Diary of a blessed life

A Change

2009-06-16T10:31:00.001-04:00

I will no longer be blogging here my new blogsite is www.wildflowerfm.com come on over and leave a comment so I know you are there :)

Artsy photos

2009-05-05T08:50:00.000-04:00

2009-04-27T11:17:00.001-04:00

I have this new obsession with Photoshop!! I love the artstyle scrapbook pages I can create!!!

2009-04-20T21:49:00.002-04:00

After a long yet fruitful Monday the house is quiet.

Anna

2009-04-16T14:29:00.002-04:00

She does not care to have her photo taken, and she is SO photogenic!! But on this afternoon at Grandma Judy's house she cooperated at bit, in that she was OK with me photographing her doing something, but no smiles. I love the last one. I wonder what she was dreaming about? She is such a sweet and very stubborn girl, I think the key with her will be to teach her to stubbornly pursue all that is good and sweet and holy. A tall order for sure. I love her so, I pray that I will be the mother to her that God expects me to be and when I am not that His grace will fill in the gaps.

A Scrapbook Page!!!

2009-04-15T17:31:00.002-04:00

Starring Laura and Lily. I love these antique style photos, I will do my best to not apply this filter to every single photo I take for the next 6 months :)

A Senior Portrait

2009-04-08T16:11:00.002-04:00

Of all the photos I took of Charlie for this momentous occasion....this is my fav by a mile! He looks so much like my grandfather!!!!! My baby boy is all gone.....

TEA?

2009-04-07T11:06:00.002-04:00

Good Morning!

2009-04-06T09:55:00.001-04:00

Laura and Lily wish you a happy monday morning!! Busy week around here.

What's been going on?????

2009-03-12T14:07:00.005-04:00

THIS!!!!!! and a lot of this! Finally resorting to this!!! And we have a fox around the ranch...I mean other than me!!

2009-03-06T12:42:00.004-05:00

Charlie worked the spot light at his school's production of Les Mis. An important job otherwise it would just people stand around in the dark singing..:) Alex and I attended last night and it was FABULOUS!!!! It was far beyond any high school performance I have ever seen. So if you live in my area go see it at Oak...7:30 Fri and Sat. and 2pm Sun!! You won't be disappointed!! And here is a totally unrelated photo....Alex isn't he handsome. He cut most of that hair off. But now it kinda' stands straight up!!!

{Sigh}

2009-02-19T12:31:00.002-05:00

Green. Lush. Warm. Summer.

2009-02-02T09:59:00.001-05:00

I read this over at the Quite Life blog and I just needed it this morning...Hopefully it will bless you too :)

Lord, You know better than I know myself that I am getting older and will someday be old. Keep me from... the fatal habit of thinking I must say something in every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but You know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details-give me wings to come to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure the with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I will be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint-some of them are so hard to live with-but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me the grace to tell them so.
Found in Elisabeth Elliot's little book "Gateway to Joy".
It is attributed to a seventeenth-century nun.

Been Busy

2009-01-31T11:43:00.002-05:00

My friend Amy was here from CO. This is a photo of her with another

friend ReNee. We had fun and did some girls stuff like shopping and pedicures.

Charlie turned 18...Wow I feel old! We are so proud of the young man he has grown into. Graduation is just around the corner. He has made his final desion to attend MS technical college, he will be going into construction management.

I had a photo shoot with this cute little guy from our church.

So far February doesn't look too crazy. But you never know what may develop.

A Weekend Photo Shoot

2009-01-19T09:42:00.003-05:00

I am creating a story book for CM that needed to have a father theme. So instead of digging through years of photos for dad and child shots, I took these. They are a bit grainy as the light was low that day. You can create these photo too even if you have a point and shoot camera. All you need is a window, a black piece of fabric, and some willing, or semi-willing in Ray's case, subjects. Face the model to the window, hang or have someone hold the black fabric, set your camera to portrait and shoot away. I edited them: I lightened the midtones {that it the flesh tone} and added a lot of contrast and of course changed them to sepia. Happy Monday!!!!

Is that sweet or what???????????

Laugh and the world laughs with you!!!!!

A Good Day to Scrapbook June :)

2009-01-15T19:53:00.002-05:00

This page is a little out of my comfort zone. I usally focus on the photos, this time it is the journaling which is a June alphabet. I know it is hard to read the journaling on screen but @ 100% in SBC+ it looks nice and then the words do not compete with the flowers.

A Budding Blogger!

2009-01-08T16:32:00.002-05:00

Head on over to Laura's Life, a new blog authored by our own Laura Gail. She has been begging for days to have her own. So with some help from mom, she has begun her blogging journey. All the photos {unless they are of her} are taken by Laura. She dictates to me what to type, soon she will be able to do the typing herself but until then I will have to be her assistant. Enjoy and leave her lots of comments!!!! Lots and lots!

Let us think of July

2009-01-06T10:06:00.003-05:00

I am moving along in my 2008 scrapbook....Oh this makes me long for the warm breezes of summer. All digital scrapping items available through Scrapgirls. The sunflower was created by me.

A Few Laughs this REALLY Cold Morning

2009-01-05T09:12:00.002-05:00

Is this thing on?? What I am going through a growth spurt?!?!?! No comment

The Noisy Sisters..... debut concert!!!! on the Drive mom crazy tour!

Our Christmas Photos

2008-12-30T10:14:00.002-05:00

All digital scrapping products available from scrapgirls.

The Christmas bow, birds, fur, and metal fastener were created by me.

2008-12-22T21:47:00.004-05:00

Take a few moments to sit back and listen to the words of this song and enjoy the lovely kids. I pray it will help you to remember the real meaning of Christmas. I find myself living the weeks before the big holiday as if it were all about gift and entertaining. But the real meaning is this:

For the love that knows no ending,

in the wisdom of God's plan.

For the light that was descending,

to revive the heart of man.

Christ the lamb was made to suffer

and to die upon a tree.

So that we sisters and brothers

could know His fellowship so deep!

AMEN

Laura had a birthday!!

2008-12-22T09:26:00.003-05:00

We had a lovely family from the church over for a dinner party, their daughter Sara and Laura are very good friends. It was a fun evening of food, cake, and visiting. I cannot believe Laura is seven. She is getting so tall!!

