Blog Challenge for Sept 1

WOW 3 posts for today IM like killin some record or something. HA! Anyway Scrap that moments blog challenge for the day is to list our accomplishments for August and Project some things we want done for September....errrr well OK ILL TRY.
AUGUST was an elsucko month for me. I had my hysterectomy (that wasnt the suck part the recovery was) so I am behind on everything.
BUT ,I DID manage to get a page published in Scrapstreet magazine, a page publihsed in Hobby Lobby magazine for next quarter (4th quarter) and 2 projects published in scrappy chick magazine (wheheheww) and found out that I can still make the Tray for Legacy and the other decorating magazine whew!
I didn't get picked for a design team I thought I wanted on. (That is sorta a YEAH cuz I thought I wanted on it but not so sure now)BUt ya know God always knows what he wants for us and who knows Maybe he wants me ON scrap that moments DT worse. LETS HOPE SO! I am so flippin nervous cuz there are 2 spots. 2. TWO, DOS, EL TWO OH, ONE TWO, 1 + 1 = 2, you get the picture. THere are some really good people that are up for it too. SO Im not gonna hold my breath.
I have my altered projects ready but Im nervous on my writing page. MY handwriting sucks. I did In between having the hysterectomy and all the other drama this month had got some pages done.
They are in previous posts on my blog I wont bore you with more photos of them.

What are my goals for Sept. Hmmm
FInish healing without incident (that is huge for me to say)
I want to get all my projects to the best of my ablility done for the scrap that moment competition.
I want to work on getting Bella's book updated I have just a couple pages I need to do.
Decide on our Christmas card and start on them get the photograph we need etc. Have to have a family pic done but I MUST HAVE MY DENTAL RECONSTRUCTION FIRST. I REFUSE to have pics made while I look like a redneck jack o lantern. THANK YOU DR anesthesiology dude. I know they saved my life and all but dang did ya have to knock out all my teeth or portions of them?
FINISH MY SCRAP ROOM, or at least put a bigger dent in it..... I have to finish painting in here and get it organized. I am going with the WINNIES WALLS pallette. LOVE IT! My FAVORITE PAPER OF MEGA ALL TIMES.
Wanna pull up the carpet and put down pergo also. or at least something besides carpet OK that one can drape over to October November as well cuz IT aint gonna happen ,all that, this month yall!!
I want more pages published! I got to get my mo jo goin!
Keep up with bloggin'
and I dunno that is enough for now.
What about yall what are your progressions for this past month? what goals do you have for next month?

Here is to a GLORIOUS next Month!!

HOW EXCITING... I JUST got my confirmation... The new cosmo cricket, My minds eye, 3 bugs, and maya road will be hittin my doorstep any day now. SO I begin to stalk the mail man! Cannot wait to play with those beautiful papers those delicious chipboard accents and rub ons for days!!
Also My box from scrappy chick goes out Tuesday.... AHHHHH this is going to be a glorious week. HOw can you not have fun creating when awesome product like that is in your hands. Keep it coming you guys cuz YOU KNOW I CANNOT wait! You keep sending I will keep creating.
I got the new Close To My Heart book from a friend of mine earlier in the week and I am about to die to buy something out of it. Stupid Dr bills. BUT that is ok.. Im happy to be getting healthy So no complaints. I am getting enough new cool stuff in left and right so I shouldn't complain anyway. I do need those Christmas stamps for a project I am working on. May have to get those anyway. We will see. I fell in love with so much in that book. IT IS so hard to choose!!!! OH well I am not complaining. Soon as Im better and can work.
They do have some gorgeous papers and stamps. WHO KNEW they were getting so big time! THEY EVEN HAVE TEXTURED cardstock!!!!! I think my new colors are going to be the light tourqouisy blue and the browns That is what we are doing our bedroom in with the mahoghany furniture. CANNOT wait. Gonna be so pretty. GOt to start on that some time... been putting it off too long. SInce it is now official we are staying in Mobile.. No Colorado, No florida, I guess I can redecorate.
I finished my basket with the basic grey I cannot wait for you to see it. BUT... IT will make its grand appearance on scrap that moment. So don't fret now ya hear. I still have a list of projects to get done so Time isa wastin' Nothin more fun! Ta ta for now.

Happy Sept 1st

NEW MONTH ALREADY?!?! WOW where did August go! Seems like it just started. THis is the time of year I love. It is almost fall. When the leaves start to turn, the air gets a little hint of new smell to it. The kids are running around in their new school clothes STILL fresh cuz they are new. DId you get back to school photos of your kids? I missed Bella's I was in bed. BUT I will get a photo of her and her new teacher soon. SHE LOVES her new teacher. I can tell also by all the things she comes home doing and saying. I cannot wait till I am better and can be more involved. You know men.. They tell us nothing. I have to find out whats going on from Bella or wait for a note to come home. THey just don't ask the same questions lol. I can't wait to get better and be the room mom. I can't wait to do the crafts with the kids. I just have to get the ok from my Rheumatologist I can do it. So we are praying hard about that.
We have alot going on at The Untamed Scrapper. The VIEW just came out. we have a wonderful edition this month I think you will really enjoy. We are getting a back to school one ready and with it I am doing alot of projects. My kid isnt even in school well REAL school she goes to pre school ( amazing what they teach these kids so young she can count in spanish and write her name I am just amazed) Makes ya feel dumb as a brick when you cant help your kid with homework when they get to 3rd grade cuz they passed your education level of college credits!!
Mama is coming down this weekend. THE huge anniversary of our church that I grew up in was this past sunday. SHe wanted me to attend but I just couldnt ride that far yet. THey also had a dedication service to my great aunt. SHe is one of the oldest living citizens/members of the church. Mom is bringing the photos and articles and we are going to do a book on it. THat is goign to be fun and I know she will love it. I love looking back at our church history and seeing all the names from many generations.
Well I still need to go work on my CHristmas entries for scrappy chick too. STILL not getting my groove on that but I had some inspiration earlier so I better work on it while it is still clicking.
Happy Sept. 1st

one step forward....3 back?

