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I hope all of you are feeling thankful today and I hope that you will have an amazing day with family and friends. We are just a few hours away from our big meal and then we are off for the weekend. Can't wait!
Just wanted to let you know that almost ALL of the SBG designers are having sales this weekend. Check out this lineup!
I must be getting back to my old self because my blog posts are becoming more regular. However, unfortunately, my internet is not, and so pictures and stuff just start to pile up in my "for blog" folder. So anyway, at 5 in the morning, my internet at home is working fairly well so I better post while I have the chance.
I'll start with yesterday.
Now let's just say that yesterday was not the best day I have ever had. I went on a field trip with Caleb's class (which went great).
It was after the field trip that things started to go downhill. A fun day in town with just me and my boy turned into a very stressful and frustrating day. I will know to never hire that driver again. Ever.
Anyway, after I got home I wasn't quite sure to unwind from the stress I felt. It was not about my family at all and yet I knew they would have to deal with the effects of it. I wanted to do something, anything, that might make me feel a bit better. Going into town wasn't an option (I'd had enough stress for one day), I didn't feel like getting everyone ready for the pool, I just felt like there must be SOMETHING we could do as a family. Jason walked in (after honoring the ten minutes of absolute quiet I had asked for) and said, "Wanna take a walk?" YEP! A walk sounded heavenly, especially since he wanted to go down some paths we always see around where we live but never go to. I grabbed my camera and some jackets and we were off!
It turned out the be the perfect plan. So amazing, so inspiring, and so touching to my heart.
Here are the kiddos as we walked out of the house
Then the big kid decided to step in
Then we started off into a field right by our neighborhood. The views of the fields, mountains, and rice paddies were gorgeous!
And for some perspective, you can see our school in this picture.
It's weird...usually when I go through our little development on the way to school I just see houses and stores and a few other random buildings. But look at the school from a different angle and everything changes.
Here is Alaina, my gorgeous and oh-so-sweet-almost-six-year-old
And my little Beaver...
We followed the pretend-trail for a few minutes and realized we were walking into a kampung (and Indonesian village). Once we got in there, our kids were a big draw (as always). Everyone was so happy to see them and little miss Katie was the star of the show. I can't wait for my language skills to improve so that I can actually talk with people rather than answer basic questions.
And Alaina as we walk out. It took a long time to get out of the kampung..the kids were much more interested in chasing the chickens, baaahing back at the goats, and finding stray kittens.
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Next up is some photos from the last few days...just little things that are making me so happy right now.
The clear mountain view from the balcony off the master bedroom/my office. The mountains around us are really beautiful. It is just usually too foggy to see them.
Getting my hands and desk messy playing with fun things like paper and glue. This was for a 25th Anniversary Party last weekend
The other day I went over to the hotel to use the internet and get some work done. I forgot that my battery had no power so I got about 3 minutes of use. I decided to come home and get some other work done...this time, finishing organizing all my scrap/craft stuff. It makes me happy just seeing it all around me.
And three of my very favorite things...my family, my Mac, and a coffee cup
And, since I was taking pictures around my desk anyway, I thought I would show you this brilliant idea from Lanne.
She bought these cool ice cube trays from IKEA and uses them to hold loose CD's. LOVE it...it keeps the CD's and DVD's from piling up all over my desk and keeps them clean.
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So there you have it...a few peeks into my photo folder.
I don't know if I will have the chance to post again before Thanksgiving or not. We are cooking and eating lunch here at the house with our helper and her husband and then we are headed into the mountains for the weekend. We are all so, so excited! It feels like forever since we got away as just a family. We are staying at a cottage (with a fireplace!) and going to a safari park. Walks in the tea fields, feeding zebras, and lots of coffee by the fireplace are all on the agenda.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
(P.S. i will refresh the link for the template freebie later today when I go to the hotel...it won't work from the house).
It seems appropriate that this week is Thanksgiving. I have just been feeling so, so grateful for so much right now. Thankful for my family, for where we live, for doing what we love, and for the ability to chase our dreams. Living in a third-world country makes you realize and remember that you should never take any of that for granted.
All the things around you -- the houses, the cars, the movies, the music, and endless amount of STUFF...not everyone has that. Actually, not many people have that. There are people all over the world who make less than $50 a month. There are people with no food, no water, no place to sleep. Kind of makes that feeling of "oh I NEED that nicer house or I NEED that $100 pair of shoes" or "I NEED to buy my kids all those toys" feel a little sickening. At least it does to me.
Mind you, I am not against stuff. I am not against having nice things, living in clean and safe places, and taking vacations. Instead, I just realize that none of this is a given, none of it is my right, and all of it could disappear tomorrow. We are so very blessed and out of that blessing we need to be giving. And loving. And forgiving. And grace-extending. and so much more. The blessings we have should spill out onto others.
So, out of the thankfulness I feel today, especially for so many of you who have been so sweet to me, so encouraging, so uplifting, and so understanding, I offer this smal, well, TINY gesture.
