Thanksgiving.....A time to be thankful

I always ponder what I am thankful every year. I am thankful for so many things. I am so blessed. I know I do not always appreciate the blessings in my life like I should. I think we all do that sometimes.

In no particular order(just as they come to mind) I am thankful for:

*my husband who really keeps me grounded.
*for my 3 girls..Amanda, Ashley, and Allison.
*for my grandbaby Haelee Bug.
*for Gods love and forgiveness.
*for my job at TCH.
*for my dad...who is such a great example of a loving Christian father.
*for my home, which I am blessed to now own.
*for my good friends....Kim, Ruthie, and Mary.
*for my choosen family Al and Donna...they are awesome.
*for Allison's sweet boyfriend...he is good to her.
*for the sound of singing as well as the quiet moments.
*for my love of creativity that sparks scrapbooking, quilting and other crafts.
*for SIL's who take care of my oldest daughters

Haelee Christmas Pics From JCPenney's

These are pictures of the pictures we had taken at JCPenney's. I bought several of them. These are some of my favorites. I didn't know how else to do this so I just took a pic of them so I could show them to everyone. So Sweet. Santa is actually my hands..... The horizontal one is actually my favorite. This copy of it does not give it justice at all. Her eyes are gorgeous in that one. The "catchlights" in the eyes make them so very pretty.

Enjoying my sweet little granddaughter little Haelee........

Struggling...Now Relieved....

I was struggling with when to do Thanksgiving. I have worked so many Thanksgivings that we ended up doing Thanksgiving on Friday every other year and then most years. This year Lloyd was going to have to work Friday after Thanksgiving. He asked his boss if he could have it off. Problem is he is the lowest man on the totem pole. He figured asking was probably useless, but what could it hurt. He finally found out today that his boss is letting him off on Thanksgiving and Friday! I was so relieved.

I didn't know how I was going to do the holidays. I was so afraid I was going to have to leave out someone. If I have on it on Thursday Josh and Ashley can't come, on Friday Lloyd and Andy possibly may of had to work......I have been struggling with that for the last several weeks. I found out last week Andy was for sure off on Thursday and Friday.....I was just waiting on Lloyd. Thankful that he found out today that he is off......Thursday through Sunday. Relief....I can include everyone.....well almost everyone.

So on Friday the Moons are having Thanksgiving. We invited Andy's parents over thinking that away Andy and Amanda would not have to choose families, but it looks as though they are going to Brazoria on Thursday....So Amanda, Andy, Haelee, Lloyd, Me, Allison, Ashley, Josh, Barbara, Fred and maybe Colton. We can't get Dale... Lloyd keeps on trying, but it seems hopeless. He never seems to answer his phone and returns phone calls. We are going to keep on trying. We know how busy he is.

Very Relieved....now to choose Turkey or Ham.....decisions, decisions.....Lloyd wants ham.... he will probably win. Just easier.

Possible menu:

Ham/Turkey
Dressing
Green Bean Casserole
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Corn Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Strawberry Fluff
Cranberry Sauce
Deviled Eggs....yum.....
Gravy?
Rolls

Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pies ??

Sounds good! On my waist line........lol.......

50 mm 1.4 lens....YEAH!!

Oh my gosh! This lens is fabulous!! I have been waiting on this lens for a week to arrive. It came today! Fabulous lens!! I am in heaven. I took pics last night of Allison. OK she is a pretty girl( I'm her mom, I think all my girls are beautiful), but this lens made her look even more beautiful!! Oh the indoor holiday pics I am going to get.....I am in love with this lens! Thanks Karen Russell for suggesting it!! I used AV mode 1.4 aperture, 800 ISO, and tungsten WB for these pics. I am sure someone else could shoot these better, but for me, these indoor pics are great! I have such a hard time shooting indoors, so anything that helps is so worth it!

Oh well.....

I really didn't think I would make the design team, but I guess I was hopeful......maybe a little more hopeful than I thought I was. Found out after church tonight that I didn't get it. I didn't even get honorable mention. I really worked hard on this.....oh well I guess it gives me time to do my own thing.... I have so much scrapbooking to do, I will be scrapbooking for a long time to come.....lol.....retirement here I come.....

I really can scrapbook out of the box......I proved it....

I appreciate the fact that so many people supported me. At least you guys think I do good work, even though I didn't make the cut. Thanks so much for the support. I really means a lot to me.

I think I am going to watch my favorite TV show and put my feet up.....maybe work on my brown and pink quilt........I started a new quilt this past week.......it is a lap quilt, but a quilt nonetheless.

I love the colors......brown and pink..........

It is fall..........fall always means a new quilt for me.....

Remember always.....

In the happy moments, Praise God
In the difficult moments, Seek God
In the quiet moments, Worship God
In the painful moments, Trust God
In every moment, Thank God.

Remember Always........

November 19th

Well Beth changed the date to November 19th. That is the date we found out who made the design team at the Scrapbook Junkie....It was originally the 24th.

Taking a deep breath....will find out soon.....

