beginning to look like CHRISTMAS

Finally it started cooling off some. We had a HUGE temperature drop that put me in the bed with what felt like broken bones (aint Lupus fun!) but now I think also it was these stupid Shingles coming back. The dr switched me back to the other medicine and IT JUST doesnt work soooo.. now it is back on my face ear and my back. If you have ever had a bad sunburn how it feels when you lay on the bed with a badly sunburned back.. well that is how it kinda feels except on the lesion or bumps that are open it is well.. It just hurts I guess is the best way to say it,. so I havent been on alot. I did before all this started ... AGAINNNN! get some scrapping done. Im gonna call this dr back and tell him this stuff is NOT working today so MAYBEEE this wont look so... FREAKISH by Christmas :( so say a prayer if you would.

Here are the gifts that I CAN SHOW YOU.. That I have made.



I made this for Bella's Teacher It holds Eye glasses. Her favorite team is Auburn and boy is it her favorite. Hope she likes it.
I also made her a Christmas ornament for her Tree. Bella helped! Im sure she has one but not one THat BELLA helped make hahaha.
This is for John's mom's 12 x 12 album she wanted more pages so I hooked her up. I made 11 pages so far to go in it. Here are just a few. With photos from last christmas and this year.
OK so this one the photo is Older but I had been meaning to scrap this to go in her book and forgot it wasnt in there so... scratch that last year and last christmas since Bella was 2 in this pic above, lol
This last year Nana's Sister Stephy and her husband Evans came down for business and Got to meet Bella for hte first time, It was an instant love connection. Bella just LOVES her and asks about her all the time especially when we paint her nails.
Bella was so scared Santa woudlnt be able to find her last year since we were at Nana and Papa's in Mississippi. I told her not to fear that santa always found the children ont he nice list.. BOY SHE MUSTA BEEN REAL GOOOOD! WE had to enlist my mother's van to help us get all of her stuff home hahahahahaa





Ok This is it for now I must go back to bed. Gonna beg that dr to put me back on the other meds that made me well faster. I SOOOO DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS so many more gifts to make and the clock is ticking.. I wonder if this is how the elves feel at Santa's workshop the week of Christmas hahahaahhaaBella has her school program and Christmas party at school today. John is going to take photos and video it for me since I wont be able to go :( BElla is going to look soooo cute in her dress I can't wait to see the tape when he gets back. I will upload the photos to show you after he gets home and I can get them on the computer.

OPERATION HOLLY!

Bella had her play last night at David and Diane Carter's Church. THey were so proud of her. THey said she did a fantastic job. I didn't get to go :( but John took some FABULOUS photos and I know David and Diane are HURRYING to RUSH ME that TAPE so I CAN WATCH MY BABY SING!!! hahahaha. Here are some photos.


we apprecitiate david and Diane SOOO much for Taking Bella to do this. We just love them so much! SO does Bella if you can't Tell!

Here is David lookin' all Mayorly!
Here they are in the homeless scene

The whole crew!!




They collected alot of Canned good and things for some familys that really needed it. I hope you find it in your hearts to donate to someone you thing may be in need or drop something off at a collections place for needy familys. WE can participate in so many ways from the local churches to donating to various charities. I know there are alot of children out there that aren't as fortunate as we are. Im so proud of Bella and how good she did for David and Diane.

PS: for all my pals across the water over yonder in Austrailia and New Zealand. Keep your eyes out in 2008 for BELLA! I have had 6 pages picked up by the Austrailian Magazine Scrapbooking Memories (can I get a WHEHEEWW THANK YOU LORD!!) we going international BABEEEEYYYYY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DI andI GOT TAGGED!

FIRST I HAVE TO SAY A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NOT SO ILLEGAL ALIEN PAL DI! (that is my pet name for her hahaahaha) I hope you have a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY TODAY GIRL. AND DON'T RUB IT IN TOO bad that your STILL younger than us all :P~~~ LOVE YA MEAN IT! HOPE You have a WONDERFUL day!

A Tag from Teri- lynn IM just a month late with it hahahaha. SORRY girl!

Ten things I did this weekend:
1. cleaned my scrap room
2. made a ton of stuff I cant show yet.
3. cooked these fabulous bacon thingys
4. Got a package that didnt belong to us
5. Got A FABULOUS early Christmas gift that totally made me smile HUGEEEEEE and one for Bella (Thank you liz!)
6. Spoke to the lady that used to live in our house (it was her box we got, funny story ha!)
7. Watched christmas movies
8. Played dress uo with Bella (we did hair)
9. Missed our family's Christmas party :( at my aunts house.
10. Today is Bella's program and David and Diane's church.. that I wont get to go to either :( so add cry to the list. BUT I will get over it fast Im just mad at myself for being sick. (all the blame time!!!)

