Las Vegas and Sedona in the Winter

...edited to add...last night I whipped up this digital LO of my trip :) ...4 days without a computer...4 days without making anything...it felt good to be home and making something...I also used some brand NEW items...items COMING SOON to JessicaSprague.com!


Items Used...HERE

...four days away from all my obligations was a perfect way to DE-STRESS!!! ...so I hopped on a plane...


and flew to Vegas...where I met up with my friend...we met in 1997...during my first year of teaching...


...while living in Vegas...Charlotte and I had a little guilty pleasure...at the end of every week we went to Macayos and ate a TON of chips and salsa...and I always had one or two Pina Coladas...this trip included a trip to Macayos...I think we ate 4 bowls of chips...YUM!!! THE BEST chips and salsa EVER!!!


...not to mention our two trips to In-N-Out Burger and various other establishments!

...on Sunday morning we threw everything in the car and drove the 5 hours to Sedona...what an ADVENTURE! ...it felt like it took FOREVER to get there but we arrived and it was AMAZING...what a beautiful place...my favorite part of Sedona was the Chapel of Holy Cross...


...I never imagined the temperatures to be so cold...we went on a little hike around our condo...the wind nearly froze us to death!

...Monday night we lost power...and yesterday morning we lost it again...we left a bit earlier than intended...all because of this...


...I have to say it was a bit scary driving up the canyon at 6000 feet in this crap...I knew once we made it past this area we'd be ok...Flagstaff was covered in snow as well...and there was still snow for quite sometime...but eventually it all disappeared...and the only one who was thrilled was Charlotte...she was {HAPPY} to see this snow and didn't even know how to drive in it...but she did awesome!


Charlotte...thank you for getting us home safely! <3 ya!!! It was a wonderful get-a-way...I feel recharged...the worse part about it was I ate WAY TOO MUCH food...now I need to work it off!

Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe

...at church we are right in the middle of an amazing series...this week was about FORGIVENESS... "forgiving means forgetting" ...obviously one of the dumb things smart christians believe...

...if you've been hurt...I mean really hurt by someone than you know that you can never forget that...it doesn't make you a bad person...it just makes you human...{forgivness} is something that I have been dealing with for quite a few years...I have been thinking that I will never be able to completely {forgive} those in my life that have hurt me or my family. How many of you think that geniune forgiveness means that you have to forget what has happened in the past? I have ALWAYS thought that there is NO WAY that I will EVER be able to FORGET this stuff...EVER...which means I will never be able to forgive those who have hurt me or my family...well geniune forgiveness DOESN'T mean you have to forget all of that...

...put in a way that makes a bit more sense today at church (...thanks Brent)
Forgiving means:
* You need to stop keeping score...life is NOT a competition when you get that figured out you will be so much better off...
* Get a good mirror...take a good look at yourself...self-evaluate...don't worry about everyone else...and take care of you!
* Express your disapproval towards someone because of their behavior or actions when wronged, forgive when asked...
*Let God be God

...another very important thing that some people just can't seem to understand...and this holds true not only to my family but to many of you as well is that TRUST, CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS and FORGIVENESS are not necessarily related...trust must be earned and we don't owe either to anyone...I guess I have always known that but it wasn't until this morning that it was validated...for those of you...like me who continue to struggle with {forgiveness}...know...that...

Forgiveness is NOT an option...it is a sacred duty...
Forgiveness is NOT pretending nothing happened...
Forgiveness is NOT a never-ending series of second chances...
Forgiveness is NOT a fresh start with a clean slate...

...when we offer forgiveness to those who have no-excuse and for the things most of the world consider unforgivable we become more like Jesus.

This is a great one for those that can {forgive} ...remember...forgiveness is for YOU...remember it is not something we do for others...we do it for ourselves...to stay healthy and to be able to continue moving forward...

...today I cried for my dad

...but I realized I was crying for different reasons...of course I miss him but I realized I was crying because I was so grateful and SO FORTUNATE for all he had done for me and everything he had brought to my life. I am so blessed...for what he gave to my life and what I got to experience with him.

