Oh so busy packing, cleaning, and running around. Holy heck. We are renting the BIG TRUCK this Saturday and then have the following week to wrap things up in Folsom. As of February 1st we will officially be residents of lovely Rocklin, California! My emotions are running high so in the words of Forrest Gump I will just say, "that's all I have to say about that..."
Several members of the Impression Obsession Design Team have used my NEW designs in some of the cards they've posted lately, as they're giving sneak peeks of the new releases leading up to the big CHA convention next week — so I thought I'd show you a few of their cards. Click on the photos for a link to each designer's blog. I'll do a couple of these today and hopefully a few more in a day or two.
I told some friends today that I am in denial about leaving the town my family and I have lived in for the past fifteen years — where Rich and I raised our children. I told them that I just may pretend I still live here. It's only about 15 miles away from where I am moving, so I can come back and hang out with my buddies. I hope to make some new friends in the new place, but that for me is always daunting... I hope my family and I like it there! I will be saying lots of prayers.
OK - I am off to do more packing... oh what fun!!
"Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." —Dr. Seuss
I read the following in C. Jane Kendrick's blog yesterday, and it spoke to my soul. I struggle with these same thoughts and feelings. I wanted to pass these words along, and say THANK YOU to Jane for the perspective and the inspiration, then I'll let you think about it for yourself.
I heard a voice say, "So what if you're fat?"
And I thought about it. Fat has always been so scary to me. The word, the way it flings out of the mouth when you say it, the way it sticks when it lands. FAT. The Devil's own word to sum up everything that isn't right. "I am fat" has a thousand meanings, the least being unhealthy, the most being unimportant. I have lived in fear of fat for so long, it eats me furious and terribly and leaves me heavier than any number on the scale.
But here was a thought, holding up a mirror to say, here's fat. So what?
Are your eyes any less blue?
Is your hair any less thick? Or your body any less vigorous?Did those noodles taste exquisite? Was the conversation interesting? When you cracked the brulee, did it pop?Does your husband desire you?
Are your children charming?
Is your home still cozy and warm?
If you are fat, are you still from heaven?
Are you always divine? Or worthy?No? Yes?
Now, I know as well as anyone that we need to make physical health, and weight management, a priority in our lives. But I also know, and this is the message for today, that our spiritual selves are also very important, and probably — no, definitely — more so, than our physical selves. It's a balance, and it's crucial that we don't get overly-focused on what the world tells us is our ideal. We are children of God — every person on earth. And He loves us all, equally, no matter what we look like.
That's all for today... now go and love yourself! God does.
“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would strongly be tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” —C.S. Lewis
Well. I am beat and it's past my bedtime, but as I wait for my man child to come home I thought I'd share a quick recipe with you tonight/this morning. It may look and sound a little strange, but trust me on this one — this dip has become a favorite and whenever I take it to a party it gets devoured and I get asked for the recipe. I don't quite remember where it originated from, but as with all recipes I've tweaked it somewhat so maybe you can just say it's my recipe... anyhoo, enjoy!
BAKED CORN DIP
8 ounces cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese, softened
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 large tomato, finely diced
1/2 medium onion, finely diced
1 small can diced green chiles, drained (I like the fire-roasted kind)
2/3 cup finely grated cheddar-jack cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
wheat crackers and/or tortilla chips and/or celery sticks for dipping
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first eight ingredients; spread into an oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with some additional diced tomatoes and chili powder, if desired. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Serve warm with crackers, chips, and/or celery sticks. Yummm!
"At every party there are two kinds of people: those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other." —Ann Landers
"Life may not be the party we'd hoped for, but while we're here we should dance!" —unknown
It's been a wonderful sabbath, and after attending our church meetings, the second part of the day has for me been a time of remembering. So many families at church have babies and younger children, and it sometimes makes me miss the little sweeties I once had, who are now grown and need me, in different ways, but less than before. The look of them, the smell of them, the sound of them, the clutter of them... their hugs, their smiles, their everything. Steph has always been my sweet angel. David and I had this thing
we did since he was a very young boy: I would say to him, "my boy," and he would reply, "my mom." I loved that. He has forgotten it, but still when he leaves the house on his many jaunts with his many friends, he tells me he loves me, which always brings a sweet tear to my eye. And my daughter, my Stephanie, who is now twenty-one whole years old, always ends our many phone conversations with, "I love you, Mommy." Oh, how they are in my heart. They are my heart. Rich, my love, my best friend and my eternal companion, we have two wonderful children. How blessed we are.
This photo was taken several years ago, and oh, how they have grown since then... but still they are mine and I love them.
"Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing." —Toni Morrison, Beloved
Oh my heck, so busy this week! The Stampin' Treasures month-long Inventory Blow-Out Close-Out Super-Sale starts tomorrow, and Diane, Cindy and I (with some help from our kids and hubbies) have been working our tails off getting the store ready. We open tomorrow at noon, ready or not! Here are a few pictures of what we've put together. Kinda looks good, am I right? This place was a completely empty and defunct computer repair shop less than four days ago, and just look what we have created! It's a (temporary) rubber stamping/ papercrafting/ scrapbooking patch of heaven!! If you are anywhere within driving distance of Folsom, California... get yourself down here - tomorrow! Everything is being sold at 50% off retail prices and there are some awesome goodies to be had. We're talking Hero Arts, Memory Box, Impression Obsession (Words & Such by Kalani Allred, of course!), Seven Gypsies, Tim Holtz, and too many others to mention. Visit StampinTreasures.com for store hours and more info (scroll down a bit on the homepage and you will see the store sale details). The store will be open during January only, and when the good stuff is gone, baby, it's gone!
On top of all the busy-ness with work, Rich and I are scheduled to close escrow and get the keys to our new castle next Friday. Life is just full of changes and excitement these days. And another bit of excitement is that our girl Steph turned 21 yesterday! And David will be 19 a month from today. Wow are we getting old.
Okay, it's back to work for me. Good night!
"Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice and need." —Voltaire
