on the docket today...
more painting. I got a first coat up and half the trimming done yesterday. It is so serene and beautiful. I'm tempted to go sleep up there when it's done. :) I'd like to finish the trim today and a second coat, so I can do the woodwork tomorrow and slam the room back together before Kim comes in tomorrow night. It's such a retreat - which is funny because soon it will be full of toys again!
a trip to Lowe's. It's what I live for lately. I've been there three times in the past week. I need a few more roller replacements for the tiny furniture/trimwork rollers, which I love!!! I also have to measure the window upstairs for the new roman shade I am planning on putting in, need to buy that today too. And a light switch plate for that room.
a play date with the kids? It's seriously supposed to be in the sixties this afternoon. I'm hoping to take my jabronies to the park with Rob, work off some energy and get some pictures. I realize I've hardly taken any pictures lately, it's terrible. I've just been consumed by this house, and I don't see that changing any time soon. EXCEPT, I am taking the weekend off completely, to play with Kim. I can't wait!
I need to page plan. Started a little bit, looking at my new pictures. I can tell I'm out of practice, they all seem blurry to me. Maybe it's my camera. Not sure, but wasn't thrilled. Anyhoo, I want to be set up for success with scrapping this weekend. Shouldn't be hard, I have all kinds of ideas bouncing around in my head. (shocking, I know)
I also need to go Schnuck-ing at some point. I have to pick up a few things for the weekend, vital things like dr. Pepper and snackage for scrapping. We are going to scrap and shop the weekend away. I'm most excited to go to this funky paper arts store called Red Lead in St. Louis. Plus the store up in Alton is doing 20% off all day tomorrrow, which means Kim and I will hit it first!
I played a little last night, did a fun page. I will post a picture later, when I'm not in my pj's and bathrobe. I like to take pictures on the porch because the light is more forgiving and I don't need to make my neighbors wonder any more than they already do!
Just a couple random thoughts before I run up to paint - since Sarah's settling down.
* I love the light in this house. So many windows, natural light abounds. I feel the freedom to really make it what I want, because light is not an issue. I'm just a happier person with sunlight streaming into every room!
* My studio makes me so happy. I know I've said this before, but I just walk in there and it makes me smile. I love that it's my space, I haven't had my own space in four years! I love that I can arrange things any which way I want and Rob just thinks it's cool.
* I love that I can call my family and friends whenever the mood strikes. I feel so connected.
* I love being my own home decorater. It is so great to make this place ours, despite all the work. It's a great feeling, putting your fingerprint on a place. I want to live here forever. (whoa, I said it!)
Jan 12, 2006
Jan 11, 2006
From Ali's Blog - because I can...
Four jobs you have had in your life:
Jeweler's Apprentice : By far the coolest experience I've ever had. Surreal. Glamorous in unexpected ways, hard work, such a growth experience.
Waitress : Not sure why I'm including this, but I was terrible and it was funny. I spilled more pitchers of water in people's laps! Now, when people spill on me I just smile and try to tip them well because I know how much it sucks to be a waitress.
Jewelry Store Floor Manager : Rob makes me include the "floor" part so you know I wasn't really in charge, just 6 shifts a week. A fun job, but I don't miss drooling over jewelry I can't afford. I'd rather be a jeweler honestly, then working in a crappy mall store.
Stay-at-home Mom : Kind of obvious, but because I've been doing it five years I feel the need to include it. Today's been a particular tough day on the job, but I'm pulling through.
Four movies you would watch over and over:
Steel Magnolias
Napolean Dynamite
Fried Green Tomatoes
The Family Man
Four places you have lived:
Evanston, IL while my mom was in seminary.
Springfield, MO while my hubby was in Bible College.
Correctionville, IA - and no, there isn't a prison there. They screwed up when they mapped out the highway system and the place they happened to fix it resulted in a big jog in the road, thus the name ''Correct"tionville. Good story though, huh?
Ozark, MO. Wow, did I just admit that? Most humbling place on my list. Learned a lot. Made some great friends.
Four TV shows you love to watch:
ER.
Desperate Housewives. ( I know, I'm going to hell just for watching it, but it's soooo funny and I change the channel anytime anyone heads for the bedroom. Plus, there's just something about being a SAHM that is truly desperate. I can relate!)
Seinfield. (what? It's off the air???)
Law & Order SVU.
Four places you have been on vacation:
Breckenridge, CO
Disneyworld
St. Louis
Washington DC
(soon I can put Paris on that list!)
Four of my favorite foods:
Casey's Pizza
Cheddar's Spinach Dip
Home-made popcorn - popped on the stove w/ real butter
Black Forest Gummy Worms
Four places I would rather be right now:
An expensive resort spa, getting a facial and manicure - simultaneously!
Hanging out with my pal Lori for her big birthday.
Shopping at my favorite scrapbook store.
