Happy Birthday Grant!

Happy 14th Birthday to my baby boy, Grant!

We celebrated a night early by going out to eat at his favorite restaurant. He brought his girlfriend, K, with him. Aren't they cute? They held hands on their way to get ice cream too!

My wild, crazy, handsome boy!

It was just yesterday that he was this tiny, wasn't it?

Happy Birthday Grant!!

Favorite Foto Friday #58 - SILLY SMILES!

The many smiles of Bug... when you ask her to smile, sometime you get this...



Then it progresses...


Then she starts to work it...


Then it shines!


And... her newest smile... what I call the "Beaver Teeth" smile shown here with some attitude!


Here is Mr. Linky!!! Link Away!! If you need directions, please refer here.



Since it is officially FALL, next week's theme is "SUMMER MEMORIES"... post your favorite pictures from the summer! And a bonus... pick ONE that summarizes your summer the best!

My Little Brothers

These are my little brothers... Tyler, on the left is 25 and Cooper on the right is 22. I don't get to see them very often but love them more than anything in this world! So, tell me... does Bug not resemble my family? I am the recessive gene pool of the family... the only one with fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.

They came to our rescue this past week to deliver our dad's generator to us so that we could run a fan and have some lights on... and as luck would have it... we got power back 48 hours later... LOL!

Edited to add a picture of my other little brother, Kent. He is 36 and rarely lets his picture be taken.



Wanna know something else cool... they even let me be their "friends" on Facebook! Yes... I joined the masses and am giving it a try... still figuring it all out! Love all the flair but what is this virtual sea garden and green patch thing? ha ha ha

Wordless Wednesday & Freebie for Christmas

OK.. not so wordless... please check out The Carlson Family Blog. They are in Utah and are offering FREE Custom Made Christmas Card digital files (meaning you print them) for getting the word out about their Jack and Jill Photography business.

Gotta love nice and talented people sharing themselves during the miracle of the season. In these hard economic times, every little bit helps.

Opening Your Hearts...

My friends, Julia & Kerry, just returned from an emotional and life changing mission trip to Guatemala. Please take a moment to read Julia's post and see if there is a way you can help the children left behind as orphans in Guatemala.

Edited... my friend, Holly, has such a way with words. She gave permission for us to edit, copy and paste this to get the word out... please do not miss the picture at the bottom.

Many of us have been to Guatemala. Poverty was all around us yet we didn't know how to help. There are various organizations and opportunities that we are finding, supporting and STARTING!

Now that Guatemala has halted adoptions there is nowhere for the orphans to go. Babies are being left in grocery stores, children roam the streets looking for food. People who had orphanages and cared for these children have sent the kids away or simply put them on the streets and closed their doors because they are not making money any more.

What if this was our child or children? I think about this everyday. Where would they be right now? Would they be selling beads to tourists in Antigua. Would they be sitting on the side of the road by themselves, left there with a cup for people to put money in? Would they be picking the lice out of each other's hair in between begging at the supermarket only to be shoo'd away by a security guard? This IS real.

My friends Julia and Kerry have started a missionary called Global Orphan Team and right now they are focused on the orphans of Guatemala. GOT has already made two trips to Guatemala and distributed countless items and food to the orphans.

Holly was on the phone with Julia the other night and asked her what they needed? Clothes? Toiletries? Julia said, "They need FOOD". She said that the orphanages she went to didn't even ask for clothes or toys or toiletries. They need food just to keep these children alive.

Global Orphan Team is giving us the chance to help these children. All of the money you donate will go towards helping these children survive. They are a non-profit organization and can give you a receipt for any donation that you make.

Please go to JuJu's Blog and read her post and seriously consider donating. None of us like asking people to donate money but this is something that is so incredibly needed! These ladies are doing something amazing.

When you look at the picture below, can you just imagine if those precious babies were one of our own kids? Add to that, they don't have the arms of a mommy or daddy to wrap around them when they are hungry or happy or sad? The situation for orphans in Guatemala is DIRE!

This is reality!

Missed Me??

{imagine the song "I've Got Candy" playing in the background}

WE'VE GOT POWER! DUM DE DUM DUM DUM! WE'VE GOT POWER!!

Have every single light in the house on, the AC cranked, the computer buzzing, first load of two weeks worth of stinky laundry in the washer and the dishwasher going! Woohoo!! Life is GOOD!!

I am so exhausted... heading to bed... in the dark. LOL!

Thanks for coming Ike... good riddance!!

Unplugged

UPDATE: 10pm EST and WE HAVE POWER!!! Hallelujah!!!!



Still without power... 9 days and counting. Who knew that a hurricane could hit so far north in an area so unprepared to deal with the repurcussions?

