Chillin'

Scamp and her Daddy had a "picnic" on the back porch this last week with all the nice weather. Her favorite thing to do outside is visit all of our neighbor's dogs, which she does often. She generally has to visit each one twice in an outing. We don't have a dog since we already have a cat in the house and no fence in the backyard. But, I think she may think those dogs are really hers. Although this week, her best time was probably when Beef put up the tent in the backyard, so she could have a clubhouse.

Speaking of clubhouses, Scamp loves the cartoon Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She has two little outfits that make her look a lot like Minnie Mouse although she still calls herself Mickey. Those are her "Mickey shoes" and her Mickey (Minnie) Mouse ears, which she got from Stacy last year when they went to Disney World. It even has her name on the back. She wanted to wear her ears to Sunday School, but we were afraid they might not come back in one piece. You ought to see her in the other little dress that looks like Minnie. It's black with a pink bow and white polka dots. So precious!

The Saga Continues

I got back from the doctor's office today. My hormone levels are slowly going down, but they told me last week I will have to have blood work every week until my pregnancy levels are at zero. Thank goodness the needle stick isn't as bad as it was at the hospital.

But, on to brighter news. Scamp went with me today. It's a 40 minute drive to my doctor, but we pass a great park on the way. I packed us a lunch, and we spent an hour and a half playing. The weather was (and still is) wonderful. It's sunny with a slight breeze. It's spring again. At least for this week. How's the weather on your end?

I won't be able to post any pictures today. I got some really cute ones yesterday with Scamp lounging outside in her sunglasses. Oh, she's getting so big. For some reason, our computer is running some sort of Windows updates, and it's taking hours and hours. So, hubby switched me over to a Mac (just until the updates are finished). I have to admit there are some neat qualities, but there's a few things that are just backwards and therefore frustrating to me with this computer. It looks nice though.

Time Travel Tuesday

This week travel back to your junior or senior high prom…

Did you go all out? What did your dress look like?

Who did you go with? Any special memories from prom night?

Venture on over to Annie's to share your memories.

I went to prom as a sophomore and as a senior. My first prom was with my first serious boyfriend, who was a grade ahead of me. My prom dress was above the knee, sleeveless and fitted. It was completely covered with a vertical stripe sequined pattern. The colors were dark -- red, purple, black, and maybe green. It really didn't look as bad as it sounds!! I wore my spiral permed hair up. My date arrived for some pictures, then he took me to his parents' house for more pictures. I believe we went straight to the prom. It was held at a meeting hall overlooking the lake. We entered on the second level, which overlooked the dance floor and an erected two-story high twinkling Eiffel Tower on the dance floor. The theme was Paris. My most unforgettable moment was when my shoe toppled down the stairs, and my date had to fetch it for me. We danced, had our pictures taken, ate, then went home. I had an early curfew.

I missed my junior prom because no one asked me (no boyfriend), so when senior prom rolled around I asked my friend Jeff. He was actually my first date's best friend. He accepted, plus we started dating soon after. I thought I looked much better in these pictures. My dress was solid black velvet and almost floor length. The dress was very simple except for a lightly sequined upper back. My hair was pulled up again, and of course, it was big, curly, and totally 80s (although it was the 90s!) He took me out to dinner first, then we went to the hideously decorated high school cafeteria for a few dances. Afterward, we went to my friend Jill's house to watch a movie (one of the sequels to Tremors). He took me home before the movie ended because, yet again (and rightly so), I had an early curfew.

Both proms were fun -- not really the proms themselves, but buying the dress, having my hair done, and of course the expectation of a magical night.

One Year Ago Today

Last April when Scamp had just gotten her new toy box.

Today, when she found the plastic bags and decided to use them as a backpack.

Look at her hair! So long.

Isn't God Amazing?

Yet again another follow-up post. For the whole story read parts 1 and 2.

So, many of you may be wondering how I am doing emotionally. Well...I've pretty much been at peace since the beginning, minus the whole scared for my own life thing. Don't take it the wrong way that I didn't have concern and longing for the baby. God eased my concerns. It's quite an amazing thing. I thought I would feel guilt and tend to on a lot more menial things, but I felt like I handed my baby into the arms of Jesus. Of course, it helped that we only knew I was pregnant for less than 24 hours. Everything was in God's control.

I haven't really been through what I would consider a typical mourning process. I have not broken down. I may yet. But, I do believe that God used His word to prepare me for what Matt and I were about to go through. I do have some sadness over what could have been, but God has given me a quaint joy knowing that when I do reach heaven, I will see the child He had intended to live with Him in heaven. I know God also used those who interceded through prayer for Matt and I during this time.

I am full of awe for God for His mercy and power, and I am able to walk away from this knowing two things:

Prayer changes things.

And God's peace surpasses everything.

ER Scare: Part 2

If you haven't read part 1, click here.

The nurse finally got me set up with an IV and some pain medication. We were still waiting on the surgeon, so my parents decided to go ahead and take Scamp home with them. In the meantime, Beef's mom arrived, and he went home to pack a few things. Being standard procedure, the doctor requested a urine sample, so my MIL (Suzanne) helped me to the restroom and waited outside. I finished up and started feeling lightheaded, so she came in while I positioned myself on the bathroom floor. I knew I was about to blackout, otherwise I would not have laid myself down on the germ-infested floor in only a remnant of a gown. The nurse came in and tried to help me up. I informed her I was going to pass out, and even before she had me in the wheelchair I was out. I dreamed the ten or so paces back to my room and awoke to three nurses lifting me back onto my bed. My first thought was I wish I could go back to dreaming. I was so proud of my MIL though. She didn't freak out at all.

Beef came back, stunned to hear I had passed out. About that time, the surgeon came in and said he felt fairly confident that I did have an ectopic pregnancy. The only choice we had was surgery. The doctor informed us that you cannot replant the fertilized egg elsewhere, and it could be fatal if the tube ruptured. He was going to perform a laproscopic procedure. Basically this means I would only have three tiny incisions, one in my belly button and two a bit lower on either side.

I was in surgery within the next hour or so. I felt fairly peaceful until the actual time came of being wheeled into the operating room. But, the anesthesia took over quickly. The procedure lasted about an hour and a half. The doctor checked both tubes and found the pregnancy was on my right side. The intense pain I had was from blood seeping out the end of my tube with each heartbeat. Luckily, I didn't have very much blood in my abdomen.

