So, I've officially been "not working" for four days now. I can't really say I am not working. I am TRYING not to, but life gets in the way. Dishes still need to be washed, diapers still need to be changed, husbands still need help reading recipes (see the story later in this post), and well, things just have to get done. However, I will say that I am doing MUCH LESS than I normally would and I am getting a lot of rest. Not necessarily sleep, but I am getting to spend time just sitting or lying down without feeling like I need to get up every two seconds. So in this resting time, I have gotten a lot of stuff done at my computer. Some of it work (emailing , website/blog updates, other paperwork) and some of it scrap related. I have finished quite a few LO's for Jasbeanie, which has been fun. I am SO EXCITED for her first kit to debut at A Cherry On Top. I had a lot of fun working on a LO with it. SOOOOO different than what I normally do. I can't wait to show it (you'll have to wait until tomorrow!) I've also had time to look through the galleries, to be inspired, to praise those that inspire me. I love the whole idea of leaving praise for people's LO's. There are dangers -- people just praising because they know someone, people just praising because others do -- but that isn't the bulk of it. It is a group of women praising another woman's art -- praising her in her endeavor to cherish the memories of her friends and family. In giving praise, I hope to encourage that person to keep on doing what they are doing. To keep on preserving the memories of special days and every days. To say to her friends and family, "I love you so much that I need art to help express what is in my heart." And that is something worth praising! And so I have roamed the gallery at 2Peas, trying not to look at who created but rather, what they created. Everyone deserves praise, and I wish I had time to comment on everyone's LO's, but I try to pick a few that jump out at me and inspire me to continue creating. And as much as all the praise is nice, the really important thing about scrapping is that we are doing it. Some of my favorite pages have gotten no comments. And you know what? It doesn't matter. There is no way anyone could feel what I feel when I see those pictures. No one can know the love that is in my heart for the people on that page. And so for all of you have had a LO that no one praised, I praise you. I praise you for creating, for letting your heart find artistic expression, and for loving your friends and family enough to savor the memory.
Okay, wow, I had no idea I had all that to say. I was just going to mention it was nice to have time to go through the galleries. I guess I know now what I feel...
I promised a few pictures from Alaina's birthday. They aren't great, but she is.
Okay, well maybe not. Our internet is so messed up right now. It is not letting me post pictures. I hope I can at least post this entry. I'll try again later.
Oh, I promised a story about my husband. Okay…to funny. It was one of our dorm girls birthdays yesterday and so Jason and Julia (someone who is helping out in the dorm while I am “resting”) were going to make cupcakes. The cupcakes got made and Jason came in and asked me, “Is icing hard to make if you can read a recipe.” I told no, it was not, but that he just needed to make sure the butter was softened properly. Fast forward an hour. He comes back in and tells me the icing is yellow. I asked him if he used regular vanilla or clear vanilla. He said he used regular. No big deal, the icing was going to be colored pink anyway. But then I kept thinking, the icing sometimes turns out an off while but not yellow. So, I decided to go in and have a look. Sure enough, it was a definite yellowish color. And it was really runny. Now icing here in Malaysia isn’t nearly as stiff because the butter melts so fast, but still, it shouldn’t look that runny. I asked him how much milk he added and he told me the right amount. So, in trying to save this, I said, “Well, let’s just add some more powdered sugar.” So I started that but knew something was still wrong. So then I asked him if he used butter-flavored Crisco instead of regular Crisco. “Crisco?” he asked. “The recipe says vegetable shortening.” I said, “Yes, that’s what Crisco is.” And just as I was about to ask what he though vegetable shortening was I saw the vegetable oil sitting on the counter. Oh my. I laughed, told him to throw the icing out, and start over. Yes, dear, icing is easy to make if you know how to read a recipe.
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