New Scrapper...Card swap from Downline meeting

Most of you know by now that this is Jessie...Joshua's girlfriend. She wanted to make a card for her dad for Father's Day, so we made the wallet card shown in a previous blog.

We made four credit card like notes to put into the wallet. Here we stamped her brothers family, sister's and Jessie and her parents on the cards using the "All in the Family" stamp set. Colored each one with the Stampin' Write markers. She used one to write a special message to her dad. Sweet isn't it?
Here is the front of Michael's...shhhhhh...don't tell him.

I am not showing pictures of the inside just yet...we will have to wait until after Father's Day. I stamped a child on each card and each of them have written a special message on the card.

I love doing card swaps. Here are a few from Thursdays gathering... this first one is the one that JoAnn made.

The technique used on the Lovely as a Tree card was the Cracked Glass Technique...let me know it you would like to learn the technique.

This card was made by Mandy...one of my downlines.

This is too cute...

Flower pot card.

Hope you enjoyed the cards...have a blessed day.

Downline get together

I am sharing pictures of our upline/downline meeting on Thursday. These meetings are held monthly to share our goals, ideas and encourage each other.

My upline is Sandy...she is the third lady on the right in a white shirt. Mandy was the only part of my downline that attended...she is the one to the left in the blue. Dana, JoAnn, and Jerri were not able to attend.
This is a card that was pasted around for inspiration if you have the Trendy Tree Set stamps...Love the color scheme using our old "In Colors".

This is a Father's day wallet that was made as well for inspiration. I made three last night for individuals...let me know if you would like one as well. I charged $3.00 for each.

In this she used a gift card and note in the sleeves.

We were just handed our home work and Sandy is telling us what she expects for the next meeting...

This is our homework...to make an "Inspiration book" to keep our cards in.

We take a picture from a magazine, book or whatever and make a card using the same color scheme. This is Sandy's Inspiration Book. We have to find a picture out of a catalog or book and do the same.

This is a fantastic card from Mandy who is part of my downline. I am giving it to you in three pictures so that you can get an idea of what the card is and how it was made because I could not do the card justice by the camera. Back view...

Side view...

Front of card. The busyness of the table doesn't allow you to see how the card really looks. I am going to see if she will come demonstrate this card for us one night. Cool isn't it. She did a great job.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

We have reached a new place...Adulthood and making up your own mind...that is where Joshua is now. He loves baseball but not enough to play somewhere where he doesn't want to go to school. He got one scholarship offer from Williams, and a few other coaches from area schools have asked him to come talk to them, but it not Three Rivers...where he wants to go.

So he doesn't know what he wants to do.

Any of our friends who have been in this kind of situation are welcomed to share their experience with him...he needs to make an informed decision. Mike and I have told him that baseball has served it's purpose as far as we are concerned...kept him busy enough through school not to get into trouble, so now it's whatever he wants to do. He can always play intermual baseball in college and softball in town. He doesn't have to give it up all together.

It's hard being on this side of the equation...usually making his mind up for him...now letting him do it. I think letting go is harder than anything the child rearing days had to offer. I wish I could still put him in time-out and say "NO" , or ground him when he makes the wrong decisions, but I can't. I'm not in control any more and that is hard. If you are not there now, you will know what I am talking about all to soon because it is here before you know it.

The purpose of this blog is to ask you to please pray for Joshua, that he will make the decision that the Lord has for his life. And if for some reason he doesn't, that the Lord would teach him to lean on Him through difficult times. I don't want to see my kids hurt, but as we all know, that is where we have done the best part of our learning. It's hard as a parent to set back and let God lead and not do it yourself. So maybe I need you to pray for us, Mike and I, as well.

On a happy note...I am going to be a Great Aunt...can you believe it. I am getting old. So I guess, I too, am in a new place in my life. Looking forward to having a new baby in the family, and oh yes, there will be lots and lots of pictures.

I hope each of you have a blessed day today and in the process don't forget about the One whom made it possible...God!

Brandon's Wedding

Finally pictures of the wedding...I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Bryan walking in and seeing Brandon in his tux...one proud daddy right there!!!

Christopher rolled out the white carpet for the bride.

The wedding party as the father gives the bride away.

Pastor Pat had them look into the audience to see whom they were making their vows in front of as a reminder of the meaning of the vows.

Sharing a moment together after lighting the Unity Candle while Andy and Jenny sing.

Pronouncing them Husband and Wife...

Pastor Pat prayed for them before leaving the stage.

Drink up...

hum...hum...good! That cake was incredible.

Pastor Pat, Tiffany and Brandon ,

Brandon and Tiffany with Tiffany's family.

The beautiful bride.

One big happy family again.

The boys were not available for pictures...isn't my baby beautiful? She enjoyed standing up there with Tiffany and it was an honor to be asked. Yes, Mike is looking good!!!

It was a beautiful wedding...I know my momma was proud.