More than anything

More than anything I want to take the time to praise God for his faithfulness
even when I am not faithful.

I am so exhausted after my day today! It was a blessed day.

365# 31 thingy



These are my new pj's. I got them at Wal-Mart for 5 bucks.
You can't beat that with a stick!

Let go!

I enjoyed creating this layout. In fact I enjoy creating period. I love finding inspiration everywhere online and these days you can find any challenge blog or place that will support that. If I am not sure which direction I want to go in, I find the spurring on that I need from other places. That is what art is all about. Being inspired by the things around us.

This is my finished layout that I did following Kelly Purkey's monthly sketch.

I like how it turned out! I always love doing layouts with these colors! And scrapping about Dayv is something I enjoy doing as well! I miss him SO much! In fact just yesterday we sat and chatted on yahoo IM for over 2 hours! It was so nice to talk to him. And the best thing is that it was free!!! It really uplifted me!

Today is my day off! I am totally stoked about it. But I will be spending the majority of it in the car repair place! LOL. Fun. We are getting new front brakes and our sensor light is on and it is messing with the engine and other things and it needs to be fixed. So today is that day. I am pretty excited about it as this is our only car and I am all over keeping it running! Then after school, I'm picking up A and a girl from work named Michele. Then we're spending the evening together shopping!

Want to win a kit? That's right all you have to do is go to I Am A Scrapaholic and put a card, make a new card, or just show us a card! Make sure you link it to this I Am A Scrapaholic thread from the gallery!!! You could win a February kit from IAAS! Go over and put your card in our gallery!!!! The deadline for this is February 10th 2009!!!

365 #30 thingy

I thought this was funny! I took a photo of the layout above and before I edited it, this is what it looked like. What struck me as funny are my shoes! LOL. This is just about what every layout looks like before I edit it!!! LOL.


I want to leave you with this daily word that spoke to me today. I hope that it speaks to you.. I love it when God meets you right where you are! Happy day friends!

Let Go, Let God
I release all into God's care, expecting and accepting the perfect outcome.
As a child, I may have constructed a paper boat and floated it in a bathtub or even a puddle of water. Now, in a quiet time of meditation, I imagine placing such a craft on the surface of a stream. Soothed by the warmth of the day's sun, I relax and visually follow my creation as it floats downstream.
I rest comfortably as I watch the boat ride over the ripples in the stream, bump into a stick or stone here and there. The stream flows in one direction, so I know I will not see my paper handiwork again. I have released it to a new "experience."
Like this peaceful release, I let go of any concerns and trust them to God's care. I have no need to take them back. God's power, wisdom, and protection exist here and now, where I am and as I am.
"They thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete."--Acts 27:13

For the love of art...

I have 4 tattoos.
Some might be surprised.
Some know about them.
Some don't really care.
Some judge me because of it too.
And my response?
I don't really care actually.

You are entitled to what you want to believe.
And also have your opinion too.

But a lot of times people that are Christians feel that
other Christians shouldn't have them.
Like they are a sin.

Let me just share with you a little piece..

"Often, arguments that tattoos are okay for Christians revolve around Christian freedom or the fact that the law of God was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. This shuts up most of those who are ready to argue Leviticus 19:28 which says, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.”

This verse was laid smack dab in the middle of a list of Old Testament Mosaic Laws, most of which were needed during that time for safety or other implications of that era. I always like to take a look at the verse right before the one that says NO TATTOOS for a little eye-opener. Leviticus 19:27 says, “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

Hmm…so we don’t have any problem with people cutting their hair or men trimming their beards, but we are quick to judge those with tattoos or piercings."

-Quoted from Ryan

What we need to realize is that is isn't our jobs to judge.
But it's more about your heart...
Where is your heart?
Either you like tat's or you don't.
But remember if you happen to see someone who has tattoo's, piercings, or anything that you find different, bad, or wrong because they are either walking or not...
God is far more interested in our love for Him and our hearts than weather or not we have some ink on us.
As for me? I want a couple more...
And it's okay.

My 365 # 29 thingy

This is one of my tat's.
It's of pooh. I've had it for a pretty long time.
I still like it!

Baby it's cold outside!

