Speechless

This is something that I am not but have been battling it for awhile. It's kind of like my creativity - sometimes I am just on a role and then sometimes I just need to sit back for awhile.

What has been happening:
Baker is destroying our home. I love the little man (he's a black lab puppy) but I had finally had ENOUGH of his destruction (boredom while we are at work). I came home on the 9th and told Mike that we needed to get a Kennel (I had joined a yahoo group about lab puppies and this is what they advised). Well he hemmed and hawed but still went out looking at them with me. He didn't want to do it and wanted to wait. The next night he got home from work before I did and found that Baker had dug through the carpet in the landing downstairs and that was the final straw! By Monday morning we had the kennel up for him. Monday I had to drag him in (I put food & water in there along with a blanket and rawhide bone to chew). Tuesday I had to physically pick him up (he is now over 60 pounds and yes my knee isn't very strong). Well, this morning was a breakthrough! I opened his door to put his food & water in (because I fill it every morning and rinse the water dish) and left the door open (it's a wire kennel so he can see everything). While I was fixing things for him he went in there and laid down - all on his own without me needing to "assist" him in any way! It was so nice! When we get home from somewhere our house isn't "destroyed" more because of him and life is just balanced again!

On the 1st we celebrated Baker's birthday! He turned 1 year old (that means we have another 11 months of PUPPY issues!) I have the cutest picture of him - just need to get it on the computer!

On November 9th my wallet was missing (don't know if it was stolen or lost....) So I was stressed about it- searched EVERYWHERE for it on Friday hoping it had fallen out of my purse at home - no luck. Saturday I tried to call all my cards and they were closed because of Holiday Weekend. So Monday I called and let all the companies know what happened. So, I was living off cash (which is nice because Mike had to fill up my car and do all the "fun" errands because I couldn't!) Well yesterday I got a call on my lunch break saying they found my wallet and it was turned into the bank. Well, not my wallet but the items (except the $3 cash that was in there) had been turned into Safeway and they took it to my bank. So I was relieved that things were recovered (they were cancelled and had a FRAUD alert put on them so they couldn't have been used anyway).

Stamp Room Update- Recently I have been given a HUGE shelf (almost couldn't get it into the room). So now it's just a matter of finding time to get everything over from the old room to the knew one. I haven't found time to work on the many projects I have but realized I have until the 19th to get one of my Christmas projects done (have over 400 pictures to scrapbook).

Mike's schedule is a lot less stressful for me now. I really enjoyed having weekends off together but it's hard for me because I am used to doing whatever I want on Saturday until he got home from work and I didn't have that luxury anymore. My Friday and Saturday evenings are usually full with classes and meetings (by choice) but I really had to back down to make things work while his schedule was different. But unfortunately his schedule is a lot more stressful for him - I enjoy being the supportive wife!

Book Club- This is a ministry I started at my church (Christian Authors). The groups have been very small but it's so awesome to see the things that God has instore for us. I see friendships beginning and that to me is a huge part of building a solid foundation for yourself in a church (personal connections). With everything that has been happening lately - I know I am blessed! We just finished the disucssion on the book Captivating. This book was recommended to me by a bunch of people and I was shocked because I struggled with the book and thought it was okay (not great). The beginning was rough to get into, the middle was a breeze - really enjoyed it, but the end was rough again. We are starting a new book 8 Choices that will change a woman's life and will discuss these at our next meetings in December.

I originally started this blog to share fun things that are happening and I am designing. Even had the intention of posting my camp cards for the month and also the swaps I have created. Things have just gotten away from me and now I am trying to find balance in it all (Mike's schedule REALLY goofed me up - plus my sleep schedule has been outawack!) I am hoping as I have more creative time/energy that I will be able to get this done (once my stamp room is done there will be a lot less stress and more creativity!)