Very stressed and cannot establish a routine while waiting for power to be restored. Schools back in session today! Yeah!! That will help with more of a predictable schedule for the kids.

My mother almost died from an accidentaly blood pressure medicine overdose over the weekend... she is doing better now. Thank goodness her husband found her in time. Needless to say, she has fired her doctor who made this almost fatal mistake.

I feel like I am living a Calgon commercial and it is lasting longer than the show I am trying to watch! Will be back to blogging soon and I can't wait! Miss everybody! Can't wait to go back and read everybody's FFF HOPE posts!!

Say a prayer for us and many many other families who are still without power in Kentucky, Ohio, Texas and New Orleans... I am sure there are many more that are struggling even worse than we are.

Favorite Foto Friday #57 - HOPE!

Since I am without power, I am scheduling this post with one of my all time favorite pictures of a special little boy who truly immortalizes the word HOPE to me. This is Amazing Jacob!



He and his family changed how I look at the world and helped me find my way to F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God). By "knowing" this sweet beautiful little boy and going through what I sometimes feel is an overwhelming journey in life... I am forever reminded that there are people in this world who suffer so much and never give up HOPE! Jacob was put here on this Earth for a devastatingly much too short amount of time. Yet, in his six years of life, he inspired so many to live their life with grace and strength! His mother, Heather, still blogs about her family and never once has forgotten the lesson that her amazing son left behind as his legacy. Jacob has forever defined HOPE for me and my family. He is my hero. I pray that all of you have somebody as miraculous as Jacob come into your life, whether through the internet or in person. He or she will change your life forever...

Here is how FFF works... it is very easy. Every Friday, post your Favorite Foto of the week... it can be of the "theme" that is given out each preceding Friday or simply your favorite of the week. Label your post FFF and if you want, leave a link back to this blog to have your friends find other FFF posts. If you would like to link your blog, please follow the Mr. Linky instructions and you are there!! I always check each link to make sure that it is a legitimate FFF post but rarely delete any links unless the links don't work.

You never have to follow the FFF theme... if you would like to be included in FFF, just post your link into Mr. Linky below... it is fun to follow our FFF friends each week!

Now... for the MR LINKY FFF LINKING DIRECTIONS!! Go to your blog and click on the title of your FFF post - your post URL will appear in the address bar in your browser and it will contain the exact link to your post! Simply highlight the address, right click, choose copy and then paste it in the "URL" spot in the Mister Linky - just under where you put your name (you can put your name and the name of your child/ren in the picture). Don't forget to click the "Enter" button and voila... you are linked!

It is important that you are linking just your post and not just your blog web address so everybody can link directly to your FFF post!!



Next week's theme is "SILLY SMILES"!! Can't wait to see them!

Theme for FFF

Hello friends,

This is Heather from Faithful Froggers. I received an e-mail from Sarah tonight . . . apparently Kentucky was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Ike - blasting through with 75mph winds! Sarah hasn't had any power for 3 days now . . . which means no internet and that is why there hasn't been an update yet about Favorite Foto Friday. She asked me to post here to let you all know that the theme this week is . . . HOPE! Just post a picture that you think symbolizes hope.

Sarah, we miss you and hope your power is up and running soon! Thinking of you and your beautiful family. Hope those lanterns & flashlights last. :) Know that we are praying for you and all who were affected by Ike!

Favorite Foto Friday #56 - WELCOME HOME!!

Since the theme this week is for YOU to create the theme, I am going to deviate from the FFF this week to welcome home a beautiful little angel named Eliana!! My friends, Mary Beth, Rob and big brother, Roberto traveled to Guatemala three weeks ago to bring home their gorgeous little daughter/sister, Eliana! We met up with them this past weekend at the zoo and I was able to take a few pictures of brother and sister together forever!! These are my two favorite...





And touching down at HOME at her homecoming celebration at the airport... is she not a vision of beauty??


And finally, a picture of the S family... together forever!!! I love you guys!! (Roberto is still adjusting to sharing the limelight with his little sister - ha ha)


Eliana is a lucky little girl! She has the most amazing family who will love her more than any little girl can imagine!! I am honored to call them my friends and by way of the heart... my FAMILY as well! And... if the stars line up... they may be in laws someday too - ha ha!! (remember Sophie's first car date with Berto?)

Here is how FFF works... it is very easy. Every Friday, post your Favorite Foto of the week... it can be of the "theme" that is given out each preceding Friday or simply your favorite of the week. Label your post FFF and if you want, leave a link back to this blog to have your friends find other FFF posts. If you would like to link your blog, please follow the Mr. Linky instructions and you are there!! I always check each link to make sure that it is a legitimate FFF post but rarely delete any links unless the links don't work.

You never have to follow the FFF theme... if you would like to be included in FFF, just post your link into Mr. Linky below... it is fun to follow our FFF friends each week!

