Lost and Found

Earlier in my challenges I was told to write about something lost. They've turned it around for me today and I am to write on something found.
What came immediately to mind were the times when you suddenly find money in a pocket that you didn't know was there. I love that! Even if it's just a dollar or two.
It also brings to mind finding pennies on the ground when Megan was little. I would say "Lucky penny!" and she would run to pick it up. And she saved them. She was an incredible saver. Saved every bit of money she received for any reason saying "I'm saving for college" and this is when she was super young and no other kids were even yet aware what college was. Now as an adult she is so good about money--awesomely responsible. I could have used some lessons from her.
Anyway, I still think of her any time I see a lost penny lying on the ground....And Yes ladies. I pick it up.

"Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck"

Weekly Deals

C It's Tuesday Ladies--That means it's time for another selection of Weekly Deals. If you see something you want to grab while it's on sale, just let me know if you'd like me to place the order--or--You may place the order on-line yourself. If you do so please use Hostess Code #RP6XDKMR Weekly Deals      Alphabet Rotary Stamp Price: $14.95 $11.21 Banner Punch Price: $12.95 $9.71 For The Birds Wood Stamp Set Price: $32.95 $24.71 Hearts Border Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96 Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit Price: $19.95 $14.96 Sweet Details Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $17.95 $10.77 Ticket Duo Builder Punch Price: $15.95 $11.96 Very Vintage Designer Buttons Price: $5.95 $4.46

Frog Eyes

Look what fun I've had with nothing but a bag of candy and a couple of circle punches.

Truth or Fiction

Today I am asked "When I read do I usually choose fiction or non-fiction?" and "Do I have any idea why I prefer one over the other?"
Hands down, I prefer fiction. I very seldom read non-fiction.
I seldom read for information or learning aside from my Bible study. When I read I do so for enjoyment and I find that fiction takes me there far more often than real life. I love to solve a mystery and those books are very often what I choose. Keep me guessing to the very end---Love it!
Darn! Now I find myself wanting to get into a good book and I really don't have the time right now.
Much to do. Much to do.

Home Sweet Home

Today it's my job to write about the place I lived when I was twelve.

That would be a house in Downey, Californina. I can't say that my memories of living here are the best. As I've written in the past, the house we lived in before this in Pico Rivera was the one I loved. I'm not sure what, but something about that move was traumatic for me. I had to go to a new school. I became horribly shy and my grades went way down.
The house in Downey had three bedrooms, so I was given my own room when we moved there instead of sharing with my two brothers. That was nice I guess. I don't remember being bothered by sharing, and as i got older, I wish we had added a room where we were instead of moving. It was also a neighborhood with lots of kids. It was in a large neighborhood that was located in between a drainage ditch on either side, so it was called The Island. The streets on one side dead ended at the drainage ditch and our house on Allengrove was at that end of our street. That meant that the kids were always playing where we were.

This is where we lived when my folks split up. My mom moved out and I eventually joined her. Even though we shared one bedroom, those were times that I remember very fondly. My mom was like a different person and we became the best of friends. I wish we could have stayed there like that until it was time for me to start a separate life of my  own. She was dating and as it turned out we moved into a two bedroom when they began making plans to get married. Once that was to happen, I no longer felt comfortable living in the home and moved out on my own for the first time. That happened earlier than was good for me I think. I'd have been better off living with my mom for quite a bit longer, but that wasn't to be.

Picnic?

I have a break in my writing challenges today, so I will add a post about the craziness I took part in today.
Two churches share the building where my church is. Last week my church hosted a neighborhood BBQ, and today was the annual church picnic for the other church.
First of all the picnic began at 10 am. Who goes to a picnic to BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs at 10am? Then one of the things someone brought for their pot luck offering was lasagna. Strange picnic if you ask me.
It was really very chilly out and then it began to rain. We continued on though, so here are some pictures of us crazy Christians enjoying a church picnic.

Make It Count

It's time to tackle today's writing challenge.
In the challenge I have the opportunity to send one message to one person that I wouldn't normally have access to--Like the President for instance. Who will I write to and what would I say?

This is a tough one for me.

I'm not political, so I have no desire to have a chat with any politician.
I can't say Jesus, cause I have access to Him at all times and I send Him messages quite often.
I would love to say my mom, but I think they are thinking of a living person.
I have favorites from movies and TV, but I don't wish to chat with any of the stars personally. I would probably be very disappointed. There is an exception--Tom Selleck. I love the show Blue Bloods and like to think that he's like the character he plays on the show. I would probably find out I was wrong and even if he were, just what would I say? Hello. I respect and admire you. Will you marry me? Already married? Darn Darn Double Darn!!
I'm feeling pretty shallow that I can't seem to come up with a meaningful answer to this challenge.
Maybe I'd better think on it a while. I'll get back to you on this one.

