I could not be more excited!! I get to go to a Photography workshop in Atlanta given by a very talented photographer, Debbie Layden. I have been waiting for what seems like months and it is finally here!! My mind is just a buzz! I'm such a visual person, I mean books are great, but there is nothing like having someone show you hands on how to do something! We have also had a group on flickr for a few weeks now and I really can't wait to meet all the great women that will be in my class! Debbie is going to be doing several workshops in different locations, so check out her blog for dates and cities! So pray that I will have a clear mind and soak up as much as possible, and hopefuly I'll have a few good photos to post when I get back! :D

This song has been in my spirit for a few days now......as I ask the Lord to teach me more about abiding, it's amazing the things he shines His light on. If ABIDING in Him means soaring like an eagle, I want it!

I have been blessed to join a beautiful group of women for a "Life Group" I am in awe at how similar so many mothers and wives from all over the world can be. I am so blessed by the openness, love and support I have experienced. We had our first chat Monday night, and I am enjoying the continued conversations on our Facebook Group. I am so in amazed at the possibilities when we make use of the modern technology we now have. I am so blessed to have a group of friends that in another day I might not have ever known. I am looking forward to seeing the Lord move in all of their lives as well as my own. It's not to late if you would like to join us, there is 5 weeks left.

I know there are a lot of areas in my life that are ripe for change and I know the Lord will do it if I can surrender to him.....I don't know what it's going to look like, but I look forward to sharing my journey with you.

Meet our newest addition. This is Dude, or as Steven would say a Angus bull calf sired by K205 out of an Irvington cow. ;) He came from one of Steven's customers. He was a twin and his mama couldn't raise him. The girls are thrilled. They have to go out every morning at 7:00am and every evening at 7:00pm to feed him......this one's for you dad....."a ruminant animal must be fed every 12 hours" :) I did listen to you growing up! Gotcha! He's getting stronger and more rambunctious every day! Just another fun adventure around here! :D

Ok, so I'm sitting in the Dr's office this morning....you know in the little room they keep you in forever before they finally come in to see you. By the way I have some how ended up with a staph infection between my eyes......it's not pretty, so pray for me if you get the chance.....Ok, anyway, sitting there waiting for the Dr to come in, and I notice the wall paper, it's this awful Dr's office wall paper, horrible colors, but I loved the pattern, I though this would make a fabulous texture or grungy paper template or overlay!! I even almost reached for my camera, which I didn't have, and I forgot my cell phone has one.......can you imagine the Dr walking in on this crazy patient taking a picture of his wall paper? LOL!! So I just thought I'd share with you how warped my brain has become and how everything is now put through the scrapbook/photography part of my brain before it is processed! It's scary! I just had to laugh at myself!! .........help? ;)

I'm taking a hint from Mandy and choosing a word for the year. This is a word that I have been meditating on for some time. The word abide is mentioned countless times in the bible...

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....... ;)

I wanted to wish all our family and friends a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving. It really is a time that we can reflect on all the blessings the Lord has given us this past year, to praise His goodness in our lives. I love reading the original Thanksgiving Proclamation given by George Washington. It really reminds us of the values that our country was founded on. I thought I'd share it here with you all. Have a blessed day and we love you!

General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America

A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

I just thought you all had to see the new Cowboy Up collection that showed up in the Scrap Girls Boutique this week! I'm just loving it! It's by a super talented artist, Angela Blanchard. I can't wait to get this downloaded and start playing! I have so many photos of ranch life that I can't wait to scrap! And check out that border collie! I think that's just for you mom!

No, I'm not a corporate CEO....or am I? I'm literally cleaning house. Dad, mom, vava, and grandma Vicky are on the plane as I write this and will be here tomorrow. So begins the mad dash to get the house presentable! As soon as I say ok girls.....lets get things cleaned up.....the mutiny begins! Kendra and Lena argue over who is going to clean what in their room....the twins promise they are going to clean but end up having a great play idea that just can't wait. I tell them I'm going to set the timer....."Nooooo Mom, we'll clean" Which if they did the whole timer thing wouldn't be a big deal! So they start making endless trips to the garbage can with a scrap of paper at a time, oh and of course their hungry or thirsty every five minutes......Meanwhile, am I getting that pile of dishes done or that sticky floor mopped, and we won't even talk about the shower! I think it's commical really! At least Steven isn't home to witness it all.....my dad calls him speed bump, now that's a whole other story. ;) And all you stay at home moms know exactly what that means, so don't pretend you don't! So I put on some music and know that it will all get done! Oops, here comes the trash parade again.......I better go get something done!