Coop's Creative Concepts

Fun Scrap Challenge (not all here, but.....210-20pages done=190)

2012-02-10T23:19:00.005-06:00

Perhaps I should have actually listed the Astrology sign, but I think people who want to know can figure it out. The challenge was to find a picture of yourself when you "became an adult with your whole life ahead of you" and then to get some characteristics of your astrology sign and make a layout. I love a challenge, especially one that specifically tells me what to put on the page. I do feel like I'm quite imaginative and creative. I'm definitely a dreamer. My favorite color is red, but I find I scrap in blue more often than any other color with shades of teal and aqua being my very favorite.

I told Fred about this layout at dinner tonight and said that I was using "that picture of us right after we got engaged, where you were sitting in Mom and Dad's living room in one of the lowback chairs and I was on the arm, leaning into you...." He said, "I remember that picture!" We both thought about how great a time that was in our lives. We were just starting out, knowing that we didn't want kids for awhile so we could just enjoy being married and really getting to know each other. And we did! It seemed as if nothing could go wrong and our entire life WAS ahead of us. The kids came along 10 years later and we still have an amazing life!!!

Love and Blessings!

ps. I'm a Pisces.....

212 in 2012...210-3

2012-01-14T17:24:00.006-06:00

This is for the scrapbook weekly challenge too. "Use 7 pix". Conveniently, I was already getting this layout done. There will be a second page to this as well...............duh, I have no fewer than 12 pix of Kolten for any given "event", even if that event is Tuesday!

So there ARE two other layouts for this post, but I CAN'T get them uploaded!!! ARGH. I'll get it done and get them here...... I will, I will, I will.

Love and Blessings

My 212 in 2012 Project......

2012-01-03T21:14:00.003-06:00

August 2011!!! Are you kidding me? I haven't posted anything here since August! Okay, well I guess we had quite a bit going on with Anne going off to boot, graduating, and shipping out. I just can't believe I haven't scrapped anything or posted anything about it!!!

Okay, the game plan is to complete 212 pages in 2012. So I'll have to do minimum 4 pages each week. I'm thinking there's no really good, simply, methodical way to go about it because I tend to get easily bored with working on the same theme over and over........ SO! Gonna jump around a bit.

The first is page is from an album I've wanted to do for years. It's "All About Me". So this one is called "My Survival Kit" ... all of the things I love and want and need for survival. My family, friends, and passions.
This one is from Christmas 2011 (this year). I was so Blessed to have everyone home for Christmas. Lacy and Kolten were with us and brought Shawn too. It was good. They're trying to see if they can work things out and be a family, for Kolten and for them. Anne was home on leave from Camp Pendleton. It was wonderful because, when we sent her back on January 2nd, we recognized that we don't have any idea when we'll see her again. She'll graduate MOS school the end of January, be assigned to her PDS (permanent duty station) and head there immediately. Then she'll probably be deployed in June. She might get some pre-deploy leave, but we just don't know.

So, we're getting ready to leave for church on Christmas Eve and Anne sneaks up behind me and says, "Do you want me to wear my blues?" and I'm almost crying when I say, "Yes, please." Lacy was the one who actually insisted on the family picture.

I am so Blessed!
Pray for me. 4-5 pages a week is gonna be a challenge! I'm 2 out of 212. It's a start.

The other thing I want to do with each post is include a favorite quote.

"We would worry less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do." ~Ethel Barrett

Love and Blessings!

Scrapbook Challenge- Aug. 19-26!

2011-08-24T11:34:00.003-05:00

This is gonna have to be the scrap anything layout as I couldn't find anything to scrap with 7 pix or green and yellow (what are you, a Packers fan?!?!?!)

So, as some of you know, I'm working feverishly on Anne's DD book and this was when she was 4. Can't remember who the layout sketch was from, sorry! But I loved it and it fit so well.

Love and Blessings!

Scrapbook Challenge- July 8-15!

2011-07-12T09:11:00.006-05:00

Okay, this was the layout I'd planned to do for last week which included a 4th of July theme.... and this week's theme includes bling and embellies over two years old............well the bling IS over two years old....hehehe...... So if I really wanted to get technical, I've done two weeks in one layout...........but I would NEVER get technical with y'all, yeah right!!!

Though I miss her terribly, I am so very, VERY PROUD of my baby girl, Anne! She's in boot camp as a Marine recruit for 13 weeks. She'll graduate on September 16 and move on to the next chapter in her life. It's an amazing step for her and she IS an amazing person. Can't wait to watch her grow into this.

Love and Blessings,

Back on the Picture Track.....Day 09 – A picture that motivates you to do more (Day 09 A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most)

2011-06-26T13:08:00.004-05:00

Sorry, I've been gone for quite awhile. For better or worse, our youngest daughter enlisted in the Marines last March with a ship date of November 2011. She received her orders on June 15th, for a ship date of June 20!!! WOW! All of a sudden, we were faced with having a grad party (originally scheduled for July 9th) and getting her ready to leave (2-4 months early!!!) and calming our "fears" and "anxiety" and sadness regarding her leaving...........

Now I'm back................

Remember (maybe) that when I started this, I'd found two lists that were slightly different, so I tweaked them together.......so some days have two pix. This is one of them.

Okay, this may get a little boring for y'all cuz my favs and my inspirations and my closest's all seem to be the same people.............with slight variations.

KOLTEN. Yep, the picture that motivates me to do more is Kolten, my bubba. Also just lucky to be included is my hubby, Freddy. He, by far, has gotten me thru the most. Now, bear in mind, my MOM is one of my best friends and is always there for me, no matter what. I chose Freddy to go thru life with 30 years ago! We've been thru a lot together. It hasn't always been easy; don't let anyone tell you it is, but he's always there; we always do it together.

So this is a pretty cool picture that covers both "days".

I also noticed on another blog, that the person included the list (and names of the pix) on each blog............so I'm gonna do that here too. The nice thing about that is that I can just look at "yesterday" to see what I need to blog about "today".

----------------

Day 01 - A recent picture of yourself (Day 01 A recent picture of yourself with ten facts)...Mom-me-Jen

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest...me & Kerry, me & Mom

Day 03 - A picture of your inspiration for weight loss...Kolten

Day 04 - A picture of the cast of your favorite TV show (Day 04 A picture of your favorite color)...Grey's Anatomy, Kolten w/Green cake all over

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite animal (Day 05 A picture of your favorite memory)...Bailey (duh), Mom & Daddy dancing at anniversary

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day...Bill Gates

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item...my scrapbooks

Day 08 - A picture of your favorite color (Day 08 A picture that makes you laugh)...my REAL fav color, Corvette Red & Kolten w/a mohawk

Day 09 – A picture that motivates you to do more (Day 09 A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most)...Kolten&Grandpa in Marine gear & Mom

Day 10 - A picture of your closest friend

Day 11 - A picture of your IPOD or other music playing device on shuffle, and then list the first 10 songs that play. (Day 11 A picture of something you hate)

Day 12 – A picture that defines you (Day 12 A picture of something you love)

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 – A picture of you now (Day 14 A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without)

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity, and the reasons why it is the biggest

Day 19 - A picture of your nicknames you have; why do you have them.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 – A picture of an exercise you can’t do, but would like to try (and then try it if you want to)

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book; why is it your favorite?

Day 24 - A picture of what I would find in your bag (Day 24 A picture of something you wish you could change)

Day 25 - A picture of your favorite super hero and why

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

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Love and Blessings.

Day 08...A picture of your favorite color (Day 08...A picture that makes you laugh)

2011-05-23T17:12:00.005-05:00

Another tweak in the system........from two of these lists melded together...........

My favorite color is Corvette Red.

And something that makes me laugh..............oh, you gotta be kidding..............how could you not laugh, smile, giggle, grin at this face?!?!?!

Another day down...........trying to catch up before the end of the month....yeah, right!

Love and Blessings.

Day 07...A picture of your most treasured item

2011-05-23T16:30:00.007-05:00

I'm blatantly stealing this idea from another Sparker, MCLAFLIN. My most treasured item(s) are my scrapbooks. I've got all of the digital files on a flash and I'm working somewhat sporadically at getting all of the older paper books scanned so the flash can be put into a safe deposit box.

That's all for this one.

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge!!! May 13-20!!!

2011-05-21T11:45:00.004-05:00

...Day late and a dollar short................this was the challenge for last "week" which ended yesterday.....and I thought I was going to be able to do all of the items for the challenge, but ended up with only the blue and 6-month-old embellie...... Oh well, got something done and "anything is better than nothing", right Trace!

Love and Blessings.

May 2011 Digital Challenge...Spring & Flowers

2011-05-14T12:02:00.004-05:00

Last spring Mom and Jen and I went to visit the Iris Gardens in Forest Lake. We were pleasantly STUNNED! The pictures just do NOT do it justice. But here they are.

Love and Blessings.

Day 6...Person I'd Like to Trade Places With for One Day

2011-05-14T11:35:00.005-05:00

This was really tough. I looked at several other's blogs about who they'd like to change places with and just wasn't inspired............not that they're choices didn't inspire me, but that I still couldn't come up with anyone. Well, I can't tell you precisely who it was, but someone wanted to change places with Oprah for a lot of reasons, but the one that struck me was being able to get things done with the money and influence she had.

Money and Influence...........

I've always thought that you can have too much money. I love the way Bill Gates and his wife give theirs away. Their Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in the world. And they've been credited as the 2 most generous philanthropists in America. Okay, so I really, really like them.

It occurred to me that if I could trade place with Bill Gates for one day, I could get some of that money for my pet charities, like the American Cancer Society, the Girl Scouts of America and my church..............and because we're in such dire straits here at home, I'd probably have to grab just a little bit of that money for myself to get us out of debt so we could start over. A little selfish? Yep!

So, that's it for this one. Maybe I'll do Day, 7, 8, and 9 to try to catch up a little.....

Love and Blessings.

SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGE- May 6-13!

2011-05-08T18:26:00.005-05:00

Kinda lame cuz the challenge included using GREEN......Been so busy working on Anne's grad vid that this was the best I could do. Maybe I'll try to do another one later.....

Love and Blessings.

Day 5 - A picture of your favorite animal OR your favorite memory

2011-04-27T17:22:00.004-05:00

Okay, my favorite animal in general (dog) or my favorite dog in particular, Bailey. I love dogs. I was raised with dogs. We always had a dog (or two or three) in the house. We have Bailey. Mom has Sunny (a yellow lab) and both brothers have their canines, one a weimaraner, the other an english spaniel and a springer. We've gone through cockers, poodles, gordons, and brittanys. We're dog people. And here's one of the reasons.......

My favorite memory is simply of my mom and dad together. They were the epitome of love in my book. They were also some of the best parents I've ever known. Not just my own, but any parents I've ever known. Mom's still one of my best friends and dad was just always......there. They were unconditionally loving to each other and to us. They were fair, though us kids didn't always believe it. They were fiercely loyal and completely supportive.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been "there" for almost 13 years now. Gosh, that's just amazing to think about....when I think about it. It seems like only yesterday that he died and then it seems like forever ago. I miss him so much. You know how they say that it gets easier with time? Nah, it doesn't get easier.....the times just get further apart. When I stop..............................and think about him, I miss him just as much and I cry just as much and it's just as hard not to have him here. The difference is that there are so many more times now that I can think about him and laugh.

So that's it for today......not days in a row, but still on a roll. Gonna get these 30 days-30 pix done............eventually.

Love and Blessings.

Day 4...my first little tweak of the list.....

2011-04-18T13:11:00.007-05:00

Okay, here's the first tweak. One of the lists I found says today I should post a pic of my fav TV show......and that's okay, but I don't know that that tells a lot about me. Here it is anyway.....I rarely miss a week of Grey's and I'll be sad if it ever goes off the air..... I don't know that my favorite color tells a lot about me either BUT, my favorite color changed as of yesterday! Take a look.

