Description: This is my #3 layout for the 20K contest. The journaling is on the tags under the photo pockets. The journaling reads:
Things that make me SMILE:
-The crooked part in the back of Meagan’s hair when she’s wearing pigtails.
-The way Mocha (my dog) will turn in circles three or four times before settling in the perfect position.
-how Steve and I still make each other laugh after all these years (last week when coming home in a snowstorm from a family party, Steve pointed to a guy bundled up from head to toe crossing the street up ahead and said look it‘s the abominable snowman, I immediately reached for my camera and yelped “I’ve got it covered!” and started pretending to snap photo’s with uncontrollably shaking hands (because those kinds of photos are notoriously unclear). Steve and I looked at each other and started laughing and giggling hysterically - almost waking the girls in the backseat! I still smile when I think of those silly moments.

Things that bring me COMFORT:
- that soft snort/snore my dog makes when she’s really, really comfy.
-soft flannel duvet covers and comfy P.J.’s
-every 4 months when my Dad comes back from a visit to the oncologist and calls to let me know that the Doctor says that he won’t need to see him for another 4 months.
-Steve’s big warm hands at the base of my neck when he knows I’m worrying about something.

Things that CONFOUND and FRUSTRATE me:
-I’m not a stupid person but when someone tries to give me directions and start saying ‘ Just head North on this street then go south … I just stand there like a deer in headlights, it’s like my mind shuts off as soon as someone starts spouting directions!
-long line-ups and finding parking during the holidays.
-people who won’t eat fruit because they refuse to eat carbs -Hello! There’s a lot more to fruit than just carbs what about vitamins and fibre.

Things that bring me JOY:
-the way our garden looks in the spring when all the flowers and plants have just come in everything dewy and green with NO WEEDS!
-every spring when Steve cuts me a huge bouquet of French Lilacs from our backyard for our anniversary making the whole house smells so fragrant. It reminds me of our wedding where every table had a huge bouquet of lilacs on it.
-opening a fresh box of 64 crayons and spending an hour or so with the girls just ‘creating artwork’.
-cranking up the tunes and just dancing with my girls, (usually while I’m trying to get some housework done)




What I know about MYSELF:

I’m a sensitive person and perhaps too easily brought to tears, but I’ve decided perhaps that’s not such a bad thing since it is also what makes me more empathetic to other peoples feelings.

I have started to get some fine lines on my face (don’t say wrinkles!) that weren’t there a couple years ago, but I’m also OK with that, I’ve come by them through laughter and tears and I know it’s mostly through joy and laughter - so I now feel they’re good lines.

The one sense I could never do without is my sense of sight. I’ve been near-sighted all my life and have dealt with the frustration of eyeglasses and contact lenses forever. But I’m grateful for the sight that I have because I’m such a visual person. Since I was a child I always loved to take in all the beauty in the world, whether it be the colours in nature, beautiful architecture or the freckles on a child’s nose. I love to paint all the beauty I see and without my art my life would not be as rich and full as it is now.

I do know this, with all the ups and downs I’ve had in my life, it’s the ‘downs’ I’ve learned from and the ‘ups’ I cherish and remember. All I know is - Life is good.
Things that make me SMILE:
-The crooked part in the back of Meagan’s hair when she’s wearing pigtails.
-The way Mocha (my dog) will turn in circles three or four times before settling in the perfect position.
-how Steve and I still make each other laugh after all these years (last week when coming home in a snowstorm from a family party, Steve pointed to a guy bundled up from head to toe crossing the street up ahead and said look it‘s the abominable snowman, I immediately reached for my camera and yelped “I’ve got it covered!” and started pretending to snap photo’s with uncontrollably shaking hands (because those kinds of photos are notoriously unclear). Steve and I looked at each other and started laughing and giggling hysterically - almost waking the girls in the backseat! I still smile when I think of those silly moments.

Things that bring me COMFORT:
- that soft snort/snore my dog makes when she’s really, really comfy.
-soft flannel duvet covers and comfy P.J.’s
-every 4 months when my Dad comes back from a visit to the oncologist and calls to let me know that the Doctor says that he won’t need to see him for another 4 months.
-Steve’s big warm hands at the base of my neck when he knows I’m worrying about something.

Things that CONFOUND and FRUSTRATE me:
-I’m not a stupid person but when someone tries to give me directions and start saying ‘ Just head North on this street then go south … I just stand there like a deer in headlights, it’s like my mind shuts off as soon as someone starts spouting directions!
-long line-ups and finding parking during the holidays.
-people who won’t eat fruit because they refuse to eat carbs -Hello! There’s a lot more to fruit than just carbs what about vitamins and fibre.

Things that bring me JOY:
-the way our garden looks in the spring when all the flowers and plants have just come in everything dewy and green with NO WEEDS!
-every spring when Steve cuts me a huge bouquet of French Lilacs from our backyard for our anniversary making the whole house smells so fragrant. It reminds me of our wedding where every table had a huge bouquet of lilacs on it.
-opening a fresh box of 64 crayons and spending an hour or so with the girls just ‘creating artwork’.
-cranking up the tunes and just dancing with my girls, (usually while I’m trying to get some housework done)




What I know about MYSELF:

I’m a sensitive person and perhaps too easily brought to tears, but I’ve decided perhaps that’s not such a bad thing since it is also what makes me more empathetic to other peoples feelings.

I have started to get some fine lines on my face (don’t say wrinkles!) that weren’t there a couple years ago, but I’m also OK with that, I’ve come by them through laughter and tears and I know it’s mostly through joy and laughter - so I now feel they’re good lines.

The one sense I could never do without is my sense of sight. I’ve been near-sighted all my life and have dealt with the frustration of eyeglasses and contact lenses forever. But I’m grateful for the sight that I have because I’m such a visual person. Since I was a child I always loved to take in all the beauty in the world, whether it be the colours in nature, beautiful architecture or the freckles on a child’s nose. I love to paint all the beauty I see and without my art my life would not be as rich and full as it is now.

I do know this, with all the ups and downs I’ve had in my life, it’s the ‘downs’ I’ve learned from and the ‘ups’ I cherish and remember. All I know is - Life is good.

The products I used where:
Basic Grey pp - Hang 10 (Dweeb, Rip, and Lulu)
Basic Grey - Holy Cow rub-ons
Bazzill - cardstock in green (for matting)
Heidi Swapp - Chipboard letters (me)
Heidi Swapp - Ghoste Daisy (lightly inked on silk flower)
Making Memories - brads