Yeah for Me!!!

Can you believe it!? (no, not that I am blogging again-I am a slacker sometimes) Julie and Parker arrive this evening. I can hardly contain myself. Look at that face. I can't wait to kiss those cute cheeks. It has been awhile since a baby has been around our house so I am excited for the kids as well. Maybe it will get the whole 'mom, you should have a baby' thing over with, maybe not. Anyway, I pick them up this afternoon and they will be here a whole week. I can't wait.

The expericence of seeing...

Last Christmas I bought a present for myself with the intentions of sharing it with the family. It was a puzzle. Normally we are not a game playing, puzzle doing kind of family but sometimes I can get Izy to participate with me which is a great way to chat. This puzzle caught my attention because it was a copy of one of my favorite paintings.

Years ago Cindy introduced my to Bev Doolittle. I think we were on a trip or something and she pointed out one of her paintings. I was amazed to say the least. Since then I have always admired her work.

These are some of my favorites. She has many pieces, a lot with Native American and western themes. These are some that are absolutely amazing to me.

This first one is called "Doubled Back". I am sorry if you can not see it very well but there is a bear in the side of the hill as well as the paw prints on the ground.

This is the kind of art that she is famous for. There is an obvious image but when you look closer there is more.

This is how she describes herself, "I want to change the experience of seeing...to have people think when they look at my paintings. I regard myself as a 'visual storyteller'-using camouflage as a technique to slow down the viewing process, but my meaning and message are never hidden." Bev Doolittle

"Missed"

This last one is my favorite. It is called "Pintos". It is also the print in the puzzle I mentioned earlier.

When I ordered the puzzle I didn't know what a "Doubles puzzle" meant. Well, with 600 pieces it means that each of those 600 pieces has a smaller piece cut out of it's center bringing the grand total of pieces up to 1200! Utter insanity!!! As I said, I got it over 1 1/2 years ago and just now decided to try and tackle it again. I work on it a little each night when we all watch a movie or Rock and I are chatting. Sometimes during the day with Izy. It waits for me which is important since it gets a bit overwhelming and I have to walk away and then come back to it.

The point of this whole post is to say that I think it is important that we slow down and "change the experience of seeing" and "think" when we are looking at something or experiencing it. Somehow it feeds our soul.

If we remember that God is the ultimate 'creator' and has on display his work for us to enjoy 24/7 then it might be safe to say that he intends for us to do more of this in our daily lives. I am making the assumption that you know I am not saying you have to go to your local art gallery and take a stoll, unless that is how you feel inclined, but to just slow down if only for a moment or two and 'think' and see something differently.
Enjoy the creation so that you will in turn love, know and appreciate the creator more deeply.

'still tooting my own horn'

Ok, I am getting a little self-conscious about the posting of the pages thing (I don't handle compliments very well, I appreciate them but they make me self conscious). I have these two things to share.

This is my layout of Caden. It is completely from my heart. I love my kids and when I feel it, I feel it deeply and I did with this one.
The writing says, "this boy, his smile, his fantastic brown eyes, his soft wispy hair, his sweet kind heart. He melts my heart like no other. I love this boy. Caden Rain, I am so thankful that you are mine." Sappy I know but this kid had my heart from day one. I use to call him my "Joy" because he was always so happy and he spoke with his eyes in a way I had never seen in a little boy.

From Blog pics

The other thing I wanted to share was this quote I found about siblings.
"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family grief and joys. We live outside the touch of time." I love it! Family...sometimes it IS the best!
(Jules, this makes me think of you...love you sis and I am sorry about picking on you when we were kids)

This is one of my favs. It's not a great pic color wise but I love how cute Isabel looks in this shot.

From Blog pics

This is Chrismas 1996. I was only 26-Yikes! Isabel was almost 1.

From Blog pics

This is another one from that Christmas. On the front is the card I sent out that year and the pockets on the page hold all of the 'attempts' we took. I think I could make a whole album just filled with Christmas card 'attempts'.

From Blog pics

Didn't get any scrapping done today since I had a dr apt and I have to prep for my Stars class (Missionettes) at church. But tomorrow I will be back at it again. I think I am up to 11 pages finished and as you can see (all the baby shots of Izy) I am quite far behind. The point is to enjoy the process and enjoy the rush from being creative. Have a Happy Valenines Day focusing on the ones you love.
"Find ecstasy in life-the mere sense of living is joy enough." emily dickinson
Later.

Pages...

This is Sage and his cousin Nash. Pretty par for the course for the two of them. You won't find better friends or cousins. They are the best of friends.

From Blog pics

Ok, this one is kinda sad to me (and not because I look like a complete idiot). This is a pic of me with my dog Ace when we were going outside to do something (reason for the Alaska-wear I am sporting). Ace disappeared the summer before last and I still get choked up when I think about him. Best dog EVER!!

From Blog pics

Kid pic in the snow.

