Showcase Bound

Getting ready to head out to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN for Creative Memories (CM) convention.  Showcase 2012.  This year CM celebrates it's 25th birthday.  Be sure to check out my Facebook Fan page to stay updated & take part in the virtual show case & crop that are scheduled.  I have links to these events there too.  You can also find them through Creative Memories Home Office or CM Go Digital fan pages as well.  Looking forward to coming back with fresh ideas for you & your photography needs.

Scrap Olympics 2012

I was hard at work last night while watching the Olympics on TV.  I feel really great with getting several pages completed.  I'll feel even better once I have my photos caught up.  I have quit trying to 'get current' with my photos.  I have decided to work with what I enjoy.  Here are a few samplings of what I did last night.  Later today I plan to work on some Scout photos and School Activities that the kids were in...my goal is 30 pages by August 10th.  There is one other one, but I'm not sharing it :0)

These were all from Pre-designed pages; many of them from P2P blueprints.

A very long bad day...

Today started out like every other day.  The Lord woke me yet again and everything was peaceful.  A gentle rain was falling outside (a much needed easy soaking rain).  It was very pleasant to see the raindrops on the windows.  I was here for some purpose, however I never would have thought it would be to defend my convictions & beliefs.  I must keep passing the test because I am not discouraged, just very saddened that I seem to be unable to clearly communicate my steadfast firm belief in Christ and other issues that go along with my strong faith.  I know that I am fighting an uphill battle in today's world.  I am a believer in common sense and the strong lack of it's existence in today's world as well as my faith in the Lord.  Several recent news articles and events have prompted some extremely heated discussions about all of the above and many HOT political topics, too.  Things just went from one to another most of the afternoon.  I was getting extremely discouraged on many fronts and it was a subject I could not walk away from - I needed to defend it!

I have been berated several times today by friends and strangers.  Normally I welcome the debate, mainly because I enjoy finding out others' thought process and why they hold true to their convictions.  It is increasingly hard to share my convictions about my faith, but I know that I must allow my light to shine.  Those who tried to tear me down today were unsuccessful and I have already said several prayers for them this evening.  I know they don't want the prayers as they are non believers, but I know that my Lord has heard me & I am comforted in that knowledge.  I know that should I not wake in the morning I served my maker.

My children and husband are always a comfort to me & today they were even more of a comfort as my day increased with burdens beyond my control.  The day is now done and morning will start everything anew very soon.  It's my prayer for all that your day ahead be a peaceful, uneventful day and that those who don't know the Lord's comfort will find it.  As I end this post I am reminded of a song from church school "This little light of mine!" it brings a smile to my face & a warmth in my heart.  Thank You God!

Good Night & God Bless

Life can bring you down

I felt the need to make a post that allows me to rant...sorry.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your life?  I have been experiencing that quite a bit recently.  Just when you think you're getting caught up and have 'all your ducks in a row' so to speak, WHAM!  Life gives you a road block. 

In my case it was a back injury getting out of my van.  Yes, go ahead and laugh, everyone else has; as I exited my van from being 'Mom's Taxi' two weeks ago I got a sharp pain that immediately took me to my knees.  Maybe that was the Lord trying to tell me I needed to pray more often, (giggle) some sense of humor.  That was a Thursday morning, that Saturday we were to attend a family reunion so my children could meet some of their distant cousins from my side of the family tree.  The days ahead were full of items that needed to be accomplished in order for the activities and my household to run smoothly. I had no time to be down & out for the count.  Well the Lord had other plans for me - I was to SLOW DOWN.  Patience is not one of my better virtues, can you tell?  Also coming up is some major construction at out house.  Paper work that needs submitted for end of fiscal year, so many 'things'.  No way can I afford to be flat on my back!

