Just a few...

*Dayv got home yesterday and I think I slept good for the first time in 4 months.
*It's great having him home, and I pray he doesn't go anywhere for a long time.
*I thought I had to go to training really early today but turns out I don't, yeah!
*Our bedroom is painted! LOL. And I LOVE it!
*It's freezing here.
*It was so much fun showing Dayv our house, he loves it!
*I loved not having to drive, just sitting in the passengers
seat doing what I do best!
*I love watching D & A interact with one another!
*The dogs went crazy for seeing D.
*We had ice cream for dinner! :) lol.
*I love Dayv so very much.

Found it!

Well today is the day!
D will be home in the afternoon
and A and I busted our tails yesterday
to get it all ready for him to come home!
We are SO excited!
I cannot wait until he sees the house,
to hug him and to have him here daily.
It's been a very long 4 months.

Well after much thought into our bedroom I have
decided its time for a change. It's nothing major
but enough that we can paint the walls.
We've been in the house a month now, and I dislike
the stark white walls! I didn't know in which direction
to go since it's Americana and true red, white, blue.
I thought about doing it in red or blue but that seemed
like such a dark color.
I thought about the whole one wall thing, not me.
I thought about changing our room entirely but
I loved the theme too much.

Finally... This is our new comforter from Penny's.
I am going to use the other side of it with it's vertical
stripes and the lighter blue in one of the stripes.
I picked a paint color out in the lighter blue as well.
I am going to paint our bed frame red, and the chest in front of that navy blue
Not too sure right now if I will paint our other furniture and what colors yet,
but I'd really love to make a head board out of an old door. I saw
this someplace online and thought it was totally cool.
But for now, I am going to paint and get the new bedding in and
go from there.

I feel so much better about it cause it was really stressing me out!
Who would of thought white walls could stress a girl out?
LOL.

I got a text from D very early this AM telling me that they left
England! I sure hope that they arrive today and safely.
I am SO excited.

I actually managed to scrap this past week.
I did a challenge on Christian paper craft magazine.


It was for color but I had to add some of my own colors in there too!
I love challenges, cause when I am stuck they offer me out of a the stick!
They have a challenge posted daily on their site, which I love!

I like this dress. A lot.

I am thinking about getting it.
Because it screams me, but cute.
Ya know?
It's from Penny's. And Penny's is
one of my favorite places to shop.
Isn't it cute?

Well I am off to start my day!
I sure hope your Monday goes really well too!

Early riser.

There isn't any hiding it.
I am a very early riser.
I do my best work in the AM
and by 2pm I am spent, ready to
put on my pj's and call it a day!

So I woke early this AM and decided
to start tackling list before work this
afternoon.

I did do one major chore last night. I don't
know where I got the energy but I got into
the garage and organized it more.
I still don't know how we'll fit two cars in there
but it is a lot, I mean a whole lot better than
before! Now we just need to set about organizing
all the bins and other yard stuff as well so that
we will be able to get the vehicles in there.
It feels good to of done that!

I have a question for ya.
Do you ever feel like you want to do something great,
only to not know what that great is?
Sometimes I feel that way.
Like I know that God has something huge planned for
me and my life, but I don't know what
that is.
*SIGH*

I am very grateful. Each week that I do a grateful
list it is hard to narrow things down.
Because there are SO many things in my life
that I am truly thankful for. No matter how small
or big!

1. For being organized and a take charge kind of a chick.
2. Our new home.
3. M&M's cause they get you through PMS like nobody's business.
4. Fun boxes that come in the mail.
5. Talking things through with Dayv.
6. How much my dogs love me!
7. For a fresh day that the Lord gives daily.
8. Decorating our house.
9. Not procrastinating. I am not the kind of chick that will put it off
I do it right then and there and take care of it.
10. Being able to get Monday off from Starbucks training to see Dayv home!

I am taking this online class.
Check it out here.
After playing around with my blog, I am ready to learn something
while having someone teach me all I need to know!
It's going to be cool!


While at the gym the other day, I watched this show
as I was working on the elliptical.
Sadly, I am addicted to it. Even only after watching one
episode at the gym.
Yes, I just admitted it.
So I find myself each week looking it up and watching it online.
You see that's one of the big reasons why we don't have TV.
It's all I would be doing!
But I am hooked on their lives.
And I love Mia's voice, her songs, and the fact
that she wants to love someone.
Jasmine dances really well and I bawled cause she
didn't make it into Julliard.
Tyler..? He's an awesome dancer who cannot make
up his mind.
What I wouldn't give to of gone to a school like that...

As you enjoy your weekend, I hope that you find something
to be grateful for too!

Changes

Well honestly, it was bound to happen!
I found a couple of drinks I like.
They aren't coffee one's. Well I take that back.
The mocha latte wasn't that bad, but it's still coffee.
The two drinks I like are Caramel apple spice and Chi tea.
They are both really yummy!

Training went really well yesterday.
I can hardly believe that we are at the end of our first week.
I gotta go shopping though this weekend cause
I need some pants.
I've been trying to find some khaki's but realized
that now that we've got to tuck in our shirts then I am going to find some
black pants as well.
I want to have 5 pants for the entire week so that I am not washing daily.

