Picking Up Where I Left Off

Wow, so somewhere in a parallel universe I had started this blog. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately!, I have grossly neglected it ... Even to the point of forgetting about it ... Until {kid} #2 read from it a few days ago and reminded me of how precious the chronicles of our prior days are. So, lemme give it another go, as they say.

I should resume by confirming that much has passed in these several years since I last wrote. Some, for the better, and some seemingly for the worst ... But, then, even those turned out for the better as well (you know sometimes it just doesn't feel "better" while you're going through the valleys).  I've been working for several years as a nurse practitioner, my kids have grown, my husband and I have grown (horizontally a bit), and my little family continues to learn how to love one another daily.  We are not without struggles, but we are abundant with joy. I cannot complain, yet I probably don't give sufficient gratitude.

As I had some downtime this morning after the kids got on the bus, I started reading all the way back at the beginning of 1 Nephi again. I do this not because I'm a particularly devoted student, but instead because I can't remember a darn thing I've read. Anyway, in the theme of gratitude, I consider it a blessing ... Like the Dori {from Nemo} kind of blessing ... You're even more astounded and joyful the second and third and thirtieth time you stumble upon something 😉 Anyway, as I read in this 1st and second chapter of 1 Nephi, I became increasingly awestruck by the character of Lehi. Particularly, in the sections below:

4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.

I find it remarkable that he left with essentially his toothbrush and his family and immediately after carving out a little area to sleep in the woods, he BUILDS an alter, gives an OFFERING, and THANKED the Lord.

Geez, how many days have I woken up in my comfy little bed, in my sweet plush pj pants {yes I have an obsession with pj pants}, walked through my beautiful house, eaten a breakfast fit for a king, and GONE ON WITH THE REST OF MY ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT ONCE ACKNOWLEDGING the Lord's hand and abundant giving in my own life? WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME!!? {deep breath} well, today will be different ... Today will be the start of acknowledging that I AM BLESSED. And, like Lehi, I have my beautiful family ... So, in a world of chaos and confusion and really, really whacked out things that have been happening lately, I will kneel today and I will pray quietly to the Lord and I will be thankful.

My Blog Address

I started a blog about ME! Mostly to talk about my projects/art. Check it out!! www.natashaprymak.blogspot.com

I'll try to still post here too for our fam info, but I'll post more frequently and have some fam info on the blog address I just mentioned! Thanks for keeping up with me!

Could have, would have, should have . . .

backed up my photos onto my external hard drive or to CDs before Eliza pushed it off the couch the other day! I set my sweet little Macbook on the couch while I got up to go to the kitchen for a minute and while Eliza was watching TV her foot inched my laptop right off the edge of the couch and it came crashing onto the floor. Luckily I have an Apple Care Plan, so repairs are totally covered (and, trust me I've used this OFTEN!! over the past 2 1/2 years). I am a BIG fan of the Apple Care Plan if you have a mac or any Apple product. But, of course all of the times I thought about backing up my recent downloaded photos, I put it off, so I only have pics backed up through a few months ago. Oh well, you'd think I'd learn since this wasn't the first time I've lost data! anyway, I'm trying to use the power of positive thinking and convince myself that the data wasn't lost, but that the computer just crashed b/c of the big leap it took of the couch! Pray for my little Macbook and all of my priceless scrapbooking photos!!!

We Did It

Well, we survived Ian's first day at his new job. I didn't realize it until last night, but today was the first day EVER that we've been married with kids and Ian hasn't had a work from home job! I thought I'd be a lot more lonely and frazzled without another adult in the house to vent to, but Eliza kept me company with all of her adorable (almost 3 year old!) chatter. She says some of the cutest things, which I need during my day! I think I have a tendency to be too serious sometimes, so her comedic comments and Hudson's (9 month old) baby kisses -- you know the ones where they come towards you with their months open like they're going to eat your whole cheek! -- really helped the time fly. Plus, somehow I played it right and Hudson took his naps today! That was a nice 15 minute break! I know, we're working on longer naps, but I'm just excited he actually laid down in his crib and fell asleep! So, now I better get to sleep since the morning will bring the same routine and I need to have some small level of energy in order to get everyone else going!

