Cracker Jack Prize (AnneofAlamo's idea dusted off.)

So, in Texas Cracker Jacks are these boxes of edible popcorn (I say edible because the taste is debatable) that had these small prizes at the bottom. Sometimes they were really cool, sometimes they were really lame but every time they made us excited and smile.

I'm bringing up the happy thread Anne started last time (you know, the one where I hugged her so tightly for it that she finally had to pry me off and feed me chocolate...) because I happen to know that quite a few of us here need bits of happiness for whatever we're battling through.

I wanted to share this layout because it has genuinely brought me giggles when I was strong enough and at least a soft smile when I wasn't.



@BevG posted this gem right as my strength was flagging one night. I've been battling an allergic reaction to the point I was cutting my skin open from scratching so much. The steroids are the only thing that has helped while we wait for things to get back to normal, but they make me flu like. I've had fevers, worse headaches, body aches, exhaustion and extreme weakness. It started at the end of March and since the first bout of steroids didn't handle it, I'm on a second stronger dose. Which means I can't even get through a full day anymore. It's been completely depressing and my time here has been to put in a few hours at 'work' (I work from home on my computer) stare at this layout to give me the strength to get up and go back to bed and cry.

I have not shut down my computer since the day she posted this. I keep it up and look over at it for a little giggle, a little smile and point of brightness. So thank you, Bev, for sharing it. It's gotten me through a few days.

I have to try and get at least another hour of work put in today, but I wanted to come here because I miss you guys and wanted to make sure everyone else thought of something positive as well. It really helps keeping you going. All of the sweet comments people have left on my last layouts as well made me smile today, there's yet another positive. I promise to get the strength up to comment back on each soon. I've been two days off the meds and should hopefully bounce back to being active again soon. miss you guys. share your happy, always focus on the good, not just the bad. xoxo

 

Feel free to post your happy, or funny things too!

and thank you for the sweet words ladies!

 

@BevG Thank you for posting it, I know it was for a scraplift, but it's the photos and how you put the wording that made this layout a lifeline for me for a bit. ^.^ It always made me crack up because I have quite a few of the kids (and a few animal photos) that look about the same. "O. EM. GEE, STOP WITH THE PHOTOS, LADY!!"

I literally had one bird FALL ASLEEP on me.. apparently I'm THAT boring of a photographer... oh my, I need to see if I can find that in my instagram, one sec.

Here's the first photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/LvWnMUArMV/

and one towards the end. https://www.instagram.com/p/LvW5efgrMc/

What in the... (sorry for the links, I can't figure out how to get the image address off of instagram...)

@umyesh They were one of my coveted, favorite snacks as a kid and of course, I get nostalgic when I see them and grab them and then go.. uh... hmm. Not as good as I remember... -.-

@jk703 I love warm hugs! (yes, yes I'm Olaf.. my kids delight in calling me that.)

@IntenseMagic thanks miss Jan!!! I pulled up this video in case you couldn't find anything (I'm absolutely SURE you can, but I'm one of those boyscout type who has something "just in case".. ) Hopefully THIS will make you giggle: (work safe, I promise.)

@Teri What a fantastic memory!! That is hilarious!! I also really like how you made it a christmas gift, it's awesome! I feel like I could tear the paper off and get a gift! My sister would kiiiill me if I posted one of her like that! (but then with the background story, maybe not. hmmm.. wonder what I could get away with?)

@Juliestcyr I LOVED those cartoons, do you know I cried when I found out He-Man and She-Ra were siblings? I always wanted them to get together and make Baby-Ra. How awesome would that be?!?!?! (Also, I LOVED Tina, she was one of my role models..) That is a really cool memory!

Thank you for all the happy things guys! And the well wishes! You're the best!

(I'm ending with this smiley because.. well.. because I love it so much:

 

@gonewiththewind THANK YOU. This was exactly what I needed!!! Those are AWESOME!!! I love the photo of your dad and sister, that's awesome!! The teen pics are exactly what I get here at home to, never thought to scrap them! LOL! (Well, I DID do one of Jace making this "Oh boy" face, really, again mom?" but I haven't re-done that one yet. It's in one of my scrap books but I can't post it anywhere because of the kits used in it.

