A New Day

So here it is, a new day of a new week. A time to start fresh and be thankful for each and every moment God has given. It is not just Monday, it is a new day! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice! I am thankful for this new day! I have another day to do all those things that need to be done, another day to tell my family how much I love them, another day to make wrongs right, another day to live for the Lord! And so I will rejoice and I will be thankful for another breath. I hope this finds you thankful for another day! I hope you are rejoicing right where you are, in whatever circumstance you may be in. You have another day, Rejoice!

Last week was a difficult week. I couldn't scrap. All I could do, was go through each day, and let it take care of itself. I finally was able to scrap a little on Saturday and a little more yesterday. Whoo hoo, the light is shining through just a bit. I decided today was the day I should start blogging again. I will be doing a happy layout of my mom soon, the ideas are rolling around in my head and that is a good thing! In the meantime I wanted to post some pictures my dad took of me and my siblings while we where in Arizona. It was so good to be with them and I truly hope that we keep in touch more now than we have in the past! I am so proud of all of them!

My siblings and I.

All of us with our significant others.

All of us with my sister's kids.

I treasure these photos!! What a beautiful family we have!! I love you all tremendously!!

I was able to finish up a little card this weekend. Whoo hoo! I actually scrapped! This is for a class I am teaching next week for Keepsakes by Design.

Don't you just love Pink Paislee? I had a blast with my Cricut and my spooky fence punch from Martha Stewart. This, in all honesty, is my first attempt at making a card with clear acetate. I have to admit it was a blast! I love all the depth you can create when you use acetate!

I hope you all have a fantastic week and may this find you Rejoicing in the Lord.

Kristii

Remebering Mom

My sweet precious mom passed away late last night as a result of complications from lung cancer.
My heart is broken and it aches beyond measure. The tears have been flowing and they just won't stop! I am just thankful she is no longer in any pain! She is now with her Savior and King-whole and painfree!Mom, I miss you so much! You fought a brave, courageous fight! I love you more than words can ever say and I am so sorry you had to suffer so. I know you though, you probably never let on just how much pain and suffering you were going through! Always thinking of others ahead of yourself. You so had a way of doing that mom!! I miss your dimpled smile and all your little quirks!! I am so thankful I had the chance to spend the week with you last December! It is a time I will cherish forever!! You made me laugh, you made me cry, but most of all, I was just able to share myself with you! We weren't able to do that much through the years. There were just too many miles separating us!

You were so beautiful then, and even more so now. Though cancer ravaged your body, your beauty shined through. I am so thankful for the memories I have! I will cherish them forever until the day when I am no more and share with you once again with Jesus in Heaven! I love you mom!!!

Celebrating a Dear Friend

It has been a while since I have posted or even been on line because I have not been feeling well, but my dear friend Susan Beth just told me of some extrememly heart wrenching news.


She told me that my dear scrapbooking friend Aleida was killed suddenly in a car accident on Friday. I am in shock and disbelief!!! The tears are streaming down my face and I can't stop them!! You will be missed my friend!! There is only one thing I can do to help ease the ache that is burning in my heart and that is to Thank You and Celebrate You!!

Thank you Aleida for your kind words!!

Thank you for your encouraging spirit!!
Thank you for your friendship!!
Thank you for your presence at SC!! What a bright spot you were!!
Thank you for standing up for me!! You put those trolls at 2peas in their place like only you could!!
Thank you for sharing your spunk and sassy attitude! You were never afraid to tell it like it is!!
Thank you for your creativity and inspiration!! Your work was amazing!!

Thank you for teaching me life lessons!!

"There is a reason why I'm posting these pictures. Pictures that I'm actually in. Not because I think I'm all that and a trip to Hollywood. No. It's because I'm actually tired of being worried about how I look and not taking or having very many photos of me with my children. I have very few pictures of me and my babies when they were babies, and I have myself to blame. Precious opportunities to capture on paper, lost because of my silliness. Well no more I say! One day I won't be here and there will be hardly any pictures of them and their mama. So ladies, hand over the camera and get in those photos! Please. You'll be happier you did."

