Project Life 2011

Well I did it - I just purchased the Project Life 2011 kit - the Amber addition. I can't believe I am thinking of doing this - I would love to say I will be taking a picture every day for the year 2011 but I'm not putting that pressure on myself. I'm still working on a process that will make this easy - the whole point of why I am interested in it, fun and help me actually document a year of our life - all the little daily bits.



If you have never heard of Project Life - jump on over to Becky Higgins blog or website and check it out - she has great videos that describe what its all about.

Anyways I'm really excited to receive my package in the mail and figure out how it will all come together!

Reading List...2010

Wow another year of reading almost complete - I just added my 32nd book that I read this year - and of course it was another one that was AMAZING and get this -- non-fiction! I'm excited to say as well the one I am picking up next is also a non-fiction. There are just so many great books out there, as my mother would say - I don't have time to go to work with all this reading (she would say quilting) to do! The top books from this year include "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore, "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman and "I Quit" by Geri Scazzero. These three books are so amazing and I know I will need to pick up them and read them again and again to remind myself of their advice and experiences. I'm looking forward to how many books I can read in 2011 (and remember) and what the scale of fiction to non-fiction will be! Happy Reading!

Choosing to SEE

I'm not sure what it is with me and books, but I had a gift card for the Church Bookroom to use for our church Library and decided Tuesday after work I would go and see if I could find anything of interest. Amongst several things I found (and more I will be going back for) I saw "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman. If you are not familiar with that name maybe her husbands name will be - Steven Curtis Chapman - the famous, award winning, very gifted Christian musician.



I was interested right away for a few reasons.
1. How do you go through something like that (I will let you read it to know more about their tragic yet amazing story) with such strong faith?
2. What got them started in adoption and how has that process worked for them?
3. How can you be a mother of 6, wife to a non-stop husband and run your own ministries?

So I picked it up Tuesday night once I was done my to do list and couldn't put it down. Such an amazing read - this woman is so gifted! As well I loved that Beth Moore wrote the prologue. So by Wednesday evening I was finished the book. I spent that afternoon crying and rejoicing with this family I have only heard of. But their story, and even more so Mary Beth's story touched me - and I could learn a lot from her life struggles and triumphs, their adoption process/calling and they way she learned how to discern God's voice through all they had and are still going through.

Mary Beth struggled with clinical depression and still to this day is dealing with that. I appreciated when she said "All I had to do was the hardest thing possible for a person like me: I just had to be willing to give up control and give in to Him, and let Him use this cross in my life".

There is so much I found inspiring and encouraging in their story. Mary Beth is so honest and open about their struggles - she is very transparent and I admire that. I love that the book is centered around the word "SEE", the word their daughter Maria left for them. It reminds us to look and SEE God's glory and greatness all around us. This family shows us that there is hope in Christ through the dark and hard times.

Go to her blog to see her video about the book, then go out and buy it (or sign out from the library :) http://marybethchapman.com/?page_id=74

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

Can it be?

I think it can....as you can see from the side bar of books I have read.........

I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore! Man was it an amazing book! I can't tell you exactly why it took me so long to ready. It could be that I'm addicted to fiction and have a hard time focusing on non-fiction books. But I knew I needed to read this book. The title alone had my attention, as well as the author. Beth Moore brings such a personality to a book - she herself is so transparent in it that you know she understands what you are going through.

I strong advise every women - of any age - to read this book. For me I now have to go back through and grab tidbits that I want to focus in on and work on.

Now I am on to another.....non-fiction book - and hopefully it doesn't take me as long to read this one. I heard of Priscilla Shirer from Beth Moore - the two do women's conferences with Kay Arthur.

However there is a fiction book that I am dying to get my hands on (currently on back order at Amazon) by Francine Rivers -- the second in her latest series. So excited about these great authors.

Happy Reading

Three Steps Forward...two steps back....

You know I have never liked that saying..until I was reading in Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurity" and read this:

"Maybe we're all just sick to dath of taking three steps forward and two steps back. Call me a math wizard, but isn't that still one step forward?...and if we don't lose that ground, aren't we on our way somewhere new? Willing to take three more steps - even if we lose two?

She is so smart! There is so much going on right now that I feel like I'm taking two steps back for anything I do....but she reminded me that I still went one step forward. Thank you Beth!

