"Yesterday is HISTORY ; Tomorrow is a MYSTERY; Today is a GIFT; That's why it's called the 'PRESENT' "

-Unknown

Today is a gift, an extra day to be loved, to give love, how did you spend your GIFT?

By writing a love letter to my Mom. I've been making little 6x6 double-sided pages for her each month that I send in the mail. I made her an album and, as she gets the new pages, she just adds them to the album. I put some kind of quote or words of encouragement on one side and then on the reverse side I sort of highlight my month so she can know what's going on in my life. All of this to just encourage her and brighten her day. And so, since February was the month of 'love" with V-day and all, part of my little page for February was to write her a love letter. I'm sure she'll love it, too...

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

What simple thing in your life made your day just perfect?

How about opening a package from SIStv full of beautiful papers? That definitely made my day just perfect! Now - if only I could find the time today to go and use it!

“Look at what you've got and make the best of it. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Proverb

I think it's the whole "see the cup as half full, rather than half empty" thing. And I am really all about that. I used to think it might be better to be a pessimist, because if you always expect the worst then you're not disappointed when that's exactly what you get. But have you been around a pessimist lately? Not a happy place to be. Negativity just sucks the life out of you and everyone around you.

So I choose to be an optimist, a positive thinker, a generally happy person. I just feels better. When you're looking for good - in your life, your circumstances, the people around you - you're generally going to find it.

"Joy enters the room. It settles on the windowsill, waiting to see whether it will be welcome here."

-Kim Chernin

Have you ever heard the thought that the mood of the home is determined by the mood of the woman? You know - "if momma ain't happy, ain't NObody happy!" I hate that, but dang if I don't find that it's so often true! Why is that? Maybe it's because we women are such emotional, even spiritual beings that the vibes we send out are not only felt by those around us, but possibly even adopted by those around us. Now, I have to say, that ever since I've been married, I've lived in a house full of boys, er, men. No... Boys! ;) Males do tend to go with flow... I've seen it time and again. (I have no idea how this works in a house full of women!) :) So, I feel the onus is on ME to be in a good mood. Unfair! Who's gonna make ME feel better when I'm NOT in a good mood? Let's say it all together - NObody! :)

So, Joy, please don't sit there waiting on the windowsill waiting to see. Come IN. Fill me up. Fill up my home! And come every day!

8/52

(Credits: PP's, labels and buttons, "Git R Done" by Audrey Neal for SIStv; Scallop mask by Jen Caputo (scrapbookgraphics.com); Fonts: Century Gothic (journaling); CK Curly (title and quote)

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you"

Dr Seuss


Ha! LOVE that quote! Love the uniqueness of each one of us that it addresses. Gotta give God the credit (and praise) for that. Wouldn't it be a boring, boring existence if we were all the same?

And the depth of who we are goes so far beyond what we see on the surface. I hope to concentrate more on that depth in others than on the surface beauty that the media so wants to sell us on.

And, yes! I want to embrace the ME that I am. Why do I/we get so caught up in trying so hard to be like someone else? I know oftentimes it's because we just really appreciate or enjoy who they are. But then we cross the line from appreciation to comparing ourselves to them and, inevitably begin feeling somehow bad about ourselves... I want to STOP that and just enjoy their uniqueness - and MINE!

"Adopt the peace of nature" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I could have gone out and tried to take a photo on this gorgeous, clear and sunny (and cold!) day but we had company and I have an ankle injury, so going out and tromping in the snow wasn't an option... But honestly, what could be more peaceful than my little kittie all curled up and snoozing on the couch - if it wasn't for my interruption, of course. He's may not be profound, but he's peaceful - and natural! :)

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

- Audrey Hepburn

That's a new quote to me - and I love it. This is what it means to be beautiful on the inside. And I think when you have this inner beauty, you truly do appear beautiful to others...

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful"
-William Morris

I couldn't agree with this more! In fact, I was just having a conversation about this with my sil the other day. Many years ago, I read Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James and, while I wouldn't take to heart EVERY suggestion in it, overall, I found the principles and suggestions to be SO, well, life changing. Yeah. I'll go that far. And one of the things she proposed was to get rid of every little knick-knack and thing in your house that you don't really LOVE. I mean, why put your energy into dusting, moving around, re-arranging, etc. something you don't really love? And then, after you do this, you are surrounded by things that really lift you, bring beauty into your life and/or mean the most to you. Isn't that great? You have to ask yourself with each thing sitting around your house (other than utilitarian things - and even those can often be found in a more beautiful form...), "do I really love this? What does it mean to me? Why am I holding on to it?" And if it doesn't float your boat for some kind of major reason - then TOSS it! It's freeing! (And greatly reduces clutter, as well!)

