don't fall over in shock...

But Rob actually helped me painting tonight. I took a picture to prove it! We had so much fun laughing and talking. I hope we'll work again tomorrow night.

Don't be too shocked at the color, it's my formal dining room. I want to put up red drapes I think. It's a little more oarange than I had pictured, so hopefully it will darken with a second coat. But Rob loves it, says it's very modern.

That's all for tonight, I'm exhausted!

a picture and a story

We bought a living room set just like this 6 years ago. The whole set, $1710.93 worth of it. Rob and I picked it out when we were first married (before kids) and just loved it! Well, lo and behold we had Eli a year or more later and then we felt the need to return to school. So we sold it to a friend, a blessing to us - since we didn't have the room and needed the money and a blessing to her because she needed some furniture. At the time we were downsizing from a three bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment and space was at a premium. We gave up a lot to go to school, our car, a lot of our furniture, our house. Lot's of sacrifices, but we knew it was God's will for Rob to finish his degree.

That friend has had it for 3 1/2 years and is in a place where she's reconsidering her living room and has offered to sell it back to us. So how many years later, after all of bible college and sacrifice is done, we get to buy back our original furniture set. And God bless her, it's in as good of shape now as it was the day she took it home with her. I'm so excited. I LOVE this set, it's been long since discontinued - in fact I had to hunt really hard just to come up with a picture for you to peruse. I was searching because I want to paint my living room before we go to pick it up, so it will be happy in it's new home. :) I think I will go with a linen color, similar to the pictur here, and white trim, because it's me and I believe in white trim. Funny, I still have the picture I use to hang in the living room that coordinates with the couch. That will make decorating the living room a snap! Happy, happy day! Isn't God good?

(and don't you just love the chair???)

Lookie what I bought!!!

So this is my second Paris purchase. This one was pretty big, but my trip is getting close and I *really* needed luggage. I found this complete set of American Tourister luggage at Walmart today for $50, I kid you not. I wanted red, but it was a little fem for Rob and they were out anyway, so blue it is! So excited, never had luggage before! Plus, it has the swivel wheels, so it follows me where ever I go! Pretty cool, huh? Getting really revved for my trip!

So my son has scarlet fever.

No, he's not dying. Yes, it's contagious. Yes, he's getting better. But it's been a rough couple of days around here. We finally made it into the Dr late yesterday afternoon. Come to find out that Madison County has the worst malpractice ratio in the state and IL is one of the highest malpractice states in the country, it made finding a pediatrician extremely challenging. Yesterday was a stinky day. But a doctor co-pay and $8.78 later (for good old pink bubble gum amoxycillian) and he's well on the road to recovery, despite the nasty red rash covering his body and the white spots in his throat. I got a good butt-chewing for not peeking in his throat earlier, but he never once complained of a sore throat. Crazy, because scarlet fever is just Strep with a lacey rash all over. He said his head hurt, that was it. Even when the Dr pressed him to say his throat hurt, he never did. So I feel a little justified in turning down 'Bad Mother of the Year' award, despite this Dr's best efforts!

So, be praying. He was highly contagious. Sarah just got over her ear infection (the one we were in the ER for on Monday). She's acting awfully cranky tonight. I'm praying she doesn't wake up with strep too, it might be more than I can bear. Oh, and Rob and I really don't need it.

can I waste any more time on this thing?

I need to get off of the computer and accomplish something this morning! Dishes are piling. Actually, we are off to the dr's first thing. Eli's really sick, please be praying for him. Out of five days this week I've spent 3 of them at the dr/er and the other two hovering over Eli with his temp of 102+.

it's official.

We are internet geeks. As I type, my hubby and I are in the same room, on different computers, blogging and surfing and myspace-ing. We are addicted. We've both been in net-induced trance for the last 4 hours. Seriously, our sick kids hit the sack shortly after 6 and we've been surfing since.

I thought I was cool and sent in about ten pages to Creating Keepsakes. I'm starting to intensely pray about HOF since the deadline is drawing near. I know it's in God's hands. His will be done, right? I do feel a keen sense of relief that Elsie Flannigan isn't entering, that would have been one less spot available for sure.

I'm crazy too, just so you know. Rob talked me into a myspace account and I might be addicted. Because I really have room for another addicition in my life, right? But I really found an old buddy from high school - seriously haven't seen him in ten years. (ouch, did I just say that? MAN, I'm old!! when did that happen?)

Speaking of freaking old. My son. My baby. My first born. He turned five today. (double wince) I was holding his hand about a week ago and noticed that there was no squish to it anymore, it's all bony and little boy now, gone is my gushy toddler. I know he still has the cheeks, but don't be deceived, he's all five now. He had a rough day though, he's been running a real high temp for a couple days now. We'll be off to the doctor's in the am if he's not doing better. We didn't do much today, opened a couple presents and ordered Casey's pizza for supper. (mmmm... pizza) Other than that he spent the day on the couch, just like yesterday. And we watched Garfield as a family. Good times.

