{papersushi ponderings}

Backstage with the Bible!

2010-04-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this year's VBS theme for BBC. I love the point the GoFish Guys make: it is Vacation BIBLE School - and we need to teach our kids why the Bible is important! Click here to see the preview trailer - I think the kids are going to love it!! And, if you are from BBC, please take just a second to vote on the poll right over there on the side of the blog!
http://www.gofishguys.com/cms/pages/vacation-bible-school.php

and....if you have never heard the GoFish Guys - they make some pretty fantastic kids music! (click the links for the videos - fun, fun stuff!)

Day Snips...

2010-03-29T17:45:00.001-07:00

Roben-Marie posted about this on her blog, and after a few clicks, I ended up at The Simple Woman's Daybook - fantastic journaling/blogging idea - maybe it will get me going again (is it really again...or just going?)

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...
it is dark, and it has been breezy all day
I am thinking...
that i am not sure i can think of 33 things to scrap about to finish a scrapbook page
I am thankful for...
my sweet babies, the sweet new baby of a wonderful friend, and a sweet little baby in Macon
who is every minute reminding me of what an AWESOME God we serve - the true healer!
From the kitchen...
spaghetti was the order for the night - pretty good, even without cheesy bread ;)
I am wearing...
my clothes from work - skirt, sweater set, but absolutely no shoes
I am creating...
a blog post, a scrapbook page in my head
I am going...
to bed soon, i hope
I am reading...
an organizing book, the manual for my new floormate, and notes from school for the kids'
Easter parties
I am hoping...
that the weddings we are taking part in next weekend go smoothly
I am hearing...
les stroud on discovery channel, reed rooting around in his crib, and erynn trying to get comfy
on the sofa
Around the house...
the floors are half cleaned, the kitchen is half cleaned, the laundry needs shuffling - life is good!
One of my favorite things...
is the amazing reminder that Holy Week is of all of our blessings - from deepest sorrow comes
our most exquisite joy - my Redeemer lives, and his promises are perfect in their fulfillment!
A few plans for the rest of the week...
spend time with my sweeties, shuffle plastic eggs from one place to another, and spend Easter
with family, enjoying each other's company and the blessings that sit right there in the room
with us as we are together! Next week is Spring break, and then my sweet girl will be a flower
girl in a wedding - so exciting!
A picture to share...(okay, two!)

the Amazing Digi Scrap Race - #5

2010-03-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

ADSR #5 is in week number four and has already been some really tough but fun challenges.

I spent February taking an awesome Tablet Class from Jessica Sprague; some of what I learned in her class is showing up on my pages. (mostly, I am including handwritten journaling on my pages, but I learned so many cool tricks in the class that are making life easier for all of my projects!)

AND...

Here is a March desktop from Roben-Marie Designs (shop here); you can pick it up on her blog by clicking the preview!

Miracle of the Moment

2009-10-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's time for letting go
All of our "if onlies"
Cause we don't have a time machine

And even if we did
Would we really want to use it
Would we really want to go change everything

Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There's a wonder in the here and now
It's right there in front of you
And I don't want you to miss the miracle of the moment

There's only One who knows
What's really out there waiting
And all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He's out there waiting
To Him the future's history

And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

Steven Curtis Chapman
Miracle Of The Moment

*******************************
I love it when just the right song plays at just the right time.
I love when God uses stuff my children say or do to give me a little heart-check.
I love that God knows me well enough to know I need reminding, and even knows how and when to remind me.

Just everyday little stuff, even stuff that is (almost) never said out loud - He sees, He hears, He knows.

Just thankful today for the miracle of this moment - and a great big God who just is.

if you give a mom a cookie...

