Friendship

I finally managed to get a layout done again. Things haven't been letting me be creative around here, so I haven't gotten much done in the past week or so. I finally made myself sit down this morning and work on this layout, and I think it turned out better than I thought it was going to, with not feeling creative lately.

This is a lady who lived down the road from my parents when I was growing up. She was one of our closest neighbors and I enjoyed going to visit her. In fact, the last time I called to ask if she was up to a visit, (on one of my trips back home, after I was married) was the morning she died. I called up, and got one of her son's, and told him who I was, and why I was calling, and he said she had just died. I was naturally upset that I hadn't made it down to see her before that, and saddened that she was gone. I do enjoy the memories of her that I have from my growing up years though, and am thankful I had her for a friend.

Journaling:

When I was growing up I enjoyed
walking down the road to our
neighbors house and having a chat.
Every time I went she would serve tea
and cookies, and although I never have
been fond of hot tea, or Oreo cookies
I enjoyed the time spent with her, over
that hot cup of tea, and those hard
Oreo cookies. We would talk about
what I was doing, or learning in School,
and she would tell me what her family
was up to. She has been gone for
several years now, but I still think about
that wonderful friend I had and the
memories we made over the
tea cups. May 1993

Kit Credit: Precious Memories by Doxie Designs Thanks to my CT member, Tracey for the suggestion for the tea cup. It made me think of the times I would visit our neighbor so I had to scrap the only photo I have of her with it. I am still trying to do a little thinking on what I think the new kit needs, but am almost done with it, so in the next two or three weeks, hopefully I can get it in the store, along with some qp's from it. If you haven't already, be sure and check out my "gallery" and see the layouts my team members have put in there. They are just beautiful!!

While I was looking for the quote I used on the layout, I saw a couple friendship poems I liked, (but were to long for my layout) so I thought I would share them here today too. My BEST friend is my DH, which I think is how it should be, (and yes family can be friends too....just doesn't seem like it happens as much as it would be nice) but I enjoy all of you who read my blog and comment now and then too, and like to think of you as my friends too! So here are a couple poems for you.

Friendship is a Golden Chain
(Helen Steiner Rice)

Friendship is a golden chain -
The links are friends so dear,
And like a rare and precious jewel
It's treasured more each year.

Time can't destroy its beauty
For as long as memory lives,
Years can't erase the pleasure
That the joy of friendship gives.

For friendship is a priceless gift
That can't be bought or sold,
But to have an understanding friend
Is worth far more than gold!


Friendship
(B. J. Morbitzer)

There's a miracle called Friendship
That dwells within the heart,
And you don't know how it happens
Or when it gets its start.

But the happiness it brings you
Always gives a special lift,
And you realize that friendship
Is God's precious gift.

More layouts

I have gotten several more layouts done, Yippee!! LOL Wish I could do this many every week, I'd get caught up on my photo's quickly then.

This first layout is of a tree that grows in my parents pasture, just down from their barn. I took the photo when I was over there for their 40th Anniversary, because I had my camera, and have always loved it. I think it has such a pretty shape, and always enjoyed looking at it when I was growing up.

Kit Credit: Cookery Corner, Frou-Frou Frames and Ribbon Flowers All by Lara Payton I really love these ribbon flowers of Lara's, they are big, I made them a lot smaller for my layouts, but maybe sometime I can use them large, cause they really are pretty!!

This next layout is my niece with her Mom on Mothers Day this last year. As you can see I'm really behind on my scrapping, since I'm just now doing the Mothers Day pictures!! LOL Oh well, I jump around so much, with what I scrap, its no wonder, but I guess I just have to do them as I get inspired to, if I want them to turn out half way decent.

Kit Credit: Blissful Blossoms, Ribbon Flowers, Dainty, and Folded Frames by Lara Payton

This third layout is another photo from a few weeks ago. I saw a church steeple over the trees and wanted to stop and take a picture.

