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I'm sure you can find all sorts of creative ways to use this funny looking critter. I'd love to see HOW you use it!

I've had such a busy couple of weeks, complete with surprize visits. Our daughter Melanie called last minute last week and said she'd like to come visit, and bring her friend Amanda, who we'd not met yet, so we made preparations in anticipation. I whipped up a big batch of puff pastry and Miles did the shopping for snack foods and selected a movie. We sort of have this tradition of a movie night with junk food, making our own theater. The movie gets projected onto the full wall of the living room - the only thing we don't do is charge money (hmmm good idea LOL)

Miles brought home a case of very ripe mangoes which needed to be used right away, so the girls and I prepared turnovers. We stuffed the pastry with fresh mangoes, strawberries, strawberry cream cheese, coconut and chocolate. Yummy!

I also took the opportunity to do a 'photo shoot' of the girls. I experimented a bit with lighting with the various lamps we have in the house. I'm pretty happy with the results - these are just a few shots of Melanie.

24 & Lovely

Our Melanie *beaming*

Melanie did all our makeup - her beautiful friend Amanda is getting the 'going over' here... good makeup takes time!

All too soon the weekend was over, and the girls headed home. The house seems so quiet now. I'm so glad I took the time to catch them on film.

Thank you Melanie for bringing me a beautiful Mothers Day gift early - I'll treasure it always.

Our Pastor and wife Elaine invited us all over to 'sardine' into their home a few Sundays ago to share in a meal with them. Being of Italian descent, they prepared a delicious pasta dinner - I can still taste it. I thought it was ironic I had just created this Olivia's Kitchen Kit before this, not knowing, yet its perfect for the dinner, dontcha think? Its available at the Sophia Sarducci Shop if you need to scrap a pasta scene for yourself.

Well, I'm off to school for the afternoon. Thank you so much for all your kind comments, and I'll try to post again soon!

You might enjoy to check out this cool search engine called Search Me that my friend Katy put me on to. Just click HERE.

Sorry I've been 'under the radar' but its been a wonderful busy week. Our daughter came for a surprise visit over the weekend so we spent some quality family time together. More on that later!

Some time ago, I received an email from someone who was asking me for permission to use my blog elements for Commercial Use. This person was hoping I might grant a 'blanket permission' to use my creations for her 'Scrap for Hire' (for non scrappers this is where someone will make your photos and journaling into printable scrapbook pages for you, for a fee) and still others have requested use to make their own kits and elements. Well, we all have to start SOMEWHERE.

Unfortunately, the first request came exactly when some of my good friends who design were being severely ripped off by their kits being pirated, so to say the least, my mood at the time was bordering on indignant outrage - specially because my friends have always been 'generous givers' - providing many freebies on their sites. The long and short of it, was that I told this person I would carefully consider her request on the basis of if she had a specific project, and wished to use a particular item, that I would decide at that time, but that I was uncomfortable with just saying YES to everything. Part of the reason for this, is because for some designers, they work SO HARD and their income generated is a vital part of their existence and deserve to be paid fairly. If its all free, whats the incentive for people to buy from designers who make a living from this?

But, I've prayed about this some, and my thoughts were reminded how generous and helpful other designers have been to me in the past. I personally know how difficult it can be to get started, and it also takes a great deal of time and experience to get started. So, I decided to help some of you out there get (legally and encouragingly) started to design your own kits. My hope is when you DO get to the point you begin generating income of your own, you will turn some of your profits back into the digital scrapbooking community, by purchasing some of your items from the many talented, hard working designers 'out there'.

So I humbly apologize if I may have seemed a bit harsh to whomever may have asked just at that difficult time - and my desire is to see you succeed!

With no further ado, I'm giving away this little Designers Treat Starter kit for you to help you get started on making your own kits and elements.

If you're already a seasoned designer, you're going to appreciate this sweet Starter Set because it will make your life easy in so many ways! Free to use for Commercial Use projects, it contains some fully editable psd files so you can recolor each layer of the flowers, but I've also included some 2 inch wide 'strips' (one lightly grunged, the other in a solid pattern) and two full 12 x 12 inch overlays too! PLUS, some brushes and png files. The flowers have been created using a vector based program, so they are totally scalable without loss of quality. I've even put a paper together (using one of my new Major Grunge Overlays, available Monday at the Sophia Sarducci Shop) All bases are covered!