He was there to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day and tell me that I could do this when I told him I was scared to go out there in front of all those people...

He was at the hospital all three times...getting holding my children for the first time...meeting his grandchildren...even if it meant that he was not going home to get the much needed rest from working all day or night or missing his "T" time...

...and on each of their {birthdays} he always would light their candles!

I know he continues to watch over all of us...I KNOW that he is proud of every single one of us...

My mom is still having a hard time and as my dad was slipping away...I whispered to him...promising him again...assuring him that we would take care of her...he didn't need to worry about that...just like I said to him on one of our last walks down his road...he wouldn't need to worry...we would make sure she would be ok and we are doing that...

So...how is everyone's Project 365 coming along?

...I made it through January taking a photo a day and now we are nearly mid-way through the month of February...time is just {FLYING }by!

I thought all month how I was going to put all these photos together and decided on this format for my {Photo of the Day}...

...so here is JANUARY 2012...

{Materials Used HERE}
{MY FEELINGS} ...looking back at the month of January...I can see many memories my family created together...things I did alone...things I did for other people, places we went, items we purchased and of course how we are desperately trying to find our new normal in the new year.

...now for this month...I think I will create the February {calendar} as we go through the month instead of waiting until the end of the month and doing it ALL AT ONCE like I did for January...I still haven't decided what size I will print these out...but I can already tell this will be a very special project at the years end!

Camryn turned {NINE}

...where has the last nine years gone...this is Camryn and I on the day of her birth...


...and this is Camryn and I now...
Camryn turned {NINE} yesterday...and we've basically been celebrating for the last 3 weeks...yes...we take birthday's pretty seriously in our house! We started celebrating on MLK Day...by stopping in Seattle and doing a little shopping at The American Girl Store and Build-A-Bear...and then over the weekend we invited the family and close friends over for a wonderful birthday lunch of...WAFFLES...Camryn decided that she wanted to have a Belgian Waffle lunch...with toppings....and LOTS of them...bacon...cheese and sausage omelet muffins. Everything was delicious!!! Sunday, we went to Red Robin with our friends and celebrated some more...Monday night she decided that she wanted Crab Legs...so she got Crab Legs...1 FULL POUND in fact...and we celebrated again...and we aren't done yet...one more weekend to go...this coming weekend she will celebrate with a couple of friends from school...with a sleep-over...since I'm working on Friday...I hope I have enough energy to keep up with all of them! :)

...this evening I was able to finish up a new digital LO using some new items coming soon to JessicaSprague.com. I haven't made a two-page layout in a very long time but with the new {It's a Start Templates} it's very easy to do...this new set that is coming out has TWENTY AMAZING templates! I grabbed two that worked well with the photos from Camryn's party and put them together and ta-da!!! I have an amazing two-page layout...if I do say so myself :) ...I also used some NEW KI Memories {Hot Date} Digital Products ALSO coming out soon! (it seems like I can't finish off one of my digital LOs without adding some word art by Karla Dudley...I love her word art!) ...and I should add...one of my favorite things about this LO...is the journaling...the font is {ReneeD} it's my very own handwriting, I've never been a fan of my own handwriting but the font turned out pretty cool :D



...thanks for stopping by!

MUSIC is what FEELINGS sound like!

...growing up my dad would drive our little family of 5 back and forth between WA State and CA each and every summer so we could attend our {Family Reunion} ...such great childhood memories...I can remember listening to Simon and Garfunkel in the car...I still enjoy listening to them...little did I know just how much of an impact their music would have on my adult life...

"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was...A time of innocence, a time of confidences...Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph...Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you..."

I started taking pictures at a very young age...and I must have THOUSANDS of photos stored here in my house...THOUSANDS of photos of each of my children...MANY MANY PHOTOS of my dads journey with Brain Cancer...I documented that journey for our family...preserving our memories sometimes aren't just the fun and happy times...just like this little song states...they are all that's left of you! ...when we are gone our loved ones only have the photos to look at...that photograph tells the story...it's worth a thousand words...the photo above is obviously of my dad...my older sister and Gina and I...we were 9...Mona then would have been 11...we used to go fishing with my dad quite a bit...either on the bank like in this photo...or in his boat...he would bait our hooks...when we were really little...he would untangle our lines...he would help us reel in when we needed help...he was really a great dad...he was always there for us and did so many things for us and with us...I am really thankful to have these photographs...and these memories with my dad...