In this house, only completely painted according to my specifications. Maybe with a butler and a maid. (as long as we are dreaming)
And uh, Lori, TAG YOUR IT. Your turn to post something on that link you to refer to as a blog. Cut and paste this bad boy into a post and let's see your answers!
Four jobs you have had in your life:
Jeweler's Apprentice : By far the coolest experience I've ever had. Surreal. Glamorous in unexpected ways, hard work, such a growth experience.
Waitress : Not sure why I'm including this, but I was terrible and it was funny. I spilled more pitchers of water in people's laps! Now, when people spill on me I just smile and try to tip them well because I know how much it sucks to be a waitress.
Jewelry Store Floor Manager : Rob makes me include the "floor" part so you know I wasn't really in charge, just 6 shifts a week. A fun job, but I don't miss drooling over jewelry I can't afford. I'd rather be a jeweler honestly, then working in a crappy mall store.
Stay-at-home Mom : Kind of obvious, but because I've been doing it five years I feel the need to include it. Today's been a particular tough day on the job, but I'm pulling through.
Four movies you would watch over and over:
Steel Magnolias
Napolean Dynamite
Fried Green Tomatoes
The Family Man
Four places you have lived:
Evanston, IL while my mom was in seminary.
Springfield, MO while my hubby was in Bible College.
Correctionville, IA - and no, there isn't a prison there. They screwed up when they mapped out the highway system and the place they happened to fix it resulted in a big jog in the road, thus the name ''Correct"tionville. Good story though, huh?
Ozark, MO. Wow, did I just admit that? Most humbling place on my list. Learned a lot. Made some great friends.
Four TV shows you love to watch:
ER.
Desperate Housewives. ( I know, I'm going to hell just for watching it, but it's soooo funny and I change the channel anytime anyone heads for the bedroom. Plus, there's just something about being a SAHM that is truly desperate. I can relate!)
Seinfield. (what? It's off the air???)
Law & Order SVU.
Four places you have been on vacation:
Breckenridge, CO
Disneyworld
St. Louis
Washington DC
(soon I can put Paris on that list!)
Four of my favorite foods:
Casey's Pizza
Cheddar's Spinach Dip
Home-made popcorn - popped on the stove w/ real butter
Black Forest Gummy Worms
Four places I would rather be right now:
An expensive resort spa, getting a facial and manicure - simultaneously!
Hanging out with my pal Lori for her big birthday.
Shopping at my favorite scrapbook store.
In this house, only completely painted according to my specifications. Maybe with a butler and a maid. (as long as we are dreaming)
And uh, Lori, TAG YOUR IT. Your turn to post something on that link you to refer to as a blog. Cut and paste this bad boy into a post and let's see your answers!
Jan 10, 2006
HURRY - let's ride off into the sunset together!!
Loving this page. You are looking at 3 hours of work here, pathetic - I know, but that's including interuptions. I did dishes and switched laundry loads and got the kids snacks in there too. So really, maybe an hour actually working on the page itself. Had some fun with my new steelfish stamps. Love 'em. So kicking myself for not having caved and bought them sooner. The idea of having to stick them to blocks myself was super-intimidating to me for some reason. But now I'm tempted to order again - they are awesome! Plus, Fontwerks sent me some free rub-on's just for ordering! I love free, it's my favorite way to get stuff!!
Ok, so about the page. These are super old pictures, like eight years old. I know, I look so young. Which is a nice way of saying I look old now. But that's ok. These are photos from us in our get-away car after our wedding. At the time these photos were taken I was thinking "I couldn't believe that everyone there (at our wedding) knew that we were about to leave and go have sex and that was ok!!!". (I also can't believe I just typed that here, but whatever!) I was SUPER-young when we got married, a week before my 19th birthday. We were so in love too, not that we aren't now, it's just a different grown up kind of love now, not a head over heels, can't see straight, which way is up kind of way.
The suit I'm wearing cracks me up. The inspiration for my wedding was entirely drawn from Steel Magnolias (my all time favorite flick, then and now). I'm not even a pink person, but I wore a pink dress. It was beautiful. And I had to have a 'going away' suit, just like Julia Robert's character did. It was cute, but in the end I really just wished I had worn my dress to the hotel. I put in a box that afternoon, just before we left, and it's never been out since.
Anyway, just a tiny glimpse into the past. I look at these photos and think how much I loved Rob then, and now. I can see how he's grown (in looks, in personality, spiritually) and it makes me love him even more. I think about how God has blessed our marriage, our family and every aspect of us. It just makes me happy. I hope you are happy too, just looking at it. :)
it's so annoying!
Wow. Living with a five year old. I know I'm a little premature in saying that, Eli doesn't turn five for another two weeks, but he's already driving me nuts. His current favorite ways to annoy me include banging his umbrella into plastic packaging (as loudly as possible), screaming "OWWW" when his sister so much as looks at him funny, and singing (anything at all - the more annoying the better) off key and at the top of his lungs. It's like living in a looney bin. I'm just so thankful for two floors, a little seperation is never a bad thing.
