Sorry the link didn't work...I don't always do that right...here's the link again, complete with the cut n' paste version of the web address :) LOL http://cgi.ebay.com/Shabby-Primitive-Picture-Shadow-Box_W0QQitemZ260073106489QQihZ016QQcategoryZ41512QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So, there you have it :)

Princess has been sick today. She woke up in the middle of the night with diarrea & vomitting, and now she's complaining that her "ear hurts" so we've got her on motrin & tylenol until we can get her a dr's apt. on Monday. The meds are working, and she's a different girl when they kick in, jumping & stuff, but when they start to wear off...WHINY CITY...I feel so bad for her, though, cause I remember being sick like that, and she's never really been as sick as this, especially with the earache & stuff...and diarrea's different with a toddler!! A POTTY TRAINING toddler, nonetheless...Oh, well, this too shall pass...Quickly, Lord, please?

Okay, better go...She's had a bath, now, and she's gettin' ready for bed :) I think we're skipping church tomorrow to give her another day to rest, and I don't want to pass it on in case we're carriers of whatever she's got, ya know? Anyways, that's the plan...I need to get up in the morning & make some calls...

Have a great Sunday!! :)

My Ebay Auction

So, I've put it out there...This is my test run. I finished it tonight, and decided I'll never know until I try, so I put it out there for the world to see my handiwork. It's a little scary!! LOL I have no idea if people will actually start bidding for it, or whatever...I'd like to get $10 out of it, so we'll see. It's a 5x10 frame, but it'll keep a wallet-sized picture in it (on the picture matte). I'm excited & nervous about it...Anyways, take a gander at it and let me know what you think :)

So, now that that's over :) LOL I've been thinking more about other aspects of my "business." Obviously home parties is where I'll be making my $$, I've just got to figure out what I need to do if I want to sell my creations at these parties. I know that Memory Works doesn't have a "competition clause" which means I don't have to worry about cross-selling (there are a couple of scrapbooking companies who don't mind this, so a lot of the people doing this sell for more than one company. I am not trying to aspire to that right now). So, I just need to know what I need to do before I can actually sell my personal crafts at these home parties, if I can at all. There might be some legal something-or-other against that...I have no idea...

Okay, enough about that...I'm just really excited :)

We didn't do diddley today. Well, we did go to McD's for lunch, then to Kroger for a few things, but other than that, we didn't do much. Princess is officially in big girl undies...again...She's doing really well, but her BM's have "snuck" up on her today, so other than that, she's done great...Sorry, that's really gross...

Tomorrow Steve's off work (both jobs...it's January...so he's a blockhead again...) and we'll take the tree down. This is actually early for us :) LOL But, I'm ready for it to come down. I'm still listening to Christmas music, though. I pretty much listen to that all year-round, though. It's too special to keep for just a month and a half of the year...

I'm making chili tomorrow :) I'm in a chili & hot dog mood, so that's what we're having for supper tomorrow. I love chili :)

Okay, since I'm pretty much just going on & on about nothing, I'll let ya'll go...it's night night time here :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!! :) Happy New Year!! :)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!! Um, yeah, so I'm a little late for all that, huh? Don't worry, I was party-hardy-ing all this time (mostly), and was thinking of you all often. I just didn't have time to get online much, except maybe once/twice a week to check my email...Just that time of year...and now it's January 3rd already!! Of 2007!! Hope you all had a great holiday!! :)

So, I guess I never got back to report on how the Christmas play went...AWESOME!! People really pulled through, and it turned out really neat!! We got a lot of compliments about the tableaux's (the crux of the whole program), and people were saying, "When we do this again..." and "Next time..." so that's a good sign that it's "good enough" to be repeated and made into tradition. I have to say, I was VERY nervous on Saturday when we were still practicing without our "mini stage" being up yet, and only one flood light for the tableaux scenes available. But, that's how Christmas plays are supposed to be...CRAZY!! LOL I kept saying on Saturday, "Seriously, it's a beautiful effect" LOL I'm glad they believed me :)

So, after that I could really start focusing on our personal Christmas stuff...that was the really nice thing about having our program early...and I made a few gifts ( a scarf & 2 shabby chic/scrapbook shadow boxes, and at least 2 Gift Card holders), and that was SO much fun...It was neat to remember how much I love to scrapbook & everything turned out really cool & vintage/distressed looking, just like I like, and I hope they all liked, too. For MathTeacher's shadow box, I didn't used a lot of ink & chalk distressing because the paper already had that distressed look to it, and I didn't want to go too grungy for a baby's photo, and same with the other one I made for SkinnyCousin...I didn't do a whole lot of distressing because I wasn't totally sure that either of them really liked that as much as I do, but I know that shabby chic can go with a lot of things, and those shadow boxes are small enough they could take them to work, even, and just set it on their desk or something. Anyways, I was happy with how they turned out, and I think they both liked 'em, and that's all that matters.

