Life's a picnic

I had not paused till recently to contemplate that phrase. Really, what is a picnic? It's fun and fresh air and pushing kids on swings, but it's also bees and flapping tablecloths and sand dancing on your face.

My husband's sister called up and wanted to have an outdoor meal Sunday, so we picked up KFC, packed a few necessities, and walked over to a nearby park to meet her and her adorable little boys. After we ate, I chatted with a lady in the park (she was there with a separate group from my church to celebrate a couple kids' birthdays) about the downfalls of picnics. There's the getting all your stuff together—and, in her case, getting her kids together—and leaving behind the comforts and, to some degree, safety of home.

There are little (and big) inconveniences, but there's that underlying joy of being outside and hearing children giggle and treasuring family time. Sometimes it's more fun than others, depending on the weather and the company.

Yep, life is a picnic.

Still scrapbooking

Amidst celebrating the Fourth with a family BBQ and fireworks, joining in the joy of some friends' first anniversary party (and losing at a newlywed game my husband and I were solicited to participate in—quite fun, but slightly embarrassing), teaching kids the essence of Romans chapter 9, and sleeping in, I worked on my scrapbook.

I had looked forward to this weekend (I even took a half day off today, just for fun) because I've recently managed to sidestep my scrapbooking goals completely. This weekend, I glued, cut, and created my way through 14 pages.

Since my last update in the beginning of May, I've made 34 pages, landing me within two layouts of completing April 2007. This is somewhat short of my 20-page-or-three-months-of-photos-per-month goal (I should have 40 pages done or be working on May memories), but I'm still pleased that I've made some significant progress.

Here's a layout I made this weekend about the fun my husband and our little nephew have together:


P.S. I must confess that my very first card (see previous post) had a spelling error. I discovered quite accidentally that yippee is spelled with two p's, and not one. My husband, being the sweet guy that he is, was content with his card, foibles and all.

Handmade Yipee

Today my husband had an exceptional work accomplishment, and I wanted to congratulate him in a special way.

But since I was supposed to be working, I had very little time. I thought of giving him a little card, but there was nothing appropriate in my greeting-card stash. I stared at my scrapbook supplies, still helter-skelter from my work last night on a Christmas 2006 page. And I thought, "Hey, I can make a card!" This may be logical to some, but I've never made a card from scratch and never thought I would. (I've always had the excuses that it was easier to buy one, and I needed to use all my craft time to get caught up on my scrapbook.)

So, here is my very first (and very quick) attempt at making a greeting card. I stuck it on top of his monitor with a few chocolate kisses and changed his screen saver to a marquee with a little congratulations message.

Yipee for Bill!