So uplifting.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that

other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)

Abandoned

Been wondering about the trials we face in this world. Seriously, how could a person know that they have a child in the world and not care? It's something I can't fathom. I love my children beyond anything. I know I probably have half brothers and sisters out there...it's just weird. Anyways, I'm going to see Twilight this morning so you all have a great day!

Election Observations

Just a few observations after barely keeping my eyes open last night to find out the outcome of the election. I first have to say that I wasn't really "for" any candidate. I kept saying I would vote for CAKE and Jenn helped me out with ICE CREAM for a running mate.

1. I was suprised at John McCain's concession speech. Whoever wrote it deserves an award! I was crying like a baby and not because he's not the new Pres. It was heartfelt and well delivered.

2.I have never been inspired by what he's said before, but last night he took the high road.

3. All the people teary eyed in the audience. The feeling... overwhelming.

4. While watching Obama's speech I kept waiting for the ah hah moment (like my Oprah referance) but he was very serious and somber.

5. He gave me the feeling that America pretty much sucks right now (I don't wholeheartedly agree) and our trials are all but unconquerable. And then came...yes we can.

6. His "Yes we can" chant made me feel like I was back at the Baptist church I used to attend in Grants. I almost found myself saying "Amen, brother."

7. Oh and I'm sorry but Michelle Obama's dress designer...yikes! She looked kind of like a black widow spider from where I sat. She's beautiful, but that dress did nothing for her (not really election related I guess).

8. I loved the part about just being Americans because, ultimately that's how I feel. We should be able to love one another no matter what differences we have. That's how our Saviour wants us to be.

All in all I'm glad it ended well and we're not waiting months to find out who the next President is. I'm tired of the political adds and the backbiting. I'm sick of being asked who I will vote for and trying to be convinced it should be one person or the other. It's time to come together...right now...over me. Just kidding. I guess what I'm trying to say is that everything's gonna be all right. Obama will be my President and yours. He will have my prayers, and I pray that the "change" that comes our way will be good for America and her people.

Have a great day.

If one more person asks me...

Just kidding, but seriously I'm really TRYING to go into labor here. No baby boy yet. I've had some good contractions, but nada. He really feels like he's trying to come out throught my stomach at the moment, I don't think he likes being squeezed. Heehee. If I haven't had him by Friday, they'll be scheduling an induction and I have to go in for an ultrasound to make sure he's perfectly fine just where he is. BUT I sure hope he comes SOON! I've been really trying to keep busy. I went visiting teaching today and to the library and up and down my road hauling pieces of asphalt to fill in the major pot holes. Sheesh, what more can I do? Well, apparently I need prostaglandin, but my in-laws (love them) are sleeping on the hide a bed right outside my bedroom, so I'm not likely to be gettin' any of that. So I'm just thinkin', "SLOW RIDE, TAKE IT EASY." Love that song. Made this card for my brother. I'm gonna go do some jumping jacks. Have a pleasant evening.

Good Morning...let the stress begin! I had a lot of fun making this card. I started out trying to use a Julee Tillman sketch but it came out really different. I used the sticky embossing powder and glitter on the flower from In the Spotlight. The words around the green circle are "Valuable, Sister, Friend, Irreplaceable".

We had snow again last night, but nothing big and although the townies delayed school we are on regular schedule and I drove Jakob to school today. His cough seemed better this morning as he was eating MY Smart Start and telling me how good it is. I was like "hands off buddy, you get cheerios!" He just laughed.

Tried to finish up the taxes last night but sometimes it's so confusing. I can't tell wether my IRA interest is "taxable interest" or "non taxable". I mean can't they just say it in plain English? Enough griping. I'm off to shop for a blender since I can't live without fruit smoothies and my jar fell off the counter last week and smashed into a million little pieces. The replacement jar looks like it'll cost 22.99 plus shipping (whatever that is). I'm debabting about just buying a whole new $50.00 blender. What do you think? Have a great day!

Recipe: All stamps are Technique Tuesday except for the larger flower. Inks: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery

That's my boy

I'm giving up on potty training for a little while, until the tike is more willing I guess. I still have to add journaling to bottom right corner and I was thinking of also adding the cowboy kid image because of his boots. We'll see.
Recipe: "potty" letters Li'l Davis, "Break" letters WeRMemoryKeepers, polka dot/green paper Chatterbox, brads SEI
On a more personal note.
Last night I was on the phone with my SIL when she heard from her husband that President Gordon B. Hinckley had died. This is a sad loss for our church but at the same time I'm happy that he can be at peace and be with his wife again. He was 97 years old and had recently joked that the only thing keeping him here on this Earth was all of our prayers...so he basically told us to quit it. He was funny like that and will be missed for this good humor and his deep spirit.