I was released from the hospital later on that evening. Healing was fairly quick, about a week and a half. I followed up with my doctor the following week. Two days later, they called saying my pregnancy hormones were a little high, and I needed to head to the doctor's office immediately for another ultrasound. Again, I was terrified. But, when we arrived there, we had to wait over an hour. They didn't seem to be as panicked as the nurse had been on the phone with me. Again, the ultrasound revealed nothing, and I was sent over to the hospital for a couple of shots. These were supposed to break up any residual pregnancy tissue, plus cause some more pain. Other than a little nausea, the pain from the shots was minor though. I go back to my doctor tomorrow for follow-up bloodwork.

I am almost 100% back to normal and am able to lift Scamp as much as I'd like. The incisions have almost healed, and hopefully all will be well at the doctor's office tomorrow.

ER Scare: Part 1

Many of you already know about my recent scare over Easter weekend, but I wanted to go ahead and write out the details as a way of remembering.

I started having some anxiety attacks with the severest one on Thursday, March 20, the day before Good Friday. I'm used to having bouts of anxiety and thought the attacks would pass soon. By Friday, I was having more anxiety accompanied by abdominal pain that increased to cramping by that night. It was strange because it wasn't my normal "time" and the pain did not decrease with medication. I went to sleep and woke up in the middle of the night with intense back pain but was able to fall back asleep. I decided on Saturday morning to have Beef take me to the emergency room.

The doctor was concerned that I either had an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in a fallopian tube) or my appendix had ruptured, but the pain was too low to be my appendix. She ran tests and determined I was pregnant. It was a shock to us because I was still on schedule with my time of the month although the last one was abnormally long. We thought I must have been about 4 weeks pregnant. The doctor ordered an ultrasound that revealed nothing. It was just too early to tell. I was sent home with instructions to follow up with my doctor in a few days to see if I was still pregnant. The doctor was concerned that I may have already miscarried with my last menses. The nurse also informed me on what to expect if I was to miscarry. Beef and I were a little too apprehensive to be excited about the pregnancy due to all the pain I was having, but of course we wanted to have the baby.

I awoke on Easter Sunday at 5 am to intense cramping on my right side. I thought I was about to have a miscarriage but there was no bleeding. The pain was so severe I was scared for my own life. The doctor had told us that if an ectopic pregnancy ruptured, I could die. Beef got on the phone to my mother, who is a nurse. She and my dad would come up to get Scamp, but I told Beef just to go ahead and call an ambulance. Within 5 minutes two fireman were at our door followed shortly by two paramedics. One of the paramedics was our friend Chris who comes to our Thursday night get-togethers. He rode in the back of the ambulance with me while Beef stayed behind to get Scamp ready. It was nice to have a friend beside me.

I arrived at the hospital and was shortly met by my parents followed by Beef and Scamp. Beef said he had to lure Scamp out of bed with the promise of Easter candy. She came in with her Halloween bucket stuffed with Easter candy. They got me stabilized with pain medication, then we waited for the surgeon to arrive...

I will finish up the rest of the story tomorrow.

Contests Going Around

I wanted to let you know that Coach Jenny is giving away a copy of Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD. If you like Contemporary Christian, you'll like this album. Stop on by her place to enter.

Also, Sonya is giving away a book a week for the next few weeks at her blog. Her contests start every Tuesday so go on over a see what her newest giveaway is.

Newest Murder Mystery

I am so excited to be finishing up the final details on our newest Girls' Night Out Murder Mystery. I think I may have mentioned that my friend Greyson and I are writing this one. It will take place the last weekend in April, the first run through anyway. Then, Greyson and I hope to promote it to her church and have a huge mystery night for the women's ministry. We have almost 30 characters now but will add more for the church party.

We have used female Bible characters and written a present-day plot that includes the sub-plots of many of those characters from the Bible. We hope to maybe teach a lesson at the end. Please pray that everything goes well and that God blesses out efforts.

7 Tips to Wrangle and Tame a Kitkat

Scamp here again. You know Mama's been kind of wimpy the last week and a half, so I thought I would take over today's post to add a little more excitement back into Scamp's Place. I love my fluffy kitkat, and I've been improving on my kitkat catching skills. See here. Kitkat is just lovin' the attention.

Here's my best suggestions for kitkat wrangling from least to most effective:

7. Run screaming after him. Leap towards him as he's fleeing in terror. This only seems to add to his excitability and quickness, so this one is not really recommended.

6. Follow him into his lair: under the bed, into the closet or under the coffee table. This method usually results in me being wedged in a confined space while he scampers victoriously away though.

5. Setting up a stake out at his kitty bowl full of crunchies sometimes lures him into gaining your trust, but trying to feed a crunchy to him with a baby spoon has yet to yield a cuddle session.

4. Lure him into thinking your going to let him outside. It's a fail proof method to gain easy access to his soft, cuddly fur but less effective in gaining a long petting session. A quick pat here, a slight tug on the tail there, then he's gone.

3. Have Mama or Daddy catch him for you. Although Mama lets him go after only a few seconds. I think she has some allegiance to him.

2. Pounce when the opportunity presents itself. Sleeping kitties aren't as quick. Although whispering sweet nothings like "Nappy, nappy kitty" as you're laying on top of him only seems to escalate his need for freedom.

1. Once you've contained him, hold on tight. Gripping at his back fur allows a better hold over pulling his tail. I know it's hard to believe those tails are slick, but they are! The choke-hold is effective, too, but Mama always intervenes in those situations.

Hope you enjoyed your lesson. Now, don't tell Kitkat! He's hard enough to catch as he is.

Name That Movie: Updated

I stole this from Stacy. Here are the rules:

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess (if you know them all, please don’t guess every one).
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. No Googling or IMDb-ing. That’s cheating, and that’s no fun!

