Evelyn "Evie" Grace Alexander

Let me tell you a little about our sweet niece Evie.

She was born on September 17, 2011. 

She was 1 pound  10 ounces and 13 inches long.

She had the most perfect fingers and toes I have ever seen.

Her daddy won the debate over her hair color... It was blond like his.

She had a perfect button nose like her mommy... Who had desperately been praying that would be the case.

Her ears were perfectly round and symmetrical.

She was born into a family who loves her, and anticipated her coming with so much joy.

She was due on Thanksgiving Day; and we are thankful to have loved her and lost her than to have never known her at all.

She is in our thoughts, prayers, and hearts every moment of every day.

In the words of her mommy, "She is being kept by the best babysitter until I have a chance to have her again."

She is our Angel.

"These are my footprints,
so perfect and so small.
These tiny footprints
never touched the ground at all.
Not one tiny footprint,
for now I have wings.
These tiny footprints were meant
for other things.
You will hear my tiny footprints,
in the patter of the rain.
Gentle drops like angel's tears,
of joy and not from pain.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in each butterflies' lazy dance.
I'll let you know I'm with you,
if you just give me the chance.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in the rustle of the leaves.
I will whisper names into the wind,
and call each one that grieves.
Most of all, these tiny footprints,
are found on Mommy and Daddy's hearts.
'Cause even though I'm gone now,
We'll never truly part."

Finally Friday.. Hey Hey Hey!

I'm starting a new trend for myself of only posting once every month or so, and so far it is working fabulously... Lol Just kidding.  My infrequency in not a purposeful thing; just a "I have an office job, go to school full time, student teach, and have a husband" thing. Don't feel too bad my blog; my laundry gets neglected too (I am not sure that I should admit that).

I have been through quite a bit lately. Some good, some not so good, but what would life be without it's ups and downs?  I am going to try something new by taking one day out of the week and making several posts, then saving them to publish on a different date.  It is good in theory; we will see how long it lasts  =-).

Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite new websites, Pinterest.  I am sure most everyone has heard of it by now, but if not you MUST check it out! It is amazing!  Is it a virtual bulletin board(s) where you pin pictures of the things you are interested in.  Once you join, you place a little pin it button on the tool bar of your web browser, and whenever you come across something you absolutely love click the pin it button and it will ask you what you want to pin.  You make your selection, choose which of your boards to put it on, and BOOM you have successfully made a pin.  One of the great things about Pinterest is that when you click on something you or someone else has pinned, it will bring you back to the ORIGINAL site where it was found.  Pretty snazzy if I do say so myself.

And Now (in a commentator voice), I am going to share some of my favorite pins from this week.
*click on the pictures to bring you to the pinboard*

From my For the Home board:  Isn't this bedroom beautiful. I am in LOVE with that brick wall.

From my Craftines board:  I have been knitting up a storm lately (examples will hopefully be on a later post), and I love this blanket.  The lady did it with PVC pipe *gasp*

From What's For Supper:  A coffee milkshake.... My two favorite food groups: coffee and ice cream!

And finally from Beauty:  A way to mend a broken finger-nail... Fabulous!

There are so many things that bring inspiration from this website, and I have tried several things that I have pinned.  My plan is to post on things that worked or was not-so-much successful.

Hope you have fun with my (and if you don't watch out ... your) new addiction.  If you need someone to follow click on me!

Are you holding on?

These words are not mine today.  One of my friends is has a blog called ninety days where she is going through several 90 day challenges all together to get spiritually and physically healthy.  There is some really inspiring stuff and if you want to know more about about it click here.  


Anyways today she posted this video:

I don't know about you, but this is what I needed to hear today [more like the kick in the rear I needed].  With this being my last year of school, we [I say we because I have been with the same girls and one guy for the past 3 years... we come as a whole] have been bombarded with requirements and stipulations for in the classroom and out in the field.  And though I have not admitted it out loud I have put living my life completely surrendered to God on the back burner.  Saying that I will have time for it when I get my degree. But y'all I am so missing my opportunity to share the light, His Light, with those that surround me.  I just mentioned that I  have had the same classes with the same people for the past three years; I wonder how much I have been an example to them in stressful situations of letting God take control?  I want to sink my head in shame at the desk I am typing at right now...


