Oh my goodness. I haven't updated this since October. What a slacker I am. I am so sorry. Your NJS leadership team has been in what I like to call transition...a nicer word for chaos, crisis, and turmoil. But, it's all in how you look at things, right?
Through our changes in life, we have learned that we are stronger than what we thought. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and we are plowing forward full steam ahead! Bring it on life, we are more than ready for ya!
We are also ready for our upcoming retreat. Well, getting ready. Becky and I are working feverishly to put together some awesome raffle baskets for you. We have about seven great baskets and one fabulous grand prize gift! We've got some other surprises in store for you as well, but you'll just have to wait for those.
We need this retreat as much as you all do, so I hope that you're ready to put up with us. We're gonna let go and let God and do a little partying in between!
See you all soon, have a great weekend! The NJS team

Thank you

Tonight I am in a very thoughtful mood. I just left the funeral home and that always causes me to ponder the "what if's" in life. Our NJS friend Shannon lost her father yesterday. She was her usual self at the funeral home this evening, maybe just a little more tired version of herself actually. It made me think, "What if that was me?" Would I act the same way? Isn't that what we as women often commit to being, a slightly skewed version of ourselves? We have our "public" face that we put on for the outside world, right? It is among our real friends though that we can be honest and say, "I'm tired."
I am grateful to all of you NJS girls, because I know that we can open up to one another and say. "I'm tired, frustrated, angry..." You can fill in the blank with any number of words. It doesn't matter, I know that we will always be there for one another. No. Matter. What.
That is what our group is about, even more than just scrapbooking. We are friends and we are there for one another as women. When the group first began, the "what if's" were very simple. What if no one comes, what if we don't make enough money to pay the rent, etc. I am grateful today for the harder "what if's" that come with knowing people better and being good friends. The "what if's" in real life are much more difficult. I am grateful for those "what if's", because I know that it means I am truly blessed to have an amazing group of women that I can call my friends.

I have a confession to make. I'm a compulsive list maker. Well, maybe two confessions. I also pack for trips way too early. I've already started packing for the retreat! I've been cleaning out my scrap room looking for things for the rummage, washing blankets, sheets, and pillow cases...all for a weekend away that doesn't happen for three weeks. That's what a normal person thinks. I think, I'm leaving in three weeks and I don't have very much crossed off my list!
That's why I'm so thankful for our scrap day this Saturday. I can put all of these lists down for a day and not go in and look at my suitcase three times a day to make sure that I really did put my travel hair dryer in there. (I know, can you say OCD!!)
October's menu is my favorite...soup and salad. YUM! This weather makes me want soup every day. I only have a few people signed up so far, but I will keep editing the menu below so that you can see what yummy goodies will be there for your to try. Can't wait to see you all there ladies. Good luck getting ready for the retreat, you know that I need some!

Shannon H.--Cashew Salad
Melissa--Cheeseburger Soup

So, around here, we have been working our fingers to the bone getting ready for our Fall 2009 Women's Hobby Retreat. This is just a sneak peek. You know, one of those really mean ones that doesn't really show anything, but still makes you wonder...hmmm, what is all that stuff? hee, hee! The picture is dark and blurry on purpose, to make you wonder even more!

I've also been looking into what I want to work on while I am at the retreat this year. Since our fall retreat isn't a fundraiser, I'm hoping to get a lot more accomplished this time around. Christmas cards will probably be my assigned retreat work. I hope to have a great design by the time the retreat rolls around; However, I'm running out of time! I took the Copic plunge this weekend, so I will be practicing my coloring and getting that down before we leave. Maybe Angie E. can give me a crash course. hint, hint!

IT'S LESS THAN ONE MONTH UNTIL WE ROCK LAKE PLACID LADIES!!! Can you believe that? If you haven't signed up yet, it's not too late. We do have some spaces available. Shoot me an e-mail and I will get you the info that you need!

Are you going to decorate your door? I am! I have a few ideas, do you? I think that's it's going to be harder than I think...it's such a big canvas to work with. I'm only used to 12 x 12. ;) I can't wait to see what all of you come up with.

I also wanted to mention that Brittany, our favorite massage therapist, will be back again this year. I am getting some info from her about specifics, so look for an e-mail from me about Brittany and her wonderful treatments as well.

I will post again before we scrap next time so that you can sign up. Check us out on facebook, too. I hope that you all have a great week and I will see you soon!!!

