S2L Scrapbook Challenge: Dec. 28, 2008- Jan. 4, 2009!!!

Ever with your guy at a football game and notice his eyes wander over to the sidelines.......You know he's watching the cheerleaders. Well, in our case, it's okay because Anne's earned a spot on the danceline and it's one of the best in the state! She's having a ball! Now, some might say the danceline isn't a sport, but in Lakeville, there's no other team that practices the amount of time that the Lake-Liners do; 3 hours a day, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Even the football players are amazed and impressed. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that the girls can kick their legs over their heads or jump up in a Russian leap and land in the splits........

So, here's my SPORTS layout. To heck with the game, the real entertainment is behind the bench!

Scrapbook Challenge- December 14-21!!!

Anne and I have been to lots of weddings in the past few months.....this one, however, was last night!!! Drove through SIX inches of blowing snow to get there! Anne was the date of one of the groomsmen and there family was kind enough to ask me to stay with her during the wedding. They'd asked if I wanted to attend the reception, but I let Anne do that on her own. SHE HAD A BLAST! As she tells it, EVERYONE wanted to dance with her and talk to her and thought she was "hot"! Uh-oh! Don't tell Daddy. It was such a beautiful wedding. Even the snow was gorgeous, all big, fluffy flakes..........just lots of them.
It's not exactly blue, brown, pink and beige, but it's "anything"!!! I'm going with the anything part of the challenge this week. It does have blue and the bling is kind of "beige-y" and the "pink" is just more RED-ish-ish-ish. Whatever works.
Please check out my providers for this digi-layout:
double heart-PandabearDesigns
bling-unknown
blue stars bkgrd-BooLandDesigns
“celebrate”-LizardDauDesign
Thanks to all the wonderful designers who share their talents so I can play!!! Most of them are from right here in "blogspot" land.........

Scrapbook Challenge- December 7-14!!!

I am so very excited! This is the first layout challenge I've actually completed in a month! This one was way too easy. I love red and gold. I collect red and gold. This event was one of the best too. The pretty, pretty blonde is the younger sister of the beautiful brunette, both of whom babysat Anne and Lacy when they were young. Shannon and Anne have been bestest-buds ever since. "Shanny" went to college in AZ where she met Bren. She would take Anne to Twins games or cheer Anne on at her softball games when she was home. Breezy and Shanny were the reason Anne started playing softball. Bren is a great guy and also treats Anne very special. They got married in Hawaii last June, but that was way too much $$ so we joined the entire neighborhood etal. at a MAJOR bash in September in MN. I got the background papers from FLASHGRAPHICS (a fantastic digi-scrap group) and the ornaments (don't they just "look" Hawaiian?!?!?!) from vianne-creativedesigns (talk about creative!)

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! October 31- November 7!!!

Yeah, she knows she's cute and she knows how to use it! Our Bailey is 9 years old and full 'o p--- and vinegar. I even used a font called "Beagle" from MSWord. I've used seveal different designers to make this page. If you like it, please go check out their sites. Most of them are right here on blogger as well.
Designs by Vicki_Raining Cats & Dogs Collab
Water LO Project_ev_forest
ShabbyPrincess_SM_WoodBrad

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! October 24-31!

Hopefully, I did this right. I've just started digi-scrappin' and it's awesome, but I don't have all of the programs and knowledge yet. This was actually done as a powerpoint slide and then printed. Not bad for the first one. I feel like I should note the wonderful designers who helped with the freebie product, so thanks to the following.......
DAC_RachaelH_TrickorTreat-paper
Shannonfahrnbach_HappyHalloween-elements
cnash_daydreambonus_swirly2

Teaching

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -- William Arthur Ward

That's a good one. It's been another several weeks and I'm trying not to get discouraged by this particular website. There are many things I like about this format. It's very easy to personalize this blog, but I've found no contacts at all and there's no EASY way to contact others and make friends. I have another blog on K102 and I've got lots of friends that I talk to regularly. I feel like I'm part of a community there. I feel like I'm alone here. So, maybe that's okay and I will use this as a diary since so few people will ever see it. We'll see.

Anyway, what's happened since July 18? Well, on the 19th we took off for Duluth for the day to watch the AirShow. We were a little concerned about the weather as we drove smack into a fog bank coming over the hill into Duluth, but we hung around the canal for a bit and then headed up to the airport and the SUN BROKE THROUGH!!!

Everything flew that day including the BLUE ANGELS!!! OMG! They were awesome.

Relay For Life was wonderful. The evening was gorgeous and Anne and I raised over $700 and the event is over $50,000 so far. Our event closes August 30, so we're still accepting donations. Then that Sunday, the 27th, we shipped Anne off to Just For Kix Dance Camp and we left for "parts unknown". Three days with no kids, no dog, just me and my buddy. No plans, no reservations, just drive. We ended up in Brainerd, Gull Lake, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Whitefish, and Pine River. Tuesday morning we woke up in a little cabin on a quiet lake with no one else around. It was so peaceful, nothing but the birds, insects, wind and frogs. We drove back to Mom's Tuesday night so I could be there Wednesday morning to take her, Curtis, Jen and Alex to the airport for ALASKA!! I am so jealous. I got home Wednesday afternoon after Fred had gone to work and the house was so quiet. I missed Anne so bad. She came home Wednesday night. She'd had a blast. We had a couple of days with basically nothing to do so we cleaned out her old room and moved her down into Lacy's old room. Then we moved the big bed from my office up to the new guestroom (Anne's old room) and moved the futon down to the office...............soooooooooooo much more room!

