Did you fax John the Baptist your certification yet?

Now I've never tried to obtain a passport because I like hanging out in a country that's free from intestinal parasites. But I hear from a reliable source (okay so she's a drama queen, whatever) that it's a big ol' headache.


And yet, apparently still easier than getting your child baptized in the Catholic church.


It's been awhile since I've sat through Catechism, so I am a little rusty on Canon Law. {No that is not law written to guide your use of an SLR.} Here's a breakdown of my basic religious philosophy. If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and you ask him to come into your life, you are going to heaven. Simple as that really. Now that's not Catholic philosophy which reads more like "earn your heaven by doing good deeds." It is born again Christian philosophy, but it is laid out pretty basically in the Nicene Creed which a Catholic says at every mass. Ahem.


Now on the whole baptism thing. I have no idea. Most faiths (as I understand it) baptize adults, or at least people old enough to decide for themselves they want to be baptized. Catholics baptize the young, the younger the better. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's supposed to wash away sin or original sin or something. I know I know--I should study this (believe me I'll have the chance.) Anyway, the parents and godparents make the professions of faith for the infant (i.e. rejecting Satan and all his works). Then when the child is older, junior high or high school age, they make the sacrament of Confirmation, basically saying the same things their parents and godparents said for them many years ago. Okay. So that brings us to the present.


I don't agree with all the tenets of the Catholic church. (I am pro-life, but I don't pray to anyone but God. Oh and the whole confession thing with a priest--no, I'll take it up directly with the Big Man Upstairs, thankyouverymuch.) So the main reason I chose to have my kids baptized in the church, was for traditions sake. I know--excommunicate me--but I don't feel in my heart that God will send an infant to Hell (or Purgatory) who is not baptized. By the way I don't believe in Purgatory either. I'm not a very good Catholic am I?

Okay wait, now we are up to the present. I recently overheard a cousin (yes another one--I have 37 first cousins and 5 first step-cousins) speaking about getting the certificate of the godmother for the priest to baptize her kids. I've been checking around--well I've had my people checking around--here's the scoop. If you are a parent, you need to take a class to be certified, be married in the church, or not living in sin. If you are a godparent you need the same thing, except that only one godparent has to be Catholic. I think. In fact, only one godparent needs be present at the actual baptism. The other can be a 'stand in'. A stand in can have any questionable character whatsoever. Make sense?

Even more inviting: your certification only lasts for a limited time as determined by whichever parish you are using. One year in some cases, three years in others. Make sense?

But at one location you only need to contact them and they can fax a copy of your certificate even if it has expired...without you having to take the class again. Make sense?

I think, and I'm not a hundred percent on this, that I will need the following to have my second child baptized:

• my marriage license
• my baptismal certificate
• my husband's baptismal certificate
• my certification of taking the class
• my husband's certification of taking the class
• the godmother's certification of taking the class
• the godfather's certification of taking the class
• maybe their marriage licenses also--I'm just pulling that one outta my butt.

Here's why I think this is re-donkulous. Back in Bible days I don't think John the Baptist required anything of you to be dunked in the river but your willingness to repent. Am I right? I am certain that there was no certification or faxing of paperwork.

I'll leave you with another list titled Things That Are Easier to Do Than Baptize Your Child in the Catholic Church (from my personal experience):

• get (and keep) a license to sell alcohol in the state of Texas
• become certified to use the Texas Lotto machine
• get waited on at the Social Security office
• get an actual BINGO
• talk your husband into letting you name the children
• and finally, get married in the Catholic Church...no wait, that's about equal.

Smile you're on Mojo Monday!

What I am about to confess may get me thrown out of the card making community. I made this card for someone in particular as a pick me up, but...I just love it too much. I don't want to give it away. Now that's not the deep dark confession. Here's the deep dark confession: While I love this person, and think she is the cat's meow, she's not a cardmaker, so...I am afraid she just won't appreciate it enough. I know I am EVIL!

See, here's the deal. I spent the better part of an hour coordinating paper, ink and not one, but TWO polka-dotted ribbons for this card. I stamped, Cuttlebugged, sanded and measured. I enlisted the help of a four year old to tie the bow. I just want someone to open this card and squeal, like any rational cardmaker would do! Not just smile and say oooh bright colors. And move on.

Okay--I hope you all realize that I am speaking in jest, trying to elicit a cheap laugh...or am I???

Mwah haha ha!

Details (all CTMH unless noted)

Paper: Citrus Leaf cs, Bubblegum cs, Holiday Red cs

Ink: Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum (1st and 2nd generation), Holiday Red

Stamps: Extreme Happiness, Happiness (huh that's funny)

Other: Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Cuttlebug embossing folder, sanding block, pink floss, glue dots, foam squares

PS I tried something new, I tried linking the sketch picture back to the Mojo Monday Blog. But I linked it here too in case that didn't work. Thanks for stopping by!