Also.. uhm... your husband... he's got something... well... you know... just. .. just there... theeeeeere, in his teeth... no no, right the.... you know what? It's fine. >.>

And seriously, I don't want to seem stalker-ish, but I had THIS layout (alongside Bev's) up for that few days:



Because it reminds me so much of my son and I as well. I have a layout in the works called "Always together, always classy." (I'm a perfectionist, so I haven't QUITE found that PERFECT kit for it yet.. but I have the bare bones..) that harnesses photos of my son and I like this.

Anyway, it was super cute and made me giggle, especially the "best face ever" little blurb. I really like how you layer your items in all your layouts and how fun and exciting all the colors always are. ^.^

Again, thank you for sharing those!!!


I also wanted to share a moment of bursting pride with everyone. I am the type that constantly hounds my kids. "For every negative thing you dwell on that happens in your day, think of TWO positive things."

It's an exercise I make them do constantly.

"Why are you crying (insert kid here)?"

"Today was THE WORST DAY EVER!!!!!!" ::snifflesnobsnortgurgle::

"Breathe. In. Out. Tell me one bad thing that happened."

"I dropped all my books and all the kids laughed at me!!!"

"Did ANYONE help?"

:auses sniffling:: "Well.. actually.. so and so did pick up one book for me."

"Excellent, what else happened that was good?"

"My backpack didn't break, it was just unzipped."

"Very good. Now, tell me another bad thing."

I make them list two positives for every single negative that they come up with and I let them go through the whole list of bad things. If they can't come up with something, I remind them of something good that happened when I was there. Sometimes we have to 'force" the good thing. "Well.. uh... no kitten were harmed in the making of that film..."

As a mom, you sit there and re-iterate over and over these kinds of lessons and you feel like they never learn because they ALWAYS come crying about how their day was ruined and TOTALLY AWFUL because of one major thing that went wrong.

Cue last night, I was walking down the stairs and I fell partly down because of the dizzy and exhaustion I was going through. I cussed, I was more shocked that anything and VERY frustrated because this whole thing is ridiculous, I should NOT be feeling this way.

My ten year old came around the corner concerned and was like "ARE YOU OKAY!?!?!?!"

When I confirmed I was, she sat down next to me and pat my back.

"I'm tired. I'm tired of being sick and tired. I'm tired of having 12 spoons to begin with and then whatever this has been the last week taking my spoons so I only have 4 a day to work with. It's not fair and it's stupid!!! It's hard enough getting by with only 12 spoon!!!"

I was close to raging at this point because I don't like to cry in front of my kids, so I use my anger instead.

I felt this tiny little hand on my back and her soft words broke that cloud of anger quickly.

"At least it's not 2."

I looked over at her in surprise and listened as my ten year old spouted wisdom I never realized she fully used.

"You fell. But you didn't break anything and I get to sit with you a moment and hug my mommie."

I hugged her VERY tightly and then she stood up and pulled me up and helped me get down the second half of the stairs. I was so full of bursting pride at that moment I could have cried all over the place.

There, there is another one of my positives I choose to focus on. ^.^

I hope you guys have had plenty as well! Thank you all for coming and sharing with me, it means a lot, you are one of my positive lists as well.

 

That's PERFECT!!! I loooooove it! There's something great about a family that plays along!!! Thank you, Miss Bev!!!! <3<3

 

@gonewiththewind Yes!! I hate having to skip activities myself. Especially when the kids don't understand and just think mommie doesn't wanna hang. Meh!

I've been dealing with this for over 9 years, I was okay with it before (I mean, you just sorta realize, this is your life and you either let it control you, or you control it and keep living. I'd gotten complacent, hated that I was so young and unable to do stuff, but whatever. A couple of months ago, everything changed, I can't even drive now, I can't walk in the daytime when the sun is out, and sometimes can't even have the blinds open. I was freaked out, it shouldn't change, it shouldn't get worse, what was next?!?! Total blindness? These are the kinds of things I was facing. The loss of being independent really cut me hard. I was in a very very dark place.

So yeah, it's VERY important to me to keep my perspective aimed up, hence why the "we're all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars" is VERY important to me. I HAVE to keep looking and finding the good or I will drown.

I actually made this printable to remind myself, but I didn't post it because it's a direct copy of Elisa's "Anchored" layout.



Also, super hugs to you, dear Cheryl! I've always got a smile for you if you need!