silly as it sounds...

noche de paz

whenever i hear the tune of 'silent night' during the holidays, the words in my head are in spanish first.  i don't know why; it's not something i do regularly with anything else.  for some reason, the song 'noche de paz' is just like that for me.  :)

i've created some religious themed digital kits for sale at two peas using this theme.

my favorite card is the one to the center-right; it simply says:

"How silently the wondrous gift is giv'n"

from, of course, the christmas carol 'o little town of bethlehem'.  i don't think that phrase
has ever jumped out at me like it has this year.  it is one of those thoughts that is so
profoundly simple; the kind that makes you really think about what things in your own
life have been given so silently.  without pomp and circumstance, without fanfare, void
of any kind of heraldry.....but all the while, oh, so very much more important than most
all else.

i'm also having fun with this one...another version of some cards for cozy christmas.

has your christmas been cozy so far?
here's to a very cozy christmas.
:)
xoxo

the undiscovered nativity

today i will share with you
a lesser known chapter in the nativity story,
one of the undiscovered, unsung allegories
that takes place during the advent of the holidays.

this piece takes place in my backyard,
in the present day.

and it came to pass that there were
golden retrievers in the backyards,
grazing in the fields,
keeping watch over their digestion
by daylight.

and lo,
the mother of the household came unto them
and said,
stop that.
and they did harken not.

NOLA inspiration

last month, my husband and i were fortunate enough to travel to new orleans, louisiana and stay in the french quarter.  though my experience walking once down bourbon street was enough to never have to do that again, i will say the the rest of the vieux carre was delightful and incredibly inspiring during the day! 

the above photo was taken from the vantage point of william faulkner's favorite spot to sit and write, and is actually the exact spot where he wrote his first novel in 1925, Soldier's Pay.  it was weird....i took the photo because i was struck by the beauty of the vantage point.  only later did i figure out i was not the first to admire the view....!

i took hundreds of pictures, and saw incredible works of art.  my favorite gallery by far was getting ready for an exhibit by Royo, and had we been there 3 more days, i actually could have MET him.  i can't tell you the emotion that was in this room as i stood there surrounded by his art.  it was so moving...my heart was racing, my breath was caught in my throat, my eyes were unblinking, and i think my hands and feet were not connected to my body for awhile....i was awestruck.  i love that about art; that it can do that to one's soul.  that it can transcend terrestrial parameters and just strike you down like that.

this one in particular was my favorite.  it is huge.  the picture does not do it justice.  i stood there, frozen, and realized i was crying.  if i had about 11K, i would have dropped it on the spot for this bad boy.  LOL.  but in the meantime, i'll just have to get by with the vivid memory of it's beauty.  and the photo i snagged from the street....

okay....that's all for now, but more on my nola inspiration later.  i have so much to share!

also....more on the awesome new printer i've been playing with lately for my christmas projects and digital printing....this thing is rad!

new digital goodies!

new digital designs for your scrapbooking, crafting, and paper crafting needs, for sale via TwoPeas !

happiness + memorial

nothing says happiness like a trip to the happiest place on earth!

it was purely a coincidence that the day after olivia lost her friend, her grandma surprised her with a trip to disneyland that had long been in the works!  i love their expressions her when i dropped them off at the airport:  pure, unadulterated JOY!

also, i want to make note of the obituary posted yesterday in our local paper, the Tacoma News Tribune:  Mercedes

there is a memorial fund set up for her, and in lieu of flowers (and if you feel so inclined), you have the opportunity to donate in her memory.  many of you have emailed me your sweet condolences and kind thoughts, and i thank you --we both thank you!-- from the bottom of our hearts.  several of you have been touched by asthma in some way or another.  it is ironic that olivia herself had a couple close scares with asthma as an infant, as did baylor.   any donations received will go towards pediatric asthma research and additional funeral costs:

ask for the:
Mercedes B. Mears Memorial Fund at
Bank of America (any branch)


we will be going to the viewing tomorrow, and then to the celebration of her life on wednesday.  (information included in the obituary).

