I've been tagged!

TAG! You're IT!!!

Thanks Nancy!!

The Blog Archives and Hidden Meanings meme.

The criteria:
Delve into your blog archive.
Find your 23rd post (or closest to).
Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas.
Tag five people to do the same.

Being the fair skinned, light blue eyed red head that I am - sun is not my friend.

I needed inspiration to post.....

If you are reading this you are TAGGED!

It is DONE!

The White Socks WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They SWEPT the WORLD Series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The First Win in EIGHTY EIGHT years!!!!!!!!

GO CUBS!

THERE IS HOPE

Nat's Halloween bash

While I haven't been blogging and seem to have been SUPER busy with my LIFE - I have been a little productive with the scrapbooking......

I had alot of cards to do lately and THANKS TO JOY'S wonderful idea of using a paper bag as the base of the card - I was able to get many done quickly. THANK YOU JOY!!!

Sweetest day 2005, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Here is a card that I made for my hubby on Sweetest day. I got the "Paper Bag" idea from Joy!!! Thank you Joy!!! It took very little time to make - essential since I had to hurry up and go to work. Inside the tag is a picture of our family.

Feel better soon..., originally uploaded by Freakrn.

This is a card that the girls and I made this evening before work for a friend's daughter who had a procedure today. I love this idea I got from Joy!!!

Birthday card, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

This is a birthday card I made for a friend to give to her friend on her 30th. She was a big Prince fan but I hadn't a clue when I came up with the title.... Click on the picture to see the entire card. I mainly used Karen Foster paper and embellishments. I love the colors I used - neutral but trendy.

Then of course there was Nat's Halloween bash that was this past weekend. The party was held at Spark Your Art. They made decoarted Tee Shirt Boxes and necklaces. Snacks were high carbs and sugar. A perfect KID day!

Nat's Halloween bash, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Are they not the cutest things all dressed up in Halloween costumes. There were TWO token "boys" there. All the rest were girls - second grade girls......

I made the treat bags.....

Halloween bash treat bags, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

After twenty of them I am kinda burnt out on halloween....

The wee ones, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Nat let Rowan invite her friends as well - this was the worker bee table! I love this picture - they look like they are having so much fun!!!! Click on any of the pictures to see the rest of the halloween bash party pictures.

Nat's Thank you cards, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

These are the cards that I helped Nat make for her guests that came to the halloween party. Again - thank you Joy! Nat thought they were easy to make and chose the "autumn" colors as well as the ribbon used to decorate the fold. The tag inside has a picture of the child with thier teeshirt box that they made. On the other side hthere is a picture of them working at the table.

The best thing about these cards is that they are easy to use scraps up on!

Really Joy - I think you started a trend!!!!

I'm Back.......

Nope..... I didn't fall off the face of the earth - I have just been SUPER busy. The last entry on my blog was just before another six day stretch at work. I think (dare I utter this) I am getting too old for nights and 12 hours (at least in a row). It takes AT LEAST a day to recover and even when I attempt to be productive - I am not.

Then - we packed up (literally like hours before we left - hence why we left Nat's bathing suit, Norm's cell phone charger, DIGITAL CAMERA and many other things we did fine without......) and went to Indianapolis for this.......

HILLSONGnJMM, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I am actually kind of glad we packed and left at the last minute. There was no stress, no worries, no preparation, no grandious expectations of the trip - we were actually free to be US and recieve!!!!

What an A(o)wesome (in aussie venacular) time we had. All four of us went. The girls had a BLAST. Hillsong and Darlene Zscech led worship as well as three teachings by Joyce and two by Brian Houston (love Hillsong!!)

The girls were up by the stage at all the worship times hands in the air, worshiping and praising. It was so good to see this kind of hunger in kids their age. There were alot of kids there doing the same thing!!!!! I really saw Nat loosing up in her praising - allowing herself to be FREE and more intimate with God. She definitely had a change over the weekend.

The preaching was a(o)wesome and many times a SMACK upside the head!!!! The theme - psuedo theme - was that we are a CHILD of God and he has given us what is in our hand (our gifts and talents) to use with what he puts in our heart (passion, desires, purpose) to fulfill his destiny (our purpose on earth). Together with Joyces preaching on Attitudes and Change - it all came together nicely! (hence the title song on my video list....)

We met this wonderful couple from Ohio - actually we kept bumping into them. They stayed at the same hotel we did and some how - ended up sitting next to us during all the sessions. I think it was God's way of hooking us up! (He is so good!!!!) After a little visiting - Michelle is attending the Women's Conference in Sept 06' (so are Nat and I) and we are going to hook up!!! (Remember EVERYONE - I have a couple of extra tickets - hoping to bring you with!!!)

Norm and her husband - Dave - hit it off as well - which I see as a PLUS PLUS for Norm.

