My Creation by FlowerScraps

Download wordart here

If you've got kids you've probably got Legos and the My Creation kit by FlowerScraps is perfect for scrapping pics of of both! This fun kit has bright colors and fun elements. Take a look at the preview...

I made a layout for Sebastian...

Check out the flowerScraps blog for more layout inspiration and a freebie!

Spring Fling Collection by Nibbles Skribbles

Download wordart here

The designers at The Studio have all used the same color palette to design some great spring themed mini kits. Manda of Nibbles Skribbles loved the colors so much she made lots of goodies! Check them out...

Isn't it all just the cutest?! AND.....all the kits are on sale for $1 until the
20th! Cool, huh?

I love that everything can be mixed and matched. That's exactly what I did to make this layout...

Check out the Nibbles Skribbles blog for more layout inspiration and make sure you visit the Nibbles Skribbles store before the sale is over!

Sebastian is home!

Download wordart here

Sebastian was released from the hospital on Sunday!

Mom says he is still in a lot of pain, but that he is very happy to be out of the hospital and in his own house. I think they're all getting more rest now that they can sleep in their own beds.

There really is no place like home!

Next week, (I think it's on the 21st) Sebastian is scheduled to go back into the operating room to get a new cast put on his leg. The one he has now is a combination cast/splint/wrap thing that they put on because there was lots of swelling from the surgery.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get a picture of his new Spiderman cast to show you!

Sebastian and his mom and dad are still busy reading all of the cards Sebastian rescieved. Here's another picture of some of his goodies...

My friend April is hosting a challenge at Scrapbook Flair that involves making pages for Sebastian and there are some adorable ones that have been posted. There is still time to join the challenge! I know there's some sort of prize involved, but I'm not sure what it is.

He is going to love seeing all the pages with his pictures on them!

The nicest car jacker ever...

Download wordart here

I know there are areas of town that should be avoided and I seriously avoid them ~ as long as my bipolar GPS doesn't insist on taking me there. There are other areas that I am comfortable with --- maybe a little too comfortable. Areas like my own neighborhood.

I was up and about early this morning and after getting gas I decided to vacuum out the car and run it through the car wash. I was meeting up with someone from my photography class later in the day to take pictures and thought she might appreciate riding in a halfway clean car. Plus, I seriously can't remember the last time it was vacuumed out so it really, really needed it!

I got my gas and drove the car around the building to the vaccuum. I put my quarters into the machine and began the boring job of vacuuming. YUCK! After finishing up on the drivers side of the car I walked around to the passengers side. Of course, I couldn't take the vacuum hose with me so I pulled it across the seat from the drivers side door. You know what I'm talking don't you? You've done the same thing before, right?

I'm almost done vacuuming and I look up to see someone, a man, standing right by my car ~ right at the open driver's door.

Now, I'm pretty sure you are all too aware that I don't handle emergencies well, but I gotta say that I was proud of myself today! In a matter of seconds, I assessed the situation and noticed some very important things...

1. This guy was tall enough that I only had a view of him from the waist down, but his pants were on and zipped up so that gave me quite a bit of relief.

2. My purse was under the seat on the passenger side of the car ~ closer to me than him so if he wanted my whole $12 and change he was going to have a hard time getting it.

3. If I needed to run I could cause I was closer to the street and the front of the station than he was.

4. The last and maybe the most important thing I noticed was that my keys were in the ignition and the car was running, so if he wanted to drive away with my car there wasn't going to be much that I could do to stop him.

Now, I'm torn between saving my car and letting him steal it so I can get a new one. Even though I would really like to get a new car, instinct kicked in and I decided to save my beloved VW.

The guy was still standing there as I started screaming and reached across the car to turn it off and grab my keys.

Well, I scared the poor guy more than he had scared me! He immediately put his hands up like he was being arrested and tried to back away, which wasn't easy because of the vacuum machine, the curb and the fence that were behind him. As he backed away he was saying...

"I'm nice! Please don't scream! I promise I'm nice! I'm waiting for my friend who is supposed to be here cleaning his car! I'm nice! I promise!"

