Picture of the Week

There's a theme for this picture...traveling.

This is my friend Katie's son and the shirt he had on a few weeks ago.  I didn't use any special settings for this but I did ask him to stand in front of me for a bit while I took a few shots to get it just right (I kept losing the Y in the fold of the shirt).  Her son was such a trooper.

I used Picasa to allow the colors to stand out a bit more and to brighten it up a little.

Katie and her hubby Josh just went on a two-week vacation to Italy.  I can't wait to hear all about it and see her pictures.  Her son will be traveling to India on his first mission trip in November.

This is their year for traveling!

Where do you want to travel?

This Week - In List Form

This week...

*  I want to try some new cards layouts and put some cards together (and if you want to order some just email me).  I ordered some more card stock and it should be here this week and then I can dive into some fun stamping.

*  My lovely friend Lyndsey is going to help me take pictures of my cards so that I can get my etsy shop up and running.  I need to come up with some fun descriptions for the cards that will be catchy enough for people to want to buy them.

*  I'm going to make two new recipes... Stromboli (inspired by my Kate) and mini meatball sandwiches.  Click on "Kate" to see her recipe and I'll be sure to share the meatball recipe with you later.

*  I'd like to organize my crafting bookshelf...it's a little out of control.  Ooh, I think this means I may need to add a trip to The Container Store to my plans.

*  I'd like to take the kids to our local waterpark.

*  I plan on taking pictures of my new cup to show you...I really love it.  It keeps my water cold for a good amount of time and the sunflower is fun to look at during the day :)

*  I'd like to take Jamison to see Judy Moody...she loves those books.

What are you plans?

miscellany monday

1.  Summer, summer, summertime...is here!!!  It officially turned summer last week and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I'm not one who loves the heat, but I enjoy the loose schedule, lighter evenings, grilling out, and an occasional trip to the pool/spray park.  I'm looking forward to enjoying each moment that this summer brings.

2.  It's in the details.  One of the things I'm trying to do this summer to spruce things up around here...here on the blog, at home, with my kids, and even with me.  

In my home I'm trying to add little things to spruce things up.  I'm taking tips from everywhere (I guess it's time I check out Pinterest), including my friend Katie.  She has such a cute and detailed home.  Here are some of her details:

I love this cute pitcher, the color of the tea cup and the simplicity of adding lemons to an apothecary jar (am I saying that right?).

I have ideas to add a nice rug to my kitchen or a large clock on my entry wall...simple, yet detailed.  I have a trip to Ikea planned for the end of July and I'm sure that will help a lot with my details.

3.  A picnic of sorts.  One of the things on my summer list to have a few picnics and the kids & I did that the other day on a slightly smaller scale.  My friend Lyndsey suggested a new playground to me the other day so Saturday we set out to explore.  We stopped at Subway for some sandwiches to have a little picnic before playtime.

 This sweet girl loves her Subway sandwiches...pepperoni on Italian with cheese, lettuce, mayo and sometimes cucumbers with a side of apples.

One day I'll get this one to eat:

This is what he ate.

4.  Summer reading.  Another thing we accomplished on the list was signing up for the summer reading program.  Our library only does this for kids, but I'm joining in too.  I'm already behind Jamison!  I have a book on reserve at the library (a Tess Gerritsen book) and I have a book ordered through my church's bookstore (Give Them Grace).  I was reading Crazy Love, but came across some parts in the book that just didn't line up with what I believe so I had to put it down.

I look forward to packing in a lot of reading time, but at the rate she's going I think Jamison is going to be the winner in our house :)


5.  I never would have thought...I'd be in love with a phone.  But I am...this one.  When it was time for my upgrade this year I decided to go for a Smartphone.  I always get the free phone so I thought it was time to really upgrade.  I spent at least two hours in the Verizon store and it came down to the HTC phone and the iPhone (which I was longing for).  I decided on the HTC because it fit my needs better...and I love it.


