Some flower fun...

Found out about being able to create your own flower from my blogger friend Karen. Give it a whirl, it's fun.

Tag You're It...

My blog friend Charlie tagged me. I have to tell 6 different facts about myself that most people do not know, then tag 6 other bloggers.

Here are the rules.

1. Link to the person who tagged you (as I did with Candace).

2. Mention the rules.

3. Tell 6 things about yourself.

4. Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.

5. Go to each person's blog and leave them a comment to let them know they've been tagged.

Here are my 6 facts:

1. I have to clear out the microwave display so it is back to the time and not flashing leftover seconds.


2. I go through phases where I don't make my bed in the morning. (okay, maybe it's not a phase).


3. I have an aunt who is six months younger than me.


4. I was born in Germany.


5. I love dark chocolate (ok, everyone should know that by now).


6. I hate vanilla scented stuff.

So now I have to pick on six other people. Please visit them and see what they say.

Rebecca

Misti

Stephanie - someone who needs a new post

Sandy - someone else who needs a new post

Jennifer - and yet another

Karen

Something special...

A friend had a link for this on her blog and I dubiously went and read the article. It brought tears to my eyes with the beauty of the story. To me it says that forgiveness and hope are powerful tools.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

On another note, I finally viewed Obama's inaugural speech. You will rarely hear me mention politics because I'm a bit jaded. I tend to think politicians are people who like the lime light and like to play games with what the rest of us feel are very important things. I am also put off with so many people portraying one man as the hope of the world. To me his name is Jesus and no one else can come close. Humans are frail and cannot carry the world. But I do hope that Obama means all that he says and is able to make some very much needed changes. From his speech I gathered that he feels it is a joint effort to be made by everyone which is the only way real change can be made. I hope that he will be a sincere and good president and surround himself with wise council and that we all keep him and our country in our prayers.

Hello, my name is Laurel...

(circa 1980ish)

and I'm a not so recovering addict of:

paper

ribbon

stamps

any publication from Stampington

cookbooks

odd bits and pieces

art supplies

books

magazines

reading blogs

Flickr

paper (I know I already said that but it bears repeating along with cookbooks and stamps)

I think I'm beyond intervention.

I just had to get that off my chest. Thank you.

Announcing...

Well, my brother and sister in law have been expecting their first child to be born around February 3rd but she decided to come early. Lydia Grace Englehardt was born this morning, Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. She is 5 lbs., 11 oz. and is 19” long. They were hoping for a natural birth but Wendy (new momma) had high blood pressure and preclemsia so after trying the usual drugs had to have a cesarian. Both parents have survived the excitement although they are exhausted and Lydia is doing excellently.

For me this has been a weekend full of activity that isn't quite over. My birthday is tomorrow so last night I had a bunch of girl friends over for a pajama party to celebrate. Of course the evening was punctuated with ongoing reports of the delivery process and we didn't go to bed until 4 this morning. Everyone was up realtively early and after coffee and food everyone packed up to head home and my sister and I headed off to the hospital for a nice long visit. We arrived shortly after Lydia was back in her mother's arms from all the tests and watching since she was a premie. We had a lovely visit and will be back again tomorrow.

The only sad point to the weekend is I have to go back to work on Monday after two weeks off. Just trying not to think about that. Well, it's almost 8 pm and I think it is time to go to bed to catch up from last nights festivities. I hope everyone is having a lovely new year so far.