Hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter Sunday. It's been a great, beautiful day!
No more lonliness, no more cloudy days. No more crying in the midnight or the fears that just won't fade. No more lonliness, no more skies that all seem gray. For I'm resting in your blood stained hands forever & always. {Kirk Franklin}
From me to you...I wish you all the merriest & happiest day! Spend time with your family & friends. Make memories & cherish every moment. Laugh, smile, love & play! And have a very happy day! Merry Christmas...with LOVE!
Earlier I wrote something for Thanksgiving. I will post it tomorrow. Tonight I just wanted to share a few things that I am thankful for, in no particular order.
♥ Prayer & a God that answers them ♥ My family & friends ♥ My church & church family ♥ My Christian heritage ♥ Music & Singing ♥ Sweets ♥ Color & the beauty that surrounds us ♥ Good Books ♥ The ability to follow instructions ♥ My health ♥ The opportunity to be creative ♥ Writing ♥ Sharpies & Sharpie Pens =] ♥ Starbucks...double =] ♥ TOMS shoes...triple =]
I was going through the starred items in my Google Reader, searching for the valentines I want to print. I didn't realize I had saved so many. Of course, I want be able to use all of them, but they are all equally cute, beautiful and/or adorable! So, I thought I'd share a list of Valentine printables.
There's this wonderful little blog that I visit called Tollipop. Isn't that the most wonderful name?! Kirsten is the writer of Tollipop. She is the type of woman I would love to have a best friend. She writes, she tells lovely stories and she has three beautiful and talented daughters. In 2008, Kirsten started a project called "hundred dresses project". Her goal is to paint one hundred girls and write a story to go with each girl. Charming! She also has an Etsy shop where she sells prints of her paintings.
I had my eye on the above print for the longest. So, when it came time to make a wish list for Christmas, this was put at the very top! Shawn wanted to buy an original, but I told him that would probably be impossible since he waited until just a few weeks before Christmas to start his shopping. Of course, I was right. I was satisfied, though, with the print. I love it! There are two others that are still on my wish list, one of which is no longer listed.
Shawn told me when I opened this particular package {and yes, I did squeal when I saw what it was!} that he emailed Kirsten several times before he placed his order. He said she was very sweet and very helpful. He asked if she could write a little note to me....
and she did! Let me just say right now that I cherish this note just as much as I cherish my Tollipop print! She also wrote a little note on the back of the print, which, by the way, is titled "What page are you on?". My plan is to hang it over my bookshelf. Next step: find the perfect frame!
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. May you continually celebrate the memories of the past, the joys of today and the hopes of the future!
I just wanted to share two videos that touched me today. The first made my cry; the second made me smile. They are both worth the few minutes it takes to watch.
On November 10th I posted this on Twitter & Facebook:
In honor of Thanksgiving, a friend had this idea. Every day this month think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it.
Here are a few of the things I'm thankful for:
♥ Today I am thankful for...my sisters. My sisters are my best friends, and I love them all! {Nov 25}
♥ Today I am thankful for...God's blessings on me. {A roof over my head, a warm bed at night, food on the table, shoes on my feet & clothes on my back.} {Nov 24th}
♥ Today I am thankful for...life. Everyday is a blessing from God. I thank God for every breath and every opportunity that He gives me. {Nov 23rd}
♥ Today I am thankful for...friends. Old friends, new friends, getting reacquainted with friends, seeing friends you haven't seen in a while. {Nov 22nd}
♥ Today I am thankful for...life and God's healing power! {Nov 21st}
♥ Today I am thankful for...the simple things in life, the little things that make me smile =] {Nov 19th}
♥ Today I am thankful for...pretty flowers that smell good & make me smile! {Nov 18th}
♥ Today I am thankful for...God's protecting hand. He watches over us wherever we go and keeps His hand on us through everything! {Nov 17th}
♥ Today I am thankful for my boyfriend, Shawn. Today's our "dating anniversary". 1 year, 10 months. WOW!! {Nov 16th}
♥ Was on the road on this day. Did not get on the computer. {Nov 14th}
♥ Today I am thankful for the little people in my life {nieces & nephews}. They are rowdy, silly & rambunctious, but I love them tremendously! {Nov 13th}
♥ Today I am thankful for...a beautiful day. It's gorgeous outside! {Nov 12th}
♥ Today I am thankful for....all of our veterans, both old & young. {Nov 11th}
♥ Today I am thankful for...the sunshine! {Nov 10th}
On another note, during this time each year, St. Jude has their Thanks and Giving campaign. Anyone that knows me knows that St. Jude is a cause that I support with all of my heart. The Thanks and Giving campaign urges everyone to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." This past Friday night I watched My Sister's Keeper with a young friend of mine. I am now more than ever thankful for the healthy kids in my life. And I will keep giving to those who are not in hopes that my little bit will help make a difference.
