Declaring WAR on these 10 pounds!

I have been fighting these same 10 pounds now for 6 months.  I have to admit to being a bit lazy and then got hit with nasty ol' head cold, and the rain was always a good excuse not to walk, and eat high carbs and sweets.  I have declared out and out war upon these 10 pounds that I think I have lost 3 times in the last 6 months. 
Spring is in northern California, my chest is still tight and congested, but I can not sit and devour the contents of my pantry anymore!
I took off this morning, and look at the skies:

 

This road runs parallel to the highway, on the left side of the walnut trees is Highway 99, the country equivalent to Insterstate 5 in California!  I love that it goes through our town, and that we are still country, but with all the conveniences of the city.  Walking on this dirt road is very easy on my knees and at one point I was jogging it, but I am going to have to get back to that point again.

The walnuts trees are getting their first prune of the year, there is a man doing it all by himself with this cool machine. I never did see him, but I could hear the buzz.  Don't you just love that color green? I am in awe of this palette!

 

On the right side of the dirt road is a slough, and it is full of little things moving and lots of moss, there are houses down most of it, then I am surrounded by the walnut trees.  It is a great walk.

The skies started turning a bit gray, as we are supposed to have more rain this afternoon and into the weekend.  It is about 65 degrees and very humid right now.  I came home to my lawn all done, by my awesome kidlets!

Okay, now to shower and fight off the carb desires!

Creative Team Addict

I love making scrapbook pages, just to stay busy, and it is to me, like rearranging furniture(which I love to do), but waaaaaay easier!  I gave up most of my creative teams, and have been buying (gasp) all my kits.  This is a good thing, as I am forced to make pages I want to print when I buy them. 
But I am very active in scrapping, I need to have fun scrap time, where I just rearrange and make a page that is fun and challenging still.  I neeeeeeeeeeeeed that deadline!
I applied for the March Guest for a store CT for the Digichick.  I got it! Woot! I have never done a store CT before. I love it! I love their "system" and the kindness each person shows.  It really is one of the most relaxed, yet professional places I have CT'd.  I had a blast during the wild and crazy create time this week.  I made three layouts.

First is for my dear friend JulieitIS, now known as Sherwood Studios, and her newest At the Pub:

I was all full jof mojo, so I then picked up the DigiChicks Collab called All About Me and Three Sweet Chicks Template collection Chicklet Journaling Vol 1.

Now I got crazy and laughing about fun things, and photos from a fun evening:

 I love the colors and flowers in the is Boutique Collab!  I used another one of 3 Sweet Chicks templates that comes with the collab and the collab again, for a Me in 3 layout.  I enjoyed playing around with the photo of me, and cropping it and putting some Pioneer Woman action on it!

I'm still busy doing things behind the scenes for Tangie Baxter and she has a beautiful collab coming out tomorrow (or for those late nite owls, you might see it then)

Monday-whew a week of wonder

After last week, I have to tell you I am plumb bushed! I went to bed Friday night at 8:30pm and woke up at 10:30am.  Just worn out, and loving every minute of it!  What a joy to see folks living for God. The fellowship was an inspiration of God, I tell you! The Jamison's came from Oroville, and Peggy did nursery, so I basked in the last night of revival.  It was beyond all!  Thirty folks, and a few new faces on top of that.  

One of my favorite parts of church is the buzz of the people before and after church.  I tell you there was a buzz on Thursday evening!  At altar call, I went into the prayer room to set up, what I thought would be a small little buffet.  I almost burst into tears, this group of people had rallied to the cause of fellowship.  Turkey, salad, egg rolls, cookies, muffins, rolls, taco salads, chips, and more! I just kept looking thinking where did this come from? Dear God, bless these precious people as they give so freely. 

Dear Sweet Anna Louise, began it all with a turkey she wanted to bake and give to the church, could she do that?  Oh, what a heart, from that grew a fabulous fellowship of souls new to Christ, laughing and getting to know each other over cream cheese pinwheels, and pink lemonade.

Getting a picture of Anna Louise was a tough one, cause she was serving and prepping and being  an all around wonder!  

This is just one of the tables, that was laden with good food and happiness.  We were sending plates full home to those who didn't come with gentle admonishments to come next time, we missed you! 

So, due to the response and great results, this has become a Sunday regular.  We had desserts last night, and folks brought cookies, and cornbread.  We had milk and cookies after a testimony services that put a smile so wide on my face, I think my ears ache!  There really is something remarkable when you sit and share food with another person.  I have to admit to being a bit of stick in the mud to potlucks, but wow, I am a changed woman! I will make pinwheels and crock pots of chili to see folks loving God and getting to know their brothers and sisters in Christ like this!

 

The saints going thru the line, filling up their plates! Miss Christy, Kim, Shawn and Bret in the back!

 

This is Shawn and his Aunt, Miss Christy. Just a joy to have, Shawn's wife Tricia has to work nights, so we missed having her, but praying for miracles for their  lifes!  That is Sherri in the background, she goes to work at midnight, but still came to church! Gotta love that!

