No scrapping for July

I have made an agreement with myself. I promise not to scrap in July at all! I think the best creative ideas that I have pop into my head when I know that I can't scrap.

I am taking off of work most of July to study for the bar exam. I cannot properly express how much I hate the bar exam. I have become very well acquaited with all aspects of this exam. I am an experienced taker! I was encourgaged by my supervisor to go for a different perspective and try the exam in a different state. So that is what I am doing. I work for the federal government and they do not care what state you are licensed in just so long as you are licensed. The down side of getting a new perspective is that I need to learn the state law. There are two parts to the exam: one is a 200 question Multi State Exam which is federal law, and day two is essay questions, most of which will be state law. So, I have been studying after work and listening to lectures on my MP3 player in the car on my way to and from work. I am very thankful to have a understanding supervisor who is allowing me to take all this time off. We are pretty busy at work right now, so it is a big sacrifice for them.

So, starting today, my little scrapping place is covered with bar review books. I went to a crop on Saturday and that is the last time I will pick up my ATG gun until after July 31.

I read a blog of person named Monique McLean. She is former owner of Scrap Etc, a LSS in Birmingham and she is the coordinator of the Scrap Etc events. She has completed nursing school and has to take her nursing exam. Now that she no longer owns the LSS, she will work as a nurse. She has two of the cutest little girls and she is studying. I don't know how she does it and I am motivated by her commitment. I have no children at home. Only my husband and four legged baby, George. It sometimes feels like I have children at home, but I can tell them to go away and they will.

I would appreciate all your prayers as I study. I really need to pass because, I turn 51 in two days and it is a fact that the older you get, the fewer functioning brain cells you have. I will forget all that learned in law school if I don't do this soon. I wish I had become a nurse! The exam is July 29 and 30. Pray for Monique too.

I will not give up blogging because I feel that it is theraputic for me. So, I will stay in touch this way.

I posted pictures of my work space completely covered in these perfectly awful books.

I am claiming this Bible verse as my strength for this long month ahead:

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

Saturday IHBC Crop

Kalen
Debbie is using this whole table! That means some really great work is going on!
Judy (just here for the social interaction) and Vicki
Lavona and Todd
Rachel, Marcella, Detta and Terry

Today my scrappy friends and I drove over to Grand Prairie and joined my friends at my home church for an afternoon of scrapping. It was a great time. Lavona was in charge of snacks today and she put out a delicious spread. There was this popcorn that was out of this world, and little red velvet cake balls, and then for those who are inclined to be more healthy, there were fruit and vegetable trays. She also brought her great spinach dip with chips and crackers. I could go just for the snacks alone.

We made a great note pad make-n-take it. It is very cute project that Debbie and Vicki came up with. Kalen had fabulous door prizes as usual. The hardy scrappers were staying for an extended crop. Me and my mid-cities and south of town friends left around 6:00 p.m.

I showed my friends a little of my hometown that has grown and my neighborhood. We made a brief trip down memory lane and drove by the church where Detta and her husband got married. It was a fun afternoon. I completed about 3 LOs. That is good progress for me.

Our precious fur babies

My granddog: Finn

I have already given him a nickname: I call him Finny

Finny and George
Jamey with George and Finn.

Finn learned the treat can was on this counter!

Roxie Ann doing laps

Josh, Grannie and Roxie

Tara, Lizzie and Missy

Missy Girl, Queen of her World!

For my mother's recent birthday, we had a lot of doggie visitors. My daughter and son-in-law brought my granddog, Finn. Finn is a six month old Australian Sheppard. He is a bundle of engery. He gave my old man George, a run for his money. My niece and her husband, brought my great niece dog, Roxie Ann. Roxie is a pound puppy with the sweetest disposition. She minds so well, but is very attached to her mommie and daddy! Of course my blue Doberman, George, was so happy to meet all his new four legged relatives. Lizzie's pup, Missy, who is a wiennie dog mix with a Schnauzer beard, was not happy at all. She is not happy about any other dog, no matter how nice they are. You can scold in your best Lizzie voice and she will tuck her tail and go to the laundry room. She stood at the back door and tried to attack Roxie Ann through the door. She is the Queen of her World and has no need for canine compansionship.

