Living a Nightmare

I haven't posted in the past few weeks because of a lot going on in my personal life.





I think I have more than I can handle although God says he doesn't give you more than we can handle. I have really been doubting what I believe in my heart here lately. Is there really a God out there???? I know there is supposed to be but where in the heck is he?


I don't know why our family has been dealing with one thing after another for the past year.





I mention "granny" a lot in my posts......she is my husbands grandmother but a lot like my mom to me. (I took pictures of her and my kids in my Christmas post)





On the 17th we received a phone call from her saying she smelled smoke. We rushed over there which is less than 10 minutes away and found her whole house on fire.


After 3 different fire departments responding and fighting the fire for more than 4 hours, she lost everything. The cause of the fire was determined to be the gas hot water heater.


Shes's 89 years old and fragile after losing her only child. We're the only thing she has left.


It was especially hard to swallow when her house burned 4 months to the day of her son's death.


Granny now lives with us.





We have 2 more homes next door to where Granny lives. We have paid a contractor to come in and remodel our old home (the home where we lived up until the last 2 years) She says she is too old to start over but at least she will have some place to call her own again.





To add to the stress of rebuying everything, remodeling, work, kids, and my family obligations.....my son and hubby went hunting this past Saturday. My son started having trouble breathing. Almost to the point of not breathing at all. We took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Asthma. He's now on breathing treatments......We haven't been to the lung specialist.....knock on wood that he will out grow this condition.












I said in the paragraph above that the cause was the gas hot water heater. A bird built a nest in the flute that is used to vent it. Gas built up and then caught on fire.

We've been rethinking a fire plan for our home which is 2 story. Please consider a fire plan for your home. Saving a life is more valuable than losing a loved one. I didn't know this, well really didn't think about it but the electric fire detectors in newer homes will fail when the power is out. Most of the time the fire will cut the power off before sounding the alarm.....therefore the good ole' battery fire alarms are great for backup. A ladder stored outside will help rescue anyone trapped upstairs. I know this is all common sense but watching a home burn to the ground is really heartbreaking and scary. A good vaccum cleaning job under the hot spots of your home (hot water heater, dryer, furnace, and stove) once every few months cuts down on your chances of a fire.



I knew this stuff and failed to ever think about the flute. I cleaned her home for the past few years and feel totally guilty.



Here are a few pictures

Awhile since I posted

I am still alive...yet again, I think I've been abducted by some tired bug. I wish he would cut me loose. Work and taking care of daily stuff with my family is kicking my arse. LOL

I would welcome a vacation in some sunny and hot place far far away from land and people.
Hmmmmmmm I don't think that it's going to happen anytime soon or even this year.

I haven't scrapped all week however tomorrow I'm going into town and Hobby Lobby is on the top of my list.....
WHY?????? I really don't know. I just want to get something new....it's an addiciton, obsession, passion, or something that I can't place my finger on.

I am wanting to subscribe to a scrap magazine again....my subscription ended last November.....I don't want Creating Keepsakes again....something new with perhaps sketches....I am loving sketches!!!!!
I am leaning towards Scrapbooks Etc. Any suggestions???

Ok...off to bed...long day ahead tomorrow....I AM OFF THOUGH! WOO HOO!
I worked out a deal to work last Saturday for 10 hours in exchange for Tuesday off. Hmmmmm......I think I might scrap after I return home from town.

I will post my other layouts tomorrow.

Have a splendid week!

5 Free Classes for 1 YEAR

I was excited to hear that Two Peas was offering a years worth of Scrapbook Classes.

Here are the details:


For the next year Two Peas brings you 5 CLASSES .....for 1 YEAR

The following classes will be taught:

1. Celebrate the Seasons By: Nichol Magouirk Taught: On the 5th of each month
2. Photoshop Elements Taught: On the 10th of each month
3. A Year in Cards Taught: On the 15th of each month
4. A Year of You By: Robin Werlich Taught: On the 20th of each month
5. Super Sketches By: Kelly Purky Taught: On the 25th of each month
*** I don't know who's teaching the Photoshop and Cards class***

I hope I can keep up with this.........I am trying to manage my time much better this year.

Here's the link if you want to participate
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/
click on the "education" link

I'm too lazy to link it LOL

Hope you're having a great week.

Scrappy Sunday

I finally got some scrapping done. Here are 2 of the 4 that I finished today.
I wished I would have felt better to get even more done. Hope you had a great weekend and got some scrapping accomplished.

Totally in a Scrapping Mood

But had to clean up the house. I got off worked tonight and cleaned from top to bottom. Tomorrow I can scrap all day. I'm totally excited....I bought some new Christmas paper and some embellishments......can't wait.

Here are a few more Christmas pictures......I promised to post them several times.....well, I never had the time. I have a ton more but I am ready for bed.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far! Enjoy the time with your families!

Goodbye 2008

Whew! What a year 2008 was.....Here are a few of my favorite photos that are sure to put a smile on my face. I know there are a lot of holidays that I didn't place on here. I get my greatest joy out of the simple days of life. The ones where fun just pops up unexpected.
I am blessed to have 2 healthy kiddos, a hard working husband, a beautiful home, and awesome extended family. I know this year was an awful in the economics department.....My prayers are with those affected by this. I hope that 2009 will bring peace, love, and happiness to everyone.
God Bless this country as well welcome a new president into the White House. I am for sure hoping that the economy is a top priority.

Below, The kids playing in the mud with friends.

Below, Back yard BBQ with friends. Notice my son was the only boy and he's hiding behind the tree. LOL

Below, My daughters Archery Team. They placed 5th in the State of Alabama. Not too shabby for the teams first year.

Below, My hubby helped build this for his brother. He was gone for awhile during the summer.

Below, Our new addition to the family. *Gawd, I hate this dog* We don't get along too well. This is hubbys dog.

Below, We got snow......look at this wonderful snowman created by my daughter. We don't get snow here so everyone was excited.

Me and the Hubs......we made it 14 years together. I am really hoping for a more peaceful year than we had in 08.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR IN 2009!

A Merry Christmas Indeed!

Our Christmas was beyond belief. The kids were so excited and said, "this is my best Christmas ever".....those are the words that a mom and dad want to hear. Aside from it being about Jesus's birthday.....seeing the smiling faces of the kids, melted my heart. It reminds me why I wanted kids. Sometimes I feel sad that I brought 2 kids into this cruel world. Christmas morning reminds me why I must try to raise them with love and kindness, teach them between right and wrong, and rear them for adulthood, when they must enter this world without me holding their hand. I thank Jesus for being born and for my family. Most of all Christmas reminds me to LOVE people.

Here are a few pictures of Christmas.....My son throwing darts on his dartboard.
My daughter staring at money like she's never had a dollar. LOL

This is the most precious picture to me......in Sept my father in law died.....we saw him everyday....yet, when he died, I couldn't find any pictures of him and the kids together. I promised myself that this wouldn't happen again. Here are my kids with their Great Grandmother Christmas Day 2008. I took several.....I hope that they never forget this lady....she is amazing, strong, and a tad stubborn. I guess those are the traits that you need to live to the age of 89. She is like a mother to me. I talk to her daily and take her where ever her heart desires. She's outlived her husband and kids. We are the only family she has left. My kids love her so much.

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas.....may you have many more and grow fond memories with each passing year.