Heidi Schulz has written a book "Hook's Revenge" (which will be coming out in September 2014) and The Midnight Garden is doing a GIVE-AWAY! http://www.themidnightgarden.net/2014/02/hooksrevengereveal.html

Thanks to the author and our friends at Disney•Hyperion, we have a fun prize package for one of our lucky readers. It includes:

--one of the very first Hook’s Revenge ARCs hot off the presses
--pirate pencil sharpener
--pirate log book


Open to US residents aged 18 and older, or 13 and older with parental permission. Kids, get your parents to enter the contest if you want this. Good luck!

LONG OVERDUE UPDATE...

It's been 4 years since I've posted anything on this blog.  Since then, we've finalized the adoption of our littlest one (who's now five-years-old), sealed him to our Forever Family (see lds.org for more information on Temple Sealings), and I started back up at college.

The adoption process was long and tedious.  Little T (which is his more common nickname -- the other is "Lockjaw" because of his initials) came into our home when he was just over two years old, which was in April 2012.  His biological mother fought the termination of her parental rights, so the adoption process was prolonged.  What "normally" takes about six months took a year and a half.  But, in October 2013, he became legally ours.  I now have FOUR wonderful kids.

I am a full-time student at Eastern Oregon University (EOU).  I started at the local community college, completed two years there, received my Associate of Arts Transfer Degree, and then transferred to EOU.  I take classes 100% online.  And let me tell you, online classes are NOT for wimps!  They're TOUGH!

Our family keeps plugging away, trying to keep our heads above water, and remaining sane.  Life is tough at times, but I'm just glad we have each other.  It all makes it worth it.

My Own Personal History...

I was at my church one day, and randomly found myself in a Family History class. The class was given by an older lady, who has done some amazing things in her life. Yet, she's so humble about it. She challenged us to write down our own personal history. We talked about the different ways to do personal histories. One friend has a daughter who blogs, then at the end of the year, she has her blog published into a book...photos and all. Another person types out her mother's writings, keeping any misspellings and grammatical errors. So, I've decided that I have been keeping a personal history log through my scrapbooks. We are supposed to come back with a history through middle school done. So, I have a lot of work to do. I'm going to make scrapbook pages...wish me luck!

Hello world!

I just have to say that life is so random. I recently had Appendicitis and had to undergo my first surgery. The experience was a good one. The pain at the beginning was so bad, but the relief I felt after the surgery was such a huge difference, that overall it was a good experience. I know that not many would say that, but I would! ;o)

Adoption... my husband and I finished Foster Care/Adoption classes through the State about a week ago. We are very apprehensive about foster care, but who knows. We might just choose to go straight to adoption and skip foster care all together. I can't wait to see our little one!

October 1, 8, 15 -- I am going to take my first beginning quilting classes! YAY! They will be at The Cotton Patch in Keizer, OR. I'm very excited and will post ideas I get on this blog.

Last weekend I got to make a WEDDING BOOK for a friend. I just did all the stuff prior to the wedding, but it was fun! I'm going to try to see if she'll be okay with me posting pictures online. If so, I'd love feedback...

Way too long...

OK, so I know it's been a REALLY long time since I posted anything.  I have been so busy with work, expecially since I am now working two jobs and training an assistant.  I haven't had much time to do any crafts.  I did scrapbooking one day.  I made some cards another day.  And, I'm planning on making some curtains for my office, each of my kids' rooms, and my kitchen.  I'd also like to paint the walls in my house soon.  But, we'll see how it goes.  If you have any suggestions or ideas that I haven't mentioned in my link list, please please please send it to me and I'll add it.  Thanks!!!  HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Sharing is good...

I wanted to create this site to share ideas and get ideas for crafts (quilting, card making, scrapbooking, tole painting, etc.) and possibly food recipes. What do you think? Please let me know!