30 Day Photo Challenge

I have decided to do the 30 day photo challenge. I think it will be fun and who knows what you may learn about me....
I think this challenge could be rewarding for everyone. I'm especially looking forward to going through old pictures and reliving some of life's memorable moments. A 30 day trip down memory lane, if you will. I will post the picture above the day/number and write a small caption with details on the picture. ENJOY FOLKS!

HERE IS THE LIST:


Day 01 - A recent photo of you (09.05.11)
This was obviously from the 4th of July this year @ Lake Tenkiller.
Had so much fun with The Hudson's!!


Day 02 - A really good memory (09.06.11)
Our BEAUTIFUL view from our room @ Grand Velas
January 2011 ~ Something I will NEVER forget :)


Day 03 - A picture of you and your craziest friend (09.07.11)
If you only knew how many pictures I wanted to post of this chick! There are soooo many but this was very recent and summed it up perfectly if you ask me! I love my Lady Di.



Day 04 - A habit that you wish you didn't have (09.07.11)
I wish I did not love these two eating habits but I do!!!
Hey instead of wanting Starbucks everyday I have settled for sometimes once a week. I'm saving money and taking one step at a time to break the "daily" habit. LOL
Then the Goldfish.....man those little guys are a salty habit that's HARD to break! They are a MUST HAVE at the ballpark during the summer. If you want some, just sit next to me at the ballgame :-)


Day 05 - A picture of somewhere you've been to (09.08.11)
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Mexico
I've been blessed to visit here on a girls only trip a few years back, a family vacation in 2008 & again this year with Mike & The Garcia's on a company business trip.


Day 06 - A picture that shows your true self (09.09.11)
It doesn't get truer than this. Best I've felt in YEARS!


Day 07 - A picture of a guilty pleasure (09.10.11)
I've always been a big fan of sweet (almost too sweet) wine and THANK YOU DIANA for introducing me to "Cupcake". It's my guilty little pleasure of choice these days.


Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh (09.11.11)
I am 100% sure that this makes me laugh mainly because it irritates the crap out of others. Kyle & Diana for instance. I decided my gnome should be pictured this summer doing things I know he enjoys like chilling in the pool. I thought he looked great! He even made it on family vacation this year and I am sure he will make it to some sporting events as well. I was told by a buddy that he deserves his on Facebook page since he's been photographed on so many adventures. Heck, he even needs a name. I just googled a gnome name and there is a website dedicated to this. OMG~ His name is now officially GEOFF The Obsessive Night Watchman of Ashville!


Day 09 - A picture of something you'd cry if you lost (09.12.11)
It's my wedding ring. I feel naked without it!


APRIL 3, 1999







Day 10 - A picture of someone you see yourself growing old with (09.13.11)
It goes without saying I could NOT just post one pic of this man! I LOVE YOU MICHAEL PAUL!! So many years! Too many memories for just one picture!


Day 11 - A picture of your favorite season (09.14.11)
Always has been fall, always will be fall. I just love that time of year.


Day 12 - A picture of something you love (09.15.11)
You are not living if you don't believe in JESUS! My King of Kings & Lord of Lords!


Day 13 - A picture of something you hate (09.16.11)
I get sick to my stomach seeing images of the American flag burning. It's horrible and I'll never agree with anyone who thinks it's their right to do this.




Day 14 - A picture of something you could never imagine your life without (09.17.11) My life would not be the same. I honestly could never imagine life without Mike, Kyle & Cameron. My reasons for being!


Day 15 - A picture of someone you miss (09.18.11)
MY NANNY! I love & miss her so very much!! I miss our shopping trips to the city, our long chats while driving around doing nothing, you trying to teach me to knit/crochet, cooking suppers with you, your gentle kind heart and most of all your voice & that smile. I will hold you forever in my heart!



Day 16 - A picture of something that puts you in a good mood (09.19.11) Walking through my house and seeing things I've made that are focused around good memories with my family.


