Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I'm Warning You Sister

I don't know anything about Kenny Wayne Shepherd or his music. The song "Spank" isn't the typical kind of song I am drawn to, but something about it is catchy and I am addicted to it.

I think the main reason I like it is because it features Kid Rock who I am usually embarrassed to admit I like. I mean I don't like a lot of the things he has done and in general, I find him to be chauvinist and I can't stand that! Yet, I still find myself drawn to some of Kid Rock's music.

It must be the 80's-wannabe-big-hair-rocker that still lingers, hidden under all of my now mommy-ish attributes.

To hear a clip of the song, click here.

Spank
~ Kenny Wayne Shepherd


It ain't wrong to feel so strong when you think you got it going on
Life has a way of making you pay to the club where we all belong
Now you're free to belive that the good life is guaranteed
But watch your step 'cause it's a safe bet you're gonna end up on your knees

[Chorus:]
You're gonna get spanked
I'm warning you sister
You're gonna get spanked
Life's gonna hit you
You'll never know until you get, Spanked
You're gonna be humble
You're gonna get spanked
And your world's gonna crumble you'll never know until you get
Spanked...

Some do want to prove that there are really just a chosen few
So test your fate, speculate that it can never really happen to you
I've been high, at least tried, I learned to sleep with an open eye
You crossed that line, better take the time to kiss your ass goodbye

[Chorus:]
You're gonna get spanked
I'm warning you sister
You're gonna get spanked
Life's gonna hit you
You'll never know until you get, Spanked
You're gonna be humble
You're gonna get spanked
And your world's gonna crumble you'll never know until you get
Spanked

When you're so sure you got it right
All alone in the spotlight
You'll never see it coming

[Chorus:]
You're gonna get spanked
I'm warning you sister
You're gonna get spanked
Life's gonna hit you
You'll never know until you get, Spanked
You're gonna be humble
You're gonna get spanked
And your world's gonna crumble you'll never know until you get
Spanked

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Pepsi - The Choice of A New Generation

You may have read that Pepsi is not advertising in the Super Bowl this year. (The only exception is the Doritos brand.) Instead they have decided to invest their resources – over $20 million – to fund community projects through the Pepsi Refresh Project.

I am so very excited that a huge corporation, like Pepsi, has decided to be RESPONSIBLE.

I love Super Bowl commercials as much as the next person but the amount of money wasted on advertising, when our communities are facing such challenging issues, churns my stomach! Think of all of the children living in unsafe homes with lead paint, the homeless teenagers who don't have a safe place to lay their head each night, the moms who stay in abusive homes because they don't have resources to move out and keep their children off the streets, the families that are losing their homes to foreclosure because of illegal mortgages deals -- and they don't have money to hire an attorney to fight for their rights...

Pepsi wants to fund great ideas!
Pepsi is looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact and are asking people to look around their communities to think about how they want to change it.

This could be anything from upgrading a worn out playground or ball field to starting a food bank in your community. Maybe your child’s school would like to revitalize their peace garden. Or maybe your local senior center needs a new roof or van. Whatever your project is, Pepsi wants to hear about what your community needs so they can help.

How to participate
Each month, you have the opportunity to submit a proposal in one of six categories: health, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhood, or education. (Grants range from $5,000 to $250,000.) At the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on RefreshEverything.com and let the public vote on the winners.

This month, visit RefreshEverything.com and vote for your favorite submissions for this month's grants. You can also connect with the Pepsi Refresh program via Twitter @Pepsi, on Facebook or on the Refresh Everything blog.

To see additional information about recently funded projects and grant recipients, click here.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Talents Include...

There is a fantastic book, called StrengthFinders 2.0, that is supposed to help you find your natural "strengths" or talents so you can exploit them to become the best person you are capable of becoming...

The book describes itself:

DO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT YOU DO BEST EVERY DAY?

Chances are, you don't. All too often, our natural talents go untapped. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.

To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book spent more than five years on the bestseller lists and ignited a global conversation, while StrengthsFinder helped millions to discover their top five talents.

In its latest national bestseller, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Gallup unveils the new and improved version of its popular assessment, language of 34 themes, and much more (see below for details). While you can read this book in one sitting, you'll use it as a reference for decades.

Loaded with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, this new book and accompanying website will change the way you look at yourself -- and the world around you -- forever.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE NEW & UPGRADED EDITION OF STRENGTHSFINDER 2.0 (using the unique access code included with each book)

* A new and upgraded edition of the StrengthsFinder assessment

* A more customized version of your top five theme report

* 50 Ideas for Action (10 strategies for building on each of your top five themes)

* * * * * * *
I was fascinated (and not entirely surprised) to find my strengths included:

1) Empathy
2) Developer
3) Input
4) Connectedness
5) Belief


To better understand what each of my talents are I am including a brief description of what each talent includes.

