Thank you Mr. Gentleman!!

I've been waiting for a good time to share this post with you
and today is that day!
Remember me telling you about our family vacation to Montana?
Well I think I mentioned something about us taking a side
trip on the way home to go to the local theme park here.
We had a blast that day! It was so much fun.
The weather was nice, there weren't a lot of people, and we didn't
have to wait forever for any lines either.
That is the beauty of a smaller theme park, I think.
Because every time we've been, it hasn't been crowded.
Anyway...
I am getting off subject here.

With the three of us, there are times when we cannot ride the rides together.
So we take turns riding them with each other and this means that someone
always rides alone. Its normally not a big deal, most of the time.
We were all geared up in line to go on this ride and it was D & A's turn
to ride together. So that meant I was riding solo.
And normally no one sits with you on the ride they just wait
until the car comes back and then ride.
But..
Not on this particular ride.
A gentleman sat right down beside me.
And I have to be honest, I wasn't pleased.
It's hard enough riding alone because that is 1/2 the fun
of riding with someone and enjoying it with them but to sit with
someone you do not know, is kind of weird to me.
But he sat down next to me and was ready to go.
I was put out, I'll be honest. So I started to pout.
But...
All of that changed when I realized this was the best
ride I've been on in a really long time.
And even though I did not know this gentleman from Adam, he made
the ride one of the funniest and best experiences I've ever had.
Why?
Because of this....


Now mind you it is just a photo to you guys.
But let's take a closer look....
There is A & D screaming their heads off.
A looks like she's having a good time, but D looks like he is either scared
and screaming or just plain scared {normally he is, but this isn't about him}.
And then there is me. Don't pan on the gentleman yet because
that is the whole reason for the story!
So look at me.
Now mind you, I do not know when the cameras are there to snap photos like
these, but D swears that I am posed every single time.
But in my defense I always have this smile because I am really enjoying myself
and of course this ride was SO different.
Cause of him.
Now you can look at him.
Do you see his face?
And let me just say that I am not making fun of him in a mean way....
But look at his face.
Do you notice anything?
He isn't breathing.
And now check out his arms.
He's holding on for dear life.
And when I say that I mean it. He was holding so tightly that his hands
were pure white because there wasn't any blood in them.

Of course I am not looking at him in this picture, but shortly after we started off
I realize he's not really breathing {yes he's okay he's just not breathing cause
he scared out of his mind!} and holding on for dear life.
So the ride becomes one of the most hilarious rides I've ever been on.
And it was like a 3 minute ride.
But totally worth it.
All because of him!
I laughed the entire ride
because it was fun and also because he was just too funny!

So we pull into the station and he says,
the next time they say high intensity ride, he'll pay attention!
So we get off and I am in tears, laughing SO hard because this poor guy
was afraid. But mostly because he looked like that throughout the ride
and well.. It was pretty funny!
So we get off, I share with D & A because they didn't expect me to be
laughing since I had to ride with a total stranger, but I was!
We go into the shop where all of our photos are, and he and his 2 daughters
were there too.
We shared a moment of laughter, all of us because he realized how he looked.
And then we all walked away.
But something made me turn around and tell D I wanted to buy that photo.
I had to remember because it was one of the best rides I rode that day
and it had nothing to do with the ride!

Thank you Mr. Gentleman for allowing me to laughing my butt off at your expense.
And forgive me for that too...

Sharing.

Just thought I'd share a few thoughts and things!

The scrapping party went really well!
I think everyone liked their kits and really enjoyed themselves.
These are the small gifts I made for them!
I scored the little cute canisters from Michael's for dirt cheap!!


I think at first they were overwhelmed and didn't know where to start.
I remember feeling that way as well, but once they got into their kits
and allowed themselves to get creative, they were off and running!
They liked it so much we decided to do a once a month thing with potluck and scrapping!
I was SO excited when they said that, as I don't have anyone to scrap with locally!
I didn't scrap last night, but next month I will be scrapping too! :)

Dayv is leaving on Thursday.
Not sure how long he'll be gone.
I know it won't be too long, since he is re-deploying again in December.
Even though this trip is considered a deployment with what he'll be doing, it's in Alaska.
Then the one in December will be the desert.
Please pray for him and his safety!

The grass is looking tons better, but its almost time to have our sprinklers blown out,
go figure.

I am REALLY excited!
I got an email from Kelli and Pink Sketches and they asked me to be on their DT!
Well I applied and she then wrote me and told me I made it, lol!
I am totally stoked cause I love sketches!!!!!
Be on the look out on my blog for them, as well as playing along
on their site! Go check them out!

Kira's arthritis is really bad, we aren't sure if she will have to take meds for the rest of
her life or not. But she can hardly walk on either front paw at times. It is very sad.