Well, since my fingers are about to submit to the carpal tunnel and fall off (silly girl, I know) I'll be on my way now. Rob and I are going to watch the Brothers Grimm. But in the meantime, here's my Myspace address, but be warned, if you click on it you may want one to yourself. Especially if you are thinking about getting reconnected with your old high school padres. (Lori!)

WifeORob

Saying Goodbye

These are pictures from our last shindig with the Cunninghams, miss them so much. Our kids just fit in with their kids. Enjoyed working with these super mellow colors for a change, all about the up and down title here, thought it was really ingenious. (listen to me stroke my ego, sorry) Had fun with my borrowed stamp from Lori too - across the top.

Ta Ta For Now!

My sister and brother use this phrase all the time and it just seemed appropriate for a really girly page! Had so much fun with this page. Used new HKS photo corners, giant florals and centers AND the long awaited journaling spots. Love em! Went a little overboard with my sewing machine, but I'm a lady of excess - everyone knows this! The ribbon is just a little bit from here and there, and HKS chipboard mixed with Basic Grey chipboard, painted green for your viewing pleasure!

I *heart* you.

A layout in honor of my little boy, who turns five tomorrow. (Actually, at 3:30 this morning - details, right?) He's been terribly sick all day, I'm praying he's better in time for his big day.

Simple layout, heavily inspired by some gallery piece, I think. Love the letter stickers, wrote in 'love' a gazillion times myself, because I'm retentive like that, but it's a great effect. Love the funky green ribbon too, leftover's from my Making Memories birthday card kit. Love the little boy the most!

Helga- my new wash maiden.

Funny, haven't had a lot of energy to get excited about the brand-pull-me-over-the-knee-spanking new washing machine in my basement, but when I went down to start the first load it literally took my breath away. I've never had a new washer, EVER in 9 years of household running. I've had some newer ones (like, not almond or mustard in color) but never something as stinking new as this. It came with little samples and stuff! It even smells new. I was thrilled to get that first load going, although I'll probably be un-thrilled by the end of the day, I think I have 9 loads to do after a week without. I'm just thankful we made it and no one is wearing stinky clothes!

I named her, a good strong german name. (I'm german, so I can do that!) I'm going to respect her and hope she lasts a good long time. I'm excited because she's got a whole lot more capacity than her predecessor - so less loads for me. Ooh, and the other crazy thing is she matches the dryer - it's crazy! I feel so grown up! :)

a quick re-cap

I didn't have the energy to post about my day last night. I spent four hours waiting in the ER to see a doctor for Sarah. She'd been burning up for 24 hours and absolutely lethargic, barely eating or drinking, no playing, no talking, just zombie girl. I wanted to bring her in to urgent care, but they insisted on the ER. It was crazy, since I had to bring Eli with, being youth night and everything. We left for Marysville at 1:30pm and truly got home at 8:30pm. Such a long day.

So, we go back to the dr's this afternoon to have her ears checked again - she has a massive ear infection, so much that she had to have two shots - one in each leg. I can tell she's feeling better because she's upstairs revolting her nap again! Lucky me.

Things to be thankful for today?

A new washer - coming this afternoon, thank you Jesus.
Pre-school - I am so tired and cranky this morning, so glad Eli gets to hang out with his friends.
No church tonight - we can veg as a family. It's a good thing.

Job Hunt

This page I whipped out quick this morning. I did the journaling a long time ago and have had this in my mind for a long time. Loving the Scrapworks paper and the fun stitching. Also used a HKS circle stamp and revived a circle punch.

"It's like I'm in heaven with Jesus already."

This is what my son said after I opened all his packages for him this afternoon. Isn't that adorable? I'm really excited to do a page with this picture with that title.

a new favorite website

All you scrapbookers out there have to check out. I just ordered late Friday night and I kid you not, my order was here 15 minutes ago! Plus the owner does all her own emailing and she's super sweet. Love this site, it may be my new 'home-store' since I haven't found anything particularily motivating close to home here. Plus, it's free (priority mail) shipping on any purchase over $15. I don't know about you, but it's a rare thing for me to walk into a scrapbook store and spend less then $15 anyway. So what are you waiting for, check it out at linnecards.com I promise you will thank me for it later. Either that or you'll point your finger and call me an enabler!!!

Highlights from the most amazing 5th birthday party of all time!

We are so blessed. I need to shut my mouth and never complain again. I cannot believe this church and their love for our family. They felt badly for Eli moving away from his friends so close to his birthday, so they threw this amazing party for him tonight after evening service. He had a blast. He probably got thirty gifts or more. And I'm not talking little gifts, no, instead things like Hot Wheels tractor trailers, a winter coat, jeans and shirts and track suits. It was so spectacular. When we were all done, after 30 minutes of present opening, he stood up and yelled "thank you everybody!". It was super cute. Plus, then he said "I am SO BLESSED!" It was super cute. Great day.

My original thought for the day.

Hang on with me for a minute, it's a good one. So, I was sitting in Sunday School this morning, listening to Berryl talking about the Bible and how we know it's true and how to safe guard yourself against false teaching. I was paying attention, to the extent of taking notes even. But sometimes I feel God stirring other thoughts in me during sermons and classes, so I write them down on the side. I'm not talking about distractions, like to-do lists and daydreams. Legitimate, God inspired ideas.