I got the car turned off and managed to get half of my key out of the ignition before backing up enough to see that I wasn't in danger. Yes, I literally mean that I got half of my key out of the ignition. Apparently, I don't know my own strength because while I was screaming and turning the key and trying to get it out of the ignition I managed to break it off.

The scary car jacker guy is still standing there with his hands in the air apologizing as I'm standing on the other side of the car pointing my half of a car key at him like a weapon and holding my other hand across my heart cause I swear it was about to beat itself right out of my chest. The scary car jacker guy was talking and talking about being sorry and not really being awake and his friend being late and not knowing where he was and trying to call him and not realizing that he had even walked up on my car the way he had and how he didn't mean to scare me and how he really was a nice guy.

Once my heart rate slowed to a pace that allowed me to hear something other than the pounding sound of it's beats in my ears I actually looked at the scary car jacker guy and had to laugh. I really was scarier than him and he was still holding his hands in the air. If the police had shown up, I probably would have been the one in trouble.

The not so scary car jacker guy offered to help me get the broken key out of the ignition, but I was able to get it with no problem and I had the valet key so I wasn't stranded. The guys friend arrived and I got to meet him. He was nice. Turns out he knows Orange Croc Guy, so OGC knew all about my experience before I had a chance to tell him.

He's still laughing at me!

I know that I was lucky and that this whole thing could have gone wrong ~ very, very wrong~ but I am having a hard time telling the story without laughing myself!

3-11-12

Download wordart here

Hospital visits

Download wordart here

I have been lucky enough to visit Sebastian in the hospital two more times since my visit on Wednesday.

On Thursday, he was awake when I arrived but was running a fever so he was given some medication and soon fell off to sleep.

Friday, I arrived as mom and dad were stepping out for a much needed break. Sebastian was in his room having x-rays taken as his worried uncle watched from the hallway.

Talk about heart breaking! Try standing in the hallway and watching and listening to the cries of a little boy in pain as his leg is turned and twisted in every evil way possible for x-rays.

If you've ever had a hurt or broken bone x-rayed you understand what I'm talking about!

Sebastian was a champion though!

I had shown up with a few more goodies that had arived at school for him ~ a bag of candy he could use to offer his visitors something sweet. (That made him feel pretty grown up!), a book to read and some more cards.

I opened one of the cards and read it to him. It was so sweet! We even found some monkey stickers inside the card! Sebastian shared one of the stickers with his uncle.

I didn't stay for too long. Mom hopes they'll be released from the hospital soon. Maybe even on Saturday! (Keep your fingers crossed!)

I've seen the cool wheel chair Sebastian will be spending some time in when he goes home. Mom and dad were going to try and get him into it for a little spin around the hospital after I left and I can't believe I didn't remind them to send me a picture if they did. UGH!

The cards and packages you guys sent are still helping Sebastian and his family pass the time. They are working their way through them slowly but surely and have loved every single one they've read.

The Story of Me part 31

Download wordart here


June 28, 1999

Harmony was in her bedroom when she heard the knocking on the door. She exhaled loudly then stood and walked toward the front of the house where the sound had originated. Harmony passed Mary’s closed bedroom door and knew the lady wouldn’t be coming out of her room. She had tired of the friends and fellow church members that had been making daily appearances since Gene’s murder the previous week. Harmony had spent most of the week locked inside her bedroom avoiding Mary instead of comforting her the way she should have been doing. The way she would have if she had only known how.

Harmony reached the front door expecting to see more people with food. Why was it people showed up with food after someone died? No one wanted to eat and most of it was being thrown away. Harmony was stunned for a moment after she opened the door and saw that it was
Madelyn Wilson, the clipboard lady from social services. She was standing there with a smile on her face that was anything but friendly.

Harmony wasn’t happy to see this woman again. She had promised they would become good friends, but then she only showed up in Harmony’s life after something bad happened.

“I don’t think Mary is up to company right now. She’s in her room and she’s probably sleeping.” Harmony said hoping the clipboard lady would turn around and leave.