7/52

This is my layout for Valentine's Day - except I switched out the photo for one I like better. :)

(Credits: PP - Pieces of My Heart by Gina Marie Huff (Weeds & Wildflowers); frame - Jessica Sprague; stitches - Kerry Lynn Yeary (Honeychurch) for SIStv; font - CK Easy Goin')

"Fashions fade, style is eternal"
-Yves Saint Laurent

What is your style?






My style? I'd have to say shabby chic - heavy on the shabby and light on the chic. Not that I don't like to get glammed up now and then, I do. I love a great haircut and I love putting on makeup. But most of time, I'm just wearing my comfy clothes around the house. Sad, but true... If it's loose and comfy, I'm all over it. Well, actually, it's all over me. When I do get "dressed up" I very rarely even wear skirts any more. I'm all about stretch jeans and comfy shoes. Yeah, okay. Sign me up for "What Not to Wear!"

"Be the change that you want to see in the world" -Mohandas Ghandi

When I read that inspiring quote, it makes me think of these verses in the Bible, which I've quoted from "The Message" translation:

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. -1Co 13:3-8

I love "The Message" translation. It take ancient and sometimes difficult words to understand, and brings them right to our time.

I think one of the biggest and best changes we could see in our world which is so full of war, hate crimes, senseless killings, and abuses of all kinds, is to LOVE more. Really love. I mean, look again at those verses. How many of us (myself included!) really love that way? And sure, it's easy to try to love that way those who already love you or who appear to be "love-able". But I think the lesson is that everyone needs love and needs to be loved. That's where the rubber meets the road, doesn't it? Taking the time to look that annoying person in the eye and really love them by giving them our full attention instead of the brush-off or our judgment. Or by seeing a need and doing what we can to meet it rather than walking away. We can love by forgiving that person that has hurt us so much. Or by being kind when we haven't had kindness given to us. It's not about what people deserve. It's about what we are willing to freely give - no strings attached. These are the things that can slowly change at least the world around us - by first changing US. Because we can't just go through the motions - or else it's empty, useless. We must extend love from a heart of love. I believe that can only happen by receiving the amazing love of God ourselves first and then channeling that love to others. Kind of like the always-repeated demo on the airplane; you must put the mask on yourself before you try to help anyone else.

So, I am challenged by this quote to BE the love to others in this world that is so in need of love. And even if it only touches my small little realm of life, that's good. Love has a ripple effect...

“For happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you.”
-Charlie Brown; Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

Well, there's happiness staring you in the face because that's my oldest son, who turns 30 today (and his beloved "Taco") and I sure do love him! It was right at this time (10:40 a.m.-ish) 30 years ago that his dad and I were holding our brand new little baby and we were just overwhelmed by our love for him. And in 30 years, though there have been a few phases that we weren't diggin' so much, that overwhelming love for him has never waned, and has only grown.... Happy birthday, Matthew! I love you SO much! :)

"The Sound of Music"

We all listen to music everyday. Whether it be on the radio, IPod, CD Player, the TV or sounds of birds singing, children laughing. Find the music in your day.

Nothing really moves me like music. Whether it be lyrics or melody, music can stir emotions in me more than anything else. And I love that Anna mentions bird songs in her prompt, because I definitely consider nature sounds a music - God's pure music. One of my favorite things to do when the weather permits is to sit on the front porch in the morning and have my quiet time there, reading, praying, listening to the birdsongs or the soft rustling of the leaves, or the chimes as they are gently moved by the breeze.

But there's more. Besides the fact that I have an extensive selection of CD's to choose from whenever the mood strikes, music is very much a regular part of my life. My husband and I lead the music/worship at our church. My part involves not only the leading the singing but also providing the musical accompaniment which is solely, at this point, the guitar. I started out just filling in because our pianist moved away and that was, well, so many years ago, I've lost count. We are also part of our Praise Team, so it's my "business" to be majorly involved in the process of finding, learning and teaching new songs to both the team and our congregation. And, honestly. It's not that I'm so gifted or anything. In a larger church, in a bigger city, I would never have this ministry. But God put us where we are - in a rural community and at a little church in the boonies - and I am incredibly blessed that He has allowed me to be used this way. I do love the sound of music....