9 things on my agenda this week:
1. finish making Christmas presents
2. Wrap Christmas Presents
3. Clean guest room
4. Clean the floor and couch
5. CLEAN BELLAS ROOM (throw away old toys she has trashed)
6. make the food goodies we are giving as christmas presents to neighbors (the ones that cant catch shingles) The others that are older IM terrified to cook anything for them and them catch this! WHat is the rule on that with shingles do yall know? anyone?
7. Scrap like a crazy person with a mission to finish all my christmas gifts
8. Call shannon and see if she can make Bella some Hair bows (if you are reading this HEY I NEED SOME HAIR BOWS ILL EMAIL YOU THE COLORS I NEED LOL)I know your busy so after the first of the year is fine.
9. Cry cuz I want to go to Bella's program Thursday but Know It is too risky being around all those germy children.

8 shows I've watched last week:
1. GREYS (RERUN)
2. Men in trees (rerun but I hadnt seen it)
3. Meet the Robinsons
4. Oprahs Favorite things (I just love those shows)
5. Rachel Ray (I hardly ever miss it LOVE her show)
6. JOyce Meyer (I love her!!)
7. Survivor
8. House (rerun)

7 things I cooked last week (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I know my husband just laughed OUT LOUD at this)
1. CHeese toast
2. Tea
3. THESE bacon wrap things
4. pop tart
5. Brocolli cheese/ or a brocolli cheese roasted potatoe
6. Does Microwave count? Sorry, Seriously, I really Havn't cooked alot since being so sick the last few months John does most of our cooking these days. I did cook alot during Thanksgiving. BUt John is a wonderful cook and enjoys doing it so I LET him have that pleasure.
7. ASK ME AGAIN NEXT WEEK AFTER I DO ALL THESE CHRISTMAS TREATS giggle



6 things I read this week
1. tons of email
2. Power of the Praying wife (read it daily)
3. Blogs
4. Message boards that I am on
5. Elmo goes to the fire house
6. the christmas smelly book (another of Bellas favorites)

5 Reasons to be happy today
1. Bella is going to be in the program at David and Dianes church (please lord don't let her still ahve this tummy virus so she can go. They are really counting on her and she wants to do it and has practised so hard!)
2. My shingles are so much better than last week, still not well but better
3. This medicine doesnt make me AS dizzy as that other one.
4. Watching Bella sing her little songs and practise for her play.
5. That John will get to be with her at the play and they will video it so I can watch!!

4 things I need to buy
1. gift certificates
2. photos to finish this book
3. The book POWER OF THE PRAYING PARENT, Also want that book deceptivly delicious or well I would go to the library... rofl
4. Christmas food stuffs


3 people I saw this weekend
1. JOhn
2. Bella
3. Diane

2 things I am thankful right now
1. That Bella is sleeping peacefully and her stomach seems better
2. That I have John and Bella and my family and friends. I dont know if I would survive without them!

and one more thought:
We take so many things for granted every day. Getting to go to the store and christmas shop may seem like a chore to so many people right now, or going to Christmas events, There are so many including myself that wish so desperatly they could get out and do things.... Be thankful for just a moment for your health and that you are able to do the little things... That you don't have to worry about germs and take expensive medications! WE truly dont get it or appreciate them until WE arent able to do them anymore :)

PS: I tag... DI, Annette, WendyJ, Greta, Jan, Sherine, Joanne, Elizabeth, lynn, Cherylwray, Lucy, AND YOU if you are reading this hahahahahahahaha!

here are my treasures

Today is upload day at Treasures and here are the things I made for it. I told yall I would put up how to make this little planner thingy. IT wasnt hard at all trust me. I was so pushed for time this year. Being in the bed almost 2 weeks DIDNT HELP but thank the lord Im up and able to do some stuff now. THe sponsor this month was SCRAPWORKS. THey sent some TOTALLY COOOL product with chipboard embellishments everything you see here is scrapworks except the cardstock and the ink. They really did spoil us bad!

