As Requested...scrap pages!

*Back to the old blog look today...no more wishing for snow. Now I want Spring!

I had a request for pictures of scrap pages completed over the weekend...now who am I to deny a request? Especially about one of my favorite topics! So, here are some of my favorites from the weekend (some are blurry but that's ok...you can't read my journaling...heehee!): Favorite title goes to "RV there yet?" Thanks Sandy for that one! I liked the bling music notes and the color for this one - plus the pics were fun:
Although, it doesn't show, I worked hardest on this one because I wanted it to be good. We were each given the same 3 pieces of paper & had to design a page with them. It was really neat to see how no two pages looked alike, but all were with the same paper. I was proud of this because I made my own tag and used a big bite for the first time to put an eyelet in my tag. How's that for scrappin' terminology 101! ha! (Oh, the tag says To: The kids of John 3:16 ministry From: Santa aka Kevin)
This one is just fun because Christmas card photos are one of my favorite parts of the season. My friend, Carey's kiddo, just makes the whole thing. Look at that cute Santa face!! This one was obviously just plain ole sentimental... I journaled about our journey to John 3:16.These are AWESOME letters that Peggy discovered at Wally World - they come in a booklet that looks like a paper pack, but each page is big colorful letters. Love them!

This one I just loved the paper and the sparkle stickers for Shena's name...plus, I used staples for the first time on a scrap page for the ribbons.
And last, this one I love the simplicity and the quote...at the top it says, "Often attempted, never mastered..." Then the bottom is stamped Christmas Card Photo.And there you have it... Keep the pages simple is my motto!

In less than a month...

Kevin will be home!!! Yee-haw! March 15th!! I only visit two more times and then it's graduation!! After that, I will actually have someone to share the ride to Batesville with - woo-hoo!

Retreat continued...

I am still tired today from the excitement and late nights of scrapbooking over the weekend, so this is going to be short and then I'm crashing! I will catch up on all blog reading tomorrow...or Wednesday when I play hookie from work....shhh! Anyway - above is Peggy at her work station. We all got our own 6 foot table to scrap at - there were about 32 scrappers total I think.
This is our gang late into the night on Friday night...we were actually more tired Friday night than Saturday night...hmmm? Oh, and I have to give a shout-out to Laura & Peggy who made it until 4:30 am Saturday night...woohoo!

There was a scrapbook retreat queen...sadly it wasn't one of us. The queen is pictured below - we all have aspirations to steal her crown next year. The queen is the one who scraps the most pages. (I was pumped with my 34 pages!! yippee)
Our saving grace was Laura who won the PJ parade...whew! We have a winner in the group! Go Laura...aka Funny Girl! The PJ queen! I think it was the boots!

Scrap Retreat Weekend

First of all, we had a BLAST! Second, I am exhausted!! And, today when I got home I crashed for 3 hours and could have easily slept until in the morning!! Here we are in our matching T-shirts we bought just for the weekend, because we LOVE to cheese it up! heehee! Aren't they cute? Next year, we are thinking maybe matching PJ's...because this has to be a yearly thing. It was THAT awesome!! I only have the energy to post one picture tonight...more to come tomorrow! :-) I know you are all going to wait on pins and needles. LOL!
My favorite things about the weekend were just simply getting away with great friends, the awesome CD that Laura made for us to listen to on the way - she titled it scrappers delight - ha, the fun we had with our walkie talkies (we had to take two cars because of all the stuff and each car had a walkie talkie so we could sing together and still talk on the way...we know we are cheesy but we don't care!), and the new tools we learned about on the trip. I may think of more tomorrow when my brain isn't dead...but I do know I have to get a big bite. That is on my next Hobby Lobby trip!!
Stay tuned....more tomorrow! :-)

Our Own Concert

My kiddo's had a project to build their own instrument to wrap up our sound unit. There were some good ones!! I am always amazed!! Anyway, here they are putting on their concert today ~ comical! It's only 52 seconds of torture! ha!

PS....only one day until SCRAPBOOK RETREAT!! yeehaw!

Wordless Wednesday: PJ Day at School

Counting down...

Only 3 days until the scrapbook retreat...yee-haw!! My scrap stuff is packed and ready!!

Handmade Valentine's R the BEST!

*We are just going to hope that when Kevin comes home, he doesn't backtrack through the 'ole blog! heehee! If he does, I'm going to be in BIG trouble!! But, I happen to know through the grapevine that at least 3 of my letters have been shared with the entire camp. So...all is fair in love & war! LOL!

