A place to be able to touch base with feelings, hopes, dreams, trials and tribulations. To walk and work through things that bother me and possibly all of us. Turtles Rainbow Gold was born after to show my colorful creations and late husbands artwork . I hope you enjoy both! "True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice" ~St. Francis of Assisi
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Awesome Layout!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
A Wake Up Call
Are the rest of my friends doing what I am doing? Thinking about everyone they have lost, from what, at what age. Realizing time is flying by. We are all complaining about being tired. Too much to do, not enough time. How do we put our lives back into some order...for me personally, how do I find the time to do what I want to do, along with what I must do, and still have time for giving to friends, family. What are my priorities? How do they fit with my goals? The thought that is never far from my consciousness "How is Mary Lynn doing?" Concentrate, think, plan. But!?! Time is racing. My thoughts race also. The wake up call has come. Do I answer?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
A Thread in a Weaving
We were supposed to loose our power this morning, so I turned the computers off and ironed. All morning. Got it all done, well, until I do more laundry that is. Feels nice to be caught up with ironing, and not too far behind in laundry. While I was ironing I was thinking about how each person comes into our life for a reason. We may not learn what we are to learn right away, but our lives have changed. I like to think of each person as a thread. Our lives are weavings. Each person who we have come into contact with is a different color thread, and it is added to the fabric we call our life. If you have ever done any weaving, or worked with fibers, you would know that each time you add a different color to what you are working with, you end up with a totally different weaving than you had before. I think we are changed by each person, whether we realize it or not. Even if those people have left our lives, and the thread is pulled, or stops, it leaves a remnant of what it was, or the thread ends, but even that changes the "cloth" once again. The same person comes and goes throughout our entire life, that color comes and goes. Ever wonder what your weaving would look like? You could try doing a quick sample. Use colored pencils. Take a different color for each family member and close friends going up and down. Then start across with more friends, partners, people who you know have made a huge impact in your life. Then think about all of those people who you "think" only passed through quickly, but the contact was made. You gained or gave something, maybe both. By now you should have run out of colors of pencils, or crayons, even if you used the huge multi-pack. Our weavings should be magnificent, full of color, texture, design. And whether or not we realize it, we are also. How much do you touch those around you and change the weave they call their lives. For the better? Some day we may know. Some person may call us up and say, "I just wanted to say Thank you... for touching my life. I have never forgotten when you..." or you may have someone who touched you. Did you ever tell them? Maybe it is time to start looking! It is never too late to realize that people who are in our lives make a difference, and those whose lives we go into, we touch. Be gentle, be nice. Leave a thread that someone will remember with pleasure. And keep an eye on your weaving!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Staying Positive
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to stay positive? Have you ever noticed how many negative people there are around? I wonder how many people truly have no idea how what they say affect other people. I am normally quite outspoken, and often find all of the problems with a situation. I know this because I have been trying to refocus... look at the good side of things. I know I am not alone in this. Another friend is fighting the same issues, negativity, getting punched down from all sides without her deserving it. Days like yesterday I just wanted to step back and say OK, I am done. Done trying to be positive, done trying to be correct in all I say and do and still get either no help or shot down. Then a ray of sun would come out in the form of one person saying or doing something so nice, helpful, kind. And I think...that is what I am needing. An angel in the form of a person saying something just when I needed it. It is so much easier to find the negative popping up in your face, but to focus on that maybe just one small thing... and staying positive. It is hard. It makes me rethink about what I am saying, and an old saying comes to mind that my grandmother always said. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. (Laughing out loud) What a quiet world it would suddenly become if we all remembered and followed this!! So think at least twice about what you are going to say before saying it. The person on the receiving end may be crushed by some little thing you are saying, just because it is the straw that broke the camel's back (another of those "grandma" sayings). Try to be positive, kind... and if that is not what is going to come out of your mouth... don't say anything at all.
PS. Speaking of being positive, I added another blog link that I go and visit. The Life of Mrs. Miles. She is always good to read and helps me refocus also!!
Family
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
An empty corner
A bright corner of happy memories
Sunday, January 14, 2007
A new day dawning
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Refocusing
I have an interest in digital scrapbooking and am involved with different sites. I became involved for several reasons. I enjoy meeting new people, learning new things, being creative and it not involving spending lots of money. I have met so many wonderful people, who give and give without asking for something back. Kind people, with problems, people who need an ear to listen. They need to know there are those out there who care. Oh yes, there are also those who demand respect, obedience and would drain you dry if they had the chance. I was reminded these last 2 days that I need not let my focus stay on the last type of person. It needs to on my God, on my faith, and for me to continue to do what I know is right. Listen if someone needs to talk, give moral support, let my scrapbooking also be a way of sharing my faith. If people cannot accept the truth of situations, I will know I tried and their blindness is not on my shoulders.
I added a new link in the blog section. Hummie's blog called Life Analyzed. If you have a minute check it out. I just finished listening to the song "as the deer" that brought back so many memories of singing in the choir, my faith and my need to focus. She is another who is looking at her focus, her needs. I think this time of year, with New Year's Eve resolutions all around us it also forces us to look at what we want. A new year, a hope renewed that this will be a good year, without sickness, poverty, death of a loved one. A year where people will listen if I need an ear, will give me moral support and lift me up when I am down. If we can do that for each other it will indeed be a good year. A good way for the refocusing to begin.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
The visit of my belle mere (Mother-in-law)
Sunday, January 7, my "belle-mere" came for an overnight visit. She always looks elegant and this weekend was no exception. It was the first time we had seen her since July, before we left for
Friday, January 5, 2007
A layout for my granddaughter Shaina
Shaina was just a few hours old in the photo on the left. We did not know at that time that she had food allergies to things that her mom was eating and she was getting through the milk. Normally, after the babies eat, they are happy, content, and sleep. She would scream for hours. We were so happy when it was finally discovered what was causing her screaming and discomfort. I was not able to bond with her as much as I would have liked due to the fact she would only settle down with her mom those first few months, and after that, I ended up in Paris France! At least now that she is getting older we have gotten to know each other more and I do get to spend time with her in the summer when we are home on our vacation. The photo on the right was taken on the day she was baptized. I just love the baptismal dress she was wearing and the cute little head band.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
The igloo and skating rink...
Our last stop before the metro...
On the walk toward the metro...
Happy New Year!
This was after we left the restaurant and heading to a little "library bar" for a nice bottle of wine and sharing of stories. We must have talked, drank wine and laughed for 2 hours before realizing we had to leave if we wanted to catch the metro.