It is sinking in the realization that we are not gonna get to go home for Christmas. THis is the first year ever that I have missed a christmas with my family all together. Kinda depressing well actually VERY DEPRESSING. Especially since it is because I can't go. but we talked to the dr and tried to think of every way possible but it is just too risky with the meds I am on. John also has to work Christmas eve nad the day after Christmas. WIth it falling in the middle of the week it would be so hard physically on us. Driving 3 hours one way these days with my health is horrid. esp since errrm wearing the required upper undergarmets send me into fits of pain sometimes. MAN the things we take for granted!!
I am not even getting to go to any of BEllas little programs this year, she has one sunday at church but THEY PROMISE me they are videoing it and also emailing me tons of photos that I can share with you here. I am not gonna get to go to Bellas Christmas program at her school either so John is gonna try and video that for me and take some pictures. I was very upset I couldnt go. I have been trying to figure out a way.. maybe nasa would let me borrow an astronaut suit? or a bio hazard suit from the epa? oh well it was a thought. Soooo. anyway.. here I sit scrapbooking so I wont be sad lol.

AND AS promised! HEREEE is how to make this little cute planner. ITS SIMPLE SIMPLE REALLY.
1. get a sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock. fold it over 1/3 the way.
2. crease it well.
3. THEN FOLD it into 3 sections like an airline ticket sorta.
4. take a small amount of glue and glue down the sides to make the pockets
5. add your patterened paper
6. add your stickers and ribbon to tie it with (you just add it to the back) but dont glue all the way across just the right two sections) taht way you can tie it around the front of it.
voila there ya go. SIMPLE REALLY!

HOPE YOU Have a great time making it like I did. NOW fill it up with receipts and christmas list and hit the mall!

SNOW? in ALABAMA?

Now that I have your attention hahahaha. NO, it isnt snowing but YOU COULNDT CONVINCE BElla of that. SHe just KNEW she was seeing snow.. fields and fields of it.. errr wellt he fact it is in the mid upper 70's here makes THAT IMPOSSIBLE!!!
BUT YOU KNOW I had to do a page for her book about her new found snow. Take a peek.
Here is the journaling if your like me and can't see too good anymore lol
As we came around the curve, Bella’s eyes lit up
and as soon as she saw it I KNEW what she
Was about to say.”LOOK! IT SNOWED!”
IT was hard to tell her that no, this was not snow
This was actually cotton. Fields and fields of
The soft fluffy stuff as far as the eye can see.
Living way down in Mobile, Alabama we don’t
See much snow, but in her eyes this will ALWAYS
Be THE BEST Bama snowfall ever!


Genuine “fresh picked” Alabama Snow


HOPE you get a little bit of "snow" in whichever form you can get where you live.

Sights Of Christmas past...

Here is my All about ME page for December for Scrap-diner. I chose to go with the theme.. MEETING SANTA. when the first time was you REALLY remember Santa. I know I saw him before this but this was my first REAL remembrance of him. The photo is kinda blurry but I had to scrap it. I was so impressed HE KNEW MY NAME. COME join the fun with the ALL ABOUT ME scrapping at scrap-diner.
This month at Treasures we were given kits from Scrapworks to use. IT was the perfect paper to show off some Of Bellas FAVORITE ornaments from last year on her AUNT Karen and UNCLE WIndale's Tree. I always get so nervous because Karen has all those BEAUTIFUL Hallmark ornaments. You know the ones that move and sing and are soo gorgeous. BElla is just mesmerized by them. SHe spends so much time looking at each and every one of them and I just sit there staring so scared she is going to break something. Karen is so sweet with her though and shows her each one and what they do. I hate we aren't going to get to go up this year maybe afterwards we will see but with shingles its scary and no immune system. I really love that she gets to spend that special time with her aunt and uncle sine she doesnt get to see them that much. SHe always talks about it and remembered it this year again how Aunt Karen has the "pretty ornaments" at her house.
This is Taz. Doesn't he looks so sweet. DONT LET THAT sweet face fool you. hahha he is a menace in disguise. Im just kidding Taz is my nephew dog of my brother and Karen. HE is a mischievious sweetie. WHo thinks he is 10 feet tall. I caught this adorable photo of him tuckered out after all the christmas excitement and present opening. He was sacked out beside a christmas bag and was actually sharing my sentiment. I NEED A NAP MAN!
You can see these and more of the Scrapwork paper designs this month where they are the featured sponsor at Treasures to scrap.

SO what pages of Christmas past have you done this year? Are you caught up? Have you sent out your Christmas cards yet? If so then PPPFFFTTTTTTTTTTT! :P~~ can you say I HAVENT STARTED YET! I have a few cards done a couple gifts thats it. This last bout with shingles just about did me in. SO I keep saying I want to post pone Christmas till January... no one will listen though hahaa. OH well. IT will get done as it always does. We are just settling this year for a more quiet meaningful Christmas. Not alot of rush and excitement. DR's orders ;( I can't wait to watch Bella though. SHe really is excited this year and watching her little face light up with all the decorations and the whimsy is more than I could ever hope for.

