It's a new day it's a new dawn...

This time of year is all about a fresh start.
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
We are only hours away from Yom Kippur.
We are given the day of atonement as a gift.
To be introspective.
To contemplate.
Meditate.
And most importantly, to ask for forgiveness.
Because G-d knows that we are all good in our essence.
But we are humans.
And we will make mistakes.
That's ok.
If we learn from them they are not mistakes.
They are life lessons.
Cleansing our soul spiritually gives our body the energy to move forward.
When I want to start something new,
I need to close up the old.
So before I start any projects with renewed energy
I  force myself to dig it out
(when it's under something you can pretend it doesn't exist, or you 'forgot')
and get it done.
So here it is.
I'm finishing this one here...

(Layla get ready. This one's for you)

I also did this little number.
Just some mindless knitting.
If you want the pattern e-mail me.
It's really easy.
If you can knit with big bulky needles!

And then I finally finished both of these just in time for fall.
Dassa and Yaffa, here they come!

I loved making these sweaters.
At least 60 hours on each one.
Well worth it though.

I hope this year will bring us all pretty gifts
tied up in big fancy bows
with glitter and glitz!
Shiny
fresh 
colorful
heartwarming
full
undiluted
side splitting laughter
togetherness
Nachas
and most important
HEALTH!
To life to life,
L'chaim!
And to quote my Chanale the songwriter...

Blessed...

Have you ever felt uncertain

By the twists and turns of life

And it seems that there’s a curtain

Across the heaven’s skies

Don’t you know there is always One

Looking out for you

You’re an only child before His eyes

And He knows what you’re going through

Chorus:

May you be blessed

May you see His Grace in everything you need

May Hashem fulfill your every heart’s desire

Yimalai Hashem Mishailos Libcha Letovah

Have you stood at the bedside

Of a young and ailing child

And you wonder when the day will come

Will you ever see that smile

Have you found the one whose soul you share

Built a family of your own

As you stand under the canopy

You pray for peace in your new home

Chorus

Does the promise of redemption

Ever seem remote and far

Your faith is strong but it’s been too long

You can't take it anymore...........

It's been a year since I began this blog.

It's a new day it's a new dawn....

And I'm ready for what's to come...

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.

Take seemingly ordinary everyday life moments like this...

And create a story.

I am not a 'fancy' scrapbooker.
By any means.
I do complex layouts once in a while.
When I'm inspired to be artsy.
But mostly I like to 'get the job done'.
Because I am the memory keeper here in my space.
I am not around to see many of these clips in the days in of grandchildren's lives.
But I feel them as much as I able.
I study each picture sent to me over and over again.
I 'hear' the message they tell me
and then I put it down on pretty paper.

My kitchen table today:

and that is why I need a craft room!

I want to make my little girls bows for the upcoming holidays.

Making a few is never an option.

It's gotta be dozens!

Can't wait to send them to my 'Big' girl.

She loves when I make stuff for her kids.

And I love to be appreciated.

Thanx!

My coffee table in the kitchen covered with another project yet to be revealed.

Busy week coming our way.

There will be lots of cooking and baking going on here.

I am so looking forward to eating yummy food.

Having some of my children here at home...

It's gonna be great.

“Live your life fom your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.”

Melody Beattie

Favorite Blog Monday

My Favorite Blog today is KIM WATSON.
Her post today shows you how to show appreciation to a teacher you love.
Don't get me wrong here,
I am not a  fan of most schools and most teachers.
(Gasp) did I just say that?!?
I think the system of schools in general is a good idea.
Learning on a schedule,
social setting
competitions
and a few more things.
When a school runs well there is nothing more valuable to a child's growth.
HOWEVER
The problem arises when a school is not willing to admit their weak spots
and consequently
YOUR child is the sacrifice.
I would say this is as serious as  incompetent doctors.
Who get sued all the time for malpractice.
I say we institute the same insurance to protect ourselves against some teachers.
We're talking lives here.
So when you do come across a teacher that is working hard to help your precious child
be the best they could be,
show appreciation.
(and I don't mean buying them a picture frame!)
If you go to My Favorite Blog 
you will see what I mean.
This girl is a fantastic scrapbooker.
You will get lots of great ideas from her.
Start with this one.
While we're on the subject of school
I found these two layouts done 6 years ago.
They are simple in design.
I would like to see a little more creativity in my work.
But I am thrilled to have recorded this.
For the memory.

My mind floods with little slingshots of memories.
So even if the layout is simple,
my reaction to  it
is anything but.

I love school pictures.

They represent time in a way that nothing else does.

Keep all the pictures even if your child doesn't like them.

(ooh, i look so dumb)

Put them away.

For later.

You'll be glad you did.

I am.

First day of school.

I hope you will learn the difference between right and wrong. 

I hope you will learn to be strong enough to tell your friends "no" when you need to. 

You won't always make the right choices but that's part of life and growing up. 

I know you will learn right from wrong 

and will eventually become a leader in your class. 

Influencing others to do positive things instead of negative.

You are so smart, sweet little girl. 

It amazes me to no end to see and hear 

(from far away) 

how you have grown. 

I am so proud of you and can't wait to see how you continue to grow.

I love you more than you will ever know!

Favorite Blog Monday

Today is a great day for you 'wanna b' scrappers.
Today you can actually become a keeper of memories.
Today I will show you that anyone can do it.
No talent needed.
You can actually start right now.
How?
By clicking on MY FAVORITE BLOG!
This brilliant woman has figured out a way for anyone and everyone
to easily and beautifully start saving up precious moments never to be seen and felt again.
She has accomplished something no one else in her field has done.
By bringing scrapbooking to the 'little people'!
Take some  time and read all about it.
You will want the product immediately.
It can really change how you see the world.
You will begin to notice little things that add up to what we call LIFE... 
So here we are...Project Life.
For those of you who appreciate this wonderful find
drop me a line to thank me!

On another note
School starts this week.
My little granchild came out of bed a few nights ago and said
"mommy, can you call my teacher and ask her if school could start a few days early"!
First school photo.
There's nothing cuter than school photos.
It's a growth chart for you
to watch the changes later
like a fast forward video.

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
Clay P. Bedford