A week's end

I have several things to share today....

First, Ella came home from school yesterday with a hop, skip, and a jump in her step, along with a smile. She had two more friends, and knew their names, too! LOL! This morning was the first morning since school began that she did not cry when I left her and did not remain clingy to me. This is what happened...we get into the recess area, and a girl comes up and says "hi, Ella!" and then two more girls come up to us and say the same thing, and then a group of four girls come up and say the same thing and one gives her a hug. Mommy is VERY happy. Ella went off to play after sitting her backpack down and didn't give me one extra glance. Still, Mommy is VERY happy.

Secondly, we had gone to Beaver Creek after church a couple weeks ago, to meet some friends of ours that we had played in a band with awhile back. Jack took a couple of photographs of Rich and I. I cropped a bit and played with them in Elements, and the black and white one is my favorite. I still need some maternity shots, wink wink to Beth, and hope that can happen soon.

Thirdly...ahhh..at last....my favorite publication came yesterday so I can see my 2 photographs published! There was to be a third photograph in this issue, but it will be in a subsequent one I was told...perhaps the winter or spring I hope! I am thrilled! Ella and her friend Natalie, in When It Doesn't Rain, which is the first photograph of the issue (due out in October, so go check Barnes and Noble for it then!), and then a little boy from our former church at his birthday picnic. That's his feet...and his dropped silverware. LOL. Anywhoo, if you can't read the journaling, I'll come back later and blog it. I have limited minutes right now, ALONE in the house, as Rich took the kids to a park. I will have to blog about my hero, my husband, tomorrow. He sure has been a hero lately.






I have been super tired again lately...and sick. Ick. Such as last night. Hoping that this passes soon. Eight more weeks!!!!!!

And, finally, today was the funeral for our lovely friend, Aleida, from Studio Calico. Please continue to pray for the family...and friends who truly loved her. I must say that friends that you meet online mean as much as ones "in real life." They really really do. They are definitely true friends.

Beaver Creek State Park

If you were tagged

how long would it take for you to answer the tag? LOL! For me, well, a long time. I'm getting slower and bigger as the days go by. That's the truth! So, my friend, Beth, has a list of fine questions to answer. I decided to take a break in my evening here to do this. First, though, I must say that Ella is FINALLY getting settled a bit more with school. She has a friend, and remembers her NAME. She also is liking her teacher. However, she still cried when I drop her off. That's when I feel most helpless. I do pray for her right as I lead her to her little line outside and give her more hugs..then back away..I may go back and give her another hug, but then Buddy and I wander away cautiously. It hurts to see her big tears roll down her little cheeks.

My heart still breaks for Aleida's two small children and husband. I miss seeing her posts on SC and seeing her personality and love for life shine through her words and artwork. I can't begin to tell you how many times I find myself praying for her loved ones and crying...She really has given us at SC a greater zest to continue scrapbooking and find things more worthy of writing down...

One thing I must scrapbook about is our 24 hours without electricity. I loved that time we had living a bit simpler, and so did Rich and the kids, but especially Buddy. We were suprised when our own power can on again so soon, but others aren't in business yet. Kimmy, really, if you need anything come on over! Several businesses and churches I believe in our town don't have electricity, and it may be the weekend. We went Sunday night through Monday evening....Sunday night, we lit our candles, a rarity at the Russell household, and then cooked on our gas stove, and I read books to the kids by flashlight. Ella went to bed earlier than Philip, so I was able to make a game of hand shadows for him on the ceiling. Then, he started to do that, and was quite proud of himself.

I think that's all the talking I'll do for now..here are some questions that if you want, go for it and answer them on your own blog. I'm too lazy to "tag."

1. What are your nicknames?

Um, I guess Sweetie, LOL, by my Richie.

2. What do you do before bedtime?

Eat cereal, pray with the kids (well, before THEIR bedtime), Rich and I will have prayer together as well, watch tv, check the Internet.

3. What fandom(s) are you most into at the moment?

um not sure about this question..nothing?

4. What is your favorite scent?

brownies in the oven! LOL! Also, vanilla and/or spiced (like pumpkin, cinnamon, etc)

5. What videogames are you playing at the moment?

not into that


6. What is your theme song?

ummmmm....well, I guess you could say the Last of the Mohican soundtrack, the sad soulful stuff.


7. Do you trust easily?

I don't know. Sometimes yes, maybe now, though, not as much.


8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?

Think Think Think

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

Yes, losing a friend, being nauseated again, and also worrying about Ella and the new school stage


10. Do you have a good body-image?

No!!!

11. Is being tagged fun?

Okay


12. What websites do you visit daily?

Email, SC, other blogs....should try to visit Revive our Hearts more often though.


13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?

not really anything, but maybe just looking on creative blogs.


14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

A lovely, lovely friend.


15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?

A Philip Original: Chi chi chi chi CHA CHA! (there's hand motions too! LOL!)


16. What’s your favorite item of clothing?

capris and long sleeves, as an outfit


17. Do you think Rice Crispies are yummy?

Oh yeah.........fav from childhood til now. Only wish they made the ones with the little marshmallows, still. Oh well.


18. What would you do if you see saw $100 lying on the ground?

Give it to the police station.


19. What items could you not go without during the day?

My Bible, family, pillow, soft surface, cup, tea, water, sugar LOL. And clothes.

20. What should you be doing right now?

Something a bit more productive...like reading or writing, or organizing some scrapbooking.

Missing a friend

Today, someone that had truly captured the friendship of everyone she met, passed on. It is truly heartbreaking. A tragic car accident took her life immediately this morning while she was on her way to work. Aleida left a wonderful legacy to her family through scrapbooking, which is how I "met" her, on Studio Calico. I always appreciated her spirit, and her elegance in her scrapbooking. You can see a pic of her here with her daughter, Bella. And, a beautiful example of her scrapbooking work here. For many of us on SC, it has reminded us WHY we do crazy things such as collecting paper and embellishments, and craft stories out of them. One thing I was always impressed about her was her Martha Stewart craft punches collection. She truly loved her hobby...because she loved her family. Please be praying for her family and friends.

Remembering

I am going to be thinking and praying for all who lost loved ones on 9/11. It still feels fresh, I believe, to all Americans.

I need to also wish my darling Happy Birthday today. Love you sweetie!!

A few pics....one of Ella and a horse at the Canfield Fair, one of the smoke from canons at the Great Trail Festival, and one of Buddy and the Monkey.

Photo time!

The Great Trail Festival Family Photo.

Philip and a sock monkey, one that was made long long ago. I think my grandma had made it but it may have been made by someone from the church we grew up in.

I hope to later have stories and summaries from our week of THREE fairs. So happy the fairs are over. More photos to come later, too!!!! And, an update on Ella and Kindergarten (which I am still having doubts and more thoughts on).