Paper Roses

Calisthenics

2012-01-25T13:28:00.002-05:00

One of the steps on the diet is 20 min (I break it up into 10 in the morning and 10 a night) of calisthenics. So this morning I attempted to sit up (I never could do those), followed by crunches, push ups, knee bends and jumping jacks. It is a sad testament to know how sore I am right now. I knew I was over weight, but I have been attending Curves regularly (Ok, pretty regularly - about 300 times in the past 2 years) and I honestly thought that I was in semi-decent shape. That delusion was shattered as I tried to do just 2 min. of each of the exercises.

I am making other progress though. I have a daily weight chart in the bathroom. Talk about motivation. It is right there on the wall for everyone to see. If that doesn't keep me on track, nothing will. I have also dug out a water bottle and keep it by me most of the time to keep drinking that water.

I am off to a good start, but I am still looking for a diet buddy so I guess that is next on my list.

2012-01-24T12:48:00.002-05:00

Ok, confession is food for the soul, or so I have heard it said. It is that time for me.

In 2009 I was have a very successful time watching my weight, but then life happened. I had lost 40 pounds bur lost interest/motivation to loose any more. I spent the next year inching my way back up the scale. I guess the good news is that I didn't gain all 40 back, but I did gain more than half it it back.

So here I am again. I want to loose weight, and I need to as well. I do not have medical insurance so I figure that I better be in the best shape I can be to be as healthy as I can be. In reality, that means I need to loose at least 50 pounds, but I would like to loose 60 even better. However, I don't know that the 60 is reason able so I will see what is reasonable once I get closer to the actual goal. (By loosing 50, I would be within my BMI and 60 would put me at the lowest end of it)

I have done this so many times that I know what to do, it is just a matter of doing it. I know a number of programs etc. I know what works, I just have to put the candy down and get to the gym. However I did pick up a book from the library (I am not silly enough to actually buy a weight loss book when I can get them at the library for free). It is called The Flex Diet and it lists a number of things that may help loose weight - blogging was one of them. Being that I had a blog I figured that it wouldn't hurt to try it. (Not to mention, I doubt that anyone would actually read it but it is there if someone wants to)

So here I am, again. Wish me luck

So here we go (again)....

2012-01-23T15:12:00.002-05:00

As I am sure that you can guess Cookin' Up Creations is one of my favorite sites. In February, they are having a non-elimination Crop chef competition. Of course, I am entering. I would love it if you did too. You can leave a comment or follow the link: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=135

and join me in the fun.

ATC Challenge

2012-01-14T12:58:00.005-05:00

At Cookin' up Creations they are having a "use up your stash" challenge this month. The challenge on 1/5 was to make ATC. Now I knew what they were, but not knowing anyone I could really exchange them with, I had never bothered making them. However I stepped up to the challenge.

I made four of them. One was for each of my children. The fourth was for a friend of my duaghter's. We pick her up and take her to church with us most Sundays. On the front was their name and something that sort of fit their personality. On the back was a Bible verse which I chose for each of them.

Here they are:

2012-01-04T12:46:00.002-05:00

The new year has started and Cookin' up Creations is having a "Use up your Stash" challenge. http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=103

Now I have plenty of stash and I am always up for a contest so I entered.

The first challenge I did was to make an accordian card following the directions given here (obviously, not mine) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIygXqYYd0&feature=youtu.be

I changed it up for my cards. I only made half the card making a pop up card to which I added an hanging "charm". Here are my cards:

Wedding Pictures

2012-01-02T16:25:00.013-05:00

Our Hometown Voice, a local newspaper, ran a contest in January of 2011. The contest was for men only. They had to write an essay on how they proposed to their wife. The winner would receive a renewal of their wedding vows on Valentine's day. This included the ceremony at al house which was part of the Strongsville Historical Society performed by the mayor of Strongsville, corsages for the wedding party, a new dress for the bride, teeth whitening for the whole wedding party, a visit to a salon which included hair cut and color a well as a manicure and pedicure, a cake and champagne reception, dinner at a local restaurant, and a night at a hotel. Tom entered the contest and won. Here are the pictures:

The winning essay is as follows:

“Have a banana!” That is how I verbally react when the children in my audience actually say, “Abracadabra!” in my magic shows. I have been a part time children’s entertainer for better than 30 years. Ironically, that is how my relationship with my wife of nearly twenty years began.

Kimberly was sixteen. I was twenty-one. We were both attending a very formal New Years Eve party at the home of mutual friends. I went to high school with the hosting family’s daughter. Kimberly was friends with the twin younger sisters of my classmate. The hostess still remains ever the matchmaker. Okay…she’s good at it!

I was performing some close-up magic at the basement bar, when the hostess asked me to entertain a lovely young lady. That is when I met Kimberly. She was an adorable young lady who was trying to fit in with the older crowd. Though she was too young to date at my much “older” age, I found her to be a delightful audience with a great sense of humor. Happy New Year!

Fast forward a few years to a fundraiser I was hired to perform by the hostess of the New Years Eve party. Once again, I was performing my magical routines. This time, it was at a fund raising event. It was a “Mardi Gras Party” to raise funds for a local theatre group. Much to my surprise, Kimberly was working as an actress in the murder mystery cast. We met up afterwards, and since she was now at the ripe age of nineteen, I could ask her out on a date. That date was the following night, Valentine’s Day!

The date was held at the very last minute. As a way to romance my date, I invited Kimberly to my parents’ house to watch a TV show. I know. You, the reader, are overwhelmed by this romantic gesture. Furthermore, the show was the BBC science fiction series “Doctor Who”. Each episode of this cult TV show could be funded by the weekly wages of a newspaper carrier back in the 1980’s. But, we had learned that we were both fans of this long-running series. We actually had a marvelous time watching the show, and the romance developed.

Following Kimberly’s college graduation, I knew that she was the one for me. After time, careful consideration and prayer, I had purchased a ring. It was now time to ask her father for permission to marry Kimberly. Ralph was a late life father. He was fifty when Kimberly was born. Ralph had a great sense of humor, though he was lacking in hearing ability in his later years. While Kimberly was not at home, I dined with her parents to ask them the big question, “I have purchased an engagement ring. May I please marry your daughter?” Ralph immediately responded, “WHAT?” Barbara, Kimberly’s mother explained, “Tom’s asking for your Kim’s hand in marriage.” Ralph immediately understood and responded, “Aw hell. Take them both!”

Done! I had the ring. I had permission. Now it was to the course of asking Kimberly. I had it all planned. I planned to pop the question on New Years Eve at the same party, at the same place I had met her, performing magic tricks. GENIUS! I cleared it with the ever so willing hostess. I even had the trick all planned out.

New Years Eve morning I woke up violently sick with the flu. I had to call off work. I called Kimberly. She told me to stay at home, and not go out on New Years Eve. I steadfastly refused. She must of thought I had lost my mind. Later, I drove to her parents’ home, and picked her up for the party. I was wearing my tuxedo and was determined to go to this event. We found our way down to the bar where we had met. I started to perform some magic for the onlookers. Then, I asked for a finger ring. I selected Kimberly, who was wearing a costume ring. I had tied two pieces of string around a pencil. On the right side, I had threaded my own ring through. On the left side, I had threaded Kimberly’s ring. I tied the strings together so that neither ring could escape. I pulled the pencil out and tapped the string, and both rings dropped into Kimberly’s hands.

I took my own ring, and asked her if the remaining ring was hers. Kimberly examined it, and immediately recognized it as an engagement ring. I dropped to one knee.

Today, when one of the kid’s offers me, “Have a banana.” I can say, “Abracadabra?”

Nearly twenty years after our wedding, we are the proud parents of three terrific kids who are fans of the “new” Doctor Who TV series, have all helped Daddy perform magic onstage, and are a delight to both Kimberly and myself. We have been blessed by well over twenty years of love and being loved by the God who brought us together.

We chose to have our children be in the wedding party. The girls just happened to have dresses that matched and the same for the tie an cumber bun for our son.

Books

2012-01-02T14:31:00.002-05:00

Yes, I love reading. just for the fun of it I decided to track all the books I read in 2011. About mid December, I realized that I was just over 90 books so I challenged myself to see if I could get to 100 by the end of the year. On the 20th I had 11 days in the year left and 9 books to read to get to the century mark. I didn't make it to 100, I surpassed it by three. Here is a list of the 103 books I read in 2011:

1. The Magical worlds of Harry Potter - David Colbert

2. Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex - Eoin Colfer

3. Lady Macbeth - Susan Fraiser King

4. The Templar Salvation - Raymond Khoury

5. Mysterious Messages - Gary Blackwood

6. The Magical Worlds of Narnia - David Colbert

7. the Mummy case - Elizabeth Peters

8. Exploring the Titanic - Robert Ballard

9. the Middle of Nowhere - Ridley Pearson

10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rolling

11. The Lion the witch and the Wardrobe 0 C.S. Lewis

12. Fearless - Max Lucado

13. The Youngest Templar - Keeper of the Grail - Michael Spradlin

14. The Youngest Templar - Trail of Fate - Michael Spradlin

15. The Youngest Templar - Orphan of Destiny - Michael Spradlin

16. The Magical Worlds of Lord of the Rings - David Colbert

17. The Abyssinian Proof - Jenny White

18. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rolling

19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rolling

20. Where Memories Lie - Deborah Crombie

21. Heresy - S.J. Parris

22. Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer

23. Beowulf - editor: Michael Morpurgo

24. Gilgamesh - editor: Geraldine McCaughrean

25. A River in the Sky - Elizabeth Peters

26. Artemis Fowl - Eoin colfer

27. The Inner Circle - Brad Meltzer

28. Fables: Legends in Exile

29. Fables: Animal Farm

30. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis

31. Murder inside the Beltway - Catherine Coulter

32. Whiplash - Catherine Coulter

33. Fables: Storybook Love

34. Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis

35. The Doomsday Key - James Rollins

36. The Heretic's Daughter - Kathleen Kent

37. Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers

38. Nefertiti - Nick drake

39. Tailspin - Catherine Coulter

40. Bloodwork - Michael Connely

41. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rolling

42. Fables: The Mean Season

43. Candleman - Society of Unrelenting Vigilance - Glenn Dakin

44. True Blue - David Baldacci

45. Fables: Homelands

46. Wishing for Tomorrow - Hillary McKay

47. The Return of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

48. Fables: Arabian Nights

49. One Step Behind - Hennig Mankell

50. Fables: Wolves

51. Fables: Sons of the Empire

52. Fables: the Good Prince

53. Artemis Fowl and the Opal of Deception- Eoin Colfer

54. Fables: War and Peices

55. Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony- Eoin Colfer

56. The Agency - Y.S. Lee

57. The Sixth Man - David Baldacci

58. Knockout - Catherine Coulter

59. Breach of Promise - Perri O'Shaughnessy

60. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rolling

61. The Maze - Catherine Coulter

62. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - J.K. Rolling

63. One Summer - David Baldacci

64. Murder on Lexington Avenue - Victoria Thompson

65. Ruined - Paula Morris

66. The Agency The Body in the Tower - Y.S. Lee

67. Fables: the Great Fables Crossover

68. Jack of Fables - the Nearly Great Escape

69. The Ghost of Clutchfield Hall - Mary Dawing Hahn

70. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis

71. Horrible Histories - Awesome Ancient Ancestors - Elizabeth Levey

72. The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank

73. Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox- Eoin Colfer

74. From Homer to Harry Potter - Matthew Dickerson & David Oham

75. The Prison Angel - Mary Jordan & Kevin Sullivan

76. The Bible

77. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

78. Entwined - Heather Dixon

79. I wish I knew That - Steve Martin

80. Horrible Histories: Rotten Romans - Terry Deary

81. Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

82. Green Myths - Diane Namm

83. Emma - Jane Austin

84. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austin

85. Ancient Medecine - Michael & Mary Woods

86. Haunted Lakes II - Fredrick Stonehouse

87. The Ransomed Heart - John Eldridge

88. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin

89. Epic - John Eldridge

90. A Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

91. The Christmas Train - David Baldacci

92. Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne

93. The Case for Christianity - C.S. Lewis

94. Dewey - Vicki Myron

95. Nowhere to Run - C.J. Box

96. The Black death - Terrance de Hahn

97. The Horse and his Boy - C.S. Lewis

98. Dengue Fever - Katherine White

99. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne

100. True Green - Kim Mckay & Jenny Bonnim

101. Epidemic: Smallpox in the New World - Stephanie Peters

102. The Black Death 1347-1350 - Cath Senken

103. Interred with their Bones - Jennifer Carrell

Auf Wiedersehen

2011-07-12T10:55:00.003-04:00

My older daughter began attending Awana at Westlake Bible Fellowship 3 years ago. it was then that we met a truly amazing group of believers. WBF is a new testament church. They are not associated with any official church or denomination. They do not have any full time staff. They model their church after the church in the book of Acts. God is with them and they are doing an excellent job of following his lead.

We attended Awana at another church but they did hot have the junior high program. My daughter wanted to continue on so we found Westlake. Shorty after my younger daughter began attending there as well.

I didn't realize how much WBF had become part of my life. I would sometimes help with snacks or listen to verses. I began to know the people there and although was not all that close to any o them was comfortable with all of them.

In the fall of 2010 - partially because of our excitement about the Awana program - our home church, Trinity, began an Awana program of their own. However as was recommended by the missionary they did not start with a high school class. They were advised to "grow" one as the clubbers entered high school. My older daughter needed a high school class so we stayed at Awana at WBF even though Tom was the commander at Trinity Awana.

Starting in the fall of 2011 there will be a high school class at Trinity so the girls have chosen to attend there. It wasn't until I realized that I would not be seeing the people I have spent every Sunday night with for 3 years that I realized just how much I was going to miss them.

So the Awana awards ceremony this year was bittersweet. I knew that we would be back or VBS and were welcome to drop in any time. But I also made sure that I got pictures of Emily with her leaders at the ceremony

Awana Awards

2011-05-13T22:25:00.004-04:00

Yet another year of Awana has ended. I can't believe that it has been 13 years for Eva and 6 for Emily. I still remember when they were Cubbies, but they are not any more.

This year was Eva's first year in Journey. It changes that were wrought by entering high school.

Emily completed her first book in Truth and Training (aka. T&T). In addition to finishing the book, she also earned all the Silver and Gold. She was the only one of any of the kids to do so.

Something New

2011-05-09T10:25:00.004-04:00

I have been scrapping for well over a decade and it still amazes me the way that this hobby keeps evolving. I am still learning how to do new and different things. I had read about shaker boxes for years, but until I was challenged to do one, I had never bothered. The challenge had a very nice tutorial that I read over but then typically, I went and figured out how I could do it myself.

By far the hardest part of making this shaker box was to get the "filling" I knew that I wanted the parts of a watch (or something that looked like it) I had an old watch that would fit the bill, but I had to pry the back off and take it apart without watchmakers tools. Holy Cow! Those screws are small!

To make the shaker box I used a Tim Holtz stamp that had a distinctive part in it - that was my base for the box. In this it was the smaller circle within the clock.

I stamped another image of the clock on the same paper and then cut out the circle and its center leaving me with a ring.

Using that ring, I cut a piece of clear acrylic and adhered it to the top of the ring. I adhered the acrylic over the ring.

Once all the pieces were made, I used my hot glue gun to trace the small clock on the stamp. While it was still wet, I put in my cogs and gears. I then gently pressed the ring onto the stamped image. I didn't want to press too hard because of course it was the glue that was making the sides of the box and giving the whole embellishment dimension.

After it dried I put a layer of stickles over the ring and I had my perfect embellished shaker box.

Tie the Knot

2011-05-03T12:54:00.003-04:00

I heard this somewhere, but alas, I don't know where. I just love the idea so I want to pass it along here as well.

