FALLS APART

"Falls, apart, everything around me

falls, apart, when I walk away from you"

Falls Apart--Thousand Foot Krutch

(Note: Stop the automatic music at the bottom of the screen and please play the song provided with this blog post... AND PLAY IT INSANELY LOUD)

Falls apart..............................

Everything around me

When I walk away from you

I have no good pictures, or profound insight. (As if anyone ever read this to get anything out of it.) But just realization.

Things fall apart when I walk away from God. I love how TFK puts it so simply. From the very start, things fall apart when I walk away from you.

He holds me together. He holds everything together. 

It isn't about my track record. It's not about how great I pray, how great I act, or how many people I can get pumped for him. It's not about how great I can do "ministry." 

RUBBISH. Crap. It STILL all falls apart when I walk away from him.

I think I can put my life into a perfect little box. I get my script on how I should live life. I go through the motions, and I act, say, and do what good little Christian girls should.

NO.  

Even with scripts, things fall apart. 

I need him. I need him to breathe! I need him to keep my life together.

Philippians 2:12-15 has been going through my head lately.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

Things in life are not easy--even as a follower of Christ. So, get that out of your head. It's hard. Continue to work out your faith with fear and trembling.

Fear and trembling

Everyday i'm faced with decisions. lots of decisions. And everyday i need to make a decision to live for him through every decision I make. not so easy when you hear people talking smack about each other and i'm standing there like an idiot and i should say something about it.

not so easy when people ask more of me than what i can give.

not so easy when i feel cheated

not so easy when i want the other people to "get what they deserve"

not so easy when i feel like things are falling apart

not every decision is an easy one.... in fact, it's with fear and trembling I make the decisions i need to make.

I can't live life according to scripts. I can't live life the easy way. I can't just "do the right thing" and think everything will be okay. I have tried that. Jesus didn't come to live on this Earth, and die a terrible treacherous death and rise from the dead just so I could live an easy "christian" little life. He died so I could live...

live radically with him

I wish I could, but I don’t, 
Always keep the promises I’ve kept,
I wish I could, but I can’t, 
Always give, whatever I have left,

And now it’s all so clear, 
Doesn’t anyone see what’s happening here?..../

It falls, apart, from the very start,
It falls, apart, seems like everything I touch,
Falls, apart, every thing around me,
Falls, apart, when I walk away from you

I need Jesus. I need to live and breathe Jesus.

Thanksgiving: Food, Family, & Garage

The holidays are always crazy times. There are so many people to see, food to prepare, and just plain work that goes into such a "relaxing" time!  I get a bit stressed out. Dragging the kids around with all the coats, clothes, diapers, and other items gets exhausting.  Not to mention with the new atmosphere, Grace and Justice refused to nap for any extended period of time. It isn't until almost a week later I feel like I have them back on a normal schedule.

We went to my parents house for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see so much family that I haven't seen in years! I also couldn't believe how much our family has grown in number. 23 people came for Thanksgiving, and that's just a fraction of the family!

Oh, but the fun doesn't stop there. Thanksgiving morning we also received a call... someone early that morning had taken out the side of our garage! Brian and I quickly ran home to see the damage. He sure took out the entire corner of the garage!

Our car was hit (while in the garage!), and we have yet to have insurance figure out the damage. But I have to be honest, we had to laugh. What's the chances our car would be hit while IN the garage?!

Well, there was nothing we could do about it on Thanksgiving but take pictures and laugh about it. Then we left to enjoy our turkey dinner.

Luxurie

From the french [a state of great comfort & extravagant living]

I have sat with this post in my drafts for awhile. I didn't know how to write it (and I still don't). But, with Thanksgiving and Black Friday behind us and the Holiday season is here, full commercial swing and all. I might as well post this now. 

[Last week]

The other week there was a conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Minneapolis. 

LUXURY

I have seen beautiful buildings, and posh things, but because I got to live it for a couple of days, it was over the top.  Granted, I LIKED IT. I liked being pampered. I liked high class. Why not?!

