Wild Thang

This is a stamp that I have had for a long time.  I love it.  I loved it when I bought it.  But I have to admit I haven't used it a whole lot cause I just am not quite sure of what to do with him.  I have been hoarding this charm too.  Figured it was high time to get em BOTH on paper.

Weeds

This is such a nice card.  Very serene.  Can say so much or so little.  I love it.

Peacock

I bought a bunch of peacock feathers awhile back.  I love them.  I think they are so beautiful and amazing.  Each individual feather strand is just simply multi colored but when you put them all together they are amazing.  And it takes ALL of the peices together.  I have heard that sermon so many times that it takes all parts of the church to make it good. 

I made this card for my daughter.  Peacocks kind of have a special meaning to us and well...I wanted the feather to speak its part so I didnt add much to it.

Another Lighthouse

So, I got my baby girls back and I am thrilled out of my mind.  Today its back to the normal grind.  Kids back in school, everyone back to work.  I know I whine a lot about it, but I LOOOOVE my life.  I love that I am run ragged and that everyone seems to "need" me a lot.  After a week of having no kids I was reminded, my life is just as it is supposed to be.  Don't get me wrong.  I absolutely loved the extra time I got to spend with Ronnie.  I loved spending one on one time with just him.  I was really reminded of why we were together and what was so important about nourishing our marriage.  He was a doll and took me to see a movie.  I know that hed rather have been in the theatre next to us with the shoot em up loud and action packed sounds, but we went to see COURAGEOUS.

 

It was a great movie.  A little corney in places, but absolutely emotional in all others.  Beautiful movie.  I encourage every man out there to go see it.  Even if they do it in secret, this is something they need to see.  I am glad my hubby went to see it.  I am not sure if it will make any sort of huge impact but it was still informative and awakening.  I guess I need to schedule us a time to go see the shoot em up movie this week.  It has Hugh Jackman in it...how bad can it be???  :) 

This past week though I got to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.  I ate what I wanted, went to bed when I wanted.....did whatever I wanted.  The only think that that did was tell me that I am not meant to do that.  Not now at least.  Not now, while my babies are still young.  Not now...now its the season for me to be a mom, burning both ends of the candle.  Life is good....just remind me that next week when I wanta pull my eyeballs out cause they are driving me nuts!  Mwahahahaha.

I just love this stamp set.  It is so versitile.  Nothing like lighthouse to symbolize a pillar of faith and understanding.  Not much to explain here.  I masked the lighthouse and put the seaguls on.  The light blue paper has a very faint quilt design too. 

Only thing that I am noticing...when you put the seaguls that close to the light house...ummmm the size is a wee bit off.  Either the birds are ginormous or the light house is really t-tiny.  Oh well.  :) 

Im off....go friends...be blessed and enjoy your life just as it is supposed to be!

Paper Embroidery

I did a whole bunch of these paper embroidery awhile back.  They are sooooo fun.  I should have taken a better photo of it.  The heart is simply embroidery thread stretched between punched holes.  It is super addictive and you can transform almost any image into a threaded thing.  Only hard part is that paper is NOT forgiving.  If you accidently poke the needle up in the wrong place you have a hole there.  Great things to do in front of the tv tho.

Halloweenie!

Isnt this image fun?  I love the little guys.  I am not thrilled out of my mind with this card at all.  I just don't think it matches the paper real well.  But oh well.  :)

Non traditional

I have been trying to break out of my cookie cutter creative mode.  Trying to do things that are not necessarily my style.  Its been challenging.  But I find that it really helps to keep the mojo flowing. 

For this one, I popped a second butterfly up on top to add a little more

pizzaz.  The black denim paper makes it kind of rugged looking.  Simply fun I think.

Lost.....alone....abandoned....

Growing up, I hated to read.  I would fake my way through book reports, I would moan and groan at the thought of having to read a book.  A chapter in a text book was more than torturous and the thought of being glued to 200 or so pages made me downright ill.  I avoided it at ALL costs.  I hated everything about reading.  I had friends that would always have their nose stuck in a book.  It was something I totally could not comprehend.  A total waste of time.

