It is officially TIME !

Those of you who know me are well aware that I do a walk to benefit Autism Research every year. My son, Adam, (who you can see on the previous post) has Asperger's Syndrome. As a toddler, he struggled very much trying to be in the outside world. Fortunately that has all changed for him. He is doing so incredibly well. However that is not the story of most families with autistic children. It is a struggle daily. Some children do not have the ability to speak yet have completely lucid thoughts, some children cannot smile and/or emotionally connect with others (including their own parents). It is so incredibly heart breaking to me to see families and children suffer the effects of Autism. Unfortunately the rate of Autism continues to grow. Autism affects 1 out of every 150 children. I know how we have struggled and how other families will continue to do the same.

Therefore I will continue to walk. I am asking you and/or anyone else that you know to help with the fight against autism. On my blog, I have this RAK that I am going to raffle off on April 1st. For every $5 dollars that you donate your name will go into a drawing. On April 1st I will reveal the winner. Please make sure to include your first name and last initial within your post, so I know who has donated. Once donations reach $100 I will begin to add more product. This RAK could definitely grow ! Please help me out by sending people over to my blog to check it out and see if they want to take part. Here is the link to my personal walk page http://www.walknowforautism.org/losangeles/personal/cpscan

Included in this RAK are products from Making Memories, Sandylion, KI, Autumn Leaves and American Crafts. Keep watching for updates as this RAK continues to grow ! I thank all of you ahead of time. Even if you are not able to donate, passing this on might just help make the the difference.

*** Notice...It has come to my attention that Autism speaks only will take a minimum of $20 as an online donation. Don't let this prevent you from making a donation. You can click "make an offline donation" and donate whatever amount that you desire. This can be mailed in. They will notify me. Also if you choose to donate this way please leave a post on my blog so that I can include you in the drawing ! Thanks :0)

(((HUGS)))

Christine

Hmm.. overall a sad day......

Well today after I dropped the kids off to school we took Sammy, our dog of 14 years, to the vet. He has been not well for a long while, having trouble with his hips and poor eyesight (hearing too). We have been telling the kids that his time was coming and that he would be going to Heaven soon. Well the other day our other dog ran into him and knocked him over. Poor Sammy couldn't get up for hours. We realized that holding onto him was probably selfish because it was obvious he was suffering. So today we took him to the vet and she too thought it would be best to put him to sleep. :( It was so hard to actually say the words and tell her to do it, but I know it was the right thing to do. He went quickly and actually started to snore. It was only maybe 1-2 minutes before he completely laid to rest. Poor sweetie. He was such a docile pooch for such a big dog.

Although we talked the kids last night about the possiblilty of their dog going to heaven and that we didn't think that the Dr. could help him much anymore, I know that deep down inside there was a lot of hope and wishing for miracles. I dread actually telling them that poor Sammy is gone. I know that it is going to be a hard day. Adam will be upset,but will most likely internalize it all, Nicholas...he will be extremely emotional. It is hard to see them like that. But I guess that these are all growing pains. Wish me strength and a lot of luck.

Lastly here are a few pics from Adam's birthday party that I promised. It was just like I said it would be...a wild...bouncing time ! But it also was a complete success. He was on cloud 9. It was great !




Thanks to all my friends for putting up with jumping mania and screaming kids ! Friends make things all the more fun !





(((HUGS)))

Happy Birthday My Sweet Boy !

I know that I am going to sound like every other mom in the universe..but OMG! ....where did the time go? What happened to my baby? He is gone, but now evolving ,is this beautiful, stubborn, highly intelligent little man. I love him so dearly. He makes me look at the world in a different way and that, I consider an enormous gift. He has opened my eyes to so much more than I would have ever expected. If you know me and you know Adam, you know what I am talking about.

Here Adam is at dinner. This was one of his most desired gifts, so I gave it to him today. His party is tomorrow at an every parents nightmare kind of a place. He specifically requested this place, so we will jump and jump and jump until complete exhaustion or someone throws up. A bouncy house wonderland...whee !
This is all for now...I know that I will have great pics to share later :)

Something that I thought needed to be shared

A friend of mine posted this somewhere else and I had to "borrow" it and place it here. I think that so many people could benefit from reading this. Life is full of so many questions and so many surprises...need to stop and take a look and reevaluate......