I think he finds joy in annoying me. I really do. Yesterday he was screaming/singing at the top of his lungs the same line from some retarded song over and over and over. It was all I could do not to march into the room and tell him to shut up. I had a realization though, that he was trying to get a rise out of me. And suddenly I flashed back to being a child, inventing ways to annoy my parents, siblings, babysitters and even the people at church. I made annoying a personal hobby. I would invent noises. I would fake farts. I would sing. I would click my tongue. I would kick the back of the car seat or pew in front of me. My sister and I would sit right in front of the choir at church and purposefully yawn to get them all to yawn. I got the 'quiet' talk at camp more times than I would ever want to admit to anyone. I accidently discovered that my sister couldn't stand it when I spoke in a southern accent and from then on used it all the time (for about six months). "MOM - SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN!" I can still hear her screaming.
After all that hard thinking, I remembered some of Rob's stories. Yelling "Squeaky Shoes" at his cousin when he was supposed to be in bed for the night. And others.
So here's my big revelation. Rob and I so deserve this. We totally have it coming. Our children will be the most annoying little people to ever walk the face of the earth. So I had better get used to it, because I made my bed and now it's time for a nap!
Wow. Living with a five year old. I know I'm a little premature in saying that, Eli doesn't turn five for another two weeks, but he's already driving me nuts. His current favorite ways to annoy me include banging his umbrella into plastic packaging (as loudly as possible), screaming "OWWW" when his sister so much as looks at him funny, and singing (anything at all - the more annoying the better) off key and at the top of his lungs. It's like living in a looney bin. I'm just so thankful for two floors, a little seperation is never a bad thing.
I think he finds joy in annoying me. I really do. Yesterday he was screaming/singing at the top of his lungs the same line from some retarded song over and over and over. It was all I could do not to march into the room and tell him to shut up. I had a realization though, that he was trying to get a rise out of me. And suddenly I flashed back to being a child, inventing ways to annoy my parents, siblings, babysitters and even the people at church. I made annoying a personal hobby. I would invent noises. I would fake farts. I would sing. I would click my tongue. I would kick the back of the car seat or pew in front of me. My sister and I would sit right in front of the choir at church and purposefully yawn to get them all to yawn. I got the 'quiet' talk at camp more times than I would ever want to admit to anyone. I accidently discovered that my sister couldn't stand it when I spoke in a southern accent and from then on used it all the time (for about six months). "MOM - SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN!" I can still hear her screaming.
After all that hard thinking, I remembered some of Rob's stories. Yelling "Squeaky Shoes" at his cousin when he was supposed to be in bed for the night. And others.
So here's my big revelation. Rob and I so deserve this. We totally have it coming. Our children will be the most annoying little people to ever walk the face of the earth. So I had better get used to it, because I made my bed and now it's time for a nap!
My fun calendar page for the day. This has just been a really comfortable project, no expectations, just playing. I'm enjoying it a lot. March's theme is Paris. Unfortunately this is an ancient picture of me, but about the only one of just me that I could find. Sad, really. I have 42,000 pictures of each of the kids alone, but none of myself. Oh well. I'm also doing working on a scrapbook page today, but my crazy kids won't leave me alone long enough to finish the thing. So later. BUT I'm using my new fontwerks stamps and they are SO addictive. I'm sure you will be seeing WAY too much of those in pages to come. I live in excess, it's my middle name I'm afraid.
covered in primer.
Yesterday was a super rough day. It's just hard, staying home with small kids. Eli has been really cranky lately, because he's not adjusted to this new life of school every day. He's not getting enough sleep and meanwhile we are all paying the price.
So today is going better. I got the play room primed, first coat (not trim yet), so that's some headway. I'm beginning to wonder how crazy I am for trying to get it done before Kim gets here on Friday night. But it's me, and that's not shocking. Rob thinks we need to ask the church for help with painting, which I find funny because he hasn't gotten to help yet! :) That's ok though, I know he is swamped with getting things going over at the church. He's doing a great job, it's just a very big job. He's basically bringing these people from about 1972 (worship-wise) to the early nineties, so he's definitely got his work cut out. I think we are both struggling with being overwhelmed, but we are strong people and I know we can do this. Heck, we can even do it with flair!
Got a big Winkflash order today, so that was exciting. I'm ready to scrapboook this afternoon. Brea is finally down for a nap, so that's my plan. I should be painting, but she keeps waking up and screaming when I'm working in that room, so I'll probably wait and tackled that tonight when Rob is home to cope with her.
