Showing posts with label Mail Call Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mail Call Monday. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2016
May 4 - You Are An Original * Hello from sunny MN * Live from Periscope
No happy mail to share yet this week, so I uploaded one of my recent
Periscope videos.
I felt someone needed to hear this simple, but
powerful message...
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
New Year - No Resolutions
************************************
JAN 2016
New Year - No Resolutions
Hey there swappers and pals! If you've been following my blog or YouTube channel, you're probably wondering where I've been. Still here, freezing in northern Minnesota. It's been a crazy ride for our family the last half of 2015.
My oldest son had a surgery which led to complications, which led to him being in the hospital (he's ok now, but is having trauma/anxiety issues which stems from this medical emergency).
We took a family trip to South Dakota (no, not Mount Rushmore, we went to Sioux Falls since that is where my husband's job sent him). We stayed in a beautiful hotel and while we were there, they experienced record rain/flash floods, the power went out in the hotel (no generator), and it was mass chaos. The hotel didn't flood luckily, but many cars out on the road were going everywhere. It's a trip that we will never forget.
My husband has had some multiple health issues going on, and then a pharmacy here gave him the wrong pills in his bottle, which he took for a week before realizing why he was feeling the way he was... and then ended up in the hospital with stroke symptoms, and his whole one side being back at 50% strength. He is still doing physical/occupational therapy. He currently isn't able to do his job (precision measurement), but they found other things for him to do there, so at least he didn't lose his job. He is having more hours away from work due to Dr. appts, etc. so that paycheck loss kind of stung us for awhile.
Then in the end of October, our youngest son started feeling ill. One week after my husband was home from the hospital, on Nov. 2, our youngest ended up in the hospital for 5 days. He was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 (sometimes called Juvenile Diabetes) and also had a staph infection. We are now living a "new normal" since Diabetes Type 1 is a lifelong disease (still praying for a cure.)
The end of 2015 has been a HELL of a year, to put it mildly....
Then... we got a call from the school saying we were nominated to be a family to receive a Blessing Bag. They wanted a wish list from us for gifts the kids would like (and us, too). I also saw something in our church bulletin about the community collecting gifts for a family and it was a local organization called Best Christmas Ever (http://www.bcemovement.org/).
The family sounded a LOT like us... hmmmm.... so a lady from church asked if she could stop over one Sunday afternoon. We said sure. Since she also works at the school, I thought she might be bringing over the Blessing Bag. Well lo and behold, several cars pulled into the driveway, and our livingroom was full of people delivering presents and more presents, gift cards, etc. It was the Best Christmas Ever! Literally! I was doing everything I could to hold it together, but yes those tears did fall.
(Here's a news clip of this wonderful organization, a month before they showed up at our door.)
(Here's a video of another family that received gifts from BCE.)
The next day, I still had to go to the school to get our Blessing Bag... but it was not just ONE bag... it was several. They gave us gifts, cleaning supplies, household goods (that stuff adds up you know), food, and a wreath. The kindness of our community has just blown us away. I don't even know how to begin to say thank you for it all! Words can't even express it!
So... instead of being bitter and angry at all the BAD things that happened to us in 2015, I am choosing to be GRATEFUL that I still have my sons and my husband here. We still have our pets. We still have our house. We still have electricity and internet (we all know it's a necessity...lol). We still have food to eat. And we are stocked up on Toilet Paper for quite awhile! LOL.
The people here have shown us how much God loves us, and have given us HOPE that we CAN survive through the suffering, with the help of His people.
So... now here we are in the new year. 2016. I am SO happy to move on to a new year and I have HOPE and DREAMS for myself and my family. I am doing something small each day for myself, and CREATING ART is one of those forms of therapy that I really need. (See my art blog HERE). I haven't done any art or crafting for a LONG time. My craft room misses me. It has become a dumping ground... I can't even SEE my desk right now. I just stack stuff and walk out. And say someday, I will get around to cleaning that desk off. I have all my mail organized for each month from Oct-Dec., and am still contemplating doing one mass Mail Call video to get caught up.
My oldest son had a surgery which led to complications, which led to him being in the hospital (he's ok now, but is having trauma/anxiety issues which stems from this medical emergency).
We took a family trip to South Dakota (no, not Mount Rushmore, we went to Sioux Falls since that is where my husband's job sent him). We stayed in a beautiful hotel and while we were there, they experienced record rain/flash floods, the power went out in the hotel (no generator), and it was mass chaos. The hotel didn't flood luckily, but many cars out on the road were going everywhere. It's a trip that we will never forget.
