In the Storm

Celebrating.

Jeff and I attended the 30th Anniversary celebration of the 3/160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) back in November, the largest celebration I've ever attended. In a filled-to-the-edges ballroom at the convention center on Hutchinson Island on the other side of the Savannah River, the military dressed up in their finest and Jeff and I in tuxedo and dress joined the throes of celebrators' who have in one way or another been a part of this special operator community.

Jeff spent 8 years in the battalion and loved every minute of it. The comaradarie and esprit-de-corps were noticeable players within the regiment and this caters to Jeff's personal agenda. We had a quiet existence this evening, hunkering mostly together, however, Jeff found a few long lost friends to re-connect with and of course our favorite part was the grog bowl ceremony and the re-telling of past missions. And, remembering the fallen. Too many. Fallen.

 

December Daily 2019 | Story #1

For the past several years I have participated in Ali Edwards' December Daily project and this year is no different...in that I am participating. What is different is 1) I am using a 4 x 6 album, a much smaller format than I typically create, and 2) I am creating an album using physical product plus digital. Basically, this will be a hybrid project with mixed physical product and printed photos and digitally created pages. 

This is a huge step outside my comfort zone as for the last 10+ years I have been memory keeping completely digital (printing all of my created pages as photographs and inserting them into scrapbooking albums.

However, I'm jumping in heart first! And, even amidst life's changes and challenges and tears I'm taking back the season and doing what my heart wants. My heart wants to celebrate December.

I intentionally chose 4 x 6 because it was less daunting for this first year doing December Daily traditionally, using physical product. I had such fun receiving the product in the mail over these past several months and begin planning pages with an eye for 'what can I do with physical product?' and 'what is realistic?'

For my first story of December I am telling the story of these Noonday ornaments I've missed out on the past couple of years because I procrastinated but when they were released this year I ordered without hesitation.

I added a printed tag insert, front...

...and back, because recently I met the founder and owner of Noonday and it was simply a joy to meet her and she is real and a delight.

I love the simplicity of the pages and thrilled with how they turned out.

All About Me | The Story of This Meal

Today I am sharing the story of this meal...

This kitchen has always been my domain but when my SI joint flared up to the point that standing for long periods of time was impossible (and by long periods I mean more than a couple of minutes), the kitchen was the last place I wanted to be. Not because I hated cooking, but because I hated the pain that ensued because the cooking I love to do takes time. After physical therapy - and losing some weight - because let’s be honest here, the weight was a contributing factor - I gradually made my way back into the kitchen getting more and more aggressive with my culinary feats. At the same time (it’s amazing how God works that all out) John and Jarrod’s time outside of the home, between work and college, meant they were not available for food preparations, let alone cooking. Thus, the entire meal, from start to finish fell back to me.

Thankfully, I have been in a place, physically, to do this. It has even meant I can put a meal like homemade egg noodles and chicken soup, with homemade bread, back on the menu on a chilly day. And, it means I can bake the bread without racing to a chair to sit down for relief from pain because there isn’t any pain. It means I can pull the chicken and chop all of the vegetables and get the stock pot to bubbling with the scents of freshly minced garlic and thyme and sage and celery and onions. It means I can make a homemade batch of egg noodles and get them to drying. And, I can go and sit down for a spell only because it isn’t time to cut the noodles and plop them in the pot, and not because of pain. But, it has also meant that I don’t hesitate or have to coordinate with John and Jarrod for help, if someone needs a meal taken to them. Because I can do it all on my own. I can prepare their meal, go and drop it off, and then come home and even prepare our meal without skipping a beat. For someone who adores cooking, to have gone through a long, too long, season of physically not being able to spend the time in the kitchen, because of the pain, now that I can - again - I am beyond excited - and so blessed!

This page is created digitally and it is two, 6 x 8 pages. I chose 6 x 8 for these pages as opposed to my recent 8.5 x 11 creations because these pages will be added to my All About Me album that I began in 2018 and continued into 2019. I used Ali Edwards' Story kit EAT and her latest digital FOODIE Collection kit.

Stories 2019 | Observations

Today I am sharing yet another design team call submission. I am super thrilled how this one turned out. Hexagon's are all the rage in the scrapbooking design world right now and I was intrigued and wanted to try my hand at a page filled with hexagons. Again, like yesterday's share, I created an 8.5 x 11 page, and can I say I am loving this size again - it's not too big (like the 12 x 12 can be sometime) and it isn't too small (such as the 6 x 8 size).