Then I got married.  My husband was another one of those book geeks that could read for hours and hours with no problem at all.  So I tried.  I went to the library, got me a card...checked out a few books.  Only for me to return them a couple weeks later only having read a chapter.

Then I got more determined.  I wanted to like to read.  I wanted to see what was in this passion that so many people had.  So I made it a point to read every night before bed.  Unfortunately, Id make it for about 3 paragraphs and then Id be sound asleep.

I am not sure when my passion for reading actually decided to join me.  I don't remember which book or at what time of my life.  But now, I can honestly say I LOVE TO READ.  I feel nekkid or lost when I dont have an ongoing read.  I have read so many I dont even have a count anymore.  I really like Christian Fiction.  No, not the Little House on the Prairie style, but like the Potluck Club or the Yadda Yadda Sisterhood.  Those were some favorites, and the Penny was another good one.  I dont like saucey stuff.  No, I am not prude, but I just dont have the need to read in depth how someone manipulated another in sex...I dont like it when cuss words are written every other sentence and the author feels like they cant say what they need to without em.  I just like a good story.  I like a little suspense a lotta drama and of course some humor.

I guess the thing is, I finally figured out what it is that "I" like to read.  For so many years I watched those around me.  One of my best friends in school read Stephen King non stop.  So I read some of that too.  I read it until I read one of his books that I totally hated the ending of.  I felt cheated and betrayed as a reader.  Especially to read the entire 300+ pages.  I never read another one of his writings again.  Then I tried to read the novels written by Danniele Steel as someone else did.  I sooooooooooooo could not do it.  2 paragraphs in...I was bored stiff.  How about some sci-fi?  Really?  I have a hard enough time with reality, let alone trying to get into flying people and man eating rabbits.  Now that I have girls that are reading I try so hard to help them find what they like.  Not what everyone else says they should like.  I want so much for them to learn the passion now while they are young.  Now when their minds are so fresh.

But anyways...the reason for my whole post....

I just finished one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Since we dont have cable, I seriously didnt know that there was a movie out there.  I didnt know that that was the reason so many of my friends had read the book.  I didnt know that that was the reason that everyone was talking.  And to be honest I am thrilled.  I enjoyed this book down to the very last page where it talks about the author.  Yes, it is THAT good of a read.  I know that it is fiction, but it does help shine some light on really how difficult the segregation of blacks and whites was.  Living in the hills of Tennessee where I am quite certain that still have active KKK clans in some areas, makes it all the more real.  Truth be told I am NOT predjiduce.  At least not towards the color of ones skin.  I know some beautiful and remarkable black people and I know some really trashy and poor excuses for white people too.  Wow...how far our world has come along. 

Anyways.  This book is about a white lady who writes a book about the black maids of the South.  Their incredible tales of lovin on white kids and making everything just perfect for the fancy white lady's events.  Their tragedies and the fun stuff too.  The author did an amazing job of writing as tho a colored person of that era was actually talking. 

Now, I have finished it and I feel lost.  Like my life long love has just left me standing at the train station.  I have no direction.  The memories of each verse are still in my mind as though I read every word within the last day rather than the last couple of weeks.  I giggle at certain things that were said and I get angry remembering other events.  But I stand here, naked.  Alone.  Lost.  Am I the only one to feel this way?  That when one finishes a book they feel like they are destitute to floundering around?

I have picked up another book that I have been trying to read for the last 3 months.  Its one that I found in the discount bin at the book store.  But it is sooooo difficult to read.  The words dont flow and the story...well its slow.  But for me, it is a good filler.  Something to read while I wait for the next great one.

Anyways...so what I am really trying to say is....GO GET THIS BOOK!!!!  The Help.....by Kathryn Stockeet.  It quotes NPR.org on the front cover as saying:  "This could be one of the most important pieces of fiction since To Kill a Mockingbirld...if you read only one book...let this be it."  Seriously, I could not say it any better. 

Stocking up the card box.

