Paper Pleasing Ideas

Little Update

1. I am a mom to 2 very active little boys : ask anyone, I am non-stop going!
2. I teach 3 Zumba classes a week, plus all the practice means up to 2 hours of Zumba a day.
3. I still teach stampin classes in my home, and am having a workshop this week, too. Really looking forward to that.
4. I am trying to get my yard work done - planting flowers, weeding, and tilling trees, mowing lawn, etc.
5. I have now decided to build a house, just like Russ used to do.

He really wanted me to do that as a job, and while I feel it may be overwhelming, I figure I owe him a shot. If he thought I could do it, I will trust his judgement on at least one house. Then I should know if it is something I can handle.

It is just over 7 months since Russ has gone to meet his Savior and in that time I have really grown. Sometimes, though, it feels like I am going backwards, especially with the boys. I find I have a lot less patience, like my nerves are always on edge, but I am working on being "slow to anger". It is not fair to them, since they are struggling, as well.

I am back on the Isagenix 30 Day System, and with the help of a great friend, will get back down to my goal weight. Russ always wanted me to be healthy, and I feel so wasted now, so eating right and losing weight will help me feel physically good again.

I hope to find some me time this week to get to stamping, I really miss it. Besides that, I just got a huge order and I want to play with it . I also miss you all out there in blog land. This used to be my place to come and share with all of you , and I miss that communication (however one sided it was ... lol). Wishing you all a great weekend, and to my USA friends, enjoy your Memorial Day long weekend. Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

Sympathy Cards - From You !!

 

Here is all the cards that I received from all of you! I wanted to take separate pictures, but it seemed a bit overwhelming. It also didn't help that when I took them out, I knew I would read them again and it would start the tears flowing. There are more than 400 cards at last count and though some were already featured, I decided to take a picture of them all at once.

 

Some of the cards were already featured on the blog previously, so they are not in this picture. Also the cards that were not handmade are not here either. I left the photo larger, so that you can click on it (making it bigger), and see if yours is here. If it is not, and was not shown here before, I did not receive it, sorry. The four bottom cards were made with a digi stamp designed specially for me from Sugar Creek Hollow. The one next to it with the orange butterfly is from Demonstrator Support at Stampin' Up! (it also came with a stamp set, and a card kit). That was a pretty big deal to me, that such a large company would send me something so personal. I also received 2 book and a Steven Curtis Chapman CD. The boys also each received a pencil pack from a lovely lady in Australia, but I never got a picture of it before they tore into it.

I also added this to my facebook photos, that way you can tag yourself (as your card). That way I can thank you personally, and I would LOVE to do that. Thanks again everyone, I so appreciateyour words of encouragement and care.

Pacific Wedding

 

I had a stamping class last night, and we had a smaller crowd that usual, but we had a blast anyway!! We used the newest tutorial on Splitcoast to make Paper Buttons. I totally am pumped with this idea, that you can customize any button to your project and it looks so real!

Seriously, click on the close up and see for yourself. Even when it is blown up, it still looks like a real button! I made the flower from vellum and sponged the edges (it tears REALLY easy when you are distressing it, so be careful). I used crumb cake for my card stock.

Try out the tutorial above soon. I promise that you will love the technique.

Time Keeps Marching On

WOW - it has been awhile since I have typed an entry here and way too long since I have stamped a card. Russ' last house that he built (with plenty of help from friends) has sold and the possession date is on May 11, so I am in the final count down to get everything up to par for the new owners.

Between that, and the practicing/teaching 3 Zumba classes a week, I decided I wasn't busy enough and got a job helping a caterer - Oven Scents. It is run by my sister-in-law, so she won't be offended when I can't work due to the kids being home, etc. Then the kids have soccer 2 nights a week, and I still have my worship practice at church. I need an extra 3 days every week to get everything done.

The boys have to help around here, and they had to clean their rooms today. Jay runs downstairs "I am done!" "OK," I said. "Will I like it?" He assured me that he had done a great job and the floor was spotless enough for him to vacuum.

 

Yeah, he just moved the piles from his floor to his dresser and his sleepover bed. The floor can definitely be vacuumed, though!

 

ZUMBA® Time !!

I start a whole new session of classes of Zumba today.

• Tuesdays, May 3 to June 14, Dalmeny at Prairie View School from 7:30 - 8:30pm
• Wednesdays, May4 to June 15, Borden at Borden School from 6:00-7:00pm
• Thursdays, May 5 to June 16, Osler at the Community Church from 10:00-11:00am

If you are in the area, I would love to see you there. Stamping and exercise buddies are the best!! Join my Facebook group - ZUMBA with Julie B - for all updates.

At the beginning of April, a fellow instructor and friend, Kelly, helped coordinate Zumba for a Cure to raise money for cancer research. I was asked to dance it out on stage and I got a picture here for you. We had more than 350 people turn out and it was a BLAST !!

 

If you have never tried Zumba, you NEED to find an INSTRUCTOR and join the party. You may be overwhelmed on your first time, but trust me, you will have a blast.

Another Discovery

Next Sunday is Mother's day. The man who made me a mother is not here to celebrate with me, not here to take the boys shopping for the little gifts, not here to help them plan for the day. I had honestly not thought ahead to this day and to how I would feel, but that is a good thing. I only figured it out last night and spent much of the evening in tears. There is no need to over think something like this. It is amazing how, up until now, I thought Mother's Day was just about our kids. Yet that wonderful miracle in our lives would not happen without our husbands. I thank God for my kids as they are reminders of Russ, but I am more grateful that Russ was in my life, so I could even become a mother!