Composing Hallelujahs

India Inspired

2012-02-07T16:44:00.002-06:00

Here are some 8x10 paintings I've done over the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping to sell them to raise funds for our India Team that will be visiting Asha House in May.

$30 donation

$20 donation

$30 donation

Year in Review

2011-12-29T13:11:00.003-06:00

I cannot believe another year has passed... and SO MUCH has happened this year. I mean i just can't believe it. it's been a hectic but simply wonderful year, full of adventures and experiences i never could have imagined. really, my mind is blown... so looking back...

JANUARY.

Helped lead worship at Winter Retreat... this was just an amazing experience, with an amazing group of people, and we saw one of the most amazing sunsets.
Longview got quite a bit of snow
and Sam Started karate. :)

FEBRUARY.

Kids had the flu and we got more SNOW!
Dave and a few friends Survived the Austin marathon (i can't say "RAN the Austin Marathon", because dave says he didn't run the whole time so it's doesn't count... uh, whatever!). and since we were in Austin, we got to see some cousins i hadn't seen in about 10 years!

MARCH.

Desperation Band came to crossroads.
a group of us celebrated brett's birthday... shreveport style

APRIL.

Zosia turned FOUR! (that be a pancake birthday cake)
Dave and I performed some covers for the Downtown Longview Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series

MAY.

Our Favorite Herring boys recieved their black belts!!!(we consider them part of our family now, that's why they get some blog time) ;)
We started supporting a little boy through Compassion International.
and I decided to go on a missions trip to India and actually blogged about it.

JUNE.

We Celebrated Jessica's Birthday with much cupcakery and goofery. :)

Dave and i started teaching the kids wednesday night class. we taught them about and prayed for 10 countries where christians face persecution.

and My Sister, Jenny, graduated from highschool!

oh and there was this little show called The 5 Dragon Daughter that our family was a part of...

JULY.

Dave and I celebrated 11 years of Marriage!

Annabelle Turned six and we celebrated by invading the herring"s house and pool... :) gotta love that family!!

Grandma Carol came for a visit!

The 5 Dragon Daughter added 2 more Performances and I submited a photograph for the chapter 2 artwork (posted here).

We celebrated Sarh Black's birthday princess barn style.

And Micah got her ears pierced for her 8th birthday! :)

AUGUST.

I turned 32.
ate some curry... got some henna... visited the TajMahal... met the most beautiful people/children in the world... oh yeah... IN INDIA!!!! (which i still haven't finished blogging about, but hope to do next week while in houston... maybe, lol)

SEPTEMBER.

said "see you later" to INDIA.
went henna crazy on my kids.
East Texas had crazy wildfires... hundreds!
Taught the kids about 9/11 on the 10th anniversary.

I started teaching a higschool course on photography for ELO.

Dave swam, biked, ran the Rose City Triathlon and he turned 36!

2 more 5 Dragon Daughter shows. this time I entered a couple paintings for bean field and imposter... the roots spell out "hope"

OCTOBER.

We said "see you later" to a dear brother, friend, and worship leader... yeaaaah, he had to go chase a girl ;)
Sam and Micah took a class at Artsview children's theater.
Annabelle and Zosia got to be flowers in the Yamboree parade in Gilmer. :)
and we celebrated Connor's birthday scavenger hunt style and Lydia's 21st Birthday with Girls night out!

NOVEMBER.

Annabelle rode her bike without training wheels. :)
our kids became penpals with some of the kids at asha house.
Another 5 Dragon Daughter Performance!
and we had people over for thanksgiving!

DECEMBER.

Sam Turned 10 and we had a fun lego party!
the asha house family moved into a new building!!
I got to spend a couple days with my dear friend Deb while they were in town.
I started making arrangements to go BACK TO INDIA in april!!!!
photographed my first wedding!!!

so yeah.. wow.. what a year, and obviously these are just the highlights and i didn't include all the hours and hours of practice for 5 dragon daughter that happened or the hours of photography lesson planning and worship planning or of homeschooling or of friday night fun or regular life. anyways... that was our year. i'm looking forward to the next one!

blog ya later!

