Contest Entries

I just finished the Team Scrappin' Contest over at sassacraft.com. My partner was Patti H and I really enjoyed doing my first online contest with her. We didn't win, but we did get some great layouts done and we got a few votes here and there. Maybe next time we'll do better!

Our first assignment was to use a black background, at least one word of our title had to be black, and both team members had to use the same layout title. Patti scrapped a pic of her grandson and I scrapped this pic of Clayton--the title was the perfect choice for these cuties! The journaling is about how Clayton melted our hearts when he repeated the words "I love you" back to us.

The next assignment was a little harder for me. We had to choose a sketch as a team and both use it as our "map" for our layout. The curve in our sketch was totally hard for me, since I usually stay with straight lines! Brian says he couldn't believe I was posting this online because it's "not my best work." Oh well. Got these pics scrapped at least!

We had a bonus challenge that same week and we had to create a card with two brads, at least one heart, and at least one photo corner. This is what I came up with:

The next week was even harder for me because we had to alter something. I am NOT an alterer. I would much rather stick with layouts.

For a bonus challenge, we had to use the title "Simple Pleasures" in a layout. I love how this turned out (got to use my Cricut). The journaling is just a list of some things that make Clayton happy.

For the last week, the theme was pink and orange. One team member had to do a pink layout, the other, an orange layout. I am SO not good with orange, but this is what I came up with:

I'm going to be doing another contest at scrapforums.com--it starts in February. Even if I don't win, these contests do force me to step out of my creative box--it's neat to see what you can come up with when you get the assignment.

I Have a Praise!

We found a lead guitar player! His name is Mike and it was truly a God thing on how he came about. He just moved to town about two weeks ago, and he was at the music store last week when Brian ran into him. They started talking (Brian probably held him hostage to talk!), and he mentioned that he had played around with some guys in Texas and would love to play in a band here, but he really didn't know anyone. Brian invited him to practice Thursday, and we had an awesome time playing together. We all left that night in great spirits--it felt great to have somebody that could play and was totally excited about the project!

I asked Kent Sunday if he knew anyone who played the drums and he mentioned that Rod (who sings in our choir) maybe played. Charlie had him play for him Wednesday and he said he was rusty, but was solid. So all this time a drummer was right under our noses! We all meet together Tuesday night--I can't wait to see how it sounds!

Still Busy!

Today--Dad's Birthday--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Clayton has two doctor's appointments, one is the dentist and that one should be interesting!

Our church was broken into and robbed blind and totally ransacked. Charlie's amp was even stolen. Who would do such a thing?

The Milk of Magnesia is DEFINITELY working for Clayton. I won't tell you all the details, but let's just say that he left the office basically naked yesterday because he had poop on every piece of clothing he was wearing.

I wonder about one of Clayton's therapists (she's the newest one). She is ALWAYS late or forgets to come. VERY FRUSTRATING. She was supposed to be here this morning for just a few minutes before we left and I finally called and told her not to bother coming by--she was just now coming in from another school district, still about 20 minutes away from our house.

Off to the doctor!

Today

I need to finish an altered project and a layout for the contest, go to the post office, and visit my grandparents before they forget what I look like. So far, I'm not making very good time. I hope I start moving faster soon . . .but it's just not in my nature!

2007 So Far

It's been a busy year for me so far! These are the things that I'm doing with my time:

participating in a contest at sassacraft.com

attending choir practice again

working on the band issues and practicing with Brian

working a few hours at my mom's office

getting ready for three classes at my LSS

hosting the ScrapJazzy awards at ScrapJazz (whew, that's a lot of work!)

submitting layouts like crazy to DT calls and magazines

and of course, doing the regular mom things that I do here at home

I've basically hit the ground running here in January. I like it, but I do miss my naps!

Same Song, Different Verse

We had an awesome practice last night. Why is that bad? Because James "can't commit" either. So we have a drummer and a guitar player who we love to play with, and neither one can commit. Ugh. So Brian, Charlie and I are going to keep on chuggin' along, and we hope something big will happen soon--maybe God will just drop someone in our laps to complete our group!

YEAH CLAYTON!

Yesterday Clayton had his first swallow study since 2004 and he PASSED! He threw a fit, crying and gagging the whole time, but he never once aspirated (let the liquid go into his lungs). I was so proud of him and definitely relieved. Basically this means that we can be more aggressive on getting him to at least taste baby foods and he can do lots of theraputic work on his feeding. He still has a long way to go, but at least we know he is protecting his lungs while he works on eating. GO CLAYTON!

