Happy St. Patricks Day!

Just wanted to share with you today a layout about LUCK!

I also thought I would share that the baby album went over well and I thought I would share the rest of the pages also!

A baby book!

I am working hard on a baby album for a shower for a sweet couple that just adopted a new baby girl "Emma Joy". They attend our church and have waited a long time for this!
I have 10 pages done and ten to go! So I thought I would share the pages I have done with you!

Naming our Farm house on the Hill!

First I have to say that I hope hubby doesn't have a bird because I forgot to ask him last night what he thought of the name I finally choose but I really think he is going to like it too!
This is a photo of a Moose skull that we had at our house in Mn. and I liked it so much we brought it with us when we moved back to N.Y.. It was somewhat common for Mn. but unique for N.Y.
Are you starting to get any ideas towards the name?

Well what I came up with and I will be Painting a sign for it... is
MOOSE HILL
I am excited about the name I finally choose! I really like it!

Now I would like to share something else I am excited about! A new stamp system
I think is awesome and I want badly and some totally awesome stamps too! This is
a really great company and they sell kits too!
The Unity Stamp Company

also make sure and stop by their blog and leave a comment for a chance at a great prize! http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/

I am so ready for SPRING!

Thinking of spring makes me miss my gardens in Minnesota! The house we have for sale in Minnesota has the most beautiful gardens, some because of what was there when we moved there and some I added to it!

Let me take you on a walk through my gardens in Minnesota!~

I hope to make my gardens here at the house in New York just as pretty! Which by the way I have been wanting to come up with a name for our little farm home on the hill and I finally did! BUT if you want to find out what it is you will just have to come back tomorrow because THAT IS TOMORROWS POST!!!

Ok lets get started on our walk!










Well I don't know about you but the walk made me thirst so if you head over to the patio, I will go get us some lemonade and we can sit and relax and just take in the fresh smells of Spring! (HEY! WE CAN DREAM CAN'T WE! I really am ready for Spring!)

It's PARTY TIME!

I am having a BLOG PARTY!
it was suppose to start yesterday but leave it to me to forget and start a day late!

Hi my name is Sue and I live in Upstate N.Y. I have 3 grown children and 3 grandsons! I also have a wonderful hubby!
I am a avid scrapbooker and decorative painter!
I Love the Lord with all my heart and know that if it weren't for Him I would not have made it through many crisis in my life!
I love making new friends and I love sharing with friends!
I made some treats in honor of the Blog PARTY! I am sharing the recipe so you can make them to!

Candy Bar Cookies

1 cup Packed brown Sugar

2/3 cup butter or margarine

¼ cup light corn syrup

¼ cup peanut butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

3 ½ cups quick-cooking rolled oats

2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces

1 cup butterscotch pieces

2/3 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 baking pan with foil; extend foil over edges of pan. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, cook and stir brown sugar, butter, and syrup over medium-low heat until combined. Remove from heat; stir in the ¼ cup peanut butter and vanilla until smooth.

For crust, place oats in a very large bowl. Pour brown sugar mixture over oats; stir gently until combined . Press mixture evenly onto bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are light brown.

Meanwhile, in the same medium saucepan, cook and stir chocolate and butterscotch pieces together over low heat until melted. Stir in the 2/3 cup peanut butter until mixture is smooth. Slowly pour mixture over hot crust, spreading evenly.

Cool in pan on rack for several hours or until chocolate layer is firm. (If necessary, chill until chocolate is set.) When firm, use foil to lift out of pan. Cut into bars.

Thought I would share a few of my creations!

Come here to my blog during the blog party from March 7th-through the 14th and leave a comment on this post or any post after this post through the 14th and get entered into a drawing to win a RAK.. YEP that is right BLOG CANDY!!!!
Here are my favorite picks for prizes but I won't turn down any prize you offer me!
1. $60 Gift certificate to Mikarose (pretty dresses) donated by Liza. (prize #54)
2. $25 Target gift certificate provided by Mommy Bytes. (prize #117)
3. Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace with heart from Elemental Memories (prize #7)

4. Judy at “Welcome to My World of Dreams” will be donating a $25 gift certificate from Amazon.com. (prize #60)
5.Pirates of the Caribbean portable CD player
Provided by: The Geeky Housewife

Spending time with Family

A few years back I was on the Social Concerns Committee for my area Church district. This year I have been asked to head the Committee although we have not yet been able to meet as the District Superintendent has been unable to due to some other conflicts but I feel strongly that one of the biggest things affecting the family today is the loss of time spent together.

