Excited About My Creations

So, maybe it's 'no big thang' to some out there, but I'm getting increasingly excited about my photo creations through picmonkey.  It's FUN.  I don't think much that most folks consider fun is actually fun.  For instance: Disney... so NO fun!  Water parks: NOT fun.  Shopping for stuff: yep, you guessed it, I don't consider that fun.

Fun, to me, is something that is enjoyably productive.  I need to change my thinking so that the things I must do are also FUN.  I recognise this as one of my weaknesses and know I need to work on it.  :)

The picture collage creations I've composed lately are for my Lilla Rose business... so this is also a plug for that effort of mine.  ^_^  I love my job!  It is stressful to now be a work-at-home Homeschooling Mama, truth-be-told.  It would certainly be easier to work away from my children.  Yet, even knowing that, I'm grateful that I'm able to do this work.  I'm grateful that they are able to see me work hard and consistently (even when sick as I currently am).  I'm grateful that they are able to go to work with me (my vendor shows, Home Parties, and Farmer's Market days).  How many other jobs are Mamas able to take their children to work AND at which the children might be a help!??

Yes, believe it or not, my children are sometimes helpful at my shows and events.  Kat is definitely a little saleswoman!  I want to record her in action one of these days and post it for you to see.  She's surprisingly wonderful at sharing information about Lilla Rose!  Ria is able to demonstrate (quite well) how to use the Flexi in her own hair.  Tea is a good little attention getter (she's gotten a few people interested by showing them her hair).  Jmy... well, he and EmJ are just so dang cute that people want to stop and talk and interact with them.  Jmy and Tea came the first Farmer's Market day and not since.  I've had people asking about them each week since!

Without further ado:

This is the one I just created yesterday.

For comparison sake:

This is my first effort with picmonkey and the photo program on my computer.

They are both pretty basic and I do have some other more fun and exciting creations.  I'm hoping, actually, to enter a few into the County Fair.  I'll share those when that is finished (assuming I accomplish my goal).

I linked up: I Heart Nap Time
Give me the goods
 

A Contest for My Group

I participated in my first photo contest for my Lilla Rose upline group.  There are many other great photographers in my group and some really great pictures submitted to the contest.  I love the contest because it provides a bunch of new pictures that all of us can use to share these wonderful products.  I use the shareable photos mostly on my Facebook business page (find it by searching TNJNT in Facebook), but hope to do more with them in the future.  I just LOVE how generous, kind and helpful the women in my line are!!  And the majority of those who help and share are NOT in my direct upline... so it's not like they are being so kind and helpful because of any self-interest.  They are just sweet, kind, helpful ladies!!!

I think mine may be the only collage with treated photos.  I'm pretty pleased with it and "winning the contest" doesn't even matter because I felt like a winner when I finished my collage.  I'm so very pleased with my work... especially considering I only started using picmonkey less than a month ago!!!

What do YOU think of my collage??

linked to Mosaic Monday

This next one is something I whipped up on inspiration from Mojo Monday.  It's pretty cool, I think.  To use it on my Facebook page, I'd probably put some more information (like my website) on the ribbon to the right of the picture.  What do you think?

 

      

Why We Run Drills

So, today was a good day.

Right up until the very end, that is.

At the end it didn't turn horrible or anything...

but something very...

ummm...

exciting

did happen.

Wanna know?

Wanna see?

Tell:

(then show)

Well, it happened while

I was cleaning up Jmy

(to rinse the hair

from his freshly buzzed head)

and then quickly rinse the sweat from the hot day

and hair from his cut off me

as well.

Ria, Kat and Tea were

SUPPOSED

to be getting PJs on.

When what to my wondering eyes should I see...

but Kitty Kat running straight to-ward me.

She was streaked in blood from her head to her...

belly.

And Ria freaked out

like a nervous little nelly.  ;)

Mama sent her away to stop the additional scare,

while noticing Kat kept her eye on the mirror with great care.

Pressure applied to that cut by a Mama.

and right into the shower

I whisked my poor Kat.

Washed away that darn blood

and calmed my girl down.

