Zero

Last Friday night we had the pleasure of welcoming two of our favorite couple friends over for a fun night of playing games, eating food and laughing ourselves silly. I am happy to say we did all three really well:)!

One of the games we played was called "Loaded Questions" (or something like that). We were all asked the same question then had to write our answer down, give our answers to one person then that person read them to one person and they had to guess who said what.

One of the questions went something like this...

"You are in a room with 50 other people. Out of those 50 people how many of them are happier than you?"

We all started thinking and writing our answers down, handed them in and waited to see if Vince could figure out who said what. The first card said "Zero". To my surprise he smiled and pointed at me immediately. He knew I'd said zero. I was really surprised by that!

Yes, it is true I said zero and yes, it is true I was the only one who said zero (although my 4 other friends said just 3 or 4). I've been thinking about not the question so much as what is it that others see in me so they just know I'm content with my life. That yes, I am happy.

Whatever it is I'm so glad I'm an optimistic and happy person. I do see the glass as half full. I do try to see the best in everything I do.

Last week 2 of my friends, on separate occasions, called me enthusiastic. Maybe, that's what it is...that's why people see me as happy.

So, what about you? What if you were in that room with 50 other people...how many of them are happier than you?

Scrapwords 5Things Album

Hello, girls!! So, this is November and Thanksgiving is coming our way. I have always loved this month...the colder weather, shorter days and thoughts of the holidays make for a perfect month for me.

This month always gets me to thinking about all that I am blessed with. {readmore}And while my family is my number one blessing there are other things in my life that I am so happy to have.

It's been nearly 2 years ago that my DH surprised me with our brand new home. To say I was grateful is an understatement. While I loved our old Victorian we had been living in for nearly 5 years...it needed lots of work and didn't have many amenities. No dishwasher, no carpet, holes in my kitchen counter, an old and stained sink, broken shower door, and the list goes on!!

The first time we walked into our new home I was overwhelmed with all the beautiful things!! Dishwasher, plush carpet, real tile floors, gorgeous hardwood, everything working, etc. There isn't a day that goes by I don't give a little thank you to my fabulous dishwasher!! What a blessing that little piece of equipment has been!!:)

**Challenge for the week at Scrapwords: I want you to take photos of 5 items in your home you are grateful for. It can be your cozy blanket you snuggle up with while watching TV every night, the view from your kitchen window or like me your dishwasher. Whatever it is, take 5 photos of 5 items. Print these photos, choose a cute little mini book and, if you want to begin gathering up some supplies. I plan on using word stickers, stamps, buttons and flowers in my book. Have everything ready by our Saturday Crop!! Be sure and post your book in your Blog. I'll pick a favorite by the end of the night and give away a cool prize!!! This should be easy and fun!!!

Any questions just post them here. Have fun!!!

With the Holidays almost here I am totally loving life. All the holiday prep, parties, Christmas music and cards, baking and the friendly cheer that seems to be everywhere...I intend on making the most of it. I'm still debating on what to do for cards this year. While the creative part of me would love to take the time and make each one, the sensible side of me is saying, "Don't stress yourself out this year, Les." What to do...

I think the main thing I want to accomplish this season is creating some sort of crafty thing with Em and Jacks. That has always been my favorite part of the holidays...creating ornaments and baking treats with my family. We take one Saturday in December and invite Grandma Jackson over for a full blown, cookie baking fest. It is so fun and something we've been doing since my kids were 3 years old.

Last year Em and I took one full day to paint Christmas ornaments. I cherish those times with my family.

*********************************************************************************************************************************
I spent last Saturday at an all day crop with friends. What fun we had!! The best part of the deal was it was right here in Maryville. That was so nice since I left a whole bag of stuff at my house!! I had planned my pages for the day and was ready to be creative. I got approx. 10 pages finished with a creative flair. Very happy with the outcome.

Be sure and check out my Scrapwords Blog Wednesday for my "5 Days of Gratitude" mini album idea. And be sure and stop by this Saturday the 15th for our 12 hour Atumn crop!!!

