i don’t know this family, but that doesn’t matter to me. i just found out about a precious little three year old boy, christian, who died this week. http://heartofthematteronline.com/2008/08/celebrating-life-of-little-christian.html please be praying for marsha and david with me, and christian’s big brothers. i have no more words, as i cannot imagine the pain.

it’s been a few days again. how do i remember everything i wanted to say?? ugh.

first of all, i have selected my CT. i’m very happy with them! first of all, there’s julie. thanks for being my first CT julie, old pal! i have added cindy, carla, janie and cissie. welcome the BLESSED BEAUTIES with me! i’m really looking forward to seeing all of their layouts.

the other day, josiah and i went to wal-mart alone to get some shopping done. at first, he was in the cart (it’s the kind that holds two kids), then he wanted to try walking. i told him i would give him a chance, but he had to stay right with me. he was doing really well walking with me, until the bread aisle. he started getting antsy. while i was looking for the right kind (only aunt millie for us!), he started climbing on the cart. i warned him that if he did it again, he would be strapped into the seat. turned my back, he did it again. “ok buddy, get into the seat.” i was like 2 feet away from him. he RAN down the bread aisle, to the women’s clothing section. i watched him for 5 seconds, my mouth hanging open. when i snapped into gear, i started dragging the huge cart along with me, looking for him. FTR, jeremiah has “run off” before, but i have known right where he was, and just hidden from his sight to see how long it takes him to find me. he really doesn’t like not knowing where i am, and will start calling for me almost immediately. josiah, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less where i was. i was calling him, no josiah. i left the cart, with my purse, looking up and down the women’s clothing aisle. no josiah. i thought surely i would hear him (he’s not a quiet boy!), but i didn’t. after about 5 minutes (probably a lot less, but it felt like an eternity), i asked some sales associates what i should do, and they asked me to describe him, then they sounded the “code adam”. by this time i was in a near panic. i picked up my purse and started running everywhere, often showing a sales associate josiah’s picture (i had my photo purse with me). i really didn’t know how many people worked at a wal-mart until that day. they were EVERYwhere looking for him. finally, they found him and told me to meet him at the customer service desk. when i got there, he wasn’t there, and i started freaking again…a minute or so later, he came behind me with a male associate. josiah was carrying a bunch of stockings. you know, the kind that come in the little containers like the little toys in the coin machines? he was happy as a clam, and didn’t act like he’d missed me at all. he kept saying he was finding these “coconuts”. don’t ask me how they ended up being called that, because i don’t know! i held him in my lap and tried hard not to cry. i was so thankful he was ok, there was no way i could scold him! i told him i was so worried about him, that some mean man could have taken him and hurt him. to that, he replied, “but no mean man took me and hurt me, mama. a NICE man took me to you!” SIGH. as you can imagine, we are not allowing him to walk when we go anywhere. he will be seatbelted in the cart. this is indefinite. he has really been having good days lately, then one or two really out-of-control things pop up. he is such a sweet boy. please pray with us that he will learn to listen and obey. sometimes we are so scared that he’ll really hurt himself.

jeremiah said something in the “new” van last night, when we were coming home after taking it for a drive (oh i haven’t mentioned that yet, have i?! well it will have to wait until tomorrow). he said, “this is fun. and i know what fun is! fun is going for a ride.” LOL. he’s so cute.

jamin is growing like a weed. i cut his hair the other day. he seems so different!! he is ready to walk, i know he is, but he’s a stubborn little thing. i don’t think he realizes how much fun it will be once he’s walking. lol. he is so cute…he says “juice” now. there are a few other words, but i can’t think of them at the moment. which is why i need to keep up with blogging better. i don’t want to forget these things! argh!

oh, one last thing: i’m trying to “get on” at faithsisters, for their design team. i have zero votes so far. if youlike my minikit, please join at faithsisters and vote for my mini. pretty please? if you love me? thanks!

love ya!

i am having a creative team call. julie will continue to be on my creative team, but i need more people to help get my kits noticed. i plan to choose in between 3 and 5 people. i have minimal requirements. no, really!

only 2 layouts per kit, posted to 4 places; DST, scrappinoutloud.com OR heaven-sent.com.au, my new site (yet to be unveiled) and your choice (if you have no personal preference, please post to scrappinoutloud and heaven-sent). that’s all. you are free to use other people’s templates (just be sure to credit them), but no other kit pieces, please.

so what do you need to do to “try out”? i’d love to see your most complete gallery and also tell me what you love to scrap the most (your kids, your pets, landscapes, etc)! simple, huh?! please email me at digiscrapjenn @gmail.com

you can see my kits (remember, i’m very new to this!) at scrappinoutloud.com or heaven-sent.com.au.

thanks! hope to hear from you soon!

i have been crazy busy over here. out of the house MUCH more than usual. it really wears me out. i’m SO not used to it. i’m a home-body, and am not made for all the running around.

josiah turned three years old on tuesday. that little tiny baby is now a super big boy. he is so much fun, and such a joy. he brings new challenges to us every day. you really have to appreciate the kids who stretch you, you know what i mean? the only thing i would change about joe is that he would be more obedient. it is really hard when your child doesn’t listen to you.