We might not be getting much snow here right now
but let me just share with you it's freezing here!
I was cold all day at work {they have these vents and air blows through them}
freezing cold air all day long... I had on a lot of layers and it still
was freezing.
I am finally thawing out!

I've got some stuff to share!


This first one is of me {the photo shoot A and I did together this past weekend!} talking about my nickname. Most of my family calls me Beth. Since joining Facebook as well most of the peeps that I knew prior to 1991 also call me Beth. So I thought I'd do a layout about my nickname and behind that. I really like the green flowers. I've never done flowers like this before. I had always seen them on pages and thought they were cute! And they are really easy to boot!


This next one is a challenge I did at Mix It Up! I am always loving a good challenge! I really love these photos of A, I always seem to take better photos outside! More usage from my SC kit {I am totally ready to get their next kit!}. You guys know how I feel
about photo strips. I try all the time in my photo program
to print them out! I just love using them a lot!

I've been really really tired as of late.
I know why but it doesn't make it any better!
I think I'll be trying to go to bed early for the rest of the week!

Is it me? Or are others anxious for February to get here?
This last week seems to be dragging something awful! ARGH!
I don't even know why I want it to be February but I do!

I stalk.. I mean I just read her blog occasionally.
I happened to read her post and realized that she's doing a sketch challenge
all year long! Hee, hee. I *HEART* sketches.
This is sitting on my desk right now
I'm workin' it!

365 #28 thingy


Angels. I'm not really into them.
But these one's are really special.
My mom liked angels and she left them to me.
I grouped them all together because I thought they were
totally cute!
She loved each and every one of them a lot.
So I wanted to keep them too!
The funny thing is my duck...
I have a thing for ducks. But not the country type
ducks you see in a kitchen. I just like odd ducks.
This one is odd.. Not only is he sitting by himself
with all those angels, I just thought he was totally cute!
His home is there amongst them!

Photo tag

I took this from Heather Preckel's blog the other day. I really liked it! So I joined in and found it fun! Only I didn't really like the photo....

If you want to do it this is what you should do:
1. Go to Your Pictures on your computer
2. Go to the 8th folder
3. Go to the 8th picture
4. Post that picture on your blog and the story behind it


My goodness. I believe I was in the 7th grade in this photo.
It was my school photo.
Trust me with a lot of hairspray you too can have this do!
Umm. It took me awhile I remember getting my hair to flip like this and stay.
Since it is so straight I had to use a lot of hairspray!
And I didn't even do that back! I just did the front to have it flip like that.
I could even pick up the flipped part and move it, I used that much hairspray.
You know what? I don't even look like that anymore! LOL.

I got an email from
Stacey
Serendipity Scrapbooks
asking me to participate in their
reunion crop!
I was pretty stoked about it cause I am looking for things to challenging me too!

It's the weekend of February 21-22nd!
There is going to be tons of fun, games, and challenges too!
Go and check out the thread talking all about it!
Join us then, old DT and new!
I am busy working on the challenges I'm hosting so make sure you check it out!
I'll remind ya when it gets closer as well!

365 #27 thingy

I was too busy this morning to take a photo
so I took one when I got home this afternoon.

I caught A in her room drawing. She loves to draw!

All rolled into one.

Not anymore!!
I realized it's true.
I do not choose to carry this burden
any further.
I have laid it down at Jesus' feet.
Constantly.
Yet I find myself having picked it back up again.
I do not have that right anymore!

Therefore I am letting go.
That's right. 2008 is over.
So is the pain.
The frustrations.
The beating myself up.
I cannot change it.
At all.
Let it go Elizabeth.
This time I laying it down.
Letting it go.
I don't have a right anymore!
Not anymore...

