In April of 2009, he wrote a hilarious book about a typical day in his life which revealed his unique sense of humor.

In June of 2009, he mastered the video & slideshow editing program on the family computer. He has produced a variety of DVDs--complete with disk menus, titles, ticker bar text, soundtracks, snazzy transitions and scrolling credits--that we play on the family DVD player.

It's August of 2009 and he's eagerly awaiting his return to school. He communicates with us through American Sign Language, he takes great care of himself, plays with his four siblings, enjoys helping with family chores. He identifies strongly with his fellow Deaf people and helps others learn to sign. He is an avid rule enforcer. He uses technology in incredible ways. Last week, after a year of recuperation, he traded his wheelchair for a walker and is making TERRIFIC strides toward walking on his own--again!

I can't WAIT to see what August of 2010 will bring for him. He is full of surprises and accomplishments and thoughts and plans...and we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what he can or will do. We have NEVER set limits for this kid, rather we've let him find his own way and find his own boundaries. We have always allowed him to be our child first and our "bonus feature" kid second. Why should we change that course and allow someone (or someTHING) else to make those choices for him?

I'm not going to tell you that life with Patrick is easy. It's a day by day adventure. But life without him would be impossible. Sadly, I think that is exactly what Dr. Emanuel has in mind for families like mine. God gave our family this amazingly intrepid boy for His reasons...and the power to give or take should ALWAYS stay in the hands of God and NOT in the hands of ANY earthly government.

45 Lessons after 90 Years: Regina Brett

2009-07-08T12:40:00.000-04:00

A newish acquaintance passed along a list of 45 Lessons learned in the author’s 90 years of life. Kudos to you, Regina Brett—not a dud in the bunch! I prettied up the list, printed it and stuck it on the lovely beige wall of my cube. Each day, a different one strikes me, speaks to me, drives me. This week, it’s been #32.

Several are simply succinct ways of stating things we *know* but forget in the muck & muddle of day to day living. I've found 'em pretty encouraging. Here they are, so you can join the fun:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles..

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Now…which one speaks to you??

Progress and the Patrick

2009-05-03T12:34:00.000-04:00

So...Patrick and I want to see his doctor this week for his annual physical. This time he was due for two immunizations, so we talked briefly about the usual--how many nurses would it take? I reminded her that his flu shot experience this year was fairly uneventful, so maybe we should just go with one. Told Patrick he needed two shots and that that nurse was going to put one in each arm. He nodded and told her to go ahead. Yup. This is the same boy who needed 4 nurses to hold him down & immunize him--when he was 3!!! How nice it was not to have to apologize after his appointment...something that had become the routine for our exit from the doctor's office!!

Watching him, the doctor and I had a moment of shared mistiness as we talked about how far has come....and how easy it is to see that we have only begun to scratch the surface of his potential. She's been with us from the start, has shared our frustrations, our concerns and has helped us interpret the news as it has come--good, bad or indifferent. She has been a blessing to our family, treating & caring for all of my kids. Often, I have wondered what she thought of how we are doing and where he has been going. You know, we muddle along the best that we can, doing the best we can with what we have and what we know at the time. There have been times when we don't think we know much or are doing much...I think this is true for all parents, not just those of us who have bonus-feature kids. It was a rare treat to get a glimpse of her thoughts and pleasure at his remarkable achievements...and to share a moment of overwhelming "WOW! Who thought we'd see this?" with her.

Heck, as I type this, he is peering over my shoulder, reminding me to write about our cats--Indy & Dakota--as well as his school, MSD. He has made such wonderful progress over the last year that they have invited him to stay in the school dormitory part-time next year! Many of his friends were offered the opportunity beginning this year, and he has been asking when it was his turn...but the school wasn't sure he was ready. NEXT year, he'll give dorm living a try. Whoo hoo! Yesterday, the quarterly MSD Bulletin magazine arrived in the mail...he hasn't set it down and has worked his way through all the articles. LOL. He's soooooooooo very proud of the MSD graduate who signed with Towson University to play football!! As for me, I'm delighted to see him identifying soooooo strongly with successful deaf people, with his peers, with his community.

This is a loooooooooonnnnnnngggg rambly post, mostly for the sake of saying THANK YOU GOD for this boy who is teaching me so much about the possibilities that exist if we don't allow ourselves to fall victim to limits imposed on us by others.

Spills, Chills & Fire Drills

2009-02-05T06:44:00.001-05:00

4:47 am

There I was, snug in my rented bed...dozing fitfully and nightmaring about the coming day...

*NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH*

First thought...doesn't *sound* like the alarm clock...

Second thought...FIRE ALARM!! (in a hotel--aaaaahhhhhh)

Third thought...but I'm not cooking!!

So I grabbed my coat, threw on my snow boots, grabbed my purse & my room key and split. Down the stairs. Now you know how well stairs and I get along, so as you might guess, rousted from my bed, freaked out and wearing boots. Yup...took a tumble down about 4 stairs. But hey...I was going that way anyway, right?

Get outside to discover that it's a balmy, breezy 17 degrees. LOVELY. Guess I'll go sit in my car.

That would be nice, but since I left my car keys in my room...impossible.

So I take a perch on my car's hood (sorry, baby!) and hunker down. I take a peek around and realize that everyone around me took the time to get dressed. No wonder everyone is avoiding me...