EMPATHY:
Chances are good that you usually know when you have or have not won the approval of a person or a group. You harbor a deep-seated yearning to belong. You are delighted when many individuals gladly welcome you into their lives. It’s very likely that you cause others to pay attention to their innermost thoughts and feelings. People are confident of your ability to exercise good judgment and common sense. Many people trust you to keep to yourself whatever they choose to share. Your capacity to imagine their situations and be sensitive to their needs allows individuals to unburden themselves. You listen. You customarily acknowledge their unique circumstances. Driven by your talents, you convince most people that you value them as human beings. You intentionally reinforce what they know, have
experienced, or can do. Many individuals probably want to become your friend. Why? You likely affirm their worth the moment they start doubting themselves. Instinctively, you feel honored when someone entrusts his/her innermost thoughts and feelings to you. Nonetheless, the person needs to initiate the conversation. Otherwise, it is unlikely to happen. You are reluctant to bring up sensitive topics and delicate questions. You tend to worry about leaving the impression that you are prying or being nosy — that is, unduly interested in the private affairs of the person. Because of your strengths, you allow people to experience and express their feelings. Often you comprehend their unique challenges, worries, fears, hopes, or joys before they say a word. Why? You can listen to anyone, regardless of whether they are experiencing pain, happiness, disappointment, or joy. This is one way you affirm that person’s humanity.

DEVELOPER:
Chances are good that you routinely engage in group activities and projects. Often these benefit youth and small children. By nature, you realize the wealth you accumulate means little to you when you are not surrounded by a delightful and diverse mix of people. You relish differences and would be ill at ease — that is, feel anxious — if forced to remain only in the company of people who are very much like yourself. Because of your strengths, you naturally tune in to the moods of group members. You can read the emotions individuals are experiencing. This increases your chances of responding to the person appropriately and at the right time. Driven by your talents, you regularly look for opportunities to give people
special attention. You celebrate their accomplishments. You tell them why you appreciate their knowledge, skills, and talents. You acknowledge their opinions and solicit their suggestions. Instinctively, you enjoy acknowledging people’s finest traits and applauding their most outstanding accomplishments. You make new friends by noticing things they do very well. You maintain current relationships by expressing an interest in whatever intrigues each person. You are highly motivated to say and do things that cause others to befriend you.

INPUT:
Because of your strengths, you sometimes show a particularly strong concern for what
matters in your life, work, or studies. As a result, you might be determined to master words associated with certain types of activities or assignments. Perhaps these terms and their definitions are as theoretical as they are difficult to understand. You might realize that your collection of technical, subject-specific, or academic words is a work in progress — that is, ongoing. Driven by your talents, you probably acquired a fascination for reading as a child. During your formative years, becoming totally engrossed in a book is likely to have been your means of “staying out of the way” to avoid upsetting some adults or youngsters who were your age. Besides keeping the peace and being absorbed into the group, you commonly
collected information about fictional characters, human nature, geography, historic events, other cultures, or science. It’s very likely that you gravitate to serious conversations where people exchange ideas, concepts, or theories. You avoid small talk, rumors, and gossip. Considering all the information you have gathered, you decide what is and is not worth remembering. You have a way of cataloging knowledge so you can quickly recall it later. By nature, you yearn to know a lot. It makes little sense to you to skim through a book and read only the highlights. You delve more deeply into intriguing subjects than most people do. You love to gather all kinds of information. This explains why you take time to grasp ideas that appear in print. Chances are good that you collect as much information as possible about past
events and people. Often these stories and facts raise your spirits, renew your faith in humankind, or fill you with hope. When you find another thinker who loves conversing about the recent or distant past, you are delighted. Few things please you more than delving deep into the lives of people whose deeds were especially heroic, generous, daring, kind, or original.

CONNECTEDNESS:
Driven by your talents, you sense you are not all alone in the world. You probably feel linked with every person and living thing. This openness explains why you invite a vast array of people to participate in conversations, activities, social events, or groups. Chances are good that you sense that you are inextricably linked to your teammates. You understand your success depends on each one of them just as their individual success hinges on you. Instinctively, you may enjoy the company of people who have faced and conquered some of life’s difficulties. Perhaps they have gained wisdom you lack. Occasionally you benefit from their philosophical insights. By nature, you often are instrumental in helping your teammates discover how they are linked to one another. You regularly remind them that their successes and failures are a direct result of their ability to work together. Because of your strengths, you rely on your awareness of others’ feelings, thoughts, and needs to guide you into and through partnerships. You consider various ways to initiate, nurture, and sustain the linkages between individuals and groups. You bring people together. You help them discover reasons to cooperate and support one another.

