Amanda made me do it

Amanda has been at it again - making a TON of new templates. And since I live and die by them, this is good news for me. She just completed 3 more 2-pagers and needed a sample of one of them in use...perfect excuse for me to do some more scrapbooking. So when Ben walks by with his eyebrows raised and wondering why I'm "playing" again, I can explain to him that this is an important marketing function and I am working!

We didn't do a lot over Spring Break this year but we tried to do something fun and cheap every day. One day we went to Glen Rose, TX and met my cousins at Dinosaur Valley. We had such a great time and hiked as high as we could go. Wendy is my cousin's wife but they've been married forever. After we did the park thing, we went to my cousin's house in Stephenville. They have some property there and are renovating an old home. In the meantime they all FIVE live in a 400 square foot cabin. It's totally crazy but looks like so much fun. My cousin is an Aggie who hocks bull sperm, which just shows there's a job out there for everyone. I used Emily Farnworth's Zuzu's Petals and her Watercolor Alpha to create this layout.

Today I'm taking it easy. I should be cleaning the house...but I'll get to that eventually. We got 2 extra kids this morning because my friend is recovering from a medical thing and when I went to Target, I ended up bringing another child home - a girl that goes to school with Nolen who just loves my little girls...only I could leave with 2 kids and come back with 3. So now everyone is playing and we have built in babysitters for the day.

Retirement sale coming

Many items are already there but there's still more coming...so you might wait to shop until tomorrow.

We're preparing for a big shopping cart switch but no drop dead date on that yet. Enjoy the deals while you can because they won't last!

Rain, rain, DON'T go away!

Our weather has been crazy around here. Lots and lots of rain! I personally love the rain. I woke up to the sound of soft thunder this morning and I was immediately excited. It's like rain automatically gives you a license to sleep a little late, curl up on the couch and watch the tube...or if you're my kids, run up and down the sidewalk like wild banshees. The second they see the rain falling all three run outside and play in God's sprinkler. It's really an awesome thing. Such pure and simple pleasure. Nevermind a bathing suit. Fully clothed is much more fun. So tonight I scrapbooked their adventures. Nolen runs too fast for me to catch him on camera, so it became a Gracie and Ella page.



I used another one of Emily's Plug 'n Play templates, and Rikki's If it Bends it's Funny kit.

Summer Fun

The girls and I ran up to my local public pool and played in the splash area today. You just can't beat it - $1.50 and unlimited fun! I'm really trying to do something every day with the kids, even if it's a walk around the neighborhood. To heck with the dishes!

So...the Potato Bar is still going and here's what I did with $1.98 tonight! I used one of Amanda's Templates and Tamra Burwick's Paper Packs to create this page. These items are here just for the Potato Bar, so if you want them, better hurry:)



Gracie loved the pool today! I'm so glad I went. Now, off to make Rice Krispy treats with the Ella:)

Potato Bar Sneak Peek!

Just 24 hours until the Potato Bar opens! We'll have nearly 200 items at 99 cents each!!! And the free with purchase is incredible...but you'll have to come back on Tuesday to see it. Remember, the Potato Bar will only be open for 3 days, so you're going to have to hurry.

If you are not already on our email list, be sure to sign up. We'll be sending out a special gift to those who sign up between now and Thursday. And it's a great way to get special coupons and learn about sales, freebies, etc.

So...here are some of the items that will be just 99 cents from Tuesday - Thursday. There will be even more on Tuesday, so be sure to check back.

Habitat

Today was supposed to be an all-day sweat-fest...but the weather was not on our side. I'm part of a group at church called Disciples at Heart. It's a mentoring program that has given me the awesome opportunity to mentor a very cool high school girl named Laynie. As one of our all group get-togethers, we volunteered to help finish a Dallas Habitat for Humanity home. Unfortunately, it rained. We couldn't paint like we had planned so we just caulked and spackled and called it a day. Even though the day was cut short, we had a great time and it was definitely a team building exercise.

I wasn't really very familiar with Habitat - I knew of it - but not much more than that. I always thought the houses were built by volunteers and just given away. But in fact, the houses are sold (not for a profit) to the homeowner. AND the homeowner becomes a partner in the building project and invests 400 hours of their own time - with the help of family & friends. The homeowner to be, Camesha, was there the entire time, working right along side us. She was so excited and proud of her home. It was just so cool to be a small part of such a big thing for someone.