Kit Credit: Beautiful Fall by Lauren Bavin. I got this kit on sale last Friday for 50% off and will get another kit for having done this layout and posting it in the gimmie more gallery at DSP. Can't beat that price, basically a buck a kit! I don't think I have ever gone into DSP, when they had a 50% off sale, I was really surprised, I figured it would be their normal 20-30% but figured least it would save me a little on that kit, and so when I got there and it was 50% off, I was shocked! LOL I could have spent major bucks in that store, but didn't have the money I wanted to spend like that, I did go find a couple others ones though, I just couldn't pass up the chance to get them at $2.00. I don't shop there as much as it would be nice to, cause they do have some really NICE kits, its just they are so tiny, I hate to spend the money on them. *giggle* I know, $4.00 isn't to bad, but when your used to the size of Blushbutters and Lara's kits, the ones at DSP really are tiny. What can I say, I'm a cheap skate through and through!

This last layout is my brother with my niece. It has a photo of the gift my niece made for him for Father's Day, and the journaling contains a letter she wrote him, which she included in the frame (gift). Journaling is below.

Kit Credit: Blessing by Tina Williams

I hope you all have a great weekend! I doubt I will be doing layouts this weekend, so probably won't be posting! Take Care, and hopefully the winter storm that is suppose to be here tonight, isn't really bad! LOL Thanks so much for all of your comments both here and through e-mails!

Journaling for the last layout:

Dad,

I love coming to your house. I enjoy
every bit of work you have me help you
with even though I don't show it. I love
carrying in the firewood for the stove
and building walls for the basement.
I have so much fun with you no matter
what we do together and I love that
about you. You are so much fun to be
around no matter what we do. One of
my favorite things to do with you is
watching movies and eating chocolate
chip cookie dough ice cream. I hope you
have a very happy Fathers Day this
year and that you have many more
to come.

I Love You Dad!!!
Happy Father's Day
June 17, 2007


The letter above was written by Kali
and put in a frame with this photo of
the two of them, and decorated with
leaves for Fathers Day. I thought it
was a wonderful gift, so thought I
would put the letter, and picture of
her gift to her dad, on here with the
picture of the two of them.

Running Scared

Autumn, our baby girl doxie (not such a baby anymore as she just turned 6 earlier this month) has always loved to torment toads. She will stand there for hours on end barking at them, and pawing at them, pick them up in her mouth, and then fling them down again. She loves to see them hopping around, so tries everything she can, to get them to. She can be dripping saliva all over the place, from having them in her mouth...they must excrete something, that makes her drool big time, cause she can just be slimy all over her face, after playing with one. She doesn't hurt them, just enjoys making it (and us) deaf, and watching it hop.

Summertime is toad time, and she loves to go out, if its not REALLY hot, and search all over the yard for them. Usually there is at least one out there, and when we get tired of hearing her bark, we have to go make her come in, and hope we can get her to STAY in. Its sometimes not really that easy to do.

We recycle pop cans and sell them when we get a bunch, so usually there is a partial bag of them out on the back patio. There has been all summer in fact. We really need to find a better place to keep them (obviously) but so far, that's where it sits. Today while I was cooking supper, I started hearing a racket out on the patio. It wasn't windy, at least not enough to make something blow around, THAT much, so I turned to look, and didn't see anything. I looked out the other window, just in time to see the black garbage bag, streaking across the yard, toward the dog door. I couldn't see it very well, just well enough to know the yellow ties on the bag, to tie it shut, were wrapped around a dogs neck as she hightailed it to the safety of the house. I knew right away which dog it would be, because she is the one that is always out, nosing around looking for toads, and sure enough, Rascal was barking at the noise the cans had made on the concrete from the safety of the couch in the living room.

I figured she would be stuck in the dog door, cause I didn't figure the cans would fit through it, but come to find out, that's where she finally got away from that horrible thing that had followed her all the way across the yard, cause as she dove in the door, they couldn't, so the ties broke, and she was at last, safe, back in the house with me. Course I was practically rolling on the kitchen floor, from laughing at seeing that garbage bag, almost flying across the yard. DH went and got the bag out of the dog door, and she saw him carrying it, and wouldn't go near him, till he put it down. My poor baby girl was running scared, but I doubt it will cure her of looking for those poor toads.