If you are a new designer, this will be a treasure trove of resources for you to experiment with! You'll be up and running with your own designs in no time!

Set contains:

1 paper sample
2 full size floral pattern overlays (png format)
2 two inch wide floral pattern strips
2 flower brushes (.abr)
2 single flowers (png format)
1 fully layered psd flower file

Price: TOTALLY FREE!

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If you are looking for more designer resources, look no further than the Sophia Sarducci Store, where I'm launching a whole bunch of new products! If you hurry over for Monday, April 28th, you'll even hit MONDAY MADNESS, and will be able to purchase at a discount! These items are available both for personal and commercial use.

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Well, I'm drawing close to the end of these amazing Zoo Critters to share with you, I think there are just a few more - I hope you've enjoyed them.

Well BRRRRR... what is UP with this WACKY WEATHER? I dunno, does not feel exactly like ‘Global Warming’ to me – for it feels most certainly chilly here! We’ve gone from last week when I got to do a loop around the nieghborhood in shorts and t-shirt and not appear silly to the next day had me hauling the winter coat out from storage!

On our way to church yesterday morning (and of course we were in a rush as we had friends coming) we were stopped short by a most amazing site! (caused by our wacky weather, of course:P) An orchardist had left the sprinklers on an entire block of cherry trees, and with the temperature plunging into the freezing range in the night, the entire block was transformed into a magical icicle scene. So out came the camera – which is almost an appendage to me I carry it everywhere I go. I always figure the best pictures always ‘happen’ on me, and its true.

I wish I could have recorded some video or audio footage as well, for the temperature had warmed some and a soft breeze was lifting the branches gently, causing the long icicles to tinkle together, then some crash to the ground. It was a smorgasbord for the eyes and ears!

I’m completely honoured you guys – I have been given back (not returned) I guess you could call it re-awarded, the same award as I gave out – FOUR TIMES. I feel so unworthy – and blessed, at the same time. And the joy in having this award come boomeranging back to me, it was your lovely comments. I really can’t take as much credit as you give me, because anything of good or worth is honestly just a little more of Jesus Christ shining thru – I’m nothing without Him. The more you see of Him, and the less of me – nothing would please me more.

John 3:30

"He must increase,

but I must decrease."

Pride and grace never dwelt in one place.

James Kelly

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves,

it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Ephesians 2:8,9

Thank you all so much – you’ve made me feel very special and loved – I’m so grateful for each one of you.

Once in an age, God sends to some of us a friend who loves in us, not a false imagining, and unreal character – but, looking through all the rubbish of our imperfections, loves us in the divine ideal of our nature – loves not the man that we are, but the angel we may be. Such friends seem inspired by a divine gift of prophecy.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Now, on a personal note, my brother Barry just endured an operation, three days ago, which was successful, for which we are so grateful for, but he’s consequently not had a cigarette since the ‘slicing’. I’m hoping it will stay this way and I’m hoping you might help me out here. For a guy who’s smoked for most of his adult life, this is a HUGE thing and I’m hoping you would mind stopping by my Sister in Law’s blog and just leave a few encouraging words or helpful hints or great advice or tell Barry why SMOKING IS ICK. Perhaps if we help him along we can accomplish this feat together. (And dist ignore the gruesome pics of his belly pics all painted with that surgery stuff, and the stitches, and well... LOL, if you have a weak stomach then i'm prewarning you!) Just click HERE to visit.

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If you live in Canada, then you will know Chatelaine magazine well – and the magazine celebrates 80 years of publication right now. To celebrate they’re giving out over $100,000 in prizes. Be sure to visit and put your name (and your friends too) at the site. Just click HERE.

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I heard about this site on a CBC podcast and thought it is a very valuable site to share with you. If you would like to be a good ‘global neighbor’ and have some time to help you might want to check it out:

NABUUR links you directly with people around the world who need your assistance now. All you need is a computer, a little free time, and the desire to make a difference.

What is NABUUR?

NABUUR.com is a place on the Internet that connects:

Neighbours: people that want to take action now for the benefit of people in developing countries and Villages: people in need of knowledge, contacts, and new ideas to improve their lives. People on NABUUR have in common that they are committed Global Citizens with a drive to do something to make a difference. Just click HERE to be taken to the NABUUR site.

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Here's something pretty cool too - this Great Pyramid Site. I'm not even going to explain it to you, just send you there and check later to see if you are there with me! Just click HERE.