The first week of our Hebrews study rocked! I learned some things that I already knew but in
a whole new light. Amazing stuff! Even though I know that God sent his son, and that
he created him for us so that he can show his love by dying on the cross...
It was more than that in this study. I seriously felt why Jesus was sent. I seriously
believe that not only did God send him to die for our sins, he sent him to show
us a human form of his love. Now I've always known this, but it hit a different
cord in me this time around. I am thankful that God would do that for us humans,
so that we could actually "see". It is too bad that many don't, however.

I am drinking this..

It's Lady Grey my favorite tea in the whole wide world.
The tea is from Shannon who bought and sent it to me from England {but you can get it here too}.
This is my favorite tea cup, I got from Disneyland Tokyo {what an amazing place}.
I love tea.
I love to drink it when it turns fall and into the winter months, a lot.
I have a cup or two every day.
After I made it I came back and sat down at my scrapping table
and instantly thought of my mom.
She had a hot cup of tea every single morning.
She made it in the microwave. She loved tea.
I am reminded of her today as I sit here and sip the wonderful and tasteful tea.
I miss her so very much.
The time has flown by and we are almost at a year of her passing.
As I reflect this very moment, I can hardly believe it has almost been a year.
The time? It flew. The emotions? They are still there.
I miss her just as much as I did the day she went to be with Jesus.
There are so many things I want to share with her and talk to her about...
I hope that she is looking down on us and seeing it, I truly hope that God allows her
to do this...
But the sweet tea and my tears are one's of joy!
I miss her but I am glad that she is with Jesus and again I will see her!

I also wanted to share this card with you.

In our Hebrews bible study we thought it would be great to celebrate each
person's birthday! What a fun thing to do! I am all over birthday's!
So I decided that I'd make each girl a card when their birthday's came up.
This week is the first week and even though we weren't supposed to buy anything
or do anything, I decided that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to not only
make a card, but put a smile on someone's face too!

Well that about sums up today!

p.s. I just learned how to make rounded corners on my photos! Ha. I am a little slow
but I finally decided to tackle the foreboding photoshop.. I got help from
here. It was very easy, if I can do it so can you!!! I also learned how to make my
photos on here larger, totally easy peasy!


May you enjoy memories and savior them with a smile on your face!

Grateful

Dayv got to FL. safely.
I am SO thankful.
He is scheduled to come home today around 1pm.
I am prayerful that he does...

Today is a new day! I've pulled my big girl panties up and moved on! :)

I finally opened my SC kit for this month. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever
play with it. I've been so busy getting ready for the party that I had to put
it away and decide to play with it later.
But...
On Thursday I got it out and played, practically all day!
And I even played with some BG and liked it! *GASP*!
I got the main kit and a couple of add-on kits as well, I love their kits!





Want to hear a funny?
Although had I not gone back in the kitchen it wouldn't be so funny.
But I put a brownie in the microwave to warm up. I left it in there.
I forgot about it... When I suddenly realized it, there was smoke coming
out of the microwave. The brownie was completely fried. Burning.
And it got smoky in our house right quick. So I opened up the windows in
the kitchen and tried to air it out using a hand towel as well. The alarm
didn't go off, thankfully {because both Kira and Alyssa are afraid of it}
but the brownie was sizzling and smoking.. Figures. I probably shouldn't be
eating the brownie anyway. :(

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get burnt smell out of a
microwave? Great... And we are having company tonight.
Hopefully the smell in the house will be gone by then. Definitely opening
up the windows today!!!

I have a million things to do and not enough time in the day to do them!
Home group comes over tonight.
Saturday night is the scrapping party!
Sunday after church is another function!
Sheesh...
But it's all SO exciting!!!
Everything is ready for the scrapping party!
I made these last minute small gifts for the girls.

My grateful list this week.

1. People whom I do not know in person, have never met but pray for me.
2. Hot tea and cocoa because I love both this time of year.
3. A beautiful neighborhood that we live in.
4. A plan for our future.
5. Being in a different place than we were 2 years ago.
6. Being able to multitask.
7. God's laughter.
8. The new friendships that are forming in my bible study on Monday's.
9. God opening up the door for us to become more involved in our church.
10. A budget we can follow!

I am a wuss.

First off let me just say I truly appreciate the prayers with all of my heart.
They helped, I felt them.
And my day was filled with inner strength and peace.
You simply cannot know how much they meant to me, truly.
Thank you so much.


Although I am sharing this, praying for me yesterday was not the cause of today.
Dayv left for a TDY last night at 9pm.

It's only for a day. He's going to FL.
And what did I do?

I simply fell apart like a wuss.
I tell you these trips, TDY, deployments have me
bawling like a baby no matter if he's gone a day, a month, or many many months.
When I said I was over it in another post, I meant it.

I know it made him feel horrible about going. I could tell.
He has a hard enough time as it is himself and I stood there
crying like a baby watching and waving at him while he drove away.

And yet when I tell myself to pull it together all I can do is wait for
his call to let me know that he got there safe. I hate it when he flies.