For now I've included a picture of my dreamboat. And then to be fair I also included a picture of him with the knockout wife he's been married to since 1987. Triple Darn!

ATTENTION!

I will be sending an email out about this, bbut also wanted to add it here in the blog.
Beginning in October my classes will be held on Thursday evenings instead of Tuesdays.
That makes the new class dates for October--
Card Class---October 16th
Stampin' Up Workshop---October 23rd
Paper Pumpkin Club---October 30th

Yum!

Today I'm supposed to write about a favorite childhood meal. One that said "Celebration" to me. I really don't remember too many meals from my childhood--weird, I know. My mom worked full time while I was growing up though, and she didn't really enjoy cooking. If memory serves me right, I loved her fried chicken, and I don't really like too many people's. I always love the skin.(I'm just health conscious that way), but I can't stand it if I bite into it and the chicken is not COMPLETELY done inside. That's not something I can tell by looking at it before I bite, so I usually just pass. I also liked it when my mom made a pot of white beans with ham. I cannot however, think of any meal that said "celebration" to me.
This does remind me of kind of a funny thing though. My mom's sandwiches. Yes---her sandwiches. It's not just me, cause my brothers will tell you the same thing. We loved it when she made us a sandwich. She would tell us--"It's a sandwich. Just make yourself one" and we would tell her that they just weren't the same as when she made them. Now I know many of you are probably thinking that we just didn't want to make the sandwich ourselves, and we probably didn't, but hers really were better. One thing I remember about them is that she cut the lettuce. Kind of slicing some off on a cross grain if that make sense. She didn't just peel off a leaf and lay it on. They were wonderful! I know it's crazy, but they were.

I miss my mom. I would sure love to sit down at her kitchen table and share a sandwich and chips with her. Now that would to me would feel like a celebration.

Handle With Care

Today I am tasked with writing about how well I handle criticism. Can I take brutal honesty, or do I need to be handled with care.
I think that I now fall somewhere in the middle. I have spent the majority of my life with a very bad case of Low Self Esteem and in the past have gotten my feelings hurt very easily. I wanted everyone to like me and I think I took criticism as a vote against that. I have grown a lot in the past few years and I'm so much better. I like most people and hope they will like me, but I know everyone won't and that's okay. I can't say that criticism doesn't or won't ever hurt my feelings. Some people aren't very nice about it. From others though, I can now accept that it is meant to help and not to hurt. How can we make changes for the better if we are unaware of what needs to change.
I still would not include me in a group of people with soaring self esteem, but I have learned that I have worth. I am totally loved and treasured by my heavenly Father and His opinion is the one most important to me. In finding my rightful place in Him, I have found the strength to step forward and do things that the old Tonna would not, could not, do. Now as I rest in the knowledge of how loved I am, I am able to trust Him and His plans for me. I still have struggles, but Boy, Is it different now!

So, how are you liking my blog?----Be brutally honest. (giggle)

Just finished my first tag in preparation for Paper Pumpkin Club next week. Lookin' spooky!  I think I'm going to have a good time with this one 

Halloween

Look at all the fun I have have been having making fun Halloween projects with my Stampin Up products. We made most of these things in class tonight.
We'll be making more in the first class for October on the 16th.

Contact me if you'd like to join us 

Time, Time, time

Today's challenge says I'm supposed to go to a cafe, park, or public place and report on what I see. And I'm supposed to be detailed.
Well, I don't have the time to take a little break to do that. Much, much too busy, so I thought I'd just chat a bit about about when Megan and I took Landon and Matilda to feed the ducks at Virginia Lake not too very long ago.
The first thing I noticed there is how low the lake is. I don't think I had ever seen it quite so low. I heard afterward on TV that ducks are dying because of the lack of water and I believe we saw a dead one in the water. We decided it was "sleeping." That's a better story for the kids.
Matilda normally just loves to feed the ducks, but she really wasn't too into it this time. I think she was a bit bored, but Landon would have kept on feeding them as long as I supplied him with bread--and I had a lot of bread. He wasn't fearful at all. He found himself a spot on a rock and was as happy as can be, even when there were ducks all around him.
That's it for tonight. I just don't have it in me to be any more detailed. I don't think I remember well enough to describe each rock, pathway, duck, goose, sea gull, and bush. I was paying too much attention to my adorable grandson to notice much else anyway.