So yes I finally picked up the book again - I do that sometimes. I have too many good books I want to read and I start all of them. Not the smartest because I don't finish any of them! So I'm back on track and starting over again with it.


Also on my book list was this book called "Sabbath keeping" by Lynne M. Baab. I picked up the book when Fred and I were at the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality conference in New York. Keeping with their healthy lifestyle both Pete and Geri (leaders of the conference) make a point of keeping a day of rest on their schedule. It intrigued me to learn more about this, so when I saw this book I had to get it.

The author was great - she offered several suggestions on how to make the most of your sabbath, as well as, explaining the importance of taking one.

"Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day." Exodus 20:8-11

What is the sabbath? A weekly day of rest and worship. A day to cease working and relax in God's care for us. Its an interesting thought to take one day and stop all work and not feel guilty about this. But rather take the time to relax and enjoy God's beautiful creation all around you. In Hebrew the word sabbath means "Stop" which is also translated to "rest". But to me the word "STOP" is more powerful.

The author had spent time in Iran and Israel with her husband and that is where they discovered the sabbath. There the culture is focused around taking the sabbath (Saturday). Work ends mid day Friday, errands and preparations are made and then by 6pm all things stop -- stores close, public transit stops and people observe a day of rest. They quickly came to appreciate this day and embraced it. When they moved back to America and realized they missed the 24hours of rest and decided it was something they needed to put in their schedule.

For me this book was a good reminder not to get focused on setting rules to follow on my day of rest. But rather it helped me to determine things I wanted to avoid and things I can do while resting. For some gardening and spending time with family and friends will be a good day for rest. Others it may be shopping and not cooking, or grabbing a book or a bible study. Whatever it is the author suggests trying it for at least 3 months to see its effects in your life.

Also I thought it was interesting when the author mentioned that for those of us who have a hard time stopping on that day - we should ask ourselves why. Do I feel that if I stop for one day everything will fall apart? Are the works that I do so important?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

If you are at all interested in bringing the sabbath into your schedule I would strongly recommend reading this book.

"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth" Psalm 46:10

"So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest." Hebrews 4:9-11

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger

If you could have dinner with anyone - living or dead - who would it be?

To be honest I'm not sure my answer would have been Jesus but since reading the book Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory its made me think, what would I ask Jesus if I sat down to dinner with him. Pick up the book - its a great read and makes you think!

Here is what Amazon.ca said about it:

In this didactic inspirational novella, Cincinnati workaholic Nick Cominsky accepts an invitation that he assumes is a gag: to have dinner with Jesus Christ himself. He soon finds out it's no laughing matter, and, despite his doubts and initial misgivings, he engages in a long conversation with the deity (who has jettisoned the long locks and sandals in favor of a Brooks Brothers haircut and blue suit). That conversation constitutes the novella's light plot. As the courses of their elegant Italian meal are delivered, Nick and Jesus discuss the dichotomies of sin and salvation, grace and works, organized religion and personal faith. In his quest to prove why Christianity is superior to other religions, Gregory has Jesus make misleading statements about Hinduism, Buddhism and particularly Islam. These unfair caricatures add to the book's heavy-handed feel, as do strawman arguments for the veracity of the Bible and the resurrection. What's appealing about this book is that its Jesus is refreshingly down-to-earth; he digs good food, draws theological illustrations from Star Trek, and quietly chafes at wearing a necktie. But that can't disguise the fact that Gregory has not written a story so much as a dressed-up and controversial sermon.

And here is what some great authors had to say about it:

"Here’s a wonderful feast for the mind and soul! Pull up a chair and eavesdrop on this provocative conversation. If you’re like me, you’ll hear questions that match your own — and answers that can change your life."
— Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator

“There's just one thing people need in order to live a happy, abundant life: to be convinced that God loves them. Want to be convinced? Read Dinner With a Perfect Stranger. The author deftly anticipates and answers every question. I predict this little book will become a classic--one of a handful of modern books (like Mere Christianity) that people read to kindle or rekindle faith. All of the "business" surrounding the dinner is done so well it reminds me of Babette's Feast--simple, earthly details that profoundly convey spiritual reality. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is truly a wonderful book that makes me feel I've just heard the gospel for the very first time.”