Since I have been out of card making for so long, I have been running short on my back up supply.  So I have been trying to restock my every day cards.  This is kind of a fun one.  A good Masculine ones.  Those are always more difficult to do. 

Again I apologize for the photo...it is rediculous isnt it?

Its HUMP day!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber, nor sleep." Psalm 121:1-4

Go U-T!

Wow.  Can you tell that the colors are whacked on this one?  I TOTALLY did NOT make a UT card with Red and White.  It really honestly is  UT ORANGE.  This is a quick card that I made for my other boss.  He is a huuuuuge fan of the Vols and since I had these stickers I thought it suited him perfectly.  The power T is a stamp, but all the others are just simple sticker strips that I had for some unknown reason.  It was fast and quick and of course he loved it! 

Did I mention the fact that I miss my girls?  I have totally enjoyed my time with my husband.  We have gotten to enjoy things that we simply negate when we are busy running the girls to and fro to each and every little thing.  Even though that makes everything crazy it is a part of our life, and I feel rather lost without it.  Being well rested and calm just isnt my forte and well...making it til Friday when I get them back will be difficult.  THAT is for sure!  I miss their giggles, the stereo blasting, the constant questions and even the squabbles that come with two girl tween/teens under one roof.

MOJO 208

I am a huge fan of MOJO Monday.  As you already know.  I have all of their sketches printed out and in a binder that I keep on my work table.  It has pulled me out of the ditch of blankness more times than I can count.  Its an amazing site to bookmark and refer to often.  HUGE inspiration there. 

This is a card I made for my boss inspired by the sketch.  I apologize that the photo is awful.  I flew out of the house and totally forgot to take a pic of it before leaving, so I snapped one with my phone.  We all know how great phone cameras are.  The colors (even though they dont look it here) are brown and pink.  Its very vintage looking and feminine.  She totally loved it!

I used the sketch again and made this fall one too.  I get so used to stamping on white that I forget there are no rules that REQUIRE this.  So a quick little fun one and I broke out of the norm here.

Hard to believe that we are moving well into fall and getting ready for the holidays.  Wasn't it just pool season?  WOW. 

Simple.

So, I have this friend.  We are probably considered more of aquaintences now, since it has been nearly 14 years since we have really spoken other than an occasional post on Facebook.  But this is a girl that I can honestly say that I have complete and utter respect for.  I have respect for many.  So many of my friends and family have battled diseases, have had family turmoil, and suffered far greater losses than I could EVER comprehend.  But this girl is facing a challenge simply because she is choosing to follow God's call.  She is not being forced.  She is simply making a sacrifice and saying she "will".  Check out ROBBYE'S WEBSITE and see where she is at and what she is doing.  This girl has quit her job, sold her home, sold her car, given away all of her belongings and is saying her final good byes to her friends and family.   She is moving to Peru to do missions.  Can you imagine?  Can you imagine leaving behind absolutely everything that you have to simply follow God's word?  Praise God that I have not received this calling, because, to be honest, I am not so sure that I could answer it.  I love Jesus and profess Him every chance I get, but wow.

How bout this card?  Not my normal layers and layers of color and dimension.  Just simple.  I like it though.  I like the fact that it says what it needs to and allows the mind to just simmer in that thought.  Maybe its the lone quail in the tree...the dismal color?  Just simple.

Funny how we get so wrapped up in always adding MORE that we forget how SIMPLE things can be.  Robbye is leaving the great American Dream...giving up her Dishwasher Tabs to move where people do not HAVE dishwashers.  How wonderful to have that faith.  I sooo look forward to hearing more from her.

Two days in a row!!

Are you not simply AMAZED?  I TOLD you I was gonna try and get back into this bloggie thing again.  Whew!  It is not easy!  :)

Anyways---were in K-Town today.  I get to spend a few hours with my Hannah Banana before we head back home.  Dang!  I am glad she is staying, but I sure do miss her.  Its great to spend a few hours in the city too.  I guess, if Knoxville can be considered a city anyway.  :)  Got a few errands to run and just to relax a bit.  Miss it....absolutely.  Wanta move back....heck no!

