Cutting, painting and more

My friend Chelsey and I are now full swing into our business making a large order for a local store as well as preparing for the November Christmas Craft Fair. We certainly have our hands full with only one month to finish a couple hundred items. Thankfully with help from my wonderful husband (who has become my free labourer) and the Gibb's who lent us their table saw, the process has sped up considerably. Here are a few pictures of the process...

Regrets of a tender heart...

I know... so cute, right?!?...

Yesterday Ian and I found a kitten out all on its own. We were cutting wood in our parking lot behind our building and saw this kitten whining and whining. It seemed to be all by itself so we went to pick it up to see what we could do. The kitten then ran and took up residence in the undercarriage of a vehicle and we could not coax it out (not even with milk - I am told cats like milk ;). We continued to work out there knowing the kitten was safe in the car for the moment, occasionally trying to get it to come out. Eventually it came time to pack up and leave and my tender heart just couldn't bear to leave this kitten (and I hate animals) out where it could die in numerous ways. So determined and with a prayer in our hearts that if Heavenly Father cared about the survival of this little kitten then He would help us to retrieve it. Ian then spotted the kitten curled up inside the wheel of the car. Ian, the fierce warrior, managed to get his hand back in there to get the kitten... which resulted in claw marks and a vicious bite on his finger (it was bleeding pretty good).

So now with the terrified kitten we took it inside to get it some food and to cuddle and play. It warmed up to Ian very quickly (it doesn't like me but that is just fine with me). So after our evening of playing with this cute adorable kitten (whom we named Mickey Blue Eyes) came night. The first time I heard the kitten was a clear sign of what my night/morning was to encompass.... MAN can this thing whine! It did okay at night as we put her box in another room with a blanket overtop and closed the door. The kitten stopped fairly quickly and did well most of the night.... this morning was another story though... even freed and allowed to roam and wander this kitten just keeps meowing... and it is LOUD. So this morning I am regretting the tender heart I had yesterday for this helpless kitten. The plan was to wait till Ian came home from work... canvas the neighbourhood to see if we can find where it came from and if not, take it to the SPCA. If this insesent meowing continues though it will be traveling to the SPCA a lot quicker than planned.

Ahhhhh, We got in!!!!!

Just got the call this morning.... we have a spot in the big ol' craft fair in November! Chesley (my co-hort) and I are super pumped for our first big business debut! It hasn't yet sunk in of how much work we have to complete in the next month and a half (an 83 item order for Christal's store as well as probably the same amount for the fair). Yikes! We can do it though and are thilled about how everything has just come together with this new business. We have a 10x10 foot booth in a PRIME location on the busiest aisle of the route... not to mention a corner booth! I am going crazy with excitement and am really wishing I had a garage or basement to do all this work in. I will find a way though... and may take you up, Lara, on your garage use offer.

So keep your calendars open folks (if you can make it all the way to Lloydminster) for November 14-16th. We will also need help managing the booth as I am quite sure we won't both survive there the entire time by ourselves. I am still not sure what to do about the Sunday part of it all but if we sell out of everything before Sunday then we just close the booth down.

I am so thankful to my Father in heaven for providing a way for this all to be possible. For giving me something to keep me busy as I still wait to teach, especially something that is so fun!

These high and lows of life are crazy and I am thankful for the love and support of you all. Sometimes it is hard not to feel alone when you are surrounded by people.

Is anyone there?

Is anyone reading this? Does anyone care?

I have been feeling lately that no one reads my blog... that because I don't have cute, adorable children to write about that my life is not quite equal to everyone else's. I want, more than anything to have my own family... to tell about the tough times and the good but right now it is entirely out of my control and I am extremely frustrated about it. What I wanted most, my entire life, is being withheld from me and it breaks my heart. I love hearing about your families... the things you do together... what you teach them... what you learn from the precious things they say. I check numerous times everyday to see what has happened in your lives... because I can't have what you have, right now.

I just want you all to know, if anyone even reads this, that I want more than anything to be in your shoes and I am so tired of hearing from everyone "enjoy this time you have alone". God did not create us to be alone.... I was created to have a family and I don't want to enjoy this 'alone time' because I see everyday, numerous times a day, what I am missing and it makes me sad.

Business Time......

I must tell about the exciting events that are happening for me here in Lloydminster!!!!

If you have not yet heard I have started a business! It is a vinyl sign making company (quite popular for you folks in southern AB and even Edmonton and Calgary. The fad that has come from where?!? Utah of course.

Starting my own business was never something I really wanted to do (except perhaps a preschool which may happen someday... or maybe not).... but having been here in Lloyd now for 3 full months (especially without being able to teach) I have been going bonkers with boredom. The suggestion came from a few different people (Ian was one of them) and I thought it through a bit and figured.... why not!!! It was something that was possible without too many start up costs and no one in my area seems to be doing the same thing. The real seller for me was when I learned a friend in our branch owns a store in the area and was looking to switch suppliers for the same type of products. It was a guarantee with a busy store to sell the products in so I was SOLD! I don't know how things will go as far as making any large amounts of money but for me it is about doing something I enjoy and keeping busy. So with our first large order in (75 items) I will be quite busy for the next little while... especially if I get into the huge craft fair here in November which I am still waiting to hear word on.

So I know there are many others who do the same thing (and probably closer to where you are) but please keep me in mind if you are looking for vinyl wall decor, custom wooden plaques and tiles. I included just a couple pictures of the first few samples made.... These are just the start as well... I have more designs coming and hopefully a website in the coming months.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Can't you see the excitement in my eyes!!!! I love birthdays and always have because it was the one day a year when I felt it was my right to have everything be all about ME! With 5 siblings there aren't many moments when it is just about you so I have looked forward to, and counted down to my birthday each year. I thought this excitement and anticipation would wear off as I got older but I must say it feels the same (though I only started counting down about 11 days before - instead of 70 days).

Today was wonderful and I thank each of you for your sweet messages and kind thoughts for a happy birthday. It was more than just today though... much more. I have felt very spoiled this week... by my wonderful husband, family and friends as I received gifts, lunch/dinner dates and a spa pedicure treatment. I especially loved my family (part of it at least ;) who traveled from Edmonton to Lloydminster just to spend a couple hours with the Isackson's.

Ian was also extremely wonderful as his surprises just kept coming.... I was WAY surprised (and that is a BIG deal)!

Thanks again for the love and attention... I must admit that I do love it and am a secret drama queen, though I don't perform on demand.

Ode to Rhonda

I cannot say enough about how great I think Rhonda Steed is! Honestly, she is my hero and the type of mother I want to be. It was sad to move away from my Idol but I do my best to keep up with her life on her blog. Anyone else who knows her would totally understand my admiration for this amazing photographer, talented scrapbooker and tender-loving mother. I pray that I may one day be as motivated, organized, artsy and dependable. Rhonda puts her best effort into everything she does, whether she is getting paid or not. She is so kind and was one of the first families to welcome us into our new ward. She encouraged me, comforted me, thanked me and motivated me when I was responsible for 12 insane toddlers every Sunday. She is such a beautiful woman inside and out. I will continue to live vicariously through her as I wait for the blessing of my own family.

Rhonda, thank you for all that you do for your children, your family, your friends and your ward. You are loved and appreciated by so many and I know that God could not have blessed your children with a better mother than they already have! Just wanted to let you know that people far away are thinking about you.