Her theme for the party was the north pole. She loves the elf from the Santa Clause movie, the one with Tim Allen. Santa's elf in that movie is Judy, so for weeks she has insisted that we call her Judy. I found this Santa dress at the second hand store which she would wear all the time if I would allow. The sweetest part of the elf play is that is turns her into such a servant. She is always asking, " Can I get you some hot chocolate? Do you need anything?" She even found a serving tray and will serve and clear anything that you ask for. It is so sweet. She is a sweet girl.

For you scrappers out there the digital scrapbook page

created with all CM products:

Jewel Christmas
Frost Overlay
Office Silver
Romance Sewing

I created party hats with the Traditional Jewel Christmas paper.

I simply cut a 12x12 paper in half. folded it over its self to create a cone.
I punched small holes on the points of the hat that go above the ears, and then ran curling ribbon through the holes, and placed another frosted split over top to hold in the ribbon in place.
Attached some feather ribbon around the outside with CM frosted split adhesives.
I added each child's name to the hat with the CM letter stickers, and some other decorations, and Laura we made a little fancier since she was the birthday girl.
I curled one end of the ribbon and left the other straight so that you could tie under the ribbons under their cute little chins.

Done.... Sorta'

2008-12-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

My Christmas shopping is nearly done. Just a few gifts Ray has to get and then the kids will go and get presents for each other on Monday. I have 2/3 of them wrapped. Menu is planned for Christmas eve, just a bit of last minute shopping for that. So all I really have left is host Laura's Birthday party on Friday night, make homemade Cinnamon rolls to give as gifts, final practices for our home school Christmas program, and.....ahhh yukkk clean the house. Now I must go bandage my paper cuts and fall into bed so I have the strength to put on this Holly Jolly Christmas.

What is your favorite holiday task?

What is your least favorite?

My fav is making the list and shopping for the gifts.

My least.... wrapping. I used to like it but now there are so many to wrap, what a great thing to complain about, too many gifts, we are blessed!!!!!

Oh How the Wind Blew!!!

2008-12-15T17:06:00.000-05:00

What does one do when the view from the dinning room looks like this?A lot of this!!!! We watched four movies this weekend. I knew the storm was coming and we were in town on Friday night soooo I stocked up a few 7 day rentals.We also did some sitting in front of the fire. By Sunday night it was so cold that the smoke could not rise out of the chimney. So Ray had to carry the burning logs out into the snow. Thankfully we have a furnace and several heaters but still it was very cold around the edges of the house. By Monday morning you kinda feel like this.... and then you look out the window and you know snow removal is inevitable. Well for the men at least. I keep myself nice and toasty on the other side of the window and take photos, make coffee and cinnamon rolls.This is the monster snow bank the man conquered this morning.It was cold....very cold somewhere below zero. Ray said it was not too bad, the wind was not blowing. What a tough North Dakota German he is!!!!

The view from my kitchen window this morning....Yesterday morning....Still moving snow. Tiny bird looking for a hand out.

An hour and a half later those rugged man are done.We are truly blessed that we do not have to brave these blizzards in a soddy around an open fire!!! I know the men were very thankful for the snow blower. Ray and Grandpa when off to work around noon, Charlie did not have school today, but had to work. He has a job working for a one of the big groceries in town. So anyway that is what happened in our big weekend. For those you who were also snowed in. What did you do? What are the largest snow drifts you remember?

"Texturizing"

2008-12-12T15:37:00.000-05:00

That is what they are calling it these days. NOT perming...that is what old ladies do to their short hair. About a month ago I had a little texture added to my hair and it started a trend in our house. Oh yeah I am a trend setter if you did not know. So here is my first straight to curly hair convert. This is little L he was there with his mom who created the lovely texture. He was not there for curls but DORITOS!!! Wow what eyes!!!Yes that is a grocery bag on her head.... she had over 90 rollers in her hair.The final result. So girly and pretty :) In other Laura news.... she lost her other front tooth. Now she can really sing " All I want for Kithmas is my two front teef."

A Thanksgiving Review

2008-12-01T11:40:00.001-05:00

Strangely enough I have no photos of the actual Thanksgiving dinner. We went to Ray's family back in our home town for the holiday and the big pig out was at Ray's grandmothers tiny apartment. As were were unloading the van to go into the tiny apartment Ray looked at me as I picked up my giant camera bag and said. "You are going to take that in?" "um no I guess not.." But I took many others of the weekend. There was plenty of card games. Laura loves to be the score keeper. Can I count that as math?This is Alex's poker face.....Charlie wishing Uncle Glen a Happy Thanksgiving!A bit of napping here and there.Lily, Kat and Chris put together this puzzle that the girls received as an early Christmas gift from Kat and Chris.This one of Kason and grandpa is my fav photo of the weekend. Loving and dramatic, I think.Of course it was great fun to see our nephew and cousin Kason. He is getting so big! He is a sweet boy who jabbers and says a lot of words already.Goofy Alex!We always go to this little pizza place whenever we are all back. The pizza is great and the conversation fun!! While we were there the girls got into this high chair with wheels and two of the grandpas would push them back and forth. They squealed with delight each time they zoomed back and forth. One time when Uncle Jeff was taking out of the highchair Laura let out a holler and Emma Grabbed Laura's pant leg. And with her eyebrows scrunched in disgust and a hand on her hip, She said, "NO she is ours!!!!!" and then her stare lingered at Jeff for a few seconds and she huffed off. Now I am sure there was some sort of disrespect in that. But I have to say she had the courage to stand up for and protect her sister. Now onto all that is Christmas!!!! Can't WAIT :)

Four Generations Later...

2008-11-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

This is Laura with her great grandma Blanche. {my mother's mother} This is Blanche on the lap of her mother, Laura's Great Great Grandma. See any resemblance? I am working on a hertitage storybook right now and i am just having so much fun going through all those vintage photos. It is a journey to see where I came from.