Here is my Valentine on a handmade "card" & I couldn't have asked for a better one!

Dear Lori -
I've thought about this letter all week. How do I explain to you what you are to me? I'm really not sure I can. You have stuck by me through my spiritual (and almost financial) bankruptcy, and you've brought me here where you've saved my life. I came here to salvage my life, but Jesus has restored it and given me a future. A future of hope, prosperity, joy, contentment, and love. I owe it all to Jesus and you.
I want to always put your needs above mine and serve you the rest of my life. I know what our future holds, and it is some good times. We'll have a rough patch from time to time, but that's when we seek and trust God and we can't lose. You are my world. You are my gift from God.
I love you whole heartedly,
Kevin

I just wanted to share this glimpse into our personal journey through alcoholism to show anyone who may need it - there is HOPE! They have to be ready and most of the time, they have to lose everything. Kevin did - if I would've bent just an inch, he wouldn't have gone to John 3:16. He didn't want to go in the beginning. It was too long. My advice to anyone dealing with an addict is don't cave. Stand your ground. You can love them and still be firm in what you know is right. I was able to talk to someone today about John 3:16 and their struggles with an alcoholic son. It confirmed to me that THIS is what Kevin & I have been put here to do with our lives - our purpose to help others overcome and give them HOPE. Without hope, we have nothing!

Almost Monday already?

Time flies!! It can't almost be Monday already! I haven't had a weekend yet!!! Seriously, last week was yuck - way too much going on and my stress was HIGH. I had a full blown migraine by Friday night. But, it is all over now. That week is behind me, AND I got all my work done - masters work - check, all papers graded - check, entered in edline - check, interims printed and complete - check, parent conference forms typed and ready - check! As a result, I refuse to bring ANY work home this week! :-) It all stays at work ~ especially since I have to stay and hold parent conferences all week.

Remember the best way to handle overload? Reward system! heehee! So.....I have my eye on the prize this week...the countdown is ON! I can make it through this week to get to SCRAPBOOK RETREAT WEEKEND! Yee-haw!!

I shouldn't be blogging...

So, I'm just going to post this video and get back to work! This is a John 3:16 video that will show you how good Mr. Kevin is doing. Remember when these guys arrived at John 3:16, they had nothing to smile about and now look at them! Sit back, watch and just relax! (and yes, that is him in the first picture busting out a wall! heehee!)

WANTED

One assistant who can...
*answer a steady stream of emails from parents all day
*document the behavior of all students each day
*answer phone calls
*collect money for a Valentine party
*schedule parent conferences and accommodate all parents (even the ones who DON'T follow the directions on the sign-up form you send out)
*grade papers
*enter all grades into edline
*answer MORE emails regarding grades
*print interim reports
*write conference forms
*print conference forms
*write lesson plans
*return MORE emails
*counsel students
*run errands for supplies needed for lessons

If I can find an assistant to have all this completed by Monday, you are hired, and I MIGHT get my assignments done for my Master's class! Oh, and did I mention it doesn't pay....

My B.I.B.L.E.

Was that a Sunday school song when we were little?

Seriously, this goes to show how much things have changed for both Kevin and me in the past 5 months. I left my Bible at the ministry on Sunday (two hours away). And, it's a big deal to go without it for a week. I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized I had left it. I thought "What am I going to do? It has my notes and my daily bread in it. I can't go without it." Made me realize how much different things are now ... and I'm glad! :-)

On another note, it was my turn to host Bible Study tonight. And, it's over....whew! You know I'm not a cook, and I had to cook. But, I pulled it off (or they were just being polite - ha!). And, Jax behaved himself. He only tooted a couple of times. heehee!

Happy Birthday to ME!

My birthday weekend can be summed up in 3 words: laughter, family, and FUN!

I will give you the run-down in short version. Friday night, my Bubby & I went to Conway to watch Autumn play basketball. It was nice to just be me and Bubby. Quite honestly, we haven't had the best relationship in the past few years, and I hope this is the beginnings of a newer, healthier one. He even took me out to eat dinner after the game AND he treated! I would say we are off to a great start! ha!

Saturday, I got to sleep in for the first time in forever! Then, me, Sandy, and Peggy headed out for a day of scrapbook shopping...no bargains were found (oh, except our cool new shades), but we had lots of laughs. And, no one fell down! LOL!