Maybe not 3 back but 2 GREAT big steps. Back in bed for me. Was feeling really good. was up doing stuff getting Bella ready for school.. then it happens Helping her put on her clothes she HANGS on my arms while I am bent over. Im screaming for her to stop she doesnt understand. then it starts.. bleeding and ouch pain. back in bed. take the meds get sick... will this ever end. IM back up today but NOT doing anything major. Got another dr appt to make sure I still have the stitches. Very dissapointed. But I know it can't be helped such is life with an unpredictable 3 year old which THEY ALL are so no offense to her personally she is just a kid wanting to have fun with her mommy again. Im getting the grocery list ready.. sad kinda can't get too much. but we need everything. THANK GOD we dont have to have diapers anymore YIPPEE! I have GOT to work on my Scrappy chic stuff today I HAVE to there is not anything else I HAVE to do this. I will sing Christmas songs and cut down the air whatever I have to do it. SO think CHristmasy thoughts!

Hurricane Katrina... DO you get the picture?

This is a hurricane picture I found online that just moved me to tears. I have saved it on my computer all this time. I haven't scrapped it yet because I don't know who took the photo to give them proper credits or even who this photo is of. I would love to. I may even get in trouble for this being on my blog but I had to share with you the feelings of this photo that pressed on my soul.

Here is this person, we dont see their face, but, what do we see in this picture? I see desperation.

They needed obviously something to go on their feet Im sure they were hurting. They probably walked for miles on end in the heat through the nastiest of conditions. I am sure they were feet that were beyond tired and acheing. Probably feet that tread through things their mind had never thought of. These feet may have been on a roof top, or at the bottom of many feet of water. They may have ran desperately for safety or to save someone else. They were a sight of desperation, but hope. They made do with resources they could find. Something readily available that could give the slightest amount of relief.

This moves me so much because it shows me how things really were and what we witnessed so many times. People without. BUT.. pulling together and coming up with a solution. Using what resources were in their reach no matter what but to serve the purpose of the need they were left in. So many people lost everything they had that day. Some didnt even have the shoes on their feet, even clothes on their backs. Food and water were a luxury better yet a safe place to be. All of the things we take for granted... America has so much yet..We were reduced in areas to worse than third world country conditions, war zones looked better and more promising.. Some feared help would never come. I wish I knew this person. I would be sure they never wanted for shoes again. Think about this today when you tie your laces, or fasten a buckle or slip on those crocs.
God bless all of those who suffer.... May they never have to suffer again.

In Memory

Bobby Joe McCrary
On August 28, 1995, Deputy Bobby Joe McCrary was fatally wounded during the pursuit of an auto theft suspect.
Deputy McCrary heard the radio transmission of the description of a stolen vehicle and within minutes saw the suspect vehicle go by. Deputy McCrary radioed in, stating that he was behind the suspect vehicle and would keep surveillance until other deputies could reach the scene. Deputy McCrary followed the vehicle for approximately four miles, when the driver pulled over, exited the suspect vehicle and started back toward Deputy McCrary. The deputy radioed in to inform dispatch what was happening. Suddenly the suspect began stabbing the deputy with a butcher knife before he could exit his vehicle. Deputy McCrary was transported to the nearest hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The suspect in the case was an escapee from a drug treatment center located in Rankin County.


http://www.rankincounty.org/so/RCSOmem.htm



I love and Miss you so much daddy!
You are and always will be my number one hero!!!

*Please remember my family and friends in your prayers, TO everyone 11 years have gone by.. To us ... it still feels like yesterday. Thank you


update~
Further reading of a previous post which has the details regarding the loss of my father it is long so you may not want to read it. That is ok. It is what all happened that day in my words and my account from the family point of view. Going through the trial, dealing with the press and the family of the boy that killed my father. Thank you all for your support and remembering us in prayer today.
http://nancywithajones.blogspot.com/2006/08/hell-week.html

Groovy girl

I LOVE Winnies Walls by SEI. It is truly my favorite line of paper! It is so versitile and since Bella's favorite color (well for a while there It has been changing pretty regular lately) is Orange IT fits perfect for me to scrap. They did such a good job of making it girly and frilly with just enough pizzaaz to make your pages ROCKIN' and NO I dont get paid to say that (wouldn' t that be so cool!) Add that to my list of dreams!

Speakign of Dreams... I Cannot sleep tonight. Every time I close my eyes I dream things sad so I just got back up and went online and played for a long time. Then scrapped this. I need to be doing those Christmas Cards for my Scrappy chickassignment but I just can't find my groove on them. Maybe if I turn the air down low and sing Jingle Bells or something Ill get a wiff of inspiration!! I did get my other projects done for that though. IM SO PROUD of them. I wanna show ya but I can't sorry. TOP secret till the magazine comes out! I also have all those back to school projects due for untamed back to school edition of The view. BY the way I am diva of the Month over there so GO check it out!!http://theuntamedscrapper.com

