Wow the days go by fast!

Yes they sure do and before ya know it ya haven't blogged....and I'm talking to me about me....rofl. Oh I think I'm going crazy but the good news is...I'm not going crazy of course unless you ask my family and they'll tell you I've always been like it anyway and of course those web buddies I call awesome will know I'm a little (ok alot) insane or crazy or even both....lol. Ok so what's new in my neck of the woods. There is so much to tell you but I won't bore you with the facts.

News with Lance is we really have no news although we expected to get some on Wednesday but the process is so complex so we have to wait for the team who are dealing with Lance to discuss his case in full with one another and that takes place on the 20th of this month and then we go back to see his case manager on the 27th and with all fingers crossed find something out. Although that is a bit of a set back for the family we need to wait till it's all official. It has been a very long and drawn out process for our family and far from easy bit still we wait.

Tim is travelling much better then he has in a long time. Yes it has been a rough journey for sure and it's still only early days but the good thing is we are moving very slowly but very much forward one tiny step at a time. There is still a long way to go but bit by bit and with God's strength we manage to get through. I want to say a huge thankyou to all my friends that have helped me get through this really rough patch because without any of you I would have gone crazy a long time ago and without your love, emails, text messages, phone calls, precious gifts, understanding, putting up with me, prayers, love and well wishes not only myself but my family would have not have managed at all. You all know who you are and so I wish to say thankyou to each and everyone of you who in some way have touched my heart and my soul with your friendship and support. xoxo

They say that when we scrap we do it for so many reasons...I have lots! I scrap because I love to be as creative as I can be, because it allows me to use that creativity to preserve precious memories and moments kept alive in a photo with a unique and awesome story behind each and everyone of them. I scrap because it is my "me" time and with my days as hectic mentally and physically and extremely demanding as they are, it is something I truly treasure. I scrap to allow my mindset to remain calm in the midst of turmoil and crisis. For whatever reasons I or you may scrap do it because you love to, not because it's a chore!

Ok so for today these are my latest LO's, yep I have more but haven't uploaded them to my galleries yet so they'll wait for another day.....I'm a tease I know!!! Ok both LO's are PBP CT ones and this 1st one received DST weekend gallery standouts today so I was wrapped....thanks Amanda you made my day. Pop on over and check it out, just follow the DST link and scroll down to #17 and voila!

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Oki doki well so not too bore you too much I'll leave my blogging for today there and hopefully come back tomorrow with some more news! Until then take care, stay safe and I would dearly love it if you read my blog then leave some loving by saying hi! Hugs Chris xoxo

I must be sick!

ROFL.......cause I am blogging two days in a row. See told ya that when I can I will but when I can't I don't.......clear as mud??? Thought so! Ok remember in my last post....yes that was just yesterday I mentioned I had some exciting news, well at least for me anyone and in fact I have 2 lots of exciting news first up....you all know Tara Dunstan and her fantastic designs (and if you're not familiar with her digi goodies then you'd better get on over and check her stuff out) well of course she not only sells at Pickleberrypop but she now has her own store....Tara Dunstan Designs and of course with a new store of her own, comes a brand new forum and brand new gallery and creative team blog and of course she can't do it all on her little lonesome ownsome so for some time now well in fact ever since I have been CTing for her I have also played an important role in the admin side of things and yep I am part of the TDD admin team......yay see I told you it was exciting news well at least for me. So if you want somewhere else you'd like to call home then why not register at Tara's forums and if you love her goodies so much and use them in your LO's head on over and pop them in the gallery as well. Don't forget the challenges and awesome extra's you will find from time to time on the Creative Team Blog, oh and while I'm at it why not subscribe to her newsletter because she delivers the most awesome freebies and I mean awesome. Full kits to be precise most of the time and the odd freebie on her very own blog.

All the links are above so go on pop on over and do what ya have to......well get moving what ya waiting for....lol

Ok my next exciting little bit of news is yesterday I took the plunge and registered over at Nuts4Digi......yes I had been invited forever by Fiona and yes I felt I did not have the time to be a part of another forum but the great thing about this one is it is also an aussie site and you gotta be proud of that....being an aussie and all. Anyway I am still in the middle of getting my gallery sorted out and topped up over there but I already got LOTW with this LO Genuine Article already posted here on my blog not too many posts ago. I can't believe it so I am now the proud owner of a new blinkie I am sporting in some of my siggies about the place. You can find this LO in my gallery over at N4D here.

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Ok well that'll do for today I think......lol it's enough anyway so enjoy the post and till next time take care and stay safe. Hugs Chris xoxo

Oooh am I slack or what!!!!

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My latest layouts for you to enjoy! The first 2 G and Autumn Days are Tara Dunstan CT LO's, the next 2 Love Imagine Dream and Unlock Your Mind are PBP CT LO's and the last one My Wish For You is a "me" LO! But don't stop there read the blog post too.....rofl!!!!!

You know I reckon the title of this post (or something similar) must be one of the most used in all time blogging....lol because I also figured that no matter how good you try to be at blogging and keeping up to date......the best laid plans don't always go down so well.