I have always had a difficult time making knots or bows on my projects. They were too bulky, I didn't have enough ribbon to make a bow, I warped the project getting enough ribbon to tie, the knot or bow was not where I wanted it. In short I tried to avoid using tied ribbon if at all possible. Then, I discovered this and I can now put ribbon on any project and have a perfect bow or knot.

The first step is to adhere the ribbon to the project. I will adhere mine at the ends just in case I want to move something. I will then place another piece of the same ribbon where I want it tied.

After that I tie the knot or make the bow. I make sure that the ribbon I am working with is long enough to make the size bow or knot that I want. The great part about this is that if the placing is not exactly where I want it, I can just slide the knot up or down to where I want it to be.

And here is a sample of the ribbon tied onto a card

Proofreaders wanted

2011-04-25T17:03:00.002-04:00

My son uses a virtual school. Throughout the year they have opportunities to go on "live" field trips. There is one that he is not interested in doing - GROSS ANATOMY LAB TOUR at the UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO. I am rather sad because it sounds like it would be VERY interesting to me, but my son is not interested in the least. I don't think that they would appreciate a parent coming without a student.

The tour description follows: Each year we take tours through the lab where students and parents learn about the human anatomy guided by medical students. The HUMAN CADAVERS are donated by gracious people who wanted to help students with their medical careers. The University of Toledo opens these tours up for younger students as well and this is where you can be a part of this tour!

This sounds like it would be right up my alley but the better part is later in their letter. After the description of the tour they include this statement, "Students will receive goody bags from the University and a handy gift from OHVA for attending the tour"

Hmmmmm students touring basically a morgue and they will receive "goody bags" I can just hear it now.

"Hey mom look, I got a spleen!"

"That is terriffic, Johnny. What did you get Mary?"

" I got an an eyeball and a finger - I like the spleen better. Want to trade?"

Oops, my bad. they said that they would all be "handy" goody bags. I wonder whether it was the right or the left one.

2011-04-04T11:24:00.003-04:00

April is here and spring is coming (although it is taking its good sweet time doing it) To honor springtime as something different than snow and cold I chose a different orientation for the card this time.

The paper I used is 9x8. when it is folded in half lengthwise, the card is 9 x4 - which means that it fits perfectly into a standard business size envelope. The large block is perfect for a larger stamp image or as I used, a wordsworth vellum sticker.

Yet another sketch

2011-03-22T08:45:00.005-04:00

Tammy, the owner of Cookin' Up Creations asked me as one of the DT alumni to post a challenge with a sketch and a tutorial today. I jumped at the chance to do it. The tutorial I chose is for the paper rose that was posted earlier this month on my blog. I loved the flower so much that rather than use someone else's sketch, I made my own so I could showcase my flower. Here is the sketch:

I was also asked to make a sample using the sketch. I knew just the pictures that I wanted to use. It was of "the girls" at the New Year's Eve party. They were all dressed wonderfully so I had a picture of them all together. I kept the layout simple to focus on the pics and on the rose. Here it is:

I love sketches

2011-03-19T16:12:00.006-04:00

I love sketches - I have found that they are a wonderful boost to my creativity. This sketch is a PageMaps sketch. It is a challenge for a DT application at Scrapbook Express.

Here are my projects 2 layouts and one card

I made this layout first. I got to the point where I just added and added stuff, but it never looked right so I decided to give it another try.
I am much happier with the second layout. The colors are great and I kept much closer to the sketch.
Of the three projects I like the card the best. It, like the first layout, it is not exactly like the sketch, but I think that it is my best work with the sketch.

St.Patrick's Day - really

2011-03-17T12:15:00.003-04:00

What is is about? NOT parades or green beer. It is a solemn religious holiday. To properly observe it, spend the day in church, not the local pub.

St. Patrick was born in Scotland (Yes, he is Scottish, NOT Irish.) He was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave. At that time the religion of Ireland was Pagan and Druid. As a slave Patrick (whose whose real name was Maywen Sugat ) learned the language and the ways of his captors. During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. Eventually he was delivered back home to Scotland. He was then moved to go back to Ireland to spread the gospel of Christ. Just as he used Joseph's sale into slavery for the good of his family, he used Patrick's slavery for the good of the Irish people who oppressed him.

He was able to convert many pagans and unbelievers to Christianity. He eventually became the Bishop of Ireland and set up many Christian churches there. The Catholic church recognized his efforts and made him a saint. It is that man and those acts that are the reason for observing St. Patrick's day. The idea of the day is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland. March 17 is the anniversary of his death. The Irish have observed this religious day for thousands of years. Traditionally, families attend church early in the morning.

That is the history of St. Patrick's day. I am not Catholic. I really don't pay much attention to saints of any type but I respect those who do. If you feel led to observe the day - go to your local parish. Pray and meditate - that is what the day is designed for.

However just as I am offended by those who have taken the Christ out of Christmas, I am equally offended by the traditional (at least American) observance of St. Patrick's day. It has NOTHING to do with drinking to excess, parades or beer. It also has noting do do with green. it is the color of Ireland, but NOT the color associated with St. Patrick. That is blue. If you want to observe it do so. If you want to get drunk, you really don't need a special day to do it so leave the saints alone.

March 15 card sketch

2011-03-15T13:35:00.004-04:00

This is the sketch for the March 15 card sketch at Scrapbook News and Review:

This is the card I made with the sketch. It was first posted at Cookin' up Creations as their product reveal on 3/7

I served on the DT there. One of the sponsors, Gel-A-Tins, that I had the pleasure to work with was sponsoring the site again. Being that I had the supplies, I was asked if I would like to make a project and this is the result.

The "Happy Birthday" is a stamp, but not theirs. I made the flower using the script letter l. I just stamped the image multiple times rotating a little each time. I really like the way that they"tail" made the cool pattern in the middle. I am going to need to try this again using different letters and fonts and see what I can come up with.

Luddite to the core

2011-03-11T11:16:00.003-05:00

I am on several scrapbooking sites and at some point being that we work with pictures, the topic of cameras comes up. I realize that I am WAY behind the technological wave, but I love my film camera.

I have a Canon Rebel 35mm SLR - and LOVE it. I saved up and got it about 5 years ago and have not had a single regret. I wish I could say that I have had the same experience with digital cameras.

I entered the digi world a few years ago. I was sending my kids to camp armed with disposable cameras. I would get the cheapest ones that I could find - about $2 each. When they came home I would develop them and see some decent pictures but also many blurred or pictures of the inside of their backpack or their fingers in front of the lens. After paying for the developing when the summer was over I had handful of usable pictures and an emptier wallet. It was then that I thought that compared to this process that a point and shoot digital camera might not be a bad investment.

The first one I bought was from a friend who had purchased it for her mother, but her mother never used it. It was a Nikon - not top of the line, certainly but not trash either. I don't know if the camera was just old and didn't work right, or if the kids did something to it, but about a year later, it died.

Not wanting to go down the same path with the disposable camera again, I got another point and shoot digi. This time it was a rebuilt Canon. It came with a guarantee and from my favorite camera store so I trusted it. That camera lasted about 2 years before it died.

All in all after paying for the cameras verses the disposable cameras and the developing, I thing I am actually behind financially. If it were only an issue of money I might not be as annoyed, but I simply do not like digital cameras. There is a shutter lag that I just can not get used to. It is very hard for me to get a good digital picture because I am used to pressing the shutter and going. That can't be done with a digi camera.

What I have heard many people say is that you can take many digital pictures and that way *know* that you are going to take at least a few good ones. Over all, I don't think that is the case. People get lazy and don't use good photography habits. They just keep pressing the shutter. Yes, extra stuff can be cropped out etc, but over all, their pictures are not as good as they could be.

I have to pay for every one of my pictures, so I take the time to line up the shot, make sure that there isn't an overflowing trash can in the background, and assure that the lighting is the way I want it. And most of the time, I get it right - the first time. I would guess that on a roll of film with 24 exposures, I might have one or two that I am not happy with. No non-professional digital photographer I know of can boast of around a 90% success rate at getting the pictures that they want.

We are now on our third digital camera - and I HATE this one too. Maybe there will be a day when I no longer have a choice because I will not be able to get my prints made, but until that day, I am going to keep my old fashioned film camera and keep loving it.

Lent

2011-03-08T11:50:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday - the start of Lent. Lent is the season leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ. And in this "Gotta Have it NOW" world is not observed by many. I am guilty of that as well. This year I have however thought of what will really help me prepare and understand so I am actively observing Lent.

I am not now nor have I ever been Catholic. I believe that Catholics in general are much more observant of Lent that the Protestants (Unless of course it interferes with something that they like more such as drinking green beer on St. Pat's Day). Most I know about what Catholics do or don't do is by a friend, fellow co-worker or student "giving up" something for Lent.

Growing up, this confused me. I never saw how not eating chocolate or drinking pop for 40 days had anything at all to do with the death of Christ. Honestly, I am still a little fuzzy on that. However I was blessed enough to learn from a minister a way that does make sense to me. Although there is noting wrong with the sacrifice of giving something up, I learned to not only give up, but replace.

So this year I looked at what I do when I am not doing anything important. Two things sprung to the front of my mind - Tetris and Facebook. I can make the cut from Tetris simply enough, but as I have some commitments (that is how I communicate with my Angelfood church) I can't completely cut it off. Here is the compromise - Tetris will be cut off and a timer will be used whenever I am on Facebook so I will limit the time there. I am sure that once those distractions are gone, I will have quite a bit of time on my hands. In that time I am committing to not just waste it, but spend that time in prayer, devotions, or Bible reading.

At the end of this season, I will then be really ready to celebrate the resurrection of my Lord - and the lure of technology will not have as strong a pull over my life. In essence, I am taking what doesn't matter and exchanging it for something with eternal rewards. How can I loose?

Distressing Weekend

2011-03-05T20:51:00.004-05:00

It has been a very distressing weekend - and I am enjoying every minute of it. As a treat, I purchased some Tim Holtz distress ink and I have been playing with them of late. With each project (and each reviewed tutorial) I think I am getting better at it.

This card was made for a challenge at Cookin' up Creations. The flower in the center is painted with distress ink. The image was stamped with embossing powder. I put some on my craft sheet and added water. I applied the paint to the stamped image with a paint brush. The background was also made with distress ink. I spread it on the craft sheet, spritzed it and then dragged the paper through it. I learned the hard way to stop before I think I should as more than once I just ended up with a mess on the craft sheet and a soggy piece of brown paper.

I used the crumpled distress technique for the background on the stamped portion of this card. I had made a large sheet and used some of it on a layout. This was just a scrap. The real technique I was playing with is I used Perfect Pearls on the wet distress ink. Lesson learned here - for this to work, the background must be COMPLETELY dry. The flowers are stamped in dusty concord and then covered with the iridescent purple pearls.

Of all the experimentation, I think this one came out the best. I was using the Distress Ink, but I was playing more with the layering of stamps than an actual distress technique. But now it is time to go and do some more playing and perfecting of my distress techniques.

Transformed Envelopes

2011-03-03T20:47:00.002-05:00

One of these days I am going to have a super idea and make my own video. One of these day, but that day is not today. This is another from the SNR web site that I thought was a great idea. Scroll down and see the little bag I made

I used an old envelope and stamped it with some flourish stamps. I also added some depth by using some distress ink on the background. The medallion in the center was made with Paper Parachute stamps.

Now all I need is a reason to give a gift and someone to give it to(I only give home made gifts/cards to people who appreciate it)

2 step Owl Punch Rose

2011-03-03T20:23:00.001-05:00

I wish that I could take credit for this but I can't. I found the link on Scrapbook News and Review and fell in love. I think it is the BEST paper flower I have ever seen. I have not made it yet because I do not have an owl punch but it is beautiful enough that I have to do some experimenting and see if I could use something like a heart or a teardrop. If I ever get it figures out, I will post the results here.

What were they thinking?

2011-03-02T13:43:00.002-05:00

I have asked myself that many times about many things so now I am going to put some of these questions in one place:

Who ever came up with the idea of short sleeve sweaters (also in this category are thermal shorts, sleeveless hoodies and other clothing where the style and purpose are opposed)? If it is warm enough to want short sleeves, it is too warm for a sweater. If it is cool enough for a sweater, then I want long sleeves. Whoever thought that this was a good idea?

Why do they make women's shoes that have the top of a pump and the bottom of a tennis shoe? If I want the support of a tennis shoe, then this pump is not going to work. If I want to look dressy, I don't want to have a thick rubber sole on the bottom of my shoe. As far as I am concerned, it is the worst of both options.

I don't only wonder about fashion - what about technology?

Why and CD changers in the trunk of a car? If I want to change the disk, then I need to stop the car, unload the trunk and do it. Not my idea of efficient.

I have trouble with my computer or internet and I call someone to fix it. While I am on hold for hours on end, I hear the recording that if I need assistance I can check out their web site. If I could get to their web site, I wouldn't be sitting on hold listening to their annoying suggestions and insipid muzak.

Along the same lines are instructions for a step by step process that as soon as I do the firs step, I loose the instructions. How am I supposed to complete the steps when ever time I attempt one, I loose then all?

I know that there are so much more, but those were just at the front of my mind today. Maybe I will do some ranting again later.

Card sketches : something new

2011-02-28T13:01:00.004-05:00

I have had the pleasure to have several of my works published at Scrapbook News and Reviews. I finally got around to joining the community there. I have found it very helpful because they are always posting tips, tutorials and youtube links with a ton of ideas.

I jumped on the bandwagon and started a group there - and as you can guess, it is card sketches. I am also posting the sketch and the sample here. Hope you enjoy them - I enjoyed making them.

Christmas Earrings

2010-12-16T09:39:00.002-05:00

Growing up my mom had a pair of holly earrings that she wore every Christmas. These were not anything special. They didn't have any precious stones. I am not even sure that they were metal - it is more likely that they were plastic. However they were the only pair of holiday earrings in the house. Ear piercing was around but neither my mom or I had pierced ears. As the years passed it became more and more difficult to find clip on earrings so my mom became more and more protective as the possibility of replacing any lost earrings became less and less.

It was understood that on Sunday that she would wear those earrings to church during the holidays. I never would have asked to wear them. However as I became older and began attending holiday parties on my own - such as ones for scouts or at a friend's house - I began asking to borrow them. The answer was always the same, "No, you might loose one of them."

Without having any other festive earrings I got some of my own, but I never liked them as much as those holly earrings of my mom's. That didn't stop me from asking to borrow them though. Eventually, she did occasionally relent and let me wear them, but always with a very strict warning not to loose them.

One day I asked if I could borrow them and she said no. I didn't push it and just figured that she had her reason. After several denials, I got up the courage to ask why not. It was then that she had to admit that SHE had lost one of them. I did feel a little sad to loose the earring that I had coveted for years but the feeling of satisfaction that I was not the one who lost one felt even better.

As the years passed mom did eventually get her ears pierced and began collecting a many new earrings but she never threw out the one holly earring. I know that because when she died I went through her things and found the one lonely holly earring that had been without its partner for over a decade. Although it was steeped in memories I didn't feel the need to keep one lone earring so I got rid of it. Even though the earring is long gone, I still remember them and my desire every year to wear them.

Last night I was at a new Bible study. I have been attending for just over a month. It is fairly nice but I have not had the chance to get to know many of the ladies there. We had a cookie exchange and some holiday cheer so a few of the ladies were wearing seasonal clothes and jewelry. I happened to look at the lady next to me and to my great surprise, she was wearing the same holly earrings that had haunted my childhood.

I mentioned that my mom had a pair like that when I was growing up. I told her that my mom often forbade me to wear them because she was afraid that I would loose one and in the end she was the one who lost it.