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I think I could make an entire album of 'christmas card attempts'. You know what I mean? This is another collection of them from 1996.

From Blog pics

That's all for now. I'll try to post more later.

Scrapbook Retreat

Ok, for those of you who were wondering what a scrapbook retreat is, well, for me it is going over to the farm (the main lodge here on the farm that is not being used right now) and scrapbooking, watch movies, eat m&m's and be child-less. An official retreat would be when you go to some organized function at a hotel or something and scrapbook all the time. Rock agreed to watch the kids this week since he's not busy yet so that is what I am doing. It was just easier to call it that than trying to explain. Right now I am taking a break but I have gotten over 10 pages done which is really good for me. I took some pics but I will have to load them later. Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm (except Michelle F).

Ok, I lied. I couldn't help it these are so great. This one is covered in chalkboard paint so anyone can write on it.

From Blog pics

I think these are bathroom items, I am not sure but I thought the drawings were so great.

From Blog pics

You've got to love it when someone takes the time to use their creativity. Never a waste of time. It just occured to me that what I am saying applies to my scrapbooking retreat. Good for me. I am a little slow sometimes. Ok, I am really going now. Bye

Where am I...

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I may not be posting much this week. I am going to try but I am at a scrapbooking retreat (just here at the farm). So I am spending as much time as possible doing that this week. Maybe I'll post some of my pages for your viewing pleasure. I did get to catch up on reading everyone elses this morning, which was great. It's amazing how much you can miss something that you don't realize has become such a part of your life.
We'll talk later.

surprise!

There is a site that I read from time to time just because it will stretch my creative muscle a bit and I really dig that. So today she decide that normal packaging is tiresome and draining. She calls the process unbranding (I really never thought about it) and she came up with a solution. Check these out.

From Blog pics

From Blog pics

I know the first one is obvious by the second one...figure it out? It is her box of cereal! No, I am not going to start doing this at home but it did get me thinking...maybe I would get more laundry done if I covered the washer and dryer or even the dishwasher.
No, that's not really her point. She wants her surroundings to be pleasing to the eye so she feels more peace. I think I know how to do that but it would require removing some people and I don't think it's really feasible. I think magic would work better in my case. Can you imagine if you had 'unbranded' a bunch of stuff in your house while everyone was gone. Besides the work it would be really funny. hehe

Here is her info if you want to check her out at wish jar http://www.kerismith.com/blog/

This is the soap I use in my bathroom and kitchen and when I went online today to order some more I found something else...

From Funny pics

So in the spirit of KarenKools previous post regarding Aunt Flo I found the product that's just for her. Just what we all need to hide those 'un-mentionables'. It even comes with a handy chart so you can keep track of the days.

From Funny pics

Oh, and did I mention it can also be used as a checkbook holder.
How convenient and dual purpose. haha

"Fire in the Hole"

How many times have you heard that expression yelled in your car, living room or maybe kitchen. Lately there has been alot of "Fire in the hole" yelled at our house.

In the car on Wednesday on the way home from church someone filled the car with a most unpleasant aroma. Everyone blamed everyone else until Sage spoke up and said, "It wasn't me cause when I have to toot or burp I always give a warning so you know it's coming. I say 'Fire in the hole!' then you know it's going to be stinky."
Thanks for the warning man.

From Colorado Trip

Manna from heaven

I am sitting here looking at a blank post page (listening to Dora in the background-maybe that's the problem) not knowing what to write. I don't want to be a slacker mainly because I love being a part of the blogging world but I have been so unmotivated lately, depressed really. When I get like that I don't even read blogs, dare I say that. I know there are lots of other women that struggle with the same stuff but we don't mention it very often, if at all. I know we all like to hide behind our masks and create this normalness image for everyone. Well, not today. I feel like crap, I am not pms-ing, I have no motivation, I am still in my pjs and I could actually get back into bed and sleep all day. Alright, I will just save you the diagnoses because I already know that I struggle with depression in a moderate way. I take meds and see a counselor on a regular basis but it doesn't make these days go away. I have learned you just have to go with it until it passes and do the things that help you get past these times.

So I am sitting here and my boys are at the table and I start listening in. Caden is trying to teach Sage how to make 'manna', yes like in the bible. I guess it is just blobs of bread with a little honey and then you squish it up and eat it-manna! Who knew.



The way they were interacting was what really caught me because Caden was being the perfect, patient teacher and Sage the willing, complient student. Not to be cheezy but it was 'manna' to my ears. It fed my soul in a way that they could not have created on their own. My boys getting along, even helping each other and then going off together to play something-together! That is
therapeutic.



Of course you know that within an hour or maybe less they will not be getting along and the moment will be gone except for the huge sticky blobs of honey all over the table and stool. Enjoy it while it lasts I say.

What the ...!!!

This looks like something that could have happened at my house. Thank God it didn't.

From Blog pics

Thoughtful Thursday

From Blog pics

From Blog pics