Monday, March 31, 2008

A Clean Bathroom


In keeping with yesterday's post about my empty nest, I give you my layout about a clean bathroom. This small little room gave me the most angst while the girls were teenagers. It never seemed to bother them when their friends came over and saw their dirty clothes all over the floor and counters and their bras hanging on doorknobs. It bothered me, though, because I never knew when someone like my mother would drop by and want to use that room. The funny thing is that I am not a clean freak. A little clutter does not bother me. When the kids were little, I wasn't worried about toys in the living room or unfolded laundry. I preferred to play with them as much as I could. How about you? Are you a fastidious housekeeper or laid back and casual about it?

Don't forget about my blog party. Everyone who leaves a comment today will be eligible for tomorrow's drawing. Everyone who post before midnight tonight will be eligible to win in tomorrow's drawing. Don't forget to check back in case you win!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Life beyond the kids



I did this page for a call at Memory Makers and I think it has been long enough for me to share. I promise that piece of rick rack is not really supposed to be in the middle of the journaling. LOL Click on the picture to read the journaling. I am in love with thickers letter stickers. I have got to have them in every color....

Saturday, March 29, 2008

For my Daddy


Five years ago today, my dad died. I was awakened by a frantic phone call from my mother around 6 am. I rushed over there and was assaulted with the vision of fire trucks and police cars in front of their house. I pulled into the driveway and was stopped by a police officer who told me to slow down and compose myself before I went in. I must have really looked frantic. I was the first of my brothers and sisters to arrive and they wouldn’t let me see him. When my brother, Lex got there (he is an attorney), they let him go back.

Just ten days before, all of my brothers and sisters and I sat in the surgery waiting room with our mother in the middle of the night as he underwent emergency surgery for internal bleeding from a perforated ulcer. Daddy had a heart attack on the operating table and was placed in intensive care when the surgery was over. He spent ten days in ICU. It was a very long and scary time as our very large family camped out in that waiting room and took turns going in to see him for the few minutes we were allowed. All of the college kids came home and saw him, too because it really looked like we were going to lose him.

However, he started getting better. We were thrilled when he got to go home on Friday, March 28. He was so happy to be home in his own bed. He died of a massive heart attack that night.

My dad was an emotional man who cried easily and loved deeply. He loved his family and he loved God. He really loved my Mom. I grew up witnessing true love. He kissed her hello and goodbye every day and showed us all so much affection. He kissed me every time he saw me and told me he loved me. I am so lucky that he was in the hospital those ten days because I got to kiss him every single day for ten days and tell him I loved him.

I still miss him so much. He never got to hold his first great grandbaby. He didn’t get to see me finally get my college degree. He won't see Karen get married this coming fall. It seems like I am constantly thinking that I should tell Daddy about this or show him something and then I remember he is not there. I know he is happy being with his Heavenly Father and is no longer in the constant pain he was in while here on earth. He no longer has to use that cane that was his constant companion.

A few years before, I received a letter from him in the mail. Now, we only lived a few minutes apart and I saw him in person every couple of weeks. However, he wanted me to have something from him and he sent me this excerpt from a booklet written by his great grandfather that he had read as a young man. Here is a part of what he wrote.

“I have enclosed a copy of the piece from his little booklet, published in 1905. I urge you to read it, and study it closely. Even though you have never seen it before, I think you will recognize some of what I tried desperately to pass on to you as you grew up. I hope so. I also think you will see that it just as appropriate in today’s environment, if not more so, as it was when it was written, almost one hundred years ago. I urge you to share it with Curtis, and most especially, with your children, and their friends and with anyone else you might choose to. Since it was written so long ago, some may feel uncomfortable with the contextual gender. Just change it! The message is what is important, and the message knows no gender.” He signed it “I love you dearly, Daddy.”

The excerpt:

From an original publication by Henry Ford in 1905

There ought to be something in a man greater than any book he ever writes, than any sermon he ever preaches, than any pleas he ever makes at the bar, --greater than any invention ever devised and greater than his most famous discovery—something which lives after every material evidence of his existence has been annihilated,--something which will persist while time lasts, --and that is his character, that indestructible principle of his manhood.

Emerson said that those who listened to Lord Chatham felt there was something finer in the man than anything he said. “Character must stand behind and back up everything, --the sermon, the poem, the picture, the play. None of them is worth a straw without it.” This is the philosophy to teach the child of today, that “There is nothing in the world great but man, but there is nothing truly great in a man but character.”

