The Memory Bee

New meaning

All these years Memorial Day has been a nice holiday for a family picnic and an occasional parade when Jeremy had to march in the band and a passing thought of thankfulness for those who have served our country, but this year it's beginning to mean so much more as I anticipate my son being one of the soldiers serving our country. I really appreciated Stephanie Howell's blog post here about what the day means to her. Her husband is serving in Afghanistan right now. She gives us a poignant look into what military families go through. Next year at this time, if everything works out as Brandon would like it to work out, he will be in Ranger camp, and I will be feeling a multitude of emotions!
Brandon participated in a little parade(by little, I mean little...color guard, two Army vehicles, and one marching band...not even a fire truck!) He rode along with his girlfriend (who has also enlisted!)
I'm proud of him and pray for all the good things that he's anticipating to come true!

 

Today I'm packing for my 25th or so CKU (Creating Keepsakes University) and leave for Nashville in the morning. I'm looking forward to returning to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which I call a human terarium, fun with my fellow teacher friends, seeing students that I've known through the years, and meeting lots of new friends! It's going to be three straight days of 8 hours of teaching...exhausting but so rewarding. I'm really looking forward to hearing the stories that my students are recording in our album track class.
I'll be back with lots of pictures next week!

Happy holiday weekend!

Today has been a gorgeous day...perfect for washing the outdoor furniture and getting everything set up to enjoy our back porch this summer. I went to the nursery this morning and bought flowers. Can't wait to add the burst of color to the window box and flower beds!

I've been camped out in my "office" getting ready for CKU next week and classes at Scrappuccino near Nashville next Sunday. I'm teaching the Family Matters 7gypsies class for the last time there and the Just Be album. I'm looking forward to seeing Lola and Kathy and everyone there again! I know there are lots of people signed up, but there might be some room. You can call them at 615-643-2622 to see.

I managed to get out of the house this week for lunch with a very special group of ladies. We've gotten  together every week for about twelve years. We do a Bible study together and share and encourage and pray for each other. Our ages span six decades, and we share a bond that I treasure!

I'm also mastering putting Powerpoint presentations together! My presentation for Creative Escape had to be done with Powerpoint, and that motivated me to use it for CKU and for my future classes in stores. Yeah! I'm sure my students will be happy about that. I got a great deal on a small projector on Ebay, so I'm powered up and excited about the possibilities!

I had a post all ready to go about my two new favorite scrapbook tools, but I'm going to hold off on that and give one of each them away when I do my posts! That makes it more fun! Keep watching for that in June!

Two more pictures of my work companion... making use of any little space around... including my ribbon basket and a box that's way too small!

In the zone...

I'm finally getting ready to leave my house for the first time since Tuesday and rewarding myself with a shower and clean clothes. More than you wanted to know, right?! I have been creating and playing like crazy. First my CKU album class and now I've finished designing the new version of the ATC holder class that I'll be teaching in stores across the country this summer and fall. Is it ok for me to say that it is off the charts in the darling category? I LOVE all the little details in the tiny little creations.
Here's a look at 3 of the cards we'll be making in the class...

The little Ball jar in the pocket is actually a tiny little book we'll make and the little Live Your Dreams sticker is on a little flag pole that sticks up above the holder. We're even painting...see that green on the card on the left? Oh my! So far I'll be teaching this class in Houston, TX, Fullerton and San Diego, CA, Coconut Creek, FL, and in San Jose, CA. There's more info and another picture under Upcoming Classes here. Now I just have a travel album class to design but I'm waiting on product for that.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for my friend and her husband. I told her today that people all across the country were praying for them, and it meant so much to her. Her husband meets with the surgeon this Friday at Roswell (our cancer hospital.) Keep them in your prayers. Thanks!!!

Once Upon a Time...

My days this week have been consumed with planning for my album track class at CKU in two weeks. I'm so excited about this class! I love having 8 hours to work on the album together. I can't wait to see what stories each person is telling in their album. My track is sold out in Nashville but there may still be room for CKU Provo in August if you're interested. I may also be teaching a shortened version of this class at stores in the fall. Even if you're not taking the class, you can see the list of sponsors and get an idea of what we're doing on the class blog in the link on the right or here.

I am counting my blessings in the midst of some difficult things. It helps me keep things in perspective when I think of what my friends are going through. I mentioned a few months ago about my really good friend who was going through ovarian cancer. She ended up with a really good report after going through chemo and all. She has been back to work but has no sick days left. Just this week her husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Their daughter is getting married in July. I think this is one of those times when you just can't make sense of what God is allowing to happen to them. Some people seem to suffer so much. I know and believe in how much God loves them but this is really hard to understand. Please pray for them.

Creating an Unforgetable Escape...

I had a fabulous time at the Creative Escape preview days in Phoenix! One of the huge blessings of teaching at events like this is getting to know the other teachers better. Tim Holtz and I shared a table in the back row..always trouble! :) I loved spending time with Marah Johnson and Heather Bailey and Lynette Carroll. We stayed up way too late the last night having dinner together and sharing our hearts with each other. Such talented and caring women! I'm so blessed to call them friends!

