I found this over at Scrapin life & just had to join in. I'm all also about Random Acts of Kindness & Paying it Forward !! So, this is how it goes... The first 3 people to comment on this post & agree to Pay it Forward to 3 people on their blog will within the next 365 days ~ receive a gift of love from me in the mail ! That's all you have to do... just leave a comment & then post about it on your blog, then the 1st 3 people to leave you a comment & agree to pay it forward to 3 more people on their blog ~ you send them a gift ! This is such a GREAT idea. You never know when you'll get a "surprise" gift from a blogging buddy ! SO... Who's first ??

Snow pics

I have tried for weeks to get a pic like this of my Eli-boy and his PawPaw! Eli LOVES this snow and he begs to go out in it everyday but it has been soooo cold.. PawPaw drove the bad roads to get to him just to take him out to play in it. Everytime he would get the second part of the snow man on top of the first ball, Eli would rush in and knock it down! LOL!! Is this picture not precious? Eli is one lucky little boy to have a Paw Paw who loves him so much!

While this looks like Eli has fallen and is getting assistance in getting up he is really protesting going inside! He just wants to stay out there so much and play. A wise Paw Paw knows when it is time to go inside. The little guys face was so red. There will be other days.

A boy and his dog! Little Man was his name when I rescued him from an abusive home but he has become Weenie at my daughters home. There is a show, Oswald I think, where an Octopus has a dachshund named Weenie. Eli loves that show and hence Little Man was renamed. I am so smitten by my grandsons. I just wish Nolan was closer so I could get more pics of him!

Snow days!

Well we have been snowed in or "iced" in for several days now. It's starting to get tense in here. Nerves are getting thin. I have never seen Annie so ready to go back to school!

Poor Jim has taken his snow blower to our driveway so many times and then on to my parents to do theirs.. He is such a hard worker.

We got about 3 inches of ice underneath all of that snow and were put on a Level 2 emergency meaning no one should be on the road unless it is absolutely necessary. Living where I am, I am faced with open fields that drift to the max..You couldn't even see my road until this afternoon when they finally decided to start plowing. School is on a two hour delay already for tomorrow. I don't know what Annie will do if she can't get out of here.

As for me..I was able to sort and organize 20 drawers of scrapbooking stuff. Everything is in it's category and I was amazed at what I didn't remember I had. I even stayed up until 4 AM this morning to clean my bedroom closest! I took a 30 gal trash bag of clothes out to the living room to head to Goodwill, I managed to get a 30 gal trash bag of trash to the road and I have several packages that are going to be going out for some nice RAKs. It feels good to have all of that done but tomorrow is another day and it's back to work I'm sure....

Organization

Two years ago the end of February, I was all set to turn my small bedroom into a craft room for scrapping. I had the plans in my head and had talked to DH about installing counter top and peg board so I could hang my stuff and see it more easily and consequently use more of it. What is it they say about best laid plans????

It was at that time that Grace and Julie ran out of money at the assisted living center they were living in and they had to move... Gracie, 89 had dementia and Alzheimer's so I placed her in a very nice facility that could give her the care that I couldn't..Then the Ju-Ju, 46 came to live with us. Guess where she ended up? Yep..in my "dream" scraproom!!!

I guess I should explain that Grace and Julie are mom and sister to my best friend all through school. Twelve years! She ended up moving to Florida in 2001 and I began taking care of those two along with the assisted living center for 6 years. Julie is Down's and goes to work each day at a special place that does jobs for the government and local businesses. She has been in that system for 40 + years and to her sister's knowledge there wasn't anything like what she has here, in Florida.

Three short months after moving Gracie passed away and it would have just been to hard on Julie to try to move to Florida and start a new life especially since Debbie is a nurse and works very long hours.

Well to get where I was going with all of this...I took my Christmas tree down today...YES, I said today!! lol..just to busy! I had to pack my stash into three seven drawer storage units. They are the typical ones you see at Ikea I guess...and my bedroom is full of stuff. I had taken the drawers out to my garage last summer to get them out of my living room but after I took the tree down ..They came back!! I hate that I don't have a room for my stuff. I would really love to be organized but I guess Julie takes precedence over my hobby... Maybe one day I will have that dream room but today I will just keep running out to the living room in search of that perfect embellishment, chipboard, ink, stamp,..you name it. At least it is not in the garage and the winter weather any longer..

My treat for the day!

I was reading my emails this morning and I had one from Kimba that just put the biggest smile on my face!! You see I have been wrestling with my blog for sometime now trying to pretty it up a little and have not been very successful. If you read my Header it says something about me being a middle aged woman trying to keep up with today's technology and I have to tell you I suck at it pretty bad!