I'm very ready for the weekend, with the small exception of that room. Really looking forward to some girl time with Kim, where we can just hang out and scrap. We are going to wander downtown in St. Louis and find this crazy paper arts store I've heard about. I'm excited to show here my house too, wonder what she'll think. I have more pictures to post here, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
We got flamingo-ed again last night. It's not really fair, they did it while we were at church. I guess that's ok though, since we did Matt and Tiff's house on New Year's Eve while they had a house full of company! So now my yard is full of flamingoes in the cold, wet rain. It's kind of pathetic looking really. But it brings a little color to an otherwise blank palette. It's on my list, bringing color outside, but it's not a real high priority. I am looking forward to Rob hanging that porch swing though, it will look really nice.
Well, I'm just aimlessly talking when I could be scrapping. So I think I will take advantage of my time and do this later. I should find some fun new blog challenges to keep this interesting. Later.
Yesterday was a super rough day. It's just hard, staying home with small kids. Eli has been really cranky lately, because he's not adjusted to this new life of school every day. He's not getting enough sleep and meanwhile we are all paying the price.
So today is going better. I got the play room primed, first coat (not trim yet), so that's some headway. I'm beginning to wonder how crazy I am for trying to get it done before Kim gets here on Friday night. But it's me, and that's not shocking. Rob thinks we need to ask the church for help with painting, which I find funny because he hasn't gotten to help yet! :) That's ok though, I know he is swamped with getting things going over at the church. He's doing a great job, it's just a very big job. He's basically bringing these people from about 1972 (worship-wise) to the early nineties, so he's definitely got his work cut out. I think we are both struggling with being overwhelmed, but we are strong people and I know we can do this. Heck, we can even do it with flair!
Got a big Winkflash order today, so that was exciting. I'm ready to scrapboook this afternoon. Brea is finally down for a nap, so that's my plan. I should be painting, but she keeps waking up and screaming when I'm working in that room, so I'll probably wait and tackled that tonight when Rob is home to cope with her.
I'm very ready for the weekend, with the small exception of that room. Really looking forward to some girl time with Kim, where we can just hang out and scrap. We are going to wander downtown in St. Louis and find this crazy paper arts store I've heard about. I'm excited to show here my house too, wonder what she'll think. I have more pictures to post here, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
We got flamingo-ed again last night. It's not really fair, they did it while we were at church. I guess that's ok though, since we did Matt and Tiff's house on New Year's Eve while they had a house full of company! So now my yard is full of flamingoes in the cold, wet rain. It's kind of pathetic looking really. But it brings a little color to an otherwise blank palette. It's on my list, bringing color outside, but it's not a real high priority. I am looking forward to Rob hanging that porch swing though, it will look really nice.
Well, I'm just aimlessly talking when I could be scrapping. So I think I will take advantage of my time and do this later. I should find some fun new blog challenges to keep this interesting. Later.
Jan 9, 2006
See how much my hubby loves me?
My first power tool! (not for scrapbooking, which is insane) Can't wait to get started using it, but it's still that hours in the day thing, kicking my butt. :) Hopefully I will be really productive today, we'll see. The grocery store and the washing machine are calling my name. (fun)
Promised Calendar Pages.
Love the funky feel to this calendar already. I'll probably wind up putting it up in my studio. The January picture is ancient, from our ski trip in 2003. I look at that and all I can think is how cold I was, start to finish! The February is from our fun christmas card shoot.
I'm still here.
In case you were wondering. I'm starting to worry I might lose my small but loyal fan base! :) It's been a very hectic weekend here, plus we've had computer issues, so blogging hasn't been at the top of my list. But it's funny how I think in blog entry format now. :) I'll be doing my hair or brushing my teeth and thinking about all the random things I want to say here.
Such as...
The new toy my hubby bought me!
I can't remember the last time I was excited about a tool that wasn't for scrapbooking. It's a Mouse by Black and Decker, a power sander with a fingertip attachment for hard to reach places. I have two dressers, a headboard and an entire kitchen full of cabinets that I will be testing this bad boy out on! I'm very excited.
We bought paint!!
$306.17 worth of it, actually. Including a lot of supplies (rollers and tarps and whatnot). We are officially starting the paint process, hopefully today. I spent all afternoon yesterday prepping the kids playroom, hours stripping the border and wiping down the walls. I'm hoping to start with the ceiling tonight.
We had a great visit with my cousin and her family.
But I guess I'm so scattered I forgot to take any pictures. Isn't that insane? I'm really off my game. My head is going in way too many directions at once.
And I realized yesterday that I am a pastor's wife.
Isn't that crazy? After all these years it's finally happened and I was so sick it barely occured to me. On Saturday my cousin was talking to me about it and it really hit me yesterday. It's crazy. I love it. I pray I always love it. But right now I just feel like I can't get anything done because we are always at church! Oh well, I need to slow down and enjoy the process.
Well, that's all the time I have right now. Hopefully, I can steal a few moments later. I have pictures to post of my new toy and two calendar pages I did Friday night.
In case you were wondering. I'm starting to worry I might lose my small but loyal fan base! :) It's been a very hectic weekend here, plus we've had computer issues, so blogging hasn't been at the top of my list. But it's funny how I think in blog entry format now. :) I'll be doing my hair or brushing my teeth and thinking about all the random things I want to say here.
