I've Moved!

I've bitten the bullet and moved over to Typepad! Come check me out, and change your bookmarks!

http://melissapriest.typepad.com/

Sharing The Sunshine

So, times are hard right now and everyone needs a little sunshine in there life. Right? Well, I saw this done on another blog and wanted to share the sunshine. The first three people to comment on this post will receive something handmade from me within a year ---- it could be a poem or song, but it will probably be a scrappy something. I get to choose what I make and the colors though. The catch? You have to do the same thing on your blog and leave the link when you comment.

God Is Good.

Today is my daughters 'angel date' - the date that she passed away on four years ago. Today is a hard day for my family, and a day that we dread every year. Not because we don't hurt every single day, because we do. We dread this day because the memories associated with this day are the worse memories that parents can have.

But God is Good. I have known this, but today I especially can feel His goodness. I have had friends and family calling, checking up on me, sending me emails. Just letting me know that they love us, and care about us.

God is Good because today we "officially" kicked out our March of Dimes March for Babies fundraising campaign. And in just 4 hours since I sent the email, we have raised over $700 - and most of it is from people who I don't even know. But they love babies, and want to help someone else's baby have a healthy start and long life.

Today I can feel God's arms around me and my family - reassuring us that something good is coming from our pain. I am so thankful for that!

Monday

Lots has been happening over at my house. School is back in swing...my parents are back in New Mexico (except for when they have doctors appointments, and here lately they have had a ton of them), the boys basketball season is in full swing. Yes, lots going on here.

Lucky for me, my friend Stacey has been wanting to scrap alot - so I have been getting tons done on the two crops we've gone to. Stacey's son is serving in Iraq (Kuwait, actually right now), so I am doing my part to help cheer her up. We've scrapped the last two weekends together, and I honestly don't remember laughing so much. (OK, maybe during NSD Retret weekend, but that was with her as well!) I really needed the break that we've shared.

Here are some layouts that I have finished this past couple weeks. Some I have had that I thought I had posted...but somewhere they got left out.

Monday

Today was a fairly good day. Went to class and took a test (made a 86) that I hadn't studied for. It was rainy last night and I just couldn't keep my eyes open. Then I took care of some business for my parents and then came home. I've been reading Stacey Jullian's Photo Freedom book. I am starting to work through my photos and get rid of some, sort and file others. Its alot of work, but I can see where it will make scrapping more efficent and easier to find what I am looking for. Not a great read, but she does make some very good points in the book.

Here are a couple more pages I made this weekend while cropping at the Paper Garden. Hey, we are going again this weekend...why don't you join us?? Also, did you see the Paper Garden on Facebook? You should really go check that out!

journaling: Ben, Thank you for being my son. As your mom, I have learned so much from you - unconditional love, acceptance, patience, and love that I didn't know before you. Thank you for forgiving my mistakes and being my sunshine. I love you to the moom and back. xxoo


The journaling says: If you can remember anything that I've ever told you, remember that you are brothers and that is special. Love eachother, cherish eachother, count on eachother. You might fight & not get along, but remember....you have eachother.

In a nutshell

In a nutshell, this week has compromised on stomach bugs, puking, a couple meetings thrown in to create chaos, school, and a well-deserved crop with my sweet friend Stacey.

Oh, and Alex bought him a 52 inch plasma tv that he has been lusting over for atleast 2 years. He works sooo hard, and I just couldn't tell him no. He even paid cash! Too bad he doesnt have a TV cabinet to put it in! So, it sits in the dining room. Waiting to be used. We've filed our taxes, so I am assuming that whatever refund we get will be used for a new cabinet!

On to my scrappy goodness. Here is what I made using the Kit for The Mosy Scrapper.

Yeah, its me.

And please do not laugh. I was only five, and not in control of my hair. Or my clothing. Maybe this is why I have long hair, and I refuse to cut it off. Permanent scaring, I am sure.