I didn't get any layouts done today, I just couldn't settle down to do any. So hopefully tomorrow I can make myself do some...just a couple more days before I need to print out the last of what I have done for the album. I did however see a Scrappers poem today at my favorite poem/quote site, and thought I would share it here. Eventually, hopefully, I will actually put it on a layout, for a album. Maybe an about me album, if I ever get around to doing one...like the one they are doing on Tina's yahoo group. I really had planned on doing those challenges, that would net me an about me album, but so far, haven't managed to get started on them. Oh well, its not like I don't have enough pages about me, for Mom and Dad's book! LOL

Now isn't this poem, perfect for all of us Scrapbookers!

Scrapbooker's Verse

We gather up pictures
and bits of our past
and scrapbook them into
a gift that will last.

We write about milestones
and travels and such--
the times of our lives
that we treasure so much.

A few special photos,
a family tree,
a few thoughtful words
and soon we will see...

The album we've made
is much more than a book.
It's worth even more
than the time that it took.

It's a gift holding memories
and made with great care
by hearts and hands
with love to share.

by Kimberly Rinehart

Favorite Colorado Trip Growing up

I got a double layout done today, I didn't use near all the pictures from this trip, that Mom sent me, but I just didn't have room for all of them! LOL I'm sure I will be doing more layouts later, but for now, this will at least give an overview of the trip for their album. This was my favorite Colorado vacation! We got to see and do alot of fun things, and had a ball!! And thats even with having fallen and putting a big gash in my knee at camp, just before all the fun started! We went to Estes Park, The Garden of the Gods, The Sand Dunes and several places in between, and my Uncle was with us, so we have a LARGE number of pictures just for this trip!

Kit Credit: Northwest Casual by Misty Cato

I got a chuckle when I was reading Pickleberry Pop's newsletter this morning...ok skimming, LOL I didn't have time to fully READ it. They had a quote in it they called Scrapbooker's Eulogy which was contributed by Sharon Kenealy. "Now I lay me down to sleep, if I should die before I wake, please Lord, let them scrap my funerial great!" I thought that was kinda funny!

I have to get off the computer now, didn't get as much done yesterday, as I had hoped, so I'm off to do some of it today....hopefully! LOL Have a great day!!

Can I just say WOW!!

I LOVE these rose brushes from Blushbutter! I did this page for the first page of my parents album (of course! LOL) and since the brushes are actually for photo shop, I used the png file that was in with the brushes for people like me who use a different program. I changed the blending mode to Burn so they changed to blue because psp doesn't take such a big file, for a brush, and I wanted them BIG. I think it worked beautifuly!! I probably could have resized it, and made it into a brush, then made that layer bigger, once I used it, but since I got the desired color this way, I didn't. Blushbutter has several new beautiful brushes, pansies and roses, and I can just see wonderful things being done with them!! I can't wait to see what other people do with them. I thought these two went good together, so I didn't have the same one on both corners. I did make the background a little lighter. Poem is below.

Credits: Vintage Rose Photoshop Brush and Stamp 1, Vintage Rose Photoshop Brush and Stamp 2 and the background is from Victorian Heritage Replica Scrapkit all of which is made by Blushbutter

Are any of you getting tired of hearing about how much I like Blushbutters things? To bad! LOL This layout I already printed out, and the flowers are so pretty on the page. It really printed up nicely!

Well thats all I'm going to do today on the computer...least for a while, I have some other things I need to do, so I hope everyone has a great day!

Oh a note from my post yesterday....I'm not going to be on DigiZines CT team, so a blinkie won't be being added! LOL I am however going to post in the forum and gallery when I have time, so I may get a goody from Teri now and then!! This is the best of both worlds actually, I help her out when I have time, and get to blab all I want on her forum, and get a goody now and then on top of it, all with no presure!! What more can a girl ask for!!

The poem I used on the layout is below!

Until we're grown,
we never know
Or fully realize
How sweet and kind
our parents are,
How gentle and how wise -
We simply take for granted,
From day to passing day,
Each sacrifice they make for us
In their own loving way.
But then we grow and finally learn,
The way that children do,
How much their love has really meant,
How thoughtful they've been, too -
And so this comes with all the thanks
You both deserve and more.
For there aren't two dearer parents
Than the ones this album's for!