2009-07-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

she might just go to the computer and browse a bit. while she is there, she might read about this cool thing called 'digital scrapbooking'. (see, she has scrapbooked for a while now, but was trying to figure out how to deal with a two-year-old and the scrapbook mess at the same time.)

and if she reads about digital scrapbooking, over the next three years she might just buy a few (okay, NOT a few) digital scrapbook kits, from fun designers like this one and this one and this one, and if she goes there, she just might end up on those designers' blogs.

and if she goes to some blogs, especially this one she just might have so much inspiration for things to do with her family, and stuff to make, and pretty decorating colors, and pretty-pretty-pretty jewelry, and just plain-old cuteness, that she HAS to try some of it.

and if she has to try some cute projects, then she might need to go dust off her sewing machine, and go shopping for cute patterns, and pretty fabric, and maybe even a new sewing machine!

and if she buys all that, she might make a really cute dress, and then new ideas might fill her head and dining table with fabric, and she might have fun sewing and learning about sewing for hours at a time...

and if that happens, she might just need another cookie! Ü

Preschool Graduation in Quirky Park

2009-06-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Scrapped a little bit yesterday, using Roben-Marie's new page kit out today, called Quirky Park , at Paperbag Studios. This photo is one of several from Erynn's preschool graduation last month.

This month has just flown by - it seems like I have only made it here once a month for a while - working on doing better by trying to twitter just a little, and blog more often. We'll see, because it has already been a crazy fast summer!

Do you use twitter?

National Scrapbook Day

2009-05-03T12:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday (all of the weekend really, I guess) was National Scrapbook Day. I love the day – such a fun way to celebrate a hobby that is important to me (and hopefully to my family, too!). This layout, posted by Janet Phillips at TheDailyDigi, pretty much sums it up for me:

and, another fun bonus about NSD is that there are bargains and freebies galore, challenges, chats, and fun things, like scavenger hunts and games! I bought a few cute things, and there were (and might still be) some wonderful freebies on sites I hang out on, like Paperbag Studios (check out the blog).

Roben-Marie Smith (@ Paperbag Studios) put out a new, huge grab bag – these are some layouts created with two of the mini- kits in there (there are more and more and more items than just these in there – snatch this one up while it is a bargain!)

I’m telling you – go check it out!! (p.s. – i am on a bit of a tan and blue kick, probably the results of our weekend at the beach. not everything in the grab bag is these colors!)

scooting out of here to get some mac & cheese going (that is one of the food groups, right?) and off to a VBS meeting/class.

Month in review: April

2009-05-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

wooo-boy...have we got some catching up to do!

i cannot believe april is gone - i nearly choked this morning when i realized it is may 1!!

we had a wonderful, albeit quick april - monsoon season, Easter, beach trip, teeth, crawling, and kindergarten registration!

the crazy rain brought about 25 inches total for the month ...yep, i said MONTH! i feel so badly for people who have to deal with months and months of cooped up children!!

Easter was wonderful - i love getting together with our extended family - we are lucky to see each other often since almost all of us live within 20 miles of each other, but getting together all at once is special. eating, playing, and talking with each other, and being especially thankful for family members who have had tough years or health scares and are here, in wonderful health, reminds us just how we are truly held in God's hands.

r cut two more teeth, started sitting himself up from laying, took off crawling, and has added mama, dada, no-no, uh-uh (uh-oh), bye bye and bite to his vocabulary.

e is in her last few weeks of preschool, and we registered her for kindergarten this week - big stuff!

we all had a great time at the beach - e couldn't get enough of the beach, and r couldn't eat enough of the beach. the mosquitos were crazy, and there were deer everywhere in the park. e and I went for a walk the morning we came home, and she found a petshop friend - she had asked us for one the day before and we had told her not then, so i guess God decided she could use one more - a little turtle, just for her!

{images are linked - all created using kits by Roben-Marie Smith at Paperbag Studios!}

I've got a Spring in My Step!

2009-03-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

well, in my layouts, anyway!! Roben-Marie released the new Spring in My Step kit at Paperbag Studios today - such a fun kit; i love when the elements are a little funky and you have to really noodle around with how you want to use them - and this kit has some of those, along with some awesome basics and some yummy painted, textured backgrounds.

the kit:

& two layouts i made using the kit:

Challenges!! This is the layout for this week's challenge at Paperbag Studios' blog {here}

and one more thing, while you're here - tell me about your chore list for your house. Do you do a little every day, certain things on certain days, or just dig your way out of the laundry and dishes every few days? lol - share!!

