WOW

Can I just say...Amazing Game!!!

Full House

Well I tried to upload photos yesterday but blogger was having a few issues. Even today it wouldn't let me do more than one at a time. So...two it is. :)

Yesterday the class at Paper Vineyard went really well. We had a full house...and people on a waiting list. How cool is that! The ladies all completed their projects and had a good time in the process. Yippee! We tried a new teaching technique using the overhead projector & photos of the project. It worked out OK but next time we will get a cord to hook it up to the big screen TV. This way when the classes are larger everyone can see the sample a bit easier. Always looking for ways to improve. :) Thanks to all the ladies that took the class yesterday! I had a great time.

Last night my husband and I took Papa Wish to see our oldest son's new apartment. I think he was pleasantly surprised at how nice it is. And Jonathan is so excited to be there. Even Dexter has settled in very well. Sabrina can hardly wait to be there too. But April will be here before we know it. And in the meantime she can add her touches and start decorating...something my son won't do. haha

So it is Sunday already and it seems not enough time in the week to get everything done. Going to try to check a few things off my list. Happy Sunday! Enjoy your day.

2010

I am still trying to come to grips with the fact that a new year is upon us. The Christmas holiday this year was a hectic one and I don't feel like I got to close out the old year quite like I would have liked. That doesn't mean it wasn't a wonderful Christmas spent with my family! It was!! Anytime my boys are here with us, it is special. And the fact that my dad was feeling so good helped too. Christmas Eve was spent at church and then home for a big dinner and games. A family tradition. Then Christmas day family gathered at my parents house. We were so grateful that dad felt good enough to join in all the festivities. All in all...no complaints here.

The hectic part comes in with all the preparations being made for my parents move to an assisted living facility. Once this is finalized I know they will be so much happier and more relaxed. Able to enjoy themselves so much more. No more pins and needles and constant worry. It is the transition that is hard. So that is what I would have liked to wrap up before the year end. But God knows the right timing and I am praying things fall into place soon. Guess I will have to fall back on my 2009 Word: Trust! :)

So there are a lot of exciting things going on this year at Paper Vineyard. To start off we have had a great response to my upcoming class this Saturday. I am so excited to teach it. We are going to try to access a new teaching tool ....hoping we can make that work. I will let you know. Below is a photo of the project I will be teaching.



The following Saturday I will be taking a class at Mystic Paper. It is a soldering class with Josie. I have been wanting to take a class from her for quite some time. I am so excited! I have heard such good things about her teaching style and all that we will learn. It is always fun to expand your knowledge and have a little fun in the process. I will post what I make after the 16th. How fun!!

Well...I have pondered my "One Little Word" for the year. I think I am going with CALM! There are so many changes coming this year in my life....moving my parents, my oldest son's wedding at our home, another mission trip for my middle son to South Africa, my youngest graduating high school and then going off to college, which means...empty nest! So I think that CALM is what I need to strive for. And of course mixing in a bit of last years word..TRUST. You just can never let that one go. :) So I am "trusting" Jesus to keep me "calm" this year in all that I know is coming and all that I can't foresee. After all He doesn't call us to worry but to put our faith in Him and BELIEVE! Here's to a great 2010!!!

Merry Christmas & Farewell Surprise!

Hosted by the lovely Sherry Bamsey, a fun group of ladies gathered together to surprise Colleen before her move to California. What a wonderful time we had! I was so thrilled to be included in this special occasion. It was so good to see Colleen again and I got a chance to meet some new friends as well. From left to right: Kim Johnson, Sherry Bamsey, Colleen Jew, Jennifer Wyatt, Maija Lapore, Carol Wingert, Kim Hesson & myself.

Thank you Sherry for your generosity today! I had a wonderful time!
Below are a few gifts that were exchanged today. Just wanted to share. :)

Counting Down

I finished up the "Countdown to Christmas" that my future daughter-in-law requested. She wanted it for my son. I had to change a few things up from the last one that I made for the store but I think it turned out great. And most importantly, they both loved it.

Busy getting ready for Christmas around here. Amazingly we got all the decorations, lights, tree, etc up quickly this year. So it has been looking festive for a few weeks now. I am not really fond of the process of decorating for Christmas but I sure love the results! Especially at night with everything lit up.
Even got my Christmas cards out early this year. I think it was important that I get control of a few things this year as everything else has been out of control. As some of you know, my dad has been in hospice care at home for a while now and two weeks ago was sent to the hospice care facility. We didn't expect him to make it. But he rallied and is currently home again with a daytime nurse. So amazing! And a little stressful. But so far, so good.

So here's to letting go of worries, stress and holiday chaos and clinging to the real, true meaning of Christmas...the birth of Christ! May He be the greatest gift you receive this season. Merry Christmas!!

Oh Baby!

So I finally got in gear and painted a little something for a friend's new baby. I have known the baby's grandma since 5th grade! So when her daughter had a daughter and named her after her great grandma I just knew I wanted to do something. And it had to be with her name. I love the way it turned out. Her room is done in pinks, reds and white. So I think it will fit in nicely. I really hope she likes it. I love how the little flowers turned out. The edges are a light yellow with glitter paint all over. It is always fun to make something girly.
Just wanted to share.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Yesterday I taught the Thanksgiving ATC class at Paper Vineyard. The class was small but lots of fun. The ladies finished in record time and walked out with completed projects. Yahoo!!

Next is the Christmas "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" ATC class. It will be held on Dec 5th from 10-2. Looking forward to this one too. Although that means we are that much closer to Christmas. Just so hard to believe. I don't know why I am surprised each year when it creeps up on me. It is the same time each year, right. So I should be prepared. No....I am not. But that is OK. It always comes together. :) I am one step ahead with my Christmas family photos taken and chosen. That is a big step right there. Last year was the first year in probably 24 yrs that I did not send out Christmas cards. We had so many family things going on with my dad and with my son that I just couldn't bring myself to try to explain it all or feel very cheerful. So I am looking forward to this year with lots of gratitude in my heart.

Again this last week has been a crazy one. My middle son called Friday night to tell us that he had been rear ended on the freeway. So thankful that everyone was OK. There were 5 cars involved and he was right in the middle. Just sandwiched in and crunched from both sides. Poor kid. The on ramp at the particular location is under construction and you have about 2 car lengths to merge or you come to a dead stop. That is what happened. The first car stopped, the second car stopped and then my son stopped...followed by the fourth car that hit them all. Then a second accident happened when a 5th car hit them all again. The last two cars are the ones that received the tickets. So my son didn't do anything wrong. That is a relief. But we do feel bad for the poor girl stuck in a very bad situation. The city just needs to close that on ramp until the work is complete. Just too dangerous. Overall we are grateful that no one was hurt. So begins the process of replacing a car that he had for only 2 months!

So...on to another week and I am praying for boring. That's OK, right! :)
Happy Sunday!