As I was packing up to leave she gave me her holly earrings. That really touched me. A woman who is almost a total stranger gave me a pair of earrings because she thought that it would make me happy. My own mom wouldn't do that for me. I guess that is just another way that the Lord is seeing that I am taken care of by him (and those who serve him) so much better than I ever could have hoped for.

25 Things

2010-12-06T21:21:00.004-05:00

25 Random Things

I saw this done on someone else's blog & thought it was a fun idea & so I've been putting together my list of 25 Random Things that you may or may not know about me.

1.motorcycles: I like motorcycles. I rode one once and it was a great feeling. I have never driven one but I love to be on the back of one. I have heard from the drivers that I am a good rider. I guess that it just comes naturally to me after decades of riding a bicycle.

2. Raggedy Ann: I got my first Raggedy Ann on my first Christmas. I slept with her most of my childhood and I still have a doll that sits on my dresser (although not the original one)

3. Cocoa only: That is the only hot beverage I like. Keep you coffee and tea. I will have cocoa or nothing.

4. Homeschooling: now that I am in my 12th year of homeschooling it seems hard to believe but when I first read about homeschooling I thought that it was one of the weirdest things that I had ever heard of.

5. Cats: Three is the perfect number of cats for me. I have 3 now - Hope, Blackstone, and Copperfield.

6. Puppets: Yes I have been a puppeteer since I was 16, It might sound like an interesting and different job but in reality it's not. It is very similar to teaching but you have a sock on your hand.

7. Bible: It is the inspired inerrant word of God and I read it regularly. I am planning to read it start to finish again in 2011

8. Husband: I met Tom when I was 16 and he was 21. He seemed so OLD! but cute. I met him at a party but had no idea how to see him again. I knew that he worked in the wine department at the grocery store. I wanted to go there and knock a bottle of wine off the shelf and see if I could see him again, but I never got up the nerve.

9. Breakfast: I hate most breakfast foods - cereal. pancakes, eggs etc. So most of the time breakfast for me is a baked apple or cheese and crackers

10. Bread: I love making bread, rolls and bagels, but the first time I tried it, I didn't know that yeast could die and the package I was using was dead. The bread never rose and it was so terrible that not even the dog would eat it.

11. Applesauce: I will only eat home made. Don't even think of giving me that stuff that you buy in the store. It is simply gross.

12. Vegetables: The green ones are all disgusting. There are a few that I will eat (broccoli, spinach, green beans and some lettuces) but the rest of them are simply gross. It is better off just to avoid them all.

13. Bubble Baths: one of my favorite ways to relax is in a nice warm tub with enough bubble bath to act as insulation and keep it that way for at least an hour.

14. Jellyfish: they are gross and disgusting and I would be very happy if I never saw another one again - not even a picture.

15. Candy: I have a nasty sweet tooth and I love candy. Chocolates are my favorite, but they tend to melt and get on my scrapbooking so my second choice is either skittles or gummy worms/bears.

16. Reading: I love to read just about anything. My favorite book is the Bible but I also like sci-fi/fantasy and adventure

17. Movies: If I am lucky I will get to see about one a year in the theater. I have some of my favorites at home and have seen them so many times that I can practically recite them. They include Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Hunt for Red October, Princess Bride, Independence Day, and the Three Musketeers.

18. Shoes: I do not understand the obsession with shoes. I own a pair of tennis shoes, a pair of dress flats, sandals for summer and dress boots for winter. That is it and that is enough.

19. Travel: I would love to travel to many places around the world including most of Europe, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Australia. I would love to, but as far is reality is concerned, the only countries I have been in other than the U.S. are Canada and the Bahamas.

20. Employment: The last few years have been an exception. I have only had 2 - 3 paying jobs at a time. For most of my life I had at least 4 jobs. Those are in addition to being wife, mom, and teacher.

21. Letters: When I am angry or upset, I write very nasty letters. (The girl scout council is my target most of the time) My kids quiver at them and say that they would prefer to be grounded than to receive one of my letters. They say it scares them too much.

22. Technology: I am a Luddite. I am so bad with technology that it is almost funny. I do not text (I really don't see a point in it any way if you need to tell some one something, just call them - you have the phone) and I have no idea what to do with a pager. I have my computer set up the way I like it and even though it is not optimized, I won't let anyone "improve" it because I don't want to have to learn anything more about it.

23. Film: Yes, I use and love my film camera. I had a digi one and hated it. I know that there are some good digi cameras out there, but not in my price range. The cheap digis all have a shutter lag that I just can't seem to get used to so I mess up the pics. Never do that with film so I will stick with film

24. Role Playing: I really like it. Even wen to a con this summer. Very fun, but I just don 't have enough time to really pursue it. If given a chance though, I will reminiss about past campaigns and games. D&D is my favorite. I think I like 3.5 best but I have played them all from 2nd edition to the present.

25. Friends: I have more cyber friends than friends I see with any regularity.

Making Dinner vs. Cooking Meat

2010-08-28T16:09:00.002-04:00

I confess, I like to cook. I am challenged most of the time by a limited budget and picky eaters (myself included in that category) but I do like to cook. I do it most nights of the week. The worst part of cooking for me is not the actual food preparation - that is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out what to make. I hated that job so much that I made a deal with the older kids. They come up with and prepare 1 dinner a weed each and I will do the kitchen cleanup afterwards.

There is another player in this game about cooking too - my husband. He LOVES and I mean LOVES to grill. He is addicted to it. He is outside when the temperature is 20 below with a wind chill cold enough to cool off hell itself standing at the grill. I like that he grills but he doesn't cook dinner. He says that he cooks dinner but he doesn't. He just cooks the meat.

He will come in and say"The meat is almost done, what are we having with it?"

He thinks he is cooking dinner but he is cooking meat. Now rather than figuring out what to have I have the even tougher job of trying to figure out what will go with the eclectic spices, rubs and marinades that he uses.

Am I wrong? Is making dinner no more than cooking meat. If that is the case, I have been doing it wrong for years. I don't think I am. I just want to know, who told them that they were the same thing?

Such a Lovely Neighborhood

2010-08-15T13:21:00.003-04:00

Well it was when we moved in almost 20 years ago. There were some of the nicest neighbors that anyone could want. There were kids playing and everyone at least recognized everyone else. No it was not perfect, but it was a nice place to live.

But that was 20 years ago and the world was very different. Now the neighborhood is basically made of transient renters who are not here long enough to get to know. I wouldn't mind so much if they were moving on to better things, but many of late seem to be moving on...to incarceration.

The house next door has been a challenge for the better part of the last decade. The landlord that bought it did so just about the time we bought our house. He may not have been the best but he seemed to screen his applicants well and we always had decent people living next door. Then for reasons that I do not know he sold the house that that is when things started to slide.

The first thing that he did was raise the rent preventing the family who were living there from staying. The first renters were very quiet but by far, they have been the best who have lived there since the house was sold. I believe that they were Muslim and although they were quiet and reserved they were nice to have next door. I am happy for them that they inherited a house in the suburbs and moved to a really nice house. However that was the beginning of the slide down the slippery slope.

The people who moved in next were not too bad except for their somewhat illegal practice of raising dogs for dog fighting - pit-bulls no less. Although the dogs never threatened us in any way, I was never comfortable living next to 13 of them. I was saddened when most of the dogs died in the fire in that house. I may not have liked them, but they certainly did not deserve to die like that. Not surprising, those people found a new place to live after the fire and never came back.

That is when the real trouble started. The current landlord then hired some questionable men to rebuild the house including but not limited to the convicted child molester and rapist. Needless to say my feeling of unease only increased and I would have much preferred the dogs back.

Once the house was remodeled that man was kicked out. Now granted I didn't want him next to me, but they way he was treated was not fair either. I believe that if someone has served their time that they should be a part of society again but just like I don't think a recovering alcoholic should work at a bar, I don't think that working next to kids is a good fit for that man either. I do not know what he did after that, and honestly, I am glad of it.

The next tenant was an older man who was under house arrest. I do not know what his crime was but he was friendly enough. The problem was that because he couldn't leave the house, all his friends came to him. There were parties every weekend and some got a bit wild but nothing that caused any real trouble - for us at least. However we were blessed with that because New Year's Eve of 2009 the police were swarming next door around that man and the recked car that he had used to try and get away. He was removed to a jail cell and the house was up for rent again.

This house is a duplex so at any given time there are 2 sets of people living there. I am never sure who belongs to up or down but it seems as if often they are somehow related to one another. The sister of New Year's Eve is currently living up stairs and by far she is the best we have had in a LONG time.

Although upstairs is really nice by far the worst downstairs moved in this spring. He was loud and vulgar. I doubt that he could speak a sentence without profanity in it. I didn't know it at the time, but he was an ex-con as well. The parties and the violence was almost constant and I we were forced to call the police on multiple occasions. But the call that got signaled the end was not made by us but rather by upstairs.

They saw that downstairs was attempting to grow pot in the house. The police were notified and downstairs was forcibly evicted (but not before assaulting upstairs and firing a gun). We left all the "fun" for the authorities. I have since heard from upstairs that downstairs will not need to worry about where he will live for the next 25 years because he will be a guest of the state.

So down it has gone. From a place that although was not perfect was not bad to a place where my kids are afraid to be. I wonder what is coming next, and I pray that the Lord will keep up safe through it all.

Altering attitudes

2010-08-05T10:52:00.003-04:00

I have to confess that I love scrapbooking. It is an obsession/addiction. At current count I have 24 albums full of scrapbooking pages (and I do mean full!) I really enjoy it. For me it is my therapy and my hobby and a big part of who I am and what I do.

When I became involved with online scrapbooking pages it did not take me long to discover that although scrapbooking was the main idea that there were others that went along with it. They use the same supplies and have similar appeal. Card-making, Stamping, and Altering are just some of these siblings to scrapping. It did not take long for me to embrace Card-making and even a bit of stamping, but I didn't care much for altering.

I am a VERY practical person. I enjoy making crafts of all kinds but only if they are "useful". I don't want to make something just because. It needs to have a purpose (other than one more thing for me to clean). My attitude to altering was taking something that is practical and making it totally decorative (thus something else to clean). I stuck with this attitude for a LONG time.

Now however I have discovered that it can be useful in some instances. I had to make a piece of altered art and I was stumped. Then I remembered a gift I had received once which was an altered candy bar cover. It just really made the candy bar special. I decided to give it a try. Here is the result:

I have to admit that it was fun. No, I don't think that it is ever going to take the place of scrapping or even card-making but at least I don't now see it as the enemy. AND I now have a great idea for gifts. Not only are they inexpensive but they are also very classy looking.

Impressions are EVERYTHING

2010-07-25T07:51:00.002-04:00

Last night was a wonderful night. Tom and I found ourselves unexpectedly without kids for the evening. (Eva was at camp, Timothy was at youth group, and Emily was invited to a birthday party) Being the weekend Tom was of course going to grill. However having no kids and being extremely hot (Heat index of 104) I couldn't see the point. I called him and told him he was taking me out to dinner - and fortunately he agreed.

I decided that because this doesn't happen that often I was going to make the most of it. I really got dressed up. I have to admit that I looked really good. Loosing 40 pounds helped in that matter but it was just the start. I had a little black dress from Freecycle that I wore. I added a necklace that I was given as a bride's maid 20 years ago and a pair of ear rings that I inherited from my mom. Understand I really did look great and I didn't pay a dime to do it. I don't do that often (I don't often have the reason) but when I do decide to, I clean up very well.

It felt good to look good but that was not the best part. The best part were people's different reactions. We dropped Timothy off at youth group and the pastor was there. This was not the church that we regularly attend. It is the church were I work for Angelfood and had a casual Saturday night service that we attended. At one point in time the pastor, Eric, might have seen me in my Sunday clothes but he had never seen me really dressed up. The double take he did was priceless.

We went to a little restaurant in Tremont (Tremont is sort of Cleveland's version of Greenwich Village). We don't go out often, but if we do, we go there. When the owner of the restaurant saw us she did the same double take. They seated us right in the window. I am not sure if that was so we could see out, or the passers-by could see us.

The best part was after dinner when we went to do a little window shopping. I decided that I looked the part, so we were going to go into the jewelry store. The woman behind the counter just couldn't get to us fast enough. Without any provocation she was pulling things out of the cases and having me try things on. I have never been treated so well in a store. And I couldn't quit smiling. It was obvious that she thought that we were going to buy the store or at least something. Now in all honesty there were a few things that I would have liked, but nothing I needed at those prices. I just loved being fawned over line I was someone who mattered. I still grin just thinking about it.

In the end my lesson learned is that a good impression really does make a big difference. It is nice that I can make it once in a while too. However I am back to my old life of boring obscurity with the memory of a great evening.

Throwback

2010-05-06T18:43:00.004-04:00

Awana has several theme nights. This year they had an 80's night. I was not sure of this. I did graduate in 1985, but I do not feel old enough to be an oldie. I guess it just depends on perspective. I never thought much of it, but I guess the styles have changed (although not much for me as I still have some clothes that were from the 80's which Eva is wearing. The ensemble is complete with a big hair bow and hoop earrings.

We had her hair all poofed up but she took one look at it an vetoed going out in public like that. I can't say that I really blame her. I didn't wear my hair that way then - in fact my hair style is the same now as it has been since I was in junior high.
What we realized was that as far as fashion in the 80's went, clothes were not really worn but rather they were accessories. Emily chose to tie a sweater over her polo - with the collar up, of course - but that wasn't the only example. There were plenty of legwarmers and fingerless gloves.

So I guess that I am getting older because I don't think that most of the styles were that bad (with the exception of legwarmers which I never understood at the time either) At least my pants went up to my waist and my shirt hung below the waist leaving no bare midriff. I guess that time marches on though so I had better get used to it or I will be crushed by it - but that doesn't mean that I am ever going to wear pants and shirts that let any of my ample middle show.

The Cry of my Heart

2010-04-18T21:52:00.004-04:00

I find it amazing how much music moves me. I unconsciously have linked certain songs with certain places and times. Church is no different.

When Fairview started their early service I was the Sunday School Chair. I taught Sunday school as well as took my turn staffing the nursery. It was because of the nursery that I really enjoyed the second opportunity to worship. That meant that I didn't have to give up a service to serve. It was during that service that I became familiar with some of the Contemporary Christian music used in church.

One song in particular stands out in my mind. It was a version of "It is the Cry of my Heart" that I have never heard anywhere else. It was a somewhat island themed. There was even a steel drum solo in the middle. Jim, the minister, would often choose to play it in dreary days and it never ceased to bring a smile of to my face to think of worshiping Him on some white sanded beach under the palm trees next to the clear blue ocean as opposed to where I was in a overcast and grey Cleveland morning. It always got everyone there moving. That song more than any other reminded me of the wonderful blessings I received while attending those early morning service. It is always the song I associate with that church.

As we were searching for a new church home I only heard that song one other time. When I did it was of course not the arrangement I was used to. Rather than being uplifting and bringing a smile to my face, the result was the opposite. It reminded me exactly how homesick I was for the church that was no more.

That song however continues to be a blessing to me. We sang it today in church. I was not homesick any more because I was at last home. No it was not the same arrangement, but it still felt like home. And that is the cry of my heart - now and always to be at home with Him.

Buyer Beware

2010-04-10T13:35:00.004-04:00

Confession time here. I am cheap. I am not just thrifty, but I am honestly cheap - and if I am honest, I am proud of it. There is nothing that makes shopping more satisfying than getting a really good deal on what I want. (and yes, it has to be both. It has to be a good deal AND I have to want or need it. If I don't need it then paying any money for it is a bad deal in my book.) Freecycle, Ebay, Goodwill, Angelfood and Craig's List are good friends of mine.