We used to say it in words...
When he wasn't walking, I'd tell him to get right by Jesus if something
were to happen while they were flying. That I wanted him to be there
in Heaven with me because I loved him so and so did Jesus.
And he'd say every single time, I will..

Now that he's walking and has been awhile, I don't say that anymore.
But he knows it. I know it. We both feel it.
I know its a morbid thought to think about, but with this kind of a
life, you have to think about it. We've talked about it before too.

I know that we aren't supposed to love our spouses as much as we love
Jesus. And oh! How I love me some Jesus! But I love Dayv, with all of my
heart and with every ounce of being in me, I love that man...

I have before tried to picture our lives without him and well, I can't.
I won't. But when you are forced into situations like this, you tend to think
about things the average person does not. And when that happens,
I end up crying even more.
And I carry my phone with me like it's a piece of jewelry waiting for his call.
And because he knows me so well, he'll call straight after they land.
Because he knows I have to know that they got there safely.

Sometimes I think deep down, that he gets scared too. Afraid even.
We've talked about that too. While laying in our bed in the dark holding
hands. We pray. And a lot of the time we argue and bicker too. Especially
when he goes on long deployments. And its cause neither of us want him to
go... Tonight when he gave me that last hug and while I was crying, he
said let's hang on to the 4 years left sweetie and after that I'll find a job
that never takes me away...

That sounds like pure bliss to me. Because frankly I don't know
how much more of this I can take...

And I don't care if its only a day, I still hate it.

Please.

Pray for me today.
I don't have time to get into the story of it all.
But I ask that you think of me today and if you are the
praying kind, please say a prayer.

For work.
For myself and what I am fighting within.
For strength.
And to lay what I am squeezing the life out of, down at Jesus' feet.

Thank you friends!

T as in Tuesday.

It is Tuesday and I am WAY excited.
We started a more semi-permanent schedule
at work and that pleases me. Since D is
going to be gone, it will ensure that
I can still work but also be there for A.

Our home group met on Friday night last week.
I was pretty nervous, I have to be honest.
It is always interesting when you don't
know anyone in the group to meet up. Well
it went SO good!!! There were 8 of us total
and we had a great time fellowshipping with one
another and just getting to know each other too.
We are planning on getting together again on
Friday! :)

I wanted to share this recipe. I have a few very
favorite one's and thought to share this one with
you! We eat this for dinner with some corn bread
or a french loaf but you can make it for lunch too.


Tomato Rotini Soup

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
4 cups tomato juice
1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 gloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups uncooked rotini pasta

Mix all ingredients except pasta and cheese in 4-5 quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting 8-9 hours.
Stir in pasta. Increase heat setting to high. Cover and cook 15-20 minutes or until pasta
is tender.

Calories: 105
Fat: 1 gm

Alyssa loves the corkscrew rotini pasta.
This is a family favorite and great for a low-cal meal along with chilly weather!

This past weekend we also bought our costumes for
Halloween. We didn't end up going with the 50's theme,
but did find something that all matched and was decent
enough {boy some of those costumes out are pretty
sleazy!} We ended up doing Camelot. Dayv is King Author,
I am maid Mariam, and Alyssa is a princess.
It was fun shopping for them! We are pretty excited.
But dang those things aren't cheap! Ha.

I've got all of the kits ready to go for the scrapping party! I tried to get them
based on their personality, so I hope they like them!
I've got the door prize finished too. I am still plugging away on
each of the individual party gift each girl will get.
I've got one more prize to do {the prize for underneath a chair}
And I am going to do a guessing game for ribbons and buttons as well and they will win a nifty prize from that as well. Thank goodness I am doing pizza! Whew. I was going to cook but
with all that I have going on with the home group and the scrapping party, I think not! :)
I am very excited about both get togethers!
I'll be taking photos of everything I've made as well and post them on here!

I am getting my hair done today and I cannot tell you how excited I am about that.
It's been since July before my vacation with the girls, imagine that. My eyebrows
are darker than ever {yes I dye those too cause they are getting just as dark as my hair is!}
and my hair is showing it's true colors! That's pretty early in the AM too, but totally
worth it!

Here are A's school photos.


I think these are her
best since moving back to the states! Actually these are her best ever school photos. But
each year I think to myself why am I paying to school for pictures when I can take her to
someone that would do a great job! So next year I am going to look for someone to do them
instead of taking the cheesy school photos.

Well I am off to enjoy my day off! Hope you have a wonderful day too!

A day in the life of working for Starbucks.

I've been working for Starbucks for 4 months now. Conclusion?
There is a higher standard for Starbucks. And people that come in expect you to hold it.
It amazes me!
Simply amazes me.

I don't complain about work a lot {maybe just my hours}. Cause that means that I'd be talking about folks.
And honestly you don't ever know where someone is coming from. What kind of day they had, or what is going on with them at home, their work, their personal lives, themselves. You just never know. And I get that. I do try to give them the benefit of the doubt, truly I do.

