Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show

wow! great giveaways!
i've done quite a few leaps lately! saying "yes" to the man that proposed to me was not so much a leap, but everything that came along with it has been! we've been on a bridal boot camp diet and i have been sticking to my gym regimen pretty well. and THAT has been a great leap for me. to force this into my daily routine and to not let any excuse get in the way.
but man is it exhausting! thanks for the chance to win these great prizes!

My leap has been the very tough decision to let the opportunity to build a dream home on a choice lot pass for now. Letting this chance go rather than adding one more project to a very full plate as mom to 3 under 5,wife, part-time physio was definitely not easy.It is easier to think that no other such opportunity will happen. I am inclined to overextend myself at the eventual expense of those around me. This time I have put my kids and hubbie (and my peace of mind) ahead of a "dream home".I have faith that other great opportunities will arise when the timing is better for us.
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful quote and reminder.

Wow! Great prizes!!!
Hope you're feeling well Ali as you wait!!!

The biggest leap that I did was to be a part of the decision my husband made in quitting his high paying job and take a
lower one.But in doing this it gave us more stability and security in this economy. This was during the Thanksgiving week when we sat down together, gather our financial book, bills, etc. It was very scary but I know we CAN DO IT! Well, last month, his
old company just announced a massive job cut
that would have involved his job. What a
perfect timing!

I am going to start my own blog tonight--that's big stuff for such a private person as myself. But with so much family abroad, seems like the best way of communicating. I'm also a traditionalist so I'd love a chance at the kit!
Thanks and wish me luck...!
ana

My leap is helping my husband with his new business in chocolate making. He still has a "day job" (for which we are grateful)so it's slower going than we would like. But still scary.

My biggest leap recently was scheduling a dive trip without my regular buddy. It's scary to think about going without the person that I trust to be my alternate air source, but cool to know that I have the confidence to go alone.

My couragous leap has come from an unexpected job loss. My husband was let go from his job the week before Halloween. He brought home around 65%-70% of our income and is still unemployed after 3+ months. We know the right job is just around the corner for him and we trust God to get us through this difficult time. But making sure we cut back enough on groceries and general bills in order to save the money we need to pay our mortgage every month has been very tough. We are courageously plugging through and this Valentine's Day I am making my husband a mini album including some of the many reasons I love him. One I plan to include is "I love you with $8.00 or $800.00 in our bank account".
Thanks!
April

I *was* going to comment and just say wow. But then you said, comment about your biggest feat and I'm *pretty* sure I have everyone beat. I obtained my very first Driver's license on my 33rd birthday this past september. A feat within itself, but because we only have stick shift I had to teach myself THAT also. This meant that I was slowly learning...since september the furthest I drove was a mile away (on a back road) to the grocery store and back. at night when there's no one else on the road. But last month I had an important meeting 40 min away on the same day my husband scheduled emergency oral surgery. Getting him home was no problem. A friend offered to do it as long as DH would reciprocate for his surgery the following month. But how was I going to get to my meeting? What if DH had an emergency after surgery and needed to go to the hospital? My biggest feat was I overcame my fears and drove myself to my meeting and now I'm an old hand ;) to driving. Do you remember your first driving experience? were you as freaked out and afraid?

I am not a 'leaper' by nature, but my most recent leap and the biggest one I have taken to date was finding the courage to deal with my husband's deployment. He deployed when our first child was only 5 months old (he is now 18 months old) and was gone a year (returned safely a month ago) I was forced to leap with courage into "single" motherhood (and motherhood in general this being our first child) and keep my house and my family together while feeling everyday might be my husband's last. It took more courage than I thought I had and I came out the other side of that leap a MUCH stronger person. I am proud of my husband and I am proud of me.

Wow--thanks for the great giveaways!! My leap this year was to take on the role of President of my local Junior Woman's Club. We have 100 members and the club has been around 15 years, so I feel a lot of pressure to keep it going strong! But, I am also looking forward to making my mark in a small way.

Love the topic you have used for your blog today.
As a family we are 'mid leap'. We are moving across the atlantic from Scotland to NJ with my husbands work :)

My husband's company made him an offer that required us to relocate from California to Texas, in less than 30 days. Daycare has always been Grammy, so we were going to literally be doing it all on our own, with minimal family support. We packed, moved and drove 2 vehicles, 2 kids, 2 dogs and a cat. I love it here and my family is settling in really well. It's all about faith!

There isn't really anything major, but I have been trying to get control of my body despite having three recently adopted boys from Poland and working as a teacher full time...that means making time to create healthy meals, making time to work-out and making time to sleep more!
Those who battle weight-loss know that this is truly a leap...if I stick with it, that is brave...29 pounds and going!

this may not be a giant leap, but i have recently decided to let things go. as in not get so bent out of shape when things don't go as planned. i used to get so frustrated when plans didn't go well. but just this year, when that happens, i just have to take a deep breath and LET THINGS GO! it's been going well so far and i am less stressed. it's great, i don't know why i didn't decide to do this sooner! thanks, ali!

I have been feeling stuck in a rut lately... thanks for the reminder to go out and make a leap today.

My most recent leap of faith was deciding to continue our project of "building"...We décided , in march, to "build" the house of our dream...But crisis came and all the things became very hard...
And my dad passed away , last september...I miss him ...
Even if I am very anxious, I decided to continue this "dream"and try to have a life of joy and love...And I hope that is not a mistake!!!
I will work hard to win more money...

I definately needed this today. We recently decided to move from Seattle to Boise to be closer to family. And I can't imagine a tougher time (econmically) to try and sell a home and find jobs. We were fortunate enought to both find good jobs in Boise, but we are struggling to sell our house in Seattle. (if anyone is interested - great house, great location IN Seattle) :)
I know in my heart that moving so my daughter could be close to her nana and papa was the right thing to do, but it has been challenge. I am trying to stay positive.

These are AWESOME prizes! Thanks for sharing about challenges. Today is definitely a day that I'll take all the wisdom I can get!

Biggest leap ever: deciding to marry my husband. It felt right in my gut from the moment that we met. He proposed to me two weeks later. We married four months afterwards; Eight years and four children later I am still sure that was the right decision!
Tiny leap of yesterday: drinking water instead of soda.