Life Muses by Ro

Digital Scrapbooking Layout by mtorres_usa

It's been a long time since I've spotlighted a digital scrapbooking layout in my blog. This layout caught my eye when I cruised the Scrap Girls Gallery.

I really like how she has used all of these ScrapSimple Embellishment and Paper Templates. It's inspiring me to dig through my supplies and experiment a little bit.

Isn't this color set nice? I also like how she has the frame hanging off of the bottom edge of the layout.

Everything looks so balanced to me. She's even managed to sneak in journaling, which is so important.

Nice job!

I'm going to arrange for her to receive a little gift from me!

Here's what she used in her digital scrapbook layout:

Supplies used:

• Persian Breeze Collection
• City Park Collection
• ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Bows Biggie
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Curled Edges
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sew Torn Up
• Old Friend Collection
• The View Collection
• Font:Traveling Typewriter

Music Video: Change the World

Love, love, love this song by Wyonna Judd.

Pie or cookies anyone?

Patriotic Pie, originally uploaded by Empress Eve.

I am puzzled by a feeling that sweeps across the land that indicates that the world's resources could be compared to a pie.. a single pie baked in a single pan.

Why a pie?
- Because it has boundaries
- Because it can be split up
- Because the "haves" get more pie than the "have-nots"
- Because we can attempt to be fair by providing everyone the same amount of pie when we take some of the pie from the "haves" and give it to the "have-nots"
- To do this, we must ignore the fact that the "haves" have pie because they worked for it and were blessed through their efforts. The "have-nots" (for various reasons) have not been able to arrive yet at the point in their lives in which they can earn something to have; the piece of pie. Perhaps it would be kind for the "haves" to share some of their pie, but in order for free will - our first, most precious gift from God - to be respected in all situations, the "haves" must be allowed to choose what they will do with their pie. Maybe they'll eat it themselves.Maybe they will share it with a friend. Maybe they will share it with someone they have noticed needs a lift up.

It doesn't matter, really, because it is the opportunity to choose and choose well, that brings moral growth to the individual who struggles with the choice. But if free choice is removed from the equation, not only is the motivation to grow removed, the desire to work for your piece of the pie is stripped away. Somebody down the street could very well be given your piece of pie simply because someone else has decided that you have had too much pie.

This view of life suggests that the resources we share are finite. It is caused by a failure to understand that we are merely using God's resources while we are here on earth. His resources are infinite. If we understand that we have access to God's infinite resources, we are then free to view our lives quite differently.

Peanut Butter Cookies, originally uploaded by fynaji.

I think life's resources could be better compared to endless numbers of cookies. There are plenty for everyone. God - the baker -  always has enough ingredients to make as many as needed. We don't need to fight over cookies, take them away from others, start wars over them, get upset because we crumble a few, or be afraid to share. There are always more cookies to be had. The baker never runs out... ever.

The baker enjoys providing cookies for us. He also provides opportunities for people to work and make their own cookies because he appreciates industriousness coupled with faith in Him. God - our baker - encourages people to share the cookies He blesses us with but never forces us to do so. He believes that free will is the most important principle of life. He knows that His children have to voluntarily choose positive action for it to stick. It doesn't work if we are forced to do things because we will choose our way into something we like more as soon as we can. History shows this to be true, if we study it.

I believe our baker has infinite resources, infinite wisdom, infinite compassion, infinite patience, and an infinite ability to work with and improve people who choose to follow Him. If we do, we'll hear Him say, "Want some cookies? I've got plenty for you and they are very satisfying."

Overhead: Meatball Sandwiches

Mannequin 1: What's for lunch?

Mannequin 2: Meatball sandwiches.

Mannequin 1: With spaghetti sauce and cheese?

Mannequin 2: Yep.

Mannequin 3: I don't think I better have any. I don't want to lose my girlish figure.

Mannequin 1: Oh, come on. A little meatball sandwich won't hurt you.

Mannequin 2: Meatball sandwiches are long and skinny, thus they will make you long and skinny.

Mannequin 3: I don't think so...

Mannequin 2: That's your problem. You don't think about these things carefully. You're not considering the tomatoes in the sauce. Everyone knows that tomatoes don't have many calories.

Mannequin 1: Yeah. And tomatoes have Vitamin C. You need some of that. Vitamin C prevents scurvy.

Mannequin 2: No kidding? I thought you had to eat limes to prevent scurvy.

Mannequin 3: Scurvy? We aren't on a boat. I understand that you can't get scurvy unless you are on a boat.

Mannequin 1: You are so innocent. You can get scurvy anytime... anywhere... if you don't eat meatball sandwiches.

Mannequin 2: What happens if you get scurvy?

Mannequin 1: I've heard that you lose your teeth.

Mannequin 3: Ack! I have scurvy. Look... no teeth.

Mannequin 1: Teeth? I don't have any teeth either!

Mannequin 2: Me either. Oh my words. We all have scurvy!

Mannequins 2 and 3: We need lunch! We need lunch!

Mannequin 1: Wait...we have a larger problem. We can't eat meatball sandwiches.. no teeth, remember?

Mannequin 2: It's worse than that. We can't hold the meatball sandwiches. Our arms have fallen off.

Mannequin 3: And we have no legs! Where did our legs go? Who stole our legs?

Mannequins 2 and 3: And we have no clothing on!

Mannequin 2: I'm so embarrassed.

Mannequin 1: Guys... guys...guys... maybe if we stand really still nobody will notice.

Mannequin 2: Good plan.

Mannequin 3: I want chocolate. The stress is killing me.

Mannequin 2: Me, too. When's lunch?

Mannequin 1: In 30 minutes. I hear we've having meatball sandwiches...

Boxed In

Moving + Office in Boxes = Muse-less Mind

(Of course, the item I needed the most was in the last box...)