A New Day... A New Challenge

Today begins a new challenge

The theme this week is Challenge #22 - Show Us Your Bling!  Here is my card using Bugaboo: Theodore - Birthday Sign. Have I told you how much I ADORE Bugaboo images!!! I just L-O-V-E them! So here is my card:

I love Theodore! He is adorable!  I used my Prismacolor Pencils to color the image. The papers are all scraps from my stash. Rhinestones from my stash, the triangles are brads from my stash and I edged around the white with a copic marker. I used one of my Nestabilities to cut that. I also used my millenium to detail a bit that didn't look too great. I did some paper piecing as usual LOL I popped the head and arms so it really gave the dimension that he was behind the words. I popped the Happy as well and I double popped the gift so that it stood out a little further from Happy to truly give it the look that it was in front of it. And that is that! I hope you enjoy!! Make sure to stop by Bugaboo... You will find some really great images there for everything!

Challenges:

• Challenge #173: Birthday @ Stampavie And More
• Birthday Challenge @ Card Cupids Blog 
• Delightful Birthday @ Delightful Challenges 
• Birthdays @ Flourishes 
• Anything Goes/Celebrations @ The Stamp Man 
• Challenge #22: Biirthday @ Lia Stampz 
• Challenge 85: Birthdays @ Wags 'n Whiskers 
• Challenge #197: Gifts @ The Secret Crafter Saturday 
• Challenge #76: Anything Goes @ Die Cuttin' Diva 
• Theme Week - Day 4: Furry Friends! @ Designed To Color 
• SNSDC65: Beary Special @ Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge
• August Anything Goes @ Catch The Bug Challenge Blog
• Challenge #155: They Say Its Your Birthday @ The Corrosive Challenge Blog
•  Let's Celebrate @ Hooked On Craft Challenges
• Teddy Bear Parade w/Optional Lots of Layers @ Crafty Calendar Challenge
• Make It Monday #101 @ Make It Monday

And I hope you enjoy my teammates cards as much as I do!! I can't believe the talent that I get to work with.. I am so blessed! I get to learn something new from them all the time!! And I don't think they even know it ;) Or how much I appreciate all them and being part of their team!!

So, I'm off to work for another day. Oh please please please let us hear something this week from immigration. The 12th will be exactly five months and we are almost there! I hate not hearing anything at all.. it is so frustrating! Just silence and you wait and wait and wonder. *sigh* Soon..  I hope you all have a wonderful day/evening! I appreciate you all so much.. I love seeing your comments and then going to visit your blogs as well!

Unproductive Today!

It has just been one of those days where I had all intentions of getting all kinds of things done and I don't feel like I got anything done!  I guess we all have days like that.. well most of us LOL!

This morning I got up and spent my morning with Kevin. We have been watching the Olympics together each morning. As best we can LOL He was watching the Marathon this morning and I was trying to watch tennis. I just don't get tennis.. I don't get the scoring or anything.. it is all confusing. So, Kevin was trying to explain it to me the best he could without being here watching it with me. I think I do understand it a little better. Anyway.. he was telling me what was happening in the marathon and I was asking him questions about the tennis match LOL

Then, it was time to get ready for church. I woke the kids.. who had a hard time rolling out of bed this morning. They are taking advantage of the fact that I can't stay awake late. They are staying up way too late! I'm going to have to turn the wireless off so they can't get online and set my alarm so that I can wake up and make sure they are going to bed. They did finally get moving and dressed and off to church we went. It was a good sermon.. all about being one as a community. He has a way about him.. he explains what he is talking about, he is explains the history and then he takes the lesson and explains it in a way that makes it current.. something of today and it all just falls into place. I really enjoy listing and learning from him. There was a lady behind us and as we were leaving she says that she can tell I really love my kids and that its nice that I am always hugging them or holding their hand LOL I'm such a touchy feely person... but hey.. that's me!