Same~Different

2008-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

Since I am a home school mom I have many workbooks filled with a lot of silly yet important activities. One of the girls' favorites is anything where they have to find things that are same or different. This kind of busy work will keep Lily busy for hours. Laura is more of a hands on kinda' girl so I thought I can put her same and different interest to WORK. She is the best sock sorter, folder, put awayer you will ever meet. Plus if you tell she can organize the sock drawer as well she is absolutely giddy!!!She likes to organize each persons socks into piles first. I guess she keeps daddy's on her head. We have A LOT of socks so sometimes she needs a nap in the midst of her ordering.

Once well rested she will sing an astoundingly loud version of "Glory be to God the Father"

We should be thankful for socks !!! Especially wool ones.

Glory BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little drama mixed in there. Because nothing Laura does is void of drama!

Match!!!!

Hop Hop Hop to my work.

Now workbooks are great and I have come to realize that not every child loathes them as I did as a kid. But I think the same and different lesson was taught just as effectively here with the bonus that she learned to do her work cheerfully, helping her family is a blessing, perfecting the lyrics to Glory Be, she was able to work without her sisters bugging her {they know if the pester they can help, and let's just say most do not have Laura's enthusiasm for socks} So really it is serious multi tasking and with 6 kids I am all for Multi anything that helps us get the work done. Ok I am off to reorganize my sock drawer.....never mind already done :)

I love this image!

2008-11-18T09:25:00.000-05:00

This is my mother's mother holding my aunt. I love how this is just a slice of life. Not posed. I love that you can see grandpa's shadow against her legs. I love that she is wearing trousers. I love that I can see my mother's and my face in hers. I love that I can see my babies in the one she carries. I love this image!

Check out!!!

2008-11-13T12:33:00.000-05:00

Please go Here and read these great thoughts by Mrs. B. Leave your thoughts as well :)

Trick or Treat

2008-11-13T10:26:00.001-05:00

This year we were able to go trick or treating. Charlie had a play off football game all the way over on the other side of the state. Grandma and grandpa S were the half way point so Friday we spent the night and begged for candy :) The girls had such fun. We had a lion, a bear, a ballerina, and Crulella DeVil. And wow they got a lot of candy, and little bags of pretzles. Who gives dry, sugarless, snack food for Halloween, dentists I suppose :) It was fun to participate in the silly American tradition. It was a beautiful evening, I remember one time as a child I had to wear my snow suit under my costume. There was some in out of the van, we went to see Grandpa at work. It was so sweet that he remembered to bring candy for the girls. Fun fun. {the candy is all gone, big brothers were happy to help with the consumption}

Young Love!!!

2008-11-10T11:54:00.000-05:00

Some of you out there may know this lovely couple so leave some love and congrats in the comments!!! This was such a fun shot even though it was FREEZING cold out!!! Here a *few* of my faves. There are way more great shots. Have a blessed day!!!

The above photo is my ABOSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS PHOTO!!!! and this one on the couch....Less portrait more art like on this one. I love it... it reminds me of a Renoir painting, some young couple in a tea room in France. I dig the heavy shadow on the right side of there faces normally this would drive me crazy but here is totally works.

These inside shots were taken in the coffee shop that they were engaged in!!! Sweet Sweet Sweet!

Most of October in review

2008-11-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

Here is a field trip photo with our freakishly large 2nd grader Alex :)

This is Charlie jumping WOW that was a lot of air!!! This was a game not at out home field because it ours was flooded.We attended a wedding in our home town. The girls {and Alex} had fun dressing up and then dancing the night away...well until 8:30 :)

This game it rain the whole time. We won this game and made it to the playoffs. Here is some ruffian pushing my baby into the mud!!!!We saw Grandma and Grandpa 3 times this month so there was lots of this going on :) Annie and Emmie turned three this month. Where did that time go?This is Charlies *Friend* Ariel. There seem to be an increase in the Little Mermaid around here, even by the girls :) Soon a trick-o-treating post and a very LOOOOOOONGGGGGGGG drive.

Some of Chuck Chuck's Sr pics

2008-10-27T21:25:00.000-05:00

This last on is my favorite!!!! I love his eyes in this one. I did go in and sharpen just his eyes so they would really stand out. That face is just Charlie :)

Here is a super cool Digital scrapbook page notice the "custom" sign!!!

ttfn!!

New photos

2008-10-25T23:45:00.000-04:00

These are a few of my favs from these urban girls. They were so good they were like super models!!! I also took another set of Charlie photos, I will post soon.

HEY!!

2008-10-22T19:22:00.000-04:00

Are you guys still there???I think I can see them...Me too if I hold this magmafierglasser up like this and stick my hip out like this...

Oh there you guys are! We though maybe you all went away cuz mom can't seem to post any new picutures. Well since we have your attention here are our school pictures. High schoolers have not had picture day so they will get a post of their own. Enjoy!

September Happenings

2008-09-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

Started out the month with a theatrical performance by Alex!! He played Dr. Chilton in a production of PollyAnna. He was smashing!!!And of course every Friday night is filled with High school Football!! Lots of this going on as we prepare for our long winter.

We hosted a church picnic and it was a wonderful time! We played whiffle ball and ate chili and homemade cornbread!! Stellar outfield!! and a picnic is not complete without a gunny sack race. Winner Jeff!! WE had a early morning visitor. Not a great photo cuz i was shaking so bad. They are huge and he was right outside my window!!!

Fall is here and the colors around the ranch are great for photos!!Laura lost her front top tooth..cute gap..took the tooth fairy three days to leave money. BAD TOOTH FAIRY!!!!!We started school and it is going well. This is the girls making "A" cookies. Last week was exciting as we had to take Emma to the ER. She had a terrible virus that gave her an incredibly high fever, she had a seizure and scared me half to death. She is much better now. Ray and Aimee's current political opinion. Bumper sticker found on the back of DR.'s car. Head on over to his blog for links to some thought provoking articles!!

Other than the photo shoot and new kittys around the place that about sums up Sept.

Too much Editing???

2008-09-29T13:28:00.000-04:00

I think it almost looks like a painting. Most of the time I like to stay away from the over edited look, but this time I think it works. So what do you thing too much??

Another Blessed Family

2008-09-28T21:22:00.000-04:00

Here is a little sampling of a beautiful family !!!! A complete showing of this shoot will be shown on my Photo blog later this week. And I promise grandma J... I will post some photos of our children tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest

Four boys Two girls

New photos...

