I'm Just a girl

Some days you just feel like fresh kill...

Yesterday was one of those days...The day started off early...And not well...I had such great intentions for the day...So excited about documenting my everyday life...Sunday night I chose all the  papers and "stuff"  I want to use in my Week in a life album...I went through my scraps of papers mixing old stuff with new stuff, MM  product with  some of my other favorites I had my list of things I wanted to buy at Heartland for my book...I was just excited!

    The day got better, it was  tough at times, but I am grateful to say  I have  a great husband to lean on and the best friend in the world that i can call and know she is there for me...I have the best co-workers in the Universe...They are supportive and patient and kind...It was a suckie day...

    It ended well, Meg made us dinner and Griff cracked  jokes...Grant and I laid in bed and talked and talked...

    Today is a new day...Today I will be a Lion...NOT fresh kill...
Kiss kiss
m

ps..Photo taken by: Stacy Julian...

A trip of a lifetime...

I have been home from South Africa for a few days...I am catching up on life...You know the fun stuff, laundry,  cleaning the house,  the kids, work and SLEEP...This trip was beyond...Beyond what I could have even imagined...The other women I got to teach with and create new friendships with were beyond amazing...Their companions were as well...I have to say I have never done an event where we were so bonded! It was fabulous! The event was so well organized and the women who attended were so receptive! Thanks to all of YOU...Thank YOU to Glenda and to Louise for inviting me...Thank you for a trip of a lifetime!  I LOVE South Africa! This is my second trip there...I told the delegates (students) that when I came the first time I knew that I would come back and that I had left a little part of my heart there...It is true!  I don't know how you can't visit such an amazing place and not...I hope to be back!
I have uploaded and still have more to upload several photos in an album...I will be posting more about this adventure! I have to  get about the day...Again to all the women of South Africa...Thank YOU...Thank you...My circle is bigger because of YOU...
Kiss kiss
m

a full day ...

today was full of teaching and ended with a gala evening...We were told to all wear black,white and magenta...The classes went beautifully...The delegates (students) were so lovely and loved all the classes..The evening was the perfect end to a great day...Stacy Julian was our keynote speaker and did her of course amazing job...It was a long day but a fabulous day...Love being here in South Africa...LOVE the women here, so gracious, welcoming and appreciative...
    I have my break this morning, had an amazing breakfast that will keep me going all day...Fresh cut fruit, cressant rolls, bacon and fresh squeezed orange juice...The sun is shining and I just know this will be a day filled with new friends and creating memories...All good...
Happy Sunday to you!
from South Africa...
kiss kiss
m

An amazing day in Soweto...I am blessed...

    The day I had today is hard to describe...I have to say my heart was full all day...Look at these beautiful school boys...We went into a church where there was to be a funeral for one of their teachers...We all pulled out our cameras and began to take a few shots...They loved it...It is amazing just how little they have and look at the joy in their faces...the day was filled with joy and sadness...What I do know is that I am blessed...I have never had to sleep on the floor, or go hungry...I have never in my lifetime experienced being treated differently because of my skin color or the language i speak...There were times today were I cried in sadness and times like this where I cried for joy...These beautiful children are happy...It makes you wonder...It made me think...
I am grateful...Grateful for my family, my children, my home...For a job that has taken me, a girl halfway across the world to have this experience...Scrapbooking...I can't wait to get home...I can't wait to document this experience with photos and with words...to Scrapbook it...
Wow! I am one lucky girl...
Kiss kiss
from South Africa...
m

In South Africa...Safe and sound...

    We arrived in South Africa this evening...I slept a lot of the way thanks to some lovely little pills...It's the only way to get through close to 20 flying hours! I wanted to thank everyone who sent shout outs via the blog, phone, e-mail and facebook wishing me a happy birthday! Yeah i'm 43 and loving it! LOL It's kinda fun to be here on my birthday! I am so excited for this life adventure! The women I am getting to share it with are awesome! I will be doing my best to keep blogging from here to share the ride!
kiss kiss
m

Leaving on a jet plane...(again)

    I leave for South Africa in the morning...My nails and feet are done, my brows waxed...Laundry done, fridge is full of food, I am packed and ready to go! I have to say...I have a special place in my heart for South Africa and the people there...I had such a lovely time the first time and know that this is going to be an amazing experience!
    It has been so great to be home for a few weeks...LOVE being with the family! This past weekend i scrapbooked the entire weekend...I LOVED LOVED LOVED it! I decided i wanted to do something for the boys! My  album I taught at CKU this year was Remember...So i thought I would do a Remember album for the boys! I  was so inspired by Ali Edward's new book...YOU have to get it! I  love the way they turned out and loved the creative process and for me emotional process...I really think scrapbooking for me is therapy...I really needed it...I am leaving them for the boys in the morning...Kind  of a  little  gift reminding them of just how much I love them! LOVE that about scrapbooking! I hope to blog from  South Africa! I am hoping to take tons of photos!!'
Kiss kiss
m

Ask yourself...What can I do to help?

    I got an e-mail from a very dear friend this weekend...I have copied her e-mail into my blog...I hope she doesn't mind...You know when a friend of a friend of a friend tells you a story...Well, here's how I see it...We are all friends...We are sisters and one of our friends is in need...Please check it out, and do whatever you can to help...Maybe it's just praying for this family...
Happy Monday...Be grateful!
kiss kiss
m

 http://blog.cjanerun.com/

 

It is about a young Mesa couple who was in a small plane crash a few weeks ago. I grew up (Laurels) with Christian's older sister. who passed away from cancer after being married for 3 years and 6 weeks after her son was born. His parents are still in this ward. They live here in Mesa and Stephanie is a total craft/blog nut. She is from Provo so you may have seen stuff about it lately on the news. Her dad is in the Utah Legistature.

 

They have 4 children: 6, 5, 3, and 1. 

 

They are both in medically induced comas in the Phx Burn Unit.

 

He is burned on 30% of his body. She is on 80%. The bills will be in the millions. (First round of skin graphs will cost $150,000.00)

 

So, family, friends and readers of Stephanie's Blog are doing online auctions to collect money for their bills and household expenses.