Scrapping Challenges

2009-03-02T15:26:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about doing the Amazing DigiScrapping Race is the challenges. I manage to get 12 (13 this time) layouts done in six weeks - and I have made it a point not to create 'junk" pages to fill the challenge requirements, and the challenges stretch me to 1) try something new, and 2) use up some of my massive scrap stash. I LOVE that! So, since the race is over, I have been looking at the challenges trying to find ones I love and even ones that "scare" me a little. I am starting with my "home" site challenges, at Digitals and Paperbag Studios!

a card I created for Christine Smith's Card Challenge at Digitals:

{All by Christine Smith: Crabby Appleton, Love Sweetly Add-On, Forever Mine Blog Train Mini, Romance Alpha, & Alpha Series: Notebook}

AND - Paperbag Studios put out its first Challenge - and this one is a font challenge. My layout:

{All by Roben-Marie Smith: Hearts & Love Mini Kit, Tattered Stacks 1, Delicate, Old Photo Frames, Curled Frames, and the Forever Mine Blog Train freebie} font for the challenge is LT Chickenhawk!

So, drop on by and pick up a challenge or two..or three...or four!

Explore

2009-02-28T15:58:00.000-08:00

Scrapping some older photos that I have been trying to find just the right kit for - these totally fit the bill!

April 2006 - DH & I spent the afternoon exploring.

Credits -
Delicate, Hearts & Love, Considering Ruby, and Twigs & Twine Digital Kits by Roben-Marie Smith at Paperbag Studios (here!)

and speaking of which, look at this post - YAY!!

A New Year's Too-Too & A To-Be

2009-01-02T05:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the "R-word" is always everywhere this time of year. But for me, they never last long, unless I resolve to say, breathe all year. (that one goes okay for me so far!) But instead of a correction of what I do, I would feel a lot better and so would my family if I correct how I think. So, for the New Year, instead of a resolution, I have a plan. I read this on Patsy Clairmont's blog last week; she posted it just before Thanksgiving, but I really think it is wonderful advice for every day.

Patsy's Too-Too Plan…one size fits all.

Don’t spend too much. Guard against unnecessary “bargains.” (Lists help) Debt depresses.

Don’t do too much. Exhaustion leads to pity parties and who needs anymore events to attend?

Don’t eat too much. One stuffed turkey is enough.

Don’t set expectations too high. Expectations lead to drama and life gives us enough of that without whiny curtain calls.

Remember you can never be too grateful. Here’s where a list really helps. It gives us deliberate focus, which directs our minds to a higher place. Gratitude protects our health, our hearts, our homes, and our conversations.

Good stuff, huh?

and I was reading at Grandmama's house an article (one of the letters to the editor) and someone was sharing that they had always kept tons of to-do lists on bits of paper, and everywhere. And then one day, someone pointed out that instead of a to-do list, a to-be list was better... Deciding at the beginning of each day not what they would do but what they would be, and then deciding what things to do would get them there. So I can choose to be peaceful, and it will trim my list of stuff in my head that HAS to be done today. Or I can choose to be the best mama I can be, and fun things like crafting or jumping on the trampoline will be added to my list - I love this idea!

And when you combine the two ideas, the Too-Too, and a Be...in my head it looks a little like this:

!

Have a great Friday! I'll be back with pictures taken yesterday and today! -D

"Note to Self": Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T19:18:00.001-08:00

First, I had to come and show you these - LOOK at these cute paper bits!
{You can get them here @ Digitals!}

I am so excited about these - I think they will be so much fun to use with the 365 challenge that I am going to try to do (take a photo each day all year - 365 in all) - I took a ton of photos today as we spent time playing at home this morning and spending time with family this evening - I will post one of those tomorrow!

We had a great day - it is so much fun to watch E play with R, and R learning how to get the toy he means to get (and promptly put it in his mouth!). E was running a fever last night, but none today, even though she is complaining of a sore throat.

Last night's funny was when I heard E calling from our bedroom, where they were both resting/napping, that she needed me. I asked what was wrong, and she tells me 'I can't get his diaper on!' When I get there, R is stripped from the waist down, laughing at his sister who has decided to change his diaper all by herself! Too cute!

