Creative Scrappers Sketch #124

I backtracked and found Creative Scrappers Sketch #124. I used a picture from this past September of Austin and Pippin. They look so sweet together. I couldn't resist!

Elf

Here is my take on the Sketch #125 from Creative Scrappers.

Creative Scrapper #125

So, here is the latest sketch from Creative Scrapper. They are having a contest, and all entries have to be submitted by 10/16. Every so often they show a "Readers Reveal". I must say I am intimidated by the stunning layouts and unique creativity! I am going to give it a go, however. I did start on it this evening, only to have the blade on my Cricut stop functioning. What luck! Off to buy a new blade tomorrow ... need to get this done!

One Month To Live

I have just started this study with several ... more like 20 ... friends from church. Our first meeting was this past Friday. The area in which I live experienced a micro burst Friday afternoon that robbed us of our electricity, shattered windows, sliced trees in half, tore rain gutters, and ripped siding off our house. We were forced to gather in a candlelit room and watch the DVD that accompanies this study on one of our friend's laptops. It certainly was an interesting way to kick start our study. But, it left us thankful for the food we shared, and the precious time we spent talking about how our priorities would change if we really did have one month to live. I am making myself accountable for finding ways to cut the clutter and prioritize what it truly precious in my life. What an amazing opportunity to have the chance to make these changes while I have many more ... God willing ... days ahead of me.

Beth Moore's Breaking Free

This is the second Beth Moore bible study I've done with my two friends, Wendy and Meghan. I find that I am learning so much about myself and my relationship with God. I am truly amazed at how my life is shifting, ever so slightly every day. I'm enjoying the new path God is opening in front of me.

I attended our contemporary service at church this evening. I really wanted my son to join me as he so loves the "rockin'" Christian music. He also would have loved Frank's sermon. Frank is so full of love for God that it's a true joy to watch him as well as get in to the spirit of his message.

Given my study with Beth and my desire to make changes in my life, I feel closer to where God wants me to be.

Resolutions ... AGAIN!

I feel like I've been here before. Yes, I have, but I mean that I'm sitting in front of my computer again ... writing in my blog again ... about New Year's resolutions again. I did fairly well with my resolutions from 2009. Well, sorta. I am vowing again to follow that awesome flylady. She has it going on. I like how she approaches the oraginizing of one's life. I need it! I spent the last two days following her 15 minute pockets of decluttering. It worked wonders. The back of my car is full of had-to-have items that I am giving to Goodwill. Phew! What a relief!

My other goal this year is to scrapbook my pictures more often. I was inconsistent the last few years and my albums have paid the price. Not only are they are disheveled and disorderly, but have gaping holes in them. I left spaces for "special pictures/stories/etc", and I no longer know what needs to be added at this point. Just where are those pictures let alone the memory that goes along with them?

What else? I'm going to shake up my workouts. I think my body has gotten used to the routines I've been doing for the last several months. Need a change! Something to keep me interested. Getting to the gym and working out is not the problem. I've always been a fanatic, but the sheer boredom is killing me! I've been investigating different routines and look forward to working them in to my daily workouts.

That should be enough for me to get the year started with a bang! Bang! Bang! I am looking forward to a spectacular 2010!

Frenemy

While the Urban Dictionary has many descriptions for this useful word, I chose the following: The type of "friend" whose words or actions bring you down.(whether you realize it as intentional or not) I was listening intently to my new favorite XM station, Cosmo Radio, and heard the word frenemy for the first time. It is now part of my personal lexicon. In an earlier blog, I was whining about the state of my friendships. I had lost two good friends last year, and was lamenting the fact that my "inner circle" was getting smaller and smaller. I still feel this is a good thing. I want my gals to have my back as I would surely have any of theirs. We share intimate details that none of us would want any one else under God's beauteous earth to hear about. Most of the time it's silly, girly stuff - yes, even at my age! And, other times, it's serious and earth-shattering. This can be scary business at times, but there always has been a code that we follow in order to protect each other - at all costs. We laugh at times saying "What happens in _____, stays in ____". But, it's true and solid that it stays there. It also makes me think of that email that comes around every so often, describing how you are suppose to skid in to the grave with a cocktail in one hand, your make up smeared, your body used up ... etc. Life is suppose to be fun. PERIOD! I refuse to not have fun and to enjoy every minute God decides to bless me with! My inner circle certainly gets this. And, I would shoot daggers in someone's eyes if they dissed any of my inner circle friends. That is what you do. So, then why did I bring up frenemy? Probably because of the judging nature of these frenemies. The holier than though people that feel that their way is better ... no ... superior to any one else's. We all react differently to certain things. Death, divorce, anxiety, a midlife crisis, menopause, etc. There is no "right" way to react to any of these. However, those that feel they have the patent on understanding people, feel it's necessary to make sure you know there is a right way. No one knows what is going on in someone else's world. You have to walk a mile in my shoes to sort of understand my life as I would have to walk a mile in any one of my friend's shoes. You just never know. So, why pretend to know and to know better? If I am behaving in a certain way, it's my life, it's my decision, it's my bad, it's my good ... whatever! It's mine! I own it ... I always have and I always will. Frenemies be damned!