I am thoroughly enjoying myself though with this training.
I feel like a kid because I am really learning things I never knew about coffee.
It's fun!

I have had two blog changes this morning. I am being fickle I know.
I was trying to feel my mood when I made them and realized that I wished I could do more
myself with my blog instead of having someone's ideas but it works.
I think I like this one. I am not a huge fan on blue and the last one was really bothering me.

Here is my next sketch for TTS.


I really like the papers and kit from Studio Calico.
They were really out of my box and I like that!
I also love the photos of A & I as well.

I have actually gotten some new photos of A. I am going to take some
more this weekend if it is nice out and we have time!
But this means I can actually scrap again!
Hopefully I'll find my mojo.

Speaking of time! I have a list.
For D's coming home.
We've gotta do SO much this weekend.
And I have to work... That's right, seems I am working "sometimes" for the movie
theater still.
So she needs all three of us to work cause it's supposed to be busy.
I am not working very long, but with this list and trying to get everything
done before D coming home it's going to be crazy!
I am both excited and nervous.

That might seem weird, but it's a huge transition for when they come home.
I have to stop being in control of everything and being both mom and dad.
I have to allow D to step in and take charge.
And that's not really a problem, it's just a transition.
And that takes time for us all three to fall back into place with having him home.
But for the most part, the excitement out weighs the nerves.
I just want to make it all perfect for him!
And on top of that, I gotta make sure I look extra cute too!
Whew...
I know right.

Well folks, its off to start my day.
I hope that your day is bright and cheery and that you grow!

Moving along

I feel like I haven't scrapped really in ages.
I did stuff for the various places that I am on teams with
but I was really wanting to get in there and scrap something for me.
I did this challenge recently for CMK.

It was a good jumpstart on my mojo!
I've seem to lost it.
Dunno why either....


Training day 2

Yesterday seemed like such a long day.
But I must share with you that the best part about this training is that
it seems so laid back.
Like it's not rushed and they are not trying to shove it down your throats in less than 2 weeks just to open the store.
I think it's a blessing we've got this trainer and it's been a wonderful experience thus far.

Yesterday was spent all day in the store.
We went over a lot of stuff and then actually worked the espresso machine.
Interestingly enough, the training wasn't that hard.
I know that we've got top of the line machines that do a lot of the work for us,
but I just thought it would be hard and well it wasn't all that hard.
I think the challenging part will be when we have to make something the customer
wants that isn't the normal thing we do.
Then it can get tricky.
And of course the rush we are going to have on opening day.
We already have had many people walking in wanting coffee already!

I enjoyed myself though. Having such a great trainer who is laid back
and doesn't expect you to know everything or cram it down our throats in the time frame
we have is really working.
And we are a good team because everyone is helping everyone out.

Although boss had to sit us all down and quiet the whole talking about others thing.
It isn't so much that anyone is being mean, they are just not being very positive and
supportive.
My attitude just changed after I pondered it in the morning and decided to use
the situation for positive.
There is always one in every crowd that ruffles feathers.
But it's what we do with it all that really makes an impact.
And I am all about being different.

So I am not going to be like everyone else and not talk, hang, or socialize with the ruffled
feather employee.
I am going to talk to them and get to know them better.
It is true that not everyone can like you, but you have to respect everyone.
And because I decided this change and to look upon this employee with love,
they day was really nice.

I don't follow the norm. Never have. Never will.
You all are doing one thing, and I'll do another.
Not cause I am not a team player but because I have Jesus inside of me!

I think I drank more coffee than I ever wanted to drink in my life.
I think everyone I work with thinks that I am going to love coffee
and have set out to find the perfect one for me.
However, I am here to share with you guys nawh. Not so much.
I don't care how much you put into it, it still tastes like coffee.
It reminds me of my grandmother! LOL.
Ick.
I eventually had so many sips of coffee I started feeling ill. I am sure
it was cause my body went into shock.
But just cause I don't like coffee doesn't mean I won't try the product.
After all, I am going to be working there.
Although peeps make it easy cause most people know what they want
coming in there.

I learned a lot yesterday.
I made several coffees that I thought were science and it turns out, they are pretty
easy to make.
I like hands on training.

Although one of the employees laughs at me every time I ask a question. I think
that they think that everyone should know coffee. Well...
Ummm. It's probably my like 5th time in a coffee joint, eva.
But I don't care, it makes me ask more because I am there to learn.

Today I hope that you learn something you didn't know too!

The day that Jack started?

Training day 1

Today was a good day.
Training today was mostly about customer service. Which Starbucks takes very seriously.
It is one of the reasons why they have such a high volume of business.
I learned some things though that I didn't know about Starbucks as well.

{Lori I'll stop making fun of you for the fact that, that one Starbucks places actually knows your name and drink} Cause that is Starbucks goal. They want to have a personal relationship with their customers!

They charge more for their coffee because they give back to the community.
Yep. They give a percentage of their profits to help aid in making parks, hospitals, etc. for people.
I didn't realize all that they do for the community and how much they truly care.

I also learned that their water, the stuff they sell there and the stuff my friend Lori always buys
is a profit as well. Those profits go to countries or places that have bad water. Starbucks goes
into these places and helps them get good water. Their bottle water profits do that. I did not know that.