Here's the quotes:

1. "And those are the words of a gentleman? From the moment I met you your aroggance and conceit and your selfish disdain for the feelings of other made me realize that you are the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry." Pride and Prejudice: Lauren and Sonya

2. "Whenever I'm in a room with a guy, no matter who it is - a date my dentist, anybody - I think, "If we were the last two people on Earth, would I puke if he kissed me?" Girls Just Want to Have Fun (80s movie)

3. "Eminem's on the phone; he wants an answer now."
"Umm... plain. Umm... peanut." 13 Going on 30

4. "It came to me, my own, my love... my... preciousssss." Lord the the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Gail and Donetta

5. "Ask any racer. Any real racer. It don't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning." The Fast and the Furious

6. " I don't know if I oughta go sailin' down no hill with nothin' between the ground and my brains but a piece of government plastic." Christmas Vacation (Chevy Chase)

7. "No! I'm going to limit myself to doing everything girls do wrong in relationships. Basically, everything we know guys hate. I'll be clingy, needy..." How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Lauren and Sonya

8. "Elves aren't that short you know. That's just a stupid myth created by that "Elves and the Shoemaker" story. Do I look small enough to fit in a shoe? Stinkin' Grimm Brothers!" Ella Enchanted

9. "There's a diffrence between a failure and a fiasco. A failure is merely the absence of success. Any fool can achieve failure. But a fiasco, a fiasco is a disaster of epic propotions. A fiasco is a folk tale told to other's to make other people feel more alive because it didn't happen to them." Elizabethtown

10. "All you need is for one person to think you're cool, and you're in. Everyone else will be scared to question it. " Never Been Kissed

A Bit Better Everyday

Today has been a better day. My pain from the surgery has lessened drastically. It still hurts to sit up completely straight, but I am able to bend over and squat with a lot less discomfort. Our biggest concern right now is that we are all sick. Yes, Beef, Scamp, and I plus my extended family!!

Sore throats, hacking coughs, and sweaty fevers have prevailed this week. Sometimes my ribs are more sore than my stitches from coughing. Scamp had a fever all yesterday and it has come down somewhat today. My mom has been diagnosed with every kind of 'itis you can think of -- laryngitis, bronchitis, etc. You name it! She's at work right now instead of resting, so please pray she gets better soon as well. Sickness hasn't hit Beef hard...yet. He's had a bit of a sore throat, too. Hopefully, it won't get any worse for him.

I can't wait until things get back to normal. Big changes seem to affect me emotionally, and I'm needing some normalcy. Scamp and I usually get out of the house a few times a week, but I haven't driven by myself yet. And I'm not sure I can pick her up yet. The doctor should let me know tomorrow. The appointment will be my first driving excursion since the surgery. Thank goodness my friend Judith is going with me.

I Am Very Gracious

Hello Friends!!

It's pretty much been a pajama week for both Scamp and myself. I'm feeling better everyday. I'm in a lot less pain but am still pretty tired. I even hope to leave the house tonight -- my first trip in public besides the car ride Beef and I took earlier this week. BTW, he has been an exceptional husband and care-giver this week. He's not only had to work from home but has also had to take care of Scamp and I. I love you, Baby.

I mostly wanted to say thank you all for your encouraging comments and prayers. The amount of love I've felt over this whole ordeal has been phenomenal. God has really blessed us with such generous and caring friends and family members. And wow! I am thoroughly impressed with those of you whom I've never met face-to-face. You all mean so much to me.

God is really working and I am thankful for His care and provision most of all. I have prayed that God bless each one of you for your generous hearts. I still have a bit more recovering to do but hope to return to a more normal schedule this next week. I will be returning to my doctor this next Tuesday as well, so I hope all goes well then.

Thank you again!! I am very touched.

We Have a Winner Ladies

I had such a fun time visiting for the Ultimate Blog Party. I met so many nice ladies, and I enjoyed everyone who came to visit me here. Now, it's time for the book drawing. Through a random number crunch the winner below has won my personal copy of A Bride Most Begrudging by Deanne Gist:

Hazel from Just Add Dots

Congratulations Hazel! Please head over to her site to tell her so. Thank you to everyone who participated!! I hope you'll stop by again.

Winter or Spring? You decide.

Saturday we were stuck in half the day with a winter blasting of snow. Take the blasting lightly since we live in a Southern state.:) Scamp and her daddy made snow angels.

Beef's was much bigger as you can see. But, check out Scamp's new Thomas the Train snow boots. Those were the only ones they had left at Wal Mart on Friday, but she loved them.

Wednesday the day was so warm and fluffy we went to the park. Scamp loves the sand volleyball court. She was only supposed to walk in it not cover herself, but of course she couldn't resist.

Here's our take of "walking on the beach" in our landlocked state.

Today, the weather was just as nice. Scamp woke up from her nap moments ago and is heading outside with her daddy to swing. How's your weather?

Welcome to My Blog Party!

This post wll be stickied for the blog party week, so scroll down for newer posts.

Welcome to my party!! I'm Shawna, and this is my sweet and sassy Scamp. How's the weather where your from? We are about to be blasted with a little snow, so we're bundling up tight.

We are so excited that you came that we are giving away a book. I hope you love Christian fiction. That's mostly what I read besides pre-teen and teen books. I love doing book reviews and also participate in a teen book review blog called Teen Lit Review. We're giving away some books over there, too, so hurry on over after you've visited here a little while.

I am giving away my personal copy of "A Bride Most Begrudging" by Deanne Gist. Click here for my review of the book. All you have to do it leave a comment on this post, but please include an email address if I can't get to your blog. Non-bloggers are welcome to participate, too.

The contest ends Monday, March 17 at midnight. The winner will be posted after noon on Tuesday, March 18.

BTW, scroll down to see Scamp's Philosophies on life. You don't want to miss this! Thanks for stopping by.

Scamp's Philosophies on Life

Hi, I'm Scamp. See my picture up there? Well, Mama's taking a nap, so I'm posting for today. There's a few things I've learned over my short life so far, and I wanted to share. So here goes:

• Life is like a tea party. There's always gonna be spills, but thankfully mom's always around to help.
• Why have just one passey when you could have three or four? Life is good that way.
• Live life to the fullest: play hard, squeal loud, and run crazy!
• Dancing always makes your food taste better. Just try it.
• Growling at your mama as a means of communication isn't always the best choice.
• Announcing, "I tooted!" always lightens the mood...always!
• Life is like a game of dress-up. You don't always get the outfit you want so just do the best with what you have.
• It's all in the attitude. Believe me (and my mom), Sassiness is hard to contain!
• Don't hold your anger in. Let it out in the loudest, most unpredictable way. You'll feel better (unless mom's within earshot).
• Sharing isn't always the easiest, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
• A long day should always end with a relaxing foot soak. It's even better when you have a friend join you.

