The Face of FOURTEEN!

Hard to believe that it was fourteen years ago that you came into our lives! Hard to believe that learning to ride your bike, your first day of kindergarten, and playing chalk in the driveway is a thing of the past for you! I miss those days! BUT, I welcome the days ahead! You are such a bright, gifted young man. You are so strong in your faith! I can't wait to see how God is going to continue to use you in his kingdom! I know I am posting this a few days late on my blog, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! Mom loves you!............to the moon and back!

Reflections, and being accountable!

It has been almost 2 months since my Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis! And, as I sit here and reflect on what has all taken place, I am in shock, awe, disbelief and blessed all at the same time! It wasn't until I was talking to my Gram on the phone yesterday that the blessed part really struck me! I could be in denial, but why? I could be angry, but why? I could be sad, but why? I could have a pity party, but why? I told Gram yesterday that I see this as a TOTAL blessing! Our family is not the best with our eating habits! I see this as God telling me to 'get it together' if I want to see my grandchildren grow up! Better yet....do I want to see my children graduate from high school?

So, over the last 2 months my days have been filled with medical appointments-learning how to eat, what to eat, how many times a day, how to give myself insulin, how to count carbs, what to eat when we go out to eat, etc. I found that I was NOT eating healthy at all. We always had chips in the house (that was my total downfall!), we rarely had more than a couple of apples, or carrot sticks, and we ALWAYS had ice cream treats(thanks to the bi-weekly Schwans man!)! So, I vowed to eat more veggies, fruit, and cut the junk! Well, that isn't specific enough!

I need to be accountable! I need to set realistic goals! and I need to set time frames! I figure that if I tell you all this.......I am accountable to not only myself, but YOU! After reading through the Diabetes website this morning I learned these keys!

How long will you try this goal? Keep it short.
Is it easy to do in your regular daily life? Keep it realistic.
Is it limited in scope? Be specific.
How often will you do this?

So, here goes!

Eating: I will eat no less than 2 pieces of fruit daily starting today, for the next month. One piece with breakfast, and one other.

Eating: For the next 5 times that I eat out, I will order salads instead of fries and a hamburger.

Physical Exercise: For the next month, I will walk 4 times each week for 15 minutes after breakfast. I will complete my Physical Therapy exercises daily before lunch. (I started Therapy for my back this week!)

The girls at scrapbooks.com have started a weekly thread about our eating healthy. It is different for each of us! But, you are welcome to check in, and share your venture!

On a lighter note.......we had our friends children for the weekend! Dan and Sherri enjoyed a weekend away! I was in heaven as I got my fix of having a little girl for a breif while! Tay lor and Mitch spent the weekend playing Legos-imagine that! So, I leave you with a picture of one of their prized creations!

Thanks for following my personal goals, and let me know if you have any of your own...I would love to cheer you on!

God's Blessings on your week!

My first month at Scrapbook Doodle.....

and I got to play with this wonderful Bo Bunny Kit! Here is what I created!

Hard to Believe...

....that the weekend that Dennis and I had waited so long for has now come and gone! We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend, but it was too fast and too short! Shortly after my last back surgery in September we decided to book a little weekend getaway, as something positive to look forward to. I did take my brace with and hid it in the corner! At the end of the weekend we loaded it back into the van unworn!!!! We laid by the fire watching lots of movies, took a horse drawn ride around the resort and through the woods...ate wonderful food, and enjoyed each other's company! We cam back home yesterday afternoon, so the boys would be able to celebrate some of Dennis's birthday with him! We all went to see 'The Bucket List' at the theatre, and came home and played wii together! The weekend was awesome, and I am ready to do it all over again!

Miracles DO happen....

So, you ask, where are the photos for this layout? Well, let me share! Last week my sister's friend Stacy (37 years old) returned home from a visit with family in Wisconsin for the Holidays! She hadn't been feeling well. Upon arriving back in Albuquerque, she went to the ER. After undergoing tests, she found out that she has cancer of the pancreas. This past Tuesday the news came that she would only have months left on this worldly planet! I don't personally know Stacy, but I went to high school with her husband Tom. They have 3 beautiful girls ages 15, 11, and 9. The oldest Kylie babysits for my neice and nephew!

So, I ask that you pray for Stacy and her family, that God perform miracles!

Secondly, I ask for your help in creating generic 12x12 layouts in the theme of family to send to her. What a beautiful gift for her to leave her children of all the memorable family times they shared in the event that the good LORD decides to call her home. Where you ask, will she put all these layouts that are being created? Well, thanks to my mom, she willingly offered to purchase the album! (thanks mom!)

Last night as I created this layout I was able to remember not only the wonderful times my family has shared together, but also how thankful I am for each day with them! The quote "live each day as if it is your last"....has really made me reflect!

So, if you are willing to create for this wonderful family you can email me at dmjtu@charter.net for the information as to where to send your layouts when you are finished! Stacy does not know about this! (her sister does!) Let's show her the love of the scrapbooking world, and the importance of why we create!

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and consideration!

The Cat is Out of the Bag....

You all know me, and how hard it is for me to keep secrets! Well, I had to keep a GREAT BIG one! In the earlier part of December I recieved an email from the new owner of Keeping Memories Alive ( http://www.scrapbooks.com/ ) asking me to be a part of their Design Team for 2008!

I feel so honored! Today it was announced on their website, and I couldn't be happier! If you care to check out any of my work ...you can find it under Mellsbells!

Thanks for sharing in my excitement!
Happy Scrapping!

Do you need to purge your scraps for the New Year???

Then I have the perfect answer for you!

Come on over to www.scrapbookdoodle.com this weekend for a New Years crop that will help you trim down your scrap stash! There will be prizes, games, a chat with Rusty Pickle Chefs, and SO MUCH MORE! Hope to see you there!

Wii Celebrated...

Happy 2008! We spent last night with friends bringing in the New Year! We had a blast playing with our new Nintendo Wii! Our family was anxious to see 2007 come to a close, and ready to start a new year with a fresh start! I hope that 2008 brings less back pain, and more opportunity! This is a BIG year for us! Josh will be confirmed in the spring, and he will start high school in the fall. Tay will start middle school in the fall! Dennis looks forward to continuing his work with the youth group at church, and we together look forward to another year together making memories!

Here's wishing you a BRIGHT 2008 as well! God's blessings to you and your family!