My plans.....

Freebie from Scrapgirls digi site.


Good Morning! Well, it is that time of year again... the last day of this year and looking forward to day number one of a brand new year. New Year full of New Beginnings! Well, I'm on the band wagon this year!

As of Saturday morning this will be my new best friend!!


I have a BIG goal set for myself. I know, shouldn't do such big ones but I'm going to.
Goal: Lose 40 Pounds- BUT I'm not putting a time limit on myself to do so. If it takes me a year then it just does.

Other things I am GOING TO DO this year:
Start going back to church.
Pray more.
LOVE MORE.
Use the WII more often to get in better shape.
Play with my kids more.
Scrapbook more.
Blog more.
Clean more. - notice this comes AFTER scrapbooking, hmmmm???? :)
Shop LESS!
Eat LESS!
Talk LESS - Listen MORE!
Eat LESS chocolate - Eat MORE fruit :(
Complain LESS!

Can she do it? I think she can!

Also, I failed to mention that I am, once again, a Close To My Heart Consultant. So happy to be back with them!!!
If you sign up to be a consultant LOOK at what all you get....

for a fraction of the cost if you bought it all.....

The SPRING catalog is full of beautiful papers and new things you really should go see it here...

Some pictures from Christmas this year..
My middle and youngest boys before opening presents on Christmas Eve night.


This is my oldest son opening his Christmas presents...


Our purdy Chritmas tree


I've never posted one of these... this is me and my hubby. I got a tripod for Christmas and was trying it out for this picture.

This is a better picture of the two of us...



This is mom with our MIRACLE BABY.. Keeli Jo. She weighed one pound and 6 ounces when she was born. Look at her now! She is beautiful and truly a gift and blessing from GOD!!


My Dakota Bob making Rice Crispy Candy with me on Christmas Eve



Saw this in an email I got this morning AND I LIKED IT.... PASSING IT ALONG---
Accept myself, forgive myself, and get back up whenever I fall down.

If you are still with me- Thank you, thank you for reading my blog through this year. I really do want to be a better blogger next year, but we all know sometimes LIFE just happens first.

Whatever your plans are for tonight... be safe and be happy.
Have a Happy New Year and may God bless each and every day in the coming New Year!

Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Merry Christmas

December 37 years ago... that is me with my daddy. I miss him so much this year! It seems worse now than before. I know he's still with me, but I just miss him dearly. I dream about him so much lately and I think that is why I miss him, I'm with him in my dreams and wake up and I'm not... makes me miss him that much more. But, no sappy tear jerky stuff today... Just sweet memories to share!


My MawMaw at Christmas supper. Not sure what year it was but look at those glasses! I'd love to have the recipes of all the good food she prepared over the years.

Daddy stealing a kiss from Momma at Christmas...probably around '74, I'm guessing.


Remembering the ones that have long gone home....My uncle Ricky holding me when I was just a few days old.

I'll leave you with a "SWEET" picture... literally... not sure what this was daddy was feeding me, but I've been told it was Pepsi in a bowl and he was using the spoon to feed me!!


Enjoy Christmas with your families and love them with all you have. Never take a minute for granted and always tell them you love them.

Hope Santa is good to all of you out there in blog land tonight! (I think I'm getting a GYPSY for Christmas... I'll let you know for sure!!)

Merry Christmas and God Bless!.........and to All A Good Night!!!
Lisa

Only 4 days till Christmas Eve!

I have not blogged since right after Thanksgiving! Shame on Me!!! So much has happened since then... I FINALLY quit my job :) TONS of Christmas shopping then wrapping it all up, working on a scrapbook for a lady and have to have it finished by TOMORROW! I work better under pressure, um, I think!

We had Christmas at mom's yesterday because that is when my brother and his family could be there... and it was good. I took a TON of picts that I will show later. My poor memory card is so full, it'll take all day to upload them to my computer!!

