NSD @ Back Porch Memories

Make sure to stop by if you have time during that busy day to check out the challenges, games, and prizes!!! I'll be hosting a challenge and the other gals have some fantastic ideas up their sleeves.

Come check out the info here

Slow to finish

but I finally got this one done! It's been sitting on my scrap table for days and I just have been feeling too yucky to work on it. I took it little by little. I used the new Teresa Collin's papers for this black and white picture I had laying around of Marisa when she was just a few months old. I adore this picture of my sweet little girl!! TFL! Oh, and I got to use those new cool little MM tiny alphabets that I won from Shawna's blog!!

What a turn out!

We couldn't believe how many people showed up, those who weren't even workers of AA&M, and then those like us who brought their family members. You felt pride that you were a part of something so big and a part of people (the little people) trying to stand up to the big guy who wants to take us down. I believe in being fair across the board. You want concessions, then let's have EVERYONE take them -- especially the executives at the top!!


I love the signs this little girl had on her!!
These signs speak the truth for many who are facing tough times and on the verge of losing their homes.





We all walked the streets and rallied around what they call the "Glass House" entrance. It was getting loud and we were chanting.
All in all every one stayed peaceful. There were only a few that wanted to start to get riled up, but they soon calmed down. I made sure that the kids and I stayed close to Dave and on the outside of the whole crowd. I'm not one for mass crowds anyway and definitely can't handle being in the center of all the madness.

So the kids, Dave, and myself are all standing on the sidewalk taking in the awe of it all. We turn to our right and this is what we see coming at the crowd! YIKES!! All I kept thinking is please don't let these police officers go crazy. We all know what the Detroit Police can do...I've seen it firsthand.

The police officers actually ended up being very congenial and just directing the crowd. The should know what it's like because they, too, are part of a union.


The best part of it all was being with our children and in the end having them say, "We're glad we could be here with you, daddy!"









So then I came home to a WHOPPING headache. I knew I wasn't feeling well for the past week and had made an appointment to see the doctor. I was so thankful I did. I went to find out it was more than the allergies bothering me. Yep, it had went into a sinus/chest infection. GREAT! I spent the rest of the day dying on the couch. My sweet hubby went to get my prescriptions and thankfully they seem to be helping me already by this morning. Still tons of congestion, but at least it's breaking up!

59 days

Yep, that's how long my hubby and his co-workers have been on strike -- yikes!! I tell you I didn't think it would go this long and now the nail biting has started. The worrying of "what if" and the knowing that I have to go back to work no matter what. We have stalled that as much as possible and I have put in a few applications with no luck (probably because every one else is looking, too). I have faith though that the Lord above will pull us through!!

So today is a"Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work" day. Well, Dave might not have a job, but today is a big union rally at American Axle, so we decided as a family we are going to go down to picket and show our solidarity. Plus, we thought it's a good way to show our children what the reality of the situation is -- many more families worse off than we are. I'm not trying to put fear in them or scare them, but they need to know that times are hard all over and that we aren't the only one's doing without. Although I can't actually say we've done without. We have food on our table every day, a roof over our heads with all the lights still on -- thank God for that!! I just want to show them what their father has to go through (along with all his co-workers) to keep a job -- a job they work hard at.

I'm hoping to get some good pictures as you know I will have my camera in hand. I never miss an opportunity...lol I really feel the need to scrap/document this subject -- the reality of it along with all the fears and doubts that have run through our minds over the past two months. You are really made to think of who you are and what capabilities you have. You start to doubt the decisions you made as a younger person. I just know, though, that through it all we will become stronger, wiser people!!

BPM May Sneak Peek!!

OOOOO, look at the solo kit! Filled with Scrapworks Magpie :D


and the gorgeous medley kit with Sweetwater, American Crafts, and Basic Grey!!!


AND these STAMPS!!! I must have these!!! Oh what scrappy goodness!!

