Getting that chip knocked off...

This afternoon, I was carrying that chip on my shoulder again. Sundays are not my happiest days.  And it's snowing.  And blah, blah, blah...wasting time, wasting time, wasting time....

So I flipped over to Facebook...which I really don't like to begin with...

and read....


that a childhood friend, who had been battling colon cancer....


is not battling lung cancer.


And THAT....


sobered me....right up.

Eric grew up on the street behind me....through out my Forestlawn Mustang years...SMS....and right through high school.  He was tall earlier than anyone, it seemed. He had one older brother.  Lived next door to one of my  friends.  He could hang upside down on the monkey bars with great skill and at great length.


So if anyone has a reason today to be fussy...well, I guess it's not me.

Mark your place...

with a fun book mark!  I used ......from There She Goes to create a winter background for Rachel from Inky Impressions.  Some fuzzy fibers set off the sentiment as well! I know that this will come in handy with all the books I have to read for Battle of the Books in the next few weeks!

Icy!

After a long, short week...and several rounds of the stomach flu...here is my submission for the color/picture inspiration challenge at Party Time Tuesdays.

This combo was soooo cold that I just had to add a splash of warmth!  Play along with us, post the PTT Party Badge on your blog, and you'll be entered to win prizes from several cool companies.  For more information on the prizes and to link up, check out the Party Time Tuesday Blog.

Lessons in Vomit

I was just on the phone a little while ago, talking to my friend J*, about the beginnings of my blog. As I read from August 2006 and back tracking, I realized I have said less and less about my kids. One, privacy is always nice.  And necessary.  But boy, did I have some good stories back then.

Flash forward to this week...VOMIT CITY.

#3 complained of being so hungry that his insides hurt on Sunday night.  Finally, I gave in, told him to eat some oatmeal...and stayed upstairs. After a brief commotion, which I took for siblings arguing and ignored, Ken came up to tell me that E* had thrown up..in the kitchen sink.  To tell E's version "and it filled half the sink!!"

Ken, luckily for me, had cleaned it out before coming up to tell me.    I got a bucket, helped E get cleaned up, etc. etc.  My kids have RARELY had the stomach flu. If they do, it's once, MAYBE twice...and it's over. Not this time.  From 10:30pm until after 5am...he threw up.  After a while...it's really hard...and there is very little to throw up.  (Sorry, this is gross...but I AM coming to the learning part!)

FF 1.5 days...and I get a phone call to pick up #1, who threw up in Pre-Algebra.  And yes, again, 6 plus hours of the same sickness....

So at one point in the afternoon, just after he was finished praying to the porcelain god, I gently told him that if you drink too much alcohol, you get sick. So sick that you throw up.  He looks at me...and says "I am never drinking."  (Yes, we're a dry house.  And that object lesson was pretty real at the time!)

FF 1.5 days later...aka last night around 10pm...DD starts it...6 hours...through the night. Now she HATES to throw up.  So, around 2:30 am in the morning after she's just finished throwing up yet again, I say to her, "you know, when a women gets pregnant, she is often sick.  Being pregnant makes you throw up sometimes.  I threw up about once a day for nearly 3 months."  She just groans, rolls back in bed.  I continued..."So, don't plan on having babies until you are married.  Understand? And when you are married and pregnant and sick, you'll have someone there to take care of you."  Again...object lesson...learning moment.

I can't be sure that my kids will grow up and make good choices. I can only continue to teach,  remind and pray.  The scriptures say that "all trials are for our benefit."  We can learn something from trials if we look.  I'm grateful that Ken was so helpful this week in getting the healthy kids to the bus stop, or with lunches, or that "vomit filled sink."  I'm glad that I had the wits about me to bring up some learning moments...despite the messiness.  I'm glad that Ken and I have stayed healthy in the midst of all this.  Just call me around 10 am on Saturday morning...to see if Ken or I need a life lesson in vomit.

Pucker Up...

When I saw this Paper Cupcake lipstick digi, I knew I had to add it to my list.  And then, when I saw that this week's challenge was inspired by this picture:

I knew that my lipsticks would be a perfect match.  Not sugar candy...but certainly face candy.

I loved the colors...as well as that gorgeous bow!  Be sure to check out the ticket digis over at Paper Cupcakes. They are a nice addition and embellie for your paper crafty projects!

Vintage

This has been a slow ink wink...but here is my submission for Party Time Tuesday's "birthday card" celebration. Stampendous has hooked us up with delightful stamps and this very novel "frantage chips."  It is a chunky, paint chip embellishment. Here is the pale pink version.  If you are into vintage styled crafts, then you probably love textures.  This Frantage gives tons of texture!  So, there is only a few more day to hook up your Birthday Card with PTT.  I can't wait to see what you make!  (Hey, good luck with being chosen as a winner.  PTT gives away fabulous prizes each week!  Oh my!)

You are Cherished...

Inside: 

I used a nestability to create this window card.  

The heart, which is on the inside of the card, pokes through the top layer, when closed.  Ahhh...simply sweet and perfect for any loved one!

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers