Dance

What do you do when you wake up at 6am on a Sunday morning... you scrapbook! This paper came in to Just Scrap It on Friday - along with a whole bunch of other wonderful paper and embellishments. I snatched up this new line of Dance paper by Carolee's Creations and dug out this old photo of Allison spinning - she did that a lot! This was spring of 1993. The journalling reads...You have danced since you could walk. Before that you bounced. Music has always set you to moving. When we started ballet lessons at the Fort Langley Hall – the big yellow building…well, you were so excited! Remember the little stickers on your ballet slippers? You wore your leotards all week long and loved to wear all your dresses so you could spin in them. I wish I had more pictures of you spinning in the living room, dancing to whatever happened to be playing on the radio. Off in your own joyful little world of dancers, princesses, and beautiful maidens.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Blessings,

Julie

Latest pages

A few pages I got done on Monday - it was way too cold to do gardening.

Mark's 17th Birthday - the two sides scanned diferently - but they do match up :)

Allison age 10 at the Berry Barn. So so sweet!

Allison and I at the Midtown mall playing hookey from school - one of the drawbacks of being a homeschool Mom for so many years. When your daughter says 'can I take the morning off and lets shop' you say "Sure sounds like a great idea" cause you know the time spent together that morning is way more valuable than hanging out at school. Beside - we had fun and we wouldn't have these cute pics if we didn't. Journalling reads...orthodontist appointment, Midtown mall, coffee and cookies, skip morning classes, shop a little, photo machine, $5.00 - why not? Ham it up! Feb 2007 Used the new Precious Metal line by We R Memory Keepers

Thanks for looking!

Julie

great link

If you were away for the weekend, I just want to let you know I have posted four times this weekend. I opted to stay home this lovely May long weekend (with the furnace on I might add)and spend time with my neglected scrapbook supplies - we had a date that lasted all day Saturday. So scroll down and check out the post!! And leave a comment so I know you were here. I love to hear from everyone.

Now I want to urge you - especially you who claim to be Christians (or even 'fundamentalist Christians'), to listen to Mark Driscoll speak at a conference at Willingdon church in Vancouver this past spring. Get yourself a cup of coffee, water, milk, get comfortable and click on Mark's name and then listen to his sermon on the state of the Christain church in Canada. It is long but worth listening to the whole thing. Then come back here and leave a comment.

Blessings!
Julie

Shilo

My precious son Mark is in Shilo Manitoba training with the Canadian Armed Forces. At church today someone said to me "Hey did you hear a soldier was shot several times by accident at Shilo? They haven't released his name." My heart sunk really fast. Fear filled me. Mark was supposed to meet me on MSN last night and he didn't show up. He wasn't answering his phone. It was a few hours before I confirmed that it was not Mark, but in those moments I felt a deep fear. And yet there was a part of me that knew that God was in control of everything and that even if I heard the worst He would see me through it. I knew the odds of it being Mark were slim - there are a lot of soldiers at Shilo..and yet...it could easily be him given the work he does. Life often throws unexpected events our way. Some can be devastating. Are we ready for them? Will He really carry us through the hard times? I believe with all my heart He will...in His supernatural way.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us... And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:16-18, 28)

I am rejoicing in the knowledge that I have been called according to His perfect purpose, that I am a child of God, a fellow heir with Christ, looking forward to future glory. Until then He will work all things for good.

Mark called during supper - it was sure nice to hear his voice! I told him he was missing the best shake N bake chicken ever thanks to the convection grill mode on the new stove!! God is so good!

Blessings!
Julie

Date results

Well what a great date - we played and created for over six hours yesterday! hehe I also made home made cinnamon buns in my convection oven after rising the dough in the warming oven - amazing what you can discover if you actually read the instructions - all two booklets!!! My oven actually has a bread mode - stick it in the oven press "Bread" and the convection oven does the rest. Went bowling with the family and a few of Allison's friends - boy did they appreciate those cinnamon buns!!!
Well this is it for Hawaii pictures...journalling on first layout reads...