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Hope you enjoy another critter - still a few more to pull out of the vault yet, keep checkin' back!

The thought for the day in my Devotional Day Planner says this:

Galatians 6:4

Do your own work well,

and then you will have something to be proud of.

But don’t compare yourself with others. (CEV)

Then this thought is tagged on:

When you take responsibility for your spiritual direction, you grow. When you spend your time comparing your growth with someone else’s, you stop growing. Take pride in who God created you to be. How would you describe your growth – spiritually speaking?

I’ve been ‘chewing’ on this since I read it. And its timely – seems every which way I turn, this very subject was on the tip of my conscience to blog about. Have you ever worked so very hard on something, and then you just get to a point where you feel you have turned out your best work and so you’re excited to share. You feel confident and have a deep sense of accomplishment. Then you look around. And you see that though your best is GOOD – its not THE BEST, and you know your work may NEVER be THE BEST.

It’s so easy to lose hope and perspective at this point. If you focus on how your work is COMPARED TO OTHERS then you will lose all sense of objectivity and your work will suffer if you don’t get yourself in check. I think this is normal. One time, I showed an artist friend, a video of Akiane Kramarik – the young artist who, at 12 years old, can paint probably better than I ever could in my life. When I showed my friend the talent this impressive young lady has, my friend did not respond as anyone else I’d shown. Mixed in with her awe, which was the normal reaction, was a sense of complete disappointment. She said that after seeing what this mere child could do, it took away her desire to paint.

Wow – I had not thought about the possibility of this happening. But really, I can empathize. I know as an artist, I go through both the highs and lows. When I’m in a creative high, I can do ANYTHING – the creativity just flows, but watch out when I hit a low. All it takes is for one negative critique, and I’m ready to toss the brushes!

The funny thing is that when I create, just for the love of creating, I enjoy the process as much as the outcome. And what’s more interesting is the works that I created in love, and enjoyed making, though they may not be what I would consider my ‘BEST WORK’ are usually the ones that seem to ‘sell’. See, when you compare yourself to others, you will ALWAYS fall short.

If you compare yourself to others, you will be discouraged from reaching your potential. If I compare myself to others I may as well not run a race-I am definitely not fast enough to ever ‘win. I won’t sing – boy, I would not even make a karaoke song sound good, I would not design – every time I see other’s designs I feel so unworthy to be included to create!

This does not mean I don’t beat myself up – I’m guilty too, but being reminded by a scripture such as this is good for me. What about you, do you beat yourself up too? What about?

Whenever I have found that I have blundered or that my work has been imperfect, and when I have been contemptuously criticised and even when I have been overpraised, so that I have felt mortified, it has been my greatest comfort to say hundreds of times to myself that ‘I have worked as hard and as well as I could, and no man can do more than this.’

Charles Darwin

Ok, so I just HAD to come back and add the extra two previews to my new Olivia's Kitchen Kit so you can see what you were missing. Available Monday a.m. at the Sophia Sarducci Shop. Thanks for visiting!

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Every parent out there has a few good messy ‘sgetti photos of your children awaiting to be scrapped, so I’ve accommodated with a whole kit devoted to the whole saucy issue. If you like this add on, then you will LOVE the full kit – and its BIG – enough to scrap all the relatives kids and then have lots left over for tomato canning season later this year. My Olivia’s Kitchen Kit will be available first thing MONDAY MORNING, along with a ton of other terrific new products at the Sophia Sarducci Shop – so ‘gwan over to the shop to pick up the items you need for this week’s menu. The kit preview picture does not do it justice because you can't see the many many extra elements included (durn blogger only lets me put 5 pics at a time) - so you're missing all sorts of fun things like the messy splatter overlay and several other fun items.

Thank you to my friend Sonya who created the smaller check paper (minus overlaid grunge) and straight stick of spaghetti for this mini. You can find Sonya at Kissed Studio at www.kissedstudio.com And also I must give credit to KimB who supplied me with the grungy edging I used in most of my papers - they are WONDERFUL Kim.

My OLIVIA'S KITCHEN KIT - available Monday at SOPHIA SARDUCCI

And be sure not to miss the great new ‘Cardboard Stuff’ by Adriana Lunette there too – no preview here but you CAN see one at Amy’s blog.

Layout of Lex and Logan by Sonya Johnson
Credits:
Olivia Dorazio's Olivias Kitchen Kit
Kissed Studio Template TO121 (their templates Rock!)