And honestly today was my very first taste testing. We compared tested today.
We had Starbucks coffee and an over the counter brand.
I will tell you, I dislike coffee.
A lot.

Yeah.. Yeah.. I've heard it all before. Just cause I am working there doesn't mean I have to like
coffee. I do like the smell though.

Anyway...
We taste tested.
I am in no way a pro.
But if I had to drink a cup of coffee I would of picked the Starbucks one that we drank today.
And it isn't cause I work for them now.
It is cause it was better. Smoother. It smelled lovely. And it tasted fresh.
But in the end it was still coffee.
And it was still gross.
But I tell ya, even this non-drinking coffee person could tell the difference. Heck I even tasted the difference.

The place is beautiful. I might be biased cause I work there, but I've been in several Starbucks and they aren't all created equal. I mean normally the people there are, but I am talking about the eye pleasing atmosphere. Ours is fresh! I love it. Of course it follows that Starbucks standard but something about it seems very different. I learned today that it is just a little different than most. Only the couches are horribly uncomfortable. I don't care about looks, cause it does look nice. But sit on that thing and umm.. Not so much. It's deceiving. I'd rather sit in a hard back chair! LOL.

We spent a great deal of the day watching videos, talking things through, and then going into the store, and setting everything up. It was fun!

But.. I need prayers. Yes already.

I was approached by two others yesterday complaining about people. I want to work in a place that's nice, calm, and where everyone gets along. That can happen, trust me. I've worked at various places in my lifetime and it does exist. And pray that if I am to be used to put water on those fires that are brewing, do so! I hope I did that...

Also, please pray. Said boss is up to his wonderful tricks again. They asked us today what our preference is for the hours we want to work. I want days M-F. And said boss wasn't very cool with that, so it seems. I talked to my new supervisor and they wrote it down. But when he asked me about Sunday's and church I simply stated I cannot work weekends. And because he was bothered by this, he not only repeated it 3 times, but with each time got louder and louder. I grow weary of paying for his mistakes and choices.

There are going to be 2 shifts. One morning shift and one afternoon shift. The morning shift works best for me and my family because D is working swings. That's from 3pm-12am. I will probably be working 6am-12pm or 1. A is in school from 8-3 and later if she has after school activities. You do the math.

D will literally not see A during the day while she's in school. I will only get to see him probably about an hour to an hour and 1/2 then he's off to work. He is off during the weekend unless he's got weekend duty or he's deployed. So weekends for us works because we are all together and that is our family time. Said boss has his panties in a wad for me not wanting to work weekends? When 3 people before me said that they can work anytime, any day? The problem is what? {insert eye-rolling smiley chick right here} *SIGH* It's not okay when I state when I can and cannot work, but it's okay for everyone else? {Scratches head vigorously here}. And that's not the only thing that happened today, but its the only thing worth complaining about! LOL. Yea I am complaining. I just don't understand the need to single me out.

So please pray. Mostly for the drama and immaturity to be gone. That it will work out for me and my family. I am bothered by the fact that I got called out when everyone else just stated what they wanted and when. But it had to do with the fact that it was me. And that chafes my hide.

And I talked to the trainer about missing on the 27th due to D coming home. He completely understood. After all, picking D up, having him drop me off and him go home to our very new home alone seems well... Stupid. But trainer says that he will work something out, which I thought was nice and what I had others and myself praying for.

So day one wasn't too bad off!


p.s. I applaud Miss California for saying what she means and meaning what she says! We need more that aren't afraid of answering a question such as she did, and speaking their opinions and also for the glory of God! You go girl!!!

Freedom

What does being free mean to you?
For many it is simply that we live in a country that has
several freedoms, free speech, etc.
For others it means not being tied down to whatever
could tie them down.

Often times we equate being free with running away as well.
We think when we are free of whatever it is in our lives that we simply run,
leave, or turn away.
Well.. That is true we do turn away.
But sometimes there isn't a need to run away.

Sometimes being free means choosing not to go,
but to stay.

Now that I am 40 and life has taken a really different turn for me
than when I was younger I find myself basking in a different kind of freedom.
Christ.
I ran, or at least believed that I was running away.
I think for a time, I did.

Like I had to leave Florida.
I cannot tell you what my path would have been had I stayed in Florida
but I do know that I had to leave there.
And run I did.
My life growing up was hard.
I have shared that many times throughout writing on this blog.
I will spare you the many details that I could write a book on.
But I will share that I needed that freedom by running.
And even though I only ran 4 hours away to college, it was exactly what I needed.
Little did I know that my life would turn into a living hell there.
But, I chose that path and journey because who would of thought what I was
running from could be worse.
It actually did get worse.
And I am totally to blame for it all.
Of course since I've been walking awhile now, I've had the chance to ask
for forgiveness and grow through those choices.
But this post is about freedom...
I don't regret many things in my life because it is what I chose.
I am one of those types that makes a choice and then just goes with it.
It's why I boat jump without inhibitions.
Sometimes it is wise, other times it is not.