We came home and I had good intentions to make a card today. I went through the blogger posts.. I cleared off my desk a bit and didn't get anything done. The phone rang about noon and it was my mother. We headed over to her place and she had me ride with her to the gas station. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to pump the gas with her broken wrist. Poor thing.. She figured out it wasn't that hard with her left hand to pump gas. Then it was back to her place to mow the grass. This was Michael's first time ever mowing grass.. I was so excited! He needs the practice LOL He did great.. although my mother is impatient and was telling him to move it LOL I forgot to bring the camera, so I had to take photos with my phone. Bailey and I cut up cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and celery for her salad she wanted to make and then Bailey did the few dishes she had there. My mother again showed her impatience by pushing Bailey along .. as she wasn't fast enough doing those dishes!! My mother said she could have done them faster with her one hand LOL Gotta love her ;)

Home again!! I'm going to work on a card now!!  Nope.. wrong.. more looking at blogs... reading emails.. cleaning up the desk a bit more LOL I'm not sure what my issue was.. tired I think! I finally decided on some scrap papers and stamp... I have a lot of the card done and I'll finish it up in the morning. I did get some dishes done.. Ummm.. I think I put a few things away in the kitchen.. but WOW! Overall, I was really lazy and unproductive today LOL I think I should have taken a nap!

Have you seen the previews for the new show that will be starting soon... Revolution? It really interests me.. I think I will have to watch it and see how it is. It is something different... peaks my interest for sure. Anything that is peaking your interest?

Alright.. I'm off for the night.. I really need to get to bed and get some rest! Darn Olympics!! They will keep me up again LOL It's all their fault ;)

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For several years my kids played soccer. They really seemed to enjoy it.. especially the girls. Michael only liked it when I was the coach. Oh... he could drive you mad that kid LOL He would pout when someone got the ball from him or he didn't do something correctly. He would just stop. He is an extra sensitive kid.. even today LOL

This was one of Taylor's teams... she had a lot of fun!

Volunteer Day

We headed out early this morning to volunteer at the Back To School fair that was put on by the Marietta Housing Authority and our church, Mount Paran North. We got there bright and early to help with set up. There were quite a few people there helping out. Michael started to give me attitude at one point, but I made my stand and made him do what needed to be done. After that, we had a really good day. I think it is really good for my two to get involved in more things like this. They really need to see what it is to really need and to give back to those that don't have much or are sick and suffering. I have always tried to raise my kids in a way that teaches them compassion and it is really important to me to make that an important thing in their life. I want them to always give back, show compassion and show others what the love of the Lord can do. And to teach others that the Lord loves them too.

We left at about 9:30 am and headed to my mother's house. We were all glad to sit in the car for a minute and get off of our feet LOL We went to mom's so that Michael could mow her grass. My mother thought that the grass was a bit too wet to mow today, so we will go back over tomorrow after church to see if it is any better. Mom is a bit whiny from her broken wrist. LOL I love her! She has a hard time doing things though, since it is her right arm and she is right handed. She says it wears her out.

We have gone another whole week with no word from the immigration department. I'm sure hoping we hear something next week. The 12th of August will be exactly five months since they received our application. 

Today, I worked on a card.... I can only seem to get one finished a day LOL

I used scrap paper.. Kraft paper and patterned.. four different patterned papers and I made the flowers out of the same patterned papers. The lettering?? I have no idea.. in my stash LOL, rhinestones, doodling with my Milennium, sewing with the sewing machine with green thread and coloring with Copics YG13, YG23, E30, 331, E33, BG0000, BG10, V12, V15, V17.

Challenges:

• SBS Olympics Is Here - Opening Cermony @ Simply Challenged Challenges 
• Challenge #154: Cheeky, Saucy and Sassy @ The Corrosive Challenge Blog 
• Patterns Galore! @ Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 
• Challenge #150: Matthew 27:51 @ Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 
• Celebration @ Lollipop Crafts 
• Mojo Monday 252 @ {MOJO} Monday 
• Challenge #130: Birthday or any other Special Day @ Kaboodle Doodles 
• 2TC17: Fifth Tuesday Free For All @ Twisted Tuesday Challenges 
• Challenge #126: Pretty Papers @ Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog 
• Challenge 74: Stitching or Fabric (*stitching*) @ Art Impressions 
• Week 31: Layer It Up! @ Paper Play Challenges 
• Inspire Me Friday 70: Anything Goes! @ Joyful Stamper 