I think the best part about our Hawaii vacation was just being together! No one was rushing off to work or school – our schedule was our own. There were no distractions of friends and phones to get in our way of just being together. While there was a TV and we did have computer access, most of our time when not on the beach or checking out shopping and tourist attractions, was spent playing games together. The favourite was Hawaiian Monopoly – the kids played this several times. We also played scrabble – Mom cleaned up! And the boys discovered the brio and a few other toys. What fun…how many years has it been since the three of them spent hours filled with imagination and zeal on the carpet of their room playing together or down the basement in the rec room at Twain drive creating something grand. Okay this was a little more sophisticated – Paul was making a video – but it was play none the less! Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIAaAJ6_rE0 ~ the result of a few hours of fun on the floor in Hawaii.

Every aspect of this trip was a blessing. Well Allie had a cold and an exam to write – so I guess for her it wasn’t all blessing. And a few people underestimated the power of the sun and spent a couple of uncomfortable nights. But those minor glitches aside, the Browns (Beth and Trevor) had the perfect home for us and we were so thankful to have all this room to spread out and just relax. The “green” room was particularly spacious and the perfect set up for games and playing –oh to have had this kind of a room when our four were little and we were home schooling. But I don’t think they suffered any without it. J So I give thanks for this wonderful opportunity to be together as a family with our new daughter-in-law in a beautiful warm place like Hawaii, enjoying His Creation, discovering another culture, making new friends, and coming home with a tan!

Sorry about all that journalling but we all have short memories around here so in 10 years when the grandkids want to know about our family trip to HI it is there. :)

This was a fun fast page - used up so much really old stuff!! YEAH!

Journalling reads ...double click on the photo and you can see the tourist info - most of the places we visited in Honolulu - downtown...the oops after Queens Beach? We thought we found the perfect spot on Waikiki beach - away from all the hustle and bustle of the hotel disctict - really quiet! We noticed only a few other couples there - mostly guys and a couple of gals. Read in the brochure that night that we were on the gay beach!!! LOL You know what? They were really nice people who chatted with us and didn't seem to mind a 'family' on their beach, it was a gorgeous beach, not crowded. We went back three times!! :)



Polynesidan Cultural Center - went a little stamp crazy here, used up old paper too. Yes!!
















I wasn't going to scrapbook this photo of Honolulu and full view of Waikiki Beach from Diamond Head, but in my clean up yeaterday I came across this paper - which can only be used for a Hawaii picture right? I kind of like it!!!

And my last Mexico picture ....Scanner was giving me grief so I photgraphed it but the colours are off. The backgound is a beautiful turquoise like the Carebbean Sea

Now to get going on my photos from 2000 - the first being Mark's 17th birthday (he turns 24 this summer!!!) Of course that will only last until I get home from Halifax with my photos of Peggy's Cove!!! Will I ever catch up?

O my - look at the time! Got to fly! Haven't got the music picked out for church this morning and I need to get into the shower!!!!

Blessings!

Julie

Date!

I have a very exciting date today. It is a date with my scrapbooking supplies! I am particularly interested in checking out...in lots of detail...my new Autumn leaves clear stamps "word flourishes". rhonna farrer you rock!

btw - four of the word flourishes came into the store yesterday and there was only one left at 5pm last night..but lots of other gorgeous ones. Check out the Just Scrap It blog and pick up that phone!

My sweetheart informed last night with with a very sad face that he would have to spend time at the office doing some work for an organization he volunteers for. "But this is the long weekend dear" I complained half heartedly while my brain schemed about what I would do while he was away...hmmm while the husband is gone....I was up at 5am this morning getting ready for my date...coffee on, tidy up the desk, sort the photos, check out a few blogs and websites for inspiration...my challenge to myself...finish all these vacation photos and get back to scrapping the kids photos....I am in the middle of the year 2000!! Oh yes and I do have to finish that project for Allison's graduation...Coffee cup is empty. Time to refill and get going here...hope to post a few layouts tonight!

...and the kitchen is clean..amazing how a new kitchen just seems to look after itself!

later..

Julie

mmmmm

This new convection oven is really quite something - check out these iced cupcakes Allison made last night - kind of nice to come home to after a gruelling day at Just Scrap It (just kidding but man you should see all the new product)! I have had three cupcakes so far!! Sorry no photos of the chocolate chip cookies she made after school on Tuesday - they are gone - but beautifully browned and soft and chewy on the inside - mmmmmm. I am inspired to actually bake for my family after a years hiatus...or has it be longer?? Should have discovered convection sooner..all these years of blaming me when it was the oven all along!