However there are times where I think to myself that because it is Starbucks certain people feel that we must, as barista's should jump through the hoops. And honestly I don't mind serving folks, and going above and beyond. But...

Yesterday I was making an iced coffee for someone. I was also talking out loud on how to make the drink since we have a new employee. It's fairly easy to make. The woman who bought it was also watching me, and listening to me as well. I ask her if she wants sweetener, she does. 2 sweet-n-lows. No problem. Then I pour the iced coffee in. Still talking through it all. All is still watching. After that is in, I go over and do the ice. Put the lid on, get a venti straw and deliver the drink. I smile, repeat what the drink is, and tell her to have a good day. Turn around and start cleaning {I have been told I am anal with cleaning, but have accepted it...} The woman who ordered the iced coffee says to the new employee, can you put milk in it.

Let me just share that when you come into our Starbucks you get your money's worth. And when I say that, I mean it. I fill each and every drink up to the top. Because I figure if you are going to drop anywhere from 2-5 bucks for a drink you should get what you pay for. And I make it as if I were going to drink it..

Well in this case, I did the same. The drink was filled to the top. And she wanted milk. And she also watched me make the drink from start to finish, she could of said to me to put milk in it prior to this...

No problem. So I grab the cup, take the lid off {which is something we are never supposed to do once it is on, but I did that anyway and all the while telling new employee don't just do what I did} but it was obvious the woman was in a hurry by now. I smiled, and said I didn't hear you say you wanted milk, you didn't tell me that. I wasn't rude at all. Just stating a fact. Big mistake, I know... So she says, yes I want milk all rude like. I said sure thing.

So then I say to her what kind? She says all rude and slow m i l k., like I didn't know what that was. Now mind you laughing was probably not in my best interest however, I did chuckle. Sure I can give you milk. Do you want half-n-half, 2%, whole, soy, non-fat, what? So I say that to her and give her the billion options we have. She very rudely looks at me and says, m i l k. Ummm.. Yeah okay. So this time I realize in her face, she's ready to have it out with me interestingly enough. She was in a defensive stance at this point. And I am in awe actually.

A fight over milk, an iced coffee? Wasn't going to happen. Not with me that's for sure. So I just repeated myself and ensured that I was very polite to her again and repeated our options to her of the billion milk choices we have, all the while smiling. And I think I shocked her, even though she was still defensive. I could see it in her face and stance, seriously.

Out of something or somewhere. I "think" she finally got my question and said the normal stuff. Umm. normal stuff? Is there such thing as normal in milk? I dunno. So I said, do you mean 2% and she said, yes of course, all rude like again. Hmph. Okay.

I tell her I am sorry after I give her the drink back, but honestly I am not too sure what I am supposed to be sorry about. Maybe the chuckle. Maybe questioning her about the question of milk. Who knows, but I said I was sorry because I truly was. Like I said, you never know where someone is in their lives.

And you know what? It wasn't good enough for her. But that's okay too. I smiled and told her to have a really great rest of the day and seriously meant it.

She huffed away from the counter, took one sip of her drink looked at the drink, back at me and made a scowl then walked out of the store. You cannot mess up iced coffee.. Maybe it was the milk?

I think a lot of time in this job people think you should know. And that is true. We have regulars and we do know. In fact, we can see them come in and start making their drinks, that's regular you know what they want. But a lot of people that come into the store feel that we should know. How the heck are we supposed to know? I am not sure. Yes we try in every effort to know or guess what they "might" want or like.

I appreciate Starbucks and I like working for them too. But I find it interesting how high the standard is set for things that are out of our league? And it is just because it is Starbucks. They have set the standard for the quality, service and beyond. And I get that, I do. And I'm pretty good at reading people too, but give a girl a break when I don't get exactly what you want! Sheesh.

Also, call me slow.. But people come in and rattle off some fru-fru drink and I am still stuck on writing M for mocha on the cup! Ha. So when I ask them to repeat it, I get funny looks. Like because it's Starbucks and Jenny up the street gets it the first try, so should I? Or that it's simply blasphemy because they have to actually repeat it. What? A barista had to have a drink repeated? Wow. Yeah when you mumble your fru-fru drink how can I actually hear it.

The biggest thing for me is when I get into conversation about me not liking coffee. People always wonder why I am working there if I don't like coffee. I didn't realize that working there meant I had to like it. Like working at McDonald's means that you cannot work there and be a vegetarian either... So I have to go into this long speal about how I like the smell, like coffee ice cream, coffee candy even but hate the taste of coffee. I get those that are dumbfounded because they LOVE coffee, but they don't get why I am there. Well for one, it's a job. And it's a job I truly do love. And they sell other drinks other than coffee and those I like. {okay let me be honest, I will drink a frappachino if I have too when I need energy. However, just so you know the caramel sauce we sell? Know that stuff? I put so much of that in the frappachino that you cannot even taste the coffee! And then about 30 minutes I am bouncing off the wall even more so than I normally do naturally! And I've got so much energy I cannot sleep at night! Yes, just from that one grande frapp! Amazing really} but honestly I don't like any coffee's. Now the pastries? Don't even get me started on that.... Hee, they are ALL yummy! :)

But I am trying to come up with something clever about working there and hating coffee when they ask me why I am even there... Got any suggestions?