Upcoming Inspiration at Scrapwords

Join us in November for “Simple Abundance”. Spend the month creating an attitude of gratitude with the Scrapwords community! Be sure and create your Blog by Wednesday, November 12^th for our “5 Things I’m Thankful For” contest. The last 3 Wednesdays in November are dedicated to sharing with others what it is that makes us truly thankful. Post your top five in your Scrapwords Blogs by Wednesday nights at 10PM. We’ll pick our favorite Blogger each Thursday and post. Winners receive a $15.00 gift pack from the Scrapwords store!!!

Join Scrapwords for a fun and festive Autumn Crop on Saturday November 15^th from 10:00 AM CST to 10 PM CST.

Spend the day being inspired with hourly journaling challenges, inspirational layouts and ideas, prizes and more!!! The first 10 people to register on the site in our Scrapwords Forums gets a FREE gift pack! (Wordsmiths not eligible) Register for our Autumn Crop by Wednesday, November 13^th to be eligible for the FREE gift.

Warning: Political but please read to the end!!

I gotta tell you...I'm not in the least bit happy this man will be the 44th President of the United States. To say I'm shocked...well, I'm not. I had my doubts about McCain pulling this off. I mean, look at all the new voters we had this year. In one way it's just great we had the largest voter turn out ever. I'm all about voting (see my post yesterday). And I'm not going to sit here and spew hateful things towards Barack Obama or his supporters (lots of them are my friends, after all). But what I am going to say is my husband and I have been small business owners for nearly 20 years. We believe with all our heart that with our new President Elect we will have to give up our business due to over taxing, mandated health care and an increase in the minimum wage.

This past year we raised our prices 3 times. THREE times!!! Did we want to charge our friends and neighbors more for our product??? NO!! We live in a small community and know many of our customers by name. We know that during tough, economic times the last thing people want to do is spend more money on something. But let me tell you, people...we had no choice. With the rising cost of everything my family and I were struggling to make our payments. We have cut back dramatically in every area of our life in order to meet our financial responsibilities.

By electing Barack Obamba as our next President we fully expect our taxes will be raised, wages, and that mandated health care plan of his. Guess what? My family and I don't have health care!! Why? We can't afford it every month! Yeah, we own a business and we can't afford health care for ourselves!! How in the heck are we gonna pay for our employees??!

Okay, I promised myself I wouldn't go on and on. Like I said, some of my dearest friends supported this man...I don't want to make any enemies. I just wanted to get my view out there. Yes, I agree we needed change. But this is not the change I wanted.

My husband and I hope and pray we are wrong about President Elect Obama. We hope we can look back at our hesitation in supporting this man and one day be able to say...

"And to think we didn't vote for him. What were we thinking?!"

Today is the day we vote for President of the United States. I remember turning 18 in the fall of 1984. I was so EXCITED I finally got to vote!! That was the year Geraldine Ferraro was Mondale's running mate. What an exciting election that was!! I even got to meet Mondale and shake his hand.

Through the years my political views have changed a lot. But the one thing that remains the same is I NEVER, EVER pass up my right to vote...NEVER.

So, people regardless of who you vote for...even though I may not pick your candidate...get out there and VOTE!!!! It is not just our right but it is our responsibility.

What's up at Scrapwords in November

Yes, yes I know I've been gone a bunch this week. I was just putting the finishing touches on SW here in the Ville, plus Em had her last soccer game, the kids started bowling and our Sunday was full with church, a baby blessing get together and a baptism last night...WHEW!! All GOOD, GOOD{readmore}stuff!!

It's November!! And I am soooo excited! Ilove this time of year...LOVE it!! Here's what's coming up this month at Scrapwords!!!

1) Every Monday and Thursday I'll post "Simple Abundance"Gems in my Blog. Mondays's we'll share gratitude quotes in our blogs, too. So if you know of 1, 2 or 42 gratitude list them in your blogs for all of us to share.

2) Wednesdays-I'd like to take this day and list 5 things you are thankful for in your Blogs. You can do something scrappy with this or just write them down.

3) Fridays we will continue Retro Fridays

4) This month we are going to create an "I am grateful" mini book. More details later...

5) Contest TBA!!

6) Scrapwords On-Line Crop Saturday the 15th!