We have developed a new but strange family tradition -- nearly EVERY holiday someone in my family gets hurt, pretty badly too. So, now I cringe at the thought of the holidays because I never know who is going to be next... Let me start off from last year, my step-son's grandma was in the hospital on Thanksgiving. Next, my mom fell the day before Christmas Eve and hit her head. She had 11 stitches, a concussion, a stay in the hospital and didn't get home until about 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve. The very next Easter my oldest son was stepped on by a bull he was riding in the rodeo. He was VERY lucky! He wasn't wearing his head gear and had 7 stitches at the top of his forehead. We were pretty calm until Thanksgiving... My oldest son's grandpa fell out of a tree stand and shattered his ankle! Had to have surgery and pins and it was pretty bad. Well, I knew Christmas was coming and had joked "Wonder who is going to be next"? Well, it was my middle boy, Hunter. He was riding in an ATV mule thingy and his friend was driving. The other boy says he was driving along and then had no control of the steering. Well, they slid a bit and then turned over. It was on Hunter's side. He hurt his ankle pretty bad, but it wasn't fractured- THANK GOODNESS THAT IT WASN'T WORSE THAN IT WAS!!!! He is on crutches and does not like it! He's got to stay off his ankle for about a week then he can start using it again. I think he's going to go crazy before then!! He hates those things!

So you see, when I don't post regularly I come back with a bang hu??

Can't wait till Christmas! We usually have a visit from Santa around 6pm on Christmas Eve. The kids will have a good one this year and I'm so thankful for that. I do think often of the families that are less fortunate... Please pray for the ones that are away from their families this Holiday season, the military men and women who are out there night and day so that we can sleep peacefully at night. Remember the ones who have little or nothing this year. So many families are struggling to find work, food, and even a home to live in. And as bad as it hurts me to think about it, the little ones who will wake up with nothing on Christmas morning. But the ones we really need to keep in our prayers are the ones who don't know what Christmas is all about. The ones without the Gift of Life. When you open your gifts and look around at all the smiling faces and eat all that wonderfully prepared food, just say a prayer for someone... we all know someone who can use those... and I know 100 percent that prayer works!!!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Scrappy goodnight!!, er, well it's morning now- got a bit carried away!

Lisa

Ramblings...Things are slowing down now! Finally!!

WOW! A lot has happened since my last post... went to the Extravaganza, Thanksgiving, shopping... doesn't seem like much, but whew glad it's over. I taught 4 classes at the Extravaganza on Friday, took 9 classes on Saturday (had a blast!), recovered from all of that. Next was Thanksgiving, which was wonderful with my family. THEN the shopping on Black Friday... went to WalMart and boy was that a mess... spent WAY too much money! Christmas shopping is almost done. Awaiting the new SPRING catty from CTMH. Oh, I forgot to mention that I'm back as a Close To My Heart consultant! So glad I went back to them. I love their stamps and papers!! Been busy but now things are starting to settle down. We are going to put up the Christmas tree today then we can start wrapping things... that is going to be fun- love to wrap presents!!

The weather is calling for some snow here next week, oh I do hope it does!!

Going to start on ALI after Christmas. My goal is to be down 25 pounds so I'm going to wait until after Christmas and the BIG MEAL that is coming then.

I've updated my blogs that I read on the right side of my page.. you should go over and visit these. I love Capadia Designs, she is Cricut hard core and wonderful! I love her designs!

Have a great day!
Happy Scrappin' and God Bless,
Lisa

Happy Fall... November means cooler weather, football, and FOOD!

WOW! November already? I can't believe how fast time is flying! Thanksgiving will come in 25 days and Christmas is coming too! I can't wait to put up all the decorations this year!

This is going to be a long post as I have a ton of pictures to show!

These are my 3 goofy boys yesterday... the 2 older boys didn't go trick or treating, but they still had fun getting their fake beard and "stash"!


The treats were good!!

And in honor of Halloween yesterday... this is what we found last week when the boys went out to catch the bus. It was on our front porch, sparkling and perfect.



I took some pictures of my oldest son yesterday, these will be his Senior picturs...
Here are just a few of the nearly 200 I took!






Ah, time to play in the leaves!!
Dakota having a ball!

