tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36552442158955858932024-02-06T21:42:56.677-05:00My Messy MiraclesLiving each moment, trying to keep up with the miracles that have been sprinkled throughout my lifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-2958294396422939472014-04-10T16:26:00.000-04:002014-04-10T16:26:27.667-04:00Freebies!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The new kit is out!!!!</div>
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There are also some links to a couple of freebies at the bottom of the post. </div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s1600/HOB+Logo.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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has a new kit inspired by cherry blossoms.</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKLRd6OHvPd8mipJs-rlQ2pWfsCDzoaOa4XLBEpxBR5BxOY4lwA7gDjCukTDZT8kMOMAl9NnygNFJs9BYgO0mtfxlp934WTsALlQ0-QzfyAqmNM_uOLyTDmuyC4BjacecxHLgJppHzV80/s1600/KitPreviewcopy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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When the cherry blossom blooms in the first weeks of spring, it's truly a spectacular sight to behold; the whole tree explodes in pink flowers, beckoning the warm and cheery days ahead. In Japanese culture, especially, the cherry blossom ("sakura") has much significance, and stands for (among other things) beauty and life. With a mix of watercolor and washi textures, this kit captures the soft and ethereal spirit of the cherry blossom.</div>
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Includes:</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Papers.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fX5_WxV4vyJkUWMn9_zCM1Mcmw64HzmzkMyR1ttF7iBhiww-92OQwCRuc6H1bp511fvurUjL4BQs9lNpM9ezRrxKSy4J7rDDbQmWdT-pHQUQ-CnQyMxmDpt2di58umL5rrrg9ky5_nzf/s1600/HOB_CB_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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24 papers (8 solids and 16 patterns)</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Elements.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SQh_1NvFoz1Kx3M2xp3TW-0U23ZURlMEqe1pq8oly7TPg-e7co3yaonpJCbaqJiSY-UATnUQsE4071ZtzfyQnN6ey9iEz5Ms4bd3d50RF8bxl8Exd_yG2h2OJiSZqoBw487OMimXXXiV/s1600/HOB_CB_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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66 elements</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Alphas.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-48JKVawcjRSUTWhljdztT7_F3r9wWCZe_nQRVMZuKjJbCSukN0_JaWrVO6kRQXM8x2vtTaPe-W1tdfDGida8Z4v3bUV1yFJWRavG3M8OfWmkkB73y4o5weaw6ZN23rs8JrMl2oPgOiTv/s1600/HOB_CB_STO+Alpha+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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2 alphas (1 uppercase washi alpha, 1 lowercase water color alpha with numbers)</div>
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Cherry Blossom is available as a full kit (best deal) at</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom.html">ScrapTakeout</a> or <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3444">With Love Studios</a></div>
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or in individual pieces.</div>
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Papers: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Papers.html">ScrapTakeout</a> or <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3447">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Elements: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Elements.html">ScrapTakeout</a> or <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3446">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Alpha:<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Cherry-Blossom-Alphas.html"> ScrapTakeout</a> or <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3445">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Inspiration:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV6vPVH_6WWVcF29_0o97pw_Yw3D1N_CR2DVq4lzS00vs4SE3erXUhKNiJdjn3h2dCMwSucqieD5In1BJ3ZXo4-dBkOLDw7-qNFRGAqdokSIoJihTOduNwPoXPy32De9ijgUq5emthjcT/s1600/Bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV6vPVH_6WWVcF29_0o97pw_Yw3D1N_CR2DVq4lzS00vs4SE3erXUhKNiJdjn3h2dCMwSucqieD5In1BJ3ZXo4-dBkOLDw7-qNFRGAqdokSIoJihTOduNwPoXPy32De9ijgUq5emthjcT/s1600/Bloom.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Grace (Template by Our Misadventures and font is "DBJ The Librarian")</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiopU4WkMsloQKCX-TbtRNVnqfYCmfi_2Iu73IX5mRKZuJmCB-fF2T5V4ZfBD72EHohS0iYmnfWItuTQ0x2WCFRwHB6u4c1mXf5LPMJSMhVyr1MSI5O3EJxLz23j7a0UegyVMcFpLvw-b1/s1600/Cherry-Blossoms_STO_zps6400afd0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiopU4WkMsloQKCX-TbtRNVnqfYCmfi_2Iu73IX5mRKZuJmCB-fF2T5V4ZfBD72EHohS0iYmnfWItuTQ0x2WCFRwHB6u4c1mXf5LPMJSMhVyr1MSI5O3EJxLz23j7a0UegyVMcFpLvw-b1/s1600/Cherry-Blossoms_STO_zps6400afd0.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Heather</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTe8191bhxH9M_I4qkgAq7sZD986ALO43oP7e5Yl0Oi-TqPN6euHx3CQoaLTgu83zg34ZBQpAuKioHcE3B7MR7AioQMoDNGNQQ47djfk0qDv-M-TTzniZ9_-RsDSoullOoP39ZAOdl27D/s1600/Easter-Dress-2013_zps75448d3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTe8191bhxH9M_I4qkgAq7sZD986ALO43oP7e5Yl0Oi-TqPN6euHx3CQoaLTgu83zg34ZBQpAuKioHcE3B7MR7AioQMoDNGNQQ47djfk0qDv-M-TTzniZ9_-RsDSoullOoP39ZAOdl27D/s1600/Easter-Dress-2013_zps75448d3f.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Amber</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr57DeEtdAMRtBNPq0GXmlirOeDsuGFTODqDskcnpYpReU-IL6oqNIR22oIDtO1LTeaxaE1iWMDPt918ZQmva4ZT4RgQLs15dI2812nTG5FbpePR32bBQfDQym8XV4u1dY-gbt7ozD-k0/s1600/znfm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpr57DeEtdAMRtBNPq0GXmlirOeDsuGFTODqDskcnpYpReU-IL6oqNIR22oIDtO1LTeaxaE1iWMDPt918ZQmva4ZT4RgQLs15dI2812nTG5FbpePR32bBQfDQym8XV4u1dY-gbt7ozD-k0/s1600/znfm.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Dorine</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKnisVUt9948pYKy-VkUBQKJ9yBhY2fH2nJ5zMXlTHTuMdrh3PCktLjklmxleckE1oZPOhCwtoJaSjvKUtS1oBoZJyZP4iJHK_QyccpUQMXav0_iNETi7tOERV5j0YH5yiAo51mYYWPXj/s1600/gs9n1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKnisVUt9948pYKy-VkUBQKJ9yBhY2fH2nJ5zMXlTHTuMdrh3PCktLjklmxleckE1oZPOhCwtoJaSjvKUtS1oBoZJyZP4iJHK_QyccpUQMXav0_iNETi7tOERV5j0YH5yiAo51mYYWPXj/s1600/gs9n1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Nancy (Template by Marisa Lerin)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXo1XF4BDFG70x7pK27jufsf3LJSAl1-OwQlenzuqGBf7AN3eWEIsemBmfPDQs135VCfMUIyXWh1pYAymEtYVeHVRWVyI7y0IWhblkXqMQK9q_4XXeM3tPJDwBrjJ-sDS-_XwPuVc2_i3/s1600/hob_cb_robin_web_zps15c21a41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXo1XF4BDFG70x7pK27jufsf3LJSAl1-OwQlenzuqGBf7AN3eWEIsemBmfPDQs135VCfMUIyXWh1pYAymEtYVeHVRWVyI7y0IWhblkXqMQK9q_4XXeM3tPJDwBrjJ-sDS-_XwPuVc2_i3/s1600/hob_cb_robin_web_zps15c21a41.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Robin</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUgTyUdkCyDPZDV9a5UjDX0eMrhHhm4Z9yn6ew-77Ki9uuWuafzN2xVOIRsjn35v5PBsQ1Vns5a9nit3HKSKbkMax3RdBGnR4c0sd34MHx7cszNIXohDIpymytOoUz8bJ_oLxjvMwdgHs/s1600/7bef24b060069cf710229bf3562ee011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUgTyUdkCyDPZDV9a5UjDX0eMrhHhm4Z9yn6ew-77Ki9uuWuafzN2xVOIRsjn35v5PBsQ1Vns5a9nit3HKSKbkMax3RdBGnR4c0sd34MHx7cszNIXohDIpymytOoUz8bJ_oLxjvMwdgHs/s1600/7bef24b060069cf710229bf3562ee011.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnfbMN7Nnul8XbYkNZIWzr1gXlD2U1wqFPKE-yUc6e5Sm50rCA23_FM4ukteXtTVEvhQEIJZG8_JnvB012PJP_LwcOcdOkcFMqZ2aY6dQ9T9qAnln6rQvhAEQwWZhqyKtMHcDvtvP1nMg/s1600/c8238ed174a433b2d279f30afa26eaaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnfbMN7Nnul8XbYkNZIWzr1gXlD2U1wqFPKE-yUc6e5Sm50rCA23_FM4ukteXtTVEvhQEIJZG8_JnvB012PJP_LwcOcdOkcFMqZ2aY6dQ9T9qAnln6rQvhAEQwWZhqyKtMHcDvtvP1nMg/s1600/c8238ed174a433b2d279f30afa26eaaa.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Catherine</div>
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Freebies:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPb4re1CynukdpIb-_HwargLIry4XGKSSE0YKFH6WkilPCgqifg0qWX_XPkqbOg9EO3GmL7rnu7mRjzXHbHVy_oKmWqavMxuiOlBfJ5ixJlZbSGD2E4z82p0I_PvYwUpmpSCPpgfREPFD/s1600/HOB_CB_STOJCPreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPb4re1CynukdpIb-_HwargLIry4XGKSSE0YKFH6WkilPCgqifg0qWX_XPkqbOg9EO3GmL7rnu7mRjzXHbHVy_oKmWqavMxuiOlBfJ5ixJlZbSGD2E4z82p0I_PvYwUpmpSCPpgfREPFD/s1600/HOB_CB_STOJCPreview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Journal cards by Hat of Bunny will be <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HOB.Designs">available on Facebook</a> (make sure to like Hat of Bunny to get the freebie).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKrrqqKr9Qt-sz1c4gowGrn2VLQLL2KfdlRvBNHIE33KeAB8-1lljFYuGmMzk_KdHRVoNmutiuEh8NCSsrEjpcp240qkyvtFdQeA5uviYL-bfGuPcjo8WKlTqzCEiBZtaveEZxwYTbx1O/s1600/hob_cb_freebiepreview_robin_web_zps309b7b34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKrrqqKr9Qt-sz1c4gowGrn2VLQLL2KfdlRvBNHIE33KeAB8-1lljFYuGmMzk_KdHRVoNmutiuEh8NCSsrEjpcp240qkyvtFdQeA5uviYL-bfGuPcjo8WKlTqzCEiBZtaveEZxwYTbx1O/s1600/hob_cb_freebiepreview_robin_web_zps309b7b34.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Quickpage freebie by CT Robin will be<a href="http://scrapper1958.blogspot.com/"> available at her blog</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoaMt8tc-boTyBIc8NooDLuDUEa1hp_U7dfWLVPKTwtpQwlGuMO2OIm9z9ZbHP9YlDe4bgA5DI81ZMMrvrjKS7L7YwiNaNsV9q275RmpXPhLMgzZfaSfB-YbyPwnUm2psFpA6U20aczO6/s1600/7df2794351b216b4d533b61f025be901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoaMt8tc-boTyBIc8NooDLuDUEa1hp_U7dfWLVPKTwtpQwlGuMO2OIm9z9ZbHP9YlDe4bgA5DI81ZMMrvrjKS7L7YwiNaNsV9q275RmpXPhLMgzZfaSfB-YbyPwnUm2psFpA6U20aczO6/s1600/7df2794351b216b4d533b61f025be901.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Frame cluster freebie by Catherine <a href="http://thisnthatbycat.blogspot.com/">available at her blog</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-22716478580671960832014-04-09T08:38:00.001-04:002014-04-09T08:38:50.176-04:00Spring Colors!I love spring colors! I love everything about them. I think because they symbolize the hope of the end of winter. Hat of Bunny has a new kit coming that is full of the beauty of spring. Here is a sneak peek!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm3e6heJnsG-0CzSFgxcQN92bsmBPfo3aV0HzaV8KhITF59LPUe4unpqXMiqFzZBTqDCTRwpINtX6NwODiGvtF2Yyfcdr9AeBUe9hhQ5GvD0MDLi13CTBehsEb7QsjTgtzQabKy4jrIyf/s1600/Sneak+Peek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEm3e6heJnsG-0CzSFgxcQN92bsmBPfo3aV0HzaV8KhITF59LPUe4unpqXMiqFzZBTqDCTRwpINtX6NwODiGvtF2Yyfcdr9AeBUe9hhQ5GvD0MDLi13CTBehsEb7QsjTgtzQabKy4jrIyf/s1600/Sneak+Peek.png" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
