GO ME! I made something!

And I actually took a picture and uploaded it. Now I have learned something...just cause a camera is bigger and more expensive does not always mean it is best for a job! I just figured out after all these years that if I do it right my little point and shoot will take a better picture of my creations BECAUSE it has a macro function which allows me to get up close and personal with what I am taking a picture of. My lens for my big camera are not macro lenses and they do not allow me to get as close in the auto function :) This still isn't the best picture but it is OK! And it is something!

God is Good....

All the Time and All The Time....God is Good!
It has been a whirlwind of a week. 8 days ago I sat down and looked at the same budget that I have looked at for years...Same numbers...same everything. I wanted to know where we sat on me being able to leave my job. I grabbed the calculator and went to adding away. Asked my hubby how much he made and in an instant realized that I din't have to work. Of course, he did remind me of the fact that we tend to like to eat and engage in activities and fun stuff that do cost money. I reassured him I was not going to quit on the next day. But I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming sense of peace. And I was grinning from ear to ear--I knew it wasn't because I didn't have to work...I would go stir crazy if I stayed at home!! As I laid there that night praying, I realized the greatness in this whole scenerio I just went through and the reason for the peaceful feeling. You see those are the same numbers I have looked at time and time again. But that night I could see the cup half full instead of half empty... every other time I had done this all I could focus on was what we would loose if I left my job. It was only with the help of God that I was able to see the "cup half full instead of half empty"!! Pastor Dee gave me the advice to pray for "when" and the ability to know when He was guding me. I realized that evening that it was part of His attempt to guide and show me "when".
I went to Bible Study the next night and testified to this and told everyone about he "half-full cup"(Tuesday)--which honestly looks completely full.
Wednesday, I received a call for an interview for a job that I wanted to try for but thought I did not have a shot.
Thursday, I interviewed and Friday morning I received a call and was offered the job.
Folks---this was a God Thing! I have been waiting for years for an opportunity like this and it has come...I believe that it was solely due to the fact that I gave this whole thing up to God and let him control the outcome!
God is Good!

I know you have all seen this lighthouse before but I felt it so fitting for this post!

Plotting A New Course....

Exciting Stuff...I now have a new plan....
As some of you know we have experienced yet another contract change for foster care services here in my area. And honestly, enough is enough for me...So I have come up with a plan...
I am applying for new jobs! One of two things is going to happen (It is just a matter of when God says "when")...I will either have a new full-time job or I will have a part-time job and begin building my own house cleaning business part-time. Either way...I am good with it....I think I am secretly hoping for the part-time job with my own business scenerio but I am going to let God guide this process along...and this time I am going to try my best to listen...Pastor says it's about praying to God for "when" and "trusting your knower"...we will see what happens...prayers are welcome as this is very scary for me...my last attempt at job changing didn't go so well...so I am a tad frightened to try again.
Maybe when all is said and done I will feel motivated to get back to some card making.

Picture: Another great pictue from my trip to Ohio last year. This is Lake Eerie at Vermillion.

More About That Tree

Welp...
we are done with softball for the summer....no State title this year but the girls played FABULOUS...so that is all a mom could ask for!
I have had a little extra time this week (gasp!). Yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby and found a great photo album. Yeap that is right a photo album...not a scrapbook! I have decided a couple of things...
#1 No one looks at the pictures when they are buried on a CD or hard drive...or box.
#2 Scrapbooking is too time consuming and I want my pictures to look at NOW So I am now going to start printing off all my pictures and putting them, with some notes into those cool little albums that have a spot to write in. I spent 2 hours last night downloading pictures from a trip to DC that I took 5 years ago....I have some catching up to do!!
Today I was in my Ohio pictures....some of those pics are going to be used as artwork in my house once we get done with the minor work we are doing on the house. (or should I say hubby is doing). I found these two pics...one of the eerie orphanage that I was telling you about (there was even a big black crow looking bird on the roof when we were there) and the other is the ful tree. I believe that it is a magnolia tree...a lady here in town has a baby one...the flowers are too small for me to be able to make a 100% ID on the tree...but I am now 95% sure that is what it is...thanks for all the replies!

Blue Eyes...

This is my nephew Brett...I had to chuckle as he showed up to one of Sam's ball games with his new hair do...A mohawk...and on this particular day it was not only a mohawk but a blue mowhawk. Then I started taking some photos and WOWZA...that blue hair REALLY helped to make the blue eyes pop out even more than they already do!

AHHH Laughter....

Oh, these moments are so precious and prized! I know there are alot of you out there that COMPLETELY understand when I say that raising a teenage girl is a ride on a roller coaster! Especially, if you are her mother. Boy-- if I had a dollar for every time she was mad at me, rolled her eyes or thought that I was babying or mothering too much....well I'd be able to quit my job. So, in these moments when I get to see her express sheer joy and hapiness, I realize why I keep doing those everyday things that I do to hack her off....In these moments, I get a glimpse of who she really is and occassionally when I am super lucky...I get what I think may be a glimpse of who she will be in the future. She is one AWESOME kid!

