Take a chill pill

Give me the grace to change my perception of the things going on around me now.

My mantra....according to my friend, yogi Gina.....

Can't Sleep!

Man! I hate it when I cannot get to sleep! I guess I drank too much tea!!!! Sometimes I just cannot wind down!!!!
Or it could be that it was just a busy evening. I started out with the intent to go to my yoga class, but just as I was getting ready, Mary called. She had hit a deer on her way home. Both her and Caleb were fine, just shook up and the car was not drivable. And Richard was not home, so I drove over to where she and Caleb were sitting along side the highway. Caleb was wound tight! "We hit a deer, Gramma"
Later found out that when she hit the deer, or the deer hit her, she knocked its rack off! I am so thankful that the side of the car took the brunt of the hit, and that thing did not come through her windshield. Have to look at the blessings!
And now for a "Twilight Zone" moment....this evening when I was walking to my car, I had this fleeting thought that I would hit a deer on my way home. My radar was off a bit, I guess.
I was asked to be a Guest designer at Scrapforums. com for the month of December and January. How exciting! I will get to work with some digi-designers that I are awesome! Got my first coupon and went shopping! Misty Mareda has some gorgeous designs to work with!
A couple of new layouts....Heather came up with a really neat Christmas kit....Merry and Bright.

Friday Musings

WOO HOO....3 days off!!!

And of course, I have more plans than time....normal for me! I guess I should make a list, prioritize it, and go from there!

I started out the week with a bad cold, and now it is nearly gone! Trying to figure that one out! Mary has had hers for 3 weeks now and taking antibiotics! I'm trying to think why I got over it so quick...I really thought it might hang on since I had it when I got my flu shot.
1. my yoga practice
2. that nasty tasting herbal tea I drank
3. less stress...or more tolerance of the things going on around me

Who knows!
Art and I are off to breakfast....love going out to eat breakfast...great way to start the day off! Its' cold and gloomy today, but a great day to snuggle in!!!!

My little Halloween babies.....

A good kid.....

I am so proud of my son......he has always been such a thoughtful boy, even as a child and teenager. Once a month, he sets up a "date" with his Grammy and takes her out to dinner and a movie. She loves going out to eat, and loves going to the movies. Maybe it's just me, but I think it a very special young person that makes time for his grandmother. I know I have a very hard time making enough time for everyone!
Since Harold died, she has really had a hard time. Within three years, she lost three loved ones, her son, her baby brother and her husband. She is not in the best of health. It was her choice to sell her home and all of her belongings and move away from her friends and church to live with her son. Now it seems that she is just sitting in a recliner with her dog on her lap, watching movies and eating candy all day.....waiting to die. It is very depressing....and I am sure she is suffering from depression and that is why she doesn't care how high her blood sugar gets.
All of this makes me not want to get old! I am determined to take care of my health, both mental and physical!
Today is Dr. Mobley's birthday....I think it is 64! He is an amazing man. He has been through chemo for a year, continued to work everyday, and is doing wonderful. I think a lot of this can be attributed to a positive attitude and taking good care of himself. I only wish that everyone who has cancer could come out of it this well!
I think I need to start a gratitude journal and find 5 things to be grateful for every day......it's a little hard to be depressed when you are being thankful!

Time and creativity

"You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it."
~ Charles Buxton

Sometimes I feel like I don't get anything done! I cannot think of the last time I actually sat at my sewing machine and worked on a quilt! But I think the real problem is that I can't sit and focus very well....is it menopause?
One of the reasons I like to scrapbook is that it is instant gratification! But I miss the sense of peace that would come to me when at my sewing maching or curled up in front of the TV stitching. Sewing has always been my "tranquilizer"...now it is my frustration!!!! So how do I overcome it?

On Wednesday evening, I try to go to my yoga class. I really do enjoy it, not only for the benefits it has on my body....love that twisting and stretching...but also the benefits it has to my mind. I am trying to "get in touch with myself"....asking is this all there is? (I think it's called mid-life crisis) You know the drill:
pity parties, beating myself up, fatigue....and there are so many things I want to do and I defeat myself by thinking I don't have the time. Or when I do have time, I do not use it wisely because of the fatigue or depression. Therefore, I am trying very hard to become more mindful and control my thoughts and actions.

I am very excited about a yoga workshop I am attending next Saturday....we will be learning about forgiveness! I so need it....I have tried for so long...in church, through prayer....I guess I am not going at it the right way. Two people I need to forgive are myself and my dad. I can "say" it, but I don't mean it. Hope to gain some insight! I have forgiven my mom...that is a positive.

Karah with Blue Flambingo has asked me to be part of her creative team. She has a brand new website and beautiful digi-scrapping kits to work with.

And last but not least....I got some very GOOD news this week. Two weeks ago, Dennis was admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung and pneumonia. On the x-ray, they saw what appeared to be a tumor. My kids and I were devastated, we did not want my sis and family to go through the nightmare that we had 6 years ago.
The good news is....no tumor, no cancer, it's a stone! Possibly a peppercorn that he had aspirated and it calcified. When they did the second biopsy, the Dr was able to destroy the stone and with antibiotics, Dennis is on the mend! Praise God!!!

Magic Little Dragon

Last Halloween, Caleb had the most adorable costume ever....he was a dragon! It was so fun to see him waddle around in it! Today I was talking to him on the phone and asking about his costume for Halloween this year and he is going to be a frog. When he was done talking to me, he said "I'm done." And that was the end of the conversation!

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds....yummy!!!

I so love to eat the roasted almonds one can usually find at all the fall events...and they are so expensive! So I decided to make my own and they are delicious!

1 egg white
1 tsp cold water
4 cups whole almonds
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspon salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Lightly grease a 10 X 15 jelly roll pan.
Lightly beat the egg white ; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
Bake for one hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store in air-tight container.

I went to Sams Club and bought the big bag of almonds (9 cups) since I have been on an almond kick for snacking.

Two more days until my scrap book retreat!!!!!

All week, I have been waiting for the new show "The Nine" to come on, so I better go check it out......

And a new layout of Jordyn.....I think this is the most gorgeous photo ever!



I used Kimberly Giarusso and Val Fowler's new kit Freestyle Art...love this kit!