And I have compassion for the peep that hasn't ever been in a Starbucks before, or doesn't come in often. That was me. Prior to working at Starbucks now, I almost never stepped foot into one. If I did it was with my friend Lori who is a Starbucks fan. I've been oh, about 5 times since moving back to the U.S. and I get those wide-eyed looks at how you don't even know a mocha, from a tea. I understand that fellow person that seriously feels out of place, but comes in thinking they might want something. I used to feel stupid when I walked into a Starbucks, the 5 times that I went to one. It's like you had to know what you were getting or wanting and how posh it all was. So when they come in with deer in headlights look, I always try to ensure that I walk them through it slowly and welcoming. I never actually felt that at any of the Starbucks I ever went too... I get it.

But I have to share a funny. There was a fellow that came in. I could tell that he didn't know from one drink to another. You could tell her was apprehensive, and I worked with him. We laughed and joked and I suggested drinks. Even though I don't drink coffee, I knew a little bit about it prior to working at Starbucks. Like where it comes from, what's in it, and how much people love it and yes, very much need it. It's like a drug. Anyway...

This guy bless his heart... He said I'd like some coffee. So we walk through that, but then he asks me if an espresso has coffee in it. I had to repress a smile, I really did. Ummm.. Espresso is coffee. I just smirked and explained this to him. And he said, he doesn't drink coffee and didn't know. I said it was okay. Fixed the guy his drink and they were off. But I had to laugh. Bless him! I felt like though he was a kindred spirit, not being a coffee drinker and all myself. Here he was in Starbucks never drinking coffee, and here I am working there and don't drink it! Ha.

Working there has been quite interesting. I've got a lot of stories too...

And for those of you that think I'll conform eventually. I won't. Trust me. I'll stick with my caramel apple spice, thank you very much!

Laughter

Laughter is SO important.
I love to laugh.
You know that belly ache laugh were
you are in between sobs of laughter and crying?
That kind of laughter is the best!

When I was on my trip with Sarah and Melissa
we had many, many times like this.
We were always laughing!

It warms my heart to see this layout, I miss them so!
Those memories of laughing are something I won't soon forget!

This layout was published in an article, which you can check
out here!

My grateful list this week:

1. Being able to vent.
2. Having a family who pulls together and works together.
3. Cherishing days off.
4. Working with really great people.
5. Laughter!
6. Dayv for helping me to feel beautiful all the time.
7. A's hugs.
8. Hearing about A's day everyday, I love this!
9. Photographs.
10. The inner peace that comes from the Holy Spirit.

I hope that you laugh with your friends.
The belly ache laugh that makes you cry
all the while savoring those wonderful memories!

Random.

Last night D and I realized our sprinkler system wasn't on.
We couldn't figure out what was wrong... We messed around
with it and finally realized it was set {somehow} to only
water the grass every 31 days. No wondering it was
getting crispy! Now that it is fixed, let's hope it starts looking
non-crispy again!

A lot of my plants and flowers are starting to wither too. I have
to admit I wasn't watering them as often because I thought the
weather was going to change. Well yesterday it was 92. So we
went out there last night and water them like crazy!

Go figure though.. It's raining this AM! Ha.

Because D is leaving soon, we got out our fall stuff
even though it's still hot outside. We decorated!
Kind of weird to have it out, and it being hot outside.

Called all of the home group peeps, we are
prayerful that everyone can attend and we get that under way.
We are excited to what God is going to do! We are meeting
this Friday!

I ordered a new point and shoot camera. Got an email this
AM telling me it was no longer available. Go figure. I thought
the price was too good to be true! Back to the drawing board.

So I bought a new purse. It's brown and I really like it.
Except for the fact that I LOVE my pink one. And finally
went back to it. I think I was schooled at changing your purse
once the seasons changed, but realized that I can do what I want
and use what I want too! I don't have to follow a season! Pink
is me! Although admittedly so I did go on the Dooney & Burke
site to see what they had that maybe I'd like to get. We'll see.
But someone once told me, once you go there you won't go back
to a cheap purse... I didn't think that was true. But honestly, it
is true! LOL.

I watched the first episode of ANTM on utube today! I think it's
really cool that she is doing a show for shorter people! My
favorite is Nicole. But I think before its all over they will
break Bianca because she is so hard on the outside....

I just realized I don't have a lot of time left to get my party
under way... I ordered all the kits and are waiting for them to come in
I have 2 kits done and the door prize done as well. But I need to make
hand made thingys I'm making each girl too.. I just need to get into
gear! I had a lot of time and now I have none! UGH! :)

Well it's time to hit the hay! I hope that you have a really great Friday!

