I'm Off

I'm off to Florida tonight. Well, technically, early early tomorrow morning. 3:00 am to be exact. I'll be traveling with my boss, her husband, and a co-worker to Orlando for an EK Success (big scrapbook product company) workshop. I'm very excited. I get to take a bunch of classes, they give us free products (whoo-hoo) and they wine-n-dine us while we stay at the Contemporary Resort in Disney World. It should be a fun time. We will leave to come home after lunch on Saturday, so I'll be home in my bed hopefully by 2 am Sunday morning. I'll post a picture of my goodie stash when I get back!

** I really enjoyed reading a friend of mine's blog this morning. She's got some good words to live by today.
Sonia

Enjoy today!

Busy Week

Wow, I'm tired. I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster that just won't stop. I have so many different things going on all at the same time and it's wearing me out. I'm going up to see my mom & dad tomorrow in Paducah and I'll spend Thanksgiving with them. Joey and Adam will come up on Thursday just in time to eat, then they will go on to Joey's family's house to eat again, and I'll come home to spend some kind of time with Christian. She has to work at KMart on Thanksgiving day from 7 am-1 so she isn't able to come with us. But my good friend, Debbie McGowan, graciously invited her to come over and spend a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with them. Christian is very excited about that....could be because Debbie has 3 sons!
After Thanksgiving I will work Friday & Saturday and I know it's gonna be busy! I teach classes Monday & Tuesday nights, then Wednesday morning (2 am) I leave for Florida for a scrapbook industry educational workshop thing. I'll be back on Sunday night. Have to work Monday and then teach that same night. I have all of my classes already prepared, which makes me feel very organized. But, now can you understand why I'm tired. Too many things going on. I just want to get off the ride and sit and watch for a while.
Today is a special day. Can't tell you why just yet. But maybe soon I'll be able to relax and get off that silly rollercoaster.

2...two...dos...zwei

2 names you go by
1. Laura
2. SugarMama (by Lillie, then she laughs and laughs cause she knows I don’t like it!)

2 parts of your heritage
1. Dad's side: American Indian - Cherokee
2. Mom's side: Swiss

2 things that scare you
1. roller coasters
2. my adult children when they make bad choices

2 of your everyday essentials
1. curling up with into my cozy bed at night (2) with a cup of hot tea

2 things you are wearing right now
1. make-up
2. my favorite jeans

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
1. Keith Urban
2. Rascal Flatts ( I know this is not like me, but lately I’ve had an appreciation for country music)

2 favorite songs (at the moment)
1. Better Life (Keith Urban)
2. Praise You In This Storm (Casting Crowns) http://echotools.echomusic.com/client_images/castingcrowns/1129326605_02-PraiseYouInThisStorm.mp3

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
1. Authenticity
2. Understanding

2 truths
1. It’s time to go to work
2. I'm tired

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
1. eyebrows
2. good teeth

2 things you enjoy besides scrapbooking
1. reading
2. computer (email, googling, blogging, 2Peas, etc.)

2 things you want really badly
1. Cannon Rebel Digital
2. my life to be calm again

2 places you want to go on vacation
1. Israel
2. Arizona

2 things you want to do before you die
1. Go to Israel
2. Go on a mission trip

2 ways that you are stereotypically a chick
1. I own a tremendous amount of shoes
2. I love romantic comedy movies

2 things you are thinking about now
1. I’ve got to get off the computer and go to work.
2. I’m tired

2 stores you shop at
1. Scrappin’ USA Superstore
2. Target

Tag....you're it!
Ok, we're gonna play "Tag" you're it! (Cause my good friend Sonia wants me to play!) Okay, here we go:

Last 2 tv shows you watched:1. Missing 2. Fox News
Last 2 things you ate or drink:1. Hot Tea 2. Toast
2 pieces of clothing you put on:1. Jeans 2. shoes
Last 2 people you told you loved:1. DH 2. Lillie
Last 2 people you kissed:1. DH 2. Lillie
Last 2 people who have replied to your blog:1.Sonia 2. Greta
Ok, now tag you're it!

This is where the last 2 people who have responded to my blog are supposed to post this same thing on their blog and pass the tag game along. I just have 1 problem. I think Sonia is really the only person (besides my family) who reads my blog. But, Nancy A, if your reading this you can play along!

It's A Great Day!

Today has been a great day. I had a class this morning but then I came home and worked in my scrapbook room with the radio on...very therapeutic, renewing, fun. It's unusual for me to be all alone at home. Lillie's at Preschool and Joey's at meetings, so it just me. I love it. I've been scrapbooking just for me...no design team projects...no classes...just me. Above is what I've created so far. I've got about 30 more minutes until I have to pick up Lillie, so I'll let you know what else I can get done.

Postscript: Nov 2 10:03 pm:
I got this one done after Lillie went home tonight. I'm really pleased with it.

