Friday, August 29, 2008

Love Needs

If it seems that I'm loading up my blog with freebies today, then it's true! I'm away from my computer most of next week as I take my turn looking after my mom, who is still recovering from surgery on her leg. As she celebrates her 75th birthday. I'll definitely miss being around blogdom, but hope you don't feel too abandoned. Ha!



Guess my insecurities are showing this week, because this posting's quotation really struck home. The truth is, we ALL deserved to be loved ... and we are by our Creator. I'm thankful every day that God loves each imperfect one of us.

Hope you have a great week next week. Hope to hear from you, too.

As always, I would greatly enjoy seeing your layouts with this word art. Or even if you just have a layout you're so proud that you've finished it, or extremely pleased with the way it looks. These are times worth celebrating, indeed!

Blessings,

Melanie
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Sweet Lips

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Another Rita Rudner quote for you today


Delivery


Yesterday's download link fixed!!


Blessings on your day!
Melanie

Thursday, August 28, 2008

LIFE dance

DOWNLOAD link repaired!!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Rhyme & Reason

Many thanks to those of you who took the time to comment yesterday, with your words of support, empathy, and encouragement. Such gifts from this family of scrappers!



Hope you can find meaning from today's word art. It seemed the right thing to share this morning. It's dedicated to Linda (Echo), whose adopted daughter lost her life way too early.


Blessings,

Melanie

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

At the end of the day ... it matters

I've got several things to discuss today, so please bear with me!

First, in response to a request by Sheri, I made the plural version of the Phenomenal Woman word art I posted recently. She had just enjoyed a gathering of friends for which she thought the phrase Phenomenal WomEn would be perfect, and asked for a special version of it. I should have done that earlier! Thanks, Sheri, for reading my blog and for your request. Download links are at the end of the post. Keep reading!

Along the same thread, Vera sent me a link where she had posted an album page on her blog, in which she used a word art I had prepared some time ago. I LOVE the way she did this. It's simple, uses the maximum amount of the page, emphasizes the people in the photo and not the art, yet it's clear she took her time thinking it through and preparing it. Great work, Vera! Thanks for sharing. She also has excellent tutorials in her Saturday newsletter, so check them out.



Now, back to Sheri for a few minutes. When I visited Sheri's blog after seeing her comment, I was immediately drawn to her life story -- at least the part that was visible at first glance. You see, Sheri is a single mother to two daughters she adopted.

It's a memory still close to the surface for me, and it often still brings tears to my eyes. I won't relate the entire story, but just let you know that adoption is a subject close to my heart. It's only been little more than a year that my husband and I learned that the adoption of a daughter for whom we had soooooo long been waiting would not come to pass. There were several factors involved in causing that huge disappointment, and that was our only chance. We deal now with the fact that we had used all the extra money that we had put away for the adoption and will be unable to do so now.

It still hurts with a pang in my heart that's deeper than words can describe. Someone else will read our little McKenna a bedtime story, and wake up to her smiles and kisses. Someone else will have the privilege of watching her play games with her friends, and teaching her how to cook. Someone else will enjoy the right to tell McKenna that God loves her and made her especially for us. She's out there -- I feel that just as surely as I feel the warmth of the sun on these hot August days.

Sheri's daughters both came from China. Our little McKenna would have come from near Beijing.

Thank you, Sheri, for the moments of pleasure seeing your adorable daughters, Mirielle and Maelynna.

With such thoughts on my heart today, I wanted to share this quote from an unknown source. I hope to see it on your layouts some day. Please.
Blessings to you and yours,
Melanie




Monday, August 25, 2008

Education

Where I live, today is the first day of school for many students in the public school system. Watch out world!!!




And, speaking of education, here's the second set of COUNTING backgrounds:




DOWNLOAD word art

Friday, August 22, 2008

COUNTING


Here's some colorful backgrounds, if you need some that COUNT.

[pun intended]

Have a great weekend!

Melanie

In a galaxy far, far away ...




Thursday, August 21, 2008

Phenomenal Woman

This phrase has been running through my mind lately -- thinking about Maya Angelou's wonderful poem on this theme. What a wise, wise lady she is.

This is for all of you phenomenal woman -- past, present, and future.

BLESSINGS,
Melanie







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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Precious Gifts



Now more than ever, it is vital for us to remember this. Promise me you'll remember?!!!

I'm also taking today's posting to show you a layout that was prepared using my "August in Port Elizabeth" kit (for the August DSO color challenge). It was done by Abby of Abby's Bowtique:


She told me that she was inspired by the kit to use circles to display her photos. It was great to see that someone used this kit, and I ALWAYS appreciate hearing from others. Thanks, Abby!
Blessings on your day,
Melanie

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Family Unit


I debated about using a stronger color palette for today's word art, but decided not to so that it wouldn't detract from any colorful photos you might use. If enough of you ask for it in bolder colors, I'll be glad to do that as well.