Sweet blessings to all of you!

Julie

Kitchen Reno

As promised, the before and after pictures

These are the before photos...you can't see that the 25 yr old countertop is lifting and the peel and stick floor tiles have gaps that are impossible to clean.

five days and several workmen in my house ALL day and .....

Here is the grand finale!

After 25 years of kids at our kitchen table in highchairs, boosters, doing crafts, school work and birthday parties...well it is kind of fun to have a small round glass table. :) The kitchen sink is the new granite silicone sink - deep. I like it so far. Brushed aluminum appliances - well when the grand kids arrive and start coming for visits I may be wiping a lot of little finger prints (and loving it!)...but until then I sure enjoy the look.

Thanks for sharing the excitement with me!

Blessings!

Julie

ps.....For sale at really good price is all our old white appliance all in really good working order - let me know if you know anyone interested.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all you Proverbs 31 women out there. Our Pastor shared a wonderful sermon on Mothers today. He spoke about how much we do for our husbands and children not to mention communities, how we strive to care for our families and be everything to everyone...how we strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman....and yet the reality is we are not and cannot be perfect, supermoms...we still need Jesus. He exhorted husbands and children to stop and realize that Moms need love, encouragement, exhortation, protection, care and acknowledgement because it is very hard to be a Proverbs 31 woman...it is impossible. He exhorted Mom's to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, because things won't go according to our plans and yes children and husbands do mess up even when we have done everything humanly possible to make sure they don't. In all our ways we need to acknowledge Him and know that as organized, smart, creative and energetic we might think we are...He still plans our steps, He is still in control and His ways are always better even when we don't see any good in them at the moment. What a joy to know that in the trials of motherhood and of being a wife, we have Jesus to lean on.
Happy Mothers Day!Know that as a child of the King - He loves you more than anyone. He will direct your path. You can trust fully in Him!

Thought for today...
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Pro 3:5 -8

Blessings!
Julie

How Cute

Well I am excited! First because I really love this layout and I had sooo much fun doing it. I think my new scrapbooking obsession is doing black and while layouts - not just the photos - the whole thing. This was so much fun. It all began as a scraplift from Laura. Check out her Totally Sweet page. I really had fun doing this. Maybe I liked it so much because it wasn't an 8X10 photo!!! I know it is kind of busy...but then so are seventeen year old girls. haha I took this photo of them as they were heading out to the mall...after an hour of getting ready...this is an important outing. Myself, I usually just make sure my teeth and hair are brushed! LOL

Here is my How Cute page of the girls. And you know they really are cute girls! Love em!

I really wanted to add these buttons but the page was getting too full....sooo that means I will do another black and white page with them. Haven't bought them yet and there are only a few left so I had better get in there..but check these out - sooo beautiful.

Another Mexico page -my last 8X10 photo...Reflections of Mexico.

Hidden journaling reads...
Evenings in Mexico are very peaceful, beautiful and calming. We walked down this hall most evenings. I wish you could here the water fountains below and smell the ocean air. There is so much beauty in His creation. I am continually reminded of the verse in Romans 1 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Everywhere I look I see His handiwork. His creation. I remember wanting to stop at the top of this stairway each time and just breathe in the beauty. I also remember that at the end of the evening of walking and some dancing my gorgeous new high heeled shoes were killing me! It was about here I would take them off and walk barefoot back to our room!

The kitchen renos are well under way and I am taking pictures. There have been workers in my house for two days now - no appliances for three days so McD's, chinese take out and wing nuts. Tonight it will be burgers on the BBQ. I am thankful to have the use of my kitchen sink as of last night. It is looking fabulous. I am thrilled with the colours although I think I see a hint of green in some of the ceramic tiles and we did not want any green...been living with a green house for 8 years. But I think I can get over it with the right grout color haha kind of like scrapbooking! Wish I could get out my cats eye inks and touch them up a little. I am resisting! You will get the before and after pics soon. I have to work tomorrow and Friday with the SHR so maybe Saturday I can get some up. Although we have a few more projects lined up for Saturday. sigh!