I am totally in love with green................as long as it's on the face of my little one-year-old pumpkin!!! We had so much fun yesterday. Kolten really didn't know what all the fuss was about. He just knew there was fuss and he was LOVIN' IT!!! as the commercial says........... He also did have a grand 'ole time once he figured out that all of those pretty bags and boxes on the window seat were for HIM! Then he wanted them all and he wanted them now! Mind you, he didn't care what was inside..........he wanted the bags and boxes.... ; )

Happy 1st Birthday, little man!

Love and Blessings.

Day 3...My Inspiration for Weight Loss

2011-04-16T13:24:00.004-05:00

People who already know me well will reply............duh! For those who don't, this is my Kolten. My only grandchild is the love of my life, light in my world. He's going to be 1 year old tomorrow! My how the year has flown. He is such a joy and we're so blessed that, due to circumstances, Kolten and Mommy live with us. I have to admit, I'm not good at this weight-loss thin g. I'm really going for the healthy-living thing. I watch what I eat. I move more daily than I ever have before (with the exception of HS and college). I'm trying, but I hate labels and restrictions so I refuse to say that I have to do "this" or "that". I just do my best at living the best way I can. Kolten has been my most recent inspiration because I want to be around for his baseball games, graduations, and marriage and kids like my mom is.

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge!!! April 15-22!

2011-04-15T23:13:00.004-05:00

OKAY! I know! I'm an over-achiever. I admit it. The latest challenge was just posted four hours ago. Well, it was sooooooooooo tough for me.....seriously, here it is verbatim......

Here are your challenges, should you choose to accept them:
- Use pastel, springy colors on your layout!
- Use black, white, and only one other color on your layout!
- Make a layout using pictures of your family!
- Scrap anything!!!
Anyone playing?

Well, I'm definitely playing cuz it's just too easy. I'm right in the middle of getting Kolten's scrapbook done for his first birthday.........on SUNDAY! So, "family" was a given and then I decided to be a smarta$$ and do the pastel as the "one other color" on the "black and white" layout!!! Here it is!

Stay Gold.

Love and Blessings.

Day 2...I'm on a Roll!

2011-04-15T16:51:00.005-05:00

The person I'm closest to...for the longest. Well, my very first thought was my very, best friend, Kerry. I met her when we were 3 years old. We grew up next door to each other and walked in and out of each other's home like they were our own. She's only 6 months younger than me but, due to birth dates, we were one grade apart. We got married two month apart and lived within 5 miles of each other all but 8 years of our lives (and three of them were before we met)!!!

Now I have to mention that THE person I'm closest to......and obviously have known for the longest is my mom.

She's absolutely the greatest. Okay, so she's a great mom, but she's also a really neat person. We haven't always gotten along (duh, I was a teenager at one time), but she's always been there for me through thick and thin. She listens more than she talks and only gives advice when I ask. We live far too far away from each other and that's only 53.6 miles. Yeah, so I've tracked it! So what?!?!

ciao for now!

Love and Blessings.

30-in-30

2011-04-14T12:44:00.003-05:00

Okay, so everyone else is doing it, I'm gonna do it! Yeah, heard that one before.

Well, there's a number of people on various teams who are blogging 30 pix in 30 days that describe themselves in various ways. I'm a scrapper, so I thought this would be a blast! Of course, one of my main vices is procrastination......yeah...... Well, my friend, the WickedQueen started recently and made the caveat that it would be 30 pix with the blogs, but it may not be in 30 days and she wasn't going to apologize for it! YEAH!!! Me too, me too, me too!!! She also tweaked the themes and I'm going to tweak them as well. Today's includes 10 facts about me.

I happened to have the pic above on my flash at work and had time to blog during lunch, so here I am...............

1. My name is Carla Cooper aka: MiniCooper cuz I want one and I wanna be one.

2. I am proud to be 51 years old! I've lived half-a-freakin'-century people!

3. My birthday is exactly two months after Christmas Day. That makes me a Pisces.....and I am!Imaginative and sensitive

Compassionate and kind

Selfless and unworldly

Intuitive and sympathetic

LIKES

Solitude to dream in

Mystery in all its guises

Anything discarded to stay discarded

The ridiculous like to get 'lost'

DISLIKES

the obvious

being criticized

feeling all at sea about something

know-it-alls

pedantry: I had to look it up.........a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning. a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details. a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense. OMG! yeah, I hate "them".

4. I've been married to my best bud, Freddy, for 30 years, come May 29th!

5. I am BLESSED with an amazing family, including two daughters Anne-18-a USMarine, and Lacy-21-mom, student, and server and my grandson, Kolten-1 year old on April 17!!!

6. My mom's one of my BEST FRIENDS.

7. I LOVE reading (mysteries), music (country, oldies, jazz, anything but rap) and my computer playground! (SP, FB, SCRAPBOOKING!!!)

8. I'm silly about cars. I give them personalities! I had a Saturn that was my baby for 11 years! .....and my poor, little youngest DD crashed it (not her fault, and she was not seriously injured) and now I have the CUTEST little Kia Optima and I love it!

9. I have a job that I love, SPED para for ECSE peanuts! And I also do the MA billing for the district....AND I'm the AT clerk.....AND I help out with testing this time of year............

10. I talk too much.........hehehe...........and probably write too much too!

See ya tomorrow, I hope!

Love and Blessings.

New Car...Didn't Make For the Original Challenge...

2011-04-09T10:54:00.004-05:00

Yep, didn't get this done for the challenge, but dang it! I wanted to get it done just for me. How cute is my little baby! She is soooo much fun to drive, a little sporty, adorable color, some fun free features......like bluetooth (omg! talking on the phone from my car....way too futuristic for this ole'lady). Her license plates just arrived and will be put on next week, when I get some time. HA! Anyway, got a neat idea from another SPDigi-Scrapper and I'm going to take some interior shots and do another layout while she's pretty and pristine! ciao for now!

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge- March 12-19!

2011-03-12T08:35:00.004-06:00

OMG! Is he just the cutest thing you've ever seen? It's okay, you can lie to me and simply agree. The love of my life, my sunshine, my moonglow, the smile in my heart. These pix seem so oooooooooollllllllddddddd now. They're literally from only 8 months ago, but that 8 months has flown! I can't believe he's going to be 1 year in less than 40 days! Well, as you can tell, he just fascinates me and I can't stop taking pictures. If anyone has a really cool 12-month layout, PLEASE let me see it. I've taken pix on the 17th of every month and would like to do something really special for his birthday.

This challenge included using green and gold. The green is there. The "orange" is kinda "goldy". Totally CASEd this template from ScrapGirls. Used all my own papers and embellies.....I've gotten quite creative over the last two years. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I Love GIMP!!!"
Love and Blessings.
Stay Gold.

Scrapbook Challenge- March 5-12!

2011-03-08T16:31:00.004-06:00

Among other things, "use some yellow and white on your page" was part of the challenge. How cool is that? I'd just scrapped this the night before. I'm struggling to get all of Kolten's first year done before his first birthday. I only have 2 months done................BUT I have 28 pages so far!!!

Can ya tell I'm just a little crazy about my little peanut, very first, grandson?!?!? Oh yeah, baby!
So, now I'm to the point where the rest of the pages will be pretty simple; one for each month with maybe a special something for the holidays that happen. Should be somewhat easy. My only real concern is, at the same time, I've really got to get BUSY getting Anne's DD book done for her graduation in June!
Good thing they're both so much fun to complete.............and I'm doing everything digi! OMG! What did we do before digi?
Love and Blessings.
Stay Gold.

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 26-March 5!

2011-02-26T22:31:00.004-06:00

So, the challenge this week was to include a picture of ME in the layout. Obviously, Tracy knows how tough it is to get us "family legacy makers" to get IN the pictures. Well, long ago and far away, there was a time when I actually showed up in some pictures. Not so much anymore....but here were two that I found at Anne's 1st birthday..........awe!!!
Love and Blessings,
Stay Gold,

THE most valuable lesson I can share..................

2011-02-24T08:51:00.003-06:00

THE most valuable lesson I can share..................

When nothing seems to be going right.................GO LEFT.

Oh my, this is something I've tried to live by all my life, teach my daughters, share with friends. It's kind of that "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality that I was raised with. You CAN change your circumstances. You CAN start over. I'm absolutely crazy about quotes and adages, sayings and words of wisdom. I speak "cliche", so get ready, here it comes.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about Dancing in the Rain." ~Tiffany Wilson

"It doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up." ~Vince Lombardi

I truly believe that every day we get up is an opportunity to start over. We have a choice to believe we're going to have a good day or a bad day. If we start the day thinking that it's going to be bad, there's very little hope for the day turning out "good". But, if we start each day thinking, 'THIS is going to be a GREAT day!' then, even if things go "bad", we have a better chance of dealing with them in a positive way. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!

I remember reading one of those perpetual email stories a long time ago. It was called "ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING". I saved it. I read it periodically when I need a lift. Bottom line, guy was shot in an armed robbery. The last several paragraphs of his story are:

-----After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door", Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?", I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?", I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me", said Jerry. She asked if I was allergic to anything. "Yes", I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, "Bullets!" Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." -----

I think we all have to OPERATE as if we're going to LIVE, not die.

"Live, Live, LIVE! Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving!" ~Auntie Mame

Love and Blessings,
Stay Gold,

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 19-26!!!

2011-02-21T17:45:00.002-06:00

White...Black...and one other color... Okay, I can do that. Obviously, for anyone who's looked at the last several posts, I've changed formats for Anne's DD book. It finally occurred to this old brain that I could do the 12x12 format and still put it in a video. (the edges will simply be black)......duh!
So, this was one of the Challenges this week. White, black and one other color. It was kind of freeing. I'm not really a minimalist, so I had to step back a bit. I love these pix of Anne and Lacy. Lacy thought she was such a big, big girl when they would sit together and play and Lacy would "teach" Anne all sorts of important things.
That's it for this week.
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 12-19!

2011-02-14T20:38:00.004-06:00

Okay, how flippin' cute is this kid?!?!?!?

I just had to do it. He's so cute, he's so cute, he's sooooooooooo cute!!! The entire family just loves him so much. We had a great night tonight. Lacy made dinner for the whole family. We ate together, all at the same table, all at the same time. It was a delicious Spicy Orange Chicken. We had wine. We had dessert. Now, we're watching TV together and actually talking. Wow! So, now I'm on to scrapping some awesome danceline pages!!! STNH!

Love and Blessings.

Just had to Share!!! I'm so Proud of Them!

2011-02-11T08:57:00.004-06:00

This is my daughter, Anne's, danceline team! These are posters that I made for them to encourage them on their way to Sections tomorrow! STNH (Soaring to New Heights) is their theme this year. They are AWESOME!!! I am so proud to have such a talented daughter and to belong to such a great group of parent boosters. I had to share.
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge- February 5-12!

2011-02-07T20:30:00.004-06:00

Okay so since the main subject here, Anne, is an 18-year-old, high school senior, getting ready to enlist in the Marines!!! I'm pretty sure these pix are over three years old! Where does the time fly?!?!?
Ain't she cute?! Well, yeah, she still is.
So, this ain't too bad for the year. I've actually completed several weekly challenge layouts.
We'll see if it lasts.
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge- Jan. 29-Feb. 5!!!

2011-02-05T20:22:00.003-06:00

Well. Here it is! I got Kolten's 1st Christmas page done. I just love the template, but I don't have a credit. I found it years ago and it didn't have a name attached, dang it. Oh well, Love it still and if it's "yours" THANKS!
Love and Blessings.....

Scrapbook Challenge- Jan. 15-22!

2011-01-16T09:45:00.007-06:00

The last two weeks has been completely consumed with getting a 8x8 book ready for the my daughter, Anne's, Senior Lake-Liners banquet. I'm basically making the entire thing digitally and I needed pix and info from each girl. Well, as you know, some parents are right-on-the-money and others, you have to prod and prod and prod and you still don't get everything you need. Oh well. So I thought I share the title, fans, Anne's personal page, and her memories page. Each girl is getting the title and then the next three pages, personalized for her. And then each book will hold the girl's pages and copies of her co-seniors pic/future page.
I'm very proud of the end result. Here ya go!