JCI #45

Well it appears that Stacey has been to my house snooping through my patterned paper stash! This week's colors also matched a piece of paper I had perfectly, so I used it.

Especially since CTMH doesn't really have any colors close to the inspiration colors. This paper also had a bright green in it, but I just trimmed that off. Doesn't it kind of look like a swan?

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

(ETA: the link and a grammer correction!--uhg! If only I could get it right the first time!)

Details:

Paper: purple from stash, pattern (DaisyD)

Ink: Vineyard Berry (CTMH)

Stamps: Happy Birthday (CTMH)

Other: buttons, embroidery thread (stash)

Our Cows {lovingly called ground-beef, ground-chuck and ground-round}

And when I say lovingly, I mean not lovingly at all. But I think you'll agree with me after my little story today.

So I had a bit of a busy day yesterday. By busy I mean No Time To Scrap. I went to a baby shower, and then my cousin (who is expecting in November) asked me to 'help' her find a maternity swim suit at Target so I tagged along. I don't get to spend much uninterrupted time with her so I was thrilled that we got a little time to shop.

After that I came home and vegged (played on Farmtown), loaded the dishwasher, and whatever until D decided he was going to take the girls to check on the cows. And rather than stay at home, I decided to tag along with them. So Little d and I grabbed our cameras, we slathered on sunscreen, packed some snacks and water and headed out.

When we got there, D unloaded a tub of "molasses" and Little m stood in the back of the truck. Doesn't it look like she's summoning the cattle. "Come to me cows."

Here they come. Dead cows running!

I don't know if you can see in the picture, but those are "cubes" which cows love. They look like giant rabbit pellets.

Our little budding photographer.

Notice how tame these cows are as D feeds them some cubes. These cows are old people, virtually on their last legs. Even more so after yesterday's incident, but I am getting ahead of myself...

Little d checking out the pond.

Kiddos and cows in sweet harmony. Ahhh. A lovely summer day. Put the lens cap back on.

Now this is where one of the shits headbutts Little m. That's right. One of those dried up hussies actually took two steps forward and headbutted Little m in the chest onto the ground. D and I flew over and the cow ran away and Little m was crying and very upset because all she wanted to do was touch one. In fact she had already touched one on the nose. Little m is fine, she didn't even get the wind knocked out of her, but I am super pissed. I am mad at myself for not being closer and for trusting the cows to be more tame than that. And I am mad at the cow for picking on someone so much smaller than herself!

Originally Little d and I named the cows Beauty, Rosa and Princess. I've changed the names to reflect their standing in my world. Can you blame me?

Memories of my Bible (and art class)

Before I show you my card for the Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #2, I want to tell you a little story. When I was a little girl I used to stay at my Memaw's house alot. She always had stuff for me to do and she was always quite content to spend the whole day entertaining me. Hours on end of reading to me, singing songs, baking...you name it, she would spend time doing it with me.

Mostly she read from the Bible. My favorite Bible was the Children's Bible.

I was absolutely riveted. Not just to the stories that she made come alive, but also the detailed pictures. I was always enthralled with the buildings, the clothes, and the jars. Don't ask me why I was so fascinated with the pottery.

As a high school senior I took beginner's art on a whim. (I was already enrolled in band, debate, psychology, and sociology. I was looking for an easy elective. Hey I was a senior.) Anyway one of our assignments was to draw a cityscape. And time, any place--real or not. I immediately dug out my Children's Bible and drew my rendition of old time Jerusalem. I loved that project more that you can imagine. What is so funny is just last weekend in POC I dug out my old artwork and saw that drawing. I should have taken a picture of it. Well--next time I will.

When I saw the Traveling Challenge this week I didn't see an adobe, I saw an ancient Bible village!

I pulled out my Bethlehem stamp set and made a Christmas card.

I layered the buildings to give it dimension.

This project was a joy to work on. And I got to pull out my Children's Bible again and reminisce.

Details: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: colonial while cs, desert sand cs

Ink: desert sand

Stamps: Bethlehem

Other: colored pencils (EK Success)

New Baby Girl

One of my cousin's daughters just had a new little baby girl. She was due in August and had the baby last week--one month early. She is still in the hospital, but save for a little jaundice, doing very well. The baby shower is scheduled for Saturday and my mom asked me to make her a card. (I already have one in my stash to use for myself.)

I have Nana's Nursery stack from DCWV and it is absolutely divine! I couldn't choose which papers to use, so I turned to Mojo Monday Sketch #94 with all the layers, so I could use a bunch of them. ;)

Here's their sketch:

And here's my card. I think it turned out so sweet. Maybe I'll just keep it for myself and make my mom make her own card...Nah!