So there I am, hair every which way, wearing my glasses, freezing my hiney off and WEARING MY JAMMIES. (Thank God for long flannel nightgowns, but still!)

It's then that I realize that I really need to shave my legs.

A kind fellow displaced person invited me into her car to stay warm while the fire department cleared the building. (Shout out to Donna---Thanks so much!! I'm not sure I would have invited me in, scary as I looked!) Building cleared and back we went.

Apparently, the culprit was not through with us yet! I had just gotten warm again, ready to hop in the shower (gave up on getting back to sleep) when the FIRE ALARM went off again. Two seconds later and I'd have been soaking wet, freezing...but NOT in my jammies (learned that lesson!)

Oh yeah, we're off to a GREAT start today! (Thinking this is NOT a good omen!)

Junk Mail Meandering

2009-01-07T10:39:00.001-05:00

This ad came in yesterday's pile o' junk mail:

Okay, is it *just* me, or is this WRONG on so many levels??

I understand the doggie sweater thing, I suppose. I can even understand little doggie Halloween costumes.

Owners who tote wee tiny dogs into the grocery while wearing matching attire, much less so...but so long as they aren't infecting my purchases, who am I to say? (Heck, I'll even admit that my kids are probably of more concern sometimes, LOL!)

But a dog in faux fur??? And faux fur that even looks like the boots my teenager "just had to have" this winter. (Well, the ad *does* say it's stylish!) And the coolest part? The collar turns up OR down. WOW! Who designs these things?

--fade to Runway Interview---

Fashionista Guru: So, Diesel Guytan now that you've just won the Runway's Best Competition and you're an honors graduate of one of the top fashion design institutes in America...what's next??

Diesel Guytan: Well, Bob, I'll be designing a line of fashion wear for dogs. I think it's a largely untapped market, especially in the area of faux furs.

Fashionista Guru: Wow. Well, we'll look for your designs in our weekly junk mail flyers.

---back to blog---

What self-respecting dog would want to wear a faux animal coat--especially if you are say, a herding breed? Can you imagine the confusion on a border collie??

I think I'll get my goldfish a faux eelskin handbag...

Hand of God

2008-12-23T14:11:00.000-05:00

I always set myself up for failure at Christmas. Lofty goals, dreams and too, too many images of what Christmas *should* be for our family. Happens every year. Something doesn’t go the way I want it to, something doesn’t get done (or done on time)…it’s always *something* pushing me over the edge. I prepare for this and plan to make things better each year, but somehow, my holiday disappointment always takes me by surprise.

And I struggle. Struggle to remember the WHY of the season. Platitudes and pithy sayings are all fine and good, but when you are wrestling with 18 teacher gifts (none of which can mention Christ!), 10 events to bake for (don’t forget that Susie is allergic to nuts), a mountain of presents to wrap and mail (preferably by mule train), a Christmas card list to maintain (did Bob & Jane move this year, or was that last year?)…and don’t forget the usual day to day business of running a family (did you know that they still need clean clothes & warm food at Christmas?)! Those pithy sayings are for the birds. (Just telling it like it is, folks!) I KNOW Jesus is the reason for the season, now get out of my way and let me get all this stuff done so I can celebrate, dagnabbit!!

Awhile ago, I stumbled on a much needed oasis, a local Christian radio station, WGTS. During the holiday season, they play all Christmas music. LOVE IT! And what a wonderful variety. I really enjoy hearing my favorite contemporary Christian artists singing Christmas classics: Jars of Clay’s version of Little Drummer Boy and Nichole Nordeman’s Do You Hear What I Hear? are among my new faves. For all the times I’m in my car, this station plays and gives me an opportunity to really hear and appreciate the gift of His son. Now that the Christmas cards are in the mail, I’ve got a chance to really reflect on what some of the music MEANS…

I think we all have our versions of God’s image. Snapshots, if you will, of God in His various forms. One that has always touched me is Michelangelo’s painting from the Sistine Chapel, the Hand of God, giving life to man. I have always loved this image, though I can’t really say why. Just something at the core of me that calls out acknowledging His breath of life to men, I suppose.

Today, on the radio, WGTS played a song by the Newsboys called Adoration. I’ve heard the song before (love it!), but never really paid much attention to the verses. This one caught my ear and the image has been with me ever since:

<>

And with barely open eyes

He takes my finger

And He won’t let go

It’s nothing like I knew before

And it’s all I need to know

<>

The Baby Jesus, God Incarnate, grasping my finger and holding fast.

I’m a mom who has cherished each and every time one of my beasties did this, but somehow, I never envisioned this moment between my Creator and me.

Beyond the manger and the Christmas season, I’ve never dwelt on the person of Christ as a baby. I know the story, so do you….but what does it mean when a baby—THE baby—chooses you? Clings to you. WOW.

He called me to choose Him, to turn my life over to His control. But here’s the part that I’m finding brought home to me with each day…and today through this song….He chooses me right back and pulls me to His side when I lack the strength to stay there on my own.

Casting Crowns, in their song East to West, says it oh so well:

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night

I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals

I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me

You're holding on to me

<>

Why, in all the time I’ve been a Christian has this not come to me before? NO clue…except that maybe I’ve been relying on myself too much?