Father's day was filled with church and family together time. I love that combination. I love how family comes together for special occasions. I love how life seems so much sweeter. Something else that's sweet?
When you can get all of your neices and nephews together to take a special picture for your Dad. (This was actually taken Thursday, but you get the idea.) I think this really made Dad happy! That man loves his grandchildren more than anything. Can you see his smile around the toothpick? I put the picture in a wooden frame from Michael's. I had each of the kids sign thier name on the frame, and I wrote thier age on the back. I also made Dad this cute card. A shirt a tie card seemed so appropriate for him, since he's a preacher, and he's frequently in a suit. Also, on Mother's Day & Father's Day we always give the mothers and fathers a small gift at church. It's always tough to find something that is nice and inexpensive. One day last week I saw this idea. I've been having addiction lately involving Crush drinks in glass bottles. They seem to taste so much more delicious from a glass bottle. Anyway, this is what I came up with: I cut (yes, CUT. I really need to invest in a circle punch!) the large cirles from star patterned paper and the smaller circles from light green paper. Then, I stamped the green circles with a stamp that looked like bubbles. I found the "ribbon" here. They are napkin rings, but I cut them off to make them shorter.
I also had to make a cake for a birthday party on Father's Day. Pictures to come...
In memory of our fallen soldiers, and in appreciation of those who have served and are still serving, I wish you all a happy Memorial Day.
Below is a video of some beautiful patriotic songs, wonderfully sung by the Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & the Signature Sound Quartet. Enjoy & remember our brave men & women who proudly wear a soldier's uniform and fight bravely for our country.
These are some pictures from Mother's Day. NOTE: None of these pictures are of my Mom.
I got to hold this handsome fellow at church! I love this little guy!
Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?
He kept smiling after the picture was taken.
I gave him the rest of his bottle, but it wasn't enough...
so he decided to try to eat his Mom's hair!
Caleb & Stephanie
The Gray family: Rhonda, Charles, Abigail, CaSandra & Stephanie This is a sweet group!
Abby, CaSandra, Steph & Caleb
Stephanie, Carol, CaSandra & Me These girls are like my sisters. Steph & CaSandra, that is. Carol is my sister!
Caleb & McKenzie
I call these 3 "The Little Rascals".
Madalyn "Spanky", because she's the leader and always in charge.
McKenzie "Darla", because she's the sweet little girly-girl.
Ian "Porky", because he's the youngest in the bunch.
My sister, Dala, & her girls
Kenzie & Maddy Faye
Me with Maddy & Kenzie
Ian & Ricky giving Carol kisses!
Kenzie, Carol & Maddy
I guess he was in a kiss-giving mood!
Shawn
Me & Shawn
These last shots are some examples of what happens when one of the kids gets the camera.
This is Buddy, Dala's husband & Madalyn, McKenzie & Ian's Daddy. Buddy came home Iraq the weekend of Easter. He had been gone for a year. We are SO GLAD to have him home! (I think he was caught offguard.)
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I had my eye on the above print for the longest. So, when it came time to make a wish list for Christmas, this was put at the very top! Shawn wanted to buy an original, but I told him that would probably be impossible since he waited until just a few weeks before Christmas to start his shopping. Of course, I was right. I was satisfied, though, with the print. I love it! There are two others that are still on my wish list, one of which is no longer listed. .JPG)
Shawn told me when I opened this particular package {and yes, I did squeal when I saw what it was!} that he emailed Kirsten several times before he placed his order. He said she was very sweet and very helpful. He asked if she could write a little note to me.....JPG)
and she did! Let me just say right now that I cherish this note just as much as I cherish my Tollipop print! She also wrote a little note on the back of the print, which, by the way, is titled "What page are you on?". My plan is to hang it over my bookshelf. Next step: find the perfect frame!
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