Another Scrapping Weekend

Yes, you read that right. Shortly I'm leaving for another weekend away. This is the bi-annual Scrapping Cabin Retreat that I, and my invaluable committee members, plan twice a year. My stuff is all packed by the door ready to load into the van. I'm picking up two of my scrapping buddies and then we're heading out. We'll hit a couple of stores along the way and then go for an early dinner before heading to the conference centre to start the set-up. Then it's three wonderful days of scrapbooking.

Piano Recital

Hey. How cool is this! John uploaded the video to the computer and then I was able to figure out how to get it on here. These two videos are from the piano recital a couple of weeks ago. Cameron was very nervous and ended up forgetting his piece half way through. Part of the problem was that he was playing it too fast. Spencer was as cool as a cucumber. Man, I wish I had those kind of nerves!

I Cry

I cry for a College Campus that had to endure such a senseless tradegy this week.

I cry for all the victims and their families.

I cry for the family of the young gunman who will never be included as victims in this tragedy and will never be able to talk or share their story. They are the forgotten victims in this.

I cry for all the people who were forced to relive their similar tragedies over the past week. Time heals nothing, and I know that all these people were reliving it all over again as if it was happening to them at that moment.

I cry for the gunman. Yes, I cry for him and the turmoil he must have lived inside his brain. He was someone who was unable to get the help that he so desperately needed.

I cry for all the other people who live with a mental illness and the lack of understanding that people have for them. It's so easy to think of them as strange and weird, rather than people who have an illness. Why is it intolerable to make fun of people with a physical disability and yet OK to laugh and make fun of someone with a mental or emotional disability?

I cry for all the people who feel alone and isolated.

I cry every day for a boy who leaves the safety of this house, only to have to go out into a world that misunderstands him, makes fun of him, or treats him like he is invisable. He must try to exist in a world that doesn't see the hidden disorder that makes relating to others very difficult ... and it causes him a lot of anxiety.

I cry every night for him.

He cries too.

How it all began

I was reading Michelle's blog and she issued a challenge to tell the story of how we got into scrapbooking. Well, here's my story:

We were living in Barbados at the time. Cameron was just a baby. A new family moved to the Island and we quickly became friends. One day I was over at her place and she was telling me about her sister-in-law who sold "Creative Memories" (for those who aren't familiar, it is like the tupperware version for scrapbooking ... you have home parties, etc.) I had never heard of scrapbooking so I asked her what it was.

Then she showed me her albums!

Right away I was hooked. Just one look. That's all it took. (hey, isn't that a song?)

I went home and told John all about it and was so excited.

The next time we returned home to Canada for a visit, I ran off to White Rose (which is now no longer) and Michaels, and bought what I thought I needed and what I thought would last me until our next home visit.

When we returned to Barbados, the stuff sat and stared at me for the longest time. I was too nervous to do my first page. Amy and I had plans to get together so she could help me but then I couldn't wait and I sat one night and did my first layout.

I was so pleased with the end result that I was working on the book every night after that. I quickly ran out of supplies and had to really stock up when I went back to Canada for a visit.

Within a year, we had a nice little scrapping club going of about 5 ladies.

So, that's how it all began for me. Here I am, 10 years later, still going strong.

Update

I've been terrible at blogging lately, I know. Last week I promised that I would update everyone on what's been going on around here so here it is:

-John is now finished work. Last week was his first week home. He wants to take a couple of months off before getting back into working, so for now he's a man of leisure. That's been going OK. He seemed a little lost last week but he quickly cured that by going out and buying himself a satelite dish. He's been busy rewiring the basement so it can be hooked up.

-the house painting continues. Last week I got the family room done and all the trim in the family room and kitchen. Now that John's home, he can pitch in to help!

-I've got another scrapbooking retreat coming up in two weeks so I have been busy getting that organized. Mostly everything is done. I've got to organize my own stuff for that now.

-we had a busy weekend last weekend with two family get togethers on top of the Easter and Good Friday Church things on. I was exhausted by the end of the weekend.

-The girls are planning the second anual scrapping getaway. Last year we went to Quebec City for the week. This year we have a gorgeous 7 bedroom cabin booked in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. It looks fabulous. I don't think September could get here soon enough.

-Matt's anxiety has sky-rocketed and we don't know why. He's shutting down at school and being difficult at home. I really wish there was something I could do. I feel really helpless. It's so tough to watch your child go through something like this. I just wish life was easier for him. His Paxil has been increased, but so far no relief. I really don't want to go through another medication change as that's really hard on him, and the rest of the family.

-through all of this I've managed to get some scrapping time in at home. These are some of my recent layouts.

Where do babies come from?

I saw this on line today and just had to share.


A little boy goes to his father and asks

"Daddy, how was I born?" The father

answers: "Well son, I guess one day

you will need to find out anyway! Your

Mom and I first got together in a chat

room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date

via e-mail with your Mom and we met

at a cyber-cafe. We sneaked into a

secluded room, where your mother

agreed to a download from my hard

drive. As soon as I was ready to upload,

we discovered that neither one of us had

used a firewall, and since it was too late

to hit the delete button, nine months later

a little Pop-Up appeared that said:

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You got Male!

The Meaning of Easter for me

Bad Blogger Alert

I know. I've been terrible the past couple of weeks. I promise that in the next few days I will post an update.