I made this layout - myself!
Amy W's adorable Emma covered with sketti!
(yes, there is a sketti Alpha included in the kit!)
credits:
Olivia Dorazio's Olivia's Kitchen Kit

FINALLY – warm weather has arrived. At least it got up to around 75 degrees F here yesterday, according to what I heard. I can believe it to, as I walked in just in my jogging clothes, minus a jacket and still managed to break a sweat, just walking. Its so encouraging to see the cherry blossoms bursting forth, the buds, and the birds coming back. I’ll try to be diligent and take more pics over the upcoming weeks. Thank you for being faithful to coming to visit even when I’ve not been so faithful to write.

Besides creating a new kit, I’ve also been painting – go figure, its sunny and I get the urge to paint inside. The one year anniversary of moving in was last week and I was horrified to realize I’d not painted some areas I longed to. So I’m working in small hour chunks to get it complete. And then the other part of me can’t wait to get outside and I’ve been doing small amounts of work outdoors too, sprucing things up.

PICO award

Woo Hoo! – I’ve been nominated by Sherry D. for the PICO award.

Sherry, your electing me is like receiving a bouquet of flowers, or walking after a rain, refreshing and much needed. Thank you for not only thinking of me, but for taking the time to blog me and visit me. I hope to continue to be worthy of future reads.

The award has rules, the first being to post the rules, so here goes:

) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language. (Nominations will follow rules.)
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself. In my case, that would be Caryl of Caryl's Realm as listed above.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
http://arteypico.blogspot.com/
Make sure you visit the link above. There are crafts of all kinds shown; you are bound to come away inspired!
5) Show these rules.

So for my Five People I’m choosing:

1. Judy – (Sis in Law) I love your blog, Judy, as it keeps me up on whats happening in the family. I love all your terrific photos and layouts of the kids, grandkids, our brother and your adventures. I was thrilled to see Patty’s award for outstanding achievement the other day, for instance, and your blog was a great way I could say ‘congrats’ too. You are always so interesting, and I enjoy all the photos you take. You’ve come a tremendous long way with your scrapbooking and journaling skills as well. You’re always quick to give credit for the layout kits and elements and you always have an encouraging word. Thank you for all you do.

2. Gina – I’m sure sometimes I bug ya. Ok, I KNOW I do sometimes – but you’re always polite and patient with me even when I pounce on you whenever you’re online. I appreciate the ‘realness’ of your blog entries. You’ve allowed us to join you along your journey of faith, motherhood, tragedy, marriage and day to day minutia. You deliver it with a wry sense of humour and wit. Your blog is studded with little ‘nuggets’ of wisdom and when you choose to cook – well, you rival the food network. I always count on you to keep me grounded and I can count on you to ‘tell it like it is’ – there’s nothing fake about you. Thanks for being here for me. Your faith through your storms has always uplifted and inspired me.

3. Valinda – Come rain or shine, you visit. You not only visit, you ALWAYS take time to leave a comment. You make wonderful elements and give them from the generosity of your heart. I know you have some days when your health prevents you from even getting around easily, yet you still think of us ‘out here’ I feel like I come to your house for coffee when I come to your blog – and I’m still dying to know what your husband is actually making in the garage – like a real picture. Folks, if you have not been to Valinda’s for her elements, you are missing out. My days are richer for your comments Valinda.

4. Cicero Sings – E, your blog is always a wealth of information. I love going for ‘walks’ with you through your blog. You are so knowledgeable about all the plants and animals and I’m sure some of your information has actually ‘stuck’ in this head of mine. You are never idle, and I’ve been intriqued by your many skills, including soap-making and quilting to name a few. I admire your devotion to your Mom – I wish my grandma were here for me to dote on as you do your ‘Mither’. You’re an able cook and I still have some recipes of yours I am looking forward to trying.

5. KimB – you are ‘louder than life’, Gurl! Generous, FUNNY and kind, your blog should be called a slog or a blog-opera because there is NEVER a dull moment. You picked me from all the way across the miles, from some place in Africa, and you’ve made me a friend, despite that we might never meet face to face. You make me tired just reading about your antics – but you’re not fooling anyone, you are a big SOFTIE under that party-girl exterior. Can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to during this much deserved break the past week.