 Not sure why I can't get these two pictures up right!  Really annoying me :p

Why Am I The Way I Am

A couple of things happened today that make me take a look at myself. First, I had a neighbor that lived downstairs.. two levels. They moved out a couple of weekends ago and she had two garages that she rented. She managed to get one of them emptied, but the other one she couldn't get done. So, she asked me if I would mind putting the garage in my name and she would keep it for a couple of months and then get it emptied. Now, they really don't know me all that well, but apparently enough to know that I have a hard time saying no. So, she handed over $95 and I told her I would do it. Why can I not say no? I really hate that quality in me. It really opens that people taking advantage of you situation. I can say no if I have to, but I don't do it nearly enough. I get in trouble for that a lot at work LOL Taking on too much. Anyway.. back to the story... Today I went down to the office and told her that I needed to switch that garage into my name. And the manager says to me.. you know you don't have to do that. I know I know.. but I have a hard time saying no. So I ask... When can I cancel it? She proceeds to tell me that I have to keep it until my lease runs out. That is February of next year!! I looked at her and said.. Oh yes.. Ummm.. I can't do that. I head home and I tried to call the lady. Her phone went straight to voice mail. I called her son and told him the situation and told him to have his mother call me. She hasn't called me yet.

Also this morning my oldest daughter calls me crying. She says tuition is due and she still owes a lot of money. I'm trying to be strong and hold my ground with her, but when she calls all crying and not sure what to do I feel bad. But I really need to stay strong... she did choose to move out and become an adult. She is the one that decided she didn't want to follow the rules at home. I still feel bad when she is all weepy... So, I told her to go to my bank and see what they could do. It is a credit union... but they don't do student loans. So, I called Sallie Mae and had the three of us on the phone. She gave all of her information, but failed to get approved. So, I gave in and put my name on it. I'm not sure if it is approved yet. She had to get a copy of her drivers license and social security card over to them. On the one hand, I want to help her! She is my daughter and she needs help. On the other hand, she chose to move out and be an adult so she needs to figure things out like an adult would... right?

Well.. I really need to talk to Kevin about all of this. I just hate to add any extra stress on him. I know he is stressed about all of this immigration stuff and some papers that we need and can't seem to get what they want. It's all frustrating stuff, but we will figure it out. I'm a glass half full kind of girl LOL Most of the time.. I try to look at the good.. Kevin is more of a glass half empty kind of a guy... And I love him for it.

Enough of that.. I'm off to bed... tomorrow morning we do the volunteer with the church. We are on the backpack station! So we will be hooking up some kids with some backpacks for school! I will be getting the kids up at around 5 am. It will be a really early start for them! Goodnight!

My sister with the kids years ago! Taylor looks like she is about 12 yrs old or so. She is 18 now. My sister has long hair here... Her hair is short now :)

Finally Friday

Good morning everyone! It is finally Friday! I will be spending my day making some cards I hope! No plans to go out anywhere.. although I will probably go at lunch time for a swim at the gym. I'm trying to get back to the gym.. It's hard to keep motivated! I can come up with all kinds of excuses to not go... I mean, I have kids, they need to be fed, errands that need to be run, grocery shopping, cleaning up, and the list is endless. So I'm really trying to push myself and get moving again.

I also need to bring Michael over to his grandmother's to mow the lawn. He has never mowed the lawn before, no time like the present to learn! hehe We may do that tomorrow morning after our volunteering too. Just not sure about the timing... we will see how the day goes. My mother broke her wrist when her and my sister went to France. She tripped and fell going out of the hotel the first night they were there. She wouldn't go to a doctor there, so she waited until almost two weeks after it happened to go see a doctor. The doctor was going to put her in a cast, but she pleaded with him and he ended up putting her in a brace. She goes back in a month. We will see how good she has been with it and if it is healing properly.

There is a new Challenge Blog starting up...  Cut It Up ... Be sure to go over and check it out! They have a really awesome giveaway going on for their new followers. I'm always excited about new challenges hehehe  I wouldn't miss it! They will have their first challenge starting on September 7th! I'll see you there!

Here is a Miss You Friend card...

Let's see.. rick rack, rubons (Miss You and Friend), scrap paper, the Hi was from paint and foam stamp staples. Thats about it. Simple card.