God never promised us a perfect landing with a score of 10 across the board, but even if you I stumble through the entire routine, at least an effort was made. You know that famous saying, "it's the thought that counts"?  I believe it is irrelevant in this situations.  People cannot see your thoughts. Don't misunderstand me it is good to think of doing God's will and thinking silent prayers to Him.  But people, those around you, my classmates, will see my actions.


We have been called to "Go" [Matt. 28:9]. It is time for some reevaluation to see if we I am still holding on.

My name is Olivia...

I have never been good at keeping diaries, and I guess my blogging skills do not differ.  Though I have been keeping up with things that I follow (somewhat) over the summer, I just seemed to be in an anti blog posting mood.  I never really started this blog to display all of my thoughts and feelings, but I think it's about time I turn over a new leaf.   This is not a promise to blog every day and flood this small piece of the internet with everything that goes through my head (someone may have me committed if that were the case).  This is simply documenting small parts of my life.  


I am not going to stop posting the scrapbooking and card making that I do (though I have for the past three months...); I will just be adding to it.  Some days I may just say a few words, some may have pictures, some crafts, and  some I may even go all Beth Moore on you  =-).  


So let's begin. My name is Olivia. This is me...

I love photography, children, teaching, animals, crafting, scrapbooking... I am married to a man that I do not deserve, and am in the final steps of becoming a teacher. I have a current addiction to Chick-fil-a ice cream cones and Pinterest. If you are not familiar with Pinterest... click the link. You will not be sorry you did, and follow me if  you want to while your at it =-).  I am beginning to  notice that I am becoming a lot like my father in that I want to redo/refinish anything I can get my hands on.  I always joke with him that every time we talk he is renovating a different room in their house (which is not an exaggeration).  


Today was one of those "lightbulb" (this is said in a Despicable Me voice) type of days.  After finding out that the hubs still needs an entire list of medical supplies and a few more books than he has (after spending over $900 on books already) the bank refused to let me get money out of our school fund because he was not with me (working at the time and of course it is his name on the account).  Because my emotional state this week was already on rocky ground (last week of summer, last day at my job, plus other things that as a female I cannot avoid) a few, or a lot, of tears were shed.  It may sound silly, and thinking back on it I think it does )for some reason money and finances always get me in a tizzy). I kept thinking to myself that it is out of my control, and it was/is.  I calmed down and consciously made the decision to place everything, all of my thoughts and actions in God's control.  This is something that I have been working on in my life for a while now.
I cannot do this on my own... I cannot do this on my own... I have to keep telling myself that, and I know that it is true because when I try I end up frustrated, mad, and upset.  God will give us the strength to get through it.  Monday the bank will open and Hubs can go up, take what we need for this semester of Physical Therapy school, and put my name on the account.


So.... This was obviously a "Beth Moore" post... I hope you were not bored too much with my trivial rantings! 


TTFN... Tah Tah for now  =)

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 12

MPS Challenge #12--Make a Scrapbook Page, Card, or other with a Kid's theme!  

Last but not least is a final LO.  I used Artful Delight's sketch #7 for this one, and also paper from the April kit.  My niece and nephew came up this weekend, and we went to the park for a BBQ celebration.  This is going to be some of the pictures I got of them playing on the playground.

So, if you stayed with me throughout this whole ordeal you deserve a gold star! LOL! Seriously though, I had a blast.  I did not realize that I could finish 6 projects in 5 hours; I love challenges. Until next time...

Olivia

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 11

MPS Challenge #11--Make a project and use Pink, Green and Black in it!


