The colors on this page a way more vibrant in real life. Thought this picture was cute of Perry and his babysitter from this summer. 

Relationships

Wow what a crazy weekend. Friday was emotional, too much crazy stuff going on at work. I hate leaving a job upset, just gives you and icky feeling. And on a friday, UGH....It was a good weekend in spite of my emotional state. I really feel like God is stretching me spiritually, like making me evaluate a lot of things in my life. It's a good thing I suppose but sometimes it hurts a little. Funny how you feel like you are going through a crisis, and everything speaks to your emotions. My theory on that is it has to be God trying to get you attention and telling you what you are thinking is right or you are on the right track. Couple things hit home with me this weekend. The message at church was on Luke 4, and becoming a Luke 4 church....awesome stuff in there. But the thing that really moved me and made me think, was the things that clutter our lives and preoccupy our minds, like relationship issues, financial issues, road rage (ha), family issues, kid issues, worrying worrying worrying.....all of this is nothing but distractions, and diversions from us thinking about and embracing our true destiny. I suppose everyone would define their true destiny differently. My destiny? I really feel like God has given me a gift of being able to share my life with others in a way that causes them to be curious, and allows them to wonder on their own what is this God stuff, and eventually God draws them closer to them. Nothing flashy or crazy just living my life according to his purpose. I treated myself to 2 new CD's this weekend, even though I am broke, music helps me reach that happy place I was searching for this weekend. I got Nicole C Mullins new one Everyday People, and Switchfoot- The beautiful let Down....awesome. The chorus of the second song asks the questions......."This is your life, are you who you wanna be?" So I am asking you people out there who read my blog...there may be like 2. When you wake up in the morning, to start your life each day, are you happy with who you are?

Please leave comments even if they are anonymous.

Long Weekend! Yipeee...I love it when I can stay up as late as I want to. I forgot the little detail of Perry won't let me sleep in. I'll survive. I did get to scrap tonight. I actually did 2 pages. I've not done 2 pages at home in a long long time. My sister in law should enjoy this page. This is my brother, and this is what I usually get when I take a picture. I love this page, it turned out awesome. To bad he's being obscene which means it probably will never be published except for here.

First Collage I've ever made, didn't turn out too shabby. Here's pictures of Perry on his first day of 1st grade. He still seems so little to me. I didn't cry, but I took the day off just incase I did get emotional. His Aunt Abby got him the lobster shirt, which is his favorite, so he had to wear it on his first day of school.  

First Day of School

How do people do this year after year? Off he goes first day of 1st grade, today it's new and exciting for everyone in a few weeks we will be agonizing over 15 minutes of homework each night. 15 minutes doesn't seem long, but in Kindergarten it was torture for all involved, however he seems more mature this year so maybe it won't be so bad. He's still little though, which I suppose will always be the case, I was always one of the smallest in the class. I'll post pictures when they are developed.

Another Fun Weekend

Ok so the past few weekends I've not spent with my family. But I see them all the time! I am getting quite a bit of Jodi time, but I like to maintain a good balance. Keeps me sane ya know! This weekend is almost over, and this coming week school start and so does Alpha! Busy busy....but I tried to keep it not so busy this summer because I know how hectic fall and winter can be, and summer is for resting and resting I did. Got to hang out with the Alpha leaders on Saturday for some training, you just can't get enough training in listening skills, it's always good to refresh, someday I will get it completely. The consensus was we are learning to listen to people we don't know very well, however we don't do so good when it comes to our husbands. We tend to want to "fix it" immediately before we've heard everything they have to say. Hummm....maybe I should work on that huh? It's amazing though how more interesting people are when you really listen to what they have to say. Can't wait for another Alpha, strangers are so dang interesting. Ecspecially when they come hungry to know the truth, and willing to explore and ask crazy questions!

Got some scrappin done this weekend first time in a while. Now I am inspired to get my scrappin room cleaned up and scrap! I did 4 pages and this one was my favorite. 