Manhood overtops all titles; character is above all riches and greater than any career. This motto should be framed and hung in every home and in every school in the land. Mothers should engrave it on the hearts of their children.

People do not put their confidence in property, or in position; they put it in the Man. That man is only rich who has the confidence of his fellowmen, who have never betrayed his trust, who has never gone back on his word, or smirched his honor, or who can look his conscience squarely in the face without flinching.

There is only one thing that persists through all history, and through all changes, which not only is not tarnished or dimmed by time, but which will grow brighter though all eternity, and that is character. Nothing can annihilate it, nothing can stop its onward march. It is a living principle, as indestructible as the laws of mathematics.

My daddy had character. He was a good example. I loved him and I miss him.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Celebrating my first year of blogging


On April 3, I will celebrate one year of blogginess. I have enjoyed doing this and making so many bloggy friends. Naturally, I think I should give presents to my friends in honor of this momentous occasion. I have assembled a pretty good assortment of goodies. Beginning Monday, march 31 through Friday, April 4, I will give away a RAK every day to a random commenter. If I have at least 5 comments that day, I will give away two that day. If I have 10, I will give away three. Sound good to you? I will post something every day by 4 pm. You can comment on that post or any other post to be eligible for the giveaway. As long as you comment on that day, you will be in the next day's drawing.

Ha!

Setting a good example for children takes all the fun out of middle age.
-- William Feather

Thursday, March 27, 2008

They are just so grown up


My beautiful girls are just so grown up. They are living their own lives. They don't really need me for much anymore except for the occasional shoulder to cry on or for me to clap my hands and say "yay" when they are happy. Of course, there is still that college tuition I'm paying for Allison but I digress. When we went to the butterfly exhibit last weekend, I really enjoyed watching them delight in the butterflies and the pretty flowers in the park just like they were little girls again. When it was time to go and we began to walk to the car, I noticed how much alike they looked as they walked together and how comfortable and happy they were with each other as they chatted. I snapped these pictures while thinking about how they have left my everyday life but are still so much a part of me every day. I love these two young women very much.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Easter bunny prints


I read this on Erin's blog over at the CKMB. I loved the idea and sent it to both my sister who has almost 3 year old twin girls and to my daughter who has 4 year old Seth. I told them both that I would sooo do this if I had little kids. They both did it and it was a big hit at their houses. Here is a picture of Seth with his bunny prints.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Easter Sunday Fun







My Mother just cracks me up sometimes. She has never been the best cook but she decided this past week that she would just order pizza when everyone came over on Easter Sunday. She sent out an email asking who was coming for lunch and telling us her plans. I was appalled! I called her and told her that we could not have pizza on Easter. Her answer to that was that she did not feel like cooking. (like I really thought she was going to cook in the first place LOL) So, I rallied the troops and I bought a ham and the siblings brought sides and desserts. My sister brought some eggs for her twins and Seth to hunt. Seth did not want to hunt though. He had gone on a hunt with his Mommy and Joe the day before and said he would let his little cousins get the eggs. Isn't he sweet? We watched the Mavericks lose on TV and laughed. My silly Mother pitched the ball to Seth in the backyard while we all debated on whose turn it was to take her to the emergency room when she fell and broke something. LOL It was a good day.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

did some scrapping this weekend



Took lots of pictures at the Botanic Gardens last weekend. I've got lots more to scrap, too.

Friday, March 21, 2008

No Worries

I only worry about the big stuff now, she said. The little stuff gives me a headache because of the bifocals.


Brian Andreas
the story people

Monday, March 17, 2008

Using stuff that was gathering dust in my stash

I've been reorganizing my scrap room. I got some new cabinets with drawers and shelves to store things on and I am slowly getting rid of the plastic drawers and containers that lined my room. I've been finding things I haven't used in ages like my my versamark ink and this very pretty Heidi Swapp tape. These prima flowers are some random ones that I never really thought I'd use, either. I just started throwing them on and I like the result. Those title letters are crooked in this scan but I straightened them out after I saw it on screen. I'm just too lazy right now to rescan it. LOL

Happy St. Patrick's Day


March 17, 2008
Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck.