 

Two new faces, that stayed and laughed, Caren and Carol Lynn.  They were on their way to a recovery meeting, and just popped in.  They were loving it! I enjoyed them so much, and hope to see them at bible study this Wednesday.

 

The girls brought one of the neighbor kids, and that is of course always a buzz, when you bring someone to church!

 

this is Braden and me, you can see our Lisa and her son in the back ground!  I have to tell of this sweet Braden, he is energy in a denim.  I was holding the cupcake and he was eating it, but you all know I talk with my hand, so I had this cupcake waving all over and the poor thing was trying to get a bit of the snack.  I got laughing so hard at him.  Peggy took this shot and I love it to pieces.  Braden says he wants to marry me, I told him he had to get a job, and couldn't live with mom.  He says okay. His momma, Sarah, just laughs.  I didn't get a picture of her, but I will!

That handsome man in cream, is my hubby, the Pastor of this remarkable flock of people!  That lady with the big smile is Amber, our fruitful sister.  You can also see we have the fellowship tree in the background! ha ha ha... Oh my see the clock! 9pm! We are some party people!  I got home at 10:30 that night and just sighed and had to thank God all over again.  This is the beginning of a break through and wow, it's a doozy. 
The next day, was our 21st wedding anniversary, we spent the day, smiling and knowing we were right were God wanted us to be, His will. Please pray for these souls by name and Yuba City!!

Playing with Art Journaling and Laughing!

Tangie Baxter is having a class a LIVE class in Las Vegas next month (Click here for more info), and it is sponsored by Scrap Orchard.  Now, the befuddled looks Scrap Orchard and Tangie Baxter's Altered Art Journal?? How in the world did this happen?  I have no idea, but Tangie challenged her team along with some coupons from some very generous designers over at Scrap Orchard to make Art Journal pages. 
I love a challenge and this was beyond fun! 
I had been staring at Spun Monkeys pages in the Art Journal, with journaling lines and I wanted to give it a whirl;

 

I laughed and laughed making the Pizza Art Journal, but had even more fun with my orange cat:

and I still wasn't done, I had seen a faucet from one of the kits, and was bound and determined to get it on a page:

RECORD set!

Our little but growing church hit 33! Thirty-three of our people!  Sunday was great, and Monday, we were blessed to have the Chico folks come and bring folks from their church too.  Tuesday, more came of just our folks, and then last night!! OH my gosh! Every night, more and more visitors and seeing precious hearts that had come in the past, is like balm to the soul!  The precious redemption of Jesus Christ touching lives.
We are in the middle of a revival with Shawn Davis:

Tonight is the last night, so if you are in the area, come on over! It is kicking! We are having a little finger food pot luck after, and we are all so excited! If you can't come, PRAY for us and the new babes in Christ!!! God is on the move in Northern California!!!

Testing and Learning more and more...and FREE alpha LINK!

My brain is growing! I love to learn! I mean I seriously love to learn.  This past week, my brain has been pushed to the maximum.  I had a free evening, and thought I would try something new!  I am very, very honored to be an action/script tester for Studio Wendy.  Now, I am not a designer, nor do I want to be, so my testing is more scrapping regular things.  I can do the things a regular scrapper would want for their stash of "Let's make this easier" 
I have gotten to make stickers, add pics to quick pages, made flairs and buttons, and even done a few sharpen images for Face book uploads.  It is always fun to work with Wendy.  She is very patient and wants the product to be perfect before it hits the store.
Now that I have the big dog, CS5, I get to go through her store and see what items don't have the CS5 approval on them and give them a whirl.
I have a dear friend and very talented scrapper, who is going to be one awesome designer.  She gives away templates, and alphas on her blog, 68 ways to express yourself.  Chengie is in a country that the internet is not the fastest on the planet, so her darling alphas are on a sheet.  This is the one she has free right now:

I love it.  I thought, hey I will try the Alpha Cutter/Saver that Studio Wendy has in her store:

I admit, I had to read the tutorial twice, and was reading it real slow and outloud!  My family look at me and shake their heads. "Mom? You okay? "
"Yes, I am learning, and I have to read it and hear it and say it to really get it! " I answer.
Well, I got it.  I learned how to install scripts, record actions and cut up my fun and beautiful alpha made by Chengie! It is all saved now and looking lovely in her folder. 
I really think everyone should have this, just for the fun and wonder of what designers go through to make just an alpha for you!  It isn't all fluff and stuff! They put a whole lot of time in to designing each item. 
So go get Chengie's wonderful alpha and don't forget to say thank you.  Watch this lady, she is gonna be a star!!!

Today is my Mom's birthday.

