Some time ago my mom gave me an old roll of Kodak 126 film that had never been developed. I put off taking it in to be processed because I was afraid I wouldn't get anything back. When I went to get a new flash card today I finally took it in, and amazingly, got some pretty cool photos back! These are the best two - they're all very grainy and my mom isn't big on photography, but these two alone made it worth it for me! They were both taken on what I'm guessing was around my 7th birthday. The first one is my grandmother and me - she passed away in 2003 just a couple months before my daughter was born. On her lap is her poodle, Joy. The second is me with my parents - they divorced about 4 years later, and I've been estranged from my dad for about 5 years. I love two things about this photo - my dad is smoking a pipe, and my mom has an expression on her face that looks so much like my daughter.

Ahhh the last day of Vacation Bible School! I love doing VBS - I went every year as a child and I've been teaching the last three years. The last two years I've been the lead preschool teacher, and had Esme in my class! This week we learned about Obeying God, Worshiping God, Trusting God, Believing in God, and Serving. We had a water park theme so I brought in lawn chairs and beach toys, and the kid's favorite part, the inflatable boat. The best part of the week was when we pretended we are on the open seas and a storm was coming up. We used a fan for wind, flicked the lights for lightning, and had a thunder-maker. We rocked the boat so they felt like they were in heavy waves. A couple little ones were actually getting nervous, but then wanted to do it again and again. Overall it was a great week - I think a few of the lessons might have sunk in, and they kids definitely had fun singing, playing together, and doing crafts.

I am trying to ignore Ethan so he can finish reading Harry Potter, so I am getting some Pink Lady projects done! These papers go beautifully with some of the pre-wedding pics.

**THERE ARE NO SPOILERS ON THIS BLOG**
I was so glad I got to go to the Harry Potter party at the store where Ethan works occasionally. It was so fun to see all the kids full of anticipation for the new book, seeing all the people who dressed up, and just feeling the excitement in the air. The crowd counted down from 30 til the owner waved the first copies in the air. Some people went right outside and sat down on the steps to start reading!

I finished the book at about 3:30 am today. I enjoyed it very much. It was a mix of interesting, exciting, mysterious, with a little bit of obvious thrown in. The obvious bits are no less appreciated than the surprises though.

Perhaps my strangest altered item ever, these guys started with a mishap in the store that forced me to buy them, and then turned into my tribute to a fellow Pink Lady, ellymew. I used the new BasicGrey line, Infuse to cover them. I had so much fun making them! They took forever but they are so darned cute in person. Esme and I are fighting over who gets them.

The past week has been a very hard one for me. The first visit with my dad that I've initiated in five years was Wednesday, I had an emotional night with my nephew on Wednesday, as of Friday I am no longer church school coordinator at my church, and Saturday I had to take my daughter to the ER where she was diagnosed with pneumonia. It has been an emotional roller coaster and very difficult. I am glad this is a new week.

I tried out a new church on Sunday. It went fairly well. They are starting up a new church school which would be an interesting thing to be part of, but on the other hand I think what might be best for Esme is a church that already has a strong education program. I am going to try out a few before I even start to settle down somewhere, so I am going to head to a different one this coming Sunday. The one thing I have decided for sure is that I want to stay an Episcopalian.

Thanks to this quiz posted by Anilu I found out the dessert I am most like is my very favorite dessert, the brownie.

You Are a Brownie

Decadent and intense, you aren't for the weakhearted. Those who can deal with your strong flavor find out how sweet you really are.

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

There is a thread over at Scraptalk discussing photographic self-potraits. I have to say I have often thought of myself as the queen of the self-portrait. With a husband not interested so much in photos, and a daughter just able to hold up the camera, if I want to scrapbook any photos of me I've really had to adopt at do-it-yourself philosophy. The best advice I was given was to hold the camera at an angle and position yourself at an angle. This photos is one of my recently-taken favorites.

Since my husband went to day-shift for the summer I've been getting to spend a lot more time with him. He is home nearly every evening and I have been enjoying his company so much. I am so lucky to have such an interesting, kind, and fun person to spend my life with. I wish everyone could be as lucky as me.

I was a bridesmaid this weekend in my brother's wedding! I love love love the bride and I am so happy for them! My dress was PINK! Here's a pic of me walking down the aisle with my handsome husband!