They laid off an employee where Lloyd works(ACR) on Friday. He was not the one although there were rumors it was between him and someone else since he was the last one hired. I really do not think it would have hurt his feelings. He really does not like this job. He goes there for our saving account and retirement. Otherwise, I think he would stay home and take care of us(me and Allison). He loves to make us happy. He heard so many rumors. Someone else told him it was between Chris and the other guy. Chris goofs off for the entire day and works only alittle. Lloyd gets so tired of him and his laziness.

I feel bad for the guy who was laid off. He is a single dad, his wife deceased, with 3 children. Lloyd could not stop talking about it. I think it was hard for him when he knows this guy will have a hard time making it. Lloyd even commented he wished for his sake it would have been him. I hope he can find a job soon.

A guy from our church told him about a warehouse job in Pasadena. I think he may put in an application. Lloyd really doesn't like it there.

I guess this is a sign of the times. Everyday you hear about more layoffs. I know Ashley's company laid off 10 a week ago. Scary....

A Prayer for healing....

One of my dearest friends called me yesterday to let me know her MIL has breast cancer and it is far worse than they originally thought. She had a mastectomy yesterday. I love this family and my heart has been so heavy since I found out. She doesn't need this added stress as she is already having a very high risk pregnancy. Her husband is not handling all of this well.

I really believe in the power of prayer and that we should "pray without ceasing".

Please, dear God heal my friend's MIL. Take care of her and her family, give them peace that only you can give. Thank you for your mercy, love, and blessings. Take care of this precious family as only you can. You word states we have not because we ask not.... please Father bless this lovely family. They are really special to me. Thanks for answering prayer and loving us.

Here's my LO

Well I have been working on this for several days. I first started off with some sketches I did myself so I could get an idea of where I wanted the pics as well as the other items. We were given a challenge of mixing B&W pics and color pics. Also the challenge of mixing to themes of pics. One set was in a field(B&W) and the other set was next to a building. The kids are really cute.

Then I added things that seem to be popular today like jewels, ribbons, felt flowers, circles, etc. I kept the colors neutral for the most part. I did put some blue and a splash of pink in the flowers and butterflies. I am finished with them except for the title. I ran out of time the other day and didn't get to recut out the letters for the title. I cut them out of a different paper to see if I liked the style, which I did. I need to recut out of the brown I am using for circles on the page. When I am finished I will take a pic and post.

I also want to add some stamping to one of the circles and alittle inking. Maybe some embossing. I would have sewn on the page, but didn't have the right shade of thread. I just want to make sure I have enough "techniques" on the pages. We need 3. I wish they would have listed exactly what they thought was a technique so I would be sure I have it all.

This is the way I would like to scrapbook all the time. I am not sure if I can afford it. Although, I am very please the results. I love being creative and I think these LOs show that. I learned one thing through all of this and that is I can scrapbook out of the box and I really like it!

last night was Halloween.....13 hours at work tonight...fun!

It was an interesting evening. We went to JCPenney's to pick up Haelee's pictures in her Kitty Kat costume and then bought a few gifts for my friend Kim's baby to be. The shower is Saturday(today), but I can not go due to work. I bought her some onesie's, and 2 sleepers. I want to get her so something else just not sure what yet. I need to look at her registry and see what she needs.

Andy took off a couple of hours and they brought over Haelee and then trick-or-treated with Allison and her friend Tanya. They didn't dress up, just went as teenagers. She then spent the night. We ate at Casa Ole last night. I took bookoos of pictures of Haelee-bug. All in all a good night.

My heart always goes out to my kids. Allison seemed to be so upset that Colton spent all his time with his friends instead of her these last 2 days. I told her she needed to do the same thing. They are so young and they need to have their time with friends as well as themselves. It makes me sad she was so sad. I have problems when they hurt....my heart hurts also.

Got my pictures for the Scrapbook Junkie design team. I know I will not get it, because I know how many talented scrapbooker's there are in this area. But I am going to try for the heck of it. They are sweet pictures of someone's children, a boy and a girl. Sweet children.....I am working on ideas for how to scrapbook them. The journaling was surprisingly easy. I could see the mom's love in the photos. I wrote what I would write to my girls. Coming up with the LO will be the challenge. I am UP for it!

I want to get back in church. I miss God's people. I need them in my life. I seem to stay sad and lonely and sometimes even depressed over not having that is my life. I need the unconditional love God's people seem to have(or should have). I need friendship, love, and community. I feel as though I am being selfish, but I really need those things in my life.

I am looking at blessing someone in my life right now. I need to bless this person because 1 God told me to, 2 it will help me heal as I was really hurt by this person, 3 it will help in forgiveness...mine of her and her to me, 4 God told me to 5 hopefully bless her in a small way. 6 most important God told me to. He even told me how to do it(GCs, Scrapbook items, cards, notes)....I will start soon. I want to bless her daily....postage may get expensive, but that is OK, God told me to do it. I jot down new ideas as God tells me what to do. I have an interesting list so far.

Swapping.....I am so burnt out....I am suppose to host an autograph swap starting in January and I just do not want to swap anymore or host for that matter.....I want to quilt, scrapbook, enjoy Haelee, enjoy Allison and Colton.....love on my daughters.....I just do not want to swap anymore....I am burnt out.

4 hours down.....9 to go!