I'll be around, so leave me a comment and let me know what your philosophies on life are.

Bye, bye!
Scamp

CWO Has Joined the Blog Party

Have you heard? Christian Women Online has joined this year's blog party, and to celebrate they are playing a game of tag (sponsored by Art Bookbindery). Play along and you could win a Sony Walkman Video MP3 Player with 4GB Memory!

You don't have to be a member of their blogroll to play along. All you have to do is tag someone by inviting them to participate on your blog. Don't forget to comment on their party invite. I don't have a blog, you say? That's ok, just tag a friend and have them mention your name in their comment at CWO. But, they have to tag someone as well to be entered into the drawing. The winner will be drawn the morning of March 15.

Busy Days Ahead

It's going to be a busy couple of days. I've got some cathcing up to do for Scamp's Place and Teen Lit Review to get ready for the blog party starting tomorrow. And to all my lovely regulars who come and visit and who I visit, I may be away for a week or so visiting some new bloggers with the blog party. But, I'll catch up before too long!

Tea Parties and Blessings

Scamp and I have been having tea parties every few days with the porcelain tea set her Nana got her for Christmas. Since she's still so small, I only fill the tea pot with water and place the cups and plates on an absorbent blanket on the floor. Then, I lay out lots of tiny crackers, cookies, and fruit for us.

Halfway through our last tea party, Scamp told me to close my eyes. I assumed she meant we needed to say the blessing, so I asked her if she wanted to. She did. I closed my eyes and waited with anticipation as to what she would say.

"Dear God,
Blah, blah, blah...Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so...more toddler babble...Jesus' name, Amen."

I was so delighted. You ought to have seen the tremendous smile on my face during her prayer. What a blessing to a mom! I'm sure God was tremendously blessed as well.

Spring Fashion Show 2007

My SILs at Studio Six Limited put the music video on You Tube for their 2007 Spring Fashion Show, and I'm in it! Click here to view it. I'm posting this for those of you who want to see me Get Jiggi With It. Remember, it's all about the attitude not how good you dance! I'm in the middle of the video with a pony tail and orange cropped leather jacket shakin' my thang and swingin' my belt. You can also see Fluff Fluff, Emily and, of course, Shan and Beth (for those of you who know them). So be on the lookout.

They are still looking for more models for this years Fashion Show in April. Go check out their newest commercial, Life as a Cover Model here.

Crazy 8's

Stacy tagged me for this one. I'm glad because I've been wanting more post ideas. Thanks Stacy!

8 Things I'm Passionate About:

1. Serving God
2. My relationship with Beef
3. Scamp (and being a good mother)
4. Writing
5. Teen Lit Review
6. My IRL friends
7. My blogging friends
8. Nutrition (when I get a chance to use it)

8 Things I Want to do Before I die:

1. Meet all my blogging friends in person
2. Write a book
3. Vacation in Australia
4. Have more children
5. Work in women's ministry
6. Finish writing a murder mystery
7. Take a writing class
8. Learn to Type (correctly)

8 Things I Say Often:

1. "No!"
2. "What's going on in here?"
3. "Where's the remote?"
4. "Is Scratchy outside?"
5. "Guess what? I love you."
6. "I don't know."
7. "Are you gonna get the phone?"
8. "Old MacDonald Had a Farm..."

8 Books I've Read Recently:

1. Black by Ted Dekker
2. Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock
3. The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
4. Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff
5. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
6. Heavens to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
7. Earth to Betsy by Beth Pattillo
8. Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

8 Songs I Sing Over and Over:
(Original Question: 8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over:)

1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
2. Baa Baa Black Sheep
3. Where is Thumpkin?
4. Jesus Loves Me
5. Behold
6. Hush Little Baby
7. Please Christmas Don't Be Late (by the Chipmunks)
8. Pop Goes the Weasel

8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends:

1. They love (or tolerate) teeny bopper movies.
2. They love reading (or at least tolerate me talking about books).
3. They can keep a secret.
4. They love chocolate.
5. They love God.
6. They like to share in my passions.
7. They share their passions.
8. They like to laugh.

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy 8's:

1. Sonya
2. Angi
3. Annie
4. Jenny
5. Lauren
6. Rachel
7. Hyperactive Lu
8. Karen

I hope none of you have already done this one.

30 Days of Housecleaning Revisited

Last month I challenged myself to keep the house picked up for 30 days. Here's the original post. Well, it's been over a month, and I've really done well with this. I have actually kept our dining room table clean of my stuff. It's the new home of all of hubby's RC Airplanes now though! I have worked extra hard on keeping the kitchen fairly clean. I've been known to sweep at 10 pm now. Who would have thought I would be that person?

My next challenge will be to clean up all the piles and piles of stuff in our bedroom. Hubby has his own piles, too, and he's even agreed to help me with this. We have the most beautiful furniture in there that God provided, but you can't see the gorgeous granite tops because of all the clothes and piles of papers. I am so ashamed to show the before pictures, but maybe that will give me more incentive to clean up.


Hubby's response to me showing the pictures: "Do you ever think you show a little too much of yourself on your blog?"

Well, sometimes.

The Ultimate Blog Party 2008

Click here for newer posts and my book giveaway!!

It's that time of year again!! It's time for the Ultimate Blog Party 2008 hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

I am so excited because I got so many new visitors and met so many new bloggers last year. I'm really excited about all the giveaways, too. The party is March 7-14, and you've been officially invited by Scamp and I. She plans to make a few appearances during the week, and we'll be giving away a book or two.

Also, the ladies and I at Teen Lit Review will be hosting a party ourselves. So, please come and join us for a little fun and a couple book giveaways there.

Here are the rules to participate:

1. Invite your friends!
Post an invitation to the party and link back to 5 Minutes for Mom with one of their blog party buttons. You must be female, and your blog must be family friendly.

2. Host a party of your own during the party week.
Blog as usual, but you do have to have at least one post during the blog party week.

