Gratitude Challenge - my journal

Yeah, I was able to decorate the front of my art journal today that I am going to use for the Gratitude Challenge! I had a ton of fun digging into my stash of scrapping goodies and I was able to do the front and inside of the cover w/o needing to buy a single thing. It feels so good to be using up some of my stash that has been sitting around for years waiting to be used. So now the fun begins.....doing a page each day about the things that I am grateful for. I can't wait to start and hopefully will this afternoon. Sally, you are so awesome.....I am so grateful for YOU for doing this challenge for us!

in motion - digital layout

Here is a layout that I just completed for a challenge at OScraps. The challenge was to scrap a blurry photo. I was thrilled to join in on this one, because I knew that I had the perfect blurry photo for this challenge. I attempted to snap a photo of a church while we were driving down the interstate on night. Needless to say, it didn't come out at all! But, now I am able to document this, even though it's a big blur and tell the story behind it. Silly, I know, but fun and one reason why I love scrapbooking! I love being able to create pages that share the little things in life that are so easily forgotten.

Gratitude Challenge - Day 3

I think that the best way for me to share what I am most of what I'm thankful for today is all in this this photo:


GG and I spent the morning in my scrap room. This is the first time that I let her up at the counter and she was in complete heaven! Who wouldn't love tons of little drawers to open that each had fun, little things inside to play with? lol I was able to make a card while she played with all of my scrapping goodies.

So, here are the 5 things that I am grateful for today:

1. My little Gracie. She is the light of my life!
2. The grace of creativity and the opportunity to share it with my loved ones.
3. My scrap room and being able to have my own spot to create.
4. The amazing morning we had today. It was foggy and cool and a perfect Autumn morning!
5. Wednesday night Mommy & Me dance class with Gracie.

Gratitude Challenge - Day 2

Here are the 5 things that I'm grateful for today:

1. The my husband is able to take the kids to school each morning on his way to work!
2. My absolutely amazing 13 yo daughter who has been bubbly all day because she's excited about her new hair cut.
3. Coffee. I love it. ;-)
4. That my mother taught me how to make deliciously, simple potato soup. I made some for dinner and it is the best comfort food ever!
5. My DVR. I know I shouldn't watch that much TV, but it sure is nice to be able to DVR things and watch them after everyone is tucked in for the night.

Go to Sally's blog is you would like to join in on this awesome challenge!

Gratitude Challenge

A good, scrapping friend, Sally, has started a Gratitude Challenge at her blog and at OScraps. As soon as I saw that she was doing this, I knew that I had to join in. I've had a lot going on in my life and I have really let a lot of my daily stress get me down and cloud my vision of the good things that happen each day. So, I am hoping that this 40-day challenge will help me look for and validate those special, little gifts of grace that God gives me each day!

Here are 5 things that I am grateful for today:

1. My church and the opportunities that it give me to grow in my faith and friendships.
2. That my husband is a great Mr. Fix-It! He fixed one of our outside faucets today that has been leaking badly.
3. Whoever invented the washing machine! With 6 peoples worth of laundry that needed to be caught up today, I can't even being to imagine what it was for women in the days before electric washing machines and dryers!
4. The cool breezes of Autumn.
5. My friends who let me know that they are praying for me and my family.

Now Sally is making fabulous pages in an art journal for this challenge and I really hope to do the same! Maybe that is something that I can do tomorrow as a little reward for spending all day doing laundry!

Have a blessed day!

this is love - digi layout

Here is another layout that I finished over the weekend. I absolutely love this photo of my husband. The journaling says it all.....

I will never forget the evening that Joe & I renewed our wedding vows in the Catholic Church.
I had just officially become a Catholic & Father Don called us up right after Mass to say our
vows. I think that I was more nervous this time than the first time! I don’t know if it was because now I really knew & understood the meaning of our vows or if it was because I loved Joe just as much now as I did when we were first married in 1992. I will never forget how special
this evening was or the look on Joe’s face when he said, “I do.” This is what Love looks like.
15 April 2006

I hope you have a blessed day!

He Is - digi layout

I ran across the lyrics to this song at the K-LOVE website and I knew that I had to do a faith-booking page using it. The words "Even when it feels like there is no one holding me; Be still, my soul, He is" made me think of the "Two Brothers" statue that is located on the grounds at Boys Town. I need to go download this song from iTunes now!


He Is - by Mark Schultz

Father let the world just fade away
Let me feel Your presence in this place
Lord I've never been so weary
How I need to know You're near me
Father let the world just fade away
'Til I'm on my knees
'Til my heart can sing

He is
He was
He always will be
Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
He is

Father let Your Holy Spirit sing
Let it calm this storm inside of me
As I stand amazed
Lift my hands and say

He is
He was
He always will be
He lives
He loves
He's always with me
Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still my soul

Through every fear
And every doubt
In every tear I shed
Down every road
I'm not alone
No matter where I am

He is
He was
He always will be
He lives
He loves
He's always with me
Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still my soul
Be still and know
Be still my soul
He is