Snow-Diva and Scrap-diner

I started on her before I had gotten sick and worked on her a little even after but... on well the photo isn't great but then neighter am I lol.. I wanted a DIFFERENT snow person. I have seen pretty snowpeople the old fashioned ones and all the others. BELLa is sucha little diva I figured HEY WHY NOT make it in TRUE BElla SPIRIT. so here she is.

I also uploaded my ALL ABOUT ME CHALLNEGE for this month at SCRAP-DINER.COM so go check it out and PARTICIPATE. ITS FUN! ITs all about meeting the big guy this time.

So come on and Join in the FUN!

Did you see our AD IN SCRAPBOOKS ETC? IF NOT take a look, IT has a 10% off coupon with it so take advantage of the sale while its HOT :)

IT'S ALIVEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I can actually SEEEEEEE! Still really weak and tired.I can get up and do stuff then 30 minutes later I need a nap but MAN it doesnt hurt to look at a book or writing as bad. I have so many projects I need to work on (Christmas presents) and My child is forgetting what I look like besides being asleep. I think there just may be light at the end of this tunnel. Thank ya lord! I tell you this new med is really drying this up. Before I had some places that have not healed in almost a year or better and they actually are disappearing so IF someone says YOU CANT get immune to meds TELL THEM ughmmm YES YOU CAN, lol

Hope you have a good weekend, GOnna go hit the couch and look at my family for a bit.

another update

just letitng yall know it looks ALOT better. I can actually open my eye now. I can focus a little better, still burns and itches something awful but still hurts burns mostly, and light is hurtin but its alot better. I turned my phone power off because i needed to sleep, no offense. I know yall are just worried but the med is making me very tired, I promise to check the messages and thank you all so much for the prayers love and concern. I will get john or when IM awake put an update up here so that should help some huh?
Still sore and so tired but this medication seems to be doing the trick they are drying up so much faster. I really think we were on the wrong med or I was immune to it. well i been taking it almost 2 years and still getting it so DUHHH. tells you we should change it huh! Lupus factors in to all of it and this other guy said that this has better response from lupus patients as well as cancer patients. SO that is good to know. we turned the colors down on the computer and the light so it doenst hurt as much and i can look at it a bit longer. but.. IM so tired. i last about 20 minutes till I have to lay back down.
Thank you all sooooo very much for your prayers. we so greatly appreciate it. Don't know what I would do with out yall.

PLEASE check out this post..

http://lfa-inc.blogspot.com/2007/12/give-gift-of-hope-to-lupus-foundation.html

give a gift of hope to someone this christmas..


UPDATE:

I know alot of you are anxious and were praying with us about this shingle deal. We did have to go back to the ER, my dr didnt want me to wait till tomorrow since it was in my eye with all the other swelling and I was having so many issues. They changed up my meds etc and I will have more info when he gets it all back tomorrow when I go in to see him at his office. (this is easier than making phone calls and emails so bear with me lol) They also put me on some steroids which I believe is helping. My eye is not as turned and swollen but still pretty whacky looking and you can imagine the pain etc. I feel like a blow fish Im so swoll up. We are ok though.. They make bigger clothes and I will just deal with that haha thank you sooooooo much for your continued prayers on this. We are praying this new med is the answer we have been looking for to boost it to go away. You know its been 2 long years almost with this shingle battle.. eveyone we have talked to though said when it is on your head and facial area that it just is harder to make it stay gone. I dont understandwhy but I know it to be true.

With it being right here at the holidays it is really messing up alot of our plans but then again we know our plans are not up to us.. It is in God's hands. So we may not get to go home at all this year. we are supposed to go home in 2 weeks to a family Christmas but I havent been able to take the flu shot and well You can imagine my dr chewing me out because I went to the christmas tree farm and to the parade. My argument was Bella can bring the germs home to me so what was the difference but err he had good points that you dont go putting your hand in a flame when you know it is hot or some sarcastic metaphor as such... TOUCHE' sir dr! also some staph infection that is really bad is going around mrsa? or something he said and with these shingles it is just not good so to stay my butt at home blah blah something blah blah grrrrr.
It is just so hard being isolated and not getting out especially with a small child who wants mommy there. I know she doesnt understand. So please just say an extra prayer. We have gone through alot with this and it is exhausting but I KNOW with all our prayer warriors out there and the support I get from you, my friends and my family, it will be ok. SO I want to take this opportunity to Thank you all so much and let you know how important you all are to me. YOu all keep me going. Thank you again. I also Thank God for the internet or else no one will be getting anything for Christmas lol I am doing most of my shopping online since I can't go anywhere and when IM having a good day Im scrapping like a crazy person and getting alot of our gifts made so far. I think my medicine is working and I will actually be able to rest maybe. SO Im gonna sign off and say THANK YOU SO MUCH again.