 

A huge thank you to Heidi, Doug, and all the gang at Bazzill for this incredible opportunity! Every need is cared for and organized completely. Frani and Carol and Lisa and Mona and everyone are the best!

If you are one of the lucky students coming to Creative Escape in August, I can tell you that I have never seen such amazing projects at an event before. My lips are sealed; we sign a confidentiality agreement, to not ruin the surprise, but I can promise that you will not be disappointed. I hated leaving the projects behind, stored at Bazzill until the big event. A great variety of styles, new techniques, exclusive product...just so cool.

We went to a park to take pictures for the event book. Nothing like pictures when it's 100+ degrees! Here's some outtakes and some good ones, too!

 

 

Proud to be their mom...

I had a 4am wake up call here at my hotel in Phoenix, got to the airport, got all settled on the plane, then they had us get off the plane, so they could turn the power off and not have us collapse from the heat! I was hoping to be home earlier today for Mother's Day, but now it looks like it won't be until tonight. I've had to dig up my picture from last year, since we won't be together today!

May 2008:

Being mom to these guys is different these days as they mature as men and make their own decisions and pursue their dreams. My role is mainly cheerleader and advice-giver...when it's wanted (ok...maybe sometimes when it's not wanted,too!) I am proud of them and pray for them continually.

I finally made it home after a long day of travel (so thankful for first class upgrades!) and got to spend a little time with one son and talk to the other...glad he'll be home in a few days! 

May 10, 2009:

It's HOT!

It's 5:30am and I'm at the airport again, on my way to Phoenix where it's going to be 103 degrees today! That's crazy! Tonight I'm teaching at Scrapbooks Etc. I can't wait to be there...I'm sure I'll be doing some damage there as I hear that they carry just about every scrapbook product out there. Looking forward to meeting the students too!
Tomorrow we start preview days for Creative Escape which takes place in August. How cool is it that as teachers we get to take each others classes ahead of time?! Good times with Tim and Heidi and Marah and Lynette and Heather all the other teachers. I've never been to Bazzill before so I'm sure I'll be drooling as I get a look at all that cardstock!

I finished one more project in my little remodeling/reorganizing project. I painted a desk that was in our bedroom and moved it into my scrapbook room/office. I love it!
Here's the before...you'll notice I didn't show much of the area below the top of the computer desk because there was so much piled there.

 

Here's what it looks like now...my desktop computer died...it was a dinosaur anyway. I was still using Microsoft Works on it! I moved the printer and fax machine to a shelf to the left. It is a 3 shelf unit snap together thing, but we only used two of the shelves and it's perfect for what I need to fit under the counter.

 

It even comes with a cat! I had a piece of glass made for the top. I wonder if I ever would have noticed that I put some of the handles back on upside down, if my husband had not pointed it out. It's staying like this for now. Quirky, I think!!

 

Also, what they say about dry heat, not being as hot...I don't believe it! It's hot here!

"Rubber, meet Road."

I googled the saying, "where the rubber meets the road," and it means a moment of truth. Well, that's where I've been the last few days. It's about faith and trust and believing and letting go and all those things that are so easy to talk about and then not so easy to do sometimes.

It started about a week ago when Brandon, our 19 year old son, asked me if I would be home Monday morning because Army recruiters that he had called were coming to the house to meet with him just to gather information. By Thursday, he was taking the test to see what he would qualify for, had his physical yesterday, and is now officially enlisted in the Army to be a medic! He goes to boot camp on September 7, so we still have lots of time to get used to the idea.

(I found this self-portrait that he did in first grade. Pretty amazing detail for that age, I think!)

My head is spinning...it's a very big surprise, but I'm feeling incredibly proud and excited for him. My emotions swing from that to mind- and body-numbing fear. It's not been great for my productivity, that's for sure! One thing that's been so helpful is talking to my good friend Pam and her husband and her son and daughter-in-law who have all been or are in the Army. Pam's son Eero enlisted as a medic at about the same stage of college as Brandon. They've alleviated as many of my fears as they can and have helped me feel so much better. I'm so thankful for that.

I have to constantly rein in my thoughts and choose faith over fear. Faith in God, in His goodness, in His love, in His guidance, in His protection...
This morning I woke up early and was thinking about a couple of my favorite Bible verses:

Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

These verses have been a guide throughout my life and now I'm believing them for my son. In the darkness this morning, I grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper and wrote down these verses line by line, thinking about what each word means to me. I'll share it here...as a reminder to myself!

I ...Debby Schuh
trust ...believe, rest, hope, have faith
in You, Lord
with all ...not holding anything back in fear and doubt
my heart ...my will, my mind, my emotions, my thoughts, the core of who I am.
I will not lean ...depend, rely, rest
on my own understanding ...thinking, reasoning, conclusions, presuppositions
but instead, in all...not holding anything back, without exception
my ways ...my actions, thoughts, words, emotions
I acknowledge ...give you credit, tip my hat to you, say yes, remember who is in charge, recognize
You ...God, Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Lord
and You will direct ...order, guide, teach, command, tell me to go here or there
my path ...where I go, my steps, my plans, the course I take.

I can face today. God knows and can take care of tomorrow.