What Relaxes You?

I have been so stressed lately. This past weekend I chose to do something I loved and relaxes me the most. That is scrap booking. I just love looking back and enjoying the memories that pictures hold in time for us. I decided to update Eleni's school scrapbook. I had only done k through 1st grade. So this weekend I worked all day Saturday and Sunday after Church on her book. I did 2nd through 6th. Now I just have to complete 7th and 8th grade and I will be up to date. :) The only thing I hate about scrap booking is pulling out all the stuff and then putting it away.

I had stuff all over the kitchen. The sad part is this is only some of my stuff.

Seems so hard to believe that Eleni is now in the 9th grade. They grow up so fast.

This is one of my favorite pages. One of our scrapbook friends teaches at a near by college. She teaches child development classes. We get to go there from time to time and use the die cuts. I love when we go there I save all my scrap paper for when we do get to go and I stock up. I just love this Dr. Seuss hat. 

So what do you like to do to help you relax? Thanks to all of you who stop by and leave me such great comments.

Donna

Blessing from a Blog Friend

If you didn't read my post from Friday please do. I shared a special story about a very special blog friend named Tammy. I know everyone probably already knows Tammy but if you don't go check out her blog http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/. I promise you will love her and her family. 

********************

I have become a little lazy since I don't have a job. Well, I'm not sure if lazy is the right word but I do sleep a little later. Friday shortly after eight am Abby woke me barking. Something had startled her and woke her. I thought I heard a noise out front so I got up and looked out my window and in my driveway was the Fed Ex truck. I first thought he must have the wrong house so I waited for him to leave. I peeked out the door still in my jammies. :) There on my porch was a package. Well, I knew then he had the wrong house. I had not ordered anything. So I brought the package inside and I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a package for me. I was in shock. I stood there thinking am I still asleep. I took the package in the kitchen and started to open it. My eyes started to burn as I held back the tears. This was inside my package.

I had mentioned to Tammy how much I loved her table bench and asked did Jason make and sell them. She wrote me back and said he did make them and could make me one. Well, I was going to order one and Ray was laid off the first time. So I told her I would have to wait. I really wanted one and was about to order it and Ray was laid off again. So I asked Tammy if I could and send her a little something every week and then purchase one. Tammy said she would get back with me after she spoke to Jason. I was so surprised when I opened this box and this was in there with another little package and a note. She wrote along with these goodies comes love and blessings from our home to yours! How could someone who didn't know me be so kind?

Here is the stitchery Tammy made me.

I absolutely love it. The table matches perfect with my place mats and curtains. I love the stitchery one because of what it says and two because my friend made it. I had no idea when I wrote my on my blog Thursday night to be posted on Friday that I would wake-up to this. Thank-you Tammy for my wonderful gifts but most of all for your friendship. 

I still have some tweaking to do but a lot of my things are already packed so I had to use what I had. Janae's candle mat looks great on here. I have to mention that Tammy's husband did a wonderful job on this. It's gorgeous and I already sent word when I do get back on my feet financially he better look out. 

Donna

Faithful Fridays

I wanted to share a little story with you all. When I was working and work became slow I started reading the Country Sampler forum more often. I noticed that Tammy S. as we know her on the forum had started a blog.  http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com I clicked on the link one day and I was addicted! From her blog I clicked on another and so on and so on. I couldn't look at the pictures on CS forum because they were blocked for security reasons but I could see the pictures on the blogs. I was in heaven what a way to help pass times. After a short time I had come to love Tammy and her family. I knew who they all were and what seemed like everything about them. It seemed as if she had the perfect husband and perfect life. I often joked I want a blog husband and a blog life. Donna my boss/friend would laugh at me because I would say it all the time. After many months of reading Tammy's blog I realized it was her faith in God I really admired and her involvement in her church. I wrote Tammy a few months ago and thanked her for inspiring me to get into Church. I am happy to say that my family and I have been attending Church regularly since before Thanksgiving. Tammy has been a great person to get to know and I am proud to call her my friend. I just wished we lived closer to one another. We all share our everyday lives and tips but you never know just what someone is going to take away from your blog. Thank you Joy http://joy-doodlebug.blogspot.com for starting Faithful Fridays so I could tell everyone how thankful I am to have met you and your Mom.