For example, like eating badly.
Normally I do not eat bad. But every now and then I make choices
that are very good for me.
But I do not beat myself up for them.
I stick whatever it is in my mouth and that's that.
I made the choice and therefore how can I go back and beat myself
up for putting an entire sleeve of Girl Scout cookies into my mouth?
Anyway..
I am getting off track, which is quite normal for me...

Sorry about that.
Freedom.
There are many types.
But the most important one is Christ.
He can and will provide you with such a freedom that you soar.
I know, I've experienced it.

Like when I was dating many, many men in college.
In fact, I made some serious poor choices. I dated
many men who beat me, cheated on me, sold drugs, and did not respect me.
You have to know that all I was doing was filling a God-shaped hole.
I wanted someone to just love me.
But that love came at some serious prices.
I lowered what I knew about myself and my self-esteem was probably the lowest
it ever was back then.
When I stopped running, finally in 1995
and met Jesus in my apartment I realized
that there might be someone who could love me without any conditions.
It was a freedom so sweet and tantalizing just like when you put a piece of
chocolate in your mouth and savor it.
That is what Jesus was for me.
It was a freedom that truly set me free.

But of course, I bound myself yet again, and it wasn't truly until
2000 that I finally just stopped.
That's right. Just as much as I make a choice to eat an entire sleeve
of Girl Scout cookies, I made the choice to fully and humbly walk with Jesus.
And that was a freedom that I thought I had experienced!
Huh.
This was something indescribable!
That freedom was like flying.
Like I imagine Harry in movie 3 flying on that Hipagriff.
Every time I watch that and watch Harry, I know what he is feeling.
God did that for me.

Not only did I stop, I stopped running as you know and I've shared.
But I realize as I age, that I don't need to run.
Not only because of God but because I choose to stay.

Right where I am at.
Regardless of each and every turn that I chose to make, I do not run.
I realized that while I might of run from Florida and everything there,
I am not a runner.
Not by nature.
I just had to go a different path so that God could get a hold of me in GA.

I thought I was running. But I was merely just walking.
Right into Jesus' arms.

I share this with you, even though I know it's quite long because
I felt led too. And because friends when you feel that itch to run from whatever it is
in your lives that you feel that need what you do is merely stop.
Walk. Make the choice to walk right into Jesus' arms.

That freedom...
Like riding that hipagriff or that morsel of sweet candy can be found
In Jesus.
He is real. He is calling your name.
That my friends is true freedom.

No matter what you think you are running from
whether it be weight, beauty, finances, relationships, children, etc.
The Lord can truly take it all away and give you the freedom you so desperately desire.

It is funny to me, how we seek the very freedom that binds us and strangles us.
We are comfortable in our lives.
We are afraid to let go, I mean truly let go.
And all it takes is a choice.
That is all.
A
mere
choice.

Yes I am one of those people that make a decision and stick with it. That is how
God wired me. But I see people every day that cannot do this.
They are stuck.
They do not know where to go, how to move, or what to do.
And it truly is quite simple.
And honestly I do it myself.
It's when we think we can do it ourselves.

That is where we get into trouble.
Because we cannot do it alone.
The freedom we desire can only be found if we are willing to see
the truth.

Because that truth will set you free.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
-2 Corinthians 3:17


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
-Galatians 5:1

Just things.

I thought I'd just do a light-hearted post today with my thoughts!

*I need new photos. I am struggling to scrap without new photos.
*I start training tomorrow. I have to admit I am nervous.
*This group rocks, check them out!
*I want to "fix" up my laundry room because it's calling out to me to do something!
*But I don't know how I want to actually decorate my laundry room...
*I ate horribly last week and I only worked out 2 times. There I said it.
*But it's Monday and I've made the decision to get back in the gym and eat right again!
*Sometimes I am stressed. Well lately a lot of the time.
*We think we are going to need another car. My spirit tells me to hold off, but D thinks we need one right now. I am prayerful we'll get on the same page about this.
*I am very impatient.
*I really want to get a security system for our house.
*I named our plants. There is Fred, Martha, and Grannie lilac. There are two that need names but I don't know what they will be yet. And yes, I talk to my plants.
*I miss my mom a lot still. I always will.
*Dayv is flying home in one day. Because he's going backwards in time.
*My spelling stinks.
*I felt like Huck Finn this weekend as I sealed and treated our fence.
*I miss drum corps still to this day.
*I wonder if D is going to love the house?
*Now-n-laters taste just like they did when I was a kid.

I have to share something really really wonderful with you!
In church on Sunday we were singing praise and worships songs that the youth group was hosting. It was a fun time and they started a song I really love, I was praising God and just
basking in him when I happen to open my eyes and there right in front of my floating by was a
very tiny feather.

I watched it as it floated by and then eventually landed on one of the seats. It made me smile and then get teary-eyed as well. My mom wanted me to know she was there.

In the time since her passing I cannot count, because I've lost count at how many times I've seen feathers in various places. My biggest prayer has been that I could feel my mom, and have a sign to know that she was there. Aside from finding dimes in several places, these feathers have been showing up at different places since her passing.

I was glad that it lingered before landing. I was just fluttering and floating and I thought so much of my mom and not only felt her presence but felt her love. I knew that she was there. And I knew and do know that she is quite happy too. I love my mom. I miss her just like it was yesterday. And I can hardly believe it's been 6 months already.

