Wordless Wednesday (sort of!)

39 weeks pregnant?????




You tell me!



Can't wait to meet your little guy, Jennifer!

For Diane and Heidi.....

My newest addition to my Christmas CD collection.....




:)

Friendship....

I've been doing a lot of digital scrapbooking lately and have found several websites that have daily challenges. One site, GottaPixel has a lyric challenge once a month. In May, it was for the lyrics of a song called One Friend by Dan Seals. As I read the lyrics I thought of one person and knew I had to do a layout in honor of our friendship.

We've been friends an awful long time. I don't remember a time without her in my life. We may not see each other very often since our lives are so very different.... she's got an almost teenager and I have no kids. But, I know I can count on her if needed. She and her husband were my saviors during the ice storm in January 2005.

This week is her birthday. So, my friend, hope your birthday is a happy one and know that I will always love you.

Here's the layout in your honor!

You Will Be Missed....

A wonderful, vibrant, fun-loving lady passed away today.

In 2002 at the St Jude Benefit in New York City, I had the honor of meeting her (along with some other friends I met on the internet thru our love of the show As The World Turns.

Here she is with one of my favorite actors on the show, who sadly is also no longer with us. Ben Hendrickson aka Hal Munson.


And, our dear sweet Laraine with her daughter Melissa, and the young man who played Paul Stenbeck at the time, Scott Holroyd.



Rest in peace, Laraine.

Reflecting on 2007......

There have been a lot of ups and downs.

This was the year that a favorite uncle was diagnosed with cancer. He valiantly fought the disease only to succumb in August. Uncle Mike, you are always missed....

Thankfully my dad is still cancer free. I'm thankful for that every single day.

I made some lifestyle changes starting with joining a gym in January and working with a personal trainer. Because of the changes I made in my eating habits and the exercise I was able to lose 20 pounds and 13 inches in 8 months! I feel great and have been told that I look great. And through all of the turmoil of the last 4 months at work I have not had a major weight gain.... just staying within a 3 pound range :)

Work has been a roller coaster. Basically since a co-worker's 2 week vacation (which was the same time as my uncle's death and funeral) I've been working 48-50 hours a week. I blogged about it before so no need to go into it again but the end is in sight! The new payroll clerk has been hired and today started her 3rd week. She is progressing quite nicely considering she was thrown into the fire with 2 holiday weeks in a row and a vacation day for me next Monday! I think things should be back to normal by mid-February and I can't wait!

One upside to all of the hours I've been working has been the overtime pay. Because of that I have been able to get myself into a better financial situation. I've loosely followed Dave Ramsay's "Total Money Makeover" after reading the book this summer. I feel very good about being able to pay for various purchases with either cash or a check. I have paid off my car loan and the HELOC. I have closed 2 credit card accounts leaving myself only 1. I'm now building my retirement fund.... I still use it for internet and gasoline purchases but the money is there to pay that bill when it comes :) What a great feeling!

On the fun side, I had several long weekends away this year. First was SSMI in East Lansing, MI on the campus of Michigan State University in January. I met some wonderful ladies and had a great time. Next up was SWON in London, Ontario, Canada in July. Again lots of wonderful ladies and a fabulous time. Then in August, a few of us from SS spent an afternoon at the Longaberger Homestead. Lots of shopping and eating and some new friends. That Michele.... she talked about the OH Fall Retreat so much that day that when work went to hell in September I signed up! Nothing like a weekend in Amish Country, Ohio to rejuvenate a person. Even more wonderful ladies and again a great time! But best of all was the weekend visit with Diane. She came from Grand Rapids MI to see me and the kids. I will return the favor summer 2008!

Of course, Pepper and Paige have been the lights of my life this year. Without them I'm sure the last few months would have been unbearable. I was away from them for more hours than usual and I can tell that they were affected. They missed me as much as I missed them. Oh yeah, they are at my feet as I type this.... comfort at its finest.

Last of all, I'm thankful for the friendships I've made online at ScrapShare. Some of those have carried over to real life. Love ya ladies!

Now, I'm really excited about 2008 starting with.....

SSMI II in 4 days!

Happy New Year to All!!!!

T-Minus 12 Hours.....

Until I leave for the 2007 Ohio Fall Retreat!

I've never been to Holmes County, Ohio, also known as Amish Country so I'm excited about that. I'm also excited about seeing old friends and meeting new.

But, I do hate the packing!!! Got the scrapping stuff packed, now to pack the clothes.

Best of all, 4 straight days off work. I need it so much after the last 2 months.

And, yes I do have my pictures packed :)

171 miles or 288 miles?

Which one would you rather travel to meet someone?

I'd rather drive 171 miles.

However, I drove 288 miles....

all the way to Ingersoll, ON Canada to meet Loridear from SS.

We laughed all weekend about "Indiana" and "Ohio" having to go to Canada to meet! Now that we have met, we hope to see each other either in Indiana or Ohio soon. Lori and I did talk about maybe making a run to Sonic in Fort Wayne and having emmylou drive down from Michigan to join us.

Here we are....

SWON!!!!

I made it in one piece.....

Took an hour to get across the border but otherwise the trip was uneventful.

I've met a lot of very nice women and spent quite a few hours scrapping. I have even used my CraftRobo to do some titles..... I've taken a few pictures but with 34 other women with cameras, I haven't worried too much about 'em. I hope they will share :)

We took our group picture today and I borrowed this for the blog.

Here we are..... SWON 2007!















That's me in the middle of the front row....

Relay for Life - Mardi Gras 2007

This weekend was the annual Relay For Life in my county. It started at 6:00 p.m. Friday and ended at 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

This year I purchased luminaria. One for my dad, a cancer survivor. And, one for his brother, who is in the midst of battling cancer. I had watched the luminaria lighting ceremony in previous years, but had never participated. A whole new experience. As I listened to the words being spoken over the loud speaker and watching the progress of the torch around the track being carried by survivors, I was moved to tears.

Here's the luminaria before lighting.




























And, immediately after lighting before the stadium lights were turned back on.















During my hour of laps at 2:00 a.m.





















And, to my dear sweet Laraine, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in NYC in 2002.... know that my prayers are with you in your upcoming battle. Some of my tears during the luminaria ceremony were for you, my friend....

Scrap Share Retreats

I love scrapbooking. I have found a home at ScrapShare, a message board community devoted to scrapbooking.

So what am I doing this weekend?

I'm driving 3 1/2 hours to meet up with 11 other people from SS and spend the weekend scrapbooking!!!

Am I crazy or what? We've all heard and read the horror stories about internet meetings.....

I'm still going to do it. I have met one of these girls already, so it is really only 10 I don't know. But, yet, I feel that I do know them. I read their posts every day. I've read about their good times, their bad times and their opinions on anything and everything. I've shared with them also. Some of them I feel I know better than some of my blood relatives.....

I'm excited! So excited that I probably won't be able to sleep. Heck, I haven't slept well all week thinking about everything I need to do for this weekend and the weekend itself!

This time tomorrow I will be scrapbooking, laughing and having a heck of a time with my new-old friends from SS.

I'm ready.....


well, except for the pesky thing called packing......