Hallelujah Harvest Hoedown

WORLD OUTREACH CHURCH October 30, 2005
We took Lillie and Amie to an event that our church puts on for the community every year...the Hallelujah Harvest Hoedown. They expected about 12,000 people this year and it felt like we exceeded that goal. It is completely free to the public and it's so big and so fun. We spent most of our time in the Preschool tent where Lillie got to experience cookie decorating, face painting, and huge bubbles. She also got to go outside to the petting zoo and ponie rides. But Lillie's favorite thing was watching and singing along to the Girly Girl’s sing praise and worship songs. My favorite thing was watching Lillie sing praises to the Lord. It was precious!

Senior Picture Time!

We got Adam's Senior pictures this week and I'm so pleased with how they turned out. He's such a cutie, don't ya think?!!!

I love Sundays

I love Sundays.... especially in the fall. I make a pot of chili and some cornbread. We watch football all afternoon - even though our Titan's keep loosing! Today Adam even watched it with us. It was so nice having him home for a change; we talked about his upcoming college choices and what he wants to do in the future. Then Nikki came over for a while and I baked them some cookies. Amie and Lillie stopped by and Papa Joe read to Lillie. Christian came home from shopping. My whole family was together for about 30 minutes and it felt so good. I needed that closeness with them. I miss them.

Oh my, how time flies by!

Today my son, Adam, turned 18 years old. How can that be? It seems like yesterday he was outside playing all day with trucks and bikes and bugs. Why did it all have to go by so quickly? I long for those days of dirty face kisses and dirty hands hugs again. But those days are long gone.
When he was born I dreamed of the never-ending football and baseball games we would attend. But you know what, Adam was never really interested in sports. For a while that really bothered me. I had grown up in a family where playing sports was just what boys did. But then I started to accept Adam for who he is and really appreciate what makes him unique.
Let me tell you a little bit about Adam. He is just the neatest guy. I truly admire him. He can fix anything. He loves to work on cars and trucks and motorcycles. He knows everybody around and everybody seems to like him. He can relate to people who are 20 years older than he is or 10 years younger than he is. He can find his way anywhere…he has my Indian sense of direction! He recently joined the Walter Hill Volunteer Fire Department, which I think is such an “Adam” thing to do. And he has a good heart…a really good heart. That’s what I love most about him. Happy Birthday, Adam. I love the man you are becoming. 

Encouragement For Amie!

 

Be Thankful

We've been on a string of bad luck... or trials... or valleys... or whatever you want to call it lately. My son was in a wreck about 3 weeks ago and totalled his truck. We ran into a little financial snaffo that we were so not prepared for about 2 weeks ago. This week we've been dealing with Amie's situation.
Every day I say to my husband "Surely it can't get any worse" and then you know what happens? IT DOES! Joey pointed this out to me last night and I told him he was crazy!
But then I got an email from PayPal saying that they are reversing a payment out of my account that I received after I sold something on ebay. I sent to package to the buyer weeks ago. They said there is some kind of problem with her account. Now that buyer is no longer an ebay-er and not answering any emails. I guess I was scammed. And Joey's words coming rushing back into my mind.
So I'm trying to remember that in life there are always problems. I just need to learn how to deal with them without losing focus. That's my new thing...to realize that it could always be worse, be thankful for everything right in my world, and to just trust God that He has my best in mind.

There is no better time of day than when Mommy comes home! I found these forgotten pictures on my computer and decided I need to scrap these next.  

Yesterday was a stressful and hurtful day at our house. My daughter's boyfriend turned violent. That's about all I can say. She is okay physically, but emotionally fragile as you can imagine. Please pray that she will recieve bits of wisdom from the people who care about her.

My Favorite Quote

I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
-edward hale, author and clergyman

{Granddaughter} Lillie

This is what Lillie's Aunt Christian has been teacher her...to make gestures with her hands!
Actually, Christian taught her that L is for Lillie. 

Young Love

My son, Adam, and his girlfriend, Nikki on the 1st year anniversary of their first date. They are soooo cute, don't you think?! That morning Adam showed up at her door before school with a dozen red roses. Then, for dinner he took her to Nashville to eat at The Melting Pot and for a carriage ride.
I love the way the lights are blurry in the background but somehow the two of them are in focus. They said they found some drunk guy on the street to take this picture. Maybe that's the tip I needed to take better pictures! Just Kidding! :)

My First Blog!

Wow, I finally created a blog. This is fun....hmmmm, what am I going to talk about. Well, I guess I'll introduce myself. My name is Laura. I'm married to Joey, been married almost 22 years. We have 3 kids: Amie will be 21 years old in October ( I can't believe it, it's almost hard to say that she's that old) and she is a hair stylist (and a very good one I might add!) and Amie has the most beautiful daughter named Lillie who is 2 (yep, that makes me a grandmother!). Adam, my very handsome son is 18 (in October) and is a senior this year. He is a volunteer fireman and will start training to be on the City fire department after school. He also has to coolest truck around - I'll post pictures sometime. And my youngest is Christian. She is 16 and a junior. She works with me at Scrappin' USA and she is so fun to be around.
As I mentioned I work at a scrapbook store and I teach classes there too. I think I have to best job that I could ever have. It's so fun to be able to work in the same industry that my passion lies. I love to scrapbook. I love to be creative. And I love introducing others to it.
Well, I'm glad I got started on this blog thing and I'll post more tomorrow...and I'm really going to try to keep it up to date. Thanks for looking!