Michelle and Dave - if you are reading (and I hope you got the link on my email) - it was such a GREAT blessing to meet you guys at the conference!!!!!!

All in all - it was an A(o)WESOME weekend and I feel VERY refreshed. I have had five NIGHTS off and am on a complete day time routine. I actually LIKE it (shhhhhh don't tell my hubby - he wants me off of nights in a bad way!) I think the conference was particularly bonding for the three of us (Nat, Ro and I). That was my purpose in going - to immerse them in a spiritual atmosphere. I pray daily for them in the secular world they live. I already see Natalie facing the stress and pressure of "not thin enough", "not smart enough", "not pretty enough", "not cool enough", "not in the IN crowd....." It was so A(o)wesome seeing her respond to postive role models like Darlene Zscech. she hung on every word Darlene preached during prasie and worship and actually soaked up alot of Joyce (and Pastor Brian.) I CAN'T WAIT for Sept 06' when Nat and I are THERE - together - and her another year older.

I hope to post pictures soon (gotta get some film developed..... broke down and bought a disposable camera). Now, I have to finish sorting the laundry, working on Nat's Party stuff for tomorrow and curling up with one of my new books! Rowan - she has already broken into some of my teaching tapes. She said - "I want to hear more of Joyce mom.... she tells it like it is." (her words... honest!!!!)

Answered Prayer

God Is Good!!!!
All the Time!!!!

I had a prayer request last night at our Context Group's Bible Study that -

1. God would make it CLEAR that I was suppose to go to India.
2. The finances would come through (I was barely going to come up with the money).
3. That I could get the check out the end of this week.

Well - today I got MORE than enough to cover the cost AND get me through to next week (PRAISE GOD), My registration packet came in the mail today so that I can get my VISA and other things (PRAISE GOD), and I am mailing the check in the AM!!!!!! (PRAISE GOD!)

I had to post this GREAT praise!!!!

I'm going to India - I think it JUST sunk in!!!!

CS Lewis baby album

A baby mini scrapbook I made for a friend who named thier child (love this name)

Caleb Strider Lewis - CS Lewis.

Love it.

CS Lewis baby Album014_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I used Karen Foster paper, Misc Stickers (Foo-fa-la, Basic Gray, KI), Scrap ribbon and Bazzil card stock.

CS Lewis baby Album002_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The inside of the book (I have no idea why its so blurry - sorry).

CS Lewis baby Album003_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I tried to vary the pages for different themes...

CS Lewis baby Album004_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I made the pages out of homemade envelopes from bazzil card stock.
They all have pages to pull out for additional pictures of journaling.

CS Lewis baby Album007_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I used alot of my scraps on this album.

Not only was it fun to make it was a great feeling I was using some of my every growing pile of scraps and left over embellishments.

CS Lewis baby Album008_edited-1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I think this is the first freely creative project I have done in a while - just because I have been busy and tired at the same time.

Now I have to go finish a card for someone, another baby book and maybe do a layout for me.....

Food for thought

A few days ago a fellow (awesome) blogger Joy posted about food. It got me to thinking about food cravings when I was pregnant and the different personalities my children now exhibit. I had journaled in my "hard bound" journal about it and had to post it.

Sensitive Natalie originally uploaded by Freakrn.

When I was pregnant with Natalie I was sick as a dog for the first like 22 weeks - LITERALLY sick. I couldn't even see the beginning of a commercial for food without running to the bathroom. I made the mistake of giving into a craving of jalepino poppers one night and spent the rest of the night in the bathroom. I had a few ER visits for hydration in the early weeks as well. To this day (Nat is eight years old) I can't even look at jalepino poppers on a menu. Her personality - She is very sensitive(in a good way) and is hurt easily. Her and I butt heads alot - just because of our personalities. When she is upset, worried, nervous, concerned, aware - her stomach hurts. While she loves exotic food choices (Sushi, Chineese, Seafood, Thai...) she is very wary - as was I when I was pregnant with her. I was wary of any food.

Spicy Rowan, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

When I was pregnant with Rowan - I would see/think food and crave it. I would eat anything - and the spicier (is that a word) the better. It was nothing for me to sit and devour a jar of garlic roasted chipotle salsa from Whole Foods on just a few chips. Chilli - tons of garlic and spicies almost on a daily basis. I wouldn't hesitate to try anything - especially if it was spicy. Rowan is much like this in personality. Whatever happens happens. She is never afraid to try something and her temperment is very "spicy." Kinda goes with that red hair of hers! She loves spicy food now and as long as she see's us eating it - she'll eat it. Her and I get along like two peas in a pod with little issues.

I'm sure there is no link to what I craved and their personalities now - it just made a good journaling prompt.....

************************************************************
On another note - my friend Em! Has a brand new blog and needs IDEAS.