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Available at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=66">With Love Studios.</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-10095103857776111782014-03-21T21:25:00.001-04:002014-03-21T21:42:03.444-04:00Marking Spring day 2It is not unusual in our part of the country to rush breaking out the spring wear when the temps go above 60 degrees. Today was one of those days that make me hope that winter will soon be behind us and we can enjoy spring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gmBuD4OKbhK9vIsaoNw7CkoAH_3GVQ3DsymBiI8Gm11Al8msUfVptdSWuNHlEJKlsTGCQaxro-0xvWk1VINE5Z-l353xApp5zPgQo-8U8giBYPLmn1RRx74vflSayJXkFpVc5Bi1Hj0/s3200/20140321_202759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gmBuD4OKbhK9vIsaoNw7CkoAH_3GVQ3DsymBiI8Gm11Al8msUfVptdSWuNHlEJKlsTGCQaxro-0xvWk1VINE5Z-l353xApp5zPgQo-8U8giBYPLmn1RRx74vflSayJXkFpVc5Bi1Hj0/s3200/20140321_202759.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-34131308141771749922014-03-21T11:53:00.002-04:002014-03-21T11:54:45.699-04:00WordsmithAnd here is that new kit I was telling you about.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s1600/HOB+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s1600/HOB+Logo.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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William Faulkner once said, "If a story is in you, it has to come out."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKgawbJD1R95hZUJHP7z2dcbK6NuTBNr_R0VA4_U-R9ajtwsGtWp-UoB_jWcwcIJOlc_OEJ_Fc6zaES9rFjo9f0r7WEruOwrCMlK0wzZBaRj0F_qPk7qh11IE-1ySG5U6RaOelntGANGF/s1600/KitPreview-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKgawbJD1R95hZUJHP7z2dcbK6NuTBNr_R0VA4_U-R9ajtwsGtWp-UoB_jWcwcIJOlc_OEJ_Fc6zaES9rFjo9f0r7WEruOwrCMlK0wzZBaRj0F_qPk7qh11IE-1ySG5U6RaOelntGANGF/s1600/KitPreview-3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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As scrapbookers, we are all record keepers and storytellers. "Wordsmith" is a beautiful vintage kit that celebrates all forms of word-crafting, and however you choose to tell your story it has something for you. The lovely neutral shades, pops of maroon and navy, and bits and pieces of ephemera are perfect for genealogy/heritage layouts, journal-heavy pages, and for recording your creative expression.</div>
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This mega kit includes:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3Udsszxc2Y3uwMXuL-up2R407STzaDj6_PqeW680p5JOAJbBTpsfUnwutBL9u5T7QlDoaH270v7xyaxhmRHNAJZCpyo5MKGjxDOJBPEPKoBsnG-4s2ABDW7nRl72oo8omhNQu2330ri/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFl3Udsszxc2Y3uwMXuL-up2R407STzaDj6_PqeW680p5JOAJbBTpsfUnwutBL9u5T7QlDoaH270v7xyaxhmRHNAJZCpyo5MKGjxDOJBPEPKoBsnG-4s2ABDW7nRl72oo8omhNQu2330ri/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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8 solid papers, 13 patterned papers, and 2 worn papers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiD0yt7UsjE_lXgltZcDCv_qHKpmBkLc-ZY5KQuuaZqHLdCEjLjj9GlPjWqp0nQcqt1vL5jgFFiagDi4ozkrBl1ogVPNoVTbysuTxzGXlTIQrC8h7_W9zPiGNAeMQpSVKwICQ1ohLIJFf/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiD0yt7UsjE_lXgltZcDCv_qHKpmBkLc-ZY5KQuuaZqHLdCEjLjj9GlPjWqp0nQcqt1vL5jgFFiagDi4ozkrBl1ogVPNoVTbysuTxzGXlTIQrC8h7_W9zPiGNAeMQpSVKwICQ1ohLIJFf/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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73 elements</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZP4mZJvicOQ2HXX5LrkCXethBwLC3RJjIRGrhJzNra5f_ymKJ6AnyGh7g7fGIiMpoX1hwAkvHt_QAV2HHVJRt4YzbvkVH74L6MwcS7dm9lBa25NDp_SM2RdmWPJTAQRgJ24j6xbWNznn/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Alpha+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZP4mZJvicOQ2HXX5LrkCXethBwLC3RJjIRGrhJzNra5f_ymKJ6AnyGh7g7fGIiMpoX1hwAkvHt_QAV2HHVJRt4YzbvkVH74L6MwcS7dm9lBa25NDp_SM2RdmWPJTAQRgJ24j6xbWNznn/s1600/HOB_WS_STO+Alpha+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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1 full typewriter alpha (unicase letters, numbers, and some symbols)</div>
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It is available (at the best price) as a complete kit at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Wordsmith.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3366">With Love Studios</a>,</div>
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or individual pieces:</div>
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Papers: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Wordsmith-Papers.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3369">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Elements: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Wordsmith-Elements.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3368">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Alpha: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Wordsmith-Alpha.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3367">With Love Studios</a></div>
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CT Inspiration:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYF_rS-5lMMy669x_hpz8pknKeoZ6FE20Wq6R_n7OLKxfD4PK7a0j2LGG1ShccpHz1fSWQ6uqp0hMpwvDYH8tfiClxz3VWvwxhdI2JeB3WSoObAdKWBcIx6RhbxNikwPOeTQ7-W9-sKPD/s1600/Author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYF_rS-5lMMy669x_hpz8pknKeoZ6FE20Wq6R_n7OLKxfD4PK7a0j2LGG1ShccpHz1fSWQ6uqp0hMpwvDYH8tfiClxz3VWvwxhdI2JeB3WSoObAdKWBcIx6RhbxNikwPOeTQ7-W9-sKPD/s1600/Author.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Amber (template by Anita Wells)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdIAJbPLLgSnrkvcTd9bBYuWiyiVcLKaWzjlpe4z7vciie0QZxcfm8pFGbAuoqCeZkiCdjbPGrv57uFXkzc0R2uF9_BZX9kr48NuHbGisZ4WyDwY4PswR8fxGNLyxLEA-gzAXd_PVhdWw/s1600/MMD_cottoncandy_hob_ws_robin_web_zps9470971e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQdIAJbPLLgSnrkvcTd9bBYuWiyiVcLKaWzjlpe4z7vciie0QZxcfm8pFGbAuoqCeZkiCdjbPGrv57uFXkzc0R2uF9_BZX9kr48NuHbGisZ4WyDwY4PswR8fxGNLyxLEA-gzAXd_PVhdWw/s1600/MMD_cottoncandy_hob_ws_robin_web_zps9470971e.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Robin</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPV7BDS5ipGuA1y_1oicee7IlZ1-PIZZRZ8CP9QKspoDNUTejqTDNAFbxrsqF8SnOaK7_zM_1jur8zrHX6RqHpPpZRvJ8N4dM5TMqxwJ_3zdpm3AgpHi2JQR9qRczwyW6z_ZR8tNJd8LL/s1600/nm7u.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPV7BDS5ipGuA1y_1oicee7IlZ1-PIZZRZ8CP9QKspoDNUTejqTDNAFbxrsqF8SnOaK7_zM_1jur8zrHX6RqHpPpZRvJ8N4dM5TMqxwJ_3zdpm3AgpHi2JQR9qRczwyW6z_ZR8tNJd8LL/s1600/nm7u.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by MayhemMama</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfpU_hiXPXr1oLdkMeN88Tg44wre1vmrU51RUFo_DKWS0hyphenhyphen3PeLoH80qQD5AbSZAAmqWq5EsNOLjoyMOrs-P286TVlMT55G7cW_fhT6R639IMPqt8ZumQPqqyAh58ydqmVqKD4TzTXFSy/s1600/Wordsmith_STO_zpsb985f477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfpU_hiXPXr1oLdkMeN88Tg44wre1vmrU51RUFo_DKWS0hyphenhyphen3PeLoH80qQD5AbSZAAmqWq5EsNOLjoyMOrs-P286TVlMT55G7cW_fhT6R639IMPqt8ZumQPqqyAh58ydqmVqKD4TzTXFSy/s1600/Wordsmith_STO_zpsb985f477.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Heather</div>
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Freebie:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighSQG1Wz1okooKwhR3WiqSmaN_ZJb1mZGcasZxHLFkKJAlgCVDsYgYmeR8FgCDc-8yPRvXuWRQ_j5Q-5_zulWK29TOkYguISRBjI1TtYWj0T8UbJTexsnr3OpW0qc8SI7ZiroAfBl6cSW/s1600/hob_ws_freebiepreview_robin_web_zps32c20170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighSQG1Wz1okooKwhR3WiqSmaN_ZJb1mZGcasZxHLFkKJAlgCVDsYgYmeR8FgCDc-8yPRvXuWRQ_j5Q-5_zulWK29TOkYguISRBjI1TtYWj0T8UbJTexsnr3OpW0qc8SI7ZiroAfBl6cSW/s1600/hob_ws_freebiepreview_robin_web_zps32c20170.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cluster freebie by CT Robin will be <a href="http://scrapper1958.blogspot.com/">available at her blog</a>.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-79840354700687119942014-03-20T18:56:00.000-04:002014-03-20T19:01:53.175-04:00My Daybook<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ufdBTx_jy3s/UsdOx32tfGI/AAAAAAAAEng/jTYw4NmfqHc/s1600/simple-woman-daybook-large.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>FOR TODAY</b></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>March 20,2014</i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Outside my window</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...is sunshine! This winter has been brutal in regards to the snow and cold. We have not had a many gloomy days as we normally have in the winter, but overall I am glad to say good-bye to this winter. It is still cold, but it has a different feel to it - less bitter. Of course, it could be my imagination and overarching yearning for the mild days of spring. But today there is bright sun. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am thinking</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...about all the things I want to do this spring and summer. I want to spend more time outside with the kiddos planting flowers and veggies. I want to savor the fresh flavor of a homegrown harvest. I want to continue my quest for simplifying my life, including unloading even more physical stuff that I really don't need. I want to get back into my exercise program and shed some weight so I can have lots of fun walking in the Cancer Walk in honor of my dad in September. I am thinking about all the things I have to look forward to, and not living under the shadow of grief that has been my companion for the last 2 years. </i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am thankful</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...for hope. Hope is the basis of my life. Hope is born out of my faith in the love and redemption offered by God. That hope and faith takes away so much of the fear that has ruled my life for so many years. Nothing can take away the bad things that are going to occur in this world, but it does give me the ability to look past them and realize that I don't have rely on myself. It also gives me the comfort that whatever I am going through is for a larger purpose.