what is it with me...

and 2 month blog breaks?!...sigh....
I think it is called "life"....yes that is most definitely it lol.
It is about 11:30 pm so this will be mostly pics/layouts and just a little "catch up" (no not the stuff you put on fries or what dragons glop on crispy people....)
I have been babysitting my 2 nephews for the last month or so from 6:30 a.m. (keep in mind that I am NOT a morning person) until 5:30 pm. Now, let me say that they are great kids! It is just that, as many of you know, every kid you have during the waking hours drains hours worth of energy from you....sooooooooooo ok I have a teenager (mine), that is definitely about 3 hours drain per day....my 10 yr old nephew another 3 hours....my 9 1/2, er um "almost 10" yr old son who is mr. negativity so that is about a 5 hour drain...my 5 1/2 yr old nephew who is the baby of HIS family, hm about a 3 1/2 hour drain...and my 3 1/2, er...ugh ALMOST 4 yr old daughter who is the youngest, the only girl, AND a drama queen/tomboy to boot, yeah about another 6 hours.... so um lets see, 5 plus 3 plus 3 plus 3 1/2 plus 6...hm ...that is...(hold on have to count my toes now...)
ok so I have used up about 20 1/2 hours of energy....hm....and I sleep about 5 hours per night....wow not bad, only a 15 1/2 hour deficit :) UGH is it any wonder I have not been blogging much?
I have, however, been able to take some pics, do some scrapbooking (if I blog I can't scrap and vice versa, just not enough time in the day lol) OH and I volunteered at VBS this past week....
AND I rearranged my bedroom and livingroom this week...sigh....
anyway, I will blog more later, in the meantime here are some pics and layouts that I have had over the last couple months.....just stop here if you are pressed for time ;)....
all credits can be found in my gallery at DST (here)...and believe it or not these are not all of the layouts I have done for june/july lol.....ok the pics will wait for another day (or another post) b/c I didn't realize how many layouts I did these last 2-2 1/2 months!


^^ my nephews at Virginia Beach this past May (i believe)

^^Tink walkin down the driveway...when her hair is wet/straight it reaches her waist lol ...this gorgeous kit was given to me by sweet miss Pamela Gibson (papers and alpha)...the crown was a RAK from Tangie Baxter :) and the wings are mine

^^ :) one of my new fave pics of Tink, and another fabulous kit from Pamela Gibson...


^^Malachi feeling the need to be part of the family during a card game


^^ Lane doing what he loves most :)

^^Tink in the back yard on a rare day when she was feeling quiet and contemplative...the journaling around the edge is one of my favorite quotes...." Suddenly, through birthing a daughter, a woman finds herself face to face not only with an infant, a little girl, a woman-to-be, but also with her own unresolved conflicts from the past and her hopes and dreams for the future.... As though experiencing an earthquake, mothers of daughters may find their lives shifted, their deep feelings unearthed, the balance struck in all relationships once again off kilter."


Chase & Elijah back in 2003 lol i just love this pic of them and it fit so well with Pat Christensen's doodley kit...


Lane used to pick big bouquets of roadside TigerWillies (as he called them) for me when he was little...he is wearing my mamaw's "chef hat" b/c we had just picked her up from work lol...i miss those days....

:) pics of my 3 over the years :)


my 3 back in Oct. of '06...i love that pic of them :)

Lane in Jan. of '07....he is so handsome.....sigh....

my sweet tink when she was just a couple days old...


tink & her best friend carson....journaling can be found here



i love this kit by ziggle designs! and i love the pic of tink taken on memorial day (eve) lol


the many faces of tink :)


my beautiful tink....


i just love everything about this layout, from their goofy faces to the memories held in that background...


another using that ziggle designs "star spangled" kit


this adorable lil kit was RAK'ed to me from sweet amy sumrall, who is now proudly selling at Sunshine Studio Scraps (woo hoo go amy!)