I'd like to add I am thankful for all the great comments left that touch my heart and lift my spirits. Thank you.

Donna

~I was once her~

Today I was in line at the grocery store and I was reminded just how much my life has changed and how much I have been blessed. There was a lady maybe a little younger than myself ahead of me and she was taking awhile. I noticed she had her groceries separated into piles on the belt. I watched as she was adding on her fingers to see if she had enough money to pay for all of her items. She looked back as to say sorry because I had to wait. I was in no hurry and I soon realized she was using WIC and food stamps to pay for her items and I was reminded of a life I once lived see I was once her.

When  I was nine months pregnant with Eleni Ray became very ill. I'm sure you have read my other post but if not he was diagnosed with kidney failure. He was put on the kidney transplant list and they started him on dialysis. I felt like we were about to enter a different world one we knew nothing about.On one particular day when I went home from the hospital reality hit me and hit me hard.  I had an eviction notice on my door, a four year old who was hungry and I had no money or food, and a husband in ICU. I remember crying so much and so hard I thought I was going to be sick. The life I once knew was no more. I didn't know which way to turn or what to do. The hospital helped me get set up on Medicaid and directed me to my local Social Services. I was devastated I had to rely on welfare and food stamps to survive. My pride was hurt I did not want to live like this I wasn't one of those people. Well, let me tell you learn to swallow your pride when you have a 4 yr old looking at you for food or just a glass of milk. I learned real quick to be thankful for the help I was about to receive. Friends and family all donated money and food to help us out until all the financial assistance kicked in. Within a month we were living a different life but we were surviving. My life changed but so did the way I look at things.

I can remember being that young mother in line with my two children and people staring at me and whispering as I pulled out my Wic and food stamps. They didn't know me and they didn't know my story. Who were they to judge me.  Today when I looked at that lady I couldn't help but wonder what was her story? I was reminded how many times I have been blessed.

Donna

1 Month to Go

Hubby has finally finished painting all of upstairs. All I have left to do now is patch any nail/screw holes I have made downstairs. Trust me I have my fair share of those. :) Seems hard to believe that we have been here almost seven years. Time has really flown by. Sad to say it looks like we will be moving out and in with family in a month. I have some packing done but still have a lot left to pack. I guess I will start back up on the packing next week.

I have applied and applied for work everywhere. When I say everywhere I am not exaggerating. I am hoping I will qualify for an unemployment extension. We shall see. Hubby has also applied for unemployment the problem is his job. Ok they lay him off for a week then call him in for a day then lay him off again. I am listing it on unemployment and I guess they will just subtract it from him check. I'm not really sure how that works. I am so trying to keep my faith that some great is going to happen in a month. Maybe Ray or I will get a real job in that time.:)

Just curious where do all of you crafters get your paint and what kind is it? Back when I crafted more I always used craft paint from Michael's/Walmart. I am really starting to like all the cream colors everyone is using with the wax/stain over it. I love the black but I think you can have too much black. 

Sorry no pictures this post.

Donna

Spring is in the Air?

It may be sunny but it's not warm. Well, to me it isn't. I have an under active thyroid so I have a tendency to be cold nature. So in case you didn't know I love Summer. The warmer the better. I went outside and clipped a few branches off my bush to help bring a little Spring inside. The bush should become fuller in the next few days but I couldn't wait and stole a few small branches.

I was hoping to have some scrapbook pages to share with you all BUT I never got around to scrap booking. I pulled out all my stuff and on the table it still sits. If you have ever scrap booked you will know the hardest part is pulling out all the stuff and putting it back. It's so worth it when you finish a book. On that note I did decide to share one of my completed books. I just took a few pictures of my book to share with you. Maybe I should say Jessica's book. This is actually from her Graduation Party in 2007.

This is the first album I have had personalized and it's very pretty. This picture does it no justice. I chose daises because that's what we had on the tables as center pieces. My next door neighbor Susan did all of the party designing. I just told her what I wanted and she did the rest. We sent Jessica away until time for the party so she could see it all when it was done. 

This what you saw when you walked up our drive way. We were pushed for time in the end and all of my great neighbors pitched in to help us get it all done before Jessica arrived. Ok remember earlier I said the warmer the better. This day it was so hot. I thought we were going to sweat to death!

