~Normalcy~

Today we spent the day returning our house back to normal. We unpacked the cars, put all the scrapbooks away and all pictures back on the walls, bookshelves, piano, etc...yes I have a lot of pictures =)~ And in all the rush and confusion of packing...only two picture frames were broken. How amazing is that?!? Just being surrounded once again by all these smiley faces gives me a feeling of comfort...I feel safe and secure once more and life can return to normal...well as ~normal~ as it gets around here =)

2007 Page Count...327

2007 Card Count...275

~Treasure~

I recently had to find out very quickly what I treasured most in my life. I'm not sure if you can tell from this picture...but that orange glow is a fire that is coming close to our back yard. Just like the one three years ago, the Santa Ana winds came and all the dry brush ignited and was quick to spread. And when we got the reverse 911 call that called for our mandatory evacuation, we were ready. Fortunately we made our ~list~ three years ago and knew what to pack. But in all honesty...how do you decide in the matter of minutes what you treasure? When you sit down and think about it...the answer is relatively easy. Without a doubt knowing Meg & Jim were already safe and Michael was right there beside me gave me true peace of mind. And to quote him ~the rest is just stuff~ But some of our ~stuff~ is so sentimental and totally irreplaceable there is no way to put a price tag on it. So we packed pictures and videos...pointe shoes and track medals...love letters and a wedding dress...teddy bears and scrapbooks...the sum total of almost 30 years of marriage treasures stuffed into 2 cars. And driving north to Todd's house...not knowing if our house would be standing when we returned... it all didn't seem to matter. Because the most treasured thing is not a thing at all. It is the people we love. And being surrounded by loved ones is the most treasured gift we have been given...so talk to them...hug them...kiss them...each and every day...for you never know what tomorrow might bring~

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also Matthew 6:21

2007 Page Count...327
2007 Card Count...275

~Hybrid~

Well here it is...my very first all digital layout~! What brought on this inspiration? Well, I am now a member of Krystal Hartley's Creative Ensemble...woohoo~! Krystal makes digital page kits so as part of my ~duties~ I get to play and create with these kits...how cool is that~!?!?! So I plan to use the elements in her kits with my traditional scrapbooking style...what is known in scrapbook lingo as ~hybrid~ pages... traditional paper scrapbooking combined with digital... I do not see myself ever giving my paper scrapbooking cause I love that touchy feely aspect of playing with all my supplies. But this layout took me all of 5 minutes to create... where as normally it takes me hours to decide on paper and embellishments... etc... sooooo....we shall see how this all transpires. So stay tuned as I have fun experimenting and I do my part for the enivironment and go hybrid =)
2007 Page Count...325
2007 Card Count...275

~Treats~

Life is full of treats. Like while talking to Jim on the home phone, the cell phone rings and it's Meg... big treat~! Like the beautiful sunny days that allow me to drive along the beach with the top down on my T-bird and wave to the waves... big treat~! Like having days off from work that allow me sleep in and then spend the rest of the day scrapbooking...big treat~! Like Friday night date nights with Michael...big treat~! Life is full of treats...you just have to look for them cause they might be tricky =)

2007 Page Count...310

2007 Card Count...230

~Radiance~

Michael & I went to dinner at a friends house in La Jolla on Saturday and this was the view of the Pacific Ocean from their front window. The beautiful radiant sun was just about to set and it was truly breathtaking~! I told our friends that if our house was this close to the ocean I would never get any work done~! Sadly they said that after awhile you just get used to it. A timely reminder not to take anything of God's blessings for granted and enjoy the radiance of the beauty around us~
2007 Page Count...307
2007 Card Count...227

~Bliss~

Some rather major disappointments in life lately. Both scrapbooking and work related ... just trying to find my niche in life and enjoy the ride in the process~ So I spent most of today sitting in my garden ... listening to the birds sing and the fountain gurgle, trying to regroup and regain focus about the important things in my life. And I looked over and there was ~Nigel~ peeking thru the flowers and staring back at me. And I thought back to all the times that these silly gnomes have brightened up my life. From watching the movies Full Monty and Amelie...to watching Meg take a picture with one outside Buckingham Palace and most recently watching Jim try to make ~Henry the talking gnome~ ...talk~ For some unknown reason...these little guys just make me smile. Perhaps it's their constant grins or their silly little red hats...whatever it is I am glad for the temporary bliss I feel when looking at them and knowing all may not be fair and right with the world...but thru it all you can at least smile~
2007 Page Count...305
2007 Card Count...225