I have already begun thinking about what I want to do next year (sending out birthday cards- have a system that I need to just implement, scrapbooking, etc). One thing I am wanting to do is a weekly scrapbooking challenge for me to be able push myself to do things that I wouldn't do and also to get some things done. We all scrapbook differently - each of us have our own methods, creativity and time availabiity "issues". One gal that I spoke with at a crop awhile back had said she is to the point where she is JUST sticking pictures in because she doesn't want to get behind on her books. The one book she took time on and did all the FUN technique stuff is her favorite it's just something that she doesn't have time for. Well, me being who I am (I did keep my mouth shut on this one!) was wondering "why in the world would you create something that you really don't like just to have it done - ESPECIALLY for scrapbooks". It also makes me think of the many albums that I haven't finished. **(thought)Which reminds me that I need to get a new scanner so I can finish scanning all my mom's pictures.** Right now I only have a few pages to go to finish a friends baby shower album (it's so close to being done it's not even funny!), then I have my Christmas gift album to finish, do journaling for my Orlando book (from 2004), and finish only a FEW events for 2005 (I haven't even started 2006!). I am VERY behind with Scrapbooking but figure that I can catch up the past as I have time for because we did not exist before 2005- right?! (there was sarcasim for those that missed it). OH- and because my sleeping schedule has been so "off" I am doing a few pages of scrapbooking each week for the historian book at church (those are quick and easy pages for me - no thought required!)

Tonight is volleyball. I play on the Parks & Rec league with a team from church. It's hard for me because I was limited by my weight before (I am not as active as I used to be) now I am limited by both weight and knee. I am figuring out my boundaries with my knee and with Mike's new schedule we should be going to the gym again soon!

Friday- where am I shopping? I always go to Joann's Fabrics early in the morning (there is nothing I NEED that morning, just have some things I should get for a craft I am sending with Ann for Kim to do with the kids). Then I will probably head over to a few other stores, go home and take a nap (I am a crazy who gets up at 4AM and then home by 7 for my "nap"). So after my nap I am going to try to sit down and finish the scrapbook from the baby shower (I will post pictures of it when I am done). Work on organizing the room for 2 hours and then scrapbook some more. Right now I don't have cable in the new stamp room which makes it a challenge for me to be there for any period of time (I need background noise and get tired of the radio - plus I like TLC and always feel inspired by the colors and other things). Hoping to meet a friend for "coffee" (I don't DRINK coffee but if I say "drinks" a lot of times people think of alcohol- and we will probably meet at Starbucks!) Might see if another friend wants to come over for scrapbooking that day- haven't asked anyone yet, just waiting to see what happens - if anyone wants to come over, please feel more than welcome!

Thursday we are spending time with my family (we try to alternate years). It's really strange because the holiday is catered around me and Mike's schedule (we live the farthest away and Mike has an ever changing schedule). Personally I don't like how much control I have over Thanksgiving. My poor cousin has been trying her best to organize things and my Grandma keeps telling her that it all depends on me (they asked me at the last breakfast what I was doing for Thanksgiving and I told them it was up to mom and dad). Only some of my family are aware of the dynamics but my cousin has been crushed so many times by our family. I do feel for her.

Sell-A-Bration is right around the corner! I got a sneak peek at the sets and I LOVE them! Have a swap that I am hostessing for the sets - have a second group going because the first one is filled already! They are doing the exclusive sets again this year so they will NOT be available in the next Idea Book & Catalog. Once I get some samples made I will post them. Have a few fun ideas swirling around in my brain!

I have a lot of ideas for Christmas cards (photo cards) and need to get on the ball making them. Each picture I am having printed B&W and also in color (so I can have all the samples). It's just a matter of finding time. December 1st is my Christmas Card Camp and want them done to hang on my wall!

Also - there are 6 weeks until New Year's and since we are having our Annual party (yes because it's our second I am going to start referring it as our ANNUAL party) I want the house in TIP TOP shape! That means lots of work! Each week I will be focusing on a room - which gives me the last week to work on all the little things that are last miniute (sweeping, vacuuming, dishes, etc).

What should I do for my birthday? I am thinking about going out with a Hubby and a friend and her family for dinner. Just making it simple and spending time together. I told Mike I want a massage for my birthday - need to relax and get the kinks worked out of my shoulders and neck (I go to the Chiropractor regularly) - those are the areas I carry my stress. Speaking of stress- my right eye has finally stopped twitching. Mike thought it was funny but it was irritating me more than anything. I didn't understand why it was happening but he informed me that he has that problem when he is stressed. Things are much better now - the waters are calm again. I was also debating on going and seeing the Nutcracker as a birthday gift. That is still up for debate (I don't have the best attention span....)

Okay - that's all for now... update is over!