SO what are you gonna do on this Sunday? Are you going to church with your family? I sure hope so. I would love to go but My dr will not release me till tomorrow to go do anything. I figure he will, but IM having a strange discharge so who knows what that is. We will know soon enough. Other than that I feel fine. SO MUCH BETTER. Funny you look back and see just how horrific you did feel after you feel better and IM NOT even healed yet and LOOK at all the stuff Im able to do. Stuff I haven't been able to do in MONTHS. SO happy. My dr is praying (I know I sure am) this surgery finally puts me back into remission! WE did get the pathology report and NO CANCER. WHat a relief. I have never been so happy in my life. I really didn't think it was but he said ya never know and with the family history it is best to have it tested. SO they were all fibrous tissues, adhesions, cyst and non cancerous tumors. JUST enough to make ya sick though (esp if you have lupus) the are discovering more and more information out and come to find out Endometriosis and Lupus DONT JIVE at all. They feed like off each other and can cause a HUGE array of problems and Kidney issues were like number 2 on the list. IMAGINE THAT. Thank God I had a gyno that is knowledgable and works hand in hand with my rheumatologist. That was a true blessing. He was so sweet to me and he showed genuine concern. I would highly recommend him to anyone in Mobile. Im so happy I found a dr that could help. OK Im off. I wish I could go to church today. Im still swollen and don't know if any of my clothes would fit to tell the truth. ALso kinda embarrassed ok aot embarrassed...I look like a jack o lantern since they messed my teeth up so bad during the surgery. They said I can get them fixed HOPEFULLY next week (can't take the what you call it to numb you and the gas and stuff because of my throat and recent anesthesia..?? that is what they said anyway) I will be so happy to get it fixed though! Maybe I wont look so redneckish Nothing like swollen fat hysterectomy woman with chipped and banged up teeth.. NOT pretty site. Happy Sunday to you. Have a wonderful day!

The great flood of 2006.. reality check

Have yall been over to scrappers bliss? Yall know I talk about it and scrap that moment and scrappy chick and untamed scrapper constantly. WELL, there is this MAsSIVE title wave goin on! IT is awesome and exciting to see! The numbers are falling and that is so amazing to watch I love seeing that number fall it is kinda like the neilson ratings but for scrapbook sites. The lower the number the better. WELL IT JUMPED like 5 spots yesterday till today. BUT what alot dont understand is how that works. IT is based actually on average not on daily hits. THe average traffic that hits a site. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE how many people are clickin on that site looking at the rockin gallery (it really is if you dont generally think I feel this way then You are SOOoo new to my blog) Andrea and Jenn bust their tail to carry the coolest stuff (yeah they are killin me here) and in the process have made this THE design team to apply for. THey have been MONSOOONED with entries. I cannot begin to imagine. I know they are terrified to hurt anyone's feelings and want this to just keep being the hottest spot so they want to pick THE right people for their site. I would so hate to have to choose.
BUT I wanted to talk with you about that. How important we base ourself worth or our "talents" on such. I wonder how many are out there that are gonna never darken the door if they dont get this. I can imagine the flames on other site and broken hearts and paper trimmers and long whiney layouts with dramatic journaling and photos of tears streaming down faces... SO I wanna reality check, HAVE YALL LOOKED AT WHO ALL HAS APPLIED???? OH MY GAWEsh I have already convinced myself I have a snowballs chance in florida at getting it . BUT my main thing I want everyone to remember IF you dont get anything else from this post TAKE THIS. DONT give up. KEEP at it and LEARN something. I have learned MORE from these places I advertise on my blog. I see alot of what is going on out there and the ones that are successful are the ones with awesome attitude, YEAH they have talent but attitude to boot. Its not JUST about scrapping.. it is the photos, it is HOW you make people feel when they see that page, what do they get from it. What do they carry in their spot that retains thought. I have layouts that the picture may not be so great but the journaling.. wow, maybe the page isnt that great a page BUT I had a blast making it and it shows! Well its the same thing what keeps people coming back to a site. The people there? Do they have a blast scrapping and creating? What is the product they are selling.. the design team.. the involvment. actual scrapbook supplies? Yeah having the latest and greatest product DOES HELP believe you me..... I have an awesome example. scrap That moment.com. THIS place is a power house site. why? LOOK at how involved their owners are. Look at how involved their team is. EVERYONE has mega posts. Their design team is readily available.. I posted some layouts on this site that on other sites maybe got 1 or 2 posts WITHIN 24 hours I had 10, 12 comments on them.. THe owner and staff are right there posting and involved. The design team is rockin but they are uplifting to be around. I have a "big sister" Athene OMgosh yall she is AWESOME. I hardly knew these people but when I had my recent surgery... they were all right there for me witha ll these feelings I went through. They were instant family. Same thing here at Bliss. Now mind you Im not on scrap that moments design team. I am a designer for their magazine and a member of their site BUT they make you feel so much like a part. SAME THING at BLISS. You feel at HOME. You are comfy. You are like at a crop. You scrap you chat you show look what I did, You oooh and ahh over product. YOU want to come back. I love the involvement of the people the design team the staff every one IT is the warm fuzzies. SO ..IF you love a site keep trying DON't just say OH they didn't pick me Become that dog layin on a nail and go pout. THey may not pick me or pick you because of other reasons I am sure this is a rough decision they are having to make. Im sure there is alot of advil being consumed right now. SO keep that in mind. I don't really know what they are looking for in their design team here. I know big names have applied and Yeah at first I was let down by that. BUT hey.. THAT IS AWESOME THat means this place is so KICKIN everyone wants to be a part! If I do get picked then WOW! IF I DONT I am still a part of this place and honored to be there. I may not be ready for that in my life yet. BUT the friend's I have made there, The people I wouldnt have met If they didnt have this huge call is unbelievable and the love I have for this is not gonna change. I will still be there regardless and Ya know what... you never know what life deals..what if one of the people cant fullfill their obigations as a design team member? They may just remember some of us NOT so big names that are steady and true along the way. ATTITUDE is everything. NOt to mention my overwhelming good looks and charm and wit IF that dont clinch the deal for them then HEY... It aint gonna happen GOOD luck to everyone and I expect to see ALL OF YOU NO matter the outcome YA HEAR? GO scrap something GO ON... get up from the computer...~ muah
PS: LOOK JEANNE I ADDED THE BLOGS I READ AND DIDNT SCREW IT UP THIS TIME ARE YOU NOT JuST SOOOO PROUD OF ME?!!!