Because of this the first place I go to in any store is the clearance section. I am not averse to buying off season clothes or last season's hot scrap papers. A sweater is just as warm when I get it from a garage sale as when I get it from the mall. Well of course when I got the email that Scrap Supply was going out of business I had to have a look around. Being cheap though, I didn't get anything right away. When I got the notice that the discount was up to 75% I figured that it was worth a look.

I have to say that I was very proud of my purchase. For less than $30 (including shipping) I got some wonderful papers, a cartridge for my Slice - which of course was bought on Ebay - some embellishments and some rub-ons. I really like image rub-ons but I do not use them too often because you guessed it, they are not cheap. When I saw them marked down I decided to splurge and get some pretty ones. I don't use the rub-on letters much because I am always running out of the letters I need. (It is much cheaper to just use hand lettering or my dies) This was one of the rub-on sets that I purchased:

Most of the time, I do not wonder why things are marked down or cheap. Sometimes it is obvious - a dress has the wrong size so no one who it would fit ever tries it on or there is a button missing etc. Other times I just think that what I like is just a little off center of what everyone else likes. That can be both good and bad. Good in that I can usually find something I like in the clearance section, bad because I know that means that what I like will never look or be "normal". Oh, well, it is not like I am normal so I guess it doesn't matter much. I don't honestly think about it. If I need it and like it I will get it. I didn't think twice about getting the rub-ons. I was just looking at the images and thought that they would be great to use on my scrappy projects.

When my package arrived I was very happy to see what I got "live and in person". That is when I first noticed the quote on the rub-ons. Here it is:

Who thought this was a good idea? The first thing that came to mind was someone tucking in their kids with a shotgun. I guess that there is no real mystery why this particular set of rub-ons never sold well and ended up in the clearance section.

I can't imagine making a layout where I would ever use this saying, but you can look for the rest of the flowers and flourishes coming to this blog or one of the galleries at the websites listed to the right.

Happy scrapping!

One Sketch, Two Pages

2010-03-26T08:11:00.004-04:00

One of the members of the Design Team, Robin Wade, made this sketch. They were running a contest thereto make a page using this sketch. It was one of my favorite kids of contests - the kind where you can enter multiple times. I managed to get 2 entries done.
This was my first entry. Eva's friend, Rose went with us when the youth group at church went sledding. They got rather silly. They exchanges coats, hats and one boot ?!? The journalling says: The kids Club at Trinity Church went sledding on President's Day 2010. Rose, Eva's best friend came with us. Eva and Rose has a lot of fun beyond just riding the sleds. The switched coats, hats and for reasons beyond my comprehension, one boot. They had fun and I guess that is what really matters.
I wanted to make a second entry as well but I never seemed to have the time. Then it was crunch time. It was the last day and I had literally an hour to make a second layout so I challenged myself and did it. I managed to get it done too. I am proud that the embellishments are hand made (Thank heavens for die cutting machines). I am finished but even better, I am very pleased with the results. I was able to scan and upload this at just the 9pm deadline. Now it is just a waiting game to see if I am able to win the prize. I have already won with the fact that I have two more pages made, but the prize would be nice too.

It's Official

2010-03-06T09:10:00.004-05:00

Emily has wanted to be baptized for quite a while. However, being that we were looking for a new church home that was not really practical. We didn't want to have her baptized somewhere and then never come back there so she patiently waited.

We found our new church on the first Sunday in Advent in 2009. We knew that is where we wanted to stay. As soon as we made it official Emily asked to be baptized. On February 28, 2010 she being the youngest of the 6 children and youth was able to make her public appearance as a Christian.

When Jeff, the minister, asked her why she wanted to be baptized she answered, "Jesus is in my heart. He has taken my sin away. I want to show the world that by being baptized."

"What is sin?" Jeff asked.

Little 8 year old Emily responded, " Sin is anything you do think or say that is not what God wants" Pretty wise for a little girl.

Now it is official. Emily is the first member that church in 2010. And she is now not only my lovely daughter but my sister in Christ.

2010-03-06T09:02:00.002-05:00

I am a HUGE fan of Pagemaps. Those sketches just make scrapping and card making so much easier. I use them for just about every layout that I do (at least the ones that are not required to be original.) I am a real fan. I have every month printed out and put in a binder. Whenever I need an idea I just open my binder and find a sketch from the hundreds that she has come up with and I am scrapping happy.

I am not that much of a card maker but I was asked by Becky Fleck at Pagemaps where I am an occasional contributor to make a card for one of the card sketches at her site. This card is the result.

Page maps is one of my favorite sites and I was so honored to be chosen to make this card. If you haven't already, check out her maps and watch your creativity blossom. Here is the link:

http://www.pagemaps.com/

Blessed in order to Bless

2010-02-07T13:23:00.002-05:00

Timing is everything. Last year Tom was offered a job which was out of the automotive industry. The problem with that was that he had driven a company demo for years and we only had one car. With 3 active kids and 2 jobs of my own sharing one care was not tops on our list of things to do. However, God is faithful. We did not have any money in savings and our credit was less than perfect. We did have a tax return and with that we were able to get a car for Tom to use for work.

Now a year later that job was not what we had hoped for. However, God is still faithful. He provided another job for Tom. He is back to selling cars. Which also means that he is back to driving demos.

We had a spare car now. We could have sold it. The new dealership offered that it could be put on the lot. We could have saved it for when the kids were old enough (and wanted to - which who knows how long that will be) to drive. In my heart however I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to give it to someone who needed it. The question is who? All I really cared about was that whoever got the car needed it - not just some teen to take joyriding.

In Sunday school the minister always starts out by asking what we would like prayer for. One of the other woman was praying for her old car to be able to be fixed again. It was then I knew that she was the one who needed the car. She will be picking it up this afternoon.

Now I have a confession to make. I LOVE the fact that we were able to help another person. I am on high just knowing that we were able to bless someone. It is one of the greatest feeling that I have had in a LONG time. I consider myself so blessed because I am able to be part of something that gives glory to God! But I also have to confess that it makes me feel wonderful too.

A Time for Everything

2010-02-04T11:19:00.002-05:00

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I am trying to keep this in mind. It seems to be one of my favorite "go to" verses when life gets challenging. One of the only things that are constant is change - and things are changing right now. However the only thing that does not change is God so I will at this time go to him for the support that I can not get from my swiftly changing world.

On March 1, 2009 Tom stopped selling cars - which had been a good income at one point in time but over the past few years was becoming impossible to make ends meet. He began selling security systems. I know that he didn't like it as well as selling cars but he was making a consistent wage and was happy enough. I was however ecstatic. We were able to get out of debt. Tom, who had always been gone evenings and weekends, was actually home. I loved that job.

In the beginning of 2010 the company got a new president and things began to change very swiftly. He was limited to residential sales. He was given a territory that he could sell out of. His automotive allowance was cut and the pay was changed. Things were not going well and it didn't look as if it was going to bet any better any time soon.

So in just less than a year, Tom is back to selling cars. He is at a different dealership so is hopeful that the pay will be better. I hope so too because I do not want to sink back into the poverty we lived in for years. I can tell that he is happy there. I am glad of that but I am not going to be happy until I see that he can really make a living selling cars, which I honestly doubt.

During this turmoil things around home are very strained. I just need to keep reminding myself that no matter how much things change here and now that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And even better that he is always with me - no matter where or if we are working.

Sometimes I think I live in a zoo

2010-02-02T09:31:00.005-05:00

I guess by now it is obvious that I love to scrapbook. Which is good because I do. However as I was making some pages this month I noticed that my animal side was coming out.

Emily loves Beauty and the Beast. She was given a Belle dress last year and whenever it is time to dress up she wants to be Belle. But what would Beauty be without her Beast - the answer is of course she needs a beast. She decided that one of her teddy bears, Cookie, would be her beast.

Animals surround me. We have a dog and three cats and a few more strays that seem to find our house very inviting. With that many animals I guess that it was natural for Eva to want to be a cat for Halloween.
Here is an example of the real wild life. Eva was able to snap this picture of a little thief. It is just so cute. How could I stay angry at this little guy?

Worshiping his way

2010-02-02T09:20:00.003-05:00

Kids are amazing - and I don't mean just mine. They are wonderful, special creations of God. If I take the time and look then I can learn so much from them. I love it when the child shall lead them all.

We are at a new church and there are many people that I still do not know. Sunday there was a little boy I don't know the age but I would guess he was about 3 who wandered up the aisle. We were singing Great is Thy Faithfulness and he was just so into it.

Where the aisle met the front is where he stopped and started dancing with sheer joy. He was just content to worship by dancing and clapping and praising the Lord in the best way he knew how. What a lesson. How often do I get all stuffy in church. I mean really it is a totally awesome God that I worship why do I feel as if I have to sit there as if I were in a straight jacket? It was so refreshing to see this little child worship the Lord with all he had - and VERY inspiring to me.

Cookin' Up Creations Blog Hop

2010-01-15T03:53:00.005-05:00

Ever so slowly I am being pulled into the twentieth century - unfortunately, the rest of the world is in the twenty-first. Radical things are happening. We now have a working television. The kids got MP3 players for Christmas and now I am participating in a Blog Hop. Time is marching on and I am following in its wake.

Anyway welcome to the Cookin' up Creations "Winter Wonderland of Embellsihments" Blog Hop. The Cookin' up Creations Blog: Cookin' up Creations Blog was your 1st stop and you are now at the 8th stop of the hop. You should have come from Penny's Blog Random Thoughts It will not be long now and you will be back to the Cooking up Creations Blog.

The embellishment I have used is Magic Mesh this month and this is my example...

And now I have a challenge for you! I challenge you to make a layout or card using Magic Mesh. One of the things I love about Magic Mesh is that it is so earthy and adds wonderful texture to pages. So the theme of your layout or card needs to be one of nature. It can be a picture of the great outdoors (with or without people) or a card with a leaf stamp on it or anything that you can come up with that has to do with out side.

Please upload your creations into the Cookin' up Creations Embellishment Blog Hop Album before Friday January 22, 2010 at 5:00 EST to qualify for the prizes. File size should be no larger than 150Kb.

So leave a comment here, post your work in the gallery (You need to register ) then your next stop is Sandy's blog: http://creativeblessings.blogspot.com/

Happy Hopping!

Home at last!

2010-01-13T03:39:00.002-05:00

After 18 months of searching and praying, we have finally found a new church home! There is something for everyone: Men's group, Women's Bible study, Kids club and Youth Bible study.

At long last we are home! It is amazing how good it feels. I didn't realize while we were looking what a drain it was to figure out every week where we were going to go to church (and it wasn't like I had any help - If I had not done the searching, I don't think we would be going to church). I had to decide if where we were going warranted another week. If it did, there was always someone who was not happy about it. If we didn't that meant hours of tedious hours on Google scrolling through poorly designed web sites and making phone calls to see if the information was accurate. I got to the point where I dreaded Sunday and the weekend because we had to go to another church. I think that all in all we visited 22 different churches over the last year and a half.

Now we are home though - and what a difference it makes. We meet the Lord and his people every week. I spend my week looking forward to Sunday rather than dreading it. Now Sunday morning is once a time of celebration and looking forward to spending time at a church that is HOME!

Coffee Can Card Holder

2010-01-13T03:24:00.005-05:00

Growing up my mom had one of these that she used to display Christmas cards. I don't know what happened to it, but when I had to come up with something to make for a design team challenge I thought I would make my own.

Supplies:

coffee can or other large can

cardstock (optional)

yarn or string

hot glue gun

flowers or other embellishments

The first part is the hardest - finding a can of the right size. We are not coffee drinkers, and even if we were, coffee no longer comes in cans - so I found out much to my surprise. I ended up using a large soup can. I covered it with carstock using a glue gun. (you do not need to cover it, but I wanted to because I like the look.

The next step is to anchor the string or yarn on the inside of the can. Once again, I used hot glue.
The next step is to wrap the string around the can covering the top and the open end. It does not need to be perfect but try and cross in about the same place each time. How much string you use is up to you. The more you use, the more cards you can hold and the less of the base will be visible.
When wrapped to your liking, tie a knot at the bottom. Dab with some hot glue to make it secure. Embellish the top as you see fit.
To use, slide the card under one of the strings and display.

Cooking Up a Challenge

2009-11-08T13:13:00.005-05:00

I love using sketches, but I do not often make them. This one was an exception. I had made this one for the sketch challenge at Cooking up Creations. You can see the challenge here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1278

Even when I am the one who makes the sketch, I can't leave well enough alone. Of course when it came to making the LO I just can't follow directions with out doing something different. I used the sketch, but I turned it 90 degrees. So on the right is the layout made from the sketch.

Any way, come on over to the site and let me see what you can do with the sketch.

Pneumonia is no fun

2009-11-06T17:46:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I don't think that anyone would think that it is, but I just want to confirm that in fact it is not.

I am glad to say that the worst is over and that I am definitely recovering, but it is annoying at how long it is taking. I remember trying to get back into my walking routine which even before I got sick was not all that strenuous. I would walk between 30 to 40 min 5 days a week. That was before. Today I feel proud that after a week of trying I made it up ton 25 min today. I hate that it takes so long.

But I guess what matters is that I am recovering and getting a little more energy every day. The medications are all gone now and I am trying to move forward.

Cards cards cards

2009-11-02T15:54:00.003-05:00

It is that time of year - the only time I really think about cards. And just in time, Cookin' up Creations is having a whole month of card challenges - a different one for every day of the month.

This is the card that was made for the Nov. 2 Challenge. I was not much of a card maker before, but the challenges are great and who knows by the end of the month, I will not only have 30 new cards in my stash, but I think I will have developed a liking for making them as well. If it sounds like fun (and it really is) you can check out the details here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=26

54 days til Christmas

2009-11-02T08:43:00.002-05:00

I know that in one way that seems like forever, but in another, it will be here in no time at all. I am not the type to start listening to Christmas music til after Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving gets lost in the Christmas rush and the true meaning of Christmas gets minimized) BUT this year I am making at least some of the cards that I am sending out. I can't wait til mid December to do that so I started this weekend. This is an example of what they look like.

Overheard

2009-09-28T16:17:00.002-04:00

There are times when I overhear things. I am not eavesdropping. I am not spying I just happen to hear a snippet of a conversation and those jems are just too funny. Here are some of the things that I have overheard over the years....

"Here, honey, have some Twizlers. You can't just eat chips all day."
We were at the beach. I was lying down for a little nap when the mom next to me told that one to her son.

"This is the first time we've been out since you chained me up and tried to shoot me"
Honestly I did hear that one when Tom and I were out at a steakhouse. I dont' know the context, I but even after years of trying, I still can't make out why anyone would say that?!?

"She is the only woman that I ever loved. When I went to jail she cleaned out my bank account and dissapeared but she is going to come crawling back someday"
When I heard that one I just wanted to cry. How far from reality was this guy???

"Put the gun down and no one gets hurt"
Said by a child sitting in the back seat of a car - alone

Another One Bites the Dust

2009-08-15T22:27:00.002-04:00

I am thinking about a new career - a church killer.

I am sure that there would be some demented people who would pay for services like that. I don't work quickly but I do work. My biggest problem is that although I have that job, I hate it. Here is my resume:

Church number one was an old church in Cleveland. With the flight of most families to the suburbs the decline began. I stayed there as it was the only church I ever knew til almost the bitter end. If it were just me, I would have stayed, but I had kids to think about so I moved on.

The next church I will call church one and a half. It was the church I attended while I was in college. I was still a member of church number one but I did attend just about every Sunday I was in college for 4 years. That church was fortunate as I wasn't there long enough to completely kill it. But it did have a very nasty split that may have finished the job since I have gone.