The deadline is fast approaching

September is getting close girls. That means that our deadline for the retreat will be here before you know it. For those of you who have already paid, your balance is due in full no later than September 12th. If you haven't signed up yet, you have until September 12th to take advantage of the $109 price point.

September also means that we have another wonderful chance to be together and be creative. We will meet September 12th from 9am to 9pm at Faith Church Assembly of God. The cost is only $5 and a menu item to share. September's menu is Pot Luck, so bring whatever you would like! We will like it, too. Please take a moment to comment on this blog post and let us know what you are bringing. You can also let me know via e-mail. Whatever is easiest for you.

I'm off to try and get some things ready for the retreat. Don't forget about the crafty rummage at our retreat. I hope to sell enough to buy some more stuff! ;) Have a great week and I hope to see you soon!

Edited to add, Here is the menu sign up so far:

Jenny-puppy chow Sheron-cake, salsa & chips Angie-spaghetti w/meatballs & garlic bread

Krista-chicken-n-noodles Gail-brownies Kelly-dessert Mel-breakfast casserole

Kelli-taco dip Shannon-toffee bars Barb-rolls & drinks

Linda-tuna alfredo casserole & turtle brownies

Make-n-Takes

I hope that you are all having a great week. We are really looking forward to our next get together in August. I, personally, am working on living in the moment more, but I am always looking ahead.

Being a crafter, I have already started thinking about planning for the winter holidays. With that in mind, I would love to have some great workshops planned for September, October, and November. I have one idea in mind and have been researching some other things, but I wanted to get some input from you. Is there something that you want to do? Is there a technique that you have always wanted to try, but weren't sure where to begin?

Post a comment here or send me an e-mail. I would love to see your ideas.

Along with that, I would love to know if you would be willing to pay a small amount (maybe just a dollar or two) to make our item. If there will be a fee, I will try to provide as much as I can for as small a price as possible. As usual, we won't make a profit, we will only cover expenses.

I have some fun ideas in mind and I can't wait to hear what you want to do. Whatever it is, I know that we will all put our creative spin on it and have some beautiful projects to take home and give as gifts.

Ok, I'm off to do more research. Have a great week ladies and bring on those ideas!

It's July already

Hi Folks! It's July again, how did that happen? I have been thinking a lot about how fast time goes by. Remember when your grandpa used to say, "It feels like it was just yesterday." Well, yesterday is what brought my circle of thinking to completion.
Yesterday was our annual 4th of July party. Joe and I work for weeks getting the house ready, planning the menu, and repeating, "The parade starts at noon and we eat after that!"
The first few years it was just my parents and us, sometimes our friends Tim and Lori and their two girls, Tarryn and Holly. As the years went by, we gained a few people liked Becky's parents and her grandchildren. This year, we had all of those folks, some work friends, and some new friends...over 30 in total! It was wonderful.
It started raining during the parade and didn't stop until after everyone left. The atmosphere was so great, no one cared that it was raining! The kids played in our arcade until the hamburgers were cooked, we ate, talked, laughed, and then the kids went swimming. No one seemed to care that it was raining. We were just all there to have fun and enjoy each other. I was so grateful for every one's attitudes.
The point of all of this rambling is to say that I don't want to remember this as the 4th of July where we all sat inside and stared at each other because it rained. I have to scrapbook this to help me remember that this is the 4th of July where we swam in the rain and had fun anyway! I will scrapbook this Independence Day to remember that this is the 4th of July that I noticed how big all of the kids are getting. One of the girls I mentioned before, Tarryn, was in our wedding. She just bought her first house. Her sister is now just about as tall as me. Chanda's kids seem to have grown two feet over the past couple months and Charity's little girl Iva celebrated her first 4th of July ever! I want to remember these details through photos and journaling. When I see all of us enjoying no sunshine and the pictures proving it with bad lighting and damp hair, I want to remember that I am grateful for those things. I am grateful for friends who pitch in and bring food to share, do the dishes, and smile for those rainy pictures!
What will you scrapbook about this 4th of July? Come to our crop Saturday, July 11th. Our menu this month is salads and sandwiches. Sign up by commenting on this blog post, or shoot me an e-mail. I'll keep the menu updated here and also send out another e-mail before the big day. Be the first to tell me about this post on Saturday and I have a special gift for you! See you all Saturday!
Menu update:
Sheron-Sandwiches
Koty-Oriental Cole Slaw
Quinette-Layered Salad
Mindy-Cake Pops
Jenny-Deviled Eggs
Krista-Tuna Salad & Crackers
Lefa-Sandwiches