Scrapbook

My sister was challenged by her friend to create a scrapbook layout based on 100 things that she loves. Her page inspired me to create my own. The list was easier than I thought and here is the result. If you are a scrapbooker grab a piece of paper and start your own list. Even if you don't scrapbook, the list is fun...and it might inspire you to start.

1. My family

2. Worship dance

3. The sound of water

4. Thunderstorms

5. French silk ice cream

6. The feel of the sun

7. Beauty and the geek

8. Flowers

9. Bubble baths

10. Shoes of any kind

11. Surprises

12. Travel

13. Painted toes

14. Playing with my niece

15. White chocolate mochas

16. New york and company

17. Scrapbooking

18. Decorating

19. A good book

20. Survivor

21. Sleeping in

22. Hot tea

23. Mountains

24. The smell of cut grass

25. The first snowfall of winter

26. Christmas morning

27. Clearance racks

28. Laughing until I cry

29. Popcorn

30. Cookies hot from the oven

31. Macy’s

32. Recollections

33. Anything pink

34. Two day weekends

35. Ideas

36. Quilting with Grandma

37. Emails from friends

38. Flying anywhere

39. Knowing I can

40. Coffee

41. Green grass

42. Manicures

43. Shopping

44. Spontaneity

45. Willow trees

46. Journaling

47. Spring

48. A Walk to Remember

49. Delilah

50. Candles

51. Naps

52. Things that sparkle

53. Reminiscing with my siblings

54. Doing something for someone else

55. Visiting big cities

56. Coming home

57. Talking to mom

58. Dancing with Aliza

59. Being a princess

60. Staying in hotels

61. Paris

62. he Pacific Ocean

63. Towns in the middle of nowhere

64. bookmooch.com

65. Being healthy

66. Learning something new

67. The Alps

68. Air conditioning in summer

69. Driving without directions

70. Old friends

71. High heels

72. Tea parties

73. Experimental cooking

74. Breakfast for supper

75. Stars

76. Traditions

77. Photo shoots

78. Long hair

79. Fishing

80. Chocolate

81. Sunsets

82. Flowered screwdrivers

83. Books by Karen Kingsbury

84. A finished scrapbook

85. Hugs

86. When a spider dies

87. Crossing the bay bridge

88. Sing Only Hope with Laura and Linda

89. Ebay

90. Jesus

91. When God feels near

92. Miracles

93. Not getting lost

94. Romance

95. Making someone smile

96. New hairstyles

97. Resolving a conflict (someone else’s)

98. Mary Kay

99. Church bells

100. Actually loving 100 things

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Back in high school I took some flower arranging classes and recently I decided to take the couple more classes I need to get a certificate. The class I'm in now is high design, I've never done an arrangement with only one or two flowers before but I'm happy with how they have turned out. It might be my new favorite style. My teacher told me he would hire me if he had a shop...I'm hoping that someone with a shop will agree with him. It would be a fun part-time job.

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Aliza 0020

Aliza's 1st birthday was quite a celebration. She appeared to thoroughly enjoy every moment of it from the pretty cake, to the fancy wrapping paper and the treasures inside the boxes. I think she enjoyed the boxes and tissue paper as much as the gifts. She couldn't wait for her first present and tried hard to reach for it all the way up on Aunt Meghan's head! Her build a bear from Aunts Laura and Linda got a great big smile and a hug. Then she got a makeshift swing ride from Grandad and Uncle Brian. She would have been content there for as long as they kept holding her up. I gave her bubble bath, she's still a little mystified by it but the water splashes just as good with bubbles in it so I thinks she likes it.

She looks so big on these pictures. I would love to keep her small but each change is more fun as she shows more personality. I'm so lucky to be her aunt.

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So I found this video clip "News from Iraq" on Bill's blog but wasn't smart enough to figure out how to copy it (Meghan isn't surprised given my MySpace unsuccess :) so go to his blog and watch it. It's worth it.

 http://blueg.vox.com/library/video/6a00c22523fe2d604a00d414198512685e.html

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December 2006 036

I finally finished the wall hanging I've been working on for the past month or two. Grandma helped me pick out the fabric when I visited her in October. She is the queen of quilting. We went to the fabric store where she quilts and pulled out more bolts of fabric than a person could possibly use. We had fun trying different color combinations and here is the result. I made up the design because I'm terrible at following patterns, it isn't quite how I pictured it but it was a good trial and I'll know better for next time. I'm planning on a full size quilt for the next one but I need a break so I can forget how long it takes before I start again!