Church number two was the one I joined 10 years ago and closed just a year ago starting me on this odyssey. I believe that church will be my church home in my heart for the rest of my life. So much happened there that even though I only spent 9 years there they were the most intense and spiritually growing years in my life. To this day when someone says "church" that is the one of which I think.

There is a church 2 and a half too. I never "officially" attended there but my kids do participate in the Awana program there. I guess that is close enough for my kiss of death - or almost. About 6 years ago that church split as well. (I am not even going to start in with how many different Awana Commanders I have seen come and go.) The church is still going but it is no way the same church it was before the split.

For the past year we have been searching for a new church and for all the details you can read this blog. One thing that had helped us in this search is that we had was some stability was that although any given Sunday morning was a toss up we were able to attend a Saturday night service. This church was small and struggling. Because of that we know that it was not where we could stay. They were just missing some of the things we were looking for namely a place for our teens. It may not have been perfect but it was at least something like home. Until my ability strikes again.

They are closing the Saturday night service. I feel it so deeply that I am almost numb. I want a church home any family to but that is the problem - I have no where to go. I know that this is just another attack of my enemy but I don't' mind saying that it hurts and I am tired of it.

So I am off and looking again. I am tired of the search, but I am truly afraid that if I do find another church that I will have to keep doing this again and again. However the Lord is too important to really believe that I cause these problems. I know that there is somewhere he wants all of us and we will keep looking til we find it.

Called by name

2009-08-09T20:48:00.002-04:00

I remember the first time it happened. It was a Sunday morning. I was in my devotional time with the Lord. He spoke to me and called me by name. There was no other experience like it - the Creator of everything knows my name. It was humbling and exhilarating at the same time.

It was wonderful when the Lord did it. It is wonderful when my friends or family does it. But I don't think that it should be done from the pulpit during a sermon.

We visited a church. There were quite a few things we liked about it. There were a few things that we weren't quite comfortable with but nothing that was too objectionable - until about half way through the sermon. It was at that point that the minister actually called by name one of his congregants whom he has obviously counseled.

" Look and Mary (Not her real name - I don't even remember what it was) and all the problems that she has", he said.

I couldn't believe it. I have been to different ministers for issues. If any of them had even mentioned me I would have wanted to sink into the floor. But then I thought that maybe there had been some sort of arrangement - even though "Mary" didn't look like it. I was almost ready to say that I was being too sensitive.

Then he said, "Look at John (once again not his real name). Can you believe the sins he has committed?"

Twice in one service he called out specific people and basically aired their dirty laundry. I felt so shocked I didn't know what to do. But one thing I do know, I am never going to give them a chance to call my name out as a poor example of Christian living. I can assure anyone who asks that I will never be stepping into that church again.

old home week

2009-07-22T22:07:00.003-04:00

Tonight I went out with a group of ladies from my old church. One has moved to Iowa a number of years ago and was back in town visiting friends. The women's group from church decided to meet with her. It was nice to catch up. And the really great part was that Baker's Square was having free pie tonight so it was cheap too.

I thought it was appropriate that I had made this layout earlier today. The sanctuary was always so pretty, especially at Easter. The pictures were taken 5 years ago - long before we knew the future of the church.

Just as getting together with the ladies of the church was bittersweet so was the memories of my church home. The journalling under the picture says, "Lent is a time of reflection and preparedness for the coming Easter Season. This year Jim preached on preparing our hearts by dealing with some of the sin which was in fact the cause for the necessity of Christ’s death and resurrection.Each week during Lent the cross was used during the service to do just that. Confessions were nailed to it. Fears and failings were lovingly but seriously confronted. It was intense, but also the most moving Lent season ever experienced."

This and many of my other most recent layouts can be found here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/index.php

Still Scrapping

2009-07-19T15:43:00.002-04:00

Yes, even though I have not posted everything here, I am still a scrapping fool this month. I am involved in a cybercrop at Cooking up Scrapbooking Creations http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/

This was a layout made for a scrap lift challenge.

Looking for food in the kitchen of someone who dosen't cook

2009-07-19T15:19:00.002-04:00

I have been in that kitchen. Yes, there is food. No, I won't starve. BUT there is nothing to make a meal with. There are just random items, a jar of peanut butter, some cheese, a quart of orange juice and some garlic salt.

That is what looking for a church has been like. I am searching for spiritual food and all I get is a snack. There is nothing wrong with snacks, but it is not the meat that I crave either. There is no consistency when the menu changes every week. I get just enough to almost last me through the week but I am never really satisfied.

Every week is about the same. I look hopefully to Sunday. Will this be the church? Will this be the one where everyone will be content and fed? And so far, the answer is no.

The church we attended today was an example. It was just what I was hoping for - at least on paper. They had Christian education for everyone. The music was pleasant. The people were friendly and the sermon was Biblically based. It has all of that but it was only half alive. There was no meat there. Once again another Sunday morning and rather than being fed a meal which I could chew on most of the week I left only having had a snack that barely will hold me through the day.

Here is hoping that the menu will be more satisfying next week.

Church Should NOT Hurt

2009-07-12T18:10:00.002-04:00

Our "official" church search began again today. It has been a year since our church closed and although we have found a church that was "nice" we were hoping for something more so we are officially looking again.

The day started out nicely enough. The people were friendly enough. It is a small church, but we don't mind that. In fact, I would prefer a small healthy church to a large one. The kids all loved Sunday School. Timothy even liked it - he actually said "like" not just ok.

Unfortunatly that was about where the positive experience ended. The Sunday School Tom and I attended can be summed up best by Tom's description - it was like a trip to the dentist. Getting any one to say anything was like pulling teeth. But at least there was novicane. It was uncomfortable but it didn't hurt.

The same can not be said for the church service. That was like going to the dentist without any novicane. The sancturary was more the size of a chapel. It was approximatly 20 feet by 40 feet. I don't mind a small space in fact for the number of people there it fit. The problem lies with the sound system.

Going to church should not hurt. I don't mean that it is always comfortable. There have been times when I have been convicted of my sin and that is not comfotable. I have heard sermons that I swear were aimed directly at me. Once again I feel ill at ease, but I do not phiscally hurt. That was not the experience today.

The sound system which could have easily served a room 3 to 4 times bigger than the one it was in was cranked up to high. And the worst part is that there was no balance. I think that everything was just turned on to the max. The worst was the drum set. It wasn't just a snare and a bass but a full set. I really think that just about any rock band would have loved to have. It just about drowned out everyone else. Literally we could not hear any voices at all and the piano was drowned out entirely. The keyboard and the gituar were putting up a fight to be heard but it was a loosing battle against the drums.

We were situated near the front so I couldn't see the reactions of the other people. But I did see both the daughter of the worship leader and the daughter of the minister sitting with their fingers in their ears. It was so loud that it was actually painful. I am all for exuberant worship, but this was not worship at all - it was just playing Christian songs as loud as possible. I may be wrong but I know that the last thing on my mind was worship. I just wanted to stuff something in my ears so I wouldn't be deaf before the service was over.

2009-07-11T12:39:00.002-04:00

There are a few rare occasions where the kids will permit me to take their pictures - so I have to take advantage of it.

When we were in Newark for the NJHS induction the kids let me take pictures of them in the park outside the theater where the ceremony was held. Although they are not the best picstures in the world, they are pictures that I will treasure just because I have them.

These and many other of my current creations are for the cooking up a challenge cyber challenge. My other work (no I have not posted it all here) as well as the work of other talented artists can be seen here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/index.php

Counting my blessings

2009-07-09T16:31:00.003-04:00

Journalling:

The Lord - He loves me the way I am but too much to let me stay that way

Tom: The only person who understands me

Timothy: Inspires me to dream and make my own path

Eva: Shows me where vision and the courage to follow can lead

Emily: Constantly shows me how much fun life can be.

Becky: A reminder that frindships can last a lifetime

Cindy: A true role model of what a wife and mom are

Sharon: Always willing to help

Patsy: proves the Christians can and do have fun

The Pets: They silently add so much to life

With a wild week of celeberties dying unexpectedly the challenge for this week was to make a top ten list about something for which you are thankful. I am most thankful for the people in my life so I made this. This and other challenges can be found at: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/

Who?

2009-07-09T08:22:00.002-04:00

The challenge at Cooking up Creations for 7/7 was to use 7 wallet photos and 7 words of journalling. The hardest part was finding the 7 wallet pictures. I ended up using pictures of myself spanning from about 6 months to 16 years.

The journalling that I used was my titles at that time. That got me thinking. Who was I then? Did those titles matter to me? How have they changed - well most of them are now obsolete at least as a title. No one will ever call me niece, daughter or granddaughter anymore as I have no living aunts, uncles parents or grandparents.

That of course got me thinking about who I am now. I think of all that has happened in the invervening years and how many things have changed and how some things have stayed the same. Some were for the better, some were for the worse. Each and every one though has made me into the person that I am today,

As you might have guessed, part of who I am is an avid scrapper. You can check out the rest of my current creations at this site:

http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/index.ph

2009-07-08T08:55:00.003-04:00

One of the challenges at Cooking up Creations this month was to scrap something that was new - Scrap a layout about starting something... starting school.. starting a new job... starting a new phase in your life.

Having kids certainly is a new phase - especially at Christmas. There are toys to buy, things to assemble, gifts to wrap and the seeing of Santa. Before children we were in bliss full ignorance of all of these.

Yes, it was a challenge but since that first Christmas with kids we have since repeated it another 15 times and adding 2 more kids into the mix. At times it has been a challenge, but we have survived and in fact even learned to enjoy Christmas morning with our biggest blessings.

Here is the link to Cooking up Creations to get involved in the fun: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=399&start=0

Discovery Days

2009-07-06T16:45:00.003-04:00

We use a virtual school = Ohio Virtual Academy. Every spring they sponsor Discovery Days. In Cleveland that means a trip to the Great Lakes Science Center. It is a great museum with all sorts of hands on exhibits. we went this year in May and the above are some of the pictures I took of the kids learning and having fun.

This is a link to the gallery where you can see these and many other of my scrapping layouts:
http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/index.php

Back in the Saddle again

2009-07-06T11:03:00.003-04:00

We have been attending the same church for about 6 months. It was the one we were happiest with of all the ones we looked at. However we don't want to "settle" for something. We want to be where the Lord is leading us. Right now we do not know exactly where that is but we feel that at least for the present, he is leading us away from that church.

SOOOOO exactly a year after this process began we are in the active part of searching for a church again. I really do not think that I am being too picky we have a short list of "have to haves" but we just can't seem to find a church that has everything. Just to show that I am not being nit-picky here is the list:

1. Well delivered, biblically based sermons.
2. Sunday school for EVERYONE (Tom and I too).
3. Opportunity to worship as a family (children are present for at least part of the service)
4. Bible study (at least most of the year - I can live with it if they take the summer off, but I am still looking in the Bible to see where it says that Satan takes a vacation between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I haven't found it yet)

Sure there are LOTS of other things that would be nice - pews instead of folding chairs, a combination of traditional and contemporary music, VBS, congregation the "right size" etc. but none of them are deal breakers.

So we are off and searching, again.

Awana Awards

2009-07-06T10:43:00.002-04:00

I took a ton of pictures at the Westlake Bible Fellowship Awana Awards - and I have finally done something with them. Here is Emily at the awards ceremony - with her part and receiving her award.

Here is the link to where it is posted if you want to read the journalling: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0

J

2009-07-03T08:00:00.003-04:00

Jeffrey is Tom's Godson and was born when Tom and I were still dating. Because of that, I have had the pleasure to be able to watch him grow up. I took this pictur last Thanksgiving. It struck me when I saw it how much he has really grown.

http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0

Growing up

2009-07-02T18:27:00.004-04:00

Emily is growing up there is not doubt about it. She is in second grade now. She flew up from Daisies to Brownies. She is no longer the youngest kid in the neighborhood. So please tell me, where did my little girl go?

This layout has pictures from the Girl Scout ceremony. It was made for Cooking up Creations.

http://www.cookinupcreations.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0

One of the worst things about summer

2009-07-02T04:52:00.003-04:00

The challenge was to make a lay out about something I didn't like about summer. I chose sand. Here is the journalling:

THE BEACH IS A GREAT WAY TO COOL OFF ON A HOT AND STEAMY SUMMER DAY.HOWEVER GOING TO THE BEACH DOES HAVE ITS DRAWBACKS AND THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE SAND.

SAND STICKS TO EVERYTHING. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND IT WORKS ITS WAY INTO THE MOST UNWELCOME PLACES. IT GETS INTO HAIR. IT GETS INTO SHOES, SOCKS, POCKETS AND PURSES AND EVEN UNDERWEAR. IT SETTLES BETWEEN TOES. SAND IS AN ALL AROUND NUISANCE.

THE WORST PART ABOUT SAND IS THAT IT IS NOT SATISFIED TO STAY AT THE BEACH. IT INSISTS ON COMING HOME TOO. THE SAND SEEMS TO MAGICALLY MULTIPLY AS SOON AS IT IS REMOVED FROM THE BEACH. IT STILL STAYS STUCK TO WHERE IT DOESN’T BELONG BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO INVADES THE CAR.

IT IS A NOT SATISFIEDWITH STAYING THERE EITHER. UPON ARRIVAL BACK HOME THE SAND WILL THEN ATTACK EVERY PART OF THE HOME: THE CARPET, THE BATHTUB, THE WASHER AND DRIER EVEN THE KITCHEN SINK. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CLEANING IT IS POSSIBLE TO ERADICATE MOST OF THE PESTILENTIAL STUFF, AND AT THAT POINT,ONE OF THE KIDS WILL ASK, “CAN WE GOTO THE BEACH TODAY?”

This and my other crations for this month can be found here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/

I am scrapping again!

2009-07-01T20:17:00.002-04:00

Yup it is time for a cybercrop and I am up and running.

this one is for a wonderul website called "Cooking up creations" which was started by a friend of mine - and what could be better friends and scrapping. Of course I am there. You can be too here is the link:

http://www.cookinupcreations.com/

I have already started scrapping. This lay out was my first for the cyber crop. I hope you like it.

Awana awards #1

2009-05-04T13:54:00.002-04:00

Last night we attended the Awana Awards ceremony and Westlake.

As was usual, they served dinner. Last night was rigatoni with meatballs and sides of salad, garlic bread and applesauce. We had cheesecake for dessert. This Awana serves more food than any I have ever heard of. In the year that we have been going there they have had "Thanksgiving - Awana style" as well as pizza for the grand prix, an indoor picnic, and Western night with bbq . What is really amazing is that they never charge for any of the dinners -they don't even collect dues.

After that the awards were given. Both of the girls got their trophies from the Grand Prix. Emily got her Hiker Review patch, and her workbook pin as well as her second book award ribbon. Eva got the Trek Milestone award.

We are proud of them - look for pictures coming soon!

Welcome May

2009-05-01T10:43:00.002-04:00

April is gone - and as far as I am concerned, good riddance!

May is promising to be a busy month - we have scout camp, scout projects, an Awards dinner at Awana, There should be a court of awards in there somewhere too, a baby shower, the starting of Angel food,VBS planning and the list goes on and on. I guess that I will look at the bright side - thing of all those opportunities to take lots of pics. I should have enough to keep my busy for a while. (But do I really need to try and do that?)

So hopefully April showers are gone and I can look to the blooming beauty of May

Where there is smoke....

2009-04-29T15:14:00.002-04:00

There wasn't fire - until Tom opened the oven.

I guess I should explain...I wanted to make a meatloaf. I have a really good recipe that makes a meatloaf that is like Swedish meatballs. Very yummy! I don 't make it that often because it takes over an hour to cook and usually I am in and out of the kitchen in about half that time. Yesterday though I just wanted some so I made it.

