Here's some more detail...

I LOVE to use Ranger's Glossy Accents on like EVERYTHING!

And I love Prima's Say it in Crystals line just as much!

Here's some close-ups...

The Promised Layout...

Yes, I did get my scrappy goal done this weekend that I shared with you on Friday.

I told you that I was going to design a layout following THIS SKETCH found at Haute Artist's blog - I love the sketches they have been posting there!

And I told you that it was going to be a type of journaling challenge from the Faith Sister's site.... well, IT WON THE CHALLENGE!! A little YIPPIE for me while going through my tough days....

Here is the layout...

Journaling Reads: This stronghold has been holding strong to me for years. Yes, it comes and goes, but right now it's a doozey! Satan's common lie tells me I don't know what to do when things get this bad, but God showed me I just need to call on Him. I know most of this battle is against my SELF... so from now on I'm gonna fight and say, "So long self, it's been fun but I've found somebody else. So long self, there's now room for two, so you're gonna have to move. So long self... you're wrong for me... I want more in life than this... just go away... so long self!" - Mercy Me

Scripture: On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3

Our 1st Trip to the Zoo

Another Update...

... yes, I know, six days later and I am finally going to post... where did my week go off to?! - you guys told me not to stay gone for long, and I don't want you too worried... so....

Lets go in order here...

1. Friday's Park outreach was a blessing, especially to see how much the children really liked having us there.
2. Saturday's Day at the Zoo was progressive and we all ended up a little burnt, but it was fun.
3. Sunday's birthday party was a little disheartening because one of my family members had such a bad day, but my kids had a lot of fun, and I (finally) got to visit with my sister in law.
4. Monday I went to the appointment with my sister's counselor - it went well, he told me I need little victories, so he gave me scripture that he wants me to memorize, and told me to make an appointment with my primary care physician because I have had baby after baby and then we will make another appointment.
5. Monday after the appointment the kids and I went over to my sister's house and stayed there thru Wednesday afternoon. I brought my scrapbooking supplies with me in hopes to scrap with her, but we ended up not... it was nice to visit her, her hubby, and their kids... I also got to see my brother and mom for a bit.
6. Monday night it seems I had a bit of a breakdown... please pray for me and my family.
7. Tuesday I didn't get my tackle up for 5 minutes for mom because of this breakdown and sweet sweet Janice posted for me.
8. Yesterday I came home with a heavy heart... Joshie took me out to dinner and a movie, we talked and I forced myself to sleep once again.
9. Today I am spending a lot of my day trying to pray, but I am also doing laundry and dishes.

Blogging with Two Peas...

Today's question... "What are your scrapping plans for the weekend?"

Wow! Am I going to have time this weekend!? We are going to a park outreach tonight (Friday's count as a weekend, right). We are going to the Zoo tomorrow, but it shouldn't be all day. Sunday we go to church then straight to a family birthday party. I should have the evenings still to get stuff done... lol - along with the laundry, dishes and everything else.

Okay, okay, I'll stop making excuses and plan a goal...I needed to finish the journaling section of a page in progress. The page I am doing follows a Basic Grey sketch from the Haute Artist Blog and it is challenge from the Faith Sisters site as well.

I like it so far and cannot wait to share.... keep an eye out.

Thursday's Thing

As you know from my long update a couple posts ago I went to a crop last Saturday :o)

Well I just wanted to share with you something quite inspiring from a couple of the other croppers there - Creative Photo Cropping...

My friend Susan made the layout below, notice the awesome way she cropped her photo...

She told me she got the idea from another friend's book...

The book was called Photo Cropping by Making Memories.

Here is one of my favorite idea's right out of the book...

Isn't that AWESOME?!

(My hubby even thinks so, but I think he was paying more attention to the speeder bike the little girl is riding, lol!)

Wordless Wednesday

My little girl swinging all by herself!

I tackled today...

... and here is a wonderful token involved in my tackle this week that also holds a beautiful reminder on its sail.

(This was a wedding gift from a close family to ours.)

If you want to see my actual tackle visit HERE.

A Long Update!

Where have I been since I haven't been here?

I know you have all missed me... and I REALLY REALLY thank you for all your prayers... and the kind, uplifting, loving and encouraging comments since I have been "gone".... you have definitely made this tough time less tough.

I especially loved this comment, lol...

... yes, I know Jill it took me another week to get a post up, but thank you for that kick in the rump, I love you.
Now... to answer some of your questions...
Yes, I am feeling a bit better. I have some crazy, sporadic ups and downs. Today is a little more hard than yesterday because I had to talk with a mean woman on the phone and my crying nephew is over. Yesterday was a pretty good up. I got (some) housework done, I showered (yes, that's how bad it is) and I made myself get some exercise in (30 minutes on my bike).... look at my face!

• No, I am not getting help (yet). My sister just called a counselor for me that she knows to get me an appointment... she even offered to meet me there to watch my kids (I love her!)
  
• Yes, there is some things you could pray for specifically (thank you). I need to get in God's word more, pray more, learn to dwell on His goodness instead of everything that is wrong with me... and regarding me little ones... that I would have patience, that they would want to be obedient, and that I wouldn't provoke them to anger, and that God would use this situation of mine for their good... I would HATE for this to mess them up in any way!

Now, what have I been up to? Not much...
Obviously I did a little redesign of my blog (with a ton of help from the wonderful woman who designed the original).
This is what the theme looked like at first...

... I put the theme's images in photoshop and altered them to look how I have them now...

Little did I know some of the changes I made were going to be too much for me. I left on comment on Trish's blog regarding the problems I was having and she was more than willing to help... I thought - praise God because the reason I was changing my theme was to get me interested in my blog again, but I was not interested in the problems I was having with it! Yes, this made me not want to post for a while also...
So I hid over at...

• 5 minutes 4 mom (who also has a new look by the way) posting my tackles as their resident tackler
  • I tackled my fridge, my hallway closet, parts of my garage, the donation of my car, the hatred of my house, my dishes, and my laundry!!!
• Yahoo messenger chatting with my Pastor's wife who has been trying to encourage me when I don't run from her :o(... I even made my very first avatar...

• the Haute Artist Gallery where I will soon be featured as one of their Design Team Members!!! Their kits are not out yet, but they did announce their August Debut! Keep an eye out, and don't worry, you can be sure I will be sharing more on them in the future.
  
• Here is one of the layouts I shared just recently... it matches the sketch I shared a while back. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out, especially since (yes) I actually journaled on it already!
• Journaling reads: (Top Left) Jesus says He will never leave us nor forsake us and I praise Him for that truth. I thank Him for seeing you when we could not! When you snuck out of the house and ran into the street He saw you! He saved you by having the car stop in front of you. He loves you beyond comprehension my boy and we do too! (Mid Right) Still living in God's grace... nine days later you choked! Mommy had to give you the baby heimlech maneuver. Another reason to always be ready - loving Jesus with our whole hearts.

• Facebook! - I know - I am not using it to replace my blog in any way, shape or form. But it has definitely been encouraging to find 30+ of my real life friends to chat with in my current slump.

Now did I do anything off my computer you ask... yes, I went to the boardwalk with my woman's ministry friends, I went to a water park with a friend and all our kids, I went to my SIL's house for the 4th of July, to the beach for my birthday, to our church's first park outreach of the summer, and to a crop!!!!
Here's some pics for fun - enjoy!

Speechless