My husband has had some multiple health issues going on, and then a pharmacy here gave him the wrong pills in his bottle, which he took for a week before realizing why he was feeling the way he was... and then ended up in the hospital with stroke symptoms, and his whole one side being back at 50% strength. He is still doing physical/occupational therapy. He currently isn't able to do his job (precision measurement), but they found other things for him to do there, so at least he didn't lose his job. He is having more hours away from work due to Dr. appts, etc. so that paycheck loss kind of stung us for awhile.
Then in the end of October, our youngest son started feeling ill. One week after my husband was home from the hospital, on Nov. 2, our youngest ended up in the hospital for 5 days. He was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1 (sometimes called Juvenile Diabetes) and also had a staph infection. We are now living a "new normal" since Diabetes Type 1 is a lifelong disease (still praying for a cure.)
The end of 2015 has been a HELL of a year, to put it mildly....
Then... we got a call from the school saying we were nominated to be a family to receive a Blessing Bag. They wanted a wish list from us for gifts the kids would like (and us, too). I also saw something in our church bulletin about the community collecting gifts for a family and it was a local organization called Best Christmas Ever (http://www.bcemovement.org/).
The family sounded a LOT like us... hmmmm.... so a lady from church asked if she could stop over one Sunday afternoon. We said sure. Since she also works at the school, I thought she might be bringing over the Blessing Bag. Well lo and behold, several cars pulled into the driveway, and our livingroom was full of people delivering presents and more presents, gift cards, etc. It was the Best Christmas Ever! Literally! I was doing everything I could to hold it together, but yes those tears did fall.
(Here's a news clip of this wonderful organization, a month before they showed up at our door.)
(Here's a video of another family that received gifts from BCE.)
The next day, I still had to go to the school to get our Blessing Bag... but it was not just ONE bag... it was several. They gave us gifts, cleaning supplies, household goods (that stuff adds up you know), food, and a wreath. The kindness of our community has just blown us away. I don't even know how to begin to say thank you for it all! Words can't even express it!
So... instead of being bitter and angry at all the BAD things that happened to us in 2015, I am choosing to be GRATEFUL that I still have my sons and my husband here. We still have our pets. We still have our house. We still have electricity and internet (we all know it's a necessity...lol). We still have food to eat. And we are stocked up on Toilet Paper for quite awhile! LOL.
The people here have shown us how much God loves us, and have given us HOPE that we CAN survive through the suffering, with the help of His people.
So... now here we are in the new year. 2016. I am SO happy to move on to a new year and I have HOPE and DREAMS for myself and my family. I am doing something small each day for myself, and CREATING ART is one of those forms of therapy that I really need. (See my art blog HERE). I haven't done any art or crafting for a LONG time. My craft room misses me. It has become a dumping ground... I can't even SEE my desk right now. I just stack stuff and walk out. And say someday, I will get around to cleaning that desk off. I have all my mail organized for each month from Oct-Dec., and am still contemplating doing one mass Mail Call video to get caught up.
I have decided to stop swapping FBs, and concentrate more on my art. I am not quitting swapping anything else... only friendship books. I will still swap Decos, slams, any bags, postcards, happy mail, exchange slips, etc. Just not FBs. If I get any in the mail, I have people that will take my excess, so don't worry, I'm not one of those people that tosses them in the circular file (trash).
* RELATED POST: What is a Friendship Book? Deco? Etc.
Now, let's talk GOALS, not resolutions. Who really sticks to those silly RESOLUTIONS every year anyway? Definitely not me. Lord knows I try. Maybe for a week or 2. And then we go back to our old habits, or life just gets in the way. What are your goals/resolutions for 2016? Would love to hear about them in the Comments section below.
* RELATED POST: What is a Friendship Book? Deco? Etc.
Now, let's talk GOALS, not resolutions. Who really sticks to those silly RESOLUTIONS every year anyway? Definitely not me. Lord knows I try. Maybe for a week or 2. And then we go back to our old habits, or life just gets in the way. What are your goals/resolutions for 2016? Would love to hear about them in the Comments section below.
Not necessarily in any specific order, here are a few of my goals for 2016:
* Create more digital stationery and maybe even start selling labels again
* Walk more (hoping to get a treadmill soon for these long winter days)
I look forward to sharing my mail journey here with you on my blog on this new year. Thanks for commenting, watching my videos, and just being here for me. Cyberhugs to you all!
~Barbi
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Monday Mail Call - May 18, 2015
View this video on YouTube HERE.
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Monday Mail Call - May 11, 2015
View this video on YouTube HERE.
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Monday Mail Call - Apr. 30, 2015
View this video on YouTube HERE.
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Thursday, April 23, 2015
MAIL CALL Monday 04/13/15
View this video on YouTube HERE.