I know He gives me everything I need—and always so much more. What I didn’t know—duh!—is that “everything” includes the strength to constantly rely on Him.

Creator, Father God gave me life, breath and a soul that cries out to know Him. The Holy Spirit has opened my heart, interceded for me in prayer, given a voice and an audience when there were no words. And the Baby Jesus sent a summons in the grasping of a finger…"come and stay near.”

WOW!

Conflicted

2008-11-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

I'm conflicted today.

I WANT to be hopeful, happy and confident; I do NOT want to this election's results to become bitterness festering & wreaking havoc in my soul.

But what I am is shocked, disappointed and amazed.

What was SO clear to me evidently wasn't to so many.

Hopefully, the my usual optimism will return to me when the shock wears off.

Now, I'm not buying this "mandate from the people" thing, though, since the popular vote was fairly close. But, I will buck up and handle things as they come....eventually.

Thank God that my hope is in HIM and not in some human being. On the radio this morning, the DJ offered up this quote: "Hope is FAITH holding out it's hand in the darkness."

Today, I think I'll take a little time to grieve....and pray.

Thank you, God, for keeping this country always in the palm of Your mighty hand. Thank you that, although we can't see or know the future, You do and that You are ever in control. Amen & Allelujah.

Get off Your Butt!

2008-11-04T09:08:00.000-05:00

I’m holding on to hope today--the hope that comes from faith in God. And from confidence in my fellow Americans to choose wisely. Just say NO!! to socialism.

I’m praying for the future of my country.

This moment, this choice, is bigger than just one candidate for president. THIS is what makes us unique in all the world… Democracy only works when each and every one of us takes our opinion voicing privilege seriously, thoughtfully and responsibly. But here’s the thing…no matter which side of the fence you are on…don’t complain if you don’t vote.

If you are legally eligible, get your butt to your polling place and cast your ballot.

And may God guide the hands of those that pull the levers.

Monday, Monday

2008-10-06T11:17:00.000-04:00

This morning I got to work earlier than usual, thanks to an early meeting and the desire to trash a co-worker’s cube for her birthday. Finished the cube trashing and ran downstairs for a cup of coffee before my meeting. (which was later postponed, due to a VERY late arriving fellow attendee-aaarrgghhh!)

Usually, I don’t hit the café for coffee ‘til later in the week, so today I was struck by the fact that the coffee urns and their stands looked so sparkly and perky. By Thursday, they are usually spotted and covered in coffee drips. (Don’t get me started on my worries about what that means about the insides!) Anyway, I got to thinking…my Monday face is usually that way, too…if not well-rested, at least fresh-faced and ready to tackle the week. I’m usually more organized on Monday mornings, having laid out the clothes and lunches and paperwork the night before. I even aim for sparkle--miss it quite frequently, too! But hey, I try!

But by Thursday, I’m pretty droopy and VERY ready for the weekend.

I’m going to challenge myself this week to try to maintain my Monday sparkle. Now, I admit it’ll be easier this week, since vacation starts on Thursday, but I think I can do it.

What’s your challenge this week?

Facebook Rant

2008-09-24T11:57:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I signed up for a Facebook account because one of my beloved friends has started posting her family photos on Facebook instead of the photo site she used to use. No worries, right? It's free, it's pretty easy...WRONG!

Darling beloved friends who use Facebook to contact me, don't take this the wrong way, but please take note of the following:

My *real life* garden is dying. Corn on the cob is turning to popped, tomatoes going unpicked and only God knows what's happening to my carrots & peas. DO NOT send me virtual plants for my virtual garden. Online plants only serve to stress me out as I gaze out upon the withering brown stuff that was once a lovely dream of fresh veggies for my family.
Please don't poke me. Don't super poke me. I'm not even sure what the point of it is! And, since I'm not home and/or logged into Facebook during the day, I WILL NOT POKE YOU BACK!!
I like the spur of the moment pillow fight as much as the next person (maybe even more!), but I am now moving about in a virtual cloud of white feathers and am completely unable to return fire.
When I need a beverage--of ANY sort--I'll head to my fridge. While the icons are cute, I have to confess that I'm not much for pomegranate-licorice-watermelon coolers. How 'bout we get together for coffee or happy hour instead? OR...feel free to send a 6-pack of Diet Coke my way, if you prefer!

Thank you for your patience and understanding while I use Facebook for only a smallish portion of it's possibilities...

Today

2008-09-11T11:05:00.000-04:00

I was going to post a few recent vents, but today is not the day for that, so I will join the ranks of so many who consider the weight of today and feel compelled to share. Today I was tempted to stay home, staggering under the enormity of the meaning of today, curled up with myself and murmuring to my God...but that would give our enemies just one more small victory. So today, I push onward, dressing my children in the colors of our country's flag and remind them that today is an important day in our country's history. They are mostly too young to know why...Matthew was 15 months old, Ben in utero and Abbey just a plan in God's hands. So I try to tell them:

Today is a day for remembering those who perished 7 years ago, on a brilliantly blue-skied sunny Friday morning.

Today is a day to mourn the loss of more than 3000 souls, most with nothing more in common than a date on a death certificate…terrorism crossed all outward, man-made boundaries that day in an act of complete and total non-discrimination.

Today is a day to set aside those artificial boundaries ourselves and remember together…and hold fast to the bond we felt as a stricken nation.