2008-09-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

Over at my photography site!!!

More coming through out the day as I get them edited and organized.

My Fav Pages Right Now :)

2008-09-17T21:55:00.001-04:00

This could change by tomorrow!

Paper and embellies from CM Recipe Kit and CM Doodles kit.

Busy rest of the week for us. We are have a church picnic out here and I will be making chili for 80 folks. The weather is looking to be great! Charlie has a football game on Friday night, Grandma and Grandpa S are coming over for it again. Ray and I went into town this evening to buy a mattress. Let me tell you it was long over due! So tomorrow night I get to sleep on my new pillow top mattress, I can't wait. I am off to bed on my old and lump mattress.

Blessed sleep

;0 to you all!

A Little Behind!

2008-09-17T09:53:00.000-04:00

I am trying to catch up my 2008 scrapbook, I am currently scrapping May...

CM papers and Scrapgirl embellies. Stay tuned maybe I can get to June :)

Homecoming 2008

2008-09-14T20:46:00.000-04:00

This Saturday we had our homecoming game...We lost 07-35. WE lost to the team that we beat last year to win the state championship. Lets just say they were out for revenge :)

I was a rainy day but all and all it was a good day of football. Charlie had a very good game and his rather large cheering section was very proud of him. Isn't there something just so Americana about fall and football? What are you high school football memories?

Before and after

2008-09-10T12:54:00.003-04:00

This photo was edited with Creative Memories Memory Manager

~I cropped and adjusted the constrast.

and Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 (it came with my computer)

~I edited only the eyes by selecting them with a lasso tool, I sharpened them and upped the contrast and the blue.

~then I added a blur over the entire photo that was very trasparent so I would not loose the sharpness but would soften her skin.

And then I put the newly edited photo back into MM when I organize and store all my photos. And I digitally scrapbooked it with Storybook Creator Plus the Digital paper and sticker collection is found on the digital expressions CD

What a difference HUH?!? click on pages to see bigger than you can really see the difference.

Old Chair and wild flowers

2008-09-08T12:21:00.000-04:00

As I stalk other photographers I have been seeing a lot of

old chairs used as props. Well old chairs I have plenty! So here are a few photos taken in my "backyard" it is really a side yard... but not so much a yard as 6 acres of wild prairie :)On the road.....

Jump for JOY!!!

Can't we all just get along....?

2008-09-03T21:50:00.000-04:00

Lily has a question?

2008-09-02T21:23:00.000-04:00

Do you know something else you can shuck with your teeth?

Hummmm................ do you????

Famous Dave BBQ ribs with the bones still in them...

I get to eat them with my hands and teeth!!

I am out of here :)

Amused Indeed

2008-09-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

A few weekends back we spent the weekend back in our home town. To keep the little beasties occupied we took them to the amusement park. They had super fun going down the super slide... Driving go carts... Riding the Ferris Wheel...notice no Aimee...scary high!

Mini golfing...Alex needs to work on his technique a bit, I think he is trying to putt here :) Riding tiny animal trains... And finally climbing the rock wall.. Yes 6 year old Laura climbed to the top of this wall.. Wow she is strong and brave. Charlie climbed it as well really fast!!! WELL I have a crazy super busy week this week. Dr appt. Tues, a church meeting Wed, one theater dress rehearsal on Thurs, two theater performances one Fri and one Sat, one football game on Thurs, get ready to start Laura in Second grade next Monday! So I am just hanging on for the ride. See you in the funny papers! Aimee

Fellowship so Deep

2008-08-29T10:07:00.000-04:00

For the love that knows no ending, in the wisdom of Gods plan

For the light that was descending to revive the heart of man

Christ the Lamb was made to suffer and to die upon a tree

So that we, sisters and brothers, could know His fellowship so deep

Let us sing of our Redeemer and of His love that made us free

And know this gift is ours forever, a fellowship so deep A fellowship so deep

We can feel his love among us; we can sing redemptions song

We can hear the Spirit call us to a place where we belong

For His joy is in our laughter and His comfort in our grief

Let His love here ever after be the language that we speak

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia to the Lamb, alleluia to the Lamb

Have blessed weekend with your family enjoying fellowship so deep!

Aimee

Beans

2008-08-22T09:26:00.000-04:00

"I love beans from the garden..they are so crunchy and good!!" "and I love corn too, we have picked 30 dozen. I tell mom.. don't cut the corn off (the cob) I can shuck it with my teeth."

It's that time already!!

2008-08-18T22:11:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not it is time to start thinking about those Christmas cards and letters. Would you like me to take your photos for those cards? I am running a "one less thing to worry about at Christmas special. $5 off the usual $65 family sitting price that is just $60 for those of you who are math impaired. And that includes the whole family shot and individuals and any combo of your crazy blessed family. This special run through the 15th of October. But slots are filling fast, I do have six kids ya know I can't be runnin' all over the country side... so call or email to make your appointment.

See this cute card. I created it with CM Storybook Creator, the palette is Jewel Christmas. I can teach you how if you think you need to do just one more thing before the holidays set in :)

Here are a few samples if you are not familiar with my work ;) Don't forget I also take Sr. Pictures. I am taking Charlies this year..... in fact next week. Wow where has the time gone?

OK if you want this shot you should probably wait until at least September to make you appointment could have snow by then :( let's hope not!!!! so anyway you get the idea.

Illumination

2008-08-18T11:30:00.000-04:00

This photo for a tiger lily is technically quite good. The focus is crisp the composition is clever in that I photographed the back of the flower, and the petals seem to be praying. I did a far amount of editing to lighten the highlights and add contrast. I sharpened it quite a big and cropped it. It is lovely and a good representation of a lily.