Em, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Sorry - em - found this picture when trying to clean out files last night..... Remember when??????????????

I told her to just start journaling about things - and start surfing the blogs to see what others are doing..... So - if you have an internet sec - check out her blog and say hey!!!!

Self Portrait Tuesday - COMING HOME!

It's that time of the week - Self Portrait Tuesday!!! I chose the them of "coming home" this week!!

IMG_3284_edited-2, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

On the rare days that I work DAY SHIFT - coming home in the evening is a treat!

SPT Coming Home 2, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I am always greeted by at least one happy lil girl!

SPT Coming Home 1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

This one happened to be pre-bathed.......

SPT coming home 18, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The entire recount of the school day and beyond starts before I can get the Ipod off and my bag unloaded. I love coming home in the evening!

SPT - Coming Home 17, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

These are the times we go over homework, review how the day went and share our most intimate secrets that daddy can't know......

SPT - Coming Home 15, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Reading time..... I am actually awake for it!

SPT - Coming Home 12, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Then there is the bathing of the wee one...... I swear she has more bath products than I do.....

SPT - Coming home 11, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I'm glad all I wear to work are scrubs!

SPT coming HOme 5, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

She's just too darn cute in the tub.... Makes my day no matter how hectic it was!!!!

SPT - Coming Home 6, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

All the way down to the soap on the clothes.... soon this one will be snugglin up with me on the couch...... I love coming home in the evening. I am awake, the girls are awake and it's such a special time. Nothing needs to be started and nothing needs to be finished. We have each other's undivided attention.

Click on any of the photos to see the entire collection. This was a good theme for me this week - it was nice to reflect on how special my girls are to me - they made my day!

Don't forget to check out the other Self Portrait Tuesday pics at the www!

Look out Indai - Here I come!!!

I did it!

I registered for India this morning. I stayed up after I got home from work and called to register. I said a little prayer before hand that - if I was not suppose to go that they would either be closed for calls, the trip was full or that it would impossible or difficult to register over the phone. I basically told God he had to smack me in the face either way (going or not going).

I dialed the phone at 0858 (not quite 0900 - tempting God I think I was... ) and immediate response, quick registration, information given and I am on the trip!!!!

I am so excited!!!! I could barely fall asleep. There was no one to tell. I told my daughet Rowan - but she just looked at me like I was nuts jumping around the house in excited praise. I called a few friends (sorry Shelia and Emily for the LONG ecstatic voicemail messages) and read till I fell asleep.

I ask for your prayers that this was the step I was suppose to take and that things will go smoothly over the next few weeks while I am winding up registration paperwork and final payments.

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

*************************************************************************

My friend Emily - has just started her new blog!!!!!!

Take a moment and check it out! Encourage her to post more often!!!!

She is a Flight Nurse in NC and just got into blogging to stay incontact with her friends and family in Michigan.

She also wants to start Scrapbooking. Look out Em - first it takes over your thoughts when you get your pictures back. Then you have a bag full of supplies. Then you have a shelf full of supplies. Then (at this point you have an acct at some LSS or online distributor) you have a whole wall of shelves occupied with Scrapbook stuff. One morning you wake up you have a whole room of your abode dedicated to scrapbooking. You tell yourself it's a harmless hobby that relaxes you and takes your mind off from nursing. Then, suddenly, you realize your room is too small for your supplies. (Eeeeek!) At this point, every picture you take you have already, in your mind, sketched a layout, card, idea...... You get the picture!

Awesome Em!!!!

Halloween Madness.......

My daughter's birthday is in August which leaves it hard to have a birthday party for her. We decided (this year) to have a party after school started. The problem is me working all weekends on the weekend program.

Then we decided on a Halloween themed party.

Nat's Invites one, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

These are her invitations that I FINALLY got around to finishing.

Nat's Invites two, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

We are having an artsy party at the studio where Nat takes art. The kids can wear halloween costumes and I am planning lotsa Halloweeny Snacks.

(Yes this one has torn edge - I was playing around to see what it would look like.)

Nat's Invites inside one, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Here are the insides....
It took forever for me to get the creative edge to start these.

I massively cranked out 24 today before work.....

Nat's Invites inside two, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I had to get them done for tomorrow because there is no school on Monday - and times ticking. The party is the 22 October - after we got back from Indianapolis, IN for the Hillsong/Joyce Meyer Conference.

I need to finish the details on my lunch break.

Now off to work.......

Celebrations!!!!!!!!!!

This has been a week of celebrations - for babies!!!!

My two friends (one still pregnant) who were WAY past due had their babies. VERY HEALTHY AND BEAUTIFUL baby boys!!!! Praise God! Moms and babies are doing well.

Again - it's all on God's time (not ours) when that baby decides to show up isn't it..... I found this part of pregnancy very hard because it's a point in our life where God is truly in control and it's so blatantly obvious.