Going to be a long post!

LOL yep this could be a long post, cause I have 4 layouts and three of them have journaling, although a couple are poems.

The first two layouts I actually did yesterday, finished Dad's up late last night. I really like how they turned out!! I don't usually use so many different kits but I did on Dad's. Kit Credit for the 1st layout is Victorian heritage Replica Papers kit 2 by Blushbutter...I resized the paper I used, to 8.5 X 11. Kit Credits for the 2nd layout is...All of these are by Blushbutter, Good men kit, Aviation kit, Country kids kit, Victorian heritage kit, Boy O Boy kit, Draco Celtic kit, and Beautiful Belles Kit. I was trying to write down which kits I used as I got things out of them, but if I missed one, I'm sorry!

The 3rd layout is my Dad measuring me to see how much I had grown. Journaling for this layout is as follows: We had a tradition when Mark's and my birthday rolled around, that Dad would measure us, to see how much we had grown. They would then put a tack in the door jam, so we could see how we grew from year to year. I got measured even after I got married because I was still growing. Kit Credit: Heart Strings Baby boy add on mini kit by Blushbutter

The last layout is my parents when they went to a dinner dance, with members of their church. Kit Credit: Fields of Lavender by Cari Lopez

The two poems I used on the first two layouts are below.


Our Dear Mother

How can we thank you
for all that you've done.
The love you have given
the kindness you've shown.


God certainly knew
we needed you in our lives
To share in our joys
and help us through strife.


It's hard to express
what no word can impart,
Just know you will always be
close to our hearts.


We can never repay
the debt that we owe,
But as we go forward
We want you to know,


In all of the world
there is simply no other
Who has given us more than you
Our dear mother.


Our Hero

When we were just small children
Our Hero Dad, was you
There was nothing you couldn't fix
Or Find a way to do.


You were so strong and perfect
In our young adoring eyes
We knew no other dad could be
So wonderful and wise.


Although we see a lot of things
Much differently these days
You're still our shining hero
In so many special ways


For whenever we're together, Dad
Our adoring eyes again look at you
This man we're very proud of
And we give our love to you

Have a lovely week everyone!

No layouts today

Well today has been eventful, at least in as much as I didn't get any layouts done! LOL I started this morning, answering e-mails like usual, and visiting a few sites, then I sat here and typed out a long letter (well kinda long, cause I included some pictures in amongst the words, it would only have been two pages, but for them!) to my Great Aunt, It had been awhile since I sent her one. I also printed out a couple layouts (the two pt heritage layout called Hoath Sisters) to send to her, because one of the ladies was her mother. I just LOVE how they looked printed!! Wow! LOL That blue and gold was soooo pretty on paper too!!

Then I had laundry to do, and I started printing out some of my parents anniversary layouts....why I don't keep up with them I don't know, but it took a good portion of the day just to get what I printed out, printed. We also had company this afternoon, so naturally I didn't get any layouts done.

So I thought I would leave a poem for you all today! This I found in the book that I found in the attic when we were cleaning it out. The book is called The Treasure Chest edited by Charles L. Wallis.

The Prayer Perfect

Dear Lord! Kind Lord!
Gracious Lord! I pray
Thou wilt look on all I love,
Tenderly today!
Weed their hearts of weariness;
Scatter every care
Down a wake of angel-wings
Winnowing the air.

Bring unto the sorrowing
All release from pain;
Let the lips of laughter
Overflow again;
And with all the needy
O divide, I pray,
This vast measure of content
That is mine today!

James Whitcomb Riley

Hmm every other line is suppose to be indented a bit...and for some reason it won't. Sorry!

Its been a good day here, almost exciting in parts! LOL So for all of you ladies who need a bit of my "contentment" or happiness, I hope God will share it with you! Take Care.

Layouts and an early birthday gift

Well here I am eating lunch at the computer again! LOL I have 4 layout ready to post already today. So that means, I can get off the computer this afternoon, and do some other things I need to do. One of the layouts I actually finished last night, but the other three I did this morning.