The other night I was playing around with the phone and really discovered how I can make it personal to me...with so many different calendar options, contact options, widgets (like I found one for a word of the day), etc.  I think this phone and I are going to be friends for a long time...well, at least until the next upgrade :)  

6.  It's good to be back!!!  I can't tell you how excited I am to have my laptop back.  I have some orders of business I need to get done now, like my new header/layout and setting up my etsy shop.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I'm Baaaack...With Unedited Pictures & My Friday Favorites

So excited to be back and to be able to share all of the goodness around me :)  Join me as I embrace my favorites:

Playing around with my camera

Sharing the results of my play time with you in this post (though they are not edited since the laptop has just been release from recovery)

Discovering that it's the shutter speed that I need to adjust...oooooohhhhhh.

Verbena...I hope they last for me this year.  The color of these flowers is so vibrant!

Listening to the Beth Moore The Inheritance study with my friend Tonya

Really hearing what God had to say to me through the session

Having my laptop back in working order (thanks Ron!)

Being back to regular blogging now the the laptop is fixed...oh how I missed it

My new Tervis Tumbler...it has a sunflower (it may have to be part of my next photo shoot)

Bendy straws

Hearing about Rondell and the kids' spontaneous bowling outing...Jamison got a spare

Snuggles from my kids after not seeing them all day.

Sitting on my front porch and enjoying the lovely weather

Sitting on the front porch, enjoying the weather and listening to Pandora radio on my phone

Steak on the grill

The excitement that I feel over the fact that my latest Stampin Up order is on its way

The fact that Rachel hosts this weekly...I truly enjoy sitting, absorbing the goodness & sharing it with you.

Join us!

I Just Received Word...

The surgery was a success!!!  Looks like someone will be just in time for Friday Favorites.  See you tomorrow Friends :)

Hang In There With Me...

...parts have been ordered


...Rondell is preparing for laptop surgery


...I should be back in business by the end of the week

Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there was a girl starting a new chapter in her life as a freshman at The Ohio State University.  She lived on an all-girl floor and had the nicest Resident Adviser.  The RA introduced the girl to some of her friends.  While the girl was in the room of one of those friends there was a knock at the door.   


A tall stranger was on the other side.  He didn't say much.


A friendship grew between the stranger and the girl.  They would talk and hang out, mostly with all of their mutual friends.


As the end of the school year approached, the girl realized that she kind of liked this stranger who had become a friend...this gentle giant.


They said their goodbyes with a promise that he would write over the summer (remember when people used to write letters?)


The girl waited for a letter...and just when she stopped waiting, it arrived.  It was simple, but precious.  She wrote back, trying not to be too obvious that she had a bit of a crush.


In addition to letters they would talk on the phone...casual conversation.  


Eventually plans were made for a visit...the gentle giant was going to a strange place to visit the girl.  


The day arrived...the gentle giant arrived on the Greyhound bus (oh yes he did!).  The visit was nice...simple and sweet...innocent.


The next school year arrives and the girl is still feeling butterflies for the gentle giant.  Others start to recognize that there's a tiny bit of chemistry and try and play match maker.


Finally, the time arrives...the girl reveals her crush to the gentle giant.  He says he likes her too.  A relationship begins...


14 1/2 years, 9 years of marriage, two kids and a house later here they are...still friends.  What a foundation...the foundation that holds them together. 

Happy Anniversary Friend!

I'm Broken...

...well, my computer is.  Sniff, sniff.  Rondell is working on it for me...connecting with his computer buddies and my dad will be here Sunday to take a look, if necessary.  I hope to back to full function soon because this does not put me in my happy place.

Try not to miss me :)

miscellany monday

1.  When you're really tired...it doesn't matter where you go to sleep.  Here is a picture of Caleb from last week.  Rondell actually took this picture but I'm pretty sure he was on time out before falling asleep (this is our time out spot).