BELIEF:
Because of your strengths, you employ your passion for reading to collect lots of good ideas for resolving issues, fixing mistakes, or overcoming obstacles. The act of reading allows you to generate options for dealing with all sorts of predicaments — that is, difficult, perplexing, or trying situations. By nature, you tend to be zealous — that is, fervent and enthusiastic — about solving problems that affect the quality of your life. You have been known to devote all your time and energy to a worthy cause. Your core values explain why you participate in various social, political, educational, religious, judicial, or environmental activities. Instinctively, you are determined to leave the world a better place than you found it. This explains why you welcome many kinds of people into your life. You realize that when individuals fail to make their unique contributions, humankind suffers an irreversible loss. It’s very likely that you may be attracted to individuals whose honesty and integrity are above reproach. Perhaps you seek to penalize people who betray trust by taking things without permission. Chances are good that you usually put aside what you want to do and even inconvenience yourself to serve others. People probably say you devote yourself to the welfare and interests of many individuals. You routinely put their needs ahead of your own.

* * * * * * * * *

Now that I have this information, I am somewhat unsure to do with it... If you have ever taken this test or have any insight into the meaning of all of it, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Checkers

Can't say too much more about this sweet picture... My awesome three-year old son and four-year old daughter enjoying a game of checkers in yesterday's glorious MN spring weather. SIGH!!!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Angels

Generally I despise forwarded email stories and I rarely actually stop to take the time to read them. However, for some reason, I read the below little story and liked it, so I am sharing it. (Plus I am lazy about being creative enough to post my own words today.)

Relish the journey!!!

* * * * *

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable, farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed so they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen?! The first man had everything, yet you helped him!"

She continued in an accusing tone of voice, "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die."

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.

Then last night, as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife and I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

* * * * *

When things don't turn out the way we think they should, sometimes that is exactly what happens - a less awful thing occurs; you have a character building experience that prepares you for an event yet to come... You don't understand why the first awful thing happened but, if you have faith, you need to trust that every outcome, whether perceived good or bad, is to your advantage. You just might not know it until a later time.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Mom Sends Adopted Son Back to Russia

Innocence Lost -- Almost Unforgivable

As a mother of four, precious, unique children, I cannot fathom any situation that could possibly ever occur to make me put my child on an airplane all by themself for a TEN-HOUR flight. That's absolutely incomprehensible to my puny brain. How could you go through the rigorous and expensive adoption approval process, just to place that child on an airplane by themselves six months later?

Hello?!? What was that mom expecting? A perfect child without any emotional issues or baggage -- after basically spending their entire life in an orphanage?

My heart aches at how pitiful and awful the innocent, poor eight-year old boy must feel after the TN mom "returned" him, like discarded, defective goods purchased at a second hand store. My stomach is absolutely SICK with disgust at her actions.

I realize that the adpoted son in question probably had very severe mental health issues and the adopted mom most likely didn't expect that. However, how does it help the troubled child to return him to an under-funded, crowded orphanage in a country that has over 750,000 children waiting to be adopted? Wouldn't that impressionable young boy do better off getting all of his mental health issues addressed and helped in one of the world's richest countries?! A country that, although we have TONS of our own problems, still has some of the best medical (including mental health) resources in the entire world?!

I recognize there are no easy answers. Yet, my heart aches beyond belief at how bewildered, upset and rejected that poor little boy must have felt as he was returned to Russia...

Monday, April 19, 2010

Give Me the 80's

How can you NOT love Huey Lewis & the News? TOTALLY 80's!!! Oh yeah, Baby!



