I am Just Me - SBS10 Challenge #4

So this week was my turn to post a challenge for my sistahs in my SBS10 group and it was

"We're all getting to know each other a little more each day and now it's time to dig a little deeper. Make a scrapbook page hilighting all things YOU. This page should include things like your favorite color, movie, time of day, things that make you relax, things that make you happy, and most importantly, things that make you who YOU are... there are no color, size, or paper stipulations... just make a page about you."

I've finished mine... this challenge has been swirling around in my head for about a week before I actually posted it for my sistahs, so I had somewhat of an advantage over them. I will admit, this was a tough challenge... perhaps the toughest yet; here's why... We find it so easy to scrapbook about the people we love... those who light up our lives with the smiles they beam at us... it's rare that we use ourselves as our main focus... I mean, think about it... we make these pages for others to look at and often we are the ones who actually took the pictures, so it's natural that our faces don't show up very often in our own scrapbooks... anyway, I overcame my lack of scrapping myself and dove in... here's what I came up with...

I wrote sort of an essay as my journaling block... to include all things that make me who I am... well... most things. I had to limit my words, because my space was limited. I am by nature a writer, and when given a challenge to write, I can get kinda wordy... funny thing is... I'm not a regular journaler. I don't keep a diary, or a journal, or anything like that... I just blog. :) If you are interested in what my journaling says, you can read it below... don't kill your eyes trying to squint to read it on my SB page. :)

DEETS: Paper: Certainly Celery, Butterfly Montage DP by PSX Paper Designs, Orange Sherbet DP (don't know who makes it, sorry), Ink: none, except the ink from my printer; Accessories: Black Sharpie Marker, Cricut Cartridge Opposites Attract

My journaling reads:

"I am a girl who loves to be loved; someone who needs to be needed. I am one of the most stubborn people in the world and I am bold. Many times, I appear to know exactly what I want, but too many of those times, I am questioning myself every step of the way. I try to be self-confident but low self-esteem sometimes gets in the way of that. I am just like my Mother in more ways than one; I love to make things with my hands – Being creative is what gives me serenity. I always strive to be the best at everything and I often come down too hard on myself when I feel I have fallen short. I am a dreamer… Some might say that I have far too many ambitions for one person to accomplish in a lifetime. When I was a little girl, I dreamt of becoming a famous singer, but for now, I think I’ll just stick to singing my children to sleep. I love to dance, as long as no one is watching. In high school, I wanted to become a famous actress… and now, I play the leading role in my life as a Wife and Mother. Family and friends mean the world to me. I love my husband more than words can express. He makes my heart beat steadily. My children are the axel on which my world spins… they keep me on my toes and they never cease to remind me of the important things in life – like unconditional love. I am a Child of God and He cracks my knuckles every time I make a poor decision. It’s ironic how right he is sometimes… Okay, all the time. I like to be the shoulder that my friends lean on when they need a good cry; after all, a good cry is good for the soul. Giving advice comes naturally to me, but I will be the first to admit that I don’t know everything… Okay, maybe the second. I enjoy taking care of others and though I may grow tired or weary, I press on, because I am needed. I love to laugh and I enjoy making others laugh too. I am optimistic – the glass may only have one or two more sips left in it, but that’s one or two more sips that I still have to enjoy. Though I am notorious for being late, I don’t like to miss a thing! I like to think of myself as a great friend – someone you can count on no matter what the situation or need may be. I’ve learned, over the years, that it doesn’t matter what others think of you – it’s how you feel about yourself that really matters. There are so many words I could use to describe who I am, but I’d rather sum it up in just one short sentence…
I am Just Me."

Thanks for popping in on me... don't forget to link me up to see your challenge cards for my
Send a card to a Burn Victim challenge...
Who will be the lucky winner of the blog candy in store? Get your cards done & link me up!