The first layout here, is part two of the one I posted yesterday. It has two more pages from my Uncle's baby book, and a couple pictures of him. The 2nd layout is my Grandpa in his first year.

Kit Credit: Heart Strings Baby Boy Kit by Blushbutter

The third layout has photo's of one of my Grandma's sisters, when she was a child. I just love the lace, and colors in this kit. Those dried petals, and leaves are really nice too. The last layout, is my niece again. :) This is her school picture taken last fall. She is her Grandmothers treasure....but she is also her Aunt Deb's treasure! LOL

Kit Credit: Grandma's sitting Room by Tina Williams

I have had so much fun this week, trying to catch up on my scrappin! LOL I think I am managing to, I just have 4 more layouts, I for sure want to get done this week. So two a day, may do it. Maybe then I can get a little more done around the house! This poor place, gets what it has to have, and that's about it! LOL Good thing none of us are total slobs, or I would be in big trouble. While looking for a title for one of these layouts this morning, I happened across a poem, that fits me so well...well except for the fact that I have no children, but still...

It said it was a new version of an old poem:

Cleaning and scrubbing
can wait 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up,
we've learned to our sorrow...
So quiet down cobwebs,
Dust go to sleep,
I'm working on scrapbooks
so memories will keep.

Don't you just love that!!! It says it all for me! LOL Cleaning, is just not something I do a lot of, and cobwebs, well I hardly EVER manage to get rid of all of them! But hopefully I will have a lot of beautiful scrapbooks, that will tell our stories, (ours and past generations) for future generations. Even though they will be nieces and nephews instead of our own children. If I had children, I doubt I would have the time to do much scrappin. Although I wouldn't complain to much about that! LOL

DH gave me my birthday gift today (early as its not really till Sat). I had forgotten about the fact that I wanted what he got me too, so it was a nice surprise! He got me two more bread pans, to match the ONE I had. Red and white splattered enamel. I love that red and white enamel stuff, and need three bread pans, when I make bread, so have just been using my glass pans, but they were kinda small, so now I have three nice big pans to use, the next time I bake bread!!! Thank you Galen, I love them!!

Element challenge at J3 Designs and Doxie Designs Wordart freebie.

A new Element Challenge is up at J3 Designs. Check it out here. I hope some of you will join us! The posting bonus is pictured to the left, and supplied by the Mod Squad. There is also a free word art for the challenge!!

I am going to be out of town a few days. Tomorrow I'm going over to my parents house. I haven't gotten much done lately, Scrapbooking wise, so I guess this is a good time to leave, so maybe when I get back, I can get back to doing a few more layouts.

It was hot yesterday here, I can't believe how its cold one day, hot the next, with not much just right, in between! I hope its not to hot when we are at Mom and Dad's!!! LOL

I won't be able to scrap on National Scrapbooking Day since I will be gone, but for those of you who are able to, I hope you have a great time!! I thought I would share a set of 5 Wordart that I had made to use on some of my past layouts, for those of you who like wordart. This is an early celebration of National Scrapbooking Day, since I will be gone on that day, and not able to post it. The background I used on the wordart preview, is from the Mod Squad's element challenge posting bonus shown above. Complete the challenge, and you will recieve the kit!!

Download link is gone, sorry if you missed it!

NOTICE: This will be the LAST freebie link that is openly available on my blog. When I get back next week, I plan on putting all the freebie links on my blog, over on a page in my google group. Then ALL of the links on my blog will leave. I will still have the previews on my blog, so you can see what's available, because I won't have pictures on the group. So if you want to continue getting my freebies, you will HAVE to sign up for my google group! Sorry!! Next Kit will be posted on Fri, or Sat, before Mothers Day!!!! That link will ONLY be in the google group. If you missed the post, where I explained WHY this would probably happen, you can go read it here!

I thought I would share another poem from the book Poems that Touch the Heart compiled by A.L. Alexander I picked this one because while my home is in Nebraska...and I adore it, I also call Mom and Dad's home, especially when I am over there, because I grew up there, and like this poem says...