And here is a LO I did with it, showing another thing I am thankful for...baby snuggles.
Heaven Sent by Amy Hutchinson, frames by Nancy Comelab, date stamp by Amber Clegg
You can download the template HERE.
Hope everyone has a FABULOUS day!
It is hard to believe that the year 2008 only has six weeks left it it! Crazy! This year has been full of so much change, so much adventure, so much wrestling with God, and so many blessings! It was an amazing year, but I think I am ready for the new year to start. I am already praying about what my word for the year will be. I am ready for something like stability, peace, or tranquility. How about you?
I wanted to start "wrapping up the year" before the craziness of the holidays was here so I started on our familly's YEAR IN REVIEW album. I wanted something quick and easy. Here are some of the pages I have done.
And HERE it is in template format...just $5
When we first moved here, people told us that a phrase we MUST learn is "TII" -- "This is Indonesia." It is a phrase used to explain the unexplainable. A phrase used to calm yourself down when you would rather scream. Or punch someone. It is a way to make the absurd justifiable. "Of course that is totally ridiculous, but this is Indonesia!"
So, over the course of the last for months, I have definitely had some "TII" moments. Here are some of my (not-so) favorites.
1. Brownie mixes here are really expensive (like $4 or $5). I was at the store one day and saw a buy-one-get-one free sign and two boxes taped together. YES! I grabbed that one, and a bunch more, and was super excited. I found my friends to tell them and we walked over the to shelf. There was a worker there TAKING DOWN THE SIGN and then when she looked at my cart said, "Sorry, if they aren't taped together, they aren't for the buy-one-get-one-free promotion." Apparently tape=free. No tape = highway robbery.
2. Most of the malls have nursing rooms (for which I am thankful). One day, I took Katelynn in one to nurse and was by myself. Another lady came in with her child and mother. Me, trying to be discreet (I loathe nursing in public), pulls my shirt down a bit and continue to feed. The mother comes right up to me, lifts up my shirt, and tells me "Tidak bagus!" Meaning, "not good!" Apparently my entire b.r.e.a.s.t. needs to be showing in order for the baby to be able to breath. Silly me, I am on my fourth kid and never knew this.
3. I was at the store last weekend and saw that the bookstore finally had a copy of Twilight. I have resisted reading this for so long because, come on, it is a book about VAMPIRES. But, sometimes I just want something to read and everyone assures me that it is good despite being about a subject I care nothing for. I looked at the price and decided a book I didn't even want to read wasn't worth $13. So I left. I was in a different bookstore a while later and saw another copy -- this time, only $6. Okay, I can swing $6 for a book I may hate. I look at the cover, see the raving reviews on the front, and I buy it. When I get down to the car I pull off the plastic they insist on wrapping EVERY book with (because you shouldn't get to read if you don't pay) and flipped it over. Huh? What's this? Uh-oh -- it is not in English, it is in Bahasa Indonesia. And while I am able to communicate with my helper and with taxi drivers I am not ready to read an entire book in a language I barely know. So, since we were still in the parking garage I go back up to the store to return it. After explaining in my elementary Indonesian that I bought this book TWENTY MINUTES ago and then found out that it wasn't in English. I told them the cover is in English, as are the reviews, and so why wouldn't I have thought it was in English. I asked if they had an English version which they did not. So, I told them I would like to return it. "O, tidak bisa!" Basically, "nope, can't do it." What? I bought it twenty minutes ago and thought that because of all the English on the cover and the mere fact that it IS an English book it would, in fact, be in English. But nope. So, anyone want TWILIGHT in Bahasa Indonesia?
One more (though there are many...)
4. Yesterday I was out shopping at the outlet malls with a friend. Bandung has a lot of factory outlet stores where you can buy western clothes (Gap, Old Navy, etc.) There are often problems with them (sized wrong, overstocked, etc). My friend was looking specifically for more shirts and because some shirts don't fit well with her body, she wisely decided to try them on first. Then there was the sign, and the story lady waiting to pounce, that kindly informed us that you are not allowed to try on t-shirts. The sign read, "do not try the t-shirt." My friend, whose language skills surpass mine, politely asked WHY we couldn't try on shirts. Apparently, they will get stretched out. However, according to the store clerk you can buy it, THEN try it on, and if you don't like it you can return it. Yea, because THAT won't stretch it out. We declined the buy, try, and return method and went to another store.
Thankfully, the beautiful scenery, the kind people, and the amazing culture of this place are also Indonesia. It makes the other stuff easier to swallow.
And, so I don't leave this post pictureless, I was up in the middle of the night two of the last three nights and scrapped. What else can you do at 2:30 in the morning?
Someone asked me the other day if things were starting to feel "normal" yet. And I could actually say, that yes, things are starting to feel "normal." I am starting to feel like myself again, starting to feel creative, starting to feel like Indonesia is home. And that is a very good thing. I love waking up on Sunday mornings and know that "today is the day we enjoy a huge bacon and egg breakfast." I love feeling like I know what is going to happen and when. The huge surprises are done (I hope!) and life is moving into routine. And I love routine.
