South Africa -Here she comes!

As most of you are aware, Rachel has been accepted to go on a Christian Mission trip to South Africa. She is so excited and we have been working like crazy to fund raise. She is required to have 50% of the total amount needed for the trip by next Monday and though the generosity of our friends and family she has met that goal. Thank you to everyone, we are so grateful!! We have plans to hold some fundraisers to help her get the remaining amount and we are confident she's going to meet the final goal too. As parents, we are all so proud of Rachel's desire to go on this trip. She has recently been interested in a career that centers around helping people in one way or another, her current plan is to go to college for Social work. This trip should open her up to the needs of other countries and expose her to people that are in need of the basics of life that we take for granted. I couldn't even imagine being able to do something like this when I was 17, I don't think I would have even considered it. As her mom I am a bit scared for her, Africa is a long way away and I wont be able to talk to her every day like I'm used to. But I do realize that she's growing up and I have to let her find her own way at some point, for her, this is the point.

Blue eyes and kids

Morgan and Cameron both have Jim's beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes come their Grandma Twyla's side of the family and are one of the things that first attracted me to Jim. I got the idea for this picture from the wife of one of my co-workers and I tried to recreate it by standing above them on the trampoline and taking about 20 shots. The kids are so used to me taking pictures that they just do whatever I say as far as posing and they usually don't complain(until about the 20th shot!). I think all of the kids like to see themselves in pictures and then in the scrapbook later.
Rachel showed up after I had finished with Morgan and Cameron so I had her jump up for a few shots too. There was mostly giggling going on at that point but I got some really nice shots of the three kids when it was all done.

Welcome to the Love Shack Scrap Spot

Yippee, my first post on a blog. So here's a little info on me. I've been scrap booking for about 11 years, so long that I remember meeting Lisa Bearnson at a convention in Salt Lake City years ago and she was surprised that anyone would want to have their picture taken with her. Look at her now! I have the most amazing scrapbook room. It's separate from our house but close enough that the kids come out to play in the yard and jump on the trampoline just a few feet away.

There's tons of space for all of my stuff and room for friends to come over and crop too. I'm finding that I am actually getting more done now that I have my own space. More to come soon with some layouts and pictures.

I cant end this first post without thanking my friend Tiffany. She and I met in Nashville at CKU and her blog was my inspiration to start one of my own. I'm so glad we met and hope that we can look forward to many years of friendship.