Today is a day to remember that we are all one nation under God.

Today is a day to pray.

Today is a day for wearing red for valor, blue for vigilance and white for truth and grace.

Today is a day to thank a soldier.

God Bless America.

A Wee Bit of Perspective

2008-08-27T19:25:00.000-04:00

You know, even though hospitals aren't good places for healthy people, they can be good places to gain a little bit of perspective...those not-so-dark 3 ams aren't such bad moments to have a thought or two.

One evening, awash in a bit of an indulgent pity-party, I wandered down the hall in search of a diet Coke. (Keeping in mind, of course, that diet Coke is a VERY poor substitute for ice cream when wallowing in misery!) I crossed paths with two distraught parents following a teeny cribette, which carried their infant daughter. She was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and equipment. They settled in two doors down. A few minutes later, the father and I exchanged a few words while waiting for the nurse--you know, the usual chit-chat that passes for bonding among strangers in the same place. I returned to Patrick's bedside, muttering under my breath about kids who hog the remote control...

Not 10 minutes later, bells were ringing, alarms were sounding, a dad was running down the hall and a mom was screaming "NURSE!! NURSE!! She's blue, she's BLLLLUUUEEEEE!!!" Our sitter for the night raced out to help. The baby was fine...but these moments continued through much of the night. She was eventually airlifted to Hopkins. I'm not sure what happened from there, but have been praying for that family since the first alarm went off.

Now here's the revelation part. I don't think I could handle being those parents. For most of Patrick's life, hubby and I have struggled, muddled and braved our way through. And our circumstances tend to generate opportunities for us to rely on God and build our strengh ("if it don't kill ya, it makes ya stronger", right?).

We planned our trip to the hospital. We knew when we woke up on that Thursday, where we were going and pretty much what was going to happen that day. Sure, there were uncertainties--how long would we stay in the hospital, how would he behave, would it go better than last time--but, for the most part, we had pretty clear and reasonable expectations for our next few days. And, despite our to be expected worries, we were pretty confident that we'd be leaving the hospital with a recovering but otherwise healthy kid.

What would I do if, any minute, my kid could turn blue? My hat goes off to parents who deal with those kinds of issues daily, weekly, hourly. That kind of life on the edge takes a different kind of strength, I think.

Thank you, Lord, for knowing what we can handle...and for only giving us that which You know we can.

THOSE Mommy-moments

2008-08-13T12:56:00.000-04:00

Okay, I think all parents have those things they look back on and think "WHY did we make that choice for our child?" For me with Patrick, that was his entire kindergarten year.

More recently, it has been the surgery that we put him through last summer...a femoral osteotomy, the intention of which was to correct significant rotation in his right leg.

June 27th, 2007, 8 am

Initially, everything looked promising and seemed to have resolved his problem--what a wonderful thing it was to look at my boy with his toes pointed forward!! But...despite the best intentions of everyone involved, despite the therapy, despite his pretty good attitude...things just haven't worked out for him. A little more than a year later and he's still using a walker to hobble around. No more stealth mode for this boy-o. Rough year for him. Rough year for the family. All to the point where I'm staring down the face of one GIANT Mommy regret....

So....here we go again. After realizing that not only has his recovery NOT met our expectations, but also his hip is collapsing around the plate, we are going to give surgery another go. This time, the surgeon will be fixing the plate put in last summer, lengthening his right hamstrings AND shortening his left leg to match the right one (currently a 3 inch difference, but hopefully only an inch or so once the plate is fixed and the hams are longer!). BIG surgery, smallish kid.

Thursday, August 14th, 2008 10 am

As a mom, I can only pray that this won't be another of those moments. I can pray that he continues to show the energy and enthusiasm post-op that he's showing this week as he looks forward to his surgery. I can pray for the surgeon's skill & wisdom. I can pray for my family--that the other kids will understand and help and will be patient while I tend to him during his recovery. And I will pray that somehow the purpose of all this will be revealed in His time...because right now, well, it's not overwhelmingly clear why this guy has soooooo much to deal with in his life.

Today, though, I think I will rejoice that he is here with us, despite the odds, despite the doctors and their dire predictions, despite the scariness of his babyhood MRIs. I will enjoy his excitement for the surgery and for the preparations. Can you believe this booger is THRILLED that his bedroom is moving to the dining room?

And I can thank God, rejoicing that you are all out there praying for my boy, my family, our surgeon and me. I covet your prayers, my friends...please keep us lifted up!

A Good Witness...Dilemma

2008-07-29T22:56:00.000-04:00

So...I have a friend, who happens to also be a co-worker. She and I have worked together off and on for more than 6 years...and have been friends outside of work as well. She is well acquainted with my beliefs, but is not interested in developing a faith of her own. I wish she were...and she knows that I am more than willing to share at any time. Over the years, we have come to an understanding--I sadly respect that she doesn't want to hear about my Savior and she respects--for the most part--that I have a dependence on God. She was not raised to have any desire for fellowship with God, which baffles and saddens me.

That said...she's a nice lady, raising a cool kid. That cool kid has made friends with another cool kid--both of whom are headed to middle school in the fall. This cool new friend was allowed to enjoy the friendship--UNTIL New Friend's Christian Mom found out that these folks are unchurched AND (horror of horrors!) that my friend WORKS. (Yes, I know--can you believe it?) Yesterday, New Friend's Mom terminated the budding friendship, stating that they are "uncomfortable building relationships with people outside the church." Nothing happened, save the exchange of this tidbit of information.