Happy Anniversary Challenge

Two years ago today, my life changed. My husband was on a deployment for a one year tour overseas and my sister had come to visit for the week with her two children, Noah and Autumn. We had gone strawberry picking with my MOPS group and our children and ended up with a TON of strawberries. In all the excitement of what we could make using strawberries, I got caught up in the idea of chocolate dipped strawberries. So off I went to the kitchen to make a chocolate fondue to dip them in.

I made the "fondue" like I always did... one pan stacked on top of the other with boiling water in the bottom pan and the fondue ingredients in the top pan. We had added a little too much cream and needed to add a little more chocolate, and so I had to go searching through my kids' Easter candy to make up the difference. When all the chocolate finally melted and the fondue was ready for the strawberries to be dipped, I reached over the pan to turn the burner off and the pan blew up in my face, causing severe 2nd degree burns all over the left side of my face, neck, arm, and abdomen. My sister was leaning over me taking in the aroma of the melted chocolate when the explosion happened and ended up with burns to her forehead and right eye. The explosion threw us both to the other side of the kitchen and we both struggled to find our footing. I don't remember much from that point on until we got to the hospital and I was able to calm down after several doses of morphine. My husband was called by the American Red Cross, my family was informed and my children were taken care of by some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I was taken via ambulance to the burn unit in Augusta, GA from Savannah, GA (two hours south). The had originally called in the medivac (helicoptor) to transport me because they had a hard time stablizing me, but in the end, I stablized enough to go via ambulance. It was the longest trip I had ever taken in my life, or so it felt. I felt so alone... the ride was quiet and I was exhausted... and still in excruciating pain. I was admitted into one of the best burn units in the United States taken in for surgery the next morning to scrub away the burnt skin. Doctor's Hospital in Augusta, GA did an amazing job in repairing my burns as well as my sisters burns. We were well taken care of and my family really swept in and did everything they could to keep me & my sister comfortable and upbeat. I was in the hospital for nearly 5 days and I got to go home (to my Mom's house in Augusta) when my husband flew in on Saturday. The two weeks following that was an even bigger blur, as they had given me some really good pain meds.

In the surgery, after they had scrubbed all the burnt skin away, they covered it with various healing agents: pig skin, cadaver skin, and a manufactured skin called "biobrain." Two weeks post surgery, all of the healing agents had peeled away and my skin had completely repaired itself. I serve a Great God... and He gets all the credit for my quick recovery. All I was left with was very pink/red skin and a slightly shaven hairline where the burns had burnt my scalp near and above my ear. My scars are minimal now and the only time they are really evident is if I get overheated and/or my bloodpressure goes up (like when I'm upset). We joke now about knowing when Sara's mad because her burns glow, but I can assure you, at the time, it was no joking matter. I thought I was going to die... and for a little while, so did the docs at the hospital in Savannah. It was by far the scarriest thing I've ever endured, and I'm thankful for the family, friends, and strength that God gave me to get through it.

In honor of my Anniversary, I'd like to propose a challenge. There are millions of burn victims all over the world... my challenge to you is to

make a card and send it to a burn victim.

You can check out this site to find a burn center to send cards to in the United States. A little bit of caring goes a long way.

To send a card to someone in the burn unit that I was cared for in, the address is:

Joseph M. Still Burn Center

3651 Wheeler Rd

Augusta, GA 30909

United States

Address your card to "Burn Victim."

One of the biggest steps in recovery of any kind of trauma, burn or not, is talking about what happened and realizing the great blessing of having victory over an uncontrolled situation. Thanks for listening and helping me spread awareness. If you'd like to see pictures of my burns, Ihave added a second post titled "My Burn Pictures". Discression is advised in looking at these pictures (I wouldn't view them while my 3 year old is nearby). They are not edited, enhanced, or censored at all. I highly recommend you view the pictures, though... it brings a sense of "realness" to my story... somewhat of a toss into reality of the severity.

Thanks for listening... take the challenge. Send a smile to a burn victim!