November 1st --- Live-it List

Today is my brother Kenneth's Social Security birthday -- 62 -- hope you have a totally terrific day! I can't be certain where these past 10 months have gone this year and I know I have definitely not accomplished all I wanted to but ... time marches on, stands still for no one!

Been doin' a lot of soul searching the past several weeks and thinking about my Live-it List -- not yet ready to call it a Bucket List! Have prioritized my first 15 items below:

1. RETIRE ... yes, I am shouting! I want to spend my days in quiet solitude with the Lord, chatting with my hubby, texting with my daughter and my baby sister, volunteering, and creating! What an absolutely glorious thought!

2. Travel ... this category will account for several of my top 15 but the first will be to move to our retirement location -- the jury is still out on exactly where that will be but straw votes say it will be somewhere sunny and hot!

3. Bucharest ... I have had a passion to travel to this location from the time I lived in Europe and missed it while spending so many long weekends in Italy!

4. Women's Retreat ... Would love to be totally immersed in praising the Lord ... of course, I would love to have my sister Becky and my cousin Cathy in attendance with me! God has been so, so good to me and I just need to have an outpouring of the Holy Spirit ... where two or three are gathered ...

5. Family Reunion ... Some of my fondest memories are of family gatherings while my grandmother and mother were still alive! How I long for those rendezvous' with all the aunties, uncles, cousins, siblings! Good food, great conversation, and awesome memory making! Would like to plan one for summer 2012.

6. Volunteer Vacation ... Have been looking through opportunities to help others less fortunate than myself while enjoying the culture and custom of a different location or country.

7. Sophia ... Yes, another place that I have longed to travel to ... I am intrigued with wanting to learn all that I can about this great big ol' Earth of ours -- the people, the food, the culture, the beauty!

8 and 9. Road Trip ... I would like to travel to the farthest point East in the US to the farthest point South to the farthest point West to the farthest point North ... How glorious to discover the history of our country with the greatest history buff -- my hubby Michael -- on a Trike (my no. 9)

10. Broadway ... Just once I would like to go to a Broadway play, sip latte in Times Square, visit Ellis Island (up close and personal -- the grand ol' lady too), and celebrate New Year's Eve there in the wild cacophony of people, sounds, and anticipation of a New Year.

11. Birth ... I want to be in the delivery room as my daughter Melissa delivers her first child ... a baby changes everything and promises hope for a future.

12. Spa Retreat ... I want to be totally pampered ... I miss the days of living in Seoul, South Korea, and going to the public baths for the most luxurious hot soak, pumice stones taking away all the extraneous, and lathering up with the most gorgeous smelling soaps ... scalp massage, facial, the works!

13. Cooking School Experience ... To learn at the master's hand ... I am an avid fan of Food Network and the Cooking Channel and I never grow tired of trying new recipes.

14. Rome ... I want to spend a glorious week in this most romantic city with Michael! We have both lived in Europe but have never experienced the beauty of Rome together!

15. Quilt ... the fabric that binds the heart and home! I want to design and make a quilt for my daughter and each of my siblings that will serve as my hand print in their lives after I have gone home to my Father's house.

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.

Our Grand Prize Getaways include:

A family vacation to Universal Orlando^® Resort! (+ prize rules)

A Las Olas Surf Safari!

Family Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort

More Prizes!

We’ve even got a few $500 gift cards for our extra entries to go towards crossing something off your bucket list. To qualify…

1. Go “like” Just Ask on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

2. Share this tweet: Did you know you can get screened for Breast/Ovarian Cancer http://on.fb.me/JustAskHBOC #justask (Come back to this post and link to your tweet in the comments.)

3. Go “like” Today’s Mama on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

Each item counts as a separate entry.

Contest closes on Saturday, November 12th at Noon MST. Winners will be announced Monday, November 14th. Good Luck!

One Week Down

My DH has been gone for one week ... I have not slept well at all! In fact, went to bed at 5:45 pm last night! Have purged the kitchen cabinets for expired spices, etc.; matched up all containers with their lids. Today I am at my crafting table working on cards! It is such a great outlet for anxiety! Hope everyone is having a great weekend -- will post some pics later on today of the cards. This set of 12 is for a giveaway that I sponsored at Shabby Chic Boutique. One of the talented Air Force wives who run this online boutique is my lovely daughter, Melissa.

Crafter's Digital Art Center (CDAC) Progressive Freebie Challenge

Oh my goodness .... if you haven't joined this fabulous club, now would be the most awesome time to do so. The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two weeks to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free, but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenge's images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.. Let the fun begin!!!

July 14 --- It's Happening

Be sure to hop on over to Tiddly Inks on July 14 for their new release with Make it Crafty! This will be the hit of the season -- the fusion of Victorian and Steampunk images! Can't wait until July 14 -- go there now and have a try at winning 5 Tiddly Inks images!

As the Deer Panteth for the Water

My time with Jesus this morning was over Psalm 42:1: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God (KJV). This truly speaks to where I am this morning -- my soul longing after God. So much devastation in the world, lost lives, lost homes, lost souls ...

As the deer panteth for the water -- So my sould longeth after thee -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.
You alone are my strength, my shield -- To you alone may my spirit yield -- You alone are my heart's desire -- And I long to worship thee.

I just love this song. As I read my Bible, the words just kept playing in my brain. Facing some tough decisions in my personal life and seeking the strength of my Lord and Saviour for guidance. He alone will stand beside me all the way and provide the courage and strength I need.