"Edward Scissor Hands"

I am guessing we all have scissors in our hands at one point in the day, whether you are a crafter, a seamstress, a hairdresser! Edward was an artist, so are you.

Oh, I love this movie! And, sure, I'm a crafter, a coupon-cutter-outer, an article clipper and a corner-snipper (as in being able to see which page in my checkbook register I'm on). So I guess I have scissors hands, too. Oh. And Johnny Depp can also come and trim my hedges any time. I'm just sayin'... ;)

"Chocolate"

Think of chocolate, baking, love. Which one will inspire you today?

Well, I hate to say it, but it's the chocolate that inspires me today!

So I said to my dh when I saw today's prompt, "please stop by the store on your way home and buy something chocolate and pretty",

to which he promptly responded, "huh?".

"Some chocolate. And pretty. I need to take a photo of something chocolate and I want it to look delicious."

"You mean candy?"

*sigh*

The funny thing is that, since the new year (and aforementioned goals that I'm sticking to pretty well), I've tried to keep sweets and, in particular, chocolate OUT of the house. I even told dh NOT to get me any chocolates for V-day this year. (Aren't I doing well?) So what should appear on our doorstep on V-day but a "mystery" package containing - you guessed it - a gorgeous red box of chocolates. *again with the sigh* I looked and looked and couldn't find who it was from because dh swore it wasn't from him. Here's the reason I can't have this stuff in the house. It just calls my name and so, after eating enough to make my tummy sick (in all fairness, my tummy hasn't been used to eating lots of chocolate lately), dh finally found the paper that said who it was from. My mother. This is the first time in my 55 year history of knowing her that she sent me chocolates. *SIGH* The remainder of the box was relegated to my husband's secret stash.

So the prompt today made me laugh. Because I was freshly OUT of chocolate to photograph and, hence, the confusing phone call to my dh. So yes, there's chocolate back in the house. But our son will be here tomorrow to help eat it. In the meantime, I've cut into it, arranged it, photographed it, licked the icing off my fingers and yes, even have had a piece of that cake (which, by the way, only has chocolate icing.) Yeah, chocolate inspires me - to do very weird things. Now, if only I could get Johnny Depp to bring me some... ;)

"Its a Wonderful Life"

My all time favourite film. So much to take from this film, need i say more.

So dh and I went out for our Valentine's Day dinner and took a little drive first and I knew we'd be passing this bridge, which really reminds me of the bridge that George jumped off of to "save" Clarence. I so love this movie, too and there are so many wonderful things in it. But most of all, I love the overall message which is that you just never know how many different lives your own life is touching and that we need to keep that in mind especially when we're feeling insignificant in this world. Love that.

6/52

I deviated from the layout prompt given this week as I wasn't inspired by my photo or my journaling for the day prompted (my own fault). So I went back through my photos and decided to scrap this one. For credits, link to my posting on SIStv here.

"Love Story"

Hey its Valentines Day! Journal about your love story , past , present, future!

(Just got a little creative with Photoshop this a.m. and combined a photo of a card that was waiting for me by the coffee machine when I came down this morning (after dh left for work), some chocolates and a directory photo we just took for church.)

The continuum of love - past, present, future: flirty, lusty, giddy, silly, all-consuming, serious, unified, committed, passionate, testing boundaries, supportive, reproductive, teammates, best friends, roommates, companionable, buddies, lovers, grounded, partners, soul-mates, the other half, inseperable.

We've been together for almost 33 years. The stages of the relationship change over the years. The passion waxes and wanes. What was all feel-good and fun in the beginning changes, matures if you will, into something that maybe isn't always as emotionally charged, but has become a part of your very being, who you are. You have this history together that truly bonds you. Only time can build that. So many couples today don't bother to work it out and so never get to that place where your history will hold you together. Too bad. Because that's what love really is made of. Happy Valentine's day, honey! :)

"Hairspray"

What else am I going to take a photo of when this movie is my inspiration? I suppose I could have taken one of me dancing in a big production number, but rehearsals for that were yesterday so I missed my photo op! :)

Loved the movie. Use the product. That's it for today! :)

Lets try something different this week. I am going to give you a movie title and see how you are inspired by the film.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Inspiration could come from the beautiful Miss Audrey Hepburn; her fashion, poise and elegance. Try looking at the title; breakfast. Maybe the famous scenes of Audrey window shopping at Tiffanys will inspire your photograph today.