Today I started thinking about the Bible, and how christians regard it in this new millenium. Centuries ago it was considered the spoken Word of God, hidden and protected in a holy and sacred place. Now how many of us have multiple copies? (I think of my crazy bible-college husband who collects bibles like most people collect stamps or hotrods) Where do you keep your bible? Is it sacred to you? Do you prepare yourself before you open it?

That's not even my point, but it's a great lead in. I started to wonder - has the Bible lost it's potency because of tv/movies/radio and our society's tendency to overlook violence, truth and beauty? Is it less real to us because we' ve inundated ourselves with false realities, we are super-saturated to a point of indifference. Are we lukewarm christians because of our constant worldly exposure?

A hundred years ago a man with super-strength enough to demolish a building with a single push was an incredible story, but now we've heard a hundred like it. Likewise, the thought of Jesus bringing someone back from the dead was an amazing miracle, but now we see the impossible through the magic of tv and movies every day. Mary, birthing a child from an immaculate conception in a dirty stable filled with barn animals was such a humbling story, knowing our savior's mother endured such conditions because there was a mighty calling on her life. Fifty years ago that meant something, but now we see (and know) people who throw away their unborn children everyday, or carry them to term only to neglect or abuse them from then on.

What I mean is that maybe the Bible doesn't seem as fantastic and incredible because we constantly fill our minds with the fantastic and incredible, so much to the extreme that we are unmoved by it any longer. I think of all the superhero action movies, where it's common place to fly or have unnatural strength. I think of all the television shows that tout supernatural elements, the X-files and the Mediums. I think of all the immorality that is shoved down our throats every day and realize that the immorality written about in the Bible is pale in comparison. Has our lust for entertainment de-sensitized our appreciation of the written Word?

Gravely, I think the answer to this question is yes. I'm not prepared with an answer to this accusation. Merely a new awareness, a frustration at my inability to regain my innocence, so to speak. Not that it's a sin to watch tv or movies, just sad to think how that has impacted my relationship with the Lord. I am praying that He can restore a fresh appreciation in me for His Word.

I feel a stirring in me. A change coming. It's not about me. It's not about my comfort level or my little life. It's about what God wants to do with me, through me. I can't put it in to words, but something's starting.

why do I constantly give more than I have?

Do you know what I mean? I feel like I'm constantly giving away pieces of me that I don't have to spare. And what's worse, the list of people giving back anything of significance is smaller all the time. Some days I just feel really taken advantage of. Not even that, taking advantage implies that the user knows what they are doing, I don't think it's even that. I think people just think it's easier if I do it because I do it all the time and it's working so why fix it? Does that make sense?

Sometimes I just want to be selfish. I want to lock the door and say that's it, I'm all out and don't ask me again!! Or even better, I want to be pampered, to be waited on, to be thought of first, rather than last or not at all. I want someone to ask me how I feel about things, what I would like for dinner, if I would like some time to myself.

Wow. Really having a pity party tonight. Sorry folks. Show's over, go home.

December

The last page of my calendar. Whew! Have you noticed I did these in order? I even scrapped them in order, because I'm retentive like that. Love this simple, SIMPLE page. This picture is one of my all-time fave's of Sarah. Also used my new scallop edge for the Cutterpede and it sucks, don't buy it, I'd hate to see you waste your money like I did. I literally had to trim it with a pair of scissors when I was done. Love the HKS star sillhouettes. They are just too fun.

November

This might be my favorite page of this calender yet (besides maybe the title page). It's a happy page, gives you a good feeling when you look at it. Maybe it's just those steelfish stamps, but I love the bright fun of this page. Used my fun star stamp again, and some HKS goodies too.

October

This one's from Halloween, Sarah at my parents house. She makes the cutest duck. I wanted the title to be "From one Quack to another" but I didn't think it really made sense! Now that it's done I wish I did. Love the little birdie paper. Didn't think of this picture when I bought it, but it really works.

September

A random photo from last year. I realized after I glued it down that Rob had his eyes closed, but oh well. Had fun with my sanding block here.

Cover Page

I swear all I have worked on the past two weeks has been this calendar, but it turned out awesome, so that's ok. Thanks for the challenge, Lori. Hope you've been enjoying thirteen pages of inspiration!

Love this cover, had thought about doing it for the last page, but Lori pointed out that it would never be seen. I figured, being a cover, I will save it for years to come because of all the pictures (and hours of work!). Plus I'm just a pack rat like that, haven't had the heart to dispose of 2005 day planner yet either.

On the cover, used a great picture of me and rob from Colorado. It's a couple years old, but we look the same. Also used a Basic Grey arrow, covered in MOD (love that line) and a photo corner punched from Mod. And my fun HKS stamps from Lori.

Merry Xmas 2005

Hope you enjoy my total lift here. Saw this on Ali's blog a month ago or so and it was just too cool to ignore. I never know what to do with my old christmas cards, at least this way I will look at them again!

the next generation.

(trying to be cool like me!) Ha, ha. This is Sarah, wearing my headband. She thought sh was so special, running around with my headband on her head. Very cute! Gotta love her!