But this photo is so much more.....This photo is about the light interacting with the lily. I am quiet obsessed with the light under things right now. The polka-dot sunlight that filters through trees and under the leaves of the zucchini plants in the high sun of afternoon is just luscious and provides the right contrast to create a photo that is illuminated!! This lily required minimal editing just a tiny bit of sharpening and I cropped to square just for the blog, in its original form no cropping. When I first started to study photography it was with film. We had to record in a little notebook all of our camera settings for every photo. This was hard but it taught me how to look at a lighting situation and start to understand how light worked. Digital photography is amazing and I never want to go back to film. Learning the technical aspects of photography has been accelerated greatly by having all the photo info right there in your camera, but learning to study light takes just as long as it ever did. So beware of "photographers" who have a website and are ready to take your wedding photos. I recently edited a batch of photos for a bride that were just awful all 300 were just a little out of focus and had clear camera shake issues. This person claimed to be a professional....but he clearly was not. Photography is an art form that takes time... a lifetime really to develope. I love seeing new talent start on this journey like my friend Laura H, she has a lovely artistic eye and is asking all the right questions. We will see great photos from her!!!

Enjoy this day of your Blessed Life,

and search for illumination that only the sun (or Son) can give.

Aimee

"To the dull mind all nature is leaden. To the illumined mind the whole world sparkles with light." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

2008-08-14T23:35:00.000-04:00

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been t he two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James

2008-08-12T10:29:00.000-04:00

This page was created for CM, it was used to show who the designers on the design team are. It was a fun page to create but it was very complicated and took a long time.

Anyway enough of that! I have so many of you say "OH I love you blog and I come and read all the time." But you guys never leave comments.... except of dear sweet Laura H. So for the next two days if you are out there let me know. You can just "sign" your name in the comments or you can leave a comment on what you like the best about the blog, the photos, the digital scrapbooking stuff, the writing, or whatever else makes you :) So I can't wait to hear from you all...Oh and tell me what state you are from.

Ode to Little House on the Prairie

2008-08-10T21:04:00.000-04:00

Photo by Lily age 4 Once upon a time I lived on a prairie. I was a little girl who wore calico and long braids. My little house on the prairie lunch box was one of my favorite possessions. My mom read the whole series to me out loud. Watching little house at 4:00 was one of the highlight of my day. I felt a kinship with Laura, I wanted to be the hero of my own story. Truly I wanted a sister Mary.. only I wanted her name to be Julie because that is the most beautiful name in the world, at least to my eight year old mind.

One bright wintry day my dad went to a near by pond and chopped ice blocks for us to make homemade Ice cream. (We didn't use the ice in the ice cream only on the outside to keep it cold). I thought it was so incredible old fashion and just what Pa or Almozo would do. Those stories are still fresh in my mind, those places I imagined, the banks of Plum Creek, the wolves around a tiny cabin. All of those tales set the tune of my mothers voice as I cuddled down in my warm bed with the drowsy hours crept in around the edge of my little eyes ... Lovely....Yes?.... Yes.

Photo by Laura age 6

Now I live on the wide open prairie again. I read through those stories again with fresh eyes. Now I see how much hard labor was involved in working for every little thing. But the romance of the pioneers is still there for me. I am not made of such material that I could live a cold ND winter in a dugout with my wagon box as the front wall. But I love the strength of the stories and when I read them I am transported to those places I imagined as a child and the warmth of my childhood bed and the lilt of my mothers voice and the softness of her face in the bedside light.

Read stories to your children everyday!

Are you ready to say AWWWW!!

2008-08-07T23:35:00.000-04:00

This baby boy is only three weeks old and he had his eyes open the whole time. It was great!!

Not your Mother's Album Pages!!!

2008-08-05T17:33:00.001-04:00

I know a lot of you when you think of Creative Memories these are the kinds of album pages you think of. You know a photo at each corner... lots of hearts.... and ball and stick writing!! We now refer to it as 4 corners and a heart. At our national conventions we were able to laugh at how far CM has come. So many amazing ways to tell your story, digital scrap booking, framing, and traditional that has so many artful choices its hard to choose. So this entry is dedicated to Sandy she made me laugh so much this weekend, she has the most wonderful and contagious giggle!!!

Stay tuned for pages that are not four corners and a heart.

2008-07-31T14:47:00.000-04:00

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."

Pooh thought for a little.

"How old shall I be then?"

"Ninety-nine." Pooh nodded.

"I promise,"

he said.

Summer Favs

2008-07-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

I have a very busy week upcoming. I am going to the big city on Friday for a CM national convention. So many preparations must be made for children and daddy as I am away. I thought I would take a few moments today to post some of my favorite photo I have taken so far this summer. You have seen all the ones of kids and those are by far my favorites. These are the ones gathering at the back of my files waiting to be loved. I am excited that I have an upcoming new baby shoot, scheduled for the week after I return. And on Friday evening a lovely young lady asked me to take her engagement photos. Super Yippee!!! I love engagement photos, they are so full of love and hope.... and this couple is very handsome indeed, so that always makes the photos even more fun. That shoot will not be until November as the groom-to-be is in Iraq right now. I pray for strength and courage as this couple anticipates their coming wedding day!

(all editing on this set of photos was done with CM memory manager, leave a comment on you Favorite photo is this set. Mine is the sunset sky, looks like a painting)

Group shots

2008-07-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

Digital Pages

2008-07-20T16:21:00.000-04:00

These pages were created for a 7x5 softcover book. You can print 20 pages with the cover for $18!! I am making one for the grandma and grandpas and aunts and uncles. The are small enough to carry in a purse but big enough to have some real detail. If you would like more info just email me or leave a comment so that I can contact you.

Juneberries

2008-07-15T17:15:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday we braved the wind and went to a pick your own berry farm. Do

you know about juneberries or juneberry pie?!? When I put a junberry in my mouth it takes me back to another time. A time when I looked more like Lily and less like the old woman I have become. One memory of juneberry pie stands out. I must have been about four or five, I was in Simone's kitchen. Simone was my grandmothers best friend. Her and her husband Stan were my mom and dads spiritual parents, their influence has reached far past the generation in which they lived. Simone's kitchen was cozy, heavily wallpapered, and she was usually cooking up something for whatever wanderer was there looking for a meal. Simone was small and Jewish. She was from Morocco this seemed exotic to me, although I am sure I had no idea where Morocco was or even what it was. I just knew if you were from there you had lovely coffee skin, dark eyes and you put real mint leaves in your tea. I remember many times helping her with little tasks that my little hands could do. I never felt as though I were in the way in her kitchen. One a summer day I sat at the table with the sun filtering in the window and ate pie... as I recall it was a large piece at least for a four of five year old. And now every time I put juneberries in my mouth I am transported to Simone's homey kitchen. Sweet...Summer....Simone....Juneberries.