This is just a few pictures of the children enjoying the pool. I think I may miss that pool more than I thought.

Here is Abby she had to get in on the fun also. My friend Donna bought this for Abby to wear and Abby kept it on.

  

Here are the grads enjoying the Hokey Pokey.

  

Oh then there was was the Cha Cha Slide and The Twist. Everyone got in on the fun.

  

Susan purchased this for Jessica's party Everyone had their picture taken in it that night. It was a huge hit with the adults also.

Here are a few pictures of the decorations. Jessica's cake was actually a collage of her and her friend through high school. My friend Donna put it together and we had Ukrop's a local grocery store add it as an edible image. They make the best cakes!

  

Here is Jessica with all her balloons from the party. On Jessica's 18th birthday Susan came over while we were gone and loaded our living room with balloons. Jessica loves balloons. Anyway there were so many so I said Jessica take them outside and let them go but before you do make a wish. Funny but her wish came true so we did the same thing again at her party. Once again her wish came true. I also had everyone sign a scrapbook page so Jessica could always remember who was there.

The last page is a very special page.

Jessica graduated the same year as the VA Tech shootings. A former graduate from Jessica's school was killed that day. As the speaker at graduation spoke he reminded us all of that day and how we should never take anything for granted. You just never know what tomorrow will bring.We had no idea how much those words meant at the moment. This picture was taken the night of graduation. This is my Nanny that I always speak about. She died less than 24 hours after these pictures were taken. We had no idea this would be the last pictures she would ever take. She will be forever missed.

I have also scrap booked Jessica a book for all her school years. I also have these pictures in that book as well as my own book. 

Oh Jessica's first wish was to get into Longwood and her second wish was to get financial assistance. Well, some of that assistance came from me but her wishes came true.

Donna

What A Week!

 

Wow what a week we have had here. I have to be honest it's been a rough week. Days and weeks like this it's hard sometimes to keep your faith. With all that seems so bad I have to remind my self of the good that has also been around me. We still have a roof over our head and food in our belly's. We are not going without anything that we need. Sometimes our wants can get the best of us. You have to remind yourself all in due time. Sometimes that the case in unanswered prayers. I know that God has big plans for us we just have to be patient. I am thankful for what I have and have been blessed that all my needs have been met. Thank-you Joy for helping me remind myself what's really important.

Donna

Another Room ReDo

Well, it's been a busy week around here. We have finished up another room thank goodness. Now we just have one left to paint. It doesn't have any special painting decor like this one or the other. Thank goodness we won't have to prime and paint the last room. Then we only have to refill the hole where the swimming pool was and the house and yard will be all fresh and new.

  

Here is the room before. The colors are more like the second picture. This was Jessica's old room. 

Here is the room completed. Nothing fancy just antique white. If we are fortunate enough to stay this may become my new office area. Oh a quiet place to blog. :) 

  

As I said we have been busy this week. Sadly my hubby has also joined me in the world of unemployment. We are hoping one of us finds a job and soon. If not we may have to move come the end of April. I am still hoping and praying things will turn around for us. On that note we are trying to get a lot of unfinished things done around here. We have actually gotten quite a few little chores done. We managed to give Abby a hair cut and bath. I will have to show pictures next time. I need one of Abby after her hair cut. We took her to the vet and got her updated on her rabies shot. We have already done our weekly trip to the grocery store. We hope to get that last room painted tomorrow and back in order. Then Saturday I hope to do some me things. I am hoping to get some scrapbooking done and Sunday I'd like to work on a counted cross stitch that I have been working on for years. I think I burned myself out on stitching years ago so now I am ready to try it again, but I refuse to start a new project until I finish this one. There are a few other things I may try to work on that could use a redo as well. I have a lot to do or I could be doing I should say. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Donna