Aleida Franklin August 6, 2008

How prophetic that post was! Wow!

I will take more pictures of myself regardless of how I feel or look and every time I do, I will think of you!! You taught me it doesn't matter. It's the memories that will be left behind! That's what matters!!

Aleida, you will truly be missed. Thank you for also making me remember how precious life is!!

We must treasure every moment because life is so very short!! Hold your loved ones closer and tell them you love them today! Take a picture and scrap it! Aleida would want it that way!!

To my friends and family!! I love you all and I treasure each and every one of you!!

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding comfort your hearts today,

kristii

Little Red Scrapbook DT Opportunity!!!

Maegan is looking for two new designers at Little Red Scrapbook!!!!
The deadline has been extended and the requirements have changed, so you have plenty of time to get your submissions in!! Check out the call here!!! We would love to have you be a part of the LRS team!!! October's kit is to die for and Maegan has some fantastic kits planned for the future!! So, What are you waiting for???? Give it a try!!

Check out the Happenings at Color Me Daisy!!!

Color Me Daisy is hosting an on-line Crop!!!

We are getting ready for an on-line crop to held next weekend September 10-21!!! There will be lots of games and challenges and of course, lots of fun prizes!! It is going to be an awesome weekend!!! Check out the CMD Blog for more information!!! I have never fully participated in an on-line crop and I am way excited!!! I hope to see you all there!! I know I plan on getting lots of scrapping done!!

Color Me Daisy!!! Guest Design Team Opportunity!!

Michelle is looking for a guest designer for October!! I just have to tell you that the October kit is going to be awesome and what a great opportunity to win yourself a free kit!! You just gotta try out for this!! Check out the CMD Blog for more information!!!! You will be glad you did!! Michelle is awesome to work for and you are going to love this kit!!!

Happy Monday!

It was a cool and rainy weekend, but we managed to take in two soccer games without getting wet! We were all quite thankful for the reprieve! A year ago we had a downpour like no other, and the fans and players were absolutely soaked. We were all quite miserable!! Anyway, The boys had two tough games on Friday and Saturday, and they went 1-1 for the weekend. They fought quite hard the second game, and it was extremely exciting to see them come out on top. Our high school soccer program is still in its beginning stages and wins have been hard to come by. They have improved tremendously since Benny was a freshman!! We have three games scheduled for this week, and we are hoping to see some more excellent teamwork and another win or two! Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend:

I spent a lot of time scrapping after the soccer games. It was a great scrappy weekend!!! My first So Sketchy Blog assignment for September was a little different than normal. Allison changed things up a little this month and gave those of us who normally do layouts the option of doing a card and vice versa. I jumped on the chance to do something different. Here is what I came up with:

You can view the sketch I worked with on the So Sketchy Blog by Allison Cope. The sketches are fantastic and fun to work with!!

I also spent some time creating with the new Graphic 45 line Playtimes Past for an upcoming Scrapbooking Retreat at my LSS, Keepsakes By Design. What a wonderful line to play with!!!

Exciting News From Color Me Daisy!!!

Color Me Daisy is hosting a Farewell to Summer online crop September 19-21!!! I don't know about you, but I really haven't participated in an online crop before, so I am extremely excited about this one!!! Check out the Color Me Daisy website for more information!! I hope to see you there!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Monday! What better way to start the week than with anexcerpt from Proverbs of the Day:

"Proverbs 24:13-14 (AMP):13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.14 So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be thus to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.

Verse 14 tells us that when we find the godly Wisdom in Jesus, it will also produce a future with fulfillment and a reward, and our expectation will not be cut off. When we obey the commandments of God, it will bring enlightenment that will cause our heart to rejoice according to the verses below. Even God's judgments toward us are true and righteous and we need not fear them, if we have reverential fear for our Lord. These scriptures tell us that the Word of the Lord is to be desired more than gold and again the Bible mentions that God's Word and His Wisdom are sweeter than honey. "

May the Joy of the Lord fill you today!!!