She's in a rare mood this morning. It's wonderful because she's been such a stink lately.

August

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures. It was taken the day Sarah was born, Eli was meeting her for the first time. I will never forget how wonderful I felt that day, that God would finally give us our baby girl.

I have to openly admit that this is a blatant lift of an elsie page, but it just worked and I love the results.

July

This is Eli, showing off again, doing that famous Thoreson one-eye-closed-more-than-the-other picture smile. (Rob does it all the time!)

June

Just a super-fun photo of me and my girls. It was taken last May, the day before my birthday! Love these gals. Lots of ribbon surrounding the photo, but it's fun. Also my new HKS giant photo corners and a tiny star stamp I found at Archiver's. Kim didn't think the star stamp was that cute, but I drew in the white stars after I stamped it and I love that effect. More color experimentation.

May

This is a picture from our wedding picture. (so long ago!) I just look at it and think how young we look! And happy.
Loving this paper, it's Scrapworks. Plus I added the big flowers with the rhinestone centers. Not the greatest photo, but you get the picture.

Random happy pictures from the day.

Rob took the photo of me, trying to capture my pretty new headband thingy, but it didn't really work. He said this picture looked 'too eager', but all the rest were truly terrible. I need to start wearing make-up every day, let's face it, I'm not 25 anymore!!

Rob also talked me into scrapping rather than painting today. He said I needed some 'me' time and that I've worked too hard all week. I think he just didn't want to get roped into helping, but whatever. It's fine though, I got a bunch of calendar pages done and I can't wait to put these jabronies to bed so I can get back to work! I walked away from a page today to answer the phone and came back only to see how cute my ribbon looked, all half-hazardly strewn. It's so me, uncontainable! I love having my own space to work, it's incredible. I'm in the middle of a page right now and it's just sitting there, waiting for me to come back to it, undisturbed!

I'm bad. I pre-ordered three sets of Making Memories foam stamps today. I just couldn't help myself. The fonts are amazing, and I really get my money's worth from foam stamp sets! I'm so excited for these to come in, they should ship end of January. Happy mail days ahead for me! Here's the link. Making Memories foam stamps. Aren't they sweet? So excited. Now if I could just get my hands on the last of the HKS products that aren't out yet, the journaling spots and the fuzzy rub-ons. Then I'd be a happy scrapper/camper.

Off to post pages. Hope you have half the fun looking at them as I did making them! Really hit my groove today.

I feel the need to clarify.

I tried to post yesterday afternoon, and it acted like it lost it. I even checked my blog again before I posted last night and it wasn't there. But after I wrote my lengthy post at 10:30 and published it, the previous post magically appeared. So I'm just leaving it there, you can enjoy two renditions of the same day, deal with it!

Trying to decide between scrapbooking the weekend away and painting the dining room. We have a pot luck on Sunday afternoon and I'm just not sure I want to work that hard. We'll see what Rob thinks, but I'm leaning towards scrapping!

{I love us}

Have I mentioned lately that I love my life? These are outtakes from an amazing day. We started out early, with the kids going to bed so awesomely last night. Sarah is feeling a lot better. Eli headed off to school and I got to work cleaning house, after we all had a breakfast of hot cinnamon rolls together first. I worked on the house and email, etc while Rob played with Sarah and fussed in the basement. After Eli came home we had lunch and headed to the Alton mall to buy Eli's birthday presents (it's just a week away). I had called ahead and had things held at the counter so he wouldn't see what I was buying.

I think I forgot to mention that the ladies of the church are having a surprise birthday party for Eli on Sunday night. He's going to be ecstatic! He's been begging me for a party ever since Sarah's first, back in August. And it's hard, because we don't know anyone here yet. So the ladies felt bad for him and are organizing a real bash, he's going to love it! Anyhoo, because of that Rob and I are off the hook for the party planning. We bought him Super Smash Brothers for the game cube, Crash 2 for the PS2 and the book "It's Hard to Be Five" by Jaime Lee Curtis. It's so him right now, moody and frustrated, big highs and big lows. I know he will love the book, right now it's all about being five. I think we will take him to the Science Center or the Magic House that afternoon as a family. So nice to have all those great choices right here close to home.

When we were done picking up Eli's gifts I found a calendar clearanced for $4 for Rob, it has all the orignal art from Star Wars, it's huge and he loves it, so we got it for his office. I also ran into Claire's Boutique, a place I haven't shopped at since high school, for a new hair band and found a great headband looking thing too. It's very Elsie and I've recieved a lot of slack from Lori, but I'm spending a week in Paris with no blow dryer, a girl's got to look good! It's green and blue, colors I'm way into right now. Very cute. It's fun to be young again!

