I recieved nothing but postive feedback yesterday from my invites that were sent out before I realized I was no longer a consultant. 

I realized how much I love Pampred Chef, that I can't bear to let it go.  I just need to buckle down, focus and get over my fear of the phone.  Until the end of the year there is a mini kit available, so I can re sign for only $65 as opposed to the usual $155.  I already own pretty much everything in the kit anyway and don't really need it.  I do need a new bar pan, as mine cracked in half a few months ago and I have not replaced it.  Also I'll get a piece of the forged cutlery, a new batter bowl, and a couple other small peices.  Also because I'll be starting over I'll get to take advantage of the new consultant program and earn some Pampered Chef dollors to get more products or paperwork.  Also its Novemeber so I can earn the new spring products too...and since I'll be resinging sometime in the next week or so I will have 30 days from that date to earn products, instead of until the end of November.

My new plan is to do one or two shows a month.  I'm going a head with the one I was going to do myself next week, I also have a catalog show booked for December.  Also out of the blue last night I got an email from a past host, inviting me to a Scentsy (I'd never heard of it but its warmers and wax melts like candles) party on Friday and saying she wants to have a Pampered Chef SOON!  So to resign I have to line up 6 shows, I'm practically half way there.

I was starting to stress about preschool net year, wondering if we'd actually be able to afford to send Hannah.  She wants to go so bad.  She cries everytime we drop off Makenna.  So that is my goal, to earn enough to pay for her preschool and perhaps Mik's piano lessons.

That being said, I still need to get three more parties (at least) on the calendar so if anyone is interested...

This morning I tried to set up a new Pampered Chef show.  Much to my surprise I was blocked out of consultant's corner.  Turns out my contract expired yesterday due to being inactive for 6 consectutive months.  Good grief has it been that long.  But apparently it has.  It was all I could do not burst into tears when the rather unsypathetic representive at the "Solution Center" gave me the news.  If I want to continue as a consultant I will have to re-sign and buy a new kit.  So now I am faced with the dilemma.  Do I or don't I?

I pretty much sucked at being a consultant because I hate making phone calls and asking people for things.  Therefore my calendar was nearly always empty as it has been for the past six months.  Oh I had a couple nibbles but they fell through.

Recently I had someone want to order something as a Christmas gift.  So I decided I was going to give it another shot.  I scheduled a Holiday Show, sent out some invites this morning.  But alas as of yesterday I am no longer a Pampered Chefer.  The thought of hanging up my apron for good leaves me wanting to weep again. 

I took a little time out today to do something that brings me joy...

I bought a pattern for this cute little tote a while back, along with the fabric and had not yet had a chance to sew it up.  So this afternoon I did.  I think it came out pretty cute   If I do say so myself.

Then Hannah wanted to take my picture with it too.

I had a rough week lots of frustration and discouragement. 

But worship service this morning was a balm for my dry weary soul. Pastor spoke on God's Gift of Joy.  It was one of those weeks where I felt like he was talking straight to me.

There are so many things in this world that can steal our joy but we need to take the time to be refreshed, to sit at the feet of Jesus and let him pour His joy into us.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."  John 15:11 NIV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

Its been a week of harvest/fall/halloween celebrations.  It started off on Wednesday as Ryan had his party at boy scouts that night.  The following night Mikayla had her party at girl scouts.  She was very happy to win "silliest costume" with her Hatching Egg costume. 

Friday was of course their parties at school.  Mikayla was quite put out on Thursday afternoon as she reported to me that they had lost their halloween party because of bad behavior, not her specifically of course but the class has a whole.  Friday after school she came running up the driveway goodies in hand beaming from ear to ear, declaring it was "The best day EVER!"  I take it you had your party after all.  "Yes!" Her teacher had ruled it unfair as it had been a substitue teacher that took away the party, and he didn't see the behavior therefore overruled and gave them the party anyway.  She also won a goodie basket in music class for winning a trivia contest.

Tonight we headed to church for the annual harvest/hallelujah bash.  I much perfer this to trick or treating anyway.  Pizza, candy, games, hanging out with the "Housewives"....what could be better?

Mikayla as a "Hatching Egg", Ryan as "Megatron" (one of the Transformers) and Hannah as none other than "Hannah Montana" of course.

One of the cutest moments was when Abbi, one of Hannah's best friends arrived and Hannah said, "So Abbi, what are you?"  Abbi was "Bible Girl".

I was the elected birthday cake baker for Laura's birthday.  I had fun making it, Makenna and Hannah enjoyed watching, and getting to lick the beaters after I made the frosting.  Makenna was pretty funny when she reentered the kitchen as I was just finished the cake, "Oh Aunt Amy, I love the cake!  It's incredible!"  I burst out laughing.  Thanks Makenna, I'm glad you like it!  I was happy my sister liked it too, since it was her cake and all.

Ryan was quite concerned to realize it was Aunt Laura's birthday.  "I need to find her a gift!"  He exclaimed a strip of leftover Sponage Bob wrapping paper in hand from his birthday last week.  I sorta laughed and shrugged him off, going about getting dinner on the table.  Later in the evening I laughed to see a lumpy looking packed wrapped in Sponage Bob paper and lots of scotch tape... we all could hardly wait to see what he had come up with.

He "regifted" a jump rope he had recently gotten as a prize in Kidz Church.  We all laughed.  And he was quite smug and proud of his gift.

This past weekend we carved pumpkins.  Turned out to be a major production.  We bought one of those stencil kits.  Ryan picked this crazy skull phantom like thing.  Kelly and Laura craved it out for him.  They did an awesome job.  I carved Hannah's pumpkin into a kitty face, the rest of the time I separted seeds from gunk so we could roast them.  It was fun.  The kids had a blast, I think we broke off three of our little pumpkin carving knives.  There was some pretty intense carving going on!

Last night finished my quilt,  took me approximately ten months!  Much longer than anticipated, and a little pathetic since it's not even that large of a quilt.  But its done, I love it and am very happy.  Can't wait for a nice chilly afternoon to curl up on the couch with it, a book and a cup of tea.

I'm already eager to begin another. Not sure what to do next. I still want to make a new bed sized one for us. Still want to do the double wedding ring pattern. But its so hard. Maybe if I start now I could finish it by our twentieth anniversary. ;)

Or perhaps I should start Hannah's bedsize quilt, I made the others theirs when they were 3.  Can't believe she's about to turn THREE in less than two months.  I have a pattern all picked out (since before she was born).  The name is Happy Hannah, I found it shortly after we settled on a Hannah as her name. 

Ryan was born.

Yesterday marks Ryan's 7th birthday. 

He has grown up so much this year.  He is loosing that little boy look.  He started 1st grade this fall and is doing great in school. He was very proud to get 100% on his very first spelling test.  It is very exciting to hear him learning to read and to see him reading stories to his little sister. He played football for the first time this year, for his last game this past Sunday he was the starting quarter back.

He is such a sweet, sensitive boy.  I am happy to be his Mom. <3