That Unmistakable Moment

You know the one.  The one when you realize that summer has officially arrived and that you can let loose and relax.  Yeah.  It happened for me at this very moment.  We have no pool.  We have a heat wave and therefore it was time to be resourceful.  We dumped out the toys, filled buckets with water and everyone had their very own personal swimming pool.  Summer is here.  Enjoy it while it lasts!

Stella enjoying her personal pool

A Life Lesson

Today started out all wrong.  We are moving and as anyone who has moved with little kids knows - moving is stressful.  The morning was going okay considering the daunting task of getting all of the stuff we accumulated in just five weeks jammed into our minivan to head over to TLF (temporary housing) on Kirtland AFB.  Honestly, you would not believe the stuff.  It was going to take two trips at least.

Kev went out to get the van ready as I had begun making a mountain of boxes and random bags at the front door, only to come back in and say that I needed to come here and see this.  He was very serious, which is unlike him, so I followed him out front to find that the side window of our minvan was smashed in.  My heart sank.  Kev had checked everything over and said amazed that nothing was missing.  However, I knew that wasn't the truth.  My camera bag that he bought me for our anniversary last year (the very bag I blogged about) was gone.  Inside was $8,000 of my camera equipment including my DSLR, lenses, meter, flash, cards, etc.  I was devastated. 

I literally fought back tears and began to shake.  Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.  I have always trusted people to do the right thing and have never had an issue with my belongings being destroyed and stolen right out front of my house.  This was a new feeling - violation.  I felt violated, then angry, then thankful that it was just stuff that was insured and could be replaced.  It is not an easy thing to experience loss. 

After spending the rest of the day filing police reports, insurance claims, and at the bodyshop, God taught me something.  I lost a camera today.  Last week, people lost their family members and entire neighborhoods.  I have to wait to get a new camera until things can get sorted out.  Those people have to figure out where they are going to live, where their next meal is coming from, and how to carry on for the sake of their children.  I am blessed and God has a plan.  He hasn't revealed it all to me yet, but I know deep down inside that He will take care of us, no matter the situation. 

At the start of the day, I was angry with the person that did this to me, but in the end, I am thankful that God will take care of it.  He works in mysterious ways and will continue to watch over us throughout this crazy journey.

So Proud of my Bestie!

Check out my Kathryn.  She and her blog, Toulouse Confessions are being featured at The Scoop on Poop!  She is quite the funny lady and gives us all a sense of what it is like to live the "glamorous" life of an American mother in Europe. 

journaling for you

my journal cover

Most every crafter I know struggles with journaling.  It isn't always easy to express our thoughts in words - especially if we aren't a "word oriented person."  I use my camera and my paper crafting to express my feelings.  When I was younger if I was having a rough time, I would take my camera and get lost for a couple of hours just shooting and taking a break from reality.

Now, as a busy mom, I can't just step away and get lost.  I have three little people that need my undivided attention.  (Even as I right this, I have a one year old in my lap asking for a juice.)  I am now nearing the end of the second week of Soul Restoration and if I have learned anything, it is to journal.  I must say, that even taking a few minutes each evening to jot down my thoughts - good or bad - helps me.  One of the great things about journaling is that it is for you and it's virtually free.  You can even art journal like I have been doing and include some painting, decoupage, collage, etc. to help you relax a little. 

Let's face it - stressed out mommy makes for an unhappy family.  There's a reason we see "When Momma aint happy, aint nobody happy" emblazoned on signs in crafty little boutiques.  It's the truth.  So, take some time, grab a notebook, and get going.  You are working toward a better you and you'll be surprised to find out how great you really are!

a collaged journal page

Color

color, a set on Flickr.

Working on some color shoots for school. The glow stick shoot came out super cool!

Baby, You're a Firework!

Sweet Kristjan - My Firework

I know.  It's Katy Perry.  I don't know what it is about this song, but everyone in my family loves it.  Maybe it's the happy beat.  Maybe it's the way she ah-ah-ahs.  Either way, we totally jam out to this song and I think it has a lot to do with a positive message and teaching everyone that we are unique and special in our own ways.  Some may view this anthem as cheesy, but it has been a great way to teach my kids about being yourself and being proud of who you are.  Not too shabby Katy!

I can't wait to scrap this song - the ideas are bumping around in my head like crazy.  What songs inspire you?  What music do you find creeping into your artwork?

Soul Restoration

I did it!  I took the plunge and signed up for The Brave Girls Club Soul Restoration!  I have never been so excited for a class.  The supply list was long and most of my scrappin stuff is in a box in Georgia, but I am totally stoked to work with what I have and be creative in a new way.  Honestly, the most exciting part is the actual goal of the class - to restore my soul.  Being sick and on the move for so long really took it's toll and I, like many women, don't take the time to fix me.  I fix everything else and everyone else.  That's what moms do.  That's what I do.

Well, now it's my turn and I am so looking forward to getting back to me.  It will be a challenge, but what good stretch isn't? 

Image courtesy of Brave Girls Club Artist Kallie

I'm Back

As to fill in the last few months of what may seem adventurous, I shall give you a brief history.

The kids and I moved to North Dakota to be with my family while Kevin was in training with the Air Force.  All was well and we enjoyed a lovely winter until I got sick...really sick.  I stayed in the hospital for a week with pancreatitis and still wasn't better.  Wonderful friends filled in as "mom" for me with the kids and my and sister really stepped up their roles. 

I saw doctor after doctor and was in serious pain for about two months.  I lost 25 pounds (yay - but not the way any of us want to lose the weight).  No one really knew what the heck was wrong with me, just that something was wrong and needed fixing.  Kev ended up leaving school to bring us all back to North Carolina to our brother's hospital where I would be treated like a queen.

After another round of doctors and tests, I got a surgical consult to get my gallbladder taken out.  It was a long shot, but everyone was confident that it was going to work, including me.  To make a treacherously long story short - I had my gallbladder removed, recovered, and am now back to normal.  Woo!

Exactly one week ago, we packed up the cars and moved cross-country to New Mexico for Kev to finish his schooling.  I am back to going to school full-time and we are all adjusting to our temporary life in New Mexico.  Tuscon is still on the horizon and we are all awaiting some serious relaxation.

Many friends and family helped us during this time and we could not be any more grateful for the love, support, and prayers; not to mention the families that let us into their homes for months on end.  You guys are truly the best.  xoxo