Yup! That's my girl! She's gonna be a Marine! We're sooooo proud!

So, that's it. What'd'ya think? Be kind! ;)
Love and Blessings.

2011...What's Coming Is Coming.....

2011-01-02T12:57:00.008-06:00

So my goal is to meet it head on and conquer whatever obstacles attempt to get in my way. How? Well, that will be left to the moment.

2010 in review:

Biggest change...Kolten. Our grandson was born on April 17, 2010. He's awesome! Duh. He's eight months old and he's beginning to crawl. He actually does that cute military scoot across the floor, but he can get anywhere he wants to get. Right now, his main objective seems to be standing and walking. Yup, we got one of those! Now that he's figured out how to pull himself up, he doesn't want to sit down.

Anne: is a senior in high school. She's doing part-time days at DCTC which is our local vo-tech. She's taking Graphic Design and Auto Mechanics! What a combo. She loves both classes. She's also getting ready to enlist in the Marines. She's already had her physical and signed the papers, but there's a holdup in the med department. She has bunions (of all things) and they want a specialist to come in and look at her and determine if they'll give her any problems. They won't. They never have, but it's just a fly in the ointment.

Lacy: is finishing up at SCSU in communications. She's got one year left. She's working part-time at a restaurant called, Molly Cool's. It's a seafood place and she makes pretty good money. Not enough to live on her own yet. If only Kolten's "father" would want to help out financially as much as he wants to be with his "son". Oh yeah, we know it's his, but he's doing everything in his power to avoid child support of any kind. OH, he wants Kolten to have his last name, but he keeps coming up with excuses and changes that keep him from sending in that danged check to the county......what a lovely example of a "father".......

Fred: is still driving OTR. He loves it and hates it. So what else is new. The new piece in Fred's life is his folks. Jack was diagnosed with ALS in February and the marathon began. Doctors, VA, more doctors, tests, examinations, more doctors......all the time Add is getting weaker and weaker and eventually he went into a nursing home in Ocotber. That leaves BJ. OMG! We had no idea how much Jack did for her. She's so much further gone that any of us realized. She needs almost daily care for one thing or another. We're trying our best to keep her in the condo. She has so many friends there and that helps. We've just contacted and "contracted" a PCA service to come in on M, Tu, W so that leaves just Th, Sat and Sun for us to handle. Friday, she has her hair appointment so we know someone's checking on her. Thursday, Kolten and I usually end up visiting for dinner. Lacy's at school and I'm watching Kolt, so it works. Fred goes in to see her just about every weekend. He usually takes her over to see Jack, but that depresses her, so sometimes we skip it. I try to go with him some weekends.

Carla: so that leaves ME: I'm still working for the Lakeville Area Public Schools, officially as a SPED para, unofficially as the MA billing specialist. I do all of the hoop-jumping that gets the district money from the state and fed for kiddos who are Medical Assistance eligible and receive billable services from us. I love it. I work with a great group of ladies in the ECSE department "by day" and an awesome, extended-online-by phone, group of amazing people doing the same thing as I am around the cities. I've made some great friends in both fields. I'm still active in the union, but getting more and more discouraged daily. I still LOVE scrapbooking and doing most of it digitally now. Got a new laptop for "Christmas". I did the "to Caddie, from Caddie" thing in mid-November. I'm using some of Jack's Christmas money to help pay for it and the rest is on the BestBuy-no-interest credit card. It all works.

So, the family is doing well. We've made it to the New Year and we're looking forward.

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge!!! Oct. 1-8!

2010-10-04T20:41:00.005-05:00

I'm working on Anne's D2D book. (Diapers2Diploma) Oh my God, my baby's a senior!!! I just can't stand it. She's all ready to enlist on November 22nd. I'm going to be the fewest and proudest mother of a United States Marine. Wow! So, my game plan now is to get as many pages done every week so I'm not going crazy......well crazier than normal......next June.
The them for the challenge was brown, gold, chipboard, ribbon, yarn, etc..... Mine's not really brown or gold, but the ribbon is there. The year she was born, fall came really late and the colors were stunning. The background and bottom-right pic is our backyard. Actually, that's our house in back of the geese. Doesn't look like that anymore. Trees are ever so much bigger and they've built other homes across the pond now. I even tried my hand at photomasking some leaves. It never occurred to me that I could mask just about any shape so I'm having fun with that.
I'm doing the book in 11x8.5 so I can maybe have a small Shutterfly book made for her later. I like that size for sending with her 'cuz it's not the overwhelming size of a 12x12.
Anyway, hope you like it. I hope she'll like it.
Take care.
Love and Blessings.

Some New Pages

2010-08-09T21:30:00.013-05:00

I made this one for our monthly digital challenge. It's simply to scrap your pet, so that was easy. I'm having a lot of fun with different fonts and mattes and ribbons right now.
This is the title page to Kolten's album. Lacy knew she was having a boy, so it was easy to put this together in advance. I'm done now with the shower, birth and homecoming pages. Some, I've already posted here, but I'm going to put them all up in the same post so "you" (really for me) can see the progression.....

First was Devin's shower for all of Lacy's college friends and our family. It was a lot of fun and a great success. We almost didn't have enough room to get all of her goodies home.

Then Chelsea gave Lacy a shower with all of her friends from the studio. Unfortunately, Holly wasn't able to make it. And it's a good thing Chelsea got it in when she did, 'cuz Kolten came along the very next weekend!!!

Okay, now we're back to the birth and thereafter.....this one's pretty obvious, but for those of you who know me, the bottom right pic is THE first pic that was sent out to EVERYONE!!! after Kolten was born. I took it with my cellphone! How cool is that?
Here's the new, complete family.....I made those photomasks!!!
I think that's where I'm gonna leave it for now. I've got lots more, so I'll be back now that Blogspot has the links to the pix working again.
Take care.
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! July 5-11!

2010-07-11T16:29:00.009-05:00

Okay, here they are.......under the ever-faithful "scrap anything" category, two entries......

First.....the first page in my "Book Of Me". No one else is gonna do it, so I'm gonna do it. I've Googled numerous idea pages and I think I'm actually overwhelmed. I decided to simply start with ME. Obviously, I love to scrapbook, I love to cook as well. My specialties are appetizers and from-scratch pastas. I think most people find me amusing. I know my neighbors do as I'm the one who provides the puzzles, games and prizes for all of the kids at our gatherings. Real and Loving are just who I am. And I couldn't get by without including a pic of "Gramma's Boy". The admirable pic is one from school where I work with SPED kiddos.
The second "scrap anything" entry comes from "my boy". Given the abnormally warm spring we had, the lake was really warm on Memorial Day. Gramma decided that Kolten had to dip his toes into the lake for the first time. He did not appreciate the major significance of the event as you can see by his less than pleasant expression. He likes it much better just snuggling with Gramma or Mama or basically whomever will snuggle with him. Now that I've posted them, I realize that they're are actually 5 photos on each page, so I did more or less fill an actual category. Who'da thunk?!?!?!
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! May 23-30

2010-05-26T08:35:00.005-05:00

I warned you.............and you didn't listen................here's more of my punkin............I just can't stop looking at him and taking pix of him...........the only thing I haven't gotten a great shot of yet are his feet........danged kiddo is really swiggly.......

The main reason I love this one (aside from the subject) is it's my first template. And, I feel just terrible because I have no idea where I got the template from so I can't even credit it! If it's "yours", please let me know and I'll edit this post. Anyway, I had no idea how much fun templates could be. It's so easy to find a layout that you like and just plug in your pix!!! That's what I used to love about idea books......

So, there's several shades of blue (and actually 10 pix.....I think I was trying another older challenge when I started this) and it's "something".

Take care.
Love and Blessings.

The Latest Kolten Pix

2010-05-20T12:57:00.001-05:00

Just had to share 'cuz he's sooooooo darned cute.......

Scrapbook Challenge! May 5-9!

2010-05-05T17:18:00.007-05:00

Alrighty then..........sorry, you're just gonna have to deal with me because my grandson is simply the most beautiful boy on the planet...........no, no, wait.............in the entire UNIVERSE! Really, no, seriously, I MEAN IT!!! I mean look at that smile; look at those eyes; look at that goofy grin......man, he already looks like he's up to no good, 'eh? His mommy's in for sommmmmmme trouble, I believe......

Now, as long as we're here anyway, here's my Challenge pages.......use 5 pix in honor of Cinco de Mayo.....it just happened that both of the following had 5 pix......enjoy the story. It will continue as the weeks go on........................duh................I just can't stop taking pictures of this little cutie-pie.

Hope y'all don't mind. I got this far last weekend and was just chomping-at-the-bit to find out what challenge Tracy was going to post. I'll be back next week with the continuing saga......

Love and Blessings.

Introducing Our Grandson Kolten Wyman Cooper

2010-04-25T12:06:00.005-05:00

Born on Saturday April 17, 2010 at 10:52am. Kolten weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 18 inches. He has beautiful, very alert blue eyes and light-colored peach-fuzz hair. His skin is smooth as silk and his feet are just amazing. Yeah, his feet. I just love looking at his feet and hands. He's just totally mesmerizing........ He even had a sleepover with Gramma last night and slept for 5 hours at one time! Granpa is totally enthralled. He's already talking about trains and racecar sets and drums and washing the car and all the cool boy-stuff that he's going to teach Kolten. Auntie Anne is fascinated. Though she's had to work a lot in the last few days, she makes special time for her and Kolten to "chat". She's planning on teaching him how to play ball, skateboard and ride a Haro. (I understand that's some sort of bike......trick bike)

Well, I really have to get back to my grandson...............I'm sure he needs me for something...... like cuddling.............can't get enough of Gramma's cuddles, ya know.

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! April 11-18!

2010-04-12T18:04:00.003-05:00

Well, I wanted it to be perfect, but I had to face it and realize that nothing's perfect and DONE is better than perfect. I'm going to try and try again and again to add a couple of "things" like embellies or somethin', but two more title pages and as many pix pages have to be done by Saturday so I can print, trim and have them ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lakeville 10th Birthday Party Kickoff!!! Can I get a "WooHoo!!!"?!?!?!

The American Cancer Society's theme this year is "The Official Sponsor of Birthdays" and Lakeville is celebrating their 10th Relay. Anne and I have been there since Day One and we've got the t-shirts to prove it. So, simple title page, one extra layout for 2006 and we'll see how the rest of the week goes.

Love and Blessings.

Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! April 4-11!

2010-04-07T22:31:00.002-05:00

Okay, bottom line, I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we had in "the South". So, I will not even attempt to explain the title of this page. Suffice to say that we screamed in, partied down, and got outta town without the authorities politely asking us to leave.
I can't exactly say that it's a quote, but it certainly means something to all of us and we will always remember. If you don't believe that, I'll use the "scrap anything" excuse and you'll be seeing lots more of these in the near future.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! March 14-21!

2010-03-22T20:38:00.002-05:00

Okay, very long story, very, very short. I'm a para-educator and I've worked with ASD students for 12 years. This is one of my original students from 12 years ago. I worked with Clay from the time he was in 8th grade until he graduated. About 3 years after graduation, I got an email from him at my school address over the summer. When I finally answered, he asked if he could take me out to dinner to thank me for helping him get through high school. Well, I was pleasantly stunned. We did go out, we began a wonderful, adult friendship and last year he told me that he and Amanda (who he'd introduced me to earlier) were getting married. After beginning to plan the wedding, he called and asked me if I thought that our daughter, Anne, whom they befriended as well, would like to be in the wedding. My answer was, "she'll probably jump on you and scream!". They took us out to dinner at Olive Garden, "our place", and guess what?!?!?! She jumped up and screamed, hugged them both and then started crying.
Last weekend, Saturday March 13, 2010, I don't know whom I was crying for more.....watching my former high-strung, anxious student, casually wander through the chaos of a wedding with a smile plastered across his face or my absolutely gorgeous daughter walking down the isle towards him with a look of adoration and pride that would rival that of a little sister marveling at her handsome, BIG brother......'kay, I'm tearing up here, so I'll sign off.
More pix and layouts to come.....
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Feb. 28-March 7!