Such as...
The new toy my hubby bought me!
I can't remember the last time I was excited about a tool that wasn't for scrapbooking. It's a Mouse by Black and Decker, a power sander with a fingertip attachment for hard to reach places. I have two dressers, a headboard and an entire kitchen full of cabinets that I will be testing this bad boy out on! I'm very excited.
We bought paint!!
$306.17 worth of it, actually. Including a lot of supplies (rollers and tarps and whatnot). We are officially starting the paint process, hopefully today. I spent all afternoon yesterday prepping the kids playroom, hours stripping the border and wiping down the walls. I'm hoping to start with the ceiling tonight.
We had a great visit with my cousin and her family.
But I guess I'm so scattered I forgot to take any pictures. Isn't that insane? I'm really off my game. My head is going in way too many directions at once.
And I realized yesterday that I am a pastor's wife.
Isn't that crazy? After all these years it's finally happened and I was so sick it barely occured to me. On Saturday my cousin was talking to me about it and it really hit me yesterday. It's crazy. I love it. I pray I always love it. But right now I just feel like I can't get anything done because we are always at church! Oh well, I need to slow down and enjoy the process.
Well, that's all the time I have right now. Hopefully, I can steal a few moments later. I have pictures to post of my new toy and two calendar pages I did Friday night.
Jan 6, 2006
Too ComfyFinally got this puppy to post. Forgot to add some text though, guess I didn't really expect it to work! Love, love LOVE this layout. Did it really fast after church on Wednesday night. Part of the time I was working Rob was sitting on the floor in my studio talking to me. It was so romantic! :) I'm sad though, this is the last of my pre-planned layouts, so I need to get cracking on some new stuff. Can't believe I've done all my 'moving' stuff already. I'm waiting for a big fat Winkflash order, so that should serve up a healthy dose of inspiration for me. Anyhoo, back to the layout at hand. Lots of randomness here, loving the HKS plastic letters (yummy!) and the ORANGE skitzo chipboard - THANK YOU LORI! But I think my favorite part are the stapled with ribbon primas. They are just so funky! I love funky! The paper is all green too, and that's always fun. Also, note the epoxy circle (in the middle of the O in comfy) from MOD designs. I've only been trying to buy these stinkers for six months. Love 'em though, worth the wait! The face my son is making reminds me of "Blue Steele" from Zoolander - cracks me up. I'm a huge fan of Ben Stiller, he makes me laugh till my sides hurt! Well, now I've rambled. Oh well, it's me. Toodles!
It feels like it's been a week since I blogged.
Isn't it weird how some days can feel like months and other days it's as if no time has passed at all? Been a strange 24 hours here. First of all, figuring out this health insurance has been far messier than I anticipated. I'll be relieved when it's all figured out and we can be done with it.
Secondly, I'm preparing for company, some friends from church tonight and my cousin and her family tomorrow. It's exciting to be entertaining in our new house, but I'm so aware of all the work that needs to be done. I spent two hours at Lowe's this morning with Sarah, picking out paint colors and drooling over window treatments. I really don't like to spend money, so it's hard for me to be making these big decisions. Most people would be all excited about having the church pay for all our paint and remodel stuff, but it just makes me all the more retentive because it's not my money. I don't know if they will do window treatments, but the mini-blinds we have really don't conceal enough of our daily life for a parsonage! :) I do love this house, and planning each room is so exciting. I can't wait to get the paint up and see how it all looks. It's going to be hard to pick a favorite room when I'm through, I can tell that already.
I've been cleaning and cooking and preparing all day. The gal that's coming over tonight scrapbooks, so we'll at least be able to be back in the studio, talking and looking at supplies and stuff. That should be fun. I'm super excited that Kim is coming next weekend. I'm really hoping to get the play/guest room painted before she gets here, but wondering if that is just too ambitious. But wouldn't it be fun?? I finally found some bedding for that room that I really like, I just have to go to Kmart to pick it up now. Love that Martha collection, I know she's an ex-con, but the gal can really do wonders with color and texture! My kitchen will be heavily Martha-inspired, I can feel that already. I'm going for a very vintage green and white 40's-50's look, since I have the vingtage cabinets, I figure why not?
Well, I need to get back to work. I just wanted to breath for a moment. Going to try and post the other day's page, it's pretty fun!
Isn't it weird how some days can feel like months and other days it's as if no time has passed at all? Been a strange 24 hours here. First of all, figuring out this health insurance has been far messier than I anticipated. I'll be relieved when it's all figured out and we can be done with it.