My old George, was worn out by the time Finn left. Finn would jump up and grab George's face with his front feet and bite George's face and ears. When George would lay down, Finn would come up behind him and bite his hind legs trying to get him up so he could herd him. George was not interested in being a cow! Finn's little teeth were sharp and sometimes George would cry when he bit his ears. Goerge only growled at Finn one time the entire weekend. George wants to know when Finn is coming back for a visit!

More birthday pictures

My friend Terry takes great pictures. I asked her to bring her camera when she came to my Mother's 90th birthday. She took some wonderful pictures. Here are some of my favorites.

Thanks, Terry!

Happy Birthday Mary Jo!

Reading her cards

Mother and John

Grand youngins singing Happy Birthday

Paula, Wanda, Terry and Al

Judy, Betty and Brent

Thelma, Linda and Wanda

Betty and Linda

Sydney

Our baby girl with her baby girl!

BFF's

Sisters Paula and Terry

Sisters Betty and Linda

Sisters Debbie and Judy

Happy 90th Birthday!!

Mother's delicious carrot birthday cake with apricot filing.
Mother looking at her birthday scrapbook present.
The sisters and Mother
Liz and Missy Girl
Kim plays Vanna White
Team Betty

Team Inez

Today was my mother's 90th birthday. We had a party with family and friends. It was a great time.

After the guest left, my sisters and our children and mother played a special version of Wheel of Fortune with things that would remind us of our childhood and our parents. It was so much fun. My sister Lizzie created about 20 puzzles for us to guess. We all loved it.

It was a wonderful party and I am so proud of my Mother. She is incredible.

Happy birthday Mamou!

Almost 90, but who's counting!

My mother will have her 90th birthday in a couple of days. We will have a party with family and friends. My sisters and I went shopping today for the necessary party napkins, cups, forks, etc. All of my sisters will be there and most of her grandchildren. Some old friends who we have known for most of my life.

My mother was still driving until two years ago. As her vision began to fail, she decided it was time to give up driving and she moved to Texas to be close to three of her daughters. I took almost two years, but she has adjusted and made friends here in Texas. She still walks unassisted and has very few issues with mobility. She had a stomach virus last week and is still a little weak. We will have to get her strength back for the party. She still does all her own cooking and cleaning.

Statistics shows that the current generation is the first one that will not live as long as their parents. My mother get's her longevity from her mother. She has several first cousins who are her age or close to it. When you think about living to be 90 years old, it is a little overwhelming. I just want to survive this decade healthy. If I live to be 90 I want to be healthy. I will take my vitamins tonight and get my eight hours of sleep, and hope that I will not feel older than my 50 years tomorrow.

Happy 90th Birthday, Mamoo

Parents

Today, I attended the funeral of the father of one of my long time friends, Judy. Judy's dad, Fernie, was 82 years old and had served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was a charter member of my home church. He helped to build the church. Their family included me on several vacations with them when I was in junior high. I first saw the Great Smokey Mountains with them. Judy and I rode in the back of the pick up truck, sleeping a lot of the way, pulling a travel trailer as we drove through the mountains. Her dad would honk the horn when he thought we should sit up and see a site. We saw a mother black bear and her two cubs. Judy and I had dirt bikes, (like little motorcycles, not bicycles) that we rode all over the woods. I loved those vacations.

All my childhood friends were there. We sat in the pews in the church almost in the same location that our parents sat for Sunday service years ago. We have all aged, and are saying farewell to our parents. My dad died ten years ago. We said farewell to Beth's mom a few years ago in the same church. Rex has lost both his parents and a brother.

The service was wonderful. The pastor truly loved Fernie. He told funny story after story about Fernie. Fernie was from the school of thought where he spoke his mind and left no doubt how he felt about something. I believe that those people in your life that are sometimes the most difficult, are the ones you miss the most when they are gone.

I looked at the faces of people in the church and realized that several decades must have just flown right by me. My elementary school is across the street. There are new wings on the school and the playground actually had play equipment on it. The faces of the children on the playground were all dark. The complexion of the neighborhood has changed. I drove cautiously through town, afraid I would get lost. I was looking for the high school and almost drove right passed it. What had been open empty fields were now covered with large buildings. The giant "GP" on the corner made me realize that was the school. The stadium, seemed so small by todays standards, but in my day, it was a really nice stadium.

The church remains a light to the community. All are welcome to worship there. I am very blessed to have grown up there. I love this family. I pray for strength and peace for the hard days ahead. The pastor said it best. "he will miss Fernie for right now, but not for eternity."