On the way home we stopped at Schnuck's, my favorite grocery store here. It's so big and expensive and snobby, I love it. I know what that says about me, but I still can't stand the ShopNSpend. Besides, even Eli loves 'schnuck-ing' with me. I had a couple last minute things to grab for tonight's supper. We had new friends (Rob and Amy and their 3 kids) over and it was a blast. They stayed pretty late for a school night, but we just kept talking and laughing. I feel like we really connected. I can just feel God plugging us in here, blessing us in every aspect. It's like I can almost hear him whispering "rest, child" after a long, long battle. Rob and I are remembering who we were, unencumbered by all the burdens we carried for so long, we almost need to learn how to walk upright again, missing that baggage. Still amazes me how He changed our life virtually overnight. We held up our end of the bargain and as soon as Rob took that last test, God took over and hasn't let go since. I hope He never does!

I made an amazing dinner tonight. I know that sounds pretentious, but everyone told me so, so I have to believe it. We enjoyed fettucini alfredo - from scratch, thank you Tricia! And this amazing bread I've found at Schnuck's, they call it mini-loaves and I'm addicted. Just plain white bread, but it's so good, I can just eat it in chunks! I also tried a new amazing recipe for salad, had strawberries and toasted almonds, spinach leaves and various baby lettuce with a poppyseed dressing. I toasted the almonds myself! Rob was so impressed! We enjoyed strawberry cake and ice cream for dessert, in honor of Amy's birthday.

But to top the day off, if that wasn't enough, I learned some happy news tonight. We've been planning on going to this youth pastor's conference in Rockford in February but we thought we would have to take the kids. Rob's mom called tonight and she wants to stay with the kids, which means four, four, FOUR days and nights alone with my husband, doing something we love to do! Plus our hotel, registration, gas, and food expenditures are all covered! It's going to be fantastic! No kids! What will I do with myself! Eating all my meals while they are still warm?? Going to bed when I feel like it? Heck, going to the bathroom without an entourage? I'm giddy with glee. So excited to have this super-special time with Rob before I leave for Paris. We literally haven't been away together since our fifth anniversary, and we are coming up on 8 here in May. Such a delight, I can't wait! We may even squeeze in a visit to IKEA, since we will be one hour away from it. I am so blessed.

all on a January day

The weather in Southern IL continues to amaze me. I expected it to be a lot cooler here than southern MO, but not so far. We've had some cool spells (like the day we moved in) but it always bounces back to the fifties. Today it was seriously 60 degrees, we had to take advantage of it and spend ten minutes in the park. The kids loved it. Sarah probably doesn't remember much about parks from last year, she was super excited from the moment we took her out of the car! So hyper that she's rebelling her nap now, I can hear her screaming and yelling upstairs, trying to keep herself awake. Heaven forbid she might fall asleep and miss something!

We have had a great day so far. Got up early, the kids seem to be feeling a little bit better. Got Eli off to school and started cleaning up the house. After we picked up Eli from school and had lunch, we ran to the mall to pick up Eli's birthday gifts, I called ahead so they would be at the counter so he wouldn't know what was going on. We are getting him two video games and a book. The book is It's Hard To Be Five by Jaime Lee Curtis. So him right now. And the games are Super Smash Brothers and Crash Bandicoot 2. Did I forget to mention that the ladies of the church are throwing him a surprise birthday party on Sunday night after service? He is going to be so excited, I am thrilled for him because he's been begging me for a party for month's right now, but I don't know who to invite. Anyhoo, it will be awesome because they will totally bless him and he'll feel loved. Good stuff. And, I'm off the hook for the party of 2006, by next year we'll know people and it will be easy. At the mall I saw an awesome skirt and sweater that I would love to get (when it goes on sale) at New York & Co. I'm in dire need of church clothes, so I really think I'll go back when it's less pricey. I can't pay full price, I just can't! Besides, today we were doing Eli's stuff, and those three things were almost $60. Anyone who says kids are cheap is crazy!

So then we stopped at Schnuck's (my favorite grocery store here, I love to go Schnuck-ing and so does Eli) to pick up some last minute groceries for tonight and stopped at the park on the way home. Great day. Just glad to be alive today, I guess. Glad to have a family I love more than anything, even when they are crabbing out over their naps! :)

We have dinner guests tonight, another family from our church. I am making a stellar dinner for them, my near famous (and totally borrowed from Tricia) fettucini alfredo, (I'm drooling just thinking about it) and fresh bread from Schnucks (this fabulous mini loaf we are addicted to!), with a fresh strawberry and almond salad. And birthday cake and ice cream for dessert, because the mom's birthday is Sunday but I know how it is being a mom and no one caring about your birthday! :)

The only bummer about today is that my washing machine broke. I mean really broke. With flair. In a fashion only Anna-worthy. I went down to check on it, cause I could hear it from the second floor of the house. It's always been noisy, but this was excessive. I walked in the laundry room (Rob was already there) and had to yell over the ruckus to Rob, which he still couldn't hear me because it was that stinking loud. I opened the lid to check on it and sure enough it had filled but never started turning. Sounded like a semi crashing in my basement. We are guessing - with our years of experience with used appliances - that it's the transmission. Rob couldn't even get the basin to turn. The positive news is that it's an ancient machine and it's the church's and they will probably buy us a new shiney one and that's never a bad thing. Unfortunately I have a load of sopping wet freezing cold darks I have to deal with. details.