I liked the granite counters, down comforter, 1,000 count Egyptian sheets, and not the mention the spectacular view! This was the view from the 19th floor...

 

It was simply breath-taking. 

And that wasn't the end of such luxury. Of course this place has a fitness center/day spa. My very loving husband sent me to go and check it out. I got a massage (first professional massage in my life!) and checked out the facility. OMGosh. I didn't want to leave the ladies locker room! It was so posh and LUXURIOUS that I could have spent the better part of the day there.

So why am I writing about all this?

It was wonderful, beautiful, and exciting. But it's not somewhere I'd like to be all the time. There's a very dangerous mindset that goes along with it all.

"I deserve this."

Can anything be further from the truth?  But, that mentality does start creeping in. "I deserve this treatment." "I am high class." "I deserve this."

Oh, how terrible is that. I don't deserve this.

COMMERCIALISM KILLS

The pampering, the nice things, stuff. None of it is bad, but it's the mentality that's pushed behind it. "I deserve this."

"I will feel better if I buy this." "I will be ________ if I get this."

I am soooo happy to hear that Black Friday sales were not the same as last year. I was sooo happy to hear that sales are down everywhere. Granted, I don't like the economy being down and people being out of jobs, but we are so sucked into stuff, it's nice to get a breather. WE DON'T NEED IT.

I live in a land of luxury, and for it I am blessed and cursed. To whom much is given, much is expected. 

I have been given much, how much more does He expect from me?

Give to the poor. Defend the widow. 

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

have the wisdom to show restraint.

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,

for they will surely sprout wings and

fly off to the sky like an eagle."

{Proverbs 23:4-5}

White as Snow

My photo challenge is over. I missed a few days, but it did challenge me to take pictures of the everyday, not just the special moments. 

The year's first snow. Now there really is nothing spectacular about it, but it is something that makes me love to take pictures. This snow was so pretty. Everything had an inch or two blanket of fluffy snow. The air was crisp and it felt so fresh. 

That morning we got the kids out of bed and got them into their snowsuits so that they could experience the first snow! Grace couldn't wait! Justice had no idea what was going on.

Outside Grace exclaimed, "Ohhh, SNOWMAN!"

We had just watched Frosty The Snowman so she equated all the snow with snowman. She loved walking through it and trying to make a ball out of it. 

Justice couldn't move in his snowsuit and was less than impressed. We wanted to touch it, but his hands had mittens on it. When Daddy gave him some fresh snow he finally cracked a smile, but it didn't last too long.

Of course, the white snow and cold air brings along the Christmas feeling. I baked goodies that day and played Christmas music that I had on my computer. 

But the best part was not the holiday spirit, but what snow truly reminds me of. 

"Your hands are full of blood;

wash and make yourselves clean. 

       Take your evil deeds 

       out of my sight! 

       Stop doing wrong,

learn to do right! 

       Seek justice, 

       encourage the oppressed.

       Defend the cause of the fatherless, 

       plead the case of the widow.

 "Come now, let us reason together," 

       says the LORD. 

       "Though your sins are like scarlet, 

       they shall be as white as snow; 

       though they are red as crimson, 

       they shall be like wool."

Isaiah 1:15b-18

When I see the snow, I honestly think of this. My hands are full of blood, red... My God tells me to stop doing what is wrong, but to learn to do right! (It's not just the cessation of doing wrong, but learning and doing the right thing!) 

Seek justice. Encourage the oppressed. Defend the fatherless and Plead the case of the widow. Those are such STRONG verbs for doing! By following after Him and believing in Him, he sees my scarlet hands...and he makes them white as snow. What a gracious God.  (Notice both words of grace and justice were in this paragraph...hmmm)

The first snow. It's such a reminder for me, that my Jesus has taken my bloody hands and cleaned them to be as white as snow.

President Elect Barack Obama

I have really enjoyed this year's political/religious debate. 

Please read Walt Mueller's Blog about the President-Elect. I think it provides some good insight.

