Family Tree

I am really enjoying this DT work. I still feel very overwhelmed. I know that God has a plan for me and yet I look at the other DT work and I feel inadequate. I hate that. I hate when I second guess myself. I hate when I compare my work (that I love and am happy with) with that of others and find it lacking. There is something that the creative team at faith sisters saw in my work that made them say "that is one we want." I need to keep my faith in that and God and quit thinking about how my work doesn't compare. God has me doing this work for a reason. I am hoping that it will be a blessing not only to me but to others. Anyway, go check out the challenge faithsisters.com You may have to scroll down, I forgot to post Wednesday night.

Baby Amy

This is where your story begins. It is important to have these details documented in you’re "My Lifetime Story Album".

Find all your favorite baby photos and ask your parents about any details they remember or have recorded. Also list details about your name. Are you named after someone? Do you know the significance of your name or how it was chosen?

Here are some other helps for creating a two page layout about your birth story.
Date:
Place of birth:
City: State:County: Country:
Doctor: Length: Weight:

Other topics that can be made more baby layouts:

Gather baby photos of all your family members include details about each person.
Make a layout that shows your parents baby photos.

I have had nothing but hardship with this layout. My printer ran out of ink. I -emailed it to work only to find out that our printer was down for two day. I finally get it finished and posted and it didn't post right so it was not in the newsletter for this weeks DT work. (ARG) but oh well. It is finished. I hope that it does not "offend" or hurt anyone (especially my mom).
I decided to make it easy on the kids and did one for them as well.

My LIfetime Story

I just realized that I never really told anyone about this challenge. (Thanks Penny for letting me know.)
Here is the beginning info and the first challenge.

ouldn't you to know what your grandma's favorite toy was as a child, how she felt when she met your grandpa, her favorite scripture and the song that expressed her heart? Your children and grandchildren will have that treasure when you join us in this challenge!

We will start out with your family roots in January and move into your childhood in February. We will continue throughout the year with your teen and adult years as well. The last challenge of the year will be a letter to your future generations or anyone who reads your book.

Each of our stories is important. This is a book that everyone should create about themselves. It will be the most treasured album of your family. As you create this album about your lifetime story you will be leaving YOUR LEGACY OF FAITH. This is an album that can make an impact in your life as you create it, but it will also create a major impact in the lives of your family both now and in future generations. As your children read your story in this scrapbook that YOU created, they will take your stories to heart. Your stories may have more impact on them than even Bible stories, because they are personal and from someone they know and . When friends and neighbors pick up your storybook and look through it you will be witnessing without even saying a word. They will read your lifetime history and discover your of Jesus, and His forgiveness and faithfulness in your life!

The My Lifetime story challenges will begin the first Wednesday in January. A new challenge will be posted each Wednesday all throughout 2010. The last challenge will be posted the last Wednesday of December. Just because the challenge series ends at the end of 2010 doesn't mean your lifetime story album is finished. We will continue to offer periodic challenges to continue your autobiography and keep it current.

Please join us in this year long challenge! Some of these challenges may be layouts you have already completed. That is ok! We need to get these all compiled in your lifetime storybook. Everyone deserves to be the star of their own book, including and most importantly YOU! If you don't put some time aside to create your My Lifetime Story album now, you may never find the time. If something were to happen to you, would your legacy of faith be lost forever? Take action now, join us as we create our lifetime storybooks for the next generation to see the glorious work the Lord can do in the life of a woman that loves God!

The first Challenge:
You are creating your own autobiography. This is the best story out there, it is your story. You have created many pages about your children, family, pets, vacations and holidays. Now you can focus on you. This has been a great experience for me and a chance to focus on me! I created these pages with much more passion, it helped me see my childhood in a new light, discover things about myself, my life, how I spend my time and what my priorities are.

The first challenge is to create a layout that will be the title page to your "My Lifetime Story Album". You will see I created a layout that is a collage of images of my life. From baby, childhood, teens, and adult years showing all the changes to where I am now.

Since this is your autobiography you will want to make a special title for your album. What do you want to name your own autobiography? This can be the title of your collage page.

Next we will be starting the chapter on your roots & heritage.

Be sure to follow this challenge in our forum and post your page in our gallery under the appropriate category! If you are a digital scrapbooker, be sure to find some great products in our shop to help you with your project!

Here is a photo list from the beginning till about March.
*My life collage- an assortment of photos of you ranging from baby, childhood, teen, and adult. That showcase you and the milestones through your life. 6-18 photos

*My Birth Story- your first photos, baby photos, /birth certificate.