M A Y B E Maybe . . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift. Maybe . .When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us. Maybe . . . It is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it,but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing untilit arrives. Maybe . . . The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Maybe . . . The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches. Maybe . . . You should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do. Maybe . . There are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent,a spouse, a love, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more. Maybe . . . The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it wasthe best conversation you've ever had. Maybe . . You should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too. Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day,even if it is simply to leave them alone. Maybe . . .giving someone all your love is never an assurance that theywill love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it togrow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours. Maybe .. Happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt,all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only theycan appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives. Maybe . . . You shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile,because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find theone that makes your heart smile. Maybe . . You should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy Maybe. . You should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling butwhen you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying. Maybe. . . You could send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who have touched your life, to those who can and do make you smile when you really need it, to those who make you seethe brighter side of things when you are really down, and to all those whom you want to know that you appreciate them and their friendship. Maybe you had the opportunity to perhaps brighten someone's day.





I will be posting later today. Today is Adam's birthday. He is 6 ! Oh my gosh..what happened ? More to come.....

Seven little known facts about me

Well I was tagged by my friend Jennifer a long while back and I didn't know it. So....here I go.

1. I celebrated my 21st birthday in Spain and since the drinking age was 18 there, it wasn't any big deal. I was there for a summer semester studying Spanish.

2. I too am afraid of clowns..they freak me out because you can't see who is under that white make up ...yuck.

3. I wanted to be an actress, not a teacher. Then I got grounded and gave in to what would be a definite thing.

4. I was born in New York and have a HUGE family. I only lived there until I was 7 and then moved to LV. I was always surrounded by very Ethnic Italians (I'm Italian too). I swore that I never would marry one and wouldn't ya know it...I did.

5. MY fantasy is to quit teaching and be involved in the scrapbook crafting world. Owning my own business (after I win the lotto) or working as a designer. Yes I know..it is a fantasy.

6. I would love to be pregnant again,but I have so much fear in me because my last pregnancy was very problematic. My son was born 2 months early and was born with Autism. Although he is very high functioning, I fear that I could have another autistic baby who is severe. I don't know if I could handle that.

7. The carpet in my house is polka-dotted. However, it didn't start out that way. I wish that I had new carpet in every room !

Now I tag: Christine (top tally), Alicia (Dillydally) Rachel (Ho) and Shirley.

CHA, so many surprises and other things too !

Tally girls here, tally girls there, tally girls EVERYWHERE ! Here we are at Dinner the night before CHA. This was a fun night and a great celebration. We got to all meet up (some of us for the first time)and most importantly celebrate Ms. Shirley's Birthday. The next morning Jenn and I bumped into Rachel (Ho), Christine (Top Tally) and Shirley getting our badges at CHA. It was kind of disappointing because Illyse only got to see them momentarily. So come on back to Cali soon !

CHA was fabulous, there was so much to see. It is overwhelming and exciting. I love making things, learning new techiniques for product and meeting a lot of new people. During CHA I had the surprise of my scrapbooking "career" (I use that term loosely) when I was stopped by the making memories people and told that I won the grand prize. Here I am winning and looking like a big nerdo. I would put the video on here to view,but I am just not that techy. So follow the link!

Some major changes are occuring in my life right now. I have realized in a not so pleasant way that not everyone can be happy for you in some of your greatest moments. I am so saddened by the entire thing...but it is time for me to re-evaluate things. I have to remember to look at the big picture in life and not sweat the small stuff. Your true friends will always shine and lift you at times like these. Friends old and new thank you...I love you for that!

In other news I am also leaving the Red Bee DT. I have had a great experience there,but it is time to move on and try out new things...explore a bit. I will miss my special people there..but we will always be in touch. For any of you who have possibly signed up for my class....PLEASE TAKE NOTE.... I HAVE CANCELLED IT. So sorry for anyone who wanted to take it. An unexpected event has interfered with it, so it is better to reschedule at another time.