He does not get this from me...I can't just fall asleep anywhere.  If you remember he's done this before...here.

2.  Feelin' the love...that was part of my recent Facebook post yesterday.  I was feeling the love first because I got a free size upgrade on my cranberry limeade at Sonic, then because a sweet friend brought me a jar of strawberry jam.  The love feeling continued as I pulled up to my house after church and realized that my mom had been to my house and planted some flowers and planted my flower pots.  I felt so special :)

3.  The smell of summer is upon us...in the form of brisket.  Our Small Group got together this weekend to kick off the summer with a gathering.  Josh smoked two briskets and then everyone brought sides...it was a fabulous meal.

All smoked and ready to eat!

4.  Good conversation...warms my heart.  During our Small Group gather us ladies had some really great conversation, with tears and laughter.  I adore our group and how much we've grown together...it's been up and down and I love the place we're in now.

You know it's getting good when someone is pulling out Scripture!

Summer Plans

So, finding joy's Rachel (love her) posed a simple, good question the other day and it got me thinking:

What do you want to do this summer?

Last summer was chaotic for us and overall was not all that fun or enjoyable.  I want things to be different this year so I'm making up a little list of things to do...you know I love my lists.

Take the kids to the spray park...and even put my toes in.

Join the library's Summer Reading Program with Jamison.

Take my camera pretty much everywhere I go to capture all of the little and big moments.

Have more popcorn parties.

Take a day off from work, just to hang out with my two favorite people.

Road trip to IKEA with a few of my favorite girlfriends.

Go for walks in the evening.

Read the children Bible stories and discuss God's grace.

Show God's grace.

Plan a trip to either the Indianapolis Zoo or our local waterpark.

Have a picnic or two...or three.

Make sun tea and fresh squeezed lemonade.

Play music really loud and dance off the grumpies.

Share our summer adventures with all of you :)

miscellany monday

1.  No pictures please.  I have not been doing a good job at all about taking pictures.  I need to start taking my camera everywhere so that I can get into the habit of capturing the little moments.  I love pictures and since it's not in the budget to hire a photographer to hang out with us I need to get myself together.  I love looking at blogs that are filled with beautiful pictures (even if they aren't related to the post) and I want to do that here.  I also need to work on the pictures for my header so that I can update my blog.  I love the headers here, here, and here.

2.  Real life inspiration...right in my own "backyard."  This weekend we went to Rondell's cousins' graduation party (Rokia is graduating from college and Ron is graduating from high school).  I was so inspired by these two (and if I had my camera I could show you their pictures...sigh) and their parents...both are grounded in Christ, did well educationally and athletically, close with their parents and each other, and just overall good people.  I sat with their mom Kim for a bit and told her how much of an inspiration she is as a mother and how I hope my children turn out as well as hers have.

 

Side note:  Ron is going to THE Ohio State University to play football...Go Bucks!

3.  Quote of the weekend...by Caleb.  After jumping into the pool by himself for the first time Caleb says "I've never felt more alive!"  I love that kid. 

my {friday} favorites

A clean car

My little man helping me vacuum the car

My new cell phone

Talks with God in the morning on the way to work

Fridays (it feels like it has been such a long week)

 

This ice cream flavor (yum!)

Sweet emails from friends when I was sick last week

A free trip with the kids to our local pool (thanks to our PTA)

Posts like this one that make me reflect on how I am as a mother

Celebrating my mom's birthday

Fresh flowers in a vase (I need to start doing this because I absolutely love it)

A good twist at the end of a movie

My plans for a popcorn party tonight with my two favorite little people

Being able to renew library books online

 This message:  "Faith does not refuse to face reality, but looks beyond all difficulties to God and His promises." - found @ LMM

Picture of the Week

This is my cousin Martin.  One of my favorite things about pictures is getting people in their natural state...the natural smile.  This is truly natural Martin...always with a smile, always so cool.