3. Sign the Mr. Linky at 5 Minutes for Mom.
"The Mr. Linky will go live at Friday March 7th, 12:01 am Eastern Time and participating bloggers who have their party post up can add their link any time during the week of the party."

Click here for a detailed list of the official rules. Don't forget to have fun!

BTW, there are so many cool prizes to be won at this year’s Ultimate Blog Party, but my top three picks would be:

#36: Marketing for Entrepreneurs from Lis Garrett
#60: $25 Amazon gift certificate from Judy
#49: $10 gift certificate from Christelle

And if my top three picks are already chosen, I’d love any of the following (in order of preference):59, 143, 117, 20, 17, 8, 1, 94, 10, 14, 15 or anything else related to books (adult or child) or that would be fitting for my 2 year old daughter.

Slow to Load

As many of you may know, my site is a little slow to load. Well, maybe extremely slow to some of you. But, I have tried to correct that. I had several You Tube videos in my posts, but now I've replaced them with the links only. I hope this helps. If it's still really slow, please let me know. There are a few other things I could take off as well.

Scamp's Flower Girl Dress

My mom and I finally found a flower girl dress for Scamp for the wedding she's going to be in. It looks like a mini wedding dress. After I let her out of the dressing room with it, she started spinning around and singing the "Tahra Time" theme song. It's a little 5-minute show that airs on our local PBS station Monday through Friday between Big Comfy Couch and Teletubbies. Tahra always has the neatest outfits and dances and sings. I can't believe Scamp even remembered the song since we don't watch it every day. I'll have to post a picture of Scamp's dress soon.

Smallville

I don't normally blog about the TV shows I watch too often. I think several of you might remember my TV addiction post about how I had to have the TV on all the time just for background noise. Well, there has been a huge change in my TV watching. I cut my shows down from 11 to 3 over the course of the past year, which only one is coming on right now due to the writers' strike.

That show just so happens to be Smallville, which I've watched since it's first season. I have to admit I love the Clark Kent character, but lately (since the strike) the plot and overall dialogue of the show is so lacking. At times this season, I've been embarrassed to watch due to the beyond cheesiness of the lines. You know, given the nature of the show, you have to allow for some cheesiness, but lately it's been beyond bearable.

I now only watch it due to the fact I've followed it since the beginning. I've been there through Lana and Clark actually getting together to them breaking up to Lana marrying Lex Luther to Lana divorcing Lex and running back to Clark. But, now I'm tired. If you've ever watched the Superman movies and even Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, you know that Clark and Lana do not end up together. He goes for Lois, whose character was actually added to the cast of Smallville a few seasons back. So, enough is enough. Clark, dump poor Lana (Girl, I like you, but it's just not in your destiny) and start heading over to Lois' for a little coffee. Stop this nasty charade of teasing, and let's get on with it already!!

And who the heck is this Kara character? Yeah, yeah, she's Clark's cousin and Misses Hottie Hot Super Girl. But, why in the world do we need yet another hotter-than-normal-reality character? There's not enough room...unless they're going to off one of the other ladies! Lana, maybe. Yeah, they've tried several times, but she comes back with a vengeance much to my dismay. Writers, please. End my frustration!

Blogging friends, thanks for listening to my rant.

Fairy Princess Days

Sickness hasn't overtaken me completely. It's strange...one day my throat hurts, the next it doesn't, the next it does. But, today we are feeling good!!

Slow, Sick Day

It's a slow, sick day. Thankfully, Scamp doesn't seem to be sick, but I've got a sore throat. I hope it's not the flu since it's going around everywhere. I'm hoping that the sickness will pass quickly, but if it doesn't, I may not be able to post as much.

Even though Scamp's not sick, she is really tired. At 12:45 pm she asked me if she could have her passey. We're trying not to give it to her so much, so I said, "Are you ready for a nap?" thinking she would say "No nap!" Then, I would in turn say, "Well, no passey." Not the case today. She agreed to lay down for a nap, which usually isn't until 2:00 pm. We go upstairs, and I read her a story, then turn on a short TV show to try to kill some time just in case she's not as sleepy as she says she is. Halfway through she says, "I want bed." I can't believe it. She normally cries and fusses. So, I lay her down and Presto, an early nap. Thank you Lord because both Beef and I are really tired, too. He was up until 5:00 am working. I'm going to lay down now.

Valentine's Day 2008

We waited until after naptime to do our Valentine's gifts. If you look really closely, you can see one lingering tear in Scamp's eye. She's awfully grumpy when she wakes up. I'm told she's just like her Mama in this area. I went in her room to get her, and she literally growled at me. She apparently wasn't done with her nap. I started to go back downstairs, but that seemed to make things worse. The only thing that helped her get out of her funk was for her Daddy to come get her out of bed. Even the lure of presents downstairs couldn't shake the grump out of her until she finally saw them.

After presents we ate supper at the Bangkok, a Thai restaurant. I love the food, and it's never very crowded. We were seated immediately. After that we went to the Hobby Store for Beef to look at RC airplane parts, then we went to the mall. We had a great Valentine's. How was your day?

Snow Day 2008

We woke up to a freezing day yesterday. It was the first snow day of the year. Scamp and I were supposed to go to BSF (Bible study) that morning but changed our minds since the schools were out. We headed out about 9:00 am along with Beef for a little frosty fun. We barely got an inch of snow, and it melted away before lunch. But, Scamp still had her fun digging with the spoon she requested.

Beef built her a tiny snowman. This was actually the second one because she had way too much fun destroying the first one with her spoon. We are mid-snowman-kiss here. It's still really cold, and the only snow that's left is on our back deck where the sun doesn't hit very often.

BTW, Happy Valentine's Day!! We haven't exhanged our valentines yet, so hopefully tomorrow I'll have some pictures to post.

Time Travel Tuesday

Did you have a favorite pet as a child? What was it? Where did it come from? What was the coolest thing about your pet?

Don’t forget to sign the mr. linky at Annie's so we can all read about your childhood pet story!