This card is using one of those sets that has like 20 stamps in it.  Aside from 2 monkeys and a leaf, I think I used them all.  It was fun.

I guess I need to do some updating of the photos over there on the side bar huh?  Since Ronnie has a full beard now.  Both Heather and Hannah have grown so much since then.  And well, I am NOT in East TN anymore.  Oh but that takes so much....not today---but soon maybe.  :)

*cough* ~choke~ ..>GASP<..

Well, since I got to visit my besties this week (Hi Marilyn & Janet!!!) and they got on to me about my out dated blog, I thought maybe I ought to come in and dust off the cobwebs and see what was happening here. 

For the past year I truly believe that my family and I have been in absolute survival mode.  Doing whatever it takes just to live from day to day.  Ha!  And to think I've made it thus far without going back to my "Happy Pills" is an amazing feat within itself.  Mind you, I am all about people getting medication for depression and anxiety--that's what they are for....but for me personally they turn me into more of a non emotional slug.  Sure, depression leaves and my anxiety is wiped clean, but unfortunately my ability to laugh and smile leaves too.



This has certainly been an incredible journey.  Not always fabulous.  But the good days are outweighing the bad now and guess what?  My mojo is returning!!  :)  I went and played with my friends during my very much needed little mini vacation this week.  I sooooo enjoyed seeing them.  They inspire me in all ways and it is just awesome to be around them. 

So though, not near as much as I'd like, I am stamping again!



I left the inside blank to add a sentiment
when I needed it.



This is a card that I found in a magazine several years ago.  Since we know so many people in music I just knew that this would come in handy for some one.  Unfortunately it was NOT as easy as I had anticipated.  My thread kept coming unwound, I couldnt get the circles to line up and well, the list just goes on and on.  So, though I am pleased with how it turned out, I am a little disappointed that I can't mass produce it as I had planned.  Maybe using wire would solve the thread issue and now that I have done the circles I could probly figure them out.  Who knows....it just seemed to take a lot of time for a simple card.  So might not tackle it again any time soon.

The girls are doing amazing.  Two weeks of FALL BREAK.  Hannah spent the first week at Grammee & PawPaw's in Knoxville and originally it was planned that the girls' would swap out for the second week, but I think it has since been changed that we are taking Heather tonight and leaving them both there for the next week.  I am so glad that they will get to have fun and enjoy themselves.  But already I can hear the house moaning from the quietness.  Already I miss them and they aren't even gone. 

Heather has had the honor of being on the color guard for JROTC again this year.  She loves it and has done so well with it.  Check out the most recent pics of her here ---->  UPPERMAN JROTC  Yeah, thats her with the cannon.  She got to shoot it at one of the games.  She was a HAPPY GIRL!

Hannah is doing good too.  Her social calendar is starting to pick up and I have officially turned into the MOM TAXI. 

I am doing GREAT!  I guess I need to tell you all that I did get a job.  I have been here for several months now.  Working for HILL REALTY here in Cookeville.  I absolutely LOVE it!  Its a small office, quite a lot smaller than what I am used to.  Rather than the 60 agents that Realty Executives Associates (Bearden) had, we only have 3.  But we are far busier than I ever dreamed of being at REA.  My days are crazy busy and extremely challenging.  I absolutely LOVE it though.  I love all of the things I have learned and that each day has something new.  At first I was certainly convinced that my bosses both hated me and that I was NEVER going to get the hang of this.  There is just so much to learn.  But I have settled in now and I understand more of how the office works.  I get along great with them and I truly love my job.  I look forward to the day though that it doesnt leave me completely worn snap out by 5pm.

Ronnie is doing well.  He is working at a factory right now.  Definitely NOT a dream job, but he is learning new things and getting some factory experience under his belt.  He is just waiting for God to open up new things so that he doesn't have to do this kind of work for long.  For now, it pays the bills and it is a job...he certainly isn't complaining.

OK, well there you have it.  Just a brief little update on us.  I PROMISE to post more often.  :)