Blessings on your day,
Melanie

Monday, August 18, 2008

My Many Moods of Rain

Reflective ... invisible ... restored ... protected ... mysterious ... cocooned ... intrigued ... joyful ... fulfilled.

I delighted to the sound of rain when I awoke this morning, and enjoyed the swishing of the tires on the rainy pavement as I drove into work. My husband (who's from England) hates when it rains -- he much prefers our sunny Texas heat. But he's finally learned not to rain on my parade, so to speak, and let me enjoy MY rain.

If only I could go for a walk in the woods or along the lakeshore right now instead of being stuck in my office!!

Hope today's word art isn't too gloomy for you. I did this one for me for a change. :)
Enjoy your day,
Melanie

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Enjoy Life


DOWNLOAD link repaired!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Miracle of Life

I had to pop in and show you this precious layout Marion sent me

She wrote: "This little fellow was born prematurely at 25 1/2 weeks gestation and only weighed 2 pounds at birth. He finally made it up to 4 1/2 pounds and is at 33.5 weeks now, and is still growing every day."

She continued by saying: "the little guy is Sweet Baby James. He is my Grandson and with him is his mommy."

I absolutely LOVE the way Marion used my word art and I'm so humbled by her choosing to do so. Sweet Baby James is a precious gift to she and her family, and I wanted to share this miracle with all of you to inspire you.

Thanks, Marion, for sharing this part of your life in such a special way.

I also want to thank Sonel, who honored me with this award:


I don't know who originated this award or how long it's been circulating, but I've seen it on many other blogs the past few months and admired it from afar. It's always a lift to your spirits when you learn that someone appreciates something you've done, and then takes the time to tell you so.
Sonel, your sweet comments are ALWAYS a boon and you are generous with your thoughtfulness. I love your blog, too!!!
Now, I'm asked to least at least 7 blogs I enjoy ... I need to give it some thought to narrow it down to just 7, so will list those later. In the meantime, hope you all enjoy your weekend so far.

Blessings,
Melanie

Friday, August 15, 2008

Learning

"The larger the island of Knowledge, the longer the shoreline of Wonder."




Thursday, August 14, 2008

Reading is FUNdamental

One of my strongest childhood memories is going to the public library during the summer, for story hour. I devoured books in the same way someone thirsts for water in the desert. They captured my imagination, soothed my restlessness, and enabled me to take long journeys into language, adventures, humor ... and other worlds.

To this day, I remember the feel of those cool tile floors after slipping off my sandals, and always associate that with the joys of reading. Our memories are powerful intangibles that linger long after the occasion has passed.



Hope you're sharing the importance of reading with your loved ones.

And speaking of reading, I've had a question about my Kindle. YES, I'm using it every day and loving every minute of it!

Blessings on your day,

Melanie


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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Monday, August 11, 2008

Turn on your Heartlight

The older we get, the more precious the thought of home. For most of us, anyway. I'm not so naive as to think that all homes are happy, healthy, nurturing places. But for those of us fortunate to have had that gift, there's absolutely nothing like it!!

I went "home" over the weekend to see my mom, who is recovering from surgery to repair multiple breaks in her right leg. My sisters had been shifting things around, rolling rugs up, and all the other things you need to do to help with mobility issues, but it still felt like it did when we were growing up. You know what I mean, don't you? There's even a certain smell to the place that makes it a nostalgic journey, and the creak of the same spots in the floorboards still make the same noises, the kitchen cabinet still won't close without slamming them, the washer/dryer are still on the back porch ... and the great-grandchildren now run circles in the dining room just as we did lo these many years ago.

Today's word art reflects some of those thoughts, and is a companion piece to the August in Port Elizabeth mini-kit I made for the DSO Color Challenge this month. As I mentioned in the previous posting, it's in honor of the ever-loving KimB, who makes her home in Port E.

Did you recognize that this quotation is from the lyrics to Heartlight? The song written and recorded by Neil Diamond, who was inspired to do so after he first saw the motion picture, E.T.
Hope you have a splendid Monday,

Melanie

Friday, August 8, 2008

August in Port Elizabeth

Here's my entry for the color challenge at DSO -- in honor of the moderator, KimB.



Hope you can use this in some way. I failed to insert the TOU -- PLEASE DO NOT COMMIT PIRACY; this is for personal use only, and you cannot sell it or claim it as your own. Please.

Blessings on your day ... and weekend!
Melanie


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