:) this is actually the front of a 4x4 card :) (well 4x8 before you fold it)...that pic of tink cracks me up...


a weeds and wildflowers challenge i did


i love this pic of tink and the colors of sweet miss carla's kits matched it perfectly!



yes, i have even been scrapping older pics :) and yes some of the boys' pics lol


another kit RAK, this one from Jennifer Barnette (i think)...the kit is super cute and matched this pic perfectly :)


a RAK kit from Krystal Hartley, isn't it gorgeous?! oh yeah, and these are the 2 nephews i was talking about :)


*sniffle* my lil tinker when she was less than 2 weeks old....this cute lil kit was a RAK from darling sweets, Jen Riggins

my precious boys back in 2000...sigh....sometimes i miss them being that little.....

well bless you if you made it this far lol, i really will try to give a good ol' fashioned update and chit chat next time...had a couple huge blessings happen and a couple very big hurts these past couple of months.....yet through it all God is always so good to me, can you believe He loves me that much?!

2 months?!

Is it possible that 2 months...yes TWO MONTHS?! has passed since I last revived my poor neglected blog?! sigh, alas I fell into that horrid trap that is known as "real life" and simply did not have the energy or motivation to blog.....BUT (insert mental pic of a rosy lil bum/butt/bottom/buttock/seat/rear/where-the-good-Lord-split-ya).....
I am back and have SO many things to catch everyone up on :D
First off, I miss my few faithful blog readers immensely! (that is a big reason I am back)
2ndly, I am no longer designing for any stores :)...there are a couple reasons, but one main one is that I would rather make a freebie and 1000 people d/l it and enjoy it, than to make a kit for sale and only 3 people buy it....it was too disheartening and I don't have the thick exterior (although I have a thick POSTERIOR) to handle not being a big time seller...besides that, "having" to have a certain amount done each week really put a big ol' clamp on my creativity :(....
So I am back to blog freebies when I feel the urge to design. :)
I have, however, found how much I enjoy creating using other people's kits! Being on the CT at Treasures to Scrap . com (www.treasurestoscrap.com) and taking part in the Amazing Digi Scrap Race 3 really have taught me a lot about my style and about how to manage scrapping AND having a life away from the computer lol.
Finally, I am going to work on sharing some of my thoughts and such on life, love, mothering, wifing...um wifery...uh...being a wife and what it means to me through my faith. Now, before I even post the first thing about this subject remember it is NOT something I am saying YOU have to do, just sharing some of the things that help me keep my sanity. And for those of you who say "well you have never had to put up with what I have had to...." or "well you would think differently if YOU had this or that happen".....chances are I have been there AND done that AND had that done to me, so before you think that I am speaking of what I do not know, ask me. Don't send angry letters full of women's lib battle cries, they will most likely fall on deaf ears.