I don't know what the exact problem was - maybe I used meat with too much fat (but that is what is cheap and I can afford). Maybe the loaf pan was too full. I don't know. I put it in the oven and about 45 min into the cooking time I heard the sizzling of the grease but didn't think much of it.

Tom came home and went into the kitchen and saw some steam or smoke coming out of the vent in the oven. He opened the oven to see what was going on. That was a big mistake. Opening the oven allowed just enough fresh air in for the grease to actually ignite. (As well as letting the smoke out) We closed the oven and turned it off and went out to dinner.

This morning I used the oven's self cleaning option and stunk up the house even worse. However with a fan and some open windows it is back to normal here. I even managed to salvage the meatloaf and we are having it for dinner. Somehow it just doesn't seem as appealing tonight though....

You'r a Tease

2009-03-19T11:49:00.002-04:00

You heard me - that's right. You are a real teas and that is not right.

I admit that I am tired of winter. We had snow - plenty of it. There were winters that barely seemed like winter but this wasn't one of them. We had snow -about 3 feet of the beautiful, but oh so cold white stuff. Winter came and now it is time to make way for spring.

I said that it was that time, but you are being a tease. It was beautiful for a few days. It even got close to 70. then every time you have to let winter back in the door. That is just not nice.

So spring, please, come and stay

Spritual Mutt

2009-03-09T22:02:00.002-04:00

One of the churches we are currently attending is on Saturday night. It was the first one we visited when we began to look. We liked it, but there was nothing there for the older kids so we sadly crossed it off the list. This fall they began a Saturday night service and we began attending then. We still make sure to get the kids to church on Sunday, but Tom and I really like the intimate evening service.

This week's sermon was on Freedom from Religion. One of the points made was that many people just follow the rites and practices prescribed by whatever church they are going to and think that makes everything "right" with God. They also get the idea that there is one way - whatever they are doing - and that everyone else is wrong.

It was then I realized how much of a spiritual mutt I am. I was raised in the Christian church - Disciples of Christ. I went to a United Church of Christ youth group growing up. I married a Catholic with both his priest and my minister presiding over the ceremony. When that church closed I found an American Baptist church (the one place that has felt like home more than any other). I attended MOPS at a Lutheran church when my kids were young. My kids began attending Awana at a Southern Baptist church. They grew out of that Awana program so we began going to a different Awana at a church that I don't even know what the "official" denomination is. When scouts came along they met at churches, Timothy at a United Methodist and the girls at two different Catholic parishes. Then the search for a new church was upon us. I won't even list all the denominations that we looked at briefly. Now however we are attending and Assembly of God on Saturday night and an Evangelical church on Sundays.

With all that church background I have managed to sort out what is really important to me and my walk with the Lord. It isn't a certain kind of music, or a particular translation of the Bible or even the way a church is set up. Being a spiritual mutt, I have discovered what is the most important and that is HIM - everything else is just earthy trappings of religion.

Two Winners

2009-03-01T22:56:00.006-05:00

Emily's Car: She won second place in the race for her age group.

Eva's Car: The artistic award was for all ages. She took fourth place in that. Although it is not clear in the photo the "crayons" tell the salvation story and the 3:16 stands for John 3:16 which says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." rather than the number of crayons

Today was the Awana Grand Prix. I am not usually fond of this because of the way it was run at the Awana that we had gone to in the past. There was no classification by age etc. The youngest kids always won, because other than possibly picking the color they had nothing to do with it and just by looking you could tell that dad did all the work.

Add that to the general insanity of my house that is doubled at race time and I really don't care for the Grand Prix. It is tough enough to get the cars cut (which we didn't really do this year - just check out the pictures) and painted. Then Tom, being in the car industry, has to obsess and make one too - but his is always "special" and I just dread it.

This year things were different. The church where the girls are now attending Awana really seems to know what they were doing. They broke the kids down according to age and the races were much more fair because of it. We went for very simple designs because we missed the week where the kids could use the tools to cut them so we worked with just blocks.

Times they are a-changin'

2009-02-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

Almost 15 years ago Tom began to sell cars. That in it self has been an economic challenge for the entire time. There have been some good times, but even more so there have been even more lean times - and as you can imagine this is one of the leanest.

A friend of ours recommended Tom when his company needed a new salesman. Tom applied and was hired. But hired into an industry he knows very little about.

All the employees there have training so Tom is no exception. The training is in Toledo and will last for 2 weeks. I am sure that he will do great. Product knowledge is his speciality. Tomorrow he leaves.

That leaves me at home with the kids and no more "usual". In truth, this week is normally the auto show which always raised havoc with the schedule so although it is a little different and a little longer maybe it isn't that unusual after all.

God is good---All the time

2009-02-17T11:30:00.003-05:00

Yes, God is good. I know that in my head but if I am being honest, I don't always live like that. When things are not so good, I complain and I gripe and I forget to look at what I do have.

Now, though, things are going well - and I am practicing what I know to be right. I am not going recognize that He has sent good and not just think that it was "about time" or "I deserved it" I am concentrating on really giving him the glory for all the things - especially the good that is going on right now.

So what is the good right now? Let me tell you what God is doing in my life!

A friend of ours saw that they needed a new sales man in his company. He recommended Tom for the position. Just yesterday we found out that Tom got the new job. It has the real possibility of doubling or tripling (or even more) our income! It would be so nice to get out of the poverty zone! There was only one real concern about taking the job. We have only owned one car for over a decade - my van. Tom always had a demo from whatever dealership at which he was working.

That brings me to the next thing that I have to praise - I did the taxes yesterday. We are getting enough to get a car (Not a new one certainly but one that will run til we have the money to get a better one) for Tom.

There are several other things going on as well that have an effect on my life - for the good - but as they are not directly connected to me, I am not going to write about them. But rest assured that I am going to give thanks for them as well. Right now all things in that all things verse are working together for good - and I am seeing it live and every day. And I am going to give praise and thanks to Him who made it possible.

Valentine's Day Cards

2009-02-14T22:41:00.007-05:00

Tom's Card:

Eva's Card

Timothy's Card

Emily's Card

This year I challenged myself to make cards for every member of my family for Valentine's Day. I am glad to say that even though cardmaking is not where my passion is, I am very happy with the results. Here they are

a new home

2009-02-14T22:32:00.003-05:00

One of the first churches we looked at, Tom and I liked, but they really did not have anything for the older kids. So that one went off the list right off the the list. However, in November they started a Saturday evening service.

We decided to attend that, and I am so glad that we have. As you might expect, it is fairly small - but then again it is a small church. They have a class for Emily too so she comes with us. It is really a winning situation all along. Tom and I get to go to church and have made some new friends. Emily gets to go to Sunday school, and The other 2 can just be teens.

Tonight, being Valentine's Day they had a movie - Fireproof -after the service. We had heard alot about the movie but had not seen it yet so we made it a date night for Tom and I. Knowing that it was going to be a late night we left Emily home.

It was during the evening that I really began to realize how comfortable we have become there. At this point everyone knows who we are and it dawned on me that for the first time since I began this process of looking for a new church, I have found someplace where I feel comfortable and even somewhat "home" and that is a GREAT feeling.

Football is EVIL!

2009-02-13T11:04:00.003-05:00

Ok, I am going on the record to say I HATE football. I have a number of reasons and I intend to vent and lay them out here, so strap on your seat belts and get ready to go...

First of all I grew up in a house where football was a sacred event. No one ever bothered to explained how the game worked and if I would try to ask I was neatly and clearly put in my place and told to be quiet they were watching the game - and we all know that the football game is more important than I was.

When I arrived in high school I was in the marching band. I didn't particularly want to be in the marching band, but if you wanted to play in the concert season, you had to play in the marching season as well. This meant that I was at every football game every Friday night for 3 years. I was bored to tears as I either fried or froze in my band uniform sitting on the sidelines. The one advantage of my experience is that I was finally around people who were willing to answer my questions about how the game was played and didn't just tell me to be quiet.

So as the years pass, living in Cleveland, I came to the sad conclusion that football would always be a part of living here. After all, although we never had a winning team, routing for the Browns was an experience akin to nirvana here for most people. Then there was a glorious day! Art Modell moved the Browns out of Cleveland to Baltimore. I have rarely experienced such bliss! I remember the day well. It was the same day that Yitzak Rabbine was assassinated, but you barely heard that on the news here because everyone here thought that football was much more important than the assassination of a major political player who was in the leadership of one of the most important countries of the world - but who wants to know about that?

Alas for me we got the team back. Cleveland has one of the worst school systems in the country. It is one of the poorest cities with some of the highest national foreclosure and unemployment rates. So everyone can see that we should ignore the failing school system, and pretend that the temporary jobs that were created to build the new stadium (because of course we couldn't use the old one) would fix the job problems. So the new Browns arrived in town a few years back.

Over the years I have learned that I am just about alone in my viewpoint. But that doesn't mean I have to like it or that I have to be quiet about it. Neither of which I am going to do.

Church is VERY important to me. I really wish that the superbowl was not on Sunday. It ruins the day - that is all anyone talks about. If however having a superbowl party is more important to you than being in church then, STAY HOME! I was just appalled as a couple in our church was whispering in a very loud whisper during communion as well as the sermon of everything that they had to do for their party. I do not doubt the faith of this couple but I see the poison that this obsession when chips and dip become more important than worshiping and communing with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not much has changed over the years. I still feel like Jeremiah - a lone voice calling in the wilderness. This year one of the churches where Emily goes to Awana the commander is one of the Browns. He is the first person I have ever met that seems to have put football in the correct perspective - behind God. I really look up to him for what he is trying to do. However I also see him failing at it. I used to look forward to going to Awana on Wednesday nights. I had met and become friends with other moms there and we would talk and chat during the meeting.

Now everything has changed. It is no longer the moms who bring the kids but rather the dads. I don't pretend that they are the least bit interested in Awana or even what their kids are doing. The only reason that they are there is because the commander is a football player. It is funny and sad to see a bunch of middle aged men following the poor commander around like puppies. The commander seems almost as annoyed with it as I am.

There is a reception area with a couch in that church. It is where my friends and I used to sit and chat. This week the commander was not there so all the football dads ended up there. Unlike the welcoming women I knew for years the guys sat and talked about football.

All of my life I have hated the game. I see how it has destroyed a family, a city and a church. So I can not help but believe that football is EVIL!

Making a gift box

2009-01-10T13:37:00.004-05:00

This tutorial was made for Jean's Art Dolls. Please check out this site and all the talent and wonderful ideas there!

The first step is to choose the paper. I have used both cardstock weight and lighter. I use these boxes most for candy etc. and I like the heavier weight better. It will work with just about any paper though.

Once you have the paper you will want to determine the size you want. I usually use a 12x6 size but any paper with a 2:1 ratio (8x4, 10x5 etc) will work. Obviously the bigger the paper, the bigger the finished box

Once your paper is cut you will want to mark the half way points on each side. Your first fold will be in half legenth wise.

You will then fold from the center mark on the width to the center fold of the paper. It is not a tricky fold but sometimes the paper will tear a little of your are too rough. Note that happened on mine but it is not really noticeable on the finished product.

If you wish to decorate the box, now is the time to do it. You can see where all the folds are and can embellish the box accordingly. Things like doodles or stamps can be put right over the seams and folds but thing like flowers or bling would be better on one of the flat surfaces.

Now the sides will overlap and you can use a hole punch at the center to punch a hole for the thread or ribbon to go through. I have done this both with and without using eyelets in the hole. If you choose to use eyelets, make sure that they are big enough for you to get the ribbon through. Also you do not want to seal the sides with eyelets as then you will not be able to put the items in the box.

Now and open the box and put your contents in. You will then string your ribbon through and tie it in a bow.

Store up Treasures in Heaven

2009-01-08T17:24:00.002-05:00

It seems as if there is no in between for me. Either everything is right or everything is wrong.

Tom got up and was on his way out to work. He opened the door and just stood there. This did not make me happy as it was COLD out there and as he stood there with the door open it was getting cold inside too.

Then after a second he said,"Where's my car?"

Needless to say, I forgot about the heat at that point too. Sure enough the only thing left in our drive was the freshly fallen snow. There was no car - not even any tire tracks just a vast expanse of white.

We have two cars - mine and his. Mine is just that mine. Literally it is all paid for and everything. I have the title and it is all mine. Tom's car technically isn't his. He gets a demo from the dealership and that was the car that was stolen. Yes, I felt very bad that it was gone, but at the same time I was also rejoicing in the fact that it was not OUR insurance that needed to foot the bill or that we would be without a car for long. So although it was not a good situation, I could easily see the good side of it. First blessing.

The car that was stolen was a Dodge Charger. With that kind of car if you are lucky you find the remains of the frame and everything else stripped. Tom was most concerned about the contents of the car - which were not much but they were ours. There was a car seat for Emily and a few music cd's and it was the latter that most upset him.

I came across a few extra bucks in my Christmas shopping money. Though we had agreed not to exchange gifts, I thought it would be a nice treat to get him a Michael W. Smith disc that I knew that he wanted. I searched long and hard for that disc - literally calling every store I could think of that might have it and until the last one, came up empty handed. Finally, I was able to find it. Tom got it for Christmas.

When all was said and done and the police had finally got here and made there report it was then that Tom realized, "My disc is gone!"

It is with that somewhat forlorn note that I dropped him off at work. On my way home I realized that even if we didn't' get the disc back that I could get another and I even know where not to look for it. We usually listen to books on tape/cd in the car. We don't buy them but get them from the library. I was so thankful that if a disc had to be lost that it was one of ours and not one from the library that we would have to pay to replace. Next Blessing.

Life settled down to normal and Tom called this afternoon. The car had been found! But how was just want made me see God's fingerprints all over it.

One of Tom's customers called him and asked, "Why is your car parked in front of my house?"

What are the odds that someone would leave the car somewhere where it would be recognized. Also it wasn't actually the car that was recognized, but Tom's dealer plates. What are the odds that even recognizing the dealer plates and know who to call? Think the blessings are working over time today!

They are going to tow the car into the dealership and it doesn't look like there is too much damage. The front grill is missing, the back bumper has some marks on it, and the spare tire is on it but that is all the physical damage that is apparent. The steering column wasn't even stripped! The car is going back to the dealership so they will not have to worry about dealing with the police impound either. More blessings!

After all the excitement I was thinking and that was when I realized all the blessings that had come our way today. It was also a valuable lesson ( and as lessons go a fairly painless one ) on looking at where my heart is. AND I passed the test! I was not concerned about the car and I could clearly see God's handiwork all over the day.

So in reality, I am wrong it was not a bad day after all.

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T14:24:00.003-05:00

It is a new year and I can't help thinking what does it mean...Yes we have a new month on the calendar and I need to pay attention to write 2009 on my checks but in reality what other difference is there?

I have heard of it referred to as a new start but is it really? I was overweight in 2008 and you know when that calendar page moved, the pounds sure didn't. You know all those lovely bills that I owed in 2008...yup you guessed it they are still due now.

I guess is what I am trying to say is that the turn of the page may give me a new perspective but in reality nothing much has changed. And I know that the biggest changes in my life came not at the turn of a calendar but at other unscheduled personal turning points. (none of which were at the start of a new year or in fact, even a new month) They were a time when I met the Lord in a new and different way and that was more than a new year, it was the birth of a totally new me.

Sanctuary

2008-11-30T15:16:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was just one of those days - not really bad but everything my kids did got on my nerves. How hard is it to turn off the light, close the door, or flush the toilet. Well yesterday it was virtually impossible for any of them to do anything.

I had a Pampered Chef meeting to attend in the late afternoon and I decided to "run away" after it. I just left a message with Tom saying not to expect me for dinner and I would be home when I got there.

