December Daily 2011 - December 22nd

Straight Out Of The Camera Saturday (SOOC)

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things is how much my girls love each other. They really are so very close. Love seeing them cuddling. Amber cuddles with Emily as often as Emily will allow.

Thursday Thirteen : 13 Goals For The Year 2012

13 Goals For The Year 2012



1. walk for at least 30 min three times per week

2. research healthy eating and make healthier food choices for the girls & I

3. budget more realistically and make every effort possible to try and stick to it

4. pay off some debt

5. learn how to Art Journal

6. Capture Your 365 - take photos daily

7. 52 Weeks to an Organized Home

8.  Blog daily and share more of what's in my heart & mind

9. do my dishes every day after supper

10. quit smoking

11. get more than 15 bookings for Sandra Collins Photography for the year

12. 365 (or more) scrapbook pages completed over the year 

13. When the kids are here spend less time on the computer

December Daily 2011 - December 21st

a couple layouts

December daily 2011 - December 20th

Meaning Of Christmas Album - Day Nine

Day Nine

I asked "But where does that leave you Santa?" The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa's face. "Why bless you my dear," he laughed. "I'm only a symbol myself. I represent the spirit of family fun and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things, there is no danger that I will ever be forgotten."
"I think I am beginning to understand."
"that's why I come," said Santa. "you're an adult. If you don;t teach the children these things who will?"

Author Unknown

December Daily 2011 - December 19th

Meaning of Christmas Album - Day Eight

Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh , fragrant greenery tied with a bright red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will to all and it's color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even it's very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love. It is a circle, without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children."

some layouts I've done this week ...

Meaning of Christmas Album - Day Seven

Day Seven

Again Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped cane. As he hung it on the tree he spoke softly. "The candy cane is a stick of hard white candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock the foundation of the church, and the firmness of God's promises.The candy cane is in the form of a "J" to represent  the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth. It also represents the Good Shepherd's crook, which he used to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who like all sheep have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes, which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripe that represents the shed blood of Jesus, so that we can have the promise of eternal life."

December Daily 2011 - December 18th

December Daily 2011 - December 15th - 17th

Meaning Of Christmas Album - Day Six

Day Six

Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from it's one tiny flame brightened the room. The glow of the candle represents how people can show their thanks for the gift of God's Son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ's footsteps to go about doing good. Teach them to let their light so shine before people that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles. Each of them representing one of God's children, their light shining for all to see.

Meaning of Christmas Album - Day Five

Day 5

Santa found a silver bell in his pack and placed it on the tree. "Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold. Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep."

December Daily 2011 - December 14th

Meaning Of Christmas Album - Day Four

Day Four

"Red," said Santa "is the first color of Christmas." He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree. "red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave His life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red, it should remind them of the most wonderful gift."

Meaning Of Christmas Album - Day Three

Day Three

Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it on top of the small tree. "The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was a sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises, and that wise men still seek Him."

Meaning Of Christmas Album - Day Two

Day Two

Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on my mantle. "Teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen, with it's unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus.It's needles point heavenward as a reminder that mankind's thoughts should turn heavenward as well."

Meaning of Christmas Album - Title Page & Day One

I worked on this project two Christmases ago. Found the challenge listed on the Faith Sisters website. Loved how the whole album turned out and love the message in the story so I thought I'd share it with you all in the days leading up to Christmas. Enjoy. Today I have posted the title page I made and the story for Day One.

Title Page

Day One

Late one Christmas Eve, I sank back, tired but content in my easy chair. The kids were in bed, the gifts were wrapped, the milk and cookies waited by the fire place for Santa. As I sat back admiring the tree with it's decorations, I couldn't help but feeling that something important was missing. It wasn't long before the tiny twinkling tree lights lulled me to sleep.

I don't know how long I slept but all of a sudden I knew that I wasn't alone. I opened my eyes and you can guess my surprise when I saw Santa Claus himself standing next to my Christmas tree. He was dressed in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him, but he was not the "jolly old elf" of Christmas legend. The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed, and there were tears in his eyes.

"Santa what's wrong?" I asked "Why are you crying?"

"It's the children" Santa replied sadly.

"But Santa the children love you" I said

"Oh I know they love me and they love the gifts I bring them," Santa said, "but the children of today seem to have missed out on the true spirit of Christmas. It's not their faults, it's just that the adults, many of them not being taught themselves, have forgotten to teach the children."

"Teach them what?" I asked.

Santa's kind old face became soft, more gentle. His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas. Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear and touch is more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas which we now observe. Teach them what it is that they truly represent."

Wordless Wednesday

December Daily 2011 - December 13th

Currents

December Daily 2011 - December 12th

My Best Shot Monday

December Daily 2011 - December 11th

Beautiful Sunday

I am the luckiest mom in the world ...

In the past few weeks both my beautiful girls have celebrated birthdays. Emily just turned 10 and Amber 12. I just can't believe how big they are getting and how fast they are growing up. I love them so much and they are absolutely the centre of my universe. I am so proud of the little women they are becoming. They really are great kids, so polite, so nice, so well behaved, so smart. I just love them to bits and pieces. I really am the luckiest mom in the world ...

December Daily 2011 - December 10th

My Favorite Things Saturday

One of my favorite things this week was watching Emily teach me how to make this craft while we were all relaxing in the loft Friday night.

December Daily 2011 - December 9th

December Daily 2011 - December 7th & 8th

Before & After

You can learn all about the Before & After blog hop on the Pixel Perfect Blog.

For this edit I used the action Sugar Cookies from the Sweet Treats Collection from Paint the Moon and then Starburst Vignette from Artistic Actions V2.

Thankful Mini Album