Have you ever loved a gift so much it hurt your heart?

This one hurts my heart. I almost cannot wait to watch the girls give it to Neil on Sunday. I really almost cannot wait. My good friend Shannon had an amazing idea to simply add her own photos to this cool book to create a personalized gift for her husband for Father's Day. She is so cool, she even picked up the book for me. I was struggling with it because I have two kids, and it says "i" instead of "we". Once I talked myself into getting over that part, I realized I did not have photos for a few of the pages. Well, I then decided to make my first real digital photo book. Danelle will be so proud. So, here is what I ended up with, and it makes my heart happy. I just love it. I can post it now because I have to show some people or I will explode - and Neil never looks at my work blog. So, I am safe. Enjoy your Father's Day.

Make Something Monday - what did you make?

I fell in love with a book last night. So much so that I want to carry it in my purse. So I took off the book jacket/dust cover - and to my delight it was pure white. I loved it. And I thought it needed a photo - which then turned into lots of photos and journaling, too. I added a bookmark and I am in the process of printing even more photos to add. And, now I love it even more. Now it is the best book ever. I love that I made it MINE. I hope you made something today. Remember, making one little thing every Monday will become over 250 little somethings in 5 years.

A short guide to a happy life....

I am OBSESSED with a book I have owned forever and I finally read last night. It is A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen. I love a quote by her about how she made a mistake rushing to the next things and not treasured the little things enough. My search for the exact wording of that quote last night led me to dig out that old book. You can read the entire thing in 20 minutes and it totally rocked my world. I read it twice and it made my heart race. She basically said (in really nice words) exactly how I feel about my life right now. Exactly what is in my heart and has been for the last 2 1/2 years. The part I read over and over was this:
"I learned something many years ago. Something really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had a choice, it would never have been changed at all. And, what I learned from it is what, today, sometimes seems to be the hardest lesson of all. I learned to LOVE the journey, not the destination. I learned that this is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly..... I learned to be happy."

It goes on to talk about how she met a homeless man and he taught her an amazing life lesson.... he stayed in the cold on the boardwalk facing the water and when she asked him why he never went to detox or to a shelter... he told her "Look at the view, young lady. Look at the view." She goes on to say, "And every day, in some little way, I try to do what he said. I try to look at the view. That's all. Words of wisdom from a man with not a dime in his pocket, no place to go, nowhere to be. Look at the view. When I do that he said, I am never disappointed."

So, I could go on forever about this book. About how much it mattered to me. About how she talks about her life as two parts - BEFORE her Mom died and AFTER. I feel so connected to her story in that way. My life now is AFTER. After my Mom died. And I always miss my life BEFORE. But, I sure have learned a lot. And from this day forward, I will make time EVERY SINGLE DAY to Look at the View. I hope you do, too.

Something to think about....

A good friend of mine, Michele from Photo Express sent me a link to this poem today and I really enjoyed it. My other good friend Danelle has really taught me this past year or two to think positive thoughts and not waste time on negative things and it really has made me a happier person every day. My best friend Shannon sometimes (OK, a lot of the time) makes fun of us, but she believes it, too. If you look for the best in things, most often you will find it. I mean, we all know terribly bad things happen to really really good people all the time - that is just the nature of life. But, how you react to it, and what you choose to spend your time thinking about REALLY impacts how you feel each day. I am also reading the short cut version of Don't Sweat The Small Stuff that I found at Hallmark (I tried to find a link, but I guess you can only get it at Hallmark Stores in the gift book section - it is 100 of the Best Inspriations from the Best-Selling Small Stuff series - the best of the best from all of Richard Carlson's awesome books!). I love that little book. Most of it is amazingly obvious -but things you really do not think about.... like, if you spend time thinking bad thoughts about someone, you could be wasting the last moments of your life on that instead of enjoying the people you love..... I just really like reading it, because it reminds me that life is NOW. I love my memories and I pray for a happy, healthy future, but today really just might be all I have. And I accept that, and I try so hard now to appreciate each moment. Anyway, this poem was fabulous so here it is:

Rules for a Perfect Day
Author: Tom Hopkins
Just for today...