Our cat, Scrappy, even has fun playing in the leaves! Look at him, he buries his head, then his body and then jumps up from them! Too Funny!!!!




One last one... this is what I saw when I got home yesterday evening. It was just beautiful. I did enhance it, but it was really pretty to start with!


Have a great day!
God Bless and Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Hope you got lots of yummy candy tonight and the monsters weren't too scary!!

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Halloween Kits for SALE and a little Christmas!

Oh, boy have I been busy lately! I haven't posted in a long, long time! I've been working on my classes for our upcoming Scrapbook Extravaganza... kitting for 4! That is right, I'm doing 4!! AND I've designed 12 double page, well 11 double and 2 single page layouts for a class and kitted it for 12 people. Taught a class last Sat. here in town and done that layout and kitted for 10 people for that one... and I HAVE LEFTOVERS IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED.... I'LL EMAIL YOU THE COST AND SHIPPING AMT. Also, done a little something with my leftovers from that class and now I've designed the kit for November for my girls here in town. I've got to get it kitted for them, then do instructions and kit for 3 more classes. So, yes, I've been busy and it won't stop until NOVEMBER 14!! I'm excited, exhausted, and have been sick to top it all off!!

I used the Twilight collection from Pink Paislee for this layout from the class I did last Sat.


We did the page on the left and the one on the right is what I used the leftovers to complete... not all kit contents were exactly alike. All papers the same... tags, etc. a bit different.

** I have 3 kits left to sell.** The cost is $22.00 and I do accept PayPal and will offer free shipping on this kit.
Twilight from Pink Paislee
Included :
1 package of Rubons
1 die cut paper
6patterned papers
1 sheet of card paper from same collection
2 pieces of black cardstock
ribbons
fibers
foam stickers
plastic orange and black bat rings
metallic and decorative cupcake wrapper
buttons
a few other odds and ends I've put together.
____________________________________________________________________

This is what I made using some leftovers I had from my kit and added a few extras that weren't with the class kits. (KEEP READING... I HAVE SOME FOR SELL) I added the glittery chipboard letters, border stickers from the same line, their Paislee Patches, some crepe paper ribbon, and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. The chipboard album is from Close To My Heart, I've had it for a long, long time and decided it was time to use it! I covered the holes it came with (these are bound with 3 metal rings) I then bound it using my Bind It All. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.






I will have these kits for sale if you are interested. This will include:
1 book (you will have to bind with the rings that come with it or use your own binder)
6 pieces of patterned papers
1 piece of card paper from the same line
1 die cut paper
2 pieces of black cardstock
1 bottle of Haunted Shadows Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels
1 package 6"X12" Border stickers
1 sheet rub ons
1 set of Paislee Patches
1 package Diecut punchouts
2 packages of chipboard letter stickers (1 black and 1 lime green)
Crepe paper ribbon in Orange and Black
The cost of this kit, including shipping will be $47.50
**I ONLY HAVE 2 KITS LEFT SO EMAIL ME AT luvtoscrap1972@yahoo.com IF YOU ARE INTERESTED**


Our November class in town here, well I had to cancel it with all that is going on, but I'm doing a KIT...


And the extras not used you can make this layout...



Oh and we also went to the school's fall festival last Friday night. Two of my handsome young men were in it! I'll have picts. of that later.... can't wait to show them off!

Going to go for now. Will return sometime... if I don't fall under all the paper stacks here in my scrap room!!
Have a great day and God Bless you all!!
Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Another post.... I'm awake now!!

Well,
Here I am again! I was SO sleepy when I posted a while ago. I was afraid to read what I had written, but it was OK. No major goof ups- Thank goodness!

I wanted to show this, but fell asleep with my laptop before I could post it. I bought a couple sets of goodies from Scrap Girls and couldn't wait to use them. I don't have any Halloween picts yet, but I couldn't help myself. I was just playing around...


I do dabble with digi once in awhile. I have Photoshop Elements 6, but really want to learn more about how to use it. I can figure out a few things, but not near enough to do some of the more fancy things with it.

