What a busy month this has been! You better grab your favorite beverage and follow along in your easy chair!
Art Journaling Pages for June's theme - Rest & Peacefulness
Rest & Peacefulness
Week 3 is found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/june-aj-week-3-rest-peacefulness.42305/
Journaling reads:
My favorite activity, aside from scrapbooking, is reading and studying God’s word. I get lost in time...when I stop and take the time...as I read and begin looking up cross-references, original meanings of words, etc. It definitely is a refreshing time for me.
I also enjoy watching nature, particularly the birds as they come to our feeders day by day. I love taking pictures of them. And I love to scrap them.
Another activity I (we, DH and I) enjoy is riding our motorcycle. It is probably more relaxing for me than it is for him. I just sit back and enjoy the scenery, take pictures, prop my arms on the armrests of the Goldwing...AH! Feel the breeze!
I also enjoy a morning walk, or an evening walk in the woods. I don’t do the woods in the morning while Mark is not home. And we need to do more walking after he gets home from work...
And I love listening to audiobooks while I’m doing mundane chores around the house, walking at the park, driving in the car.
Each of these activities helps me to relax and be at peace with the world around me and with myself.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. John 14:27
“Relax, recharge and reflect. Sometimes it’s OK to do nothing.” – Izey Victoria Odiase
Credits:
Quiet Moments Wordart and Brushes by Lynne Anzelc (“My Quiet Moments)
Quiet Moments Kit by Lynne Anzelc (Journal bg, bird, flowers, butterfly)
Pause-ability Kit by Vicki Robinson
Pause-ability Word Strips by Vicki Robinson
Breathe Scrapbook Word Art and Titles by Vicki Stegall
Rest & Peacefulness
Week 4 AJ challenge found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/june-art-journaling-challenge-week-4-rest-peacefulness.42335/
Journaling reads:
The lyrics to the chorus of this song kept repeating itself when I thought about the challenge this week. Praise belongs to the Lord for the peace I have, even when the circumstances I may be going through or what is happening in the world is not very peaceful, I can say, “It is well with my soul!” And I am at peace!
I took phrases from the song to create my page.
It is Well With My Soul
by Horatio G. Spafford
When peace like a river attended my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
CHORUS
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul
And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul
Credits:
(I combined 3 papers to create the background and clouds on scroll. I added a solid white layer on top of everything with a soft light blend mode to tone down the colors.)
River Papers by Lynne Anzelc (calm waters paper in foreground)
Melodic Sounds Kit by Lynne Anzelc (trumpet and music notes)
Celestial Worlds by Lynne Anzelc (heavenly sky paper)
La Mer AddON by Lynne Anzelc (clouds and sea billows paper)
Midnight Hour Kit by Lynne Anzelc (scroll)
The Joy Of Missing Out Deluxe Kit by A Whimsical Adventure (at peace girl)
Renaissance Kit by Lynne Anzelc (white horse & rider)
I took a couple of weeks off (actually 3, I think) from scrapping when our family gathering happened the first weekend of June. Then my sister stayed with me the following week. Then I got ready for a girls trip to Pennsylvania to go to the Sight & Sound Theatre and were in PA for a week. Last week I tried to catch up on a bit of scrapping. Buckle your seat belts!
Sight & Sound Trip
Monday, June 16, 2025 through
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
Up at 6:23 this morning. Put a small load of laundry in of mine so I would have a clean gown for our trip to PA. While that was working I gathered the rest of the toiletries and other items I had not yet packed to take on the trip.
Ilene called at 9:00 to let me know she had to run to Joy’s after she ate breakfast. Then she would have to do her foot treatments.
I left around 9:15 to take the church deposit to the bank. Then I went to McDonald’s for an egg McMuffin for me and an egg McMuffin and a chicken biscuit for Mark. I took the food to his work. We ate the egg McMuffins in the parking lot and he saved the chicken biscuit for later.
I packed the car and left for Ilene’s at 10:10. Stopped at Kelly 109 to fill up with gas for the trip. I loaded Ilene’s things into the car while she finished her foot treatments. We were ready to go by 11:45, praying for safety before we left. “Protect us and give us God-speed as we travel, Lord!”