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
New Monday Mail Call video on the way
I am working on editing my latest video, and will post the link to it soon on my YouTube channel. Check out here: CreatedByBarbi's YouTube Channel
I am not doing anymore organized swaps here on this blog, as I had 4 members in Feb. and HALF of them didn't send on time, or didn't contact their partner to let them know they were sending, received, etc. These are adults. And I know for a fact they were not new to swapping. It's really NOT that hard, and I am not paid to be your babysitter. (I'm not paid to do this at ALL....) soooo..... I am NOT putting myself through all that stress when there are plenty other ways for you to find organized swaps (Swap-bot.com, Facebook groups, etc.)
I do still like to swap, but money is tight around here due to my husband's health issues (and mine, sick kids, car expenses, house expenses, etc.) We are a one-income household, with 2 kids and 3 pets, and the only money I get for postage is by selling my digital stationery, and stickers/stationery on eBay, Listia, and my Facebook Group: Stickers and Stationery For Sale.
I don't want items sitting around too long as sometimes I get a lot of items sent as excess and don't have money to pass them along right away.
Instead, I joined some Happy Mail and Swap groups on Facebook, where you can just randomly choose someone to send happy mail, or set up a one-time swap. At least that way I can control better what I am swapping and know how much money I need for postage. Budgeting is difficult when there's no money to budget.... sigh... ok so that's my (rant) for today...
I will still be showing my weekly Monday Mail Call videos, but sometimes they end up being bi-monthly as sometimes life just gets in the way and I don't get a video out every week.
Thank you SO much to everyone that sends Happy Mail my way, as it really DOES make me happy :) More than you know.
If you would like my address, comment below. And if you'd like to swap anything with me, post what you'd like to swap and where you are from. If you live outside the US, I am sorry but I can't swap with you right now due to postage costs.
Happy swapping!
~Barbi
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
I am not doing anymore organized swaps here on this blog, as I had 4 members in Feb. and HALF of them didn't send on time, or didn't contact their partner to let them know they were sending, received, etc. These are adults. And I know for a fact they were not new to swapping. It's really NOT that hard, and I am not paid to be your babysitter. (I'm not paid to do this at ALL....) soooo..... I am NOT putting myself through all that stress when there are plenty other ways for you to find organized swaps (Swap-bot.com, Facebook groups, etc.)
I do still like to swap, but money is tight around here due to my husband's health issues (and mine, sick kids, car expenses, house expenses, etc.) We are a one-income household, with 2 kids and 3 pets, and the only money I get for postage is by selling my digital stationery, and stickers/stationery on eBay, Listia, and my Facebook Group: Stickers and Stationery For Sale.
I don't want items sitting around too long as sometimes I get a lot of items sent as excess and don't have money to pass them along right away.
Instead, I joined some Happy Mail and Swap groups on Facebook, where you can just randomly choose someone to send happy mail, or set up a one-time swap. At least that way I can control better what I am swapping and know how much money I need for postage. Budgeting is difficult when there's no money to budget.... sigh... ok so that's my (rant) for today...
I will still be showing my weekly Monday Mail Call videos, but sometimes they end up being bi-monthly as sometimes life just gets in the way and I don't get a video out every week.
Thank you SO much to everyone that sends Happy Mail my way, as it really DOES make me happy :) More than you know.
If you would like my address, comment below. And if you'd like to swap anything with me, post what you'd like to swap and where you are from. If you live outside the US, I am sorry but I can't swap with you right now due to postage costs.
Happy swapping!
~Barbi
Related Links:
* GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
* ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
* Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
MAIL CALL MONDAY 3/23/15
The latest Mail Call Monday Video (from last week 3/23/15) is up...
http://youtu.be/6F9gvt0aMpM
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
http://youtu.be/6F9gvt0aMpM
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Monday, March 16, 2015
MAIL CALL MONDAY 3/16/15
The newest Mail Call Monday Video (from today 3/16/15) is up...
http://youtu.be/WJRiSEvM5Tc
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
http://youtu.be/WJRiSEvM5Tc
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
MAIL CALL MONDAY - End of Feb.
I'm playing catch-up on my Monday Mail Call videos.
Here is the completed video for the end of Feb.
The newest one should be done either later tonight or tomorrow morning, whenever it uploads.
http://youtu.be/npLvGbYInQU
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Here is the completed video for the end of Feb.
The newest one should be done either later tonight or tomorrow morning, whenever it uploads.
http://youtu.be/npLvGbYInQU
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
MAIL CALL MONDAY / TUESDAY 2/17/15
Hi everybody! I finally got my Mail Call Monday video from last week edited and uploaded.
Here it is:
http://youtu.be/N-5N0XdHbsI
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Here it is:
http://youtu.be/N-5N0XdHbsI
Thanks for watching!