At first blush, I can understand this. I can sympathize, even. Who doesn't want to surround their children with nothing but folks who share their belief systems?? But the more I think about it, the more angry I become. Aren't we called to love and to share our faith? This family had a WONDERFUL opportunity to reach a child (and through him, his family) and provide a witness--and maybe plant some seeds of faith. This gal didn't ask if my friend was open to church attendance or to her son participating in church activities (she is willing to encourage whatever belief systems her son wishes to investigate). In fact, he attends church often with his father. (oops...forgot that the other strike against 'em...this is my friend's second marriage...)

You know, I understand the "guilty by association" thing. The "garbage in, garbage out" theory. But what about "in the world but not OF the world"? Then I wonder...perhaps she is concerned that her son isn't strong enough in his own faith that he could be easily led astray. The bummer here is that he's not an astray leading type--not even close. But the actions of this mom have cemented my friend's view that Christianity is exclusionary and elitist...and has now left that impression on a young boy. What message are we sending, people???

I guess this situation frustrates me a lot because I've tried sooooo hard to show my friend a different kind of Christianity than she's been exposed to before. I don't know that I'll ever be blessed to lead her to the Lord, but I'm praying that I'm planting seeds. (I acknowledge the role of selfish pride here in the preceeding statements--just as I KNOW that God will use this experience in my friend's life as part of His plan!) And I have been blessed with small signs of God working in her heart... A few years ago, she laughed when I would offer to pray for her, now she *asks* for prayers for her family, she *asks* my opinion on religious matters, and when aforementioned cool kid was asking questions about God, she asked me to answer them.

As Christians, we walk a fine line...trying to exert a positive, Christ-like influence on a fallen world when we live in that fallen world ourselves. It's confusing and enough to make you crazy, isn't it???

Thoughts, my friends???

Random Rants

2008-07-17T15:14:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm feeling the need to get these couple of things out:

WHY do some people feel the need to politicize kid/family movies? Wall-E was cute, but a wee bit too politically over the top for me. Went over the kids' heads--mostly--but some of the social commentary just ticked me off. And, yes, I agree with some of it, but even so...if I want social commentary, I'll listen to talk radio or call my dad.
WHY do people who drive the same way EVERY day wait 'til the LAST POSSIBLE second to merge??...it's not like they don't know it's coming!! And then, they get annoyed and do the whole road rage thing on those of us who plan ahead. Sheesh.
WHY do I insist that the family use the upstairs bathrooms--reserving the powder room for company--but then I'm the one who is missing our non-functional powder room the most?? (Yes, the post-five-kids bladder + the limp = not working so well for the Mommy...)
WHY do we women let men run female product companies?? Bought bras the other day and paid and arm & a leg for 'em. Seriously. I think if women ran the lingerie industry, we'd be handing them out for not so much $$. That and *hygiene items*...those would be FREE with a box of chocolate and a bottle of wine. Whaddya say girls? I'm thinking revolution!
WHO decided that ladies don't need slips anymore?? Really. Tried to find one in a store lately? Looked in 3 major department stores & nary a slip to be found. Clerks in all three told me to try online. Aren't Mamas teaching their girls better anymore? I'm guessing not, since I see (through!) skirts & dresses at work all the time. Probably the same folks who brought us the ever-popular bra-strap baring spaghetti strap tank top? Or the delightful gals wearing strapless tops with strapped bras. Jiminy cricket (and just plain ICK!) ! Kinda making it a challenge for me to keep teaching my beasties about modesty. (no, no one said it would be easy...but really!)

*sigh* Okay...'nuf ranting for now. I think...

WOW!

2008-05-16T18:54:00.000-04:00

Just popped back into my hotel room after sitting on a beautiful white sand beach. Am in Clearwater, FL for a conference this week. While I have missed my family dreadfully, I am appreciating this time away to re-energize, to recharge to restore my being with the sounds of the ocean. This week, I've been realizing how much growing up close to the beach fed my soul...helped make me who I am. Helped shape my awe at the God we love and strive to serve. Two nights ago, I bobbed in the waves at sunset and just revelled in all that we've been given. You HAVE to know there is a loving God, Universal Designer...One after our own hearts, Giver of life and this Earth. How could you walk through even a small bit of this world and not? Think about it...

He could have made the sun just revolve around the Earth, night into day, day into night--with NO fanfare, no spectacle, no brilliant shades of pink & blue.
He could have made evergreens and said "This is a TREE" and it could have been the only kind of tree--no oaks, no maples, no elms, no dogwoods bursting into bloom.
He could have made daisies and said "These are FLOWERS." No fragrant roses, no lilacs, no lavender. Or maybe made only one color of each....
He could have made dachshunds and said "This is DOG."

Get my point? Which is that HE DIDN'T. He made our world in wondrous variety, amazing species, sights and features, and then populated our world with an amazingly similar variety of people.
WOW! How cool is that???
Thank you, God for the wonder that is the world around us. For the endless variety of all that dwells here with us...

