Last 6 calendar pages

Hello Everyone! I trust you had a most blessed and joyous Christmas and holiday weekend!! We had a really great one! Christmas day we stayed home and watched our boys have lots of fun unwrapping their gifts and then playing with them! Later in the day we had my sister, her husband and their kids come over for games. And we ordered Chinese for dinner! Ha! So it was fun eating Chinese and playing games!

And we stayed home all weekend. It was nice relaxing family time. We played with the boys, and played some games and watched some new movies we got. Maybe I'll share a few pictures from our holiday sometime.

But for now, I thought I would share with you the last six pages of the calendar I made for my MIL.

July through December-

Snow 12-19-09

Gasp!!! Two posts in one night! Am I back??? Maybe, no promises. Not that I was gone, but you know, just so busy. I'm sure after the holidays things will settle down for me. But then, I will be working on doing things in my house, like painting, decorating, buying furniture and so forth! It will be fun!! I have some plans for my bathrooms. I'll most likely post pictures of before and after shots of my work on them!

Soo anyway....

On Friday the 18th a big snow storm came through. leaving us a land of white! It was beautiful!

The next day we went out and had some fun in it! There was anywhere from 6-12 inches. We heard they got about 2 feet where we use to live!

Building our snowman.

So the next things on my list of things to get are: Snow boots, snow pants and a sled. Poor Isaac just had shoes and they kept getting stuck in the snow and coming off! We still have all of the snow, it's all frozen and not so bright and fresh looking anymore, you know how snow looks after it's been around for a few days. Maybe we'll get a fresh coat for Christmas to make it look all pretty again! I'm loving it! It's making it feel like Christmas, and makes it warm and cozy feeling in the house!

Calendar-first 6 pages

Have you been saying "Jessica, come out come out wherever you are???". Okay, so maybe I haven't been missed that much. Sometimes I don't think anyone notices my absences that much.
Anyway, I have been busy with Christmas cookie baking and preparing packages to send out to family. Plus taking care of my boys. They've had a bad cough for over a week now. The kind where they cough so much, that they choke and turn blue!! Scares me half to death! I've been praying over them a lot.

So can you believe it's almost Christmas?? I am almost ready, but not. Still have some last minute shopping to do. I think we will do that tomorrow. My Christmas cards I designed and ordered came today. So I can finally send my cards out! Better late than never, huh?? I am really pushing it on time this year! And as much as I said I wasn't going to do that and let it happen, it did! Arrrggg! Anyway, life goes on. I got a few sent out today. But the bulk of them will go out tomorrow. So some will get there late. So anyway... Since I've been in hiding, and haven't created much, or anything that I can share right now. I thought I would share the first 6 pages of the calendar I designed and ordered for my mom-in-law. She got it the other day and loved it! So now I can show it!

Here is January-June

My hubby^ when he was a cute little boy!

Peek

I posted this page a few posts back saying it was for a gift I was doing. I am making a calendar for my mom-in-law. I will have it printed through a company called photoworks. It has been quite a challenge for me to get back in my groove, but I think I finally found it again!! YAY!! I go through these times where I can't create anything that looks decent. Finally I am coming up with some stuff I'm starting to kind of like. Anyway, that first page I had showed, well, I redid it. And since I don't want to show the whole gift before it's given I thought I would just show a few "peeks" of some of the pages. (My sis-in-law is doing one as well, and I was inspired to share some sneaky peeks of my project, b/c I wasn't going to).

My new "baby"

Okay, not really... But I can be a little excited can't I?? Well, because my hubby and I got our Christmas (and my birthday) present today!!! Yes, it's the newest Canon rebel, the T1i!

Because we were having issues with our other rebel, and we've been wanting to upgrade for a year or so now. So yes, we splurged. Isn't that screen HUGE?!?! Our old one had a teeny tiny 1 1/2" screen.

Isn't it beautiful?!?! Can I say my camera is beautiful? I think so! What's great is that, this shoots HD video! So we thought instead of investing hundreds of dollars into a decent video camera, we'd just go with this for now and have the best of both worlds (if that's even the right term!). Our video camera hasn't been working properly for a while now, and we only had a little point and shoot sony that we used for taking videos. And it really doesn't take good ones at all, especially in poor lighting. Anyway we played with the camera some tonight!! We really like it!!! I want to educate myself more on basic photography and try and get decent pictures of my boys and people and such. Our old camera is still a great camera, but we were just ready to move on and upgrade, and decided to get the new one instead of investing the money to fix the one we have. So we're most likely going to sell our other one.

