Deadlines....

Sadly, this term seems to be all about deadlines.  

Seems impossible to stay on top of everything.  So, what am I doing tonight? Trying to alleviate the internal loss of control feeling that has pervaded my senses.  And this blog, you see, is one of the many things in life that is spiraling out of grasp.

I'm also baking cookies. Why?  I sure as heck have NO time for that (with 5 major assignments due tomorrow, a conference call with my school supervisor, exam + meeting crammed into 1 day).

It's insanity!  But, my bathroom is clean, and that gives me pause for a few deep, peaceful breaths.  Perhaps I am trying to find some of that calm and sense of accomplishment in blogland?

Made a card for Adam's birthday using my Kale and Ethan Dino-Mite set from MTF.  Also love the textured pattern paper (can't rememeber who makes it!).

Here are a few cards that have been made in the last little bit ('little bit' being a subjective term that I shall not elaborate on).

Until next time, I'm....

Some festive pictures...

To start off the year...

Another Christmas card.  Loved the ribbon on this one.

Coloured with my Copic Markers, Sakura glaze pen, Bazill basics paper and patterned paper.

Yumm.  Perogies.  This shot is for Friesen...

Let's try this uploading process again! Note the pictures will be in random order...

Mat, opening gifts on the Big Day... an electric razor! Yeah!

He he hee..

My boy and his Canucks jersey (post haircut).  You can feel the excitement just looking at his face! Ha!

(Apparently this is Chris' Angry Face??).  Poor guy hasn't seen anything yet...

Ahh, family.  

We had a new edition to the Christmas week this year.  

Chris.  Oh dang, love the many faces of my brother Harry.  It is a skill in itself to capture a picture where he is not mutating his face at the last second into something like this....

Here's Chris chowing down on some Borscht and Perogies (one of Mom's many specialties!).  Welcome to GF, Chris!

My awesome possum niece, Simoneous.  Many pictures taken of this little monkey over the week.  So delightful!

There's nothing like being welcomed in the driveway by Grampa (wearing his crazy toque!).  You can see his excitement at having his family home for Christmas (although Been wasn't able to make it this year).

Road trip to Grand Forks for Christmas.

I love the scenery on the trip up.  Any time of year it's just breathtaking.... you can see why!

J was the photographer/ videographer for this trip, hence the very candid photos of myself.  Thanks, Son. Ahhh!

A new year!

... and a new semester.

Hard to believe, but this one is going to be more intense than the last semester.

I'm not sure how exactly everything will work out this term, as I have fits of anxiety just thinking about how and where to schedule 6 hours of unpaid direct observation (for after school clients), on top of a very full course load and full time work + home and (somewhat of a) personal life.

Ack!!!

Oh, may the next 2 years SAIL on by...

No doubt this blog will become very infrequently posted on as, on my life or priorities, this will need to bear some of the flexibility brunt.  However, should anyone in blog land devise some way to clone humans, be sure to let me know.

Since blogger is not letting me upload any more photos, I will post them next time!

In the meantime, I did have the chance to work on a few cards.  Here's one...

I've been warned...

By a few certain peoples that it's about time a new blog was posted.

So, here I go!

Seems like the more life experience I learn (which is really just a nicer way to say 'the older I get') the more important family and friends become to me.

The last few weeks has been full of fun and good memories!

Most of which I do not have digital means to remember them by. :O(

For more info: see Kender's blog! 

Here's just a few that I do have pictures of:

Pendels came over for some Rockband Delight.  They were both super good sports about singing and rockin out on the drums.  So much fun!!  And, my boy had a blast!

To all family and friends- do NOT comment that you have seen this picture.  My boy is liable to severely injure me as he was quite upset when he saw the flash go off in the moment (ha! Gotcha!). He had moved his drum kit into his room and was playing them.  I was confused by the drumming sounds coming from his room, so went to peek in.  Lo and behold, he was practicing on his Rockband drums (the game and console is in our family room, so this whole set up was a little out of context!), while watching on youtube.  The drum set wasn't hooked up, he was just drumming along to the guitar hero youtube video.  Love this boy!!

