Snow...

This little fella seems appropriate to post today! It's snowing and snowing and snowing here in Kansas and it's going to keep going all day long! I've seen prediction maps that show every thing from 10.5 to 23 expected inches of snowfall today. Best part is, I get to stay home and STAMP!

This is one of my favorite Whippersnapper stamps! I will forever love him and keep him!

I used the cool paintbrush and chaulk trick to apply the outline around the image. Such a simple thing that I made extremely hard for so many years,lol.

 

Thanks for stopping by, stay warm and dry!!

 

Congrats Coach...

Stamps: Whippersnapper (Bear image), PTI (frame and words) and Spunky Stamps (Circles)
Paper: Black, White and Purpe Poopy
Colored with Copics
Ink: Momenta Black, L'Armore Palette
Misc: Fillable Frame 4, Glossy acccents

Change, Routine and Normal...

Today....will be ramblings and maybe by the end I will have a name thought up for this post. Normal is good, routine is good and change is good and inevitable. So how on earth do you make it all work together? I think the answer is a little at a time. From what I am seeing this past week, too much change at one time can be fun and exciting but it can also throw one for a tail spin. When what you have always known as normal is no longer what you do everyday, eventhough the changes are good, it can really throw a person off. Today we took our first trip of the year to the bus stop~we will be doing this for a week or so~and I am guessing that this won't be the only time this year we get to taxi to school on the big yellow bus. Changes have been extraordinary in our house this year. New car, new classes, new after school routine, change in sports schedule plus more. Nothing seems to be the same as it always has been and that caught up with us a bit. "Mother's intuition" man I hated that phrase as a kid and have to say that it is something that one does not understand until you have children and it is limited to "mom". Dad's have other super-abilities...but mom gets the "mother's intuition" all to herself. I could tell there were some internal struggles happening, even before the outward signs began. With the good changes have come some struggles and we are currently "reeling" it back in for a bit. The nice thing is that the struggles have been minor...nothing out of the "teenage ordinary". So for just a very short time, we will return to what was once known as "normal". If I had to make a guess (and she would ever admit it), with all of the change in routine and schedule this year...this one little slice of normal, how it has always been for 10 years up to now...it felt reassuring and good to both mom and daughter this morning.Boy...it sure felt good to take that 5 mile drive with the music on too loud and no actual speaking until we saw the bus. Funny the things we end up cherishing! And yes...I figured out the title of the post just now.

It's the little things....

That make life BIG. We spent a lot of time watching the College Softball World Series this year and during the Series they talked alot about the influence John Wooden had on athletes and those around him. In our house the last few weeks, we have been wondering around with the quote..."Little Things Make Big Things Happen", in our minds. But how on Earth do we teach this to our children? The obvious answer is that we lead by example and repeated exposure to these examples. I am finding, as a mom of a teenager, that this can be a little bit of a lengthy and challenging process. They know the details yet at times, sometimes very important times, the energy and effort to execute the details just doesn't happen. Since I am pretty positive that this is not the first generation of teenagers who has displayed this type of behavior, I find myself thinking back to being a teen. I wonder when it was that I figured out that the details were very impotant and it was best just to do it right the first time and that there is a pay off to doing the job right. I do remember my mom harping at me about the string art lion thing that "I didn't finish what I started" and I will have to say that once I got mad and sat down and finished it...there was a great sense of accomplishment felt. I have to wonder if it wasn't my first job at Hardee's, more so my boss Lucy that influenced what seems now to be a little bit of my OCD tendencies with scheduling, routine and details. That woman was a hard nut and getting a compliment even harder...but we wanted to make her happy. Maybe it was so she wouldn't get mad at us but we cared about what she thought, to do the job right the first time. I wonder what or who it will be in my kiddos life that will help flip the proverbial switch. For now, we will keep doing everything we are doing and continue to look for better ways to say and do it to teach the lessons.

Home is...