I did this layout


for a challenge over at
The Design Experiment
When I saw it, I knew instantly that the answer to the question
they asked was easy. The same journaling is on the layout as well.
"What burdens did you leave behind in 2008? How did you overcome that feeling to just LET IT GO?"
I knew instantly that I must let go.
I have carried this burden of the way I took care of my mom while
she lived here for too long.
It's been 3 months and 19 days since my mom passed away.
But yet the guilt was there even while she was here.
It was never enough.
I couldn't do it right.
I didn't have it in me to take care of my mom.
She wouldn't let me.
I wasn't a good care taker.
I couldn't let go of the truth.
What I knew..
What she said to me, the truth.
It stung.
And I chose to carry it.
Even though I asked God for forgiveness.
I even asked for my mom's forgiveness.
But I still clung to the guilt.
I held it like a tight string that
cut off my circulation.
I always knew. That truth.
But hearing her say those very words to me, made me want to run
very far away.
They are not words that a mother should ever say to a child.
To me.
But they were there.
They were how she felt.
And because of that, I didn't care for her as Jesus wanted me too.
I should of treated her better.
Should'a, would'a, could'a.
But I didn't.
The love I had for my mom wasn't enough.
Truth.
But...
This time..
I am letting it go.
I did the very best I could.
Even if I didn't do it the right way.
I did the very best I could.
The very best.
And that guilt?
Not anymore!
I am letting it go.
It is not mine to carry.
Not into 2009.
It is a new year.
With new changes.
I am done.
I shall not bare that burden any further.
Jesus, I lay that down at your feet.
I will not pick it up again.
It is yours to carry.
I know I am forgiven.
I know that love is what God wanted my mom and I to have.
And we did.
That is enough..

I know A took these photos of me yesterday. But
they apply for today. This one photo does.
It's my 365 #26 thingy.



Today I am free...

Many miles away...

I did the Friday formula at CMK this week. I was searching through the "Dayv" folder and wanted to scrap some photos of him. I had forgotten that right before he left for deployment that I encouraged him to take some photos {note encouraged! LOL} of him in the new BDU's they are having the AF wear now. I love his smile!
And I am really digging this SC kit! I've never had so much fun working
with a kit over a period of time! And I still have more papers
I can use!

I've got some new house photos {I'll show those later!}. Although it pretty much looks the same as it on the outside we actually got to go inside this time!
All of the walls are sheet rocked and this week they will start to finish them!
My friend Lori went by and got the measurements for the house inside so that she can get on this program she's got an be able to do a virtual set up to see where my furniture and things can go! I thought that was pretty neat and it will be fun to play around and see prior to getting in there. It's getting so close!
I am getting SO excited and nervous too.

Grateful this week:
1. For people's words that really hit home and encourage.
2. To know and understand the bible is honestly the truth to how we need to live our lives.
3. For my soft bathrobe that my mom bought me.
4. For the loads of photos I have that evoke creativity and memories.
5. Realizing that although I am a work in progress, being thankful for who I am and who God created me to be!
6. Perseverance.
7. For dreams.
8. Communication with Dayv.
9. For starting to enjoy cooking a little bit more!
10. For the 30 minute difference in my hours that will enable me to have a little more time each day!

365 #25 thingy

Today A and I did a semi photo shoot! She is so good about taking photos these days and truly is a natural in front of the camera! I love her ease and her beauty from inside to out!

Well I am off to get my scrap on! Hope that you too find something that gives
you such utter joy that you can't help but smile!

Saturday is full!

Blog award! I got another blog award! It's from Fink's blog!
What a cool thing to of gotten, thanks Fink!

I am to list my 5 obsessions and then send it to 5 people I know!

My 5 obsessions are:

1. Scrapbooking
2. Chocolate
3. Talking
4. Laughing
5. Observing people

My 5 tags are:

1. Shellye
2. Sasha
3. Megan Peacock
4. Sarah Mullanix
5. Daniela Dobson

I wanted to show these off!
The double page spread is my next Triple The Sketch! I really loved how this turned out. I even submitted it to CK, so we'll see. I highly doubt it cause I haven't broken the mold into them yet... And the other one is just for fun. I got my Studio Calico kit and went to town!



I am in the process of creating another layout using some more yummy Studio Calico kit! I really am glad I signed up for their kits!

Yes I know more blog changes! LOL. I thought
the other print was a tad busy for me. And it reminded me of a pair of pants
I used to know that someone's mom wore. I didn't like them then and don't like them now.
So I had to change it! This way I can use this template for next month too!
So we're good to go until March!
Then it's fun spring stuff.
Besides who can resist Strawberry Shortcake?

