OH, SO PROUD!

We just finished our evening prayers with the kids before they go to bed & I received a BURST of pride. For the 1st time the kids recited the prayers while Steve & I just listened. They knew EVERYTHING by heart...The Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be & The Apostle's Creed. Every word was said...nothing forgotten. It almost made me cry...I was so proud of them. I also felt a sense of relief. It let me know that we're doing right by our children...that they're getting the proper guidance needed to shape the rest of their lives. I pray every day that God will help me to be the parent that they need...thank you God.

Friday 5 - All About ME!

Those who know me well know that I'm not the kind of person who tends to "like" herself very much. Not that I think I'm a horrible person or anything like that...I just tend to focus on the "not so great" aspects of myself (ie. I'm overweight, I have annoying hair, etc.). But I believe that EVERYONE has SOMETHING about themselves that makes them WORTHWHILE. So for this week's Friday 5, I'm going to focus on 5 things that I DO like about myself. Here goes:

1) I'm crafty. I love to scrapbook & make wreaths, but those are just my 2 favorites (see pics below). Several months ago I discovered Digital Scrapbooking. I also recently took up Paper Scrapbooking again (haven't done any in about 2 1/2 years). Right now I'm working on a Wedding Scrapbook for a friend.

2) My singing voice. I LOVE to sing and I think that I can do it pretty well. Based on the feedback I get from friends & family they think so too (I just hope it's not like one of those American Idol contestant claims...lol).

3) I genuinely care about people. Not just those I know, but people in general. If someone's hurt I naturally go to them before I can even think about it...I've been like that since I was a small child. Today there were 2 car accidents on the corner in front of my house...the only thing I could think about was making sure no one was hurt. I was even willing to open my home if anyone needed drink of water or a cool place to sit (consequently, if you're driving down Innes, keep your eyes opened near Eastpark...lol).

4) I LOVE to tease! Not so much flirty teasing (although I do that too sometimes), but fun teasing. I love to make people laugh, but I would NEVER intentionally tease to hurt. I just think that people should be able to laugh at themselves. Sometime, in a stressful situation, you have only 2 choices: you can laugh about it or you can cry about it. I prefer to laugh.

5) I hurt easily. Now I know that seems like a strange thing to like about oneself & it HAS had it's bitter moments, but it reassures me that I haven't let life's stresses harden me. There was a point in my life where I had become a very angry & hidden-away person...I was tough to live with & I NEVER want to be that kind of person again. I pray that I will ALWAYS have a soft & sensitive heart.

So the next time YOU'RE down on yourself, remember...there's worth in EVERYONE!

Friday 5

WHEW! Busy week! You wouldn't know it to look at my house, but I got alot done this week...some things I've been wanting to do for AT LEAST a year. So this week's list is the long awaited jobs that I can now cross off my To Do List:

1) Sorted through my close to 2000 pictures, scanned what I wanted onto my computer and organized them by date &/or event (both on the computer & in the photo boxes). That was a HUGE job...SOOO glad it's done.

2) Organized the back section of the basement. It's supposed to be my crafting area (I know, I know Mike...stop giggling!), but over the last year or so it's been turned into a dumping ground for my crafting & wedding supplies (Bob & Caroline's). There were only about 2 or 3 lil' spots for my foot to fit between boxes...I would jump from one spot to the next trying to get at my gift wrapping supplies...VERY frustrating!

3) I sorted through a ton of stored home decor & bins of "stuff"...I'm the QUEEN of not putting things away (I have many baskets & bins of misc. stuff that I just throw in there & never deal with). So now, sitting at the bottom of my basement stairs is a large pile of "crap" to go to Value Village..."One mans trash is another mans treasure" (or in this case, woman).

4) I've started eating better (or at least trying to). I'm not eating as much crappy food, I'm eating less at meals & I'm not snacking throughout the day (especially in the evening watching TV). Steve's brother is getting married in February & I'd REALLY like to wear something pretty/sexy for the day. So please send me your prayers for self control & discipline (gotta get on the treadmill too).

5) Last but not least...we FINALLY got our schedule's together & were able to take Vince out for his birthday. When asked where he wanted to go for dinner he replied "Wherever the kids wanna go". Well of course they both IMMEDIATELY said "Lone Star!!!". Well twist my arm! LOL! So we went to my favorite restaurant then Steve & Vince went to a movie. THANX FOR HAVING A BIRTHDAY VINCE! LOL!

SOOO glad this week is over...onto the weekend fun. We're going to Mont Tremlant with the Samson family...should be F.U.N.

CHOW!!!

Crazy-Crazy with a Numb-Numb Butt

OMG! What a week! I've been sitting at my computer for about 5 days straight finding, downloading & sorting through a CRAPLOAD of digital scrapbooking stuff. I also found a couple of digiscrap softwares that I downloaded & have been fiddling around with to learn what I can create with them (I'd like to start by making an wedding album for Mike & Louise...hopefully soon). The best part about it is that ALOT of it is FREE!

So out of all this "surfin' around" has come my desire for some new & improved printing technology. My wish list has been expanded to include a printer that prints 12" x 12 " paper & a laser cutter (cuts desired shapes from your patterned paper)...guess we'll see closer to birthday & Christmas time (hint, hint...wink, wink).

LATER GATORS!!!

5 Kidless Days - Day 5

THEY'RE ALMOST HERE!!! They should arrive in about 1/2 an hour...I can't wait to see my babies...I've missed them! Don't get me wrong...I've enjoyed my "time off" & we got alot done, but I'm ready to go back to "mommy mode".

I'm going to introduce a concept that I'm "stealing" from a friend. I'm going to start a weekly list called the Friday Five. This week's will be 5 reasons I love my kids so much.

1) They make me laugh. Sam because she's so chatty. Sometimes she comes home & repeats things she's heard at school...the things she comes up with...TOO FUNNY! David makes me laugh because he tries to be so serious sometimes, but he's too sweet to be mad at anyone. His "angry face" is definitly "something to behold".

2) They're always learning...always asking questions. They don't just want to know what things are, but HOW & WHY they work the way they do. I love that they're so hungry for knowledge.

3) They're the most loving kids around. David LOVES to cuddle...we OFTEN enjoy a silly "kissing war" while he's snuggled up on my lap. Sam tells me about 20 times a day, "Mommy...I love you". I will NEVER tire of hearing that.

4) They aim to please. They're always ready to help with anything that needs doing. VERY rarely do I have to ask them more than once to help...and even then, it's probably because they're too into their movie or game...can we say ZONED! LOL!

5) Simply because they're mine. They are gifts from God given to me in trust. I love them more than I could EVER have imagined. And, here's the miracle...they love me back...completly & without fail. What more could a mommy ask for!

"Children are angels without wings."