Salt Dough Ornaments

2011-12-20T16:34:00.002-06:00

so this year we decided to make some salt dough ornaments for our meals on wheels folks (we deliver to the same 10 every week, unless someone moves, or someone is added).

i kept it SUPER simple since we've been pressed for time lately. but they turned out nicely. kids painted them white and i stamped the words on. Tied on some ribbon and Voila!

as we delivered each meal today, we sang a christmas song and handed them their ornaments and a christmas card. the kids absolutely loved doing it and are ready for next year. and we got quite a few smiles outta the folks we delivered to. it was a joy!

the recipe i used was 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup warm water. i ended up adding about another 1/4c of flour just to make it a bit less sticky. rolled out, cut with votive glass, made hole with straw. baked at 250 for about an hour, i don't really remember. ;)

Sam's Birthday Bash

2011-12-14T22:34:00.000-06:00

after the first few years of having big parties for the kids i decided it was too much to do four a year... so instead the kids get a party when they turn five and ten. other years, it's just family and maybe one friend. (annabelle is the exception though since her birthday is july 4th, but that's life and usually most of her friends are out of town, so it evens out). anyhow.

Sam's birthday popped up in the middle of a very busy time, but the party turned out great. whew! he's officially the BIG 10. which is scary but cool. so here are some pics of what we did.

Lego block and Lego head cookies :)

we made little favor boxes that had hershey nuggets wrapped in post-it label tape marked to look like lego blocks and a lego head and a few other small toys. inside had a printed label that said thanks for coming.

water bottles labeled with "Happy Birthday Samuel"

made square pizza with mini pepperonis to look like a lego board. :)

Sam requested carrots, celery with peanut butter & raisins and fruit.

found the rectangular paper serving trays at hobby lobby :)

simple colors... i didn't want it to get too rainbow, but didn't want blah either.

simple set up... sorted legos and a road or green board at each spot...

a table where the other kids could display their favorite lego contraption

we had building contests. the first round each person could only use 10 pieces. then they had to explain what they had built. most creative use of 10 peices won a prize. 2nd round they could add ten more, but it had to be something completely different. last round was a free for all. it was fun and challenging.

sam had a blast, absolutely loved his gifts and having all his buddies around. thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us! :)

Tortila Soup (that hubby actually likes)

2011-12-14T13:50:00.001-06:00

i love tortilla soup, but dave doesn't. but it's soup season so it's bound to show up on the menu and that's all there is too it. well, this time i thought i'd try a few little change ups. normally i use a 1/2 packet of ranch dip and a 1/2 packet of taco seasoning, cause that's the recipe i first had and i liked it. but of course in trying to use as many organic items as possible, i don't really like the organic ranch mix. anyways, the recipe is below but with just a couple simple changes, the hubby declared that he actually liked it and didn't mind taking some for lunch the next day! hooray!

INGREDIENTS:
crockpot :)
1 can light red kidney beans*
1 can hominy
1 can diced tomatoes with italian herbs*
1 small can green chilli enchilada sauce
1 cup frozen corn*
6 chicken thighs*
1 packet Chipotle Black Bean Dip mix*
4 cups water plus 2 Tsp of "Better than Boullion" chicken base (or just use 4 cups chicken broth/stock)
handful fresh cilantro or 1-2 tsp dried cilantro*
fresh squeezed lime juice (half lime)

DIRECTIONS:
1. place rinsed and dried thighs on bottom of crockpot.
2. sprinkle dip mix over chicken.
3. add remaining ingredients, cover and cook on low 8 hrs.
4. serve over rice, topped with tortilla chips, avocado, shredded cheese and a slice of lime.

*organic

Asha House Move

2011-11-22T22:51:00.000-06:00

So thankful for this video, helps you to see where i was in India. Please watch and pray for these beautiful children!

Asha House from The Sound of Hope on Vimeo.

Craftiness as of late

2011-11-16T15:43:00.002-06:00

so i thought i'd post some of the crafty/artsy fartsy stuff i've been up to lately. it's not much but, eh, it's worth a post i guess. don't want you to think i've fallen of the planet or something. ;)

Been doing quite a bit of henna since getting back from India...