Anyway I wanted to say that I have been slack because I have been sooooo busy even my poor brain (well what's left of it) is full and worn out. But things are getting better here in a slow but sure way. Tim is improving although still has a ways to go he is very slowly but surely getting there and Lance had the last of his assessements on Thursday and now we wait for them to gather all the info and hopefully with all fingers crossed give us an official diagnosis Wednesday week. It's been a long time and we so deserve one and so does poor Lance.

Ok I have some exciting news but not sharing that with you just yet......rofl ain't I a meanie.....lol.

Just a quick post tonight to tell you I'm still in the land of the living and hopefully will come back with the exciting news when I get round to my next posting.

Take care guys and hugs Chris xoxo

Latest LO!

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I finally grabbed a moment to upload my latest PBP CT LO onto blogger. The young good looking dude (lol) is Maddison our youngest son on his 12th birthday last year. Can't believe that this year he will be an official teen and that's it no more little tackers here at home just 4 teenagers....................YIKES!!!! Anyway there you go and as usual if you click on the credit links it will take you to my gallery over at Pickleberrypop (PBP).

Anyway if ya lucky enough I may be back with more tonight or even tomorrow as it's time for me to run and grab the kids from school now and so till then keep on smilin' and enjoy my latest LO.....wel I hope you will anyway! Hugs Chris xoxo

The Color Of Water.

Anyone up for an incredibly inspiring read? If so then you'll find The Color Of Water truly an amazing book. We celebrated Mother's Day here in Australia on Sunday and one of my gifts was this most beautiful book written by James McBride, award winning author and composer.

This amazing memoir is not only heart wrenching and incredibly touching beyond words, telling the remarkable story of Ruth McBride Jordan - his mother and therefore telling of his own remarkable story, but one I found where I could take up character and bury myself into each page of this book, living and breathing every word written.

I picked up this book Sunday night and had read half of it by the time I went to bed. I couldn't put it down. By Monday night 3/4's of the book was finished and I was still in awe and I finished the last few pages last night and was deeply touched by the courage of this family, by the story told and thankful for the opportunity I was given to read it.

James McBride has also written A Song Yet Sung and Miracle At St. Anna which will soon be a major motion picture directed by Spike Lee. I can't wait to get my hands on both of these books and be drawn into the very lives of those he writes about the only way James McBride knows how....with power and passion.


Have you checked this out yet? Look below..................... image is clickable!

Yep that's right.....Tara Dunstan has opened her own store selling all her awesome designs. Yes she is still selling at Pickleberrypop but after her old store broke which was used solely for us......her CT team she needed to get a new one up and running and decided to go whole hog with X-Cart and I very gently persuaded her that with all the work done to get her new store open she may as well open it to the public and she has. So if you haven't popped on over to Tara Dunstan Designs what are you waiting for.....go on. Oh and image is clickable too so you have no excuse now do ya?!

Sad News!

It's busy here and no matter how hard I try to blog a little more often I just can't seem to find the time in amongst the happenings of home just now. Last week we received some bad news. A friend of many years sadly passed away at the age of 67 from a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and 6 grown children. I know them all so well and I considered their home to be my second home when I was a teen all of 16-17. When I received the news last week it was terrible and today was the funeral. Sadly our family could not attend as Tim is unwell and not traveling too well himself. Sometimes as much as you want you can't always do what you should and my thoughts, my heart and my prayers go out to those that truly lost a loved one and now have to find the strength and courage to face each new day without him. I love you Bill and I know that you are safe in God's hands and although you left us unexpectedly you were loved dearly by so many.

More Sad News!

Betty the Bantam passed away this morning. It appears she died in her sleep as we found her at the bottom of her perch this morning, eyes closed and still warm but with no life. She was a much loved pet of the family and well......the neighbourhood really as saying she was free range is an understatement as she visited garden after garden gobbling up the bugs and insects, being fed the scraps and giving many something to smile about including those that drove past and couldn't believe what they were seeing. I can't tell you how old she was but nothing like double figures in fact probably only about 4/5.5 years old. Lance had purchased Betty from the local market when she was about 4-6 weeks old and raised her until she was all grown up. I know I will miss seeing her in the garden and visiting the neighbours and I am sure the rest of us will to.
Goodbye Betty we will miss you!

On the Scrapping Front!

I have in fact finished a few LO's but have't had a chance to pop them in the gallery as of yet. I am hoping that tomorrow will allow me some spare time to at least plonk one or two in and the rest as I can.

News on Lance!

No news on Lance just yet but tomorrow he has an appointment which is meant to be the start of some more assessments to be "scheduled" in and hopefully it won't be too far away. He also has his next paediatrician's appointment on Monday so we are in for some interesting times over the next little while.

I'm pretty certain I've forgotten something but I'm sure it'll come to me and when it does that makes a great excuse for another blog post hey?! So until we next chat take care, stay safe, read a great book....I've already mentioned which one, hug those you love and tell them how much you love them because one day you may not get that chance. Hugs Chris xoxo