This page is all about my grandson Ian. Sometimes I have a lot to say and sometimes just a little, but always, always from the heart. This guy definitely has my heart. He makes me smile and I adore who he is becoming. I had fun using Ali Edwards' Story kit WATCH for this page. I challenged myself to try and use one kit (although I did add a piece from another kit), partly because if I should make the design team one of my responsibilities would be to create pages with the latest kit.

I did use digital product here but I could easily see how this could translate to a traditional page using physical product. I have been speaking of physical product lately because I am creating my December album, December Daily 2019, using physical product primarily plus hybrid plus digital.

Stories 2019 | Totally Love Watching You

Today I am sharing a page I created of my grandson, Samuel. Ashley and Brad recently had a photography session and they received so really great non-posed action photos - my favorite kind. I wanted to capture some stories, small stories that I've been thinking about and cherishing in my heart. Maybe, the photo will reflect those stories. This one kind of does. But, I expect, more than likely, the photo will be my jumping off point.

While this is still a digital page, it is, however, more along the lines of traditional. It is an 8.5 x 11 page - going old school with this one because that is where my scrapbooking began. Stamps and overlays and chipboard for the win. But, first, a big, honkin' photo of my grandson! Going big on the photo is one of my favorite ways to make a page. Add a few embellishments, and the story and it is so good.

I submitted this page toward a design team call. I would be beyond ecstatic if I am selected...one can hope and dream.

Stories 2019 | Watch Me Grammy

This past weekend amidst my time with the kids, and when I say amidst my time with the kids I mean when they are still sleeping and I've already been awake for 4 hours, I did a little scrapbooking, digitally. While I may have turned a corner with December Daily prep work and my decision to make my December album tradition with physical product rather than all digital, I still will probably complete the bulk of my regular pages digital. It's simply how I roll.

One of those pages from this weekend, of this weekend, is the story of Samuel repeating the phrase, "Watch me, Grammy!" And, every time he did my heart skipped a beat. I caught Samuel on the trampoline as I peeked through the net. He and his brothers had a ton of fun for quite some time. And, for me, as well.

So, for this page I used elements from Ali Edwards' Story kits, watch, listen, and play. I'm really pleased how it turned out. I was talking to Ashley about applying for Ali's design team and told her I didn't think I was qualified because I scraplifted so much but this weekend I pushed myself and all of the pages I created were my own and I feel good about them, the pages, too.

Stories 2019 | Waiting on Dorian

The east coast experienced little effects by comparison from Hurricane Dorian. I wrote, "Just waiting on Dorian. Not anxious. Although there is some concern as to the expected track as it pulls out of the Bahamas - finally, which is heartwrenching all on it own.

We aren't planning on evacuating (and didn't), even though we are near coastal Savannah. In fact, I am going to have to leave the weather station open in support of tower operations until late Wednesday night and re-open again early Thursday morning. Yep, that happened! I have been carefully watching the storm and following the non-dramatic weather gurus who give it to me straight, meteorologically, without bias or brass. I was comfortable with us staying - and slept like a baby.

But, man, it is seriously too early in the hurricane season to be dealing with hurricanes. It just is.

I am thankful we were spared.

I also have learned how to stay away from social media and find those scientists and meteorologists who are not in the business of gaining followers but providing sound meteorological reason without bias - or brass, so my decisions on staying or going are sound and sure, not uncomfortable nor fearful.

All About Me 2019 | I Will Survive

I won't say everything but I can share testimony.

Yesterday I stepped outside and noticed on the gardenia bush a single flourishing bloom that had popped up on the otherwise barren bush. Somehow it was surviving the blistering sun of southeast Georgia in, even, the hottest part of summer. I wondered how it was surviving the scorching heat. Resilience? That song ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor from the late 1970’s played in my head. Out of nowhere, or maybe simply in response to that lone gardenia surviving, the Holy Spirit pricked my spirit reminding me it has been one year since my world was rocked on its very foundations and I didn’t know how, or if, I would survive. But here it is. One year later. And I am, indeed, surviving. Through the scorching heat of excruciating pain, out of the blistering fire of shame, I am not only surviving - but thriving. My heart, no, our hearts, are mending. Our relationship, still with struggles, tattered and torn yet, is on the mend. I am a living, breathing, surviving, and thriving ‘But God’ testimony.