On to another challenge

With Fancy Pants behind us, it's time to pull a new line. Here we go....shake the jar....shake it again....


.....

........

.......... and Collin pulls.....

.........

..........

........ Dream Street!!

Cool, I have tons of this! What don't I have tons of LOL Let's get to work girls. Have a happy, scrappy day!!

Urge

Have you ever had the urge to do something so badly? Well, this morning my urge was to scrap!! It was a bad urge that I just had to fulfill even thought the morning didn't call for it.

I came upon these pictures of Travis left over from his packet of school pictures. I just LOVED the pictures this year. He looks so much older -- hard to believe he's only in the 8th grade!

He made the transition from Catholic school to public school this year. We were all a little worried about the transition, but it couldn't have been any better. He has adjusted so well, getting excellent grades, and making lots of friends. I couldn't be happier for him because that makes the move to high school next year a little smoother. And speaking of him going to high school :0 when did that little boy who just entered kindergarten become old enough to go to high school...eek!! They sure don't lie when they say that time flies...hmmm


So that completes my layouts for our Fancy Pants challenge. I went and scooped up Cheri's gorgeous layout from her blog. Isn't it BEAUTIFUL!!!!


Yay!! Martha played along with our challenge this time :D
Look at this gorgeous layout!! Gorgeous in both the design and her daughters!!

Can you help a gal out?

One of my beautiful identical twin niece's is trying to get a job as a spokeswoman for a local rock station. If you feel like casting a vote, you can go to WRIF sign up for an account, and then vote for JENNIFER (she's at the top of the voting page with her hair pulled back). I would GREATLY appreciate it and I definitely know she would, too :D She and her sister will be graduating next month from University of Michigan and I know landing this job will be a great experience for her.

Thank you all very much!!

Fun & Funky

That's what I think of this new layout I just did using both our Fancy Pants challenge and another blog challenge prompted by an incredibly talented gal name Shawna
She creates these uber cool pages that float off the sides, so she put a challenge out and I knew I had to try it. I had something different in mind, but this is what came out of it all...LOL Thanks for the challenge, Shawna!




I'm still going to create something more with my Fancy Pants papers. I have two inches and need to kind of put a dent into it :D

April's Back Porch Memories Reveal

Here's my layouts & cards made from April's Solo kit. This SEI Dill Blossom really grew on me when I finished with my projects :D TFL!






You can check out all the other fantastic DT layouts by clicking here ---> April 2008

Triple The Sketch

I used this week's sketch to create both a card and a layout.


If you haven't checked out their blog, make sure to do so soon -- Triple the Sketch

Drew a new challenge

and it is going to be Fancy Pants using both the paper and their rub-ons -- yay!! Love me some FP, so this should be a great challenge!! Every one is welcome, so if you complete a layout or card or both, just shoot me an email with your completed projects and I'll post them here.

Remember, we have two weeks to get er' done :D

Paper Salon Challenge layouts

Running late on this one, but Cheri's is still drying and I just took a picture of mine even though it's been finished since Thursday...jeez I included this challenge and one from BPM where we had to lift a layout from the DT. I chose to lift a terrific design from Alissa :D


Carolyn, my dear, where is yours?

**Here is Carolyn's wondrous layout! So summery!! I want summer, the pool, fun, and a margarita!!



And here is Cheri's (finally..lol)

WOW

I leave for a day and one of the sites I visit on a daily basis disappeared -- kind of weird!

But for now, the gals from there have all moved over to a new site which Tabby's husband has built!! Holy cow, you know your computer/techy stuff when you can throw together a message board in a heartbeat...lol Seriously, how cool is that!! Thank you so much Tabby and her hubby!!! You can check it out here: Creative Scrap Land

I've been tagged!

by the oh so sweet Deb!!! I probably cheered her up by finding the right place to shop today ;-) I'll have to think who to tag as most of the gals I know have already been tagged :D