I did not call her.  I am chagrined and hoping she is sitting on a bench at Bodega Bay reading this on the day after her birthday, and she knows how much I love her.  I am going to tell the story, of my excuse why I did not call.  It is a good one.
16 Feb, 2:15 AM-Sound of running footsteps, SPLLLLaaaaaaaaaaaaaT, SPLllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, LIGHT in my eyes, my bedroom door is slammed opened to
The sound of Anna yelling,
"Mom!!!! Abby puked!!!"
~ a quick back in time, last time Abby puked was from the top bunk, curdled flu ridden spaghetti into the box fan. She is a spewer.  One who sends her chunkage to the ends of the earth.
I went to pull on my robe (the nice fluffy blue one I got for Christmas) and shook my head, no, I took the fake silk african caftan instead, easier to wash.  Moms are programmed to think this way.
Out to the hallway to see.  Pink.  Yes, you see yesterday was the day after Valentine's and the neighborhood kids are sharing tons of candy with my children.  Pink is the color of most of what Abby had, along with Fried Rice, Boneless Chicken and Oatmeal No-Bake cookies.  Pink on the hall walls, the hall floor, then the bathroom. I must start another paragraph.
Apparently, the sink was a better target as the projectile pink fermentation erupted out of Abby's tummy and she must have turned her head to see or towards the light switch, then looked up as the light went on, as the regurgitation was at the 7 foot high mark and yes dripping down my walls.   It covered the vanity, each drawer had cascades of the pink ooze on each handle. 
Abby's face was covered you see cause she had hurled her cache into her hands and ran down the hall, swinging it haphazardly (CSI would have to be brought in to find the correct arc of her arms, but it was more that a few splatters).  Her neck and t-shirt, had a bilious pink texture.
Conversation:
Me: Baby, you need to throw up again (thinking cause I might have to soon)?
Abby: retch, retch, retch, retch, (into my now pink lumpy toilet)
Me: You done, hon? (rhymes amazing me at the moment)
Abby: oh yeah I feel better, can I wash my hands?
Me: please, lets get you in the shower, just get in with your clothes on, I'll take them and put them in the wash after you are done.
Abby: Okay!
She is in shower I am clean up.  I immediately take up the rugs in the bathroom, and a towel and pick up the pools of pink from the floor, to the washer they go.  I grab the mop, and bleach.  I do a quick clean up of hall so Tony can get out of the bedroom.  He is going for the Sprite at the Quick stop around the corner.  He usually wakes up at 3:15am, but an earlier wake up call.
The hall is passable, and I am pouring bleach from the top of the walls in the bathroom and not thinking, bleach is a liquid.
Pass the light switch.
A lovely blue flash of fire shoots out the light switch and.............
all the lights go out.
Remember, Abby is in the shower.
I am standing in vomit, and now bleach and now in the dark!
"TOE-Knnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
I poured bleach on the switch and blew a fuse!! (freaking out quiver has hit my vocal cords)

He says, is it safe to walk down the hall? (very calm, and real nice by the way)

Yes! I am on the verge of tears.
Abby, baby are you okay.  
Yep, I am just washing my hair.  What happened?
I explain, in case she missed me scream it to her dad!
Oh, okay, she says!
I said are you okay, can you stay in there for a minute? Open the window!!
The bleach fumes are overwhelming now!!
Tony goes outside, it is dark and raining. 
He can't see the right fuse, so throws them all.
DARK
Light!
Relief.
I pull the towels and begin more cleaning, getting the large areas, enough so Abby can get out of shower, and cuddle on the bed with her ever present twin sisiter Anna.  Anna is standing in her doorway, checking on my progress and helpfully pointing out areas I miss.
**diversion, you see I wear bifocals, and I am in desperate need of them right now, so I am actually appreciating her telling me**
Abby comes out of shower.
Tony heads to get Sprite for Abby, and more bleach.
He goes to Wal-mart, thinking Winco (closer) is closed. 
Abby thinks Dad just went to work, and she is not getting Sprite.  She settles for the flat end of cream soda.  Her and sister giggle and color in bottom bunk sharing cream soda.
Dad comes home with 3 gallons of bleach, Sprite and deodorant.  I am thinking yeah, that was good thinking, I won't have to run out later to get it for him.
Eric pops out of his room, can I use you guy's (he says guy's) bathroom.  I say, of course baby. 
I get a good portion cleaned, but since the wall is wet, I can't turn the light switch on, and it is dark.  Scrubbing this will have to wait for daylight.
Tony has made a pot of coffee, and made me a cup! I love him even more!
He stretches for work, I sit in the rocker and laugh.
4AM, Tony leaves for work.  I pitter pat around, and then drag the cat in to the bedroom and crash on bed.
We called a snow day.
I scrubbed the bathroom from ceiling to floor, and had my kids throughout the day, say, you do know it's Gramma's birthday. I said, yes, egads, I'll call her in a bit.
Life continued to happen, and now it is 10:24pm, I am suffering from guilt, because I love my mom, she is the best.  She listens and teaches me in ways that I don't think she even knows.  She taught me to laugh.  She taught me how to love your husband and laugh.  She taught me to love people and laugh.  I hope she is reading this and laughing.  I love you mom, and keep the cell phone by you I am calling today!