At 12:48 we entered Virginia. We stopped in Rocky Mount, VA for a late lunch of KFC a little after 2:00. At 3:54 we stopped at a Circle K to use the restroom on Rt. 654. We didn’t stop again until we got to the PA Welcome Center to use the restroom at around 6:15. Then we stopped at a rest area 10 minutes later just long enough for me to take my evening pills right at 7:00.
5:40 - entered WV
6:02 - entered MD
6:12 - entered PA
When we got within sight of the hotel, we stopped at Fuddruckers for something to eat. We both got Caesar salads and took them to the hotel to eat.
The travel was pretty easy as we drove through 5 states to reach our destination in PA: NC to VA to WV to MD to PA. We had almost complete cloud cover as we headed north. We left 80 degrees and came to 64 degrees and a cold, misty rain by the time we arrived at the Holiday Inn at 7:30-ish.
After we ate, Ilene began her nightly foot treatment while we played Qwirkle. Meanwhile, Ilene’s daughters are still on the road in rain, traffic, lane closures, and darkness! They wouldn’t be arriving until 1:30-2:00 a.m. We did not stay up to wait on them! However, we are pretty sure it was them we heard coming in around 2:00 a.m. Their room was next door to us.
According to Google Maps Timeline, travel was 459.3 miles today.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Woke up at 6:20 a.m. with a headache. Got up to use the bathroom and took some Tylenol and went back to bed. Next thing I knew, it was 7:40 and someone was calling Ilene’s phone 3 times only to be a wrong number! By that time we were both awake.
I took a shower and we dressed and went to breakfast in the hotel lobby. When we came back to the room I took our suitcases to the car so I could get my coffee mug and Ilene’s foot medicine. When I came back in, Joy and Company (Joy, Rita, Roman, Cathy) were up and going down for breakfast. Ilene fixed her foot bath while I made my coffee. Then we played a game of Qwirkle before packing up the rest of our stuff. It was 10:22 and we had to be checked out by 11:00.
First stop was Sheetz for gas. Then Joy called The Carriage House where we would be staying the rest of the week to see if our rooms were available for occupancy. They were, so we headed there, arriving around 11:40 as the hotel was only 20 miles from Holiday Inn. We unpacked and Ilene and I began our Qwirkling.
At 1:40 everyone was bored so even though it was raining we decided to go to Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. Ilene and I only went to the Jams & Relishes shop and Pappy’s Kettle Corn for Carmel corn. I bought some marked-down Pecan Gooey Buns and Blueberry Bread at Jams & Relishes and bought a large bag of the Carmel corn at Pappy’s Kettle Korn. We went to the car at 3:00 to eat some of the Carmel corn. YUM! Then we sat in front of the Kettle Korn shop with Joy and Cathy and watched the sparrows hop around and beg for food while we waited for Rita and Roman to return from their buggy ride.
We got back to the hotel around 4:00 and played Qwirkle until we left at 5:00 for supper at Casey Jones Restaurant made out of an old train car.
Back to the hotel at 6:00. Showers for everyone and then we played games until 9:00. Joy and Company went to their room and Ilene and I listened to our Bible devotions while Ilene did her foot treatment. By 10:30 we were in bed.
According to Google Maps Timeline, we traveled 34 miles today.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
I was up sick (IBS) to my stomach 3 times through the night….2:00, 3:00, 3:30. Didn’t sleep very well after that. Got up at 7:30 to get ready for breakfast across the street at The Speckled Hen. The Carriage House provides $8 vouchers for breakfast with each night’s stay.
The Sight & Sound performance was to begin at 11:00 and they advised arriving 45 minutes early. The Carriage House is only a short distance away so we left around 10:00. The performance ended around 2:00. From there we went to Stoltzfus Meats in Intercourse, PA and everyone but me ate at Anne’s Restaurant at the other end of the meat market. My stomach was not up to eating.
After lunch we went to the Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market. The only thing I bought was a cobbler crust mix that was 50% off.
On the way back to the hotel it began to rain. Ilene snacked while we played Qwirkle. Rita joined us later. After a couple of games with Rita we took a break to watch the news about the Iranian and Israeli conflict brewing in the Middle East.
Everyone else came to our room but eventually went back to their room and Rita was the only one left. We played Qwirkle until 11:30 before deciding we had better call it quits. Rita left and Ilene and I listened to our devotions while she did her foot treatment and went to bed around 12:30.
