Blogging with Ella

I was the guest blogger yesterday at The Daily Trumpet.  I shared one of my favorite layouts that I've created in a long time.  I think every crafter has these moments, when you make something that you really love and it just makes you happy.  This is one of those layouts; the photos and all the colors just make me smile.  So in addition to sharing it over at Ella's blog I'm going to share it here too:

I wanted to share the journaling here as well, since it can be hard to read in the image:

Sometimes it is hard to look past all the meals prepared, laundry that needs to be done and diapers that need changing and see that these days are so filled with laughter and playing and joy and imagination.  I’m blessed by this hobby which lets me stop and see the goodness that surrounds me.  Thank you Lord for these days.

I absolutely love my boys.  And I love the craziness of our lives at this time.  It isn't always easy, but these days will be gone before I know it and I am trying to just soak it all in and document as much of it as possible along the way.  In the meantime, I thank God daily for all of his blessings and I ask Him daily to give me the grace and patience to be a good and loving mommy; it is such an amazing gift and responsibility to be a mommy.

Please be sure to visit The Daily Trumpet and read the entire post.  There is another tip for getting the most from your sketches as well as a few new bonus sketches (and another layout).  So lots of good stuff... at least I think so! =) 

June KMA Projects

Here are my layouts and cards for the month of June:

 

 

Beach Fun

 

crazy

This is Good

I made three cards for this month's DT gallery using papers mostly from Jillibean Soup's Old World Cabbage Soup line.  The card shown below is my favorite of the bunch.  You can visit my card gallery at scrapbook.com to see the rest.

Birds of a Feather

Click on the title of each layout or card and it will take you to my gallery at scrapbook.com where you see a bigger image and a complete list of all the products used.

Working on my day off

So, my sweets has to work today.  Today is supposed to be his Friday off.  Which means that he's working on his day off.  Which technically means that I'm working on my day off too.  It's been a long week.  My sweets has had to work really long hours this week and he has barely seen Nathan and Gabe (or me for that matter).  So each morning I've faced the day knowing that I wouldn't see my husband until well after the boys went to bed.  But each morning I had in mind a quote that I recently read on the blog of someone I've really grown to admire.  Here it is:

     "For Christians, the beginning of the day should not be burdened and haunted by various kinds of concerns that they face during the day. The Lord stands above the new day, for God has made it. All restlessness, all impurity, all worry and anxiety flee before him. Therefore, in the early morning hours of the day, may our many thoughts and our many idle words be silent and may the first word and the first thought belong to the one to whom our whole life belongs. "  ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

And so, I've been trying, note trying to look to the day with less fear and more hope.  I've also been turning to prayer a lot in those difficult moments.  Gabe and Nathan definitely notice that daddy has not been at home.  He is the one who does bath time and bedtime and let me tell you, I do not do it right!  It's as if they tolerate my bath time and bedtime procedures, but they just don't make the grade.  Nothing compares to having daddy at home. 

But the situation is temporary (they are working on a closely approaching deadline).  I just had my first sip of coffee.  Nathan is drinking his milk watching Curious George.  Gabe is still asleep (those middle-of-the-night potty breaks really wear him out - lol!).  Saying some very simple prayers and knowing that the day will turn out fine - even if I am tired and I'd rather be eating breakfast with my husband than without him. 

Where I've been

For the three of you who actually read this blog... 

Our family recently moved into our first house.  Same job and same general area, but we've moved to a new city.  It's been a crazy adventure to be sure.  And it has consumed almost all of my free time - so no blogging and no scrapbooking as of late.  Also, no working on those goals of mine.  But things are beginning to settle down and I'm hoping to get back into a routine soon.  Before the move I had some posts planned and sketches to share and hopefully I'll be able to do that soon. 

Last week while we were in the middle of the madness (and without internet access) write. click. scrapbook. celebrated it's one year anniversary.  They announced the addition of 7 new members to the collective.  I am proud to announce that I am one of them!!  I have loved write. click. scrapbook. since it launched a year ago and it is incredibly exciting to me to be a part of such an amazing group of scrapbookers.  If you haven't already, go visit the June gallery.  Like every month, the gallery is filled with beautiful and inspiring pages.

Back to the move, if you could pray for me and my family as we go through this transition.  It is a blessing indeed to be able to own a home and we are so thankful for all of God's gifts.  But, it has been hard on the boys.  They are still quite young and they don't understand everything that has happened.  Their routines have been disrupted and we still don't have their room set-up yet (and won't for quite some time).  I want for things to get back to normal as soon as possible but there is still a lot to do before that can happen.  So prayers that I will be able to receive the grace I need to get through this time with patience for my boys, and for myself, they would be much appreciated.