Hello and Happy St. Patrick's Day

Well, another post and no pictures. I feel like such a slacker but we have been sort of lazy lately. It has done nothing but rain here since Friday and I am sick of it now. Plus it's been cold and I hate cold rain. It's supposed to clear up and warm up some by the weekend I sure hope so. If not look for me on the news I will be that crazy woman building an ark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you have a favorite blog or two that you just can't wait for them to post? I have so many but there are a few that really keep me addicted. Most of the time it's the pictures of their homes that get me. I love seeing everyones re-dos and new purchases but I really love when they show there new displays. I am always looking for fresh new ideas. Lately I haven't been tweaking a lot. I had started packing before I knew we would be here until the end of April. Now I want to unpack and tweak but I refuse to do so until hubby or I get a job. So I find myself ooohing and ahhhing over your pictures. A part of me wants to move and downsize a bit but a part of me hates to leave the place I have called home for almost seven years. I have mixed emotions right now. Thank goodness I have your blogs to help keep my mind off all my drama.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since it did nothing but rain Sunday after Church we ate lunch and enjoyed a movie. Now I have read several of your posts about the movie Fireproof and I could not wait to watch it. Can I say I loved it. My hubby and I watched it as well as my oldest Jessica. Wow what a powerful message. If you haven't seen it please do it is a great movie. Oh and did I say how much I loved the house inside and out. No it wasn't prim but it sure was pretty.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick's Day. We will be enjoying cabbage and corn beef tonight for dinner.

Donna

Faithful Fridays a day late. :)

 I wanted to participate in Joy's Faithful Fridays. I wanted to say I am so thankful for the blessing I have received lately. Today I was blessed with an interview at a chiropractic's office. There were a lot of things that seemed great about the job but a few things that were not. It required you to travel for seminars and they didn't offer insurance. I don't like to be far away from home. I always worry something could happen to Ray and I won't be able to get to him. Then there is the insurance issue. We desperately need insurance. I am thankful for the interview and that I was blessed with the experience. I am trying not to take anything for granted and learning to appreciate everything I am blessed with.

If you would like to participate on Friday's go on over to Joy's blog http://joy-doodlebug.blogspot.com/ and let her know you're interested. She is a very sweet young lady wise beyond her years. I also wanted to thank her for my new award.

Donna

JUST NEED TO VENT

Hey Everyone,

Well, I have don't have any pictures to share of any re-do's or painted rooms. We are still painting and it's taking us longer than we expected. Did I mention hubby and I hate to paint. Now it used to be I was always painting something then I turned 40 and it wasn't as much fun. :)

I just needed to vent today. I am so frustrated because hubby was laid off again. They laid him off right after Christmas and then brought him back 3 weeks ago. Now they have run out of work again. It's so frustrating not knowing when you will work or for how long. The economy is so bad that your lucky to just have a job and the job market is so bad it's slim pickings. I am just tired of this roller coaster ride and I want to get off now!

Now I'm not writing this for sympathy I just needed to vent. I told a friend earlier today that through all of this hubby and I have not argued once. I feel like we have actually become closer. I pray that God just helps us manage and keeps us together as a family. We have been blessed because all of our needs have been met. We still have a home and food we know of until the end of April. I just hope things turn around soon not only for us but others out there who are also worried. 

I won't bore you any longer. Thanks to all of you who read my blog and for always inspiring me. I hope to have some pictures to share next time. :)

Donna

GARDEN THYME

Remember when I won Janae's blog contest coopriders.blogspot.com/. I loved everything. Janae does some great work if you get a chance stop by her new store libertyhillprims.blogspot.com/. She has some great prim bunnies and seed sacks. I just love everything I won!

There were so many great things in the contest I actually made a few groupings from everything.

This is actually in my bay window in the kitchen. I love the sign and prim bunny.

This was my Nanny's sewing machine. I opened it up and placed the seed sack and stitchery Janae made. The photo is my Nanny when she was a school girl in 1927. It's one of my favorite pictures of her.

My friend Amy just gave me this cute little star basket which looks great on top of the candle mat. The candle pan and votive fit perfect inside. Janae is so talented. I know I've said it before but I loved everything. 

If you ever get the chance check out some of the blog stores. There are so many talented ladies on here. This is one of the best places to buy American made products!

Last but not least I took this picture of Eleni today after school. She catches the bus at 6:30 AM so by 3PM she is exhausted as you can tell by the picture. :)

Donna

A Room RE-DO

Seems like forever since I last posted. We have been a little busy here around the house. I think the Spring weather has given us Spring Fever. We have a few rooms that need painting. 

Three years ago Jessica and Eleni decided they wanted to re-do their rooms. Well, Eleni wanted lime green and teal blue stripes. She had the covers and rugs to match. It was a lot of work but it looked really good. Then the girls switched rooms and they also wanted new colors. Here is what the room looked like before.