I remember when my children were teens and my daughter came home from school one day and was talking about a discussion in health class that day.
She is now 31. She said they asked them to raise their hands if they sit down to family meals at the table, her and one other person raised their hand. My mind was blown away back then and today I just can't imagine!

So when my grandsons come to visit we try to spend as much family time with them as possible! Playing in the snow, family dinners of course and even this past weekend we took them bowling.. NOW there was a blast, My oldest grandson Jason 6 years old had a 103 (okay I admit there was bumpers up for the gutters) but hey! Noah ran over once and bowled in the lane next to us and helped the little boy bowling in the other lane! WHOOPS fortunately they laughed with us! You have to know Noah! He is a monkey!

I will end with some photos! BE SURE AND SPEND SOME QUALITY FAMILY TIME THIS WEEKEND! it doesn't always have to be quantity as long as it is Quality!

Oh and one more litte point, my sweet friend Nikki and I had lunch yesterday and were sharing some thoughts and one thing Nikki pointed out is that sometimes with our children we think we are listening to them but are we really? OR ARE WE JUST SAYING UH HUM YEAH YES, are our ears really tuned into them? GREAT POINT NIKKI! I sure do love Nikki, she is a great friend and a wonderful MOM!

I need your help! For a friend!

My scrapfriend Denean is in need of Prayers for her little girl Elena and also for herself! I have copied some of the information from Denean's blog here so you know what is happening but what would be awesome is if you went to the blog and left her a comment letting her know you are praying! A little web space to call my own

Elena has been diagnosed with Amblyopia. Amblyopia is the eye condition noted by reduced vision not correctable by glasses or contact lenses and is not due to any eye disease. The brain, for some reason, does not fully acknowledge the images seen by the amblyopic eye. She started wearing a patch for two hours a day, and her eye improved some, so the Dr upped the patch wearing to six hours a day. This has been a bit of a struggle. Six hours is an eternity for a five year old.

Since this was not noticed at her previous check ups, and has seemed to suddenly appear, the doc wants to run some tests to "rule out" some explanations. Elena is going for a CAT scan of her eye and brain on Thursday and she is very nervous. Please pray for peace for her, that she will realize its not so bad and pray also that the scan is clear.

Thank you all so, so much!

Where did my snowman go so fast?

Yesterday Jason and I built a snowman! He really fell in love with it! He just kept repeating "Grandma even made legs for him!" I sure do love playing in the snow with the boys! I got some awesome photos too but I will share those another day!

I am happy for a warm day but Jason will be sad that Motorcycle snowman is gone so fast!

The weather forcast not so good.... We're getting a real taste of spring across my area this fine Monday afternoon with plenty of sunshine and temperatures that have risen well into the 50s, unbelievable in Upstate N.Y.! (NO WIND!) It all seems too good to be true and it is because here is the headlines for the weather on our local channel!
Multi-Faceted Storm Tuesday Into Wednesday ***Winter Storm Watch In Effect From 7AM Tue. to 12PM Wed.*

also for now they are giving flood warnings too....

7 Random THINGS About ME!

I have been tagged again... I don't have much luck with these
because usually those I tag don't do them but I will give it
a try!

Seven Random Things About Me
here how it works:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and leave a comment
on their blog, so that their readers can visit yours.
Scrapping Servant tagged me!

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share 7 Random facts about yourself on your blog.

4. Tag 7 random people at the bottom of your post, linking
to their blog.  Let each person know by leaving a comment
on their blog.

Here are my 7 Random Things about ME!

1. I love playing with my three grandsons!

2. I would love a granddaughter. (hint hint dd!)

3. I have been on 3 missons trips! Albania, St. Kitts and to a
Childrens home in Georgia

4. I have Trigeminal and Occipital Neuralgia

5. I have a photo of my grandmother 8 generations back who was
full blooded Indian

6. Many times people have asked if my daughter and I are sisters (my
  dd hates it when people think she is still a teenager but yet she
  hates it when people ask this question also! I LOVE IT!)LOL

7. If I hurt someones feelings (which I never do on purpose, so
 accidentally) I get so upset that I beat my self up for
 days and cry to.  I am always worried about offending people.