--Mike Mason, author of The Mystery of Marriage, Champagne for the Soul, Practicing the Presence of People, and other books

“The choice is yours: Enjoy a delicious meal of, say, veal fantarella with grilled vegetables. Or spend a quiet hour reading David Gregory’s book. You may find an altogether different sort of hunger has been sated by the final page. Brilliant in its simplicity, fearless in its presentation of the truth, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger is one invitation you'll want to RSVP.”

–Liz Curtis Higgs, author, Thorn in My Heart and other books

A Week of Our Life

Ali Edwards is leading another Week in the Life project - April 19th to the 25th. April and I are both going to do this and then get together to put it together. We have been talking about how neither one of us has done much scrapbooking lately so this project seemed like the perfect start.

I have done a week in the life once before - but this time around I am going to include Fred so its more of "Our Week". It should be a lot of fun! I am going to try to use both classic and hybrid style scrapbooking - but ultimately it will be kept simple - the goal is to document through pictures and words.

If you are interested in learning more about this check out Ali's blog http://www.aliedwards.com/

Another year older...

This past Saturday was my 29th birthday. I can't believe next year I will be thirty - its hard to believe my twenties are almost past me (if that makes sense).

It was a great birthday - Fred took me out for breakfast at this neat place downtown - great homefries! And then we hung out at the house until April and Aaron came over. We went out to dinner to the Keg and had a fabulous meal and then headed back to the house for some ice cream cake and watched a movie. It was a good birthday!

I definately have grown up a lot in my twenties - I will have to make a list of all the things I have learned over the past 10 years - I know its been a crazy time of growing, learning, changing.

The written word...

Some authors just have a way of capturing a story to the point where it is too hard to put it down! I just finished, Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers over the weekend. I love the building of the characters. I loved how I could relate to some of it. I love the relationships that were focused on between Mothers and Daughters and then Wife and Husband. And I'm thrilled that this is part one of two books -- can't wait to read the next one due out in the fall. Now I pass the book on to other River fans and I'm sure they will love it too! And for a better summary of what the book is about here you go - Tyndale House Publishers

Next up on the bedside table is So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. I'm on chapter three so far and its hitting deep. I'm afraid I'm not going to take it all in as she has so much to say on the topic. I love how Beth Moore shares her life experiences with us and includes other real life stories - it makes you realize you are not in this alone. On her blog she has been going through the book with several hundred ladies so I have gone back to the questions she had them answer and will be going through those on my own. I would highly recommend this book to ANY women out there as I know not one of us can say we are free from this insane thing called insecurity. And again for a better descriptiong - go here

And the pile continues to grow of books I want to read so off I go to read some more!

Living Proof Live

*** warning long post ***

Do you not love it when God gives you a time of rejuvenation? He always knows when you need a reminder or a refresher.

This past weekend he gave myself and my best girlfriend April the opportunity for just that. And man did He go above and beyond what I had expected.

Beth Moore was the featured guest speaker and as always she brought a message directly from the Holy Spirits leading in her. I truly respect this godly woman as she is committed to God's word and is transparent in her speaking.

The main message -- God is up to something new. At first when Beth started to talk about this I thought - well he may be but not me....until I really started to think about what was going on with me. First of all he called me or allowed me to be there that Friday night to hear this message. Second I am in a time of crossroads - a time where I need to rely on listening to him (something I have never been very good at).
So I started to think about what my "issues" were - daily quiet time, daily reading his word, my ministry leadership, my marriage, my career, my future -- and wow he was up to something new!

Our main verses were from Isaiah 43:16-21. And we highlighted on verses 18-19 in the Message translation:
"Forget about what's happened, don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand new"

Ok how can you not get excited about that!

We are to move on from the past (good or bad), do not dwell on it. Do not fear the future. But stay alert and present to see what he is doing. God is always present.

How often I am drawn to new things - a new purse, new shoes, new book, new notebook even - but how quickly that newness wares off and we look for something else that is new. She spoke on King Solomon in Eccl 1: 2, 9-10. He was crying out that there was nothing new on this earth - that he had experienced it all.

