My Story

It was so beautiful outside today, I couldn't help but spend some time on the porch swing. I love to grab a little quiet time when I can. It doesn't usually last long, when the girls notice I'm missing they come a lookin'! What a blessing it is to live in the country where I can hear the birds sing, watch the squirrels steal pecans from our tree, and watch the girls run in the yard. I complain about the weather in the South a lot, but on days like today......well, guess I don't have much to complain about!

Well, I guess I've done it again. I just can't stand the same thing for long. I have been looking at Thao's "Life's Canvas" Collection for a while now thinking "that would make a great blog!! So in between layouts, I've been creating for my blog! It's nice to have a change of scenery every once in a while! I hope you like it!

Hanukkah Sameach!! (Happy Hanukkah) We had an awesome first night, our annual church Hanukkah party! Brother Shelley read the children the story of Hanukkah and we lit the first candle on the menorah. Oh...and of course there were latkes and donuts! I spent all day making Challa bread.....It's not totally traditional for Hanukkah, but we eat it every chance we get. It's become a great tradition in our house for me to make it every year. It takes 5 hours but boy is it worth it. We actually had a little left over this morning, so we are having challa toast with butter and honey! Mmmmmm!!

Of course when we got home we opened gifts and lit our candles. I got the coolest candles this year. They are rainbow colored, hand rolled beeswax! They even smell sweet when they burn! Can you tell I love this season?

Just in case you don't know what Hanukkah is about I'll post a link to a small version of the story.... It's a season of miracles! Blessings to you all!

I got this idea from Debbie Layden, a wonderful new friend that is on the Scrap Girls Layout Artist's team with me. She is a talented artist, awesome photographer, and sweet friend. On her blog she said she was going to take one or two images of her daughter, print them on her home computer and put them in a special journal where she would then write two or three things they did together that day. I thought that was an awesome idea, so I'm going to adapt it for myself. I'm going to take a random photo every day, put it in my journal and write a few thoughts about it. I have wanted to journal for so long, but I just don't know where to start, it's so intimidating. I'm also very visual, so I thought this was a perfect solution. Who knows the entrys may morph into some great spiritual revalation or they might be just random thoughts about a photo? Either way it will get me writing, and remembering!

So this is the first photo of my journal......it's a photo of my journal! :D This will be the book where all the thoughts and photos are kept.......maybe every now and then I'll post one here too. I hope to see not only my writing evolve, but my photography. So thanks Debbie for the little push I needed to get started! Maybe someday I'll get a beautiful red damask journal too!

Journaling Reads:
My memories of holidays when I was a child are precious. We always had huge family gatherings at Vava's house. Lots of good food, of course, loud relatives, and card playing after dinner. I remember the table being packed and the sound of laughter. As the years went by, there were fewer and fewer people, but the memories I hold will be mine forever.

I know everyone has special memories of holidays past, and when this time of year rolls around we start remembering. I can't help but notice the past few years when holiday time rolls around how different it is. It's supposed to be a time of family, community, charity, and for Christians celebrating the birth of our savior. For me it's been even more special since we started celebrating Hanukkah, the feast of the dedication, or the feast of lights....they are all one in the same. I get so disappointed when I have to go to town, you see I dread going to town during this time of year because it seems like the spirit of greed rules and people are getting more mean and short tempered, I mean people shoot each other because there aren't enough x-boxes to go around. I wish everyone could just take a step back and ask themselves "what are we doing?"

So I don't mean to be a downer, but lets all try to be a light to this world during this holiday season. Let's try to show all those hard working, barley making it cashiers at Wal Mart that we appreciate them. Try to say an extra thank you to someone who helps you. Flash an extra smile or two at a fellow shopper, and this one's the hardest......at least for me. Try not to let those grouchy, angry attitudes get on us! I want people to notice I'm different, and ask my why. I want the world to see the "Light" of Christ through me.

I was so excited to have an opportunity to help one of the designers at Scrap Girls, Cherise Oleson, do a layout for her new product - Chore Labels. I love Scrap Simple Templates! You can customize them to your liking! I wanted to do a page for her so that people would think outside the box and see that you can use them for something other than chore charts......but I'm thinking some chore charts for the girls are on the way!! Won't they be excited! Heeee Hee!! Can you tell I love this stuff? ;)

These are a couple of layouts I did for Scrap Girls for the second collaboration Holiday Collection. This is one of the only times I have used stock photos in my layouts......but how are you supposed to do wintry layouts with beautiful wintry collections when you live in the south and snow is non existent? It was so much fun working with this awesome collection and doing something out of the ordinary for me! The Scrap Girls product designers really are awesome. Anyway, this is the best part.....place an order totaling $10 or more before December 15th and receive the second beautiful collaboration Holiday Collection as a free gift! Don't miss it! Of course it can also be purchased in the boutique.....but isn't free better?

I am so blessed to have just spent two wonderful weeks with my Dad, Mom, Grandma Vicky and Grandma Bettencourt. It's amazing how fast two weeks can fly by. Sometimes I really don't understand why we have to live so far apart, but I know the Lord has a reason. He needs us where he has placed us. It would however be nice if he would call them to Alabama......right? We miss them so much when their gone, but we had a blast while they were here! It's the first time in a very long time that we have been together for Thanksgiving, and boy did we do it right......twice! Of course we did lots of shopping, staying up late, and visiting with friends.........and I promise next time dad we'll go bowling!

Now it's time to get back into our routine. We'll start back up with school on Monday. Meanwhile the girls are working on thier rooms which haven't been touched in two weeks! I literally can't even walk in the twins door! I think it might be time to get rid of some stuff.......ya think? Well on life goes....with us or without us! We are already counting down to the next visit.....I hope it comes soon! There are some good deals on tickets right now....... ;)