And finally- the beginnings of Christmas cards this 

year.  Better send me your addresses!! :O)

This one is called 'Village Christmas' (a Thomas Kinkade print turned into a stamp and put out by Cornish Heritage Farms). I tried colouring one in with my copics, but the blue stamped (Adirondack denim) version seemed to look better. Thanks to Theresa Unrau for that tip!

Happy Halloween!

Been and Lo- you will totally get this face! 

(This one's for you, Been.  It follows your self-portrait from SABC this summer :O)
Today is the festive day of Hallowe'en, and we've got plans.  Kimmer (possibly), Pammer and Kender are coming over to partake in some Halloween hilarity. 

Way to pull out the guts, Buddy (and no, you're not too old for me to call you that)!

Before the hilarity, we needed to have some punkins in the house to livin things up.  Here are the pictures from this year's awesome pumpkin carving event. 

The last picture is of a card that was made for my Lo.  We don't get to see each other as much right now which sucks, but I think of her lots and wanted her to feel loved and thought of. :O)

Enjoy this chocolate season, everyone!

Secret Sister and Simoneous

This Wednesday night was the reveal night for who's name we drew in Life Group.

I was the lucky lady who drew Ms. Darla's name. Not that I've been the best SS by any stretch of the imagination, however, I really did enjoy thinking of her, listening to her thoughts and things that she would share and tucking it away to pray about later on.

Here is an example of one such card that came her way this last year.  Her's was a little different as it was an Anniversary card with a few added details.  This card template was actually designed by someone at Clipperstreet (they get full credit!). Love that place!

I did have pictures of the rest of the cards she received, but sadly, when my hard drive died last week, so did all of my personal videos and pictures. :O(

Oh well, it's just stuff, right?

Awesome day today. I'm so thankful for the first time experiences that were part of today, moments to meet and treasure people, first impressions, and of course, Date Night with my boy.

Lastly, one of the biggest highlights in my week is spending a few hours each Thursday with this wonderful little girl.  The very first picture on this post is my Niece, Simoneous.  That's not her real name, but one that my brilliant NinjaSister created in a moment of magnificent inspiration.

So, everyone, here is Simoneous. If her gorgeous little face doesn't make you smile, seriously.  You're messed.

Enjoy the weekend!

Family and Fall Flowers

I'm supposed to be studying and working on a powerpoint presentation for a class that needs to be taught on Thursday, but, this just has to be posted.

It's Thanksgiving, a time when people are supposed to reflect on what they are thankful for.

I don't want to be the kind of person who gets so caught up in life that she forgets to enjoy moments or begins to take these blessings in life for-granted.

This weekend has been killer.  Friday night, we were blessed by a call from Pammer, who was checking in with an awesome gesture to make sure all was well.  Pammer shreds.  Makes me teary.

Then, Been called and we were able to talk for the first time in over a week.  Loved it!  So miss that!

My very own Been lives in Alberta so when we would normally be driving our respective husbands insane (ok, fine, mine is purely in my imagination, despite post 10pm conversations) with frequent phone calls, coffee dates, dinners and chillin afternoons, we settle for phone calls that are farther and fewer in between (curse school!!) and yearly visits. :O(  Such is reality. Hopefully that will change one day. I also have a Harsinder, who lives in Delta with his Dilly and Simoneous.  

Last Sunday brought an awesome time with Darla.  A total surprise, didn't see it coming but seriously blessed my socks off. Love you, girl!

Sunday morning brought a knock on my door from Kimmer.  And with Kimmer were these:

Family.

And just now- a phone call from Kender and Pammer saying she's bringing over lunch cause they're worried I've dissolved from this world somehow.

I love my biological family- all of them!  But my girls (my Lois, Kimmer, Pammer, Kender, Darla, Elisa, Stephanie)- they are also my family.

Even when I'm more absent than present on Wednesday nights and when I'm there, still more absent than present. Ha! ;O)

Family: Where my story begins, unfolds, twists, disappears, gets punched back to life and keeps on going.

Energizer Bunny Style.

And now... lunch and then time to take off for Thanksgiving Dinner at Harris' house.  Ahh! So blessed!!!