Here we go again.... I'm blogging!

Well A LOT has happened since I last blogged almost 3 years ago. Where do I begin? hmmmm

I Do... I Do... I Do...

Well first of all.... marriage has been interesting. I now truly understand what my mom meant when she use to say. "I love you so much but I just don't really like you right now." This phrase seriously baffled me at times, how can you love and not like someone at the same moment. Well I have experienced this situation throughout the past few years. I love Clint and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect man for me. He is patient, understanding, loving, kind and did I say patient? I think that marriage is a funny thing; it reminds me of a roller coaster ups, downs, quick turns, hold your breath and throw your hands in the air & scream with thrills of it all. One thing that I have learned is that I never want this "ride" to end!

Lost and Found

Sunday, December 20, 2009 will forever be etched into my mind. I was having such a lovely and wonderful day. Clint and I had gone to church, one of my favorite times of the years being a Christian; singing carols, sparkling candlelight, crimson red poinsettia lining the alter, as we listen to the true meaning of the season LOVE IT! Well we came home and I finished fluffy the fabric ribbon bows on the packages & arranged them under my simple but sweet tree. Oh and did I mention I had COMPLETED shopping too. Yes, it was like a true Christmas miracle! I had actually accomplished my goal of finishing before Christmas Eve. :) After all the wrapping paper, tags & ribbon were put away in our tidy little house & we sat in the living room enjoying the fact that the Christmas lights were hung outside, both of the kids trees were twinkling and Clint & I were feeling like this was going to be the best Christmas ever! We chit chatted a little about all that had accomplished and I told him I've got to call mom. I called her and like a small child I was so happy to tell her about my day! As I was getting off the phone with her she said "Well Jess, I'm so glad that you're on top of it. That is the way it should be. Now you can enjoy your week and remember what is important about Christmas. I'm so proud of you. Love you and talk to you later." Those would be the last words that I ever heard from her. Just a few hours later, mom suffered a heart attack and passed away in the wee hours of December 21st. Jonathan called and said "Hey Sissyca can I talk to Clint." The nosey person that I am put it on speaker phone and heard Jonathan tell Clint that mom had a heart attack and she didn't make it. My heart broke. I fell to my knees and never felt that sick, broken and confused. Seriously, she was going to talk to me later.... she was ok. Yeah I could tell she was tired, she said she had a cold, she didn't feel great but she was fine just a few hours before. How could this be happening. Clint was there holding me up, literally. He helped me to my jell-0 filled legs and said what do you need. I remember saying "My mom, I need my mom." I will always remember how he held me and said "Oh darlin, I know you want her. I'm sorry... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry." I can't imagine how he must've felt. I don't really recall the following events very well at all. I called my friend Christy because her number was the only one I could recall from memory. I told her that I needed her go and be with my little brothers that they didn't have anyone.... please go help them. Of course, within the hour there were several Circle Of Friend "COF" Girls up there with my brothers. Clint packed my bags because I was useless to even pack my own bag... loaded me up in the car at 2 or 3 am and drove 7 1/2 hours to Kansas City without even a hesitation. I loved him more for his strength, love, compassion and friendship. The service is a blurr --- I know this sounds weird but I really wish I had it on video because I don't remember anything that was said really but I know I felt good about the life that she lived and the legacy that she left. I remember feeling a real joyous, triumphant moment when we had them play the song "Praise You in the Storm". I will have to blog more about what I've learned through the bittersweetness of losing one of my first loves later on. Mom was my first forever best friend that showed unconditional love and wisdom. But I can now see that I found even more love, respect and friendship in my husband, Clint.

And Baby.... the best is still to Come!

I will have to share this story in more detail later. (I'm working on my story... in my head) LOL But just when I think that God is as big as I can imagine.... He surprises me. He has topped Himself again!

Has it really been almost a year since I made a post

Well hey gang

I want to make a couple of post just so I can upload some photos. I have a lot of pictures that I have taken in the past year so for the next few weeks I'll try to upload some.

Well I will start with the most recent ones. Clint and I went "tent camping" just the two of us with Molly this past weekend. I LOVE it. Spending time with just my husband talking and just being "US". Of course I had to take Miss Molly (our toy Party Poodle) because we didn't get a dog sitter. She's sweet and good anyways so it wasn't a problem. I also am posting a couple of Halloween pics. of the kids Kayle went as the Mad Hatter, Brit was Dorothy and then Trev decided NOT to dress up--- which I am okay with. :) He's like his father! :)

Christmas Album made with Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist!

These are the pages of the Album.... I actually have a couple of these that I've added ribbons, buttons & ect to after I had the photo's scanned. I hope that you get an idea of the pages and see the detail if you click on the pages.

Contact me for permission to print images please. jessicakelly_911@yahoo.com

This is him.....

