November 1, 2008 by julie.

Whoah….I think we have enough candy to last the next year or two..LOL!  So I wanted to share the kids dressed up this year….Cole is just something scary…and Addison is Anikin (from Star Wars), like I said No more girly costumes for Addison, sigh.  We had a blast, our community pool hosted a “Trunk or Treat”, so we walked down there with our big wagon and flashlight, glow sticks etc… The kids loved that, several adults were really dressed up!  They had the boxes that the kids put their hands in to guess what was inside…kinda creepy in the dark…hehe.  Cole loved a witch that was brewing up brains..(with dry ice), very cool!  Now we are dividing up the candy and adding to our prize box.

Hope everyone had a safe Happy Halloween!

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October 30, 2008 by julie.

This month has just flown…………zip, gone..onto November!  I think the flu was in our home this entire month..yuck.  Cole and Addison are very excited to go Trick or Treating tomorrow, Addison chose to be a guy from Star Wars (yes a guy..LOL) and Cole is being something Scary with a mask this year.  What happened to my Princess and Bob the Builder?  So Addison is growing out of her Princess phase and is more interested in Cole’s games and guys than anything else right now, I still canot get her to take even a practice Dance class..sigh.  Though at school yesterday she did mention to me she may…may, want to try Gymnastics!!!

This week we got our pumpkins..I don’t know if I ever had pumkins this big in my life, but the kids wanted these huge ones to carve out, so we decided to give it a shot.  Below you will see pics of the finished pumpkins…What A MESS, I didn’t think the stuff inside would e v e r end.  They are both very proud of their designs they drew and also their help in carving!  So tomorrow we go out for candy, I will post more pics later!  Happy Halloween!

Love to you all!!!!!!!

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September 7, 2008 by julie.

Addison and Cole have always had such a happy spirit about them.  People always comment on how they just shine.  While cleaning out and packing things up I came across so many older photographs and little notes.  Notes of comments my children would make to me and I wrote down, so I would not forget.  I think I could feel a 4″ binder with “Love” notes from Cole and Addison, written to me.  I think I got about 7 this weekend alone.  Every little spot I turn, I find little folded up notes from both kids, they just make me smile and remember how special all these little moments are.  Addison says some things that honestly blow my mind.  When I was driving them home from school 2 weeks ago, Addy shares this with me:

“Mommy, if I could be any animal in the whole world I would want to be a Bird.” why sweetheart, I ask? “Well then It would be so easy for me to fly through the clouds and get to Heaven and see God, Grandma Mary, Grandpa Warren, and all the Angels”  “I would tell them how much I love them (everyone) them and how much you miss them (my mom and dad).” “Then I could just fly back down here to our house and be with you again, whenever I wanted”

She is so special, she says these things and they just thump right into my heart which I swear skipped a few beats during this convo.

I went through some photographs on my older hard drive and found some from they were younger, wow they change WAY to fast!!!!!!!  Along with the kids changing, we are making some changes.  We have put our house up on the market, please pray that it sells timely.  We need to get the kids in a different school district for their middle/high school years. We are looking at the town Gilbert in Az. right now, we shall see where the cards fall.  I hope everyone is having a blessed weekend, love to you all!!!

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August 13, 2008 by julie.

August already, wow.  Cole and Addy have both started school. I am lucky to have had a fun summer enjoying their company.  The time went too fast, as usual.  They are both ready and excited to get learning again.  I have been teaching them throughout the summer using a program I chose to do with the kids through their school, so they have had great learning experiences this summer.

Makes me think about my experiences.  How and why certain people come into my life and why some leave.  I have learned the hard way about friendships.  I believe, some are meant to stay with you and others’ probably guide me along my journey w/the Lord.  I have come to know some wonderful people I am proud to call my Friends. Ya know the friend that says what you are going too, right before you say it…or type it in some cases??  My life is richer through these friendships. 

” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” Declares the Lord. ” As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I am trying my hardest to get through a mind stressing situation with my children.  When we moved to Gold Canyon, we knew we were out in the middle of no where.  We knew we were un-incorporated etc……. Everything we have needed I jump on the highway to get to the closest store etc…  Well now Cole is in 3rd. grade Addison 1st..and we are looking at their middle school and High…I will say this.  NOT where I want my children getting their education If I have any control over it.  So now two years later here we go again.  DO we move to a better school district, OR stay here and do the out of boundry thing with other schools, never assuring them they will start the next year there unless there is room???? AHHHHH I wanna scream.  They were suppose to build new schools here but major budget cuts it is not gonna happen in my lifetime.  Sooooo what to do????? Sell our home, move, start all over.  With friends etc…..  I know the friends I am close to now I will remain, and same with our kids.  I think I just gotta let it go right to God’s hands. 

Our AC broke this month almost 2 days w/o air here..BLAHCKKKK.  So paid the money to fix it, along with everything else this last month and NOW we think we may have to move.  The original place we sent my hard drive to could not recover the info (very bad) so we paid to send it somewhere else, tons of $ but they may able to recover 85-100% of it.  I am still waiting to hear from them.  All of my graphic design work is on there along with almost 2 years of photographs….sigh…..deep breath.  This started as me thanking all of YOU my friends but somehow I just let it out LOL. .. SO here are some photographs of over the summer and the kids first day of school.  XO & God Bless!!!!!!

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July 27, 2008 by julie.

So, Yes I like lifetime movies.  Especially the ones based on true stories.  I watched this movie this week called ” Why I Wore Lipstick to My Masectomy”  It really got me thinking………………I really had a moment.  A Moment where I realized who I have become.  If I never went through the pain I did, I would not be who I am today.  It’s ALL God’s plan.  So while watching this movie a quote hit me and hard.  She called it “Mantra’  ( though I do not know yet what that is.)  This was her motivation “Saying” to Live.————–

“I am the Sky… nothing can stick to me.  Planes fly through me. Storms roar past me. The sky is vast and unchanged, no matter what happens to it. For I am the Sky.”

I ……..ME……..I ………am going to try my hardest to be “THE SKY”.

ps……………. you may not see anymore photo for a few weeks, my hard drive is being recovered (hopefully) as I type.  XOXO

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July 15, 2008 by julie.

Those of you who know my son Cole, you know he is very energetic…always on the go and to be honest, exhausting.  Well this summer even keeping him busy with friends, activities, & sports is not enough.  So my dear Son has now learned more about “The Chair”.  When I put him there for a Time Out I will NOT budge on how long the amount of time is.  I hope you all do not think this is cruel, but for every moan, whimper, or “This is not Fair” he gets 5 more minutes added on.  Well this day was priceless for me (he may not agree…LOL)  He had worked himself up so much he spent a good 2 hours on “The Chair” until Dale got home.  Well guess what??????  HE FELL ASLEEP, on the chair curled up in a ball.  As I said before if you know Cole this is a hard thing to imagine. But he did.  I was so proud he calmed down enough and just shut his eyes.  I covered him with a blanket until Dale came home and he was Shocked…LOL.  Anyway I just wanted to share that story.  We had our first awesome monsoon come through and pour rain for maybe an hour…right away the kids just ran outside and played in the rain.  I was looking for Addison when I found her standing under our down spout..hehe.  This girl was SOAKED and LOVING ever minute of it..You can see the pics below. 

Dale and Cole went camping for the weekend so Addy and I had a Girls only weekend…so much fun!!! My friend Kim and her Daughter Jo came over on Saturday and we had a little spa treatment.  We painted the Girls nails and Toes…we all had a blast.  The pics from the Boys camping trip are amazing, I will put them up in the next entry.  Cole even saw a Black Bear..eeks.

Here are the photographs I wanted to share: Addison took the one of me on the bottom.

Blessings to you all,

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July 9, 2008 by julie.