I am thankful of the feathers and the dimes. To know that she is still with me, warms my heart.

Another sharing...

Last night at 1:25am I was awoken with a huge crashing sound. You can imagine how scared I was. I took my tire iron {yep I sleep with one right next to my bed. It's rather heavy but I will not go down without a fight} got out of bed, and started to investigate. I checked everything and I couldn't imagine what it could be. So I re-checked everything again. On coming into our den {which is actually my scrapping room I just feel better calling it a den because D is in there with me!} I turned on the overhead light. There all over the floor I surveyed the scene. Some how, some way one of my shelves fell to the ground. Splashing my stuff all over the floor. Shelf was on the floor as well. And I stood there scratching my head. I simply didn't know how it fell. The shelf above it was okay, and nothing had fallen on to the shelf that crashed either. It was just plain weird. Very weird.

When I finally understood it was the shelf I left it until morning to clean up {cause had I cleaned it up I would of ended up staying awake all night after I did it because I would of been awake by this point} and went back into bed. It took me a bit to fall back asleep and I let Jake get up on the bed with me along with the tire iron. I eventually fell asleep.

I woke up and called D very early. I realized why I haven't been sleeping very well since we moved in. For the past 13 years I've lived on a military installation. And even though there are crazy peeps in the military, I always felt safe. After all it's the military, not many people in or connected to the military would try something stupid, and we lived in a gated community of sorts you know. Well.. I know now that my #11 thought up there is for real. We are calling the security peeps straight away once D comes home.

It was weird.

*Why sometimes I am so tired at night and other times I'm not.
*What do people really see when they look at me?
*I drank a soda recently and it made me sick. It's why I don't drink them.
*Beef is yucky. It's been since December {well that's not true. One night without even thinking we ate at Arby's, I've always loved Arby's. It was okay cause is that real beef anyway?}. But the smell of beef makes me ill. Icky.
*I've enjoyed watching some of the older movies we've had on hand.
*My hands look like my mom's.

Well with that being said, I need to get these hands working. It isn't like someone is going to go
outside and seal my fence...

I know this is a weird post, but I felt like just writing from my mind. Sometimes letting others into it, makes for an interesting thing.

I know.

It's Sunday.
Normally I haven't been on the computer
because we are having family time.

We are just taking it easy this weekend because A ended up with a
nasty cold.

So I just wanted to take a little time
and share my grateful list!

1. For Balfour Beatty for allowing me to get my 3 plants. I look at them every morning
with such great thanks.
2. For being financially okay and knowing that God has our backs through this economic strife.
3. For my new job, that finally came open.
4. Helpful people because they make life blessed.
5. Friends.
6. Hot water.
7. For internet because life without it is hard!
8. Talking things through with A and realizing how God is working.
9. For little things that make you smile.
10. Knowing that in 10 days D will be home.
11. For love.
12. Changes that are positive even if they are hard.
13. Good dogs.
14. To wake daily and make a difference within my life.
15. Exercising.
16. New paths and journeys.
17. For a man who truly does calm my storm when I am ready to stir the pot! He
makes things not seem so huge when I try to make them that way.
18. For my trip with my wonderful friend Sarah, it's something that's like a
sweet morsel of candy! I cannot wait until our trip!
19. Paint. Because it is fun to paint when it belongs to you. And it makes your home look so cute!
20. God's grace and knowing that I can lean upon him anytime.

PTL!

As I was driving off base on Thursday, I decided on a whim
to go by base housing and just ask about the plant.
All they could do was tell me no.

I walk in and talk to a guy about it.
I explain myself and share with him
that I know that I should of gotten it while I was still
living there but I didn't.
I explained that my mom bought me this particular
lilac and that well I'd like to see if I cannot dig it up
and take it to my new place.
That I would be willing to cover the hole, etc.

He looked up something on his computer and told
me that right now no one lived there, but would be
at the end of this month. He told me if I can get the plant
and ensure that it looks decent after I get it, that I can get
it by the end of this week!

Isn't that amazing!
I almost stood there and cried and I wanted to hug
the guy, truly!
And even though they don't read my blog, thank you
Belford Beatty for allowing me to get my plant!

So I dug the lilac up and took my azalea too as well as my rhododendron came back
to the new house and planted them all! I tell ya it was glorious planting those
plants in their new spots!
I had to get some soil as the place where I will do my gardening is all sand.
So I carefully placed all 3 plants in soil and then covered them totally in soil as well.
I am just prayerful that they take, grow, and are beautiful!

I am sure my mom is smiling down upon it, and I feel so
blessed to have it here in our new home as well! It is a part of
my mom here in the new house with us!

Here are a few of my new PT creations that I just recently did!
I had a fun time playing off the theme of these papers!


I hope that today you find the same joy that I did planting those plants!

Not doing it alone.

Here is another challenge layout from Dream Girls. This one was to create a layout using a movie line.

I took mine from the movie Lord Of The Rings {Fellowship Of The Ring}.
It is where Frodo is talking to Galadriel. He tells her at one point
"I cannot do this alone."