This is my future husband.... Clint Swan. I would love to spend sometime talking about him but I've got much to do. Mom told me to post a picture on my blog so here is a couple. Hope you guys will email me or comment or email me "words of wisdom" I want to start a scrapbook of "Our lives together" so.... I know a lot of people aren't going to be able to come to my wedding but I hope you all know that ANYONE is welcomed & invited!! December 15, 2007 in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

Thanks... Melissa for thinking of me!

I've been tagged... so who's next?

while I tell you some very "un"interesting facts about myself I hope I can at least make you smile through it all. So thank you Miss Melissa Phillips for tagging me & making me get "back out" in the blogging world.

Here are the rules for the 7 others that I'm tagging--please don't hate me:

I'm tagging:

Mom (Diane Kelly)

Melanie Cantrell

Kara Ward

Dana DeCarlo

Christina Graham

Sheila Rumney

Susanne Bergman

Instructions:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7. Many of you may not know, that I'm 98% sure that I am moving back to Kansas City at the beginning of the year!

6. I have 3 brothers which I love... use to fight with like cats & dogs but completely amazed at the men they have become. Even though I've never told them that!

5. I don't like storms... rain... thunder... lightning OH MY!

4. I secretly wished that I was younger & skinny so I could be a "motorcycle stunter" yep those crazy people who stand up on the motorcycle going about 100mph.

3. I LOVE motorcycles (any kind) but scared to death of them at the same time.

2. I don't really like sweets, but some days would kill for a cheesecake!

1. That my parents got a divorce 2 years ago, after being married almost 30 years. I was devastated but now realized that I learned more from them the past couple of years than I had in my entire life! They are better friends now... then I can ever remember them being & I know that God can take the worst parts of life & bless those who love Him.

ALBUM CLASS IN KANSAS CITY

This is the front page of the album - the paper pieced Santa page.... I hope to have the rest done by next week!



Christmas Album Class in KANSAS CITY

When: December 1, 2007
Time: 10 - 9 (Class starts promptly at 10am)
Where: Nashua Fire Station corner of 111th & N.Oak (North of the River)
Cost: Class w/out Album $65.00
Class with Album $65.00 plus $18.00 for 12x12 Album
DEPOSIT Due by Saturday, Nov. 3rd
Checks can be mailed to: Jessica Kelly 505 NE 103rd St Apt 9C, Kansas City, Mo 64155

Okay so here's the details ladies...

The Album Class is made up with the K and Co. Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist paper line & embellishments. I am attaching a picture of the first page of the album and some of the product that we will be using. The RETAIL price for the product is approximately $40.00.

It includes the following:

This is all approximate because I am still working on the album yet. So bear with me. :)

15 pieces of Pattern Paper
28 pieces of Cardstock
5 yards of various ribbon, rick rack & fibers
1 Mat Pad
1 Glitter Alphabets
1 Rub On Magic Rubons
1 Package of Chipboard Tags
1 Goodie bag of rhinestones, buttons, clips, brads, eyelets, bells & etc...

We will be completing a whole album 18 to 20 pages. I am so excited about this... this is my first 12 x 12 album that I will have done for just CHRISTMAS. There will be some paper piecing (not a lot & not complicated) but there will also be some quick & easy pages also. The goal of this class is to be a FUN, LOW STRESS, ENJOYABLE & FULL OF BLESSINGS. I hope that you all will come & join in!

PLEASE NOTE: I am asking that a deposit be paid because I am "financing" this myself & because I don't have a full time job. :) The "deposit" will be $25.00 per kit and an extra $10 for each album that you would like. IF you plan on geting this as a "KIT ONLY" I am going to raise the price to $75.00 per kit due to color copies & direction sheets. :( Sorry. If you would like to see the album you can go to www.brendawalton.com and look at her "Peppermint Twist" line to check out the product!

CKC - Kansas City

I came in town for CKC. It was so fun seeing some old friends & getting familiar with all the new stuff once again. (Remember I live almost TWO HOURS from the nearest Hobby Lobby.... THREE HOURS to the nearest LSS)
I love the header.... there's that "Star Layout" with Jill's little girl on it! :)
The booth was constantly packed... I hurried and took a couple of pictures when some people had just left.... I was AMAZED
My sweet nephew Stephen... I love that picture of him. :)
I should be kissing them.... :)
I just loved the way things were all set up and the cute displays... I'm still lovin' the ribbon on spoon idea! Its all about cute packaging isn't it? :)
One of the owners "sisters" from the scrapbook store in Kansas called 2 Scrappy Sisters & then there is Susanne & Ali (I use to teach at the same stores that they did when I lived in KC)
This picture was a little dark, my friend Ali took it of my very talented friend Kara Ward teaching a K&Co class at CKC. I was just hanging out with them... they are wonderful girls to know & I feel blessed to call them friends.