Oh, God, make me a better parent

Oh, God, make me a better parent.
Help me to understand my children,
to listen patiently to what they have to say
and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them,
talking back to them and contradicting them.
Make me as courteous to them
as I would have them be to me.

Give me the courage to confess my sins
against my children and to ask of them forgiveness,
when I know that I have done them wrong.

May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children.
Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or
resort to shame and ridicule as punishment.

Let me not tempt a child to lie and steal.
So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate
by all I say and do that honestly produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.
May I cease to nag:
and when I am out of sorts,
help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.

Blind me to the little errors of my children
and help me to see the good things that they do.
Give me a ready word for honest praise.

Help to treat my children as those of their own age,
but let me not exact of them the judgments
and conventions of adults.
Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity
to wait upon themselves,
to think, to choose, and to make decisions.

Forbid that I should ever punish them
for my self satisfaction.
May I grant them all of their wishes
that are reasonable
and have the courage always to withhold
a privilege that I know will do them harm.

Amen

iPhone OS 4 - new folders!

It's like Christmas to get a surprise gift from Apple! I am loving playing around with the new OS version 4 on my 3GS iPhone.

I'm still learning about all the new things, but the folders are perfect for someone like me who has to be o'so organized! I got all my aps on one screen! Now, I may reorganize them yet, but this is a start!

I thought I would share with you my initial set up and what I named my folders. I'm curious about how you have organized yours. Now I can see some of the aps I've downloaded and never played with! Ah, time to play!

FOLDER OVERVIEW


MOST USED


FORUM


FOOD/FITNESS


UTILITIES


SHOP


HOBBY


SOCIAL


MUSIC


BUSINESS


ENTERTAINMENT


CALENDARS


BOOKS


PHOTOGRAPHY


IPHONE


WEATHER


CHURCH

Two New Challenges

Dawn has put up two new challenges.

The first is a Scan-It challenge and it is in the forum here. The object of the scan-it challenge is to scan something in your purse, extract it, share it as a download for others, and then scrap a layout with it. They ARE a lot of fun! I hope to see you there!

The second challenge is the first Scrapping Goal challege in the second set (in the forum here). It was a great honor recently to reward a few people with their icon for the first set! Wow...that was a lot of layouts! Hope to see you there! If you are not yet signed up for this challenge, you can do so in this forum area. It is open to all, even non-paying members.

Oldguy Comedy on uStream

We had so much fun playing with uStream the other night learning how it works for the new Digiscrap Map. We even got hubby on there with his own show and I hope to talk him into doing some more live shows. His gift is in impromptu comedy and, therefore, having people talking to him in the live chat would be perfect!

You can follow him on uStream here.

Here's his first debut -- just as we were setting it up. Dawn asks him a question around 14:50 minutes into it.

Footprints

"Walk a little slower, Daddy,"
Said a little child o small.
"I'm following in your footsteps,
And I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

A New Adventure - Come Join US

I want to thank Dawn for writing this up for me! I'm totally exhausted and she's come to my rescue!

We want to share with you that we have a new adventure called Digiscrap Map AND we need to tell you that the next Course 2 class sign-up thread is up and waiting for you! The class starts July 5th.

*****

Hummie has started a new site: http://www.digiscrapmap.com/. This is actually REALLY cool! What it is, is a place where EVERYONE in the digital scrapbooking community can get involved! The goal is to highlight designers and site owners, doing interviews with them, and just plugging everyone in to what is going on in the community as a whole. We are utilizing a site called ustream and we can chat with you via webcam or just audio only. Viewers will join us in the chatroom right on the site and will ask you questions live.

This won’t be limited to just certain sites or individuals, but is open to everyone. This is a great way for designers and site owners to market themselves and make themselves known. If you would like to participate, send Hummie a private message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/hummdingertub). OWNERS of sites with many designers will be invited to a private Facebook group, but designers are welcome to contact her also.

COURSE 2

A new course is starting July 5th!! It is for course 2. This course is for those that want to learn a lot of cool techniques. There are over 75 lessons in the course so far and it continues to grow as Hummie teaches us with new videos.

You can read more about becoming a subscriber and the available classes on this page.