Then, today (my actual birthday - I tend to celebrate for a week instead of day) I went to see Kevin. My mom, his parents and Kevin's nephew joined us at the service. His Mom brought me the biggest birthday cake EVER! Just look at all that chocolate!! "Don't worry kid - there's plenty! I'll share!" HA!

And, Kevin made me a HUGE birthday cookie! Isn't he sweet?

Oh, it's good to be 29....again!

T.G.I.F.

This was the slowest week!!!

I hobbled through yesterday after my latest fall. The kids were very nice to me yesterday and good....maybe I'm on to something here! ha! Seriously, this fall was worse than when I fell down the bleachers this summer at the horse show. Remember that one? hee-hee! I am definitely getting older because I still hurt this morning!

I have another full, fun-filled weekend ahead. More basketball, time with my BFF's scrap shopping, and of course, a day with Kevin. It's all good! Even the part about turning 29 again!

Have a GREAT weekend!

I lost AGAIN!

Remember this fight I lost at Thanksgiving with my teenage cousin, Tanner:

Well, weeks ago, I got silly string and have had it in my purse for just the right moment to pay him back. It would have worked too, IF I weren't clumsy!! I mean, what was I thinking running at full speed carrying a purse in one hand and silly string in another and trying to navigate stepping off a curve?!?

Oh yes, you guessed it, I busted it and I busted it good and hard on the pavement in the parking lot at TaMolly's. I have skinned up knees, an elbow, and both hands to prove it. So, that is 2 points for Tanner and 0 points for me.

But, I have to admit it was good for a laugh. I have thought about it several times tonight and just started giggling....now, I am going to take some back and body and go to bed!! I may not be able to move tomorrow! LOL!

Check it out...

I give up on trying to get the video actually ON my blog...I'm just going to send you over if you are interested. John 3:16 Ministry was on the Jonesboro news last night (about 40 second clip). They are helping with clean-up in Hoxie from the ice. Anyway...go to the news site below and check it out. The videos are to the right. Also, if you are interested, type John 3:16 into the search bar and it will show a video called Offbeat with Bob that highlights what John 3:16 Ministries is all about. Enjoy!

www.kait8.com

Notes of life lately...

**I had to make myself just breathe and slow down tonight. I am feeling very overwhelmed lately. It just seems like I have zero downtime. At work, I feel behind on everything. I love my job, but it is impossible to ever be completely caught up. After full work weeks, I have full weekends. I need a break!! And, I might have to take a day off work to just get caught up! I knew it was getting out of control when on scrap night, I wasn't focused on a fun night with the girls, but was already thinking of everything else I needed to get done. Not good! So, tonight, I made myself just leave everything and veg on the couch for mindless tv with Jax. I have to calm down...it will all get done (eventually)!

**On another note ~ while I am stressed over little things, family in the northern part of Arkansas is still without power and may be for at least 2 more weeks. Keep my parents, Kevin's parents, my Aunt & Uncle, cousins, and my Granny in your thoughts and prayers. They are ALL still without power - since last week! They all now have generators, but it is still not fun! Kevin's parents even had a tree fall into their bedroom and have a nice hole in their roof to deal with. And, meanwhile, all we got here was a rain...just hours away. Crazy!

**It is now February and I can say Kevin will be home SOON!! It is looking like either the 8th or 15th of March. Yippee!!!!!

**Service at John 3:16 was very inspiring and moving this week. The director actually led the service. He has an amazing testimony. He shared his story with us, and I literally had tears rolling down my cheeks throughout the service. God is so good and forgiving. He took this man who was an addict and stealing from his kids to pay for cocaine and lifted him out of that life to start a camp for others with addictions. He is able to reach these men like no one else could because he has walked in their shoes and made it to the other side. That is just one story of overcoming addiction. There are so many more. There is hope. If you love an addict or know someone that does, don't give up. Keep praying. Don't give up, but don't be afraid to give tough love either. That is what it took to get Kevin where he is today. There is always hope!!

My scrap girls ROCK!

Friday was scrap night and they surprised me with a YUMMY birthday cake. So begins the start of my birthday WEEK. Ha! (Although, I am not too pumped about being 36...how did that happen? So, if anyone asks, I am 29 ~ again!) I only managed to scrap 2 pages Friday night...a record worst for me. Must be the age thing! Or, maybe I'm saving up for my full weekend of scrapbooking that is coming up! woohoo!

Oh, and my actual birthday isn't until Sunday the 8th. I have a week left of my mid-30's. Doesn't 36 seem too close to 40??? Don't answer that!