This past weekend felt like our first "normal" weekend. We didn't have anything we had to do and we had the ability (thanks to owning a car) to do whatever we wanted. So, we loaded the kids up and went with our friends up to some natural hot springs about and hour and a half away. I had been there before but Jason hadn't so we went and had a great time!
The place we went to has four pools -- all different depths and sizes but all full of AMAZING warm water. It is totally like swimming in a bathtub. Warm, but not hot. Perfect. And, although it stings your eyes, the naturl volcano-heated water doesn't smell like sulfur. The kids (and adults!) loved it.
The best part of the place is that it was so beautiful and peaceful and relaxing. Driving in we get to see the gorgeous tea fields (that totally remind us of where we lived in India) and see all the tea workers picking leaves. Such bliss to get out of the city.
LOVE these curls...even if everyone here asks if he is a girl ;)
And here he is with his little lady. He prayed for the first time on his own last night. His prayer? "Thank you {for} Anna."
And here is my little lady...
And then, after a wonderful few hours, it started to rain. And rain it did!
Normal...a very good thing.
As you may have noticed, I have not been around the digi world much lately. And apart from my monthly grab bags, I haven't really designed anything. However, that doesn't mean that there haven't been things rolling around in my head. FOR. A. LONG. TIME. Well yesterday, I headed to the hotel and spent a few hours uploading and getting ready to finally introduce a few projects that I have wanted to do for a long time.
First is a project I started (and mostly completed) almost two years ago! Ha! Seriously, if you know me at all, you know that I am a "sit down and do it all at once or it will never get done" type of person. I don't handle big projects that must be done in pieces. I never stop scrapping halfway through a LO (and if I do I will never go back and finish it) and I don't start a template set and then stop and come back later.
So, this project got started, got almost done, and then something must have gotten in the way and I never packaged it up or did anything with it. So finally, I blew off the virtual dust and packaged it up. And I am excited...to share it and to use it.
And then there is another project that I have wanted to do for a few years, but never got past the planning stages.
Here is the description:
"A work of my heart...
A few months ago I realized something...I had four kids and not once
had I documented my pregnancy. For someone who believes in recording
moments and memories I sure wasn't doing a good job at recording
something that I have spent doing for over THREE YEARS of my life!
And so this album, 9 MONTHS AND COUNTING...was born (no pun intended).
This album was created to document those amazing nine months. Each
page helps you share a part of that time in your life, whether you are
going through it now or your "baby" is already off to college. Full of
inspiration and jourmnaling prompts on every page, this album will help
you remember those moments of pregnancy and anticipation. And don't
worry...you don't have to have lots of pictures from your pregnancy.
The journaling prompts will give you ideas for pictures you can use or
you can always delete the photo spaces and journal instead.
___
Please note that there are TWO DIFFERENT album choices. The albums are
the same except for the design...one has a "clean and simple" design
and one has a "fun and fresh" page design.
___
This album contains 35 pages including a cover page and two 2 -page
spreads. Each pages is a 12x12 layered .psd file for use in Photoshop
7+ and Photoshop Elements 3+"
Here is a sample of the journaling prompts:
Here is the front of my album...
And here are some of the pages I have done...
And here is one more little thing I put in my shop...
These were so easy and so fun to make. It helps make an impersonal gift card much more personal.
I love where we live. We are in a fairly new development, outside of the hustle and bustle of the city that is home to over 4 million people. I LOVE it. It is quiet, peaceful, and feels like "home." However, there are some downsides. Any place I need to go (the grocery store, doctors, mall, pizza place, etc. are all about 45 minutes away). So, that feeling you get when you "just want to get out of the house" means you have to decide if it is worth the 4+ hour trip into town for shopping, eating, driving, etc. Is it worth the time? Is it worth the traffic? Is it worth it "just to get out of the house?" Often, it isn't. Or, it is but there isn't time.
So there is the other option. The hotel. The one amazing breath of fresh air where beautiful pools and fast internet abound (I am there now!). It is truly a retreat and an oasis. Thankfully, the hotel worked out a great deal with staff so that we were able to purchase a full membership for a very decent price. We get full access to the pools, fitness center, tennis courts, fitness classes, climbing wall, and more. PLUS, we get 5 free nights at the hotel, a $40 spa voucher ($40 goes a LONG way here in terms of massages!), and a $100 food voucher (mmm...craving the fettuccine carbonara right now!) Of course, my favorite part currently is the high-speed internet, but the free childcare in the playroom isn't a bad perk either :)
I took these photos forever ago -- maybe our second time here -- but I didn't ever share them. Five minutes from home and oh so amazing...
(this is the back of the locker rooms -- now how does that compare to your local YMCA?)
Those are the massage rooms -- also in the back of the locker rooms.
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So, when I have hard days, it is nice to know that I can come here. I can look up and see the palm trees swaying, see the rice paddies and mountains in the distance, hear the water fountains, and chat with my friends online :) Now if someone could just do something about this heat...
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