But in Lamentations 3 God reminds us
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

God is up to something new! He gives us new opportunities each day, each week, each year to start fresh! Oh and how I am so grateful for that! He can give us a new heart so that we are alert to what he is doing.

Second point
God rarely does a new thing the old way.

How interesting when she points out that in the verses from Isaiah God is telling the people to stop dwelling on the past - their deliverance from Egypt. In that history God parted the Red Sea making dry ground in the middle of the sea for them to cross. And in these verses he reminds them he go ahead and help them but he can do it in a new way creating streams in the middle of a desert (do you see the similarities - I loved that!) Such a creative God we have - our Creator.

Third point
God can do something new in an old place.

This was so refreshing to hear - as many of us were going back to the same job, home, relationships. God can work in those. But I need to be alert and present in order to see these.

Forth point
Just patching up the old won't result in something.

Luke 5:27-39 is the wine parable. Oh and I love how she explains a parable = explaining something unknown with a known! Anyways Beth went through the entire bible looking for how many times the word new was used. And of all the times (can't remember the exact number she said) 44 times were used to describe new wine.

In this parable it talks about not putting new wine in to old wine skins for these wine skins would break. When new wine is put in a wine skin it will expand so it needs room to do so. Old wine skins have been contracted to a smaller size.

I can't just think leaving the old behind will be enough, I need to repent and then move on fresh and new.

Jesus in John 2 turned water to wine. The wine miracle had 3 stages. Firs the vessels were empty, then filled with water, and then miracle they were filled with wine. Are you empty, filled with water or filled with wine.

If empty you are at the bottom, the lowest of lows.
If filled with water you are "fine" but that water does not have an effect on you, does not move you.

But if filled with the wine you are filled with the Holy Spirit.

In Luke 5 it tells of Jesus healing the paralytic. It says in the NKJV he was "present for him to HEAL them" however the only them in the verses before were the Pharisees and teachers - who however we not healed as they were not aware of their need of healing as the paralytic was.

Fifth point
We too, must be up to something new

Confess my sins (1 John 1:9). Once I change the way I think, I will change the way I feel.

Sixth point
God grants new mercies for each new day

Love this point. Every day God gives me all I need to get through that day.
Seventh and final point
One day we'll go from a new thing to a new everything

2 Cor 5:17 - We live by faith not by sight.
Amen

Such an amazing weekend - I felt overwhelmed leaving taking in everything as much as possible.

My biggest take a ways - each day God gives me everything I need to get through that day. I need to start my day on my knees before Him asking for his strength and to experience a quiet time with him before I start my day. To be reminded that each day is filled with new compassion's from him because he is faithful. As well I need to alert and present -- very hard for me all to often I want to rush through something and just get through it rather then really being present in those moments. My biggest example would be Constance Lake...at times I just wanted it to be over because I was tired or overwhelmed. I can't even imagine what I missed in those moments because of my lack of being present.

Heavenly Father,

I thank you for my time away, with April, to this amazing gathering of women to hear your word. Lord thank you for sending that message that I feel I can apply to my life. Lord help me not to forget it but meditate on it often. Remembering the key points from it. Lord help me experience times with you each morning. Help me to grow in your word and always crave more. Lord be with me in the decisions to be made soon and that I may follow your will.
In your precious son's name.
Amen

God is up to something NEW!

Wow I had a truly amazing time in Toronto over the Friday and Saturday. My bestfriend April and I went to our first Lifeway event with Beth Moore speaking and an amazing worship team lead by Travis Cottrell.

The music brought us to tears, the messages moved us to really think about what God is up to. And we just had an amazing time. I will certainly write more later once I have had time to really collect it all.

What I can say is that God is moving in me and doing something new!

Here is what Beth had to say about the event!

FINALLY!!!!!

Yes I have finally been able to get some creative time in and had some luck!

I discovered this really cool digital butterfly artwork that you can print out at any size and use as if you stamped the image. Its awesome and obviously inspired me to create a handful of cards.

Oh and I recently picked up the most amazing background stamp from Hero Arts - the friendship letter - writing. So I was able to use it right away as well.

Oh and by the way -- all the paper is scraps!