I made some slideshows last year- before I became her assistant- and I want to repost them here for you to see. I have been wanting to consolidate them into one slideshow, but I haven’t found the time to do that yet. I’ll get there yet!!!!! These are all the layouts that I have created using the lessons from course 2.

I know it would be more fun to watch in a different format- and maybe with some music behind it.

set two:

set three

The Kind of Dad I'd Buy

If I went shopping for a dad,

Here is what I'd buy:

One who would always stop

To answer a little boy's "Why?"

One who would always speak kindly

To a little girl or boy,

One who would give to others

A bit of sunshine and joy.

I'd pick a dad that followed

The Bible's Golden Rule,

And one who went regularly

To church and Sunday school.

I'd buy the very finest dad

to place on our family tree.

And then I'd try to live like him

So he would be proud of me.

--Helen Kitchell Evans

Designer Challenge

Wow...I kind of like this dark colored palette that Dawn shared in the new Designer Challenge.

Come and join us in the forum here!

Just use this palette to create something small or a whole kit and share it in the thread.

The fun part which I would like to encourage is to utilize each other's shares an then post your layout right in the same thread.

Don't design? We have special provisions in our designer challenges for those who would like to make and share quick pages.

Daily Quote

"
"Even from a dark night, songs of beauty can be born"
Maryanne Radmacher-Hershey

Template #65

http://fb.me/tuCy10qD

Template #65! -- in both Square and Rectangle, as always!

Limited time for free, then housed with the other 64 templates in the Subscriber Area ($5.50 per month--yes, it's that inexpensive!).

I tried to get this up before Father's Day as this was a layout I made for hubby for Father's Day, but time just was not in my favor.




Background, "cool dude," brad, and stitching from Flerg's Carver kit.

Build Me a Son, Oh Lord

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."

-General Douglas MacArthur

Use It! Challenge (rusted photo corner)

Come to the forum to download this rusted photo corner that Dawn created and use it in your layout! Let's see how creative you can get with those photo corners! Let's inspire each other!

Thanks Dawn for the freebie!

The Strength of a Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.

~~~~It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you.


The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.

~~~~It's in the gentle words he whispers.


The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.

~~~~It's how good a buddy he is with his kids.


The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.

~~~~It's in how respected he is at home.


The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.

~~~~It's in how tender he touches.


The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.

~~~~It's in his Heart...that lies within his chest.


The strength of a man isn't how many women he's loved.

~~~~It's in how he can be true to one woman.


The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.

~~~~It's in the burdens he can carry.

Author Unknown

Designer Class Shares

Wow! The downloads available for the designer class are AMAZING! It's so fun to watch these gals grow in their skills! You can get all this and more in this thread.

As always, if you use anything from one of these downloads, please upload your layout to the gallery and then post your layout in this thread.

Frustrated Father

When I was a youngster, I was disciplined by being sent to my room without supper. But my son has in his room a color television, a computer, a CD player and a radio. So where should I send him? I decided to send him to my room.

Author Unknown

I Confess

I confess.

I haven't been honest to my blog readers.

I just haven't blogged about my personal life much.

I feel like everyone would get tired of hearing about all my personal problems.

I feel like everyone would stop reading if they really knew all the things I am bombarded with on a daily basis.

Yes, as you know, I call them my "daily surprise."

I don't know why God feels I can handle all of this. I don't feel that strong.

I confess.

There are others who have much worse problems than mine and I'm not as caring as I should be.

I read daily of troubles of those who frequent my forum and blog --some more public than others--and my troubles seem so small, and yet they feel so large.

I want my blog to be a happy place for people to visit.

So, I confess.

I try to hold my troubles to myself on this side of the computer screen so that you can read good things.

I confess.

Many people seem to be pulled toward me just because they can relate to my daily struggles and I've not been sharing as I should. I've not been sharing my faith that is getting me through these days as I should.

I fall on my knees.

I fall on my knees -- not literally, but in my heart. I fall on my knees, not in prayer, but in despair. Or maybe I just fall.

Somehow, I rise. I will always rise. I will fall. I do fall. My heart fails. My flesh fails.

BUT JESUS HAS OVERCOME.

Period.

Nothing more needs to be.