A great mystery our skeletal system is, that something so simple as twisting as we've all done so many times and never had an issue can keep you from functioning to do the simplest of things - like getting out of a chair, rolling over while in bed, pulling up you pants!  There is so much that we take for granted in our daily lives.  I am so thankful to have a wonderful chiropractor.  For all the skeptics out there (you know who you are) don't knock it until you've tried them.  I've been to some of the best orthopedic doctors on the east coast & Scott far excels them in most areas.  I'll use traditional medicine when needed, but I LOVE Scott.  He's been treating me for 12 years now off & on as well as the rest of my family.  Scott saw me the very next day, adjusted my back as I had a twisted pelvis and another part of my spine was out of place as well - I can't recall what he told me anymore.  I felt much better for the next three days, then pain again.  For those of you have had this treatment you know it's not unusual for it to move out of place after an adjustment.  I went back to get realigned.  After the 2nd adjustment I felt good for about a day before the pain returned.  This pain was different that the original injury and different symptoms; I was progressively getting worse with my walking, and movements getting up; and forget getting out of bed!  I simply couldn't do any of these things unassisted.  During this time my children were very good about assisting Mom with getting up, cleaning the house and what not.  For a short time they made me very proud to be helping out the way they were & no sibling squabbles either.  As most parents know this never lasts for very long...

Since the pain was different this time my wonderful Dr. sent me for some x-rays to see if there was an injury we were missing.  I am waiting for those results, in the time being most of the pain has disappeared and I have been able to return to almost my daily routine.  I still get a twinge when trying to pick something up from the floor.  Remember to bend those knees people!  So very important.

In the midst of all of this with my back, my husband has two appointments about possible back surgery as well (quite the pair)  and my daughter and son both need to be delivered and picked up from their activities; while I am unable to drive and my husband is working a full time & part-time job.  My being down really throws a monkey wrench into our life.  I have wonderful supportive friends and family.  They assist us without a second thought.  I am anxious to find out what the x-rays show; I am hoping nothing serious - I want to heal and return to my regular routine.  I also have a trip to prepare for along with a week of band camp for my son and getting my daughter ready for a week away too.  The next several days will be hectic and hopefully everything will get accomplished.

The x-ray results came in this morning - nothing unusual; so my Dr. referred  me to his Physical Therapist for evaluation.   After several simple tests and movements - we came to the conclusion that at this point it's muscle spasms from the original injury.  Now we just need to get it to calm down - hopefully it's soon!    I so want to enjoy my trip to Showcase.

OK - rant's done.  :0)

25% Off on 25 Products

25% OFF Sale

Please follow the above link to view Creative Memories Items that are on Sale through July 25th.  You can easily place orders online using my Consultant ID # 41342448 at CreativeMemories.com

1/2 Off Host Selection

Host a party and see all the FREE product you can earn.  Check out the current July Specials for all of the Details.

Current Sales Flier

For more new products be sure to check out the current sales flier.

Contact me with any questions or to book a party, join my team, or place an order.  I'd love to help you get started.


Be sure to check out the product discontinuations that are coming as well as the digital porducts that will be archived.  Lots of upcoming changes are in the works!

Fireworks

I wanted to share with you my 'success' in capturing our local fireworks display.  I'm not totally happy with the results, however they are improving each time I attempt to photograph them...

 I always forget from year to year about the farm down the road.  I can't see their light, yet they always end up in my photographs.

 I was disappointed that the colors didn't show as brightly as I had hoped for...

 even on a tripod, I still got camera shake b/c I had to hit the button to take the photo.

 I am approximately 6 miles from where they are being launched from...

 There was a storm coming in as well, so the air was heavy.  We had some 'heat' lightening  during the show as well last night.  I am amazed at how much light my camera picks up on even with no flash.  Amazes me at the amount of light pollution even in my semi-rural area.

I hope you enjoy these.

Here's a link  to some really great tips for photographing fireworks from Nick Kelsh.

Custom Album Coversets

I rec'd my custom album coversets today from the album sale in June - I LOVE them so much - they turned out wonderfully!

What do you think?

The Disney coverset I got the black spine & back; the Universal coverset I got the white spine & coverset.  I am extremely pleased with how they turned out.

Digital Sale

Wow!  What a month June was with the digi-sale.  There is another one this month to help you celebrate Creative Memories turning 25!  I am so excited - my Custom Cover-sets are due to arrive on Monday, I just rec'd a hardcover storybook for a customer yesterday, and tonight I just ordered my digi-album from the vacation my family just returned from last week.  In one week I completed an entire album for 10 days of vacation - How GREAT is that!?!

 

Album Cover

This is the album cover - it was created with a P2P blueprint called Mary's Grid.  I adapted it for the cover.  I so <3 how it came out.  I am so anticipating the arrival of my newly completed book.

I hope you'll contact me for assistance with your photo needs - I'd be honored to assist you.