A Tag:








I have to admit I did not come up with this idea but its so amazing I had to try it out



a closer look - yes it is a card








And a few weeks ago I purchased a set of stamps from Hero Arts and wanted to do up so many cards and projects but my little creative brain couldn't do it - instead after much frustration I came up with this:


I would love to do more - maybe now that the juices are flowing I can think of some things.....we'll see.

Winter Wonderland

Today we woke up to a beautiful winter day. Many may not agree that it is beautiful seeing as it is getting close to the end of February and many would like this season to be over. But it was so calming to see everything covered in a blanket of white. But now a lot of its gone as its so mild out.

The weather is reflecting in my life right now. I am ready for this season to be over. I'm ready to have a job I enjoy. I'm ready to be settled in my new home. I'm ready to feel contentment. I'm ready to be disciplined with my readings. I'm just ready to move on to the next step. And just like today there are times when all seems to be ok. But today was not a good day at work. And it reminded me that I need to move on.

Moving on - not always easy but Fred reminded me today that I need to trust in the Lord. I can say with embarrassment that my focus has not been on Him lately. Life was crazy for awhile there and I let me take the back seat. And I feel it now.

So with that being said -- I'm off to pray about it all.

Signing off

So for the next few days I really won't be on the computer because
1. I should be finishing packing
2. The computer will be packed :)

We're getting closer to being ready....though the basement flooding wasn't on the list of to do's thats for sure! But what can you do...but keep going.

We are almost done doing laundry. We cleaned out the fridge and freezer upstairs and things are packed up and ready to go. Started packing some kitchen items - finish that tomorrow. Packed Freds clothes for the rest of the week and all the remaining close in large bags. And the house looks like a mess - I HATE it!

4 more sleeps until I get to sleep in my new house! Hope its basement is dry! Ugh!

More Pack

Tonight was a good night, a didn't stay in town like I had thought -- haven't been feeling well and Fred and I thought it was wise I come home, pack a little and then relax some too.

I have half of the spare room packed up - now its just clothes left so thats a really good feeling. I have no doubt it will all get packed in time - I can't believe its 8 days away until we are out of this house -- so crazy!

On the side bar of the blog I have a portion where I am going to keep track of the books I read. I purchased "Thats (not exactly) Amore" by Tracey Bateman for the church library. However I was surprised with how little it talks about God or more so how little it talked about being a Christian. I thought it was a good "light" book to read but I would have preferred it to go a little deeper on the Christian side.

I have been trying to read that book by Anne Graham Lotz and have been struggling - its a good book just not something I am able to focus on right now. So I have this book my mother in law loaned me -- wow like over a year ago -- called "Not Without my Daughter" so I am going to try moving on to it for a bit.

Mind you as I pack everything up I realized that my non-fiction book list is really long --- so many on my book shelf, bedside table and living room. Once settled in the new house (sigh) I hope I can do lots more reading!

So excited to be settled. I don't think I have felt "comfortable" in our home since we listed it. There is always that feeling of unease -- if that even makes sense. So yes super excited for Jan 30th (LOL after the move).

Ok I better get back to a few things - put dishes away, laundry and try to pack a few more things and then off to bed!

Monday Check In

So remember that post late Friday night about all I wanted to accomplish over the weekend.....well it kinda happened and kinda didn't.

I was able to do
- 3 loads of laundry (2 of which still need to be put away)
- washed the bedding
- packed up all my books/movies/decor in the living room (minus a few remaining things)

and then I got sick - horrible headache and just felt awful.

So the goal for this week (I have no choice the move is less then 2 weeks away)
- finish the office with Fred's help
- finish the last few things in the living room
- wrap and pack all wall hangings
- start and finish the spare room
- make list of things to pack separate to live out of (clothing and bathroom stuff) for the last few days 26th - 30th
- pack all decor items in master bedroom

So we'll see how I do - I have asked Fred to help me out. But we loss Wednesday night because I should work late and he has Junior High. So here is to a full week. My biggest prayer request is that my devo's dont' get pushed aside and that my energy level increases and I don't get stressed out.

Finish it Friday!

Wow what a crazy week - its 11;26pm Friday night as I type this and I'm so tired and yet full of energy...let me explain. I helped Fred out tonight with youth. He was teaching from 1 Peter 3 where it talks about wives submitting to their husbands, not always easy to talk to girls about -- especially when you're a guy. So, though I was feeling very "rusty" in my teaching I helped out. And I forgot what it was like afterward - being around 15+ teens is exhausting.

