How was your Turkey Day?

Ours was great. My sister, Ruthie and her husband Steve invited us for Thanksgiving. I am so glad we went, not only for the wonderful food, (that reminds me, I need to get the recipe for the corn dish!) but got to spend some time with our nieces, nephews and Steve's family! Alice brought a board game to play called Apples to Apples and it was so much fun that we played for hours. Thank you Browns for a wonderful fun filled day!

Yummy Dinner!

Jason & Hailey

Dave & Heather

Steve & where is your wife?

Apples to Apples!

The Anniversary Couple! Mike & Taunya

Megan, whatcha thinking about?

Krystina

Maggie, one of our great nieces!

Hailey, Dusten, & Grandma Alice

Grandma Alice

Me & Sweetie! Notice that beautiful "Family" sign!

Heather & her baby, Maggie! Do you think Maggie had a big day?

Hope you all had a wonderful Turkey Day!

What I know for sure...

The economy is in flux, and so are we. For years I've noticed that the universe speaks to us in whispers. If we still don't pay attention, we get bricks of problems, and if we're really hardheaded, eventually the entire brick wall comes crashing down. This is a pattern I've seen repeated so often in every area of life that I know for sure when you don't pay attention to the pebbles, it's just a matter of time before the bricks show up.

Our nation's financial crisis is the brick wall that's going to force us to deal with the reality of what truly matters. And to face the spiritual crisis of figuring out who we are and who we choose to be.

Our spending and greed for material things that we think will define us have been forcibly put in check. We have a wake-up-call opportunity to get real and be real with others by finding ways to show love, give love, be love without spending a lot of money. It's a chance for us to look beneath the surface, into the culture of excessive more, more, more-ness that got us into this mess.

It will take more than a bailout to get us on the right track. We need a shift in the way we think about our lives. We may have to search deeply to recognize what matters. Sometimes when I ask people what it would take to make them happy, they don't know what to say. They forge an answer about family and friends, and yet their lives are about everything else.

Everything in life has meaning. The bigger the fall, the greater the lesson.

Written by "my" girl Oprah!

Some of my girls...

I don't know why, maybe because Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have been thinking about what I am grateful for, so I thought it would be an approriate topic this week! These are just a few of the woman I respect and love in my life that I wanted to share with you!

Mom is my number one girl! Why, because she gave so much of herself to each one of her eight children. There were so many times that she sacrificed what she needed or wanted for one of us and for that reason she is my number one girl! We lost Mom over 28 years ago! I miss you so much!

My sister, Ruthie is also a Mom who has sacrificed so much for her kids. She is also one of my best friends. No matter what we go through we are still friends. There have been many times I have disagreed with her and of course she has disagreed with me, but we still remain the best of friends. Why do I call her a best friend, because I know that I can confide in her and she will give me her honest opinion. She is also a woman that has had some obstacles in her life and she always seems to "dust herself off, pick herself up, and start again!" Love you Ruthie!

Here are a few other girls in my life that I will post about later!

Wendy Jo

Oprah

Kathleen Reid

Heidi Grace

Aunt Brenda

Teresa

Have a great week and believe me when I say there are a long list of woman that I respect! A lot of those woman are in our family! Will try to share at different times who they are and why I am so thankful to have them in my life!

Oooooooooh Honey...

I got together with my Sister-in-law Becky to scrap yesterday. It was such a nice and relaxing day. We have such a great time in her wonderful craft room!
Look at the two who created me!
George

Reese

This is the Ooooooooooh Honey part, do you see those awesome shelves, wish I had some in my room! hint, hint! Not sure if "Honey" reads my blog.


Becky even made dinner, wow was it yummy, thanks Becky!

It was all about making cards for me, which is usually done on the fly for me, here is a sample of one of the cards I made! The other ones are for the Holidays, which I need to finish!

Thanks again Becky, I had a wonderful day!

Ole' Green Eyes...

I was looking through a magazine today and saw this ad, don't ask me what it was regarding but I immediately thought about designing a scrapbook page like the ad. Do you remember learning about neurons in school, that is what the ad reminded me of? So this is what I came up with, yes you can scrap your furry kids, cuz I say so!

What I Have Learned....

What I Have Learned
-- By Andy Rooney

I Have Learned that...

... the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

... when you're in love, it shows.

... just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

... having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

... being kind is more important than being right.

... you should never say no to a gift from a child.

... I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

... no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

... sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

... simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

... life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

... we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

... money doesn't buy class.

... it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

... under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

... the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

... to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

... when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

... love, not time, heals all wounds.

... the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

... everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

... there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

... no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

... life is tough, but I'm tougher.

... opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

... when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

... I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.

... one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

... a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

... I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

... when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

... everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

... it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is requested and when it is a life threatening situation.

... the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

The Butterfly project...

I was visiting another blog tonight and not only did I come across an amazing blog, but I became aware of the following project. Won't you help?

"Children were neither just the mute and traumatized witnesses to this war, nor merely its innocent victims; the war invaded their imaginations and the war raged inside them." — Nicholas Stargardt in "Witnesses of War: Children's Lives Under the Nazis"

In an effort to remember them, Holocaust Museum Houston is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies. The butterflies will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition, currently scheduled for Spring 2012, for all to remember.
As of Summer 2008, we have already collected an estimated 400,000 butterflies.

Please facilitate the “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” activity and create as many handmade arts-and-crafts butterflies as possible. This project may be completed by all ages as individuals or groups.
Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.
Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.
Glitter should not be used.
Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.
If possible, e-mail a photograph of your butterflies, to butterflyproject@hmh.org.
Please send or bring your butterflies to the Museum by June 30, 2011, with the following information included:
Your name,
Your organization or school,
Your address,
Your e-mail address, and
The total number of butterflies sent.
Mail or bring your butterflies to:
Holocaust Museum HoustonButterfly ProjectEducation Department 5401 Caroline St.Houston, TX 77004 USA
For questions or additional information, please e-mail butterflyproject@hmh.org.
Please click here for a butterfly template.
UPDATE. If you have a Quickutz, click here

Found this free workshop...

on another blog!

I finally did some scrappin'...

today. I received this cute picture of one of my many great nephews and wanted to scrap it instead of putting it on my frig. Jalen is two years old in the picture. This was one of the projects I did today.

Well that didn't take long...

to receive my "Enveloper!" I haven't tried it yet, but when I do I will post a critique. I have been looking forward to today all week. I have a four day weekend and I am so excited. I think I will scrap the entire four days off. Not...I need to do laundry, clean the house, etc. But I am going to a crop on Saturday and I am so looking forward to it. The crop is at a friend's church and the money will go towards their vacation bible school next summer. They have around 35 people signed up. I wish there was a LSS store going to the event. The only vendor that I am aware of is a Creative Memories person, it is just not my style, which believe it or not is a positive! I won't spend so much $$$. I am taking Jessica Sprague's class, click here and I plan on putting the album together and also working on making more Christmas cards for the wounded Vets @ the VA Hospital to send to their loved ones. Which means that I shouldn't need to tote too much there. I plan on working on the album first and if I have time working on the Christmas cards. Will return tomorrow to post what I created on my first day off! Ahhhhhhhh time for myself!

Busy, busy...

weekend! First I want to share with you a new addition to our family. My Goddaughter, Beth gave birth to her third son! He is such a cutie pie! Take a peek:

Owen was born October 31, 2008

My sister invited us out to her home on Saturday night to help celebrate her husband, Steve's birthday and also my Godson's birthday, Zack. When I sat down at the table I swore it was a Thanksgiving feast, tons and tons of food. Rumor has it her birthday boy helped cook a few things.

Steve & Zack, I think they both turned 17, not sure!

I posted earlier last week about a project that I am doing for the Holidays. I am making Holiday cards for the VA in Virginia so the wounded Vets have cards to send to their loved ones. Click here. Well I decided it would be a fun project to share with my loved ones. We made 100 cards in just a couple of hours! Valerie, Heather, Hailey, Megan, and Ruthie, thank you so much for helping me give smiles to our Vets and their families! It was so much fun, as you can see by the pictures below!

Hailey, Heather, Megan, and Valerie

Megan, Valerie, and Ruthie Sunday was the baby shower for my niece, Josie. She is having a boy!

Josie

I did have a few minutes to get a little crafty this weekend. Made this Christmas ornament. Remember me telling you that I was going to make a project with my pinking shears. I used felt, stickles, prima flowers, misc. cord, brads, and heart embellishment.

Have a great week!

The "Enveloper"...

In the crafting community we share ideas with each other and I can't remember who shared this idea, but you have to stop sharing or maybe I need to stop looking...NOT!

Have you seen this cool new tool? I am so into tools! I want, no I neeeeeeeeed this tool! A description:

Craft professional cards and scrapbooking pages with The Enveloper from Crafter's Companion
Craft tool helps you create matching envelopes for your card creations
Ideal for use with most arts and crafts projects
Transform any sheet of 12 inch x 12 inch paper into an envelope
Nine different sizes

Don't you think this is something to add to my "toolbox?"

Happy 17th Birthday Zack!