Secondly, I'm preparing for company, some friends from church tonight and my cousin and her family tomorrow. It's exciting to be entertaining in our new house, but I'm so aware of all the work that needs to be done. I spent two hours at Lowe's this morning with Sarah, picking out paint colors and drooling over window treatments. I really don't like to spend money, so it's hard for me to be making these big decisions. Most people would be all excited about having the church pay for all our paint and remodel stuff, but it just makes me all the more retentive because it's not my money. I don't know if they will do window treatments, but the mini-blinds we have really don't conceal enough of our daily life for a parsonage! :) I do love this house, and planning each room is so exciting. I can't wait to get the paint up and see how it all looks. It's going to be hard to pick a favorite room when I'm through, I can tell that already.
I've been cleaning and cooking and preparing all day. The gal that's coming over tonight scrapbooks, so we'll at least be able to be back in the studio, talking and looking at supplies and stuff. That should be fun. I'm super excited that Kim is coming next weekend. I'm really hoping to get the play/guest room painted before she gets here, but wondering if that is just too ambitious. But wouldn't it be fun?? I finally found some bedding for that room that I really like, I just have to go to Kmart to pick it up now. Love that Martha collection, I know she's an ex-con, but the gal can really do wonders with color and texture! My kitchen will be heavily Martha-inspired, I can feel that already. I'm going for a very vintage green and white 40's-50's look, since I have the vingtage cabinets, I figure why not?
Well, I need to get back to work. I just wanted to breath for a moment. Going to try and post the other day's page, it's pretty fun!
Jan 4, 2006
is there life past survival?
It's so crazy to me how some days you are just on 'survive' mode and no matter how hard you kick - all day long - you can't move past 'survive' into 'enjoy' or at least 'tolerate'! My kids have been crazy again. Sarah is just strange lately, too much house for a whirlwind of toddlerhood. I NEED to childproof (at least my kitchen!) but it's just been way down on the list. Suddenly I'm realizing if I had put it higher on the list to begin with, the list may not be so long now!! Make sense? She's just crazy cupboard girl, dragging out everything from lotion to fine china and pots and pans and cutting boards. And I wouldn't mind the washable stuff, but more dishes is not what I need at this conjuncture in my life! (sigh)
We have church tonight, but still a great debate about what time it starts. We've been here for 3 weeks now and still can't figure things like that out - it's just been very sporatic because of the holidays.
After dinner tonight Rob and I sat down and really worked on a budget for our new life. I'm just proud of us for looking all responsible on paper. Now, if we can just make it work in the checkbook! I'm really praying about financial responsibility in our life. This has always been a particularily grey area for me and I feel God tugging at my heart to work it out. We both really want to start saving, and I'm willing to give up other things to make that a reality. I think Rob is too.
That all said, I think his Gateway finally bit the dust this afternoon. I feel bad for him, he's been using it more in these past three weeks then ever before. He doesn't even have a desktop in his office, so that's a major issue. He had to come home and use our desktop today. I'm really praying about this, I don't want to have to buy him a desktop out of our tax return, but if the church isn't going to do it we will. He really needs it. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's tax deductible. It's more than just email, it's all of his records, his sermons, his contacts. I'm just praying that something will work out.
I got our family health insurance situation worked out today. Whew. That is a huge relief off of my mind. We have a final call to finish things up in the morning and then that will be a done deal. I'm excited because of the way the church is paying for it, it will really help re-establish our credit, without any doing from us. It just amazes me how God works things out. I can look back and see His hand on our life every step of the way. (a little 'footprints' for me, but it's true) I'm also relieved because we won't even need to pick up state aid for the kids. It's so great to be on our own two feet, finally. (with the exception of our food stamps, but they run out in May)
I'm really getting anxious to return to work. I guess it's been building up in me. The insurance broker asked today if I worked at all, if anyone paid me to do anything. Unfortunately not. I work harder now then ever, but get paid nill. I'd really like to do some magazine submissions in this coming year. I need to get working on sending that stuff in! I'd like to generate a tiny bit of income. Our tax guy back in Siuox City really stressed how it's important to pay into Social Security when you are really young, that it matters more now then ever. Since then I haven't held a job for any length of time. Sad, really.
Hoping to scrap tonight. I worked hard all day, on phone calls and paperwork. Hoping for some 'me' time after these kiddos go to bed.
It's so crazy to me how some days you are just on 'survive' mode and no matter how hard you kick - all day long - you can't move past 'survive' into 'enjoy' or at least 'tolerate'! My kids have been crazy again. Sarah is just strange lately, too much house for a whirlwind of toddlerhood. I NEED to childproof (at least my kitchen!) but it's just been way down on the list. Suddenly I'm realizing if I had put it higher on the list to begin with, the list may not be so long now!! Make sense? She's just crazy cupboard girl, dragging out everything from lotion to fine china and pots and pans and cutting boards. And I wouldn't mind the washable stuff, but more dishes is not what I need at this conjuncture in my life! (sigh)
We have church tonight, but still a great debate about what time it starts. We've been here for 3 weeks now and still can't figure things like that out - it's just been very sporatic because of the holidays.