When Jesus calls my name, I will rise. No more pain. No more sorrow. I have work to do.

I need to try to share more. I need to let you know what is behind my computer screen. I need to let you see my faith at work.

I confess.

Seriously. You may not believe this.

But the devil has been winning.

I believe that the more I share my faith on my blog, the more the devil attacks me.

I confess. I'm afraid to share. I'm afraid to share because that means God is working through me, which makes the devil want to attack me more. I think if I just hide behind this computer screen that the devil will go away. In essence, he's winning. And he's not stopping his attack either.

Do the people out there in this -- this--this world of unknown-to-me-readers really want to know about what happens to me? Surely not.

Jesus has overcome. PERIOD.

The victory has been won (by Jesus Christ). I will rise when He calls my name. No more sorrow. No more pain. I will rise on eagles wings, before my God -- fall on my knees (but no! -- I won't stay there!) -- I will rise!



Some say they like reading my blog because I am so transparent. They can relate.

How did I EVER get called into this! Why me?

I don't want to tell everyone about me.

I want to hear the cry of EVERY longing heart and comfort them. Not me. But them. So why I am being called to share my struggles.

It's not what I want.

It is what God wants. It is his plans for me. I don't understand.

I don't want to be attacked any more. I need some time off. Please.

There's an anchor for my soul. I grab onto it and hold on tight for the ride.

This is supposed to be a professional blog about digital scrapbooking and teaching and learning and creating memories.

But I'm pulled and feel called to share my life and my faith.

If only I would have written it all down. My friend even said last night that my life should be a movie. Haven't I always said that? Yet I don't write.

We were at the park. My friend and I. Sharing. And I yelled out.

I yelled out at the magnificent clouds in the setting sun.

Go away devil! Go away! Get away from me! I don't want you around me any more!

He didn't leave.

I woke up only to leave for work to discover that someone had been right up to my house, all the way up that long driveway, to be in my vehicle and toss everything about. Nothing seemed stolen, but yet I felt violated. I felt scared that someone was that close to my house while I slept. My personal space was invaded.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

One son's car was totaled and we were sent shopping for a new vehicle in the midst of trying to plan for a graduation party.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

One son almost doesn't graduate high school and the drama was almost unbearable (too much detail to go into).

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

My windshield takes a rock and costs $1,500 to repair. Thank God for insurance!

JESUS HAS OVERCOME! NO MORE PAIN!

No sooner than we deposit one insurance check for a totaled car than the other son is involved in a wreck.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

The sinkhole comes back and the City rips up my drive way and yard.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

Police reports are falsified, son's act like a-double-s holes and embarrass, and the guy said "I'm the one that hit your son with my Hummer." Jaws drop.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

My heart skips beats and then I burp, causing me to worry about what is causing it, wondering if it is anxiety or too much exercise at the gym. I am beginning to slowly put together facts and analyze and I believe it is due to peri-menopause.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

Bands play in the front yard and annoy neighbors!

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

Website upgrades cause me more stress than anyone can imagine, including Paypal issues that still plague me daily.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

I get in over my head with wedding photos and videos that take me an enormous amount of time and no one will ever appreciate or understand the stress and time it took out of me.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

My mother. My family. Oh, if I could only share on the internet the tears and the pain. I hear in my head over and over "You made a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad impression." Yes, that's all they care about. If they only cared about how they sent me in to a deep depression instead of the fact that the depression made a bad impression. Do I even have a family?

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

That last one, Lord. It's sent me into tears. My heart has failed. I cannot. I want no more sorrow. I want no more pain.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

The breaks on one car were beyond normal repair and the touchpad on the back hatch needed repair. Yes. We need our vehicles. Yet it costs so much. Where does the money come from?

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

People are pulling at me from so many directions to do so many long overdue tasks. I am trying. I am trying desperately to please everyone. Some people just want to over exaggerate and knock me down. How far shall I be knocked down? Why won't they recognize the years of service and hours of giving? Why when I unvolunteer does all the good done seem to be suddenly forgotten?