I have asked my girls who each have a Facebook and MySpace to help me but they insist that they are not familiar with the blog so I was left to deal with it myself. SO...last night I sat at this computer and figured out how to get a free background for Valentine's Day and then Annie did stop in to help me figure out how to get my play list on it. Love that Toby Keith!!! You should see my wallpaper for my computer!!! He is a hottie!

Anyway, let me get back on track here...lol... So I'm thinking I have my blog looking kinda cute even tho there aren't that many people looking at it, but it made me feel good just the same. And then I get my email this morning and there is one from Kimba with the subject..LOVE, LOVE, LOVE..your blog!! What a validation for me!! I just have no confidence in myself and wasn't sure if I had done well and there she was giving me accolades saying my blog ROCKS!! So thanks again Kimba!! It just made my day..

Deposit sent!

It is fast approaching the time to head to Gatlinburg for the 4Th annual scrapbooking retreat!! This started obviously four years ago when Jessica and I got our heads together to plan a retreat for our Yahoo group..The_Scrapbooking_Nook. There were three from Alabama, three from North Carolina and three from Ohio. I can't even begin to share how great it was to meet these ladies that I had been talking to, swapping with and just becoming like family to! We all hugged and laughed and scrapped over a three night weekend and friendships were set!

Unlike most retreats where everything is planned out for you and vendors are there, this retreat was just like a vacation where we all did what we wanted to. We brought so much stuff it was unreal, everyone was sharing everything they had, each of us brought small gifts for the others, and there was even a table of stuff that we each brought hoping someone else would snatch it up so we wouldn't have to take it back home..

The time went to fast, much to our dismay.. and we found ourselves on our way home anticipating the next March so we could do it again!! I don't think we ever actually stayed in a cabin in Gatlinburg..lol...mostly in Pigeon Forge or Sevierville. Each year has brought new people and change has kept some of the original from coming back but every year I am refreshed for having spent this time with ladies who have so much in common with me.

We each fix one meal for everyone and that helps keep costs down and then one night we go to TGIFridays for supper and Doris usually picks whose birthday it is going to be for us to celebrate so we can make fools of ourselves in front of the entire restaurant!!! The first year we picked Jessica and our waiter really poured it on flirting with her. He had her stand up on the chair and hold balloons while we all sang Happy Birthday to her!! Of course it wasn't even her birthday but hey we had fun!!!

Then we take an afternoon field trip to The Scrapbook Superstore and oh you talk about "eye candy"!! Next to it is a store that is just their clearance merchandise!!! We have sooo much fun.

The first year, Katie and Kandi were both expecting babies. Each of them had had problems conceiving so it was a celebration of sorts. The next year they brought the boys with them. Caleb is only a month younger than Eli. Amy had gotten pregnant and surprised us with her son as well. Amazingly we got alot of scrapping done for having three babies there but it was as if each of them belonged to all of us. Pat's DIL Jamie came the second year and held all of those boys and shortly there after we found out that she was expecting too!

Last year, both boys and Jillian were brought to the retreat again , Helen and her DIL Tammy came from Colorado but little Doris couldn't make it.. So we took a picture of her and set it in the middle of the table and talked to her as if she were there! LOL!!

Now this year, Jamie is not able to come and the boys are old enough to stay home with dad and we are heading out babyless for the first time since they were born! We have new people coming..Cyndi is bringing her daughter Heather and Jessica is bringing her friend Kandy..

It excites me for them because I don't think they really have a clue as to how much fun they are going to have in this relaxed atmosphere of ladies who have come to really care for one another and who share so much of themselves. We are getting the cabin we got last year and I am so excited! It is just perfect..Plenty big, very reasonable and just perfect for scrapping in.

I am so blessed that DH works side jobs finishing concrete so that I can have the money to go. I rent a vehicle to carry our stuff and I get to go with my girls...Katie and Annie. It just means so much to me to be able to go on a trip with them and have fun.

I have to confess that I don't get a lot of scrapping done because I am so busy chatting but this year I plan to change that..I am going to make up a bunch of page kits to match my pictures and I intend to do alot.

I guess the reason for this post was brought about because I sent the deposit off for the cabin and now I know for sure it is a go! I wish you all could go with us.....

Kreativ Blogger Award

Well, it seems I have been the recipient of the Kreativ Blogger award from my friend Esther @ http://estherscreativedesigns.blogspot.com/. Thank you Esther! Not sure how great my blog is since I am trying to be faithful with it now and have had some life issues interrupt my scrap blogging but I thank you just the same..

I understand that I am to post 7 things that I really like;

1) I like beautiful sunsets

2) I love puppy breath

3) The smell of baby lotion on a newly bathed child

4) Beef Tips and Noodles, mashed potatoes and green beans!