After dinner tonight Rob and I sat down and really worked on a budget for our new life. I'm just proud of us for looking all responsible on paper. Now, if we can just make it work in the checkbook! I'm really praying about financial responsibility in our life. This has always been a particularily grey area for me and I feel God tugging at my heart to work it out. We both really want to start saving, and I'm willing to give up other things to make that a reality. I think Rob is too.
That all said, I think his Gateway finally bit the dust this afternoon. I feel bad for him, he's been using it more in these past three weeks then ever before. He doesn't even have a desktop in his office, so that's a major issue. He had to come home and use our desktop today. I'm really praying about this, I don't want to have to buy him a desktop out of our tax return, but if the church isn't going to do it we will. He really needs it. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's tax deductible. It's more than just email, it's all of his records, his sermons, his contacts. I'm just praying that something will work out.
I got our family health insurance situation worked out today. Whew. That is a huge relief off of my mind. We have a final call to finish things up in the morning and then that will be a done deal. I'm excited because of the way the church is paying for it, it will really help re-establish our credit, without any doing from us. It just amazes me how God works things out. I can look back and see His hand on our life every step of the way. (a little 'footprints' for me, but it's true) I'm also relieved because we won't even need to pick up state aid for the kids. It's so great to be on our own two feet, finally. (with the exception of our food stamps, but they run out in May)
I'm really getting anxious to return to work. I guess it's been building up in me. The insurance broker asked today if I worked at all, if anyone paid me to do anything. Unfortunately not. I work harder now then ever, but get paid nill. I'd really like to do some magazine submissions in this coming year. I need to get working on sending that stuff in! I'd like to generate a tiny bit of income. Our tax guy back in Siuox City really stressed how it's important to pay into Social Security when you are really young, that it matters more now then ever. Since then I haven't held a job for any length of time. Sad, really.
Hoping to scrap tonight. I worked hard all day, on phone calls and paperwork. Hoping for some 'me' time after these kiddos go to bed.
Jan 3, 2006
This is a total lift of some fabulous garden girl, but I can't tell you who. It sure was fun to do though! Loving the red cardstock and my son just looks so stinking adorable in his school picture, makes it hard to be mad at him when he's stinky! I need to put this picture out more often so I can remember grace! :)
Love this page!! Not so much the page, but the journaling is so heartfelt. "You say usually a lot. Usually it's out of context and slightly annoying. Usually it's a filler word for you, like 'um' or a starting place like 'hey'. Usually you have to pause after you say 'usually' to remember where you were going after 'usually'. The truth is, usually I want to stop and correct you but today I found you un-usually cute!"
and now, just because I'm the nicest blogger and this side of the world-wide-web.
I've had a request for the addresses of my favorite scrapper's blogs. Ok, I will give them to you on one condition... You can't ditch my blog for theirs!! You are my loyal fan base first, right?? Because really? I want to be a famous scrapper some day, so for now you can do your small part to make my dream a reality!! :)
(heavy sight) Ok, I give in. Here they are. But I hope you still look to me for original inspiration and giggles. I dump them on this site by the bucketful! Happy looking!
Ali-Oh-My-Goodness-This-Girl-Can-Scrap-Edwards
http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/
Elsie-Stick-A-Flower-On-It-And-Call-It-Art Flannigan. (I say that but she's super-crazy fantastic talented. ALL of these gals are.)
http://www.elsieflannigan.blogspot.com/
Miss-Pink-And-Silver-Splattered-So-Much-More-Talented-Than-I-Could-Ever-Dream-Of-Being-Heidi-{my idol}Swapp
http://heidiswapp.typepad.com/
And the new gal to the group, but heavily inspiring me since 2004, the Incredibly-Sweet-and-Star-aclicious-Jenni-Bowlin!
http://jennibowlin.blogspot.com/
Now, grab some hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and prepare to boggle your mind, because these ladies should charge by the viewing!
I've had a request for the addresses of my favorite scrapper's blogs. Ok, I will give them to you on one condition... You can't ditch my blog for theirs!! You are my loyal fan base first, right?? Because really? I want to be a famous scrapper some day, so for now you can do your small part to make my dream a reality!! :)
(heavy sight) Ok, I give in. Here they are. But I hope you still look to me for original inspiration and giggles. I dump them on this site by the bucketful! Happy looking!