Anna

2008-07-14T17:08:00.000-04:00

All the Beyond was hers with its possibilities lurking rosily in the oncoming years—each year a rose of promise to be woven into an immortal chaplet.

-Anne of Green Gables

Emma

2008-07-09T10:07:00.000-04:00

The simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a recommendation to everybody and a mine of felicity to herself." Emma by Jane Austen, volume 1, chapter 3

Who said this...

2008-07-08T11:05:00.002-04:00

We must now say proudly and without any exaggeration that part for Soviet Russian, there is not a country in the world where women enjoy full equality and where women are not place in the humiliating position felt particularly in day-to-day family life. This is one of our first and most important tasks...Housework is the most unproductive , the most barbarous and the most arduous work a woman can do. It is exceptionally petty and does not include anything that would in any way promote the development of the woman...The building of socialism will begin only when we have achieved the complete equality of women and when we undertake the new work together with women who have been emancipated from the petty stultifying, unproductive work... We are setting up model institutions, dining-rooms and nurseries, that will emancipate women from housework... These institutions that liberate women from their position as household salves are springing up where it is in any way possible.. Our task is to make politics available to every working woman. Please leave a comment on who you think said this. Now no cheating don't google key phrases. Tomorrow I will tell you who said this and my opions on such social engineering.

4th of July picnic

2008-07-06T19:55:00.000-04:00

We hosted a church picnic here on the 4th. The weather was perfect and we had so much fun. The city kids enjoyed a day of country freedom and the country kids enjoyed the fellowship with non siblings. The food was all-American great, burgers, hots dogs, cold salads, watermelon, and a flag cake. We had a bonfire and after the sunset we celebrated our freedom in the way God intended, with fireworks. What is it with teenage boys and blowing things up? We have four kittens that were held almost non-stop, and we found homes for two of them. Reagan is not sure if Grandpa Bill is marshmallow expert or not.

and of course the kids spent a lot of time in the pool. And we have been given a new pool. It is 24 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep. So next year we can fit.. oh I don't know.. 40 kids in the pool.

Enjoy this day of your blessed life,

Aimee

Al

2008-07-02T10:07:00.000-04:00

Point my rockin chair towards the west

And plant my dreams where the peaceful river cools

Where the green grass grows

Tim McGraw

Charlie

2008-07-01T14:58:00.000-04:00

Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority. Vince Lombardi

Laura

2008-06-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

OK so this child is crazy photogenic so I have a lot of really good ones of her. I have not posted more of her because I love her more :) “It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

Lily with Lily

2008-06-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

“The splendor of the rose and the whitness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its lovliness.” Therese of Lisieux

It is time for our yearly picture. The kids had Sunday clothes on yesterday as it was Sunday. So I was able to capture 4 of the 6. I only have Anna and Emma left. I will keep posting as I edit. Enjoy!!

Home

2008-06-24T09:17:00.002-04:00

Article for June Homeschool Report

From my kitchen window I can see for miles on the flat prairie we call home. I can see the road on which my husband will come home. Under the blanket of winter evening darkness I can see his headlights four miles out. In the summer when the dogs are not locked up they sit under that window in the emerald green grass and watch for him as well. As he gets closer I tell the girls daddy is coming and a ruckus of daddys fills the air as little feet run to the windows to see where he is. I am sure it is a picture of some deep spiritual lesson, but I see it more simply , children excited that dad and now Charlie since he works with dad ,are home and we are together...home. When Ray comes in the door he often sighs, relief to be home. Charlie chatters away the events of the day, a report of things away from home. To create a home that is a haven from the tempest of the world, where all the members want to be, is a tall order. But we need as mothers to work at it everyday. Meals, traditions, comfort, discipline, comfortable silences, forgiveness, understanding, we are, we do, we love, these are the things that bring us together. We need to create this on a spiritual level. Our family believes this and that so we will live like this. We need to create it on a relational level, we will love each other as we love ourselves. We need to create this on physical level, order and beauty do matter in our sense of home. So study and learn to love God together. Love each other with tenderness, enthusiasm, and creativity everyday! Make a place that in warm, cozy and a reflection of all who live there. Think of it this way. Is it a place where we sigh at relief to be home? Will heaven be a place that will remind your children of home when they get there?

The Lullaby League?

2008-06-13T09:27:00.000-04:00

All the girls were invited to a Wizard of Oz Birthday party last Saturday. It was a costume party and they had so much fun!!! Laura went as Glinda the good witch, Lily as Dorothy, Anna and Emma as the Lullaby League. I was so cute... I am working on a storybook with photos from the party here are a few. I will post more as I get them done because they are the cutest ever. The Dorothy in these pages is the birthday girl. In the next batch of pages Lily will be playing our heroine! Here is Emma as the Head of the Lullaby league. Yes she is wearing converse high tops, she insisted, the girl has style :)

A Trial of Lightroom

2008-06-04T21:25:00.000-04:00

I have been having fun with a trial of lightroom. The prairie ballerinas were edited in lightroom. I love the results with those they are magically looking. I am really starting to like Lightroom and I am thinking of purchasing it. It is only for editing your photos and not the full graphics photoshop can do. Which of these two do you like better? The sepia one or the color one?This is a friend of Laura's. Isn't she just lovely?

Are you having a bad hair day?

2008-06-03T20:37:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to Lily!!!

2008-05-29T12:38:00.000-04:00

She is FOUR today. My sweet shy Lily.

She is not even home for her birthday she is at grandma J's for the week. We miss her and her sister. But we are so glad she could have a fun birthday at grandmas!

JUNE 28th

2008-05-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

I will be Teaching a Full Day Digital Workshop!!!! If you want to learn how to Scrapbook with your computer this day is for you. Cost is $20 before June 6th $25 after.

LIMITED SEATING so email me to hold your spot!!!! (Click on the invite to make bigger to read)

Prairie Ballerinas

2008-05-23T10:14:00.000-04:00

Good Monday Morning!

