Projects, Challenges, Inspiring People & The Goodness of God

So, I have decided to bring some of my scrapbooking stuff back home to work on it here. The heat is way too expensive to be at my store and Makenna would just be bored to death. My friend Jen and I have spent the last two days working on projects while Tanner, her son, and Makenna play Wii and 'husband and wife'. LOL! Between layouts, paper projects and upcoming classes, my brain is ready to explode. Ya know that phrase, careful for what you wish for?

After months of not entering any challenges, I finally took the time...well 4 hours of my time....to create a layout for the Scrapping the Music Challenge Blog. It is a challenge I used to enter faithfully until I got way to busy. It is my absolute favorite layout that I have ever created. In fact, I posted it on facebook and have had people ask me to teach it as a class...LOL! I guess my 4 hours paid off. Now we will see if I win. I will be teaching it as a class in April....called the Sabby Scrapbooker. Yes, that is me. Give me all the distressing, all the embellishments and all the ink you can and I am still not satisfied.

After a long walk and talk with God over the past few months I have come to terms with who I am and what I want out of life. I have asked God to surround me by people who support me, have faith in me and are positive in every way. He took out all of the moody people, all of the negative people, and all of the people who were unhealthy for me. My store has definitely become my happy place again. I am enjoying every minute at my store. I pray every day that God brings into my life more creativity, more wonderful inspiring people, more people who share my passion and my dreams. I have asked Mimi, my late grandmother to show me a sign with each person who enters my life now. I want to know that they are good for me and I am good for them. She has not let me down. Whether it is two cardinals that she shows me or her name mentioned by them....in some way or another....Mimi has come through for me in every person I meet.

I am so blessed. With 12 teachers now affiliated with my store and more on the way....I am truly inspired. Everyone is truly positive, creative, happy, and kind. God has brought them all into my life to help me with my life's journey. The customers I have been meeting are just as wonderful. All of them have made my happy place their happy place. Instead of being a store with employees and customers, we are one huge ever growing family. Thank you to everyone who has blessed me with their creativity, inspiration and their wonderful friendships.

What I am thankful for today:
My new and old teachers
My new and old customers
my store
God
inspiration
creativity
the power of prayer
my new Youth Group starting March 20th
the 9 children (so far) attending the Youth Group sleep over at the church
forgiveness
Pastor Tricia
all the wonderful people at my church
officially being off all depression medication for 1 year!
meditation
my children
my pets
my wonderful friends who I love more than I could ever express
that if we make God the center of our lives, he will bless us with all things good
Amy Grant
chocolate
laughter
love
my new scrapbooking family

The Power of Prayer

Today my heart feels heavy. There are quite a few of my closest friends who are going through a trying time in their lives. I feel their pain, not only because they are people I feel so deeply connected to but also because I have been in their shoes....multiple times. God does surround us with the people that he knows will be there for us. Like the saying goes, Friends are angles here on earth. In the past, they have all done their share of being there for me. Now it is my turn to be there for them. Because there really isn't much that I can do to make their lives better besides being a good friend, I will continue to pray for them. The power of prayer is a very great force. And, God is there for us if we allow him to be.

Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. My heart is heavy for those I care about so deeply. May you comfort them during this time of struggle. Please give them the strength, faith and hope that they long for. Surround them with positive people, enlighten their hearts, and lift their spirits. May you take away any fears and worry that they feel. I pray that they feel your precence, your embrace and your love. I pray that you give me the strength in order to be able to be there for them, comfort them and help with whatever I can. I thank you for blessing my life with wonderful loving people. I pray that I may be able to give to them all that they have given to me. May you bless my loved ones with peace, happiness and good health. In your name I pray,
Amen

What I am thankful for today:
the sunshine
my friends
my family
my children
my health
my pets
the power of prayer
God
spring being around the corner
creativity
positive attitudes
open minds
love
laughter
kindness
hugs
English Muffins
strawberries
scrapbooking
faith
hope

Chloe and 100 Things

People do not give animals the credit they deserve. To me, and lots of other people, pets are God's gifts to us. They give us peace, affection, comfort, and love that is constant and unconditional.

Chloe is my cat. She is a one person cat, and I am her person. Now at almost 12 years old she is showing the signs of aging. She is not able to jump up on high places as easily, she has skin disorders and is not nearly as playful as she used to be. Chloe and I had a long chat yesterday. We are in agreement that she is to live until at least 21 years old. Her 'Uncle Butterscotch' lived to be 22, so I know that it is possible.  We will see if her body allows her to live that long. Her spirit is still strong, still stubborn and for a cat, she never gives up.