According to Google Maps Timeline, we traveled 18 miles today.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Up at 6:30 for the potty. Laid back down since Ilene was still sleeping but never did go back to sleep. I needed to take some Tylenol when I was up, but didn’t and was too lazy to get back up but finally had to at 7:30. Ilene woke up then. Not sure what, if any, the plans are for the day. Rita wants to take Roman to Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park for kids, if the weather is good. The sun was shining so today was the day.
I had thought that our trip would be over and we would be heading back home on Friday, but I had my dates messed up, thinking Friday was the 21st. So I had to tell Mark I wouldn’t be home until Saturday evening instead.
While Ilene worked on her foot treatment, I found some yard sales for Friday. I researched where they were, created a map and determined our route.
We didn’t wait on Joy and Company to go to breakfast. We went at 9 and ate on their patio. The weather was so nice we asked one of the workers if we could just sit and enjoy the weather. He said we could sit there all day as far as he was concerned! Joy and Company arrived to eat between 9:30 - 9:45. At 10 we headed back to the hotel. Rita, Roman and Joy headed to Dutch Wonderland. Cathy just hung out in their room while Ilene and I headed to Lancaster to see if we could find the one lonely yard sale listed for the day. When we didn’t find the yard sale open we came back to the hotel and played Qwirkle. Around 3:00 Ilene was ready to eat, so I took her and Cathy to Chick-fil-A for a sandwich. My stomach was still acting up, so I didn’t get anything.
After eating the 3 of us played Qwirkle. There was a storm brewing outside. About 4:00 the sky opened up and the bottom fell out. It poured for quite awhile with the wind blowing, thunder crashing….scary! They closed down Dutch Wonderland right before the storm hit so Rita, Roman and Joy had to leave earlier than planned. The parking was $40 so they had opted to park about 4 block away in the Tanger Outlet parking lot. They were about halfway to the parking lot when the bottom fell out! They were soaked by the time they reached the car! They took showers and ordered pizza for supper when they got back to the hotel. Then Rita played Qwirkle with us until 8:00.
Ilene worked on her feet while I took the trash out. When I got done with that we listened to our devotion while Ilene finished soaking her feet. Then Ilene fell asleep while watching TV. I played my games on my phone before going to bed.
According to Google Maps Timeline, we traveled 34.1 miles today.
Friday, June 20, 2025
Awake at 6:30 and up at 7:00. Ilene and I listened to our devotions as she did her feet treatment. Then we showered and went to breakfast.
We all left the hotel to do the yard sales. But when the first couple were duds, Joy and Company parted ways with us. We found a couple that were profitable for Ilene, but I did not buy anything. We went to Fox Meadow Creamery for ice cream, but got a delicious Cranberry Chicken Salad Wrap sandwich, too, and split it before we got ice cream.
We ended the yard sale excursion and went back to Stoltzfus Meats so Ilene could get the rye bread she saw on the first trip there. She also got some fresh cinnamon raisin bread and sauerkraut. We arrived back at the hotel around 3.
Qwirkle Time! We played until everyone was ready to leave for supper at 5:00. We ate at an Amish restaurant, Hometown Kitchen, which was Cathy’s desire.
I checked and added a bit of oil to the car. Then Ilene began her foot treatment. We turned on the TV to watch CNN’s updates on the Middle East situation. Ilene fell asleep while watching. No Qwirkle tonight. Everyone was too tired and retired early to rest before the long trip home on Saturday.
It has been a wonderful week. We did more relaxing this trip, but we still were busy. I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again, but sure dreading that trip!
According to Google Maps Timeline, we traveled 71.6 miles today.
Page 2
After eating (at Hometown Kitchen on Friday) we came back to the hotel. I let the car cool down so I could check the oil before our trip back home on Saturday. While waiting everyone but Cathy decided to take a walk. Joy brought Ilene back after a few minutes but Rita, Roman and I continued walking for about 30 minutes before heading back. We walk about 1/2 mile, down one side of the street and back up the other side. Most of the homes and buildings are historic.
Strasburg, PA, on Main Street, features a collection of historic homes dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. These homes, primarily located in the Strasburg Historic District, showcase a mix of architectural styles including German, vernacular, Georgian, and Federal, with notable examples built using log, brick, limestone, and sandstone.
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. Brick, “One of the finest examples remaining of Georgian meeting house style churches in Lancaster County”. C. 1806-1816. Numerous graves of Revolutionary Soldiers in the grave yard.
