It's been over 2 years... shameful!

I was looking at old posts on my blog and smiling at some... shaking my head at others. I don't remember some of these posts. LOL  But it was fun to go back and see the chronology.  And sad to think two years have past and I have lost that time.  So here I am trying, maybe, to start anew even though I hate the idea of that BIG old gap in there.  Maybe if I did a "the last 2 years a in review" post I would feel less unsettled. 

Blogging makes me ambivalent sometimes because I do not want to feel obligated to do it but at the same time I hate the idea of the blog not being cohesive.  If I didn't know for a fact that DH would shoot me, I would delete this one and start fresh.  But, again, life is messy so why should my blog be a reflection of my chaotic life.  Sometimes NOT blogging brings me peace which is GOOD, right.  So just know that when I am not blogging, I am somewhere in the world running too and fro and am too busy to blog OR I am snuggled quietly in my bed reading and have acquired peace... a moment or two. 

Catching up on my Scrapbooking

These are some old photos that I have needed to scrap for years... 3 to be exact. I took all of these pictures in 2007.  Luckily for me Vera Lim, my favorite digital scrapbook designer has plenty of "quick pages" for me to use at Vera Lim Designs.  I bought a lot of these design elements on New Years Day.  She had a fabulous sale.

This is Connor with Papa Roy, who has since passed.  Roy died 3 years ago when Connor was only 2.  But he still mentions regularly how much he misses his Papa Roy.  We all do.

Wacka-Doodle

 

The page above is a "Quick page", meaning the Designer did the lay out and I placed the photos just so. It was a lot of hard work... no not really.  Quick pages are a great way of catching up fast with your scrapbooking.  I admit I have bought quite a few from Vera Lim in the last week. And I finally have a LOT of my 2007 photos scrapped.  And, oh my gosh, are the pages cute.

This is a picture of Cullen from his "Kim Possible" days.  He was obsessed with her for a time and was always asking me to take pictures of him and his Kim Possible dolls.  I am certain he will come to regret this.  But as any good reported, I must report the truth no matter the consequence.

This page is made from photos from 2005.  I was pregnant with Connor at the time... just barely.  Cullen and Ben, my friend Vikki's son took a baseball workshop to learn the fundamentals of the sport.  Unfortunately, it kinda backfired on us. Cullen will not play baseball because he says he already did when he was 4.   Oh well!  You can see how proud he is of his trophy. He slept with it that night and still considers it one of this prize possessions.   There is a really small picture of Cullen running from 3rd base to home... if you look really closely you can see Avery crying at third base because brother was running away.

Truth in Advertising?

This is my dog Fritz.  We adopted him from the Humane Society about 4 months ago.  This is what he looked like the day I brought him home.  Isn't he cute?! He was labeled a Chihuahua mix. The "mix" is most likely terrier.  He was 18 months when we adopted him. (Please ignore my foot in the picture.)  See those big ears. Those ARE Chihuahua ears.  We always laughed at how big his head was compared to his body.  He does look a little funny.  Anyway, if you look at the next picture...

August 11, 2010

You will see Fritz in his present state.  That is right... this is Fritz too.  My scruffy ruffian or in the voice of Professor Doofenschmirtz from Phineas and Ferb... The Evil Fritzinator. But do you see my problem here? I hardly have a Chihuahua now.  Now don't get me wrong, I love this little guy. He is my baby.  But I just didn't realize how he had changed.  All that facial hair and beard scruff.  I mean who is the Humane Society kidding?  Do they shave every new dog in their kennel down like this or were they maybe putting his best features forward by making him look closer to the "real thing."  Noone was ever going to mistake him for a big boned Chihuahua anyway. 

December 28, 2010

I recently took him to the groomers to get a bath.  I specifically told them to leave the scruff cause I liked it.  Until I saw the earlier picture taken on his first day home I never realized how different he looks now.

Christmas Miracle

This  Christmas my mom was to travel down to New Hampshire from Maine to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my brother Chris' house.  My sister, Bridget and her husband Scott and my brother, Tim were to come over as well.

My brother Chris traveled 2 hours to Portsmouth Main to get my mom who had travel 2 hours South by herself.  Chris was going to meet her half way.  This all happened without a hitch. They arrived in Ridge NH just before night fall for a cold, snowy Christmas Eve. My mom was traveling with her little puppy, Lily. Lily is a tiny white Maltese.

This is NOT Lily but you get her size.

During the excitement of arrival Lily got away into the cold, snowy wilderness. She had a fleece coat on but otherwise was a victim of the elements.  She was frightened by the new place, smells and sounds.  My niece and nephew wanted to take her out and unfortunately she did not have on her collar.  A leash was looped around her neck and in her fright she bolted.  Two hours of searching for her and my mom and brother found no trace of her.

My mom was distraught.  She said she blasphemed God, asking how God could allow a little dog to die under such conditions on Christmas Eve.  She was angry at herself for letting it happen and feared that Christmas was ruined for everyone.  The children felt terrible too.  The night ended as my mom prayed that Lily would be ok and not suffer in the harsh conditions.

New Hampshire at its most beautiful and harsh.

On Christmas morning, presents were opened.  The family tried to do the Christmas thing.  At 10am my mom wanted to go looking for Lily again.  So Chris and she got int he car and went driving around.  While they were in the car, Nick, my nephew called to say that Lily was actually seen walking down the driveway toward the house.  My sister-in-law, Amy, went out and started calling to the puppy.  Lily immediately turned around and started walking back down the driveway away from the house this time.  Amy kept calling gently to her and Lily stopped and just sat in the road.  When my mom got back she saw Amy walking with what looked like something in her arms.  When they got closer they saw it was Lily.  She was back. They had found her.

It appears Lily found the neighbors shed and spent the night there.  There were all sorts of little paw prints around it that are not normally there. How she found her way back has got to be God's doing.  My mom said she had been cursing God, so angry that this could happen.  But she still prayed for Lily's safety and God was waiting for her to ask.  My mom said her faith has been renewed. It was the best Christmas ever.

I cried and cried at the telling of this tale.  I cried for that tiny little dog. I prayed for her safety. I prayed that she wouldn't suffer either.  I cried for my mom.  For the loss of that dog that meant so much to her and in joy for her renewed faith.

God is GOOD all the time.

Happy Holidays

Loved this image and had to share it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

New Digital Scrapbook Page

Its a bit springtime but I love this picture of Avery.  It's called "Avie Baby" because that is my affectionate name for her.

I got these elements from Shabby Princess's free downloads page.  Its a great site with lots of freebies for anyone wanting to try Digital Scrapbooking.

Another JibJab Christmas

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Changing of the Season

Changed out my Fall colors to Christmas colors today!

Upgraded last years wreath with $1 ornaments