Kristii

Questionnaire anyone?

My friends Anilu and Chris started a questionnaire and I thought why not, lets give it a try!! So here goes...
1) Are your parents married or divorced? Divorced

2) Vegetarian? No I like a little meat with my veggies!

3) Heaven? Absolutely! Jesus is my answer!

4) Come close to dying? Not that I am aware of, but I do know that there are angels around me!

5) What jewelry do you wear 24/7? my wedding rings, I am not a fashion statement by any means!

6) Are you eating? I just had a poptart.... as I look at the treadmill!!

7) Do you eat the stems of broccoli? Not particularly

8) Makeup? Mascara for sure!!!

9) Were you usually the dumper or the dumpee in your past relationships? a little of both.

10) Would you ever have plastic surgery? Never!! I am who I am!!

11) What do you wear to bed? tank top and shorts

12) Have you ever done anything illegal? No, not that I am aware of!

13) Can you roll your tongue? no, the rest of my family can, so I am an outcast!

14) Pluck your eyebrows? Never

15) What kind of watch(es) do you wear: My cell phone, lol!

16) Abortion? No, I could never kill another human being!

17) Hair color? Dark blonde.

18) Future child's name? Already had them and I love their names, Bethany Marie and Heidi Elizabeth.

19) Do you snore? During allergy season

(20) If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation? Jamaica

21) Do you sleep with stuffed animals? No

22) If you won the lottery, what would you do first? Pay off my kids education and my home and go on a vacation with the whole fam!

23) Gold or silver? White gold.

24) Hamburger or hot dog? Hamburger

25) If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose????

26) Beach, city, or country? Beach, I have a bond with the ocean!!

27) Who was the last person you touched? My sweet dh!

28) Where do you eat? breakfast and lunch at my desk, dinner at the table

29) When's the last time you cried? today when I read an email from my sweet daughter who lives in Seattle.

30) Have you loved somebody so much it makes you cry? of course

31) Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex? Why?

32) Ever been involved with the police? No

33)Believe in Santa Claus? When I was a child.

34) Do you talk in your sleep? No

35) Beach or pool? Beach for sure!!

36) Can you cross your eyes? No I just have no talent in those crazy contortion things!!

37) What's your favorite song at the moment? Realized by Colby Cailet

38) Window seat or aisle? Window

39) Ever met any famous bands/singers? Yes, I got to sing with Clay Cross back in the day.

40) Do you feel that you've ever had a truly successful relationship? My marriage is still going strong after 24 years!!

41) Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? Twirl

42) Rickie Lake or Oprah Winfrey? Neither, who has time for such things?

43) Would you ever admit to having done plastic surgery of any kind if confronted?I wouldn't have it any way!

44) How long does your shower last?About 5 minutes before I go to work.

45) Do you drive a stick? Yes and I love it!! The gas mileage is awesome and I have control!!

46) Cake or ice cream? ice cream cake, duh! Love this answer!!

47) Self-conscious? Yes most of the time!

48) What time do you get up? Around 5:00 am

49) Have you ever given money to a bum? No I am working two job just to make ends meet...

50) When was your first crush? probably around 12.

51) Where do you wish you were? anywhere with my whole family!

52) Have you ever broken someone's heart? Yes

53) Ever been given a ring? Yes

54) Longest relationship? twenty four years and counting

55) Last gift you received: a $50 Borders Book card from my co-worker

56) Last sport you played? We went bowling over the weekend.

57) Things you spend a lot of money on? Our kids

58) Where do you live? A gorgeous valley in Southwestern Montana

59) High school you attend(ed):Kelly Walsh

60) Last wedding attended: Hardaway's

61) Favorite fast food restaurant: Wendy's

62) Where do you work: Our local High School

63) Can you cook? Yes, I am not a great cook, but I get it done!