Ali-Oh-My-Goodness-This-Girl-Can-Scrap-Edwards
http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/
Elsie-Stick-A-Flower-On-It-And-Call-It-Art Flannigan. (I say that but she's super-crazy fantastic talented. ALL of these gals are.)
http://www.elsieflannigan.blogspot.com/
Miss-Pink-And-Silver-Splattered-So-Much-More-Talented-Than-I-Could-Ever-Dream-Of-Being-Heidi-{my idol}Swapp
http://heidiswapp.typepad.com/
And the new gal to the group, but heavily inspiring me since 2004, the Incredibly-Sweet-and-Star-aclicious-Jenni-Bowlin!
http://jennibowlin.blogspot.com/
Now, grab some hot cocoa with mini marshmallows and prepare to boggle your mind, because these ladies should charge by the viewing!
a quick re-cap
Finally a moment to blog. Whew. It's been kind of crazy here the last couple of days. Not really sure why, maybe it's just me. I still feel like there is a ton to do and not enough time to do it in. Eli started school this morning, so I rewarded my three week Christmas (non) break with a morning of scrapping. I started and finished 2 pages, so that was exciting for me. Then I spent a good chunk of the afternoon going through our desk and shredding old files. I feel like a tiny part of our life is a lot more organized. Now if I could get to the other 99% of my life and get it in shape! ha ha!
My studio is my happy place. Just in case you were wondering. All the chaos in my life stops when I enter that room to work - the world just hazes away and I find my creative groove and get going. I spent 90 minutes of bliss in there this morning, and I've been trying to get back there ever since!
I reconnected with an old friend today. Joe and Dory have been our pals for eight years now. They got married the same day as us, one of the few couples who married back then that are still together, unfortunately. Cleaning out my desk I ran across an old christmas card from them and decided to try and call. So glad I did. I'm really going to try to be better about prioritizing my friendships.
Officially called to move our membership from MAG to our new church. The end of a great run really, I love MAG. That place will always have a special part of my heart. We fell in love in that building, I really let God get to me in that building, we married at that altar. Both of our beautiful children were dedicated to the Lord in the same sacred spot where we took our vows. I made my peace with God over our miscarriages on that carpet, crying and praying like I never have before. I know it's just a building, but part of MAG is in our heritage.
Starting to really make this our home. Deciding to really love it here, with every breath of my being. Like when you marry someone, how you decide you will love everything about them, even if it's not your perfect ideal? That's me and this place. I have decided I will love it here and this will be our home and that is enough for me.
Itching to paint. It's welling up inside me, I look at the walls and imagine them freshly painted. I think I'm ready. I'm finally feeling better, thanks to heavy antibiotics. Ready to start a new project. Toying with some pretty crazy ideas for the living room and my studio. Excited to get the ideas out of my head and up on the walls. Starting my shopping list for Lowes.
Massively failing at my New Year's resolutions already. Sucks too, so not me. Normally I'm a major resolution person, but I feel like we are still trying to get a hold of our new life, everything is so different and there is so much to do. I get up every morning and start and feel like the end of the day I've done a ton but barely made a dent in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure I'm making progress, it's just hard to see the forest for all the trees.
Finally a moment to blog. Whew. It's been kind of crazy here the last couple of days. Not really sure why, maybe it's just me. I still feel like there is a ton to do and not enough time to do it in. Eli started school this morning, so I rewarded my three week Christmas (non) break with a morning of scrapping. I started and finished 2 pages, so that was exciting for me. Then I spent a good chunk of the afternoon going through our desk and shredding old files. I feel like a tiny part of our life is a lot more organized. Now if I could get to the other 99% of my life and get it in shape! ha ha!
My studio is my happy place. Just in case you were wondering. All the chaos in my life stops when I enter that room to work - the world just hazes away and I find my creative groove and get going. I spent 90 minutes of bliss in there this morning, and I've been trying to get back there ever since!
I reconnected with an old friend today. Joe and Dory have been our pals for eight years now. They got married the same day as us, one of the few couples who married back then that are still together, unfortunately. Cleaning out my desk I ran across an old christmas card from them and decided to try and call. So glad I did. I'm really going to try to be better about prioritizing my friendships.
Officially called to move our membership from MAG to our new church. The end of a great run really, I love MAG. That place will always have a special part of my heart. We fell in love in that building, I really let God get to me in that building, we married at that altar. Both of our beautiful children were dedicated to the Lord in the same sacred spot where we took our vows. I made my peace with God over our miscarriages on that carpet, crying and praying like I never have before. I know it's just a building, but part of MAG is in our heritage.
Starting to really make this our home. Deciding to really love it here, with every breath of my being. Like when you marry someone, how you decide you will love everything about them, even if it's not your perfect ideal? That's me and this place. I have decided I will love it here and this will be our home and that is enough for me.
Itching to paint. It's welling up inside me, I look at the walls and imagine them freshly painted. I think I'm ready. I'm finally feeling better, thanks to heavy antibiotics. Ready to start a new project. Toying with some pretty crazy ideas for the living room and my studio. Excited to get the ideas out of my head and up on the walls. Starting my shopping list for Lowes.
Massively failing at my New Year's resolutions already. Sucks too, so not me. Normally I'm a major resolution person, but I feel like we are still trying to get a hold of our new life, everything is so different and there is so much to do. I get up every morning and start and feel like the end of the day I've done a ton but barely made a dent in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure I'm making progress, it's just hard to see the forest for all the trees.
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