Making Music

So last year our "original" band broke up. We lost our drummer and keyboard player and we decided to just take a rest for a while. Rest time is over! I've really been wanting to get back into the groove, but getting started is proving to be tough. Right now, the members of the band officially are only me and Brian and our bass player, Charlie. We are all ready to go, but we are on the search for a drummer and another guitar player. We have a drummer in mind, but he is having trouble committing, which is making us nervous--we definitely want someone who is excited about the project. He is an excellent musician, and he is great at actually producing the music. I just wish he would get a sign from God that this is the way he should go. In the meantime, we have a guitar player coming to house Thursday night for a small jam session just to see if we mesh with him. I know he's talented, it's just a matter of seeing if he fits with us and with our music. I'm really hoping this is the start of something big for us. I have so much on my heart that I want to share with other people and I know that music can be a great outlet for that, not to mention just a fun way to pass the time.

T. G. I. F. !!!

Off to enjoy the day--lots of things to do that I've put off all week. Clayton is definitely ready to get out of the house. I'm just glad it stopped raining!

Leftover Thoughts from Christmas

On Christmas Eve, I was able to sing with the choir and it felt so good to be a part of them. Felt really good to sing at the top of my lungs! At any rate, we sang the now classic Christmas song Mary, Did You Know? and the words rang truer than ever for me.

The blind will see!

The deaf will hear!

The dead will live again!

THE LAME WILL LEAP!

The dumb will speak

The Praises of the Lamb!!

THE LAME WILL LEAP! How reassuring to know that eventually Clayton will walk! If not in this life, but in Heaven above. God could have easily healed Shawn if He had wanted, but He chose not too. But the dead will live again--in Christ and through Christ. And if He so chooses, Clayton will walk unassisted someday. I've seen a part of these words come to fruition just this week. Our music pastor's daughter was born deaf. Her family has prayed her entire life that she will one day hear. Today, 20 years later, their prayers are coming true. She is getting a cochlear implant put in as I type this. THE DEAF WILL HEAR! And even though it took 20 years, they are definitely getting the answer to their prayer. How amazing and how encouraging!

So I will keep praying the promises of God and keep singing His praises--one day I will get an answer!

Milestone!

Clayton is in a major "repeat everything we say" stage, but we've never been able to get him to say I love you. Until last night! He repeated it twice for us while we were laying in bed. Brian and I showered him with kisses--it was music to our ears!!! He is the sweetest little boy we know. :)

Christmas Highlights II

Here are the rest from last weekend.

My dad:
The two youngest on my father's side:
My cousin's little girl:
My nephew:
My parents, working on their Christmas quiz:
The aftermath:
Bet you can't guess what my brother got for Christmas!

Christmas Highlights

Here are some pics I took over the past two days--I had several from last weekend to share as well, but of course I can't get blogger to cooperate. Maybe I'll get those uploaded tomorrow.

My dad and Clayton:
Clayton with his new hat:
Clayton showing off his new shirt:
Mom and Clayton:
Brian with his big bucks gift certificate:
My cousin's little girl helping Clayton open his gifts:
My cousin reading the Christmas story:
My cousins inspecting their "Dirty Santa" spoils:
And finally, me and Clayton Christmas night (we were pooped, but managed a good smile for the camera):

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Musician for Hire

Well, I think Clayton is ready to go on the road! Brian figured out how to get his guitar to stay on his walker and Clayton was a happy camper! He sat there and strummed forever, but his little legs were worn out from walking earlier, so he was tired of standing. I've never seen a child his age so obsessed with a muscial instrument. And he's gotten to where he can hold the pick and strum with one hand and put his left hand on the neck where it's supposed to be. He watches every move Brian makes with his guitar so that he can try it himself. He keeps great time--and since his legs don't work well right now, I really think he's a musician in the making. It's just too bad he doesn't like to hear me sing along with him!!!

Finally Got it Out

In the open that is:

Classy Scrapper Magazine

Busy Weekend

Friday night Brian and I went out to eat with some of our best friends and we had a great time just chillin' with each other. The highlight of the night was some good old Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. YUM, YUM. Clayton spent the night with my parents, so I had a much needed vacation from the wild nights that he usually has--I slept like a rock. It's almost like I go into a coma when he is not sleeping with me!

Yesterday we went to my GrandMother's for my dad's family's Christmas. It was hard to imagine it was Christmas considering we were all sweating and in short sleeves. Brian wanted to wear shorts, but I talked him out of it (SBR--wouldn't want the pics to look weird!). Clayton had so much fun--he even played a little bit of roller football in his wheelchair--I'm so glad he got to participate, and I think Brian lost a couple of pounds from running and pushing him around!