I really loved working with these colors!
It was a lot of fun and the movie quote is really one
that caught me.
I know that Frodo was discouraged because he truly
felt like he didn't have it in him to do the journey
set before him.
Galadriel tells him that he can, and he must
for the greater good of everyone and everything.

I find myself at times feeling a lot like Frodo.
When God sets before me something that is either small or huge
and I feel like I cannot complete the task.
I often feel like I fail.
Oh, I know it is my flesh telling me this, or the enemy but
sometimes God sets us to do great things and it is hard
to realize that in those great things He is using us
for his greater good, and for our greatest lesson.

Even though his journey is hard, Frodo presses on
because of his obedience.
This to, is how I see it.
No matter how small or big the path or journey set before us,
we must be obedient if that is what the Lord is showing us
to do.

And I've tried to do it alone too.
Just like my journaling says on my page.
I think I can handle it, so I don't rely on God and it truly
gets me no where. I remember what it was
like prior to walking.
I know that life, I lead it.
It wasn't a pretty one, nor is it one I wish to go back too.
I filled too many God-shaped holes with things, people, stuff.
I remember when I finally realized that Jesus was the only one
who could fill that void inside of me.
That unconditional love that I sought all of my life.
Who knew?
Certainly not me. I didn't know there was a Jesus that
was there, that could take it all away.
All my pains, sorrows, strife, etc.
I didn't grow up with Christ.
All I knew was that there was a God and he lived beyond the clouds.
He was untouchable and for years, I never reached out.
But He did.
What a gentleman He is!

When I stopped running I realized that he was there
with open arms to love, accept, nurture, and teach me.

So I know what life prior to walking is.
Although I am still a sinner and will be until I go to Heaven
I realize that life prior to walking isn't something I can do, will do, or even
want to do.

And most of all, I realize just like Frodo, I simply cannot do this alone.

Closure..

I realized while sitting looking out my window yesterday
that I am having closure.
Sure it's easy to move from a home,
one that you don't own and the military does
to owning your own home.
You know, actually owning it.

And I realized I have issues with driving by our old place.
I went to visit my friend and former next door neighbor the other day.
It was hard to pull up to our old house.
Not really because of the house itself
but because I made the decision to leave all of my
beautiful plants there.
Every. Single. One of them.

There were many reasons why...
The ground was too frozen still, time, effort, etc.
But my biggest reason was that I didn't want any of them to die
had I pulled them up.
I will admit I don't know the first thing about gardening. I just wing it
and pray over every single plant, tree, shrub, or flower I planted.
And my firm resolve has always been "I love giving
back to what God's given us."
and because of this, I've had some beautiful gardens.

But I am sad that I didn't pull at least one of them out.
Why? Because the one plant that my mom bought me was a beautiful lilac.
It is still there at the old house.
But as I sat there yesterday and reflected I got teary-eyed.
I have to be honest, I regret not pulling it up.
I don't know if I can actually go over there and pull it up now or not.
I thought about calling the housing office and explaining myself to them and share
with them about the plant and how my mom bought it for me and now
that she's gone, I'd like to have it and get it back.
But the other part of me wants to let it go.
Leave it there for someone to love and nurture as I did.
I am in conflict about it actually.

I can live without any of the plants or flowers I planted and trust me,
But it is hard being here in the new house without my lilac.
The one that my mom bought.
I am having a hard time with it.

But there is good news as well.
Yesterday while shopping, I returned some stuff to Lowe's and
looked at their bulbs.
I decided to buy some for the house right underneath our kitchen window!
I am pretty stoked about it and planting them because
they will be the first new plants in our new house!

And our neighborhood planted 2 trees {I am unsure of what they are}
in our yard as well!
I named them Fred and Martha. I just
gave them some growing juice today and will continue to do so!
Miracle grow rocks!

Even if I don't end up getting the lilac, I will be starting to plant at
our new house very soon and that brings some solace.

Even if you aren't a gardener,
plant something and allow God to shine upon it!

Not all stores are created equal...

So last night as A was at her theater group, I decided
to venture out and shop.
I needed to find a couple of stores.
Well I didn't remember that near the Wal-Mart I needed to go into
there was a Michael's.
I had to go in there of course!
I actually did have a list to go in there but was going to do it closer
to home. But.. Since I was out and it was there I went in.
I needed some more frames for our den and found really cute pink
boxes that I needed as well for some "stuff". You know...
Stuff for scrappin. Gotta have our den matchin'!
The boxes were on sale, so were the frames so it was a major
score!

But my thing is that the Michael's that I normally go into isn't as nice
as the one I went in to last night.
This one was not only huge but it offered so much more too!
I wished it was closer, but it was fun in there I could of spent hours!
I refrained though with a lot of stuff and like I said, it wasn't for scrapping
it was for the house! LOL. Funny how that happens!

Okay TV is gone. Right now we have no TV.
Took back the one this AM, only to get a new one same brand.
Came back and hooked it up and it wasn't working either.
So there was an issue cause I didn't have the box.
But I have everything single thing else that came with it
including the receipt. I was surprised they were pitching a
fit about it since I have everything and only had the TV
for 20 days now. But in the end, I got our money back
and we're going back to our old TV until D's return and
then we'll go get another one! What a mess...
I thought having your receipt would be enough for
any return, well I am wrong. Seems the BX says you
have to have your box that it came in...
Go figure?