</i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>In the kitchen</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...nothing much is happening. We need to really get back on menu planning wagon to make the most of our food dollars and to ensure we are making healthy choices. We need to plan out some freezer meals and get those prepared so we don't fall back on comfort food. </i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am wearing</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...jammies. Today is one of those days that spring will put a stop. When it is so cold that I don't really want to take a shower, when the it is so cold that I know no one is going to be dropping in for a visit. Those days result in laziness and being totally unproductive. I am not saying that those days don't have their place, because they do. But recently those days are becoming the norm instead of the treat. </i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am creating</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px;">...fun scrapbooks about the adoption journeys for each of the Cubs. I have given myself permission not to create a work of art on every page and just get those memories down. It is so freeing and I am actually creating better pages than ever before. </span></span></i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am going</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...to relax and enjoy the simple moments for awhile. I have been working towards things for so long with my rest days more of an escape where I hide instead of savor and enjoy. So this month of increased sun and milder weather are going to be about all about creating precious moments to reflect on and relive in the future. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am wondering</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...if I am ever going to have a quiet few minutes to get my work done. The cubs have been in my office every couple of moment ALL MORNING! I am thankful that they want my input and my help. I need to never forget that these moments are fleeting and will soon be over and I will wonder why my house is so quiet!</i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am reading</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...a book about a Ukrainian man's life from pre-WWII to almost present time - <u>Sliding On The Snow Stone</u>. It is sometimes hard to read because I really don't want to face that people have and still do live like this. But overall it is a story of how he adapts and makes the best of what is given to him. I am currently about 3/4 of the way through the book. I would highly recommend it!. I am also working my way through all 4 of the gospels during Lent. </i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>I am hoping</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...for some calm and routine. I feel as if life has been nothing but running in crisis mode for so long. I am really working to relax and "go with the flow" instead of panicking. A retreat that I helped present last weekend really helped me with that. While my life is never going to be routine and scheduled, I can shut down the adrenaline a bit and just enjoy. </i></div>
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<i><b>I am looking forward to</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...getting my desk cleared off and my office rearranged for more efficiency. Homeschooling the Cubs has been a learning process. One of the learning things is how to be effective at my income earning job as well as meeting the needs of the Cubs at the same time. Having a bit more organization so everything does not end up on my desk will go a long way in my productivity!</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><b>I am learning</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...that perfection does not matter, memories do. I would never call myself perfect. I would call myself a control addict, though. The unfortunate thing is that since getting married I have not been in control of anything. Control and perfectionism, I have realized, go hand in hand. Because I have not been a been able to do things the way I want them done, it is easier to not do them at all. Well, life will pass by and I will have achieved nothing except living in a messy house! It has taken me a lot of years to get this lesson through my head. But now that I am learning it, I am eager to embrace new opportunities, create more memories, and laugh at myself!</i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Around the house</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...I am picking and choosing which projects I want to tackle. The big one right now is my office and the kitchen. I need to figure out how to get rid of the clutter in both rooms and make them more efficient in order for the family to spend less time looking for things and more time doing!</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><b>I am pondering</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...what curriculum to use for the Cubs next year and feeling a bit overwhelmed. </i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>A favorite quote for today</b>...</i></div>
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From very early on, Christian theologians and spiritual writers made a comparison between Jesus' cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem and Jesus' cleansing of our hearts and bodies. St. Paul refers to the body as a "temple of the Holy Spirit." Your self, your body, your whole person is meant to be a temple, a holy place where God dwells and where prayer and union with God is central. It's a beautiful image: rightly ordered, we become temples of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
This image leads to an important question: what goes wrong within the temple of our souls? The same thing that went wrong with the Temple in Jerusalem--what's meant to be a house of prayer becomes a den of thieves. All kinds of distractions came into the Temple, money changers and corrupt influences, those who turned people away from worshiping God.<br />
<br />
Today, we should ask, what distractions and corruptions have come into the temple of my heart and body?<br />
<br />
Lent is a terrific time to allow Jesus Christ to make a whip of cords and come into the temple of our hearts, and, while there, to turn some tables over, to flip things upside down if he has to.<br />
<br />
What would Jesus chase out of your heart if he had a chance? If you let him in, with all the wonderful fury displayed in the Gospels, what would he cleanse? </div>
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(Fr. Robert Barron)</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>One of my favorite things</b>...</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>...snuggling with the Cubs while reading the Bible out loud to them. </i></div>
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<i>A few plans for the rest of the week:</i></div>
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<i>1) Getting my work reports completed</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>2) Clearing off my desk</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>3) Getting rid of the clothes the Cubs have outgrown</i></div>
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<i>4) Having Papa Bear get to work fixing my grandfather's desk to get it moved into the office</i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i>5) Creating a menu plan</i></div>
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<i>6) Getting some recipes in page protectors and into a notebook</i></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
<i><b>A peek into my day</b>...</i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF7wa_vwIZnWYJKE9mmgQnHuXBmTucZ_zmTnZtpFTvRbRKCjXLIETWVkMcesCdEXq9njHZvvNHVraqvhlXacdjeDWWp2QX4rruuZ-MOnDt0bkjM2Ryo2mcBH4s2AHFQrppUOsVJFUQno/s1600/My-Little-Companion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF7wa_vwIZnWYJKE9mmgQnHuXBmTucZ_zmTnZtpFTvRbRKCjXLIETWVkMcesCdEXq9njHZvvNHVraqvhlXacdjeDWWp2QX4rruuZ-MOnDt0bkjM2Ryo2mcBH4s2AHFQrppUOsVJFUQno/s1600/My-Little-Companion.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little work companion. Baby Bear was concerned that this little sweetie was not feeling well and was lonely. She sat on my desk corner for most of the day nibbling and dozing. Who would have thought that a week ago I would be enjoying the company of a rodent?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlf0Sz7obgLt-OQhtJChTzGgAiOPVWzlnYrr6trE2i2AtG9zP1lkjfWOOnQ8ImjjNJ1zwq9hePnplhKjd3JBUjexEBMbuf9QHtr7sxMfhYrRXsGWtc2NEs9D5q0cd4y0Zijnl4bGtvn0/s1600/Sunshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlf0Sz7obgLt-OQhtJChTzGgAiOPVWzlnYrr6trE2i2AtG9zP1lkjfWOOnQ8ImjjNJ1zwq9hePnplhKjd3JBUjexEBMbuf9QHtr7sxMfhYrRXsGWtc2NEs9D5q0cd4y0Zijnl4bGtvn0/s1600/Sunshine.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunshine so bright I had to keep the blinds closed so that I could work and no be blinded by the back-light!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />To get your own prompts to capture a moment in time please see <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Simple Woman's Daybook Blog</a>.<br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Vollkorn; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.559999465942383px; text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-80983775689492524772014-03-20T12:35:00.002-04:002014-03-20T12:43:35.955-04:00Off TrackI started out this year doing very well with a project 52 goal. Then the horrible weather continued and I got tired of taking pictures of either baking bread, watching TV, or snow. So while I do have pages about several weeks containing lots of words, they are really lean on picture. Enter the lady who started the The Simple Woman's Daybook. She has started a challenge for 30 days encouraging women to post a visual image of what spring means to each of us. Since it takes 30-40 days to create a habit, hopefully this will get me back into the groove of taking my daily pictures. Click on the graphic and it will take you to her blog where she explains it MUCH better than I do.<br />