Home Is Where There's One To Love Us.

Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded;
Home is where Affection calls,
Filled with shrines the Heart hath builded!
Home!--go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing 'neath the heaven above us;
Home is where there's one to love!
Home is where there's one to love us!

Home's not merely roof and room--
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom,
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it!
What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us?
Home is sweet--and only sweet--
Where there's one we love to meet us!!

--Charles Swain

I hope all of you have a great week and weekend!! I will see ya all (or type to ya anyway LOL) when I get Home from home. Although Mom and Dad...I will see you tomorrow!!

Please leave me a comment, if you take my wordart. Thanks so much!!

Layouts and a Poem

I managed to get a couple layouts done today, with the help of some of my country music. LOL I love some of the older songs, and have a bunch of them on my computer. Sometimes its to distracting, but today, I needed it. The first layout is my niece on my shoulders when she was quite young. The poem I used is so true. I didn't give her the gift of life, but am so thankful God has her in my life, as she brings sunshine into it, when I get to see her. I have always loved her as much as I would my daughter, if I had been lucky enough to have one, so she is the next best thing. I love you Kali, and I am so proud of you, even if you hadn't just gotten into the national Honor Society!! Although I am really proud you did that too, I wasn't that good in school. Congrats!!!!

The 2nd one is my Beloved Uncle, and Grandparents in Minnesota. They really loved it up there (so did I, and I miss it) and spent as much time there as they could.

Kit Credit: Amid Memories by Lara Payton

I have been rereading the few Essie Summers books (I LOVE them, and sure wish I had all of them!!) that I have and just have to share this poem I found in one of them. I have loved it for years, and actually memorized it one time, when I had to have a poem for English class, in High School.

Planning

I had planned the meeting of us,
Glad beneath a starlit sky,
Swift compelling arms around me,
While enchanted moments fly.

I had thought of things to tell you,
Only you could understand,
As we walked our way together
In a rare enchanted land.

But you came an hour to early,
And the kitchen floor was wet,
I was elbow deep in dishes
And my hair was in a net.

As I wrong the soapy dishcloth
My romance was all a wreck,
And for one hot bothered second
I'd have rather wrong your neck.

~ Sonia Hardie'

Old Houses

Ok, we took one more trip out to Grand Island to my sister-in-laws house, to get some more things, and give the key to the Realtor. So her house will go on the market on Monday I guess. I'm sure she would love it if you can say a prayer or two, that her house sells quickly!

So needless to say, I didn't get a layout done today, so I thought I would share one of those poems I found in one of my books the other day. This one will kinda go with the fact that her old house just went on the market! LOL Does anyone have any pictures, that this would work with, so they could do a layout? I would have to do a search through my pictures and see if I could find any....maybe one of our heritage pictures. If anyone does a layout with this poem, I would love to see it!! Feel free to post a link to it, in the comment section!! (Or you could just use part of it too!)


Old Houses

I like old houses, with steps that sag,
And worn picket fences running zig-zag
Like little children playing tag.
Happy old houses, with thresholds worn thin,
By young ones and old ones who walked out and in.

I like old houses, that squat in the rain,
That have welcomed the years and sheltered the pain
Of knowing they wait for a loved one in vain.
Crazy old houses that bask in the sun,
Browned like a crusty, flaky bun.

I like old houses that patiently wait,
For a new friend's hand on the creaky gate-
Knowing that love is never to late.
Houses sagacious - like prophets of old;
Knowing so many things they never have told.

-- Jennie Romano

From the book called Poems that Touch the Heart Compiled by A. L. Alexander

Finally got this layout done...

I tell you, sometimes I just CAN'T find the right poem. I worked off and on on my 2nd layout for two days...most of today between doing other things, was trying to find the right poem. I was actually looking for one that described her (my Grandma) but I just couldn't find one that fit, so when I finally stumbled onto this one, I used it because I liked it, and would kinda think its something I would say myself, and she might too. (I am alot like her in some ways) I will post the poem at the end of this post, if I don't forget.