So we're back to our regularly scheduled lives for the next couple of days and then on to more Christmas celebrations next weekend. Looking forward to seeing the rest of my family.

Lighten' the Mood

I was tagged by Kelli last week and I'm just now getting around to taking care of it--maybe you'll learn something new about me!

A - Available or single: available to Brian
B - Best Friend: Brian
C - Cake or Pie: chocolate cake, chocolate pie--doesn't matter!
D - Drink of choice: Diet Coke
E - Essential Item you use everyday: deodorant
F - Favorite color: purple
G - Gummy Bears or worms: neither--can't stand the texture!
H - Hometown: somewhere in the middle of Arkansas
I- Indulgence: CHO-CO-LATE!
J - January or February: January--love the new start
K - Kids & Names: Clayton
L - Life is Incomplete Without? Family
M - Marriage Date: July 25
N - Number of Siblings: one brother
O - Oranges or Apples: apples
P - Phobias or Fears: mice, snakes, small spaces
Q - Fave Quote: Right now? Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go~Sam Ewing
R - Reason to Smile: Clayton
S - Season: fall
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: I'll come back to this one
U - Unknown Fact about Me: I'm secretly a reality TV junkie. (not proud of it, I know)
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: most of them!
W - Worst Habit: popping my knuckles
X - Xrays: what does this mean? yes, I guess, because Clayton gets them all the time!
Y - Your Fave Food: Chicken Chimichanga from Los Amigos
Z - Zodiac Sign: Gemini--I'M BIPOLAR!!

More on Teegan

I know some of you were wanting more information as I got it, so here is a message from Amy Stultz, Sarah's best friend:

I just got home a little while ago. This is has been the single mot difficult day of my life. I had no clue that your body could weep so much. There are not words in this world to describe the immense pain they are all in. I have known Sarah for 20 years and have never seen her like this. She is desperate. She is broken. It is truly horrific.

The preliminary autopsy results are in. Teegan passed from a very aggressive viral infection in her lungs. They told us that it most likely set in within 12 hours of her death. It was so massive that it eventually filled her poor little lungs with mucous and suffocated her. She passed due to a severe viral infection, the type of virus is still unknown at this time. Sarah and Grant were up with her at 3am and brought her into their bed. She snuggled into the middle and passed surrounded by the immense love and concern of her parents.

Please hug yur babies tonight. Like Sarah said, "I want my yesterdays back." Do not take a single moment for granted.

Yesterday I spent the day in shock. Last night, the sadness set in. Brian and I both just sat around the house with our mouths open from the shock and total confusion that we feel. And now today I simply want to sob. I have said this before and I'll say it again, I would not wish the pain of losing a child on my worst enemy. I still grieve for my loss and seeing others lose their child just opens my own wound wide open. I've learned to navigate around my pain and bitterness, and then something like this happens. I grieve for my friend. I grieve for myself. I grieve for all mothers and fathers who have to bury their child. And then I just want to scream "WHY???" It seems like so many people are losing their children! I read the obituaries and it seems like there are an abundance of child deaths. Please God, let it be clear when we get to Heaven. Please God, have an answer as to why my baby's body is buried under a bunch of dirt instead of sitting here in my lap, full of life. I am so thankful I have Clayton to focus on. He knows I am sad today and seems to sense I need his good sugars and lovin'. He's been blowing me kisses. Sweet baby. I'm scared to death of losing him. I just don't think I could bear it. I hope I don't give him a complex from hovering too much. He seems to be okay with it now, but as he gets older, I'm sure I'll here about how he needs his space! Maybe someday he will have his own children and he will know just how much I love him. There is no way I could ever have enough words to tell him just how great that love is.

Here is a picture of my friend Sarah with her children. Don't they just look beautiful?! Her boys doted on Teegan and I'm sure they will need your prayers just as much as Grant and Sarah.

In Memory of Teegan

When I checked my email this morning, I was not expecting the shocking message I received. This beautiful little girl is the daughter of Sarah O'Neal (writes the photography column for Classy Scrapper) and she did not wake up this morning--she died in her sleep. My heart is breaking for the O'Neals (pictured below). They have been through so much--you see, they have already buried one child. Their oldest son died three or four years ago in a car wreck. I simply cannot imagine the despair and heartache they are experiencing right now. If you can, please say a prayer for the O'Neals. Sarah has told me that their boys have really struggled with the death of their older brother and I am sure this is going to hit them even harder. I don't really know what else to say. Just pray for them.