And these are my REAL babies...

Who I live for and love with a passion.

{Picture was taken with our old canon rebel XT}

Thankful-Thanksgiving day!

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope you are spending your day somewhere special and meaningful to you!

Well, today here is what else I am thankful for-
For each new day God gives us to serve him and spread his truth to others.

For the few friends God has blessed me with in my life. I am thankful for all of our families near and far (miss all those who are so far away and haven't seen in so long). for my family who all loves and serves the Lord with their whole hearts. For my Dad & Mom, who have done such a wonderful job on raising all 9 of us children. For them raising us in a Godly home and setting that foundation on God. For setting that strong Godly example before us, for all they've sacrificed and have given for us. I love you Mom & Dad! I am so very thankful for all my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews. For my Grandparents, who I miss so very much and so wish I could visit them now. For my husband (I know I already said I was thankful for him, but that was mostly related to his job and working), for him being there for me and helping me out when I need him, for us being a good team and working well together through different situations, for all he's done to be a good father and husband, for his love and passion to write worship songs to God and his love for music, for the funny things he says and makes me laugh or smile- even when I may not want to. For being my support and my love!

And I am thankful for my sons, the unexplainable joy that they bring to my life, I cannot imagine my life without them! For the silly and funny things they do to make me laugh and brighten my day. Hearing "Mommy" over and over again throughout the day, I love being a mommy and being there for my children. And even the times that are hard and stressful, the days where they are moody and I am moody, even for those days, I am thankful. Because God doesn't put anything on us that we are not able to bear. I am thankful that I can hold and love my children and just give them endless kisses. For all the sweet precious smiles, laughter and kisses that come from my boys. To hear "mommy, I love you". Watching them play and bond together as brothers, when they run around the house and chase each other and make each other laugh. I am so very thankful for them! I could go on and on. I know there is so much more I could say that I am thankful for, but I will end here. Happy Thanksgiving day! Hope you have a blessed one!!!

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalm 30:12

IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH: Psalm 92:1

Thankful-day 3

Today, (day 3) I am thankful for-

God's word, his mercy and forgiveness, for his unfailing faithfulness, for ALWAYS answering our prayers, For sending His son, Jesus to die on the cross for us so that we can live a life free of sin and eternal life in heaven. for loving us so much to give soo much to us even when there are times we feel we don't deserve the blessings he blesses us with. For freedom to worship and serve my God, and for peace and a sound mind. For God taking away all fears. For His promises of health and wholeness to his children. I am also thankful for my husband's job. For the fact that we moved in faith without knowing where my husband would work once we got moved in. But just exercising our faith, and being a little patient, God provided the job! I am thankful for and so very grateful to my husband who works each and every day to provide for our family, for his sacrifice in doing that, I can't express how much I so respect and appreciate that he does this for us and our sons! Even though he comes home wiped out and so tired and pretty much falls asleep on the couch right after dinner. Thank you Hun for ALL you do for us! I love you!

Thankful-day 2

Sorry I'm getting these out so late, but I don't take much time out during the day to do this. So here is what I'm thankful for today (Tuesday).

I am thankful for- plumbing and running water, for clothes to wear, food, electricity (because some people in the world are without all of those things), bills paid (because when they're paid means God has provided our needs. I was reminded of this by a dear friend! :). For soap, my washing machine (that is no longer on the back porch! YAY! :). And for laughter, and joy, because I don't think we could get by without it!

Thankful

So much seems different to me these days, mostly how I feel about things. It's like my passion for creating is not there, my creativity is just not there. My life seems more full of just everyday normal things, mostly taking care of my children and keeping house. It's like, how do I even find time to create? I'm not saying any of this in a bad way. It's like I've realized what's more important in life and the fullness of it, not that I didn't know before, but just needed to get my priorities in order. And far as I'm concerned I still have a lot of learning to do in this area! Something changed in me, and it wasn't just recently, it was over a month ago. I think I went on a big marathon of creating a bunch cards a few weeks before we moved. I was excited and I was all pumped about card making and blogging. Then something changed. I don't know whether it was just because I knew we had to move and I didn't want to take time out from packing and all of that to make things or create, but it was more like that desire just wasn't there anymore. I know I go through fazes and then they come back. But for some reason this one has not come back. It's funny too, because when I originally started my blog I pretty much created it with the intent that it would mostly be of my digital scrapping, that's what I was/am mostly into. I never really did traditional (never had the extra money to get into it), so I used what I had and realized I already had all the means to get into digital scrapping, so that's what I did! And then to my surprise, I started my blog out with posts of cards I started making! Ha!! I think it was b/c I had all my stuff given to me and it was new and exciting, so that's what inspired me to get into it again.