Wow unbelievable that my Godson is already 17 years old. I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday and you will never believe where he was...in a tree stand hunting deer. That wasn't a surprise to me since that is one of the things he loves to do especially during bow and arrow season. I use to feel bad for the deer, but since a couple of years ago when a large one ran out in front of me while I was driving and scared the bajeebers(is this a word?) out of me and caused $7500 worth of damage to my car, don't feel so bad about him hunting. Especially since they eat what they catch! I love you so much Zack!

Finally...

can you believe I didn't have a pair of pinking scissors? I stopped at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% coupon and picked a pair up. Now for my next layout using those new scissors...hopefully I can find sometime this weekend to play! I love three day weeks, but where did all my extra time go? Maybe uploading pictures to my blog?!?!?!?!

Please feel free to print either coupon! JoAnn's

One of my friends sent this post, isn't this a great idea?

Here in Richmond, VA is home to a huge veterans hospital where many of our seriously wounded vets are sent, many away from their homes and away from their family and friends. I contacted American Red Cross and together we have formed a plan. At this time, there are 480 wounded vets in this hospital. My goal and the reason I need YOUR help is because I would like to make sets of cards to give to each wounded vet so that he may send cards to his/her loved ones at Christmas. The cards in each set should be the same or similar in design and each should include an envelope. Each set should include 10 cards. You can tie a ribbon around each set. I need to have the cards by December 1st.American Red Cross is going to have a stamp drive in order to try and provide stamps for each card but if you would like to also donate stamps, anything would be appreciated. My goal is to provide each wounded soldier with a set of cards for this hospital so I knew the only way to obtain this goal is to reach out to the talented and generous group of crafters in this community. Please email me if you are interested -- paperdesignsbysharon@gmail.com. Thanks so much.

Hershey Fisk*a*Friendzy...

Wow! Wendy Jo, one of the Lead Fisk*a*teers hosted this amazing one day event. It was sponsored by Fiskars, which is a wonderful and caring company. I sent an email to Wendy Jo prior to the event asking if she needed any help and she replied by asking me to help at this spectacular event. I was so honored to help in anyway I could. A few of the things I got to do is assist in setting up the room and passing out Fiskars tools and goodies!The most important part was getting to know Wendy Jo, Debby, and Pammie Jo on a personal level and calling them my friends! Equally as important, was making new friends while I was passing out the great prizes!

Wendy Jo

Debby

Pammie Jo

Registration began:

Carrie & Pammie Jo

Fisk*a*teers

Fisk*a*Friendzy Kit#1 with Cloud9 paper and especially designed by Wendy Jo for us: Guest Speaker:

Kathleen Reid author of "A Page Out of Life"

and yes I have my very own autographed copy!

Tag/ATC Swap:

The one I made is on the far top left

Lunch:

Yummo! Buffet style!

Karl McCall of the Hershey Resort

guided us through a chocolate tasting event!

Some of that chocolate was bitter, the piece to the right is the milk chocolate, which was my fav!

One of the Fisk*a*teers of the Year 2008 Congrats Debby!

Hershey Trolley Works Tour:

Here comes our trolley!

Perfect photo opp!

Place of birthplace of Milton(click on Milton to read his amazing story) Herhey.

Chocolate World:

My sweetie went with me to Hershey!

Another amazing woman, Carrie another newly made friend!

Chocolate Sensation Station:

Meet all my new friends:

Break time.... I need to run and vote! Did you vote yet?

Ok, I am back! I couldn't believe that I walked right in, voted and no line!

Door Prizes:

Just a small porition of what was given away!

The Stamp Factory(Frankie) winner!
and more prizes as we were ending our day! Hi Michon!

Michon's story will be saved for another post

These are the 5 Lead Fisk*a*teers!

"Hummelstown House!" Jim and I ate Sunday brunch here and we are so glad we did! This is a definite stop if you are ever in Hummelstown, PA. I can still taste the carmel french toast!!!!
One last stop, "Fancy That" in Hummelstown, PA. Were you wondering why we were in Hummelstown? Wendy Jo told me there was a scrapbook store and if you know anything about me, I was not going to give up a chance to see another store. I walked into the store and the Fisk*a*teers began coming out of the woodwork. The picture below does not include all of the girls because some were too busy shopping to stop and smile for the camera! We began our weekend dressed in orange and ended the weekend dressed in pink, imagine that!
Goodbye PA! One of the 4 tunnels my husband and I went through! Here we come Michigan! Do you think I was crazy to drive over 1100 miles to attend this event? I would do it again in a heartbeat. New friends, PRICELESS!