All dressed up with somewhere to go

The class reunion was a fun time. I got to see people that I haven't seen in quite some time. The woman on the left I have known for 41 years. I remember the day she showed up in church with her ringlets and black horn-rimmed classes. There is just something about people knowing you through the good, bad and the ugly that is comforting somehow. The woman in the middle I have known for almost as long. Our husbands had a great time talking at the table as we wandered around the room saying hi to everyone. I felt so blessed when the night was over because everyone kept telling me that I looked the same as I did in high school. This may not be true but it still made me feel good. It was very funny though that as people were looking at each others name tags they needed to put glasses on. We are definately getting old and it was even funnier when at 10:00 the room started to clear out. I think we all wanted to be home in bed by that time. Our coach was about to turn into a pumpkin. Now that we are all connecting on Facebook, I wonder if that will change things at all or if we will just go back to our lives and see each other in another 10 years?

I have been thinking about life a bit and what changes I want to make. Life just got too complicated for a while and I have been feeling the need to simplify, slow down and be open to new possibilities. I want to be available to friends and family more and to do that I need lots of time of quiet by myself. I have wished so many times that I was the kind of person that gets filled up by being around people but sadly it is the other way around. I can go long periods of time not talking or seeing anyone and feel quite content but I seem to be surrounded by people who need lots of attention. I want to be there for them so there has to be balance. I am learning how to find that balance and fit into this life I am destined to be a part of. You would think this would be easy but I haven't figured it out yet. I hope my life isn't over before I can figure it out and live it. I have heard it said that life is what happens when you are out making plans. I think I will keep my plans simple and see what comes my way.

30 year reunion started

I went to my 30 year class reunion last night and have the formal dinner tonight. I wasn't sure what to expect. I had a good time talking to people but I discovered something. Everyone recognized me but I wasn't good friends with any of them. We had 495 graduation students in my class and some of them I had gone all the way from kindergarten with. It was fun to say hi to the girls that I was in Bluebirds and Campfire girls with. Most of the ones I remember the most were those I was friends with in Jr. High. I was so involved in everything then and by the time I got to High School I didn't do anything. I was so quiet that no one really knew me that well. The three gals that I was the best friends with didn't come. I did meet up with one friend that I have known for 40 years (I can't even believe that) and another girl that I was good friends with in Jr. High. None of us wanted to walk in alone and our husbands weren't going last night. Tonight we get to dress up and go with our hubbies. Our event was on a deck overlooking the Columbia River and the weather was perfect. I didn't take any pictures because I was talking the whole time but I will try and get some tonight. It will be at the same place but inside this time. Some of the people who weren't there last night might show up tonight. I can't wait.
Here is another journal page for September. I love that baby's face, so cute!

Lani's give-a-way

My dear friend Lani over at Healing Expressions is having a give-a-way. You should stop by and sign up. She has been doing some cleaning in her studio and has some really nice things to give a way and to sell. You know how those styles you grew up with that come back around and get recycled and become popular again? Well, my dad loved short hair and so me and two sisters were taken down to the beauty shop and given pixie haircuts. I hated it at the time but now I actually think I might like to have one. I only hope that the perm I had in sixth grade doesn't come back in style.

Would you choose the ocean or the mountains? I love the ocean but a cabin by a lake would be really nice too. I really find peace listening and watching water of all kinds. Waterfalls are nice too. I would love to go right now. I have to insist on clean and bug/rodent free accommodations though. One time we stayed in a friends cabin and I didn't sleep at all the whole time we were there because there were spiders and mice all over the place. So horrible. I never want to go back there again.

September 5-7

I have been doing pretty well keeping up with a page a day but sometimes I do two in a day because I was busy the day before or I am having so much fun that I can't stop. I really need to get to creating more than just pages in my journal. Maybe next week?

A driving tour of covered bridges

My husband and I took the day to drive around Oregon and take pictures of covered bridges. It started out to be very dark and rainy and I wondered if we would get an good pictures. By the time we got to the first bridge it was sunny and beautiful. Weddle Bridge

Stayton-Jordan Bridge

Short Bridge

Schimanek Bridge

Gallon House Bridge

I'm not sure what the name of this one was.

This little covered foot bridge was so cute.

Hannah Bridge

St. Mary's parish

I love to take pictures of churches too.

There are so many pretty ones out there especially in Europe.
I love the sky too.

As we drove around the countryside I snapped a couple other photos.

This is the kind of place you could sit with your journal and hear God speak.

I bet it is so beautiful when the leaves start to change.

Labor Day weekend art journal pages

My day started out at Starbucks and I fell in love with their new add campaign. The side of the cup says, "We don't want to just make your coffee, We want to make your day." They are the masters in advertising. When I saw the cup I said, "Awe, how sweet". Now the cup is sitting on my counter and don't want to throw it away. I'm such a sucker for great lines.

My friend told me that I would love the book and bible study called The Sacred Echo by Margaret Feinberg. Her other book sounds good too, Organic God. I would love to do a really good study with some women who love art journaling and we could do pages to go along with what we are learning. That is my dream anyway. I'm not sure who would be up to that with me but when I find them I am putting the coffee on and pulling out the pretty china. I guess I will have to pray about that one and see what happens. If you did the study already, I would love to hear what you thought.

These last two pages have many layers of paint and paper scraps on them. Some of the paint combinations have been fun to use. I will try to not say this everyday but Kelly Kilmer really makes her class worth the cost because she gives you so much. I love her style too.

The Stonehenge paper I am using is a dream. I have a few other kinds of paper I want to try but they are going to be beyond amazing to beat this paper.

Journal pages

Here is one of the last pages in my Summer journal. It is kind of sad to set it aside. As much as I like starting a new journal it as sad to put away one that I have spent hours in.

I am working in a new journal with Stonehenge paper. I love this paper. It is thick and takes all kinds of abuse. I am doing one journal for each month and then binding all twelve of them together for a comprehensive journal of the year. I didn't think of this plan until this summer so I will be short a few months this year but I am all ready for 2010.

These last two pages are from Kelly Kilmer's A Prompt a day workshop. I have been working with watercolor so much lately that it was fun to play with acrylics today.