simplelife46

7/2/09 - Catching up swaps update - 2 Swaps went out on Monday - 7 Swaps went out today - I have 2 more going out tomorrow. I do want everyone to know that I am sorry that I got behind. My family has gone through a terrible couple of months & depression has eaten me up. I had signed up for a lot of swaps (when things were good) & then the bottom fell out of things for us. Swap-bot was not on my mind as we were going through this. I should have opted out of swaps but did not think about it until it was too late. Many swaps I have had ready to go, (and checked them off as sent) only to not be able to afford the postage when it was time to mail. Every few days I would think surely I would be able to mail them this week. . I'm sure some of you have had this problem at some time or another

. Anyway - part of me just wanted to copy down the addresses of everyone I owed a swap to & then close my account. I planned to send them out to everyone when I could afford it & just hide from it all. My consience would not allow me to do that.

I do apologize for not contacting each of you sooner to let you know there was a problem - I allowed my embarassment to keep me from it.

There it is in a nutshell. Hope you can forgive me at some point - have a blessed day! Mandy

I am a 47 year old stay at home mom. I have 3 children - 25, 19 & 10. I am currently homeschooling my youngest & enjoying being home after spending the earlier part of my life working.

I am enjoying quilting, rug making & plan to try my hand at basket making & chair caning. I enjoy all types of crafts & have great respect for all crafters. I mean no offense but I am not a fan of paper crafts - atc's, matchboxs, hang tags. I do however love handmade cards.

Sewing & painting are my stress relievers. I like to make purses and love interesting ribbons, buttons & trims.

I spend a lot of time outdoors in the Spring & summer - I enjoy working out in my flower garden. I love cute garden things, plant pokes, stepping stones, votive candle holders and such. We do a lot of barbecueing - Aprons are always nice. I love garden flags - I am always changing them out.

I like stars & stripes, primitive country things, & just about anything that is handmade. I also like to decorate with roosters & hens in my country kitchen.

I love & collect unusual Crosses. I have one wall that is only crosses. Love colorful ones.

Let me say that I am a Bible Believing Christian! Jesus Christ is my Lord & Saviour! I make no apologies for my Christianity - He has delivered me and my family from a past I was not sure I could overcome. I will sing his praises forever! I have no animosity for those with other beliefs, however, if you don't know Jesus and would like to - email me & let's talk. You can also visit our church website & view our online services. www.fbcw.org.

Now with that said - lets get on with swapping!!

My favorite colors are jewel tones, red, blue, emerald green, purple. I tend to use a lot of Americana items in my living area but go with peaceful green tones & lavenders in my bedroom.

I LOVE handmade things - All handmade things. I enjoy bath stuff, soaps, bath salts. Favorite scents are citrus/fruit based. I am really not much on the flowery scents.

Scents for my home (candles & such) are apple cinnamon, vanilla & lavendar.

Music: I am hooked on Contemporary Christian but enjoy all types of music. Smooth jazz, country, mountain/dulcimer, rock, I was in a southern rock band in my 20's - I have a great love for that genre.

Fave artists: Rascall Flatts, Casting Crowns, Toby Mac, Big & Rich, Lynyrd Skynryd, Allman Brothers, Bon Jovi

Books: Anything by Nora Roberts, Allison Brennan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Heather Graham, Iris Johanson.

Christian Authors: Liz Curtis Higgs!! Bad Girls of the Bible series is a must read!!! Joyce Meyers, John Hagee & more I have yet to find.

Movies: Anything funny - I want to feel better when I leave the theater than when I arrived.

TV Shows: Good Day Atlanta, True Blood, Saving Grace, Oprah (most of the time), Leverage!! Burn Notice

I am not real hard to get along with on swaps - I think you should send something that you would truly enjoy receiving. I think sometimes we get a little nitpicky in requesting things we want. It should be a surprise and all about what the swapper perceives as being good for the swap. I think if we get all caught up in telling a person what we want in complete detail it takes the joy out of it for the giver. Let it be a surprise!!!! Yes we all have different tastes but that's what makes it so much fun!! If we have to be so picky - maybe we should just go out and buy it instead of swapping for it! Okay - off my soap box & on to the swaps!!

Blessings to all!!

Since I have started doing a bit of kids swaps I thought I would enter my sons info.

His name is Duncan & he is 10 (11 in July). He loves to swim, play video games & listen to music. Collects Bakugan, halo action figures, bottles (of all things LOL) & rings. He loves Star Wars, Halo, Indian Jones - typical boy stuff. He acts a little older than his age because he has an older brother - 19 - and has always hung around him & his friends here at the house. He loves pool toys & wears a mens size 9 in flip flops.