Big Hugs to all of you :)

Christine

So much to be happy about

Well I have been a blubbering idiot in the last few days. No reason..every reason. Who knows? But two really good things happened to me today and yesterday. First I won a contest on tallyscrapper called winner takes all. Now that sure rocked! I should be receiving about 6 different packages of misc. buttons for scrappy stuff! Tee hee...funny that a small things like buttons would make me smile. However I got a huge surprise today. I got a card in the mail from my chemo pal's mom. She thanked me for all the cards and treats that I have sent her son. She sent a picture of their family to me and told me the best news of all. He is in REMISSION ! Oh did I cry about that. I am so touched about this. Typically patients and/or their families are not likely to contact their Angels. It is understood that it is just done on faith. Wow I am so happy!

Other things going on... I am teaching a Pocket Card class at the Red Bee on Feb 20th. You can see the link and info here http://theredbee.com/classes.aspx . I have included the photos because the ones on the website are a bit unclear. The class cost is $18, kit included in the class fee. It will be a fun and easy project. Hope to see you there!

2008....what's to come ?

Well another year has passed and yet I am just a bit wiser ;0). I have made resolutions just like everyone else this year,but this time it isn't about losing weight, it is about staying grounded, trying to take the higher road and learn the art of patience. Life can be a bit challenging at times..we all have our own battles. I read this on a post on tallyscrapper today and I decided to post it here.

Someone will always be prettier.Someone will always be skinnier.Someone will always be smarter.Some of their houses will be bigger.Some will drive a bigger car.Their children will do better in school.And their husbands will fix more things around the house.So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.Think about it.. .The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in their heart, and the most highly favored Woman on your job may be unable to have children.Ands the richest woman you know;She got the car, the house, the clothes might be lonely. And the word says, "If I have not love, I have nothing."So again, love you, Love who you are. Look in the mirror smile and say,"I am blessed to be stressed and too anoited, to be dissappointed!"Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen..

Such simple words that can make a person really reflect upon what is really important...so this is it for today...feeling philosophical.

So dearest friends of mine and those new ones too, my message to you is
FOCUS GIRLS FOCUS ! Focus on what really matters to you. Ya know the important stuff :)

With much love :) ME

Breaking the rules...

Okay so I am not supposed to do more than one post per month and all,but for my few friends who read this, I thought why the heck not ? So I have been quite busy being a "creative genious" lately. Ha ha. And well, I have either been Christmas shopping, wrapping presents or crafting. Here are a few things that I I have made in the last 2 weeks. Here are some Christmas cards that I made. Got them sent out for the most part.

A Layout of Adam holding a turtle at a pet store. He is a big animal lover and has explained to me that the animals "understand" him. This is a pic of my niece. She is just so cute. Anyway I tried out some Prima paintables on this one. I painted and inked it. Then I embellished it a bit with stickles.

This is a little door hanging Noel sign that I made out of coasters. Got the coasters from Jenn a long while back. Love that girl !
Lastly, we took the kids the other night to a neigborhod in Brea that has a amazing Keeping up with the Jones' light display. The lighted homes go on for blocks. Beautiful and amazing the kids loved it.

Okay, that is it for now. I am tired and I feel like scrapbooking !

Oh I am horrible..I know

Hello all if there are any of you left that read my blog. I have been just bad, terrible, an awful blogger! No good I know. And so much has happened since I last posted (yes 2 months ago). So lets's just say as of right now, all is good. I am trying to get my Christmas shopping done. I am hoping that tomorrow I can at least accomplish the rest of the kids gifts.

I have been spending a lot of time on Tallyscrapper. I am addicted and having a good time making/creating etc.

Also in other news which no one else cares about but me... Duran Duran have released their new cd. I am mixed about it. Some songs I like others..no. They collaborated with Timbaland; a completely different sound then their norm. Here is Falling Down. This one I like,but the video well, it is not for the kiddos. It is kind of harsh..but the song...I like the song.

This Friday is my DT dinner with the Red Bee team. I am looking forward to that.



Happy Birthday to Echo. One more birthday coming up...Illyse on the 18th. If you are reading this..I can't wait to give you your presents.

Here is a little craft/ornament I made with puzzle pieces. I think that I will make another and put the boys pic in each one as a teeny present to my MIL .
Okay I am off...now you guys get off my back..tee hee kidding. :)