Stories 2019 | Seven seconds

 

Jeff works so hard. He is an assistant superintendent for a thriving commercial construction company here in the southeast and the jobs he has held for the past several years have been as a logistics superintendent on large jobsites where multiple superintendents are a necessity. As a logistical superintendent he’s responsible for all the moving parts and pieces in and out of the site, and maintaining good order of the jobsite. His current jobsite is on 11+ acres tract of land so his days are non-stop going, pushing himself. His steps daily, which are generally over or around 15,000, are only a small reflection of how hard he works. In the southeast summer heat, after he comes home, eats, changes clothes, and finally relaxes into the pillows, and lets go, his body simply stops.

I have often joked with Jeff that from the time his butt hits the chair, or bed, it takes him 7 seconds to begin snoring! I know this because I have counted. It is our inside joke, but seriously, he works so hard!

what I've been reading | August

It is that time of the month again when I share what I have been reading, lately. This month I hosted our second book club meeting and discussed our first book club read, The Alice Network. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I could not have envisioned a more perfect first book - club - discussion. Everyone contributed compelling and persuasive dialogue and we all left highly charged for next month's meeting. Huge answer to prayer and yet still blown away by how God worked it all out.

That being said I think that 'required' reading - my book club read - was the culprit in a less than stellar reading finish for August. I only read 8 books this month I know, say it isn't so! But, when I am used to reading 10-12 books a month I consider this sorely lacking. I have already learned from my book club reading hiccup and will be reading September's selection first with a quick review prior to our next reading. Then, the remaining days of September will be for pleasure reading. Although, I am sure I will derive substantial delight from Where the Crawdads Sing, my book club's September selection.

Again, this month I have created pages for inclusion into my READ traveler's notebook. As always I have been using digital products from mostly Ali Edwards, In a Creative Bubble, and Kellie's Stamps. Enjoy.

Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George. The second installment in the Inspector Lynley series with his proverbial sidekick Sergeant Inspector Barbara Havers in another exceptional, twisted, and complex murder mystery. A couple dropped clues had me believing I knew who the killer was - suckered me and except for a bit of an anti-climactic ending, Payment in Blood was particularly un-put-down-able. 74/120

The Lieutenants, Brotherhood of War series by W.E.B. Griffin. I'm sure The Lieutenants is not for everyone because it is replete with military terms and lingo. As retired Air Force and married to a former Army special operations aviation regiment (airborne) soldier, it is right up my genre alley and I am comfortable with most of the language peppered throughout the book, even though it is in 1940's military vernacular. Griffin seamlessly entwines the plethora of character-driven story lines with military history. My attention was caught, immediately, and held as the book moved rapidly through time and through characters back and forth. While we are being introduced to Lieutenants, there are various ranks represented with strong supporting parts, as mentors, or if this was Griffin's police series, the term Rabbi might be used. This series begins at the end of WWII and takes us, historically, through often little-known military presence and the men (and women) impacted and their parts in the story. Loved The Lieutenants so much I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Jeff has the entire series and it is his favorite of all of W.E.B. Griffin's series', which he has read all - and has all for that matter. 75/120

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn. An amazing first book club read. 76/120

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. 77/120

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary. Make it past chapter eleven because that is as long as it takes to get real with the book and the characters and you fall in love with them. So hang on. You're gonna' love it. And, it is the characters who are amazing! It is not simply the main characters, either, but, the supporting cast of characters are perfection. 78/120

Like Lions by Brian Panowich. Think of the wild west but set in the hills of northern Georgia when family's rule the region and are only loved because of the fear they elicit. There is so much meanness and harshness and frustration and little redeeming qualities of any of the characters, even the main character Clayton, although he has truly been dealt life's harshest of blows in the family he was raised, but man, it was like watching a movie of the cattle baron who takes over the town because he is feared. 79/120

Night by Elie Wiesel. Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, having survived Nazi death camps, writes a horrifying personal accounting of his agonizing witness and participation to shocking brutality toward Jews, the death of his family, the death of innocence, and the death of his God. 80/120

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips. After the first chapter (chapters are set in months) sets up the mystery, every chapter following introduces portraits of women within a small Russian community on the Kamchatka Peninsula, each women searching for something other than what they are living. On the one hand it was intriguing, revealing the people, the natives, the immigrants of this tundra community. How they existed and dwelled, yet not really living, each a part of the missing girls even as a glance. And on the other hand, frustrating with each passing chapter, and little mystery resolution. Could it be simply the portraits of women that was the point? Aside from the story I loved reading about some place else, the living in the unknown. 81/120