2010-03-03T21:01:00.003-06:00

Alrightly then, this is my latest foray into GIMP. I have learned a LOT. It is just too much fun. The background stars and strips are from a freebie kit from http://efies.blogspot.com/ She has some really cute stuff, go check her out. I made the wavy-cut-mask all by my lil'ole self! I've now figured out how to use the ribbons and ric-rac and whatnot to do the same thing, MUCH easier and faster. The best thing I learned while making this layout was text paths. That's why this post is tonight and not last night.............'cuz I just had way too much fun playing with text paths. Lord, help my family and my house, 'cuz I'm a GIMP addict!

The pix aren't terrific, way out of focus, but I remember it like it was yesterday. And that's the point, right.

Take care. Stay safe.

Love and Blessings.

Coop

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 21-28!

2010-02-28T13:59:00.008-06:00

Well, this was fun! Not only was I able to join the challenge by using flowers, I scrapped my 50th birthday celebration. And it was a celebration! And it's still going on. Tonight we're going out with my mom and family for a special dinner at the Lake Elmo Inn.

I thought it was absolutely hilarious how much like the 60s/70s I still looked like with my flower lei and beads and whatnot!

Another thing that makes this layout special is that it's my first attempt at an actual GIMP layout. Wow! I had no idea how much fun that would be. Yeah, my family's in trouble now.....they may never see the whites of these old-lady eyes ever again!

From Coop's Creative Concepts

Well, off to party.

Love and Blessings.

Carla aka miniCOOP

Scrapbook Challenge!! Feb. 14-21!!!

2010-02-14T21:28:00.003-06:00

How's this for FUN! More MULTI-COLOR than pink or red and it's a card, not a page, but it's birthday card for my hubby......shhhhhh, don't tell 'im. He just loves anything that flies and I was playing with GIMP................again!!! So, I cut out all these adorable hot air balloons and I especially like the one in the middle with "its" tongue out. The inside's gonna say something like "you're not getting older, you're getting.......................well, not younger..........hmmmmm" I'm sucha smarta$$, ain't I?!?!?! Well, that's it. I know I'll probably get something else done this week, but just in case time flies away from me.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 7-14!

2010-02-13T11:28:00.002-06:00

This would be under the "MAKES ME HAPPY" category! This makes me very, very happy. Our JAZZ girls went to MN State Competition yesterday. They were AMAZING! Truly, truly amazing. (And looky-there, I actually used seven pix on this one!!)

These pix are from Sections finals a week ago. Us boosters were asked to make up some quick posters to decorate the bus for their ride downtown. Well, you know me.....digi-novice, but eager to try. I THREW together some very fast, less-than-perfect, but really fun and full-of-love-and-encouragement mini scrap pages. These are only two, but the girls seemed genuinely, pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, there were other teams who the judges felt were more amazing than our Lake-Liners, (how silly of them!) But the girls had a blast and we have great pix and now I'm gonna go back and play with them and make some more silhouettes and wordart and OMG! Ladies, I told you I found GIMP. I may never be the same......hehehe.......

Love and Blessings.

Carla aka: minicoop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 24-31

2010-01-30T17:22:00.002-06:00

Are you ready for this?!?!? Not only did I get another weekly scrap challenge done, but I killed two "blogs" with one layout! This was soooo much fun today. I'd set up a SparkRally for my MplsStPaul team out at Lake Phalen to walk, watch the kites and ice-boat races and just have fun. It turned out to be a GORGEOUS day. Bright sunshine, blue sky, crisp air, and temps in the teens!!! YES, we get excited in MN in January when the temps go UP into the teens. That's why they call the St Paul Winter Carnival "The Coolest Celebration On Earth"........
So, this is the hardy group of us that showed up AND were able to find each other..... I mean it, Jackie, I'm gonna make a FLAG.

That's it for this week....two in a row. Watch out, I'm getting good at this.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 17-24!

2010-01-21T18:22:00.003-06:00

Okay ladies and gentlemen, here it is. I haven't had the time I'd like to get scrappin' done of any kind, digi or paper, but I got this done last weekend. That one page per week thing has kinda gone down the drain......oh well, this is more than I had done last year in January. hehehe......

This is my nephew's hockey team. Anne and I absolutely LOVE going to watch Alex play hockey. Sometimes he plays down in our part of town and sometimes we have to "travel" to watch him play. Ah, the joys of hockey. In case any of you are interested, Coach Curtis is "dad" my brother and the other "Lacy" is just a little peanut who happens to have one of the other greatest names in the world and it's spelled the correct way and she was just too cute for words and she liked me.......go figure!

Scrapbook Challenge!!! Dec. 6-13!!!

2009-12-09T12:22:00.002-06:00

I'm in that "scrap anyting" catagory again......well, it is something and anything is better than nothing...............yeah, yeah, yeah.....
So take a look at that hottie! Look at that attitude! LOOK at that Russian! That's MY girl! They took 4th at the Apple Valley Invite last weekend. Very cool. Our Invite is this weekend and we're all really excited (to be done....OMG the work that goes into one of these things....)

So, if any of y'all are still reading along down here. I am desparate for a digi DANCE kit. I'm very picky, but willing to look at anything. Not necessarily looking for freebies but, again, very picky. I like the realistic look. I need mainly embellies: shoes, costumes pieces, words, yada, yada, yada..... If you're interested in designing, I've got some particular ideas (but no program to facilitate). I'd love to talk to you. Otherwise, if you know of anything, PLEASE email me and point me in the right direction.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Nov. 30-Dec. 7!

2009-12-07T20:32:00.002-06:00

So, here's the plan. Whether or not it can be done, remains to be seen, but we're going to try. IFF (if and only if....a math thing) I can get my ducks in a row once a week. I will be doing most of my scrapping digi-style from now on. I've found it faster, easier, more creative. I don't have all of the bells and whistles yet, but I think I'm doing a fairly good job. I'm going to start at "a" beginning. The year 2007. Anne got her toe shoes in January so this will be one of the first pages in my album. Which, by the way, I'm going to be printing via individual pages from ScrapbooksPlease.com......GREAT site and very reasonably priced.

Love and Blessings.
Carla
(we'll see if I get anything posted next week! LOL)

Scrapbook Challenge!!! Nov. 23-29!

2009-11-25T14:55:00.002-06:00

Okay, I actually got something done.....not just once, but twice this month. I kinda cheated a little-bitty-bit......I started this layout last year and just could NOT get it right......so I went back to it last night.....and voila!
Here, my friends, are just some of the things that I am Thankful for........

And I leave you with this enduring prayer from Dear Abby, because frankly she can say it better than I......

O heavenly Father:

We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.

We thank thee for health and remember the sick.

We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless.

We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.

May these remembrances stir us to service

That thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and yours. -- LOVE, ABBY

Love and Blessings from me and my family to you and yours.
Carla

Scrapbook Challenge! November 10-15!!!

2009-11-11T21:02:00.002-06:00

This would be under the "scrap anything, anything's better than nothing" heading.... Besides the fact that I was almost as exited as she was!!! This was the night she tried it on....now I've got to scrap the night she got it as she didn't actually expect to be getting it until next week, for her birthday on the 20th. She doesn't GET her letter unti the end of the season, but she's got the jacket and she is one happy camper. Congrats baby girl! You KICK!

ps....the font is actually my own handwriting!!! How cool is that to have a ttf of your own handwriting?!?

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! August 16-23!

2009-08-18T21:56:00.002-05:00

Okay it's not 6 pix, only 5......but it fits almost perfectly. These are pix from Lacy's senior dance recital two years ago last June. I did this "really quickie" layout in order to use the WA from Ginger's House which she specifically sent to me........'cuz she actually forgot to complete the verse to the song with the song title.......oopsie! Thanks Ginger!

Now this one......is for LAST week. Better late than never..........Actually it's also for my Digital Sparks August Theme Challenge too. I truly went 'round and 'round with this. I thought about fading out the willow in the background to give it a more ephemeral effect.....you know, spooky, but I couldn't get the right look and a good digi-friend said she like the full color better anyway! Thanks Marilyn. So, here's another shot of the lake where I grew up. Still love it there and maybe you can tell why.

So, there they are.
Love and Blessings All!
Carla

In Memory of Ben.....and Tom and Dan and James and Carlos and...........

2009-08-01T14:18:00.005-05:00

This was Cpl. Ben S. Kopp. I knew him as Ben. He was a good friend of my daughter's. I didn't know that he was born 8 years before my nephew on January 20, 1988. I know he died one day after my daughter's 20th birthday. I didn't know him well, but Lacy did and that's all that's important. He was her friend and I'm mourning. He visited our home a few times. The smile you see is the smile I got to see and I saw it a lot. Can you see the mischieviousness in it? I could. Can you see the pride? I saw that too. He was very proud of what he finally accomplished. He had a tough time in school. He graduated by the skin of his teeth, but the army brought out something incredible in him. He was a Ranger. He was Airborne. And HE WAS PROUD. He was proud of his country and served it willingly. He knew it was risky and accepted that risk, numerous times. One time too many, some might say, but.......well, let's not go there. The other names in my title are the other MN soldiers who were killed in the Middle East during the week of July 12-18, 2009.
I just wanted y'all to see the young man I knew as Ben.
I also want you to take a minute today to...............
hug your child
hug your partner
say a prayer
enjoy the sunshine..........or rain
be grateful
be sincere
be silent
say another prayer
be loud
say thank you
say I love you
say good-bye
say another prayer
for peace
for freedom
for soldiers
for their families
for our families
for our country
and take a look at this..........this is what it's all about.
Whether you believe in the war or not, please, please believe in our men and women serving in the war. Respect them, pray for them, love them as you would your own children. Most of them will return home. Some will not.
God Bless America.

Scrapbook page elements:
Fireworks: Seachell-PD-Element4
WordArt: Ginger's House
Bracket Frame: Latte Dah Designs
Thanks Ladies!

WHY I RELAY...American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Lakeville

2009-07-17T15:51:00.003-05:00

Why Wouldn't I?

On Friday July 24th Anne and I will be RELAYING with over 200 others at Lakeville South High School in the ACS Relay For Life in Lakeville. Relay For Life is symbolic of the cancer patient's battle. As the sun sets, it symbolizes the end of what was thought to be a healthy life. The overcoming darkness throughout the night represents how scary the disease can seem and those dedicated participants that choose to stay show that this is not a battle that is fought alone. Then, with the sunrise comes a new day for the cancer survivors with hope and energy to keep fighting the disease. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer in their own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.

Wouldn't you?

(r: Anne and Lacy Cooper)

(b: Craig Letch, 06-1997)

Craig's Cruisers Relay Team was formed in memory of my dad and Anne’s "Gaga", Craig W. Letch. There have been great advances toward the cure for the brain cancer that took Craig. In fact, Senator Ted Kennedy is now living with the exact type of tumor Daddy had. Your contribution helps turn research into cures. We want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year’s event. Please click on the links for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors’ Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can’t join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer – and in the lives of the people who love them. To request a Luminaria in honor or in memory of your loved one, please send me their name(s).

Fighting cancer is a team effort. The impact we can make together is much greater than what any of us could do alone. By supporting our team, you will be a part of a life-changing event that celebrates the lives of those who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost, and empowers all of us to fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Again, your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

God Bless You! Carla and Anne

Craig's Cruisers Team Page

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=15943&team_id=519860

Carla (and Anne) Personal Donation Page

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TRC/RelayForLife/RFLFY09MW?pg=peditor&fr_id=15943&px=6031697

Scrapbook Challenge!!! June 21-28!

2009-06-23T11:52:00.003-05:00

Decisions, decisions..................
-Scrap a layout about your father, husband, brother, friend, or other special man in your life!

