Just Roll With It.

What a day I have had! LOL I finally got home after 15 hours away!

This AM I had a class at The Scrappin' Table and it was great!! I got to see some familiar faces and we had a blast. Thank you everyone for your patience too. I ended up staying an extra couple of hours as some of the ladies wanted to put their own touches on the book. It was pretty fun to see how they each took the original idea and ran with it to make it their own. I was supposed to crop at Scrapbook Boulevard for 12 hours so I just phoned that I would be a little later–they knew I had a class and was going to be late anyways.

Before I hit the road home, I stepped out to get a bite to eat at Del Taco with Anne, one of the other instructors at the Table.

Well, on the way back from Del Taco, we climbed over the little drive-thru wall to go back across the street to get our cars since we walked from the Table. Umm…during the time we were eating the sprinklers had sprinkled on that little hill of mud and grass and my shoes were slick and there I went…. I had mud butt. I fell in the mud and I was covered in mud from butt to knee. There was no covering it up. I made it to my car with Anne's help and then drove home–how embarrasing!! But really, I guess after having kids it isn't a surprise the things that can happen! LOL If it isn't mud it is crayon or paint or glitter or drool….it's always something.

I figured once I got home I'd just change and be on my way to cropping at the Blvd. Well, I get home and discover there's no house key in my purse. I had left it on the kitchen counter after checking the mail last night. I call Xaver and he is at my dad's fixing his computer. It takes him 30 or so minutes to get here to let me in. It's not like I can go anywhere with mud butt you know?!. I spent the time playing with the dog in the backyard since the side gate just so happened to be unlocked, thank goodness. I also chatted with an old friend who happens to have a flute she is giving us since Katie decided she wants to play–woohoo!!! So it was kind of time well-spent, right?

I finally get inside and change my clothes and it is 8pm. The crop ends at 10pm!! So I pack up one little Art Bin and head on over, hoping at least I get some chat time in if not some scrapping done. Well, the ladies stayed until midnight and we had a blast!!I laughed so hard my throat is hoarse and I swear my abs are going to be sore tomorrow.

I even ran into some Shop Hoppers there–Elaine and friends from It's About Time Scrapbooks and Yellow Bird (they travel between Murrietta and El Cajon). I had met them when Scrapbook Royalty did the National Scrapbook Day make n take at IAT in May. It was great chatting with them and they told me about an AWESOME retreat they go on–I'll be looking into it for sure!

After the store closed, I chatted with a friend a little bit longer and just now got home. I had a package waiting for me so I opened it–I thought it was bookmarks for the collection I am doing for Santa Claus Inc. It wasn't.

It was a package from one of my Girl Scout moms with Katie's shorts in it. After our sleepover in June we discovered that Katie had one of the girls' shorts and the girl had worn Katie's shorts home. Katie was so upset because she had $4 in the pocket from a box of cookies my dad had bought from her that day. I checked the pocket and her $4 was there. And there were some girl scout papers in the envie too….

But there was also a Michael's gift card. I opened it up and it was a “Thank You” for me filled out by this 7 year old Brownie Girl Scout thanking me for being her leader. It just makes me tear up thinking about it! She is so sweet and one of my success stories. She has really come out of her shell and become a stronger girl through her time in our troop. I am very proud of her. Plus her mom is awesome and always willing to help out. I mean, wow. Just wow.

What a great way to end the day. I could have just had a bad day after all the craziness but wow…it just turned out pretty great after all. I don't know if I am having some kind of who knows what going on but all day I've just had the same thoughts on my mind–I am really thankful for the things I have, the people I know, and the stuff I get to do every day. To know that my time in Girl Scouts has touched these girls is awesome!! I do it for my daughter #1 but it also helps others and I have made some great friends myself through it. And then to see the impact Scrapbook Royalty and our work has on people…it is amazing!! And I GET to be a part of that!! What a privilege. And then I am in all these stores teaching, having a blast, meeting people, sharing my passion for scrapping…wow!! And that I can walk down the street with mud on my butt and be okay, with a friend by my side even. What a day! LOL And now I came home to see my family passed out on the couches, waiting for me. Katie was curled up in her footie PJs because she wanted to be here when I got home. To have such a loving family…I feel so lucky. Guess when bad stuff happens you just gotta roll with it, using the momentum from the good stuff to get you through. Now I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow!

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.