I will have to mention two pets because one pet was like a member of our family, and I still miss her. Her name was Autumn Sunshine, Sunny, for short. She was a yellow lab, and we got her from my aunt Maurina when I was in elementary school. She was so lovable, always good with kids and other animals. She even let our cats sleep on her back. She would always get excited every time we came home from school. You could tell because she would sneeze repeatedly, and she always looked like she was smiling. We had her until I was in college. My parents finally had to put her to sleep because she had arthritis so bad, she could barely get around. My mom has been unable to buy another lab due to the fact they are very suseptible to arthritis. Gosh, I want to cry.

Sunny was our family dog, but my cat BJ was all mine. I named him after the TV show BJ and the Bear. You know the trucker with the pet monkey that always rode with him. I loved that show. BJ was a black and white Tom Cat, and he was not very friendly. He would let you pet him but never pick him up. He would occasionally come and sit in my lap to let me pet him if I was really still. We had him around the same time we had Sunny. Sunny's brother, Chase, who my uncle down the road owned, killed him as he did several of my other cats. He wasn't a very nice dog.

High Flying Scamp

Our little daredevil loves to "jump", which basically means she loves for her Daddy to pitch her into a pile of pillows atop our bed. She loves to soar through the air and land smack onto her belly or back. This reminds me of my calling as a parent. We are to teach our children to reach their fullest God-given potential in their lives. And yes, some may be called to fly in a sense. We are to teach them that through God all things are possible. If God wants us to soar above the clouds, He will make it possible by giving us the abilities and means to do so. In this case, Scamp needs her Daddy to help her fly just like we need our Father in heaven to help us live beyond what we feel we are capable of doing by ourselves.

What seemingly impossible situation are you dealing with today? God promises us that we are never alone and every trial we go through is for a reason. We will make it through if we just trust in Him. And what we once believed to be impossible won't always be. Let go of your fears and put your trust in the One who will never let you fall.

Teen Lit Review Book Giveaway

Teen Lit Reivew is having another book giveaway featuring Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson. If you would like to participate in the drawing, please read the rules below:

1. Leave a comment at this link with an email address or a blog where we may reach you. **(You don't have to have a blog to participate).
2. If you have a blog, please write a small post with a link back to Teen Lit Review. This is not required, but it's greatly appreciated because it helps us spread the word about our blog.

The winner will be announced on Feb. 29 (Leap Year) after 1:00 pm CST. And be sure to read the review here. Plus, if you're the winner, Teen Lit Reivew would love to hear what you and your child think about the book.

Awards to Be Given

I was recently awarded both of these awards. Angi at Thoughts of a Wannabe so graciously gave me the Excellent Blog award. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful. The ladies I'm awarding below are excellent writers and just excellent women in general. They open their hearts up on their blogs and are just so encouraging and lovable and fun.

Jill at Who Could Ask for Anything More

Gail at More Than a Song

Actually these ladies deserve the next award, too.

Thanks to Rachel for sharing the Cool Mom award with me. You really are a sweetheart. The ladies I'm awarding this one to are all amazing moms. They all write about their darling, wonderful children, and you can just see that they would do anything for them. They all love God and show that love to not only their families, but to us blog readers, too.

Annie at My Life As Annie

Angi at Thoughts of a Wannabe

Tamara at Changing More than Diapers

Lauren at Baseballs and Bows

Sonya at Mo Mhile Gra

Jenny Up the Hill at well, multiple places

Elizabeth at the Hazlett Family

Gosh, you are all excellent!!

Doodlebug Designs Giveaway

Doodlebug Designs not only did a complete customized design for Scamp's Place but also designed the header and button for Teen Lit Review. To celebrate the grand opening, Doodlebug Designs is hosting a great giveaway.

1st Place Prize ~ FREE completely customized blog design for a blogger blog!

2nd Place Prize ~ FREE completely customized header for a blogger blog!

3rd Place Prize ~ 10% off any service!

Go to Doodlebug Designs and:
1. Leave your link on the Mr. Linky.
2. Leave a comment.
3. Include the button and information about the give away with a link back to Doodlebug Designs on your blog.

The winner will be announced on Friday February 22nd!

Nuff Said

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures
Hubby sent the link to this very funny website where people "...take a picture of [their] cats (or sometimes other animals) and write captions on them using a combination of bad text messaging grammar, Internet memes, and poorly translated Japanese-to-English messages." I had to steal a couple. Click on the second image to see the full caption.

Old West Murder Mystery

My good friend Joseph, who I've known since middle school just celebrated his 30th birthday this past weekend. He put on an Old West Murder Mystery in one of his friend's homes that was built in the 1800s to initially function as a Civil War hospital. The owner's are antique collectors so the first story is decorated with authentic period pieces.

I played Poker Alice, a famous female poker dealer in the West. She was actually a real person. I had my satchal stuffed with cards and poker chips. Joseph played Mitch Maverick, a businessman and poker tournament winner who just so happended to be murdered during the evening.

Beef played my outlaw ex-husband, Jesse Wales. He even tied for first place when we voted on best actor, aka Drama Queen. The party was great, and we ended with a creamy chocolate cake covered in fondant and sporting a revolver. I need to get busy on the next Girls' Night Murder Mystery.

Girls' Night Out...Again

Last Thursday was our annual January Birthdays Girls' Night Out. The rain couldn't even hold us back. Like last year, we met at Chili's to start things off. We had several photographers among the group, so before our food arrived we took turns grouping up to have our photos snapped. This was way more fun than it should have been. Greyson even brought her video camera to capture the fun. One of the best parts was when a crush of the male persuasion stopped by our table to make small talk with no one girl in particular...yeah right!. Of course, Greyson had to video him and the reaction of this once audacious now timid female. He looked a little nervous, too, if you asked me.

The main event was at my house: dessert (dirt cake) and a new workout video (of which the name won't be mentioned) that one of the girls received for her birthday the previous week. We all dressed accordingly and after 15 minutes of intense shaping and sculpting, we called it quits and watched the second half while eating dessert and vegging on the couch.

I haven't had that much fun in awhile. We're going to have to do this more often.

The Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference

Proverbs 31 Ministries is hosting a contest for a chance to win a scholarship to She Speaks Conference 2008. The conference is specifically designed to help improve the skills of speakers, writers and women’s ministry leaders alike.

"The winner of this contest will be awarded a scholarship for the cost of one person’s registration for the 2008 She Speaks conference. The value of this scholarship is $525 which includes your conference registration, 2 nights at the conference hotel and meals associated with the conference."