Anyways its been a crazy week. I was off on Monday and then had a very busy and stressful week of work and life. Packing....ugh! Thats all I'm going to say. I was so overwhelmed with everything I stopped doing my devotions - not the thing I needed to do to myself. But things are looking up and I had a really good prayer time and reading tonight before youth.

So on to Finish it Friday, I follow this blog called Creative Organizing and every Friday she creates a list of projects she would like to finish over the weekend...so I thought I would give it a try.

I would like to finish packing the books/albums in the living room as well as all the movies. Finish packing up the office. Finish laundry. Start to pack the spare room. So lets see on Monday how I do...

The Watt Wedding Album

For a wedding shower gift I gave my bestest girlfriend April an empty scrapbook album with the gift of putting together a wedding album for her and her hubby, Aaron.

Once the wedding was over and the pictures were collected I put together a list of questions and had the bride and groom fill in the blanks. So the scrapbook had their journalling (much more meaningful to them!).

Well the project was much more intimidating then I had imagined - I wanted to make sure the album was perfect! And that I displayed everything just so.

So finally after much consideration I jumped in - I started the album in September and was finished right before Christmas - which allowed me to do as planned (though one year behind as they were married in 2008) and give the album as a Christmas present also.

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I started with their engagement - the pictures were taken by the brides mom and were beautiful.

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I loved April's journaling about having butterflies in her tummy after Aaron proposed that I took the idea of butterflies and carried them through the entire book.

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Next was the documenting of the bridal showers. One of which was hosted by me and had tons of photos. The other hosted by an aunt that I didn't take many photos and didn't have very many given to me so I decided the pictures of April were the best. I included a pull out folder behind the pictures with all the "stuff" from both showers including invites and gift registries.

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Planning the Big Day - lots of journaling

From April & Aarons Finished Album

April created her own wedding invitation that was just beautiful so I wanted to make sure that it wasn't taped or secured in any way that it would harm the invitation they saved for themselves. So this cute little velum pocket worked perfect

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Another thing that the couple provided me with was letters they wrote to each other for their premartial class. They are beautifully writen and I wanted to include those as well:

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Next: 2 pages about the wedding party. April and Aaron both wrote why they choose each member of their bridal party so I included that in a little pocket behind a picture

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I got to spend the day before with the couple but had very few photos of the actually day so I was glad they had lots of thoughts:

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I found these quotes from the couple too cute to not include

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Lots to do before the ceremony and we had some great shots - too many to choose from!

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I always love to know what the bride chooses for her something old, new, borrowed and blue:

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Their bulletin for the ceremony:

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I loved how the photographer took the shot of the church

From April & Aarons Finished Album

And on the book a few shots leading up to the ceremony:

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Onto the ceremony - these pictures were so beautiful I didn't want to add anything to them!

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Again they provided lots of journaling for what they were thinking, feeling....

From April & Aarons Finished Album

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Receptions are hard because the pictures are usually very dark but we did have a few to work with

From April & Aarons Finished Album

I included each of the speeches given during the reception in behind the journaling about the reception. On the back I included a list of the songs and why that were played during the dance portion of the reception

From April & Aarons Finished Album

Which then followed by a dancing page...

From April & Aarons Finished Album

And I ended it with their last song "At Last" lyrics and their thoughts on the overall wedding

From April & Aarons Finished Album

It was a large project but so much easier when all the journaling is provided! I am so happy I was able to put this together!

Scrapbook Projects

So now that we are moving – house sold and purchased another house – I should be spending my time focused on sorting/packing/tossing and giving away….however I all want to do is sit down and create!

It’s a new year and there are so many projects I want to start….

Project Life – 365 – Becky Higgins. An incredible project to take on. Take a picture a day for an entire year. Not something I can really commit to, however I LOVE this idea. What an amazing album you have left over. So instead of taking 365 pictures I will take random pictures throughout the month and document them similar to how Becky has described in her Project Life. I hope this will also help in December when I look back and wonder what we have done with the year. And this will help with my resolution to take more pictures.

Ali Edwards class – Yesterday and Today. I signed on to this class back in October and was so excited to take it on, but then life took hold and I ran out of time. Luckily I can go back to day one and still follow along. I have one of 12 layouts completed.