Six Word Memoir

2008-05-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

So...the pressure...the pressure! Shasta tagged me to come up with a memoir title in 6 words. I came up with a few options:

FAMILY always means I LOVE YOU.
Unexpected Blessings Come in All Sizes!
Family Adventures, Each and Every Day
Growing-Up Weird but Faithful and Strong (hyphenating growing up might be cheating...)
Just Trying to Make Some Lemonade

I'd imagine there are others...but this will have to do for now! Check out Shasta's blog for hers. (Which, by the way, I find EVER so much more creative than mine!)

Here's how it works:

1. Write the title to your own memoir using 6 words.
2. Post it on your blog.
3. Link to the person that tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs.

Sadly, I'm not sure I can tag 5 more blogs that haven't been tagged yet...but here are a couple three:

Only Wanted to Comment
Mom of 5 (Like me!)
Stephanie

This was interesting...and I have to admit that I've been mulling it over since I saw the post!

Have fun!

Music as Inspiration

2008-04-10T21:32:00.000-04:00

My favorite morning drive-time team on the radio (WGTS) was talking yesterday about songs that inspire us. Songs that spur us forward. Songs that change how we think. This whole week, too, they've been encouraging listeners to focus on God's healing in our lives. Both of those topics brought one song and one moment to mind...."Go Light Your World." I can't remember who wrote it originally, but I remember the moment I first heard the song...

It was 10 years ago.

We had just been told that our second child and first son was profoundly deaf, had cerebral palsy and may not survive to his 1st birthday. We were in the process of undergoing a lengthy series of genetic and metabolic testing to diagnose the root problem...it was grueling and things weren't looking very good. We were struggling with questions, longing for answers and oh so very weary.

I took a much needed weekend break and headed off to California to attend a Women of Faith Conference in Anaheim. Kathy Troccoli was the featured musician for the weekend. Such a talented performer!! Anyway, at one point during her afternoon concert, she asked the sign language interpreter to join her on the stage. Kathy sang that song with such heart. But it's the interpreter who did it for me. She was BEAUTIFUL, graceful and so powerfully evocative of the meaning of the song.

In those few moments of music, I realized that I had been feeling like an extinguished candle. That I had forgotten my flame. Lost my light. Forgotten that the fire inside comes from God. Forgotten that my flame should shine brighter in a storm. The song spoke to me...but the interpreter moved me. Moved me to think of the opportunities for Patrick rather than the losses. Moved me to CHOOSE laughter over sorrow. Moved me to look at his abilities and not his disabilities. Moved me to look forward to learning a new mode of communication rather than feeling cheated out of hearing "mommy" from this darling boy. Moved me to enjoy every day with him rather than counting down the days....

We celebrated his 10th birthday in November...and my *bonus featured* boy is an adventure at every turn. Did God miraculously heal him and make him like all the other kids? No. (But then again, I thank God each and every day that NONE of my kids are "normal!") Did He provide healing in ways that have doctors scratching their heads? You betcha! And for our family? well, I believe the best is yet to come....

YAY!

2008-03-20T18:50:00.001-04:00

Finally finished my funny little attempt at a chipboard album. It's a departure for me from my usual scrap efforts...partly due to the format. Also due to the kinda self-indulgent theme. The idea came from the entertainment value and thought-provoking nature of notes in the Dove chocolate wrappers. Anyway...I had a good time creating this fun album. Take a peek at the slideshow to the right and tell me what you think!

AAARRRGGGHH

2008-03-08T00:10:00.001-05:00

Okay...so I'm 183 pages into a *gripping* Patricia Cornwell novel...fairly new one, too!!...and I flip the page.

Next page doesn't make sense, so I double & triple check, thinking I've turned an extra page or two. Um, no. Instead of my page 184, I've got page 252.

Now, I'm not much for math, but I'm pretty sure that 252 DOES NOT come after 183. Pretty darned sure.

I've flipped through the rest of the book. Pages are still not there. *sigh*

So now it's after midnight, I'm missing pages, and so annoyed I can't sleep. AAARRGGGHHH. Maybe I can find the receipt and get a new copy.

Dontcha Love It

2008-03-06T21:13:00.000-05:00

when you stumble upon something you love that you'd briefly forgotten??

Bits & pieces of an ee cummings poem that I love have been drifting in & out of my mind for a couple of days now. So, thanks to the wonder of google and the internet, I found the whole thing...and I love it more than I did before:

i thank You God for most this amazing day:
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural
which is infinite
which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun's birthday;
this is the birthday of life and love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any-lifted from the noof all nothing-human merely being doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

___________________
WOW! Pretty cool, huh?

Random Factoid: ee cummings didn't capitalize many words...but always referred to God that way!

Mixing it Up

2008-02-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

As I sit at my desk working on charts and graphs and formulas and even more formulas, I'm pondering my snack food of choice today. Which begs the question:

Have I mentioned that I really don't like those little toasty things in Chex Mix? LOVE the rest of the stuff, really I do. But I can't stand those round toasty things-white or rye! *sigh* I mean, who thought of those things in the first place??? Have you EVER seen loaves of bread that size that just needed to be sliced?? Are they rejects from the crouton factory? Refugees from the salad bar? What is the real name for them? Chex, I get. Pretzels I get. Cracker bar bits, I get. Weird mini-toasts...from where?? Suggestions for a better name?

