What a day!

Today, Luke, Monica and my boys came up for my Mother's Day. Nolan and I proceeded to make our Nobake cookies..He loves to help me stir everything up and Everett tossed in the stick of butter! They are growing like weeds and are just to darned cute!

Katie brought the Eli-boy over and spent some time herself before leaving for work..Then Alan came to pick him up. Annie is home for a very short period before heading back to OU..

I was told by three doctors that I would never have any children and just look at how God has blessed me!

I have spent the evening watching tutorials on my new Copic Markers..I swear that Youtube is a Godsend too! So many talented people out there willing to share their talents with all who are willing to watch. I am a hands on learner so watching them is like having them in my room teaching me..good stuff! Who knows I may be posting some pics of my new cards soon..:)

I'm still alive

And I hope you all haven't given up on me..Rough few months but I am excited because today I received my Copic Markers that I ordered using my Mother's Day money!! I am now the proud owner of 36 Copic Markers and I can't wait to start using them..Of course I am going to have to watch some tutorials so that I can learn the proper way.

My friend, Jindra unfortunately had a house fire several months ago and lost everything..and when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING! She is a Certified Copic Instructor and she lost ALL of her markers and she had just about all of them.. Living in another state we spend alot of our time on the phone and I have been trying to get her to spend some of that insurance money to replace her stock..lol

Now if you have never had a house fire and lost your worldly goods you really have no idea how replacing stuff messes with you..It's like...why replace it when the same thing could happen again..but I kept trying and then she would contend that because she is living with her daughter now that she has little room for her to be collecting "stuff" again. Being the optimist that I am I tried to convince her that a hope chest would not take up much room but she just let me talk.

Last Sunday she directed me to EllenHutson.com (if you like Copics and Nestabilities and such you need to visit there)..We went there by phone and computer (lol) to check it out and we found that the Copics were, I believe, 20 % off and then to top it off they were giving an additional 15 % for Mother's Day!!! Well, that lit a fire under her..lol She ordered a lot of 96 markers and saved over $200 on those alone!! After we hung up I was looking more intently to the site and discovered that the Nestabilities were on special too with the same additional 15 % so I called her back and by gum she was ON IT!!! She had found it too and she dropped another bundle and started her stash of them as well..I have never had so much fun helping someone spend their money!!! It truly gave me joy to hear the excitement in her voice and to hear some life come back into her. I am excited about going to her home for a weekend visit and spending time with her while learning the Copics, Nestabilities and my Cricut!!

Hopefully in the not to distant future I hope to post some cards that I have made using my new markers..So if you are still checking in on me please hang around so that I can share my new found hobby....:)

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thoughts

It has been since the 6th of November since I posted here and that was to do a journal with others on a group. I have since left that group and asked if I could still get the journal topics each day receiving no answer nor the topics.

I don't do tutorials or blog hop events and half the time don't even post so why keep the blog? It is fun to show off my gsons and my kids but visits to my blog are rare. Let's face it ..I'm not entertaining. I'm not creative, I don't have much time except to work and take care of home so scrapbooking is falling away as fast as friends are.

I guess I am my own worse enemy. I try to treat others well, put them first, help them out..but apparently I am falling short. I've made my share of mistakes, never claimed to be perfect. But you just can't make someone care..And I wouldn't want it that way.

Sometimes I wish that I believed in reincarnation because then I could at least have hope that the next life would be better or maybe the next time around it wouldn't matter so much.

No more first moves for me..If someone finds me valuable enough they will make the first move..I'm really tired of being friends on everyone else's timetable and conditions.

Esther's Journal Jar Day 6

What do you think brings good or bad luck?

I don't believe in luck.. Enough said.

Esther's Journal Jar Day 5

List one thing you'd like to accomplish in 2011, and then list 10 things you will need to do to accomplish it ( think small; make a phone call, look up a phone number or web site, anything like these to accomplish it, etc)

I would like to get my home in order and be able to enjoy it for a change. Thirty three years..it's time for a change.

1. Paint the family room, kitchen and laundry room..All one area.

2. Replace carpet in all rooms. Can't do that until I cave and have my dog put down due to her leaking..Right now I just use comforters and wash them regularly. It is to hard to think about. She is 16 but not in pain and still enjoys life. I have done that twice in the 40 years we have been married and it is so painful for me,but the day is coming I know.

3. Clean and organize the garages. Yes there are two of them!

4. Switch the bedrooms out to accommodate adult foster care

5. Clean and redecorate my screened in patio

6. Get my flower beds tilled up and planted

7. Finish painting the trim in my bedroom so it will be finished.

8. Get chain link fence installed to replace worn out fence.

9. Replace soffitt, trim and door on the detached garage.

10. Sit back and enjoy the outcome!!

Esther's Journal Jar Day 4

Topic:

Do you do anything to help the needy? and if so, explain some things you do

I not only help the "needy" but I help anyone I can who has a "need". I believe that I was put here to serve others and I spend much of my time doing that. One service I provide is to the people who stand with signs asking for money or those who appear to be homeless. God and I have an understanding that at any time someone approaches me or if I am on a ramp at a red light just off the highway and someone has a sign, that I will give them $5. It is not much but it could buy them a meal or put gas in their car. I get chastised for doing it because most people think the person will run to the nearest place to buy alcohol..(like every homeless person is a drunk!) Well God and I talked about that and it was determined that if they did they were the ones who would be held accountable for that, not me. I would have done my part and God would bless my giving..Somewhere down the line when I am in need He will put someone in my path to help me.

We have one gentleman in town who has been homeless for many years. Some say it is his choice and maybe it is but I have been known to head to Wendy's on the cold snowy days and get him a hot bowl of chili, sandwich, fries and a coffee and coke..I always ask him if he would like to have it and if he minds that I did it because I don't want to step on his pride.

I am known for finding items that people need like sofas, beds, desks, dishes, you name it..Robert and I have volunteered to work at the local Free Store and we get items to help others in bad weather or for the holidays.

Probably the biggest thing I have done is brought Julie into our home after she and her mom ran out of money. She has a sister who lives in Florida but if Julie would have moved there she would have lost so many benefits here. Julie has Downs Syndrome and is 50 years old and has worked at a place called TAC Industries for 29 years. This has allowed her much socialization, a small paycheck but opened doors to many programs that help with her medical and everyday living expenses. Now in all honesty we do get the Railroad Retirement that comes from her father's account but it all goes into meeting her needs. It takes alot of money to help Developmentally Disabled people. But while with me she has learned how to walk up and down stairs, walk across the grass with out the fear of falling. She now gets her hair combed daily and bathes more than twice a week (the assisted living center said they did not have time to do her hair before she left for work because of all the other residents needing help. Julie dressed herself and went to breakfast on her own with uncombed hair!) She has competed in Special Olympics Bowling, Track and Field and attends dances and movies, gets her nails done each week and various other activities, none of which she did before coming here. I am officially Julie's legal guardian. :)

As I read this it sounds to me like I am tooting my own horn and I am very uncomfortable with that. I do what I do because God expects it but also because I absolutely get more out of it than the people I help..It is such a blessing to see someone who has a need get it fulfilled because I was able to help. You asked for examples and here they are..