And the Race Begins

Teenagers or college graduates should be reminded to not get all excited when they are done with school, because if they get married and have children, they gotta do it all over again. Kids in school is such hard work. Perry's only in the first grade, I am already dreading homework everynight, and fighting with him to get it done. Maybe this year will be different and he'll look forward to doing homework and love every minute of it! What do people do who have multiple children? Surely they have moments where they completely lose their mind! Ok so Perry starts 1st grade next week and he's completely excited. The unfortunate thing is his teachers name is Mrs. Emenacker, a respectable name true, but very hard to say for a 7 year old. Hopefully she's a nice teacher. The cool thing is she's coming to the house to meet him and his family. How cool is that? Who does that? What better way to get to know someone than in their natural enviroment. Holy cow that's tomorrow, better go clean!

I am finally finished. Here is a sample of some of the trading cards I made for stampaway this weekend. I made a total of 100! These will be trading for other trading cards other people make or for pins people make out of stamped images it's a lot of fun and done at all rubber stamp conventions. 

Crazy Weekend

Wow our Yard Sale was a huge success. We had a blast. We had people come on Saturday only to return on Sunday because we had good stuff, and if we didn't sell in on Saturday they needed to buy it on Sunday. Combined we made close to $1000. We gave away free pop, to show God's love in a practical way. It still baffles me that people are amazed when you give them something for free, even if it's a generic pop. Then on Sunday we gave away free ice scrappers with every purchase. At the end, the very helpful Harold made an enormous pile for the Salvation Army. They too everything even though it was nothing like what I had told them we'd have. I brought very little back into my house which was the goal. I still have a whole lot of crap. I procrastinated and didn't plan very well. This weekend is the big Stampaway rubber stamp convention. I can't wait. All the $$$ I made well not all but almost all, will go towards adding to my evergrowing collection of rubber. Stampaway is insane, it's 2 floors of rubber stamp dealers, it's so much fun. And people make pins or trading cards out of stamped images to trade, so I am making 100 trading cards to trade, I'll post some tonight when I get more done. Gearing up for a crazy rubber filled weekend, woohoo!

YARD SALE

Who knew Yard Sales were so much work??? However running around in the middle of the night putting up signs on telephone poles will always be fun no matter how old you are. If you need any good quality stuff that must leave mine and my best friends homes. Stop by 471 Symmes Rd tomorrow and Sunday 10am to 6pm.........Lots of good stuff and FREE DRINKS...while supplies last.

Confessions of a Reality TV-aholic

There was a need for me to go to Walmart this evening. So after sorting some toys for the yard sale this weekend, and getting Perry ready to go, off we went to Walmart. As I am pulling down the street, I check the time and it's 7:15! How'd it get so late? Then remembered very quickly, it's Trading Spouses night (that sounds crazy). If I go to Walmart, I won't make it home in time to see my show! Any normal person would be like "oh well", but not I. I thought, it's only Tuesday, I got time, I'll just get some food, and go back home. So Perry and I got some Arby's (their new Chicken Salad is awesome!) and went back home. Just another adventure in the life of Jodi. The show was very good. I didn't think it could be as good as the last one but it is, this time the wealthy women is the nice one, and the lower middle class women is a raving lunatic! The second show is really when you get to see their true colors so we shall see next week.

Here's Mr. Einstein. On the previous page when you pull out the tag it reveals his face through a square hole.  

It sure felt good to be creative tonight this is a Altered Book entry in one of my friends Altered Book. I actually used sponge letter stamps with acrylic paints. Scrapbook stores actually sell stamps like these for a lot of money, my friend found these for cheap at Target. Her theme is "Hip to Be Square". So for some reason I went with Albert Einstein. Gave me a reason to use my brain stamp, and who doesn't love a segmented leg?? 

Loooong Day!

Well we went to Kings Island today, for my sister in law's company picnic. Apparently half a million people had the same idea. So we went to the picnic, Perry rode one ride, we stood around in the HOT sun for 20 minutes watched the parade (well worth the wait, it was very cute). Road the train back to boomerang bay and went home. You know what when theres that many people at Kings Island, you just don't stay, because what's gonna happen is you get all hot sweaty and you just end up being nasty to strangers. We have season pass's so we only paid for the meal anyways. Perry didn't seem to protest, so he was hot and crabby too.