  

Now here are the after pictures. This is now Jessica's room. We went with a plain antique white just in case we do have to move. Unfortunately neither of my girls care for the country/prim look. It looks like a typical girls room.

 

Jessica has a long shelf that will go on this wall. We need to paint it black. I think with it being black her Longaberger Breast Cancer Baskets will really show up.

 

We still need some window treatments. I think she wants to go with just a little topper. 

I guess with all the posters it doesn't matter what color the walls are anyway. We still have to paint Jessica's old room. I can't wait to show you what it looked like but that will have to wait until next time.

Donna

What a Great Day!!!!!

 Today my friend Donna who was also my old boss came by. We went to our old job to visit those who are left. I really didn't want to go because it makes me so sad because I still miss everyone. I was so happy I went. I was able to see some of the great people I worked with everyday. I still miss them but I think the visit finally gave me closure. I was able to see our old department which is now a storage room. I realize the good ol' days are now in the past and it's time to move on. That job will always hold a special place in my heart and I have nothing but great memories. Donna, Tony (mail man at work) and I went to have lunch and play catch up. It was a beautiful day and the sun was warm as well as my heart. I hope when I do get that new job I work with people as wonderful as I did there. Anthony my other co-worker didn't join us today but he was missed.

This is Tony our building mail man. He always greeted us with a smile. He  says he reads my blog. So Tony if you are reading this you will always hold a special place in my heart and you will always be my BFF!

Here is Donna and Anthony my co-workers. I really miss them a lot. They were my family at work. I know Donna reads my blog. So Donna you know that we were friends before work and we will continue to be friends. I know our friendship will only continue to grow! You not only gave me a job you gave me great memories and great friends. Your friendship means more to me than you will ever know! 

**********

To all my blog buddies Thanks for sticking by me these past few months.  Tammy  over at countrygirlathome.blogspot.com thanks for getting me started and for helping me meet so many great people. 

Donna

Never So Simple #2

Hi everyone I hope we are all in agreement that we are ready for SPRING! The snow was pretty but it's way too cold. I'm ready for warmer temps. Seems hard to believe we are going to have temps in the high 60's this weekend. I say bring it on!!

Last week I posted about our pool and how we were taking it down. Well, last Friday I went and spoke to our Landlord about putting in our notice to move. Financially we were strapped and we were sinking fast! I started packing last week. You think you are ready for something like this until it's time. They were very nice and understanding. I told them we would be out by March 31. I came home and prepared myself for the changes that were about to occur. Saturday was a very busy morning. I had someone come by and pick up the sofa they bought from me. My sister came by with a load of dirt for the pool hole. My landlord also stopped by. She said her husband and herself were so sad about us moving she wanted to talk to me for a minute. I invited her in as I always do. She asked if we would leave up the deck and they would give us an extra month at no cost. She said if by the end of April things do not get better to come and talk with them. They will try to work with us so that Eleni can finish out the school year. I was so happy. I had to tell my sister because she wanted the deck but she was very understanding. I think that I should change my blog to Never So Simple Always So Blessed! I have been so stressed and upset about losing my job I didn't take the time to look at all the blessings we have received. 

Now I have a question for you all. Lately I know I have been on edge and I usually over look things but this has been a bad week. I have had several people make comments that have really angered me. I sometimes wonder why people say the things they do or why they think they are better than you. Do you have friends or family like this? I think the older I get the more I realize who and what is important i my life.

Donna

**** FINALLY ****

Yes, we finally got snow in Richmond Virgina. I know many of you are tired of the snow but this is our first good snow in five years. It started off as sleet and about six Sunday night it switched over to snow. It snowed on and off until about 2pm today. It's so pretty and great for sledding. We got about 8 inches and schools were closed today and tomorrow. Ok I finally got some snow and pretty pictures for my scrapbook. Now I am ready for spring. :)

  

It was very pretty coming down last night.

  

This is the front and back of my house. 

  

Abby wasn't sure if she liked the snow or not. She had to hop like a bunny because her legs are so short. She did go to the corner of the yard and visit her other dog friends. She didn't stay out long and when she came in she cuddled up in her blankie.

Donna