Wow, a lot has happened in the last 2 months! As many of you know, I am not an honest to goodness, stressed out, worry wart, constant praying mother of a teenager now. I do not know why, but I promise, the day the boy turned 13 I sprouted a cluster of white hairs (I am a redhead, we go white not gray ;)....or at least that is my story and I am sticking to it lol. For you more experienced moms of teens, how do you do it?! Any advice, comments, condolences are welcome....**sidenote** he did get his hair cut the night before his 13th birthday :) I thought I hated his long hair (and I did sort of...I mean I did if he wasn't wearing a hat), but part of me wishes it were back now lol sigh oh well....
My 9 1/2 yr old boy has recently made me feel VERY bipolar...one minute wanting to throttle him, the next bursting with the warm fuzzies over how smart and gentle and kind he can be...He is really wishing for summer vacation lol. He did choose to join baseball again this year :) and is on a really good team. He doesn't get to play every inning, but he does get to play every game which is more than I can say for other sports we have participated in. His daddy has taken him to every practice and been at every game so far except one (he was working).
Then there is "the girl"....the petite, sweet, darling, adorable, ....wait I must have been thinking about some other lil girl :D..... just kidding, Tink is all those things just not all those things at once. If her toddler/preschool years are any indication of things to come, go on and set up my room at the mental ward :) She is finally coming out of her shell at school and learning so much. They claim she is quiet and reserved and still a bit shy...I think they fib on her behalf. She is counting in English, Spanish, and counting to 3 in chinese (she would like to count higher but Kai'lan has only taught up to 3 so far ;) ). She is once again gravitating towards being a momma's girl now that daddy is working full time again, but you can tell when he gets home that a big part of her will always belong only to her daddy...
As for daddy....lol have I mentioned how much I love my man? I am not saying we do not have our quarrels, or that he does not make my blood boil and my redheadedness nearly outweigh my will to be a godly wife sometimes, but simply put, I am madly in love with him in a way and to a degree I never thought would ever be possible. For Mother's Day (which started off horridly for me), he came in during church and sat with me in the nursery (it was my Sunday to have nursery duty) even though I only had 3 babies to watch. For some of you this might not mean much, but Mike only likes lil ones from a distance normally....I mean he LIKES them, but will not usually volunteer to put himself in the midst of them unless guilted into it (which I did not do). Then he offered to take us to lunch/supper at any restaurant I wanted to go to....then he let me spend time uninterrupted on the computer or doing whatever I felt like (even just laying around)...But more than all that, he has really become a man who lets God lead (most of the time, and we are praying about the times he doesn't....we=ME) lol and THAT ladies (and gentlemen if I have any of those who read this) is unbelievably sexy and attractive in a man! Mmm-Mmm_Mmm give me a man who follows after God's heart and you have given me something to swoon over for eternity.
Now, as for me....I have started reading "Power of a Praying Wife" again, but this time with an accountability partner. Last time I read it completely through, Mike and I were separated with little to no hope of reconciliation. It is so weird to read the notes I wrote in the margins and see how absolutely far God has brought us in the last year and a half or so....and it is so amazing how different the book feels reading it from this perspective! Sharyn and I have decided to study one chapter a WEEK!!! yes WEEK! so that we can get into it in a way that wouldn't be possible by reading a chapter a day. Each day we read the chapter and pray about it in a different way and then at the end of the week we are going to get together online and discuss it (we are also keeping personal journals and such to help us focus on what we are reading). If any of you are interested in going through that book with me also, let me know! You can get the book for less than $10 at Walmart (or any bookstore...but not sure the price elsewhere)! Even if you are not "madly in love with" your hubby (ESPECIALLY if you aren't) this book is AMAZING and you will see changes when you start reading it and applying it to YOUR life. Remember, when I read it the first time we were separated and were in relationships with other people (foreseeing nothing but demise to our marriage). Finally I am going to tell all y'all something that I am not going to tell anyone here at home (or my friends I see in person). I am starting (today) on a journey to get healthy. That I know of, none of my family reads my blog here, they have no interest in scrapbooking and assume that is all I do on here I think. But I am going to revamp, revise, renew, and reinvent my blog/blogs to track my progress....I want to reduce my weight by nearly 100 lbs total, and plan on having 20 off by the end of summer. I want to be able to use the Strider Experience machine for 5 miles without getting completely out of breath and weak-kneed by that time. I want to be consistently making it to the YMCA 5 days a week for strength training and the Strider (it is eliptical meets stair climber meets torture device lol). AND I want to feel comfortable physically again....anyone with me on this one?! If I get a few people on board, I would like to start a separate blog just for us....only serious inquiries need apply lol.
Ok to finish off today I have a photo riddle for you....and a challenge.
Look at the photo (which is horrid by the way, and no i don't normally walk around with 2 nails painted and 3 not but oh well) and figure out what one word this photo represents....THEN go take a photo of something that word means....yeah I didn't explain well, but when you figure out what word I am trying to convey in this photo, go take a pic of it and post it on your blog or in a gallery or just email it to me, then come back here (without giving away the word) and link me up to your post! Just thought it might be a fun way to start the week :D I will post the answer to the riddle next Monday :)

Easter.....Resurrection Cookies

Ok here is the Easter project I was talking about in my last post. They are called Resurrection Cookies. Many of you have probably already heard of them. I got them in an email about 5 years ago (or more), and we have done them every year since. BUT in case you haven't heard of them, or forgot about them, or forgot where your recipe is *smiles...like any of us would ever do that?!* I am posting it here for you :)...It is a great object lesson for your kids, and a way to focus on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us...my kids are 13, 9.5, and 3.5 yrs old and they all enjoy (and learn) from making these...

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar

You will also need:
Bible
re-sealable baggie
wooden spoon
mixing bowl
electic mixer
cookie sheet
waxed paper
tape

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  
  
• Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
  
  
• Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
  
  
• Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life. Read John 10:10-11.
  
  
• Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers. Read Luke 23:27.
  
  
• So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
  
  
• Beat with a mixer on high speed for several minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
  
  
• Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
  
  
• Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
  
  
• GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22.
  