New Year's Eve we went to Missy's house, and that was FUN!! :) I'm glad that Jodi & Buford could come for a little bit, too. I really missed all the hugs & stuff after the ball dropped. We used to, when we'd get together in KY at AuntSurvivor's house, do the whole countdown with sparkling cider thing, then go around the room hugging everyone...and you don't know how much you miss something like that until you don't have that for a few years...so, anyways, that was nice :) We stayed really late, too, because the boys were playing their little games in the garage while we girls played $25,000 Pyramid (and Missy ROCKS at that game, btw, no matter who her partner is, or how lame their clues are (there were a few that BB's sister gave that were, like, what?) Anyways, FUN :) New Year's Day we didn't get up until around 12:30/1p.m., then lazed around & got ready to head over to Mom & Dad's house for leftovers & stuff...Steve had Tuesday off, so we just kind of did stuff around here & then used our gift card for Cracker Barrell for supper. We drove around & around trying to get Princess alseep, and finally had that drive around looking at lights that we always try to do, but it just didn't happen until later this year...Thankfully there are enough rednecks & people like us who like to keep their lights on for just a couple more days after New Year's, so there were still quite a few lights to see...

That pretty much brings you up-to-date on what I've been up to. I could go on & on about "stuff" but I won't bore you. Oh, but here's a bit of gossip since I brought Negative Nelly up the last time I was here...Yeah, she & her Negative Hubby are "officially" leaving the church. Is it bad that I was relieved when I heard that? I mean, my theory is that they were obviously NOT happy, and they weren't encouraging or uplifting anyone else up, so let them go somewhere that they can be renewed & recharged & all that, but stop being toxic to this church family. I guess, though, that they wrote a letter to the elders that was petty & juvenile. I know what most of their complaints were about (even though my hubby who is clerk to the elders knows & didn't share anything that was in the letter), and all I can say to them is "Wow, is that a mote in your eye?!?! You better take care of that..." We are all that way, I know, and we want to "help" others, and have higher expectations of others, but the Lord wants to work in our hearts & improve ourselves, too. It's not all about helping others, ya know? I'm just as bad a sinner as anyone, and I know there are things that He's still workin' on me...to make me what I ought to be...(ring any bells anyone? LOL).

Anyways...oh, and prayers, please, for a new business venture I'm sure the Lord is leading me to do? I've been praying for months for the Lord to lead me to a home-based business that He wants me to do, and ever since making those shadow boxes, I've really been thinking that doing a scrapbooking business is what He wants me to do. I'll go into it more later, but just keep me in your prayers that He would keep the ideas & opportunities coming for me? I'm really excited about this, and am looking forward to providing a little "play" money for my family, and give my creativity an outlet. SO, that's just a little snippet about that...

Okay, off to catch up on ya'll's Christmases!! :)

I watched BigBlueEyes on Tuesday!! She's so sweet!! She's started crawling!! Can you believe it?!?! She's still not real great at it, but if she doesn't think too hard about it, she can crawl with the best of 'em!! LOL She does it best when she's on a mission, compared to conciously trying to crawl, if you know what I mean :) LOL Just so stinkin' cute :) She's a good baby, too :)

Whew!! Will somebody please remind me that I don't handle stress well, and that being in charge of the Christmas program isn't my idea of a great time when Christmas rolls around again next year? I'm crazy to actually want to do it in the first place, I'm sure of it. Just go ahead & commit me to the Loony Bin, because something's not right in my head LOL...no, seriously :) hehehe I had a very emotional night tonight. It was play practice, and people didn't have their songs, none of the wisemen were there, and our set isn't really constructed, yet. Plus, we have so many shepherds that are all boys around the same age, and they're VERY hyper boys!! I'm a little nervous about the shepherds. I keep praying about it, and I keep wondering what's gonna happen. I'll actually be alright about everything once the actual "box" thing is together & stuff. I'm getting really nervous about that being put together (because I'd like it together for practice on Saturday morning, and I don't really think that's gonna happen.) Oh, well, you work with what ya got, ya know?