After the meeting, I went to church. Now I have in the past, and I guess being that I still have the keys, still could taken sanctuary to get away from the world at my church. But being that it is closed I didn't feel right doing that. One of the churches that we visited - the first one in fact - had started a service at 6pm on Saturday night. The time is awkward, but I did want to go sometime. And last night was the perfect opportunity so I did.

Today in the church we have been attending for a while now we sang the song "Sanctuary" and it was then that I realized that sanctuary was just what I was looking for last night. And I realized that I found it too. It wasn't the building or even the service but just that time to go away and be with God that filled me and set me straight again.

I love my family. We are together just about all the time 24/7. I am a very introverted person and at times, I just need to be alone and that was what I did last night. But it wasn't til I heard the song in church this morning that I realized that I wasn't being selfish or wrong, but I was just doing what I needed to do.

So here is a lesson learned I need time for sanctuary and it is not wrong to take it once in a while.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

2008-11-24T20:17:00.002-05:00

And today was a day for good byes.

Today is the second anniversary of my dad's death - which is still a good bye that I occasionally struggle with. With his passing I became the oldest member of my immediate family. I usually don't think about it, but on days like today, I can't seem to help but be reflective.

Today was also the day I had to say good bye to a very close friend. This friend has been with me through thick and lots and lots of thin. I will truly miss the godly cousel that was a trademark of his.

So today was a time for good byes and now I look forward to what is the next purpose under heaven.

Back in the Saddle Again

2008-11-09T05:14:00.003-05:00

It has been ages since I have had a Pampered Chef show - and I was not happy about it, but if I was being honest with myself, I could have tried harder. So I finally stopped feeling sorry for myself and did something about it.

I have been on the phone all week and didn't have a whole lot of success. I did manage one show, but that was a small accomplishment considering all the phone calls I had made. I decided to work a craft fair this weekend and that went much better.

At the fair I made a number of new contacts and I can't wait to get started again. If all goes well, I will have another fair next weekend so between the two, things look like they are up and running again.

So much life

2008-11-01T04:02:00.002-04:00

Life - that is what has been happening and being fairly new to blogging, and not yet set in my ways, the blogging has slipped - but I am catching up (at least a little) now

In my defense, I went about 2 weeks without a computer or access at home to the Internet - neither of which are conducive to blogging.

On October 16 I was zoning out and watching the only show I watch on TV - CSI. I noticed that the light was flickering. I figured that the bulb was just burning out. Then I noticed that the light was flickering in the other room too. As I was looking around I noticed "fireworks" in the back yard. That was just before the transformer on the pole shorted out leaving us powerless for the rest of the night and putting just too much strain on our computer and killing it.

We were a week without the main computer so we were living in survival mode. I used the lap top for school, but that was about all I was able to do. We got the computer back on the 19th and live was good again.

It didn't stay that way though. Another transformer on the same pole decided that it too was time to die, but unlike its predecessor it wasn't content to just send out a few sparks. No, this one actually sent flames up and down the phone line. So n0 the 20th less than a day after getting our computer back and running, the phone lines were burned. So although we had a computer, we couldn't do anything with the Internet til that was fixed. We finally got back and completely up and running on the 24th. Well of course there was alot of catch up to do - Tom with work and the kids with school. So there was not opportunity to blog for me.

Add to the above scenario scouts, awana, and a trip to the art museum and my days were pretty full. But now, at 4 in the morning, I can finally get on the computer and do what I want to do - and blogging is it.

AND the reason that I started the blog was to chronicle our search for a church. We began at the start of the month going to The Orchard. This was a second time back and we wanted to give it a month or so and see how it feels. Well, we are giving it more than a month. We are not committing to anything right now long term, but we will be here through the rest of the year. Emily was asked to be in their Christmas program and Eva is working on a project with the youth group so we will stay long enough to give the kids an opportunity to do what they want. I figure after months of being dragged from church to church letting them actually get involved is not a bad thing. So with a few planned weeks off, we are staying at The Orchard through at least the 14th of December.

Souper Sunday

2008-10-12T20:46:00.002-04:00

We visited the Orchard again this week. We visited there last week as well, but I didn't have a chance to post about it last week so I will start actually last Saturday.

We are for the moment, like many others, in a very tight financial situation. The pressure was really getting to me. And even more than the money I was really feeling separated from everyone I know I can go to for support - my church family. In prayer, I asked that God would lay us on the heart of someone who could help. My quiet time is right before I go to bed so after making my request I settled in for a my typical restless nights "sleep"

We decided to visit the Orchard again. We have friends and acquaintances there, but no one knew that we were coming. Indeed, Timothy and I were both fighting colds so I didn't make any plans because until we got up and I said that I did feel up to going to church. Much to my surprise someone said that the Lord had put on his heart to help us and he was so glad to see us there and offer what he could.

I was just astounded. Yes, I had asked God for just that. I don't know that I doubted that he would do it, but i don't really think that I believed it fully either. It was just to stunning and wonderful to witness His faithfulness even in the face of my less than perfect faith.

This week we visited there again. I will say that it was much more enjoyable when I wasn't sick. the minister teaches Emily's SS class and she just loves it. Timothy and Eva are both in the youth class and love it as well. The sermons are good and the people are great. Right now they are meeting in a local high school so I can't say much about the facilities, because other than a plot of land they really don't have any.

I know that there is no such thing as a perfect church - and even if there were if I joined there, it would no longer be perfect. But one thing that I just don't care for is the adult SS. I think that part of it is the subject matter. The book that they are studying is not one of my favorites which doesn't make me want to jump right in. Also the man that is teaching it has not been well and I think that might be why he has taken such a subdued approach to teaching. So I am not exactly eager to jump right it.

So those were our weeks there and we are planning to spend a few more there - probably through the end of the month and then we may check out another one an "park there for a while.

Today was the second Sunday so we had our monthly service at our church that closed. Every second Sunday we have a pot luck and get some fellowship and a really good sermon. One family or group makes the main dish and then everyone brings sides. Tonight we were the family that made the main dish. Tom and I each made a HUGE pot of soup. I made cream of potato and tom made Italian wedding. I also make home made dinner rolls. All of it was well received.

Now at last I are home from a LONG day of being on my feet, and the bathtub is calling...so I am off to relax after being up since 5:30 this morning.

Min - Album

2008-10-09T06:36:00.009-04:00

I didn't make this blog for the purpose of scrapping. I have quite a few online galleries and that is where I post most of my pojects. Occasionally, I will post scrapping stuff here. This is one of those occasions.

This is a mini album I made for a cybercrop. I had never really made one before. Because of that I seriously considered not doing the challenge. What are the odds of a first timer winning? I don't think much especially when I really didn't know what I was going to do. This was the final challenge and I thought that it would be rather anit climatic to do all the other challenges, and not finish - so this is my attempt at a mini album.

Applesauce

2008-09-29T22:00:00.003-04:00

Every year, for as long as I can remember fall meant apples in my house. We would always go to an orchard and pick several bushels. Then we would come home and make home made applesauce. I remember doing for years and years. I remember my Granada coming to our house and helping my mom. After Grandma died, I helped a little more ever year as I got older.

Mom got sick in 2005 and wasn't up to making the sauce, so that was the first year that I did it alone, albeit at her house and under her supervision. I was so glad that I did because I really learned what I was doing then. And that was very lucky because in Jan of 2006, mom died and I was left on my own to keep the tradition alive.

So today was the day that we headed out to the orchard. We picked 2 bushels of apples. I would have liked to pick more, but at $22 a bushel 2 was all I could afford. I guess this year I will not get to be as generous with it as I like to be. Everyone seems to love a pint or a quart of canned home made applesauce.

Now, however, I beginning to reap the rewards. I have peeled and sliced half a bushel and they are as I type being cooked down to the soft sweet and spicy sauce that is our family tradition. The aroma of apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger now permeate the house and there is nothing like it in the world. I don't know if my kids will continue when I no longer can, but I hope they do because there is nothing that can compare to the taste of home made applesauce

The Decision

2008-09-28T12:47:00.003-04:00

We have been attending the same church for 3 weeks in a row now - which for us has been a record. There were others that we wanted to go back to, but we decided to park at this one for a few weeks.

Well, we are done parking. We have left the building, and are not going back. I don't want to give the impression that there was anything wrong with the church, but we agreed that it was just not for us.

The Sunday school for the kids was super. The preaching was very good. The music was by far the best we have heard in the whole search. There are 3 services so we could go just about any time and get to the service. But that is really where the pluses ended. The Christian Education for the adults although varied was not what we had hoped. And in the whole time of attending the church with over 1,000 members there on Sunday morning, only a few in the adult classes spoke to us, and no one in the worship service ever acknowledged our existence. It is just too big and too impersonal. It was definitely not the family that I want and need.

So one of our "maybes", is now a "No". And the search will go on.

Is it Just Me?

2008-09-25T16:14:00.002-04:00

I have been wondering lately, am I really the ogre that I seem to be acting like of late? Yes, I have been spending more than my share of time recently ticked off, but I wonder if it is just a streak of bad luck or if I am being unreasonable.

Last February I began looking for a Cadette Girl Scout troop for Eva. I called the council, I went to meetings, I asked for referals. It wasn't until I got mean that someone finally paid attention to me. I started at the same time looking for a Daisy toop for Emily - and so far, we have nothing.

I don't need to start on the school again. If you have questions about that one, check out my post from the first day of school. I am glad to say that they have improved, but we started on 8/28 and I am still waiting for books. I feel like I have at least a little bit of justification at being ticked

Our insurance - or as we call it, our noninsurance, insurance - is next on my verbal hit list. I got the bill from the dr. for my surgery. They didn't pay ANYTHING! Please, can someone tell my why we are paying insurance, if they don't pay any bills? They have yet to pay a penny this year. It is not like we don't submit things either. We have almsot $400 a month in medications alone.

Last night the Awana club that Emily belongs on became the most recent to be added to my infamous "list". She loves Awana and, like her sister has been gifted with the ability to memorize and understand scripture. There are 47 sections in her handbook this year. Each one of those need to be reviewed and then there is a workbook that she wants to finish. This year they have taken up the habbit of only letting her recite one verse a week. At this rate, she won't even finish the book. I am not asking for special treatment. I just want her to work at a rate that will allow her to do what they ask all the kids to do.

So that is where I sit, ticked at the school, the insurance, scouts and Awana....Who wants to be next on the list>

Sunday Homesick

2008-09-21T20:36:00.002-04:00

It seems as if it was ages ago but in reality it was not that long ago when our church had an early morning service as well as the regular service. At that time I was working in the nursery during the second service so I got to attend the first one. One of the things that I liked best was the contemporary music. There was one song in particular. "The Cry of my Heart" that Jim would play on dull grey mornings - which in Cleveland, we get more than our share. This arrangement was very upbeat and had a steel drum solo. That song more than any other is the one I remember from those services.

Today the church we attended used that same song, but a different arrangement. I was in tears with homesickness. I just want to be at home in my church. I am tired of looking for a new church. I am tired of not fitting in. I am tired of not knowing any one. I just want to go home!

My not so little girl

2008-09-19T21:15:00.002-04:00

Today Eva bridged to Cadettes. She has been in scouts since she was 5. She started as a Daisy. In Brownies she made it her goal to earn ever try-it (the brownie badges) there was. She earned everyone in the book and additional ones besides. Because her birthday is at the end of September there has always been a question as to what year she should be in. In the winter of 2006 she bridged to Juniors. It was becoming apparent that she was just at a maturity level far beyond the girls in the troop - part of that having to do with being a year older than all of them.

So in the spring of 2008 she decided to leave the troop that she had been with for 7 years who wouldn't be joining Cadettes for another year. Being Eva, of course, she couldn't do it without first earning all the awards that she could. Many troops will work on the higher awards - the Junior aide, the leadership award and the bronze award (the highest award a junior scout can get) together. Eva, not having time to wait for the troop conquered them all, alone. Tonight she received the last award - her bronze and she was bridged to Cadettes. It was touching to see the relationships that were made and how much she meant to not only the girls but the leaders as well.

So this is a Congrats to Eva, my Cadette scout.

This was more like it!

2008-09-14T13:23:00.002-04:00

Today was a good day in the search for a church - and that is much appreciated and needed!

We went to another church that I found online. It is a very big church, but it doesn't seem to have the mega church mentality that I soooooo dislike. That, in my definition, is a big church that as soon as you get there wants to break you up into small groups.

Well this church is big - there is no denying that. The complex itself is almost too daunting. The fact that I found 3 different welcome centers is evidence of that fact. I had done a mystery dinner for their youth group a few years back so I had at least been in the facility but they had expanded it since then. Really the feeling I got was like the first day in High school where you never really know where you are going or how to get from one place to the other.

Tom went to drop off Timothy and Eva in the Senior and Junior high classes respectively. It was not that we didn't think that they could find the way, but we wanted to know where to meet them after Sunday School so we could all go to church together.

I went to drop off Emily. I like the idea that there are about 10 kids in a class. I think that is really neat. That way they are not one of a crowd, but they have kids to interact with - and being that mine are home schooled, church is a big place for that to happen. I like the idea of that number of kids but this was a class with 10 first graders. This puts it in perspective if every year has around 10 kids, this will give you an idea of the scope of the church.

Tom and I went to the adult class. That was such a pleasant experience. There are no shortage of adult classes, but when I was dropping off Emily someone invited us to this one and we went. It was great! There was prayer, learning, and an honest discussion. I didn't realize how much I missed that. And the really great thing was that the kids all liked there classes as well. Even Timothy who has said the same thing every week. "It was Ok." said today, "It was really good" and in teenspeak that is a reasoning affirmation.

There are 3 worship services on Sunday morning and we went to the last one today. It was great too. The music was all contemporary but the other services have different musical styles. The minister was just starting a new series so for once we didn't come into the middle of something. It was an excellent sermon on God's love - a message which many minister I have heard sadly gloss over. We are looking forward to going back next week.

We are not ready to make a commitment right now, and there are places we still do want to go back to but at least for the next few weeks, we are going to explore this church and see where the Lord leads.

Take 2

2008-09-07T15:16:00.002-04:00

If I have counted correctly, I believe we have visited eight different churches since ours closed. Generally, the fall into one of three categories: we will visit again, it was OK, but nothing great, or wild horses couldn't drag us back. We have been very blessed that with one small exception, we all agree that a certain church fits into a certain category.

I don't think that what we are seeking is that outrageous in a church, but I am finding myself proven wrong. We have many things that we think would be really nice in a church - music styles etc. - but we have boiled it down to 2 essentials. They must have Christian education for everyone in the family including Tom and I. They must have a time where the family can worship together. So as I have found out this is rare. There are very few churches that have that. Most will have Sunday school during the church service. That kills both of our desires - but at least it is easy to cross churches off the list of where we want to visit. All that needs to be done is to look at the Sunday schedule.

We met with some friends from our old church on Fri. We had a cookout and celebrated Tom's birthday. When we got home, I discovered that I had left my camera at their house. So it was that mistake that settled where we were going to church this week. We went to their church - which was one on the "visit again" list so I could get my camera.

The first time we were there, they were trying something different. Today wasn't much better. They usually meet in a local high school gym. They have property on which they will eventually build but for now it is just land with a house that serves as the office. Today was their picnic and the service was to be at the property. The problem was, it was raining. They quickly moved the service to a local retirement community multi-purpose room. After the service it has quit raining and we moved back to have the picnic on the property.

So we still have not seen a "regular" service, but what we have seen still warrant another look. I just want to make sure that they are not in the habit of doing something "different" every week. I need some stability in my life and I want it from my church. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I don't' need every service to be the same, but I do want to not have to guess what we are going to be doing this week either.