Weekly Deals

Here are the weekly deals. These prices are good today through Monday. You can contact me if you'd like to place an order, or you may order on line yourself and have the order shipped directly to you. If you place an order on line before Friday please use Hostess Code ASYJP7C9.
Here are the weekly deals. These prices are good today through Monday. You can contact me if you'd like to place an order, or you may order on line yourself and have the order shipped directly to you. If you place an order on line before Friday please use Hostess Code ASYJP7C9

Weekly Deals Show:     1    Sort By:

Eclectic Paper-Piercing Pack Price: $7.95 $5.96 Faces I Love Swatchbook Template - Digital Download Price: $12.95 $7.77 Festive Paper-Piercing Pack Price: $7.95 $5.96 Gold Glitz Dazzling Details Price: $2.50 $1.88 Hamburger Box Bigz Xl Die Price: $42.95 $32.21 Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack Price: $7.95 $5.96 Ovals Collection Framelits Die Price: $26.95 $20.21 Party Pennants Bigz L Die Price: $32.95 $24.71

Now, while I'm posting, I can't resist adding these pictures of my sweetie Landon that Megan sent me this morning. She brought this little tiny kit to plant pumpkin seeds from the store and he and I planted them. We put them in a sunny spot and I tasked him with keeping it moist as he watched them grow. Once they begin to grow you are supposed to pull out the smaller ones until you have only one left, and then plant that in the yard. As you can see, he's keeping a close eye on them.
I don't know if they will end up with an actual pumpkin in the yard from this tiny little pot, but is neat to see him observing the wonder of nature.

I do hope that it becomes a pumpkin so that he can witness the entire process. Maybe we'll have to buy one in a couple of months and throw it out in the yard. :)

Oh Dear

Oh dear is right! This challenge says I'm about to enter a room full of strangers, where I will have exactly 4 minutes to tell a story that would convey who I really am. So--What's my story?
I'll tell you what my story is...
There is absolutely no way I'm walking into a room full of strangers to tell a story. That's what my story is.You could give me 4 hours and I wouldn't get it out.
Remember those F's I told you I took in high school so that I wouldn't have to stand in front of the class and give an oral report? Well, just give me one of those F's right here for this challenge. I'm breakin' out in a sweat just thinking about the possibility of being put in that position.
What room full of strangers wants to hear my story anyway--Right?

Just look at all the cuties I just finished up in preparation for my class tomorrow night  I've been waiting to make them since last year when I discovered the idea on a blog by Shailyn Dickson. They use a Stampin Up punch that has been discontinued, but that is still available in the Clearance Rack for $10.79.
SCORE!!Have I mentioned that I love a bargain 

Nice to Meet You

Well, the weekend's over and my first writing challenge of the new week has already arrived in my email box. I am challenged to write about someone I have met recently--someone who recently entered my life.
Two things come to mind. The first is the tiny new little boy that just made his appearance one week ago. I was blessed with the privilege of watching my daughter give birth for the second time. Childbirth is to me an incredible miracle, and  to watch my daughter give birth to my grandson's was absolutely the best. It was like watching a miracle happen right before my eyes. I feel incredibly honored to have been given the privilege. Levi Hudson Ortega is a tiny, perfect little boy and I look forward to getting to know him and watching him grow.

Second, I think of the neighborhood barbecue we just had in our church parking lot Friday. It turns out that with all people from the neighborhood that stopped by, seven churches were represented by the time we were done. I didn't really meet anyone personally. It was just a whole bunch of people eating, listening to music, chatting  and just plain having a good tome. I've already written about it here in my blog, so I won't go on about it again except to say that it was so awesome to bring other cultures and other languages all together to enjoy an evening.

Promotion

Just a "brief" post to let you all know about a current Stampin' Up promotion.
If you host a party of at least $300 from now until October 31st, you receive the exclusive stamp set Good Greetings. I just love it.

Contact me if you would like to host a party. They are lots of fun. Your guests will get to see some of the wonderful products and a project or two will be included. This promotion is in addition to all the other wonderful opportunities you will receive as the hostess!

Brefity

Oh dear--This post is going to be short. Of the two challenges I am given today, one says I get the weekend off and the other is on brevity. It quotes Blaise Pascal who said "I would have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time" and then asks where I stand on the brevity/verbosity spectrum. All you have to do is take a look back at my week of writing challenges, and it's very clear that I don't tend to be brief. At least not where these challenges are concerned. Guess they've been touching things inside me that wanted to get out.
So, today you get one post that is brief and from the other, you get a weekend break.

BBQ

There are a lot of churches in the area where my church is located and we share a building with one other church. Four of us got together and threw a huge BBQ in our parking lot tonight.  Our church Branches, the church that shares with us, a Spanish church down the block, and a Chinese church right in our parking lot. WE made the plans not sure if people would really show up, but they did---in a big way. What an array of food we had. Hamburgers, hot dogs, fried rice, homemade tamales (yum), popusas,  a huge Tres Leche cake, big vats of horchata, and so much more. And we had music. Lots of good music. We all made new friends and had a great time. I'm sure it will happen again. Now next week on Saturday we will be joining with New Journey for there annual church picnic. What party animals we Christians are!