The old saying that everything always comes in 3’s seems to be pretty accurate.  Whether it is good, bad, exciting, sad..anything, it always seems to come in 3’s…or is it just me?  So it seems to ring true for appliances as well.  We lost our Fridge, TV, and Washing Machine all in a Day’s time.  We replaced the TV & Fridge, and had the washer repaired..all delivered and fixed on the same day..LOL.  When the TV came, the box was just what the kids needed to burn some energy off..so we kept it for them to play in, hehe!  Here are some pics:

We have now what is the start of my all Stainless Steel kitchen, A stainless Steel French Door Bottom Freezer/Fridge…YAY!!!

It has taken some getting use to but It is growing on Dale and I.  So plan is, as the other appliances hit the dust we will replace our “Bisque” with the Stainless.  Wonder how long that will be?

My Aunt sent my DD a gift for her Birthday and in it included this clear tote bag that you fill with 4×6 photos, it is soo super great!  Made by Cupcakes & Cartwheels.  Something every scrapper should have Thanks Aunty K!!!!

I am reading the Glory Revealed Book by David Nasser.  It is really quite interesting.  Did you know this:

* 7.5 % of young girls starve themselves because they think they are to ugly to eat.

* 17,000 People are killed in Drunk Driving accidents every year——

* 17,000 children are injured in school bus accidents every year. (what??????)

* 43,000 of your Mothers, Sisters, Daughters will die from breast cancer.

* 1 out of every 2 marriages will come to a bitter end..(what??????)

* 37 million live in poverty, choosing between turning on their heater or feeding their children.

* Every second an unborn baby is legally terminated (how many illegally?)

* 2 million children have been sold into sexual slavery, while 250,000 children are enslaved as child soldiers on the battlefields.

* 820 million people on earth go to bed hungry every night.  This number grows by 4 million every year.

No one is immune to suffering, it is a fact of life. James 1:2-4 says: ” Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way”

Sooo since we all suffer in our own ways lets “Always be a little kinder than necessary”- James M. Barrie

I wish you all happiness, love, peace and God’s blessings.

 EDIT (7-10-08) since I posted:  reading my post over and over I realized this..shame on me!  I am complaining about my applianes going out when so few even have the luxury to have them.  I don’t even s t i l l realize how blessed I am, and how much I take for granted.  I wish I could do more for the Lord. Period.

xo-

Jules

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July 1, 2008 by julie.

Happy 1 Year Birthday Paper Trunk…YAHHHHOOO!!!!!!

Check out all the AWESOME challenges and Prize giveaways here- http://papertrunk.blogspot.com/ Have FUN!!!

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June 22, 2008 by julie.

I often wonder what my life would be like if my Parent’s did not pass on.  I think about all of the good memories am amazed where I am today.  I am Blessed to be where I am now, God’s plan has lead me to where I am and the Family he gave me. Dale had the kids are outside now and I was able to take a pic of a recent LO.  

Here is a Photograph of some Tomatoes we grew in our garden, I think this year has been the best!  Yummy Yummy Yummy!

Here is another LO I created a while back…….

So the layout above tells alot about me and my children, though you may not see it right away (or know it).  I tell my children I am ALWAYS in their Hearts..NO Matter What.  So even when I am gone and not here on earth, The will feel me in their Hearts.  They love knowing I am always there, all Day through school, anytime I am not around…they know right where I am.  Forever in My Heart and Your’s I Pray with them Daily.

 Thanks for your comments and support for my Family.

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June 22, 2008 by julie.

Cole needed to have surgery on his eye to correct a muscle that was almost 3 times what it should be…..He was so Brave, I am very proud of him.  Everything went very smooth and today he even made it to Basketball Practice ( I do not think anything can stop him)!  Addison’s rash is gone I just have those dang sore joints in my hand, knees, & feet YUCK!  In this Pic you can see what Cole could do with his eyes before the surgery:

He could take his right eye and point it anywhere opposite of his left.  Now after his surgery he cannot even do that when he tries.  I am so happy we were lead to the right specialist. This is Cole recovering:

His eye got more swollen and Black and Blue but he is full of his usual energetic self..LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!  Nothing will keep this Child down.  I have finished some Layouts with the *NEW* Paper Trunk CHA release, I just need to take some Photographs =)

I am thinking of doing a RAK, if you would be interested please write on this post.  THX.

Jules

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