— Author Unknown

Saturday, March 15, 2008

A beautiful day full of God's beautiful creations







Today we visited the Butterflies in the Garden exhibit at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. I got some absolutely gorgeous pictures of butterflies that I am very proud of. However, the most beautiful creatures I got photos of are these magnificent people I call my family. Aren't they beautiful? Seth asked on the way home if workers build people. My reply was that God makes people. Oh, he said. What does Jesus do? He saves people, right? Such wisdom from out of a child's mouth.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

I found a dress


AND it only cost $40! It also doesn't look like something my mother would wear. LOL

The girls and I looked at a couple of bridesmaid dresses at a bride shop in the mall and I tried on a beige dress that I really liked. The girls liked it, too. However, since it was the first one I had even tried on, we left it. Karen wanted to look at Dillards since it was right next door. No bridesmaid dresses but the girls started handing me dresses saying "try this one, Mommy and this one and this one." The one I bought was on the 75% off rack and was only $40 marked down from the original $160. It is a golden green color with a fitted jacket. The jacket is actually a brown and green print but it is very very subtle. It will have to be altered a bit in the chest since I have no boobs but other than that, it looks really good on me. The girls say it is the perfect color for my eyes and my skin. It is even long enough for me to wear a small heeled shoe. How exciting is that! Did I tell you it was only $40!!!!!!!!
I have on no make up in this picture and I am standing barefoot in the backyard but you get the idea. Did I tell you how excited I am? LOL

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Some Making Memories Fun


I think I bought every piece of the noteworthy line from MM. Used their patterned paper, a foam MM stamp, and some wordfetti for this page about how much I like to read. I originally wrote this journaling as my Passion Journal assignment for HOF but went with something else instead. Now I've finally done the page to go with the journaling. Click on the picture and it will get big enough for you to read.

A new page

I used a Heidi Swapp mask and Making Memories paint for those dots. It was something I probably never would have bought but it was only a few cents at Recollections closing sale. I can definitely see possibilities with it now. Those girls were so sunburned in this picture...

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Let's talk about Grandmothers

Seth calls me Grandma and he calls Curtis Grandpa. That was our choice. I like the sound of it. My kids and my siblings' kids call my mom, Grandma, too. My dad was also grandpa. When I was growing up, my grandparents were grandma and grandpa. My nieces and nephews call their other grandparents by an assortment of many names. My sister, Kathy married into a Hispanic family and her kids call their grandparents Ito and Ita which is the shortened version of Abuelito and Abuelita. My brother Albert's kids call theirs Nanny and PawPaw. Theresa's kids call their great grandmother, Granny. When Seth was born, my mother wanted him to call her something different than Grandma. She chose Busha. She is Polish. Busha is what she called her grandmother. I looked up Grandmother in Polish and is spelled Babcia. What did you call your grandparents? How did the name get chosen?

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Did you forget that I scrapbook?


I've done lots of scrapping lately but can't share them because I did most of them for page calls that want new unseen stuff. I'll sit on them a few weeks and see what happens. I'm not holding my breath, though cause my friend, Rita, already got asked for some of hers for the same call. Here is one I did last night just for fun. My sweet Seth loves to play any kind of ball. These pics were taken in my mother's back yard in January on a pretty spring like day. Allison was home for the weekend and she was the lucky person who got to throw the ball back and forth with him.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Got a little white stuff yesterday





We don't get snow very often. We usually just get stuff like ice and sleet and hail. It was nice to have a pretty snowfall that didn't freeze on the streets and inhibit the morning commute. It only lasted a few hours and this afternoon it is all gone except for a few melting snowmen around town.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Will July ever come?

Got something picked up for the July issue of CK magazine. Can't share but I am way over the top excited. They are even paying me! Woo hoo! Got an nice email from Jana Lillie with a list of instructions and this one made me laugh so I will share it with you.

3. A blood oath that you will not be sharing this idea and example with family and friends in person or over the Internet until the issue comes out (no blood actually needed but you get the idea)

So, since I spilled blood over this, you must wait until July.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Born to be Wild

This is my laugh for the day. I've watched it several times and I laughed every time.

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-walt-babyboomers-blurb,0,1036393.blurb

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Happy Birthday, Karen
















I'm a little late posting this since Karen actually turned 26 on Feb 28. We celebrated last night, though. We went to dinner at Genghis Grill and came back to the house for cake. It's hard to believe that the first little baby girl we got to bring home is now closer to 30 than 20. She is a good mother, engaged to be married and also my dear friend. She is just beaming lately and I am happy for her that her life is falling into place so well. She has lost 20 pounds and is looking great. I couldn't help laughing at her excited reaction to her sister's gift and that she immediately called her to say thank you. It was the boxed set of "My So Called Life." I never watched it but according to my girls, it was the "best show ever!" Seth helped put the candles on his mom's cake and willingly posed for pictures. It was a good time.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Food for thought

The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well.

-- Joe Ancis