One of the best feelings in the world is the feeling of being "home". You know...places you go where you feel that warm oozie feeling inside. Places where you feel connected to someone, something, a memory or an event. Last night, I was at the school ball field walking to the horrid port-a-potties that we have to use. As I looked around at the scoreboard, the field, the make shift concession stand, the fishing ponds and the cattle in the field next to us, I suddenly felt that feeling of being "home". Walking down the bright white concrete sidewalk with the cedar trees poking me in the side, I realized that this too is a place that my daughter will someday (if not already) get that same warm "at home" feeling. Of course, I have had that feeling many times when it comes to the school she attends. Her kindergarten year was horrible. The principle always had her nose up in the air and her teacher never cracked a smile. Sam did not like school and after that first year, we made one of the best decisions we have ever made as parents. We decided that she would attend Southeast K-12, that is 15 miles to the south, in the country. I remember Sam's first day of first grade. I walked into the school with her and we passed by Mrs. Ramsey, the principal. Sam and I were greeted with a smile and a warm "good morning". It was at that very moment, I knew I had made the correct decision. We are so privileged to have the feeling of "home". Staying in one place long enough to create that connection and foster those feelings is not as common as it used to be. Whether it be the school, our church, going back to Chapman for a few hours or many of the other places that we get that "at home" feeling, I am truly thankful that God has blessed us with the gift of being able to stay put in one place for so long. It is a blessing to know that my Sam will have great memories and that someday when we look back we will both be able to share that fabulous feeling of connection for some of the same people, places and things.

My prediction...

I am posting this little snowball man in conjuction with making my prediction that the snow is officially over her where I live! We will see how that goes! This evening I have the windows open and was able to take a walk after work because it is now staying light longer. Ahhh...a sure sign that spring is right around the corner....finally!

Honey....I am back!

Amazingly, I have been able to find a few minutesthe past couple of week sto be in my studio. That could be because we are in between volleyball and basketball seasons.

I am gonna keep it short as I am not sure anyone will even see this after being gone soooooo looooong!

Ignore that grey blopped in the picture...something on the camera lens and I've already given the card away:)

Stamps: Whipper Snapper and SU!

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!

Change is....

Inevitable....sometimes good ...sometimes not so great...and sometimes a mixture of both at one time. This little number is for my boss Mary. She has been my boss for 10 years now...we have had ups and downs...but a whole lot of good times together. We have a special little thing we call the "24 hour rule"...when one doesn't like something the other one is proposing each of us takes 24 hours to consider what the other has said and we ALWAYS come to either an argeement or compromise after 24 hours. Mary and I can say what is on our minds to each other, make each other upset but always know that it will be ok in the long run. Mary works her heart out for the best outcomes for children and families...and she will continue to do that in the years to come as a manager for the new agency that will be contracting fostercare services in this area come July 1. She will do very well as a manager and will continue to greatly impact the lives of children and families. I wish her so much luck...but it is bittersweet cause I always said I couldn't do this job without her and not having her as my direct supervisor will be a HUGE adjustment!

A little LOVE....

...Just for YOU!! Hope everyone has a very wonderful Valentines Day!! I'm still playing in the flowers today...next week there will be new Elzybell's to share with you again...so keep checking back...you don't want to miss anything!!

Being Grown Up....

Really STINKS sometimes!! Sometimes it means that we have to do things that we really don't want to do and it makes us long to be a kid again. Over the Christmas break, my mom and I had "our" choclate lab of almost 12 years put down. Mocha was mine for the first 2 years of her life and belonged to my mom the last 91/2-10 years. OMG! I cried all week knowing we were going to do it and fearing the unknown as I had never experienced this before. And then, I cried ALL weekend afterwards. Even with all of that, I would not have changed a thing. The tears were well spent and this made me slow down a bit and even though some would say "put it in perspective- it's a dog"---this experience made me stop and reflect on the meaning of life and what is important. This was the image ( and yes these are my BRAND NEW Whipper Snapper stamps!) my mom called to tell me "when"...and this is the card that I am sending to the vet that helped us through that morning. It has sat unfinsihed until tonight and looking at the card still carries an "unfinished" tone but I need to leave it and get the card sent. The ladies at the veternarian's office were wonderful to us and very professional. Looking back now....I realize how many times my mother has had to experience this particular task....we have had a lot of pets through my 39 years of life--my goodness the woman needs to be nominated for sainthood! She was afraid that the vets office would judge her (Mocha was never a healthy animal) for "giving up" or not taking care of her "good enough". The ladies at the vet were amazing and kind...at a time when it was needed the most. We could not have asked for better people!