I read the most amazing book!

...first I want to thank my mother-in-law for sharing this book with me...it was a great book...with a different insight into what happens when we leave this life...

I recently finished reading {The Message} by Lance Richardson...I read it in one evening...and I have to say I enjoyed it...and I wrote down many things that intrigued me and gave me HOPE...since losing my dad and my father-in-law, Tom in Aug. 2011, and my Dad in Dec. 2011, I have many questions and I am struggling with this process of grieving. I wished that I had someone to talk with...someone that would be able to give me the answers to my questions...I know that is impossible...which makes this so much more painful...but one thing I do know for certain is that my dad I will be together again...and that brings me comfort...it's just all these days between then and now will be hard...thank goodness for all our memories...thank goodness I have so many photos...because if it wasn't for them and the memories I know that I would be even worse off then I am now...anyway back to the book...one of the things that the book said, that kind of caught me by surprise was,"I've enjoyed helping you and your family so much over the past years" ...I sat back and thought about the last 5 months...since my FIL has been gone...and you may not believe but I do...there was a time where my daughter was in an accident at school and she should have been hurt VERY badly, but surprisingly, she wasn't...her injury was minimal...I do believe that her Peepaw was there watching over her and helped her to escape those injuries...so is there where we discover our guardian angels? I think so...my children and myself now two very special ones looking over us...now...I would like to think we did before...my Grandpa...my good friend Dana...this book continued on...it stated that when we pray to God for help it is our dead relatives and loved ones who are sent by him to help us in answers to our prayers...thus we weld links and bonds of love within the family forever.
...it stated that music is a great tool of god...I have always LOVED music...I have always felt that it has spoke it me in a manner like no other...the book mentions that listening to music and being moved to tears...well it is because the spirit is intensely present...well good lord...the spirit is ALWAYS PRESENT with me then!
...also that God delivers assistance to us and what more a perfect plan could he use than through righteous family members.

My friends that know me know that I do not preach...I am merely just sharing my thoughts and feeling about this book...if you would like to read this book for yourself just click on the link above and it will take you to Amazon.com and you can get the book for yourself. If you've lost a loved one than you know the pain I am feeling...if you haven't then don't judge me...and my feelings and how I am dealing with my grief...

...having an open mind...is a good thing...being able to try and understand what happens after we die...is what I am trying to read and learn from friends and family. I would personally like to know where my dad and Tom are because I want to be with them again someday....besides the fact...that I just like to know and plan every aspect of my life...I'm such a planner ...everyone knows that about me...lol...there is no doubt in my mind that we will be together again...

...all good things must come to an end...

...what a year...and it just flew by...this is my last assignment with SRM Stickers!

SRM has an amazing new product...it's called {Party in a Bag}

...you recieve 4 TUBES...2 sticker sheets and 4 cards and envelopes...just what you need to create the perfect party supplies! This is the {Party in a Bag} I received and this is what I created...





I have felt honored to have been a part of the SRM team this last year...with each assignment I've always been given the opportunity to stick to my given style yet branch outside of my comfort zone and do something new. Susan, Jenyfur and the other ladies have been so wonderful to work with. I appreciate the support and encouragement I have received this past year. I can't say enough positive things about you all, the company and the product. My {LOVE} for stickers goes way back...and I will continue to use SRM stickers on my cards and layouts...encouraging my paper crafting friends to do the same...with that said...all good things must come to an end...and now it's time I say goodbye...to a WONDERFUL year with SRM...and welcome the new ladies to the team...

What a {FUN} weekend...