Day 17 - A picture of your favorite singer (09.20.11)
Should come to no surprise. Most ladies will agree he's AWESOME & easy on the eyes! Got to see him twice this year in concert! I could have posted tons more pics but did not want to hurt Mike's feelings. LOL

 
Day 18 - A picture of your favorite room (09.21.11)
Right now this is my favorite room.  My bedroom.  We just in the last few months had it repainted, new carpet, new furniture and bedding.  I just LOVE when everything is in it's place.  I really like the "ASH" above the bed and my wall of crosses.  Makes me happy!!!

Day 19 - A picture of something you want to do before you die (09.22.11)
I want nothing more than to see my boys find happiness in themselves and then be able to share it with the love of their life.  I'd love to see them both get married and eventually bless Mike & I with grandchildren.  I hope to be like my Aunt Edith is with her grandchildren.  I've always looked up to her and know I will follow in her footsteps. 

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel (09.23.11)
I think it would be AMAZING!  I'd love to go whale watching while I am there too.

Day 21 - A picture of something that makes you happy (09.24.11)
I loved this picture that was taken back in 2008.  One of my favs!!

Day 22 - A picture that confuses you (09.25.11)

If only it were that easy?!?!

Day 23 - A picture of something that comforts you (09.26.11)

PRAYER!  PRAYER!  PRAYER!

Day 24 - A picture of yourself and a family member (09.27.11)

Couldn't help but post my siblings!  A family tradition actually.

Day 25 - A picture of something you collect (09.28.11)

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you (09.29.11)

Day 27 - A picture of something you're afraid of (09.30.11)

Day 28 - A picture of you last year and one of you now (10.01.11)

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile (10.02.11)

Day 30 - Who are you? (10.03.11)

Creating Keepsakes Convention ~ Tulsa, OK

As some of you are aware I go to the Creating Keepsakes Convention with a group of gals I just love. Chris Crabtree, Nancy Bartling & Diana Hardeman. This year was my 5th year to get to attend. Diana and I took 9 classes spread out over two days. You scrapbooking chicks will understand... we took Latest and Greatest with Basic Gray, a couple Technique Tuesday classes (one being an Ali Edwards), a couple simple/basic classes and even one where we ventured out of our "normal" and attempted new flower making (which seems to be the rage these days). I throughly enjoyed going up on Friday and not trying to cram everything into Saturday like we have in years past. I wanted to take a moment to express what these girls mean to me. I love each of you in your own unique way and I cherish our friendship!!! Some of us have been scrapbooking together since shortly after Cameron was born. 11 years together. Over the last couple of years my scrapbooking pretty much took a backseat to life. I allowed too much to come between something I love and enjoy so much. My girls stuck it out right beside me and our friendships are still going strong. As for me and not scrapbooking.....NO MORE! I dusted off all those bins of collected (okay hoarded might be a better word) beautiful papers, supplies, embellishments, idea books and started getting them re-organized. Man, DO I HAVE A TON OF STUFF!!! I thought while I am at it I will share with everyone some of the new examples we saw at CK this year. Enjoy the pics! Hope it inspires some of you as well.

If you have a church group or something local where groups of ladies get together to scrapbook I'd love to hear about it. Over the last couple years our favorite spots have since closed. **so sad**

Inner Peace

Found this and it was a MUST have for my house

WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HARD TO STAND...kneel

I've learned recently that the closer one gets with God the harder the attacks will follow. I had to make a decision to let the hurtful things people have said about me be forgotten as easily as they were spoken.

A friend of mine passed me a note in church last night that read: They are coming after you because you are going in the right direction! They are trying to keep you from this, don't let them stop you! She knew I was hurting. She knew I was struggling. What got to me the most was it's like the bible study was directed straight to me. Speaking directly to my heart as if Pastor knew what to say to give me some kind of understanding to be able to make peace. All I know is God is working in ME! Without a doubt he is guiding ME! Does that make me perfect? No, but it does give me FAITH. It does give me strength to not be bound by others discontent!

Let's praise His name! He is holy, He is almighty. He is love. He brings hope, forgiveness, heart cleansing, peace and power. He is our deliverer and coming King. Praise his wonderful name!