we went to my cousin’s wedding on saturday. (she’s my second cousin - mom’s first cousin.) i tried hard to get a babysitter for the big boys, but couldn’t find anyone. so we took them. josiah acted up quite a few times. it makes me sad to think of my child as “that kid” who everyone is whispering about and pointing at. when he isn’t acting up, he is the sweetest most lovable little boy. some people never get to know that josiah though.

i am so thankful for my little prince. he’s just wonderful and such a blessing to me. i love you, josiah!!!!

a year ago, a special day was about to arrive. a beautiful, wonderful child was about to be born. my baby boy, my precious joy, my sweet little jamin zachariah. tomorrow my little baby will be one year old.

it seems so strange to me that a year has gone by. sometimes it still feels like i’m getting to know him. i have to admit, that the instant bond that i felt with the big boys didn’t happen with him, and i felt so guilty about that for so long. but there’s nothing i could have done to change anything. and besides, there’s no way i could possibly love him any more now. he is literally a piece of my heart. he is beyond precious and amazing, and i’m in tears thinking about what he means to me. i can’t believe i ever wanted him to be a girl. the world would have missed out on one amazing little man if i’d had my original wish. God always knows what’s best, doesn’t He?

jamin, i love you so much, sweet baby boy. you are light, you are joy, you are sweetness in a body. you are precious and loving, and so much fun. you have a smile that can melt the hardest heart, and eyes that can search into the deepest soul. you adore your family, and want to be just like your big brothers. you and kc are buddies, and i feel like somehow he’s “your” dog now. always know that you will be my baby…no matter what.

happy birthday, jamin. i can’t believe you’re a year old…

my sweet boy has been sick since wednesday evening. he’s had a fever (highest was 103.3) and has just looked miserable. we went to the dr today (he weighed 20lbs 4oz) to make sure he could have a party tomorrow. the dr said it’s just a cold, and since the party will be outside, we can go ahead and have it. it’s going to be at a park - the same one we went to for josiah’s first birthday. the party is for jamin and josiah. jamin’s is a blue’s clues theme and josiah’s is finding nemo. i’ll have you know finding nemo is impossible. they just don’t sell it anymore that i can find. it’s very annoying to find this out the week before a party…

i hope everyone has a great weekend! i don’t know when i’ll have a chance to update, but hopefully i’ll have some birthday layouts made soon.

Thanks Tammy G for the great name! All the name suggestions were wonderful, that I got here and all the different digiscrap sites. Thank you!

The contest is now closed! I have chosen the winner, from a blog reader: SWEET TEMPTATIONS.

Please be patient with the plop-n-print prize. Thanks so much for playing! I loved the names!

Stay tuned for some fun news…well, fun for me at least. LOL.

I have this beautiful kit, but I can’t find the perfect name for it.
It has dark brown running through it, so I was thinking something with chocolate or dark chocolate? But I can’t think of just the right name, so I need some help!
If you suggest a name, you will get a free plop-n-print using the kit, and you just might win the whole kit, if i choose your name!
This contest will run until Friday, August 1 (unless I think more people should have a chance to play. I just might extend it.). The kit will be released soon after, and the participants’ prizes will be received.
So let me have it! Have fun.

i am just pitiful.

for those of you who thought we have been on vacation forever…we came back that night. *blush* i am SO sorry that i haven’t posted in so long. i hope you’ll forgive me. some exciting things have been happening, leaving less time for “fun” time.

i am a brand new designer at two stores! can you believe it? it’s really official now! i have been getting things into the stores and getting situated getting to “know” people i’ll be working with. watch the sidebar for direct links to my stores. also, leave me a comment letting me know of your interest if you want a 30% discount as a friend and family member. i’m working on two kits at once right now, and have so many more in the works. i’m selling at Heaven-Sent Scrapbooking & at Scrappin’ out loud!

i’ve been trying to do better at home. it’s not working great, but at least i’m trying.

ok now for some things i’ve been working on (please click on image to see credits):

we are leaving to my sil’s in a few minutes. it’s about a two and a half hour drive. the longest trip of jamin’s little life. we want to discuss some spiritual issues with the relatives, and jerry always feels inadequate around them, for whatever reason.

please pray for us to have a safe journey and a good fellowship. pray that the boys will be “good”.

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yesterday, the 9th, was a pretty big deal. jamin turned 11 months old. just one month away from being a year old. can you even fathom it? i’m already getting that baby itch. someone please slap me. here is is, taken yesterday:

i can’t begin to describe what jamin means to me. he is such an amazing joy to us. he is a blessing and a gift. even when i’m completely frustrated with him (for not sleeping), there is no child i would EVER want to replace him. he is truly a special little boy.

even more amazing is that it was the 4th anniversary of my grampa’s death. wow. seems crazy he’s been with the Lord so long.

this is grampa with jeremiah, two months before he died:

this is grampa with jeremiah, isabel, miles, zuri and my mom, two months before he died:

we miss you, grampa!!!! we can’t wait to see you on the other Side!!!!!

–

just so everyone can know - jerry has been feeling “ok”. his heart went back into rhythm. we were able to go to a new church together (this is a whole new topic, that i don’t feel comfortable sharing just yet. but please keep us in your prayers about it!) and were EXTREMELY blessed there. we plan to go visit jerry’s mom on monday - also keep us in your prayers about that. we’ll be driving without air conditioning, in a van with only two windows. this will be only the second time for her to meet both jeremiah and josiah, and the first time to meet jamin.

have a great rest of the week!