365 #24 thingy
I've decided that I am going to actually make a page spread for each photo I've taken a month.
Just highlighting it on paper as well. I saw someone else do it
and thought it was a nifty idea to do myself!

I thought I'd do a photo of my computer. I couldn't live without it, honestly.
I love the computer.
I love what you can do on it, who you can talk to, the things you can see!
This is my computer and I love it!


I wanted to leave you with this...

Turning Point

God is the way--this moment, this day.

God knows and shows me the way to and through every turning point in life. At those times when I may feel at a loss as to what to do, I affirm: God knows and shows me what is mine to do.

Feelings of loss can come in many ways: a temporary or longtime separation from a spouse, child, partner, or friend; the termination of a job; or the experience of not meeting a personal goal.

I find my way through these times as I rely on God to lead me on to new or renewed relationships, career opportunities, and fulfilling accomplishments. I move forward with enthusiasm. I respond with faith to opportunities to stretch and grow beyond what I did the day before--even the moment before.

"And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."--Romans 8:27

Contrast

I never really pay attention much to contrast in regards to color and scrapbooking. But this month's CX project was to do just that. I had to define contrast to understand it.

Still even though these sites were good, I would of liked in the end to of actually "seen" a project, layout, or card done with using contrast in color.




I really like how everything turned out, I just hope that they have followed what was asked! You can check them out soon Here! Scroll down and you can see them under my blog area!

Just thought I'd share a chuckle with ya. Alyssa wants to look at a picture she sees on my laptop screen {my main screen} so I click on it. It's a picture of her with her hair flipped up, like the other day's post on here. She giggles a little bit and says... "You know I think I really like my hair flipped up!" OMW! I just laughed, and laughed, and laughed! Typical teenager behavior and woman behavior too!

365 #23 thingy
Today's photo is of Jake. The poor guy hates being home alone {I took Kira to get her haircut and bathe today} and he is just sulking. He finally got on the couch and laid down...
Just so you know, straight after I took this photo he grunted, looked at me nastily, and turned himself around! LOL. What a hoot!

I hope your weekend is as blessed as mine will be!

Struggle.

I am tired. I am ready to not work tomorrow and just rest and relax. I need it...

365 #22 thingy


This is one of the old signs that I have in our house. I love old signs a lot. They are all over our LR walls. I think I might of mentioned that before! I got this one from a friend of mine. Well I was there when she bought it for me! She asked me if I liked it and I agreed that I did! So she bought it for me on the spot. It's a real footpath sign on some old footpath in England. I wonder where it led too? How many people walked the path of this sign? I wonder if it was hidden by trees or branches and others couldn't see it? I love old signs... It's one of the many on my walls that I truly love!

Until tomorrow when I am rested and my head is clear. I give God the praise and glory for trying times. They suck, but I know that He is in control.

To learn

I wanted to share with you what A and I read last night in our devotional.
It smacked me across the head, which is a very good thing!

"Godliness with contentment is great gain"
-1Timothy 6:6 NIV

Why did this strike me? Well contentment is my word.
I felt God calling me to really dig deep and study just what it is to be content.
To understand it, to live it, to apply it, to spit it back out in my life.

It goes on to say that God values contentment because he is never discontent.
He has everything he needs because he is everything he needs.
And he wants us to be content with him and all that he gives us.

This spoke volumes to me last night. I had just been talking to Lori I was feeling kind of down, she was uplifting me and sharing with me
that God had my back.
I tend to lay things down at God's feet. Some things I am good at laying down, others..
Not so much.
Like the whole house thing.
We want that house so very badly.
But I have to find my content in God.
I have to know that he has my back.
I have to lay it all down at Jesus' feet.

I thought last night's devotional spoke volumes to me. Maybe it will to you as well...

May you truly find contentment by being godly so that we can gain God's grace!