President-Elect Barack Obama

Midnight Grocery Shopping

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning the apartment from top to bottom. I made a menu for two weeks, a shopping list that would fit our budget, and worked on youth group. Last night, after youth group, and still pumped up on adrenaline, I went grocery shopping.

I've been grocery shopping late before, but it was when I was in college or needed one or two things. This time, it was full-fledged grocery shopping. They were restocking the shelves as I was there, so I had to maneuver my heaping cart around mountains of boxed food. But, I didn't have lines, crabby people around me, or my children ripping food off of the shelves or crying. I was tired, but I was out of the house and relaxed. I didn't get to bed until long after 1 AM. How's that for overtime?!

Sometimes I feel like my job as homemaker doesn't make sense to anybody (except my husband). Then, if I put it into job terms...this IS what I do:

• Community Skills Trainer
  
• Event Coordinator
• Fiscal Manager
• Menu Planner
• Chef/Nutritionist
• Home Health
• Sanitation Specialist
• Counselor for Youth & Family
• Teacher
• Spiritual Advisor/Pastor
• Graphic Arts Designer
• Curriculum Developer
• Bible Scholar

Okay, that's a self-booster for me. All that plus overtime, nights and weekends expected. 

But, I love what I do. I get to create play out of normal activities for my children, and teach them how to live in this culture. I wouldn't trade that in for the world.

{Day 26}

Justice plays in the winter coats tub.

I have been so impressed with how Grace and Justice have been learning and growing up. Yesterday, out of the blue, Grace said, "1, 2, 3, 5"

"No, Grace, 4," I said.

"Yeah, 5, 6, 8"

"7."

"7, 8, 9, 10."

I have not been working exclusively with learning how to count, but just doing it in passing. My, how she soaks everything in! She knows her colors, and lately she's been learning the alphabet.

Justice has now learned to pull himself up into the standing position, finger-walk (in fact, he prefers it over crawling), wave and say "buh-bye" and "hi." Now he learned how to throw his cup over his high chair tray and exclaim, "uh-oh!"

And I can't take the credit (though I wish I could)! First, I give God the glory for the amazing love and gifts that He's given my children. Then, I think about the loving people they are around all the time. Daddy, Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts and uncles that work with my children, teaching and playing with them. They learn the alphabet when they are babysat, and get books read to them. They get to play and learn with people who love them. There is never a dull moment. What a BLESSING!

{Day 27}

Grace playing with her Alphabet flash cards that daddy got her, 

and Justice staring intently at the camera, knowing that it will flash.

Happy Halloween!

The last week has been mostly swelling and pain management, so I haven't been so sauve with the camera. I got some pictures of the swelling and how beat up I look, but... those don't need to be posted. They are for my memory, not yours. :-)

So... I'm up to day 25 of the challenge. I am a bit disappointed that I missed a couple of days, but that's okay. I got some very cute pics of Halloween to make up for it.

This Halloween we were going to have a party to get to know people in our community. However, management had to veto the party idea last minute, so we moved on to plan B. We went Trick or Treating at the great-grandparents' homes. 

Grace was a dragon and Justice was a tiger. For the animals they really can be...they were such troopers! We traveled a lot in the car.

"Grace...what does a dragon say?!"

"GRRRRAaaaaarrrrr!"

It was hilarious. Grace really got the "trick or treat" and receiving candy. She didn't ever want to part with her pumpkin with her candy in it. Even at night we were trying to go to bed and she didn't want to leave that pumpkin! We had to convince her to put it in a "safe place" for tomorrow.

{Day 25}

Mr. Mom

{Day 19}

I haven't recovered very well from getting my wisdom teeth out. Though I haven't experienced the horrors of dry socket, I did swell up terribly. A lot of my pain wasn't only from my teeth, but from the swelling on the side of my face.

After it swelled up, it also bruised up. Bruised, swollen, can't eat a thing; and I can barely open my mouth wide enough to let a spoon with jello go through! (I had ice cream and jello all over my desk.) 