Busy as in "B"

We are SO busy in the Carney household.
I am sure everyone is busy, it's that time of year!
I am working 11 days with only 1 day off.. Crazy. Stuff.
We've got another supervisor out and there are only 2
of us to cover shifts. It's an amazing ride thus far.
Thankfully it is almost over and then a more normal shift
will start.

I want to show you my new creation for Dream Girls.

I really like this for some reason. I think it is because
it's out of my box and not my "normal" style. But it
worked and I like it!!!! I really love the owl, which
I bought in some $ bin that's a iron-on. Cool!

So our busy-ness!

Alyssa starts this week her youth activities and her
theater group again. This time she's taking improv,
which excites her to no end! She also tried out for jazz
band and we'll know if she made that or not. Thankfully
that is before school, but not so hot I have to drive her
2 days a week before school for it... ICK. Oh well. She sure
is taking a liking to band and that's really cool!

D is deploying again.
Yep. You read that right. Not sure how long, to where,
or anything. But he's leaving the 30th. We do know that.
What else is new? *Sigh*

On a side note. We are starting a home group in our
home very soon, and even though D is leaving we decided
to go ahead with our plans. I've called folks from our church
and we have a day set up, the 25th. Please pray that
God orchestrate this group, and that our hearts are willing
to open up to each other to have a really great, strong home
group! We are very excited for this journey!

On Monday I went to our church's first bible study of the year.
I can attest that I was completely EXCITED to be there! I am so
grateful that I can freely share my love of Jesus with these women
all the while growing and learning the book of Hebrews! I am over
the moon with excitement to grow in this and also get to know each
of those women better!!! Please keep praying my schedule does not
change at work so I can attend every Monday this year!!!

Today I hope you stop and pray for others. Just by us lifting them
up in prayers could make all the difference in their lives!

Just sharin'

Hi there! How are you today?
I'm doing good, thanks!

I just wanted to share these two layouts.

This first one is of A for her sneak peek.
I know I talked about it on here and used
the photos already too but I wanted to
actually document what sneak peek was all about.

This next one is of us and our trip.
I used mostly American Crafts stuff on here!
Gotta love me some AC...

Today I am starting a bible study
at our church for women. I am pretty
excited about it as I will now have Monday's off
in order to be able to go. See? My job rocks because
they are willing to work with me on the schedule!

Grateful list this week:

1. Time in the mornings to just be by myself, chill, and do what I do.
2. The changing weather.
3. Understanding teachers.
4. A doing SO good so far in school! We are proud of her.
5. Peeps who come to my blog and comment, it warms my heart!
6. Color. I cannot imagine life without it.
7. Not because I have too shop at thrift stores but cause I like too, that comes from my mom and growing up doing that. Along with garage sales, flea markets, and junk stores. My mom could always make something out of nothing! I admire her for it because she passed it on to me.
8. Determination.
9. Floss. Because now that I do it religiously I am really into it and like it a lot.
10. God's patience and grace with me.

I hope you find some things to be grateful for as well this week!

TTS Hop 2

It's another beautiful day in the neighborhood!
And today is another post for TTS!

Materials used:
Bazzill cardstock
MM Varnish Passport Great Escape papers
Studio Calico Paparazzi papers
SEI En Route Perforated Tickets
MM antiqued silver metal numbers
K&C Company Actopus To Zelephant woodgrain letter stickers
KI Memories Little Guy borders
CM Corner rounder
MM Great Escape masking tape
MM Great Escape Buttons
Coluzzle circle cutter
Zig black writer
Sketch 75

Materials used:
Lily Bee French Couture papers
Black Sharpie
Ruler
October Afternoon rub on transfers
Pebbles Inc. Downtown Times Square Collection papers
Little Yellow Bicycle journal tablet journal cards
Coluzzle circle cutter
October Afternoon Road Map Dew Drop Inn papers
Pop dots
American Crafts Rockabye foam letter stickers
MM Great Escape pins
CM corner rounder

Go check out
Gloria's work, she's another great TTS gal! Or make sure you check out TTS blog to follow our blog hop and
see the other girls wonderful creations!

TTS Hop 1

Doors open and they close.
God's will, path, and plan is what brought us all together.
TTS was inspired and directed by God.
And the time has come for this particular journey to end!
All of us girls' at TTS are okay with that because
it was a beautiful friendship!
I am sad that TTS is closing, but you can still follow each of us on our blogs!!!

Thank you everyone on your friendship and insight has meant the world to me.
To know that you have prayed for me and my family means the world to me.
I wish you well Patter and all the other TTS girls too, I'll miss working with you all!

Today I will show you two of the 2 of the 4 layouts that I did for TTS this month!