“It’s good to see you again Harmony. If I can come in I would like to talk to you for a little while.” Madelyn said as she tried make her smile look friendlier.

Harmony exhaled in the loud exaggerated way only an aggravated teenager can as she stepped back to make room for the clipboard lady to enter.

Madelyn looked around the small but tidy room before taking a seat in a large recliner. “How have you been?”

“No very well. Haven’t you heard, Gene was shot and killed for no reason.” Harmony replied flippantly as she threw herself onto the couch.

“I’m really sorry that happened. Gene was a nice man. I know you must miss him.”

Harmony looked at Madelyn as if she were going to say something important but then changed her mind. “Yes, he was nice.” she replied.

“Other than that happening, how are you doing?” Madelyn sat up and leaned toward Harmony as she asked the question.

“I’m fine. I’m getting by like I always do.”

“I spoke with Gene before everything happened and he said that he was worried about you. Did you have a fight with one of your friends or something.”

Harmony squared her shoulders and answered with an edge to her voice. “No I did not.”

“Mary called me yesterday. She’s upset about Gene and worried about you.” Madelyn spoke softly hoping to calm the girl down.

“I said that I’m fine. So, if that’s why you’re here you just wasted your time.” Harmony stood in an attempt to let Madelyn know she was finished with the conversation.

“Harmony, Mary told me that she thinks it would be a good idea if I found another placement for you.” Harmony froze where she was standing. “She says that you’ve been difficult to handle lately and that you won’t talk to her. With everything that happened to Gene, she’s barely taking care of herself. She doesn’t think she can give you what you need right now.”

Harmony dropped back onto the couch and tried to cover up the sadness she felt. “Fine. I’ll just go back to my Grandma Pat. I know she’s missed me.”

“Honey, that’s not an option.” Madelyn answered softly.

“Yes, it is. Just ask her. I know she wants me. She’ll be happy to see me again. The Harrisons have kept me from her for long enough.” Harmony’s voice was getting louder and angrier.

“Do you remember the talk we had right after you came here to live.” Madelyn paused for Harmony to answer but continued talking when she didn’t. “We talked about how she had done something bad a long time ago and needed to explain why.” Madelyn paused again. “Harmony, your Grandma Pat is in prison in Georgia.”

“You’re a liar.” Harmony said with a quiet coldness that cause Madelyn to shiver.

“She did something really, really bad. It was a long time ago, but she hid from the police and changed her life and her name. Once they found her she had to answer for her past.”

“I remember hearing Mary and Gene talking. They said she killed a family, but Pat would never do anything like that. You don’t know her. I do and she would never do that.” Harmony said as tears begin to puddle in her eyes.

“I believe that the lady you knew would never do anything bad. Madelyn stressed the word ‘knew’ as she spoke. “I have no idea what the woman she was before you knew her would have done.”

“Why? Why would she kill someone?”

“I don’t know the details, Harmony. I know there was a family that she was connected to somehow. There was a man with a wife and two daughters and their house burned down. The police said that Pat was responsible and she confessed when they spoke to her at the hospital.”

“That doesn’t make sense? It doesn’t!” Harmony cried.

“Honey, she wanted to make sure you were safe. She confessed so that no one would question you.” Madelyn reached out to touch Harmony’s hand, but Harmony moved out of the way.

“I’ll never believe that Grandma Pat could do something bad. Never.” Harmony wiped the tears from her face and squared her shoulders again. “Why are you here?”

“I told you. Mrs. Harrison is worried about you.”

“You said she didn’t want me anymore.”

“No, honey, it’s not that she doesn’t want you. I know she loves you. She’s just sad now.”

“You’re going to take me some place else to live?” Harmony asked.

Madelyn gave Harmony a sad smile. “I am. At least for a little while.”

Harmony stood up quickly. “Well, lets go then.”

“We don’t have to leave right away. You can pack some of your things and tell Mary bye” Madelyn tried calming Harmony down.

“Mary doesn’t want me here and there’s nothing in this house that I want.” Harmony said before walking out of the Harrison’s house for the last time.