Challenges:

• Challenge #126: Anything Goes @ Critter Sketch Challenge Blog
• Amusing Challenges: Anything Goes @ Stamped Blessings
• Challenge #44: Anything Goes @ The Stamping Boutique
• Challenge No #46: Anything Goes @ Bearly Mine Challenges
• Challenge #113: Paints/Inks @ Sentimental Sundays

Happy Hump Day.. Half Way There

This Saturday we will be up at the crack of dawn and helping our church set up and run a school supply giveaway. They will be giving backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, eyes, ears, and teeth exams for kids in the community that need the assistance. I'm very excited to help out and more importantly get the kids involved in some giving back to the community. Bailey and Michael will both be going with me. Just say a little prayer that Michael will really help out and not be his lazy self. He is the laziest person I know LOL and he is my kid! Ughh frustrating!!

It's been an interesting time at work. I've been doing two jobs.. working quite a bit of overtime each week for quite a few months now. The lady that was out on sick leave has come back, but it was such a mess when she left that they are having me gradually give her work back to her. I'm really hesitant giving it back to her too. Part of it is selfish though.. that is just that I've learned so much and cleaned it up and changed the process so that it works better that I just hate to give it up! I also support four Executive Directors.. well I did.. I am now the only one so I will be supporting all of the Executive Directors... eight of them.. and soon to be three VP's. I'm thinking that is just not going to happen LOL AND! on top of that they wanted me to go help out another VP who had her Admin quit. I'm thinking I'm only one.. and that is really stretching me a bit thin. Hopefully we can find someone good to come in and help out. This will be the fourth Admin we will have been through. That's life! I have an awesome boss, so I'm not complaining.. although I'm still waiting on that raise she promised me!

We are now in August and I'm patiently.. Okay.. maybe a bit impatiently... waiting on immigration to let us know something. I know it is getting really hard on Kevin. We just want this waiting to be over. It will be five months on the 12th of August. I'm going to get a box ready to send over to him with the album that I worked on and some other things that need to go. I pray every day that the time will be over and that we can be together again and get this family back to normal. Hopefully soon...

School starts in a couple of weeks. They start back on the 13th of August. I can't wait!! LOL  Summer vacation in the US is just WAY too long!!! Not to mention that they forget everything they have learned. I have managed to get some supplies for Bailey. We still need to go shopping for some pants and Michael needs his supplies. Sneak a Peek is next Thursday. We will go in and meet the teachers.. see where the classes are. Bailey is very excited since she will be starting middle school. I can't believe she will be in the 6th grade! And Michael will be starting the 8th grade! Boy do they grow up so fast!

Me.. I've been enjoying the Olympics.. I have it on my laptop at work, on the tv at home.. I even put the snooze on the TV so I am falling asleep to it LOL I LOVE the Olympics.. and I am really enjoying them online as well.  It's really been great! I hope you all are enjoying it as well! I watched a young girl from Iraq today competing in Archery. It made me get all teary eyed watching her.. With a big smile on her face. It was wonderful to see.

Today I finished up a card I've been working on since yesterday. Its my hot chocolate Warmest Wishes :)

I used scrap papers, fussy cut free images of snowflakes, The Art Glittering System - Brown and Crystal, Stitching on the sewing machine, the wonderful image is from MelJens Designs and it was colored using Copics. I also used my Zig Millenium to add some detailing like the steam lines and popped the penguin. I used dies for the circle and scalloped circle. I used a punch for the smaller snowflakes.

Challenges:

• National Milk Chocolate and Hamburget Day (hot chocolate) @ Drunken Stampers
• Animal Cards for Kids @ Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog
• 14th Challenge: Birds @ Crafty Mess
• Challenge #49: Animals or Insects @ Pattie's Creations Design Challenge
• Challenge 19: Anything Goes @ Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude
• Challenge 19: Anything Goes @ ATCs and Cards with Attitude
• Glitz and Glimmer Challenge @ The Paper Shelter
• PTT #70: Anything Goes @ Party Time Tuesdays
• #109: Doodling (the swirls and dots for steam) @ Tuesday Throwdown
• Anything Goes @ The Poodles Parlour
• Anything Goes @ Scrap-Creations
• Challenge #171: Monochromatic @ Digital Tuesday Challenges
• Anything Goes @ MelJen Designs
• Challenge #102: Christmas in July Week 4 @ 2 Sister's Challenge Blog
• Challenge 70: Christmas in July @ Lexi's Creations
• #23 Christmas in July @ The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog
• Lots of Layers @ Whoopsie Daisy Challenges
• Dies and Punches @ Crazy Amigo Challenge
• Challenge #5: Anything Goes @ Papelitos Stamp Challenge