about time

Finally! I’m finished with QOTC!! Unless I win I guess Now 1st things 1st though! I’ve been tagged, twice that I can remember. It’s been hard to get to because of working on my QOTC page AND the kiddos being home for the summer and, etc…, etc…………………… They’ve only been home for 1 full week but for some reason it feels much, much longer than that!! lol

Both Janna and Petra tagged me with the same thing Here goes!

List 5 favorite things and then tag 5 people

(Family is a given)

1) lol! like Janna my #1 fav. thing would be when my kids aren’t fighting!!!

2) My computer , my camera, & my broadband (again just like Janna!!)
3) the strong, strong smell of honeysuckle in the evening out in my backyard
4) Putting my youngest to bed. He still wants me to hold him, snuggle with him and listen to our lullaby tape, this has been our routine since he was born and I’m sooo grateful it’s lasted 4yrs. now!

5) hiking down in the mountains, alone or with just dh & kids…nothing like the sound of the wooded silence:)

Thanks guys!! Sorry it took me so long. hmmm….now WHO am I going to tag? How about EVERYONE?

Now for my QOTC page. Little background here 1st! Here is the what the last challenge was..

Challenge -Queen of ( fill in the blank )

Besides being the queen of scrapping or the Queen of the Crop even, how are you a queen in your own life?

Self-doubt is something that is common amongst us all. As human beings we are conditioned to critical thinking and for most of us the inner critic has a great deal of air
time in the self-talk department. Let this layout be an opportunity to make a positive affirmation about yourself and claim your throne.

So when I 1st read that I thought what on EARTH was I going to do for it? Queen of procrastination maybe?? Maybe queen of slllooowww scrapping and blogging and especially e-mailing?? lol

I got to thinking about myself. All my life I’ve been a perfectionist. Very critical of myself, very self-concious. Even as a kid I remember drawing something and wadding it up because it wasn’t “good” enough.

Looking in the mirror hasn’t been fun either. I was never pretty enough, thin enough, never something enough! Curly hair? yuck. Straight hair? yuck. Size 7? Not small enough. Size 12? Too fat.

What is all that?? RIDICULOUS!! That’s what it is! I realized that there will never be perfection. Can’t be! It wouldn’t be nearly as fun if there was I AM a beautiful woman the way I am. When I look in the mirror instead of seeing flaws I’ve realized I’m not that bad after all! I’m 38 yrs. old, the years are starting to show, the gray is coming in and that’s OK. I’ve earned it.

My body isn’t the definition of perfect, maybe not the definition of beauty either. I’ve carried, given birth to and nursed 3 babies! My poor body wasn’t quite cut out for birth as I had to have all 3 by c-section leaving scars and muscles that won’t ever go back. That’s OK I can’t think of a better reason to have a few rolls here and there, a few stretch marks and scars…I’ll always bear the marks of motherhood.

Doubt has been a big part of me too. Who doesn’t struggle with it sometimes? Being a perfectionist makes you even more doubtful. Why on earth should I ever doubt my art? I create it because I love it I’m happy with it! I found that while it’s nice to have afformation from my peers it’s not neccessary where once it felt like it was. I don’t need zillions of comments. I’m truly happy with my art comments or no

So it’s come round for me. I feel GREAT! I feel empowered!! Honestly it sounds kind of weird maybe BUT I am loving myself! Shouldn’t we all??

Not only did I have fun, find myself and my style again but I really, really have just become empowered!! Might sound really hokey but I feel as if I’m free!!!

Now if you want to vote for me you can click right on the page or here! I’d still love to win of course but honestly I’ll be fine if I don’t While you’re at it take a look at the charities the women who competed in this contest are playing for!! VERY good organizations there! Mine is the Christian Appalachian Project. I just can’t say enough about them! I’ve put the link to this up here before but I’m going to do it again. I found a Webshots album of photos taken by a volunteer on a job for the Christian Appalachian Project…LOVE looking at them. It transports me instantly to my grandparent’s home and wonderful memories! The man that did this album also has other photos from other jobs the CAP did. Someday when my kids don’t need me at home 24/7 I want to volunteer! I think something like this is right up my alley~not to mention literally in my own backyard! I tried to e-mail this man through WebShots awhile back and I’m not sure it went through to him. I’d love them to know that I’m trying to pay it forward

Ok. I got good and deep and a little mushy here so on that note I’m going to go and get some lunch for the munchkins! Again thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! To every single person that votes or even just takes time out to look at the pages…a huge, heartfelt thanks

Have a great weekend!