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<a href="http://fourseasonsthirtydays.blogspot.com/2014/03/welcome-to-four-seasons-30-days-spring.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gPmASeId-E/UwoIfBoGbJI/AAAAAAAAE8E/Lxtj6mHrYy4/s1600/003.JPG" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-32215635484068076882014-03-20T12:06:00.001-04:002014-03-20T12:06:47.815-04:00Writers wanted....Hat Of Bunny is introducing a new kit on the 20th called Wordsmith (the only reason I say that writers are wanted). It is an incredibly large kit full of neutral colors with a few surprise splashes of color. It is full of texture so the pages you create become works of art! I have had the chance to play with the kit and it is going into my folder of "go to" kits.<br />
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<br />
Here is a sneak peek...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyG-TWkSttnMuAZQS1_BjU3r2JD-mr0d4A1SfPYjdvXV3zvTxV6mOb_rNJW62GSez_VPEgO6gh8frtob5HqWvn4KnDQvZWKc0lxEuYm8daNec9VLDgJ51dZUAeiTOsV8ql1cNx-FPovPe/s1600/Sneak+Peak.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyG-TWkSttnMuAZQS1_BjU3r2JD-mr0d4A1SfPYjdvXV3zvTxV6mOb_rNJW62GSez_VPEgO6gh8frtob5HqWvn4KnDQvZWKc0lxEuYm8daNec9VLDgJ51dZUAeiTOsV8ql1cNx-FPovPe/s1600/Sneak+Peak.png" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
will be available at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=66&zenid=5fece0d1d02ad15b49c8725289c60998">With Love Studios</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-30578477568046528752014-03-18T09:46:00.001-04:002014-03-20T12:07:48.678-04:00Sincere Apologies!I am so sorry that I am late in posting my freebie for Hat Of Bunny! I participated in a retreat this past weekend. I had it all planned out with timing how I was going to post it, but life got in the way. We laid my grandmother to rest yesterday. So instead of coming home and posting my freebie, I came home and packed to head down to my hometown. She was blessed with a peaceful death in her sleep, and a lovely funeral Mass of Christian Burial. She was loved by so many and there will be many people who will miss her dearly.<br />
<br />
The retreat that I participated in was filled with the Holy Spirit and there were so many lives that were touched, including my own. I will fill you in on that in a later post.<br />
<br />
Anyway - Hat of Bunny released a new kit on the 15th called "Month of Play"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s1600/HOB+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s200/HOB+Logo.png" /></a></div>
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Has a new kit just in time for <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/BYO-Carry-Out/">Build Your Own Carry Out at ScrapTakeout</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Month-of-Play.html">Month of Play</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbUWi3v_c8kc_Nbc8xu9Lx6ObAsFGyw3XPRakyvq7WMe3nLSP51b1IZrIJS6HC6C_VwBprKZXqrsYytLxb9ccWwkI-sB7Aftt-7wOfRVXuIOWV2UY5wzCSs_oYgPl-wCBGSKjdckq51GU/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Kit+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbUWi3v_c8kc_Nbc8xu9Lx6ObAsFGyw3XPRakyvq7WMe3nLSP51b1IZrIJS6HC6C_VwBprKZXqrsYytLxb9ccWwkI-sB7Aftt-7wOfRVXuIOWV2UY5wzCSs_oYgPl-wCBGSKjdckq51GU/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Kit+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, March is the month when we (hopefully) say goodbye to winter blues and welcome back sunshine. It's also the perfect time to go out and play! "Month of Play" is a kit created around this theme, and will help you scrap all your spring and playground photos.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6IhY_CB9-wZKfiUjmDn9eXOcmTE7ARQhN7PsuKVQAPSiK8kJ9vftkXnmU87Z89HmBXj8v4TYKmV8m1Pe_rLsEG4HIl_tLC97TAJ_aWWOKT4dyVGExlJGYntnyByRBZAIOQTPh7lhBhAi/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6IhY_CB9-wZKfiUjmDn9eXOcmTE7ARQhN7PsuKVQAPSiK8kJ9vftkXnmU87Z89HmBXj8v4TYKmV8m1Pe_rLsEG4HIl_tLC97TAJ_aWWOKT4dyVGExlJGYntnyByRBZAIOQTPh7lhBhAi/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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It includes 16 papers (17 solids, 9 patterns)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegcac5QAILechGfz7WvX9uskfzMJ-J0rZZuiVbIK9sduKGJulEXSrfzLX5OhEh_4U9qT2YfNQC8fcxi9a3ZfhKSMjH0skWHtwOF5ryCVU9r46ggU1t9AhvqTmW2yYXyvl5uAPeie3oHGO/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegcac5QAILechGfz7WvX9uskfzMJ-J0rZZuiVbIK9sduKGJulEXSrfzLX5OhEh_4U9qT2YfNQC8fcxi9a3ZfhKSMjH0skWHtwOF5ryCVU9r46ggU1t9AhvqTmW2yYXyvl5uAPeie3oHGO/s1600/HOB_MoP_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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and 45 elements.</div>
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This kit is available exclusively at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Month-of-Play.html">ScrapTakeout</a>.</div>
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CT Inspiration</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZY48MCncL9kJiSaMuZn6H8woAbefic859mmPGJjwJxNezPJmpsHEcmB8N6VIDJd4NAqm5OgQBN5T1MnTSmKoqRBsqsQznmXGQfua3sWSAYGPESTBAYIghVvYVDJ0xiz0VQE6fP5LY46p/s1600/ws1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZY48MCncL9kJiSaMuZn6H8woAbefic859mmPGJjwJxNezPJmpsHEcmB8N6VIDJd4NAqm5OgQBN5T1MnTSmKoqRBsqsQznmXGQfua3sWSAYGPESTBAYIghVvYVDJ0xiz0VQE6fP5LY46p/s1600/ws1f.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Nancy</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Aj-dAsgy4aJklwY_FUSwRZfImnMpv6ytE_0wWfcttsYJpv9WQSWrTfvzM4rqenCG4xPGvvkTicldezwjmJOxjst-52xk-OYLwE7LsLw6rjD-gEsAsCmazR8I3YAoDEYAuud8yNgh2sR/s1600/Sunshine_zps0922b475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-Aj-dAsgy4aJklwY_FUSwRZfImnMpv6ytE_0wWfcttsYJpv9WQSWrTfvzM4rqenCG4xPGvvkTicldezwjmJOxjst-52xk-OYLwE7LsLw6rjD-gEsAsCmazR8I3YAoDEYAuud8yNgh2sR/s1600/Sunshine_zps0922b475.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Amber</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnOldUuD7I525nrcawU2hV2fPcs1Xa6uanvR4ktMfcwLaONA-SGIVdn_BQiMp7-Hffd_AoOziORR7yudZAH-IrvRj0xFVvTSOGJJOY3qDZZFXFAI1-276PmVIUhDB5yiLiz10NBRe83Lw/s1600/Month-of-Play_STO_zpsa6da7b65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnOldUuD7I525nrcawU2hV2fPcs1Xa6uanvR4ktMfcwLaONA-SGIVdn_BQiMp7-Hffd_AoOziORR7yudZAH-IrvRj0xFVvTSOGJJOY3qDZZFXFAI1-276PmVIUhDB5yiLiz10NBRe83Lw/s1600/Month-of-Play_STO_zpsa6da7b65.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Heather</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ1VpLsKaO_JL96TrMzZrlhr7QTpEWN36z43tfFCCg7IM6Cn2F0IKh4uJf9weXUZWS5rjqx5YIdJnQXqN0oBiM3vp5DunOb2lgRndCxKdpW2WlyMbGsFeYd5vErlDHHUuo6319O50dALn/s1600/d4m9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ1VpLsKaO_JL96TrMzZrlhr7QTpEWN36z43tfFCCg7IM6Cn2F0IKh4uJf9weXUZWS5rjqx5YIdJnQXqN0oBiM3vp5DunOb2lgRndCxKdpW2WlyMbGsFeYd5vErlDHHUuo6319O50dALn/s1600/d4m9.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Dorine</div>
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Freebies</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFERK1JHWHFQBTTJ0_vQgQkGZeBXbIl_Mtr1NRicwnRiiydaaIUib8SDocFuvyj4O4VmtFuRK1hCl4RGqx86AKsxDuHv2g86kpGldt60tEjoewcbbbbgrQnUBJ08sdJW1e9q9Z0vRlndK/s1600/FrameClusterFreebiePreview_zps76541d76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFERK1JHWHFQBTTJ0_vQgQkGZeBXbIl_Mtr1NRicwnRiiydaaIUib8SDocFuvyj4O4VmtFuRK1hCl4RGqx86AKsxDuHv2g86kpGldt60tEjoewcbbbbgrQnUBJ08sdJW1e9q9Z0vRlndK/s1600/FrameClusterFreebiePreview_zps76541d76.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by CT Heather <a href="http://mamazuscraps.blogspot.com/">available at her blog</a>.</div>
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So without any further ado, here is my freebie...</div>
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwghxa1ggwn4lhj/HOB_MOPFreebieby_MMD.zip" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-AE2amKamjJrQmbsX57r9RLsc-_8H1NLbwqxrhsER_sr-ZKhXiZvp6fxaI2kdTHdRmBcDIPwidOevbAc_REBjRY0OoRv1QUShTOwFGXAaSEimtsfSFVrluC-Lc3ZirCbs83kcboc-5s/s1600/MOP-Freebie-Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Click on image to download</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-64633528834690640662014-03-03T22:01:00.001-05:002014-03-20T12:10:57.136-04:00The power of 2 wordsThe cubs have had chores for many years, but I am totally horrible at consistency, so they know how to do a lot of things around the house, they just don't do them! One thing we have been fairly consistent enforcing is unloading the dishwasher. This school year we have been been really working on making sure we eat at the table together several times a week. This then created a new job - clearing the table. Papa Bear is fairly particular about how the dishwasher is loaded. It comes from his days of packing the bellies of planes. But there are at least 2 of us who do not have natural inclination towards organization, and none of us live up to his standards. So the easiest path is to let him do it. On evenings he is not home and it is up to the Cubs and I to do housework we either leave it for him to get home, or we do our best. Now, the leave it strategy is not in the least bit helpful to the Cubs development. <br />
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So tonight Papa Bear went to his cousin's place to fix a couple of computers. I needed to get something done, so after leaving Baby Bear to her duties I went into the other room to something. Baby Bear come in a few minutes later and informed me that she loaded the dishwasher, hand washed the dishes she knew could not go into the dishwasher, dried them and then put them away. She then told me why there was 1 pan that she could not wash because she did not know what to do with the items in it. She did all the hand-washing and drying and putting away without being asked. <br />
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I was so impressed and extremely proud.<br />
After she recited what she had achieved, she trudged off to take a shower. <br />
I called her back so she could see my face and gave her a heart felt "Thank You".<br />
He face absolutely lit up. She grinned at me and bounced up the stairs. <br />
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It is amazing what 2 simple words can do for person.<br />
They can affirm, lift up and inspire. <br />
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This goes beyond being polite. <br />
This goes to the very heart of reaching my child.<br />