I haven't been out. I look freakish. I like to say to people when they call and ask, "How do you look?" 

"Like I got into an ally fight with a dentist and insurance company."

They won.

Anyway, Brian has been so wonderful in taking care of me, housework, and the kids while I've been "out."  He's been quite the Mr. Mom.

He's made is very easy for me to eat. He's made me:

• Split Pea Soup
• Shiitake Mushroom & Tomato Bisque
• Broccoli & Cheese Soup.
• Between him, and others, I have eaten my fill of ice cream, jello, fruit freezies, and soup. 
  

So, I have eaten well, the little that I can eat. Maybe he thinks of it as a challenge... "I can do her job too!" I don't know. Probably not. But it is nice the very few times when both kids are screaming and something is about to burn on the stove and the phone rings. Hehehe, I think, It isn't so easy.

Brian's helped so much, I actually finished a book and read through another! Amazing. Part of it was Justice waking up so often in the night for some reason, and I couldn't fall asleep from the pain. But even then, Brian was checking the time and making sure I got my meds at the right time. He lined them up and printed out a sheet of dates and times, so I could keep on track. What an organized guy!

{Day 20}

Hopefully I'll be able to take over more tomorrow. I've been to embarrassed to leave the house. How would I explain my face? "Uh, I see you looking at me bewildered or concerned. I just wanted to let you know I had my wisdom teeth taken out, nothing more." I could just see their response.... "yeah...right."

This isn't how I wanted to spend my "vacation," but hey, I got the best Mr. Mom around. 

{Days 15-18 of Photo Challenge}

I'm still taking pictures. Sometimes, it seems like there is nothing in the day worth taking a picture of. But then, I look around and see the beauty of everyday life. I have been taking pictures of the ordinary... and trying to remember how special that time is.

What is special about today?

{Day 15}

Grace, Justice, and I went to visit Great-Grandpa Herman! Justice really liked it right away. There was so many interesting things to see! Grace...she was a bit more timid. She didn't want to do anything...but slowly she warmed up to Grandpa and gave him some of her Cheerios.  Of course, Grandpa proudly introduced us to everyone that walked by.  

{Day 16}

Let me learn how to use a tripod! I have noticed that my husband and I are hardly in our photographs. It's so much easier just to point and click, and forget about handing over the camera to someone else...or use that nifty tripod!

{Day 17}

I am so excited to have this picture!

I presented to a class yesterday, and when I was putting the presentation together I was looking through 3 year old photos. I couldn't believe my eyes! I knew I was heavier, but I was so happy to see the difference now! I have lost 37 pounds on WeightWatchers and Brian has lost 55. Woo Hoo!  Shortly I'll try to get some before and after pictures.

I never thought I'd be able to lose weight. I had tried before and wasn't able to. But, here it is a photograph of me 37 pounds lighter. In fact, I weigh less now than I did in Junior High. Woot Woot!

{Day 18}

Wouldn't you like to see! I got my wisdom teeth out today. And yes, I took a photo of my chipmunk face. However, just because I kept my deal of taking the picture, didn't mean I had to post it! Sorry folks! Day 18 is done.

Life+Art

I love things being simple. Things don't have to be complicated and tough, but instead, there is beauty in the everyday things that often go unnoticed.

One of my favorite scrappers is Ali Edwards. I read her articles in Creating Keepsakes and read her blog online. 

Her motto is: capture. create.

Simple. And exactly how I like it. I love simplicity and the beauty in it.

Her photography wouldn't win awards. But for scrapping, and remembering the moments... it's what is important. She take pictures of her son doing normal things: eating, playing, walking, riding in the car. She sets up her tripod and takes pictures of herself, not looking into the camera or smiling, but working on her computer, cooking, whatever. She takes pictures of things that you don't even think about: her closet, decor, utensils...

Normal.

Everyday.

How we live life.

