Purpose

I overheard a conversation between two co-workers this morning that leaves me a bit sad AND joyful at the same time.

The one co-worker said "You know, I used to get so frustrated going to work everyday just trying to make ends meet. I always wondered 'what is the purpose for all of this'? Then, I had grandchildren and it all made sense. They make it all worthwhile. They give me purpose." This is paraphrased a bit.

Hmmm, what about the people who will never experience having children or grandchildren? Does that mean they will not have any purpose for their lives? What a sad thought to think the only way purpose is highlighted in our lives is through grandchildren. I am not saying that having grandchildren is sad nor is taking joy from their existence. However, I do NOT believe that is the sole "purpose" for our lives on this round ball we call earth.

Our purpose is to bring glory to the One who created us through whatever life situation we are in. Whether that situation is where He has placed us or where we, by our own choices, have placed ourselves. Our purpose is to show others that "life on this earth" is just temporary. We have a much grander home waiting for us eternally in Heaven IF we choose it. And it IS a choice...not an automatic shoe-in based on how good we are.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a mini-sermon. The words I heard just struck a chord in me. Reminding me that MY purpose is far greater than what is in this world. My purpose lies beyond this temporal life. From one who may never know what it is like to grow old with her spouse or have a child all her own....take joy in whatever God has given you. He has given me much to be thankful for despite what I may not have. How about you? What you thankful for today?

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Random Friday Thoughts....

Here are some of my random thoughts this Friday morning....at approximately 6:00 a.m. and in no particular order.

1. I love early mornings with birds chirping & cool air coming in the open window
2. Molly can be a good girl once in awhile
3. I really need to use my Heeltastic tonight!
4. Squeeeee!!!! Scrap Orchard is almost back up :)
5. God is good.
6. Where is that new tube of toothpaste I know I bought?
7. What do I want to take for lunch today along with my usual salad?
8. Helen: don't forget food pantry tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Must catch up laundry SOON!
10. Where are those ants getting in??????????

And that is a peek into my odd brain this morning. Got to love the random way my mind works, don't ya? Have a blessed Friday my loves!

xoxoxo
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Ziggle Designs Speed Scrap

Since Scrap Orchard is still down due to some issues trying to migrate to the new web host, Tracey hosted a fabulous speed scrap on the Ziggle Designs blog! Here is the layout I created for this SS. I used all Ziggle Designs products from Strolling Through The Park, a freebie called Cheerio & In The Garden.




Will be back with more tomorrow but for now I had to get this posted so I qualify for the $25 gift certificate drawing!!!

xoxox
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Day 9 of the journey....

Did you see my weight loss ticker at the top of the page? No? Look up! Yep, down 5 lbs. To be very, very precise (which I like to be when I am counting lbs) 5.2 lbs.

That was on weigh-in day, 5/10. Saturday morning I had this urge to get on the scale even though I had two days before official weigh-in. But, I was up, showered & had not eaten yet and for whatever reason, the scale just kept calling out my name. Didn't know I had a talking scale did you? It is only programmed to say "nice" things to me, though. LOL! I gave in and stepped on. Then I stepped right back off. Waited. Stepped back on. OMGosh....it read 4.4 lbs less. Wow! I really didn't think I would lose as much my first official week on Weight Watcher's because the week prior to beginning WW's I had already upped my water intake. Thus, I made many many many trips to the bathroom. That is much of what you lose the first week of starting a new healthy lifestyle program. Notice I don't use the "D" word? Never. I seriously figured I peed out like 2lbs the week before I started WW's. So, to see 4.4 lbs less was rather exhilarating.

With Sunday being Mother's Day and the day BEFORE my weigh-in I planned ahead to be extra good with my eats. I marinated some boneless/skinless chicken breasts (hormone/preservative free at that) and made a huge salad with all my favorite veggies. I was also very happy to find Hendrickson's Sweet Vinegar & Olive Oil dressing on the market shelf. Only 1 point for a full TBSP but you really need very little on your salad to make it tasty. I bypassed the cheesy potato casserole & the brownies. Lemme tell ya....those brownies were doing their very best to drag me over to their little corner of the counter. I was very happy with my chicken and TWO helpings of salad but wow, I wanted something chocolate....BAD!
The brownies were all but forgotten when I stepped on the scale and read 5.2 lb decrease. Now, hear me when I say........I WILL eat a brownie at some point. I love me some chocolate. Right now, I have chocolate Teddy Grahams, Skinny Cow Chocolate/Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches, FF Chocolate Pudding cups all in my kitchen at the moment. If there is one thing about WW's (at least for me) is that I rarely feel deprived. I eat what I want but I make better choices about the yummies I eat & how much I eat.

I will leave you with one layout. Oh, I have more but just this one for today. This is a layout using a charity collaboration kit (not yet released), called Perspective. When I was asked personally to create something using this lovely kit I was honored. I knew instantly what I wanted to scrap about. Me. This will be the first page in my weight loss journey scrapbook that I am going to make.

It takes courage to persevere.....

Lyrics: I've been here before. Now here I am again. Standing at the door. Praying you'll let me back in. To label me a hypocrite would be, only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be. Turn me around. Pick me up. Undo what I've become. Bring me back to the place of forgiveness and grace. I need you. Need your help. I can't do this myself. Cause you're the only one, who can undo, what I've become.

Another Hybrid Project....