My Best Friends Wedding – I finished April and Aaron’s wedding album (gift to them long over due) but now need to document an album for me. So many pictures and memories…

Grandpa McCann – I want to make an album dedicated to Grandpa McCann – sitting down with Grandma and asking questions for his eulogy was amazing. It was hard, but it was neat to learn so much about Grandpa – his life was so full of crazy stories. So many great pictures I want to get and save for years to come.

Year in Review 2009 – I had done up a layout for 2007 and loved it – so I want to do that again.

Everyday Layouts – every year I say I want to just scrapbook – nothing specific just look at pictures/stories and scrap them together! My focus this year is on the stories. Getting away from the “fluffy” of scrapbooking and get down to the memories. Clean and simple.

Also something I am working on and started the other night was organizing my photos. I have almost all of my 2009 pictures in one place so I can burn them to a DVD and make room for new pics. I want to do this for each year. Makes it so much easier!

And of course I’m sure there is lots more I want to do but for now I can’t really start anything as I have to pack and move. But come February when my new office is set up I hope I can dive in and create (that is if I even have the energy ;)

Recap of Christmas

Leading up to Christmas had been very overwhelming. The day I decorated the house we had a showing which lead to an offer which later we sold the house! Good thing I decorated ;)

Our Christmas Tree:

From Christmas 2009

I wanted to do an advent calendar - this is one Mom made me and I filled with treats for Fred and I oh and Abby

From Christmas 2009

Can you see Abby's doggie treat?

From Christmas 2009

Fred and I both were blessed with a great Christmas Eve. We had a service at the church from 5-6pm and then we went over to VIP Chinese for dinner with Carmen and Phylis. We had some wonderful conversations and some good laughs. After dropping Phylis off at her house Fred drove us home on a scenic drive to see all the Christmas lights. Once home we popped in "It's a Wonderful Life" and just relaxed before going to bed.

Christmas morning we woke up and had Charlie and Abby open their stockings. It was hilarious to see Abby and Charlie both go to their stockings and understand the goodies were for them.

From Christmas 2009

Abby made quick work of hers as she tossed her toys outs

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

After both pets had their stockings open and played with. Fred made us bacon and pancakes. We both had a nap before getting ready to go over to mom and dads. Fred and Dad went and got Grandma so she can visit for a bit. We had a nice dinner with mom and dad and watched a Christmas movie before heading home. Oh and Abby got to open her Christmas present from them -- a purple rain coat and some chewy bones!

From Christmas 2009

Boxing day - Mom's birthday - was spent at mom and dads for our Christmas get together. Once the boys arrived we opened stockings and gifts. Fred got several items for the garage and for ice fishing. And I was thrilled to get my movie "Julie & Julia" plus several scrapbooking goodies.

From Christmas 2009

Oh I have to show off the gift I made dad. He wanted money to go towards his GPS system so I made a card that I saw on Jennifer McGuires blog. The snowman scarf is made from a folded up $50 bill!

From Christmas 2009

All of us kids (and Abby and Austin)

From Christmas 2009

December 27th was the Grendel family get together. We started it off by all going to Fred's parents church in Maitland. Then we headed back to their place for a big turkey dinner. Which was followed by the gift exchange. All of the kids continue to grow and change. This was definitely the quietest Christmas yet.

From Christmas 2009

Then it was back to work for me (Fred had the week off) for a few more days until New Years. We had April and Aaron come over for New Years Eve and had a blast!
We exchanged gifts....

Charlie got some homemade treats...

From Christmas 2009

Abby was thrilled with her crazy toy....

From Christmas 2009

We were spoiled as usually (movie pass, CD's, Jane Austen book and movie! oh and homemade ornaments)

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

And besides the 2 games we got them I also was finally able to give them their gift -- their wedding scrapbook! (I will post pics later of the scrapbook - but for now you can see they really loved it!)

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

From Christmas 2009

We then spent the night eating (oh my goodness the amount of food), playing the Mario Kart, bowling and tennis on the Wii and some good old Family Feud before watching the ball drop! We finished out the night with a movie and then said good byes around 3am! It was a great night and a great way to ring in the new year!