It shows them appreciation for not only what they do, but that I care that THEY do it. <br />
<br />
2 small words....<br />
One amazing outcome.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-10633414000029211772014-02-27T19:30:00.001-05:002014-03-20T12:20:32.827-04:00ExuberanceI am not, by nature, and exuberant individual. I don't blossom with energy or burst with excitement very often. But I have people in my house who do. My cubs do. They show me how to look at things with fresh perspective. They take the tension that accumulates throughout the day, and with one glance, one hug, they wipe it away. That is on a normal day. On days something special happening, watch out. Those cubs will glow. The cubs will allow me to see things through their eyes. They show me that the simple things in life remain the most amazing. They light a fire within me to grow and become a better version of myself. <br />
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One day, long ago, the family had planned a day at the local zoo. My parents were coming for the outing. Anyone looking at the excitement in the cubs' eyes would have thought we were going to meet a superstar instead of a camel. But that is the beauty of children. They live in the moment. They don't worry about the meeting coming up on Monday. There is no Monday to them. Their entire world was that day in that zoo with the people they love the most. </div>
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The cubs are older now, and they get bogged down at times with worries about tests and squabbles between friends. Papa Bear and I are no longer the absolute center of their universe. But there are moments when I see those very small children still lurking inside them. Times when they still seek out the comfort of an evening snuggle, when a spontaneous smile and giggle escapes, when they turn to me and tell me it is time for our weekly date. I grasp those moments, through they slip through my fingers like water. They leave their mark, but I can never contain them. And that is ok. That is what is supposed to happen as they become young people moving towards adulthood. They are still giving me the gift of the appreciation of the moment. And before long it will be my job to remind them to slow down, to appreciate and to present in the moment as they rear their children. And the circle will continue.</div>
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While working on some scrapbooking (I am only 23 years behind), I found this picture of one of my cubs on that zoo day. She had just awakened and realized that her grandparents were on their way and we were soon heading off for a huge adventure. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bV88pxD_pdTBzyzy1r-60FWBWw2kYfOfw8ogY-qVd8_XUXtoC2hGfeFYmfTZsxxLDmy9Rx_-3u8jZBaw-H2VkFhkg7lERT6rCsUwkvSLJRFUgMxOsbcSe_FBoT2cxVYLRvCUSoc52bw/s1600/Morning-Glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bV88pxD_pdTBzyzy1r-60FWBWw2kYfOfw8ogY-qVd8_XUXtoC2hGfeFYmfTZsxxLDmy9Rx_-3u8jZBaw-H2VkFhkg7lERT6rCsUwkvSLJRFUgMxOsbcSe_FBoT2cxVYLRvCUSoc52bw/s1600/Morning-Glory.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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In my last post I showed you the sneak peek of Hat of Bunny's newest kit. It has been released today. That is the kit I used to create this page.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4f493d; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9loaYgqkWxiHDYezx2NRyFNJYERsfEWJJF8FYpJiPeMTBMG2W4XjG-JsYO6hE_KVtBI0wXa_91ZoCdaXPI-CUVsVdVqtM0Hj-mg_Tno43VZ9sVbp2eu1ukWhuarjmEydEBB1QOTfrTeGI/s320/HOB+Logo.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Hat of Bunny has a beautiful new kit.</div>
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Morning Glory</h2>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PhdkWgjn_J3d_PaW0t0BY4m8qzO2ZOw3B2-IHT91SzgIIokSHeySwFRq2rPF4KuBnjrAr3yZcrnffWYcUTrmQ9Ct_9yHJQkC5GDne-GqNJ9LwwJFwUz3HjYumNfwOJqcCOwTLrSYXvBS/s1600/KitPreview-1-2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inspired by the beautiful morning glory, which blooms early in the morning and greets people as they wake up, "Morning Glory: is a kit that includes everything the morning glory stands for: love, affection, and the transience of live.</div>
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With soft and elegant colors, hand-crafted elements and word-art that encourages one to meet and seize each day with joy, "Morning Glory" is a great, versatile kit for capturing everyday moments.</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Papers.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjHclCHxxh8urEHARZW_bzncRhyphenhypheniuHaiqoE6eEnknvMR1TJD286oQ_HRil35LmGZP0cXT4W84FxA4mwaRRFLKz3BNH3uqFMADvyFHO23FsVLSRyGeVkOTsBi3a1ERc2-mcKZAID00gxP0/s1600/HOB_MG_STO+Paper+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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With 16 papers,</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Elements.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4-ouFRThJ7LcKPkfHpQm5aoQSERoVwe4pf90zeS3LSEJJIsJo6zUMIwIl7rXoNxMRK5m45vMRYpXuxFqlszqe8RayQbo_XPU-YBJfPKgzUtr1jiiE-nqiW6sLzsXjFfZLmG_LtwepDoV/s1600/HOB_MG_STO+Element+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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52 elements,</div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Alphas.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHkteHDAvtkr342wqJY8hBI_dfXAXKxRqoP84BAFDNEHSHARTkfvUOMhCoyZG5K8E-FpRWva3pFrZCFmNvcrgD0LNP2xkE0LuN94HR2LupiJV2bwc_59dW5y-O-9JtM5sqXqj_OR0y_Ga/s1600/HOB_MG_STO+Alpha+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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and 6 full alphas!</div>
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Available as a full kit (best deal!) at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3275">With Love Studios</a></div>
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or individual pieces</div>
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Paper: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Papers.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3293">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Elements: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Elements.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3292">With Love Studios</a></div>
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Alpha: <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Morning-Glory-Alphas.html">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=213&products_id=3291">With Love Studios</a></div>
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CT Inspiration:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAsjFjf0FbAidB5oKCw2-rF6zW0EYzg5sF2A0LPj5V5c184NEbC8nnBUP5JBuipKhJL6pMEC6yLdDbXyp0FYLRRPa3nj_Gjog6-TRcQf9nL3IlvrQZ5V0oHSF5TWnbWF3u2wY4lo6UNzo/s1600/8c9fe7e177b8f61fa36f1715f0a0d009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAsjFjf0FbAidB5oKCw2-rF6zW0EYzg5sF2A0LPj5V5c184NEbC8nnBUP5JBuipKhJL6pMEC6yLdDbXyp0FYLRRPa3nj_Gjog6-TRcQf9nL3IlvrQZ5V0oHSF5TWnbWF3u2wY4lo6UNzo/s1600/8c9fe7e177b8f61fa36f1715f0a0d009.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Catherine</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8uJlhRFPKjYD_5lKQje9732rQUmw9bhuUbaHa2QCH9ll7xQg9kBz7t9rWtfN3ab2om3DKYxoeuW0UixHdch-XzVh1GQgr4naVKAHt0mNjW0R34UCY2ssgFJ1ltT_7m6dlpen3fxTeIQY/s1600/Morning-Glory_STO_zpsb30e0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8uJlhRFPKjYD_5lKQje9732rQUmw9bhuUbaHa2QCH9ll7xQg9kBz7t9rWtfN3ab2om3DKYxoeuW0UixHdch-XzVh1GQgr4naVKAHt0mNjW0R34UCY2ssgFJ1ltT_7m6dlpen3fxTeIQY/s1600/Morning-Glory_STO_zpsb30e0063.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Heather</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfB9M0UF0cPslTmDeDqqxSZzSXvXbE4GIzbIaUhJqmOtW7RfxvDaZZUWvMcDLwsfRZmsnAlXBpJHjCq490m0oAGbYIeLWP8snIlrCQwTukOkSOvlIwSnPZXI5T2HCO1Dte1R_hfqiBXVO/s1600/Princess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfB9M0UF0cPslTmDeDqqxSZzSXvXbE4GIzbIaUhJqmOtW7RfxvDaZZUWvMcDLwsfRZmsnAlXBpJHjCq490m0oAGbYIeLWP8snIlrCQwTukOkSOvlIwSnPZXI5T2HCO1Dte1R_hfqiBXVO/s1600/Princess.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Amber (Template by Fiddle-dee-dee)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUd8kgq62OUJhoIOgLu4trPfCqorljWt7wacvQceGyQY6jMzdOsCQAxgpxIZ1wepNPC5yKvMGGC9o8RewhcKGAEjKnYzo6cQZyU8W8Un3dj6PaiwUpHm6-cYfwoBFBLF85iBanc5GVAIt/s1600/momandhergirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUd8kgq62OUJhoIOgLu4trPfCqorljWt7wacvQceGyQY6jMzdOsCQAxgpxIZ1wepNPC5yKvMGGC9o8RewhcKGAEjKnYzo6cQZyU8W8Un3dj6PaiwUpHm6-cYfwoBFBLF85iBanc5GVAIt/s1600/momandhergirls.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Shelby</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGIxQr0550sn4Omt3ILqTxrcuvQywObSf5HDyqAX1_ND5xMI72H3jtdo696eAY4Tl6NTCg2T6_X9cB82B85ruJhOGfzaSoTGkK8PdsPcbuB0TnVzC4sWiuAncf0tMWEry3pBk4rIs0Ta7/s1600/Morning-Glory_zpsc9aec206.jpg%257Eoriginal.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGIxQr0550sn4Omt3ILqTxrcuvQywObSf5HDyqAX1_ND5xMI72H3jtdo696eAY4Tl6NTCg2T6_X9cB82B85ruJhOGfzaSoTGkK8PdsPcbuB0TnVzC4sWiuAncf0tMWEry3pBk4rIs0Ta7/s1600/Morning-Glory_zpsc9aec206.jpg%257Eoriginal.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by MayehmMama</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kmSLye_-A-zHcuvQedAQyAeekYotubf08GjZEqstsACXALa2nCB8qLlu0IsUImYzCXwXBWQBhW8aw3f52XSYgSUM9bQxTtZ-ZAboqogdVvlkcn-763iVQ44giTd4RRTAInGKQPljRxn/s1600/kpp9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kmSLye_-A-zHcuvQedAQyAeekYotubf08GjZEqstsACXALa2nCB8qLlu0IsUImYzCXwXBWQBhW8aw3f52XSYgSUM9bQxTtZ-ZAboqogdVvlkcn-763iVQ44giTd4RRTAInGKQPljRxn/s1600/kpp9.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Dorine</div>
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Freebies:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfX-d-wuAWnAgo1G_7QOn5ROh2Pejh2KC6_7K3AbknvDRAgqgRK7pCIdQGyNqXLkv63nXeVr7JDLA6xy7W38Z_-OQyELbEzOrQdKcMqoacSeK0-7lGm2LK9-t9pyfGJ9NNZDtD-yUGexe/s1600/417ce17c8b792cc331a3190eb0c4b370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfX-d-wuAWnAgo1G_7QOn5ROh2Pejh2KC6_7K3AbknvDRAgqgRK7pCIdQGyNqXLkv63nXeVr7JDLA6xy7W38Z_-OQyELbEzOrQdKcMqoacSeK0-7lGm2LK9-t9pyfGJ9NNZDtD-yUGexe/s1600/417ce17c8b792cc331a3190eb0c4b370.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Journal cards and quick page by Catherine <a href="http://thisnthatbycat.blogspot.com/">available at her blog</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-64430921225323621622014-02-25T15:15:00.001-05:002014-03-20T12:21:51.216-04:00Sneak PeekWe had a break in the weather this past weekend! <br />