-Use blacks and browns on your layout!
-Use a flower SOMEWHERE on your layout!
-Scrap anything!!!
Okay, you asked for it...........................These are all pages from my Mom's 80th Birthday Album. I finished it, barely, on time and we had her surprise party on Saturday June 20th. It was wonderful. Her entire family was there. We had beeeeautiful weather, no rain, few bugs, pleasant temps. Many old family friends and even high school girlfriends showed up!

1st the special man layout. This is my Freddy. We've been married 28 years this past May and Mommy and Daddy accepted him as one of their own immediately, as they did with all of their children's spouses. The joke is that he is her favorite son-in-law (yeah, he's the only one, but still her favorite).

Blacks and Browns? Well all of the pooches have been various shades of black and/or brown. We've had many over the years. I don't think we had a year when any one of us didn't have a dog in one of the homes. We've had numerous spaniels: Cocker, 2 Brittanys, Boykin, English, and a Springer, a Poodle, a Gordon Setter, 2 Weimaraners, a Yellow Lab, and our 2 Beagles. Woah. It's incredible to think about the numbers when you put them all down in a row. I found it absolutely hilarious that this is only one of the two pages I had to make in order to get them all in and look at the number of photos on this page alone! We're a family who loves our pups.

Flowers, you say? Okay here are some flowers. Truly, my Mommy and Daddy are two of my favorite people in the entire world and their love was so obvious. It could be mushy, sweet, silent, sentimental, loud, hilarious, or teasing/sacastic, but it was always, simply there. They met in college, where she hadn't intended to find a husband. He was a friend of a friend and they just sparked. Instead of graduating, working, then finding a hubby, she turned it entirely around and got the hubby, the degree and then went to work. He was one of the first men I even knew who truly embraced "women's lib", not just by Mom working 'cuz she stayed home once we all came along, but he recruited and promoted women in his business who were smart, enterprising and hard-working. He believed that a woman could do anything a man could do and sometimes do it better and smarter. They were married almost 47 years when he died....................from the brain cancer that Ted Kennedy is LIVING WITH 11 years later.............if you don't believe anything else about cancer research, believe that! (I'll be hittin' ya up for ACS Relay for Life donations within the month, so be ready)

So, the final layout is the scrap anything. Yeah, I know, I've already scrapped, but I wanted you to see this last one. We all came up with words that described, reminded us of and captured Mom, Grammy, Carol (M-i-L) for an alphabetical list.

So, there it is ladies and gentlepeople. My contribution for this week's scrapbook challenge and a pretty, darned good attempt at condensing my Mom's incredible life down into 80 pages.......yep, that's why there had to be so many pictures on some of the pages. Since it was her 80th birthday, I wanted to have the album include exactly 80 pages................and I did it! But here's the best part. At the end of the book, I included another dozen slide-in pages and people who came to her party (or weren't able to make it) made memory or birthday-wish pages for her and we slid those in as we got them. And there's room for the cards she received last Saturday and in the mail. In fact, I just got another page in the mail to add today.

Not bad, eh?
Not bad.
Take care. Stay cool.
Love and Blessings.
Carla

Scrapbook Challenge-May 29-June 6!!!

2009-06-02T21:03:00.002-05:00

Well seriously, Tracy made this Challenge waaaaay tooooooo eeeeasy for me. I'm still working on Mom's life book and I've been getting much better with the embellishments. I've also figured out how to make pictures into shapes using the very simple PowerPoint program I'm using. This is just getting more and more fun. Don't you absolutely love the flower............I did............duh. It's from Danielle Engelbretson Designs-Blissful Blooms and peachy/coral is one of Mom's favorite colors. So, I hope you like this as much as I do. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them......I'm still new at this digi-thing. Love and Blessings.
Carla

Scrapbook Challenge-May 5-May 15!

2009-05-09T15:18:00.005-05:00

The challenge this week included scrapping a special person. Well. that's easy. I love my Mommy and she's one of my most-very-special people. She's going to be 80 this June and I am doing an album for her. I thought it was going to be a mixture of traditional and digital scrapping, but as of last night, I'm pretty sure it's going to be mainly digital. I went to a crop last night and, maybe it was because I was exhausted from the week but, I couldn't crop for my life. I struggled and struggled and was able to ALMOST finish one 8x8 page in 4 hours. I kid you not. I was sooo disappointed. But when I started talking about it with my crop-divas, they said maybe it was a sign that this album is supposed to be digital. So maybe it is. I have found that I need to work on my embellishments. I tend to forget them when I'm doing digi.
I am so proud of all of these. They're done very simply with MS PowerPoint. That's Mommy, almost 80 years ago above and Mommy and Daddy in 1989 below. Ain't he a cutie?!?!? (miss you Daddy) They are my pride and joy. They were married for 47 years when he died. They were the epitome of love and honor and share and committment and companionship and partners. What a wonderful example.

This.................is the greatest place on Earth. Mommy lives there now, but it was the land our cabin was on for 45 years before she and Daddy built their retirement home there. Yes, that's an bald eagle AND a family of loons. Mommy's kept "ice in and ice out" and "loon watch" for the last 49 years and more recently "tumpeter swan watch" and "eagle watch". All that means is that she has the records for the DNR for our little lake. Basically that is the view from her dock. Now ya know why I think it's the greatest place on Earth???

So, that's my contribution to the Scrapbook Challenge-May 5-May 15! Now I'm actually excited about getting back to the project to see what I'm able to come up with since I've decided to stick more with digi.

Love and Blessings.

Carla

Scrapbook Challenge- April 5-11!!!

2009-04-09T15:30:00.002-05:00

Not sure how much you can actually read, but the date is CLEAR! Yup, this was our 25th anniversary weekend in May of 2006.......WELL over a year ago (which was one of the....hrmpf....challenges....like that's a challenge)
Okay, so Freddy rents a 2006 Mustang convertible!!! RED!!! We jumped in and headed south along and WI side of The River. We did all of the schmaltzy-touristy stuff; stopped at EVERY wayside rest along Highway 35 and Lake Pepin, ate at Pier 4, walked over the train tracks, watched the lock-and-dams, had a drink at The Dam Saloon, oh yeah, we hit 'em all. We saw eagles, herons, cranes, and all sorts of other "fliers". And that was before we hit the airshow! We drove up to Lookout Point on Diamond Bluff, Maiden Rock and Granddad's Bluff for the wonderful views. The first night we stayed in Wabasha and had dinner at Slippery's, the "Home of Grumpy Old Men". The next day we drove up to Red Wing to have brunch at the Historic St James Hotel; it's one of the best in the state. After brunch we headed over to the RED WING airport which is actually IN WI!!! What we're they thinking?!?!?! The show was amazing, truly amazing!!! I could hardly believe that I was able to catch a shot of the major explosion in the re-enactment WITH the plane flying through. OMG!!! We met so many wonderful people. These men and women take such care restoring these planes and traveling so people can see and touch the machines that made our country great! Bruce flew down with his team in their T-6s and we chatted for awhile. He let me climb in! Freddy's biggest thrill was to touch and tour Miss Mitchell, his favorite B-29 aircraft. The weather was fully cooperative and so no extra clothing to haul around, but no sunburn either.
So, I thought we'd head towards home and stay at some little dive along the way since that's what we do.....but no. What I didn't know was that he'd made reservations for the Honeymoon Suite! back at the St James!!! We had the most beautiful room called "The Boardroom" because it actually had been, back in the day. Now it had this enormous 4-post-bed and fireplace and a jacuzzi right in the room!!! We had dinner downstairs in The Cellar and slept in the next morning. Finally, it's Memorial Day Monday and we start for home. We picked up Anne and went on the Memorial Day Tour (to the cemetaries) which was so much more enjoyable in a convertible; you have no idea! We're commenting on how sweet the ride is and how sad we're going to be to give it back..............no, he didn't buy it for me, BUT we did decide right then to play hooky the next day and cruise out to Lake Minnetonka and do "the route". Freddy grew up out there and has a particular route he travels to check out "the lake" and make sure everything's where it's supposed to be because, you know, nothing is ever supposed to change............
Whatever, I've gone on entirely too long already, but it was sooooo much fun and now it's recorded for posterity.
Love and Blessings All!
Happy Easter!
Carla
aka MiniCooper452

S2L Scrapbook Challenge-March 30-April 5!

2009-03-30T17:48:00.004-05:00

Once upon a time we had a thread that asked about how to write script in a circle if you didn't have psp or corel or whatever. So I played with my PowerPoint and wrote down my very favorite Robert Frost passage. How convenient that the challenge this week had to do with "trees". This is a picture I took in our backyard last fall. "....nothing gold can stay."

I got my FIRST award! How Cool Is Cool!!!

2009-02-23T16:10:00.005-06:00

I received this "Cool Blog" award from Barbara at Just Passing Through. Thank you, Barbara, for thinking of me!

Here are the Rules:
• Display the image of the stamp "Look How Cool Blog" you just won!
• Post the blog link you provided.
• Indicate your choice of 10 blogs.
• Let them know.
• Post the rules.
• Check if the blogs post the prize and followed the rules

My "cool" blog award choices are:

Denise at Being Craft-De, that's me!

Tracy at Tracy's Whimsical Thoughts

Ashley at Dreamsfulfilled

Amy at ScrapJunkie

DGirlLV at Keep Your Mind Open

Joni at Joni Gray

Inger at Twisted Scrapper

Roxanna at Movefearlessly

Efie at Efie's blog

Bonnie at The Maltese Scrapper

Scrapbook Challenge- February 16-22!!!

2009-02-17T18:47:00.002-06:00

Okay ladies, this is the layout that I completed for LAST week's challenge regarding birthdays, but didn't actually get it done until LAST night....................danged friends keep me from scrapping with silly things like lunch and drinks and chatting and catching up. Don't they know that there are important pictures that need to be cut, taped, embellished, posted?! What on earth? Love ya Cheryl..............great Mexican and margarita and friendship.

I've Been Tagged...........

2009-01-27T20:36:00.004-06:00

I guess I'm supposed to post this picture and explain 'cuz I've been tagged by Karilee at http://blessedmemoriesscrapbooksbykarrilee.blogspot.com/2009/01/ive-been-tagged.html

This is a very special picture to our family. I'll show you the whole story in a minute. Anne was calling her Auntie Chelle immediately after receiving passing marks to earn her Black Belt in Kung Fu in July 2007. That grin was contagious. Uncle Clint (the cop) and cousin Lexi were there as was Uncle Curtis, Auntie Jen, cousin Alex, Mom, Dad, sister Lacy and her boyfriend, Trent. She had a fan club. Unfortunately (or otherwise) Auntie Chelle was cousin Cole's basketball coach and they had a big game that night.

So, below is the competition. She had to do many things, but some of the highlights were when she had to show take-down techniques and used her friend James as her attacker. Her forms were very strong and she happens to be one of the best kickers in the school. Her upper foot on her scissors kick is over 7' and her lower foot is consistantly 2.5-3 feet off of the floor. And, yes, I'm just a little prejudiced. : ) The handsome hunk teaching her how to properly tie her Black Belt is Lama, the instructors son and one of Lacy's good, good friends and has also become one of Anne's chief supporters.

Now, I believe I have to tag six additional people, but I'm not at all sure how to do that, so for now..............................................beware, it could be you next.

Love and Blessings.

Carla

Scrapbook Challenge! January 11-18!

2009-01-18T16:47:00.003-06:00

You may finally have me and I'm scared.....................I got a load full of the cricut last weekend and I almost love it. Now mind you, the one I actually have at home is a used model that has no cartridges right now. It was an amazingly generous gift from the mom of the wonderful kiddos I babysit periodically. She's a sweet friend and checked it out to be sure it worked, but the seller just upgraded and wanted to keep the original cartridge. So, I didn't even try it out.......yet. I was at TWO different crops last weekend, both had cricuts and one even had the 12x12 cutter attached to the computer!!! Okay, I'm not quite THAT sold yet, but that one does actually belong to "the mom" AND she lives next door! So, I'm going to test drive several cartridges from the "Becky store" and see which one(s) I need to have to start my collection. The above title was done with the cricut, but I also did a layout with "Hockey is Life", "woof, yap, bark", and a "Tinkerbell" and "Piglet". Also discovered Glue Dots......Lulu is mounted with Glue Dots, pretty cool. Who would've thought that there was still product out there that I hadn't at least heard of?!?!?!?!

