Breaking the Silence...

It has been a long 6 weeks of no posting around here. I've been haunting FB, barely acknowledging my Tweeple, and checking in on Pinterest at random moments when I can. Interestingly enough, I have had a lot going on in REAL life lately and haven't been completely fixated on the internet. (Hard to believe, I know.)

But I had to take a minute today for this:


What are you waiting for? Take the Pledge.

A Special Girls Night Dinner

And what did she pick?

Sushi!

Guess Who Was "Reading" in School Today?

Mari's teacher sent me a picture of her

reading

in the classroom library today.

So cute ~

and she isn't completely sitting on top of the book!

We're making progress!

Thanks, Ms. Lori, for the picture!

Haiku Wednesday~

School's back in session
And we're getting back at it.
Each one a miner:

Digging and searching
for nuggets of brilliance
that seem to elude.

Hidden, not missing
there, just under the surface
it's waiting to flash!

Go see JENN

I've Always Thought Families Need Yearbooks...

This blog is kind of like my (somewhat inconsistent) family "yearbook," I guess. So when the marketing department at My Memories contacted me to see if I would review their product of course I said yes -- after all, I like fun stuff and I like the idea of scrapbooking
(but I certainly don't need help increasing my household clutter)

and My Memories Suite is a software program that helps create digital scrapbooks (fun stuff) without all the pesky little paper clippings everywhere (no clutter)...

Win-Win!

I have to admit when I tried out my copy of the software I found it took quite some time to download.

(In the interest of fairness my dinosaur of a computer could have something to do with that...)

I played around for a while and decided to create the first couple of pages of a 2012 Murray Family Yearbook. So far this year we have been to visit Winter the Dolphin

And attended 4-H judging in preparation for the upcoming fair

Mari, somehow, ended up napping during both of these events, most often with her sneakers in her face so I gave her a page of her own to show that

So, although not perfect, all in all the software seemed easy enough to use (and, truth be told, I could spend a whole lot more time than is even reasonable playing around with it if not for school starting back up this week) and had several different options included and many more available for purchase.

~*~Want to try it for yourself?~*~

My Memories has provided a Special Coupon Code for my readers: STMMMS68965
Use this code when you order your copy of MyMemories Suite digital scrapbook software and receive a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store.

~*~ GIVEAWAY ~*~

Want to win your own My Memories software?

My Memories has offered one reader their very own MyMemories Suite software! Head over to their website and select your favorite layout. THEN come back here and leave me a comment telling me what non-traditional scrapbooking design you would love to use it for.

Please make sure you leave me your email address so that I can notify you if you win!

This giveaway will close on 1/15/2012 at 11:59p.m.

*******************************************************

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this software for my review from MyMemories.com. They are also providing a copy of the software to one of my readers for this giveaway.

In 2012, Wednesdays are for Haiku ~

With a kiss it starts ~
a fresh chance, new year, same goals?
Not me; I rebel.

Why should we resolve -
and focus on what's lacking -
when blessings abound?

May your 2012 and ours be the best year yet!

xo.

Go see JENN

Merry Christmas to All.

The Birth of Jesus.

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,

7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

10The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Visit of the Shepherds.

15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Luke 2:1-20 (NABRE)