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

These men you gave me to take care of, Lord -- they are so frustrating. Will they ever be able to get along without me guiding them? Will I ever be down to just remembering things for myself? Will they ever stop messing up things that I have to fix? I love them dearly, Lord. I thank You that you have entrusted them to me. They do bring me joy at times. When will they ever be responsible for themselves? Even the old one.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

All this and so much more-- all within the last month, Lord. Really? Seriously? Do you think I'm really strong enough to withstand it all? You say you won't give me more than I can handle. But seriously. I'm at my limit.

I'm beaten down.

I'm whipped.

I'm pureed.

I'm scrambled.

I'm overwhelmed.

I'm on my knees.

I'm prostrate.

I don't want to get up.

I want to lay down here and wallow for a little while.

JESUS HAS OVERCOME!

I will rise. I will get up. I will keep fighting the good fight. I will never give up.
I'm not sure where I will go or what I will do, but I will go.
I will make one choice at a time. I will take one step at a time.
I will go.

I will go wherever God takes me.

I will rise.

Tomorrow's daily surprise is around the corner.

I will rise and hit it head on! I will conquer it!

We will win this together, Lord!


******************
Seriously, did you really read all this all the way down to here? I'm always amazed when people do. I know I wouldn't. So much for this being a professional only blog. God has other plans for it. Where will He take it next?

Template #64

Template 64 -- free for a short while, then in the Subscriber Area (along with the other 63 templates) -- as always! The direct download link is located here.

Template is in both rectangle and square! You know you want to share with me what you do with this template, right? Go ahead, upload it to the gallery!

Father's Learn Fast

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.

But when I got to be 21, I was astonished to see how much he had learned in seven years.

--Mark Twain

Template #63 Freebie

I have put the download link to this freebie template on my Fanpage on Facebook. While your there, hit "like" to join the Fanpage and I may be inspired to put up another new freebie tomorrow! I've been wanting to hit 1,000 fans for a while now! I"m stuck!

There are also SIXTY-TWO more templates like this in the Subscriber Area in the forum! Yep! And it's only $5.50 a month. No better deal than that! See the template guide for previews of each template and the link to where to sign up for the template class. You do want to get some layouts done this summer, right? Here's your inspiration!

All templates are given away free for a short while, then held permanently in the Subscriber Area.

***
Read what Helen says about Hummie's World! Thanks Helen!

I love Hummie's World!!! I cannot express what my $5.50 a month buys! I am a big Starbucks fan and for less than what I spend one day A MONTH at Starbucks, I get a subscription to Hummie's World! This is the best bargain in my life!

I struggled with PSE and had such a hard time with a free lesson I took somewhere else that all I could do was do drag and drop into a premade page! A year later, I decided try again and tried to learn it myself. I still had a difficult time and began searching the internet for places to learn to use PSE. I "stumbled" on Hummie's World. And what a great stumble. I say stumble because it was not the first place I stumbled on. But I took advantage of a couple of her free videos and after using them and learning, I decided that HAD TO HAVE access to the rest of the tutorials and the written instructions! What have I learned?

I can't list everything, but for starters, coloring paper to the color I want, fixing the blur in my photos, fixing old photos that was missing backgrounds, and take worn photos to photos I could use in layouts. I learned to make letters in circle in PSE - yes, PSE. I learned to size my photos to sizes I wanted without distorting the people in my photos. I learned to make paper clips look realistic instead of just plopped on my papers. Oh, my layouts are so great that I can't believe my uncreative self made them. LOL. I am more creative with digital scrapbooking because I can "throw" away things I decide not to use.

The freebies here are great... and the fact that they are free to use is fantastic. Hummie is so giving of her talents!

And Hummie's World's subscribers are wonderful - I feel like everyone is my FRIEND. I love the critiques that everyone gives to me to help me make my layouts the best that they can be! Once you learn to make every piece of paper work for your layout, by changing colors, you find you need less paper! LOL.

I love the templates - yes free templates that are offered to us. What wonderful layouts they offer us to create! Everyone thinks I'm creative hahaha. It is Hummie's World.

I am so grateful for the talents of all here and for the friendships I've made. I also use the site when I forget how to do something... I search and review the videos once again. For this reason, and many others, I love it here! Lets see, templates, freebies, lessons - written and videos, help from other scrapbookers... and that is only the beginning - that's why I love HUMMIE'S WORLD.

Helen (jjsamr)