5) Doing layouts of my grandsons

6) My internet friends....so special!

7) I love retreat in Gatlinburg every March where we can all get together and scrap!!!

NOW FOR 7 blogs or links that I love.

1) http://lifestylesofascrapper.blogspot.com/

2) http://kimbaskreations.blogspot.com/

3) http://countrylifeinthebigcity.blogspot.com/

4) http://paperandstring.blogspot.com/

5) http://spearsgang.blogspot.com/

6) http://cinemasaturdaycreativechallenge.blogspot.com/

7) http://countrylifeinthebigcity.blogspot.com/

Congratulations, I hope you enjoy your award and now you can pass the happiness on to 7 bloggers you know!!

Eli's first real snow to play in...

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my kids and my grandsons??? We had our first big snowfall of the season this past week and it was really Eli's first snow that he could actually go out and play in. While Christmas shopping, Kate and I came upon a snowsuit at one of the major department stores that was on sale so I bought it..Really didn't think Eli would use it much because we just haven't gotten that much snow in past years. Well, it came in handy..Kate bundled him up and out he went. I sent Jim and Annie over to play with him, so I could get some great pics to scrap and while we did get some great photos, Jim shoveled their driveway instead, so no pics of him and Eli....Geez! Men!

Well, as you can see..Eli and Aunt Annie had a great time. Is this not a great picture????

All good things must come to an end tho...time to come in and get warmed up, only Eli wasn't in full agreement with that! Bless his heart..he was having so much fun. Look at his little cheeks....

Unfortunately the next day the temp was sub zero and he couldn't go out at all. But it is supposed to warm up the next few days and there will still be plenty of snow left and out he will go again!

Time off!

Well, I went to my family physician today and she is keeping me off of work until Friday...I still have a nasty bump on my head and my lower back is painful but I am doing fine.. Thanks to all who ushered up a prayer for me..God listened...

I stopped at Crafts 2000 on the way home to use up my gift card from Christmas and get some tape runners in case I got snowed in. I lucked into some Basic Grey papers for 33 cents each. Four different patterned papers in the Pheobe line.. Japanese Tea Garden, Angel Island, The Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge Park. I also got three PP in the Blush line..Admire, Charmed and Be Mine. All very lovely papers.

You know, I am not a name dropper and I couldn't tell you who made what on my layouts but I can recognize Basic Grey papers and Bazzil cardstock...They are just really good quality. I may kit these up for retreat in March.

Stupid is as Stupid does!! Forrest was right!

Last night I was excited because I had used color kits to complete 2 -two page layouts and a single one. I was eager to take the pic and upload it so I went into the kitchen because of better lighting. I laid the layout on my counter and got a chair to stand on..done it a hundred times before!! Well, I have a tiled floor on top of concrete. I assume you know where I am going with this tale....

Yep, that chair kicked out from under me while I was trying to take a pic of the layout and down I went..all 240 pounds hitting hard concrete! My head snapped forward after I busted it on the knob of the kitchen sink cabinet with yellow and white lights going off..no birds, no stars... and I immediately had a lump the size of a soft ball. No exaggeration here kids. I could cup my hand over it and it filled my palm! My camera flew about 15 feet behind me and how it kept from breaking is beyond me.

I was in a group chat and apparently I came back and typed what I had done and then came back to type it not realizing that I had already done it. I put an ice bag on my head and stayed up for another hour and half waiting to see if I would get nauseous or blurry eyes but I didn't so I went to bed with ice on my head. I woke up so sore I could hardly move, got Julie ready for work and on the bus, and Annie off to school. Then Jim and I headed out to the hospital because I was feeling so much pressure and the fact that I am on Plavix and full aspirin concerned me there might be a bleed. Sure enough the CTscan showed something suspicious, could have been just calcium but they don't have neurosurgeons at our hospital so off I went to Dayton to Miami Valley by squad! Drama queen that I am.... Where was my camera???

Well, they did their own scans of my head, neck and my full spine because I have injured my lower back and tailbone as well. Fortunately they did not see the same thing, so no bleed, PTL! But I have spent this entire day in hospitals. Annie didn't mind sitting with me tho..We just kept eyeing the male nurses and resident physicians!! I have to tell you..made me kinda wish I was about 25 years younger!! Great eye candy!! Again..where was my camera???

So while I was laying there DH asks...why didn't you just lay the thing on the floor and take a picture that way....Hmmmm..THAT thought never crossed my mind but I guarantee you it will next time!! So I am home...sore as a boil and not sure how long it is going to take to heal. It is a good thing my partials were not in my mouth because I thought for sure I broke my fang teeth so I am sure the partials would have been history. Well, learn from my mistakes, kiddos!!
Forrest was right.."Stupid is as stupid does!"

