::the examined life::

home again, home again

I had such an amazing time in Fresno at the Women of Faith conference. I got a lot out of it (snippets to follow) and I even got to scrap on the bus! Yay! Heres the layout:

snippets:

Max Lucado spoke, what a genuine guy!

• use your uniqueness to make a big deal out of God in your everyday life.
• you can't be everything you want to be, but you can be everything God wants you to be.

I was also reminded that dreams do not come wrapped in ribbons and bows, but are forged in the valley.

There is a verse in Deutronomy that says "there are secrets your Lord, our God has not yet revealed to us." I needed to be reminded that not all the answers are going to be out in the open. Some questions I do not need to know the answer to.

We were also told the heartwarming and inspring story of Alexandra Scott. Check out her site if you have time.

That about wraps the conference up. I am very emotionally hungover (as a very sweet friend of mine calls it) right now. As much as those conferences fill me up, they take a lot out of me.

Happy Fathers Day to the best Daddy in the world. My two angel girls were truly blessed with the best father ever. Thank you Jason.

layout from my scrapping break...

For Shawn! Even though she's already seen it over Hello! I have another one I still need to post though...

the urge to travel....

My how my moods come in swings. I guess I can pull the female card.... right?? LOL. Just sitting at work, browsing through some amazing photo galleries. Thinking about how there are so many amazing sites to see in the world. I started to get the itch to travel... to somewhere... to anywhere... I just want to go. My camera is collecting dust and I'm getting the urge to chase that ever elusive "perfect" photograph again.... well work calls...

la la la life is wonderful

wonderfully busy. wonderfully fun. wonderfully chaotic. I am loving life right now. I'm not letting anyone bring me down these days. And in that, there is SO much power.

I am on day 8 of working 10 days straight. Two more days and I leave for California with Jason's mom to go to the women of faith conference. Totally looking forward to that. Looking forward to reconnecting with her, as well as filling myself back up with the Christian spirit. Sadly, it is something that escapes me quite quickly these days. I'm working on it. Starting to surround myself more and more good people. Genuinely good people.

Life is exciting right now. I am still trying to find a balance with this new schedule... I haven't picked up the camera in weeks. I miss taking photos. I have barely scrapped. I did, also, step down from the Scrapbook-bytes design team. There just wasn't enough time in my days to meet the requirements, I totally enjoyed being on that team, and made SO many wonderful friendships through that. I will miss it. But, I needed to make that sacrifice in order to make time to make new memories to take photos of and record them. Ya know?

The "hippo" is still as lost as ever in that regard, but that is all right. It is what it is right now. I'm ok with that.

I hope to get back to posting more often again very soon.... Off to actually scrap tonight!

update on the hippopotamus

Just a quick update, been staying at my moms while my car gets worked on...

If you are at all confused about the title, scroll down and read the last post... lol

But, the hippopotamus decided to go. Staying is safe. Life is too short. Thanks for all your advice. Ü

Timing

-Just a fair warning this may be a lot of rambling-

It's amazing to me how much of our life is dependent upon the right timing. Specifically though, I have been giving much thought to timing in relationships. I'm not sure why it seems that all the planets must be aligned in order for a relationship to work out- or even begin for that matter.

I have been in situations, and seen even more situations where it seems that all signs are a go, everything is perfect- but then there may be always just one thing off. Maybe one person wants commitment and the other is just ready to go out and play the field. Certainly nothing wrong with either of those things. But together, they just don't work. So when do we throw in the towel? And for how long does the person that wants a commitment wait for the other to be done playing? Do they wait at all? The kids have a book called "But Not the Hippopotamus" and there is a line in the book that goes- "and she just doesn't know... should she stay? Should she go?" And while the book doesn't directly relate to anything I'm saying here, that line always makes me think, "should I stay? Should I go?" And then I see others in the same situation...

What happens when we learn we missed out on a second chance on a relationship that ended abruptly by a matter of days? What happens? Do we stay? Do we go? Yes there is a reason for everything, and perhaps there is always another time, another day... Patience is a virtue, and I think I missed that one somewhere along the way. {I told you this was going to be full of rambling}

So basically. timing sucks. Or at least timing in my life, in relationships. I know and understand, that what I want may not necessarily be what I need.... but it doesn't make things any easier to deal with.

a little moment in time

That I don't want to forget...

This morning

There is nothing better than laying in the cool grass looking up at the clear sky while a gentle breeze is blowing across my face with the kids laying on either side of me. Isabella picking a dandelion and instructing me to smell it (I oblige) and then to stick it behind my ear "because daddy will think that is just so pretty on you."

My heart welled up just as fast as my eyes did. And all I could do was stick the flower behind my ear and squeeze her as tight as she would let me. Love that little girl. Love them both.

internet, I need your help

Regressing

Isabella has been potty trained for about 3 months now... I'm guessing... I think. Anyway, as you know we have had a lot of major changes in our home lately. Jason and I seperating, me going back to work. This all must be so huge in the eyes and head and life of a little girl. Lately she has been having more and more accidents in her underwear. At first it was just #1 oopsies. But today when I called Jason to see how they were doing he said that she had a big #2 accident. Any advice or thoughts on how to handle this kind of situation would be MUCH appreciated. Thanks!

Strangers Again

I've had this page in my head for awhile now, but that UDS contest was sucking me dry- along with starting this new job. So last night, I finally decided to sit down and get it outta my head. Pretty happy with it. Will update with a credits list later... The lyrics are from an Ari Hest song called "Strangers Again." So without further ado, here is the page:

Sharing

Haven't shared pictures or layouts or anything much in the way of images lately... I have actually sorely been neglected my camera lately. Decided to take the girls out for a walk and take the camera with me. I only took two shots- one of each of them, but I feel that I captured them just as they are today and that is just the way I love them. Genevieve with her messy hair and angelic face and Isabella being difficult for me- and thats ok :) I love them both so much, they mean more than anything else in this world to me. They fill me up so much that I think I might burst. Love to feel that full. Its scarey too though. Anyway, the two photos:

I have recieved a lot of sweet emails lately. I am sorry that I haven't responded yet. Doing the bare minimum right now. I do appreciate them though! Thank you!

ALSO

I found this on Christines blog. Just a little pearl of truth that seemed to be crafted just for me. Gave me some peace today.

"There are strange connections everywhere and messages waiting for us if only we take the time to pay attention and listen closely.  Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to take the quiet road and approach whatever task is before us - pleasant, unpleasant or otherwise - with gentle steps.  To be vulnerable like a fawn, trusting there is someone watching over us, trusting it is OK to lie still."