One of the oldest documented log houses in town. C. 1764. Standing at odd angle to street, indicating it was erected before the present road was laid out. “The Christopher Sprech House” (I think).
The flowers were beautiful around the neighborhood. The colors of these lilies were beautiful!
Also called Riegers begonia, and was attached from the name of the German farm that bred this flower. It is abundant in flower color, and it is going out all year round with potted plants.
Native to East Asia. It is commonly known as balloon flower, Chinese bellflower, or platycodon.
I just found out that this Day Lily is also called a ditch lily. That makes total sense to me as they are growing along the side of the road everywhere you go!
One of the historic plaques giving date house was built, city, and presenter. Victorian 2 story double house of brick.
The building at 33 East Main Street, now known as the Limestone Inn, was built in 1786. It was the home of Strasburg's first chief burgess (mayor) and served as the first post office beginning in 1805. As many as fifty students from the Strasburg Academy boarded in the house from 1839 to 1860.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
After going to bed by 9:30 last night I was awake at 5:00! Went to the bathroom and tried to go back to sleep but only cat napped a bit. Ilene was up at 7:30, so we started packing and loading up the car and cleaning up the room. At 8:30 we headed across the street for breakfast.
After breakfast we finished loading up the last minute things and headed out about 9:22. We made a stop at an Amish roadside market first for Joy. Ilene found some more fresh baked bread! On the road at 9:45.
Entered MD at 11:33. 12 miles to …
Entered WV at 11:44. 28 miles to …
Entered VA at 12:04.
Gassed up on Exit 317 in upper VA off I-81 at 12:15
Joy and Company decided to take I-77 instead of 220, so we didn’t see them again after we left the roadside market in the morning.
Ilene and I stopped at Rocky Mount, VA at 3:30 to eat and use the bathroom. We were hoping to eat at KFC again, but their lobby was close for some reason, so we went across the street to the Arby’s. I let Mark know where we were and he ordered a couple of roast beef sandwiches for me to bring home to him.
Back on the road around 3:45. At 4:54 we entered NC after traveling 253 miles through VA. At 5:45 we pulled into our driveway! I handed Mark his sandwiches, grabbed a couple of kisses, said hello to Noah who was spending the night with us, and got back into the car to stop and get gas and take Ilene home. Had her unloaded and was back home by 6:30-ish. Had everything unpacked and put away by 7:30.
AHH!!! It is good to be home! Thank You, Lord, for a good week! Thank You for safety on the roads and while we were away!
According to Google Maps Timeline, we traveled 471.4 miles today.
Total Trip Miles - 1,088.4 miles
Pennsylvania Pages
Credits:
Growing Up Friends - Kit by Manu Designs (used in #2, 4, 5, 6
Country Roads Kit by Lynne Anzelc (used in #1, 2, 4, 6
WaterColor Template Album No 9 by Anna Aspnes (used in all)
Grandmas Garden Kit by Art Addicts (used in #2,
ArtPlay Palette Storm by Anna Aspnes (used in #3
ArtPlay Palette Inclement by Anna Aspnes (used in #3
A Step Back In Time-Word art by CarolW Designs (used in #4, 5, 6
A Step Back In Time-Page Kit by CarolW Designs (used in #4, 5, 6
Photos are mine
June is the Birthday of Oscraps and this year we celebrated our 19th year! The Birthday Party had several games and challenges separate from the usual monthly challenges. Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in the festivities much this year.
Then and Now
Done for the Day 7 Challenge of the 19th Birthday Party found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/day-7-june-13-19-years-ago-challenge.42230/
Journaling reads: Our first grandchild was born in 2001, Michael. Hannah followed in 2004. By Christmas of 2006 we had 2 more added to our quiver, Kara and Ryan. Chance was added in 2010. Abby and Thad came in 2011. Addy came in 2013 and Araya was born in 2015.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward" Psalm 127:3
I remember when Jessica surprised me in 2000 with Michael’s positive pregnancy test, I thought, “I’m too young to be a grandma at 45!” But after he came and I realized how much love I had for him and how much fun he was I was ready for more of these sweet, little creatures! “Bring them on!” I said! And they kept coming!