64) Most hated food: ??

65) Can you sing? I sang on several worship teams when i was younger.

66) Last concert attended: Casting Crowns

67) Last kiss?My sweetie kissed me before he left this morning.

68) Favorite Alcoholic drink: I really don't drink.

69) Current crush? Edward in the Twilight series!!

If you get a chance, take the quiz. It will be fun to see what everyone's answers are!!

I hope your day is filled with love and laughter and the peace of our Gracious Heavenly Father!
Kristii

So sad, its the last!!!

I have had such a fantastic time being the Guest designer at Scrapping the Music!! I am going to miss designing for STM tremendously, (I am aslo going to miss knowing the song before it is posted on the blog, lol!!) It is such a fantastic challenge and I am going to have to keep up with the challeges in the month's to come. Thank you ladies for giving me the opportunity to play with these challenges!! Music is such a big part of my life and it is only fitting to use lyrics in my layouts!!! If you haven't given Scrapping the Music a try head on over and see if you have what it takes to make the Scrapping the Music Hall of Fame!!! You will be glad you did!!

This week's song is Bon Jovi's It's my Life. Such a fantastic song! For me this layout reminds me that I'm not gonna live forever and I might as well enjoy life now and not be so sad about my kids moving away. I am getting over it, but I need to be happy and secure in who I am now in this post-parenting stage. Secure in the God who formed me and made me and had a plan for my life! I am gonna live while I'm alive! I have been thinking about journaling around this layout, but the pattern is so busy, I am afraid it will be ruined, so for now, I am journaling on the back of the layout.

Speaking of security, Moses gave a blessing to the Israelites before his death... "12 About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for he shields Him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." Deuteronomy 33:12

May you rest secure in the Lord today!

Kristii

Fall is in the air!!!

I can't believe how the weather can change so quickly. Yesterday was overcast and rainy and the high was a whopping 52, brr... I am amazed at the yellow leaves that are already shining in my trees. I do have to admit though, I am ready for fall. I really do love the change of seasons. It is just the "cold" season that lasts so long here in Montana that I really don't care for.

Fall also brings soccer season and did our boys start the season off right!! They shut out their opponent in both of their games this weekend!! Go Panthers!! Friday's game was spectacular as the boys scored 8 goals. Their offense was totally in gear and their defense shined as well. Benny did a great job on the defensive side and made some fantastic offensive passes with an assist in the first game! Whoo hoo! Saturday's game was fantastic too as our boys scored 4 goals. The weather was perfect and the games were extremely fun to watch. I am hoping for more of the same this weekend when our boys are at home Friday and Saturday for our first homestand! Go Panthers!

I had a blast finishing my designs with the Color Me Daisy September kit. I loved this kit and still have a couple of ideas for future projects. There is a wonderful scalloped album that I am going use for our summer trip to Seattle. The colors are just fantastic for summer or fall pics!!!

This is my favorite layout of all! I love the blue back ground with the ocean pictures! Our family had such a fantastic time in Seattle this summer and this layout totally reflects how close our family is! We are so blessed!

This is a little gift for Heidi celebrating her friendship with her brother. She will be able to stand it up on her nightstand or desk.

This little card was made witht he help of my cricut and threading water punch. I loved the fall colors in this kit! Awesome!

I will have some more layouts to post later. Lots of work done and lots still to do!!

The reading today from Oswald Chamber's, My Utmost for His Highest, talks about God wanting to make us like himself. "If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.... He that believeth in Me out of him shall flow rivers of living water" - hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. It is time now to break the life, to cease craving for satisfaction, and to spill the thing out. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?

Oh Lord, May I be used by you today at school, at home and wherever I am...not to be successful in the worlds eyes, but to be used by you.

Have a fantastic day,

Kristii