Color kit result!

I received a fall layout from Tammey as well and this is not going to make sense because my first post is now actually my second post. Maybe some day I will figure it out. So having said that, I was glad when I got my November color kit because I am also in a color challenge on another group and the color is Orange so I think this one qualifies. This of course is Nolan at the pumpkin patch in 2007 and if you look in the lower corner of the right page you will once again see one of Esther's Peek-a-boos!. So far I have done 7 two page and 2 single layouts!!

I'm still not feeling up to snuff but I had to get out of that bed and get moving. I thanked the Lord that I am pretty healthy because I don't know how I could live bedridden....

Anyway, I have finished another layout. I think this has me at 11 layouts for 11 days. I'll have to double check but I think that is right. I am in a color swap in a group with some pretty lovely ladies who are very talented. This layout came from Tammey and all I had to do was put the pics on and I added that little snow medallion.

The thing is these are pictures that may never have gotten scrapped. They are older and they are of a couple of residents that I worked with in an assisted living center. I have so many wonderful pics of so many incredible residents and now I have officially started that album thanks to Tammey and her creative genius!

Journaling reads: Two residents from The Inn at Fox Run returned to their childhood by playing in the snow and building a snow man. My Annie and Kim LeVan, activity director, assisted them in this playtime. Madeline Dilworth and Helen Schutte had a wonderful day!!

I feel Yucky!

Last night I was queasy all night..tossed and turned..didn't want to barf but probably should have just to get to feeling better. I went to my client's this morning to take him to the Special Olympics bowling only to find out they cancelled it due to weather. So I came home to lay down. We got a lot of freezing rain last night and are supposed to get 4-6 inches of snow today. We'll see..It always seems to hit just north of us.

Anyone else suffer from lack of sunshine? I really need to see the sun!!

What next?

Well I just received a call from my doctor.....It seems I am falling apart and the diabetes is starting to gain momentum. Why can't I lose weight...well I guess the question should be ..why don't I try to lose weight? It's not like I didn't know that it would come to this. I am only 56 years old and now on top of it she is talking like I might have some blood condition that is causing the iron to be to high in my liver. Now she wants me to go get an ultra sound and see a blood specialist! On top of that I have protein showing in my kidneys..Not good!

If I would just lose the weight I could increase my lung capacity, and get off of all these crazy meds I am on. Why is it so hard for me to say no to sweets and carbs when I know that they are slowly killing me? I have my kids and my grandsons to look forward to, I thought for years but if I keep going this route it won't happen.

You know..my world is full of cyber friends..I love everyone of them, but there is not one person here in Springfield who would be considered a friend. Why is that? I'm the same here as I am online.. I just wish I had someone to be here to stand beside me and encourage me and help me through this.

Cincinnati Reds

My latest layout..Cincinnati Reds...This is actually Nolan's second game but since I have not been blessed with the photos from the first one, I decided to go ahead and do these. What prompted the layout is the very cute title with the tear bears, made by my friend Esther. She is the tear bear queen! I have a small stack of different bears that she has made that I have either bought, received in a swap or was gifted and I decided it was time to start getting them on a layout. You can see many of Esther's creations at http://estherscreativedesigns.blogspot.com/ She is listing them almost daily on her blog and the neat thing is you can pick your color bear down to the eye color. I will be posting more soon as I complete my other layouts.

I am trying really hard to stay with this blog. It is something new for me. I finally figured out how to add the blogs that I follow! LOL..Eventually I would like to add a slide show and get some music on here as well as get some fancy background and heading...but it will come.

I am in a group where the monthly color challenge is ORANGE and I have already completed 2 double layouts but I found a lot of Halloween pics spanning several years for Annie and my grandsons that I am going to go ahead and get finished to add to the challenge.

So I am off to match up papers and get the kits together so all I have to do is sit down and get busy...

Happy New Year!!

I don't usually make resolutions because they are so difficult to keep. I do want to make a few this year tho. I want to try my best to keep up with this blog and make it something fun to read and visit. I want to scrap more. I don't want to break any records but I would like to do more than I have been able to. I would like to get my house cleaned up and make it a home to be proud of. I want to get myself regular to church and to pay my tithe. I think those should keep me busy, don't you?

I actually got three layouts completed today. A two page with Nolan and I making cookies. That was fun. I also did a single layout of my trip to Troy, Oh to see Sarah Palin during that mess of a presidential race. It was very exciting for me. Tracy Lawrence was the surprize celebrity guest. Annie took a friend and Katie and Eli hooked up with us there. Very memorable!