Life isn't a bunch of special occasions. EVERYDAY is what we live life in. EVERYDAY, the things that the camera stays put away for. Why? Shouldn't we remember the everyday? What seems boring, but it is how we live life?

{ Day 10 }

{ Day 14 }

Inspired by Ali's art and scrapbooking, I quickly put together a page. I have adopted a method of just doing a page, and not thinking and tweeking so much as to just getting the page done.

{ The Party }

I was so worked-up about this party. I really have no idea why. I knew it was going to be a wonderful party, even if things went wrong, Grace was crabby, or all my decorations sucked. But, they didn't. And it still was a good party.

Grace at first didn't want to get into her party dress. (I think we've had a love/hate relationship with that dress since the day we bought it!) But once we put "pretties" in her hair, her aunts painted her fingernails purple, and I told her she could put on her gold shoes...she was sold.

Once I got her into her dress, she played until guests arrived. (And the photo for Day 12)

{ Day 12 }

Just like any festive time, I like to remind myself that it's not about the stuff. We can get so overwhelmed with stuff. But instead, it's about the people. Grace got a lot of nice gifts, but so many people came to celebrate her because they loved her. I saw that when we gathered around her to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. Her face lit up like I hadn't seen in a long time.

I have seen her smile from happiness, goofiness, and silliness... But this was JOY. My heart was filled with it when I saw her face (getting only 3 1/2 hours of sleep the night before seemed worth it now!)

After the song, that smart girl blew out her candle, promptly took it out of the cake and sucked the frosting off of the bottom! She knew the ritual! 

Here are some pictures from the party. It was a lot of fun!

{Celebrating Grace}

She's two. I don't know how it happens really. I just opened my eyes one day and there is my infant all of a sudden a full blown toddler. She runs, screams, pretends, and throws tantrums. She wants icecream and candy, and she has a hard time eating her vegetables (however, she LOVES broccoli, go figure). 

"Happy Birthday, Grace!!!" Brian exclaimed when he saw her.

"Yeah! Right!" She said. She had no clue what was being said, other than people were giving her more attention. What a cutie. 

We decided to celebrate her birthday by going to McDonalds. What kid doesn't want that?! And to top it all off, we gave her kid's ice cream cone all to herself! (Justice got one too). 

Of course, Grace also found the ketchup and had to finish that off too. Why kids like ketchup so much, I'll never know.

Justice really enjoyed his ice cream cone. His face got red from the cold! But, he managed really well. He ate the entire cone... one minute he had it in his hand; the next minute it disappeared into his mouth. 

After that, we went to the mall with $3 in quarters. Grace and Justice got to ride on the taxis, police cars, and other vehicles in the mall. Grace climbed into the taxi, and when it started up, held on for dear life. She wasn't too impressed. She stayed in for the duration of the ride, but when it stopped, she was out, and firmly said, "no" whenever we asked she wanted to ride again.  Justice was also pretty weirded out by the bear in his little car.

Finally, after such a long day, Daddy read them a story, and off to bed. And also the photo for Day 11.

{Day 11}

Celebrating Grace...

We chose Grace's name for a reason. Her name is a characteristic of God, and when you read her name, you not only see a name, but God's personality and love being put forth. 

Brian and I celebrate not only our daughter, but Grace Himself. He has given us so much grace by giving us love and forgiveness even if we don't deserve it.  I don't deserve the love He gives me everyday and the second, third, fifth, and million chances. I don't deserve anything. But because of His radical love for all of us, he sent Jesus to suffer and die a terrible death for us. Jesus conquered death and rose to life again! What a miracle! What love! And God did this all because of his good grace towards us. 

I do celebrate His Grace.

Fort Pipestone

If you haven't figured it out by now, let me just point out the obvious. I love to scrapbook. I LOVE graphic arts and photography. When the weather is right and the sun isn't blaring down on the ground, I love to take pictures!  

On Wednesday, Brian asked us to ride along with him to Pipestone. We had a blast, and got to spend time with Daddy! While he worked, we went and checked out Pipestone. There was a Fort built by settlers during an uprising.  The original is long since gone, but there was a replica built. Also, there was a replica sod house to check out.

