Runny Babbit

I have been working this weekend on my DT work for FaithSisters. Our challenge last week was to do a layout on your favorites. After really sitting down and thinking about my favorites I couldn't come up with songs or bands or movies or anything but books. Which made me remember a comment my mom made a couple months ago. "I don't really remember you as a kid. Just that you always had a book. You were a big book worm." I don't think about myself being a book worm. And then I remember, Yes, I did read the entire babysitters club series. Oh, and the Sweet Valley High series, I read those 153 books. I remember Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys too. I remember a few titles from some book club that I belonged to (thank you so much mom for that sacrifice). I would wait on pins and needles for each months new title and devour it when it came in. When I went to college I gave away all my babysitters club books and sweet valley high but I kept a handful of those book club books. The ones that I just loved. Tonight I pulled another favorite of mine to read to Charlie. I remember spending hours laughing at Shel Silverstein. It is complelety different now as a parent enjoying his silliness with. Charlie loves to speak in sounds. "Mom, lets use L. Lommy Lould Lou Live Le La Link." Because of this we started with his book published after his death in 1999. So, tomorrow before we read a few more poems Charlie has decided that she does not want to be a "Ploppy Sig" and will "Rean her Cloom." It is great to giggle with her. And, my super smart girl got most of what Shel was saying. We have five of his books to work through. It is going to be a blast!

I know I'm getting old...

Really I do. But it is not always a slap in the face like today. Today, April 19th is the 15th year anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. No, I was not in OKC at the time. I was in fact, sitting in my Senior year World History class with Mr. Anderson watching the "world news" which we did from 9 till 9:15 every morning. This morning, they broke in with a report. I did not at the time know how significant this day would play on my life. Fast forward a few years. I was teaching at a daycare in Edmond. I had this one little guy 4 1/2 at the time I had him. I loved this kid. He made the BEST connections but he was very active. I suggested that maybe mom give him a year before sending him to school (he had a July B-day). They did not and by the end of 1st grade he was on "medication" that made him a zombie. I vowed to become a teacher b/c little guys like him needed me. Back to Ian...He was one of the first "dates" I was asked out on in Edmond. He wanted to take me to Del Rancho to get a steak sandwich supreme. His mom would drive b/c he was only 4 but I could sit in the front. If you worked with young kids you would know how incredibly special it was that I could "sit in the front." This was the kid that told his mom not to get a new car. But to put chicken noodle soup in the gas tank. What great connections: when I am sick I eat chicken noodle soup and I get better. The car is sick, give it chicken noodle soup and it will get better. Now how do these two things connect. Ian was in the bombing when he was two. There were times in class when he would point to the scar on his forehead and say "I got this when the bad man blew up my school with his truck." He would say this and then go back to what he was doing. I got to thinking today. If that was 15 years ago, Ian would be in high school and pretty close to graduating. Boy, I am old not only is one of the first kids that I taught getting close to graduating high school. I graduated 15 years ago in May. Yikes!

Unity Friends With Flair

I am in LOVE with my UNITY stamps. And I am in love with friends with flair blog hop. There is some really great inspiration. I did this layout a few weeks ago but never posted it. I really love the KOM. I am so counting down till I will have the extra cash again. I know "paying" off the "debt" is better than feeding my hobby. But I still say that the hobby is more fun. :)

Here is one of Brantley, too. No unity here just a christmas wreath in Advent colors. I can't get over how much this little guy has grown up. He was such a baby. Not so much any more.

Faith Sisters "High School" college

I have been so far behind in my DT work. I missed two layouts about my childhood. 1 I have ready I just have to put it together. And the second, I have an idea. So far I have missed three of the challenges. I guess that is not too bad.
Here is my layout for High School. I have so many more that I would like to do for this topic. Maybe I will have time this next week. Join my friends and I at faithsisters.com and complete your own life story!

God's plans

I have always known that God has a plan for me. I am feeling that his plan for me is more. I feel a pull. I have no idea where that tug is going to take me. I feel that there is more...God please let me know in your time what your will is. I am waiting patiently with open ears listening for direction. Does it have to do with prayer? Does it have anything to do with "A Mom After God's own heart?" Where are you leading me? Does it have to do with scrapbooking? Blessings?

Passion Beads & Egging Friends

I got this great idea from a friend of mine to make story beads that help my kids to tell the story of Easter. I have looked and looked for wooden beads. They were either too much for me to pay or I couldn't tell the size of the lacing hole or they were a size variety pack. So, I decided that I was going to make my own beads out of baker's clay. I think next time I will paint the beads once they are done so that they look a little better.
The kids and I spent an evening rolling snakes and cutting pieces to make these beads. Brantley had the best time squishing the dough. Chuck just loved cutting and counting the pieces. I used a toothpick to hollow out the center. The pencil did not work for me. We baked the first batch of 150 beads only to find out that I did not make the "hole" big enough. I got upset and started to throw them all away only to have my husband get major husband points and offer to drill each bead. Yes, you heard right. Out of the 600 beads that we made he drilled around 250 of them. What a great man! Once the beads were cooled I used a package of sharpie markers to draw the pictures on the beads. The story begins with Jesus coming into Jersulem riding on a donkey. The people waved palm leaves. (palm leaf) Jesus has the Last supper with his disciples. (Bread and wine) Jesus goes to the garden to pray. (praying hand) He is captured by soldiers. (chain) He is nailed to the cross. (nail) He dies on the cross (cross). He is in the tomb for 3 days. (123) On the 3rd day he rises again. This reminds us that we have a new life in him (butterfly). He died because he loves us. His love saves us (heart)
I made them for my class and the 4th grade class to work on during our Friday Friend Session. My kids loved them. 4th grade not so much. We had beads left over so I decided to see if Charlie wanted to give them to some of her friends. We made a kind of "treasure" hunt by placing a bead in a plastic egg and hiding them around the friend's yard. Charlie then rang the doorbell and ran to the car. The first one we tried we were not so "successful" with getting away. We had the best time.
I hope that our friends enjoyed their egging as much as we did. I think that I just might have to do this activity again.

Prayers answered

I have always wanted a husband who was a spiritual leader in my home. I have a great husband. One chosen by God just for me and yet he does not qualify as the spiritual leader in my home. I have been praying and praying and praying that one day my husband will initiate (and say the words) to pray with me. Last night was that night. We have had a very hard three days of parenting. At 1:30 in the morning after finding out that Charlie had cut her hair again, I asked if he wanted to talk about it tonight or wait. He took my hands and prayed for God's guidance and for strength and patience in parenting. He prayed that we would be good enough parents to lead our children to him. I am on cloud nine. Praise God. I am so full. Thank you God for answering the prayers of the faithful. Thank you for being such an amazing God that you give more than requested. That you answer prayers!

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.