Materials used:
October Afternoon Road Map Sundowner Motel papers
Little Yellow Bicycle journal tablet journal cards
KI Memories Little Guy borders
MM Great Escape Stripe papers
SEI En Route Perforated Tickets
K&C Company Actopus To Zelephant woodgrain letter stickers
October Afternoon Road Map label stickers
Black Sharpie
Pop Dots
MM Great Escape pins
Maya Road leaf pins
MM Great Escape Blossoms
MM Great Escape Buttons
Coluzzle circle cutter
Zig black writer
Bazzill cardstock
DMC floss
Sketch 73

Materials used:
Materials used:
Bazzill cardstock
Studio Calico Tickets Please papers
Studio Calico FabRips sticky fabric strips
Martha Stewart Vacation stickers
KI Memories Little Guy borders
MM Great Escape Word Fetti stickers
Heidi Swapp chipboard alphabet
MME Breaking Free papers
MM antiqued silver metal numbers
Heidi Swapp chipboard alphabet
MME Breaking Free papers
MM antiqued silver metal numbers
Sketch 74

They are
all from our trip to Montana. I had these completed except for the photos
even before we left! Ha. I normally scrap like that.
Sometimes I have photos in mind, but mostly I just scrap and then add the photos later!

Go check out
Gloria's work, she's another great TTS gal! Or make sure you check out TTS blog to follow our blog hop and
see the other girls wonderful creations and stayed tuned tomorrow
to see the rest of mine!

always. sometimes. never.

I always:

* beat myself up, hard.
* take my bra off first thing when I get home.
* will love tee-shirts and jeans.
* cut people off when they are talking.
* will be a boat jumper.
* will be anal. I've accepted it.
* drink a lot of water.
* am used by God to tell others a message.

I sometimes:

* wished that I could actually and physically see Jesus.
* wonder why I keep fighting my true desire of being a housewife and SAHM?
* would like to live in a remote area by a lake.
* don't listen well.
* think about going back with what I know now.
* smell a very strong smell of my aunt's perfume. So strong I sometimes think she has to be in the room with me.
* wonder how long I will live.
* think I am a horrible mom.
* think about having loads of money, flying in a private jet to wherever Sallie Mae is and paying my student loan off in cash.. All the while sticking my tongue out and telling them I didn't learn a thing in school.

I never:

* thought my mom wouldn't be here.
* will compromise who I am, ever.
* have dirty sneakers.
* want be be a false disciple for God.
* thought I'd want to stay home and have that be my job.
* will go ski diving, scuba diving, bungy jumping, or anything that relates to flying if I don't have too.
* understand why people fear confrontation?

What are your always, sometimes, and never's?

I actually bought some Christmas related scrapping stuff! Believe that. I decided that I'd start now. I only have to make stuff for my family so it's pretty easy. Remember when I made this for A's teacher one year for her birthday?

I am going to make each of my family members this same thing for Christmas! The stuff I got in the mail today was from Bo Bunny. It's their new holiday line and I love it!

Did I mention before that I'm having a scrapbooking party?

I made these cards/invitations for the girls I am having over! They are excited and so am I!! I have started buying their kits and have gotten two thus far! I didn't realize how much work goes into picking out the perfect kit! But it's been a really cool process. And I've never had a scrapbooking party before! No one that is coming is a scrapbooker, so it should be totally cool to see how excited they get! We are having it at my house, with no family {I am sending them away to have a father/daughter date} while we eat, scrap, laugh, and little do they know have a photo shoot! It should be a lot of fun! I am going to have several different sketches to follow because they are a good way to jump start things for sure! Exciting times.

Do you have any suggestions at throwing a scrapbooking party? If so, share them with me! I want this party to be fun!

Tidbits

* It doesn't really matter that it's September and not all that cold. It was freezing in our house a couple of days and I actually turned on the heat.. *GASP*

* I love Dollar Tree. I just bought several new baskets for scrap stuff. The interesting thing? I went into two different stores and they were both really clean. Normally these stores aren't so tidy and clean. I thought that was interesting.

* I shouldn't make a goal to not eat sweets when I am PMSing.

*I have my Christmas list already! Although if you knew me this isn't anything new. When I was a kid I had it up probably right after my birthday in August! Ha. I want 3 things this year:
1. A couple of new journals.
2. Some new lotion from Bath & Body Works.
3. This picture blown up really big to stick in my scrapping room.

I simply adore this photo! So I told D I wanted it for Christmas. In a nice frame blown up. We went to the thrift store yesterday and actually found a really nice wooden frame that he's going to paint black. It's a 12x18 which is the perfect size. And it was dirt cheap which is even better. Cause you know getting frames done is WAY expensive!

* I am not going to lie. I am ready for fall to come. So I can dig into my fall decorations and decorate the house. Make a new center piece for our dining table. Go to the pumpkin patch and drink warm cider. And pull out my turtlenecks, I love turtlenecks and have about 5 of them in different colors. My favorite color is my gray one.