365 #21 thingy
Today's photo is courtesy of Alyssa. You think her hair looks cute? So do I. But she hates it.
She asked me this morning to use the flat iron on her hair. Our flat iron does both. It flattens and it curls.
So I had it on the curling iron part. I asked her if she wanted it flipped up or down. She said up.
So I do that. It's darling. And honestly looks so much better than it does when it scraggly.
However Alyssa hates it. She walked out of the bathroom laughing.
When I asked her why, she said nothing.
I hate that.
Even though she's smiling and looks adorable it wasn't a very good time for us both.
But.. That is what life is all about. Not always those peaches and cream times.
So I tell her I will fix it. She doesn't want me too.
She gets into a tizzy {after the photo of course}
and I want her to talk about it with me.
She doesn't want to.
I want to fix it for her...
To help her.
But I realize that nothing I do or say is going to fix it.
So I tell her I'm done.
But I am frustrated.
I get the whole I don't like my hair thing. Truly I do.
But I was trying to help and she just wasn't budging.
*Sigh*
So before I say I'm done, I inform her that either we are cutting her hair
or I need for her to try to use the iron daily because it looks horrible.
Like she doesn't brush it at all.
She says yes ma'am.
I come down here to vent...
LOL.
*Sigh*

Moxxie sneak peeks!

Okay I don't know about you, but I was having a hard time reading my own blog so I figured you were too! so I changed it up to give the background where the writing goes a plain color so we could all see it! Sorry about the changes again...

You have to go check out the new Moxxie sneak peaks!! They are totally cute and fun! Here's a little peek as well, these are just a few of the sneaks so make sure that you go check them all out!





o

You learn something new every day!

So this is the first time for this. I just learned how to do it! I've seen it on other blogs and liked the fact that you could change it up, but never knew how, until now!! I'm diggin' it.
One of the ways I love to write is like this. I saw it once from a girl a really long time ago and loved how she did that with her layouts.
She always had posts to the right of her page.
Now that I realized what I'm doing I might be doing this a lot...

Here is the very last photo of the outside of our house.

They are completely finished out there {well with what they can do}
and have moved into the inside.
They are sheet rocking it this week
and then I'll be able to get in there and snap photos!
They won't be able to paint the outside until spring as the weather is pretty yucky.
Isn't it exciting?
Yeah I'll probably be using it quite a bit now that I know it's out there!

These are two layouts I recently did. I really wanted to do something that was more summery. I love the beach photos we took when we went back to Florida this last time. And the one with all the squares is really cool too. I just went to town cutting them! So colorful!

I am in the process of working on my CX projects for this month.
It's going okay. I had a few bumpy roads but I think I am getting
the hang of this whole contrast thing in regards to color.
Should be interesting in the end!
I will show those to ya when I am finished with them.

I am using my Cricut more than ever before.
I have to be honest with you and tell you that
I wasn't impressed with it
when I first got it.
But..
I just realized that this year since CX wants us to ensure
that we are using the Cricut in every single project
that I am learning to really love working with it!
I think I am falling in love with my Cricut machine! LOL.

365 #20 thingy

Alyssa really wanted to play Stratego. I love this game!!! It's a really fun game. We played it
last night and she beat me! Did I mention that I am really good
at this game? LOL.
I am.
However she was moving faster
than I could and got to my flag before I could take her man!
It was so much fun.
We've left it on the table for another game this
afternoon!

I hope you smile today because that is what I plan on doing. Oh yeah, and letting stupid things roll off my shoulders too!

The "No" Day

I know it's not spring yet, but I wanted to change my blog up until next month because I couldn't stand it anymore!! LOL. I like the fresh look to it, even though I am trying to be content with winter still being here.. I needed the change! I'm really liking it so far!! Makes me feel springy!

There is no school today, and there is no work today! Which means that it's another pj day {well I did get my butt back in the gym after missing for two week! The gym roof caved in and it wasn't open and the next week I was sick!}. Man I seriously love those kinds of days, I consider them a huge blessing in our lives. It refills our cups and gives us energy to go back to work and school.. I love it!

Speaking of school. We're going through a period with A again.. If it's not one thing it's another and I do consider myself blessed to be her parent but sometimes I do have those moments of scratching my head at the things she does. Or for better lack of, does not do.