Heart and Soul
~ Huey Lewis and the News


Two o'clock this morning
If she should come a calling
I couldn't dream of turning her away
And if it got hot and hectic
I know she'd be electric
Id let her take her chances with me
You see, the gets what she wants

Cause she's heart and soul
Shes hot and cold
Shes got it all, hot loving every night

Can't you see her standing there
See how she looks, see how she cares
I let her steal the night away from me
Nine o'clock this morning
She left without a warning
I let her take advantage of me
You see, she got what she wanted

Cause she's heart and soul
Shes hot and cold
Shes got it all, hot loving every night

Sunday, April 18, 2010


Each year our Girl Scout service unit holds a "My Guy & Me" Dance, where each girl is invited to bring an important adult man in her life to a dance. The man can be a dad, uncle, grandpa, brother, or family friend. This is a favorite event of E each and every year.
This year, I was honored to have a fellow troop leader (who organized the event) ask me to volunteer / chaperone at the dance. I WAS SO EXCITED! Moms are explictedly told NOT to attend the event and they are NOT allowed to crash the party -- even if they only want to take pictures. This was my first glimpse into the daddy-daughter fun and I had a blast. It was grand!!!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Out of the Mouth of Babes Continued

Fantastic things children say!

Recently friends were exchanging stories on FB about the things their children had said. These wee ones are so very insightful and funny -- when they aren't your children...

When my Little Princess (now age 4, then age 2 1/2, I think) was in a public bathroom stall with me, she asked VERY LOUDLY, "Mommy, when I grow up I want to have a big butt, just like you. And those bumps too!!! COOL!" [Bumps translates to stretch marks incurred from three pregnancies...] The woman in the stall next to us actually CHORTLED! I, on the other hand, wanted to continue to hide in the stall for a while.

From Friend's with Wee Ones:
A couple of years ago while at the pumpkin patch, we were washing our hands and this older man was too. He was talking to my son who was probably 4 years at the time. With the older man standing there, my son says, "Mommy, how come that man has no teeth ... and looks like he hasn't taken a shower because he kind of smells." I was quite embarrassed, but I think the man was even more.

Then a couple of weeks ago, while at church during the Pastor's sermon, Second Son (who is also 4) was playing with this toy figurine. During a quiet silence he yelps, "Ow! He hurt his penis." Oh my goodness! I was so embarrassed because I am quite sure that everyone in the congregation heard.

In the public bathroom with someone in the stall next to us, Son asked me rather loudly, "Mommy, do you pee out of your penis or your butt?" LOL. I consider it part of the territory of parenthood, and kinda funny, though, yes, still embarrassing. But really, what mother hasn't had their kid say something like that?

My two year old son and I were in the grocery store. He looked at a larger woman and said, "Mommy, she has boobies!" Yes, everyone in the aisle, including the lady 'with boobies,' heard it.

From a Daddy:
Wait until your son comes out of a public bathroom and makes a comment about how big "certain" male body parts are when there are women waiting in a line out the door of their bathroom. It was great! I just smiled and waved.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Something to Talk About

Love this song. It reminds me of a few special people and circumstances in my life. You know who you are! LOVE YOU!!!



Let's Give Them Something To Talk About
~ Bonnie Raitt


People are talkin, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'

chorus
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?

verse 2
I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'

chorus

bridge
Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?

chorus
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?

chorus

Monday, April 12, 2010

Passive Agressive

Truly laughed out loud at this posting from Passive-Aggressive Notes. OMG! Too funny. I have experienced a few notes from my now nine-year old that are about as funny as these notes but unfortunately, I am so unorganized that I can't for-the-life-of-me find them at this moment. You gotta read these...

LOVE IT!

Sunday, April 11, 2010


“ I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

~Dr. Seuss

Friday, April 9, 2010

-ated Words

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at the table with the wee ones while they munched on Cheerios or toaster waffles or an equally delicious, homemade (ahem!) breakfast. Big D was swinging his little three-year old feet and waving his spoon in the air. I think I asked him to stop doing both and just eat his cereal. However, I was surprised when he pointed his spoon at me and said, “Mommy, you happy?”

I stared at him. “Pardon?”

“You HAPPY, Mommy?” he repeated as he shoved food into his already full mouth. “Right now? You happy?”

I continued to stare, watching milk dribble down his darling chin.

Of COURSE she’s happy,” E said (now very wise for her 9 ½ years old). “Why wouldn’t she be?”

Yes. Why wouldn’t I be happy?!?!?

During the course of any given day, I use many words to describe myself — chaotic, busy, listening, thinking, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, interested, amused, behind — but happy is almost never on the list. I wonder why this is? I suppose it may have something to do with the normal flow of conversation. Normally when someone asks, “How are you?” it’s not really appropriate to say, “Happy!” unless you want them to think you’ve been drinking before lunch.

Which, for the record, I never do. Okay… well, almost never. There was this one time in Las Vegas… Nevermind.

So, the other day I ran into a friend at our local big box store and asked, “How are things going?” She sighed and said, “Oh, fine. Everything is fine! That’s what I’m supposed to say, isn’t it?” “Yes,” I said, “I suppose it is, but how are things REALLY going?”

