I missed a picture!!

I knew it would happen and darn if it I didnt have a photo opp last night and didnt have my camera. The one and only total bummer about my camera is it is big. So its not so easily "toted" around. I do have a smaller "cheaper" camera but I am not as amazed at the photo quality from it.. but for the purposes of this project I will have to start carrying it with me to catch those moments or awesomeness away from home. So following is a few more days to catch up and for yesterday I will just have to use a random photo possibly representing what I wished I would of photographed last night.

Aug 8th: Our final full day at the Lake resort. Today we have a visits from some good friends Brenda and Scotty along with Kyeley and Brian and thier kids. The day progressed like all the others. Fishing in the morning, pool in the afternoon and fishing at night. Tonight we also had a campfire and made smores with Reeses peanut butter cups.. Deeeelishhhh~ My picture for this day says a lot. Its of "J" and the fish she caught. She was obviously over the thrill of it once it was close to her. It was pretty funny to watch. At least she finally got to catch one. This place is normally an easy place to fish at. You can catch the bluegills like crazy but they stocked it with Bass to control the bluegill population and all that ended up happening was the Bass took control of the lake. So now you are lucky if you can see a Bluegill while the bass are allowed to take control. With that comes the difficulty to catch anything because bass are smart. And I am pretty sure they hold a nightly meeting to decide what bait they are biting on and what they will pass on by. It seemed as if each day the bait that worked the day before didnt work the next time you fished. Its a conspiracy!! LOL


Aug 9th: Today we head home. I was up before dawn this day and rather then lay in bed I took advantage of being able to have some peaceful time to myself. I decided to catch up some more on my reading and just reflect on all the beauty that surrounds me. I do love a sunrise. Its like a a present every day.. an opening of a new day. A chance to begin again. I like to start each day hoping I can make a difference some how be it with something I say, something I do or something I share.
So today we head home, I am excited actually because at this point I have not been in my own bed for 10 days. And while I enjoyed every moment of my time away from home, feeling especially refreshed and and renewed there is just something about coming home. Its welcoming and familiar. Its conforting to know that I have somewhere to come home to. What is home to you?? Think about it..it more then just a house. Its all the things that encompass that house, your family, friends, your God your life..

Project 365 part 2

Updating a few more days so I can catch up.. the only bad part about vacation is the catching up.

Aug 5th: This is "Stubbs" He is a duck that we rescued last year while at the Lake Resort. While on the lake last year we noticed this duck huddling up in the rocks.. fishing line with hook in its mouth, wrapped around its beak and its body and the one of his legs all wrapped up and tied up. So my Dad took the duck.. we cut all the line off of him and let him go.. ( more like he flew) His poor leg was black and we had doubts it would be ok. Well it turns out we were right, at some point his leg either fell off or got eaten by the fish and now you have a one legged duck. He gets around pretty good. In fact he can even stand on one foot. I wondered that since I had mostly seen him in the water but one morning I woke up and he was standing on the doc. Its a catch 22 fishing in a lake.. you use hooks to catch fish but when the lines break the other animals get into them. Stubbs isnt too learned on avoiding hooks since my daughter "caught" him while fishing.. He went after the bait on her hook when she was reeling it in. He got off but not before losing a part of his gum. I hope Stubbs will make it another year.

Aug 6th: Still at the lake resort of course and running out of things that are different to photograph.. alas the challenge of the project 365. Today I brought the camera out right before dusk, my favorite time to take pictures. You have the golden hue of sunset making the lighting just perfect for pictures. This picture, which I realize now I needed a fill flash, is of two of the many things I love.. My daughter "D" and my country. The great thing about the lake resort is there is no TV and even though there is wireless I had no access to the computer so I get a lot of time to just sit quietly and reflect on those things that are most important to me.. My God, my family and my country. I also get to do a lot of reading. I am currently reading a book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It was part of a book study back in June that I unfortunately got side tracked on when my grandma passed.. but finally getting into it during the week I am enthralled by this book. Its a great read and a real testiment to what it means to be married. The sacrifices we make for our spouses as well as the love that runs so deep that the mere mention of their name or their touch makes you shudder. If you get a chance to read it I highly reccommend it.



And finally Aug 7th:There were a lot of great photos I could use for today as I was finally remembering to take them not only for our vacation scrapbook but for my new project. But this one is going to be my choice for this day. Its of my youngest "Chay" and words cant describe how much I LoVE this kid. I love all my kids of course but she is special. Maybe its because she is my baby, or because she was a total gift from God. What ever it is, she never ceases to amaze me with her personality and intellect. Like a typical mom I could bran about all the things she can do but I wont do that. I will say that I believe she is destined for great things. She is going to be something that I can only dream about. And seeing her sit there in such a reflective state, I wonder what she thinks about.