Redeeming Love

Just finished an amazing book by Francine Rivers, called Redeeming Love. Seriously, this book is maybe 500 pages and I picked it up about four days ago and finished it tonight. It's the re-telling of the story of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible. Not for the faint of heart, I warn you. I was so impressed by so many things in the book, but especially the power of the marriage bed and our society's eagerness to abandon it. I also have spent quite a bit of time thinking about the way I judge people, just by my actions and attitudes. This is a very powerful book and I highly recommend it. The story line follows a young girl sold into prostitution at age eight and her life there after, until a godly man seeks her out and rescues her from the brothels. She is so scared by the life he offers her, she returns to the bordello because it is the only way she knows, yet he loves her enough to rescue her again. Powerful story, I'll be turning it over in my mind for days to come.

Reading the postlude - turns out Francine Rivers used to write romance novels and then had a conversion experience and now writes christian fiction. I'm going to have to see what else she's written (post-conversion, I do not open my mind to non-christian romance novels, I am blessed in my marriage bed and would never do anything to steal from that sacredness). I can't help but feel badly for Francine, having written smut before, now converted, but her smut still circulates, there's nothing she can do about it. I'm sure that's a cross she bears daily. Makes me want to pray for her for peace.

I love to read, always have, but it's hard to find time with two pre-schoolers still at home. I have been forcing myself to take it easy this week, only because this house renovation was taking it out of me and I feel my sinus infection sneaking back in. It's nice to be lazy and curl up with a great book once in a while.

a small bomb just went off in my world.

My kids were diagnosed with asthma. Not quite officially, they want Eli to see a specialist and Brea is too young still, but they are pretty certain that's the case. Why didn't I see that coming? They both have always struggled with respitory things, since birth, but for some reason I thought they would outgrow it. Instead they are being labeled with chronic coughs and Eli was prescribed an inhaler - that's going to be fun to get him to take! Sarah also has an ear infection, which explains her unbelievable crankiness the past week or so.

I know that it's not the end of the world or anything, I'm just sad because I hoped our health problems had ended when we moved away from the creeping crud in the woods. Apparently not. Hopefully they'll at least be better here. I'm also sad because they are likely to always struggle with being sickly. Thankfully this diagnosis is coming JUST after we got our approval for our new insurance, if it had been any sooner they would have been slammed with a 'pre-existing condition' disclaimer and we would have been plum out of luck. I hate dealing with insurance and doctors and pharmacies. ergh.

9 years ago today.

Changed my life forever. Seriously, nine years ago to the hour I met a guy named Rob Thoreson. Little did I know we would get married and make babies and sign up for a lifetime of ministry together. It's so amazing to me how I fell so head over heels for him, so fast. 3 weeks after we met I told him I loved him. He told me (on our honeymoon) that he knew on our first date! I still remember the butterflies that filled my stomach when I thought about him, the skip my heart would take when the phone would ring, hoping it might be him, the hours and hours and hours of soul-stimulating conversation we shared. I remember the mystery of the unknown, learning each new bit of information about him and savoring it until I'd memorized every detail. I remember the way he looked, the way he smelled, the casual way he'd interact with me. I remember his intensity when we grew closer, his laugh at my jokes and my all time favorite Rob line (even now after nine years) - we'd known each other about a month and mid-conversation he suddenly said "That's it. I'm all out of material. I've got nothing else funny to tell you." I busted up laughing! We still laugh about that conversation. Years later, we still laugh every day, at each other, with each other. I cannot believe that I truly love him infinitely more today than I did back then, just starting out. I am such a blessed woman.

insanity runs in the family

This morning's page. Very random. Used a HKS mask in a different way, rubbed on some scrapworks flowers first and then added primas and rhinestones. These picture crack me up because we all took turns wearing the same silly balloon hat, everyone but Rob that is, he's far too serious for such nonsense.

christmas 2005

Last page of the day. Not the greatest pictures, but can't pass up a major holiday. It's unlike me! Loving the non-trad colors here. And the cut up KI Memories transparency for a title. The star is the best though, KI does it again, I'm in awe!

royalty

I love the freedom I get from being an obsessive scrapbooker. I have always been a random scrapper, doing whatever pages I feel like doing next, going with my flow and not being boxed in by a timeline. You will never hear me say "I'm so behind" or "I have boxes of pictures waiting to be scrapped". I'm all about the art of it, moving with the creative energy within you, rather than trying to shove that energy into a neat and quiet box.

I say all that to explain this page. When I scrap it's about whatever I want to express, no rules and no agendas. This page is so random, so fun and so just whatever. My kids were making priceless expressions, one Family Fun afternoon in St. Louis and I snapped their pictures. Looking at them makes me realize how they are really royalty in our house, and wouldn't it be fun if they had a chocolate cow? They both love chocolate milk and were drinking it when we took these pictures.

Love this paper from Wild Asparagus, a new purchase from Saturday at the Alton store. Really just used on piece here, ripped it and flipped it and glued it back down. Also found a tiny marigold ink pad at Archiver's and Kim's new HKS circle stamp. (she was sweet to let me use it first) I think I need it now. :) Shocking, I'm sure. The letter stickers shadows are really old flea market stickers I removed and outlined after stamping.

