Monday, May 28, 2007

In Remembrance...

Wreath











Memorial Day is the time for Americans to reconnect with their history and core values by honoring those who gave their lives for the ideals we cherish.

More than a million American service members died in the wars and conflicts this nation fought since the first colonial soldiers took up arms in 1775 to fight for independence. Each person who died during those conflicts was a loved one cherished by family and friends. Each was a loss to the community and the nation.


Sadly, many Americans have lost this connection with their history. All too many Americans today view military service as an abstraction, as images seen on television and in movies. For a growing percentage of the American people, Memorial Day has come to mean simply a three-day weekend or a major shopping day. Families might still gather for picnics, but for many of them, the patriotic core - the spirit of remembrance - is absent.

Memorial Day, like the military itself, is largely cut off from its historic meaning for many Americans. They have forgotten what the military stands for in the nation's history. We in this country owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live free. We can start to pay that debt by not forgetting, by remembering what they did and what they stood for.


Listen to these words by Charles M. Province:

"It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the Press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial;
And it is the Soldier--who salutes the flag,
Who serves the flag, and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag--
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."


Adapted from the Special Events Speech Series of the US Army


THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE US ARMED FORCES. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL…

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Secret Dreams

Sometimes I need to do quick, simple, projects just for fun, or to prime the pump. I barely had an hour to complete this very simple little board book for an online contest, and although more could have been done to it from an artistic standpoint, I still like the results.  The whole idea was to show off the papers, so inking, painting and distressing would have defeated the purpose! Love these beautiful papers from Marah Johnson's Love Struck line...all the images are copies of John Waterhouse paintings.Dreamcover Dream2 xoxo
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Dream4_2 Dream5

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day!

Mothers_day "If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper ­ not a homemaker.


If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness not godliness.


If I scream at my children for every infraction, and fault them for every mess they make, but have not love, my children become people-pleasers­ not obedient children.


Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.


Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.


Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.


Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.


Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,” the taxi-driver to every childhood event, the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.


Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.


Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child. All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance, and what remain are the memories of my kids.


Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture, dishes with missing place settings, and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,


But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children."


Corinthians 13 Paraphrased For Mothers
Adapted by Jim Fowler


I wish all you moms a very blessed and happy Mother's Day!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Wednesday Stamper

Turquoiseweb_2Wow...I've been MIA haven't I?? LOL...It's the home stretch of the school year and it seems every major event is being crammed into the next five weeks! This week's Wednesday Stamper theme is "Turquoise". I decided to cover a few mini composition books with Basic Grey paper . The sweet little girl is a favorite image of mine. xoxo

Thursday, May 3, 2007

First Attempt

Well, I'm still working on those mini books I mentioned before, but I did finally had an opportunity to sit down and create a small mini album with a few pictures I took of the girls at the beach. I didn't design the accordian album you see here, it is based on a class offered by the very talented Angelia (pronounced "Angela") Wiggington. I ordered the kit and changed it around to suit my taste. Grow_album_005b The papers are by Heidi Grace. I actually saw this line in AC Moore the other day...very expensive, but so pretty.




Grow_album_002b_4 Grow_album_003b_2


Speaking of expensive, have you seen the new Martha stuff at Michael's? I skimmed the aisles (they have so much of it!) but didn't look at anything in detail. I did notice the 18x18 albums she has...that is just waaaaaay to big for me! I'm barely getting used to 12 x 12...forget anything bigger than that.


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Remember I mentioned that we helped my friend Renee move her scrapbook store to a new location? It was an incredible amount of work but we all had a blast working together. I really loved how we all pulled together and worked right alongside her that day. It was a very cool experience! The new store looks awesome; it's very pretty, quaint and has great space.  She'll be all set up this weekend for National Scrapbooking Day, and has a bunch of fun things happening. If you live locally, come on by. We'll be doing make and take projects from 11-5! xoxo


Scrapbook Patch
650 Rt 112, Port Jefferson Station
(in Pointe Plaza near Cinco de Mayo Restaurant)
(631)509-5218