You choose which part of the conference you'd like to attend. I would love to be apart of the writing portion. I feel God has given me a gift with writing and wants me to serve in this area. It's how I express myself best. I would love to be given the opportunity to hone in on my skills through the conference. I've always had a dream to write a book and over the last year or so my passion for writing has increased. One door for me to serve in this area has already been opened with the start of the Teen Lit Review blog, a ministry a couple of other blogging friends and I created just recently.

The last day to enter the contest is TODAY! Go to Proverbs 31 Ministries to read about the details and enter the contest.

Scamp's Angry ABCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSyIC0fu0MI

Scamp loves to sing, and sometimes she does her own special versions of the songs. Here's the heavy metal versions of Jesus Loves Me and ABCs. Bear through the food.:)

Time Travel Tuesday

For this week’s time travel we will be traveling back really really far! Travel back to the oldEN days… how did your parents meet? Link up at My Life As Annie and share your parent’s love story.

I may not have all the details straight, but here goes. My mom was still in high school, but my dad had graduated a couple of years before. She was actually dating someone else when my dad caught her attention. She broke up with that guy for my dad, and six months later they were married at her parent's home. My dad was 20 and my mom was 17. They moved into a trailer on the same piece of land their house still stands today.

Scary Horsey

We had our weekly Thursday night get-together last night, and my friends Greyson and Jonathan came with their three kids in tow. Their middle son, J, is a little bit younger than Scamp, so she is always trying to "help" him. They both wanted to go upstairs to Scamp's room, so I went along to help them find some toys.

Scamp has a horse that's made specifically for toddler-sized riders. She started climbing on it, and J looked really excited about having a turn, too. I didn't want them to get hurt, so I picked it up and told them we would take it downstairs. Well, as soon as I did, J started crying. I thought he must have wanted a ride immediately, so I encouraged him down the steps.

He started the descent, wailing all the way with me tailgating right behind with horsey. His mom came to the rescue, and I told her, "He must think I'm not going to let him ride the horse." She grabbed him and as we reached the bottom, I placed the horse a few feet away from him. He went hysterical. He saw the cat a few feet in the other direction and cried even harder. Well, duh!! He was terrified of the "monster" horse, and there I was stalking him with it.

I took the once harmless animal back upstairs, but poor J was inconsolable for 15 minutes. Will I forever be known as the "Scary Horse Lady?" I hope I didn't traumatize him too bad. He did eventually settle down. I'll have to make sure the horse is well hidden next week and maybe win his trust back with some candy!

Hubbie's New Hobby

Beef has picked up a new hobby over the holidays. His brother gave him an RC (as in radio-controlled) airplane, and he's been out flying several days a week since then. The one he's holding is actually his brother's newest plane, but Beef has already bought himself a new one as well.

Beef toys with the planes most evenings and his newest endeavor is attaching a camera to the inside of the plane so we can watch the actual flight from the pilot position. Scamp and I went out today with him to monitor the video equipment as he took the plane out for a test flight. The temperature outside was in the 30s, so Beef set the mini-monitor up on the dashboard of the car. Scamp and I were able to view the flight in warmth. Even with the windy conditions, Beef kept the plane soaring, but the video camera wouldn't send a clear signal to the monitor. He thinks with a few alterations, we'll be able to witness the on board flight before long. Hopefully, the weather will warm up, so we can watch without freezing our tukoses off!

A Heart of Thankfulness

Sometimes, I take for granted the fact the I am a SAHM. Not every mother has that opportunity, but thanks to God and my hubby as our provider, I am able to be at home with Scamp everyday. This also allows me to pursue more in-depth time with God as well as more time with Beef and Scamp and much needed time alone. I just want to say thank you to my hardworking husband, who gets up everyday and goes to work, albeit just to the recliner in our movie room, but still. He works hard, many times overtime to provide for us. Then, he also watches Scamp after work so that I can go to my Girl's Night or workout or just on an errand even though he's mentally exhausted and needs a break himself. Thank you, Baby. I don't say that often enough.

More Book Reviews

"Freefall" by Kristen Heitzmann is yet another Christian book I've recently finished. I've been busy with Teen Lit Review, so I haven't been able to write reviews for the other books I've been reading.

Synopsis: "When a young woman stumbles out of the Hanalei Mountains on the island of Kauai with no memory of who she is or how she got there, Cameron Pierce reluctantly agrees to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her arrival. Now known as Jade, the woman begins to recall fragments of what led her to this place, and she realizes the danger isn't over."

The book was full of adventure as well as romance. I loved the culture of Hawaii where the book takes place. Sometimes, you come across books where you immediately fall in love with the characters then miss them once the book is over. This is so true for "Freefall." I loved it so much, I went out and bought another book by Kristen Heitzmann, "A Rush of Wings." Hopefully, it will be as good as "Freefall."



This next book I would have not have picked out myself. I'm not a huge chic lit fan. I like more adventure, but a friend loaned "Heavens to Betsy" and the sequel "Earth to Betsy" by Beth Pattillo to me.

Synopsis: "Life would be perfect for Reverend Betsy Blessing if it weren't for parishioners who keel over during her sermons, steal money from the collection box, and set her up with ex-cons. Not to mention the very inconvenient feelings she is suddenly having for her long-time friend, fellow seminarian, and verbal sparring partner, David Swenson. It isn’t until Betsy is thrust into the position of senior minister for her church, however, that she discovers the real cause of her discontent: her fear of failing has become stronger than her faith in herself."

The author is s female pastor from Nashville who sets these books in the same place. It's so neat to read about places you've been to. The book was hilarious. Betsy is so real and down-to-earth, but yet she's so sassy and witty. I loved her. The romance even reminded me of mine and Beef's beginnings. Let's reminisce for those of you who read Our Love Story and remember me being the third wheel on a date with the man I loved and his girlfriend. If my labels where working correctly I'd leave a link to Our Love Story, but oh well. I would highly recommend both books in the series even though I haven't finished the sequel yet.

Who Looks Alike Now?

Midnight.

Me: Honey, I think my haircut makes me look kind of manly.

Beef: A smirk slowly spreads across his face.

Me: I look like Jim Morrison from The Doors.