Now, back to the Halloween thing... I LOVE it! I don't like what it stands for, but I love the colors and all that goes with it. I've ordered the Twilight collection by Pink Paislee for my class in October. I love that line! All of their stuff is just beautiful!

I have bought TONS of decorations for next month's class and I am going to try to see if I can put a little thing together for the kids too. I think they'd like that!

Well, since I'm awake now I'll sign off and tell ya have a good night
and Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Excitement is Brewing!!!!!!!!!

Things are getting.....

around here! I'm getting ready for my October class and it is going to be great! I just love Halloween- all the colors, the feel of the air at this time of year... candy, and knowing right after Halloween is the Scrapbook Extravaganza! So excited!!
I found these two picts. over at SCRAPGIRLS place. Love what all they have!


Just wanted to say HEY!
Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.....

Well, the rain is gone from me, but not outside! Today is Sunday and it is a much better and brighter day (even though it is going to be raining all day long!!)!! I'm glad I've got through another case of "the cruds"... kind of like the SUDS that Sponge Bob gets. Yes, we have to go through Sponge Bob exposure nearly everyday here at my house!

Thanks for the sweet comments you left for me, Prayers work!!

I went through my pictures from this summer and thought I share some here. Some of the good stuff...
This one is the way I feel. Clouds are clearing and nothing but blue skies above!

I saw this and thought to myself...WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT!!!???

It looked like some sort of alien peeking up to spy on me!!

So I went to the other side of the porch and found this guy! I've never saw the underside of a grasshopper before so if I hadn't went to the other side, I'd have never known what it was!

I was entertained so much over the summer by this little guy and all his buddies! I laughed so hard as they would try to knock each other away from the feeder! They are so cute, but they can be ruthless!!


And then there is this lonely little guy. He just stopped in for a bit- almost like he was posing for me! I got several pictures of him, but liked this one the best.


I have been so busy lately! That is a good thing too, keeps my mind busy. I have so many projects that I'm working on now. I have a class coming up on the 26th of this month and I'm working on projects for 5 classes I'm teaching at the Scrapbook Extravaganza in November. I have to get 4 of my class projects finished by Tues. of this week coming up. So I'm up extra early to get my blog updates posted and then to work on a Christmas Canvas project and then on to do a Grungeboard book. Finished the clock last night and can't wait to show it! It turned out so pretty, not to brag on myself, but I'm proud of that one. Going to update posting on The Scrapbook Attic blog

Have a great day!!
Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Well, here I go... are you ready to listen?