THIS BURNS MY BUTT

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/tropical-storm-ernesto-gains-strength/20060825080509990029?ncid=NWS00010000000001


FRONT PAGE OF AOL seasons first powerful storm then it goes on to talk about the "deadly storm" what the hell is this!!!!! IT ISNT EVEN A HURRICANE YET... THEY WILL jump on all this for ratings all over the media get people scared as crapp and they flee from it and it not do anything 4 times all the way up to LET SEE THE LETTER K... then people dont fear it or respect them so they dont listen and THEN MORE PEOPLE DIE and are hurt because of it. THIS IS CRAPP and it makes me so angry. I despise what the media has become.
There is my flame for the week... Ya know I have been with AOL for 11 years and I am having more problems with them than ever before then I open it up and see this.. Makes me cringe and really have a bad taste. THE CHEAPER SERVICES are looking better and better! BUT I cant just blame them IT S ON THE FLIPPIN NEWS as well. SHOCK AND AWE TV.. when will they stop!

Climbing down off my soap box and looking for something to stop this headache (sledgehammer is lookin pretty good .. talk about shock and awe hee hee)

Powerless

Journaling as follows: Powerless: 1 lacking in strength or power, helpless and totall ineffectual. 2. Lacking in legal or other authority. Powerless is such a broad word to describe what we were left after hurricane Katrina. In the literal sense yes we had no electricity. Ot was hot, Really hot. The first day it wasn't that bad. But, by day two the breeze leftover from the hurricane was gone. It was hot, humid and just plain sticky outside. I would bathe you off in the sink in cool water since we still had a little hot water left in the water heater, I wouldn't use just straight cold because it would take away your breathe. You didn't understand why you couldn't watch tv and why it was so dark in the evening. You wanted waffles but we had no way to cook them. We were powerless. When our friends carol and norman Hughes brought us their generator from Pensacola. It made it a lot better. We hooked up the refrigerator and deep freezer a box fan and a small tv. They brought us some milk for you and other necessities like Ice, sandwhich meat and bread. We lost all the contents of our refrigerator so anything cool was a luxury. We took turns in front of the fan cooling off. Finally we turned on the tv. The images we saw on television of the devastation throughout the south just were overwhelming. We felt so powerless. We had no idea the fate of the rest of the coast except by word of mouth and what they had said on the radio. Their descriptions failed in comparison to what we saw for the first time on that screen. It showed me just how small we are in the universe and how great and mighty God is. It showed me the perspective of how we take so many things for granted and in a flash we can be what we really are.... Powerless.

FINALLY photos are uploading..

BElla had to help when we were putting the boards up on the windows in our effort to prepare for Katrina. And the other page that is lifted up has the second photo on the right... THAT is our neighbors house... John kept saying UGHm hun notice anything odd about that.. where is the bay window where are the psycho palm plants ... where is the REST of the house... GUess I was so busy scrappin I just didnt notice.. OH well IT made for a lovely page. ANd their drive way is MUCH cleaner than ours hehehehe

Hmmm is that a big ol squirrel behind you or....

HI MOM! THis is my mom and Bella when she was like not even 1 yet and she had NOT discovered the big honkin squirell behind Grandma yet. Mom is talking to her and she is so busy she is like HI to everyone then she turns her head and Bella catches a glimpse of the 6 foot squirrel in the santa hat and it was like holy crapp GRAMMA DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A BIG HONKIN SOMETHIN' BEHIND YOU. She was like ape crapp crazy trying to get away. I found this photo while trying to find the katrina pictures and so sorry but I JUST HAD to share this I spit Apple Juice on that one. AND we wonder why she is having bad dreams.....

Two peas post : Katrina a year after...

OK so the pages didn't show up for some reason.... I will try again later. Alot of you have seen them already anyway.
I am having trouble with Blogger uploading images for some reason... anyway. They are the same ones that are on 2 Peas in my gallery. WHich If you are here reading this chances are you saw it anyway since I answered the thread on Hurricane Katrina A year later. I did several layouts and I kept the newspapers because, well one, this was our first hurricane we were effected by, NOTHING Like the severity of others, DONT get me wrong. We were so blessed. IM not trying to make light of others suffering. I did want Bella to be able to look back and see what it was like though a first hand account. I kinda wish my mom had done that with camille. I see the footage etc but she tells the story of it effecting them so far inland in Brandon, Mississippi where I lived my entire life, and the Tornadoes etc and how one of the little towns that neighbors them was wiped out. It was WAY inland from the coast IM TALKIN middle of the state if your familiar with the area... So yeah now all hurricanes are gonna be compared to Katrina its the new Camille. It is kinda ironic.. My brother and other family members were calling us BEGGING us to come home evacuate get out now. THey couldnt deal with another death that close to the anniversary of our dad. They took turns calling and "talking sense into us" I was plenty scared BELIEVE ME! But, we are close to the coast.. things are built down here to with stand this.. IF that storm moves like the others did back to the right like the little weather dude on our local channel here was jumping up and down screaming was gonna happen.. We would be in more trouble up there than we would here. Actually my husband was pounding this in my head I had packed the truck the dog the baby and was ready to move to canada. I was scared to death. BUT they were right and YES if we had gone home we would have been stuck longer up there with no gas,no power,and not able to get back home for several weeks It was one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever been through. I CANNOT IMAGINE what others that were in the direct line and on rooftops and in worse situations went through.
I watched dateline tonight. It is so humbling, It was about the hospital in new orleans and how these drs and the staff there saved so many people. I KNOW there are MILLIONS of other hero's out there and I am so just moved by what these people accomplished in such dire straights..