Have a Great 2008

Here they are, some of my goals for 2008.

Get Healthy this includes losing 15 lbs or so.

Take time to do fun artsy stuff with my kiddos.

Get published

Take a picture a day of something meaningful to me. Journal about it. ( Say hello to my little

camera)

Visit more museums.

Learn to lead music.

Read the Old Testament

Start a band...just kidding, the only thing I know how to play is the dishpan.

Here's a lo I did last week that I haven't posted yet.

This is my adorable son and his very cute friend. I can't believe how sweet they are. This picture was taken at our ward Christmas Party. I love the look of the bubble wrap with white paint on the brown paper.

Pick Me Up, I'm feeling down...Benazir Bhutto Lost

So I went a little crazy on this one. I was feeling really sad yesterday after hearing of the assasination of Benazir Bhutto. I can't believe how lucky we are to live in democratic societies, even with their flaws.

I just can't imagine living somewhere where I had to question my safety and whether or not there was going to be a suicide bombing at the market that day. Nope, I need bread, and I'm going to the grocery store today and not once will I question my safety on the way there. Sorry, this is really depressing. I know Benazir was a Muslim, a true Muslim, who lived the true teachings of the Koran, not some extremist religion made up by men who hate.

I will send my prayers to her husband and three children. I want to let everyone know that I appreciate what she stood for and that her death was not in vain, because here I sit, a solitary SAHM whose life has been profoundly affected by her sacrifice for her people's freedoms.

Sorry, now I'm crying again.

Made this card to cheer me up and give thanks to my friend who is always there for me when I'm feeling down.

Recipe: Doodle wheel and doodle this stamps set. Finishing washers under brads for flower centers. Pink passion ink along with old olive.

Hope you have a great day.

I've been tagged, can you believe it?!!?

Sadie B tagged me to write seven interesting things about myself. Hmmmmmm...
1. I don't like canned green beans but love fresh ones.
2. I love the color orange. It's awesome.
3. I have a BA in Architecture.
4. I've been to the Grand Canyon but I'm afraid to take my children there for fear they'll fall over the edge.
5. I have approximately 30 pairs of jeans but tend to only wear my most favorite comfy ones regularly. I know- gasp.
6. I'm almost neurotic about LOST when it's on, sheesh they're driving me crazy.
7. I read at least a book a week if not more. I wish I could read more but working from home kills that and so does being a SAHM to three and wife to one.

Now I'm to tag seven people.
Michelle
Jenn
Erica
Natalie
Jill
Jamie
Lacey

They Can't Help It!

Jakob, Tessa, Aaron. All sweetness and silliness. I love Jakob's new teeth.

They won't clean their rooms...they drive me mad...they leave trails of tinkerings wherever they go, yet I can't seem to stay upset at them. I wonder why?

Great friends...

I have the greatest friends in the whole wide world. I love them. Just thought I'd let you know.

Here's my first place prize winning layout about my iron. Technique Tuesday stamps for the "steam" coming out of the iron. My Minds Eye papers and blue rick rack around the journaling. I also sewed some lace along the edge of the striped block. Black stazon for the ink. And there you have it. A gorgeous lo about a silly thing like an iron.

We have MAJOR winds here that come of the mountains and the result is a loss of shingles from the west side of our roof. Tessa found a half one on the ground today and asked me what it was. I told her that it was a piece of the roof and she quite frankly told me ..."Mom, if the house is losing pieces then we need a new house!" I told her, "No, we just need a new roof." She was put out that we can't get a new house right now but I think she'll recover, hopefully soon.

My Names

Isn't this a cool idea for twill and brads along with your letter stamps. Thanks Technique Tuesday

This post is in honor of our trip where we first figured out our porn star names albeit with a totally different formula.

So here goes...
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) -Blaze Sienna
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Nutty Sundae Cone Double Chocolate
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) M-BUC
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) - Pink Kitty
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)- Lynn Hazlecrest
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) - Bucmi
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put “The”) The Blue Smoothie
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)- William Randy
9. STRIPPER NAME : ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) Jovann Milky Way
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Marie James

New Doo

I keep forgetting to take pics of myself with my new coiffure. So I did take some time out today to take some self portraits. I used some of my tried and true poses but they are still a little lacking for me. I probably should try screaming outloud like they do on America's Next Top Model. Not my best but enough complaining. My hair looks so cool in the back. I do it all crazy with moose. Maybe I'll have Trav take a pic later. I'm already due for another doo cut. Having short hair really takes some upkeep unlike when I let it grow and grow for a year without a cut.

Hey it's hard not to squint when facing the light. On a lighter note...

Why God Made Moms: answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?

1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect? 1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

Oh and I've decided that at 2,000 hits there will be some blog candy on this here blog!

Misty