That's good for now. A extra tomorrow and I should be caught up.. now I just have to get creative with the pictures. =>

Project 365

I returned this week from a very long and relaxing Vacation. I started first in Long Beach attending the Close To My Heart Leadership Convention.. Wow!! I mean WOW. I am so excited about what is new this fall and again thoroughly impressed by the vision of Jeanette! I wish I was even a 10th as talented and smart as she is. I have come back with a renewed sense of what I want from CTMH. As well as no longer having strategies but goals that make my heart race! I made my list of "big dreams" and plan to get them one by one. And with all the new programs being introduced.. I Basically got a "raise"! How cool is that??

Another thing I was introduced to is Project 365. My friend Susan introduced me to the concept. I am sure there is a website or something but honestly haven't looked for it.. but that is ok because I get the gist of it and it will be fun.. and challenging as I did make it all day yesterday and realized I didnt take a picture yet so I had to find something interesting quick.. LOL Anyhow, So I started on August 1st. Of course I am behind on my journalling but as soon as I upload my photos I will start posting here. I will double and even triple up until I get caught up. => And with that comes a new place for my artshare.. scraptildawn.blogspot.com My goal is to create and share daily or almost daily. I have plenty to share already, especially after leadership.

So, with out further ado.. here is some catch up from my project 365:




Aug 1st: I spent Saturday at the final day of leadership. What an awesome experience as always. We heard from a fabulous speaker, Mary Christenson, who gave me and many of us a new take on setting goals. She made me rethink about my goals and how to state them. Her message was a goal such as "I want to be a director" or "I want to earn the cruise" is simply a stradegy if the goal does not make your heart race. She asked us to dig deep into what makes our hearts flutter.. and gave us many examples which basically tugged on your emotions and made you dig deep to do what you need to do to get there. So when I got home, I made my list of my dreams, the things that I am emotional about and an action plan to get there. Its long, about 3 pages.. but I will knock them out one at a time.. and naturally as a bi product of those dreams being achieved I will reach my "goal" of being a director.. or earning the cruise or what have you. My objective in this business is to share my love for scrapping with others, immerse myself among people with the same passion as I have and not waste time on those things that dont matter to me. God willing.

Aug 2nd: On the road again...and practically all day. Today I set off on the road home. Thankfully and uneventful trek. I really truly do not care for driving in California but I have to say it wasnt too bad this time. I arrived at Long Beach and home without white knuckles. I have to say I was kind of sad to leave the weather of Long Beach behind! I was so nice and cool there compared to here in Vegas. It was a nice break. Upon arriving home we packed up the RV and headed to the Lake resort in Pahrump, Nv. One of my favorite spots to hang out that isnt too far from home but feels a world away from it .




Aug 3rd: Waking up to a beautiful sunrise on peaceful morning is so rejuvenating. It was so relaxing to not have to hurry and get kids ready for school, or *gasp* not be tied up on the computer or phone all day long!! We basically spent the day fishing and swimming. The kids just love it here. The fishing was not as good as it usually is but they had fun trying non the less. When it go to hot to fish we headed over to the pool and spend the day. This is our basic routine just about every day and let me tell you it was so nice!!

Aug 4th: Another glorious day doing basically nothing.. Not sure if this is the right start for my project 365 but that is ok. Its off to a relaxing start and nothing makes me feel at peace more then a day of relaxation. Though I have to say deep in my mind I am thinking of other things after reflecting on Leadership. I have big plans.. HUGE plans and at this point I am dying to get home to get it on paper and start working on my plans. With a fresh mind and a new perspective I am ready to hit the ground running. Totally off topic.. don't you just love "back shots" I am such a huge fan! Your subject is totally unaware making the shot all the more genuine and its like the "big picture" in a way. I have a new camera and of course have not read any of the directions so I just played with all the functions all week. The potential for some awesome photos is huge. Its a new HD camera and it screen its like watching one of those plasma tvs. Its very awesome I have to say. Which just adds to my excitement of this project 365.

Well, I could go on but I am sure this is getting long beyond get out.. so I will stop here and add more tomorrow. I hope you will consider doing your own project 365. Its a great glimpse into your life and I am feeling a scrapbook coming on for sure.. What a fun way to look back and see a day in the life of me.. 10 20 or Go Willing 30 or more years from now.

So until tomorrow. Have a blessed day!