I want yall also to keep in your prayers over the next few days My mom especially, My brother and his family, my uncle and aunt's and cousins, and the parents of the boy that killed my father. I know they are living their own kind of hell as well on this day that is coming up the day before the anniversary of katrina... I cant imagine what that must be like to have a child do such a thing. I know Im not supposed to hate him. I just havn't made it to that place yet. So yeah, pray for me and my family too. Thanks

PS: I talked with Jeanne a little today. SHe sounded better to me as far as I could understand what she was saying lol. She said she still looks like a chipmunk and still feels alot of pain. SHe was not a happy camper she couldnt take her medication yet because she had to go pick her son up from school since he couldnt find a ride home. SO remember her as well too.
and dont worry ILL BE back to my crazy NOT such a downer self soon I promise!

What were you doing a year ago today?

I know EXACTLY what I was doing.. FREAKING OUT. WE had the biggest named storm in the history of MY LIFE (mom was pregnant with me when Camille hit the coast in 69) and here we were living in Mobile ALabama! I WAS packin my crapp ready to get out. My hubby was like OH CALM Down it will be ok IT is gonna turn and go to Texas (great weather man he is ya know) quit over reacting. Well yall know that AUgust 28th Is the Anniversary of My dads death.. and I was not dealing that great with that but on top of it I thougth we were gonna die and go see him on the same date cuz a hurricane was a comin there fore I WASA GOIN!

God does things for the strangest reasons sometimes and IM NOT VAIN enough to think IT was cuz of me geez but the hurricane didnt hit on the day my daddy got killed ( I figure he knows me so well and KNOWS I can only deal with one thing at a time) so whamo the next day. DID I MENTION this was my first ever hurricane. yeah. we moved here AFTER Ivan. (that is how smart we are everyone else is leaving we say HOW much ya want fer dat house dayer bud) WE were smart enough to get one that had concrete in walls and a timberline roof but I have seen MANY OF Those laying in piles of rubble across the coast line. IM not gonna go into our entire hurricane story here on my blog this morning. BUT, I will share some layouts I have done on the hurricane. You can see what happened and see if you can see the blooper on one of them (yes I put a photo of my neighbors house NOT OUR house on the layout thought it so funny I LEFT IT to see how many people would notice but did make a notation on the back) OK so here are my layouts

latest layouts

IS this daisy D paper not the cutest? I LOVE the velvet and the large petaloo flowers, they just jump off the page! Those new Heidi swapp chipboard tags are precious and the metal words too. BUT My fav is the basic grey ribbons I can't get enough of them. I love it love it love it! Had so much fun making these pages. Three down a million more to go! Also I did some cards for this months view points on The Untamed Scrapper. Be sure and check it out!! I can't get over how big Bella has gotten. SHe is such a little Miss now. I love going back and scrapping some of the photos I never did scrap of her as a baby and smaller than well.. she is now... esp when new paper comes out!! SO MUCH FUN! Happy Scrappin' I KNOW I am locked in my scraproom all weekend I have projects for scrappy chick magazine due and The view and DT stuff to finish up IM SO behind and still havnt opened all my packages. ( I LOVE diving into those product boxes) Have fun this weekend. Are you planning on scrapping any? What cha working on? drop me a line Inquiring minds wanna know ;)

We interupt your regular scheduled life....

What is the world coming to. We were without internet and cable service for 4 and 1/2 days. I THOUGHT MY LIFE WAS GONNA END. There is nothing much worse than recovering from surgery and there only be 5 channels to watch. BUT luckily we survived and we are back on track. Media com had a SCHEDULED outage for upgrades they failed to tell anyone about.. and then Lightening struck something or whatever and like half of Mobile was without service. I am very very happy it is back working since I have 992 emails in my box.. (mostly wanting to know IF I want to buy viagra or get a cheap vacation or some diet pills ...anyway) I did get to do a LITTLE scrapping Not as much as I wanted to, Bella has had the flu and she shared it with John and me. (isnt that sweet of her) so much fun seeing your toes come out of your mouth when You still have stitches!! But she is feeling much better and went to school today. I will upload the pages I made after this scanner finishes copying them inch by flippin inch (taking for ever)
OH but I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS!!! I got another page up for pub! YIPPEE. Bellas such anticipation layout is gonna be in next months scrapstreet magazine as well as Your Grill layout I did of John for fathers day. SO whew wew 2 more pubs!
The dt search for bliss ends today. IM so nervous. Im not even gonna get my hopes up cuz I KNOW so many talented people that applied, so like I have a snowballs chance in florida as to getting it. BUT at least I tried and IT was fun! IT is a ROCKIN place I have to admit. SO MUCH talent over there! OK Im gonna finish uploading these pages so you can see them. I will be so happy when I can drive again and get out of this house! Ta ta for now.
OH and JEANNE I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER MY FRIEND. I MISS YOU!!!! GET WELL SOOOON!!!

hell week...

Be warned this is really long and it well It is sad. But, this is me this is what made me who I am now.. and here is what happened


For everyone that knows me and I MEAN KNOWS ME not just knows me .. KNOW S the real me the deep down me the one that scares even myself sometime (dont worry I am harmless) yall know this is the week. This is the week I go into my cave and think of what if and how could it have been different IF I had kept my daddy on the phone for 10 more minutes. FOr those of you that know me You know that for the longest time and maybe still just a little I blamed myself for my daddy getting killed yes I know to some of you that sounded crazy. BUt I believe this or not I KNOW YOU WILL BE SHOCKED but I can be somewhat selfish at times. HA I know your falling out from the shock right now so I will allow you a moment to get yourself back up. I hide behind my humor alot but it is what gets me through all this maybe I am a little crazy OK ALOT but who woudlnt be for all we have been through. The story goes like this. 11 years ago today I found out my ex husband had been horifically bad amongst all proportions. HE committed the big sin of cheating on me I tried to get him to go to counceling but he turned it all around it was me blah blah you know the drill typical battered wife sad story. THIS story is not about him I dont want it about him that is another whole sad story but he was bad he was a batterer.. he was mean he was nasty. But,HE was a cop But that is not this story ...