I came home and put the pictures from today in another one of Amanda Lee's Photo Stacker Templates - this one has 30 pictures on it! I just love them because they really tell the story. One of Summer's papers is used as the background - from the Tea Party for Two Paper Pack.

Tonight we have a babysitter for the kids. We're going to a good-bye diner for a friend of ours, Albin, who is moving to Atlanta. I hate goodbyes!

Paul Jagger Beach

In May, I became an aunt for the very first time! It was very exciting but scary because little Paul was born premature. He spent a couple of weeks in the NICU. I made this page for them to hang in their room using Amanda's Photo Stackers ~ Fill 'er Up! I told you I'm addicted to her templates! This collage really told the story of those first days. I've never seen my brother so happy. And I think the baby has the coolest name!

The girls finally met their cousin on Sunday. We left straight from church, picked up my mom, stopped by Sonic for corn dogs and limeades and drove to the Casa View area of Dallas where John and Autumn live. It was a beautiful day! John had Tejano music playing on the back porch while the girls played on their jungle gym and their dog pranced around with a log in his mouth. You know you're Texan when there's not an ounce of Mexican heritage in your family but you still listen to Tejano music! We stayed for a couple of hours, then went home and all took naps. I just scrapped the day. Emily Farnworth's stuff was perfect for the pages. I used her Plug n’ Play Templates-Collection 1. I really just love two-page spreads. And I used one of her My Three Son's kits - this one was Chip.

I'm Back!

Wow! It's been a crazy 6 month journey that has left me stronger, happier, more focused...better. And I'm finally ready to blog again! I officially lost my job January 1st and without an income to speak of, the ongoing expense of a 7,000 square foot space and an overall attitude of resentment...full of fear and anxiety...well...I just wasn't in a good place. But God is faithful! And when I gave up and truly let God step in and take over, amazing things happened. I feel healed. We have enough work to keep us busy and enough money to get by. But what's even more wonderful than meeting our financial needs is how we've grown as a family. For the first time in my life, I have my priorities right. And I feel it from my head to my toes. God first, family & others second, and everything else will fall into place.

I think there were several turning points during this time but one that really stands out is when this dear friend of mine (and she knows who she is) asked me if I could remember a time that I wasn't stressed out. Well, I was stumped. There have been times when maybe I wasn't as stressed out as other times...but completely not stressed? Probably not.

So I printed this scripture out and pasted it up on the fridge:

I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matt 6:25

The last part grabs me..."who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" And they didn't even have blood pressure monitors back then!

My friend who asked me about my stress history is the same person who really walked with me through this whole process...who prayed for me, and who really invested herself in my problems. She was an amazing example. And not only did she get me through it all but she showed me what I want to be for others. She was completely selfless, completely patient.

It's great to be on the other side of my journey but I don't want to forget where I've been. I don't want to slide back into the stressed out, workaholic life I was living. My work is important. I get great joy out of growing the business and completing projects. But I have to remember that my Gracie is only 21 months old once in her life. And one day Ella won't want me to play with her. And Nolen is at the precious, precious age - where we see a glimpse of the man he's going to be one day. We need to be here for him...listening to him, directing him and nurturing him. His wife will thank us later.

So, this blog is going to be a mix - mostly personal fun stuff with a little Polka Dot Potato sprinkled on top. And I'm going to try and blog through my personal scrapbook pages. As usual I'm behind and I'm hoping that will help me catch up.

I'm focusing on the little details of life and just enjoying every second of the summer. Last Thursday we had a great evening together as a family. Sonic was giving away FREE root beer floats from 8 pm to midnight. So we all walked up to Sonic together and enjoyed our ice cream. Afterward, we walked to Target and grabbed some groceries. There was no room for the toilet paper so the girls used it as a great big pillow. It's was a great night!

Here's a two page spread that I just finished about the evening. I used one of Amanda's awesome Photo Stacker templates. This one is from the 2pagers pack 1. I'm completely addicted to them. I used the Adorable Leonardo kit by Nandinha Menezes. I love the colors and there are so many papers and elements to choose from! She did a great job on this kit!