the Brick Wall

I'm reading the Last Lecture, and so far its been humbling.

I'm stuck on his topic about his brick wall. I'm sure we have all of those but I'm sure a lot of them are also in our personal life.  . . "brick walls are there for people who don't want it bad enough." I've hit my brick wall, but now its a matter of bringing it down. And how do you do that?

Reading

I'm late on the ball - on reading the Twilight series. I'm on book 1. I am the slowest reader. Although I'm on page 434 - I am making progress. I'm not one of those that will start reading a series because everyone else does - again I'm tooo much of a slow reader. Anyhow, it was Troy who 2 month ago asked that we read it together. Not knowing what the book is about, I asked my honey to pick up a copy for me. (Now do you understand what I mean about me being such a slow reader?) Its 2 months later and I am still reading it - but have just 54 pages left while book number 2 waits for me in my work bag. ;)

Arguing

Been scrapbooking. Above are 2 of the many pages i've put together in the past few days. It's an Ali lift. Pretty identical. Normally, i try to make it my own. But this time, I forced myself to just copy a layout.

On another note, on the topic of arguing. Lately, I've realized that Bobby and I have argued a few times. That is twice. Not the normal relationship type of disagreements. You know, the 'why didn't you do this?', 'stop spending - we don't have enough money!' OR 'the you don't have time for me.' We actually haven't argued in a very long time. EXCEPT, we've been disagreeing a whole lot about our sweet tooth! I have to laugh because a few weeks ago, we argued about what type of variety doughnuts we should have at Krispy Kreme. In fact we were in the drive-thru, and because we couldn't make a decision, we went thru the drive-thru - let the worker know that we'd just come in. Or tonight about candy! I specifically told Bobby that the mint 3 musketeers was mine and i wasn't sharing (since he chose the starburst). SO he gives me a hard time that he ate my candy!!  I know.. we need a life.......

Random Facts that you might not know about me

1. My life revolves around my children and husband.
2. I honestly love what I do as a respiratory therapist. Nothing beats being the last breath for a stranger. Nothing beats being that person to give a premature baby their first breath.
3. I do get tickled with a piece of beautiful scrapbook paper & new fresh fabric.
4. I believe in respect and honesty - thank you dad. Characteristics my dad instilled in me, and characteristics my children WILL have.
5. I love taking pictures!! I love the fact that a camera can stop time.
6. I enjoy making stuff for friends and family - quilting, sewing, and scrapbooking.
7. I need to be loved wholeheartedly and genuinely.
8. I am a night person. I was born that way. I sleep by day and play by night.
9. I have to start my day with a cup of coffee.
10. As crazy as i type this, I see peace when I see a room filled with 12 children I am connected to - my 3 children, Marie's 5 kids, Rachel's 3 babies, and Erna's 1 princess.
11. My dearest friends, my bff's, and my confidants: are my 3 sisters.
12. I love chocolate.

other stuff

Been preoccupied in making these again, just trying to perfect it still. Can't wait to get the new Joel Dewberry ginseng fabric. I love this new collection.

So its 85 degrees here in Hillsboro, finally!! for once, walked out of the house in shorts! no jacket, no socks, no covered shoes, and no long pants! Its a beautiful day - blue skies but a whole lot of pollen flying in the air. Grrr.. i can't stand the pollen because its that time of year where my allergies act up. Thank goodness for alavert! 

Exercising

I've contemplating it. I've been thinking about it. Trying to justify if i should really work out. I didn't want a contract. I didn't want to be obligated to a fitness center for years. Well, after looking at my sick patients, after wondering if I'll ever be on my death bed like a few of them are, . . . i thought i better take some measure to do something about it. At work they have this thing called, "boot camp" & for $100 you get a personal trainer for an hour 3 x a week for 7 weeks. Its actually 22 sessions though -even better. Not bad huh? no commitment and I'm forced to go since it starts at 7am - right after work. Picture to the right is not me. I wish! I just want to gain upper body strength and be toned. Day one was 5/5 am! It was great!! It hurts, my muscles are now awake,  but it feels good!! Can you believe that I wish it was work out day today? I have to wait till wednesday morning. good sign....