My dad was a Deputy sherriff. I idolized my father I was, if you looked up daddys girl in the dictionary MY FACE was sitting there smiling with the halo on top of my head. I had a rough childhood, was in a bad car accident stayed sick alot ROUGH meaning I was sick alot not that I was abused or anything like that by any means I had a great childhood my parents loved me I thought my daddy hung the moon he did no wrong he walked on water in my eyes IF daddy said it then it was in Genesis or Matthew cuz it was written DADDY said..
I left my husband My daddy was 100% behind me and was meeting me that day that horrible day August the 28th, at 5 30 at the lawyers office to sign the papers. I would be the first person in my entire family to get a divorce. Oh how I hated that.I was so ashamed WHY did this have to happen, I did everything I COULD to make that man love me but he just didnt, My daddy told me GET YOUR crapp and GET OUT before he kills you. It was 12:00 lunch time and daddy knew I was about to go to lunch so he called me real quick TO make sure I was ok. We talkd every day at lunch and then every night before I went to bed. BEYOND clockwork. I was having such a hard time with this and was even on medication because all I did was cry all t he time. I was ina demanding job with a communications company and was doing VERY well except for mentally, a bad marriage was destroying my life.. So I thought. ... Little did I know what was about to take place in 18 minutes. Less than half an hour away was THE moment that would change my life forever. Daddy was on the phone making sure I was still gonna meet him at 5 30 at the lawyers office he told me where to go because I was so scared and wanted to know IF I wanted him to just come pick me up and I told him no I have to do this. I felt like he was bailing me out he said NO IM NOT Im just going with you to make sure you dont make bad decisions and you cant go through this alone. cuz that is the kind of daddy he was. He was about to go to lunch and needed to go and I had another call coming in so I told him daddy I love you. and HE always said Love ya babe when he hung up, This time he said it is going to be ok I lov eyou Nancy. I was like i love you too daddy byee already. thent hought that was weird cuz he didnt do the luvyabaBE like we always do. dismissed it and took the call it was the a hole gosh I got off the phone with my dad for the jerk what did he want.. more arguing so I was like IM late for lunch i need to go he was like OK bye. well I ran some errands didnt eat lunch as usual and came back to work had like 20 messages on my desk I was like good lord what now figured it was the Ahole calling. No it was my sister in law. I was thinking good gracious what is going on she never calls me at work. I call her back she said GET IN YOUR CAR go to the hospital Im going huh why? I feel fine ...I dont need a hospital she siad NO it is your daddy well I fell into my chair im like WHAT do yoU MEAN DADDY. I screamed this and everyone was staring at me she said he has been in an accident and That I need to go to the hospital. THoughts flooded me like the gates opened I envisioned a wreck somethign horrid she said no it was an escaped convict daddy was at lunch he has been stabbed IM like WHAT??? ARE YOU ON DRUGS what the hell are you talking about I didnt believe her "I JUST TALKED TO HIM are you DERRANGED??? WHat did you take?" she said no she just talked to the sherriffs dept where he worked "nancy GO NOW "so I hung up on her. SHe called back and got my boss's secretary. Who walked over to me cuz I was sitting in a heap on the floor picking up some papers I threw while yelling at my sister in law. What was she talking about. why woudl she say this. Sonja myu boss's secreatary came to me and said Nancy it is true. OMg I broke loose in a run to the truck she said NO take my car she drove me I was in no shape to drive... I stopped and looked at her I said ITS too late he is dead she said"WHAT how do you know" I said "I just know. " I was a heap of tears...
Well we flew to the hospital I was on the phone the entire time making calls trying to make sense of this I called a hole he was at work he had heard about it I screamed at him he said he was coming to the hospital I didnt want him there but he came anyway which NOW I am kinda glad cuz I thought he had done it but NO he didnt but I knwo how horrible of me to think that at first but i did with all the rage we had at each other. I jumped out of the car before it comepletely stopped (sonja I will never forget you for that day I love you and thank you still) Sonja was like" Nancy wait your purse and where do I go Im like I have no idea I will ask one of these 5 thousand policeman that are standing here... "That is what happens when a cop is killed in line of duty they ALL come to the hospital. I get to the door and see my friend shannon's daddy who is also a deputy. and Shannon works with me HEr dad grabs me said OMG its Nancy. He knew it was about to get ugly. HE said" Nancy Im sorry we tried to save him I said what the F *** do you mean "( I still cant believe I said the F word to shannons daddy)"what doyou meanYOU tried where is he LET ME IN where is my daddy". I was pounding his chest he grabbed me and just cried I was liek omg this is bad and he said nancy "he is gone"
I lost it I fell to the ground. he picked me up said "YOur mother is inside" I shoved past him and this HUMONGOUS cop that was standing guard who grabbed me and I kicked and bucked and yelled "YOU f****g idiot THAT IS MY DADDY IN THERE YOU LET ME GO YOU bastard let me go "and was kicking and flailing. shannons daddy screamed "LET GO OF HER that is his daughter." I ran down the hall him tryin to catch me I see a room the sherriff is standing at the door my mother and my family inside my mommy is sitting ina chair I slid down like I slid into second base many times in the past (just not in liz claiborn heals and adolf suit) and landed face in her lap. SHe said GET THE DR in here now. SHe said "Nancy, they killed him your daddy is dead." I screamed at the top of my lungs NO! NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO you are lying to me I hate you all you are lying. The dr walked in gave me a shot. I sat for what seemed like an eternity thinking no he is meeting me at the lawyers office he cant be dead this isnt happening. This is not happening this is a dream yes a dream IM going to wake up any minute and it will be ok.

