What lies behind us
and
what lies before us
are
tiny matters compared
to
what lies within us.
Emerson
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
A Surprising life...
Being born again of the Spirit is an unmistakeable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, as surprising as God Himself. We do not know where it begins, it is hidden away in the depths of our personal life. Being born again from above is a perennial, perpetual and eternal beginning; a freshness all the time in thinking and in talking and in living, the continual surprise of the life of God.
From My Utmost for His highest by Oswald Chambers
God is constantly surprising me as I express, invest and pour out my love to Him.
From My Utmost for His highest by Oswald Chambers
God is constantly surprising me as I express, invest and pour out my love to Him.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
More Mini Scrapbooks!
Well happy Sunday to you! We didn't get the ice they were promising....YAY! Sometimes I just love when those forecasters are wrong. Wouldn't you love to make a living off being correct as infrequently as they are?
As promised, here is a sampling of the way too cute mini chipboard scrapbook albums I have been working on. And by working I mean playing :)
As promised, here is a sampling of the way too cute mini chipboard scrapbook albums I have been working on. And by working I mean playing :)
Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself!
And super fast. What a great baby shower gift! All the new mommy has to do is pick her favorite photos and put them in with some special words and memories on the tags or journal spaces. Lots of pockets and ribbons and one of a kind beading. love it!
And....just because I can't resist, here is a shot of me and my little Boo.
Have a day full of love.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
New creations to make us smile
So, I have a new love.
Oh, wait...he's my baby love but not my new love. But doesn't that photo make you smile?! He is a 2012 creation, just not mine :)
Here are a few samples of my new "love to create". And they make me smile. Hope they make you smile as well. They are chipboard mini albums. I started with some of the free chipboard that comes as backing to some of the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers and also the white backboards that many DSP packs have. Cut them to size, used some of the sets of paper and die cut stickers off of SU's clearance rack and added my own special touches and voila!
Glitter paper, embossed cardstock, cute tags and pockets for journaling and lots of space to include your pix! Fun and easy- and a beautiful way to show off your favorite photos!
Later I'll show you some baby mini albums I made. Too cute!
And if you want to check out the latest on Stampin' Up's clearance rack or their new spring mini catalog
just click the link below!
Friday, January 4, 2013
A step in the right direction
Well here I go moving forward already in 2013. Today I took a medical-surgical certification exam and .....PASSED! Yes! Sweet success!
What does that mean? I am now a board certified RN with a med/surg specialty. It means a small raise and it's nationally recognized by ANCC. But one of the best things it means to me is that I can still study, learn and pass a really difficult exam! No, my brain is not yet dead. Hurray!
One more step in the right direction. One more reason to be grateful!
Thank you, Lord for creating me with a determined spirit, a desire to grow, a willingness to change and the ability to focus. Now keep my heart kind, compassionate and caring and my hands competent, creative and capable.
What does that mean? I am now a board certified RN with a med/surg specialty. It means a small raise and it's nationally recognized by ANCC. But one of the best things it means to me is that I can still study, learn and pass a really difficult exam! No, my brain is not yet dead. Hurray!
One more step in the right direction. One more reason to be grateful!
Thank you, Lord for creating me with a determined spirit, a desire to grow, a willingness to change and the ability to focus. Now keep my heart kind, compassionate and caring and my hands competent, creative and capable.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Focus!
Tis the new year. Resolutions? Hmmmm. Focus.
On the positive. On what is true and lovely and pure and kind. On the beauty and hope in life. On what there is to gain by new beginnings.
Have you seen the commercial that talks about gaining in the new year instead of losing? I love that commercial. It shows people at the beginning of the commercial talking about their weight and losing weight seems to be the focus. Then they switch to people responding to what they want to gain in the new year.
On the positive. On what is true and lovely and pure and kind. On the beauty and hope in life. On what there is to gain by new beginnings.
Have you seen the commercial that talks about gaining in the new year instead of losing? I love that commercial. It shows people at the beginning of the commercial talking about their weight and losing weight seems to be the focus. Then they switch to people responding to what they want to gain in the new year.
For me? Hope, Joy, Love, Creativity, Perspective. and Focus.
What do you hope to gain in the new year?
And here is that painting I promised. My extremely talented daughter in law, Brooke, painted this from the photo I shared in an earlier blog post. This brought tears the second I saw it. For many reasons, but I think mainly because I had mentioned that this was one of my favorite photos with my grandson and Brooke heard me and put time and effort into creating this for me. And it is so GOOD!
Thank you, Brookie!
And thank you little baby for bringing sweet joy to my life.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
horrible bad awful day
So....I survived one of the most horrible bad awful days I've ever had. Thank you LeeAllie.
Sometimes the things we know are best for the people we love hurt us really deeply. That happened to me, ummmm, again. Another of my children moved out of state. A good thing. but painful beyond what I can describe.
It was a horrible bad awful day. The crying was soul wrenching. gut tearing. stopping and starting again. thought I was done. triggers set me off again. so so alone now.
How is it that even knowing it is such a blessing for my son and his wife, knowing each of my kids that I love beyond understanding are where they not only should be but in a great situation with the loves of their lives, how is this separation so painful that I want to.... well I'll not even go there.