And WHY do I feel compelled, as a full-grown adult, to eat them rather than picking them out of my handful? Isn't semi-picky eating a perk of adulthood? But NO...rules oriented mommy that I am, I can't bring myself to just toss 'em. I'd save them and give 'em to someone who likes them, but I've never met such a person. Apparently their sole purpose in life is being the snack food alarm in Chex Mix. Chew one of those babies and EVERY one knows you're snacking. Three cubbies away, they can hear me chomping on my mid-afternoon snack. Have you ever tried chewing them quietly? And I'm sure my dentist has a love-hate relationship with this particular snack food! ;-)

I feel better now that I have that off my chest.

2008-02-11T21:57:00.000-05:00

A gaggle of us girlies hit the road last night to see Chonda Pierce in concert. WOW! I haven’t laughed that hard for a LONG time. Too long a time, really. My cheeks and back STILL ache from the belly deep giggles. There is just something special about the commonality of humor that unites us as Christian women…no matter where we are in our walk, our talk or our lives, we share more than we don’t.

I had been looking forward to this outing for a LONG time, a chance to spend some time with some ladies I am only just beginning to get to know. Ladies I already appreciate and care for. We had some terrific talks last night, but have only just begun to scratch the surface of where we can go as friends and sisters in Christ…I’m excited about building those relationships.

In the midst of all that laughter and fun, it hit me—just how much I had missed that kind of fellowship, that sense of so many kindred spirits in the room.

I was (and still am today) sad that I’ve put finding a church home on the back burner for so long. How what was once such an integral part of my life is no more—at least of late. I can explain it away with any number of reasons, but there is no excuse that can even remotely justify me robbing my children of the same opportunity I had to grow up within the wonderful warmth of a church family. Time to get off my butt, light a fire under the hubby and GET TO CHURCH!!

So…getting back to Chonda…she had some great stuff to say. Tough stuff, too. Not getting too far into the whole depression thing, let’s just say that I was strongly reminded last night that God loves me. Has always loved me. Will always love me. That HE is the light at the end of the tunnel. I think Michael W. Smith said it WAAAAY better that I ever could, in his song “Never Been Unloved”:

I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I have been undesirable

And sometimes I have unwise
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I've been unapproachable

I've been unemotional
I've been unexceptional
I've been undecided
And I have been unqualified

UnawareI have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved
It's because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved

This has always been one of my favorites and one I’ve clung to. Been listening to it all morning here at work, realizing that God loved me enough to remind me of it…and to remind me to take the help that He has made available to me… Time to get off my butt, call the doctor and get back on the program.

On the Calendar

2008-01-17T20:59:00.000-05:00

So...I was putting things on my calendar (*the book*) today and came across this quote pre-printed there during the week of Abbey's birthday:

"life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well" Josh Billings

Got me to thinkin' 'bout my growing up years and playing card games with my mom, dad, and brothers. My dad used to call this "run what you brung" during family games of Hearts. After I learned the game, I loved that round! Guess I'm just Type A enough to prefer the *knowingness* of building a strategy with a known quantity. I hated those previous hands...you know, where you swap 3 cards across or around the table? Well, OK, it's probably more to the point to say that I hated the part where I didn't know which 3 cards I was going to get--didn't mind getting rid of the 3 that were going to cause me problems! But my baby bro was a PRO at managing to give me almost EXACTLY what I thought I'd rid myself of. And the other brother, well, he was just good at messing you up no matter what. Dad and Mom are card sharks and always handed over a pile of whatever that made you scratch your head...UNTIL you figured out what they were doing. (tee hee hee)

I mean, think about it...who couldn't find three things in their lives they'd love to trade away?

Me.

No, really. I think I'd still rather work with what I've got, thanks.

Thank you, God for giving me the chance to "run what I've brung" in this life...and the opportunity to see Your plan revealed as those cards are played.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV

UN-Resolutions ??

2008-01-10T14:23:00.000-05:00

Okay, so now it’s 2008. A few days in, actually. And I am STILL wondering how this happened. “WHAT happened?” you ask.

2008.

Yes, how on earth did 2008 happen? I mean it seems like it was mere days ago that I was figuring out how old I’d be in the year 2000. (Yes, it was a dorky thing to do, but--for you youngsters out there who don’t remember--before the millennium hit, everyone was wondering random stuff like that about the year 2000.) Here I am, 8 years into the new era and scratching my head, agreeing with pithy statements like “gee, time flies.” GACK.

But I’ve decided to take a different tack. New Year’s Resolutions are great…everyone could stand to find SOMEthing to improve upon in their lives. Reflection is a wonderful thing—and societal acceptance and encouragement of said reflection is even more wonderful. And yes, there are things I hope to change this year—the usual lose weight, exercise more, spend less, yada, yada, yada.

But, I’m kinda tired of the negativity innate in the process of making those little personal improvement plans.

SO…I’m also thinking about things I DO NOT want to change this year…things that I like about who I am, where I’m going and how I’m getting there.

I know I’m a work in progress…but I LIKE that! I hope we all are…and I pray that I will continue to grow and change right up ‘til I meet Jesus. I like that I am (mostly) able to embrace the ‘in progress’ nature of myself and those around me. (Admittedly, not so much on the commute. *sigh*)

I like that my kids have learned to make creative messes. That we like to dabble with all sorts of art forms and expression. That they like to look beyond the basics of a task and think about more interesting approaches and are willing to explore.