Another card... I again used Even More Punny Licious for this.  It is a thank you card to my boss.

One more to go!

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 10

MPS Challenge #10--Make a layout or card with a pet in it!


I actually made a card for this one.  I am not sure if a bee counts as a pet or not, but when I saw the "Happy Bee-lated Birthday" stamp from Robyn's Even More Punny Licious I couldn't help but use it.  This is actually for my Grandmother.  I will get to see her next weekend which is shortly after her birthday.

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 9

MPS Challenge #9--Use Glitz, Glam and Glitter in your project!


Yes... Another LO. This sketch is from Artful Delight also (I believe it is sketch #8).  I made this to document my husband's college graduation.  Yay!  =-)
I used my Irock for all of the studs and Stickles to give the letters some bling.

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 8

MPS Challenge #8--Make a summer themed project!


I again made a layout... I guess I am in a LO mindset.  I used the current sketch from Peachy Keen's Tuesday challenge and more of Artful Delight's May kit (I LOVE all of this paper... so cute).

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 7

MPS Challenge #7--Make a Scrapbook Page!


For this challenge I wanted to make a page that I could put some of this summers pictures on.  I used the May sketch and paper kit from Artful Delight.

I truly LOVE the way this turned out.  Now on to the next challenge....

My Pink Stamper NSD Challeng 6

Challenge #6--Incorporate a TAG into your project!


For this project I decided to created a layout.  I am really loving all of these challenges (that I actually have time to participate in). It is giving me a chance to use some of the paper I have been stashing up.  I used My Minds Eye to create this layout.  I used a sketch from Artful Delight.  She is having tons of. really good sketches this month; if you need some help for inspiration you should go check it out.

The only thing it needs is pictures from our vacation in FL (which will be taken next week).

I believe that is all I have for tonight, but I will be back tomorrow to finish the last six challenges  =-)

Olivia

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 5

Challenge # 5 - Any 3-D item OR if that is too much of a challenge then add a 3-D item on your scrapbook page or card!

I hope that both of these count as "3-D" =-).  I also got these done yesterday.  We had a BBQ last night (still celebrating graduation), and I wanted to have some decor for out there.  When I saw that this challenge as for 3-D, I figured I would give it a try.


PS:  This banner can also be entered in Peachy Keen's current Let's Face It Friday Challenge: Banner Up

Banner:

And a Pop-up Card:

I loved making the banner... I see more of those in my future.  And I LOVE the way the card turned out!  This cartridge is turning out to be one of my faves...

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 4

Challenge # 4 - This one was to create anything Mother's Day themed.


This was actually one of the challenges I was able to work on yesterday (it's a good thing too considering today IS Mother's Day).  I have two cards made because both of our mother's came up for Jacob's graduation.

These are both super simple and super fast/easy.  I didn't have much time to work with, but needless to say they both loved them.  (Do Mother's ever NOT love something given to them by their children?)

My Pink Stamper NSD Challenge 3

On to Challenge # 3 - This one is to make a card, scrapbook page, or 3-D item with a breast cancer theme.

Now, I did not really go the traditional route with this.  Cancer, no matter what type, is a hard and long battle that cannot be fought alone.  Allot of the time it is the loving support from family and close friends that keep the person going.  So, I wanted to focus on the fact that they are not going through this alone; we will fight this battle together.

More to come.....

National Scrapbook Day! MPS Challenge 1

Well, technically NSD was yesterday; however, my husband graduated from college yesterday so we were a little busy.  

In case you did not know, Robyn from My Pink Stamper had a huge all day event of challenges and giveaways. I was able to steal away during "nap time" yesterday and make things for a couple of the challenges, but I wanted to wait and post them in order.

So here we go... Challenge # 1 - Make anything cupcake.

  

I love all the bright colors of this card; it gets me all the  more excited for summer  =-)!

Most of the paper is from Artful Delight's May kit and the cupcake cut is from Everyday Popup cartridge cut at 3.25 inches.