*My family tree- names, birth dates & photo of yourself, your parents, your grandparents, your great grandparents.

*4-6 additional photos of your parents and grandparents for a layout about them. *Photos of your siblings (childhood and adult photos)

*Homes you have lived in/your home town

*Childhood Favorites (toys, memories, vacations, family members, cousins)

*Childhood Friends/Pets

*Churches you attended when you were young, photos of you at religious activities or baptism.

Let me know if you are going to join my on this journey.

My answered Prayers

I usually write about Charlie and sometimes Brantley (I think this will be more when he learns how to talk). But today I need to write about my husband. He was an answered pray. I prayed long and hard for many years that I would find a man that was an amazing father. And I have one in spades!! I just felt very "drawn" to document some of my husbands wonderful qualities. Sunday night B woke up with a fever in the middle of the night. For the last few days he had been sticking his fingers in his ear when he got out of the shower. So, Monday morning rolled around and Dusty called saying he was running 103.4 and they had just gotten home from shopping. He gave him some Mortin and put him to nap. We called the Pediatrician. They one appointment it was 11 am on Tuesday. There was no way to get him to the dr and Charlie picked up from school so we took B to the after-hours clinic. We were in and out in 45 minutes. How is that for fast? He had an ear infection. He is almost 17 months and this is the first time we have had to take him to the dr for anything but shots or well baby. So once we got home and the kids to bed I started working on report cards. Dusty, wonderful man that he is, brought me my very favorite hot chocolate French Vanilla. It is a tad expensive for my taste so I never buy it. He sets it down in front of me and says "I knew you would be busy tonight." (Reason 1) So when I got home Tuesday from school (Reason 2) my house was spotless. He picked up B's mess, mopped the floors and cleaned the kitchen. He also had dinner on the table (Nachos). Then he helped put the kids to bed so that I could finish report cards. Wednesday when he and the kids got to SJN Charlie was complaining of her head hurting and not feeling good. She looked very pale and was very warm. I went straight home. (Reason 3) Dusty was late to work so that I could have five minutes to gather all my stuff and he put the kids in the car. Charlie threw up b/f we were even 1/4 mile away from the school. She threw up one more time that evening and ran a fever into the next day. Wednesday night on his way home from work he stopped at the store to pick up a few "sick" necessities. (I remember my grandmother always having these on hand. My kids never get sick, so I never have them) (Reason 4) He also came home with "sick" toys. Anytime Charlie is sick he brings her something. So, he had a puppy for Charlie (She named him shorts. How cute is that?) and a frog for B. (Reason 5) He slept in the chair so that I could get a little bit of sleep for school the next day. He decided he was going to call in the next day b/c she was sick. (Who does that?) He wants to be with the kids when they are sick. He is such a great dad. I am the one that never takes off b/c Dusty is here with them and there is no need for two of us to be here. There are some days when I feel like a horrible mom for that but I also am the work-a-holic in our family. He ended up going to work b/c school was canceled. We were out of power. (Reason 6) He puts the kids coats in the dryer so that they will be warm before going outside like an electric blanket (Charlie is obsessed with them right now.) (Reason 7) He brought snacks today for the kids and me b/c he couldn't remember what our schedule was. He thought maybe we would like to get a special snack. I am just overwhelmed on a daily basis by how blessed I am to have a wonderful man in my life. Thank you God for answering my prayers beyond my wildest dreams. I love you. Dusty.

My Life Story

The first challenge posted today. I can't tell you how excited I was to see my layout with all those incredible pages these wonderful ladies have completed!!! This is going to be a very growing experience. I am working on my "baby" page now. And I just have to say it is very difficult. I can't decide what direction I want to go. Oh well. Here is my title page! Go to Faithsisters.com for full details of the challenge. We post every Wednesday.

Dusty and food

Dusty is so great. He made Charlie's plate smile at her. He also made the Indian Corn rice krispy treats for me. He made Nachos. He is so great!

(okay, I know an old post) This was our Journey to Bethlehem. If you live in the metro area it is SO worth it. This year on our journey we met in person an "internet" scrapbook friend of mine. How completely cool was it that we were standing in front of Melissa and I am thinking "I know this girl. Not only do I know her, I think I read her blog this morning." So she took this super fab family picture. While on our trip, Herod's man asked Charlie "How old is this baby?" about Brantley. She got tickled. Mom he wants to know how old B is. I told the guy and he told me wrong answer. B was a little frightened of his deep voice and started crying. Charlie then asked the shepherd, "Do you think Mary would mind if I hold Jesus for just a little moment."