The rest comes and goes in a blur.

A kid escaped from a drug rehab and stole a vehicle after stealing a knife from Winn dixie, daddy just happened to pass the guy recognise the vehicle and was closest to him and be the one to pull him over. HE stabbed my daddy 15 times to his death. They caught him 5 miles up the road in a cotton field where he had stabbed himself in the stomach to commit suicide. IT didnt work he is still friggin alive and well butin jail for life. This kid who was 2 years younger than myself.
At 12 18 pm August 28th 1995 changed my life forever. The worst thing to ever happen in my life. This THING of a human took my daddy.

We went through the motions of the funeral. We had press releases We had people everywhere We had cameras tv crews it was like a circus.. I was numb.. my entire life was gone what did I have left. I refused to eat I mean HOW COULD I eat. We went through all the investigations and on top of this the scene of the crime was 3 miles from my house... I passed it almost daily. my daddy was buried 5 miles the other way. I couldnt escape but I didnt want to I would go late at night to my daddys grave and jsut lay there crying beating the ground. why did this happen.
I look back on all this now and yes it does seem so dramatic. and yes I was so full of rage and anger maybe that is why it was so dramatic. We went through the trial. I sat from pitchers mound to home plate from the guy that horrifically murdered my father. I have wheeled a softball fast enough to rip his head off, in my imagination during that trial so many times..One of the things my daddy was proud of me for. I could play some ball. and here I sat in a court room the sherriff at my left between me and my brother .. his deputy on my right and well a WHOLE row of deputies in front of us standing between us and this excuse for a human,. Ya see I screamed at him in passing that i would kill him for what he did and HIs day would come Id tear his head off and shove it down his corpse. I was so full of hate fo rthis kid. They were scared I would do something to hurt myself or get me in trouble. I was so full of hate. I yelled at him did HE KNOW what he did? HE TOOK my daddy away from me... and cried in a heap yeah that is how dangerous I was.

I was so misplaced in my life. I ran from everyone that wanted to help me I wouldnt eat and became almost anorexic, I ran,I continued with the divorce (which was actually a good thing) I ran from GOd I ran from my family I ran from myself. I buried the pain of losing my dad deep. but not my hate for the guy that did it.
IT took me lots OF therapy and LOTS of pain and LOTS of sleepless nights to get to where I am now 11 years later. TO this day many nights I close my eyes and I see that kids face. I relive it in my dreams. Maybe that i why I never sleep... I dunno but I ran till one day I HAD TO deal with this.
NOW at 36.. IT still hurts. I sometimes feel like I am three and want to crawl into his lap and put my head on his chest to hear his heart. He would say "You hear that? Thats yours..... "I wanna hear whats mine!!! It still burns to my soul and I will never have that piece of my heart back. even so many GOOD things though have happened and Yes I do account my daddy being in heaven for part of it. THe braves won the world series the year he died... Coincidence? I think not (have yall seen them play??? you will know it was a miracle) that happened RIGHT after he died HE was their number one fan! SO we say it was him a sign he was ok and in heaven. lol

All this week I will tell you the good stuff the sweet things and HOW I Know my daddy is still here. We will celebrate him with comical stories I have so many! I KNOW HE is watching and is still giving his little girl happiness every day. From sending me butterflies by the thousands.. and weird flowers that bloom when they arent suppose to and a beautiful little girl's wink that looks just like him, little phrases she says that only he and I knew, we shared. Her beautiful eyes that are just like his. her wit and charm well SHE GETS THAT FROM ME (hahaha) yes I have my daddys wit and charm as well. but most of all... HE sent me John. John saved my life. My husband my love my best friend. I KNOW my daddy sent him and his family to me. I am forever grateful to them and him for all the Love and support they show me and for being my family.
BUT most of all My John. I love you and thank you ... Without you I would have died long time ago because when I didnt care enough about my self to live You cared enough for both of us. Thank you for pulling me out of my self hate and the shell of what I was to be able to laugh and smile and love and share this beautiful daughter that we have, and our life. Thank you.

Thank you if you read all of this today. I know It is long but it is me... You now know something alot of people not even some of my family members know. Weird how the words just flow out of us for sometimes strangers. THis week is always hard for me and my family but this year will be different. I say that every year. But This will be the first year I will be away from home. Away from the site where it happened at not laying at his grave. Please remember my mother in your prayers. SHe still as you can imagine has bad times too. she is so strong I dont see how she does it.
Here is the link to the memorial the Sherriffs Department has for my daddy. I want to make a better one. Some day when I can. Ya know it is kinda funny... its been 11 years this year do you know I have 1 scrapbook page on this well actually 2 I have one I did of bella blowing bubble kisses to papaw... and then the one where the 10 year anniversary was in the paper.. those are the only two, I have every news paper clipping I even have grass from the scene of the accident. but I have yet to scrap it..... Maybe this year.....


Memorium The last one on the page.

I love you daddy... and I miss you!