This is by far my favorite project to date. Okay, I have only done like "3" hybrids but still. I never once became frustrated or confused with this one. That probably has a lot to do with the fact most of my cutting was straight lines for long, wide curves. NO SCALLOPS!!!

I created this Satchel Bag gift bag to hold the box that will hold the necklace I bought my mommy for mother's day.
This was seriously fun to make....I foresee making more of these adorable satchel gift bags in the future!!The only elements I added to this all digital project were the 2 pink jewels on the straps, the pink ribbon & a large pink brad under the flap to help hold it closed.

If you would like to try your hand at a hybrid project, check out PIXEL GEEK DESIGNS at Scrap Orchard.....she has some amazingly cute templates!!! (fyi- the site will be down starting late on 5/08 thru late 5/11, possibly longer as they switch host servers so be patient)

On The Road Again....

The road to weight loss, that is! I'm saddled up.....I have strapped myself in.....I am raring to go!!! Okay, maybe "raring" is not a good choice of words. That makes it sound like I am all happy & excited about this trip. That really isn't the case. I am ready. I am willing. Just not excited. But, you know what? Commitment to people...goals...things is not something we always "feel" like doing. If I didn't come to work every time I didn't FEEL like it, I would be out of a job :) And so, I commit to starting this journey again. I commit to not letting past failures dictate future achievements. I commit to ME!

That's all I wanted to come on and say....that and check out my weight loss ticker at the top of my blog. Keep an eye on my progress!!!

Hugs~Helen

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Yummy Recipe & Some Layouts

I was searching online for cholesterol friendly recipes since my dr. said mine is a bit elevated. I ended up at the website for the cholesterol lowering drug, Crestor. They have some yummy recipes in the Tools & Resources section. Here is one I tried tonight. OMGosh, it was so good.

Pesto Chicken With Penne Pasta

	Nonstick vegetable cooking spray 1/4 tsp olive oil 1/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" pieces 1 sliced green onion, including green tops 1/4 (13 3/4 oz) can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained, sliced	1 tbsp basil pesto 1 tbsp low-fat sour cream 2 oz whole-wheat penne pasta, cooked according to package directions without salt or fat 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese 3 vine-ripened tomatoes, halved
	Nutrient content per serving:
	Total calories: 496 Protein: 39 g Carbohydrates: 49 g Fat: 16 g Calories from fat: 29%	Cholesterol: 76 mg Sodium: 437 mg Fiber: 8 g Saturated fat: 4 g
	Instructions: In a skillet sprayed with nonstick vegetable cooking spray, over medium-high heat, add olive oil. When hot, add chicken pieces and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until done. Transfer chicken pieces to a plate and set aside. Add green onion to the skillet and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add artichoke hearts, basil pesto, and low-fat sour cream. Stir well and add back chicken pieces. Add cooked penne pasta and mix well. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Makes 1 serving.

I rejoined Weight Watchers Online and have been preparing to start the weight loss journey again. I am going to the store later this week to stock up on all my fave healthy foods. I {heart} salads with lots of fresh veggies and some turkey or chicken breast thrown in for protein. I bought a new salad spinner from Bed Bath & Beyond. I have lots of containers for freezing & storing foods/meals. It is my plan to spend this Sunday afternoon cooking for the upcoming week. As for exercise....I have not made up my mind what I am going to do. I am very very nervous about joining the gym again with my knee problem. I am giving thought to searching Craigslist for a used Elliptical for at home. However, going this route will require me to remove my couch from the living room, which I "think" I am okay with as I still have my recliner. I don't want the elliptical in the basement because, well, my basement is scary. Between the spiders, the crickets on steroids that can jump 50ft in one leap, and just plain creepiness....well, let's just say it isn't a place I want to exercise in. No, I would rather be able to watch TV while I sweat.

This upcoming weekend is National Scrapbooking Weekend which means TONS and I mean TONS of fun things happening in digi-world. I recently decided to take the rest of April off from my creative team responsibilities, however, I was doing so well on my weight loss preparations that I decided to go ahead and scrap anyway. Here are a few things I have done that I don't think I have blogged about.

Using an upcoming kit from Lyndsay Riches called Berry Delight

Memaw is getting sweet kisses from Trevor & Caiden.

Ahhh, the tulips in my front yard. Only a few bloomed but the ones that did were gorgeous!

I used several items from various TaylorMade Designs kits & the SMILE border was from DeCrow Designs called "A Word In Edgewise"

Created for a Scrap Orchard Challenge where we had to use just ONE word on our page, either Fresh or Grow/Growing

The kit, So Delightful by LCC Amy Stoffel & the photos are courtesy of Wikipedia

An upcoming kit by Amy Stoffel called Sweet Tart & also using one of Amy's templates for the design.

I am working on a layout of Caiden riding the same tricycle but these photos went really well with this kit!

Using another upcoming kit by Amy Stoffel called To The Moon as well as some new templates by Scrapping With Liz called, Background Templates

Same kit as above, from Amy Stoffel

I have had these photos of Trevor for quite awhile now so I was excited to finally get to use them.

Brandy Designs needed a layout using her kit, Ki Ki. I remembered these photos of Trevor from Sept 2009!!!!

Again, Brandy needed a layout done with one of her kits and this is one using her kit, Gone Fishin'.

These are some photos from mine & Dad's trip to (well, you can see where). Perfect for this kit of Brandy's.

And, that about catches you up. Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you try the recipe I posted....would love to know if you love it as much as I do. God bless :)

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