It got up into the mid 50s and we were able to open the house up and let the breeze blow the nasty germs out of the house. Papa Bear and Baby Bear have been sick. The house smelled so wonderful. The only problem was that we forgot to turn the furnace on when we closed up the house and woke up to quite a chilly house. <br />
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School for the girls is progressing. We have finally found a bit of a routine and identified things that we need to do better. We instituted some of those changes the past 2 weeks and the days have been much smoother and more productive. Having a weekly date with one of the cubs has made a world of difference. On Saturday whose ever date is coming up will start counting down the time and making plans. I have learned a lot about each of them in the short time I have been doing this. I have also noticed that behavior has improved as well. Or maybe I should say that by taking this time to learn more about them one on one I am learning how to deal with particular behaviors. Date time is also a great time discuss some of those behaviors away from the heat of the moment. <br />
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This date time is not always a money spender, nor does it require time away from the house. Yesterday Baby Bear and I baked bread together and made invites for her birthday party. Little Bear would wander in and ask questions, but knew that the main focus of my attention was on Baby Bear. There was no major jealousy involved because Little Bear knew next week it would be her turn for the attention. Another great thing about these dates is the chance to take some pictures corralling only one cub! I have gotten some really amazing shots (as amazing as you can take on a phone since I am in desperate need of a new camera (hint, hint Papa Bear!)) of the Cubs. This pictures are really great to use in my Project 52 - scrapping each week of the year. <br />
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Now that we have had a taste of spring (though the almanac says that the weather in March is going to be even worse than January and February) I am looking forward to scrapping lots of pretty spring pictures. hat of Bunny is releasing a new kit on the 27th is really going to fit that bill!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVvy35VtF3hzBEPBsc4QGhyhuIaB6K8F_cNSDwT5udrYAnI536fT4iqAZJGK3rA5XwSqTqlAe8vYfU8Z2tDPT9rMY_qxImcfTnye9L95GLrsskImSnijN_RLG9pf_qO3JGwpZ3UYi00dw/s1600/Sneak+Peek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVvy35VtF3hzBEPBsc4QGhyhuIaB6K8F_cNSDwT5udrYAnI536fT4iqAZJGK3rA5XwSqTqlAe8vYfU8Z2tDPT9rMY_qxImcfTnye9L95GLrsskImSnijN_RLG9pf_qO3JGwpZ3UYi00dw/s1600/Sneak+Peek.png" height="167" width="320" /></a></div>
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will be available at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=66&zenid=7064b2fa706a05357df6d7a8dc356f04">With Love Studios</a>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-12197590807135288712014-02-18T11:00:00.000-05:002014-03-20T12:24:08.106-04:00Swirling thoughtsThe last few weeks have been full of experiences that have caused a virtual tornado of thoughts and emotions, most of which in today's society would be considered controversial if now downright polarizing. I have been trying to wordsmith things so that I can clearly express my thoughts and views, but have not had much success at this point. That is why I have been fairly quiet.<br />
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But I will share a moment in time that made my heart sing.<br />
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I have started to institute "dates" with my kiddos. Each week I take one of them out for some 1:1 time. It may be a lunch date, going out for ice cream or other dessert, or some sort of treat, such as a $5 mani at the local beauty school. This week Baby Bear wanted to take along in Little Bear's date, mostly because dad was not bowing to Baby Bear's wishes. Baby bear was informed that the decision was up to Little Bear, and that Little Bear had the right to no. Little Bear did indeed say no. Later in the car Little Bear confessed that Baby Bear was upset because of the answer. I just sat and listened. Then the nugget of gold was revealed -<br />
"Mom, I said no because I just wanted time alone with you"<br />
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My heart was bursting. Little Bear is hitting that age where kisses are few and time with friends seems to be more important than time with family. Hearing that the desire for time with me is still a high priority left me with glow that has still not diminished today!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-64131866337196437712014-02-11T13:34:00.001-05:002014-03-20T12:25:47.105-04:00Our growing family....Before anyone gets too excited, we are not growing our family by more kiddos, though that is something I dream about.<br />
We are getting ready to enter a new phase in our family life and enter the world of furry pets.<br />
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Our choices were fairly limited because of allergies, cost, and ability to either leave them or take them with us when we go camping or to my mom's. <br />
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Fish were vetoed by the cubs because they can't pet and hold them.<br />
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Cats were vetoed because of the youngest's allergies.<br />
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Dogs were vetoed because of the costs, allergies, and I have no desire to walk a dog in this weather!<br />
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So now we were down to cage-able critters. <br />
Snakes - not happening!<br />
Rats and mice - do not like those tails or those beady eyes<br />
Hamsters - Way too wild at night.<br />
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Well, we are going to end up with guinea pigs. I know, there are a lot of negative points to that animal as well, but when it was all added up, these little critters seemed to be the best that we can do for right now. So in 4 weeks we are going to be welcoming 2 little girls into our home. We have a ton of cleaning to do between now and then to give them the size of enclosure they need. But it is good that w have a deadline to get it done!<br />
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Those first few days are going to be interesting, to say the least. These little girls will only be 4 weeks old. My youngest is stressing over what to name hers. My oldest just can't wait to hold hers, but has yet to come up with a name. Both of them are making big plans for the home. <br />
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In honor of the 2 little girls I am giving away a Quick Page from <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46_202&products_id=3231" target="_blank">Hat of Bunny's kit - This Is Us</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9simz9giwum0sc/MM%20Freebie.zip" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4yaCGU0p-2tIcjYOQkYM9VN3Rled6YWWU7zwq0HHK_oP47cNFnmBnez-E24X4W-62X0XF8dwCgPW-XjHNKnxUlOqEXbW4dQsZ1SHImCAWhqxaXEGTN-d_FtHNM2OxBHI3KnkPUymrF8/s1600/MM_TIMG_Freebie+QP+Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hope you enjoy the QP - click on the picture to get the download! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-89146833577631631712014-02-01T15:29:00.000-05:002014-03-20T12:26:48.733-04:00Happy Year of the Horse!The official start of Chinese New Year was yesterday - January 31st. But the celebration usually goes on for 2 weeks. <br />
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I showed a preview in my last post of the Chinese New Year kit that Hat of Bunny created. It was released yesterday....check it out. </div>
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Kung-Hei-Fat-Choi.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Image" src="http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/199/tnmc.jpg" /></a></div>
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The alpha in this kit is amazing - all intricate <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/images/D/HOB_KHFC_STO%20Alpha%20Preview.jpg" target="_blank">paper cutouts</a>. GORGEOUS!</div>
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I have started using this kit to scrap the pictures from the journey to adopt the kiddos. It is perfect, and so very versatile. The colors are the <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/images/D/HOB_KHFC_STO%20Paper%20Preview.jpg" target="_blank">rich and the textures are perfect</a>. </div>
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She has graciously allowed me to create a couple of "Freebies". Click on the previews to download them from DropBox. I hope you enjoy them!</div>
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnmki2f9da1wb80/HOB_KHFC_Cluster%20by%20MayhemMama.zip" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoCT1kw8y1q_ZXCh9MIJGh0E-YXXC8EdBjtpGWw8LL2xRkfRg0IXdliQm9Hgbb5MF4mXX50M6Cmz6Y9Iicn-8yoyGAQUgjPJADDYlHtB-6lSLnxhkN0IQ1VQwg9JD06RL-baGsrLC9q0/s1600/KHFC-Cluster-Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/a1a664s4l3796gw/HOB_KHFC_Frame%20by%20MayhemMama.zip" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZBfabQAPCNPqCZLCfSJsIzxIu2QAmRRAmQ_9yMkJ2R-d9T6N9wOsW8J-6xajljJxCTC7bwtPmNE8l0ku7UokaedUxbDg08KdfE3_ueZc_EQ650iLHhEgdRsY37OtIV9FzCc5iHL-k0k/s1600/KHFC-Frame-Preview.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-32392667081245390532014-01-28T10:49:00.000-05:002014-01-28T10:49:18.964-05:00A New New YearAsian countries have started following the "Western Calendar", but traditionally they celebrate "Lunar New Year". China, Korea, VietNam and Japan all have their own specific traditions for this holiday. China, from research that I have done, seems to celebrate it the longest. If you get a chance, take a few minutes and look up "Chinese New Year". There are a lot of fun traditions that you can introduce into your own family and let your kiddos know a bit more about the world.