PRESENT albums

here are the winners for the albums; send me an email at [email protected] with your name and address so i can "fly" these little guys out to you!

thank you all for joining in on the fun!

I love the butterflies on the books. That totally gives me the incentive to take some pictures and make a little book. I actually took my camera to work today and took some pictures, so I have a start. What a wonderful idea!

Alicia in Salem

Posted by: AliciaH in Salem | 01 October 2008 at 08:48 PM

********************

Ok, I have taken my photos, I just need a place to put them. This was so fun. My fingers are crossed.
Shaun

Posted by: Shaun Paddock | 01 October 2008 at 06:17 PM

********************

I love butterflies, so happy that they re becoming popular. I just wrapped up Stacy's Have More FUN class and can't wait to make this mini book.

Posted by: TracyBzz | 01 October 2008 at 08:49 PM

loss

i've been trying to write this for a day and a half, and just can't get the words right.

so i'm just going to take a deep breath and dive into the heart of it.

on tuesday, one of my daughter olivia's dear friends in her class at school passed away unexpectedly from complications of an asthma attack.  she was cared for and aided by paramedics at the school and taken to a hospital where she later died.  she was only a fifth grader.

no matter which way you turn it, the death of a child is just the saddest thing there is.

my heart aches for olivia and her pain, for the child's family and their incomprehensible loss, and for olivia's dear teacher who is trying so valiantly to hold it all together for her class.

"she was the one person who would always keep my secrets for me and not embarrass me,"  olivia explained to me.  "i could always count on her.  she was like the sister i never had."

that first night was surreal and long; sleep was elusive.  i heard a cry from my daughter that was so indescribably sad; the only word i can think of is keening.  it went on for hours.  i just held her and listened to her words and her cries; i rocked her and petted her hair and got her more kleenex.  it's all you can do at a time like that.

i am so thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the testimony i have of His gospel.  for the Plan of Salvation He has in place for all of His children and the peace and comfort given to us by His Comforter, the Holy Ghost. 

i don't talk about my faith too much here.  i guess i just do too much of the daily living of it to have the time to do much talking about it.  but the underlying foundation of my every moment in every day is rooted in the testimony i have of Him. 

in times like this, when our view of mortality becomes so fragile and delicate, when our questions and grief are so overwhelmingly strong; it is in these times that i am

saturated in the clarity of my faith.

ode to cords

my umbilical
to the electronic world,
they slither into incomprehensible clusters
cowering in dusty corners and multiplying behind sturdy furniture.

tendrils reaching,
entangling;
offering endless supply of information and capability
inducing endless strings of confusion and TV-14 rated cursing.

i love my cords.

i hate my cords.

i hate office supply store clever corporate cord camouflage contraptions.

so i did the only thing i know how.

i tagged them.

i love my tags.

 

light on

okay, this just needed it's own post.

full album out nov 18
single out......
NOW!

conan + julia + tina

i have a serious love affair with conan,
aside from the fact the he accompanies me many an evening
on my late-night scrapbooking forays,
he is just so dang hilarious

my favorites are "the year 2000"
and his forays out-of-studio...

this one made me laugh so hard,
i stomped on the floor and woke the cat

i'm so glad he's taking over for jay;
that will be magic

and

i'll get to sleep earlier  ;)

tina's acceptance speech was genius :)

give yourself a PRESENT

join me...and many many others!...in embracing the PRESENT in your daily life.

you have everything you need right now to be vibrant and fully engaged in the creative process.

here's how you can do it:

·        take and compile ten photos of your life as it is right now.

·        compile these photos in a really small, portable mini-album

·        keep or carry this album with you (in your desk drawer or purse) for one year.

·        promise to just at least glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it from your purse.

·        On October 1^st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience. Don’t  worry, I’ll blog and help you remember!

here's a little incentive....i made 3 more little books with my pack of embroidered KI butterflies (which i looooove!) 

you have 3 days to post your commitment to participate, and i'll choose from the comments 3 names.  those 3 will get one of the above matching mini-albums!  :)