Oh, and this is a lift from an Ali page a few months back, but I love my take on it. So did Kim!

youth group initiation

Just wanted to document our warm welcome into our new church. Rob loved this page. The pictures are great. I love the cardstock strips at the top, a little new purchase from Scenic Route paper co. There is actually only one strip in the package, but I cut up the excess packaging and sanded it so it worked for a second strip. Using the new create-your-own rub-on transfers from EK Success too. They are such a bargain at $1.99 a sheet, I bought 5 colors now, I think. Made my stars on this page (which is a new trend for me) and the box around initiation. Still in love with Steelfish, just for the record.

April

Still working on my calendar. This features a picture that my friend Becky took of Sarah last fall. So precious. As you can see, I'm having a lot of fun with color lately. Cut up tiny bits of Chatterbox paper here. Finally used my mixed color rub-ons from Making Memories that I just had to have six months ago. (slacker!) Also, thought I was cool altering a cardstock border sticker from Scrapworks. Note the ribboned prima too, love ribbon on primas, not sure what that's about!

another new *used* car

This page just cracks me up. We went through 4 used cars in 2005. It was terrible at the time, but now we just laugh about it and are in awe that God brought us through. Love the random turquise paper on this page, especially the floral relief piece, it's a card I cut in half and used. Finally broke out my icee ghost letters and the red random rub-ons. Loving it.

Scrapping the night away.

Here's me and Gibbler hanging in my studio last night. We were some crazy chicks, got the kids to bed at 8:30 or so and played from about 9pm on. It was great. I kid you not, I started and finished 4 pages!! I'll be posting them here for your viewing pleasure. Definitely hit a stride I haven't found in a long time, not since Illinois for sure. It's funny, because normally I would attribute my intense scrapping to new stuff, but I really didn't use much 'new' other than a bit of paper. We called it quits at midnight, hard to do, but I knew my kids would be up bright and early. Guess what? I was right.

Kim and me.

Blessed to have a friend like her. Blessed to have lots of friends really, just none super close by. But I know that will all change soon, I just need to be patient and nice and friendly. In six months I'll be beating them off with a stick. right?

On a total aside, speaking of 'beating off with a stick' I totally got hit on today. Not really, but a young guy looked at me with approval. Rob said it was because I was wearing my hot go-go boots (I think he likes to say 'go-go') but whatever. It's still nice for someone to notice that I try, right? And I have to say I'm not too shabby for two kids. Feel like I'm finally hitting my groove, it's only taken 26+ years, but whatever!

such a great day!

Having so much fun with the nearly famous Kim. We spent ten hours out messing around today. Started at the Alton store with 20% off our purchase (so fun!). I mostly found ribbon and paper - shocking, I'm sure. Then we were off to Red Lead. Oh my stinking fun!!! Love that store. Seriously, sensory overload. So dramatic and intense and crazy and beautiful and more than a little intimidating. Can't wait to go back. It was kind of like Moulin Rouge in a paper arts store, if that puts words into it at all. I had to laugh too, because I looked so stinking preppy today, stuck out like a sore thumb, but hey, it's me. Kim took this crazy picture of me, which I love! (except the manican is more stacked than me, but that's the story of my life!) Lots of exclamation points today, it was just that kind of day.

So after our fix at Red Lead we found another (terrible) scrapbook store down on Manchester, I seriously bought one piece of paper for my Paris trip - this crazy baggage claim paper with a giant arrow on it, couldn't resist - and 4 ribbon photo corners, a grand total of $1.61 or something similar. Kim didn't buy anything. We left that store (?) and decided it was time for an Archiver's fix, so we headed over to Chesterfield mall and met the rest of the fam for Chick-fil-A too. Then off to the Galleria. So fun. Finally got to check out Urban Outfitters and Anthropology, two of HKS's favorite stores. UO was very trendy, lots of inappropriate reading material in there, but some very funky artwork that I found inspiring. Loved, loved LOVED Anthropology. Couldn't afford a pair of shoelaces in that place, but what an amazing place to suck up the vibes and pump them onto a scrapbook page! I could have wandered around that store for hours, just enjoying the whole experience, but two kids and a husband didn't quite 'get' it. Very vintage chic flea market but new. An experience, to say the least. We also checked out a jewelry store and Crate&Barrel, which I loved and can't wait to go back. At the very least I feel like we grasped a lot of what St. Louis had to offer this afternoon and I feel blessed to live here. We are thinking about doing the botanical gardens before Kim leaves because admission is free during the month of January and that's a picture op I can't really pass up.

I love how Kim is so good with my kids. We didn't spend a lot of time with them today (such a nice day off!) but when she's been with them she's always so patient and loving and kind, where I want to stuff them in a closet and find some chocolate, not always, but definitely sometimes. Eli woke her up at 7am - which is so sad because this is single Kim's weekend, not used to little sleep-rumpled children climbing into bed with her at the break of dawn. And she was so sweet about it. I'm so blessed to have her here, as I ignore her to blog. I just wanted to get this all down before I forget it. What an amazing day!

so happy to have Kim here!