Then a request of my sweet Ria:

"Emergency call to Daddy, right now.

Just like we've practiced.

Yes, you KNOW how!"

And away my girl went.

The call was placed carefully.

She spoke to the woman,

oh so clearly,

"I need to speak to Jessie Gollihugh

right now.

This is an emergency."

The phone was quickly given.

The message from daughter to Father relayed.

And Daddy sped home,

to give us his aid.

The practice we'd done,

the drills we had run,

all paid off quite well,

reaffirming preparedness...

you don't have to, ME, sell!!!

Kat all bandied up and feeling quite special.

A close-up of the decorated bandages adorning her freshly cared-for cut

(so she could see them and be pleased).

I specially decorated the bandaids to cheer the good sport of a patient.  :)

As an aside:

 I was recently condemned for running drills with my children

because condemning person said I was teaching fear, not Faith.

I did not argue the point with said person, opinions are opinions.

BUT I refuse to stop doing,

and I refuse to constantly question

the things the Lord directs me to do.

His Ways are not our ways.

I will trust in my God!

He is EVER Faithful.

It is my challenge to always be so!

JUST SO YOU KNOW:

Basically all head injuries bleed profusely.

IF you haven't seen one (I hope you won't have to) it can be rather alarming.

I've seen a few.  So this was nothing real new.

I totally kept my cool.

One of my GOOD MAMA moments, I must say!  :)

And we took care of bizness.

All is well.  Kat is fine.

The culprit who caused the harm

is also well and fine.

Alls well that ends well.

Pointing out some silver around what could seem a cloud to many:

1. Daddy did NOT get a ticket when he sped home at 80 miles per hour (in a 35MPH zone)!

Jessie DID pass a Police Officer going the other way...

YEAY for God's mercies!!!

2. I'm certain some lessons have been learned

by three little girls,

which wouldn't have sunk in quite so well

without the difficult circumstances of this particular experience.

3. It could've been SO much worse!

Did you SEE how close to her eye that cut is!!??

For cryin' out loud... it could've been SO much worse!!!

I bear you my testimony that God was present and protecting

when I actually could not be!

Aint He great!!!?

To Conclude:

We, of this Gollihugh Family,

are EVER grateful for His constant, tender care

and awesome mercies!

Praise the Lord and Bless His Holy Name!!!!

LINKED UP

Still More to Come... Just Give Me Some More Time

More Pictures

The day after birth.

Kat prepares to hold Tea for the 1st time!

Mary Kay and Tim, our 1st visitors.

Mama brushing out that hair.The result. :)


Kat was very upset about something before she
fell asleep & the only thing that calmed her was
my promise that I would make sure she could hold
Tea before she went to bed. Even though she's
obviously not coherent, this is the kept promise!

Newborn Tea

Introducing Theresa Diane Gollihugh!

The following are mostly taken
on Tea's actual day of birth.

Karen doing newborn exam.

Ria holding Tea for the first time.

Tea nursing (actually from the day after her birth).

Sage holding Tea on her Birth Day with Ria looking on.

For whatever reason, I couldn't sleep
when I woke up around 5am,
which is how you get so lucky
as to see these pictures already today!

Hope you enjoy them!

More to follow as time and fatigue allow.
^_^

Adding Pictures

Daddy and Ria Cookin' Up a Storm

I think I'd just come home from a walk to see this sweet scene.
Ria LOVES to wear "cooking clothes" when she works with Daddy.
It just seems not to be the same to her if she's not attired properly!
Jess is SUCH a fabulous natural teacher! I almost wish he was home full-time to do the homeschooling because he's SO very good at it. But, he would get brain numb
and become angry over the dull sameness that occurs when we have little money to spend on gas and such... Also, I would be an emotional wreck if I had to leave every day! We are definitely more suited for the roles we play currently that when we first had Ria!!! ^_^

Daddy and Ria cookin'. I was trying to get a closer look at WHAT they were preparing, but couldn't really see it very well and, honestly, don't remember what it was, either!

Kat in Snow White Dress Up Dress

She doesn't realize I'm taking the picture in this one.

Oh, now she knows!