happy new year!!

i am so ready for a new year. 2013 was a dark year of struggle and heartache (to include blessings yes, yes- of course. but the negative far outweighed the positive) and i am really looking forward to the healing and LIGHT that 2014 will bring.

time flies....

wow.
it's been a looong time.i almost didn't come back here. it's not that i forgot i had a blog~ it's always been in the back of my mind...somewhere. it's just LIFE can be so busy and messy and next thing you know: all of those intentions are lost in the chaos.
so here i am again.
trying to find my way back to doing something i really wanted to do~just for me.

*we began a new adventure in the glorious california sunshine ~ january 2013.

i am looking forward to posting about:
1. my crazy random thoughts & feelings (must clear my mind somehow)
2. my creative projects (this can be motivation to DO the projects)
3. my chaotic family adventures (those are in abundance if you know us at all)

be back soon.
xo

back to school august 2011

a few pictures to start the school year off.

oh goodness. how do these kids keep getting bigger. summer was fun, both long and short somehow. the williams family has always loved going back to school. routines, papers & pens, friends, so much to learn about, so many possibilities.  as much as i welcome the days with them at school and not at home bickering their heads off at each other-  i am a little sad that they keep getting older and are not little babies anymore. i mean this year is huge for us. no more elementary school. i have a highschooler for goodness sakes. a tiny bit of mixed emotions about all that. but i just LOVE back to school time. :)

*it just dawned on me that this was the first year that i forgot to slip a sweet note into their lunch bags for the first day. oh, i can't believe i forgot. what a bummer. well, they haven't even mentioned it either, so maybe its no big deal. but still.

Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola

i was led to this prayer tonight. i think i will need to remind myself of these important words, over and over again.

Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous;
teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward
save that of knowing I am doing Your Will

it makes me want to continue making my prayer books. i use to make mini prayer/scripture books for friends and special gifts. it has been years since i have made one. i think it's time to work on one again. and i know just who needs one. :)

*note: i do not know where i got this photo from, its been in my picture gallery for a long time. so i apologize if i have used it without permission. i just really love the image of mary- hands in prayer...reminding me what i need to do as well.

Soul Restoration 1

so i signed myself up for soul restoration one online at bravegirlsclub. i have probably needed to do something like this for a long time. i start and stop at looking within and figuring out what i need for myself. and then i get all tangled in my own webs....good or bad...and don't know where to go or what to do for myself. several times this past year i have thought about joining this online class. i gave myself many excuses not to bother. blah blah blah. one thing i love about the whole concept is the art part. i have always loved paper arts. its my passion. and i get to journal. hello. i love to journal. i have done it my whole life. one thing ive done is throw away and tear up my journals because they are my own and personal and after i finish one, i dont want to go back to those places. i want to move forward. but i have to write things out or they get stuck and i cant think straight. maybe thats weird, but its true for me. this time i am going to keep my journals and projects because they will show how i have grown during this time. ive known about brave girls club for awhile. it would be a dream to go. of course. but i am always at home, never able to get away. so this online class is the next best thing. i plan to take the second one when it's offered again after i do the first one. i can relate to the whole crack house concept....take the class and you'll understand. ive lived in a crack house before... i am well aware of the ways my soul is hurt and needs to heal. it will be a life long process. this is a perfect time for me to try a hand at healing and moving forward once again. alex is still out saving the world, so i have months ahead of me to think, and pray and work hard and grow and create. today i am kicking everyone out of my soul house...and i'm gonna start restoring things.  i am so happy that i pushed myself to do this. so so happy and proud of me for being brave...all for myself.

july 1st...something to celebrate

stampin up! has just released their newest catalog today. what a thing to celebrate. every year i say the newest catalog is my favorite and i'm telling you this is it. my favorite! the cover alone is beautiful. i just placed a huge order of goodies....i could not help myself. anyone who wants or needs a catalog, let me know. you can shoot me an email or even order one online on my su! website. seriously, you will want it for the ideas alone. stunning. i can't stop looking at it. the color combinations and wowing me. and the new in-colors...oh you just have to see. :)

http://sherrylwilliams.stampinup.net

you can browse the catalog through my site as well. good stuff.

june already

i guess i just couldn't find time this spring to blog. perhaps summer will work. maybe. hopefully.