Details:

Paper: Nana's Nursery (DCWV) colonial white cs (CTMH)

Ink: Sweet Leaf (CTMH)

Stamps: It's a girl (Stampabilities)

Other: ribbon (Hobby Lobby) foam squares

Nellie's Blog Candy

Hey pop on over to Nellie who is celebrating her one year Blogaversary and giving away a great prize!

She is just so cute and fun to read. And she has such a bright and fresh style--I love checking in over there. Stop by and look around and you'll be happy you did!

Jewelry Color Inspiration #44

This week over at Stacey's Stamping Stage the challenge was warm earthy colors. Perfect for mid summer heat.



I looked through my patterned paper stash and found--amazingly--a sheet of paper that had all the colors in it. Make my job easy why don't cha?



This is a fairly simple card. I didn't have any smokey plum paper so I brayered some on white cs to make my own. I used those fun Window Charms from CTMH to add some dimension. I cut random pieces of the patterned paper and stuck on the charms, then cut them out and adhered them to the card front.




This was a fun one Stacey! Thanks for the inspiration!

Details: all CTMH unless noted






Paper: Honey cs, Vanilla Cream cs, "Rustic Ornate" pattern (The Paper Studio)

Ink: Smokey Plum, Barn Red

Stamps: Thank You

Other: Window Charms, rubber brayer

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge #1

Okay I couldn't wait to join in with that challenge at Traveling Mama that I told you all about last week. If you didn't check over there...shame on you!...here is the inspiration picture.

Luscious aren't they? And they look so comfortable too! Well I have this stamp from Stampablities that is writing in the shape of a cute little heel. It says, "if the shoe fits..." I always add on the inside... "buy it in every color!" I knew it would be perfect for this challenge. I also used some Terrifically Tacky Tape to adhere some pastel seed beads. Those seed beads were a garage sale find!

I am so thrilled that Tina started this challenge. Her photos are beautiful and inspiring! Thanks for stopping by y'all!

Details: as mentioned plus

Paper: from stash

Ink: Blush, Taffy, Amethyst (all CTMH)

Color Much?

Well I think I need to get back in the swing of things, because this card was HARD. I wanted to play in the Raspberry Suite Challenge before it closed tonight and wowza. These colors were tough for me.

But then I saw the new ribbon in my drawer and thought--perfecto! Of course now looking at it, I'm not sure the pink in it qualifies as bright pink, but...moving on! Here's the card:

Everything is from my stash and the stamp in CTMH's Buttoned Together in Black. Thanks for stopping by!

Another Fabulous Fourth!!

First things first. When I was unloading our truck Wednesday night, I looked down on my parents grass and saw this flower.

It reminded me of Sarah's card and so I had to take the picture so I could say... wait for it..."Sarah, this buds for you!" Ha hahahahah hahah ha hha. Ahem. I also took a picture of this flower because I couldn't believe the closeups I could get!

So we spent a leisurely few days at my parents house on the coast and Saturday night we did our traditional Fourth of July activities. We went to mass, had a 'picnic' in the church hall, rushed outside to catch the fireworks our town puts on. Here's a sample. I learned (after I was there) that I should have taken our tripod...next year!)

Do you see that bell tower? It's the church bell, and my dad made that tower so it could be used again. Color me proud. Makes a great photo op with the fireworks in the background, doesn't it? Oh and that guy in the foreground? That's my uncle/Godfather/BFF's dad. He joked that his shiny head was going to be in all my pictures and I joked back that I would just photoshop some hair on his head. Shhh! Don't tell him I left him as is!

Here's our annual--dress patriotic--take a picture shot. Yes, yes those are tea party shirts ordered just for the occasion!

Notice my daughter bedecked in her glowstick glory. She (courtesy of my BFF) had earrings, necklaces, AND bracelets that glowed. She was in heaven. In fact she slept in them...

Sunday we visited each of my grandparents and made a late trip to the beach (and came home and jumped in the pool.) I didn't get any shots of the kiddos at my parents pool this time, and Little m was so funny. She was putting her face in the water...completely fearless!

I hope all of you had a wonderful and safe holiday weekend celebrating what this country was founded on...freedom to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

Okay I'm off to try to play along with all the fabulous challenges this week!

Cinema Saturday Challenge #39 Guest Designer!

I am so excited to share with you some wonderful news! I was asked to be a guest designer this week at Cinema Saturday Challenge to create a card using the inspiration movie "To Kill A Mockingbird".

I must say I was giddy like a little school girl to learn I had been chosen because of the card I submitted for the High School Musical challenge. But the pressure was on. I took on my assignment like an undercover agent. Working covertly under cover of darkness so as not to reveal the secret identity of the movie before it's unveiling. How do these design team members do it? I would break out in a cold sweat worrying that my post would go live before it was supposed to and let everyone know the movie early! Oh the pressure!!