Scrapbook Challenge! January 4-11!

2009-01-10T09:00:00.004-06:00

Okay ladies! Vi joined my Wingate DIVA crop last night and we actually remembered to take a picture.............so, here we are looking all gorgeous and croppy. (work with me here)AND, I got the challenge page done! WooHoo! It's my FIRST 12x12 paper page. AND one of my very, very few turns at using that new-fangled, contraption, Cricut, thing-a-ma-jiggy! Pay no attention to the date on the page..................I'm really not that far behind........................OUCH! (lightening hurts when it strikes!)Love and Blessings, y'all!
clc

S2L Scrapbook Challenge: Dec. 28, 2008- Jan. 4, 2009!!!

2008-12-30T18:55:00.006-06:00

Ever with your guy at a football game and notice his eyes wander over to the sidelines.......You know he's watching the cheerleaders. Well, in our case, it's okay because Anne's earned a spot on the danceline and it's one of the best in the state! She's having a ball! Now, some might say the danceline isn't a sport, but in Lakeville, there's no other team that practices the amount of time that the Lake-Liners do; 3 hours a day, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Even the football players are amazed and impressed. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that the girls can kick their legs over their heads or jump up in a Russian leap and land in the splits........

So, here's my SPORTS layout. To heck with the game, the real entertainment is behind the bench!

Scrapbook Challenge- December 14-21!!!

2008-12-21T16:04:00.002-06:00

Anne and I have been to lots of weddings in the past few months.....this one, however, was last night!!! Drove through SIX inches of blowing snow to get there! Anne was the date of one of the groomsmen and there family was kind enough to ask me to stay with her during the wedding. They'd asked if I wanted to attend the reception, but I let Anne do that on her own. SHE HAD A BLAST! As she tells it, EVERYONE wanted to dance with her and talk to her and thought she was "hot"! Uh-oh! Don't tell Daddy. It was such a beautiful wedding. Even the snow was gorgeous, all big, fluffy flakes..........just lots of them.
It's not exactly blue, brown, pink and beige, but it's "anything"!!! I'm going with the anything part of the challenge this week. It does have blue and the bling is kind of "beige-y" and the "pink" is just more RED-ish-ish-ish. Whatever works.
Please check out my providers for this digi-layout:
double heart-PandabearDesigns
bling-unknown
blue stars bkgrd-BooLandDesigns
“celebrate”-LizardDauDesign
Thanks to all the wonderful designers who share their talents so I can play!!! Most of them are from right here in "blogspot" land.........

Scrapbook Challenge- December 7-14!!!

2008-12-08T20:30:00.002-06:00

I am so very excited! This is the first layout challenge I've actually completed in a month! This one was way too easy. I love red and gold. I collect red and gold. This event was one of the best too. The pretty, pretty blonde is the younger sister of the beautiful brunette, both of whom babysat Anne and Lacy when they were young. Shannon and Anne have been bestest-buds ever since. "Shanny" went to college in AZ where she met Bren. She would take Anne to Twins games or cheer Anne on at her softball games when she was home. Breezy and Shanny were the reason Anne started playing softball. Bren is a great guy and also treats Anne very special. They got married in Hawaii last June, but that was way too much $$ so we joined the entire neighborhood etal. at a MAJOR bash in September in MN. I got the background papers from FLASHGRAPHICS (a fantastic digi-scrap group) and the ornaments (don't they just "look" Hawaiian?!?!?!) from vianne-creativedesigns (talk about creative!)

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! October 31- November 7!!!

2008-11-05T19:33:00.002-06:00

Yeah, she knows she's cute and she knows how to use it! Our Bailey is 9 years old and full 'o p--- and vinegar. I even used a font called "Beagle" from MSWord. I've used seveal different designers to make this page. If you like it, please go check out their sites. Most of them are right here on blogger as well.
Designs by Vicki_Raining Cats & Dogs Collab
Water LO Project_ev_forest
ShabbyPrincess_SM_WoodBrad

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! October 24-31!

2008-10-28T18:06:00.002-05:00

Hopefully, I did this right. I've just started digi-scrappin' and it's awesome, but I don't have all of the programs and knowledge yet. This was actually done as a powerpoint slide and then printed. Not bad for the first one. I feel like I should note the wonderful designers who helped with the freebie product, so thanks to the following.......
DAC_RachaelH_TrickorTreat-paper
Shannonfahrnbach_HappyHalloween-elements
cnash_daydreambonus_swirly2

Teaching

2008-08-08T10:19:00.006-05:00

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -- William Arthur Ward

That's a good one. It's been another several weeks and I'm trying not to get discouraged by this particular website. There are many things I like about this format. It's very easy to personalize this blog, but I've found no contacts at all and there's no EASY way to contact others and make friends. I have another blog on K102 and I've got lots of friends that I talk to regularly. I feel like I'm part of a community there. I feel like I'm alone here. So, maybe that's okay and I will use this as a diary since so few people will ever see it. We'll see.

Anyway, what's happened since July 18? Well, on the 19th we took off for Duluth for the day to watch the AirShow. We were a little concerned about the weather as we drove smack into a fog bank coming over the hill into Duluth, but we hung around the canal for a bit and then headed up to the airport and the SUN BROKE THROUGH!!!

Everything flew that day including the BLUE ANGELS!!! OMG! They were awesome.

Relay For Life was wonderful. The evening was gorgeous and Anne and I raised over $700 and the event is over $50,000 so far. Our event closes August 30, so we're still accepting donations. Then that Sunday, the 27th, we shipped Anne off to Just For Kix Dance Camp and we left for "parts unknown". Three days with no kids, no dog, just me and my buddy. No plans, no reservations, just drive. We ended up in Brainerd, Gull Lake, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Whitefish, and Pine River. Tuesday morning we woke up in a little cabin on a quiet lake with no one else around. It was so peaceful, nothing but the birds, insects, wind and frogs. We drove back to Mom's Tuesday night so I could be there Wednesday morning to take her, Curtis, Jen and Alex to the airport for ALASKA!! I am so jealous. I got home Wednesday afternoon after Fred had gone to work and the house was so quiet. I missed Anne so bad. She came home Wednesday night. She'd had a blast. We had a couple of days with basically nothing to do so we cleaned out her old room and moved her down into Lacy's old room. Then we moved the big bed from my office up to the new guestroom (Anne's old room) and moved the futon down to the office...............soooooooooooo much more room!

Tuesday August 5th, we had our 2nd Annual National Night Out party and it was GREAT! We have such a cool neighborhood. Jill offered her house, Denny made an 8-pound hamburger, and we had a blast. And so we're just about caught up, I guess. See ya in a month or so...school will have started by then so I'll have more to talk about I'm sure.

WHY I RELAY...............

2008-07-18T09:46:00.002-05:00

In MEMORY of Craig and all of the others.......
Anne and I are at it again and on Friday July 25th we will be RELAYING with over 200 others at Lakeville South High School in the ACS Relay For Life in Lakeville.
It's a dusk to dawn event signifying the journey from darkness to light. We participate every year to join people around the world in celebrating those who have survived cancer, remembering the people we've lost, and supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life is symbolic of the cancer patient's battle with cancer. As the sun sets with the first couple of hours, it symbolizes the end of what was thought to be a healthy life. The overcoming darkness throughout the night represents how scary the disease can seem and those dedicated participants that choose to stay show that this is not a battle that is fought alone. Then, with the sunrise comes a new day for the cancer survivors with hope and energy to keep fighting the disease. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer in their own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.
Please consider making a donation to us or join our team. You are helping deliver the hope that future generations will not have to endure cancer threatening the lives of their friends and family. You have the power to fight back against a disease that affects millions.
Our goal again this year is $1000!!!!! If each person that reads this contributes JUST $10, we will have made our goal and so much more. For that $10, you may have a Luminaria made in memory or in honor of someone close to your heart. The Luminaria ceremony is held at dusk and includes a Silent Lap. It is quite a moving experience.

Craig's Cruisers Relay Team was formed in memory of my dad and Anne's "Gaga", Craig W. Letch. There have been great advances toward the cure for the brain cancer that took Craig. Your contribution could make that cure a reality. We want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year's event. Please visit the website listed below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors' Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can't join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them. To request a Luminaria in honor or in memory of your loved one, please send me their name(s). Again, your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Very Sincerely,Carla and Anne Cooper
(if you'd rather send a check or decorate your own bag, please let me know, here, and I will privately send you my address)
URL to Craig's Cruisers, Carla's personal donation and ACS website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TRC/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeMidwestDivision?pg=peditor&fr_id=7313&px=6031697

The God I Forgot About

2008-06-23T08:22:00.002-05:00

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

It seems that God, again, just has to hit me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention.

I had the most wonderful evening with my friend Cheryl on Friday. Where we normally see each other for dinner or lunch for about 2-3 hours every 3-4 months or so, we spent 6 HOURS at Houlihans on Friday night. The staff was fantastic and left us ALONE (we tip very well) unless we signaled that we needed sustenance or drink. (the drinks were non-alcoholic) We sat and talked and talked and talked and worked out the entire world's problems..........well at least most of ours. I UNLOADED about all of the crap with the OC (oldest child) and she gave me what I've needed most, affirmation that we're not the most horrible parents in the world and we have to spend this time looking out for Anne and not worry about our decisions.

So the God part of it is that He has put Cheryl in my life, He has been providing daily inspiration via loving my hubby, the internet, the phone, and even the horoscopes (yes, I read them but don't spend my life by them). But the greatest thing is that they have been telling us to slow down and evaluate and not worry and oh my gosh! it's spot on!!!! I believe that He puts various forms of information in front of us regularly to remind us that He's there and He'll use whatever will get our attention at this time. He's a marvelous God and He knows what we need.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous.

2008-06-19T14:34:00.002-05:00

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

She just walked in the door like she still lives here and can come and go as she pleases. I bit my tongue being pleasant to her. "I just came to get my mail." Great. Thanks for that.

The bible verse was on my home page today when I opened it. It was just what I needed. Be strong for I will be with you. Lord, I need you with me. I need to start over and love her unconditionally and let it be. I will let You handle her and hope and pray that someday she will realize we tried to do what was best for all. Thank you Lord, for carrying me.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

2008-06-18T14:21:00.003-05:00

Matthew 6:33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Yup, that sure says it. Well, Lacy left last Saturday and I've been between crying and screaming ever since. When I saw her empty room, I dissolved into tears. Then when I tried to contact her (by text, darn it!) to get some information for insurance, she was so rude and contemptuous! I alternate between worrying about her and wishing her good riddance. I can't help it. I love her so much and I despise the way she acts!

Anne wants to move down into Lacy's old room and I'm inclined to let her. Fred is beside himself and can't let her. He still believes there's some chance of getting through to Lacy and she'll magically change and want to come home and "play nice". It ain't gonna happen. Fred lives in this dreamworld where it's the 50's and he's Father Knows Best. That's what we used to look like when we were all together and father did know best. I miss those days.

2008-06-10T16:06:00.001-05:00

The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous.- - Margaret Fontey

Keep on walkin’ with rocks in your shoes.....

