All is good for just a little while. I am finding that everything that tries to be implemented is either being met with the "it won't work" "it costs too much money" or the one that irked me the most was "if all of them can't do it then none of them can because Mr. and Mrs. So and So will be mad if their child/grandchild etc is not included" even if the activity was only age appropriate for the older kids or vise versa the younger kids. Two words----Church Politics. I wanted no part of it. I worked my tail off on 2 fundraisers and still had to out source to a different church for my DD to a youth evangalistic conference in our state. This made me very sad and mad all at the same time. As I go along I find out that the lady that helps me teach the devotionals on Sunday evening does not believe in parts of the Bible. I mean, really?!?!?! You are teaching something you do not believe in? I was floored and amazed. This same person broke the trust that we were working to develop with the youth by calling her SIL and gossiping who in turn called the mother to one of the kids involved. Well there went our cast for the Christmas play. We had 8 kids, 9 parts with an adult playing the extra part. When that set of parents pulled their 2 kids out and I found out the reason...how could I be mad? I would have too. Now let's scramble for a new play. I found one. It was fun, mostly narrated and with the message of Christmas. My other leader found one also...fun, could be read from cards the kids held but no Christmas message at all. I ended up walking out and never going back when we met with the kids to work on what the Christmas play was going to be and "She" wanted to let the kids pick which play they wanted to do. EXCUSE ME!!! Who are the adults? We are not promoting Santa. No amount of explaining why her play was inappropriate seemed to sink in. Sometimes you have to know when to call it quits. I did. That was the first part of November of last year. I did not step a foot into a church until February of this year. I chose the church that my son attends. It's a 20-25 minute drive verses the 5 minutes I was used to. It's people I don't really know, a preaching style I am not used to and challenging to my comfort zone just because it's in the area where my ex husband lives...you would think that being divorced from him for 17 years would diminish that feeling. It's also where I see my DD smile, where she sings (she never did before) the hymns, where she is excited to leave for and where she will grow and fellowship with youth in her age group.

I had a teary eyed Mama moment 2 weeks ago when my son came down for Sunday morning service and I was able to attend worship service with both my children and my husband who was in from work that week. My son also brought his GF. I had my family with me in the house of the Lord. My heart was full of emotion and love.

I have decided that I will move my church membership. I have never done this. The church I am leaving is where I was baptized, married and was even thinking of being buried. My Grandfather was baptized there not too long before he was unable to live with me anymore.

So many emotions and heart strings are attached. I almost feel like a traitor. My son made the statement, "Sometimes you have to move a plant into the sun for it to blossom." in a conversation I had with him about all of this. He is correct. I am keeping a continuous prayer in my heart that I am following the path God has set before me. I know change is not easy. But I don't have to like the process. I do see the signs God has given me to move forward to grow myself and most especially my DD in Christ. My husband agrees and understands what and why I am doing this. I do not know yet if he will come with me to the new or stay at the old. Eventhough I know I will join the new, I can't until I know how he fully feels. I think he is still praying on it himself.

I guess this posting sorta sounds whiney or gossipy but it's an issue that has weighed heavily on my heart and it's really helpful to me to just get on paper...even if it's digital. =)

Thanx for peeking in!

Balinda

And that is what I have spent alot of my spare time doing this past week. Art Journaling and catching up on some of the weekly prompts that I didn't have time for and/or didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted to create. All LO's are linked to the gallery for the proper credits and to read what the symbology on what some of the pages mean.

This was a catchup page for the Art Journal Caravan. Itinerary #10-Verb:Belong

This was for last weeks prompt. Itinerary #12. I picked the Simply Started prompt. I wish(ed)....

This was done for Studio Q's March Keep It Simple Challenge over at Scrapbookgraphics. It's still running and you get this free template to use and can win a fabby prize. =)


And I just did this one for the joy of it. I had these new templates I purchased from Studio Rosey Posey I had not used yet and they made this page soooo easy and kept the focus on my DD photo's in just the most perfect way.

*****Just a note that I am not on any creative team at Scrapbookgraphics, I just love their products!*****

Balinda

This one is a true art journal page for me. I used her Steamtown Detectives kit.

Click Me to read the story behind the page.

I had a play at making an oversized 5x7 ATC using her Retro Calendar Girls.

A full list of credits can be found here.

Thanx for peeking in!

Balinda

xoxo

Balinda

P.S. As soon as I finish transferring these few files to the new external hard drive I will be back for a longer posting. ;)

These are the school supplies I picked up at LifeWay Christian Bookstore to finish out Shaina's 8th grade year.

I babysat my nephews Sunday because my brother's girlfriend's son got diagnosed with the swine flu and they went to get a second opinion. Micheal is showing me his muscles and Kaleb is folding wash cloths for me. By the time we got to church that evening and Kaleb got still he passed smooth out on the pew. Apparently laundry is hard work!

My cooling mat died and my laptop gets way to hot without one. I found this one at best buy that I hope will work out ok. The verdict is still out. If it doesn't work good, I will be taking it back and exchanging it.

And I am too lazy tonight to grab today's photo...terrible huh?

Thanks for peeking in on me =)

Balinda