6. Ok, so we are only supposed to do five, but I have a few honourable mentions that I just cannot, will not leave off. For instance, Amy, if it were not for you, I would never have a description for my kits and you kick my butt when I need it too. You are a whirlwind of activity, what /w being a mom to precocious Emma, doing all sorts of church related activities, taking courses and on and on and on. You’re awesome & I don't know what I'd do without your encouragment and friendship. You're a part of my every day! JanMary, Wow – thats all I can say. You’re photos of Ireland, your journaling to share your beautiful homeland, your creative layouts and your sharing your knowledge – you bowl me over. I love coming to visit you too. Becky, well your my real, living close to me, CAN have coffees (with whipped cream) together, love me with all my spots and wrinkles friend. You have SUCH a heart for God and my life is richer for your friendship. Thank you for looking over the garden gate to admire my flowers. You need to update your blog. Haha! And lastly, Shirley. You come to see me ALL THE TIME and you are so positive and say leave the sweetest comments. Your blog is another place I like to visit with a cup of tea in hand.

I will leave you with the following poem today – it was written by a man called John Clare who certainly had his share of unhappiness. He wrote the following poem about hope. My prayer is it would touch someone today:

Is there another world for this frail dust

To warm with life and be itself again?

Something about me daily speaks there must

And why should instinct nourish hopes in vain?

‘Tis nature’s prophecy that such will be,

And everything seems struggling to explain

The closed sealed volume of its mystery.

Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace,

As seeming anxious of eternity,

To meet that calm and find a resting place.

E’en the small violet feels a future power

And waits each year renewing blooms to bring;

And surely man is no inferior flower

To die unworthy of a second spring.

PSALM 118:17

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

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Hey, I thought you could use a laugh about now - specially if you're bored at work, thus the hyena. I want to say a special thank you to all of you for your comments, and for your emails you've been sending. I love hearing from you, and will be posting layouts made with any of my elements. I also need to thank my friend KAT who provided many of the photos of the zoo animals that I've doctored into these elements.

Can you smell something spicy? Could be you're getting a whiff of what I'm cooking up for my next kit for the SOPHIA SARDUCCI SHOP. Even if I'm an alias Italian just taking on an Italian name makes me want to cook... My new kit will launch this coming Monday, but I might just give a sneak preview in the next few days?

The weeks been a blurry flurry - with all the usual 'stuff' and throw in helping for a funeral (I didn't know the person) and a tad of yardwork and painting, all of which were not on my list of have to do's but somehow I found myself doing? Yeesh!

And regarding work, if you're on the other end of the spectrum and are too busy, and stressed, the following two videos (Part 1 & Part 2) may help. (snort!)

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I love this big fella - and I bet you will too. Please, I'd love to share your layouts and projects you make using him? Just drop me an email at lalalime(at)hotmail(dot)com with a preview pic and credits and I will gladly post your layouts here.

WOO - WOO (toots for my friend Adriana Lunette!)

Ok, a SHAMELESS plug for my friend and Sophia Sarducci Sister, Adriana Lunette and her cool and funky tags. If you have not been to the shop in the last day or two you better scoot cuz these are HOT HOT HOT! Also, there were a whole host of new products launched yesterday and you will be wanting to be the first kid on the block to check 'em out. Just click HERE to be instantly transported!

I want to share a link with you which I think will be a tremendous tool for you. Our Pastor mentioned it in last weeks sermon and I decided to check it out. Its an accountability tool regarding Pornography. Porn is so prevalent these days - media dishes out temptation from every angle, its hard to imagine one can come out unscathed. Its easy for some people to knowingly turn their eyes away, but especially men, being very `visual`... well sometimes its not as easy for them, I bet. So what to do.

Well this website might be just the thing. Its called Covenant Eyes, and this is what its about:

Covenant Eyes Accountability software is the Standard for Internet Integrity with Accountability through Monitoring. The program is designed to help Covenant Eyes Members (the people who use our software) learn how to explore the Internet free from the dangers, risks, and liabilities of Internet pornography. In the process a Member develops Internet Integrity.

At the core of the Accountability program is the concept that a person will learn to be more careful and responsible surfing the Internet (gain Internet Integrity) if they know they are answerable or accountable for their Internet activity to one or more ‘other people.'

If you would like to learn more about this powerful FREE service, I encourage you to click HERE. Who knows, you might really save someone`s very life, marriage, family by your sharing. Pornography is an ADDICTION and we need to help those who cannot help themselves. Help someone by praying for them to be released from the hold this sin has over them, but also provide what practical help you can too.