So I'm going out to lunch with some friends today!
I am pretty stoked about it since I haven't been out
with them in a bit. Plus one of the girls has a free
lunch thingy so our lunch will be free!! Free is
always good!

Well you know what? I hope when you look out your window that you
are able to see God shining down upon His creation and enjoy the day
with a smile on your face!!!!

Hard to believe...

When I woke up this AM I looked out my window and saw snow.
Can you believe that?
Now that I am sitting in the den looking out the window again I
realize that it's not a mirage..
There is really snow on the ground.
It's April 14th.
What is up with that?
I just don't get it.
And someone was saying it was going to be in the high 70's this weekend.
Umm. Well that possibly could happen as anything as you can see, does.
But look.. I am over it.
Seriously!
*SIGH*

I did all of these layouts awhile ago. But now that they are posted on other sites, I can
post them here too!

This first one is for Dream Girls and the challenge was to use Cindy Lyper's song Time after time. I've always wanted to do a layout that used those small letter stickers as my journaling, so I did that with this layout. These photos are old, but I really love them. I had such a wonderful weekend that weekend going to Seattle to see if I was going to have surgery!


These next one's are from TTS. I haven't been on in a couple of weeks and these are the last 3 weeks of sketches.




Showing these makes my mojo soar so hopefully I can post
some photos or sneaks of the stuff I've been working on.

Today is return the new TV day.
I bought us a new TV and well it's acting up.
So it's going back today so that I can get a new one.
Seems that this one doesn't want to keep the picture or color very well.
The cool thing? I have the receipt. I haven't been very good about
keeping receipts in the past, but now that we've moved I am saving
everything that we buy in case I have to return it.
It's a good thing to do and now that I am doing it, its working
good cause I can take stuff back if we don't need it or it's not
working!

The children's theater program that A is involved in is going well.
The first class meeting was 3 weeks ago. It was amazing as I said,
but watching her each week get braver and braver and come out
of her shell and really blossom! She didn't try out for any plays
so far, but she's going to be on the stage crew for Joseph And
The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat! She's pretty excited about
it!

Well I'm off to see the wizard! Hope that you find yourself
full of joy!

back in business!

Finally. We are back online!
It feels so good to up and running.
Now to get back into the swing of things...

I really felt like changing my blog.
We truly should never be afraid to take flight, we have freedom to do so.
Letting go is something that will and can bring utter bliss!

Sprinkle dudes came this AM.
They are going to fix out backyard, praise God!
It's kind of weird for me to actually have sprinklers, since all of my life
I've carted a hose around to each area of our yard!
And because of that, even with my sprinklers I might just
have to cart a hose around still... Some things never change.

Gotta talk to Starbucks trainer dude, but it seems
I may be able to have the day off the day D arrives home! Keep praying.

I know I am a little late in sharing with you about Easter.
Especially since it has already passed.
We didn't do anything special, but I wanted to share with you
that our service rocked.
One of our pastor's did a very cool thing..
He sang his way through his entire sermon. He plays the guitar as well
and it really truly rocked.
I've never heard anything like it.
It's not online yet, or I'd link it but trust me it was totally cool.
And the house was full as well as the worship rockin'!
Sunday A and I did nothing. It was really nice to just do nothing!

Lately I've been going to bed really early.
I dunno if it was lack of nightly computer time or me just being exhausted
but I get so tired around 9pm now.
Am I getting old or what?

And with that, I am heading off to bed!

Whew!

Okay so found out that we are possibly getting internet this week. It will be temporary though but it's okay for me as long as we are up and running. It's been really stressful not having internet, imagine that... I cannot even think of life prior to computers..

Been working. Got more hours. We are starting full training on the 20th. Had a pow-wow with my boss and things are finally squared away.. Thank God. Work has been very enjoyable this past week. Dayv comes home right in the middle of training so I am prayerful that I actually get to have that day off...

Things in the house are winding down. I have a list of things we want to get, but that comes with time. For the most part the house is really looking beautiful. We feel so truly blessed to be in this home. I am praying that God uses it for his glory! We are having some issues with our sprinkler system {honestly it was done very poorly} so my friend Lori is going call the company and talk to them about it, cause honestly I don't know what I am doing or saying. We've never had a sprinkler system. The thing I do know is that it isn't working great and isn't really well placed. That much I do know and with the money we dropped they are sure going to fix it!!! Please pray that they do and that it gets fixed properly.

Other than that, the house is pretty much settled. Several peeps have commented to me how amazing it is that I have it already fixed up. I hate boxes so I busted my tail to get it all done. A was such a big help and so was Lori! It's nice to just have a little list of small things we need to get or want now. I wanted to get it mostly done so that when D comes home on the 27th that he's not having to jump right into a list of things to do!

I have actually been scrapping as well. I didn't think I'd jump back into it yet, but I've got some projects that need my attention so I've started to create! It's hard to get back into it though and I am not sure of my pages... But it does feel good! I just need more photos! New one's!

So far, we've met our neighbors across the street. I mentioned before that I met them when the house was being built. They are nice, I talk more to the hubby than the wife, but they are nice. Noisy and he admitted it, LOL! We wave at everyone going by when we are out too. It's a good way to establish a good neighborhood! I just want to be open for God has planned for us in our neighborhood.