And the truth comes out. Things are not so fine, it turns out.

I guess most of us find it hard to find the opening to share our feelings and say, I am not happy. It seems especially hard when there is nothing outright wrong – nothing that “justifies” not being happy. Do you know what I mean? There are no extreme financial catastrophes or lingering illnesses or collapsing marriages.

Yet… Happy is not on my list most days.

Why would I not be happy? I don’t know, I really don’t. I don’t understand my funk. I am surrounded by a multitude of blessings. I have fantastic children, a functional house, wonderful family and friends. We have stable jobs and health insurance and operational vehicles. Our parents are healthy; the children are well adjusted (relatively speaking); spring is hinting at the promise of summer after the long MN winter. What is there not to be happy about?

I would not say that I am unhappy. Tired, certainly. Frustrated, irritated, some other words that end in -ated, probably. But unhappy? No. Perhaps, just not happy. And yes, those are two very different things – unhappy or not happy. Although I can’t explain the differences in an articulate and meaningful way… just like I can’t think of those other -ated words that I also am every day.

I don’t remember specifically which day it was that Big D flung his spoon around and asked if I was happy, but I can tell you this about that morning: I had raised my ever exhausted butt out of bed early, positively before 6:00am (more likely closer to 5:00am) to make lunches, check email and possibly start laundry or wash the dinner dishes from the evening before. By the time I sat down for breakfast at the table with the wee ones, I had been up for close to two hours and I am not a morning person. I was most likely making a grocery list or filling out forms for school or making notes about things that absolutely had to get done that day. How do I know all of that if I don’t know what day it was? Because, pretty much, every morning is like that -- even weekends.

I can see why someone might wonder if I was happy.

I would love to say that I’m doing something constructive to get back to being happy, that I’m taking more time to scrapbook or taking bubble baths or God forbid – attempting exercise. But the thing is I guess I only just realized that I was missing happy. I suppose the first step is to deal with all those other things on the list — anxious and behind and frustrated and tired. I think that happy is under there somewhere.

At least I hope it is, because now that I know it’s gone, I really want it back.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Egg Hunt



We had a beautiful time with family at Easter Brunch and an even more fantastic time with our egg hunt in the back yard. So busy. Too busy to write.

Please enjoy our Easter pictures.






Sunday, April 4, 2010

Lover of My Soul

I was struggling with what to write about on Easter, this most holy and humbling of all holidays. I was overwhelmed and couldn't decide how to proceed, when I read this below post from Miraculous Chaos / Every Day Miracles. She seemed to reach into my heart and pull my words out, so today I will borrow a fellow bloggers eloquent words.



19–21 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.

22–25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Heb 10:19-25). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Trying to summarize what Easter means to me seems a bit like trying to harness the ocean. What we celebrate at Easter has every thing to do with who I am and the building blocks of the single most important event that my faith is based upon.

So, I will step away from the daunting intimidation that I first faced when I considered writing this.

I don't have to try to outline the Christian faith, or wax eloquent in the numerous reasons for Christ's selfless act of dying for our sins.

This is simply going to be my heart. Why do I feel deeply moved this time of year? What personalizes it for me, this one child of God?

This year it is because I am humbled and amazed that one such as I can enter into a personal relationship with God himself. I - the girl who struggles with so many things that grieve His heart - have been given a position of honor in His family.

I don't have to go through a high priest, or any body, to get to Him.

He who is sinless.

He who created every thing beautiful and good that we experience.

He who loves perfectly and with out condemnation.

He.

The lover of my soul.

The one I will some day see face to face.

And all I will be able to do is fall to my face and cry "holy, holy, holy!"

This is the one I have the privilege of approaching with no fear. Only great awe and reverence. He cares about every thing in my life. He loves it when I speak with Him. When I pour my heart out to Him, and leave my worries with him.

He made this possible through his terrible suffering, and death. An eternity together awaits us because of his resurrection.

This is why my heart rejoices, my eyes mist over, and my smile is brighter than usual this time of year. I am reflecting on something that is hard to believe, but I know with out a doubt to be true.

So with out hesitation I will approach him. I will talk to him. And I will thank him for making a way for this to happen.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Colorful Mess

We had tons of fun coloring Easter eggs with the wee ones today. I always buy a bazillion dozen of eggs so everyone has lots to color. This year, I attempted to restrain myself. I only purchased, boiled and decorated NINE DOZEN with the children.
(Last year we worked with 12 or 13 dozen.)

Friday, April 2, 2010

Jib Jab Fun

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!


Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!


Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!