It just works out that way

I’m sure you’ve all had times in your life when you didn’t understand why things happen the way they do.  I haven’t been posting on here in a while and it is a lot due to life.  Things happen in our lives and the lives of our loved ones that we don’t understand but we deal with it.  A good way to deal with your emotions is to write it out.   Unfortunately the situation at hand is not one I should publically air.  I can write down my thoughts but posting them on a blog is probably not a good idea.  So bear with me and keep us all in your prayers as I avoid posting for a little while.  When all is said and done, I’ll be back.  Until then, I’ll keep my thoughts close to home. 

PS – I will however post some of my latest digi creations!

Up front

Just so you all know…I’ve been placing some of my digi-creations on here on the Digi Designs link on the right.   I may not always have time to post a blog entry but try to throw a pic of a design on there from time to time.  My sister and I enjoyed a brief visit yesterday afternoon and she didn’t realize I had added them so I thought maybe I should tell somebody.    She posted about our meeting on her blog (www.mamawslegacy.wordpress.com) and I laughed when I read it because she said what I was thinking about our visit.  It was really good to see her.  Am anxious for her to move here so we can spend some time together – not just to digi-scrap, although we’ll do lots of that, but just because I miss her.   It’s funny because she is, by far, the talented one and yet she likes my stuff.  I am always nervous for her to see my stuff because I so want to impress her.  Because she’s the best, I want her to like it!  Not to try to be the best but to impress the one who is.   

Anyway, am in Nashville in training today and thought I’d share before I jump in the shower and head to class.  Toodles!

Treading water…

Whew….I’m tired. Work is clicking along but we are still in the outage so the hours are still long. I just thought I’d let those who read this know that’s why I haven’t posted in a while. Between the hours at work and the chores at home – free time has been sparse. But I’ll be back soon – I promise!

First Attempt

Well, I tried it! And as expected, I am totally hooked. So what if my first try isn’t a masterpiece but it is a start. I had to get used to using my Paint Shop Pro program. I really haven’t played with it much since I got it but this is making me learn it. I needed to do that anyway. Anyway – back to the digi-scrap! I really had fun trying to pull it all together. I joined several digital scrapbooking sites including ScrapGirls and RAKscraps, (which is a little ironic because my daughter and I have been talking a lot lately about RAK – random acts of kindness and we have agreed to do at least one RAK per day). On RAKscraps, you register for free and each month they give away a huge free digi-scrap kit. This page was done with the kit for April. ScrapGirls does the same type thing….you join for free and their daily newsletter gives you free digi-scrap stuff! Woohoo! Both have stuff for sale too – in case you want/need more!

I just had so much fun doing this! I know I have lots of room for improvement but who cares. If it is something I really enjoy, gives me a few minutes (hours) of relaxation, and somewhat organizes and tells a story of my photos, how bad could it be?! Count me in!

Digital Scrapbooking

My sister has my attention. She is, by far, the most talented craft individual I know. She can do anything crafty. And I mean anything. She just has such a knack for it. She has this awesome blog site where she not only creates great things, but shares them with others. (http://mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/) She is really cool like that. We all have our Mamaw’s love for sharing. If we do something that we think others would enjoy, we share. Now when I say my sister is talented, I wish I could explain just how much that is meant. She has links to others on her site and when you look at their creations with her free files, if you’ve ever seen any of her work, you’d understand immediately. Other folks just don’t hold a candle to her. Her creativity surpasses any I’ve ever seen. And I’m not saying that because she’s my sister, but because she’s the best. She really is. But I think it’s because she loves it and just has the natural eye for it. If you ever see her work, you’ll know.

Her latest passion is digital scrapbooking. While she’s mentioned it to me before, just the term “scrapbooking” made me hesitant. Not because I don’t like that – I do – but because that word means “time” to me. Time I don’t have. I guess I should have listened to the emphasis on the word digital.  Anyway, she posted a recent blog entry that explains it a little more and included a link to a site to get started. I had a few minutes free so I went to the site after reading her post. This is definitely something I want to do!! And this sounds like something I’d love! I have TONS of pictures and want to get started right away. I think I would be good at this too! I had so many ideas pop through my head as I read her blog and visited the site she suggested. I also did a search on Google for other digital scrapbooking sites. There are tons! And tons with free stuff. I’m so excited to get started. I will have to converse with my sister of course on the how-to’s and what-not’s but this is going to be good! I can feel it!