This is one of those posts... you know the cleansing kind. It isn't always about crafting or scrappin' or things like that. I am a real person and experience real things-daily- as we all do. But lately it seems to follow me around. What is it? I can't answer that question. It is the crud, no not the kind with fever and coughing (well, had some of that stuff too) but this is the kind that eats at you. It is everywhere. Can't turn away. Can't drive away. Can't run away. It is just in me... no matter where I go or what I do I take my "crud" with me. My poor sister, she's heard it all so many times. So very thankful for her. My friend that I can count on the most... she's there for me too. Her advice... you can talk to me and you can talk to your sister and you can talk to everyone about things but you can't satisfy what you are seeking until you talk to God. I do though. I say my prayers every night. I mean what I pray for and really want God's will in everything I pray for. I work where I see all kinds of people (groc. store) and there are some people that have told me I'm a blessing to THEM! I'm spilling my guts here and now and yes crying too! But you know how can I be a blessing to anyone? You know, sometimes I wonder if people knew the junk I was carrying around and hanging on to, what would they say then? I would say, generally I am positive and happy, so that shows... most of the time. People hardly ever see this, what I'm going through right now. I don't know what it is... real problems to work through, and probably hormones too! I'm 37 for goodness sakes I guess it should be hitting around now!? But I have to learn how to .. to figure out how to really let go of this crud. I wont' go in to details, but there are things that I can't fix... boy would I like to, sometimes with a knuckle sandwich! And my husband drives a truck- for WalMart and he hates the way the do things and believe me voices his opinion about - A LOT! And he talks so much about how people shouldn't do this or do that... and they shouldn't let those people get away with this, that, or the other... you know what I tell him? I say well, you can't fix it... just try to ignore it. Take care of you and what you know to do and what you know is right and let God work out the rest. Now, why can't I take a dose of my own medicine? This weekend has been so terribly rough! And really, there isn't anything really wrong. I have just been bawling and feeling terrible and this isn't like me. I have lost the feeling of anything good lately... pity party? maybe, don't know... just can't seem to help myself. I just sit in a constant daze while my life is just passing right on by me... I want to wake up before I miss something. And miss some things I have... my baby will be 9 years old in December and I've got one that will graduate this year. I know that is the way everyone feels... but I am the kind of person to open up all the curtains, blinds, doors ... anything and everything to let in the sunshine! Lately... I don't even do that...just keep everything all closed up and doing that has made me FESTER ever more! If anyone really does ever visit or even read my blogs... I do apologize! Blogs are a way to express ourselves in what ever way we need to... and I need to do this! I wish I could snap my fingers and be normal! I need to give more of this to GOD. I have realized after spending my weekend crying and moping around that I CAN'T FIX IT... so I went to town today after I cleaned myself up a bit... even rented a movie. I watched Flywheel. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE... RUN, DON'T WALK TO GO BUY IT!! I really needed it! I watched Facing the Giants and Fireproof (the same people made all three of these movies)... and you know I sat there thinking, God why can't I get "fixed" like these people? and then it hit me. I'm not willing to give anything up. I've still got a tight grip on everything that is bringing me down! I have to give it all up! My cure is right in front of my face and I'm too stubborn to take it! I have to let God have it all... everything in my life if I want to get rid of the Crud. and God will fix me! I know this, I've learned enough in my life to know that God is here and is still capable of taking care of me. I just have to know how to let Him. That is the hard part, letting go and learning I'm not in control. He is. He is... that is all any of us needs to know. Just simply that HE IS!! If watching the movie wasn't enough I found this....



That is when it hit me... it is not just about me. My kids see me and the way I've been acting. It isn't good. Now, I'm not a bad mom.... at least I don't think so. I know I won't win the best mom of the year award, but they know I love 'em. But this really made me see even more! It is like God's got a flashing sign up in front of me at every turn. Hey, at least I'm seeing HIS sign and not that old crud now! so I'll end this boo hoo feel sorry for myself, standing on my soapbox session. If anyone reads this, and you pray, please keep me in your prayers. I used to have too much pride to ask for prayer... but we ALL need to pray for each other. I'm pretty sure I've read that somewhere! Thank you for listening/reading my big ole mess. Now I'm not going to read this before I post as I would probably delete it all... so I'm just going to publish as is. Sorry if I've offended anyone, but this is where I can be me... raw, open... me.
stepping off my soapbox...
lisa

I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go HERE to read this... I won over at the The Girl's Loft blog!!
They are giving one of these away every day in the month of September!

You can click on THIS LINK to go to the Glue Arts website and find all their great products.

I went back to work this past Monday and wow! I forgot how tired I could be after standing on my feet all day! But I survived and I'm really blessed, because I only work Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Off to work on the other blog The Scrapbook Attic There is a contest going on over there too! Go check it out!!
Have a great day!!
Happy Scrappin'
Lisa

Sneak Peek from The Girl's Loft!

Hey ya'll!! I have been one busy little gal lately! I have this blog and now THIS blog. I am so excited about what is going on over there! Make sure you check it out!!

But there are also great things going on right here...
Like this! A sneak peek at the Sept. Girl's Loft kit. Looks so good!


I can't wait to use it for some of these...
First Day of School!!!!!!!!!!!


My 3 sons!
Cody's first day of his Senior year, Hunter going in the 8th grade and my 3rd grader... growing so fast!



Ahhhh... finally! Home at last!!

Well, it is late and I'm sleepy so I'm going to call it a night!
Good night all and Happy Scrappin'
Lisa