Grace loved discovering everything. She went up and down the stairs, looked at the wagon wheels and inside the sod house that was just her size.  Justice watched Grace more than anything. We hung out on the grass, and mommy snapped picture after picture. 

This is my most recent digital scrapbook page, all of it compliments of free digiscrapping items I found on the internet!

Justice and Grace in front of the sod house. I think it looks like a band photo.

Another in front of the sod house. I like them both, I couldn't decide. But neither one made it into the scrapbook page. I'll have to use them for another themed page.

Day 9

Here it is, photo for day 9. Nothing is done to it digitally. I didn't want to mess with the simplicity of it! Grace looks out the window at the sod house.

The Next Technological Generation

Brian and I love watching culture, especially youth culture, and seeing how it changes, grows, and speeds towards new trends and heights (and lows). We seem to be always watching and comparing. 

My, how things have changed, and I became aware of this more over the past couple of days. My children are not of a culture that I will know. I couldn't fathom that. Their culture which is right now being created and so quickly growing, just as they are...will not be mine.

Let me explain.

Parents Generation:

I always love seeing pictures of my parents or relatives when they were little.  Black and white or sepia photographs, cut with pinking sheers (or so it seems) in an odd square shape. There aren't many of them, and there are large gaps between the photographs. But, they are treasures. Who knew that my dad had a mass of blonde hair when he was two?! And wow, I look a lot like my mother even when she was still in diapers.

Then, video tape.  I see videotape of their wedding... but nothing much before that.

Then, I was born... 

My Generation:

Cameras were much more accessible. And then, when I was preschool and early elementary age, my life is on video tape. Grace and Justice will be able to see me grow up on video! What a

precious thing to show them. Of course, they will laugh at the dorky hair-do's, terrible clothing, and the southern accent that I had for awhile. But that is a treasure that I wasn't able to have of my own parents.

There is a closet full of albums where my sisters and I grow up right before your very eyes! First feedings, vacations, reunions, steps, school, plays, proms, and weddings. And most of that is on video too! 

Generation to Come:

What about the newest generation? Already I see such a huge difference from high school of 6 years ago and now. Texting, internet, computers, websites, and blogging. It's all so different. What kind of generation will my children be in? What kind of culture will they have?

Their lives, are in video and photographs. Not hundreds like mine, but thousands. Already, I have over 8,000 photographs on my computer. Not all of them are of my children, but 8,000.  

But here is what blew my mind away. Their lives will not only be recorded (as mine was), but broadcasted. There is a whole new reality in that. Not only will they get to look and pictures and video, but maybe they'll collect the emails, online albums, and blogs that have been set up. It's a whole new culture being developed. 

It's not scary, it's not promising. It's just different...And how different it is.

So the pictures for my challenge for day 7 & 8 are below, and were opening my eyes to how much this next generation will be different.

Day 7

Grace watches her favorite train on tv. She lounges back and watches over and over a 1940's train leaving the depot. I have no idea why she finds it so fascinating. But she does.

Day 8

The Next Technological Generation. Grace crawled up on my chair and started imitating momma. She used the mouse and pointed to things with it. She pushed the buttons and watched what would happen to the screen. She is so smart. I had to snap a picture, as a reminder that she's growing up in a culture so unlike my own. And I'll have to be diligent to raise her up in a way that she should go...and be able to decipher in her OWN culture what is beneficial or not.

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

his power, and the wonders he has done...

He commanded our forefathers to teach their children,

so the next generation would know them,

even the children yet to be born, 

and they in turn would tell their children.

Then they would put their trust in God

and would not forget his deeds

but would keep his commands."

Psalm 78:4-7

Imitate Me as I Imitate Christ

9-13-2008

We were getting ready to eat supper, when we saw Grace feeding Justice! It was so adorable to watch. We got the camera, but we had to convince her to do it again. 