~ Lucille M. Law

I know others are hurting or may be struggling with similar issues. Learn not to allow people or situations to fill your heart with anger. Don't give into depression associated with the hurt (this doesn't happen overnight) Don't allow yourself to be bitter but instead RISE ABOVE! Besides, inner peace is found by changing yourself, NOT the people who hurt you. I can only speak from my personal experiences and hope that you can find your inner peace as well. It can be a daily battle at times but KEEP YOUR FAITH!

Reaching your dream takes COURAGE

This is something I found and LOVED ~ Hope you enjoy it as well.

REACHING YOUR DREAM TAKES COURAGE

Courage is admitting that you're afraid and facing that fear directly. It's being strong enough to ask for help and humble enough to accept it.

Courage is standing up for what you believe in without worrying about the opinions of others. It's following your own heart, living your own life, and settling for nothing less than the best for yourself.

Courage is daring to take a first step, a big leap, or a different path. It's attempting to do something that no one has done before and all others thought impossible.

Courage is keeping heart in the face of disappointment and looking at defeat not as an end but as a new beginning. It's believing that things will ultimately get better even as they get worse.

Courage is being responsible for your own actions and admitting your own mistakes without placing blame on others. It's relying not on others for your success, but on your own skills and efforts.

Courage is refusing to quit even when you're intimidated by impossibility. It's choosing a goal, sticking with it, and finding solutions to the problems.

Courage is thinking big, aiming high, and shooting far. It's taking a dream and doing anything, risking everything, and stopping at nothing to it make it a reality.

He's working in me today!

Take time today to hear the message in two sermons.

Go to HARVEST CHURCH then go to the media section. Listen to I WILL ARISE & 1-2-3 YOU'RE OUT! Worth the time, trust me! I'd love to hear your opinions and what you took from the message. Email me @ crown_jewels@sbcglobal.net

Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insight ~ Dale Evans Rogers

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME. ~ Psalm 51:10

Simple update

It's been awhile folks. Mainly because so much has changed in the last month. It's been a whirlwind of events but now looking back I firmly believe EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Where to start?

Cameron is full swing into baseball and also playing summer league basketball. The Cougars (baseball team) played in State Tournament already. They've also played up in the 12 yr old brackets a few times and left with 1st & 2nd place trophies. Very proud to be a part of such an awesome group of boys!!! I absolutley LOVE the way those boys get along and gel. We now are on a little break and headed to a week long tourney that's a World Series. Then the season will come to an end and that means.......VACATION, MORE TIME IN THE POOL, BACK-TO-SCHOOL & FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!!!

Kyle is now doing his own thing. No longer living under our roof. It was time to cut the strings. NOT what I wanted but understanding he has to make his own decisions, make his own mistakes to be able to move forward. It's just my personal opinion he would have had a better, easier route if he'd decided to stay at home. Such is life.....moving forward!!! I wish him the best and want nothing more than for him to succeed. Everything any mother would want for her child.

As far as me, Mike and I had decided that maybe it would be best for me to stay at home with Cameron over the summer. Something I wanted to do but really enjoyed being employed and making good money. Then I had a falling out at the office. It was normal behavior for that time of month when it came to my employer. He has a way of taking out his frustrations on me especially when it comes time for him to pay his bills. It made it where everyone dreads the beginning of the month. Enough was enough! Timing could not have been better and it made it all that much easier to accept where I am now. Happy, home, enjoying my summer with my son and his buddies, keeping up with my house and having the freedom to catch up with other friends by meeting them for lunch or shopping. It's funny how things always have a way of working themselves out. I don't deal with the stress anymore and that has made a world of difference to me. Allowed me to see things for what they were and move forward in a positive way. I'm in the process of starting my jewelry again. I have started an etsy accont and just need to get pictures taken of my pieces and get them added to the site. I need to create a facebook page for my pieces too. I went to a bead show that was in town last weekend and it got my creative juices flowing. Now that we have a bit of a break after the 4th of July I plan to fill some free time with jewelry making. Something I loved but lost track of due to lack of time. I also got great news from a friend that she wants to carry my jewelry in her new tanning/nail salon and boutique. I'm so happy she is taking this leap and opening up something she believes in and has always wanted to do. I wish her the best!!!!! Trust me as soon as she names it and gets it up and going you guys will be well informed. I do know it's on the south side of OKC. Not far from Moore :)