Now to just get her to move here….

Moving and moving on

I guess we all have times in our lives when we move on.  This weekend was such a time for me.  My mom moved from Florence to Jasper.  While it isn’t that far away in reality, inside it feels like half the world away. 

My mom and I have always been close.  Even when we’ve lived in different towns, which has been most of my adult life, we’ve stayed close.  And I know we still will but for the last few years, we shared a town.  And it was great.  It was nice to have a place to pop into to say hi, take a bathroom break or pick out an accessory for an outfit.  She was there.  If I needed the kids picked up or carried something to school, mom was there.  When I needed advice on an outfit or idea, mom was there.  All these may seem trivial to you but it meant a lot to me.  It was just nice having her there.  Down the road, so to speak.  Just around the corner.  Close. 

But like I said, I guess there is a time in life when we move on.  Mom moved on.  The opportunity came for her to move to Jasper to be nearer to my brother.  So she did…much to the dismay of me and my sister.  Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy for her.  Just sad for me.  Where will I go when I need to just stop by somewhere to chat?  Where will I go when the kids are at the movies and I don’t want to drive all the way home?  Who will I call when I want to grab a bite to eat and don’t want to go alone? What will I do when I need something to pull an outfit together?  Where will I get the accessories when I have something special to dress up for?  Where will my daughter get the nice jewelry for the pageants?  Who will come sit with me at a ballgame to watch the kids from time to time? 

She’s only a phone call away but I miss her already.  I love you Mom.   

A little spring cleaning

At work we are deep into the outage now…and oh, so very weary.  These long days are tiresome to put it lightly.  I did take a day off yesterday; first time in 12 days.  It was sooooo needed.  And what a great day to take off!  Although it was a bit cool and windy, the sun was shining.   My kids were all in great moods and we had a good day.  The daughter and I started the morning by running to Chick-fil-A for breakfast!  We LOVE the chicken minis!  Those are tiny chicken nuggets inside a hot, honey-buttered roll.  YUM!  They come three or four to a pack and we always get two packs!  And then a large sweet tea to boot!  Breakfast of champions!  J  We devoured our breakfast, made a run to the bank, to the auto parts store for a new gas can, to the gas station for gas, and to McDonald’s for breakfast for the boys.  When we got home, the youngest son was up and already cleaning!  I couldn’t believe it.  I guess my gripe session the night before with them worked!  I dropped off breakfast and we ran to the dollar store for dog food because the dogs were ready to start eating the cat!  While there, I got tons of cleaning supplies.  I figured we’d get started on our spring cleaning!  When we got home, we got the oldest son up and started in.  The kids thought since the weather was so nice, it would be a good day to mow the yard.  For the next several hours, we worked on mowers.  We filled them with gas, changed the oil, and put on new spark plugs (after yet another trip to town).  The riding one still wouldn’t start but one of the push mowers would so the kids used it – much to my wonderment!  They mowed the entire front yard with it!  That’s a big feat for them because not only do they not like the push mower but our yard isn’t small.  I was so impressed and pleased.  I think the riding mower needs the carburetor cleaned but that’s a task for another day.  The oldest son worked inside the house and did SEVERAL loads of clothes and dishes.  He worked hard all day long.  All of them did.  No one griped or complained.  I was truly amazed.  We still didn’t really finish the house because we dragged out closets and such so we made more mess as we went and had to clean it up but we did make headway.  They promised they’d work through the week to keep it straightened.  We’re going to try to go back to a work schedule for them to do each day.  Even if it’s something simple every day, it will still be a big help in the grand scheme of things.  We are so busy and on the go that if we don’t try to tackle a little bit each day, we end up where we were this weekend – overwhelmed with filth! 

 

So now we have clean dishes to eat & drink out of, clean clothes to wear, dogs fed, and a nice yard too!  It turns out we got a little sunburned and maybe wind-chapped so now we have a little color on our faces.  But that’s ok.  We had fun.  I love days like that.  I love days with the kids when everyone pitches in and we laugh and enjoy the day.  We haven’t had that in a while because of our schedules.  We still have stuff to do mind you – clothes to put up, more closets to clean, garage to clean, get stuff ready for a yard sale, etc but all in time.  We can only take it one day at a time.   Thanks kids!