Tuesday, April 15, 2008

One of THOSE Days


I made this card for Patti's husband, today's hero!

We had some transmission work done on my car and today it broke down on my way to school. I couldn't get the car back home, so I parked it and walked home. I was trying to figure out how to call a cab, but then I quickly called Patti's husband who was home today and asked him to take me to school. I felt kind of dumb, but I missed so many classes getting ready for last week's event, and with only three weeks until final exams, I couldn't miss a class today.

One thing that is challenging about law school is that for almost all classes, your entire grade is based on the final exam! Exams are about three hours long, almost always essay, and really taxing. The only thing I can imagine is worse than writing a law school exam is being a professor and having to read 50 answers...can you imagine?

So Chris rescued me; I made it to my classes; and it was up to my husband, Mark, to deal with the car.

This was a very, very quick card. I mounted the five circles using Creative Memories' double circle punch. I love that it makes the circles just the right size to fit into my small Xyron. I also used these really cute stamps from Stampendous that I bought from Eclectic Paperie.

I hope that my car gets on the road tomorrow, which would make Mark Wednesday's hero...

Friday, April 4, 2008

Authenticity

Last year was a really challenging year for me. It was the end of my first year of law school, and my husband, girls and I had been through so many changes. I learned some challenging news about my childhood, and both my nephew and my mom were diagnosed and treated for cancer. Whew, it was tough. But all God needs is faith the size of a mustard seed...some days I had no more, but I kept pressing forward.

As the holidays passed and the new year began, I decided that my New Year's Resolution was to live a life of authenticity. I decided to live openly and just as I am (quirks and cynicism, imperfections and inconsistencies, blemishes and all). That’s very difficult for a perfectionist like me, but there is such freedom in presenting yourself “as is” with no warranty, neither expressed nor implied!

Although I didn’t articulate it until now, my word for the year is “authenticity” – living life without pretense.

I doubt I am alone in this pursuit of authenticity and I would hazard a guess that I am right on schedule, as I turned 36 last December. I think that there’s a reason the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years before they entered the Promised Land. I think it takes 40 years of wandering in our own power before we relent and let God lead.

I’m almost to the Promised Land, and day-by-day I give a little more of the reigns to God. Praise Him for only requiring the faith of a mustard seed!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

AJ's Card


My friend Andrea (AJ) and I are both graduate assistants at the law school, and we are in the process of putting on a huge gala fund raising event on April 11. AJ is a 3L (third year) law student and this is her big HURRAH, and I am her assistant.

I am so excited for her and proud of her. She has worked so hard for this event and also in getting through law school. She is in her mid-20's and is beautiful both on the inside and out. She aspires to be a prosecutor (state's attorney) and really has a passion for prosecuting criminals. She is also a very loving and supportive wife to Craig, who seems to adore her too.


So I made this card for AJ in celebration of getting through this event. The image is Nay from Rubber Romance (who reminds me of AJ) and the text is from Stampin Up. I used a lot of glitter, including on her eyeshadow, and I also added big square sparkles for a lot of BLING!

I have been enjoying the images of women. They really highlight the many kinds of women we are on different days. I especially love those that bring out the Diva in all of us. I can't think of a more perfect day than lounging around eating chocolates! (Right now, I'd be satisfied to lounge around without the chocolate, wouldn't you?)