Adding in One More Quick Post Today

to show you a brand new kit, Once Upon a Christmas from Designs by Helly- on sale for only $1 today!

Isn't it gorgeous? Here's my page.

Thanks for looking!

Jenn

FINALLY....It's Friday

The best day of the week! My mother and step-father are coming to visit this weekend, and we are looking forward to having them here.

I have one page to share with you today. It's rather a silly page that kind of made itself as I was playing around with the kit.   I used Cabaret from Bisontine.  I also received a Gallery Standout at DigiShopTalk so someone else appreciated my silliness.

On another note, I generally send out an email on Fridays that features orphans waiting for homes around the world and here in the United States. Many of these children have disabilities or medical conditions that will consign them to mental institutions for the rest of their lives if not adopted. My heart is so saddened and touched by these children and their stories.  As adoption is not possible for my family, I try to at least raise awareness - hoping that it will make a difference somehow to these children.

I've shown a couple of the children and their information below.  If you'd like to receive my email, please just let me know.

The first two children below are HIV positive.  Children with HIV can live long happy lives, and their HIV can be managed.  The United States now permits HIV positive children to be brought into the country, and  Project Hopeful has made it its mission to help families wishing to adopt these children.

Dillon is a sweet 4 year old boy who was born HIV+.   He is blessed to live in a very nice orphanage, and so badly wants a mama and papa of his own.

Sophia
Date of Birth: June 2009
Gender: Female

You can find out more about these children at Reeces Rainbow.

This little girl has completely captured my heart. Look at those sparkly eyes.  Because she is over the age of four, she is already living in a mental institution and will spend the rest of her life there if not adopted.

Girl, Born June 14, 2006
Vika has brown hair and hazel eyes!   She is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and she does have some strabismus that could be corrceted with surgery.  She is able to walk on her own.   She is able to feed herself, sit upright, and engage with the other children.  She is doing well and will be so blessed to find a family!    From an adoptive family who visited with her in June 2010:  "I did want to let you know that we met her.  She was in the group with Nina and Varvara.  She is precious.  I know that you just recently got updates on all the kiddos at 19, but Vika can walk.  She appeared that she just learned how to walk, but she was walking all over the place.  We called her twinkle toes, because we didn't know her name and she walked on her tip toes.  She is very out going and loves people.  Every time we would visit the girls, she would be the first to come up to us.  She loves to dance.  Noah would take her by the hands and twirl her around.  She is very special to us.  She does need a family that can give her special attention.  I think with the love of a family and some one-on-one attention, she will blossom.  I hope that this little bit of info will help a family that is leaning towards adopting Vika.  She has so much love to give and she will thrive from the love of a family of her own. "

VIKA HAS ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE INSTITUTION, she needs a family quickly!

You can find out more about Vika here:  Reeces Rainbow.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Jenn 

It's Veterans Day

I wanted to send a heartfelt thanks to all of our troops and their families for their service, sacrifice and committment as well as a special thank you to my cousin Erin and her husband, Brent.  Because these quotes say what I'd like to better than I could, I have included a few here:

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you."  ~Author unknown.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."  ~Elmer Davis

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"  ~Maya Angelou

I do have a page to share with you today made with a number of kits by StarLight Designs.  It features my beautiful niece, Isabella.

Have a wonderful day!

It's Tuesday

My LEAST favorite day of the week. The weekend is gone- and the next one is so SO far away.
Nevertheless, I hope for a good day for all of you (and me too!)

I have a new layout to show you that I made with As the Snow Falls from Designs by Helly. This kit is so fun! I actually "decorated" my own tree.

And here's my little guy so many years ago (sob.)  Where oh where does the time go???

I have one more layout to share with you featuring my friend's beautiful daughter, Reagan.   Isn't she precious? The kit is Rainy Day from Kristin Aagard.

Nicholas is thankfully back in school today. Please keep your fingers crossed that all of our kids stay healthy for at least a week. That would be a record lately.

Have a wonderful day!

Jenn

Happy Monday!

As much as a  Monday is ever happy that is! I hope you all had a wonderful iDSD weekend! I really enjoyed the challenges, games and prizes this weekend.  Apart from spending too much time on the computer, Troy and I watched the old Mutiny on the Bounty on Saturday night.  Parts of it made me giggle but it was pretty well done. We also had various kid activities. My eldest is so busy these days; sleepovers, babysitting, volleyball, homework etc. etc. etc.  Annie and Nicholas spent most of the weekend with their friends Maia and Dillon and were either at their house or had them over at our house.  Unfortunately, the weekend ended with Nicholas getting sick. He seems to have a bad cold and I was up quite a bit with him last night while he was coughing and coughing.

I did have time to make a few new pages.

The first one is another page from Moments to Remember from Studio Vivarant and Studio Manu.

These are pictures of my nieces at my wedding. They are both now in their 20's! I can't believe it.

I made a few more pages for fun.

This was made using a kit from Cinzia Designs- a new to me designer I found this weekend.

I used two kits from another new to me designer, Starlight Designs, and an alpha from the very talented lauraskathi:

9th and Bloom has great monthly challenges. For the Trendsetter challenge this month, we had to title our page in a different language. Here's my page made with Happy Halloween from Kasia Designs (black paper from by Becca)

and finally, a page made for a challenge at Deviant Scraps.  Everything is from Void from Holliewood Designs.

Have a wonderful day!

Jenn

New Kits!

Studio Vivarant has a stunning new collab out with Studio Manu called Moments to Remember.  It's available at Scrapbook Graphics as a kit or in a bundle with quickpages, borders and an alphabet.

 

Raspberry Road also has a brand new kit out called First Frost.  It is absolutely jampacked, and an alpha and wordart are available as well.  Of course, there's a free add on too!

Enjoy the rest of your iDSD weekend!

Jenn

Happy iDSD!

There is so much going on this weekend! I'm sure your inbox has been flooded with emails about all of the events, sales and prizes to be won. I hope you have a wonderful time!

I have several new releases to show you today.

Becca, of By Becca, has come out with a gorgeous new kit called Love Grows Here. It is absolutely beautiful and very versatile.

She has also re-released one of my favorite winter kits called Wishes.  It's pretty, pink and sparkling!

Helly, from Designs by Helly, has also released a kit called Silent Reverie.  You can get each piece for only $1 a day. It's really a steal. The kit is just beautiful.

Finally, Netta of Creative Victorian Designs, has released a gorgeous HUGE winter kit called Winter's Deep. When I say huge I'm not kidding; the kit has over 40 papers and comes with actions, masks and all kinds of other goodies. It's on sale for half-price this weekend.

Enjoy the weekend festivities!