I am so excited

I was asked to be part of the Scrapbook Queens design team. How exciting is that? I am looking forward to working with Irena and the incredibly talented team she's put together. The store is absolutely gorgeous too BTW if you are lucky enough to get there.... total eye candy. Please stop by the forum or the store and say hi!!!!

OMG!!!!

what a way for 2011 to go out. we had a sewer backup into our basement. (and it was a good one as far as those things go) what a whirlwind of activity it's been around here since then. between insurance agents, and clains adjustors, and restoration teams and plumbers it has been crazy. and throw me working 12 hour shifts in there and life has been fun. I am sure all of this is a blessing in disguise .... we're only given what we can handle right??

I was able to salvage video tapes of the kids when they were little and I think I have most of the photographs. all my scrapbook albums were up off the ground.... thank goodness!!! however many many things took a hit. (including a bit hit to my scrapbook stuff) the contents team is starting today to catalogue and remove everything.... or 90% of the entire basement.

this has been overwhelming at times and really, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad. no one was hurt and no one died so for that I am grateful especially with our family's track record in December. I am so very thankful for all the professionals that have been involved with this since the road began. I am amazed at how nice everyone is, and how they are there to make this as painless for us as possible. ....... for that, I am very very grateful!!!

I love Christmas!!

we had a wonderful Christmas. I was surrounded by the people I love. we made memories that will last a lifetime..... the boys receiving thongs in their stockings was one of the best memories. we laughed and laughed. Everyone received nerf guns as well. after a few foam bullets to the head and butt, everyone had some great laughs.

We even had a white Christmas!!! that made it perfect!!

I can't believe it's Christmas

I just can't believe Christmas is a few short days away. where did that time go? I really feel it snuck up on me this year. I know the calendar says the 23 of December but I feel a little robbed of the excitement leading up to this time. I just turned around and it was here.

I went to a visitation last night after work. It was for a lady who is a best friend of a colleague at work. I didn't know this lady directly but I did know her through the stories that my colleague has told of her brave and valiant battle with breast cancer. This remarkable woman has 2 teenage sons. I was struck last night by the fact that how do you fit in all the advice and love you would impart to your loved ones in a few short months if you knew that's all you had left. I am in awe of this woman. She left a wonderful legacy for her husband and children. I was most moved last night watching her son greet people. It was just so wrong. A teenaged boy should not have to greet his friends at a funeral home to say goodbye to his Mom 3 days before Christmas. That moment in time took me back to December 29 1997 when I was standing in a funeral home greeting my friends to say goodbye to my brother. The feelings were raw and they were still right there at the surface even after all these years. I know what it feels like to be that boy. my heart ached for him. I hope his Mom can look down from heaven and see what a wonderful job she has done with her family.

Take a little moment over these holidays to be truly thankful for the loved ones around you. That is what the true meaning of this season is.

My day 2 tags

I had so much fun creating Tim Holtz day 2 tag that I made 2 different ones. (truth be told, I cut 2 tags and I didn't want to waste them LOL) I like to take his examples and make them my own with my own little touches.

Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas

I am so excited. It isn't Christmas until Tim Holtz posts his 12 tags of Christmas....... well today is day one. I was excited to give it a try with my own twists on the tag of course. I didn't have most of what he used so I improvised. I love that I was able to do that. I highly encourage you to give his tag a try with the things you find in your stash too!!

Incredibly happy news

on October 14 my daughter got engaged. we are over the moon excited for her. They make a great couple and the future is very bright for them. It is humbling as a mother to realize that all the hard work has finally paid off and that your daughter has grown into the person that you always imagined she would be. It actually takes my breath away if I think about it. I wish Paul and Jess nothing but love and happiness all the years of their lives