* Pumpkin spice whatever's at Starbucks are disgusting. G R O S S. I tried every one of them we sell cause we "have" too. The hot latte, gross. The cold latte, gross. The frapp, gross. The creme based frapp, gross. I don't understand why peeps are SO excited. When I think of pumpkin spice I think of sweet pumpkin pie with loads of whip cream on top. Not bitter icky pumpkin spice at Starbucks. It's hard for me too, cause if peeps ask me how it tastes I have to dance around the fact that I think they are G R O S S.

* Everywhere I turn these days I see peeps making cards. So many peeps are into making cards. It takes some teeth pullin' to actually get me to make a card.

* If you walked through my entire house I could point out almost everything {cause it makes up a lot of our house} where I bought something second hand at a thrift store, boot sale, or junk place. That includes clothing as well. I like a good bargain and that's no joke. And I like the fact that if you actually walked through my house, you'd never know I shopped or wore clothes from those places either! That makes me happy!

* I have quit WW. I have done this now oh about 3 different times. I realized I use it as a crutch and even though I was paying only 16.95 a month for it, I wasn't putting in my foods all the time or keeping up with it. I realized the other day it had a hold on me. Like I was bound to it and felt that if I actually quit it for good I'd gain 20 thousands pounds again. Ummm. I am over that. I give God the control of eating portions, eating horribly, and beating myself up when I fail.

* We finished reading Wicked. I felt compassion for the witch, honestly. It was a wonderful peek into her life.

* I still talk about my mom. I still miss my mom. It still hurts. I cry a lot still. But the other day I had a HUGE breakthrough with something I was holding on too and feeling trapped by it concerning my mom. God took that away because I asked him to. I am no longer bound by the guilt I had with one particular day.

* I will at all costs try to get out of cooking during the weekends. D knows this and will loving make all of our meals.

* Watching LOTR as a family was really exciting for us! It was A's first time and she actually got it. She wants to read the books. I disliked the books myself.

* My job I've learned is not something that I have to talk about, live through, or bring home constantly. I work 12-5:30 that's it. It stays there and ends there.

Well friends it's time to close and get busy!

A-mazing!

Seriously when I got
this kit in the mail,

I about screamed!
I truly love the colors so much.
The elements so much.
The way it spoke to me with each and every layout!
I enjoyed this kit very much!!




There isn't too much more to say about it, I simply adored working with it!

My grateful list:

1. For the huge box that American Crafts sent. I mean really! It was like Christmas, amazing.
2. For God's forgiveness because I mess things up a lot, all the time.
3. To be able to plan a scrapping party for people and share in that excitement!
4. Release.
5. A good long cry.
6. For Dayv because he listens even though I ramble.
7. Dreams.
8. Being able to buy tickets to here

9. For how much A talks, I hope she never stops.
10. Guitar Hero.

The first week of school.

Here we are at our very first week of school! Alyssa is loving school a lot! I can hardly believe how on top of things she is and pray that it lasts for her as well. She loves all of her classes, teachers, and subjects too.

She is riding the bus now, which is nice. It's only 2 blocks up from our house. We walk together and I've been enjoying that a lot. Although she's missed the bus coming home 2 days in a row!! The first day, the bus driver actually came back for her. The second day, she ran after the bus to no avail! She called me in tears and scared the living daylights out of me because of it! I thought something had seriously happened! Oh my.. She realizes now that she cannot socialize or get things from other classes rooms once the last bell rings. That she needs to be outside waiting for the bus cause he doesn't stay there very long at all!! But she likes riding the bus and knows a ton of kids on it. I wasn't too sure about it though as there were HS kids on there, but they sit in the back away from the little kids she said!

She's set some goals for herself too.. She wants to keep her binder organized and try to get honor roll. She tried to bargain with me though the other night! She has been wanting a mouse for a longest time. I simply cannot do it.. Gross! All I can think about is beating it with a stick or putting out a mouse trap.. So I've nixed it. And yeah its just me, cause D would let her buy the moon!! But she says, if I keep my grades up and also keep my binder organized can I get a mouse. Instantly out of my mouth, no. But I sit there and even though every wrong thing as a parent flashed before my eyes {who would really take care of it, those are lofty goals, is bargaining something we should do, etc...} I realized just how determined and excited she was. So I told her that she could at the end of the year {which might be placing a tad high expectation on her, I am going to pray further about this. However she did bring up the "year" thing, so it wasn't me completely} she could get 2 hamsters. The smile?

As big as the earth! D? He simply looked at me astonished cause I caved he says... We'll see how it all goes...

This year, we are really into her schooling. They have an online family access thingy where we can see what A's doing, what kind of grades she's got, what she's eating for lunch, and communicate with the teachers too. It's a really neat concept and one that is new for us! It's a great way for us to really be into what she's doing! I love that.

It's really cool seeing your child liking school! I am praying that it lasts! If you have children, how was their first week, or if they have been in school for a bit how is it going?