Fellow blogger - Leah -and her hubby just got a referral for her baby in China!!!!!!!! I am so excited for her!!!!! She said she has been jumping up and down ever since she heard. To be honest - I was jumping up and down when I read her email!!!

Praise God for all these babies!!!!!!!

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration--what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.

Psalm 139:13-15 (Message)

One step of faith.....

In a few minutes (actually) I will be having an indepth conversation with my "career counselor" in regards with what I want to do with the rest of my life when I grow up.

I keep putting this off - because I do not KNOW what I want to do when I grow up........

I guess I am praying God will light up the sky in bright neon lights - what and where I am suppose to go.

Hopefully the meeting this AM will shed some clarity on my road map of careers......

I am praying for clarity - now to go catch the El....

SPT October Week 1 Challenge

Self Portrait Tuesday October Challenge was to document a part of my daily routine unedited, in the raw, not polished or galmorized. That was easy - getting up after working a series of night shifts.

Self Portrait Tuesday Oct Challenge Week one, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Sometimes the afternoons can be as rough as the 0600 mornings. I usually have two lil girls running circles around me in the bathroom telling me all sorts of things from their day - while I am trying to wake up gracefully. There is no grace at this moment.......

Self Portrait Tuesday 1, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Self Portrait Tuesday 3, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

What you can't see is the 4.5yo bouncnig on my side telling me about her day as I brush and nod......

Self Portrait Tuesday 5, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

I swear our bathroom should come with bleacher seats for the girls.....

Self Portrait Tuesday 7, originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Nothing Graceful about this time of day for me.......... me unedited and uncut

Click on any of the photos to take you to the series of shots.... This is a fun challenge.......

Be sure to check out the other SPT entries......

Should I????

Changing Lives in India

On a personal note........

I am at a fork in the road. I have the tremendous opportunity to go to India on a missions trip in January of next year. For some reason it "feels" right. I will also have an opportunity to go to Rwanda in April of next year. Obviously I can't do both - but I do know while I WANT to go to Rwanda - it doesn't totally FEEL right.

I inquired more about the India trip and realized I need to plop down $3500.00 by the 15 October. In reality I can do it. Should I ? I am not sure.

india trip4_01.jpg_

I am in prayer about this and trying extremely hard to not waste energy on the specifics and giving it to God. There are only about 10 spaces left and I would need to register SOON. I want to be sure of financial stability prior to registering - and feel like if - I register - they are full that's my answer. But then - maybe God is asking me to take a step of faith????

india trip4_03.jpg_
I just ask that you keep this issue in your prayers as I try to let God do his stuff in my life!

More of St Louis

Say it Joyce!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

So - I finally have time to upload some pictures....

The first day - filled with anticipation - I had an upper level seat. HOWEVER the view was awesome! They had just openned up previously reserved seating because of all the women that showed up!!!! Praise God!!!!

21,000 women attendees praising and worshiping God!

FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The first night Creflo Dollar spoke - and did he lay it out!

He is an amazing preacher!!!

Dr. Creflo Dollar
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

A better picture of it...... The first day was the only day I had the camera to take relatively good pictures.


The pictures posted earlier were from my sprint phone..... I know.... pitiful!

The rest of the sessions I was down there on the floor....

So fun!!!!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The girls and Norm saved a seat for me at TGIF downtown between sessions on Friday.


It was so nice meeting them for lunch!

The girls had their own agenda while hanging out in St Louis.

They had a blast touring St Louis!!!

Don't fall in..............
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

They explored downtown St Louis, a few museums and just spent quality time with Dad!

Mom tell Rowan not to touch me!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Apparently they were "touching each other" you know that sister thing..... yeah....


Hence the space between them!!!!

Down by the river - the ole mississippi river
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The girls down by the river..... the Ole Mississippi

the arch
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The famous Arch

Such beautiful weather
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Lunch at the Park

The bridge!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Did I ever tell you I am afraid to go across bridges -

we had to drive over this one....

last few games in this stadium
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

They were able to go to the St Louis Cardinals game - the last few in this stadium.


The new stadium is next door almost completely built.

Norm is going to try to get them tickets to next years games during the conference as well.....

What a tradition!

St Louis Cardinals!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

They messaged me at the conference and told me it was a "Junk foodfest!"

Homework time!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Nat had tons of homework and school work to do -
we literally squeezed it in.


She was a trooper doing it!!!!!!!!!!

Night time
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

Night time views

St Louis is a very pretty city.......

For Keeps Sake!!!
Originally uploaded by Freakrn.

The last day we were in St Louis I found this ADORABLE and AWESOME scrapbook store.

For Keeps Sake Scrapbook store

It was jam packed with EVERYTHING Shabby to Retro!

I LOVE'd IT!

Can't wait to go back next year!