But alas, let me tell you about my card. I immediately thought of the scales of justice when I thought of this movie. I began searching the internet for images and then came across this image of blindfolded Lady Justice. It was haunting to me and I knew I had to use it. I also searched for an image of the Declaration of Independence to use as a backdrop since freedom and justice go hand in hand. Here's my card.

When printing the image, my printer made a hazy print with grainy lines running through it. Just my luck! But I colored the image black, sponged Versamark on it and embossed it in black. I actually love the silhouette image of Lady Justice over the backdrop of the Declaration of Independence.

But can I be honest here? We're all friends right? Cutting out those teeny tiny chains on the scales of justice with an Exact-o knife nearly drove me to the brink of insanity. Do you think I could get a lawyer like Gregory Peck to defend me?

Oh and please no one tell me how easy it would have been to photoshop the image in. Where is the scrapbooking in that? Ha! Thank you all for stopping by and be sure to play along with this fun challenge! And be sure to check by with Ann, the other guest designer this week as she has some blog candy for you!

Details:

Document image: http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/USA_declaration_of_independence.jpg

Lady Justice image: http://www.pattaya-law.com/images/justice.jpg

Other: black and white cs from stash, Versamark (CTMH), black embossing powder (CTMH)

Biting my lip!

Okay here's a teaser for you. Tomorrow morning at 9am (central) I have a post scheduled with some exciting news. But I can't tell you anything about it until then!! Iknow! Not fair, but I just wanted to share that I am literally biting my lips so as not to spill the beans early.

To hold you over I'll share another link with you. This is from one of my all time favorite blogs. (You may remember when I first discovered it back in February while recovering from gum surgery. Scroll to the bottom of THIS POST to see where I talk about it.) The blog is titled Traveling Mama and if you haven't been there yet, you should go quickly. It is incredibly inspiring. So the link I am sharing with you is that she has started a new crafting challenge. It's a little different in that there are not very strict parameters. I am so excited to try it. And...well I could go on and on, but I'll just provide the link and let you all go check it out for yourselves.

CLICK HERE.

See you tomorrow!!

A post to make you laugh...

but it's not mine. I am just hanging around relaxing at the 'rents, uneventfully. So while checking my favorite blogs I found this post I just wanted to share. CLICK HERE for a good laugh.

Don't forget the socks!

Okay so today was fun. I had to go to the gynecologist. Yes, that kind of fun.

And I am a total type A when it comes to that yearly visit. I must be buffed and polished and in perfect working order. Hehehe. Anyway, I didn't paint my toenails. And you know when you're going to have your feet in the stirrups, you must have the toes painted right? Well, I decided I would just pack a pair of socks to wear. I've done it before. Plus the bonus is my sweet little toesies don't have to walk across that cold floor from changing area to table.

So this morning, while in the shower buffing and polishing, I thought "don't forget the socks". {No you do not know where this is going}. So then I did forget, but then later, when I was brushing my teeth for the second time. {Type A remember?} I thought "don't forget the socks." And I mentally thought, pick up heels, get socks, pick up heels, get socks. You know, to mentally connect the two in my brain so when I put my heels on I would remember the socks.

And I did. I grabbed a pair of socks and took them downstairs. Then I set them down. But I didn't want to leave them in the chair so I took off my wedding ring and set it on them while I put lotion on. {Buffed and polished}. Then I put them in my purse. Mission accomplished! They were going with me to the doctor's office.

So I get in and have to do all the paperwork updates and co-pay and insurance blah blah blah. Then they call me back. Oh and here's a pisser. I weigh in at 122. Yeah that's 10 pounds more than my 5'2.5" should weigh. So I make a commitment right there to stop drinking so much cherry coke! Moving on.

I get called back and make chit chat with my nurse. She's been there as long as I've been seeing Dr. S. So then she hands me my paper wardrobe and steps out. I change and oh how fun that is. Ladies you know the drill, strip down, try to wrap that tissue paper around you, put on the tissue vest, try not to tear it, try to ease onto the table while not tearing the tissue get up. Settle yourself on the table, while trying to make sure all sides are covered before the doc gets in the room. PS in this room the door is oddly positioned behind the table. So I sit there and sigh and readjust my tissue vest with the ginormous armholes and look down at my hands nervously and catch a glimpse at my feet hanging down. My bare-without-the-socks-that-are-sitting-in-my-purse feet. Huh. What to do, what to do. Now here are my options.

(1) Jump off the table, dig in my purse and try to hurridly put on the socks hoping that the doc doesn't come in while my bare ass is bent over facing the door....or

(2) Just deal with my plain toes.

I chose option two.