Oh, yeah, baby. Just call me Audrey! So here I am sitting at home alone, with the day before me and lots to do and, instead I'm sitting here putting on makeup and costumes and cheesecaking for the camera! Ahhhh, such is the life of a supah-stah! Smooches! ;)

( For Monday, February 11)

"Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some." ~Robert Fulghum

I'm working on a "special" project right now. Happily, that project also involved gettin' scrappy with it and that always presents lots of time for thinking... By the description above, my life is pretty darn balanced because I do all those things on a very regular basis. Some more than others, sure, but I'm just sayin'.

I really enjoy learning AND thinking. Sometimes, though, I think that I think too much. Am I the only one with, like, a gazillion thoughts running around in my head at any given time? It makes it hard to fall asleep sometimes. And I can always tell when it's time to get up in the morning...it's when my mind kicks in and I start thinking about what I'm going to do that day. There no hope for falling back to sleep after that. I try not to have that happen at 4 a.m.

Next month, I'll be taking another digi scrapping course from Jessica Sprague (http://www.jessicasprague.com/). Her classes are SO great. This will be the 3rd-level digi class. And, as a worship leader, I will be learning some new songs this week, something that I do on a regular basis. AND, I'm still trying to figure out my camera. I'm getting some good photos, but I don't know why. And I need to know why. So, yeah, I'm still challenging the old brain to work.

I do sing on a very regular basis. And if you lump the drawing and painting and dancing and playing all together, then, yes, I touch base with my ability to create/express on a regular basis.

And I've got plenty of "work" to do to keep me busy in all the in-between times. More than I actually get to, but that's another story. I do enough.

So, yeah, I'm feeling pretty balanced here. And that's a good feeling!

"We really need only five things on this earth. Some food, some sun, some work, some fun and someone" ~Beatrice Nolan

Try and photograph all five things today

Yeah, that's a pretty good list! As for photographing all five today. I had to put together the song service for church tomorrow (work), needed a snack (food) so grabbed those things and my camera and snapped this of me in front of the window so you can see that there isn't any sun (it's snowing). I'm home alone right now, so I'm the someone and I can't blog any more because I gotta run to go do some fun stuff - movie, dinner and book signing! Later!

"Never frown, because you never know when someone is falling in love with your smile". ~Carol O'Leary

Ha! Well, I highly doubt that anyone is falling in love with my smile, but I DO need to be careful about frowning. Because that old mouth there wants to point downward all on it's own when I'm NOT smiling and it makes me look sad or mad. So this is actually something I do try to be aware of. Besides, smiles are contagious! :)

"We can do more than imagine, we can create" ~ Dan Zadra

Create something today, be it a memory, or art

Today was banking day. I'm the church treasurer so I not only do my own banking, but also the church's on Thursdays. So, not exactly the kind of memory I want to create! :)

Instead, since I finished in good time, I decided to work on my ATC's, painting up some blank ones, and then I went ahead and did the one for this week (following Emily Falconbridge's prompts from 2007). This week's prompt was: Love, love, love! :) I wrote on the back that I believe that at the heart of all the world's problems is the lack of, or want for, love. It's such a basic human need. I bet if you think about all the struggles you have in your life - with other people, I mean - you can boil it all down to the fact that someone is not feeling the love. Not being (or feeling) loved makes us do all sorts of things. Hurtful things. Crazy things. Frantic things. Desperate things. Cold things. Cruel things. Deep down, it's what we all really want - don't you think?

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful" ~ E.E. Cummings

This is the most timely quote evah! We had an ice storm last week - on top of a base of snow and this week we are experiencing above-normal temps. And my front yard has a huge puddle in it! See my hand in the reflection, there? My driveway continues to be a skating rink. It's on the north side of the mountain, and in the woods, so it takes a while to melt. We need SUNshine! Haven't seen that for several days...

So, I don't know about wonderful, but it sure is puddle-y around here!