D is still scheduled to come home on the 27th. Please pray that he arrives safely and that our transition is smooth. There is always a transition!

I bought my tickets to meet Sarah in Denver this summer! It's really exciting to know that she and I'll be hanging out! I would of never imagined that we'd see one another so much after moving from England but we are both totally stoked!!! It's going to be so much fun and even though I hate to fly it's worth it! Now if I can just meet up with my friend Kellie then all will be great!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone. Knowing that there are friends out there praying for myself and my family really warms my heart and lets me know that there are brothers and sisters out there lifting us up! Truly you tickle my bones! Thank you so very much. It means the world to me.

Well peeps my time is drawing to a close on here. Hopefully I'll be on at home really soon!!

Livin' life, or trying too!

I am SO sorry I wigged on the blog hop!

I did manage to draw a winner, Sharla please email me your address and I'll get the Design Studio out to you! My email is: carneys4christ@yahoo.com

Okay...

The house is finally coming together! Praise God that I have been working hard on it along with my friend Lori. She's been a God-send really because she is quite handy to have around {I thank you Lori from the bottom of my heart}!

There wasn't a layout posted on the 3rd because well things did not go as planned and I haven't thought much about scrapping with all that is going on in our lives. I am so sorry that you guys wanted to see a layout and it wasn't there. I had hoped to get to it. But scrapping is kind of on the back burner right now.

Seems that we cannot get internet at all until the end of this month. I am sitting here in Starbucks using there stuff, but my time is limited here as well so I get on when I can, which of course isn't often! The house isn't cable ready which means they actually have to dig it all up and all that stuff to get the cable ready and then we can get internet. I cannot imagine life prior to internet, heck I do everything online! It's killing me to be so out of touch!!!

I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with getting us settled as well. I am trying so hard to get most of it done so D can just come home and relax. This is of course when Starbucks training starts also, so I will be SO busy this month!!

Someone made a comment on my blog about being busy and still finding time to scrap. And I'd just like to say that I haven't scrapped. Not sure where someone got that from, but scrapping is really the last thing in my mind these days... I am getting the itch though, and I will find the time. Even if I am uber busy, which I am scrapping keeps me sane. So there will be time for that in the next week or two I truly do believe. But my biggest comment, until you've walked in my shoes please don't assume anything. If you'd like to know something about me and such, just ask. :)

I am hoping to come back into the world of being on the internet soon!

Thank you for your prayers for Jake. We are going to pray for a miracle and expect that he will be healed either here or in Heaven.

Please continue to pray for my sanity. For us getting settled. D's return at the end of this month and for the internet to not take that long to actually hook up!

Let's go to the HOP! Blog Hop that is!!!

Okay everyone it's time to have some fun!
We are blog hoppin' today for TTS!
{you need to start at the TTS blog so make sure that you go there first!!!}
It's all because TTS is celebrating..

That's right!
We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary!
What better way to celebrate it other than having a blog hop!
I hope you enjoy the fun!

This is the layout that I created to join in on the fun!! I chose to re-do one of our older sketches!

So now that you've come to my blogity-blog and checked it out, go check out Ember's blog and continue on the fun!!!!

Remember to post a comment to this blog post, on my blog as well so that you can be put in my hat for a nice prize of the Cricut Design Studio!!

Where do I begin?

The house?

It's almost completed decoratively speaking.
I don't waste time.
The only rooms that need fixin' are the den, our bathroom, and the garage.
But last night..

I realized something.
It doesn't have to be done in a matter of minutes, seconds, days.
I can do it when I get to it.
I was trying to do it all so that Dayv could come home stress free himself.

But last night I hit a wall.
Literally.

Please pray for me, for us. I am going to try to keep this short as I possibly can..

*Please pray for Jake. We have just found out that our beloved dog has cancer. You can imagine what this did to me. To hear that over the phone brought back all the emotions of my mom. Yes I know that Jake is a dog. But any pet owner can relate. My little boy has cancer. The worse part? It is going to spread, and eventually over take him. The biggest problem? We cannot afford to keep taking him to the doctor's each time we noticed a lump and have it taken out at 500 bucks a pop. So I ask for prayers for him to be healed. I am so very sad. We are so very sad.

*Please pray for enough energy to let go of having everything done, but using my time wisely. And to actually finish painting without any hitches glitches, spills, or utter falling apart while painting. And at least get the garage ready enough to be able to park in it.

*For Dayv's safety and for him to come home safe and sound at the end of this month.

*For our internet to not take 30 days to be hooked up. Seems that we aren't cable ready for our new home. This of course takes time. Once they actually do the work outside then they can finally come inside and hook us up.

*For my work situation. My boss is trying to pull some stupid, yes really stupid stuff still. I will not back down, because I know that God is on my side. However, it is extremely and when I say this I mean e x t r e m e l y difficult for me to love him, even though Christ. It is not easy.

*Starbucks training starts on the 20th, please pray that I learn quick, well, and efficient while having fun!

Thank you for praying. I really appreciate it.
I will check in from time to time when I can.

Until then,