Happiness is a Puddle

I got quite the exciting surprise today in my email box! One of my creative/blog heroes emailed me and thanked me for a comment I left her. And she signed it xoxo. So we're BFFs now. (So that I don't scare anyone, that last comment was said in humor, not in stalking.) But yeah, that email will stay in my inbox forever.

It feels so great to be back in the creative seat again! I took a break from scrapping simply because I was so busy with Christmas preparations and baby care, but I'm back baby!

I created this layout using pictures I took of the kiddos playing in Kartchner Lake. Whenever it rains, we get a nice puddle in the unfinished backyard. The kids love to play in it.

Journaling: Happiness is a big puddle in the backyard after every rainfall.
Materials: Prima pattern paper; Uniball Signo white pen; Stickles; American Crafts slick writer; Scenic Route sticker alpha; 3L foam squares.

I originally made this for a DT application, but after much deliberation over the course of 6 weeks, I decided not to go for it. I argued in my mind and with various other people including Todd, my mom and my bestest bud, Becky, to try to make it work, but something keeps holding me back. I'm not sure what, but I just know that I'm not supposed to apply right now. I sat down last night at the computer planning on emailing in my application, but just couldn't. Maybe next year.

I know that I'm supposed to take a different path. I just can't quite see it yet. I'm sure in a few months it will be obvious to me, but right now I'm walking in darkness. And yet, I'm not uncomfortable with the dark like I used to be. I feel a quiet calm like someone bigger than me is holding my hand and leading me the way He would have me go. It's a nice feeling. I think that I'll go with it.

It is also a good way to put to rest one year and begin another. Happy New Year's everyone! I'm expecting another year of tremendous personal growth. Last year was amazing. So much happened that I'm almost overwhelmed. We moved, we had a baby, the sweeties made great gains intellectually, physically and emotionally, I became a BAD GIRL designer, and a LUXE designer (two things that I didn't really deem possible!) Yet, most importantly, after years of internal struggle, I am finally feeling bien dans la peau. It is a French phrase that literally translates as good in my skin, but it refers to self-acceptance, self-love and the knowledge that you have something to offer the world. That is how I feel at the end of this year. Bien dans la peau. And with that feeling, anything is possible.