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work" -Oprah Winfrey

Go back to your goal list, how are you getting on? Take a self portrait

I appreciate my goal list. I have been looking at it. There are a couple things I've done okay with, but most I'm still just stabbing at. But, you know? I AM still looking at that list. And I know that I can't change EVERYthing overnight. So I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm just going to keep trying and keep trying to do better.

Change is hard to come by. Sometimes I just forget that I'm trying to change something and go along as I always have. The ones I'm really trying to concentrate on the most - because they will effect ME and possibly more readily enable changes in the other areas - are to healthy up my lifestyle and to get to bed before midnight. I have made some positive changes in my eating habits. And I feel it, too. A little weight has come off and I feel more energetic. The one I'm really struggling with, though, is getting to bed before midnight. The times that I have done that, I'm able to get up earlier in the a.m. and feel like I have more productive hours in the day before me. So I really do want to concentrate on that. That will help me to stick to having my quiet time in the morning and will help me to better establish that "regular" schedule.

I've made stabs at keeping my gratitude journal and walking (my driveway is literally an ice-skating rink right now, though) and reading. I'm in the process of making my scrapping more purposeful, if not an income-making venture. I've even been working on the listening more. Haven't been sending cards, though. (But I HAVE been making stuff!). :)

All in all, I haven't forgotten. These things are important to me. For me, it's all about baby steps. That's what will make it stick. So I will continue to work at taking them....

5/52

Credits: page template - Shandy Vogt (9-8-07 blog freebie); pp's, chipboard piece - Carolyn Bender (Shabby Kitchen); buttons, thread - Jessica Alger (Hopscotch); stitched border(s) - Miss Mint (Foxy Lady) @ Peppermint Creative; dill brushes - Hawsmont (@ brusheezy); Fonts - Broadway (title, quote); Century Gothic (journaling)

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
Harriet van Horne

That's my son cooking away there. He's a "professional" cook right now. As for me, at this point in my life I don't "cook with abandon" too often. I have been cooking more regularly lately (living up to one of my 2008 goals AND my "word of the year" (productive). But it's only because I don't want dh to get upset with me because I just leave it up to him all the time. He does like to cook, but he likes it when I cook as well. So, we've worked it out.

When my kids were small, I made EVERYthing from scratch - from bread, to yogurt, to granola. And since we were homeschooling, I had the time to cook. But I think I burned myself out. Then, when I went back to work, dh started cooking out of necessity. (He would cook upon occasion before that, but only if HE felt like it.) When I started working again, I would just come home so exhaused and he found out pretty quickly that if HE didn't cook, NObody cooked! (Btw, he was working 3 days a week and I was working 5 days a week. Okay, I'm not counting the 2nd job he does at home, but still...) And just why is the woman "expected" to cook, anyway? So all that changed and I think he now realizes that it needs to be a shared task. I can handle that. And I don't mind cooking half the time.

But do I cook with abandon? No, but I have been known to EAT with abandon! :)

"You don't stop playing because you are old; you grow old because you stop playing. "

Unknown

I love to play! And I definitely believe that playing games and challenging my mind helps to keep it sharp! My Sunday after-church ritual ALWAYS involves doing the crossword in the Sunday paper, which, while it may sharpen my mind while I'm doing it, it also induces the lovliest of naps! :) Oh well. I'm gonna keep playing anyway! :)

"Let memories be beauty in your life, like song and roses in the winter sun."

Sascha

Prompt: Where's the beauty in your life today?

How about pinecones and fresh greens in the winter sun? This gorgeous wreath is still looking alive and healthy - thanks to the (normal) cold temps and the occasional moisture in the air. I think it's beautiful!

Other than that, what is beautiful in my life today is that as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to go clean up my scrap room after a project I've been working on all week and get started on another project. Later, I'm going to cook a (hopefully) delicious dinner. It's a new dish - gnocchi with asparagus, shrimp and pesto. It looks yummy, anyway. And, finally, a relaxing evening at home. That sounds pretty beautiful to me!

(For Friday, February 1, 2008)

"When I haven't any blue, I use red."
Pablo Picasso


Prompt: Find red in your life today



It certainly isn't difficult for me to find red in my life - everyday! That's my kitchen and my cupboards are painted red, so I see that the first thing in the morning - every morning. And I love it. Red is one of my favorite colors. I never get tired of it!