Anyway, I'm sure you're all wondering what I'm getting to here.. Ha! I think I am just going through a change in my life or a "reorganization" of my life. Setting goals and priorities that are meaningful and fruitful in my life, things that will last and speak forth throughout the rest of my life. Focusing on raising my children, growing in the Lord and seeking him more, setting a better example for my children, being more thankful for my life and people and things I have in my life, learning to love myself and be happy with who I am, not get so down and upset with myself, love and respect my husband more, be a better help-meet for him and being the Godly wife, mother, and woman God wants me to be. Those are my goals and my priorities right now.

Not to worry about if I make it in time for a challenge going on, or some new fad in the scrapbook world, and not be afraid I might miss out on what the latest happenings are right now, or seeing if someone is online to chat or comment on my blog. Not to consume myself with the things that don't bring forth any Godly fruit. I'm not saying that blogging and creating is a bad ungodly thing ( I have met so many wonderful ladies through having a blog and have been blessed with a few friends through it as well, and I am so thankful for that!). But just what I allowed it to become for me, how many hours in a day I would consume my day with just blogging and sitting on the computer, doing nothing really. Feeling pressure to stay with the latest fads and challenges, contests, etc. Worrying about what other people think or say. I put too much pressure on myself, and too much valuable time into that. When I could have been using that time to spend with my children, or seek the Lord and read his word more.

I'm only speaking about myself here, I  don't want any of you to think that I am accusing anyone or judging anyone. This is totally my feelings and what I'm going through right now.

I have not been happy with myself. I think I let myself get so consumed with all this blogging and such that I became someone I am not happy with. I realize it's time to do something about it and not give into laziness.

I want to grow stronger in the Lord and my relationship with him, to allow him to be #1 in my life like he should be! To allow him to change and mold me into who he wants me to be. I need to be the one that's willing and giving it over to him. Otherwise if I try and take the reins he can't drive and I have taken his ability to lead me, away.

So with that said. I just want you all to know that I am sorry for all the silence, and sorry I don't have fun things to share with you. And it's not to say that I will never make cards or scrap again. But that I will do it when I feel I want to or have an opportunity to. And there may be times where I will do it a lot too, but for now I'm just relaxing, not stressing. I do want to make things and create some gifts for people, so that will be things I will try and do. I may just not share everything on here. I did actually make a couple cards for the first time since we've lived here the other night. And it was strange, I had fun, but I still just didn't feel the vibes like I use to, ha!

So I may be putting card creating on the back burner for now. I may pop up with a few here and there- Who knows!! My one goal in the creative world that I am going to try and keep up with is scrapping my boys. Even in that, I am so terribly behind that I feel overwhelmed so I don't know where to start, because I have THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of photos of them to scrap. So I need to just take it one day at a time. So I may post a few digi pages here and there. Again, who knows what I will end up doing!

So I hope this doesn't upset any of you and I hope you will still visit me! I still enjoy seeing what others create and I love to hear your kind comments on here!

Anyway, I was on the computer thinking about being thankful and how this week is Thanksgiving week and an idea popped in my mind. I thought of posting about something I am thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving day. I know that Monday is all over with but this will count for my first day, Monday and what I'm thankful for. And I will probably make it multiple things each day because there is SO much to be thankful for! Gosh it's SOOO late!!! I don't pull many late-nighters these days, I did so tonight because my hubby wanted some of his clothes washed for work tomorrow. I seriously just did a ton of loads! But now that he has a new job he doesn't have to wear anything too nice, so he doesn't have a whole lot of outfits for work, so they have to be washed more often. Anyway, Sorry for this EX-TREMELY long post, and I soo appreciate that you actually took time to read through all of this!! I know I got all wordy on you all again! I'm still me and I'm here and alive and well! Just some changes going on- and for the better! PRAISE THE LORD FOR THAT!!