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What a year. It has been full of excitement and adventure, love, tears, lots of change, fear, and rejoicing. I'm amazed at how much has happened, it feels like last January was only a few months ago. I was commenting on how crazy this year has been and my sister kindly pointed out that 2005 was crazy for me and so was the year before. Either this is normal life or I need to slow down. Here is a condensed version of 2006:

January-a visit to Switzerland, full of discovery

February-I resign my job at the Alban Institute in preparation for a move to Switzerland

March-the birth of my beautiful niece Aliza, I'm an aunt for the first time

April-I leave Alban and move home

May-I spend a week with my Gramma in the hospital

June-a trip to California, meeting lots of new people

July-move to Switzerland

August-learning to be Swiss

September-move back to the U.S., discober a growth on my thyroid

October-lots of doctor appointments

November- thyroid surgery, the left half was removed, no cancer!

December-another niece or nephew is on the way

For those that can read between the lines, a lot was happening around these events. I want a year with less drama but I've never been content to live an uncomplicated life. Maybe I'll change or maybe that is just who I am. I've wondered where God was through all this and I don't understand why all the things that happen in a year are necessary but God was there and he has provided exactly what I needed through all of it. He is enough.

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Brian and Meghan announced that they are expecting a baby. Meghan is due in September. That means I'm going to be an aunt again! There couldn't be any better news than that. My little brother is going to make a great daddy. I can't imagine loving another niece or nephew as much as I love Aliza but I know I'll fall in love the same way as soon as I see this baby.

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Woohoo! I got a good pathology report, no cancer! Aliza was so happy she gave me kisses, sweet, slobbery, 8 month old kisses. :) Maybe she didn't know what was going on but her timing was good anyway. I'm so relieved not to have to worry about this anymore. I do have something called Hashimoto's Disease and it is very welcome. It only means that at some point in the future the remaining part of my thyroid may become enlarged or get nodules like the removed side did and then I will have to take medication or have it removed.

Read about Hashimoto's at http://endocrineweb.com/thyroiditis.html. Or better yet, forget about thyroid problems, thank God for everything you can think of, and enjoy your day. That's my plan.

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Surgery was successful and I'm home recupperating. Actually I feel better than I have in weeks. It is such a weight lifted to know that that thing is out of my neck. The surgeon said that the mass was entirely confined to the thyroid and he removed all of it. I still have to wait a few days to hear the pathology report but I feel wonderful at the moment. I've had very little pain and haven't taken anything more than ibuprofen since I've been home. I was in the hospital overnight and my nurse felt guilty for not doing more for me. I slept all night and only woke up when she came in, I thought it was a great thing. The weeks leading up were definately more difficult than the surgery. The nurse who checked me in got annoyed with me for not having insurance and refusing a pregnancy test, she thought I was pretty irresponsible but I think she got over it. I decided right before surgery as they were putting the IV in that I really didn't want this to be happening. I admit it was bad timing to decide that, a little late, but they gave me something for anxiety and pretty soon I was over it. I have a pretty wonderful family. Mom and Dad were with my the whole time and everyone came to visit that evening in my hospital room. Carla brought Aliza along. She's great, Aliza has no clue when she's supposed to be quiet and serious and so she was full of smiles and giggles and had fun bouncing on my mattress that changed air pressure on its own. She was much to young to be allowed in the hospital but my hall was pretty empty so the nurse just looked the other way after exclaiming how cute she is.

I was thinking back this morning on everything God has done to bring me to today and how wonderfully he cares for me. The prayers of many people have been holding me up when all I could do was cry and now it is time to rejoice and to trust him for a good pathology report.

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November 2006 006

The day before surgery Dad took me on fishing trip. We joined the crew of the Morning Star to voyage about 15 miles out of Ocean City. It was a beautiful day. There's no better feeling than the rise and fall of the waves, smelling the salt, occassionally getting drenched by the sea spray, and the freedom of being the only boat for miles in a world that is perfectly round and flat, unchanging for as far as the eye can see and dreaming of all the different lands that touch this same ocean. Ok, so I like being on the water. Best of all, we caught fish! Every time our hooks hit the bottom we didn't have to wait more than a few seconds for a sea bass to come along and snatch the bait. We each had our limit by noon and for the next half hour helped the rest of the fishermen get their limit. Dad and I won the contest of seeing who caught the biggest fish by having the two heaviest. I was the only girl on board which no one overlooked. Everyone else had a name as far as I could tell but I was simply "the girl." At least it was good, "The girl caught the first fish", "good thing you brought the girl with you, she's catchin' fish"...I even baited my hook most of the time and took a few fish off the hook when the mate wasn't nearby. It takes me too long but one of these times I'll get good at it. Until then that's what Dad is for. It worked quite well that while he was taking the fish off of my hook I would bring one in on his line. I'm lucky he still takes me along!

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