She is so smart and wants to try everything that I do. She imitates play all the time. She cooks, she cleans, and the lays her babies down for naps and feeds them. It reminds me that I have a little shadow that is looking for direction. So much like I should be God's shadow. I don't know the direction I should be showing Grace. If I had to give Grace directions all on my own, I would inevitably lead her down a dark path. But, with me shadowing God, I am confident in her shadowing me.  I pray for direction from Him every day, so that I can give my children proper direction.

 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God. Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church. I try to please everyone in every way. I don’t think about what would be good for me but about what would be good for many people so that they might be saved. 

Imitate me as I imitate Christ." 

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

God's Word

Copyright © 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Day 4 & 6 of the Photo Challenge

Day 4

On Friday, I took Grace and Justice on a bike-ride. Unlike how bored they look in the bike trailer, they always love it. They get very relaxed and observe all the sights, smells, and sounds. They see the cars, different plants and places. They hear the train, traffic and people talking. They smell wonderful Mexican cuisine and other foods blowing through the air. They really enjoy it. Whenever we go outside Grace pleads, "Momma, bike ride?" How can I say no?! Not to mention I need to exercise anyway. 

Day 6

Yes, I did skip day 5. I took that picture with another camera. You'll see it as soon as I get it.

This picture was taken by Brian in the West Ramp of the Mall of America.  I thought the lighting was wonderful and he did such a great job. Plus, I don't have too many pictures of myself; usually I'm the one behind the camera! 

Brian and I went on a date (once in a great-great while, we actually get to go on one of those!). We went to Ikea. We stepped into the MOA only for a few minutes, but it didn't peak our interest. We enjoyed mostly just being together! But I must admit, some time away from the children is ALWAYS nice. Especially since Grace has started talking... :)

The Dress

Day 3

What a drama today! I lugged the kids around to find Grace a party dress for her birthday. While, as you can see from the picture, it was successful, the adventure was FAR from pleasurable. Grace has reached the epitome of the Terrible Twos!

We finally found this dress at Main Street Kids. But that was after two disastrous encounters at Peebles and JCPenney. Grace did fine in Peebles until she no longer would stand the cart. She had to roam. 

And RoAm she did. Through the girls section, through the clothes, knocking everything down, hiding in the clothing racks. As soon as I'd get her under control, she was off again. The whole time I am carrying Justice and a monstrous diaper bag.  We left the mall in tears...and plenty of angry clerks.

I convinced Grace to stop once more, only because I knew that Main Street Kids had an area of toys. She played...thankfully and I was able to shop in peace (albeit quickly because something this wonderful does not last for long). Luckily I found what I was looking for!

Needless to say...the photo for day 3 is of Grace's Dress.

Picture-A-Day Month Challenge

I am a scrapbooking die-hard. I love graphic design. I love taking pictures, messing with them on photoshop, and making memorable pages. I can't say I have a lot of pages to show for my passion, but I love it none the less. I read through my Creating Keepsakes magazine in one day, and spend the rest of the month re-reading it until the next issue comes. One of the best challenges I saw was to take 1 picture a day for a month. I thought...."I wonder what my life would look like in a picture a day?" 

So... I am going to try it out! I can already say... "ONLY ONE?!?!?!"  I am a photoholic. I have way too many photos, and I love taking them. I think a Canon Rebel SLR camera was probably one of the best gifts I had received. I discovered a love for photography.  My husband tries to help me delete some of them...Goodness, I don't need 52 photos of Grand March for Homecoming. Honestly. I will weed them down, but only 1? Which one?!

Day 1

Laura's shoes. Yeah, they were amazing. But, it wasn't enough to have her voted Homecoming Queen. I have noticed that I have a love for the macro photos. What tells my story the best? I always take the close-ups. We see so much that we are used to, but forget the beauty in little details.

Day 2

I love finding evidence of Grace. She moved on to playing in another room, and I look at my chair to see Grace's Little People lined up perfectly on top of shapes from a puzzle. I smiled to myself and remembered that these moments don't last forever.