I will try to live and delight in the reality of being alive. My past is forever gone, my future an uncertainty, so I will be happy and thankful for each moment.I will not allow negative input into my mind...happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy.

I will be thankful to God for my health, my loved ones, my business, and my country. I will also be thankful for any pain in crisis that helps me grow because God has said, be thankful in all things.I will take care of my body, realizing the importance of the words moderation and balance, knowing that as I bring my flesh under control, how much easier it will be to control my will and my actions.I will treat everyone I meet today the way I would like to be treated. I will strive to have them like themselves better when they’re with me.

I will avoid gossip, jealousy, and negative thinking. Most people don’t think about what they think about. Today, I will make a conscious effort to hold loving and beautiful thoughts in my mind.I will write down my priorities; thinking of my loved ones and my responsibilities. I may not get everything done, but I will do the most productive thing possible at every given moment.

I will strive to humble myself before others, controlling my ego and making other people feel important.I will spend time in study, learning how to better serve my fellowman. I know my growth in all areas is in direct proportion to the service I give to others.

I will not take rejection personally. I am first and foremost in the people business and, thus, realize they can only reject my proposal and not me. I will keep on keepin’ on.I will spend time in prayer, asking God to let others see the light of His shining love through me.
©Copyright 1976 Tom Hopkins International, Inc.

Motherless Daughters...

It is humbling to realize that when my Mom was alive I LOVED Mother's day. I thought it was just an awesome day to really get everyone to focus on their amazing Moms. It never ONCE entered my head how terribly sad this holiday is when your Mom is no longer with you. I feel bad for all those years I happily shopped for special, thoughtful gifts for my Mom when the person standing right next to me could be motherless. I wish I had had more compassion for those without Moms on this now sad day. And, before my Mom passed away, I honestly had this odd belief that because we were good, honest, fun, loving people that we were somehow protected from sheer tragedy. I had no concept how many terrible things happen every day to really good people. I wish I had been more aware and more compassionate towards people who might have needed it over the years. All I can say now is that if your Mom is alive - call her today. Write her a note thanking for random things she did for you over the years. Take a hint from a FANTASTIC book I just read called "An Hour To Live, An Hour To Love" and make it a point in your life to let people you love know. I know you think they know.... but do they really know why you love them so much?

I had written literally hundreds of cards, post cards, and letters to my Mom letting her know how amazing I thought she was and I constantly told her how proud and lucky I was to be her kid. I still I could go back in time and write more. It is NEVER too late to start letting people know how much you love them TODAY. Right now. Please do not wait.

Make Something Monday

OK, I know only Shannon and Candy are reading this site... but I have to start somewhere:)

I read in my new Favorite Book "5" from compendium that "dreading Mondays is a ridiculous way to spend one-seventh of your life, but that's the weird habit that millions of people have fallen into." The book is based on looking at your next 5 years... so 260 Mondays. Do you want to dread them, or embrace them and make Mondays something special for you... I talked to my friend Shannon about this (one of the two of you reading this so far!) and she make last Monday matter. She has committed to making SOMETHING every Monday from now on. Even if she simply selects and orders some digital photos - it is her goal to Make Something (every) Monday. I love that! I am on board, too. If I had more blog readers, I would ask you to join us. :) We will get there.... that I have no doubt! :) So, for now, anyone who stumbles upon this little blog, Make Something on Monday. If you did just one little thing on Monday for the next 5 years, you would have 260 little things you made! Now that rocks. :)

Scrap Etc Rocked and a New Book I love

Hi. I do not think anyone even comes to this blog yet, so I am kind of writing to myself.... but, I love this book SO MUCH I want to talk about it anyway! :)

At the AMAZING Scrap Etc Event (thank you for everyone who wrote such kind things about our huge classes).... they had this book from Compendium (if I knew how to, I would link you to their site right there, but I have no clue how to do that). The book is called "5". It is all about making you think about where you want to be in 5 years. I loved it. It made my heart race so much I wrote on it in the airplane all the way home instead of sleeping (and I had very little sleep before catching a 3:30 AM taxi to fly home). I loved it so much, I might try to create a simple class based on it. Here are some photos of my book - I love it and I think it matters.... and I really just need things to matter right now.