~Barbi
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Monday, February 23, 2015
MAIL CALL MONDAY UPDATE
Hello everybody! (Said in my Stampycat voice)... my kids have been watching Minecraft videos on YouTube lately, and if you have boys, you probably know who Stampy is... lol.
I heard he has a degree in video production. Maybe he could help me.... I am having problems finding time to learn how to piece my video together from my iPhone onto this Movie Maker program. I have Windows 8 now. Yeah. Yikes.
So that's what I'll be doing today, in addition to laundry and taking care of the family/household of course. TRYING to learn more technical stuff. I am a techie geek so it bothers me when it takes me this long to learn something or not be able to figure it out at all.
I don't have a Fun Mail Saturday video to do this week, I didn't get any fun mail at ALL this Saturday. And now on Mondays, I am just combining and showing what I received the previous week (not including Saturday).
OK if you are still following and reading this, thanks for sticking with me. And wish me luck on learning some technical video editing "stuff" today.
I'll keep you updated.
~Barbi
I heard he has a degree in video production. Maybe he could help me.... I am having problems finding time to learn how to piece my video together from my iPhone onto this Movie Maker program. I have Windows 8 now. Yeah. Yikes.
So that's what I'll be doing today, in addition to laundry and taking care of the family/household of course. TRYING to learn more technical stuff. I am a techie geek so it bothers me when it takes me this long to learn something or not be able to figure it out at all.
I don't have a Fun Mail Saturday video to do this week, I didn't get any fun mail at ALL this Saturday. And now on Mondays, I am just combining and showing what I received the previous week (not including Saturday).
OK if you are still following and reading this, thanks for sticking with me. And wish me luck on learning some technical video editing "stuff" today.
I'll keep you updated.
~Barbi
Thursday, February 19, 2015
What happened to MONDAY MAIL CALL?
OK well, I had technical difficulties and 'MAIL CALL MONDAY 2/9/15 - PART 2' isn't going to happen.
Sooo... I combined all the mail from last week into one video, but I am trying a new editing program, and have had so many distractions (aka LIFE) that I am still in the editing process for MAIL CALL MONDAY 2/16/15. Yep, on Thursday night. It's just been that kind of week.
Thanks for hanging in there.... I will let you know when the new video is up.
~Barbi
P.S. In the meantime, you can read my new Craft Blog HERE.
Sooo... I combined all the mail from last week into one video, but I am trying a new editing program, and have had so many distractions (aka LIFE) that I am still in the editing process for MAIL CALL MONDAY 2/16/15. Yep, on Thursday night. It's just been that kind of week.
Thanks for hanging in there.... I will let you know when the new video is up.
~Barbi
P.S. In the meantime, you can read my new Craft Blog HERE.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Monday Mail Call 2/9/15
Hi I uploaded Part 1 of my Monday Mail Call, here is the link.
Let me know what you think!
And please LIKE/Comment on my video page too.
http://youtu.be/WxyN9A6az68
(The end cut off short because I use my iPhone to record my videos, and my kids (and I) had it all full of pictures! I had to delete a ton, and then re-load and edit the video to get it to work this week.)
Part 2 will hopefully be done tomorrow if the snow forecasted doesn't cause my Internet to go down (it probably will). I'll just update here on my blog when Part 2 is finished and uploaded.
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
Fun Mail Saturday
February Swap: Happy Mail
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Let me know what you think!
And please LIKE/Comment on my video page too.
http://youtu.be/WxyN9A6az68
(The end cut off short because I use my iPhone to record my videos, and my kids (and I) had it all full of pictures! I had to delete a ton, and then re-load and edit the video to get it to work this week.)
Part 2 will hopefully be done tomorrow if the snow forecasted doesn't cause my Internet to go down (it probably will). I'll just update here on my blog when Part 2 is finished and uploaded.
It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
Fun Mail Saturday
February Swap: Happy Mail
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
Craft and Swap Related Links <CLICK HERE TO READ MORE>
Monday, February 2, 2015
MONDAY MAIL CALL 2/2/15
(Click on photo to see larger version.)
I used to LOVE mail call when I was in the Army. Except that in Basic Training you had to open it right there and if you had treats, had to share it with everyone... lol. They didn't want food in the barracks (rodents, etc.) I still love getting mail.
My new video is up. My first Mail Call Monday video was fun to make.
All addresses are covered in green sticky notes to protect the innocent...lol.
Thank you everybody for filling my mailbox and making me smile when I got my mail today! (See previous post about walking to the mailbox in cold, wind, ice, snow, etc.)
Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and thanks for hitting the thumbs up and commenting too. It lets me know people have seen my video.
Related Links:
Fun Mail Saturday
February Swap: Happy Mail
GLOSSARY: What is a FB? LB? SB? Goodie Bag? Deco?
ATC Basics / What Are ATCs?
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