I have many more posts for you (making up for lost time), so stay tuned!  

Olivia

Thank Goodness the World Isn't Flat

Because by now I surely would have fallen off the edge, and according to blogger world I really have.  I officially took my last final and turned in my last project yesterday, and I could not be more ecstatic. This was a rough semester, and I had to take a break from by hobbies while I buckled down and got everything finished.  This semester really taught me something (more than just how to teach k-4 students), I have an ongoing battle with control...  =-0 confession time!  Lol, seriously though there is absolutely no way that I could have gotten through these last few weeks on my own, and even though I am currently talking about surrendering control to God, I am not limiting it to that.  I, like my mother (shocking how much I notice I am like her the older I get), have a certain way of doing EVERYTHING; from folding towels, to washing and putting up dishes to dusting... there are certain ways that it "should" be done.  And my husband, though bless his heart he really tries, does not understand this aspect of me.  However, between all three 20+ page papers, ten children's books I had to finish writing, and every test I was studying for (all within the last four weeks) I had the epiphany that it is okay if things are not perfect.  Even though the fold is not symmetrical the towels are still put up, and he deserves a gold star and blue ribbon for helping.


God has blessed me with so much, and I really felt guilty for a while because I  was not appreciating it.  How could a God still love me and take care of me when I was pushing Him away while saying, "No thank you. I got this."  Which, in all honesty, I really did not "have" this.  Then after prompted to be ready to tell and explain my favorite Bible verse on the last night of our Journey Group (Bible Study group) the other night, I picked up my Bible and read a passage that I have leaned on so many times, but had let grow cold in my heart.  

Romans 8:35-39

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long; 

   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The reason I love this passage so much is because no matter how much we push God away and say, "No, I got this."  The harder he holds on.  He is not going to let me go; I cannot and will not be separated from Him.  

I don't have anything crafty to show today.  Even though I had to take a break from hobbying, I was still creating things for projects and such, but I may post those at a late date (Besides I have to get my camera fixed.  It decided to break in all the chaos).  However, I do plan on some much needed crafty time this week.  I need to make things for Mother's Day, and my husband is graduating Saturday!!!  Yay!

Sorry for the long rant, but I wanted to say Hi.  I Will Be Back!  =-)

Olivia 

Update (kind of lengthy)

I feel so bad for completely neglecting my blog for the past week and a half or so.  Last week was our spring break, and I thought I was going to be on here every day and just crafting away. However, that obviously did not happen.  My youngest brother and his fiancée came up for a visit and for me to take their engagement pictures.  We had a blast.  I really love natural looking pictures so we went to the park and flew kites!  Of course there were some posie ones too, but it was really fun.  I did work a little bit in my craft room.  I may have mentioned before that for one of my major projects this semester I have to create and illustrate 10 books.  I have several written and I finally used my Bind It All to bind them together.  It was my first time using it, and after a little frustration I got it to work in my favor. I also finished illustrating one that I wrote about the state symbols of Arkansas. 

This is the main character, Susie... Isn't she a cutie? She was created with Everyday Paper Dolls, and her face is from non other but Peachy Keen.

She is joined by her teacher and the new kid named Matthew.

What I do for my books is make the illustrations then I scan them and attach them as pictures to the text in a PowerPoint format.  Scanning them really helps when you are wanting to laminate the book, and then you can use the actual paper illustrations as props while reading.  PowerPoint works really well if you want to create your own book because you can print out the whole pages.

Other than that I have been working on mostly research (yawn).  But I am going to show you the wedding/engagement gift I made for my brother.  You are going to have to excuse the photo quality because it was taken with a cell phone.  I took my favorite from th shoot and framed it with their (future) last name and "established" year under cut from vinyl.  It is hard to see but I also etched their names above and below the picture (between the photo and vinyl).

And lastly I will leave you with a couple of the pictures from the shoot.