And now I am tagging
Denean http://alittlewebspacetocallmyown.blogspot.com/
(check out her beautiful banner!)
Leslie http://www.dragonflytime.typepad.com/
Tabitha http://zippity-do-dah-tabitha.blogspot.com/
Spink http://spinkeeshy.blogspot.com/
Nadia http://nadiascraps.blogspot.com/
Jenney http://scrapbookinggal.blogspot.com/
Nancy  http://myfiercewonderings.blogspot.com/

Some New Layouts

Now first I want to say that Dear God has to have the writing part redone but I am out of brown cardstock so it has to wait till I can get some! I did these during a on-line crop and Dear God was done while suffering with a severe migraine! So it is a wonder that you can read it at all and I wrote it like 3 times! LOL . The Love at first sight is our new home which was after looking at so many homes and feeling so discouraged! I was looking out the window on the day we went to see the house and saw a double rainbow! my sign from God!
Last but not least, the middle layout is what makes my heart tick! my three special boys! My three Grandsons!
I love on-line Crops... they motivate you to get so much done! thanks for all the great ideas Jodie from Scrap4Life!!

Quilt of Holes

A friend emailed me this poem and I thought it would be great to share on my blog! by the way the quilt I have pictured is a quilt my husband's grandmother made for him, it was used by him and his brothers and my children (when they were visiting my mother in law) and then my mother in law gave it to me, the quilt means alot to hubby and me as both his mom and grandmother are passed away.

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant

holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day

life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been

trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

God determines who walks into your life....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go." I need this back. If you'll do this for me, I'll do it for you....When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

With all that said I would also like to ask you to pray for a friend of mine.. This friend Nancy Jones has Lupus and has had a pretty bad flare up! She has a beautiful little 4 year old girl "Bella" who needs her MOMMY healthy and home to take care of her! Please help me pray for them.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

http://nancywithajones.blogspot.com/

Feb. 22 is my daughters Birthday!

This year she will be 31! I am giving her a small surprise birthday party! No! She does not read my blog so she won't see this! She does not have any idea! Which is totally unusual to pull something off on her!

Today my grandsons and I altered a frame for her birthday from the boys! I am hoping to get a better photo of the boys together to put in it tomorrow but until then I have put one in of the boys with her! They sure do love their Aunt Mindy! Noah the youngest helped a lot with glue on the back of the paper! I probaly should have taken photos of them helping, but to late!

just a couple of my newest layouts

Thought I would share some of my latest layouts! I am doing great on my goal of 10 layouts a month. I only made the number 10 so the goal would be obtainable and I am doing well. Although as far as getting a lot of photos done, I won't say I am doing so well! Maybe I will show you why in my next post and see if you can figure it out! LOL! Have a wonderful day!

CLOSE TO YOU!

I did a layout for my sweet hubby a few weeks ago and was going to reveal it to him on Valentines Day, why I did not I am not sure, I just decided to wait. My husband has subscribed to my blog and reads it while he is at work normally so I want him to get this while he is at work.

Friday the day after Valentines he was suppose to take me for a procedure that is suppose to replace my nerve blocks I get for my Occipital Neuralgia that causes neck pain and severe migraines but due to the fact that the insurance has not approved the new procedure yet it was canceled, but originally he wouldn't have been at work. So here I am posting it so he will get it Monday at work.

I did the layout thinking about a song that I liked when I was a teenager and when we were dating it made me think of him, and then we had children I sang it to each of my children when I was rocking them and I have also sang it to my grandchildren.

I like knowing that my husband is nearby even when we are doing different things. When my neurological problems act up ( I also have trigeminal neuralgia, which can be very frightening) or even just my migraines, I like knowing he is close by and many times at night I will get as close to him as I can just because I feel insecure and when I get close to him it makes me feel so much safer.

When he has to go away for work or when something happens at home and he is just not home, I long for him to get home just because I want to be close to him. When I go away, I enjoy myself, yet I long to share the events and to be close to him!

This is why I used this song on this layout!

On a little side note... If you love those little chipboard birdies.. they are from Magistical Memories. They have the best lightweight chipboard.

I did it! I made a pull tab card!

It might not be the best card I ever made but it is sure not the worst and is better then my poor husband's valentine card! I made the pull tab a bookmark!

Cards with pull tabs!!!

I am working on a challenge to make a card with a pull tab, or should I reword this, I did a challenge and now I am redoing it because I hated my card!
I gave the card to my hubby but I just gave me a fit the whole time and was just not the best card! So I am determined to make a better card!
If you have any hints or ideas please let me know!!