So far in the past 2 weeks she's "forgotten" her homework off and on. Now due to the nature of her and the fact that she doesn't normally lie, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and agree that she really did forget it. But.. With that being said, she doesn't follow through, follow directions, or read through things very well. Hence, her missing assignments that she always seems to be able to turn in late after speaking to her teacher... But that doesn't solve the problem at hand. She has homework and it's sitting in her messy desk at school. This weekend's homework she didn't know that she needed a certain part of something prior to tearing it out of her book {practice book pages that they tear out and can tear out}. She tried to tell me that she just didn't know. So I ask her if her teacher told her about them, nope. So that means in her haste she tore them out without reading the instructions. Then come to find out that Thursday she was told to write it in her planner and had she done this, taken the homework on Thursday would of seen that she needed to remember to bring the thing she needed home the next day. Therefore, she cannot do them because she forgot one of the parts she needed to complete it. Which means, late homework, yet again. And it means that she doesn't do her chore chart...

So I tell her standing there trying to remain calm that she cannot have the new computer games that are coming in the mail and I am "thinking" about not letting her spend the night at her best friends house yesterday. I know it seems harsh, but let me just share that this has been an off again on again issue for A. And she's going to middle school next year. It isn't the land of telling her teacher, cause she'll have many, that she didn't have it so could she turn it in late. It's all about getting an assignment and turning it in on time. I am trying to teach her this so that it forms into a habit of her being on top of bringing her homework home.

So I feel like a horrible parent, a harsh parent, and a heel too. If she only knew how I truly felt about homework at her age, she'd slam it into my face. And if she actually knew that I rarely did my homework that too would get thrown in my face some how, I am sure. And then there is the nature of whatever homework she has, that she'll not remember it and it won't matter in the daily life applications that she'll learn. But I don't dare tell her any of this, not one single word of it. No I have to stand there and be the parent that I only can, do the best that God want me to do and seek His guidance.

And that means no sleep over. Trust me it is hard. It was hard. I had to explain myself and my reasoning and then call her friends parent and tell her that A cannot come. Then we prayed, hugged and that was that.

It is very hard being a parent and I am sure you can relate. I am prayerful that she gets it.

So it was a no day all around both good and bad...

365 #19 thingy

these are the sneakers that I wear to the gym. I love them a lot and have had them for awhile now too. They are a good sneaker. It feels good to be back in the gym!

Yes that is military carpet...

This just in!

So I didn't realize it but on my door step yesterday was a package. A package from Jen from Moxxie! What an amazing, fun thing to open late yesterday!!!

I wanted to show ya what she made for me! I was in their DT challenge {old design team members and new} Moxxie

Here is the tag I did and won with
I have fun using Moxxie products!

And here I am wearing my necklace {forgive the photos, A took them and she was in a hurry!}



p.s. I couldn't take the wintery feel to my blog anymore, so I just changed it up for right now until next month!!!! This is my mood, definitely not winter! LOL.

Feelin' it

I love winter, truly I do! I enjoy just sitting around in my pj's. Eating soups that warm you up. Watching the snow fall. Playing out in it.

However. I am done with winter. Not that I care what it is like on the outside mind you. Because it isn't going anywhere. But look at my blog? I am honestly counting down the days where I can change it into something more fun and lighter! It's so droll...

The funny thing though is today I am showing you all winter stuff. LOL. I did this layout for TTS
I really like the red pop of the layout a lot! But it's the photos that bring a smile to my face, we were having so much fun! Fun can always be had at our house doing whatever! This day it just happened to be in the snow!

I am so thankful for many things this week. These are my top 10:

1. For Yahoo IM. I got to chat with Dayv for almost an hour. I am thankful for that time, it made me laugh.
2. For the late night laughter with Alyssa.
3. For our Jeep not needing over the cost repairs.
4. Talking things through with friends. Because sometimes you just need to do that to think clearly.
5. Oil Olay. I am a firm believer in their products.
6. Connecting with old friends on Facebook.
7. Having friends over for dinner.
8. Online friends.
9. Being married to Dayv 13 years and having him finish my sentences.
10. Having no one show up at the movies so I don't have to work! Ha.

365 #18 thingy

This was outside of our front yard in the AM. I really love how the base looks as each tree is frozen. It's really magical! And even though as I said, I am tired of winter it's still cool. Make sure you click on the photo so you can see it up close!

I want to be content right where I am, enjoying the winter because it is still here. I pray that you find yourself content with that too!