When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
For in my inner being I delight in God`s law;
but I see another law at work in the members of my body,
waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner of the law of sin.

Romans 7:21-23

Dear friends, I urge you,
as aliens and strangers to the world,
to abstain from sinful desires,
which war against your soul.

1 Peter 2:11

Flee from sexual immorality.
All other sins a person commits are outside the body,
but he who sins sexually sings against his own body.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have recieved from God.
You are not your own; you were bought with a price.
Therefore honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

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I hope you can find some fun uses for this elephant element! Please, send me your layouts using any of my elements (as Donna did below) and I will be delighted to publish them. Stay tuned for more animals being paraded out over the next few days.

Layout by blog reader Donna
THANK YOU Donna, for sharing - so CUTE!
credits:
Background by Pillow Girl
Background by Chari Class
Bow by MJB
Overlay by Scrapedge
Animals by Barb Derksen

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My friend Janice (thanks Janice) sent me the following thought and I just have to share it here with you. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where it originated from in the first place, so unable to give credit. I Just know so many moms and I know how important it is to give encouragement for the wonderful, selfless and often (really!) lonely job you do. (also, I'm sure there's lots of stay at home Dads who this will speak to as well)

Invisible Moms

This has got to touch the heart of every mother or teacher that has poured her life into a child.

I'm Invisible??

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'? I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, and she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Jane had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Jane turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I brought you this.”

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees. In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work.

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fuelled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table. That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You're going to love it here”

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Why not share this with some great Moms or Dads you know?

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I am SURE you can find some great ideas on how to use this fella... and I would love to see them too. I apologise to Donna, who tried to find my email but failed to find it. I hesitate publishing it too easy to find for fear of spamming. However, you can contact me at lalalime(at)hotmail(dot)com Thanks for your patience! Send me your layouts (be sure to include all credits) and I will be honored to publish them here!

Now for some great news - going along with spring cleaning, the SOPHIA SARDUCCI SHOP has undergone a transformation. Why not hop over and check out the new look? Just click HERE to be transported. Don't forget that even if you take a peek today, you'll want to return Monday to see what's new in the store. Each Monday new products are featured - a great way to start your week.

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Who's hiding from me?

Do you use Wikipedia? Do you wish you had more time to spend there? Do you have an ipod or MP3? Well now you CAN listen to specific articles from Wikipedia right on your ipod! (so theoretically, you could work out your mind AND body should you listen while you work out, right?) To find out more about this technology at Pediaphon click HERE.

If you would like to download articles to VIEW on your ipod, there’s technology to do that, too. iPodia is a Wikipedia viewer for your iPod touch. With this application, you can view articles in an optimized layout, find certain text in the article, and save the article as a data URL for offline reading. Articles will be shown scaled to 50%. This will make the fonts a bit blurry, but keeping the pictures small and being able to zoom into them when you need to is very useful. It lets you see more text and the layout becomes much more natural. CAREFULLY READ the rest of the information about this program, as it does have some downloading issues (can take a long time and crash some mobile devices) This aside, you might want to check out ipodia, by clicking HERE.

Thats Who!

Find reading Wikipedia sort of bor-rinnnnngggg, or you're a visual learner, or a kid at heart? Well, what would you say if I told you you could read some of it in comic book format? Greg Williams picks Wikipedia articles and converts them into small comic books. Don’t expect to find a large amount of comic articles here, but be entertained as seemingly boring topics turn into light reading. To find out more, click HERE.

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Please send me your layouts so I can publish here!

Just a quick post as I'm working very hard on my next 'Olivia' Kit and also its a gorgeous day outside (the weatherman says tomorrow will not be so nice) so I hope to get outside for a fair bit of today as well. Its uplifting to notice all the new shoots emerging and leaves bursting out like emerald jewels from the tips of brown branches. Refereshing. Hope you have a great day too!

photo courtesy SXC.hu

Song of Solomon 2:12

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

photo courtesy SXC.hu

On April 15, 1802, Dorothy Wadsworth, sister to the famous poet William Wadsworth, wrote this entry in her journal:

"We saw a few daffodils close to the water side... As we went along there were more and yet more... They grew among the mossy stones about them; some rested their heads upon these stones as on a pillow for weariness and the rest tossed and reeled and danced and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them. "

photo courtesy SXC.hu

Dorothy’s journal entry inspired William to write the following poem:

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

-- William Wordsworth