the lonely leaf

i kid you not...this picture was taken by one of my tender-hearted children of a very lonely leaf all alone on the sidewalk while his friends all played together on the grass. but don't worry, he was soon placed with his friends!

purple?

i've wanted to do this for the longest time and i finally did...painted my foyer purple!! ok, it's a little more eggplant but it looks amazing! And i know there are only a few select people that can really appreciate this, right barb, laura & carol? ;)

gratitude...all year

This song has always been so thought-provoking for me. How do I pray? For what I want or for what I need? For my daily bread or for all the extras I think I deserve? Do I realize that the One who holds my hand also holds my future? And that He does all things in His time and in His way?

On this Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful that He's in control and that I'm not! And even though this next year may hold things I don't understand, my prayer is that I may be content not to HAVE to know, and that I rest in His unfailing faithfulness.

Gratitude, by Nicole Nordeman

Send some rain, would You send some rain?'

'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade.

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down,

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid.

But maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to thirst for You;

How to bless the very sun that warms our face

If You never send us rain.

Daily bread, give us daily bread

Bless our bodies, keep our children fed

Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight.

Wrap us up and warm us through

Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs

Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time.

Or maybe not, not today

Maybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

In lessons learned to hunger after You

That a starry sky offers a better view

If no roof is overhead

And if we never taste that bread.

Oh, the differences that often are between

What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace

Move our hearts to hear a single beat

Between alibis and enemies tonight

Or maybe not, not today

Peace might be another world away

And if that's the case . . .

(Chorus)

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to trust in You

That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream

In abundance or in need

And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb6WciRuwhE

giving thanks day 2009

love a day together with family...especially my adorable nieces and nephews! the only thing that would make it more complete would be the rest of my family all the way in washington and us all together!! we love and miss you guys soooooo much!! i am thankful for you...each one of you!

hungry, hungry hippos!

exhausted kayt?

the edible candle craft...thanks again family fun magazine!!

every year grandma honey gives the kids chocolate lollipops from the market basket...she had a little 'scare' this year when she asked for them and they said they wouldn't be making them anymore.

i guess she has a little pull over there because she showed up at the house with a bag full ;)

typical kayt w/her cousins...she's definitely the fun one to them

(can anyone say 'just like aunt traci'??!!)

sarah & mady made grandma a "#1 Grandma" hat~little miss crafties!

champagne for the kids...so special for this day!

flower arrangement from my lovie

just a glimpse of my fall decorations...

this girl plays hard!

age spots

what? already? i thought i was looking tanner-HA! i can remember seeing them on my grandma and thinking how cool they were-it meant she had lived, she had loved, she cried, she laughed. some of her dreams came true, others didn't. she raised 3 wonderful children (of course i have a favorite!). she lived frugally, she gave completely and never lost her love of her Saviour. so age spots-keep coming. i'll never be as amazing as my grandma, but if i can have just a little piece of her i'm happy.

who else but God can make a flower with fall leaves and spring flowers? amazing, truely amazing. surprising? not a bit!

2 are better than 1

words are not required...

white laundry

1 load
2 dryer sheets
3 oz. fabric softener
4 my dear family
5 more minutes
6 (yes, six) WHITE hoodies!!!...where did they all come from? i don't even have 6 kids!!

can't wait to see what the colored load holds...

gorgeous seniors!

yesterday i had the privilege of taking some pics for kayt's class. thanks, gals, for asking me-i had so much fun...you're the best!!

rita

my sweetie

laura

hannah

ashley

barb

bums & legs ;)

yipee!

best friends since 2 yrs old

the class of 2010

just like me...

i found this on someone else's blog-it's her "about me". i can't remember where i got it so i apologize for not giving credit. my mom will definitely have a good laugh over this...and be very thankful that this girl did not live under our roof with me (twins anyone?!!). I'm not going to change a thing she wrote just to you can see that there's actually someone else like me out there...AMAZING!!!

"I am the oldest of 4 children. Born with hands on my hip and orders flying out of my mouth.

I grew up fast.

My thoughts swirl in my head over and over before I will post them...mainly due to the fact I can't type or spell very good or is it well?

I have always been the take control organize and plan everything child.

Until I had kids...now they take control and they plan everything.

I married the love of my life over 10{20} years ago.

On the days I think of trading him in I remember I must give up my in-laws...

I would never do that!

I wonder if I could get visitation with them?

I spend most of the days convincing my children that just because your born doesn't mean you "get" to go to Disneyland, have a cell phone or any other snazzy item that will break my bank.

I have to count to 20 everyday before I lose my temper

and barely make it to 8 before I lose my patience.

I have to tell my kids everyday at least 5 times I love them

just to try and help them forget how Not so perfect I am.

This is the story of our life...I hope you enjoy"

told you-scary, huh??!!!

so i'm a little ditsy at times... so i'm not a planner, nor claim to be good at it AT ALL... so i'm always flying around like a crazy woman (no comments to that last statement please)... let me just put a disclaimer here: it is not my kids' fault...at least not this time. livie called me at work at 4:10. i had no idea it was that late already cuz i always try to be home when they come off the bus. she asked me if she could look something up on the computer and then reminded me of mady's soccer practice. yep, didn't forget (SHOCKER!). i finished up what i was doing and cleaned up my desk and left. on my way home (which is seriously 2 min. on a bad day) mady called and asked me where i was. i told her i was on my way home to pick her up to bring her to soccer. "they've already been playing for 10 min." "what?" "it starts at 4:15." oops-thought it started at 4:45, but it ends at 5:45...see? 45 and 45? "oh, honey, i'm sorry" "it's ok, mommy." then i asked her, laughing, "what would you do if you had a mommy who never forgot anything?" her response: i...have...NO...idea. and there you have it.

for ben...

i love you~you know who you are

I got this email from my mom and thought it was a good thing to put 'out there'.

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore".
No more hugs,
no more special moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat,
no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, to say"I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents.

We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special; and so, we keep them close!

Suppose one morning you never wake up, do your loved ones know you love them?

I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.

Let every one you love know it, even if you think they don't love you back. I think we’d be amazed at what three little words and a smile can do.

So to my family and special friends....just in case I'm gone tomorrow, know:

I Love You!!!

I just found this quote...it amazes me how people can write things like this without even knowing me... ;)

IF WE WERE MEANT TO POP OUT OF BED, WE'D ALL SLEEP IN TOASTERS!

bahahahaha