Scrapbooking

Had my class with Karen Russell and it was great!! I realized that my style of scrapbooking is very similar to hers. Lots of pictures and a little of rub-ons, pretty paper, pearl brads and interaction. It was inspiring. It was real. And really something to get me out of my rut of scrapbooking. 

For a moment, I began to get a little bored with scrapbooking. My layouts were beginning to look all the same, and the effort to put something together was getting to me. And I guess it was because I couldn't figure out a way to scrapbook my Hannah Montana pictures. I know, a little pathetic, but i just couldn't do a typcial 'concert' or 'rockstar' layout- a little too cheesy for me i guess. But amazingly, I'm done!! Underneath the main picture, are all the other pictures, and memorabilia. It works for me. The other layout, will hold all the artwork Jadeline draws for me, you know the paintings, notes, or silly stuff she makes. The painting on the left is suppose to be Bobby and I. The other picture is a bunny - incase you were wondering.

Bucket List

A friend of mine started her Bucket List, and I haven't seen the movie, but thought it would be a great idea to start one:

Bucket List Completed:

• Have one of my children be a girl. ;)
• Go to Disneyworld.
• Learn to sew.
• Meet and take a class by Ali Edwards.
• Get married.
• Learn how to snowboard.
• Own a SLR camera.

Bucket List:

• Take my family to Disneyland or Disneyworld
• Go on a cruise with my husband.
• Get paid for something I've made.
• Learn how to ballroom dance.
• Learn how to ski.
• REMAIN married.
• Watch my children graduate from college.
• Own a house.
• Get published - scrapbooking.
• Watch the Lakers and Cowboys play live.

A thought

"Letting go of the old, and looking forward to the new 'change'."

. . . Was the new message at church today.

There are 3 kinds of people:

1. Those who hold on/resist.
2. Those who observe.
3. Those who accept the now.

Where do you begin:

• Jesus makes all things new
• Push forward on faith
• Don't be afraid of letting go of the old

Great Sunday!

We went to church today. Its been awhile, so at first it felt awkward. And yet for the life of me, it was the perfect time as if God was really wanting us there today. (Especially when the pastor says its hard to worship or take God in when you're sitting; that its important to stand because you tend to take your personal wall down.) And he was right. He talked about personal change today. (I wonder if that was a coincidence?) That slowly if you chip away the negative pieces of yourself , you can find the better part of you. It was a nice perspective.

He even mentioned that resolutions don't work because it sets you up for failure- which I've already agreed. So far my short term goals are being achieved. Which reminded me if I was really fullfilling them. Vitamins - check. Uncluttered desk - check. Scrapbooking -- I'm working on it. Just one more page to go.

Oh, and since I don't head back to work till Thursday for patient care, besides a 2 hour meeting on Wednesday, I thought wine would be appropriate with scrapbooking.

Guitar Hero

Have you played this game? This was all Troy wanted for Christmas. . . But I am sure hooked on this game. I am not someone who is good at any video games but let me play Guitar Hero on easy and medium and I can sure rock!! It is so much fun! It really brings that kid back in you. And when you can beat your husband (who is beyond competitive), it feels great to win the battles.

On another note, Ashton had a basketball game today. Oh, my gosh, watching these kids play today was incredible. They didn't win, but being down 9 points when the score is 9-0, to come back and tie at half time was great!! I was so excited!! Watching them from the beginning of the season, to now - you can see how much they have improved and grown in playing basketball. From one kid who you can absolutely see that he is walking around with the basketball, to missing all free throws to actually scoring. I think it was the parents and I who were more stressed than the kids! They didn't win this game, but playing an undefeated team to just come back into the game - that was a win!