I like using 50 cent words. I like that my kids are learning to use big words, too, and don’t back down from a pronunciation or spelling challenge!

Asking questions is a good thing. Asking thoughtful questions is even better…I like that the kiddles are good at asking about anything and everything. (except sometimes forgetting to ask for that cookie…)

It has taken me this long to acknowledge that I’m fine looking like I look. So I’m not a supermodel; statuesque ladies like me will never find positive images in the media. I’ve never been a petite flower and never will be. And guess what???! IT’S OK!!

I like that I still like to dance and enjoy “young music’…Heaven forbid I should start thinking Paul Sedaka is cool.

I like that this parenting thing is teaching me something new each day…and that we are a family open to learning from each other.

A challenge for you…what do you resolve NOT to change this year?

If you’re like me, that question is harder to answer, if only because we are sooooo conditioned to look for the flaws in our lives.

Holiday Preparations ??

2007-12-11T23:18:00.000-05:00

So, here I am, caught in the insanity of "getting ready for Christmas." I do this every year. Yup. Don't know why, really, except that all this getting ready-ness is just what I do.

I *think* we'll have the Christmas cards off tomorrow. And the packages, too. Then it's time to get the Zoo Crew ready with baking, more decorating and prepping for our houseguests (my mom & dad!).

And yet, in the midst of the hustle and bustle and shopping and carding and mailing and wrapping...I can't help but think that it's my HEART that needs to get ready for Christmas. To get ready for the coming Christ, whose birth we celebrate each year. To prepare for the awesomeness of God made man, a gift generously given that I might one day see His face in Heaven. WOW.

Without Christmas, there could be no Easter...and without Easter, well...the unimaginable, a life without a resurrected Savior. Or worse. An eternity outside His presence.

None of this is new, (or even original) thought, but sometimes, just sometimes, I lose the wonder of it in the shuffle and then, when it comes rushing back to me, His utter care for me takes my breath away. What about you?

Kinda makes the whole mall-crawl seem more than a wee bit short-sighted. Maybe next year a homemade holiday...

'til Ben Came Home From Kindergarten

2007-09-02T22:37:00.000-04:00

So, as I send #4 out the door to kindergarten, I have to ask myself...just HOW did this HAPPEN? I don't *think* it's been that long since this little beastie was just a lovely, dreamy anticipation of a new family member. And yet, here he is, all sort of growed up and riding a bus. And so serious, too. When he came home that first day, his observations were quite telling, I thought...

Mommy: How was your VERY first day of school, honey?
Ben: Mommy, I think I will like school. But the question IS... (side note: this is our current fave phrase--'but the question IS...')
Mommy: Yes?
Ben: Why does my teacher have to call me Ben B.?
Mommy: EXCELLENT question...is there another Ben in your class?
Ben: Weeeelllll. Yes, but he is NOT me. And she calls him Ben S. I don't like that. And I AM NOT Ben B. I am just Ben. Can you tell her that, please?

Now, being a Mommy of action, I got to thinking and wondering how I should handle this request from my very earnest little man.

First off, there are FOUR kindergarten classes at Ben's school. Are there REALLY 5 Bens? No, seriously. In our years here in our little-ish town, we have encountered no other Bens his age. But suddenly there are 5? Because it only stands to reason that if one were composing kindergarten classes, one would ONLY double up on names if there were no way to avoid it, right? RIGHT??? And then I realized that this kind of logic must somehow NOT apply to schools, because Ben's big brother is one of two Matthews in HIS grade...and they have ALWAYS been in the same class. This year, too.

Secondly, I realized how funny his little world must seem right now. To him, he IS Ben. The essence of Ben-ness. The one, the only BEN. So, to be suddenly both one of two and not just Ben, but Ben B. YIKES! What a stunning realization to be forced to at a mere 5 years of age.

Third, Ben also had the shock of his life when his best friend's name was called for attendance, he turned and the boy raising his hand was not HIS Zack. Nope. There's a Zack in his class, but it's not his friend Zack. Silly mommy suggested that he befriend the "new Zack"...at which point I was gently informed that he cannot be friends with "just ANY Zack" and that he would have to "take steps to find MY Zack."

What struck me with such force, too, was what an impact this seemingly little thing had on my little guy. Something we grown-ups take for granted and laugh at over dinners...this sharing of names, of knowing someone with the same name, making friends who share names. Finding ourselves describing a friend as "Karyn from church" vs. "Caron from the gym". Don't you take that small world truth as a given? I know that I did...'til Ben came home from kindergarten.

What a quick immersion into the bizarre truth that, while a good name is worth gold, it certainly doesn't define what makes us unique or special.

So...what makes YOU special and different from the other folks out there who share your name? I certainly don't know the answer to that one...seems I've got more questions than answers tonight...but here's a start:

"God made you special, and He loves you VERY much," to quote my beloved Veggie Tales.

I think I'll give the school a call...not to complain or ask them to change anything for this year...but rather to give them some of Ben's food for thought.

Why Blog?

2007-05-24T21:03:00.000-04:00

Okay, so everyone tells me "you should publish" and all that stuff they say to friends who just seem to know *stuff* or have a way with words. On the other hand, it HAS been said that everyone has at least ONE great book in 'em, right?

So I'll get my feet wet here...

More to come!