Air Show

Hello one and all!
These are just a few recent pics from the last week. The first one is me and Tiffanie. She's so cute! She's one of my best friends. I just love her to bits. The second is my Josie doing her climby thing. I swear that girl has been climbing almost since birth. Even when she was a baby, she climbed even before she knew how to crawl or walk. The last pic is of the famous "Blue Angels". We went to the air show on Sunday. It was really fun and the kids loved it but got bored. I couldn't use their ATM (no visa) but didn't realize it, yet they still charged me a buck for trying. Scammers! Tiffanie and family and the kids and I then went out to Cracker Barrel. Nummies! Mike (the hubster) had duty so was gone for the night. I have to say, Mike and I are doing really good this refit. Typically we grouse at each other, so it's been really nice because the stress level seems to be staying down longer. I'm sure a week or so before he deploys, things will get nutty but neither of us mind that so much. Mike's been taking a class for teaching firearm safety and seems to really be enjoying it. He likes shooty things. LOL!
Tucker is working on a research paper on...chemical changes of gases in the universe when there's nuclear fission on Tuesday while chewing gum at a 45 degree angle. *huffs* ...Actually he put it off for 3 weeks and sprung it on me a couple nights before his initial index cards with 50 facts written on them were due in. Next day...teacher calls. "Tucker hasn't been taking advantage of the time given him to do the assignment". Apparently it's more fun to read the Guiness Book of World Records 2007 than to work on a research paper about universe gases and particle accelerators. We did get caught up but a great deal of whining silently to myself was necessary in order to get through it. I don't care what ppl say, whining does help! LOL ok maybe not but it was better than thoughts of military school or indentured servitude.
My other best friend, Heather got me flowers for my birthday. They are so pretty. Huge blossoms in fall colors. Then my Hubby sent me flowers from 1800flowers. A dozen roses in red and pink and salmon and white and peach. So lovely. Then my other best friend, Amber (there are 4 of us in our gal pal crew) sent me to candy pink highlighted roses. My art desk looks like a garden. Mike took me out to dinner (oh did I forget? I turned 37 on the 24th). Then I hung out with friends.
I also had a photography gig. I took pics of an author/illustrator at a local school and our charity person and her dog. I'd post pics here but I don't think I have permission. It was cool...channel 4 was there doing a story on it. I'll be working on more illustrations soon. I remember praying when Josie was a baby, that if I ever was able to use my art talents, I wanted to dedicate my first job or the proceeds from it to charity. A kind of "first fruits" in honor of my Lord. So it seems fitting and wonderful that the first opportunity I've had to use my talents is a charity. I'm so pleased. Just dropped in my lap. Thank you Lord.
Well I plan on doing some beads today. I have my new torch but have been distracted from all sorts of stuff going on. I'll take some pics of my beads and post them soon. Well folks...need to get on with my day. Thanks for stopping in and God bless you and yours.

Monday-itis

Good Monday morning world!
I am so sleepy. I think I have Monday-itis. Inflamation of the Monday. So I have gotten the kids off to school. They had some homeade oatmeal, egg and toast. I think it's the most effort I've put into breakfast on a weekday in a long time. It actually worked out better this way. They were much more cooperative it seems if I do the "teeth and hair brushing and get dressed" first and after do the "hurry up and eat". Hmmmm *rubs chin*. So now I am sitting here eating my 210 calorie breakfast of cheerios with blueberries and 3/4 cup of 2% milk. Good gravy I hate counting calories! It's getting easier but is still a pain. I'm still on my smokers patch and I'm doing ok. Cheated a couple of times but still sticking with it. *wonders if blueberries have any anti-oxydents* Oh, I've been working on some illustrations. I only posting one because the photo of the other didn't turn out very good. The one up top was my second one. I have to make 2 more today and 2 more tomorrow to be ready for my meeting with the G.L.A.D. ladies. I guess it's a really good thing that I like dogs eh? LOL!
*sigh* I don't wanna go bikeride! I don't wanna! But I gotta. Half hour in the morning and half hour in evening of evil...oops I mean exercise. I can do it but it does help if I whine a bit. Well I better get on it if I'm going to use up my blueberry energy. You all have a lovely day! God bless!