This first layout is my niece last year. I used J3 Designs April Club kit for this one. The 2nd layout is my grandmother and I used Fairy Mist by Tina Williams

Thanks to all of you who have commented (or e-mailed) on my kits, and sent me a link to your layouts! I love seeing them!! You are really nice, to take the extra time to let me know!! Thanks!!! Also for those of you wondering when some Links will be back, all I can say is to keep checking, I really don't know, just when I want to add them I guess. I'm glad you like my things enough to ask for them!

Ok the poem I used on the layout with Grandma is below. I found it here. I have read several neat poems today, while I was looking through books, and the net trying to find one. I may have to make a post every now and then, just with a poem or a quote, that I love in it. Maybe for those times, when I don't get a layout done, I can still post with a poem....if I would remember anyway, not sure if thats possible! LOL Enjoy it!

Remember Me This Way

(Mrs. Lyman Hancock)

When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,

And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

A Small scare

My DH had a small scare this morning. He went to feed the goats and couldn't find our two newest babies!! The mom was going crazy too looking for them....I was just about ready to head out to help look, when he called the house phone from his cell and said they showed up. LOL I think he was really worried about them, I have to say I was hoping they were ok, but he has gotten attached alot more than I have I think! I was worried wild anamials had found them, but thankfully they are just fine! They were playing and jumping around when I went up to see them. I even held one till Mom got all excited cause she couldn't find her. Bunny is the name of the one I held, and she is cuddly! LOL I find that a little funny to say about a goat, but she doesn't mind being held at all, she just laid in my arms. She is a cute one, I will have to try to get a layout done with her!

Here is a poem I found that I thought was neat.


Little Things

It’s just the little homely things,
The unobtrusive, friendly things,
The “won’t-you-let-me-help-you” things
That make our pathway light-
And it’s just the jolly, joking things,
The “never-mind-the-trouble” things,
The “laugh-with-me, it’s funny” things
That make the world seem bright.

For all the countless famous things,
The wondrous, record-breaking things,
Those “never-can-be-equaled” things
That all the papers cite,
Aren’t like the little human things,
The everyday-encountered things,
The “just-because-I-like-you” things
That make us happy quite.

So here’s to all the simple things,
The dear “all-in-a-day’s-work” things,
The “smile-and-face-your-troubles” things,
Trust God to put them right!
The “done-and-then-forgotten” things,
The “can’t-you-see-I-love-you” things,
The hearty “I-am-with-you” things
That make life worth the fight.

- Author Unknown

Sealed with a kiss, a poem and Doxie Designs Irridaceae freebie

My parents first kiss as husband and wife.

I think this album is going to turn out to be way to fun to make!!!!! LOL I think I may put them all on CD for them too. Anyone have any favorite software they use to make albums on CD? I have an old version of Flip Album and an old version of 3D Album.....was thinking about using one of those but don't know for sure.

I found this in a book of Poetry I was looking through today. I just thought I would share it because I know I, for one, need to work a little harder on forgiving. How about you?

Giving and Forgiving

What makes life worth the living
Is our giving and forgiving;
Giving tiny bits of kindness
That will leave a joy behind us,
And forgiving bitter trifles
That the right word often stifles,
For the little things are bigger
Than we often stop to figure.
What makes life worth the living
Is our giving and forgiving.

~Thomas Grant Springer



Since I need to work on forgiving, how bout I do the giving part. This will not be posted on the freebie page and may not be available for very long. It will depend on how I am doing with bandwidth because the download is hosted on my site, not one of the free ones out there. Hope you like it! If you did the last weekly newsletter challenges at DSS you will already have it. Otherwise here is your chance to get it! Please leave a comment here or in my guest book if you do take it!!!! Feel free to let me know how I could improve!! What you would change, and/or add!

Don't forget to leave a comment!!!

Edited: Thanks for the comments ladies!! Victoria I would love to see your layout, but for some reason when I copy and paste the link into the address bar it says your layout is no longer there or has been moved. bummer! LOL Thanks for commenting though!! Glad you all like it!!

Download link will be gone by the end of Oct, sorry if you missed it!!