So for my first day I am thankful to God for his providing us with our new home-a roof over our heads, and heat to heat our home!

{Yes, this is my new house!}

Feel free to post what you're thankful for each day on your blog! Leave me a link so I can see! God bless! And hope you have a fantastic holiday week!

Ecrandal sale

Hello Dear friends! How is your week going?  I hope wonderful! We had a few days here that were absolutely gorgeous out, in the upper 70's! And now it's overcast and much cooler. Today I wanted to post something in promotion of my Brother-in-law and sister's cookie cutter business. They're having a fabulous deal going on right now. They're having a 20% off holiday sale (some exclusions apply). And in addition to that, if you become a fan on their facebook page (ecrandal originals- ecrandal handmade copper cookie cutters) they're having special offers where you can be entered to win a free cookie cutter! And with Christmas just around the corner, these would make for perfect gifts! Or if you would like them for yourself for your holiday cookie baking or even ornaments!! I have talked about their cutters on here before and have shown some different things I've done with their cutters, you can see here, here and here. Seriously, their cutters are the best quality I have ever seen. They are hand crafted and designed personally by my brother-in-law, Eric. He makes every single cutter by himself by hand! And let me tell you, it's hard work! I would love to see their business flourish and for them to be greatly blessed through it, especially at this time of year for them. You will not be disappointed with their quality and customer service. They are a home based business, just he and my sister run it (along with their 6 children). So these cutters are truly designed and made with tender loving care with so much thought and emphasis put into them.

Here below are just a few of the amazingly beautiful cookies they've made from their own cutters! Eric decorated these cookies!!

Snowman

Cornucopia

curly toed elf stocking

And these are a few of the cutters from their 12 days of Christmas set! I just love them!

Partridge in a pear tree.

Turtle dove.

French hen.

Swan a swimmin.

Lord a leapin.

Drummer drummin.

To see the rest in their set become a fan on their facebook page!! And to take advantage of their great deals and promotions going on right now!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read about this and if you order from them, I know that you will be very happy with their cutters and it would be a great blessing to their business! Thank you so much! Please spread the news of them on your blog and to your friends! I would greatly appreciate it! God bless your day/week!!

Project

This is the first page in a project/gift I am making. I was inspired by the EBTKS sketch challenge and layout my sister-in-law did. I was struggling with coming up with an idea that would work good for this project and once I saw this I wanted to try it out! I think I like how it turned out. Lately I feel a little retarded when it comes to creating anything. I haven't done any creating in so long I feel a little rusty. So hopefully as I go I will get more creative juices flowing. Hope your week is going great! My husband started his new job today. Now instead of being 45-50 minutes to work it's only 6-7 minutes!! Woohoo!! I praise the Lord for that!

I'm BAAAAAAAACK!!!!!

Hello my dear friends!! Well, here we all are in our new home!! We just today finally got internet access!! Let me just say, we had quite an ordeal with getting our modem sent out to us.. So finally today our little black box was delivered! Our move went smoothly and safe! We're just praising the Lord for his abundant blessings and seeing us through each and every step of the way!! So much has gone on, I will have to share more over the course of time. But for now I wanted to share these photos. And let you all know I've missed you all! But even though I have been without internet for almost 2 weeks, it has been so nice and I have had a lot of time to think about things and not allow the computer to be a distraction. It's helped me to set my priorities into perspective and realize what's important. So although I may not be on here all the time posting. I still will enjoy seeing every one's comments and such!! I still have a lot of unpacking to do. We have already painted one room in our home, which is the boys room. I'll share pictures another day. There's so many other things I want to do in the home, I know it will all come in time, and I'll just have to do things as I can. And make do for now. But we're very blessed and just praising God for his provisions!!

Our first morning and breakfast in our new home..

Isaac makes some of the most hilarious faces!!!

Closing day 10.29.09

Here we are on the day we closed on our house.

Matthew signing a paper.

Here I am signing the same paper.

Happy home owners!!

Us with our very sweet and very helpful realtor, Beth.

Samuel unpacking

Samuel unpacking the tupperware box at the new house..

Trying to put the sipper cover on the cup.

Now trying to drink out of it!

Isaac packing a box up at the old house

Isaac wanted to pack a box. So I let him pack all of their books up. He did a really great job! He was pretty proud of himself!!