2008-06-07T09:50:00.003-05:00

Fancy meeting you here again so soon..... I really thought I'd be so busy that I'd only get back to journal once or twice a week. Well, that may be how it eventually works, but for now, I'm taking the time I do have available to add entries. Rocks In Your Shoes is a country song (which is where I'm spending most of my time lately) sung by Emily West that refers to staying on course even when life smacks you in the face and tries to knock you down, if not out. That's what I'm feeling like this minute.
The point right now is that we're seriously informing the OC (oldest child) that she needs to leave the house. We love her so much and we just can't figure out WHAT we've done wrong that she's become so selfish and rude and inconsiderate that she thinks she can live here and be that way. She's decided to blame us for everything wrong in her life and acts like she is going to hold it against us even while living here, rent-free, come-and-go-as-you-please. We've set down some "Rules for Getting Along Together" and she's basically chosen to pick and choose the ones she wants to follow or not. By seriously I'm mean that I've told the OC that she's "moving out" several times in the past 6 months due to the above infractions, but I never follow-through. I've let her get away with completely disregarding me, her dad and her sister AND calling me several very ugly names last week. With school coming to a close, I just wanted to relax a few days and then address it next week. I was going to ask her to leave, but last night Fred had had enough and, when she got home, he told her that she had one week. She began crying and ended up leaving to spend the night at the boyfriend's (he was at his graduation-all-night-party). Wonder what she told his mom about that?!? Before she left she actually had the gaul to ask her sister, "Do you have any idea why Dad is making me leave?" She didn't respond.
Gotta run....I'll return with updates after softball with the TA (teen-ager)....the one who stills likes us.......................
Rocks In Your Shoes by Emily West
So you had some bad luck, life sucks
Can’t do nothin’ right
You took some wrong turns,
Got burned way too many times
And so you fall back with all that
hurt that just don’t wanna heal
So then you do the why me,
This can’t be happenin’ again
Hey what’s the deal man
I can’t take much more of this
You put your time in
Payed your dues
Believe me I know how you feel

I guess you gotta make a choice
When it hits the fan
You can get a little down or get a little mad
When there’s stones in the road
only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!

I heard some good lies from bad guys
Makin’ me their mark
They did a drive by bang, bang
Big hole in my heart
Needed a crash cart, CPR
Sister I was fadin’ fast
I had a poor me trophy
Kept it on a shelf
Did the too proud,
Too cool to ask for any help
But when I gave in prayin’
I only got what answered back
And He said,
I guess you gotta make a choice
When it hits the fan
You can get a little down or get a little mad
When there’s stones in the road only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!
Bitter’s like a weed
If you let it grow
It’s gonna trip you up, yeah
Somewhere down the road
To get where you’re going
There’s only one thing to do
You gotta learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
You better learn to walk with rocks in your shoes
Come on!
Keep on walkin’ with rocks in your shoes

This song talks to me about continuing to love her and persevere through her anger and mine. And, I'd hope it spoke to her about taking responsibility for her own actions and decisions and discontinue blaming "everyone else". Not that she'll ever read this. I don't think she knows that I have a blog. Another great country song right now that completely applies is, Back When I Knew It All by Montgomery Gentry. Maybe I'll put that in tomorrow.

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.

2008-06-06T12:26:00.003-05:00

In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
That's right, school's out for summer! No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks.................well, okay, I'm the teacher, so I can still give the dirty looks, just not to those particular students. I hope I've spent the year teachiing them things that will help them pass life's test.

It's actually been a tough year for me too. I had no idea what it would be like to raise children of my own. The line between teacher and parent has been very thin this year and it's been tough on all of us. Sometimes I contemplate giving up the teacher-parent thing and other times I want to give up the parent thing altogether! Really! So, this is "me" doin' a jig down the hallway on the way out the door to v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n! in the summertime!

I'm sure I'll see you along the way, but don't be surprised if it's a few miles in-between!

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather.

2008-05-29T18:13:00.004-05:00

Okay, I'll try that. There's no such thing as bad weather, there's no such thing as bad weather, there's no such thing as bad weather, there's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.....yeah, whatever. The weather in Minnesota right now is incredibly irritating. Summer has yet to arrive in any way, shape or form. It teases us with beautiful, warm, sunshiny days in the 70s and then snaps us back into dreary, rainy, cold. It's May 29th, for heaven's sake. Oh my! It's May 29th!! It's our 27th anniversary today. We celebrated with Fred's folks on Tuesday, so I guess we forgot about today. We've talked at least 5 times on the phone today and neither one of us said anything. Man, at 20 I didn't think I'd do anything for 27 straight years and the very next year I snagged Freddy. 27 years, two kids, two dogs, four moves, and at least 17 vehicles later and look at us..............we're still happy!! WooHoo!! Happy Anniversary, Babe, I love you more today than yesterday and not as much as tomorrow.

If you are losing your leisure, you may be losing your soul.

2008-05-24T09:04:00.006-05:00

This is where I'm headed................................................ HAVE A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY

And don't forget to take a minute (or more) to remember why we get to enjoy a three-day weekend every year at the end of May............

The music I live by

2008-05-16T18:27:00.005-05:00

This is so cool. I was surfing some other's blogs last night and found this great mp3 that you can add to your blog, so there it is. At this point I've included some of the really inspirational songs I've collected over the last few years. The first one is from the movie Frequency, which I totally love. The song talks about waiting for "you to come back to me again" and circles "of life" and whatnot, but it always reminds me of my daddy and how much I miss him. The other songs are really neat pick-me-up pieces by various artists, but I've noticed how many of the songs are from the country genre. Country writers/singers sure know how to bring up your spirits..........of course, they also sing about broken hearts and cheatin' and drinkin' and prison..........

What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expected generally happens. --Benjamin Disraeli

2008-05-15T13:03:00.004-05:00

So, I guess I've been expecting spring to arrive.........yes, I know it's May 15, but spring has been a long time coming to Minnesota this year and I'm tired of waiting. Today is beautiful, however. And this morning I participated, for the 6th time, in our high school's Mock Car Crash. One would think it would put a damper on the day, but it has the completely opposite effect one me. I get totally revved-up. This is such an absolutely vital message to get through to these kids and it thoroughly driven home by seeing some of "their own" involved in a terrible, terrible tragedy that could be prevented.
This photo is actually from the MCC last fall at another high school as I haven't seen today's photos yet. It's such a powerful experience. We stage it sometime during the week of prom. One of my "children" is a fatality as is one of the "prom-goers". My "hubby-of-the-day" gets "detained" for trying to attack the student "drunk-driver". I have to be extracated from our vehicle and one of the "critically-injured" students is taken away by helicopter.
Given the weather of late, we were all quite concerned about what conditions were going to be like this morning. Well, God takes care and it was gorgeous. The audience of junior and senior students were awestruck and hopefully moved into making better choices not just this weekend but for the rest of their lives. I feel honored and blessed to take part in this re-creation every spring.

Life is a handful of short stories, pretending to be a novel.

2008-05-10T21:28:00.003-05:00

Man it's been a loooooooooooong time. I thought this would be such a great place to set my thoughts down "on paper", but life got in the way. Between Lacy being home and changing the household dynamic and Anne getting into more and more trouble, I don't know which way is up some days.
So it's almost 10pm on Saturday night...the night before Mother's Day. I'm sure my girls have purchased something.....that their grandfather gave the money for.....and they're certainly going to give it to me tomorrow at some point.....but neither one has asked or suggested that we "do" something tomorrow.....I'm going to visit MY mom tomorrow afternoon with Fred to bring her the potted geranium we get her EVERY year that she justs loves, AFTER we stop at his mom's to give her the potted fushia that we give her EVERY year that she adores.....
I'm trying to be okay with everything, but I'm just not right now. I wish I had someone to talk to..................

Long time, no see...

2008-03-11T11:06:00.003-05:00

I don't have any fantastic tale to explain my absence. Oh well. I would have been pleased to say that I'd been whiling away the days in some sunny fantasy place, but no such luck.

What I was really doing began with the Scrapbook retreat the weekend of the 22nd. Got to St. Croix Falls on Friday night and for the first time in years, we didn't have inclemate weather! We've had everything from rain to ice storms so this was new. Jen, Shelle, Kathy and I celebrated "our" birthdays. We started that several years ago since it's usually right on my weekend and close to Shelle's and Kathy's, Jen just gets to join in!! She brought the most amazing cake from McCaffety's. It was a quad-layer, double chocolate number with the most decadent filling. Yummmmmm! Don't have a picture of it, but it was grand!
After that weekend, it's just been busy, busy, busy doing nothing, nothing, nothing...out of the ordinary anyway. Life seems to have jump-started in the last two weeks. It's absolutely crazy! But, unfotunately, nothing to tell about.

Ooooooh!

2008-02-20T11:06:00.004-06:00

This was right outside my front door last FALL!!!! God is great!

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Baby it's cold outside!!

2008-02-19T11:08:00.003-06:00

Okay, give us two beautiful, above freezing days, then sock us back with negative temperatures and you'd think we'd died and gone to h---! Here's where I WANT to be right now. But, since that ain't gonna happen, I guess I'll just snuggle down with a good book, a good glass of wine, a roaring fire and my hunny-bud. Oh yeah, I gotta work until 3. Dang it! Well, that's what's on tap for tonight. Now, you want to see cold in Minnesota, check out this guys website-photo-gallery. Wow! http://www.northernimages.com/ He is incredible! I get chills just looking at some of his work. He's got some amazing picture of Lake Superior and the North Shore throughout the year. Take a peek!
Stay Gold.

2008-02-17T15:11:00.006-06:00

Well, that didn't last long. Okay, I got busy. I've got a cold coming on. And I've got a computer that's older than dirt, so the easiest place to blog is before and after work or durning breaks and I was pulled in three different directions there this week.

Fred and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day. He'd sent me a dozen roses on the 13th, which is much cooler. We made steak and salad for dinner and shared some really good wine. The girls are having a tougher time. Lacy's not sure that she'll stay with her current boyfriend and Anne doesn't have a boyfriend. Man, Valentine's Day sucks as a holiday. There's so much expected if you have a partner and it's soooo depressing if you don't.
I did have an absolutely wonderful experience when, this week the trade magazine came out and I was featured with a former student who contacted me last fall to thank me for "getting him through the toughest years of his life" during high school. How cool is that?!?! So, that's us at lunch a few weeks ago. What a sweetie. That'll take care of my ego for the rest of my life! I made a difference!! WooHoo!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

2008-02-14T11:08:00.001-06:00

2008-02-12T10:26:00.000-06:00

God's Wheel by Shel Silverstein

GOD says to me with a kind
of smile, "Hey how would you like
to be God awhile And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I, "I'll give it a try.

Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"

"Gimme back that wheel," says GOD.
"I don't think you're quite ready YET."

2008-02-11T11:09:00.000-06:00

WooHoo! I got a lot of work done yesterday and I am ready for retreat!! What fun!
Man am I DULL!!! I just can't think of anything to write right now. Gotta go get some inspiration from some of my students. See ya!

2008-02-10T12:13:00.001-06:00

I'm prepping for scrap-retreat today. We leave on Friday February and don't come home until Sunday. It's two weeks from now, but I have to be prepared in order to get the most accomplished while dragging the least amount of "stuff". The goal is to have it down to the 12x18x36" rolling bin and one bag of extras. That's saying a lot when I'm usually carrying an additional 12x18x18" rolling bin and bag. I have the pictures, I have most of the idea pages and I have some of the papers. Need to get the rest of the papers and all of the stickers together and I'm set. Wish me luck!