2 more toots! YIPPEE

I have 2 more toots I got 2 emails in my box today that were so exciting. FROm 2 different places! Scrapstreet wants my grill layout and I cant say but my beautiful layout is going to be in a magazine but it wont be in until March .... MARCH good lord that is forever from now. SHe said they may use it in a tutorial though showing the 2 dimensional cutting. I told her GO LOOK AT MY FRIEND JEANNE's blog and go look at Carole's blog you may not want mine after that though THEIRS are amazing!!! She said she will, She is gearing up to do a big article about the three dimensional look that is all the rage in the down under right now but just makin it over to the states and she wants her magazine to be one of the first to have it. IM so excited! WHO KNOWS by March I may have a better one than this but she said she LOVES that photo of Bella. SO who am I to argue.
In other news IM A TOTAL goober but Yall already know this. The lil davis stamps I have the foam ones that I was telling some of you about that when I used it said fLiends instead of FRIENDS.. WEll ughm I fixed it. AFTER I wrote an email to them asking IF I was dyslexic or did a batch get botched (say that 5 times real fast you northerners) and this sweet lady gave me the sweetest reply and said No the batch actually did get botched and I received one of said botched batch... (or something like that) so anyway she said they would gladly send me a new one and quick cuz I have a deadline for scrappy chic. SO anyway I kept picking at the r I mean it was useless to me anyway I cant use FLiends on a layout Id get pinged for sure.. so I figured why not pick at it cuz if something isnt right with the world isn't that what we as humans do? we PICK at it. SO anyway I got it to come off and well...... I fixed it. SO NOW I have to send said sweet lady back ANOTHER email saying OH YEAH by the way... scratch that!!! SO IF ANY OF YOU have the CHRISTMAS FOAM STAMPS from lil davis and the circular frame that says joy, love, fLiends etc.. You can pull the r off carefully (3 drops of undo on it, it has heavy duty adhesive on it they are NOT FUSED TOGETHER AS I THOUGHT) and put it right side up and it is ok... OFF to send a note to the lady that was so sweet at lil davis to say NEVERMIND dont send me another one I FIXED IT forgive me for being a goober and such...YIppee....... ALL IS WELL WITH THE WORLD NOW.
AND THEN she sploded... the blonde child. THe little mini me. She sploded all over the couch and floor. I .......am not sure if hubby shook her up too much before taking her head off or what... but she sploded. That was the only explanation I got when I walked into the living room and said.. YOU been cleaning? (harps start playing and a light from heaven shines down upon the living room) he growls YES, Bella sploded... Ok I look at him and say like IS she ALIVE? or are her remnants all over the living room He said yes (still I was standing confused) he said SHE puked OK! I said OH and a chuckle (thanking GOD I was in bed during that one and he got a total pay back for all the other puke and other fluids I have worn in her short 3 years) then with all the concern of the mother that I am , Isaid WEll? IS she ok? He said yeah she is asleep. Ok ... SO did you clean it all up Yup I sure did. MEN.. NO DETAILS at all!! I guess that is kinda good. WOW THings are going so good today. IM SO SCARED to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow the sky will definitly be falling IT has been a beautiful karma day!

hurray hurray Nana Is here

BElla has been keeping Nana really busy while she is here. They have been coloring up a storm, playing outside and shopping. She is so happy her nana is here and I AM TOO. I feel a bit better today but then again.. I didn't do a thing. I slept most of it. That is probably why I feel better. I get too over zealous and forget I just had surgery and wanna pick up Bella for snuggles or get up too fast BUT IT QUICKLY reminds me HEY don't do that. I scrapped a little tonight YEAJ! I am working on submissions for a design team entry coming up. Had to do my own handwriting and doodling for one of them BLAHHHHHHKKKK. She will know now WHY I DONT do my own handwriting. I hope it doesn't knock me out of getting it cuz my hand writing is pretty bad. ID love to post it here and get yall's opinion if I should submit it but then I wouldn't be able to submit it cuz it has to be a layout NOT seen before. Actually it is a layout I never finished and I redid it to accomodate this... SO I hope that is ok. Note to self ASK ABOUT THAT. Bella is going to 3K monday AHHH! Is so hard to believe she is growing up WAY too fast. But that is ok IT was great to be able to go to the store (well send hubby I sure didnt go) and NOT HAVE to get diapers/pullups IT Was amazing! SHe doesnt need them she is doing sooo good with Potty. IM so very proud of her. SO now we get to go to Disney world yipeee. We are deciding if we are still gonna go this november (my medical bills may not let that happen) or next spring. Probably next spring is more likeit but we will see. Have a great day and I will see you tomorrow :)

Oh OWW ughhh

I took a picture earlier of Bella and nana coloring but I feel to crappy to put it on here Im laying in bed watcing americas got talent (that is debatable by some of these acts) and dying, I feel horrible today, I forgot last night in my sleep i had wandered off the pillows and was laying flat and sat straight up. I heard a pop and omg the pain started. John called my dr today they called me in darvocet which made me throw up like 3 times so far. OK when you have surgery DOWN THERE and then you THROW UP this dont work good so NOW IM DYING and they cant call in anything stronger they told me to take more phenegren it iwll knock me out eventually,
THIS IS THE NURSE RECOMENDATION Im like OOOk , whihc I guess there really isnt anything they can do short of me going to the er cuz they cant call in anything stronger, SO I am trying to distract myself,
Donna D, jumped out of an airplane today or err tomorrow whichever cuz she is in new zealand is it today or tomorrow I cant remember but she did, WHY THE HECK would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane that isnt on fire or crashing for the love of chocolate??? IF I WAS TO JUMP there is something major bad happening I am here to tell you.
WE have a chat with Melody Ross tonight of Chatterbox at the bliss I CANT WAIT I hope I can feel up to going IM SURE GONNA TRY, I keep missing them (bad nancy bad)
SO happy my little bit is home My friend Jeanne made a layout with Bellas sweet face on it CHECK IT OUT is sooo cute she rocks I jsut love her what an awesome friend to have ya know,
Im gonna lay back for a few minutes and pray i can make it to melodys chat