*********************RANT WARNING*******************************

I had a "run in" with BadAttitudeMyrtle tonight (DebbieDowner might be another good name for her...) Anyways, this lady is pretty negative about everything, and it drives me crazy, plus there's a bunch of other stuff, but she just set me off tonight. There was no need for her to have an attitude about what she got an attitude about, and she was just not very uplifting. Not building me up, very much a negative nelly...Wow, there are a lot of names I could come up with for her, huh? Or just a generic name for any "DebbieDowner" type personality, huh? Anyways, remember all that scenery & stuff I made for VBS this past August? Well, I made everything by hand, painted all of it, except for the cardboar I covered with "wood" contact paper to make it look like wooden logs, whatever...Well, Pastor actually hurt my feelings, because after it was all said & done he just said to pitch it all...then, there was this stuff that was totally NOT made by hand, just the pictures that came with the teachers stuff that was taped to the wall (we have a multi-purpose room & the classes were just in different parts of the room). Anyways, he says to leave THAT up because "it'll give people an idea what the kids have been up to this week at VBS." So, throw out the handpainted stuff, to my face, then tell someone else to leave the very non-personal junk up on the wall. Whatever...well, I'll admit to you, I cried, and I couldn't help it. I didn't want to cry in front of Pastor, because I felt stupid for crying in the first place, but the head director walked in on me crying & I just spilled my guts. Well, Worship Minister must've heard something about it, because he kept the God-awful snowmobile I made & it's been a joke ever since...that was my least favorite thing I made for VBS, btw. Anyways, I keep telling him to pitch it, and he kept saying, "No! We can't pitch that! It was part of my station (it kinda sat in front of the laptop & multi-media stuff, and hid the equipment). Anyways, tonight, it was sitting by the front of the sanctuary doors getting ready to be pitched. Again, I have NO problem with it being pitched, that's not the issue that got me upset. NegativeNelly says snootily, "That thing needs to be thrown away." I was offended by her tone, so I said, "You know I made that, right?" She starts going on, "I know, but there's just no where to store it here. Can you tell me when we'll use it again? Do you want it at your house?" I was shocked that she would be so rude as to say things like that to me to my face!! If she says that kind of stuff to my face, what is she saying behind my back?!! So, I didn't say anything else, really, but OH, I wanted to. She has a history of complaining, and of acting the martyr, and that was so inappropriate! So, after she walked out the door I looked at King & said, "Well, I'd better throw that God-awful snowmobile away." And literally threw it in the trash can. Okay, and here's the thing. She is one of the people who complains the loudest about things not getting done, etc..., but she shows NO respect for anything that DOES get done, and people's effort, unless she's had a hand in it. Did she do anything for VBS this year? Nope. But she would've complained if we hadn't had one. I guess it was just lack of appreciation for other people's work. I just didn't take it well, and since I'm under so much other stress for this program to go well, I know I'm overly sensitive, but still, she was rude.

Okay, sorry to unload all that, but I had to, or I would explode. And, I hope you followed that, because I'm sure it was rambly & incoherant, but again, I needed to VENT!! So, going back to put "Rant Warning" up above that...

*******************End RANT**************************

So, anyways, onto better things. We went to the Mall again today :) It was a lot more fun today than it was last week!! LOL At least for me...Princess ate 1/2 of her cheeseburger & 1/2 of FAB's fries (hehehe), so she got to play today!! :) YAY!! I got to hold Petunia while the girls played & she is SUCH a cuddlebug!! :) So sweet :)

We didn't really shop at the mall today. I needed to get some things ready before our play practice tonight, so we just came home & Princess fell asleep on the way home, so that was nice. She took a nice long nap, too, and I got a lot accomplished before practice. Practice itself was CHAOS, but semi-controlled chaos. The daycare toys were out, so of course I had to compete with that, but other than that, things went well. I think on Saturday before we get started, I'm gonna have the kids do these exercise things I learned in daycare inservice. The shepherds got a little (read A LOT) antsy, so I started a game of "Miss Mandy Says" to get 'em moving a little bit, at least in a controlled movement. Mr.AF came over & took over so I could get back to directing, and that was a blessing. I'm glad he stepped in. Those kids like him, anyways, he helps with the games at Awana sometimes.

So..........please pray with me that Saturday goes smoothly & that things will come together on Saturday? I'm getting nervous about the "box" thing being done for Saturday's practice...I need to call my carpenter...earthly & Heavenly :)

I'd better go...there is so much more I could share, but it's getting late, and I'm getting tired, and I really don't want to think about it right now. I really need to vent to someone I trust in the church...There are so many people who are so supportive of this play & with doing whatever I need of them, but it just takes one NegativeNelly to tear ya down, ya know? SO, here's to not letting negativity (i.e. the evil one) get to me...This is all for the Lord, anyway...

Okay, seriously, better go...King went to the store real quick, and Lord knows Princess isn't going to sleep by herself...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Happy Friday!! I've had another busy week here, going here, going there, doing this, getting ready for that...It's Christmastime, ya know?!?!