2008-05-19T10:48:00.000-04:00

So much of Charlie last week here is a cool page of Alex and his "old" guitar.

CM product used: Storybook software,Primary digital palette.

They Marched Grandly Under the Stars

2008-05-14T09:48:00.000-04:00

Here is the group Charlies attended with... Notice Charlie and his date are not in the photo. She was missing at this point emergency lip gloss application or text message conversation.. not sure.Charlie the CoolCharlie and the Lovely KatieAhhhh!!Don't trip (doesn't he look movie star handsome)Yah the boy cleans up pretty well :)Here they are watching all the other couples trying their best not to fall. An the last shot before I went home.

My "Little" boy

2008-05-10T16:04:00.000-04:00

There he goes..... More pictures after the grand march... Stay tuned!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-10T10:46:00.000-04:00

2008-05-08T09:58:00.001-04:00

When we were back in our home town Charlie, Alex, Laura and I spent an afternoon at the local museum. And although Alex seems to be pondering, they were just goof balls. We had fun and they had a great new dinosaur exhibit. Alex decided to start an archaeological dig on our place.

But then we reminded him of the heaviness of our clay soil and decided it would take him an entire day just to excavate a wheel barrow of ground and thought his summer could be better spent.

2008-05-06T09:14:00.000-04:00

Tagged

2008-05-01T09:58:00.006-04:00

I was tagged a while back by Laura h and I am finally getting to it so here it goes...

I am...a child of God, a wife, a mother, a daughter, an artist, a life long learner, a teacher I want..my children to grow to love God with all their heart soul and mind and to love their neighbor as themselves I wish...we had a neat guest house like one that was an old school house or train car I hate...cilantro!!!!passionately I really prefer if it is not even on the table that I am sitting at I miss..my best friend Amy I fear...public bathrooms, vomit and roller coasters I feel... the texture of everything that touches my skin... weird huh? I hear...Wonder Pets I smell...Coffee I crave...the little choc cake from Granite City I search...second hand stores I wonder...what I would look like with black hair I regret...it when I eat too much dairy.. you don't want to know the details I love...my family I ache.. like an old lady (when it is cold) I care..if my house is clean, which it usually is not I always.. have coffee in the morning A L W A Y S I am not...math literate I believe... in one God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and the rest of that creed I dance...with the kids in the kitchen I sing...a lot of Sunday school songs, little kid diddys, and hymns and psalms oh and some country music I cry... too little I don't always... have the answer and I am OK with that I fight... the urge to spend more than my budget I write... to remember all that is my blessed life I never.. will complain about a hot summer day again. EVER after this long cold winter I listen... to the birds sing... I mean I really listen I need... SUMMER and some sun light I am happy... way more often than I deserve

I tag Gail, Amy and Jana!!!

Little Blue Eyes

2008-04-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

We were able to spend the weekend with Kason our nephew and cousin. The girls had fun loving and playing with him. Uncle Ray read to him and of course I took pictures here is my favorite.

More Park

2008-04-22T09:16:00.000-04:00

Creative Memories: Primary Digital Power Palette

Play Date

2008-04-21T08:34:00.000-04:00

The girls, Alex, and a ballet friend went to the park on Friday. It was beautiful spring day a gentle crisp wind and the most longed for, warm sun. We snacked and played and of course Alex and I could not pass up the chance for great pictures. Alex definitely wins best pic of the day with the one with Emmy look through that hole. It is so much fun to watch little girls play. The whispers and giggling and love between them is very sweet and refreshing. The picture of the three girls is them coming off the slide after going down as a big "blob", they squealed all the way down and then shouted let's do that again. I think they would have done that all afternoon if I had not said let's go for ice cream. Anna is not pouting in this photo but rather trying to avoid the camera, until I mentioned that ice cream and then she looked right at me and chanted ice cream ice cream!! So we went for ice cream.

Scrapbook page: Primary Palette Spring Addition

My Brown Eyed Girl

2008-04-17T08:46:00.000-04:00

With eyes like that she gets away with more than she should.

Created with CM Vintage collection

What is Digital Scrapbooking anyway?

2008-04-13T19:30:00.000-04:00

I am sure you have noticed for the last few weeks most of my entry pictures are scrapbook pages. I have received many questions on how I do this so this very long post will try to explain how to scrapbook with your computer. Most digital scrapbooker use photoshop or some form of photoshop to scrapbook. Other desktop publishing programs are also used like publisher. I use Creative Memories Storybook Plus, I don't just use this program because I am a CM consultant, it is why I became a consultant. WOW that sounded like an infomercial :) I really believe in this program. It is easy to use and understand and is capable of creating very beautiful pages. Now to be honest it is not photoshop and is not capable of the complicated photo editing and photo actions that PS can perform but I have really been able to push the limits of what it is able to do. Storybook is not as difficult to use as PS and you have me as a consultant to train you to use it. We have a free version of Storybook that is a free download from my web site. When you use the free program every thing on every page is fixed in place you can not add or take away elements papers or photo frames. This is much the same as what you find on shutterfly or snaphish only you will not have to work online as with them. If you are looking to create just one storybook and not scrapbook page by page long term the free software is for you. When you purchase the upgraded software it all changes. Everything is free to move around you can add take away, resize, you can add texture, and edges, change the color of everything. You can still use predesigned pages in the Storybook Plus. These are for those of you who are a little afraid to build a page from scratch but what the freedom to add and take away things. A predesigned page looks like this A predesigned page that has been added to looks like this. I added some digital stickers, removed the brown paper from the background, I could have added more pictures or resized the picture, because everything is free to move about the page :) Now here is one built from scratch. I selected everything and placed them on the page where I wanted.

I created the tag with a digital shape cutter, I drew the ribbon on the tag with a make a custom shape maker, I added a texture to the tan horizontal band, I created the brad on the left, I digitally cut the petals into the digitally created vellum, I added a brown mat edge to the photo, and added the stamp and word sticker to finished it off.

CM offers many many digital collections of paper and stickers from vintage to modern, with more coming out all the time, and since I design for Creative Memories I get to see and use them all before the rest of you and I can promise you will love what you will be seeing in the next few months. Plus we have a feature in the program so you can use other companies digital collections that you can purchase at all the digital scrapbooking web sites. Super cool!!