On my creative side, would like to let you know that Tiddly Inks is offering some terrific blog candy. Hurry on over there and link up for an opportunity to win and to get some freebies.

So Much to Celebrate

WOW, today is a totally fabulous day -- it is the National Day of Prayer and there is no better opportunity to turn all your cares and blessings to our Lord and Savior than today ... but remember, there is no place or time we cannot pray! Take time each and everyday of your life to thank God for the blessings He heaps upon you ... don't forget, blessings come in different packages and some might not be as easy to swallow as others ... but they are all blessings He has given us!

It is also Cinco de Mayo -- take time to explore and try a new, or old, culture and food today! There's nothing quite like chips and salsa!!!

And last, but definitely not least, today I had the awesome opportunity to enter a Mother's Day Getaway Giveaway ... two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines plus a prize package. This fabulous opportunity is being offered by Simple Mom; give it a try for yourself ... altho' have to admit, I hope I am the lucky winner!!!!

Pondering Life

Why does life just rush right by us? Does it not know that God intended for us to stop along the way, smell the flowers, admire His glorious art, and just plain have an abundant life filled with joy, sorrow, laughter, pain, etc?

I cannot believe that we are at the end of the second month of 2011 -- absolutely boggles my neurons! I am in the deepest of prayer modes as my daughter and son-in-law search for their first new home!

I flew to Texas to help Melissa drive from Wichita Falls to Hill AFB outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a wonderful trip and provided the two of us many hours to reflect on our lives and plans for the future. Having been a single parent to Melissa for almost 20 years, we are like 'white on rice' and share everything! It is a great feeling when your daughter is also your best friend!

Sharing Jan Silvious' Devotional

Finally . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. —Philippians 4:8 NIV

If we can’t control anything else in our lives, we can control what we think about. But when we have been buffeted by a situation that throws us, it is easy to abdicate our control and go to our “favorite bad feeling.” That’s the feeling we went to as a child because we learned that it helped us get what we wanted. Once you are an adult, you will find that it is the first place your mind rushes when there is something troubling on your mental radar screen.

Some of us cry, some pout, some sleep, some eat chocolate, some go shopping, some withdraw, and some slam doors, some clean house, some sit and stare. You could probably fill in your own favorite bad feeling. But you don’t have to respond that way, you can choose not to go there. Circumstances rarely change, but how you feel about the circumstances can change dramatically.

How you feel is up to you, not to anyone else in your life. Peace is the result of choosing to focus your mind on what is true and honorable and right. When you choose to do that, it is amazing how much peace will overtake your mind and heart.

—Jan Silvious

How Do They Do It?

I am so in awe of those fabulous folks who actually do post on their blogs daily! I just cannot, for the life of me, get in the swing of posting daily! Oh, well, my greatness must lie in another direction.

I recently joined a swap called 'Journal Me.' You were paired with another person whom you did not know and you were to make a 'journal' page about that person based on email, their blog, etc. This is the very first time I have ever attempted anything closely resembling scrapbooking but ... here is my finished product.

Dreamin'

Wishing on a star has always been a favorite of mine .... do I really believe that my wishes will come true ... I don't know but it just does a heart good! I know for certain that I miss my DH when he is away. Before he went on this current trip, I was challenged to make an ATC for a swap with the theme of 'goats.' I was baffled because I have a lot of sheep stamps but goats? Well, I was lucky enough to find a digi stamp of a handsome goat and ... here is my rendition of 'sheep dreamin' ... you devil goat you! The sheep is a digi stamp from Squigglefly called Counting Sheeple. I really love how this ATC came to life once I had it on paper! Sweet dreams!

Pay it Forward

This is the most fantastic idea --- I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who comment on this post. However, there is a catch, you must repost this, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules state simply that it MUST be something handmade or homemade by YOU and must be sent to 5 other people during the year 2011!

If you would like to join in the fun, then be one of the first five to post a comment and something handmade or homemade will coming your way this year from ME! Let's all Pay It Forward in 2011!

Time Flies

Oh my goodness, I said I was going to keep this blog up daily but ... time just flies! Can you believe that the 1st month of 2011 is almost coming to an end? So much to do, so little time!

On that note, trying to be proactive and get my Valentine's cards made -- spent most of the day yesterday in paper, stamps, and ink! Loved being able to devote the time to making cards. Here is one of the Valentine's Day cards I created.

Today belongs to my college classwork ... at the end of my career, I am working on an Associates Degree -- keeps the mind agile!

Starting Fresh - 2011

2010 was a great year for the Patten family - lots of milestones and memories made! Now, we are looking onward and upward for 2011! Extremely proud of our SIL, Josh, for finishing Tech School with the Commander's Award. Soon he and the DD, Melissa, will be a bit closer as they will be stationed at Hill AFB in Utah.

Lots of great adventures planned for this coming year -- first will be helping the DD, Melissa, drive with her fur-babies from Wichita Falls TX to Utah. Lots of mother-daughter time/talk will be happenin' there!

Chinese New Year is just around the corner -- yes, once you have spent as much time in the Far East as I have, you must celebrate Chinese New Year! Will make dumplings, send cards, and try to make merry by myself as DH, Mike, will be away still.

Tonight I am getting down and dirty with my stamps and inks -- working on Valentine's Day cards and some swap commitments. Will post pics tomorrow!