...a couple weekends ago we all jumped in the car and headed over the snowy pass and went to celebrate my sweet niece Brinley's Birthday! We arrived in Mount Vernon late on Friday night because I had to work...we arrived at about 10pm seeing her decorating her own {MUSTACHE} cake! ...rolling out the marshmallow fondant and covering her chocolate frosted pound cake...I was very impressed with her kitchen skills.

...we were looking forward to this weekend away...it was going to be filled with FUN..family...and adventures!!! ...not to mention snow and LOTS of it!!!
Saturday we woke up to rain, snow, sleet...and snow again...I don't think the weather could decide what it really wanted to do...but then it decided on SNOW...we had a delicious breakfast and then headed to Seattle...by the time we got to Seattle the weather was great and the sun was out! ...our first stop...Archie McPhee's...all the kids had a great time shopping...have you ever been there? What a CRAZY store! ...then we went to see the Fremont Toll...

Aunt Ashley is telling the kids all about the Troll under the bridge...I can't believe we've never heard of this place before...right now it's under construction...but it was still a BUSY attraction...
...the sun was BRIGHT...can you see Mason and Camryn...what are you two digging for? ...are they actually picking the Troll's nose!!! LOL Brinley is trying to gather everyone else up for a picture...before the rest of the tourists get up there...Kelli...can you believe I DID NOT get a single shot of them all up there together? I will send you what I have though ;)

...after visiting the Troll we went down to the Ye ol' Curiosity Shop...Aunt Ashley just spoils the kids...here she just gave them a coin to have some creepy lady in a box give them their fortune...as you can tell from the picture...the kids thought it was pretty neat!

and then we had a delicious lunch/Dinner at The Crab Pot...Yummy...
...Sunday morning we woke up to MORE snow...church had been cancelled but that did cancel our plans to drive to the Beach and cross the bridge!!!


Sunday Night we had a {TACO BAR} and Ted and Ashley ventured out in the snow and enjoyed a delicious dinner with all of us...it was wonderful to have dinner together as a family...play games...laugh...and just enjoy one another...we were just missing one very important person...peepaw!
...Ted...I don't know how you managed it...but you didn't get yourself in one single picture!

...as the weekend came to an end we decided it was time to celebrate Camryn's Birthday just a bit early...we hit the American Girl store and Build-a-Bear...
before leaving the West Side...
...and we had to stop and eat...we stopped at this amazing little place called Triple XXX Burgers...where I got this...and it was {amazing}...
...this little place had this old time feel...my dad would have {LOVED} it! ...we told our sweet little waitress we were celebrating Camryn's Birthday early...and this is what they did for her...I thought Camryn might cry...but she held it together...she totally doesn't like things like this...
...and then it was {finally} time to start heading back over the snowy pass...and just like that our weekend was over...
*** most of these photos were taken with my iphone...it's just so much more convienent...plus...I need someone who will some me how to use my new camera...I've had it now for 4 months...I still haven't figured it out!

{BAKING} can get you out of that funk right?

...this morning did NOT get off to a good start...so I decided by mid-morning that I needed to {BAKE} something to help me out of that terrible, no good...MOOD!!!

I've had this recipe for quite sometime...I do not even remember where I picked it up but {TODAY} was the day that I was going to try it out! Snow Day #2...the kids really can't even go out side because we have at least an inch of ice on top of all our snow...I think we will still have to try sledding regardless...because we are starting to go stir-crazy!

...over on FACEBOOK...I'm getting a lot of requests for the recipe so here it is...

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

What you will Need:

• Non-Stick cooking spray
• 2 cups All Purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 1/3 cup Pure vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam OR strawberry preserves
• 1/4 cup sugar

How to make it:

• HEAT oven to 375ºF. Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Stir together flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Add milk, eggs, 2/3 cup sugar, peanut butter and oil to bowl. Combine ingredients on low speed of electric mixer, just until moistened. Do not over beat.

• FILL prepared muffin cups evenly with half of the batter. Place 2 level teaspoons jam or preserves in the center of each muffin. Evenly divide remaining batter between muffin cups. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. Bake 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool in pan 5 minutes.



{ my review: I think they need to be sweeter...and I would add MORE peanut butter than what the recipe calls for...and more jelly :)}