Holden Uganda

I am sitting here, tonight, happy. Marcy' well in Uganda is almost ready to be started.

Thank you, Lord.

A couple of months ago, a friend from my jr. high days found me on Facebook. After chatting with her, it quickly came out that both of us had lost a child. My friend shared with me an online support group, HopeMommies.

It is more than just a support group, to me anyway. It is somewhere where I can go, and read that other moms who have lost a child are feeling what I feel. I am not an outcast, but I reminded that their are others in this horrible club of outliving your child.

Anyway, Lauren also shared with me a link to Holden Uganda. This is a non-profit that one of the ladies started in honor of her son, who went home to Jesus. Basically, thy raise money to build wells in Uganda to help others have clean safe water. While I was touched by the idea of having a well in Marcy's honor, I knew right now we just couldn't afford the cost of paying for ourselves. So I began praying - that if the Lord wanted us to have one, then He would have to provide the funds for us to get one.

Fast forward to today....I got an email from Sarah, one of the founders of Holden Uganda (Holden was her son). Marcy's well is ready to be started! Funds had been donated & secured for them to start another well, and Marcy was next in line!

God amazes me. God took the desires of my heart, and is bringing them to light!

In the past, our family has worked with March of Dimes, raising awareness and funds to fight prematurity. In fact, our family has raised over $30,000 since we lost Marcy. This year, though, we felt like God was telling us to find other ways of honoring our Angel so we stepped away from MOD. And now, God has brought HopeMommies and Holden Uganda into our lives.

Anyway, I just needed to share how God is working in our lives. Go read about Holden Uganda. If you are interested in honoring a child who has past (or know someone who has lost a child) or would like to join HopeMommies, send me an email. I'd love to be get to know other moms who are hurting!

Good Friday!

Happy Good Friday to you! Today is a busy day for us - not only is it Good Friday, but we are celebrating John's 10th Birthday tonight. He is having two boys spend the night...there will be pizza, cake, presents, going to see Hop...should be a fun start to our Easter weekend!

Yesterday I made this of John, from his second birthday.

Gosh. That seems like just yesterday. But it wasn't. It was EIGHT years ago.

I actually participated in a challenge over at Studio Calico this week.... "Life the Person Above You". I lifted a layout by AlissaG - gosh I had so much fun doing that! I used my Studio Calico Into The Woods kit for this page. It just seemed perfect for it, don't you think?

These photos were taken WAY before I became a scrapper. I wish I had better photos of the cutie, but I don't. So I did a Lisa Dickinson and cropped them, then made a grid! Brilliant, if you ask me! I just *love* how Lisa can make a plain ole grid something special!

Well, I have got to run. 4 dozen confettis eggs need to be made, as well as wrap some presents and go pick up the cake.

It's going to be a great day!

Grace, Do You Know?

I created this page for my teen-age niece Grace. It's so hard being a teen nowadays (Oh, Lord. I sound so old!) - I just want her to remember she is wonderful. And special. I used Studio Calico's Singin' In The Rain kit for this page. Really, it all just came together.

I love it when that happens, don't you?!?

Oh how I love the papers that came in Singin'n in the Rain. See that pink/red floral paper behind the photos? Thats an SC exclusive. I should have bought more. The wooden letters for the title and her initals (GH) were painted with Mister Huey...definately will be doing that again!

Right now...

I am....

wearing: Talbots jean crop pants with an Eddie Bauer 3/4 lenth sweatshirt. No shoes.
seeing: the wind blow over 60 miles an hour.
hearing: the boys playing in their bedroom. Legos and Playstation 3.
doing: laundry is going in the washer and three baskets need folding.
loving: being at home today, doing nothing.
creating: a layout of my husband. God, I love him!
wishing: that tomorrow wasn't Monday.
anticipating: going to a Spring Fundraiser Gala this Thursday.
remembering: that God brings beauty from ashes (Isaiah 31:3)

Hello There!

Excited to FINALLY have my new blog set up. So excited!! I am still trying to work out some kinks in it - but for now, its good to go. What do you think? Let me know!

Things have been, shall we say, STRESSFUL here this past week. Alex's Dad had a massive stroke and has been in the hosptial all week. He has been moved to rehab now - but we are having to make some hard decisons and realizations. We're thankful that he survived his stroke - now we have to help him try get mobile again. We are praying that he will gain strength and cordination so he can go home.

I have been scrapping a little. It's been nice. Just something to take my mind off of everything. Its hard seeing those you love hurt.

For this page, I used some of Pink Paislee's Home Grown Summer line. Ok, let's face it. Everything for this page was from that line! I *love* it. I haven't loved any line like I am loving this one! The colors. The patterns. The cute 3-D kid stickers. I also pulled out some of my American Crafts Thickers for the title. This page actually came together quickly. Love it when that happens. You will definately be seeing more of this line from me in the future!

Well, I am going to hit the sack. It's been a long day and I want to get some tv time in before bed.