Happy Early Mother's Day, Mom!

And so there you have it! My layout that's in this month's May CK! I did this layout as a tribute to my mom--she really is the mom I want to be! She's the mom that not only comes to help when the baby's born, but when she's here she insists on doing all the laundry, cleaning, and even painted my shutters! Yep, that's right, my mom was out on a ladder painting my shutters when Sarah Kate was born! It's that kind of selfless Mom that I want to be. I want to be there for my girls whenever they need me. I want them to realize how much I love them, and see how I'll go out-of-my-way to help them out--just like my mom does for me! So, while it's still April and Mother's day is some weeks away, I just wanted to tell my mom how much I love her--and it even got published! (That part thrilled us both!) I love you Mom!

A new kit and a glowing report for Simply Obsessed!

Jamie and Shauna have put the new May kit up at Simply Obsessed, and it's gorgeous as usual! It features Crate Paper's Sweet Branch line along with My Mine's Eye 29th Street Market papers. The add-ons are awesome too! These include items fromJenni Bowlin and Daisy Bucket. But that's not all! This time the site and this kit got a glowing critique on Willow Traders! How awesome is that!!! You can check out the report here! WTG Jamie and Shauna, so happy for you and for S.O.!

Getting EXCITED!!!

I've officially started counting down. 3 days until the Scrap Etc. Event in Nashville! Not only is it going to be an amazing scrapbook retreat of sorts, where Heidi Swapp is the keynote speaker followed closely by Jenni Bowlin, but I'll also get to meet up with some online "imaginary" friends from the MBs I frequent. I really can't think of anything much better! I mean, I'll have scrappy inspiration all weekend long, I'll have fun friends to hang with, and on top of that I won't be anyone's Mommy! Wooohooo! It'll be so nice to just get away and have a girl weekend! I'm totally indebted to my dad and step-mom for watching the girls. They're staying with them while I'm away and Josh's at work! I can't wait!! Soooooo excited! :D:D:D:D

just a couple of new LOs

I did these for various scrap challenges in several places.

This one I combined two challenges, the Spring Cleaning ribbon challenge at Simply Obsessed, and the April Guest Designer challenge at Coordinates Collections.



This one I did for the Noel Mignon "Let's play ball" challenge and May Guest Designer spot on her challenge blog.

These are only 2 of the MANY MANY layouts that I've done and continue to work on for the month of April!

April showers bring......

lots of fun puddles to jump in!

Caroline decided to take advantage of the puddles left in our driveway.

First she just tested the waters



Then it was a quick splash



But by the end, it was a full-fledged puddle jumpin' good time!
(Notice she lost her pants in the mean time! LOL!)





Oh! To be a kid again!

Just what I needed....

This is a blog entry from Diana (her blog is Letters to a(nother) Mom), and I gotta tell you, this is EXACTLY what I needed. So refreshing to be reminded of, to take a minute away from the daily routines, and just stop. and think. and be reminded of how intimately my Savior wants to know me (more like wants me to know Him). So I want to share her entry with whoever reads my blog. It was just what I needed. Maybe it's just what you need too!

From Diana's blog March 23, 2008 (Easter): (The first paragraph is quoting Scripture)

"'But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did no know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).' John 20:11-16

I think this is one of my favorite Resurrection stories. Here we see Mary, so weak in her faith, weeping for the Lord. Desiring to be near Him, yet looking in the wrong place. She even sees angels in the tomb and yet she doesn't stop crying long enough to even try to figure out what is going on. I think it's my favorite passage, because I can relate so well. How often do I, in feeble faith, try to find God on my own strength...often with tears...I really want to find Him...I want to be near to Him, but I'm either to wrapped up in my cares or am blind to the glorious things He is doing.

But isn't God good? We serve an amazing, loving God! He didn't leave Mary in her emotional, weak, faithless, wrong state. He came to her. She desired Him and He came. And He called her by name. "Mary!" Can you see the relief on her face--the joy at His faithfulness? How she must have felt to find her teacher so patient, so steadfast, so tender? The same Jesus who washed the disciples feet also stooped to call on this emotional woman, weak in faith. And it's the same Jesus who calls me by name--so patiently, so steadfastly, so tenderly.

Dear Lord--We praise you that you are almighty God. This Easter weekend we are again reminded of how you died and conquered death. We are reminded of how powerful and awesome you are, but before we even can begin to comprehend that, you show how meek and tender you are--to stoop and call us by name, to dry our tears. You, in your power, meet us, in our weakness. Thank you for your patience when we are weak in faith, emotional and blind to what glorious things you are doing. Please open our eyes to see these mighty and great things and cause us to walk ever nearer to you. It is in your name that we pray. AMEN"

I'm so thankful for that reminder. and I think that we all crave that tenderness, that sympathy, that unconditional love. Sometimes I just forget where to look for it, or I'm too stubborn to admit I need it.

A quick catching up to do....

Well it's been a while. First it was Easter, then the girls and I went out of town to Birmingham, and I'm just now getting my computer back. It's recovering from a virus. SO, I have lots to share, lots of pictures and scrappy things too. Here goes!



Our family Easter picture. We had it taken at a friend's house, and it's a little dark. But I had to BEG for DH to let me take this picture. He was so hungry, he didn't care about pictures. So I only got one.



On the way to Birmingham, the girls and I stopped by the farm. It was in full bloom too! Sarah Kate is still young enough to sit and let me have a photo shoot with her. Here she's in my grandmother's daffodils. We had a very good visit with my grandmother, and I wish we were able to go to the farm more often. But it was nice, and she said we made her day!



Another highlight of our Birmingham trip was the play date we had with Virginia and her kiddos! I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed spending the day with her! We have so much in common and so much to talk about (and not ALL of it was scrapbook stuff!) It was so fun to meet one of my "imaginary" friends in person! the kids had a good time too!



On the 3rd day of our trip, my other grandparents came down to visit us. We took the girls to the park, and this is my grandmother enojoying the girls. She was surprised by Caroline's independence on the playground, and her zeal for the slide! They both giggled every time she'd go down.



And then this is Caroline yesterday. *sigh* That girl is SO curious, it drives me nuts! I was in the bathroom getting ready and apparently she swiped some fingernail polish, because a moment later I went looking for her. She was sitting between our pillows on our bed brushing her nose with hot pink polish! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Not only did she get it all over herself, but on our comforter as well! Sheesh! That kid............

And now a few scrappy things. These are my layouts from the Crop Addict April kit! Go check it out if you get a chance! It's got some great American Crafts papers and NEW Dream Street papers too!




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