  
• On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain how the tomb was empty on the first Easter because Christ had risen from the dead! Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Of course you can go into as much or as little detail about the parts as you want. If your kids are like mine, this opens up a huge arena for discussion and questions...."do you think the vinegar helped Jesus not be thirsty?" (me) "no i think he probably puked! i might!" (elijah)....."how big was the tomb?" (elijah...yes he is my questioner) "it was big, like a small cave, big enough to put Jesus' body in at least" (me, i need to research BEFORE we make cookies) "really?....that must have taken a LOT of tape to hold that big rock in place" (elijah after we "sealed" our cookies in).....
Granted those are examples of my Elijah's questions, but Lane (and elijah from time to time) really have asked some hard questions and made some heart wrenching observations during our cookie time too...."I bet his mom just wanted to climb up there and take him down and hold him...i bet that is what you would do huh mom?" (lane) "yeah and give the soldiers a knuckle sandwich for lunch when they gave him vinegar to drink when he was thirsty! you woulda given them a fat lip for bein a knothead" (yep, elijah)......."how could he forgive them mom? i don't think i could, shoot i can't forgive eli sometimes and he just breaks my toys!" (lane).....

Well you get the idea.....We will be out of town this weekend so please be praying for us. We are going to celebrate my great-aunt's 70th birthday (she won't be 70 until next month, but we are having the party this month)...she is like a surrogate Mamaw to me since my Mamaw passed away...she is who one of Tink's middle names comes from (JoEtta) she is my great-Aunt Joan Etta...she is a true and faithful servant if there ever was one ;) and I feel so blessed to get to spend any time with her that I can :)....please pray for traveling grace and mercy for us :)

Ok, like you guys aren't sick of my multi-photo/multi-layout posts, but I can't help myself, I just adore my young'uns and my hubby and my nephews and my siblings and my parents...need i go on? Anyway here are my 3 newest layouts :)

my sweet li'l tink at 4 days old :)

(credits: monica larsen's Strawberry Dreams kit, font- Darcy Baldwin's Emilys)

This was another for the ADSR3 and I really really like it :)...the kit completely rocks and was the PERFECT shade/colors to go with Lumpy....the challenge was to interview an inanimate object (as in a car, key, phone, shoe....not as in "your race partner's youth" or "your once pierced tongue"....um not like I would ever think of interviewing those things for a race layout...i mean i am just guessing those might be ideas...yeah...um..that's my story and I'm sticking to it). ANYWAY....we had to interview them with at least 4 questions with answers...needless to say I was running short on ideas :)....but Lumpy has scared away plenty of "spookables" and been dragged through it all from dirt to mud to syrup to honey to mashed potatoes....he is one of Tink's most beloved friends....here is the journaling/interview....
"So Lumpy, I just want to thank you for taking time out of your schedule to be here"....
"No problem, you don't happen to have any snicker-doodles do you? I love snicker-doodles."...
"*sigh* I am sorry hun, I don't. Is there anything else you would like? Some honey perhaps?"...
No...No thank you...I don't like honey so much...last time Tink gave me honey, you threw me in that washer-go-round...ugh, talk about the room spinning"...
"Ah yes...I forgot that Tink got honey all over your trunk...speaking of Tink, I want to know how you do it?! I mean, it must be hard being the best friend to such a diva! What keeps you going?"
"The smiles...& the snuggles, she is, like you said, my best pal, so it all evens out..."
"Do you think you will ever tire of being the most favored Lumpy of her collection?"
"Never...never ever..."
You wanna run to the school to get her? Preschool is letting out for the day..."
"Yes...of course!"

**and I just remembered as I was reading the journaling, Lumpy like RUMPLE-doodles...sigh...will this momma ever get it right?! I should have asked Tink....**

(credits: This kit is so freakin' awesome...it is by Carla Phillips click HERE for it...or you can find it at gottapixel.net...it is called "Li'l Miss Jas" and it is just fabulous!.....and the fonts are my faves...they are by Darcy Baldwin...Emilys and Lorraine)

and finally a new fave of mine..this layout took 30 min start to finish....that is how awesome this kit is....it practically DID the layout for me!

(credits: Joanne Bain/Doin' It Digi Designs Forest Garden kit available at TreasuresToScrap.com)