Have a great night,

Olivia

21

So, I totally didn't realize I used the same sketch for the past two posts until I was looking through my posts yesterday.  Lol.  Oh well, I guess y'all noticed that I really like this months Imaginisce challenge  =-).  It's simple but sweet.

Well here is something different, and I promise it does not look the same... This card is actually from the current Peachy Keen Tuesday challenge.  I made it for my brother who will be turning the BIG 21 a week from today on the 24th.  Sadly we can't throw him a big party because he is in Afghanistan serving in the Marines, but I will defiantly be sending this his way for now. We can party when he gets back; my family and I aren't drinkers, but we can still throw a good, fun party!

All of the paper, the rope, and the fun numbers are from the March kit from Artful Delight (I really love this kit).  I inked the numbers with some brown ink and used some lime green Stickles.  The circles from Plantin Schoolbook at 2.5, 2.25, and 2 inches.  The studs/bling are done with my iRock, and the ribbon is just some I got from Hobby Lobby I believe.

I am planning to work on some layouts tomorrow. I haven't done any in quite a while, and I really want to get back to it.  So, stay tuned; hopefully there will be some fun stuff coming this way!  =-)

Oh, and I wanted to give a shout out to all of the comments I have had lately.  They are all so sweet and encouraging. I love reading them.  Thanks  for all the kind words!

Olivia

Spring, Spring, Spring!

I love the warmer weather we have been having lately.  I don't even mind the rainy days like today as long as I don't have to bundle under 5 layers  =-)  

I wanted to create a card to celebrate the emerging season. 

This is actually a Critcutless card...  Shocker I know...  I didn't even realize it until I was finished with it.  I popped up the entire layer because the rope was so bulky.  This card coincides with a couple of current challenges.  

Imaginisce Monthly Challenge:  This challenge called for the sketch used; 3 pieces of patterned paper, 3 colors and 3 embellishments

Off The Wall Craftiness Challenge:  This is a color challenge, and called for the colors pink, yellow, and blue.

My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop Challenge:  This was to make anything spring related.

Have a great night,

Olivia

With Sympathy

Well, I am home sick today.  My husband kept a fever of 103 last weekend; we were told it was the flu though he never had an upset stomach.  I thought I was in the clear, but it hit me today...  =-(  

I hate being at home with nothing to do so I went ahead and made a card for a lady in my office who just lost her grandmother.  I know losing loved ones can be hard. I have lost 3 grandparents and an adorable cousin.  I know everyone is different, but the way I (and my family) seem to cope is to celebrate that person's life.

I printed this sentiment for inside of the card off my computer then just mounded it on card stock.

The patterned paper is from the March ArtfulDelight kit I talked about in an earlier post.  I really love this kit. The card stock is from a Recollections pack and the paper for the bird was some scraps I had from Christmas.

Have a good rest of the weekend everyone!

Olivia

So just thought I would post an update about what I have been working on for most of the week.  I am teaching a Kindergarten lesson on sequencing Monday and this is some of the materials that I put together.

It is a folder game where the students will have to layer all of the pieces of the dinosaur together to create the example.

 

There are five different layers to this dino.  The cut is from Create A Critter (I believe they are all cut at 4.75 inches) so they are really simple to layer.

On the back of each layer I put a magnet so they the layers will stay together while working.

 

In the end, if the children "sequence" the layers correctly they get the end result.

I made 12 complete folder games (enough for 24 students if they work in pairs).  And everything had to me laminated, which I did with my Yourstory.  There are a couple other things I made go along with this lesson, but this was the main part.  

On another note I was really excited with I got this in Friday.

It is the March kit from Artful Delight.  If you have never checked them out you should.  She has really great kits, inspiration, and a monthly sketch challenge.

One last note.  If you have some extra time and want to check out some really great blogs go check out Jenn's Birthday Blog Hop presented by Jenn from Scrappin Lil Turtle.  There are 36 lovely ladies all helping Jenn celebrate her 32nd birthday.

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

Olivia