Playing the G.L.A.D. Game

Hello all-
So I'm very excited! I got an art gig! For those who do not know...I am an artsy fartsy thing. I attended Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan (back when it was a reputable college and not just an extension of Ferris State). I also met my husband there. We were both alone, both a 2 hour drive from our families and we made a connection. We became very good friends and after about 6 months we started dating. A few months after that, I became pregnant. Oops. We decided to marry and now almost 12 years later...here we are. The pregnancy and subsequent marriage has been the foundation that has shaped my destiny. (as only a marriage and a baby can). The Lord has used those first pages in the book of "Mike and Sandy and kids" to draw me closer to Himself. Hindsight is 20/20 they say and they are right. I can look back and see the Lord guiding my path and teaching me along the way. I once heard it said "You can move a large door on small hinges." I learned a lot about sacrifice, patience and forgiveness over the years. The one thing I have wished was different over the years is that I wish I had used my artwork to expand my horizons more and maybe even bring in a few extra dollars. I have done some freelance work in the past, but nothing so exciting has what I have had the opportunity to be involved with right now.

From the time I was 13, and the very first time I knew it existed, I have wanted to go to art college...specifically Kendall College. So you can imagine how exuberant I was when I passed my portfolio review and received the financial aid to attend Kendall. I had been going to Baker College (a business college) in my hometown of Owosso, Michigan for about a year and a half, but decided to transfer to Kendall. I was petrified, worrying if I could afford to go and feverishly trying to find a job, scared to death that I wasn't "good enough", and worrying about being alone and friendless. But...I settled in, got a job as a work study for the college, made a couple of friends (I met Mike the first day of school in my first class) and discovered that I was a purty dern good artist. The classrooms were so dynamic and exciting. I learned SO much. I miss that classroom setting. It illuminated a part of myself that had previously always been in shadow. As I said, I learned so much about myself. Well...when I got preggers I realized that some poor choices on my part were now taking prisoners. I would not let my baby take up my slack. He would be afforded the same opportunities as any other child. Time to grow up Sandy. So my art education and that corner of myself had to go back in shadow. I don't regret it for a minute, however. The Lord has such good gifts for His children. Being a wife and mother agrees with me. I am truly blessed. I do miss that lonely shadowy corner. I am eager to light it again.

So you can imagine how excited I was when my girlfriend approached me with an opportunity to do my artsy fartsy magic. Amber jumped right in and got involved with this charity, G.L.A.D. (Guiding Light Assistance Dogs...they are canines trained to be gentle and patient as children who need a bit of work in their literacy read to them) and is making their website. She is a true computer geek and quite ambitious. Amber mentioned to the GLAD ladies about my bead making. We met for lunch and they want me to make doggie beads. I had made a few samples for them to take a look at and my little glassy gems were a hit. The interesting thing is, that during the course of our lunch and discussion, the fact that I was an Illustration major in school came up. Immediately I felt that same fearful panic that I felt when I first got to Kendall College. "I never finished my degree! What if I'm not good enough? What if they don't like my stuff?!" I rode it out.

You know...on a side note, I have to mention that I think the Lord has a sense of humour. He KNEW they were going to ask me about this and how I would react. Not a warning? No "Hey Sandy, heads up!"??? What's up with that Lord?! I was so nervous and excited at the opportunity. Man, I hope they like my stuff. Ok....ok...breathe.

The GLAD gals asked me to do some illustrations for some booklets they are giving to some of their sponsors. I ran out and got some watercolor paints and brushes, watercolor paper and a new dry erase board to help organize my thoughts. I made one doggie painting and realized how rusty I was so I have another watercolor paper prepared and stretching on a board now. Weeeee!

So...here I am, this great opportunity to be able to use my gifts and talents and I'm in seventh heaven. My little corner has been promised some open shutter time. My Hubster is very supportive so I feel free to prioritize the time to do this right. Thank you Lord. He must have been up there with the angels..."See what's coming up? Ha ha, I can't wait to see the reaction when she realizes what I lined up for her." So I'm riding it out my nervous anxiety until I get into my groove and I'm enjoying the blessing my Heavenly Father has sent me. I'll post some of the illustrations when completed. Well thanks for sharing in my nervous excitement. You all have a lovely week.
God bless!

Doctor! Doctor!

So...I'm finally going to go to the Doctor to see about getting into a smoking cessation program. I'm not all that excited at the prospect because of the imminent weight gain and craving but I really need to quit. I'm going to be 37 years old next month and looking at the next 20 years of a smoke habit seems even less palatable. I'm also going in to get something to help me sleep at night. I've struggled with insomnia for several years now...ever since Mike joined the Navy. I go in for that appointment tonight. Finally I scheduled an appointment for a weight loss nutritionist through the clinic here on base. I want to lose weight, get heart healthy, quit smoking, and be able to sleep at night. So wish me luck and I will keep ya posted of my progress. God bless!