Now... for the MR LINKY FFF LINKING DIRECTIONS!! Go to your blog and click on the title of your FFF post - your post URL will appear in the address bar in your browser and it will contain the exact link to your post! Simply highlight the address, right click, choose copy and then paste it in the "URL" spot in the Mister Linky - just under where you put your name (you can put your name and the name of your child/ren in the picture). Don't forget to click the "Enter" button and voila... you are linked!

It is important that you are linking just your post and not just your blog web address so everybody can link directly to your FFF post!!



Next week's FFF Theme will be announced later today after seeing your spin on things!! I will be using ALOT of your themes for the future, so stay tuned!!

We Will Never Forget!

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Wordless Wednesday

Favorite Foto Friday #55 - OH BABY!

I had a hard time finding old baby pictures tonight (of course, waited until the last minute)...

Here is my father, about two years old (on the left, with his brother)


Here is my mother... not sure of her age, but probably around 6 months old...


Then there is me... around 6 months old


Morgan at one day old SMILING and doing the hula


Grant about one week old snuggling with his bear


And Sophie at one week old... wish I were the one holding her!


And, you want to see something uncanny... look at these three pics together...

...my mother, me and Grant all at about 6 months with the exact same expressions and smile!!! Talk about spooky!

** All but Sophie's pictures are actually pictures I took of the old photos... I would love to get a scanner to scan in the thousands of pictures I have of Morgan and Grant's early days... any recommendations of a good photo scanner? Do they scan and become jpeg files?

I have had some questions about FFF and how it works... it is very easy. Every Friday, post your Favorite Foto of the week... it can be of the "theme" that is given out each preceding Friday or simply your favorite of the week. Label your post FFF and if you want, leave a link back to this blog to have your friends find other FFF posts. If you would like to link your blog, please follow the Mr. Linky instructions and you are there!! I always check each link to make sure that it is a legitimate FFF post but rarely delete any links unless the links don't work.

You never have to follow the FFF theme... if you would like to be included in FFF, just post your link into Mr. Linky below... it is fun to follow our FFF friends each week!

Now... for the MR LINKY FFF LINKING DIRECTIONS!! Go to your blog and click on the title of your FFF post - your post URL will appear in the address bar in your browser and it will contain the exact link to your post! Simply highlight the address, right click, choose copy and then paste it in the "URL" spot in the Mister Linky - just under where you put your name (you can put your name and the name of your child/ren in the picture). Don't forget to click the "Enter" button and voila... you are linked!

It is important that you are linking just your post and not just your blog web address so everybody can link directly to your FFF post!!




Next week's theme... YOUR OWN THEME!! Pick a theme for yourself and I will use one of the themes for the following week for everybody!! So, basically, post your favorite picture next week and give it a theme... I will choose one Friday afternoon and post it as the theme for the following week for all of us!! (OK... this is me being a tiny bit lazy... but I know you guys are up for the challenge!)

Relax...

Is it just me or does it seem as if the world is just on fast forward? It is already September!!! I never seem to find the time to blog and write down the little things that are happening in our lives. With school back in session, I thought I would have more time to get things together, instead, it is still going in super fast forward! I have to find time to sit back and enjoy the little pleasures in life.

One of the ways that I am trying to capture that now is by using my new front porch. Yes, the porch of my dreams! Complete with porch swings that I have always wanted!! My kids and I are learning to find time to relax on the porch for a little bit every evening. I have found it to be a place where I can catch up with the goings on with my big kids and just rock and relax with my little Bug.

Thought I would share our new little oasis. Here is the before... short little 70's ranch.


Here is the after...




Complete with little model...


A perfect backdrop for swinging away those summer nights.



Stopping to water the flowers with your sister...


Even though it was a complete disaster to live through... it is so metaphorically worth it in the end. It is a good reminder that you have to go through the hard stuff to see to the reward in the end.

Have been trying to slow down and enjoy more of the little things. After our vacation in HH this summer, I have been trying to find ways to spend more time as a family. This past week, I bought a bike trailer off C*raigslist and am now in search of a beach cruiser bike, like the ones we rode at the beach, for myself to start taking the time to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. Until I find one, Grant has been taking Bug out in it in the evenings... she LOVES it!





And just some random cuteness... my little crabby pants!! LOL!






It is the smiles like this that take my breath away.


The past year has been a tough one for our family. It is through the pain of things that make your children hurt on the inside while appearing fine on the outside that has made me slow down and try to find ways to pull them closer during the very time that they want to push away. It is a struggle to figure it all out and still find the time to get everything done that has to be done.

I hope that life never gets so busy that I can't see the joy in the every day. I would love to find out what kinds of things you and your family do to relax and reconnect with one another...