Here are <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/24/chinese-new-year-facts_n_4659549.html">20 Chinese New Year Facts</a>. Here is an article with links to ways to teach about <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/jan/27/how-to-teach-chinese-new-year">Chinese New Year</a>. Here is a fun article on <a href="http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/a/newyearlegends_2.htm">traditional foods prepared and eaten during the festival</a>. And while I don't always agree with things Disney does, I do like this page on <a href="http://spoonful.com/chinese-new-year">Chinese New Year</a>.<br />
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We have a lot of fun with Chinese New Year in our house. We have adopted some of the things into our own family with a Christian twist - we recommit ourselves to God, we symbolically sweep out the house to rid it of sin and the devil (great for little ones - they really latch on to that concept), ask forgiveness from family members we may have wronged or hurt, and then get together with friends for a major Chinese food feast! Throughout this time we will remember and honor those that are no longer with us and pray for their souls. This year the kiddos are old enough to understand and enjoy putting up "couplets" around our door. Once again we will do it according to our beliefs and post blessings around the door. We enjoy doing this because it recognizes and honors their birth culture. We also do it because it allows us a chance to step away from the Christmas rush and the New Year pressure of resolutions and create a time for setting some goals for the year. It is anther chance to celebrate during the gloomy time between Christmas and spring! It is a chance to eat more Chinese food! It is yet another way to create traditions that the cubs will remember throughout their lives (hopefully with fond memories!).<br />
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Let me know if you have any non-traditional traditions in your family!<br />
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In honor of Chinese New Year, Hat of Bunny has created a new kit. It will be perfect for not only Chinese New Year, but also to scrap all those visits to the Chinese Restaurant, as well as any picture that needs to be showcased in elegant, bold colors. Here is a sneak peek!<br />
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<a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCNsaC-5j3Jt4jK90GsdDVQD9GkxhLmwxnCm58tGtJl9178VUWSXaJB7XS3cSTkN2mWw7oVVzz7lFWoDoCTkmTRVZRwNL5a6md76g2158MU552eI3Uqc7FR2wHlzwA9VepmjbRXjorrdD/s1600/Sneak+Peek.png" height="171" width="320" /></a></div>
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will be available at <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Hat-of-Bunny/">ScrapTakeout</a> and <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=66">With Love Studios</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-76411605337564403992014-01-16T12:37:00.000-05:002014-01-16T12:38:23.337-05:00PrioritiesPart of my purposeful goal this year is to make my decisions on how I spend time according to guiding word. One thing that always, and I truly mean always, gets away from me is control of my calender. It seems as if events write themselves in without me ever touching the keyboard! So one way I am going to attempt to tame the sneaky little calender imp is to sit down at the beginning of each month and evaluate what is already on the calender to see if it is in line with my goal of purposeful use of my time. If it does not , how can I eliminate it or adjust it so it does.<br />
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This month I sat down on January 1 and decided what is necessary and what is not, what supports my family and what does not, and what encourages me to set an good example for the kiddos. I created a scrapbook page for this exercise. Being creative is something that is important to me because of the self-expression and the time to myself to reflect on what I am doing. So I was creative about this subject and this is the result. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriU98MFh42KXeoZrYuZ8hslVt4HgYe_sYn2CklMy97gTZHuTAFiYOZ-ecuectWdXG8meb7S9u_anc_cwKcyxOfo_3-FPezD5TTFWLJZ6CNJdzUUGg7uDLryjRcmWwxHKDAVuS-IKhhUY/s1600/January-Calender-page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriU98MFh42KXeoZrYuZ8hslVt4HgYe_sYn2CklMy97gTZHuTAFiYOZ-ecuectWdXG8meb7S9u_anc_cwKcyxOfo_3-FPezD5TTFWLJZ6CNJdzUUGg7uDLryjRcmWwxHKDAVuS-IKhhUY/s1600/January-Calender-page.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit is <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Month-of-Beginnings.html" target="_blank">Month of Beginnings </a> by Hat of Bunny<br />
The calender is a freebie from FranB for the <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/forum/showthread.php?3602-January-Calendar-Challenge!" target="_blank">Calender Challenge on WLS</a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-7108401343185116812014-01-15T16:02:00.001-05:002014-01-15T16:49:36.853-05:002014 BookI talked about, in my last post, about doing more scrapbooking.<br />
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While working on my scrapbooks I realized I had forgotten how relaxing it was. I love to do lots of journaling on my pages. Doing that helps me work through emotions of events and figure out exactly what was important about it. It helps me let go of things and cherish the things that mean the most. So here is my page from New Year Eve. </div>
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I did not do a lot of journaling on this page since most of the important themes will be coming up in the next couple of pages. I just loved the pics, though, and could not leave them out, nor the memory of a NY Eve that is memorable even if it did not turn out the way we had hoped. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2ZFxZUTfHOCUGBtO0TDyOItwRILIPBXCJp56s_P61HsuikwTl1yFTX5MZbY67tUeIMn0ozL9SBOR5Wu1JlMGUayARL3qTsu5oRxnOWmbDLGpdLKP-Sg0Yz1ACUrAINd0GztoJ2CdeDQ/s1600/NY-Eve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2ZFxZUTfHOCUGBtO0TDyOItwRILIPBXCJp56s_P61HsuikwTl1yFTX5MZbY67tUeIMn0ozL9SBOR5Wu1JlMGUayARL3qTsu5oRxnOWmbDLGpdLKP-Sg0Yz1ACUrAINd0GztoJ2CdeDQ/s1600/NY-Eve.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit - <a href="http://scraptakeout.com/shoppe/Month-of-Beginnings.html" target="_blank">Month of Memories by Hat of Bunny</a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-89193154276481765362014-01-14T11:33:00.000-05:002014-01-13T11:34:43.225-05:00New StartAs I wrote my last post, I realized something that I needed to do this year....I needed to let go of the paralyzing effect of "perfectionism" and just have go for things. One place where this really will make a difference is my memory keeping - scrapbooking! I love digital scrapbooking because of the "undo" button. But because of that ease, and because of all the beautiful examples out on the web, I find myself not creating because nothing I create will live up to what is in all those galleries I peruse. <br />
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Once I made that realization, I decided to scrap all my expectations (yes, pun intended) of perfection and just create so that my family actually has some scrapbooks! That is all well and good, but I also need some encouragement to actually create. One way for me to do this is to be on a Creative Team for a designer. I looked and looked until I found a designer that I really like, filled out an application to be on her team, closed my eyes and hit send. </div>
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And she picked me!!!!!!!!!</div>
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So now I am an official member of the Creative Team for <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=66" target="_blank">Hat of Bunny</a>. Her attention to detail in her kits is fabulous. </div>
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So here is to creating memories with the family and recording them in fun books!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-35903785419465549952014-01-13T12:08:00.000-05:002014-01-13T12:11:26.043-05:00Words and Actions, Not Resolutions<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>We are almost half way through the first month of the new year. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The last couple of years I have adamantly refrained from making New Year Resolutions. Instead, I have chosen a word on which to focus - a guiding thought for the year. Last year was <b>SIMPLIFY</b>. I went a long way towards simplifying my life. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I let go of some things emotionally and I simplified and shortened my list of what was truly important in my life.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I let go of "stuff" and surrounded myself with things that matter - faith, people, and treasured memories.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But as I <a href="http://mymessymiracles.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-i-have-learned.html" target="_blank">wrote on the 11th</a>, I still have some choices to make. I need to simplify even more. So the word I chose for 2014 is <b>PURPOSEFUL</b>. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBIW3zxb2cxb46LRv71eOY_v91H-4T_IMpBCoKE-9D-ALWT1bTJSZnJ0MWICeHZmsw1f1e7_bjpNDL9XD6PFA6_Jsxa9Cix1FOIVLfIA0XxS54iQUiWiuYchmHvoDJtbm3Jb8z0-DWZM/s640/Word-of-the-Year.jpg" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Template is by <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/forum/showthread.php?3608-January-2014-Lovely-Template-Challenge" target="_blank">AnitaW Designs for the Template Challenge</a><br />
Kit is <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?40-Daily-Download" target="_blank">Technogeek</a><br />
Both available at <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/" target="_blank">WithLoveStudios</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I further clarified my word and created how I want this word to look in action....</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g1BhJcLvFknxhN3ICmCx23BsFShfZsITM7Rc8fLZg2rK0FdBu_vyfifjalsZK4UVSRSsoSSsEfpfX3caM3UQ4KSJW5no9HYsr_Vt8fcpeNyfNfewNVyyCNPa5CkQwlTvSk1DqmgTZrY/s1600/In-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g1BhJcLvFknxhN3ICmCx23BsFShfZsITM7Rc8fLZg2rK0FdBu_vyfifjalsZK4UVSRSsoSSsEfpfX3caM3UQ4KSJW5no9HYsr_Vt8fcpeNyfNfewNVyyCNPa5CkQwlTvSk1DqmgTZrY/s640/In-2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f2f1ed; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">Kit - <a href="http://withlovestudio.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=27_155&products_id=1533" target="_blank">Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f2f1ed; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Tahoma, Calibri, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">Alph - APennington - BFT - AlphaJumbleFreebie (recolored)</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-37661519502856825872014-01-11T21:13:00.000-05:002014-01-11T21:13:48.174-05:00What I have learnedTomorrow will be the one year anniversary of the death of my father.<br />
He was and will always be a lot of things to me.<br />
He was my hero.<br />
He was the first man I fell in love with and wanted to marry (he informed me he was already taken, but would always love me)<br />
He was the man who understood me, often times better than I understood myself.<br />
He was the person I went to for advice with all sorts of issues - personal and professional.<br />
He was gentle.<br />
He was kind.<br />
He was fair.<br />