CHRISTMAS PARADEEEE WHEHEHWW

We went to the Grand Bay Christmas parade tonight and HAD SOOOO Much FUN!
IT was a small town parade in the south so NOTHING like the big fancy parades Im sure alot of you have but IT WAS SOOOOO MUCH FUN. Santa was there!! SEEEEBella and her "boy" Brayden were all ready to catch some throws. They did get some stuffed animals and moon pies, Lots of Necklaces. brayden was so sweet and shared his Teddy bears with her. She was just starry eye'd THEY are so cute!

THey did get alot of awesome throws. Bella looked like MR. T with all her beads and that was not even close to half of them hahaha.I know it is hard to tell what this is but.. ITS A JOHN DEER TRACTOR covered in Christmas lights. IT WAS HARD to take photos...


I did get some cute shots of the kids:Im surprised Bella has a voice left from SCREAMING: THROW ME SOMETHIN MISTERRRRR!!!! she danced and sang with the music had a glorious time!
I think we are all a little more in the Christmas spirit now!

Christmas Tree Farm

Today Bella's Class went to the Ramsay Christmas Tree farm to pick out the tree for their class room.

We got to go on a Hay ride. To look for the perfect tree.

FINALLY, after riding and riding and riding and riding...


We found the PERFECT tree.


so we all loaded back on the trailer and went to go have a picnic lunch.




OH YEAH.. I almost forgot We also got to meet someone VERY SPECIAL!!!






I think all the kids had a FABULOUS time. I can't wait to see how they get it all decorated and pretty in their class room.
Thank you to the teachers and everyone who did this today with the kids. WE really did have fun.

I have a TON of photos of the kids but no email addresses for some of the parents. IF you like I can just email them to The teacher and she can fwd them to you. OR You can email me at nancywithajones@gmail.com and I will send you copies of them. I have photos of most all of the kids in the 4k I just didnt want to upload them to my blog without parental permission. I will be more than happy to send you the copies if you would like them. :)but ughmm you just need to let me know which child is yours hahahaa!

my way????

Bella: Dis issss da dayyyyyy.... dat da lOOOOOORD hath madeeeeeeeeeeeee. I WILLLLLLLLLLLL be JOYCE!! and be glad I diddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

Mommy: ughmm, I thought we talked about this.. I thought we decided that the words were "RE JOICE" and "GLAD IN IT"

Bella looking at me like IM a total moron and have 2 heads: "MOMMY! but I like it better MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY way!"


Which totally sums up our life right now... when you have a 4 year old.. Things are done differently. IT takes you 20 minutes to get a fork for the meal because NO I WANTED A SPOON or I WANNTED THE GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEN ONEEEEE! (why did they invent colored spoons and forks with animals on them and throw them all INTO ONE PACKAGE???? why did my mother bring these to her??? to make my head spin oh yeah I forgot THAT Is why! This person (the one who invented the colored untensils, DIDN't have kids and wasn't trying to get through dinner easily were they????)

My father is laughing hysterically in the afterlife and giving his famous wink and thumbs up to the maker of these forks as I curse them under my breath and scowl out the parts where the curse words probably would be.

It has been one of those days.. PRODUCTIVE, yes... I have gotten a mini book,a canvas album, a page, some cards and a tutorial finished all but adding the photos to the canvas mini album class I will be teaching online at the Diner (insert shameless plug) I got it photo'd and the tutorial written. I just have to remember all the measurments because things like that are pretty important to scrapbookers when they go to make something. THey don't do "Nancy scrapbooking" where you eyeball it and if it is a little off you say OK TURN YOUR HEAD a little more to the left.. THERE... NOW ITS STRAIGHT!!
The rulers come out and they actually MEASURE STUFF (WHO KNEW??) SO as I have been banging my head today against this ruler trying to remember how it works... shut up Di... I have everything almost complete.

BUT FOR NOW.. I gotta run.. there is a 4 year old screaming in the tub that "the water is touching meeeeeeeeee"... So must investigate this one for myself!!

Happy Anniversary Honey :)

Just wanted to dedicate my post today to the man that is not just my husband but also my best friend. WHo is my biggest supporter and love of my life. Hard to believe were still here doin' this but then again.. you said you always get what you want ;) Im just glad It is me. Cause today as always... ITs still you. Love you sweetie Thank you for the life we have and thank you for our beautiful daughter I thought I would never get a chance to have. Thank you for helping make my dreams come true. I love you and YOU KNOW, I mean it.... N