So Much to Say...

So little time!

It's Presidents' Day, so the kids are off today. I dumped enrolled them in a morning program at the club because our nanny is off today and I have a huge article due (of course!). But instead of writing, what am I doing??? Updating my blog, of course!

First things first... THANK YOU to my SP7 who sent me the most amazing gifty package ever -- Lorna's Laces, a sock pattern, bath stuff, a beautiful greeting card (which I'm thinking she may have shot herself??) and a cute notepad. All my favorite things in one box! Here's the pic:

How fun is that??? THANK YOU!!!

NEXT... Here's what greeted me Saturday morning. Not in the picture -- a glass of iced tea that Kinsey poured for me. Very, very sweet.

It was a very mellow day, but as I just wrote to Jody, at this advanced age, I'm beginning to appreciate mellow! I must really be getting old. :)

THIRDLY, if you have signed up for the Stitch Marker Swap, please email me your address ASAP so I can match up pairs. You can reach me at lainATlainehmannDOTcom.

FOURTHLY (is that a word? If not, it is now...) the quote of the day! It is, after all, MONDAY. Yahoo. Here's what I grabbed from the Box 'O' Fun:

"The healthier the culture, the more individual and familial factors can be the defining ones. In a healthy, decent society, families have some power to define their members. And individuals have greater power to define themselves. Many important variables, such as safety, education, adequate income and freedom, can be taken for granted. Hence, family dynamics and individual choices account for many of the differences between people." (The Shelter of Each Other, Mary Pipher).

I must say, this wouldn't be my choice to write about today, but it's the luck of the draw and I don't cheat (though I thought about it!).

I think I copied out this passage because I thought it was such an important point that differences are a sign of the strength of the culture. If we were all the same in dress, religion, beliefs, opinions, that would likely indicate a dictatorial society in which true freedom did not exist. It's only when our culture is a free one that we can observe the unique aspects of each of us that make us individuals. How cool is that? So let's embrace our differences and those little quirks of others around us -- the lady wearing a purple-and-orange beret over her wild white curls, the man with the car covered in radical bumper stickers. It's a sign of our freedom.

But please remember on today of all days -- with freedom comes responsibility. I'm going to ask myself, What can I do today, right now, to make this home, this street, this town, this country, this world a better place? What is one small thing? Now do it. And tomorrow do another. And another. (Hugs count).

FIFTHLY (I'm on a roll here -- somebody stop me!) I scrapped my little heart out last night. Click here to see the latest and greatest. It was so awesome -- I took two big boxes of patterned paper to Picture Passion with me, a bag of photos, and very few embellishments. And I just set to it. Very free. Very fun. Very productive.

Comments

[Ragan]

WOW! You must be feeling so much better! You certainly have been busy!

[Lisa]

Love the layouts! It's great to be able to go and just get a bunch done in one day and not worry about being overly fancy. Simple layouts look just as nice and they get the job done! Love that Christmas card page...I scraplifted that from A.E., too...what a fun idea!

[tonya]

Did you do ALL of these at Picture Passion? Holy cow, you rock!
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