It's HERE!

Sweet Heaven on Earth!, my beautiful wide-format Epson 1400 has just arrived via Fed Ex!!!! This printer was a Black Friday STEAL!!! This baby does everything I could ever want for all of my scrapbooking/craft projects, will print up to 12" x 12" layouts (and even a bit bigger!), OH!, and did I mention that I've wanted this puppy for about 3-4 YEARS now!?!! I found it when I was doing photography on the side and thought about purchasing a professional quality printer to print customer orders rights at home. But, alas, it was WAY too expensive at the time. Well, last week Staples had it advertised for Black Friday for a mere (ha ha!) $179, compared to the $300-400 it went for when it first came out! Well, it is supposed to be my bday present from my mom . . . but, well, we'll see if Santa lets me open it early and just forfeit my bday loot rights! I just CAN'T wait to open it and try it out!!!!! Too bad I'm too lazy to repackage it, otherwise I'd break into the baby right now and stick it back into the box good-as-new on December 24th! LOL! ok, gotta go and stare at the box a bit more! LOL!

An Addiction

Last night, as usual, I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning making art. It's so strange what happens to me when I have a bit of inspiration and energy . . . the combination is like crack. I get obsession to create when an idea pops into my head and I can't think about anything else until I get it all out on paper, fabric, canvas, or whatever I am working with. I had this ah-ha moment last night when I was going through my stamps and wanted to do a project with text from a book, some Grungeboard, embossing inks/powders, some new Pink Paislee papers, and some gorgeous Prima flowers. I wanted to do something "different". While the techniques are common to artists -- I think the concept I came up with for this altered art project is pretty killer. I finished it all but adding the pics to it last night and couldn't wait to show it to someone, so when I heard Ian still watching tv upstairs, I ran up there and asked him what he thought. Usually, he flips through things quickly, asks me, "YOU did THIS!???," and it's over. But, he kept flipping through it, backwards and forwards, inspecting it, and I felt *chills*. I almost wanted to cry! To create something so beautiful that it makes someone STUDY it, is just TOO MUCH for words. To feel something so strongly that you NEED to express it through art and then have that feeling transferred and felt by the person looking at your art makes my chest swell. This is what art is to me. This is why I dream about it, wake up waiting to create more, and can't sleep when I'm tired because I'm still thinking about it. All my life I've been so practical -- now I feel alive. I feel like I've waited all my life to have the means and the time to create art. It fills me with breath, and I hope I can do a little of the same for those who enjoy my art.

note: I wanted to post pictures of the project I created, but at this time I couldn't b/c of my desire to enter it for design team submission. I will, however, post it after I have submitted it! (so, keep your eyes on the blog!)

Thank you

Another Turkey Day has come and gone, and this one had it's own ups and downs just like the previous ones. It seems that no matter how hard you hope for the best in a family get together, you still get a share of drama, great food, cute moments with all of the kids, and a little more drama . . . at least in my family! I hope I'm not alone though! Sometimes, I feel like the only thing that gets me through Thanksgiving is knowing that I can blow off steam on Black Friday with a little bit of retail therapy! Anyway, here are a few pics of our feast prepared mostly by my talented, wonderful, handsome, charming (sorry ladies, he's taken!), sweet brother, Josh. My favorite was the turkey confied (sp?) in duck fat. It was SO juicy and tender it just melted in your mouth. It had a honey glaze on it that you could dip the meat into before putting it into your mouth, so the broth and honey just mixed wonderfully and gave the bird amazing taste. yum. The lamb WAS a very close second, though! The other pictures are of the table and the (over)abundance of food my sweet mom & dad always provide! I swear it's a Persian thing, all of the guests must leave feeling STUFFED! You know, a sign of a hospitable host!?! Anyway, I'm not complaining! It was YUMMMMY! The other pic is one that my SIL, Megan, made, caramel cheesecake with Snickers topping. It was SO good. Even Hudson couldn't get enough of the filling! Kudos, Megan, it was perfect! Oh, yeah, and the last pic, well those are some of the crazy cousins the kids love to play with at family get togethers! It is SO wonderful seeing all of the kids grow up together! Blessings, I tell ya, SO many blessings to give thanks for this year!