We get ready for the wedding tonight and by the time I get home on Sunday I'll have the sister-in-law of my dreams. Kim is a beautiful, loving, incredibly fun person. I have enjoyed getting to know her since they first got together, and have loved being able to watch the milestones in their relationship. She can stand up for herself and keep Charles in his place too. I am so happy that my brother has found such a wonderful person to spend his life with. I am also happy that my nephew, Dylan, will have such a wonderful stepmother, that Esme will have such a great aunt, and that Kim will be a part of my family.

Have you ever developed your own mission statement? I was reading mission statements at various churches tonight and remembered one I'd developed at the Mission Statement Builder several years ago. I decided it was time for a new one, since my life has changed so much since then. Here is mine:

I will try to use my enthusiasm for productive outcomes. I will continue to enjoy my time with Ethan and work toward our mutual growth. I will endeavor to be the best mother I can be for Esme. I will surround myself with the positive people that I love. I will look to see beautiful things through my daughter's eyes every day. I will do my best to discern and follow His calling. I will continue to make my family my first priority. I will continue reading and educating myself to stay interesting. I will surround myself with funny people because I love laughing. I will let Esme guide me through homeschooling by her interests. I will bask in my happiness and the happiness of others whenever possible. I will endeavor to follow His example in my daily life. I will not give up because I feel overwhelmed or underappreciated. I will do my best to give as many blessings as I receive.

Check out this fun site where you can make yourself in Lego! The wedding rehearsal and dinner were this evening and we are all abuzz about my brother Charles and his fiancee Kim's big day! Only a week to go!

Today is my wedding anniversary! I have been married to Ethan for eight beautiful years!

Today is the last day of school!!!! That means for just over two months....

• No students will sigh heavily when they find out I'm they're sub for the day
  
• No entire class will burst into applause when they find out I'm they're sub for the day
• No other subs will condescend to me (that happened a lot this year - I don't understand it)
• I won't be Mrs. Powers
  
• I won't have to listen to 25 recorders in a small classroom
• I will not discuss homonyms or onomatopoeias
  
• I will not be acutely aware of what I didn't learn in 4th grade math and have to teach myself things quickly
• I won't say, "Line up!"
• Chances are no one will call me before 8 o'clock and if they do, I won't be waiting for their call
• No one will ask if I have super powers
• No one will try to convince me to get certified to teach
• I will not make kids I've never met before cry

Ahhhhhh summer!

My second altered monogram - this one was for Esme's nursery school teacher. She and I share a love for purple! Now my mom wants one. I feel funny making her an E though - I'm trying to sell her on M.

My goddaughter turned nine this week. She was the first baby in my adult life and I can't believe how big she is! She is the only person that can get me to try new rides at amusement parks. She got me to go on a water one recently that I'd been too scared of before. Luckly for me it wasn't too bad - just the right amount of thrilling. Thank goodness she's still too little for the really big roller coasters.

Sophia posted a challenge on 2 Peas today to blog what inspires you.

There are two women I go to church with who both inspire me all the time. They are both named Joan. Joan D. is a super powerhouse. If anything needs doing for our church, she does it. If you need information about the church and Joan doesn't know it, you might as well give up because it doesn't exist. She has a very busy life but finds so much more time to give. She was the first person who ever reached out to me from this church, right after Esme was born.

Joan S. is not only an amazing person who has devoted uncountable hours to her community and her church, but is incredibly generous and helped me even from her bed in a long term care facility. Plus she is an extremely interesting woman who I feel I have a lot to learn from. I feel enriched every time I have the opportunity to be in her prescence. I feel so lucky to know these women and I am inspired by both of them!

I can't wait to get this book into my hands. It contains my second published page, and I heard from a few scrapping friends that the book is really good.

Tomorrow my baby will have her last day of nursery school. And at least for a while, it will be her last day of "school" because we are about to begin our homeschooling adventure. I am both excited and apprehensive. She is very much looking forward to learning to read, but asked me yesterday if I will still read books to her.

EDITED TO ADD: The book has arrived! They did a beautiful job and it's definitely a book worth looking at! My layout is on page 109.

Three years ago I taught high school for half a day and decided I never wanted to do it again. During the last few months I've been giving it some more thought and after successfully keeping 4 to 11 year old in control for these three years, I decided I would give it a go. Today I taught my favorite high school subject - history. And I survived! Hooray! Lucky for me I had mostly honors classes, and those kids are the most studious. I am going to do Health on Wednesday.

Today is Kim's shower and I made my first altered clock as her gift.