Wednesday I got up & Princess & I dressed earlier than normal, and went to the Teacher Store, then Flower Factory, and then to Walmart...I got a lot accomplished, really, but WOW what a long day!! We met King at Fricsh's for supper (Princess still has free kids' meal coupons from Halloween), then we went to church for Awana. I'm really frustrated with church right now, so I won't say anything more...Except to ask for your prayers, please? I realize that no church is perfect, and if we left (and we don't really feel that's what the Lord wants us to do, but it's definately tempting, ya know?), we'd just find another church with either the same problems or different problems, but still problems. A wise man said a few weeks ago, "There aren't really problem people, just people with problems." I know that he spoke those words to me for the Lord, because every time I get frustrated with the whole situation those words pop into my head like a little bit of peace. It's just REALLY hard to hang on to that. I'm thinking of just "laying low" for a while after the Christmas play is over. I'll still do Sunday School & Praise Team, but other than that, I don't know that I really want to do any more. I've entertained thoughts about setting a date for a women's luncheon in January, but, again, I just don't feel like doing anything there right now. ARGHHH!!!! I wish I could really put into words what I'm frustrated over, but it's more like I'm just frustrated with an attitude more than just something someone/some people did, ya know? Double ARGH!!

Okay, I just had to share that....So, anyways, that was Wed...

Thursday we met Missy, FAB & Baby at the mall...we were late, and I felt really bad about it, because we would've been on time if I didn't have to email Worship Minister (play stuff), so I was frustrated about that. I'm serious, next year, I'm not in charge, I'll just help with the Christmas program...Anyways, so we met them at the mall, and Princess was a P-I-L-L!! We got Chick-Fil-A for lunch, and she was only eating waffle fries, and not any of her chicken. Well, I told her to eat at least one bite of her chicken before she could play in the play area. She took a bite, and chewed & chewed & chewed. I told Missy to go ahead & take FAB & Baby over to the play area & we'd be along in a minute...15 minutes later she was still chewing!! ARGH!!!!!!! I put her in her stroller & we went over to the play area because I thought she'd give up once she saw FAB playing & having a good time in the play area...NOPE. She chewed & chewed & chewed. I even had been giving her some milk to drink because I thought she'd swallow it that way, but the last drink of milk she got, she let dribble out of her mouth. So, I said, "NO PLAY PLACE FOR YOU TODAY!!" & she lost out that way. She whined for a little bit while we were shopping, but I was NOT going to let her run the show. I told Missy that Princess had better be greatful we were in a public place because if we had been at home? She'd have swallowed that chicken after 2 minutes!! LOL Oh, I was so aggravated with her!!

Anyways, I didn't really shop at the mall, just looked around. It'd been a while since I'd been there (when Princess was a little younger, we used to go to the mall all the time so I could just get out of the house & see adults!! LOL), but since we moved to HH, it's been a little more difficult to go "all the way over there." (Like it's hours away :) hehe). It was neat to see all the different changes going on, and I got a few gift ideas for the people on my list :)

Thursday night we went to the Cheesecake Factory!! :) YUM-O!! WOW wast that awesome!! It was expensive, but not as expensive as I was dreading. We'll definately split next time, but since it was our first visit, we decided to get our own meal & even our own slice of cheesecake :) Dulce De Leche...AWESOME!! :) I wanted the Caramel Pecan Turtle cheesecake, but they were out. Steve got some kind of peanut butter white chocolate seasonal one, and it was yummy, too :) Very neat place & atmosphere. It was our first time at the Greene, too, and it was very cute :) It was raining, so we didn't get to walk anywhere but around the block, but it was very pretty. The Christmas lights are neat :)

Tonight I went to K-Mart (finally got out my lay-away :)) & Target. Man, oh, man, could I spend a truckload of $$ at Target!! LOL I love it, and their scrapbooking stuff is really cool, too. I like their Christmas stuff, too...Anyways, I had to get a baby shower gift for tomorrow, but I got some M&M's & laundry detergent for me...wait, that's not exciting...

Anyways, tomorrow's the baby shower, then tomorrow night is GIRL NIGHT!! with Carebear & EnglishTeacher!! :) Daisy might come, too, but she said she'd asked Mom to go shopping before I told her about girl night, so we'll see. I think King's got the Princess for me, too :) After Thursday, I need a break!! LOL

Well, on an upside with Princess, so you don't think too badly about her, she's wearing her "big girl" underwear again, and keeping it dry all day!! YAY!! That's only today, though...

Better go...lots to do, and I want to go to bed early tonight :)

Love you guys!! :) Merry Christmas!!