The photo below was taken at our recent family gathering in church on June 1st. There have been many unexpected changes over the last 19 years! Tim and I moved from Buffalo, WV to Winston-Salem, NC in 2008. Tim was diagnosed with melanoma in 2012, had surgery to remove it. In 2013 he was again diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma which began a 4-year fight with numerous trial drugs. In 2017 Tim lost the battle but gained victory and healing as he entered heaven’s gates on 8/8/17. Mark and I were married just shy of a year later on 7/26/18 after neither one of us figured on marrying again after the death of a spouse. It’s wonderful to look back and count even a small portion of the blessings the Lord has bestowed on my life. June 14, 2025
Credits:
The Garden Within Mega Kit by Vicki Robinson
Photo is mine
Hey! 19
Oscraps Birthday Party Challenge 1 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/day-1-june-7-music-inspiration-challenge.42249/
Journaling reads:
I turned 19 in 1974. Here are some more fun facts from 1974:
- Political: Richard Nixon resigned as president due to the Watergate scandal, with Gerald Ford taking his place.
- Music: Paul McCartney and Wings released the best-selling album "Band on the Run".
- Entertainment: "All in the Family" was the top TV show, and "Blazing Saddles" was a popular movie.
- Toys and Games: Connect Four was introduced and became a popular game.
- Sports: Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run record.
- Other: The world population reached 4 billion.
- Food: Taco Pizza was invented in Iowa.
We lived in Hebron, KY at the time this photo was taken of my brother and sister, Joey and Kim, and my boyfriend, Tim, who later became my husband in 1976. In April of that 1974, a tornado swept through our neighborhood. Our house was the only one left standing, but it was twisted on the foundation, so we had to move. There were boards stuck through the walls, windows were broken, boards were stuck between the floor and the walls where the tornado had lifted the house. Our family was in the very room where this picture was taken, hiding under the dining room table in the finished basement of our home. I was working at IRS as a seasonal worker entering tax information into a database in Covington, KY. I did not return to work after the tornado. PHOTO FROM Early 1974
Credits:
Melodic Sounds Kit by Lynne Anzelc
Batter Up! Titles by Aimee Harrison
All Aboard Kit by Art Addicts
Sunday Supper Page Kit by ADB Designs
Wild West AddOn by Lynne Anzelc
Images:
connect-4-by hawksky
All_In_the_Family_Cast wikimedia commons
Nixon by Open clipart Masters
Photo is mine
June 2025 CP
Done for the WordArt Challenge #1 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/june-challenge-1-wordart.42192/
Who Am I?
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
would care to know my name?
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours, I am yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am (I am)
I am yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am (I am)
I am yours
I am yours
I am yours
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am yours
I am yours
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Pip Williams / Peter Hutchins
Someone sang this song on Sunday as a special. It is so thought provoking and evokes so many emotions because I often ask the question, “Why me, Lord?” I know He could have chosen someone more faithful, less sinful...but He loves me and chose me to be His child! That is such an awesome, God-thing that I will never understand with this finite mind of mine. The God of the universe chose this wretched person to be His child! He chose to adopt me into His family! I did nothing to deserve it! “For this I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name.” 2 Samuel 22:50 Yes, a million feelings, but no words can truly express my gratitude for His love! 6/28/25
Credits:
Thoughtful Artistic Papers & Free Gift by NLD designs
Thoughtful Journal Cards & Words by NLD designs
Exhale {Mark Making Bits} by Mixed Media by Erin
Exhale {Collage Bits} by Mixed Media by Erin
Exhale {Extra Papers} by Mixed Media by Erin
Exhale {Kit Papers} by Mixed Media by Erin
Exhale {Kit Elements} by Mixed Media by Erin
Exhale {Collection Bundle} by Mixed Media by Erin
Family Matters
Forever
Done for the Sketch Challenge found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/june-challenge-3-page-sketch.42182/
Journaling reads: I went to Elisabeth’s house at 10 a.m. on Thurs., June 26, 2025. The plan was to go to Biscuitville for breakfast and then go to Save-a-Buck. Ryan drove separately so he and Abby could go back home after breakfast. We weren’t there very long. As a matter of fact, I spent the least amount of money I have ever spent there! When we got back to the house we played games with the kids: Code Names and another similar game. Then Liz and I played a couple of games of Qwirkle until I left around 3:00. I needed to stop at the grocery store to get a few things on the way home. It was good to spend time with my daughter and two of the grandkids!
Credits:
Exhale {Collection Bundle} by Mixed Media by Erin
Sketch provided for the challenge in the thread listed above.
Photo is mine
