Another page - for my LOM class

Had a really great time going to my category drawers and pulling these photos that span 4 years. Happy for the opportunity to document something important for my boys to read someday.

Blessings!

I played today

I just so wanted to do a scrapbook page. That's it - just throw some pictures and a little paper together and have a page. It was almost that easy. The great thing was having my LOM system in place. It helped me just grab these pictures which span 7 years in just a matter of seconds. Awesome. I will forever struggle with colors and what to put where but I'm gaining confidence with each layout. I haven't grabbed glue and paper for a long time so tonight was the night!! I'm thinking more and more I'll probably use my computer for the majority of what I do but there is just something about that glue and layering. Just wish I could be a little more accurate and QUICK! Journaling reads: RESPECT I love that Richard loves getting dressed up for church. He seems to have a keen respect for Worship and likes to put on his best. Without help he will pick a suit or a really nice sweater to wear when he is headed out to a church service. Even at a more relaxed Monday night service you will usually find him in a shirt and tie. Many pastors have stopped to comment. Paul sets a good example!

LOM started today! & Valentine moment

Just a quick hello to everyone from LOM. We did a blog roll so I hope some of them stop by. LOM - Library of Memories is the most awesome class to help you organize and use your photos to their utmost. I took the class last year and get to audit it this year for free - whoo hoo!! If you have a minute check out the Big Picture website and sign up for one of Stacy Julians free classes. If you need help email me back and I can walk you through registration. It is so worth your time.

Today I handed out valentines to my two kids and the other 4 day care children that were here. While everyone else was busy opening the candy my David spelled his name on the card and then said, "Thanks mom for this wonderful book!" He was just so impressed this little card had his name on it. It was the sweetest moment looking at him with that big smile on his face as he studied the simplest card I had ever made him (was actually feeling a little guilty for not having put forth more effort). Kids are awesome!!

God's blessings on your day!!
:)

Where did Pollyanna come from?

It was about 1984 and I had a one and a two year old at home. After seeing the statistics that families break up and are scarred for life that deal with Cystic Fibrosis I decided to seek counseling to be sure that didn't happen to us. Dr. Franklin was great. He asked if he could do a full blown psycho analysis on me. I said sure why not. It was intense and multifaceted. When everything came back I made an appointment and he began. "This turned out exactly as I had expected," he said. "See these numbers 1-10 here Gina. Well, a 1 or a 10 wouldn't be good news. Everything should be pretty much down the middle. 4-6 are ideal." He then showed me the sheet with all the data. I looked and scanned down the numbers and there was a 1 and a 10 everything else was right down the middle. I looked up and said but I have a 1 and a 10??? He said, "Yes, I know. The one is how you react to stressful situations. I would be concerned about that but I understand after meeting with you for some time now that you have a very strong faith. . . but your son has a fatal disease Gina. Yes, I know but God has it all in his hands and everything is going to be just fine," he teased(speaking as if he were me). "Maybe I should be concerned but I'm not, you're just a Pollyanna with a strong faith and that is just fine."

So that is how the Pollyanna thing started. Many doctors and nurses have said the same thing to me over the past 25 years and I'm sure there are some who would tell you I'm nothing but a pessimist. lol I do understand that many times people will ask me how Mike is doing and I tell them. I may be a Pollyanna but I AM REAL. I would have to lie to sugar coat things and make it all Rosy all the time and I just can't do that. I tell it like it is and hope people know me well enough that I don't have to go on and on about how it is going to be okay! It IS okay and God works all things out for our good. Sometimes that good is right there and visible and sometimes we just have to hold that promise close to our heart and trust. But anyway that is how Pollyanna came to be. I just know things always work out when you let God take the wheel. I am very optimistic about the future no matter what that holds because I know who holds the future. He's right there with us every step of this journey and the one thing CF has done for me is keep me very close to God in my daily walk. I am so thankful.

Oh, and the 10??? That was for intelligence level. Really kind of funny because I'm not really "book" smart but the test was more analytical and I got a 10 out of 10. He said he had had some doctorate types take the test multiple times trying to score a 10 and couldn't. I'm sure I couldn't do that again ;). But it gave my self esteem a little boost :).

Have a blessed day - make it a good one!

Pain/Blessing

Isn't it amazing how God can bless us when we least expect it?! I got sick this weekend. Still not sure what was wrong but I do know what was right! I got to sleep!! After two years of sleeping pills I slept unaided. Now you may be thinking what is the big deal but let me tell you there have been times I have felt nothing short of tortured with this whole sleeping disorder thing. I have tried to get off the sleeping pills but when I don't take at least 1/2 a pill I get ZERO sleep that night. And let me tell you - running after 4 kids 3 years old and under on ZERO sleep is not easy. (But thankfully with God all things are possible :)) I got sick - ran a fever - even missed church but I slept!! It has now been 4 nights without sleeping pills and I am VERY thankful. Praise God. Amazing how he chooses to bless us :)

Feeling so blessed - just had to share! Blessings to you this week!

Last night of class

This was an awesome class. This is the last lesson in the series. I have learned a ton.

512 - Oh my!!

That is the number of pictures I took in January - or I should say the number of photos on my computer for the month of January 2009 - yes I have actually already deleted some. YIKES! I really need to be better about taking pictures. Limiting it that is. I mean really, who can manage over 40,000 pictures. That is the number I have total - in the digital format that is. Many more in the hard copy photo album form. DOUBLE YIKES. I'll take ANY suggestions! I am determined to pare this down! I will once again take Stacy Julian's Library of Memories class and I'm hoping it will help in HOW I take my pictures as well as how to organize and get the stories on paper. Many times I think I should just give up the idea of scapbooking but I really do enjoy it most of the time.

So what is the point of taking pictures? That answer I'm sure will be personal to each person answering but I think I will need to revisit my answer before I decide how to best handle the situation of the overflowing photo albums. Over indulgence in anything is just NOT a good thing. I do NOT want to become a slave to these pictures! But really how much time does it take to

take

upload

file

organize

decide which to print

upload to print shop

pick up

put in albums

scrapbook

And I missed a few steps in there. Could be sinful! lol And I wonder why I can't keep up on the dusting and laundry! lol

But think about this - when you pass your photos down to your children and they add them to the thousands they have . . . seriously overwhelming. They'll probably just pitch most of them or they will rot in a huge box b/c no one will have enough time to sort through them. Library of memories here I come!

And with that I will end this with a picture from Jan of 2007 - oldest one on my hard drive right now. David enjoying his first chocolate chip cookie and Rich being a goof behind him. Have a great day!

From my class - cousins

Cute little cousins aren't they?!

Home safe and sound

My nephew Gary is home and safe. Prayers have been answered. He got off the plane from Afghanistan this week and was able to make it home to see his family. I didn't get to see him b/c I wasn't feeling well and didn't want to spread my germs but what a blessing to know he is safe. A huge thank you for his service to our country as a Green Beret. THANK YOU GARY and all the active service men and women!!


This is a picture of Gary while in Afghanistan. Still such a cutie :).

How have your prayers been answered this week?