"Give Yourself a Present" Challenge

The date on this blog says Tuesday, but I really am publishing this on Wednesday.

I have to share with you a letter I got from Stacy Julian a few weeks ago. (Stacy is the super energetic, creative gal who started Simple Scrapbooks magazine and is the force behind Big Picture Scrapbooking.)

Here is the letter:

"Imagine waking up on what would appear to be an ordinary Wednesday and checking in on a few of your favorite blogs to discover a most unusual and phenomenal occurrence--quite possibly the scrapbooking world's first-ever "blog blitz." Now before you ask--a blog blitz is a fairly new term that means lots of blogs doing the same thing at the same time. In my dictionary, the word blitz means a sudden or overwhelming onslaught. The result or response of a blitz depends of course on the nature of the onslaught--which, in this case will be overwhelmingly positive. On Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 I want to give everyone (okay--as many people as possible) a present--the gift of present-moment scrapbooking. I'm writing to invite you to help me infuse the scrapbooking blogosphere with this message of epic proportion:

Be Here Now!

As scrapbookers we spend so much time creating in the past and anticipating the future that we sometimes forget to live in the present. Your life is unfolding everyday, hour by hour, and you have the opportunity to live and be happy. Let's bring the scrapbooking world together in a fun and potentially perspective-shifting challenge to be more aware, more grateful and more engaged with this thing we call life."

Now here's Stacy Julian's "Give Yourself a Present" challenge!

You have everything you need right now to be vibrant and fully engaged in the creative process. Sometimes you just have to slow down, look around and realize it!

Here's what you do . . .

Snap ten photos of your life right now.

Compile these photos in a small, little album. (The Bazzill Mono-Mini album is perfect.)

Keep or carry this album with you (in your desk drawer or purse) for one year.

Promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it from your purse.

On October 1st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience.


Don't worry --I'll remind you to create a page in a year. Just keep reading my blog!

How cool is this challenge! Love Stacy Julian and her philosophies about life.

So--here are the 10 photos (and a brief explanation of each photo) that are in my Bazzill Mono-Mini album that represent my life right now. They have all been taken within the past two weeks.

Football, football and more football. This game is basically dominating our lives right now. The boys and Coach Steve have practices Monday-Friday, then game nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Then, our favorite college team (BYU) plays on Saturday usually during the day. This is the first year that I can honestly say I get really excited for the games. Maybe it's because I understand the game better than I ever have--maybe it's because the weather has been especially warm. Here is the traditional "best friends on opposite teams photo." Collin and Cooper hang out and vacation together--but when it comes to football they are on opposing teams.



My blog below tells about the amazing opportunity I had to sing in a 350 member women's choir last Saturday. I'm still on cloud nine!



The cheerleaders decorated our door before the big homecoming football game. I about fell over when Kade asked if I wanted to take a photo with him and the sign before the sign got taken down. I'm training him well! By the way, they won their game 43-0!



Last year Kade and I traveled to Scotland. I lived in Scotland for 18 months as a missionary for my church when I was in my early 20s and I was so excited to show Kade my old stomping grounds. He wanted a kilt really bad and I told him if we got it he'd have to wear it to a dance sometime. Homecoming was the dance and here he is all decked out. Doesn't he look handsome? (And, I have to admit he was very brave!)



The local Chamber of Commerce gave me a sweet award at a luncheon. My husband and children were so supportive and came to the event. (It was several hundred women and just a handful of guys!) P.S. I promise Sage's dress isn't that short--just pulled up from being held.)



My high school friends have remained some of my dearest gal pals. We get together several times a year and it's always a good time. We are always there for each other.



I also am blessed with friends in an amazing neighborhood. We love chatting, going to chick flicks and of course eating chocolate!



Our family always has fun together. For Family Home Evening on September 29th, we went to a historical park and had a picnic, then toured the museum which was an old homestead. Our neighbors then invited us over for somemores. The weather has been perfect--80s in the day and 70s in the evening.



September 29th was the best Sunday ever. We go to church at 9:00 a.m. and everyone got to church on time! That afternoon we had a yummy crock pot chicken dish, then I had a three hour greatly-needed nap. We then went and fed ducks with our cousins, then I went on a leisurely walk with a friend. When we got home, a neighbor had brought over the most delicious peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Yummy again!



Steve and I both have large families. There are 23 grandchildren on the Bearnson side and the Downs side has 37. My kids simply adore their cousins. We are lucky enough to have Sam and Daniel live to close to us. I love this photo of Sam and Sage.



Okay--so that's the challenge. Stacy has given me permission to give away 25 Bazzill Mono Mini albums so you can create your own little "Give yourself a present" album. Simply write your name, hometown and state and I'll choose 25 names on Friday Oct. 3 at midnight (MST). I'll post the winners on Saturday.

Thanks for playing. It will be fun to see where this goes!

Sincerely,
Lisa B.