Some more layouts

Well, the first layout here uses the Cricut Christmas cartridge cut out of white cardstock and backed with red paper. One of my all-time FAVORITE layouts that I've ever created. I don't know why. But I just love the detail on the ornaments.

A Christmas layout using the Cricut Christmas cartridge by cutting out a Christmas tree; then backing the cut-out with red ribbons (layout right above on right). Of course, I like using kraft cardstock and distressing.

The third layout using the Cricut Christmas cartridge could be called "Blue Christmas" since I used blue ribbon behind the tree cut-out. Lots of distressing and white pen. Lots of ribbon, too. I need to start using up my ribbon SO I can buy more. Great philosophy. I'll let you know if it works. hee, hee.

Well, I'll post more later. Noelle just had a soccer game - a scrimmage - and her team lost 0 - 3. She hadn't played soccer in 3 - 4 weeks so she just wasn't on top of her game. The temperature was a scorching, HOT 92*F. We sweated. A lot.

For my *&^%$*@# Birthday, Eric and the kids said I could get whatever I wanted. Whatever? Yes, whatever. Well, of course, I chose a new ZOOM camera lens for my "baby" - my Canon Rebel XTi. Eric and I bought the Canon 50-200mm zoom lens last night at Best Buy. It's amazing. I took about a million pics of Noelle on the soccer field. I'll have to look at them later. I could see her eyelashes on the other end of the field through this lens. Is that amazing? or what? Yes, amazing.

I AM GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!!!

I'm so giddy! I'm so excited!! I'm speechless!!! well, not quite. BUT I'm going to be published. YES! ME! I'm actually going to have one of my creations put in a magazine. PUBLISHED. I can't believe it. Having my "heart" creations put in a magazine has been one of my goals for 5 years. I can't believe it's about to come true. It truly is.

My first ever layout is going to be published in the October 2011 issue of Cricut Magazine. Everyone go out and buy the issue. NOW. Well, not exactly NOW. But when it comes out in September.

I will also have 2 creations in the Cricut Magazine special issue: Home Decor. Two creations, yeah, baby. I made two 8" X 10" framed layouts to hang in a baby's room. I would share them here, but can't until the magazine comes out - which I believe is in November or December 2011.

My newest goal and one that I am going to work like crazy at: to be published in the Scrapbook Trends magazine. I dream about that, and pray that I will get my layout published in that ONE magazine. I would be so giddy!!

Well, we just got back from a week's vacay in the mountains of North Carolina. What a trip. I love the mountains WAY more than the beach and I love to spend time with my family there. I will post some pictures soon.

More layouts - Again!

My two most absolute favorite people in the world. I love them so much. I don't know what I would have done if they weren't in my life. The have been two of the most steadfast people EVER - and I don't know anyone that loved the Lord Jesus more than them. And they love each other and take care of each other.

More Layouts

One of the most beautiful pictures of Noelle that I have. I love this layout because I love this photo. I really haven't used so much bling on a layout in a long time but I sure enjoyed blinging it up here, it looks like.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a very good day. I received the sweetest notes EVER from my 3 children. Even Eric gave me a darling note and he wrote a poem. I LOVE his poems - he hasn't written me one in SO long. I need to post it here... because if I put in our scrapbook, I'll have to find the scrapbook, open it up, then find the note, yada yada yada - when I could just type it here and voila! have it to look at whenever I get on the computer.

Also, my favoritest NEW toy- my KINDLE!!! Yay!!! Eric and the kids gave it to me for Mother's Day and I"m having a blast downloading my favorite books on it. So far I have downloaded about 25 books BUT I have only BOUGHT ONE book - all the rest (24 or so) are FREE downloads because they are classics. All classic book can be downloaded for free - but it's a pretty generic version. OF course, I could pay for the book that has been "kindle-ized" if I want - but I enjoy reading the free version JUST as much. So why spend all that $$??

The book I bought was The One Year Bible, New Living Translation. I have the paperback Bible but I like that I can just click on the Bible and my Kindle takes me to the very last page I read. I can also go to the date of any entry and start reading the Bible there. Awesome. Can I say it again? AWESOME!

I have all the Jane Austen classics: Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Emma. Also, Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, and Little Women - free classics. I just remembered: I am downloading "Dracula" - one of my all -time FAVORITES. I'm shocked at how much I loved this novel. There were so many Christian references and I was held captive by the story. REALLY well-written.

I don't know if I'll download magazines. I know that Eric liked Reader's Digest... I might subscribe to that.

Also, I have been scrapbooking my little heart out. Here are my most recent creations:

Today

Eric and I in Arizona. He didn't feel well the entire time we were there. His chest felt heavy and he had a hard time breathing. We enjoyed being together there, but he felt bad... I wish we'd known that he could take diuretic meds to remove the water from his lungs and stomach. He would have felt so much better! We found out when we returned home and Eric spoke with a doctor about it. One good thing is that the doctor at Duke believes that Eric will be placed on the heart transplant list by next month.

Today I'm overwhelmed by many things. I wish I could understand WHY certain things happen. Or WHY certain things DON'T happen. I know that I am finite. My mind certainly IS finite and my wisdom and understanding of life is even more finite. I spend too much time thinking about what if we had done this... or that. Or what if I had chose a different major in college, where would I be now? I regret MY REGRETS. How about that? I feel uncommitted to anything. I want to sing in choir - I just don't want to go to practices! I want to work out but am SO tired of the stairmaster. I want to lost weight but I still like to eat chocolate. I am a mess.

Who I am today

Today I went to work and met Eric at Chipotle for lunch. Today I hoped for more patience tomorrow. Today I dreamed of heaven. Today I forgot that I am loved. Today I heard boys saying boy stuff (hee, hee). Today I said I'm overwhelmed. Today I read a report on Bosnia. Today I watched the clouds cover the sun. Today I believed. Today I felt like running away to the beach. Today I wondered why God gave us the burdens we have. Today I bought Dunkin' Donuts large coffee, light on cream. Today I cleaned my body in the shower! Today I cried with Cindy Waters. Today I went quickly to carpool. Today I hoped for more grace. Today I dreamed that Noelle will one day be well. Today I forgot that I am forgiven and whole.