A sketch layout

This is from Triple the Sketch.......it's my take on sketch #18.

Edit: The heart on this page is a pattern from Shanna!! Thanks! You can check out her blog My Next Thirty Years...she does awesome scrappy stuff.

Good-byes..........SUCK!

Well the day that Twila and I were dreading has arrived. Our friend Cheri moved to Salt Lake City today, which is about 4.5 hours away from us. This is a very sad time, I actually wanted to cry, in fact I did. Cheri, Twila and I would joke that we were each others "dates", we just would get together about twice a month and do a movie and dinner. Dinner was usually at Chili's unless one of us really wanted something else, but usually we ended up at Chili's. Once we met for lunch at the Pizza Factory and talked for 4 hours, we were there for the lunch AND dinner crowd. Im sure the employees wondered if we even had a life. We found our time together theraputic, 3 single moms talking about life, children, ex's, dating, men, money, and everything else. It's going to be a lot different now with Cheri gone. It's a good thing we have text messages, instant chat,blogs, and phones to keep in touch with each other. Twila & I decided we need to go to Salt Lake every now and then, and Cheri will be back here too. It's always sad when something good in your life changes and isn't there anymore like it used to be. I wish Cheri all the luck in the world in her new life..see ya soon girl!!!

Chili's and a Movie!!!!

Just an update

Here are a few pictures from the 24th of July, (Pioneer Day, state holiday!). It's been a family tradition and almost like a family reunion that every July 24th we spend the day in Beaver at the horse races, and this year I didn't mind it because my dad had a horse running. Actually I have part interest in the horse as well and it's name is Sharla's Dream, kinda cool. My dad's side of the family is big into thouroughbred horses, raising, training, racing. His cousin trains the horse and his son is the jockey. I think the "horse" gene skipped the girls in my family, because we go just to support my dad and his interests, but the races are actually very exciting when you have your own horse running.

Isn't he a beauty?

Getting ready...After the race and WE WON!!!

My dad and my sweet grandpa helping to cool him down after the race.

Here are a couple of cute pics of my cousins. Lindsey, she's so cute and can totally pull of the pink hair!! Kylie and Ashlie, how cute!!

So that's it! We had a great day, visited with lots of family and friends and had a great WIN to top it all off.

A total freakin NUT

That would be my girl Erin. She hasn't changed a bit, I first met her at college and after a few encounters, we became fast friends. She actually is the one that introduced me and my now ex husband....that's ok, I forgave her long ago ;) ..

Anyway, I totally dig this girl, she's a little wild (but in a completely harmless way) and fetchin funny as all get out. I tend to be a little on the reserved side, but NOT her, she doesn't care.....she'll start talking to anyone and everyone. In the elevator, at the blackjack table, at the mall. I admire that, cuz I don't talk to anyone. I'm more of a don't look at me, don't talk to me kinda person.

So, I picked her up from the airport, a little late, on the account that I had a date!! Yay me!!
We checked into the Hilton, (Erin and I, not my date!) and bs'd into the wee hours of the mornin. We took the monorail to the strip and walked to the Fashion Show Mall. I wore crappy flip flops........note to self...NEVER wear again, blisters and raw skin in between my toes...ouch!

We shopped, walked, hit the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace, walked some more and then made our way back to the hotel. There was some kind of fitness convention going on....so there were some mighty fine menfolk walkin around with all their muscles and fine bodies. I SO appreciate a man with muscles. Erin had to hand me a tissue once or twice cuz I guess I was drooling a little. Can ya blame me? Sheesh.

We ate dinner at Quark's which is a Star Trek themed restaurant, a little weird.. our "embassador" came to take our order...and they had full costumed people walking around. I'm so NOT a Trekkie.

After dinner we sat at the blackjack tables for awhile, well long enough to lose all the cash I had on hand. This cute guy sat down next to Erin and before I know it they are deep in conversation. A conversation that embarrasses me just a little, but E had no qualms about getting a guys opinion on something that I was wondering about. Something that I can talk to my girlfriends about,but not something that I would go up and talk to with a total stranger. She doesn't care, she just figures Hey, I'm never gonna see this person again, so....why not. Why not indeed. Needless to say, she ends up making friendly with the cute guy and he hangs with us for the next couple hours!

We all ended up losing our butts off and then went and danced the rest of the night at this little lounge that had a really good band, singer.....whatever they were. It was just a guy and the girl singer, but she was good and we had a great time.

I'm such a dork, cuz these were the only pictures I took.