He understood people in ways I can only dream, and usually his understanding was within minutes of meeting them.<br />
He was quiet, until he did not want to be.<br />
He a laugh as big as the sky. It was a laugh that make you smile because it was just so full of joy.<br />
He had blue eyes that could be cold when he was in his cop mode, but more often were twinkling with his latest practical joke or love.<br />
His hugs were strong and long.<br />
<br />
I miss him. I miss him a lot.<br />
I miss all those things I wrote about. But I just miss his presence in the world. One of the biggest feelings I had those first few weeks after his death was anger and disbelief that the world did not realize what was gone. The world should have stopped, even if only for a day, an hour, to mourn a man who impacted so many people. <br />
<br />
There are parts of this past year that I don't even remember. I feel like I have lost time. I was wading through a muddy fog that sucked at my legs and blocked my vision of everything around me. There were times I would get angry with myself because I could not "just get over it". Sometimes I would feel so overwhelmed by the rawness of my emotions that I felt as if someone was pouring salt and sand on blistered feet and forcing me to walk miles without end.<br />
<br />
As the year progressed I would forget for a moment what I had lost. I could see a break in the fog. I could laugh and joke. I could sing and play games with the Cubs. And I knew that is what he would want me to do. He would not want me to wallow in grief. He would be angry that I had lost even one precious moment with my Cubs and with Papa Bear. This was the man who always told me "I did not make much money when I was in this world, so you better have a cash bar over my coffin so that you can make some money off me once I am dead". He called his 8 year battle with cancer "just a bump in the road". Those are things that he would want me to remember and cherish. <br />
<br />
As 2013 ended and I contemplated this upcoming anniversary and the beginning of a new year I knew I had some choices to make. Before I could make those choices, though, I needed to reflect on what I had learned this past year.<br />
<br />
I learned that grief can be so overwhelming that it almost becomes a physical entity.<br />
I learned that there are people who truly love me for me and are willing to sit by my side (physically, in cyber space and on the phone) and pass me tissues as I cry.<br />
I learned I could cry and laugh at the same time.<br />
I learned that no amount of preparation can reduce the pain of loss.<br />
I learned that grief is definitely not a straight path.<br />
I learned to be vulnerable.<br />
I learned there is strength in vulnerability.<br />
I learned that even in the midst of the deepest sadness God is there, waiting with open arms.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-46454417790908534552013-12-13T15:43:00.000-05:002013-12-13T15:43:40.705-05:00ControlFor those who know me IRL - I am pretty much a control freak. <br />
<br />
OK, it may not look like it, <strike>from the chaos</strike>,<br />
<strike>from the horrifying mess,</strike><br />
from the untidiness of my lovely home. <br />
<br />
I am more of I need to know what is going on at all times and be able to find everyone and make what I am doing as perfect as I can do. That is part of the reason we have an untidy (yep, gonna stick with that) home - no one wants to do things my way so I am just going to quit. I know, very grown up of me.<br />
<br />
So today Baby Bear was done with school very early and was totally bored. Like sit in front of the TV and complain bored. Given that I have a monster cold I was not in the mood to argue with said child that there was plenty to do around the house from crafts to cleaning. Hmmmmmmm, what can I do that requires minimal physical and brain effort on my part but will fulfill some sort of learning on the part of the child....<br />
<br />
So I decided that we could cook something. I like to cook. I can do many of my favorite recipes without even looking at them. I just needed one that required attention for short periods of time. Papa Bear has informed me that we are out of bread. I can pretty much make bread in my sleep and it is very forgiving as long as one stays within some boundaries. Perfect! <br />
<br />
Unfortunately Baby Bear has caught on to the fact that I want things done a certain way and I am not very good at letting anyone else do something unless it is done to my specifications. Well, since I don't feel terrific and this is for family consumption only, I decided to relinquish control and work on both of us learning something. Baby Bear's face lit up with I explained that I was only going to give instructions but do none of the work. I now have a batch of wonderful smelling dough in the middle of the first rise sitting in about the only warm spot in my house that I could find. I have Baby Bear looking very proud. And I have everyone caught up on their school work. But the best part was listening to to the child tell me why we did things a certain way, and watch the light go on as a concept was realized. I was informed, in fact, that baking bread with me has now become so much fun that the next lesson needs to be how to hand knead dough. I think that is going to have to wait until I way over this cold! <br />
<br />
While I may be an old dog, and while I may be set in my tricks, it is possible for me to learn some new ones so that I can create Messy Miracles with my cubs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-16084058459280659012013-12-12T12:35:00.001-05:002013-12-12T12:35:55.129-05:00My Quote of the DayI know, I am way behind in listing my "thankfuls", let alone getting them scrapped. But I am working on it.<br />
In the meantime, I need to get back to writing....<br />
it is a way to cleanse my mind and focus on the moment.<br />
<br />
I am a Roman Catholic Christian. I am not sure I ever specifically said that on this blog. I have been an RCC since my parents had me baptized as an infant. But just because I have been raised as one does not mean that I have always acted in a manner in keeping with the rich tradition of my faith. Nor does it mean that I know and understand everything that my Church teaches. But since having children, and knowing that it is my responsibility to pass on the faith to them, I am always on the prowl to find new ways of learning and understanding. I have found 2 excellent resources, both of which just stated this week.<br />
<br />
The first is a study of the <a href="http://flocknote.com/gospel" target="_blank">Gospels</a>....<br />
It is a daily reading from the Gospels along with a short commentary that comes to my email each morning. By the end of the year I will have studied all 4 Gospels.<br />
<br />
The second is a study of the <a href="http://flocknote.com/catechism" target="_blank">Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC</a>). Many people mistakenly think that the CCC is our "other Bible". That is so not true. It is a compendium of the Catholic Church's interpretation of the Bible (you can't read any of it without running into biblical references), along with the teachings of the "doctors" of the church. It is no different than reading a book written by a pastor. The only difference is that our CCC is based on the teachings and preachings and oral traditions passed on for the last 2000 years. The nice part about this study is that there has been a catechism written for "youth" (read that for anyone who finds the full CCC a bit intimidating to read) and the <a href="http://flocknote.com/catechism" target="_blank">study</a> is using that as the basis with links back to the "whole" CCC. <br />
<br />
Today both of the lessons really had points that hit hard for me. I will spare you the entire writing I could do on the Gospel reading for the day. The reading was the Slaughter of the Innocents in the Gospel of Matthew. Suffice it to say that I was filled with compassion for families who have lost children, particularly those who have lost children as a result of selfish acts and tragic brutality by others.<br />
<br />
From the CCC lesson there was a quote that I found beautiful....<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Every man is receptive to what is true, good, and beautiful. He hears within himself the voice of conscience, which urges him to what is good and warns him against what is evil. Anyone who follows this path reasonably finds God. (YOUCAT question 4)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So my miracle today are the lessons that are sent my way, through books, through others, and even through e-mail. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-90191851506208750522013-11-07T23:10:00.003-05:002013-11-07T23:11:20.992-05:00Thanksgiving now up to date! I have managed to get all my Thanksgiving thoughts up to this date scrapped. So here they are in all their glory!<br />
<br />
I created the template myself.<br />
The font for the "Thankful for" is Lighthouse - available from Dafont<br />
The font for the actual thankful journaling I used KG You Won't Bring Me Down<br />
The "kit" I used is ACO - bruissementsdautomne<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oNGoM8abLU6XQ6DlTdm5kV7p1uEF_7xM2iLa-OGj-44BnihWkKgxz_QqA_Z1z52NHpJ00WTMS3qT3UDbvPstd92L95IkKUum8e6CM-hcvhjG23EtZYlUySArSKp36dpsPCeFV1DFw04/s1600/Thanksgiving-Day-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oNGoM8abLU6XQ6DlTdm5kV7p1uEF_7xM2iLa-OGj-44BnihWkKgxz_QqA_Z1z52NHpJ00WTMS3qT3UDbvPstd92L95IkKUum8e6CM-hcvhjG23EtZYlUySArSKp36dpsPCeFV1DFw04/s320/Thanksgiving-Day-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWrbyNAje8edQ_6NcBUX64OBg651uoJCttmBqIHk8ernStEYlcmnA5Z19ZChwJTTyUMxOYGUoxo0gWsRfblV4B3Wkq_os6IE06fYA9-SRodjPoaSIMX0xwNBYH3_jCddjUEztzSLdvOQ/s1600/Thanksgiving-Day-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWrbyNAje8edQ_6NcBUX64OBg651uoJCttmBqIHk8ernStEYlcmnA5Z19ZChwJTTyUMxOYGUoxo0gWsRfblV4B3Wkq_os6IE06fYA9-SRodjPoaSIMX0xwNBYH3_jCddjUEztzSLdvOQ/s320/Thanksgiving-Day-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-5574131541355915142013-11-06T10:16:00.002-05:002013-11-06T10:17:10.095-05:00Thanksgiving Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFiouP_eSXo66N6MgCCHlgotFUY_kWuduyTDOiwwC7a6VV5AsHtJ_KERcdf6mMHmh2wKbapT3uGdtozznsLJ3XwD7LKR5r3Tzn4euct2KUpb5zDYcB7a-ec22SY28i5VNveSD4FRqk6M/s1600/Thanksgiving-Day-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFiouP_eSXo66N6MgCCHlgotFUY_kWuduyTDOiwwC7a6VV5AsHtJ_KERcdf6mMHmh2wKbapT3uGdtozznsLJ3XwD7LKR5r3Tzn4euct2KUpb5zDYcB7a-ec22SY28i5VNveSD4FRqk6M/s320/Thanksgiving-Day-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3655244215895585893.post-64380709740972202382013-11-05T18:22:00.002-05:002013-11-05T18:22:46.408-05:00Thanksgiving MonthI have been having some motivational issues when it comes to recording things. So I decided that I was going to jump on the thanksgiving bandwagon and record my blessings throughout this month.<br />
<br />
I love to scrapbook. I have way too many curious fingers to leave out traditional scrapbooking supplies. I started digital scrapbooking a few years ago and absolutely fell in loves with it. Recently, with all the things going on in my life, I have strayed away and not been creating as much as usual. So I decided in order to get back into the routine and give myself a creative outlet I would scrapbook my thankful posts.<br />
So here is day 1 - I have been keeping track of my daily thanks, I am just now getting around to scrapping them. So I will post them as I complete them!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02621507354840470627noreply@blogger.com0