Can Anyone Tell me???????

What the name of this tree that has these awesome floweres on it is? When I went to Ohio last April(ish) this was one of the first things that I noticed as Awna drove me to her house. We went by this scary looking place...if I remember right it used to be an orphanage...but now looks like something out of a scary movie. Anyway...in the front was this huge tree with these flowers on it...the are gorgeous! The whole tree flowered and it was just amazing! There were lots of these trees everywhere. Of course, I didn't think to ask someone while I was there what the name of the tree was....and after my trip when I asked Awna wasn't sure either....so if someone could tell me that would be GREAT! TIA!!

Just Have To Share....

After an 11 hour work day yesterday I decided that I needed to go to the mall?!?!!? So I headed into the gift shop/Hallmark store that is in our mall. I love all the cool rustic and primitive signs that have the neat sayings on them....but they are soooo PRICEY! I found one saying that really caught my eye and thought "self--go look it up on the net and make it yourself"...so that is what I have done and the saying is below. I had resolved that I am not getting comfie and decorating my new office at the new company that we HAVE to move to in order to have our jobs.....But after a good day at orientation and a little thought I might be inclined to hang this up in my office--it is very fitting in my line of work!


People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
- Mother Teresa

My Graduate

Well we did it! We made it through Junior High!! WoooHoo!! Isn't this picture just amazing...funny thing is that it is actually a "retake" of the moment. Yours truly COMPLETELY missed the shot!! Good thing Mr. Geis is Mr. Geis...he is such an awesome teacher and coach...we "redid" the handing of the certifcate so mom would have a picture of this special occassion...and you know what...I am so glad I missed the first one cause this one is 100x better than the others that I did take of the other kids during the actual ceremony. This will be a fun story later and a marvelous photo. Thanks Mr. Geis!!

What's New with You Mr. McGoo?

One might ask what one my list of things to accomplish have I done? Well...I have been able to watch a couple of track meets with out feeling that I had to be somewhere else doing something else with my time. I have finished one book and continue on with the Bible study that I have started over the Old Testament...and I might add that if you want drama...get yourself a paraphrase Bible and read the old testament...cause it has it all...Oh MY! the paraphrase makes it read like a story book! I haven't planted nay flowers yet....may not...not really in the mood cause the bugs always eat them up. Mom purchased not one but two dogs from the pound....pictures to come later. She brought home a one year old full breed bassett hound. His name is Rosco....Rosco is the buffer between the 13 year old yellow lab and the new 10 week old shepard mix (Sugar) that she also found at the pound. MOTHER! A PUPPY??? Oh MY (again). I have also enjoyed a Sunday afternoon drive with the hubby the other day...it has been forever since we took a drive...cause there were always other things that needed to be done. Gotta go...time to tan with Sam. Picture from the track meet.

Hello There!

Welp...over a week has gone by since I made my last post...cause I actually did it a few days before last Monday... and I have to say that it has been good to get away. I have spent less than 15 minutes all together on my home computer in the past week and I stamped a card for my father for his birthday (that's an important one...of course I mailed it late). You know tonight I sat down to order a book from Amazon and I have now been here for over 30 minutes just wondering around on the net....It sucks ya in I'm tellin' ya! So I am going to post this creation and be gone. The image is a Dustin Pike Digital Stamp. His images are ADORABLE! And he has new free downloads on Wednesday's...CUTE STUFF! This is the last of my stash of creations so I have no clue when I will be back again with more....

Last Elzybell's Sneek Peek....

Today is release day at Elzybell ArtStamps--so head on over and check out all of the new images that are now available and grab yourself a couple five or six!! The sentiment is computer generated (Man's Print CK.)

The title of this post is actually two-fold today. It is the last sneek peek for the April release and it is also my last sneek peek as an Elzybell's DT member. Elizabeth and the design team have been fabulous to work with! So much talent on the design team...it has been an honor to be a part of the team.

As for what is next, I have decided that it is time to live life. This simply means less time at the computer and in this little room with all of these supplies. I often find myself becoming side tracked with hunting down great insipiration and the over abundance of products and stuff to look at on the net. I think that it literally sucks you in!! Stress is high at work and there are plenty of things on my everyday list and my wish list to do. It is time to reclaim my life and diversify my activities.

There are...
ball games to watch,
books to read,
dogs to walk,
and quiet moments to be had.

There are...
family members to see,
friends to visit,
flowers to be planted,
and swings to sit in.

There is...
fresh air to be inhaled,
fire pits to be used,
lakes to be seen,
fish to be caught,
and sunsets to be watched.