The pink plans are coming along for E's birthday at the end of the month. I still need to create her invitations and start working on what we will do. Since we are doing all pink, she decided "no boys" for this party - so we will probably have the family part right after the pink part, and have family over for dinner, with the party from 2-4 on the Sunday before her birthday.

Happy new year - this one is off to a good start so far - I took photos, spent time with family, and even managed a blog post, even if i didn't actually scrap! -D

wise guys

2008-12-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

just a bunch of 'wise guys' - 2008 Christmas Pageant (dh - in the frame - was actually David, not a Magi ;) )

Papers, frame, elements all from Christine Smith's Gifts of the Magi @ Digitals {here},
font: everyday ghost

***
I am really not sure how they talked him into this, but I am glad they did. The last time he was in a play, he was maybe 10...cottonball sheep and fire were involved, and because of it, we didn't have a unity candle at our wedding. This time, no fire - just a longbow that was handmade by a friend & safely returned. :)

This adorable quickpage is on Christine's blog {here} today - and it sent me on a little stroll down memory lane back to E's third birthday (next month she will be FIVE - yikes) - anyway isn't she cute?!

what it's all about

2008-12-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

"It's all about"
This is my grandmother's nativity set - she has set this up every Christmas that I can remember, always on top of her record player cabinet. :)

Papers, Frames, Wordart, leaves, string, and tab from Christine Smith's Christmas Joy @ Digitals {here}
Ribbon flower from Christine Smith's Eclectic Christmas @ Digitals {here}
Corrugated star from Christine Smith's Accessories Series: Corrugated 2 @ Digitals {here}
fonts: AmerType, DJB Danielle

***************
we spent yesterday afternoon at the cabin, having pictures made of all of the cousins (all eight of them) and with them ranging from 13 weeks to 13 years, it really went very well! we managed to get some really cute shots, and it was so cute watching everyone run around in little matching outfits!

2008-12-07T16:46:00.001-08:00

"Nature Walk"
DD and DS on a nature walk - November 2008

Papers, Pinecone, Leaves, Tree Stamp, and Frames from Christine Smith's Eclectic Christmas @ Digitals {here}

Corrugated Border and Leaf from Christine Smith's Accessories Series: Corrugated 2 @ Digitals {here}

Alpha from Christine Smith's Alpha Series: Notebook @ Digitals {here}

Font: KleeScript

works for me {washday}

2008-12-04T22:49:00.000-08:00

sooo...no, it's not wednesday, but i was just thinking about laundry. no, not doing it - just thinking about it. do you do your laundry all on one day, and spend the whole day doing it, or do you do loads every day? when i am caught up again (hopefully by the end of the weekend) i usually do one load a day - i am just awful about putting it away once it is clean and dry - ugh!

i use this soap:from this website - that little bag does 80 loads; you only use one tablespoon per load (really!) and there is no scent, no dyes, no junk in it that we sneeze at!

Anyway, just a little laundry on the brain - and I scrapped a page:

with some of Christine Smith's goodies - the Eclectic Christmas kit, Cardboard elements, and Notebook alpha - such pretty things, and this is what came to my mind instead of a Christmas page for the Christmas kit!

I think my download has finally finished - going to get this file emailed to the printers and get to sleep!

Longjohns....

2008-12-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

E with her cousins - four Christmases ago. (She's the one in red, eating the pinestraw!) I tried to take pics of the four of them together for a card - this is the best we got!

They have grown so much since then - the oldest is a teenager now - how did that happen?? - and there are four more cousins!!

My "Cute Monster"

2008-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

I was looking at the Sweet Shoppe blog (http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/blog/) and a link was there to find my cute monster. Here is mine:

What Your Cute Monster Says About You

You are a deep, thoughtful, down to earth person. You don't put much stock in appearances.You are never superficial or flippant. You take time in life to study, learn, and get to know people well.
You inner demon is laziness. You can get so caught up in your own world that you neglect everything around you.People think you're cute because you're intelligent. Your wit and wisdom are charming.
http://www.blogthings.com/thecutemonstertest/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Long, long time - no blog. Since the last time I blogged, we went to Disney, had Halloween, Christmas, Erynn's Birthday, a new baby, and Halloween again - phew! We finally got fast internet at home yesterday - so I am going to do better - new pics and a new header are coming!