Once you are done creating your pages in either the 12x12 or 8x8 format you upload them to the Creative Memories Photo Center, you can order them in storybook, this is a bond hard cover book . For a 8x8 20 page book it is around $44 depending on the cover you choose, for a 12x12 20 page book it... is hold on to you seat $79, but there is a cheaper option you can print by the page and then put them in to one of CM's picfolio Max albums, I prefer this way because it is cheaper and it looks more like a traditional scrapbook album. The page print prices were just reduced and they are. 12x12 $6.99 for 1-9 prints $4.49 for 10-24 or $3.99 for 25+. I think this a great deal, I looked in town and the place I found to do the 12x12 were $8.99 and they did not even do it in house so there was a long wait time. The 8x8 pages are $3.99 for 1-9 $3.75 for 10-24 or $3.50 for 25+.

So this is just the beginning of all that is possible with the CM software. I hope you come back and read more. Very soon I will be doing a blog for the Creative Memories web site I will post a link so you can come over and learn more about this fun way to preserve your blessed life!!!

To order the Storybook software click HERE order the CD and not the download.

Here is a fairly complicated page for those of you who think you are ready for a program that is challenging, fun and can create amazing pages. All CM StoryBook Plus!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2008-04-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Before CoffeeAfter CoffeeWhat?Go to my happy place go to my happy place I think Me thinks too much!!!!

I am 35 today. Photos by Al of Big Bro Productions

A Bazillion Geese

2008-04-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

That's what Laura and Lily said. We drove over to a field to the south of us and witnessed more birds that I think I have ever seen in my life. Then a couple of days ago they all started north they flew right over our house. It took our whole supper time for them to fly over. Migration is amazing!! Now the big white swans are flying over in small V's. Spring is here and the snow is melting.

Snow and longing for Spring!

2008-04-07T09:38:00.000-04:00

This is L and L last May with grandpa in garden. After the snow this weekend it does not seem that those warm winds will ever come. But there are signs of spring every where. Robins and HUGE flocks of geese and swans flying north. I will post some photos the kids and I took of the geese later. The girls played outside everyday last week. Now all their bikes are buried in snow!

Show page for the week!

2008-03-31T09:11:00.000-04:00

I love this picture of Anna. Her little spirit was very ruffled when I took it and yet pureness about her expression but her eyes are sad. I will be demonstrating how to create this page at a consultant workshop this weekend. I think I have found my genius and it is digital scrap booking. Have you found yours? Everyone has a thing that with all their experience, knowledge and passions come together to make something amazing. Maybe yours is organization (gail) or friendship (amy). Now I am not confined to this being my only passion. I love teaching and holding little kids and spending time with Ray and listening to the young men in my life rattle on about their passions, but this has such a lovey visual payoff and it tells the story of us. I love that! So leave a comment and let me know what your passion is.

The Weather Forcast

2008-03-27T09:12:00.000-04:00

Last nights weather forecast open up with the statement,

"It's like we are in a slow moving boat to nowhere with a hole in our paddle." Well, that sure instills hope in the heart of this winter weary mom. What kind of pessimistic forecast it that? I guess it is better than them lying to us like they do so often.

We have a little bug in the house, and I am not talking about the flies that are coming out again. Anna and Emma both had high fevers yesterday and I had a small one in the night. But I feel better today and the girls are eating a good breakfast right now, they are moving rather slowly though, that is a nice break for mommy:)

Charlie is back to school after a long and restful spring break. Did you hear he has a date for prom? She is not a girl friend just a friend that is a girl or something like that. I asked him does he know the color of her dress because there are flowers to be ordered, reservations to be made, a tux to be rented. Are you going in a group, who will be driving, is there are after party with supervision????? He just looked at me like a deer in head lights then a little smirk and said, "I don't know." So I will have to update you on all the details.

Alex is back to school as well. He is taking a few more 4-wheeler rides as the bitter cold has loosed it grip on us.

Since the arrival of my new furniture I have been making all kinds of plans for paint and other artsy project in the living room. Ray is overwhelmed with excitement of these plans :)

Enjoy this day of your Blessed Life,

Aimee

My new Furniture!

2008-03-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

It's finally here. We

ordered it in Feburary and it is finally in my living room.

I love the chair it is my chair. I can sit with a lot of girls on my lap and read to them.

Do you have a favorite chair?

Do you remember a chair that your mom or dad always sat in, to read or watch TV, or smoke :)?

Easter Pictures

2008-03-25T09:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Belated Birthday!!

2008-03-24T13:36:00.000-04:00

We didn't forget you Kason. We are just waiting to give you gifts when you are here! We can't wait until you get here. You are going to be the most loved boy in the world your girl cousins are going to hold you and love you until you can not stand it.

We hope you had a super fun birthday and enjoyed the cake. We love you Happy Happy Day to Kason!!!

Happy Easter

2008-03-21T09:55:00.000-04:00

2008-03-19T09:32:00.000-04:00

Spring

2008-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Photos by Al of Big Bro Productions

I am back from convention and getting back to the routine. I had a very nice time. One of the great things about having a vendor booth at a home school convention is you get to see and visit with everyone in attendance. I visited until I nearly lost my voice! Ray and I had a great time with just us. Even with a workshop presentation and 10 hours a day in the vendor hall I really felt like my mind was at rest. On Friday evening I told Ray, I am not even tired, that was a breeze compared to the demands of my everyday life. I feel refreshed and encouraged and so thankful for all that God has blessed us with. Ray took in may of the speakers one was on how to live debt free. That does not sound like much fun to me.... a lot of discipline and sacrifice... I don't think I believe that :) just kidding. It would be great to have all our debt paid off in ten years can you imagine not having a house payment.

The main speaker topic was parenting he gave many help tips and reminded us that if we want our children to be loving we must be loving even in our discipline or mostly in our discipline. Good stuff!

Grandma J and the kids did well. Ray and I are so thankful that she came to stay with the kids, not every family has grandparents as involved as we do and it is great. Charlie had car trouble and grandma had to go in and get him late Friday night but managed to find him. Car still not working.

That about sums up the weekend. Ladies out there who were at convention how were you blessed and challenged by the convention?