I know that we will eventually find a home sooner or later - I just wish that it was sooner. I want a place that I can call home, and I haven't really found it yet.

stretching

2008-09-03T09:06:00.005-04:00

If you have read any other posts here, you know that this is a personal blog. I am chronicling things that happen in my life - the search for a new church or my kids school. Certainally they are not the only things I do, but they are the things I do that are mine. I have seen other blogs that follow sports, cars or scrapbooking and this is not one of them. But I do interact with the rest of the world (at least occasionally) so now this blog is, at least for today, stretching out to what else I do.

So I am attempting to post a layout here that I made for a challenge at ASF. I am just so pleased with the way it turned out that I want to share! Timothy took this picture at Camp Koinonia this summer. I loved the picture, but I just didn't know quite what to do with it. Then something hit me - a path - the way. Jesus said, "I am the way" well after that the layour virtually flew together.

It was then that I noticed how my life is so much like my layout. I stumbled around in the dark for year - thinking everthing was just fine. Then, I found him - Jesus - my Savior. I certainally have not reached my destination, but now I KNOW that I am on the right path - and that I am not alone. Please, come along with me on that journey.

It was the best of times...It was the worst fo times...

2008-08-31T11:30:00.002-04:00

That was the church we went to this morning. This was one that I pass every time I go to work. It has a great location - easy to get to and fairly close. So far things are looking good! A friend of ours who although does not attend there had visited and recommended that it might be a place to look at. So taking his advice we did.

One of the things that I really liked at our old church was the mix of music. It is a personal preference but I like a mix of traditional music (hymns) and contemporary. It is just that a preference. There is more to the church than the music and I know that. However when we walked in today and they had that mix down perfectly. It felt just wonderful. It was musically, by far the best church we have visited all summer.

I was feeling positive. Then there was the announcement time and the feeling started to fade. They were pushing (and I mean pushing) all the new stuff that is going to start next week. They even had a promotional video sketch to promote one of them. (Personal peeve - just because you can to show a video in church doesn't mean that you should) I guess it wouldn't have been quite so bad if they had not had it ALL already listed in the bulletin - and that was all that was there. No listing of what was going to be sung, no listing of what scripture was going to be used for the service just lists and lists of what else you can do.

Next was the part that clinched it: the "sermon". That was indeed the worst of times. I quickly found out why there was no scripture listed in the bulletin - scripture was almost totally unnecessary to what the preacher was talking about. It might have been a nice speech at a Kiwanis's club, but its reference to the Bible was passing at best. He was saying that we all need to change the things we are doing (which was true) but gave NO instruction as to how that could be done. It was definitely the gospel of works.

I remember when I was in high school and I heard about people who wrote to each other every day. I just couldn't understand that - what was there to talk about? When I was in college I met Tom and then I understood. I didn't intend to write every day but before long I was in love and I wanted to write every day. The same has been true with my relationship with God. I did pray the perfunctory, "Please bless so-and- so" or "Thank you for this and that" or "Please help me I need...." but that was it. Then I really got to know Him and all that changed. I can't wait to talk to him. The idea that I wouldn't spend time with Him is ridiculous. I love Him and with Him is where I want to be. I am looking for a church that has the same attitude about him that I do. Today was NOT it.

The sermon was from that first self -centered strength perspective. You need to do this. The point was missed entirely. It is not what you do or don't do. It is based on a relationship with God that makes you want to do it. Just wanting to by yourself will get you no where - the entire Old Testament shows that. To have a real and transforming relationship with God, you need, well, God.

When I left and I was very disappointed. I was so hopeful at the beginning. It started out so well and then it just flopped. But as I sit and write this now, I feel something even worse. There were so many there, who because of this sermon - and others like it, feel that if they just "try a little harder" that they can get "right" with God and in so doing only looking at themselves and miss him entirely. It is now where I really feel sad for those people.

First day Fiasco

2008-08-25T22:15:00.002-04:00

Oh, where do I start - I guess it should start with a warning. I am on a rant - and I am going to put it all in writing and all right here. So if you are not in the mood or if you are squeamish may I suggest one of my other blog entries for your perusal. But for now on with the show.

I guess I will begin with the whole idea of going back to school before Labor day. In short, I am against it. I really don't see that there is any point in going to school for a few days just to have a long weekend and have to start all over again. I just know that when I was homeschooling, we never started before Labor day and we were always done before the public schools.

Those were the "good old days". I mean the days when I was true homeschooling. I had my own curriculum and I chose what we learned and when we learned it. Those days are gone. I had good reasons for choosing to use a virtual school, but after days like today, I really question those motives. It is days like this that leave me scratching my head wondering why I ever left.

Today, August 25, was to be the first day of school. This was announced and publicized before school ended last year so it should take no one by surprise - especially the school who had the idea. But it seems to have done just that. We were to receive book shipments before school started - and we are still waiting. I will deal with the high school specifically later but Timothy has a few of his lit books, his lab supplies and a Latin/English dictionary. Emily has all of her lit books and a map and globe - neither of which are truly necessary to teach the class she has. Poor Eva has not received any books at all.

Strike one: school started, no books

However this is a virtual school. That means that some of the classes are online, specifically science (as long as they don't need the lab book for that lesson) and Emily's history is on the computer so even though we didn't have the books we could get started with those. I tried to take heart that at least they did something today. That little hope did not last long though.

Now comes high school. The school, Ohio Virtual Academy, (yes, normally I try to be very generic in what I write about to not hurt any feelings or step on any toes - but I am so mad at OHVA right now that I would love for the whole world to hate them as much as I do) has decided that it's students are all idiots. Rather than giving them their books (see above) and introducing their teachers and getting down to learning they have devised a 2 week "introduction" period. That period today started at 8 am where all the high school students had to log into the same virtual classroom. But it is not the students alone who have to suffer. All the high school teachers were to be there too. In the school's epic wisdom (note: sarcasm) they did not have enough moderator positions available for all the teachers. So the teachers in addition to attempting to exert control over a failing site had to compete with each other for a chance to run their part of the program. Even if they say that they didn't know how many students were coming, I would think that they at least know how many teachers they have - but I guess not. Then: DISASTER! So with around 900 students and teachers to no great surprise - except it seemed the schools the server crashes.

STRIKE 2: Virtual school crashes

I received a letter later in the day (through their internal e-mail which is another rant altogether) saying that they were not expecting so many students and that the introduction would be rescheduled for 1 this afternoon. HELLO - if you tell all the students to be in one place, and you have not provided any books so that they can do anything but be there how can you say that you were not expecting it?????? The trouble with this is that even at 1:30 when I was finally able to get back on the system I couldn't get to the classroom where they were until after 2pm.

I want to make it clear that I do not hold the teachers responsible for these mishaps. I am sure that they have been yelled at all day by irate parents like myself (I made it a point to address my concerns to the principals and not the teachers). I have really liked most of the teachers that I have met - actually feel sorry that they have to work within this ill conceived and unrealistic system.

I know that on the first day of school not much learning really takes place but I can assure you that NONE took place today. And the really sad thing is, I don't see much of a change for tomorrow. We still do not have any books and I have a feeling that even though the site crashed today they thought it a fluke because they have asked us to do the same thing for tomorrow. I will try - for the sake of my kids - but if there are technical difficulties tomorrow it will be strike three and I will be out til September 2 (Oh, I forgot to mention - they expect the high school students to be in school on Labor day. I know that at least one of them will not be)

A lesson learned

2008-08-24T15:55:00.002-04:00

It was 10 years ago this summer that I found my last church. I had watched the church I grew up in dieing for years. Leaving that first church really wasn't all that hard. I searched for what seemed like forever at the time, but in reality was not long at all. Finally one Sunday I opened the phone book and put my finger down and that was going to be the church I was going to that week. That was it that was my church. I suspected it when I walked in, and I knew it as soon as I heard the minister speak. I was at last at home.

That church became so much more to me than a place to go on Sunday morning. There are people there who are friends. I have shared some of my happiest moments (like the birth of Emily) and some of my saddest ( like loosing both my parents in 10 months) with them - and you just don't forget or easily walk away from people who have been through things like that with you. But that formal connection is now gone. And I am once again looking for someplace that isn't a house where I live, but rather a family and a way to live, that I can call home.

The search has not been that difficult if I am honest. So far we have visited several churches. Some were where friends attend. Some were places we had wanted to "check out" and some were just places that caught my eye as I drove by. During the week, I just need to check the web or call the office to make sure that we have the right times, then show up on Sunday morning. Like I said, not that hard.

BUT, It hasn't been easy either. I realized today that I will probably not have the same experience. I don't think that I am going to walk into anyplace and feel "home" like I did before. Then I remembered something that I had read in a Janette Oake novel. She was referring to a character that had lost her first husband and remarried. She learned to love her second husband as much as the first, but in a very different way. The first love came with bells and whistles and butterflies in the stomach. The second love came softly and over time. I have had my bells and whistles and that was what I had known. That is what I was looking for again. Although it may happen that way again, more than likely it will not. This love will be one that comes softly.

So with that lesson at last learned, we headed off to a church of our choosing today. I stumbled across it driving home from picking strawberries. If you didn't know it was there, you could easily miss it. But I didn't. Emily attended VBS there this summer. And even after that (seeing how they run their VBS program has turned me off to more churches than I can list) I still wanted to go back. They had Sunday school for all ages and a friendly congregation. They have a well spoken minister who speaks truth from the Bible. So today's church is one of 2 we attended this summer that will warrant a second look sometime

NOT a happy camper

2008-08-22T10:39:00.002-04:00

I had my surgery on 8/12. I think I can call it a success. My wrist is doing much better. I still am having issues with my tennis elbow, but I have heard that this takes a long time to heal. So to comfort myself as there is so much I can not do (get my hand wet and not pick up anything heavier than a quart of milk are the two that are the most limiting) I console myself by scrapping.

I was scrapping this morning. That in itself is a good sign. For years I couldn't even think of picking up any scrapping stuff til after 10 in the morning. My hand would just not function before then. I was scrapping at 7! I was feeling really good - and really enjoying myself until Eva came along.

Just about a year ago Eva broke her toe. There is really nothing that can be done for a broken toe other than to stay off of it and let it heal. So for 6 weeks I enforced what the doctor had said and wouldn't allow her to run or jump or take games at Awana for that period of time.

This morning, it came back to haunt me. I had just finished a page - a page with stitching on it none the less! I showed it to Eva.

She said, "You just had surgery on you wrist 10 days ago. You shouldn't be scrapping. You wouldn't let me run for 6 weeks."

Now I don't know if I should be scrapping or on the computer at all. The doctor didn't say anything either way so I am just playing it smart. I try, and if it hurts I stop or if I get tired, I quit. And there is NO WAY that I could go 6 weeks without scrapping.

I was not in a great mood after my 11 year old was playing the mom card on me. Then the doctor called. I was to go in on Mon. to get the bandages off and see what progress I have made. I can't wait. Just to be able to wash both my hands and get this frayed and grungy wrapping off my wrist is what I am looking forward to the most. That was til the doctor called and said that he had to cancel that appointment, could I come on Wed. instead. That means another 2 days of not being able to bathe or get dressed without assistance. As I said, I am NOT a happy camper right now.

I think I need to go scrap to let off some steam...

Eat or Meds?

2008-08-18T14:18:00.002-04:00

It is bad enough when I have to make that decision for myself. (I was forced to stop taking my meds about 6 months ago because we couldn't afford it) But I HATE to have to make that decision when it involves my kids. Timothy is ADD and has used meds through the school year. He didn't take them over the summer but now that school is starting back up, we need to start with them again.

Being that he has grown (alot) I had to take him back to the dr. to get a new RX. I also made a point to ask for a cheaper med. The $125 per month was really putting a strain on our budget. She gave me a new med and when I checked on the price of that one, it was $25 more per month. I was just about in tears. I called her and asked to give us the original RX back. I don't know how we are going to manage that but I guess we will try somehow. I know that he will only get them on school days - NONE on the weekends or holidays. Maybe that way it will last a little longer.

As my grandmother used to say, "It is no crime being poor, but it is a damn inconvenience"

Surprise!

2008-08-17T17:20:00.002-04:00

We began our search for a new church in July - which is summer and admittedly not the best time to look for a church. But we have had some of the worst luck looking. We have yet to see a "typical" service. Either the minister is on vacation that week or what has been more likely is that there is something "special" going on. The funny (and rather sad) thing is, when we hit these special Sundays almost everyone apologizes for them. To me, if they decide to do it, do it but if you feel you need to apologize for it, then maybe you shouldn't do it.

Ok enough of my soap box for now. We had another one of those "special" Sunday services today. But at least they were excited about it and didn't apologize.

The church we visited was one that was not new to us. I visited that as a child. I visited the Awana program there too. It was because of that I knew about Awana and were able to send my kids there - where they have been attending for 10 years in the fall. So to sat this was a new church is not accurate. The church split about 5 years ago and many of the member left. So we have been attending the Awana program longer than many of the current church members. No, new is not one of the names I would call this church.

One of the things that we are looking for in a church is Sunday school for EVERYONE on Sunday morning. To me Sunday school is where I have learned most about my faith. It is smaller and unlike in a sermon I can ask questions. I find that has been a BIG help in my spiritual journey. I am just astounded at the number of churches who don't think that adults need it. They have kids Sunday school, but unless you want to go to women's group on Wed, or men's group on Fri, or Bible study on Sat. morning there is no adult religious teaching. I don't think that these things are wrong, but I just don't want to have to go to church 4 days a week for the family to attend. Another pet peeve of mine is that there is no Sunday school in the summer. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't' remember anywhere it says that Satan goes on vacation from Memorial day weekend to Labor day weekend.

This church did have Sunday school - quite a variety. The kids went to their age appropriate classes and Tom and I chose from about 5 adult classes the one on James. Now James is one of my favorite books so I was really looking forward to it. That was till class started. I felt like the class was being taught by Professor Binns from the Harry Potter series. This man just droned on and on for an hour. I couldn't wait to leave. So I know that if we ever go back, I will not be attending any of his classes again.

The real surprise came with the worship service. Evidently they have had a series of messages on marriage. And today was special because during the service anyone who wanted to could renew their marriage vows. So with no planning afore though we did. It was really rather sweet and moving, but I think had we known we were going to do it for more than 15 minutes before it happened we might have got a little more out of it.

I will say that it was one of the better messages we had heard and that was a nice change so some. And maybe we might go back (besides when Awana starts in a few weeks). I am sure that given enough time I might even feel comfortable there, but I just don't feel the spark that is totally undefinable that says "this is home". I felt that in my last church and I am aware that just like true love, there may only be one, but at least for now, I want to keep looking.

One MAD mom

2008-08-15T06:47:00.002-04:00

That is what I am mad and scared!

The house that is next door is a rental property and with one exception the people who have lived there are the type that I would not choose to live next to...the crazy bi-polar woman, the juvenile delinquent, the shoplifter, the people who owned 13 pit bulls, and the drunk. Not a parade of high society - but I at least tried to be friendly to all of them, and at this point, I would gladly take any of them back as opposed to who is living there now.

Our new neighbor is a convicted rapist and a child molester. He has served 8 years in prison for raping 2 girls - ages 6 and 11. THOSE ARE THE AGES OF MY DAUGHTERS!!!!!!!!

I would love to pick up and move, but that is not an option. I am hoping that being that it is a rental, that maybe he will not be there that long. But til then how we live has totally changed. I can no longer let my kids play unattended in out fenced in back yard. There will be no leaving them at home while I just run to the store. Just at the age where they were gaining some independence I have to take it all away for their own safety.

I know that he has "served his time". And I know that everyone has a right to live somewhere. I just wish that he were not right next door to me. We have another offender on the street and though I don't like it, they are not next door so I just live with it.

So here I am, scared and angry and not sure what I am going to do.