On the way home Ron dropped me off at Carraba's and I met my scrappin peeps (friends who scrap) for dinner. Very nice resturant and the food was very good. There was 10 of us and we always have fun when we get together. We then decided to go over to the Handcraft in Hamilton, since tonight was there last night, after 25 years of business, and they were open till midnight. Surely there was something we could find, and at 70% off. I got some safety pins, and magnet strip, you can always use that. It was fun, seeing pictures from back in the day, and saying goodbye to the Handcraft staff...sniff sniff...Well then we got to talking about some cool ribbon one of my friends had used on something, and had to have some....she got it at Walmart, so off we went to Walmart. I had a fun day spent time with family and friends....

Life keeps moving.

We have this enormous picture window in our living room, you can see everything that's going on in front of my house without a problem.  Our house is right next to the path that goes back to a park that's right behind our house so in the summer theres quite a bit of activity that usually goes on outside.  I'm sitting on the couch eating my dinner.  (because that's the best place to eat dinner)  and I see this cute little boy maybe 2 yrs old riding along on his radio flyer red bike. With what appears to be his grandma walking behind him.  She's carrying a baby that is maybe 6 months old.  Suddenly I see her try to help the little boy turn the bike around in my driveway, to go back home.  He doesn't want to, he wants to keep going I guess.  Well he starts crying.  Remember she's carrying a baby.  He's on the bike, off the bike, balling his face off. And just standing there.  So she trys to pull the bike, then go back and get him.  He's not moving.  She trys to pick him up.  That's a lot of kid a baby and a solid 2 year old.  And here I am sitting on my couch.  So I go outside (thank God I had pants on) and ask her if she needs help.  Shes saying something about getting him home and his daddy wants to go to a concert, and "if people would close their garages he wouldn't see the toys and want to play with them."  ::::::tires squealing in my head::::::::::::  My inner voice says, um yeah not sure if you noticed but there are very few garages on this street, they all have carports.  My house included which is probably the one she's referring too, since Perry had his little tykes car parked out front.  Inspite of her rude comments, I offer to help.  I'm pulling this 8 inch teeny tiny bike, while she attempts to drag this tantrum having toddler a block home.  That wasn't happening.  He has not stopped crying.  This is the worse fit I've ever seen and I am now a part of it.  Why didn't I stay in the house?  So I look at this pitiful women who had not lost her cool, and say (God help me) "will he let me pick him up?"  What was I thinking?  She muttered something, but didn't stop me, so I pick up this screaming kid who is now being handled by a stranger.  His body goes stiff and he's kicking.  I walk a couple feet and stop to make sure the Grandma is making it ok with the bike the whole time she's yelling his name for him to stop.   While Perry is following behind her with his hands over his ears yelling "this kids driving me crazy"  Yeah right......We get to the corner (I am in the middle of the block) and she hollars for Jeff (the dad) I then put this precious child down, and he trys to follow me home, running from the grandma, still screaming.  I believe the women said thank you, I don't know I was out of there to go home in the peace and quiet, thanking my child for never having a fit like that.  That right there was a strongwilled child for real! 

Finished the Album for church finally. 

Name that Blog

Ok I need to rename my blog, because well hello...it has my first and last name.  I am sure before long word will get out about the amazing blog that I have, then I'll have fan issues.  I'll suddenly have cyber stalkers and we don't want any of that to happen.  So if anyone out there in cyberspace, specifically folks who have been invited to view my blog.  Feel free to leave comments as to what I should call my blog.  Since Ashley Simpson's new single debut today, I can't think of anything else but Pieces of Me.  Which would be a great blog name, but I'd like the title to actually contain a piece of me.  Like at least my first name.  Something fun and original. 

Reality TV resumes:  Trading Spouses was good, if it makes you cry you know you are onto something and it did.  I still think the princess was a plant to make the show interesting because, there is no way anyone is that shallow, and clueless.  I also watched the Amazing Race, 1/2 pound of fish eggs is no joke, that is REALLY gross.  Odd it was only the pretty girls who had issues stomaching it. 