On a more serious note, if you are a child of the King and trust in His perfect will for each of us please join me in prayer for Emily, a little girl undergoing surgery today for a brain tumor. See Kate's blog for an update and specific prayer requests. Thanks everyone. Philippeans 4:6 says "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." What a great God we have who carries our burdens for us. All things can be taken to Him in prayer and He does provide in such an awesome way as only He can. And so even in the trials and tribulations we can find joy.

His blessings to each of you. Thanks for stopping by.

Julie

National Scrapbooking Day

It is National Scrapbooking Day and so of course I had to scrapbook! Here are a couple of new pages - one I finished today. The first is another Mexico picture. The second one is a picture I took this past January. Winter sunrises are so beautiful. His creation is so amazing!

Journalling reads...Excellance Riviera - we got off the bus and we were greeted with a warm washcloth to cleanse out travelling hands and then escorted down a long wide walkway to the huge front doors. Oh my, this was all so very grand. We looked at each other...this was going to be an exciting and romantic get-away. The grand doors opened as we approached and we were greeted with a glass of Champagne! "Welcome to Excellence Meester and Meesis Cortens"

I dislike being cold but I love winter. It is so beautiful, especially early in the morning.

Todays thought... Romans 8:1-2 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Blessings to each of you!

Julie

Dogs and Cats

Three posts in less than 24 hours...my challange to you? Leave a comment on all three. ..just kidding..but do scroll down since I am posting so much.
Okay I was about to head to bed with the Good Book and I came across a blurb that I had to share with you. Now in the scheme of things since I like a really clean house I am not into pets that much...especially ones that shed/drool or require a litter box. I dislke having to clean a fish tank! But for the sake of the kids experiencing the responsibility of having pets (yah like WHO looks after them?) we have had fish, dogs and cats. We currently have a Black lab who sheds, drools and since he is quite old...vomits. But personally if I have to have a pet I will go with a cat - cleaner and while dogs drool I really do believe cats rule. So the following is for all you cat lovers! haha

DIARIES OF THE DOG AND CAT

Our lab Sam

"Excerpts from a Dog's Diary"

6:00 am - At last! I Go Pee! My favorite thing!
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 1
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
6:00 pm - They're home! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Mitzy

"Excerpts from a Cat's Diary"

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

haha - have a great evening y'all!
Blessings!
Julie

Seven random facts about Julie

Okay I never do this but fact #1 I can't resist a challage given directly to me! Thanks Keli
#2 hmmmm I have a great husband who spoils me terribly and I LOVE it!
#3 my kids rock! really they are great! challanging at times, but great.
#4 my faith in Christ is the foundation of who I am..okay I get wrapped up in the world and to do lists and all the stuff that makes me busy, but when it is all said and done I need Him and He is there!
#5 I like Sushi and Carona - not necessarily together.
#6 I am a little obsessive about taking photos - sooo happy that digital was invented.
#7 being a stay at home Mom is the best thing in the whole world and if I had to do it all over again I would and I would home school them again too!

oh that's seven...I guess I have to stop now
#8...get me going on a subject and I can be hard to shut up! hehe

There you go Keli

For those that missed my Mothers Day creation keep scrolling down. :)

Blessings!
Julie

Mother's Day Gift.

I have today off - YAHOO!! and I should have got the oil changed in the car, got some laundry done, gone for a bike ride and done some sit-ups, washed the car, picked up some groceries, looked for a wedding gift for a wedding coming up....but you know what? I played most of the day with my scrapbooking supplies...and okay I did a little laundry and made some delicious turkey rice soup! But most of the day was scrapbooking. I made a little gift for my Mom for mothers day...so much fun. These just came in to Just Scrap It on Tuesday...and I happened to be working Tuesday night...sooooo of course I bought a whole bunch of stuff! Couldn't wait to use it all.

This was so fun and really easy to do. I searched all my pictures and found as many pics of my Mom with us kids - seven of us (who had time to take pictures) then resized them and cropped them. Box says Best Mom in the world.

Inside are the photos on a cute scalloped mini chipboard album.

Lots of fun.
thought for the day...
Job 19:25-29 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
Blessings!
Julie