bring on the rain

When it rains it pours.

Well, not always. Sometimes...it just sprinkles. It's a little unpleasant, but whatever. I can deal with it. After about the fifth day though, it's annoying. I don't mind running through the rain, but then my socks get wet. Then I'm really done. I feel bad complaining, because it's NOT pouring. But, in any case, the rain needs to stop. Just stop. Any day now.

That's how it's been lately. Every day there is a little something unpleasant. A little more than usual to just set me over the edge. To test me. To discourage me. To frustrate me. To confuse me. You catch my drift. It's not that I'm not experiencing joy. It's not that I'm not grateful. It's not that I don't know how good I have it. It's just troublesome.

I'm tired of having wet socks, you know?

I'm just...tired.

I don't think I'm the only one. I KNOW I'm not the only one. I'm not alone.

You're not alone.

Thankfully, every day God gives me some good news. Something to hold onto. A promise. A scripture. Sometimes, just a little morsel. Today, I feel He gave me a Country song. I know. It's weird. I haven't thought about this song in years. Here are the lyrics:

Bring On The Rain

Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

It's almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
And I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing - but I'm not dead, no ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain

I'm not gonna let it get me down
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain

Bring on the rain
.....

Rain can trouble us. Rain, like my trials, can make me weary. It can be dreary and desolate. You know, when it rains, it pours. BUT - rain is life-giving as well. Rain rejuvenates and restores.

It demonstrates God's faithfulness.

Joel 2:23
Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.

It is more than enough. It refreshes.

Psalm 68:9
You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.

The symbolism of rain depends on the context. The symbolism of rain can be used, simply put, to convey the image or feeling of something terrible, or something really great.

It's so simple. I should KNOW this.

In my life too, I need to keep it in context. My life. My trials. My failures. Everything.

If I can stand the rain, and if I don't mind getting a little wet...If I can maybe even stand the wet socks...maybe, just maybe I can see the blessing of the rain. I can just stand right out there in it. Because I know it will be ok. Because I know it brings renewal. Restoration. Rejuvenation. New life. It demonstrates God's faithfulness. It is more than enough to refresh the weary land.

And I've been weary.

It's like my favorite Pinterest Inspirational Quote Pin says, I can do hard things. I guess I'll stand in the rain a little bit longer. As long as it takes. I'll get some cute rain boots.

Bring on the rain.

I'm thirsty anyway.

Aren't you?

Scrappy Time: GCD Studios

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to act as a "Product Tester" for GCD Studios. The papers are so nice...all double sided and with a fabulous texture to them. I got to play with the Material Girls Collection by Heather Tozzi and the Scandia Jul Collection by Rob and Bob. Here's what I made:

MATERIAL GIRLS COLLECTION

Happy Feet

Sweet Boy

Material Girl

For the Bride Card

SCANDIA JUL COLLECTION

Christmas Outfits

First Christmas

Ready, Set, Open

Noel Card

lovely: I especially love the look of the Christmas papers...they were really fun to work with.

not-so-lovely: I never have enough time to scrap anymore!

Scrappy Time: GCD Studios

Happy Easter!

Easter was so great. After church came over to our house for lunch. We had a fabulous Easter Egg Hunt outside and the kids were so cute. Miss E. gasped at everything and said, "just what I always wanted" it was so funny. Evan was all bundled up in a blanket with Aunt Dee and smiled at everything...melted my heart.

For dinner we went to the Kohlmeiers and had a nice time eating, playing games, searching for eggs around the house and opening Easter goodies.

All in all it was a fabulous day! Thank you Jesus for your love!!!

I love to reminisce, so here are some pictures from previous Easters. I'll post from this year soon:)

2008

2009

2009layout (scraplift from Creating Keepsakes)

2010

5.4.3.2.1 blastoff!

I made this onesie in March of 2009 and it was published in the August/September 2009 issue of Simply Handmade Magazine. It is super-duper cool that I now have a little boy who can wear it! How cute is he? TGIF! lovely: getting to play outside in the sandbox this week. not-so-lovely: still dealing with sickness - now I have an annoying cough!

let me count the ways...

My AK is 30 today. I'm the luckiest girl to have him as my hubby. Here are 30 reasons I love him so much: 1. He's super smart. 2. He laughs at really lame jokes. 3. He is an avid reader. 4. He yells at Packer games. 5. He still loves cereal.

6. He is an excellent Daddy. 7. He watches reality tv with me. 8. He is a hard-worker. 9. He likes to try new things, like surfing or rock climbing. 10. He loves to travel. 11. He loves the number 11. 12. He is so musically talented. 13. He has such ambition. 14. He honors his parents. 15. He loves to run (sometimes I hate this). 16. He was in Kids From Wisconsin. 17. He likes to go to good restaurants. 18. He gets closer to God everyday and that's important to him. 19. He is obsessed with getting the mail. 20. He is asked for his advice and his opinion by many people. 21. He always has a "great idea". 22. He's still writing a musical that will someday be on Broadway:) 23. He's really funny - really, he is! 24. He is so stable...nothing really shakes him. 25. He is so busy (which I don't like) but always makes time for his babies. 26. He is a really good guy and always wants to help people.

27. He is pretty much succesful at anything he pursues. He always said he'd be retired at age 30, and so far, that's the only thing that hasn't happened that he set out to do. 28. He is focused and will accomplish many extraordinary things. 29. He loves oreos. 30. He loves me.

There are so many more reasons I love him...but these are some of my favorites.

Happy 30th Birthday my Aaron! Love you babe!

I finally did it!

Well, I finally did it! I finally applied for and made a Design Team for a local Scrapbooking Store. I just started my 6 month term as a Guest Designer for The Scrapbook Store (Greenfield, WI) and I could not be more excited. This month they gave me 3 different lines to work with: Posh by Teresa Collins, Lush 2 by My Mind's Eye (in turquoise), and Nikki Sivils' Beatrice line. Here's what I made:

I also finally got up early to walk BEFORE AK went to work, since I have no time at night.

***

lovely: going to the library Thursday mornings. I love it even if it tries my patience some weeks!

not-so-lovely: feeling really guilty about spending so much at the grocery store yesterday now that I've seen TLC's Extreme Couponing show! I vow to start couponing (in all my spare time)!