Ok so an anonymous comment maker asked what it is that I love about Breakfast at Tiffany's?  I love the idea of Holly Golightly.  I love the fact that she's not tied down to anything, and that she's so free spirited yet theres a troubled mystery about her.  I loved her apartment, that didn't have much furnature and her no named Cat.  Oh and best of all she was keeping it real when she talked about "the mean reds", I mean really what women doesn't get the mean reds from time to time, I think even men can get the mean reds.  And for those of you who have never seen the movie and don't know what "the mean reds" are.  It's when you are sad and you just don't know what you are sad about.  Slightly on the verge of the mean reds right about now.  I guess to leave comments even though I changed it so anyone could comment you still have to put in your info, or you can leave an anonymous comment, if you don't really want to be anonymous but still want to comment just use the anonymous comments and just put your first name at the end of you comment. 

Keeping Up....

Just wanting to keep up with my blog.  Ok newsflash to those of you who aren't all that close to me.  I am a reality TV junkie!  Seriously even reruns pull me in.  The newest one that has pulled my attention is Trading Spouses.  Oh my goodness could this not be the coolest thing?  They've taken a rich upper class white women who is basically a princess, who isn't even raising her own kids.  She is trading homes with a black lower class lady who is keeping it real.  Holy cow the pampered princess has a rude awakening.  The re-run of last weeks episode was on tonight, the new episode is on tomorrow night.  I love it when they do that, just so we can get a refresher the day before. 

New discovery of the week.  Should be called true confession of a TV-aholic.  I do get outside at least once a day trust me.  Ok so my child takes after both his parents and loves the TV specifically Nickelodian....UGH....a little Spongebob goes a long way.  Well I've discovered.....YIPEEE.... he love Foodnetwork.  So we now can enjoy TV programming together.  Specifically our favorite food show to watch together is Good Eats, and it's educational.  So Spongebob can go take a flying leap into a bucket of Pinesol for all I care, I've had enough of his yellow spongy absorbent self. 

Life.....

Ok so I've been debating all evening.  Where exactly do I want to go with this blog thing?  Do I wait and post about my day after I finish a scrapbook page so I can post something?  Do I talk about church?  Does anyone even give a rip about my life, I mean honestly what am I doing with a blog.  I'm just getting over strep throat, and am having issues with my self image, feels a whole lot like PMS, but it's not really.  Not sure what it is?  Guess I'm just having one of those, "feel like hating everyone days."  I am sure everyone has those kind of days, they just don't write about it in a blog huh?  Well I finally put away my organized scrapbook paper, with hopes I would scrap a page, hey it's early it could still happen.  I feel the need to finish this scrappin project I started for church in March actually, only a few pages left to go, then I will feel more free to work on my own stuff. 
   Tim Urmston spoke today at church.  He's awesome!  He's over the ministry I work with at my church (www.cincyvineyard.com) the ministry is Alpha (www.alphacourse.org).  Tim spoke on Galatians 5.  What a great message.  So often when folks know you are a Christian, and trust me I make no attempts to hide my faith.  There are huge expectations that you should live a certain way.  Suddenly your life is under a microscope.  People make comments all the time, "is that how a Christian should act?"  With emphasis put on the word Christian.  Or a true Christian wouldn't say or do something like that.  Not realizing I too am a human being who lives in this world that makes it extremely hard to be a Christian.  I wake up everyday fully intending to serve God and be the person he intended me to be.  Everyday I do something screwy that makes me fall short of reaching that goal.  Does that mean I just give up?  Nope, it means I just keep waking up everyday intending to live out my purpose the way God intended it. 
     So lesson learned today?  Ok so I am (would like to say, "used to be") one of those people who if I see someone I know out somewhere and don't feel like talking to anyone.  I'll have that clueless look on my face, and pretend I don't see them, in hopes they don't notice me.  99% of the time it works.  However, I sure hate it when it's done to me!  Today while at the grocery, I saw 2 people I knew, both had the "clueless please don't notice me look."  I thought to myself "oh hell naw! that did not just happen to me." So my decision today was next time I just say "hi! so and so" and keep walking.  I should be bold and friendly, right?  What have I got to lose, except my dignity, because they'll probably be like, "who was that anyways?" Ha Ha!
Excerpt from the Message:
Galatians 5:16-18
"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's spirit.  Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness.  For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.   These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.  Why don't you choose to be led by the spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?" 
Man that totally Rocks!  Theres what I decided to do with my Blog....not bad huh?