Erin and I picked up my kids from their dad's house and took them to brunch. It was good to see them. Ash has been down there since Father's Day and of course Jordan lives there with his dad, so it was really good to see them both again. Ash will be home on Sunday, thank goodness. It's been too quiet and pretty lonely. Ah, aren't they cute!!

Anyway, we had a great time and it was a much needed distraction. So, thanks E...next visit I'm heading your way!!

Much needed!!

A weekend in Vegas baby!!!

My girl Erin is flying out from WA state and booked us a room. I'm excited about catchin up with E and relaxing, maybe hittin the tables, the pool, the strip...catchin the sites, eh, whatever we want. It's been a couple/three years since I've seen E so this will be awesome, she was needing a break and knew that I could use a distraction, bless her heart!

This past Sunday I went to a devotional with a couple friends, the topic was faith vs fear. It's amazing how answers come when you need them. Whether it's a friend flying out for the weekend, or words of wisdom that really hit your heart. The devotional reminded me of one of my favorite quotes that has given me strength in the past....here it is. I love it, it's simple but powerful.

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

I'll try to remember to post pics from the weekend!! Take care, and thanks all for your sweet comments!!

Out of the Funk

finally, the past couple weeks I've been way funky. I've been drained of all energy, it's like something is sucking every last ounce of life I have in me. There are, I think several reasons for this...it's an emotional thing that is taking it's toll on me physically.

1. My sister and her family are moving even farther away, only an hour, but still...it's another freakin hour.

2. My bff is moving 4 1/2 hours away from me, she only lives 1 hour away now, and will be leaving me lost, alone, isolated, sad.........Just kiddin. (not really, but I don't want to make her feel bad)!

3. My other single friend is thinking of moving to Salt Lake which is 4-5 hours away. When your single, having other single friends is like life support. Life sustaining nourishment for the soul. When you have friends who have been through the same things you have, like divorce, surviving the single mother thing, worrying about our children, stress over money and everything else that comes with it, well it's nice to talk to someone who "KNOWS" exactly what you are going through.

4. This one got to me more than anything, my long distance relationship is no more. I'm not going into details, but it left me numb for awhile. I'm just starting to come out of my "coma" and get back to thinking that life will be ok. It's been a difficult pill to swallow, but I've survived this far, I'm not going to give up now!!

Anyway, I have to keep reminding myself that "When God closes one door, he opens another"
Well, I hope that there are all kinds of windows and doors opening right now, and one day I will find the right one to walk through.

All Systems GO!!!!

Even though I am still trying to clean up from our camping trip over the weekend, everything is a go for Thursday. My honey is flying in Thursday night, I am SO stinkin excited. SO excited, but SO nervous. I'm just hoping I don't puke on him when I first see him...now, that would be a great impression...NOT!

Anyway, the camping was really good, (although I'm not really fond of camping) I'm still washing camp smoke out of my hair....yuck. Not too mention, we freakin froze our hineys off...that was SO NOT fun. We had a good time though and had a really good balance of fun and spirituality. The devotionals were amazing and being in nature gave it such a spiritual lift. The girls got a chance to ride horses, Ash was nervous, but really really wanted to ride. She rode with another girl who had more experience, that ride went smoothly, but when she got on the back with me....Oh Boy. We started off ok, but when the horse started to trot, she FREAKED out, and I mean Freaked! She felt like she was going to bounce right off the back of the horse, poor girl, we ended up making it back to camp without falling off and without broken bones of any kind. I figured Ash was a goner......like never wanting to ride again, she surprised me when later she rode again, by herself!! You GO GIRL. She did great and I'm so proud of her.

Well, I'm outta here for a few days, gonna be busy cleaning and gettin ready..still have to buy a cute outfit!! I'll let ya'll know how the "meetin" goes!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Short and Sweet

Ok, it's after 10:00 and I just got back home from out of town about 2 hours ago..so I'm beat and heading to bed. Just wanted to leave a card that I made last week to go with sketch 9 over at Triple the Sketch. I used scraps from the layout I made and played with my cricut for the penguin..he's so cute...

The next 2 weeks are going to be crazzzzeeee.. Ash and I have girls camp (with our church) this week Wed-Sat that I have to get packed and ready for. Then when I get back from that, I will need to take Ash to her dad's and leave her there for a few weeks during the summer. That part always bums me out, but she needs time with her dad too. Then I have until Thursday the 19th to clean my house, clean my car, buy a cute new outfit because I will be driving to Vegas to pick my honey up from the airport. I'm getting really nervous......this will be our first in person, in real life, up close and personal encounter!!!! AAHAHHAAHH if I can keep calm and get everything done it will be a miracle!