The thing is I survived. Like running that extra mile or two. Like staying at work when you feel you can't. Like getting up in the middle of the night when you are beyond exhausted. But not quite like any of that. More like vomiting and dry heaves and fever and laying on the cold tile floor praying the sickness will pass.
And now. Survival isn't enough is it. Survival isn't enough. Moving forward. Pastor Ron talked about it today. 2013. Moving forward to a better tomorrow. Praying for wisdom to know the direction to a better tomorrow.
Sometimes the things we know are best for the people we love hurt us really deeply. That happened to me, ummmm, again. Another of my children moved out of state. A good thing. but painful beyond what I can describe.
It was a horrible bad awful day. The crying was soul wrenching. gut tearing. stopping and starting again. thought I was done. triggers set me off again. so so alone now.
How is it that even knowing it is such a blessing for my son and his wife, knowing each of my kids that I love beyond understanding are where they not only should be but in a great situation with the loves of their lives, how is this separation so painful that I want to.... well I'll not even go there.
The thing is I survived. Like running that extra mile or two. Like staying at work when you feel you can't. Like getting up in the middle of the night when you are beyond exhausted. But not quite like any of that. More like vomiting and dry heaves and fever and laying on the cold tile floor praying the sickness will pass.
And now. Survival isn't enough is it. Survival isn't enough. Moving forward. Pastor Ron talked about it today. 2013. Moving forward to a better tomorrow. Praying for wisdom to know the direction to a better tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
My sweet superbaby grandson.
Just wait until you see the painting my talented daughter in law Brooke did of this superbaby photo. It is amazing!! Soon as I get back home to download a photo of it I shall share. In the mean time...
take a look at that gorgeous smile! My grandson is one juicy sweet peach!
trying trying trying not to be down today.
Well, it is Christmas day and I was so optimistic that my out look two days ago would hold. So hopeful that the great days I had on the 14th and 15th would overshadow the emptiness of today. Guess not.
Ran my 5 miles in wind chill temps of 10 to 15 degrees. Ouch. Oh my lungs. But I persevered. My coping mechanism at its best. baked some Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. comfort food. napped. before noon. not looking good at that point for positivity.
Spending the night tonight at my son's empty apartment. Grateful not to have to deal with the weather. This is weird.
I feel determination building.
Moving toward a better tomorrow. More love. More authenticity. 2013.
Ran my 5 miles in wind chill temps of 10 to 15 degrees. Ouch. Oh my lungs. But I persevered. My coping mechanism at its best. baked some Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. comfort food. napped. before noon. not looking good at that point for positivity.
Spending the night tonight at my son's empty apartment. Grateful not to have to deal with the weather. This is weird.
I feel determination building.
Moving toward a better tomorrow. More love. More authenticity. 2013.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
It's the most wonderful time of the year?
Well, that's what they say. The most wonderful time of the year. I'm pretty sure we Americans have been buying into and promoting the unachievable hype for the last hundred years or so.
Why are we dreaming of a white Christmas, for instance? Not because that's how Jesus started out.
Why do we insist on spending too much money on too many gifts our families don't need? Not because of our faith or religious beliefs.
Why do we get depressed when the holidays are all over and our bloated expectations are deflated while our bloated bellies are not? Not because we look forward to disappointment.
This year our family came together to celebrate my son's graduation and Christmas on the 14th and 15th rather than the 25th. Because of this earlier date all my last minute shopping was eliminated. Ran out of time. Overspending on presents far decreased but more planning went into the gifts. And the stress and panic of getting Christmas day "perfect" was not there, just because we held it on a different day, an earlier day and I looked at things a little differently. This year my focus was on having my little family together (including new grandson!). I can't remember enjoying a brunch with my immediate family, the chaos of 17 people for Christmas dinner or after dinner games and visiting more than I did this year.
And today, 2 days before so many will be celebrating their Christmas I am relaxing, grateful there is no stressful holiday approaching and I'm dreaming of a way to make my future Christmases more about love and kindness and less about what the retailers, movies and hallmark cards have imposed on our Christmas season.
Why are we dreaming of a white Christmas, for instance? Not because that's how Jesus started out.
Why do we insist on spending too much money on too many gifts our families don't need? Not because of our faith or religious beliefs.
Why do we get depressed when the holidays are all over and our bloated expectations are deflated while our bloated bellies are not? Not because we look forward to disappointment.
This year our family came together to celebrate my son's graduation and Christmas on the 14th and 15th rather than the 25th. Because of this earlier date all my last minute shopping was eliminated. Ran out of time. Overspending on presents far decreased but more planning went into the gifts. And the stress and panic of getting Christmas day "perfect" was not there, just because we held it on a different day, an earlier day and I looked at things a little differently. This year my focus was on having my little family together (including new grandson!). I can't remember enjoying a brunch with my immediate family, the chaos of 17 people for Christmas dinner or after dinner games and visiting more than I did this year.
And today, 2 days before so many will be celebrating their Christmas I am relaxing, grateful there is no stressful holiday approaching and I'm dreaming of a way to make my future Christmases more about love and kindness and less about what the retailers, movies and hallmark cards have imposed on our Christmas season.
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