Tuesday August 5th, we had our 2nd Annual National Night Out party and it was GREAT! We have such a cool neighborhood. Jill offered her house, Denny made an 8-pound hamburger, and we had a blast. And so we're just about caught up, I guess. See ya in a month or so...school will have started by then so I'll have more to talk about I'm sure.

WHY I RELAY...............

In MEMORY of Craig and all of the others.......
Anne and I are at it again and on Friday July 25th we will be RELAYING with over 200 others at Lakeville South High School in the ACS Relay For Life in Lakeville.
It's a dusk to dawn event signifying the journey from darkness to light. We participate every year to join people around the world in celebrating those who have survived cancer, remembering the people we've lost, and supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life is symbolic of the cancer patient's battle with cancer. As the sun sets with the first couple of hours, it symbolizes the end of what was thought to be a healthy life. The overcoming darkness throughout the night represents how scary the disease can seem and those dedicated participants that choose to stay show that this is not a battle that is fought alone. Then, with the sunrise comes a new day for the cancer survivors with hope and energy to keep fighting the disease. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer in their own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.
Please consider making a donation to us or join our team. You are helping deliver the hope that future generations will not have to endure cancer threatening the lives of their friends and family. You have the power to fight back against a disease that affects millions.
Our goal again this year is $1000!!!!! If each person that reads this contributes JUST $10, we will have made our goal and so much more. For that $10, you may have a Luminaria made in memory or in honor of someone close to your heart. The Luminaria ceremony is held at dusk and includes a Silent Lap. It is quite a moving experience.

Craig's Cruisers Relay Team was formed in memory of my dad and Anne's "Gaga", Craig W. Letch. There have been great advances toward the cure for the brain cancer that took Craig. Your contribution could make that cure a reality. We want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year's event. Please visit the website listed below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors' Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can't join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them. To request a Luminaria in honor or in memory of your loved one, please send me their name(s). Again, your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Very Sincerely,Carla and Anne Cooper
(if you'd rather send a check or decorate your own bag, please let me know, here, and I will privately send you my address)
URL to Craig's Cruisers, Carla's personal donation and ACS website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TRC/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeMidwestDivision?pg=peditor&fr_id=7313&px=6031697

The God I Forgot About

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

It seems that God, again, just has to hit me over the head with a 2x4 to get my attention.

I had the most wonderful evening with my friend Cheryl on Friday. Where we normally see each other for dinner or lunch for about 2-3 hours every 3-4 months or so, we spent 6 HOURS at Houlihans on Friday night. The staff was fantastic and left us ALONE (we tip very well) unless we signaled that we needed sustenance or drink. (the drinks were non-alcoholic) We sat and talked and talked and talked and worked out the entire world's problems..........well at least most of ours. I UNLOADED about all of the crap with the OC (oldest child) and she gave me what I've needed most, affirmation that we're not the most horrible parents in the world and we have to spend this time looking out for Anne and not worry about our decisions.

So the God part of it is that He has put Cheryl in my life, He has been providing daily inspiration via loving my hubby, the internet, the phone, and even the horoscopes (yes, I read them but don't spend my life by them). But the greatest thing is that they have been telling us to slow down and evaluate and not worry and oh my gosh! it's spot on!!!! I believe that He puts various forms of information in front of us regularly to remind us that He's there and He'll use whatever will get our attention at this time. He's a marvelous God and He knows what we need.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

She just walked in the door like she still lives here and can come and go as she pleases. I bit my tongue being pleasant to her. "I just came to get my mail." Great. Thanks for that.

The bible verse was on my home page today when I opened it. It was just what I needed. Be strong for I will be with you. Lord, I need you with me. I need to start over and love her unconditionally and let it be. I will let You handle her and hope and pray that someday she will realize we tried to do what was best for all. Thank you Lord, for carrying me.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Yup, that sure says it. Well, Lacy left last Saturday and I've been between crying and screaming ever since. When I saw her empty room, I dissolved into tears. Then when I tried to contact her (by text, darn it!) to get some information for insurance, she was so rude and contemptuous! I alternate between worrying about her and wishing her good riddance. I can't help it. I love her so much and I despise the way she acts!

Anne wants to move down into Lacy's old room and I'm inclined to let her. Fred is beside himself and can't let her. He still believes there's some chance of getting through to Lacy and she'll magically change and want to come home and "play nice". It ain't gonna happen. Fred lives in this dreamworld where it's the 50's and he's Father Knows Best. That's what we used to look like when we were all together and father did know best. I miss those days.