Yikes!

2007-10-23T11:34:00.001-07:00

{okay - lost my post, gonna try again!} it has been a looooooooong time since i have updated this blog - which i guess is mostly just me, talking to myself! but anyway, i have knocked off a few cobwebs, and updated my blinkies, so now a few recent scrapbook pages (maybe not recent pics, but recent pages anyway!) and look, look - i DO remember how to paperscrap!!

2007-06-06T10:07:00.001-07:00

yay! i LOVE a good party!! and DigiScrapShak is having one this Saturday, June 9 - you really MUST come celebrate Lori's birthday with us - 40% off storewide, with 15% off of PhotoBlast Actions, and GOODY BAGS!! woo hoo!!
www.digiscrapshak.com <<-- click me! click me!

learning to be a friend...

2007-05-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

such a sweet picture of e & one of her school friends - had to scrap this one as soon as i got it!

a new blinkie and some new pages!

2007-05-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

happy Wednesday to you! (or to me...because i think there is an echo in here...)

a new blinkie - i am on Darcy's guest ct this month - yippee!

and....
some new pages:

2007-04-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

scrapped just a LITTLE this weekend:

(papers & elements from Beth & Carole's Curly Sue, alpha from Beth & Carole's Leroy Brown, font is MoxyRoxie)

2007-04-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

from friday's feast, #139

Appetizer
When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite? periwinkle

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move? 6, 9 if it was for dh's job

Salad
Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total? 85

Main Course
Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to? yes, i have regifted candles and picture frames for "white elephant" and bingo prizes at Christmas

Dessert
Name something you need from the store. grape jelly

2007-04-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

for Tina's blog challenge for this week - a picture of my day! today is newsletter day at work - this is my desk as of 4:00 pm EST!! (coffee cup is a VERY strange thing for me to have...only because i was up at 5:30 this morning getting some invitations done!)

all day wednesday, i wait, and wait, and work, and wait..... usually, it is thursday and i am throwing this thing on the duplicator, hoping to be done and mostly dry before the volunteers get here to help!

today, i am sick again (better than monday, praise the Lord!) and loopy, so everything is taking twice as long. yes, everything - from 45 pages of labels printed on just one label, to calling the wrong people, to that poor waiter at lunch attempting to make sense of my lunch order....and just think what it would be like if i had taken any medicine - ha!

2007-04-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

okay...i am a VERY bad blogger!! life has been super crazy, with all of my little ventures and adventures lately, and being sick last month. hopefully, i can stop by here more often!

scrapped a page this morning:

and i am getting ready to post the April Mad-Lib challenge at www.digiscrapshak.com - come on over and join us!

E has her very first class picture today - i cannot wait to see it! and we have an Easter party at her school on Friday - yay!

and, if i don't make it here again before the weekend, have a blessed Easter!

2007-02-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

so i went to the sweet shoppe blog (http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/blog/ ) and there is a challenge, From Our Blog 2 Yours - this time, it was to find out what kind of cookie you are. not entirely sure that this is REALLY my cookie, but....

You Are a Smiley Face Cookie

You're happy go lucky. So happy, in fact, it's a little past the point of normal sanity.
You usually make those around you smile ... when you're not creeping them out!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

so - it's your turn - go now...and discover your inner cookie!

2007-02-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

just a quick post with some pages i did this weekend. i have hardly felt like scrapping, and have slept away half the weekend!

hooray! it's a blog-warming party!!

2007-02-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

good morning! welcome to my little piece of blog-world! i will pop in from time to time to update, and share! so, to get us started for today, a few little "bits":
first - an awesome contest where you can win a custom set of word art (digital, but Audrey's word art prints just like you got out your pen and did it yourself right on your page - gorgeous!)

and, get over to www.the-lilypad.com and check out Audrey's new releases - some fantastic templates, elements, and more of her ROCKIN word art!!

and, on another note - michelle - these are for you:

saw them in the Seventh Avenue catalog and thought of you!!

more to come - check in later, chickies!