It has been 16 years

16 years ago today a little baby boy came into my life and changed me forever.

Time has gone by faster than what I would have liked but all in all my beautiful baby boy has grown into a young man that I am terribly proud of.

Son, I hope you have a wonderful new year full of excitement and fun. A mother couldn't ask for a better son than you. I love you!!

Is it summer?

The answer to this question I am not sure about because of the rainstorms we have been having about every other day. Now don't get me wrong, I am loving it!! I love waking up in the morning and stepping outside to just smell fresh air. I feel like I am up in the woods everyday. So I wonder why it just doesn't feel like summer even with the kids out of school.

Our anniversary was wonderful. Bruce took the day off for me, we took a city drive and went out to lunch. We ate WAY to much food and next time I need to remember to ask for a box even before I start eating. Then I can enjoy the rest the next day. I don't remember when we have had this much fun, really. For the last few years he has been out of town every anniversary so this was a treat. He didn't even answer his phone!!!

It has taken me 25 years to relize, that my husband is not one to follow what the world would say he should do for an anniversary, Valentine's Day or even Christmas. I can say that I'm finally okay with that.

I have been feverishly working on a few things to share so look for something special soon!

25

Twenty five years today, that is how long I have been married to my best friend, companion and lover.

We have lived in 4 states and 7 houses, three of which we bought....houses not states....lol. We have owned 11 vehicles, I don't think I am missing any. We have had 4 beautiful children, two of which are on their own and two still at home.

I don't know what the future is going to hold but my Sweet Darlin' I'm along for the ride. You still make my heart flutter!! You are the love of my life and my dream come true!!

I suffer from..........

Procrastination! I guess I've never really wanted to admit it to myself. When I know I have to do important things I am forever looking for an excuse to do something else.

So when my teenage daughter brings me a doodle she did for me a few weeks ago, it started to wake me up, to what I was doing to myself and even to my family. It said; "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today" Abraham Lincoln

Then this week I visited Laine's Scrap Happy site. Guess what she was talking about.....arrrgghhh. Okay, I get the idea already!! Hello world, my name is Juel and I am a full on Procrastinator!! She has a cute utube video on her site that pretty much says it all.

So this week I've started taking care of a few things that I have been putting off, what about you??

I have no idea what to do!

A week from today I will be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary to a man that I love dearly(even when he drives me a little crazy) The thing is.............I have absolutely NO idea what to do, really I don't! This year marks a time when we will actually be together on our anniversary and that hasn't happened in YEARS, we are talking YEARS people.

Over our life together, I've made plans only to have him end of having to work out of town. The one promising thing was, last week his work told him he was going to have to be out of town for 3 days, one of those days being our anniversary. He in not so many nice words told them there was no way he was going to work out of town on his 25th wedding anniversary.

So I come back to the question my man asked me this morning, so do you want to do anything special next week because I can't think of anything. So much of our life for years has been put on hold, it comes to times like this that you realize that and you are thankful you are in a different place now. Where do you start when you are still a little afraid of your husband being called to go out of town, even when he told them he wouldn't? Do you go alone or take your teenagers with you because they are part of your life and you desire to not have them miss out on the fun too? We don't have friends or other family members to go out and celebrate with. This is a big day in our lives, a big milestone and it will be remembered for a lifetime. I know anything we do is going to be special but I just don't know where to start.

Just can't believe it

3 weeks and school is going to be out! My son will be taking driver's ed so watch your roads for a student driver that thinks he is driving in a video game. We have been trying to take him driving at least 3 times a week and I'm happy to say he is soooo much better!! I'm even proud of myself for not being white knuckled and trying to push my foot into the passenger floor board. By summer's end he'll probably have his license and he'll be able to drive himself to 7am Marching band camp!

Speaking of Marching band, Mt. Spokane traveled last weekend to Vancouver, B.C for the Heritage Music Festival. The Marching band took first place in all 5 divisions of competition!! All the hard work and long hours throughout the year paid off. The group this year has many new incoming freshman so it is wonderful that they are doing so well.

I shared a little that I am finding my muse return. I'm so happy and thought I would take the time to show you what has sparked my creativity. First indulge me as I give you a little bit of history about me. I've always been creative. I can remember many of the special kits at Christmas time from family, that would allow you to make flowers, clay things, etc.(Do you have a favorite you remember?) I remember even trying to make my own clay from flour, baby powder and water. My mom was so mad that I had made a complete mess of the top of my dresser, from mixing everything. I learned that it was fun making a mess but you have to clean up after yourself.....lol. I always loved to draw and doodle. In high school I took an art class and enjoyed myself so much. That is where I fell in love with colored pencils, watercolors and shading. When I told my parents that I wanted to produce art they were to supportive so my drawing never went any further. Almost 16 years ago I picked up my first rubber stamp and I was able to get back to what I loved to do, color. I have always wanted to learn to draw faces so when SuziBlu opened up her Petite Dolls for beginners I found myself getting nervous. She is a gracious teacher, full of life and so willing to help in anyway she can to help you feel better about yourself in general and as an artist. So this is what I have been up to, learning to draw these fun little dolls that really aren't meant to look like anyone. Full of mixed media which I have found to be part of my muse, which I already knew because of my love of scrapbooking.

So without further ado may I introduce to you my Petite Dolls...........My princess and king with a little close up of the princess face.

Then my beautiful mermaid with lots of her friends by her side. Hope you enjoyed seeing into a little bit of my life right now. I'm sure I will be making more dolls as time goes by. They are quite addicting!! Please do not use any part of my dolls without permission, thanks.

It's Spring

It really is spring!! It is here, everywhere!!

I read somewhere this week, that in order for true creativity and passion to happen it occassionally needs to be turned off.

I will have to say there is a lot of truth to those words. After a year of being silent in my hobby with only a few scrapbook pages done I can finally say I am finding my muse!!!

I am back to taking myself out for a day at Startbucks, once a week. I don't go and just pick it up but I sit. Sometimes I write or even draw. I never know what will come of it. The one thing I can be sure of is that I am recieving a peace and calmness that I haven't felt in over a year.

I'm slowing down long enough to take care of me and it feels very good. Something else, a creative side of myself is coming out on a differant level. A level that I could have never exspected.

I'm enjoying my journey. Enjoy yours today~take care of YOU!