I guess I hadn't realized yet how much I missed my friends. I've been in this fog of moving and home repair and now that she's here, WOW it's good to laugh and be silly. Again, I realize how I need to carve out time to do this more with my kids too. I really struggle with being TOO task oriented. Someday my kids will say "Well, Mom didn't play with us much, but she sure did get a lot done around here!" (ack!)

Today is my day off. Just thought you should know. I am so excited. I haven't had a day to myself since we moved almost a month ago. And before that I can't even remember when I took off all by my lonesome for any real length of time.

We are heading to Alton first, for a storewide 20% off sale. So excited to stock up on things like glue and cardstock (dork, I know). Then it's Red Lead ahoy. It's some paper arts store in St. Louis, I've been dying to find it for about 6 months now. We are going to find Archiver's at some point today too. So excited!!!

We watched the Constant Gardener last night. Powerful movie. God has really been speaking to me about Africa lately. It makes me wonder what He's going to do with it. I want to go on a missions trip, but it seems so futile. What can one person do against an epidemic? Even more than that, it seems the very basis of life in Africa is off-kilter. I think it would be very world-view rocking. I see information, bits and pieces about Africa and it slowly erodes my hope in the world. I want to help and yet I have no idea where to start. Anyway, watch the movie. It was very thought provoking. A beautiful love story intermingled with loss and frustration at a broken system. There is also a lot allegations made about drug companies, the big pharmacueticals, which I struggle with anyway. I think it's terribly wrong for companies to advertise prescription-only drugs on tv. My thoughts on drug companies don't stop there, but that's another long post for another day. I'm not going to ruin my happy scrap day talking about bad business practice that I can't change.

After pictures.

Here they are. I'm just loving this room. There are a lot of little details that I love, like the linen tab-topped curtains on the white wooden rod. Rob put up the tv arm this morning so the tv swings so you can see it from anywhere in the room. Love the IKEA shelf, my dear hubby also put that together. Yet to be done, the headboard needs to be stripped, painted and distressed in white and also that little cabinet beneath the tv. All the kids videos are stored in that cabinet. Love the storage in the closet. It's just a very functional room. And I know, the orangy/green chair has to go. Once we get new living room furniture my glider will go up there.

Anyhoo, if you read this, please weigh in and let me know what you think. This is my first room in this house and any additional encouragement would be great. And if you think it sucks, keep it to yourself cause this is a week of my life here!

So here are the much awaited playroom pictures, these are the icky before pictures. So much potential here though.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LORI!!!

(bet you didn't see that coming, huh?)

Just wanted to wish my crazy best friend an awesome birthday. So sorry I couldn't be there for the big TWO-EIGHT with ya. Glad you're going first, paving the way for all us youngsters. :) Seriously, hope you have an amazing day, that your kids take naps and forget how to scream and you find your scrapping groove first thing and your husband says only good and lovely things to you. All the wonderful things that every stay-at-home scrapper, I mean MOM dreams of. I sent you a card (this one in fact) but it may not reach you on your actual day and this way you know I care. This is, without a doubt, the coolest card I have ever made. If you ever throw it away I may have to hunt you down and rub your face in glitter or something equally cruel. You know I'll be calling you, so brace yourself! Love ya!

Yesterday's page.

I seriously feel a glitter phase moving in from the west. Loving it! Found a bottle for 84 cents at Walmart - couldn't resist. I am officially in love with my Steelfish stamps. I have to pace myself so I don't use them on every single page I make and look like a total dork. Maybe I need to buy another font to spread myself out a bit. hmmm. tempting.

This is a picture of my mom and dad with me and my kids. Not the greatest picture in the world, but definitely album worthy. We make an annual trip to the apple orchard with mom (five years now) and almost didn't make it this past year. So glad we did. The journaling just talks about how it's always hard to go but I'm always glad we do.

Featuring some super-sweet KI and Scrapworks paper. I love both these companies and I love using their paper in un-orthodox ways. Karen, you always call me the fearless scrapper and it has only empowered me! Thanks for that.

I need to do a page about how I'm willing to try anything once (on paper) and how it's ironic how I never try anything new in real life. Drives my hubby nuts! For instance, he's been dying to try Jack in the Box, a restuaraunt chain they have here but not in IA or southern MO. I hate to try new things and really pitched a fit about it, but (like usual) he won and I went. I loved it. Absolutely embarressing. I've been craving their deep-fried (1000 calorie) two tacos for 99 cents ever since. Such a dork am I. But it's kind of in that love-able kid sister kind of way, right? Maybe not.

As for my to-do list. Conquered. The playroom/guestroom is officially painted and 80% of the furniture is back in place. I need to put together my cool IKEA cube system (tomorrow am) and return to Lowe's to pick up the curtains the checker neglected to put in my bag, hang the rod and curtains, vacuum and find homes again for all the misc. toys and art supplies. Totally do-able. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a job well done. I will take pictures in the morning after I've pulled it all back together and post them along with my before pictures. Lucky you, you'll get to just scroll down and magically the room will come together, rather than enduring the week of work and blisters like me. Isn't technology amazing?