Catching Up On My Scrapping...

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010
KITS: Recreation Add-On by Create Wings
Where Dreams Begin Add-On by Create Wings
Free Cottage Critters by Amy Hutchinson
Green Christmas by Jofia Designs
French Touch by Elo Designs
Font: Eye Catching

A NEW ME
KIT: Green Christmas by Jofia Designs
Grunge frame1 mask by Bunny's Attic
Program:PSP-9 (Clarified Brightness & Contrast)
FONT: Tall Paul

LIZ & JASON
KIT: I'm Still Loving You by Chouk77

Thankful Thursday...

I'm thankful...

1. That another month of bills have been paid with enough left over for groceries!!
   
2. For my incredibly sweet hubby. (Is it possible to fall MORE in love with your spouse with each passing day?)
3. For the rain we've received and that all of the severe weather went around us.
4. For talented jewelry designers/crafters/artists that share their ideas and tutorials online. (I've found SO MANY cool ideas for Christmas gifts this year!!)
   
5. For baggy clothing because it means I can buy a smaller size!! (I am smaller now then when I first met hubby nearly 12 years ago...10's/Mediums never looked so good!!)
   
6. For the changing of the leaves...it's my favorite time of the year!! I LOVE FALL!!
7. That Halloween is almost here...it's marks the beginning of my Christmas madness!! (When I start pulling out all of my boxes, totes and trees and decorate for the holidays!! YES, I really have to start decorating Nov 1st or I couldn't have it finished by Dec 1st...lol)
8. For long soaks in hot water...it has helped ease my back and wrists the past 2 days.
9. To know when to smile and keep my mouth shut...it just makes things a LOT easier when dealing with people that like to gossip or cause strife.
10. For the massive amounts of encouragement I've received about my cooking changes and weight loss...it has meant the world to me!!
    

A Gift For CCM...

Funny how God speaks to you when you least expect it...

I started working on this special gift for CCM yesterday evening after dinner. I'd been planning it for several days, even down to what I was going to write. The complete layout already mapped, and all I needed to do was find the perfect papers and elements to match what was inside my head.

I worked on it for hours before I went to bed Thursday night/Friday morning (1am), and even tweaked with it again today before taking Kat to Driver's Ed. It was nearly completed, but I had one final item to add...a butterfly. It couldn't be just any butterfly!! It had to be blue. I saved my work and then headed out for the day.

Finally, at 10pm tonight I found the perfect butterfly and opened the layout to finish it...it was THEN where God spoke. I was still feeling pretty bad about my hair when I started reading what I had wrote on the page last night..."It's not the hairstyle that makes you beautiful...it's the tender and loving heart that God has given you. I love you my dearest friend." I broke down in tears again...but this time because i allowed myself to think hateful things about my former pastor's wife. I allowed vanity to ruin my day's happiness...instead of just being thankful that I was able to get my hair cut...and FOR FREE. It was a hard lesson to swallow.

So CCM, this gift is for you for being such an amazing friend to me. For always having a word of encouragement, and for having a great big, loving heart. You're an enormous inspiration in my life!! I Love You!!

FULL CREDITS:
Background from Signs Of Eternity by Manuela Zimmermann
Frames from Vintage Photo Frames by Nancy Comelab
Frame Color and Background Overlay from Moments by Manuela Zimmermann
Pearl Blue element and Blue Butterflies from EphemeralsII by Jofia Devoe
Heart from Frame Hearts by Monika69
Swass Border Freebie by Shandy Vogt
Faerie by Outlaw By Design
Font Color from Endless Love Add On by Manuela Zimmermann
Fonts: Treasury and Jerry's handwriting
Program: PSP-9
Plug-Ins: EyeCandy4000 - Shadowlab

My Mailbox Surprise...

Yesterday evening, Kat went to check the mail, and look what she found!!
A Faerie Ornament!!
Special thanks to a very dear and precious friend
(you know who you are...)
for this thoughtful gift...I LOVE HER!!
(She's now hanging in front of my stocking on the mantle)

LONG BLOG POST...(With Photos!!)

SO MANY things have happened since Saturday...so I have LOTS to share!! SATURDAY MORNING:
Kat, her friend Asa & I headed out at 9am to catch the Hueytown (AL) Christmas Parade. Because we arrived early, we found a close parking spot, grabbed a "to-go" breakfast from McDonald's, set up our chairs and waited for the parade to begin. Here are a few of my fav photos...

SATURDAY AFTERNOON:
Once the parade was over, we headed home to drop off our parade goodies, then were off ot Hoover (AL) to visit Aldridge Gardens and Hoover Park before picking up OS at work, and dropping Kat & Asa at the church for an evening of Teen/Youth Christmas Caroling.

SATURDAY EVENING:
Hubby got home around 4pm...just enough time to grab a bite to eat and change his clothes for the two of us to drive out to Tuscaloosa (AL) to see Tuscaloosa Christmas Afloat @ Black Warrior River. Though we were 20 minutes late, it started to rain AND we missed the fireworks...we still got to see all of the boats on their return trip up the river and I was able to get some great photos!!

Was so exhausted by the time we got home, I passed out!!

SUNDAY:
Hubby and I took a trip to Leeds (AL) to pick up a white daybed that I found on FreeCycle. The mattress will need to be replaced, but the frame is perfect!!
After the Sunday night church service, I had to drive out towards Bankhead Lake (near Alliance, Alabama) to take Asa home. By the time I made the 2 hour round trip, it was nearly 11pm...another exhausting day leaving me to pass out the minute my head hit the pillow.

MONDAY:
I got up early to pick up my friend Tiff and her two boys (J & K) near Caffee Junction (AL). The entire afternoon was spent in my den snapping photos, cooking/eating, and laughing at something cute the boys were doing.

Now I'm off to catch up on blogs, sort through email, and try to find some ME TIME to relax after such an exciting weekend!!