Chloe comforts me and it seems as though she knows when I need it. She is not affectionate with anyone other than me. She rarely goes to anyone but me. Chloe is very vocal, we do talk to each other and understand each other. Scary I know. It gets on some people's nerves but I love it. If only everyone understood the compassion that an animal is willing to give. It is sad to know that so many animals are in unloving homes with people who neglect them. It breaks my heart actually. The animal has no choice as to where it lives and who takes care of them. I am so thankful for my Chloe and my other pets. They warm my heart and my spirit every single day.

My 100 things that I am thankful for:
100. my pets
99. my friends
98. my family
97. my children
96. scrapbooking
95. nature
94. my store
93. my customers
92. my teachers
91. flowers
90. sunsets
89. sunshine
88. the rain
87. hot tea
86. coffee with flavored creamer
85. summer
83. chinese food
82. ice cream
81. laughter
80. my vehicle
79. PartyLite
78. my clothes
77. free haircuts
76. free gym membership
75. my camera
74. my printer
73. the internet
72. facebook
71. my blogs
70. my website
69. creativity
68. inspiration
66. kindness
65. quality time with my children
64. precious memories
63. rainbows and every color in them
62. The Healing Place and Linda
61. massages from Tom (Kneading Hands Massage)
60. music
59. Jillbean-Soup
58. BoBunny
57. animals
56. my clean house
55. clean laundry
34. Stampin Up!
33. painted toes
32. Amy Grant
31. church
30. the power of prayer
29. God
28. selflessness
27. tissues
26. loyalty
25. everlasting friendships
24. the beach
23. Wii
22. signs from my loved ones who have passed away
21. my warm queen sized bed
20. Youth Group
19. Avon (thank you Rachel)
18. sleep
17. smiles
16. appreciation
15. open mindedness
14. unconditional love
13. positive minds
12. the fact that I can walk to my store from my home
11. sea shells
10. classes at my store
9. inspirational quotes
8. heat
7. hot bubble baths
6. soup
5. jewelry
4. happiness
3. constructive critisizm
2. silly sacrasm
1. my health

What I have been up too..

I guess we are all entitled do a period of feeling tired and overwhelemed, right? Well that is me right now. For all you Moms who have delt with a child who gets up in the night you know where I am coming from. Makenna has had these terrible nightmares for the last two weeks. By 3-4am she is in my bed. I used to be able to sleep through her getting up. However now she is waking me up so that she can wrap her arms around my neck or 'hug my arm' as she puts it. Jeremy and I had a chat with Makenna and Gavin about strangers. Since then, she has not slept through the night. We have to continually check to make sure the doors are locked and check all the rooms of the house to show her that there are no strangers here. Jeremy didn't realize that his way of explaining strangers may not have been the best for a 3 year olds ears. How Mommy ends up taking the heat, I have no clue. Basically it has been two weeks of interupted sleep for me. Lately it takes me 15 minutes to calm her down just to get her back to sleep. Then, I have to work on getting myself back to sleep.

Working out has been so tough when one is sleepy and feeling very fatigued. I have managed to make it through the EA Sports workout 3 times a week. If I get tired, I just stop. The option of taking a nap is looking better and better for me although I have never been a napper. And, it is very difficult to nap with a 3 year old who sometimes is very independent then others very needy.

Here is what I have got going on.....
I am pretty sure that I start the gym next Wednesday. I am excited to start working out there, meet new people and spend one on one time playing with Makenna. Today I met with a Creative Memories Consultant who will be active in my store sometime in March. My classes have been filling up and I have met a huge circle of wonderful women.

It was Silly Sunday at church this past Sunday. Jokes were told, silly heart hats were worn, we took a Valentine's Day trivia, and there was a chili cook-off. It was a lot of fun. Makenna makes herself right at home there.

During a church meeting with the education board, I decided to take over the responsibilty of the Youth Group from 4th-7th grade. I am currently looking into changing the Youth room to be more inviting to the children as well as coming up with a good name for the group. There is a potential sleep over at the church on March 20th which is when we will kick off the start. Game night is going to be the theme. My youth group, Animation, is getting together and planning a 20 reunion for sometime next spring. Somehow I managed to be in charge of that too.

Gavin will be 10 on Wednesday....I cannot even believe it. Josh is sleeping over this coming Saturday night then the small party will be on Sunday. I think Makenna is more excited then Gavin is. This year he hardly asked for anything. I think he is growing up way too fast....at least for me. It is hard to believe that Makenna will be 4. Time sure does fly.

What I am thankful for today:
my children
sleep
Chloe who is currently sleeping wrapped around my neck
new customers
new teachers
my friends (old and new)
my family
my store
4-wheel drive
cheese nips
chocolate
creativity
my health
open minds
laughter
positive attitudes
inspiration
kindness
helpfulness
selflessness
love