Things I'm Learning in September

Eleven days ago, I started a class with Shimelle Laine - Learn Something New Every Day. I have been learning a lot - this is the first book I actually used my Bind-It-All on. I'm also learning that it's not as easy to work on the road (during hospital trips) as I thought it was going to be.

Yesterday, our assignment was to make a list of 10 things. I made a quick little journaling box from a stamp set I've had for a long time but never used. I took the box with me while we made a quick unplanned trip to the hospital to have Mags checked out because of side effects from her first chemo treatment. After the hospital, we made the trip to Coventry to take my sister to the grocery store and to see what else she might need. We never got there last week because of the trips to the hospital. When we finished having a nice visit with my sister, we went to our local warehouse store to stock up on a view things. By the time I got home, my list was still blank and although I though about it, I never could corral my thoughts long enough to make the list.

This is pretty much how my class is going. Today is day eleven - I have entries done for days 1 - 4. I have made the book out of salvaged paper from my stash. I am creating collages to illustrate each day and I'm using items from my stash and bits and pieces of stamping techniques I've been trying. I will finish my book (although probably not by October 1). I can at least keep up with reading blogs even if I can't concentrate on writing. And I can still carve out time to get my house in order again and do something crafty every day to save my own sanity.

How hard the mighty fall

Some years ago, I was working for a regional bank. We were a large bank in the region and I had a decent position that was pretty high up the ladder at the time. We traveled to corporate leader's meetings, flew on the company jet and thrilled to be part of the upper management team.

There was a person who was in charge of reviewing the budgets and expenses for all of the  departments in our division. That person often seemed petty, loving to catch others in mistakes or pointing out during public meetings where you weren't meeting budget goals. This person seemed to enjoy trying to force others to do things their way.

Along came a much larger national bank who bought us out. We soon learned that continual layoffs were part of business as usual. My power hungry friend, who tried to expand to a nationwide position rather than just regional, was one of the first to go.

Yesterday, I was sitting in the cancer center with my daughter when I saw this person, in a wheelchair and picking up a prescription from the cancer center. Quite a change from the days of power. I've added my old nemesis to my prayer list. And I've decided that the lesson learned has to be that I an extremely grateful for my life - that my severance was a blessing that gave me time to spend with my sister and now with my daughter.

Story Telling Sunday

Have you heard of Story Telling Sunday hosted by Sian at From High in the Sky? I found it through some other blogs I've been following and have enjoyed so many of the stories that I read. This month, I'm taking the plunge and adding my own story.You can link to Sian's blog here: http://fromhighinthesky.blogspot.com/2012/09/storytelling-sunday-two-words-pictures.html

At the beginning of June, my grandson was too 'sick' to go to school.  We brought him with us as we went to scrub down my sister's house in preparation for her to return home from a two month stay in the convalescent center.  Of course, we hadn't been at my sister's for very long, when my grandson began to feel remarkably better. (Isn't that so common?  Children begin to feel better as soon as the school bus has left them behind?)

My sister does not have a television set. She does not have little boy friendly games. After all, she is 71 and my grandson is 6. 

For a while, my grandson helped mop floors, take out trash and dust low shelves. Finally, after begging for some time to go home, he found himself sitting on stool and looking out the front door.

He was pretty miserable until we let him go feed the goats.

He did not try and take any further days off from school for the rest of the year.

September 1, 2012

I'm taking on online class from Shimelle Laine entitled Learn Something New Every Day. This is my third class with Shimelle and I have to say that she's a huge influence. She is so very good at helping you see the extraordinary within the ordinary.  She also has an exceptional way of explaining design principles and other artistic tips that help you develop a better style of your own. I urge you to visit www.shimelle.com or The Adventures of Glitter Girl at Two Peas in a Bucket to check out this amazing scrapper for yourself.

Here's our first assignment for Learn Something New - 

My name is Valerie and today is the first of September 2012. The last big adventure of my life would probably be dying. I know that sounds wrong somehow, but I so firmly believe in there being a greater adventure in store for us when we leave this world. I imagine it might be like being in a plane high up in the clouds or walking through a meadow or forest or beach - just something so amazingly beautiful. Although I have no desire to leave on this adventure anytime soon, when the day comes, I'll be ready.

Stock photo from Fotolia.com