2008-02-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

“Ability is what you're capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.”
Lou Holtz
That's all for today! :)

Things I want to do...Pictures I want to take

2008-02-07T11:13:00.002-06:00

This may end up being kind of a "bucket list". No, I haven't seen the movie, but I like the idea. So, the plan is to edit this on a fairly regular basis to see how far I get and what ideas I get. I'm hoping that other people will see it and give me ideas as well. Here goes:

001 All 50 States
002 Build a snowman
003 Call someone I haven't talked to in more than five years
004 Dance in the rain
005 Do a charity walk/run
006 Finish College
007 Give a gift and expect nothing in return
008 Go all-out for Christmas….cookies, decorations, lights, windows, presents, traditions
009 Kiss in the rain
010 Learn how to ballroom dance
011 Learn one favorite song on the piano
012 Learn Tai Chi
013 Learn to change the oil on my car
014 Make a fantastic five-course dinner
015 Make a list of my 5 most annoying habits and work on them
016 Make a meal for someone who doesn't live at my house
017 Make a scrapbook about me
018 Make homemade salad dressing
019 Make pizza from scratch
020 Make something on a pottery wheel
021 Meet an old friend for coffee
022 Put together a large puzzle, glue it, frame it
023 Read by the fireplace
024 Re-Learn to speak a foreign language (french)
025 Sit in front of the fire on a snowy day
026 Soak in a zen bubble bath…candles, music, oils
027 Start and finish another painting
028 Stay outside for an entire day
029 Write a book
030 Write a letter now to my future grandkids
031 Write a letter to a friend
032 See the Northern Lights in Alaska
033 Visit Cooper's Landing
034 Grand Canyon sunrise/sunset
035 Skydive
036 Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
037 Spend at least three days at a dude ranch
038 Send a message in a bottle
039 Tour a vineyard and sample a good wine
040 Explore the routes of America's Underground Railroad
041 Hike part of the Appalachian Trail
042 Swim with the dolphins
043 Epcot/Disney/Cirque
044 Margaritaville
045 Key Largo
046 Hawaii
047 Shower in a waterfall
048 See a volcano
049 Go to a Luau
050 Mississippi Delta
051 Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
052 Sled down a massive hill
053 Canoe
054 Spend a night on an island in the BWCA
055 Sail a sailboat
056 Spend the night in a quaint bed-and-breakfast
057 Wake up to the sounds of the forest
058 Drive the Gunflint Trail
059 Mississippi Headwaters
060 Jump into a swimming hole
061 Rake a giant pile of leaves and jump in them!
062 Tell ghost stories around a campfire and make s'mores
063 Hang up a hammock…and USE IT!
064 Sleep under the stars
065 Take a sleigh ride
066 Eat at a fancy restaurant and order anything from the menu
067 Winter woods
068 Blindly pick a place on a map and visit it
069 Visit Minnesota "monuments" (World's Largest…)
070 Las Vegas Strip
071 Spend the night in a lighthouse
072 Fall in New England
073 Visit New York City at Christmas and go ice-skating
074 Visit Radio City Music Hall
075 Walk Broadway at night
076 Go to a Broadway show
077 Go dancing all night
078 Run through a sunflower field
079 Mount Rushmore
080 Badlands
081 Passion Play
082 Padre Island
083 Crystal Cathedral
084 Swim in the Great Salt Lake
085 Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
086 Washington DC
087 Gettysburg
088 Grand Tetons
089 Redwoods
090 Old Faithful
091 Sequoias
092 Yellowstone
093 Drive a sports car/convertible with the top down and music blaring
094 Throw a surprise party
095 Wear a flower in my hair
096 Throw a HUGE party and invite EVERYONE
097 Climb a mountain
098 Go horseback riding on the beach
099 Drive Route 66
100 Mediate by a river's edge, on top of a mountain or by the ocean
101 Go all-out for an elegant cocktail party
102 Befriend someone who I didn't immediately like
103 Run a 5K
104 Walk through a field of daisies
105 Publish something
106 African safari
107 Visit the pyramids
108 Spend New Year's Eve in an exotic location
109 Canada
110 Quebec
111 Visit the Great Wall of China
112 Paris, Again
113 Louire valley castles
114 Tours, Again
115 Normandy
116 Cote d'Azur
117 Go to Greece
118 Go into and eat in an Authentic Irish Pub
119 Converse in Italian at a Tuscany market
120 Visit Rome
121 Ride a gondola in Venice
122 Go to the "boot heel"
123 Drink traditional tea in an outside café in London
124 Ride on the top of a double-decker bus in London
125 Baha
126 Mexico
127 See the sun rise on all 7 continents
128 Practice random acts of kindness
129 Forgive
130 Find a spiritual path
131 Make amends
132 Encourage my children
133 Accept myself
134 Find my passions and follow them

2008-02-06T11:22:00.000-06:00

Got through yesterday and realized that my little girl is much smarter than I am. As we were driving home from school I asked how her day went and she replied that everything was cool and she'd pretty much forgotten about the incident the day before. I asked how she could just forget about it and she said, "Mom, I'm a black belt. We're trained in NON-violence. So, she hit me. It wasn't that bad, the pain is gone and she's the one that opened the door. If she ever tries it again, I'll kick her a**!" That's my GIRL!

2008-02-05T10:49:00.000-06:00

Not much to say. Crazy at home with both girls living there again. Lacy tried one semester at St. Kates and did wonderful, but didn't feel like she fit in so she's home again and attending Inver Hills until next fall. She's already been accepted at St. Cloud and Mankato and has to decide where she wants to live.
Anne is a freshman in high school and likes school and her teachers, but hates the day-to-day drama!! No kidding?!?!?! She comes home yesterday in a BAD mood and won't tell us why. Later last night she mentions almost getting in a fight at school. I said, "What?!?!" And she proceeds to tell me that someone came up to her out of the crowds, punches her in the gut, and walks away! A bunch of her friends kept her from retailating and I said, "WHY?!" She was worried about being expelled to which her dad and I said, "We didn't spend all that money for you to earn your black belt so that you wouldn't use it when you needed to defend yourself!"
Well, the discussion went round-and-round about fighting versus suspension, etc. and that we would back her up no matter what if she didn't throw the first punch. And Fred is up at the high school right now "chatting" with the principal, dean, behavior liason, and police liason basically saying, "If you can't keep our daughter safe in the halls of your building, we have given her permission to defend herself, WITHOUT REPERCUSSION from any of you." And if they can't handle that, then we'll have to get some lawyers involved and see how they like that. Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself, but really. Are they nuts?! They have video in every hallway, personnel walking the various hallways and TEACHERS who are supposed to be monitering the halls during passing time and they can't keep one student from taking a cheap-shot at another?!
Okay, I gotta calm down. Fred will take care of it and everything will get back to half-a**-normal.
Gotta Go. Stay Gold!

2008-02-04T11:09:00.000-06:00

I watched the Super Bowl yesterday and never got around to logging on. Oh well, some things are more important, like my man, Eli winnin' a ring!!!! Nothing against the Pats, and I would have loved to see a team go 19-0, but I had Eli as my quarterback all season in fantasy and I really wanted him to go all the way. (especially since he sucked so much of the year as MY quarterback) I won a crab dinner when they got into the Super Bowl. Yesterday I actually lost a breakfast at Cracker Barrel 'cuz Fred wanted Brady to lose and I allowed him to take the Giants. (ain't I a sweet gal???) I was really rooting for my guy the whole time anyway. What's a breakfast cost compared to a crab dinner and sweet Eli winning?!?!?!

2008-02-02T18:48:00.000-06:00

Went to the Young Americans show at CMS today. I took Anne and her friend Marissa. I thought it was wonderful. They were only slightly bored. Teenagers. They recognized most of the songs, so I had to give them a little crap for that. They were singing along with some, so I had to give them a lot of crap for that! They like to think they're "oh-so-cool" (in fact I'm sure that's not even the word for it anymore) when in fact they're still little kids trying to grow up and be accepted. God, I love 'em.

Now I'm working downstairs, on the computer.....duh, making a cd of some of the inspirational songs I've collected. We all need some inspiration sometimes and there's some really good stuff out there. For Good, That's What Friends Are For, My Wish, I Will Remember You, Stand, Lean On Me, Life Is Good, I Hope You Dance, Mountains, Wind Beneath My Wings, Burn, Dare To Dream, Life Is A Highway, Wonderful World. I'm also very active in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life so I've spent a lot of time coordinating music for various laps through the night.

Anyway, it's good to listen to the words and reflect, so that's what I'm doing. Fred just got home from work, Lacy's off at work, Anne's with a friend, LIFE IS GOOD!!!

FOR GOOD

2008-02-01T11:03:00.000-06:00

A really fantastic group called the Young Americans were at school today and had a boatload of the kids, who'd signed up in advance, learning some routines for a performance tomorrow. One of the songs that they played to is from Wicked. I first heard this song at the dance studio last year when it was picked for the Mother-Daughter piece. Many tears ensued. It's such a beautiful example of words that touch the soul. Think about your mom, best friend, brother, neighbor, receptionist, anyone who has "changed" you and made you a better person.

Wicked "For Good"
by Stephen Schwartz
Sung on the Wicked cast album by Idina Menzel (Elphaba) and Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda)
ELPHABA
You're the only friend I've ever had.
GLINDA
And I've had so many friends. But only one-- that mattered.
(sings)
I'VE HEARD IT SAID
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN
AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW
IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT
AS IT PASSES A SUN
LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD …

ELPHABA
IT WELL MAY BE
THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN
IN THIS LIFETIME
SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART
SO MUCH OF ME
IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU
YOU'LL BE WITH ME
LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART
AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END
I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE
BY BEING MY FRIEND...
LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING
BY A WIND OFF THE SEA
LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD
IN A DISTANT WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

GLINDA
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BOTH
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD...

ELPHABA
AND JUST TO CLEAR THE AIR
I ASK FORGIVENESS
FOR THE THINGS I'VE DONE YOU BLAME ME FOR

GLINDA
BUT THEN, I GUESS WE KNOW
THERE'S BLAME TO SHARE

BOTH
AND NONE OF IT SEEMS TO MATTER ANYMORE

[They sing simultaneously]

GLINDA
LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM
ORBIT/AS IT PASSES A SUN/
LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A
BOULDER/ HALF-WAY
THROUGH THE WOOD

ELPHABA
LIKE A SHIP BLOWN OFF ITS
MOORING/BY A WIND OFF THE
SEA/ LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A
BIRD IN
THE WOOD

BOTH
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
I DO BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER

GLINDA
AND BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

ELPHABA
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BOTH
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.

2008-01-31T11:11:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite songs and one that I dedicated to Fred on his 50th birthday. It's by Gary Allen and helps me remember that we can't pick and choose our struggles or triumphs, but life IS a beautiful ride. We only get to ride once, so make the most of it!! Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! (from Auntie Mame, 1958)

Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart

Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day

But the struggle makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has it's own way of takin' it sweet time

[chorus]
No,life aint always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life aint always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

Life aint always beautiful
Some days I miss your smile
I get tired of walkin' all these lonely miles

And I wish for just one minute
I could see your pretty face
Guess I can dream, but life dont work that way

But the struggles makes me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has it's own way of takin' its sweet time

No, life aint always beautiful
But I know I'll be fine
Hey, life aint always beautiful
But its a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride

2 days in a row!!

2008-01-30T10:55:00.000-06:00

I'm here again. It's 42 below outside.........really it's only 15 below, but it feels like 42. Why do we live in this state? Because it's beautiful! I have several pictures I want to add to this site, once I figure out how. I've tried three times to download/upload a picture of my beautiful family. It seems to take forever and never get done. Maybe the file is too big or I'm doing it wrong. Whatever. I'll figure it out.
Okay, so I figured it out. Not all of it, but some of it. This is what I'm dreaming of right now. "The Lake" with the loons out in the distance, swimming and playing and calling out to each other. I'm in the hammock, just off the shore, reading a book, probably a good murder-mystery-romance, real juicy.
Anyway, I have some other gorgeous pictures of Minnesota in it's various forms; rainbows, orange leaves, cystalline lakes, and even SNOW and ICE! I'll try to navigate the entire website this weekend and see what comes of it.

This is strange!

2008-01-29T10:53:00.000-06:00

This is all Aanenson's fault! I'd read about blogging to keep track of journaling for scrapbooking. Aanenson said she had a blog. Aanenson sent me her blog address. I read it and it had a "create a blog of your own" icon. Now, here we are!

I remember journaling from high school and college. I got a lot of enjoyment from it. I burned those journals once upon a time! :)

So, here I go, into the world of cyber-journaling, writing down my feelings, emotions, wishes, desires for all the world to see. Let's see where it takes us today..............