Beef: Yes, you do!! But, honey, I didn't even think of that until just now. (He knows how to get back into my good graces).

'65 Mustang Giveaway

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a mustang...for your preschooler. It's a pedal car that looks exactly like the '65 Mustang. They sell the cars at their Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles online store. Click here to go over and sign up.

The Actual Haircut

Check out the new do. Just a wee bit shorter and with highlights although she cut the blond (fake might I add) out of my hair. It's a shade darker. Maybe I'll get used to it.

Snobby model pose!

Rocker pose!


And other news: Scamp ended up having a fever most the day. I gave her some Motrin, and she started feeling better. Well enough to find the jar of Vasoline and smear most her body with it (after I gave her a bath mind you). It was so funny I laughed instead of scolded then sat her in the sink for yet another bath. She loved it. Plus, Daddy brought her in a Scamp-sized snowman. Yes, I said snowman because it's snowing! Mind-boggling I know since a few days ago it was spring weather.

The Hair Cut

Poor baby Scamp. She's got a cold, and it looks like maybe even a fever this morning. I hope she gets well soon. She's had the stomach virus twice now this. Ick!

I'm getting a haircut and highlight today. I might be brave enough to try a new style. Well...not that brave to get it cut short or anything but maybe just something a little different. I love my stylist. I finally found a person who says "This is what you need to do," instead of letting me try to make my own hair decisions.

Before my stylist cut my hair for the first time she said, "You've got to have bangs. Your forehead is not shaped right to not have them." Now, some of you might have been offended, and usually I do get my feelings hurt fairly easily. But, I said "Oh, thank you!" I've been a bang girl since birth whether they're in style or not, and I knew there was a reason. I've attempted the no bang look a couple of times, and it just doesn't work for me. I have to have some hair hanging down in my face. So, maybe I'll post an after picture.

What kind of hair dresser do you like? One that says "This is what you need?" and cuts and crops without hesitation (within reason, of course) or one that has to follow your instructions to a tee?

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

A friend sent this to me. It's a very powerful message. I had it on the blog, but it was taking a while to load.

Flying Scamp

Before...

After!

Scamp loves jumping from the coffee table to the beanbag. She counts 1 to 10 (always leaving out #4) before she takes to the air. But, a few days ago, to my shock, she started counting past 10 to 11, 12, 13, 16. Then she flew through the air. I couldn't believe it. Where'd she pick that up? The girl does love her Sesame Street.

Young Adult Challenge 2008

Joy at Thoughts of Joy is hosting a Young Adult Challenge where you pick 12 Young Adult books to read in 2008. What an appropriate challenge for the gals at Teen Lit Review! Check out our combined list here. And here's my own list, which will probably change:

I'm Not Joey Pigza - Jack Gantos
Dizzy - Cathy Cassidy
Hollywood Nobody - Lisa Samson
Finding Hollywood Nobody - Lisa Samson (out Feb. 15)
Songbird - Lisa Samson
The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch
Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
Eclispe - Stephenie Meyer
Brides of Eden: A True Story Imagined - Linda Crew
Becoming Me (Diary of a Teenage Girl Book 1)- Melody Carlson

Alternates:
ttyl (Internet Girls series Book 1)
ttfn (Internet Girls series Book 2)
l8r, g8r (Internet Girls series Book 3)
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
All by Lauren Myracle

All the books will be reviewed at Teen Lit Review.

Thirty Days of Housecleaning Challenge

I by no means consider myself a good housekeeper. I loathe it actually and had rather do other things. I'm also a piler. I leave piles of paper and books and clothes everywhere. Many times our dining room table is so full of piles of junk that you can't see the surface at all!

This is one reason I get so frustrated with cleaning because I have to pick up everything before I even start to clean, which sometimes can take over an hour - time I don't have to spare since my daughter still requires a lot of my attention. But when New Year's came around, I couldn't bare the thought that our house was chaotic. Therefore, I cleaned, picked up my piles from the kitchen and living room (we won't talk about the bedroom...yet), and with hubby's help put up all the Christmas decorations that day to get ready for our party.

Since then I've kept things picked up, which makes it easy to wipe down surfaces and vacuum since I won't have to mess with the pre-cleaning stage. I've decided to challenge myself to keep my things put away for 30 days, starting from New Year's Day. It's been work but not as much work as before. Hopefully, if I accomplish this, I can add more to the list next month, like organizing our closets.

Anyone else up for this challenge? All you have to do is set an obtainable housecleaning goal for yourself, write about your progress, and link back to this post. Then you're off to clean.

Introducing Teen Lit Review

When it comes to what is acceptable entertainment for our children, there are many places to turn for information. With movies, you have a rating to guide you and reviews you can read with detailed information about the movie and their content. With video games, there are also ratings and places online to get reviews and content details. There are even Christian websites that give these reviews and details from a family-friendly perspective.

However, with books, it is difficult to find a review from a Christian perspective. There are no “ratings” on a book. Book jackets don’t go into much detail. Reading is something all parents encourage, and many of us have children who read A LOT! But, just what are they reading?

We are pleased to announce a new blog - Teen Lit Review, a place where you can find detailed Christian-centered book reviews for all genres of 'tween and teen books. Our goal is to be a helpmate to parents in finding suitable books for their teens. All recommendations are solely the opinions of our reviewers. When in doubt of a book's appropriateness, we encourage you to read the book yourself.

We welcome your comments, feedback on our reviews, and suggestions of books for review.

Please visit Teen Lit Review and let us know what you think! We have a drawing you can enter for a great read for your teenager!

Please feel free to pass this info along through blog posts and/or taking the above button for your sidebars. Please let me know if you need the code for the button. Thanks!!

New Year's Eve

How was your New Year's? We spent the night rockin' out with our Thursday night group playing the new game Rock Band. You can have up to four players, two on guitar, one vocal, and a drummer. Here's me with my rock band, Schweet.

We had two different gaming rooms plus a movie going for the little ones in our bedroom. I'm sure the neighbors could here us pelting out songs. We plan to rock some more tonight. :)

My New Picture

Many of you were wandering who did my Christmas card. It was my sisters-in-love at Studio Six Limited. They also made this beautiful collage for me. It now hangs over my dining room table.