it's finished and i'm done!!!!

yep, the yearbook is done and out the door to the printer...finally. you will never know the joy in my heart to see that book go "bye-bye." right here at the end things got pretty dramatic but i'm happy and proud to say it has left my life. now i can enjoy myself and return to a normal life, whatever that was before all this ensued. i have learned many lessons in doing this project and the main one is i will never do it again, period. as much as it has been an act of love and i did enjoy designing it, i'm tired and mentally exhausted and that just doesn't work when you're a stay at home mom. one thing i did become aware of is how much i miss being a graphic designer, i guess when it's in your blood it's there to stay.

i am happy to report that the blog will be updated more frequently, since i got my life back. i'm definitely behind with it and will be happy to catch everyone on up on what's been happening in our lives. during these past few weeks lela has turned seven, lacey has started soccer and lela and her daddy attended the "princess ball" at school, kevin and i found out we will be working a youth retreat called chrysalis in june (i so can't wait) not to mention a lot more...just stay tuned.

i mentioned about lela and her daddy going to the "princess ball", here are few pictures from their evening. it was a dance just for the girls at school and of course, lela's dress was pink! she seemed to really enjoy herself not to mention it was just her getting all the attention and not having to share it with her sister.

will it every end?

will i ever see a light at the end of the tunnel? how much longer do i have? these are questions you ask yourself when you are the yearbook chairperson. for the past week i've been in throws of trying to get this book together. my due date is fast approaching and crunch time is here. wow! i almost feel like a football player getting ready for the big game. if i'm not posting as much as i was you understand. my time on the computer is pretty precious and i've got some much left to do.

here is a little sneak peek at the cover:

a great big thanks goes out to all who participated.

i would love to show you

what i've been working on all afternoon, but i honestly think it would spoil the surprise and personally the older i get the more i really like surprises. on thursday, the cover of the 2009-2010 welch elementary yearbook was chosen. since i'm the yearbook chairperson i headed up the cover contest which was based on the pta theme "join the team!" i was so excited because we had 35 entries and there was a winner chosen from each grade level...yeah! it's funny because as i make my way through this learning process i'm finding ways to improve for next year (if i decide to do it again.) the "best of" winner will be featured on the front cover and then the other winners will find their place on the back cover. today has been so much fun working on the layout for the book. i'd forgotten how long it took between scanning the artwork in to just building the finished product. talk about getting back in the groove, this yearbook is probably this best thing that could have happened to me. i'm definitely gaining my confidence back since leaving the graphic design field about six years ago. talk about time flying.

who me, the yearbook chairperson?

yes, that would be me. i picked up all the yearbook info this afternoon and i feel as if i'm swimming in sea of utter and total confusion. i keep looking at everything trying to discern were to begin. i can at least tell you what yearbook company we're using and that the cover of the yearbook will be a special design. after that i'm at a deadend. i have no deadlines, no contact person, no nothing. its kind of scary thinking i'm in charge of this and i feel like i'm out on a limb without a net. i did have at least some common sense to email the company we are using to see who my contact person is and any other information they might have for me. right now, i'm just hoping they get in touch with me soon that's really my only concern for the time being. the more i have looked at the past yearbooks, i'm getting really excited about the things i want to do and change. this is definitely a great project for me! can't wait to start!

stress?

don't let anybody fool you into thinking that elementary school is not stressful. oh my gosh! i feel like i'm the one who is in school again. i'm sitting here as wave after wave of "doubt" comes over me. we've only been in school about 10 days and change is continually surrounding us. what's up with that? i always feel like god is doing some big things when change is happening and right now is no different. it's just a little scary.

today has brought on many unexcepted surprises some of which i brought on myself and others that just appeared. after much prayer i decided to email the gifted teacher at lela's school to have her tested for the reach program. (thanks, cami) after i sent the email i immediately got a phone call from lela's teacher, mrs. perrotta, telling me what a delight lela was and how she was right on track. she even made mention of how lela was one of the top ones in her class. after she made that comment i decided that was my opportunity to ask if she thought lela should be tested for the reach program. she thought that would be great and didn't have any problems recommending her. she told me she would work on getting the paperwork together and would send it home.

after i hung up the phone, i then got an email asking if i would be in charge of the yearbook. uh? me? i have no experience being in charge of a yearbook. in my pervious life i designed ads, photoshoots and laid out small catalogs but does that quailfy me for a school yearbook? after quickly making my decision i replied back. (i told them yes.) but it occurred to me that despite being quite scared i'm also extremely excited about it; then a bible verse quickly came to mind "i can do all things through christ who strengthens me" - philippians 4:13. thank you, lord.

i had just hit the send button when the phone rings again. this time it was mrs. crawley the reach teacher from welch. she had gotten my email and was calling to answer my questions i had about the gifted program. she was very nice and helpful and told me she would be emailing the paperwork to have lela tested if i so desired.
so, now i'm sitting here with paperwork to fill out on lela and praying that i'm doing right thing yet again. i have to laugh because all i keep thinking is how in the world did i get here?