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

I will be taking a big leap in 9 days when I fly to Singapore to visit my sister and wee nephew. I haven't been on a plane in 5 years since my honeymoon. To be honest, I haven't done much of anything by myself in a long time. I have two little girls ages 1 and 4 and I will be leaving them for 2 weeks. It is a big leap of faith in my husband's ability to single parent while I'm away. It is the change of a lifetime for me to travel, have time with my sister and enjoy my new nephew.

Hi Ali,
My most recent leap was to apply for a job in a new city!
My husband and son are excited about the possibilities and so am I!
Wendy

The most recent leap I took was a tiny one. I entrusted my fiancee to care of something for the wedding for me. Having done everything so far, it was a small leap for me to let him handle this, and he did just fine :)

Thank you Ali, I needed to hear that! In 3 weeks I am going to Uganda for three weeks to help out in an orphanage. How it came about is a total God thing and reading your post today is further confirmation that I'm doing the right thing. I am a bit apprehensive as I will be away from my hubby, 9 yr old son and 6 year old daughter. I will even be missing my hubby's bday and returning the day before my daughter's. I have just been hearing the Lord's still small voice calling me and I am choosing to listen... and it's out of my comfort zone. But I know the leap will be worth the lesson. So excited to see what He has in store. Missed you at CHA. -Alisa

I am in mid-leap, my foot having not quite reached the safety of a landing pad yet. My mom is very ill and I think she is giving up. She is giving up on her doctors, her medicine, herself. It is hard but when this hurdle has passed - and it will, when she is well, I will be stronger. And tired!

I loved reading the comments for this give away!!! They inspired me, and encouraged me and made me realize I don't need to be afraid to take my leap... after being a SAHM for the past 7 years, I'm starting my own business, still in the planning stage- but my dream gets closer every day!

My latest "leap" would be changing the way I scrapbook...meaning, in order to SIMPLIFY my life in 2009 (that's my word!) I am choosing to switch to 3 ring binder scrapbooks, I am only going to do 12 x 12 layouts of really important photos, the rest will go into slide in page protector sleeves with some journaling...THIS IS A HUGE LEAP FOR ME!!! Thanks for the chance to win!

Hi Ali, my most recent leap is when I decided to head down the adoption route instead of the biological route to motherhood. Big decision!

Not a huge leap but the only one I can think of doing lately. I quit my part-time job. I didn't agree with how the company was treating members, I told them that the right hand didn't know what the left was doing and so on, and that I didn't want to work for a company that doesn't treat everyone equally.
Now I have to try to scrapbook for a living!

My most recent leap was this past June, where I left a comfortable, well paying job to become a prosecutor for my state. Following your bliss is scary sometimes!!! But usually worth it!!!! ;)

Oh, courage. What a funny word and concept. For me, my biggest mistake in life (so far) and my most courageous action go hand in hand. After essentially dragging my feet and wavering on what my "plan" is, I decided to throw five years of wrong decisions regarding my degree out the window. Instead of just finishing my degree in a field that I sort of like, but wasn't sure what I wanted to do in, I decided to pursue a hobby that I've always thought would be a dream job.
I thought to myself, "Self, why does this have to be a dream? Can't it be a reality?" Despite logic, I followed my heart, and am now pursuing studies in photojournalism, a calling I've felt since young girl, but didn't know how to interpret.
It was hard telling my family that I've changed my mind and my plan. I feared the disappoint it would cause, because my family can be overachievers, making the rest of us look bad. I thought I would get a talking to of some sort. I was pleasantly surprised to get nothing but support and understanding.
Despite the fear of taking an unsafe, illogical route, I could not be happier. Everyday I wake up, if I know nothing else, I know I've made the right decision regarding this.
Isn't courage and bravery being scared and doing it anyway?

We started the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class and put our home up for sale,(we are moving out of state). So I have to be disciplined about my money and about picking up the house. Being disciplined is a HUGE leap for me, I am such a free spirit.

It may sound silly but my recent leap was to upload some of my Project 365 pictures to a Flickr group. I'm a private person and I don't normally share a whole lot (like I am sharing right now) and so for me it took a lot of courage.

I think the most courageous thing a mom could ever do is to let their child go. It is the toughest for me, full of emotions and worry, whether it is the first day of Kindergarten, fieldtrip day, or a play date. Women have the strength to do this no matter how much it breaks our hearts, we know it is the right thing to do. We have to trust ourselves that we raised them right and to be self-reliant.
Thanks for the opportunity!

My most recent leap is my husband and I deciding to try for a baby. It is a little scary, but we know it will change things only for the better. :)

My most recent leap was moving back to Finland (where i had lived 8 yrs ago and wanted to go back to for as many years) and my latest act of courage: admitting that i no longer belong here and it is time for me to move back home (=Holland).

AWESOMEN POST!!! My recent leap has been to beleive in our daughter (she is 10 and wants to do everything on her own) since shes wanted a puppy for 5 years....we bought her one and she gets it next week!
Thanks again Ali and stay rested for baby!!

While it isn't anything extraordinary - I have FINALLY made the big leap to my finish my degree . . . since my divorce (almost 3 years ago) . . . my leaps have been frequent! Things with the kids, with the house, with my new life . . . all so scary, exciting & necessary - is bringing the biggest & best of blessings! I began my degree in 1992 - its time to get 'er done! So in January started the process of getting my Graphic Design degree AND taking a Theology of the Gospel. It is also PRIME time to reach a new goal in my FAITH! These leaps are so exciting, scary & necessary . . . can't wait to see where my next leap will be . . . BLESSINGS

That quote has come at a very important point in my life. January has been filled with "leaps" I finally accepted that we are where we need to be, and there is no sense fighing it. My word for Feb is embrace. We lept into putting an offer on a house. And I have taken a few pages from your book, said No less to my son and just let him be, only stopping him when it becomes unsafe (we are both happier)

My recent leap has been to be open to dating again after a 16 month long divorce. I'm not looking to rush into anything but if the chance happens I'm up for it...with the right guy since I now a single mother to a 3 1/2 yr old son.