There are...
pictures to be taken
and memories to be made.

There is a...
faith to be learned and followed
people to help,
children to teach,
and fellowship to be had.

There are...
mother and daughter
talks and moments,
smiles to embrace
and as always agruments to be involved in.

There is...
a husband to talk to,
spend time with,
and grow in love with.

There are...
still great projects and cards to make for those who will really appreciate them and those I know and love.

There is..
so much out there that I have been missing out on!

Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog. I will still post occassionally when I have a great picture to share or a super project that I want to keep online. My blog will stay intact as my photo buckets are here and one of my goals is to erase all my old pics of projects off my hard drive--but who knows when I will get to that cause that list up top is very long and there is lots to do! I'll Be Seeing Ya!

Let's Sneak a Peek....

At another of the new Spring stamps that are being released Monday April 20th at Elzybell's ArtStamps.

This little gal is ADORABLE!!! I will use her again for tomorrow's last peek and she will be all BLINGED out for ya!

Elzybell's April Peek #2

Here is another of the new stamps atht will be released at Elzybell's ArtStamps on Monday April 20th. If you click on Elzybell's blog listed in my blog roll you will find links to all of the Design Team Members so you can see their FABULOUS creations!
This little bear reminds me of a soft spring breeze..the kind that you can watch a bubble float through the air on. Of course, right now in Kansas the wind is either not blowing or blowing Mach 5!!

Elzybell's Sneak Peek...April Releases

It's that time of the month again...and it is a HAPPY time! Elzybell's ArtStamps will be releasing some Spring and Graduation Stamps on Monday and we are going to show you some seak peeks for the next couple of days. I love this little bear and the butterflies have been glittered up to add a little bling!

Elzybell's Inside and Out Challenge...

This weeks Elzybell's challenge is to make a card and then make sure to decorate the inside of the card as well. And in all honesty, part of the challenge was to do an envelope as well BUT...you know me and how I sometimes don't follow directions all that good. I had already photographed my card and given it away before realizing I was supposed to do an envelope to match. What a dork I am!! I need to learn to slow down and read the instructions. Humm...funny that sounds familiar...oh yes-- that is what I harp at my 14 year old to do!

Friday begins a new set of Sneak Peeks for the April Elzybell's release so make sure you tune in each day to see what is new!

A Little Trendy and Some Coming Soon....

First off, I just have to say that my husband and I attended an amazing Good Friday service tonight. We are attending a small rural church and 3 churches came together from the area for one service. They went through Jesus 7 Last Sayings as he was crucified--and left us lights out on the darkest hour...the time of Christ's death. I know what happens and I am still excited to see what is in store for us on Sunday. One of the biggest things I pulled from tonight is that we are so blessed to have the privilege to know what happened and that it all happened so that we could be granted Salvation and eternal life. But those that were there that day Jesus was crucified had no idea and no hope as Jesus died. And to think we get the honor, privilege and responsibility of knowing the story of Jesus and being able to take it to others. Wow...I don't know that I even summed it up well...just such an inspiring service!!

On another note...I was at my monthly stamp group last night and checked when one of the gals stated that she has finally accepted that brown and pink are a good combo. Of course, I had to input my theory that brown is the new white and I think Sharon nailed it even better...brown is the new black!! That is SO true!

Sorry posts have been a little far between...so much to do so little time....and this is a "down time"---Oh MY!

WHAT'S Coming Soon??

*** Elzybell's Challenge on Thursday...then

***April 17-20th Elzybell's Sneak Peeks for the April Release

If you haven't been to the Elzybell's Blog you need to go over and check it out...Paul Ford is this months Guest Designer and I absolutely love his creations with the farm animals!!

Party Owl...

Welp...I thought I lightened this photo when I edited it but....I guess I didn't do it enough...and I "ain't" going back to fix it now,LOL! This little party owl is from Pink Cat Studios. I love their owl set...so adorable...can't wait to someday get the opportunity to use the other images in the set. his was a little birthday card for a co-worker.

Elzybell's Challenge...

The new Elzybell's Challenge is to make a creation using a circle and a piece of ribbon. I made these great cookies for my boss for her birthday and had some left over. I decided to make a plate decoration out of my circular piece and ribbon.

It's Been a Few Days....

Since I have uploaded anything....I am not sure what has slowed me down...I spent 2 3/4 days in the house without leaving. I did find plenty to do- For the first time in years our laundry is done and all put away--not just laying around in laundry baskets until we wear it again. That is a major accomplishment! That and I made cookies one day...tune in on Thursday for a look at those. I have decided that I want to learn how to decorate cakes and cookies...and I MUST take lessons! So you might start seeing more of those type creations here as well....maybe...someday.

Anyway--these fun bunnies are from WhipperSnapper Designs...aren't they just adorable!