Dabbled in some acrylic painting for The5DragonDaughter...

"Hope" and "The Imposter"

Made some quick stylish gloves for one of the girls

(and now i've gotta make more of course for the other two) out of old t-shirts.

Got the idea from Generation T's second book "Beyond Fashion". LUV IT!

and now that my son's 10th birthday is quickly approaching, i had to get some lego party invitations made up to pass out this morning on our last day of E.L.O.

and since i was in charge of the veggie tray i looked around Pinterest and found an idea to make it cute and UNboring, so i used what i could find to do something similar!

everyone LOVED it... and it's just veggies in a jar! lol. :)

The Return. pt 2

2011-10-18T10:03:00.000-05:00

Journal Entry: Friday August 25th.

It was a looooong first night. I never prayed so hard for God to shut the mouths of dogs, lol. the bed is hard, the air is sticky, but as light begins to rise and the smell of onion and spices fills the air, I'm wide awake and ready to see what new sights and smells we'll experience today.

i hear monkeys, i think??

right now i feel inadequate for what lies ahead, but i just want my focus to be on loving others and the Lord will supply everything along the way; the love, the patience, the discernment. I'm confident of this.

Heat, Honking and Headaches (evening entry)

today was a little rough. my body was just exhausted and i think i got a little overheated... my headache would lessen as soon as i got back into the airconditioned car. we drove around today, literally around... there were quite a few roundabouts and LOTS of weaving in and out of traffic. :) The honking is non-stop. It got extra crazy when we drove past the protests at the presidents house. so many people were out waving flags and cheering though that it seemed like it was actually a celebration of some sort.

Everything is damp with sweat and humidity, the bed is hard, but i'm thankful... could be on the floor ;) it's hot hot hot in our room of five girls, but we're keeping the windows closed tonight in hopes that the howling, crying, barking dogs won't be as loud. :-P

Lunch was AMAZING. spicy and flavorful and wonderful, i could have eaten forever, but didn't overindulge so that i wouldn't have to deal with indigestion or getting sick.

so thankful that i got on facebook for a few minutes, but sad that sam and annabelle are sick :( i know they are in good hands, i just miss them terribly and want to comfort them. i can't even imagine what it must be like to have a sick child here though, it's so hot and dirty. i'm forgetting so much, i want to write more, but this headache and jet-lag are making it hard to focus.

This evening we did a "listening in prayer" exercise. we all went off to pray, asking the Lord for a word for someone on the team. then we literally drew names from a bowl and handed the scripture, or words of encouragement, etc... to that person. it was interesting, but the Lord definitely touched the hearts of the team members. time for bed.

terrible dream

2011-09-26T16:41:00.001-05:00

sorry, haven't gotten around to another india update yet... i did actually start one but it's been a crazy week with The 5 Dragon Daughter that i just can't find time to sit down and get it done.

anyways, last night i had a terrible dream that's all jumbled in my head and heart, but basically i was in India and there was a huge air raid. i saw it like a movie, where i could see what was going on around, but i could see things first hand in the dream as well. planes were dropping bombs and blowing up buildings. i was in a large city. it didn't really look like india, but i knew it was india. at first i was in a tall building and there were others with me. they were watching a tv, but when i tried to change the channel it was some stupid show and i couldn't find any news about what was going on. i encouraged them to get out and take the stairs and not the elevator, but it was dark and we had the hardest time finding the door to the stairs. on one floor it opened up where the stairs were suspended and were very wobbly, they were round glass, almost like tables. then at one point in the dream i found myself out from the building, sitting near a tree and very exposed to the enemy and i was thinking to myself, "this can't be me. i wouldn't do anything this stupid and just put myself out here where they can see me and kill me" and then as a young man saw me, he smiled and helped a dark haired woman point a gun in my direction and told her to shoot me, i got up to run and before i could get behind the broken building wall, i felt the bullets along the left side of my body and even one or two that entered my head. i felt the sting and the coldness that followed and thought, "this isn't me". at some point in the dream i met with a black man and he handed me an automatic gun and a walky talky, but what i wanted was a phone to call dave to tell him that india was being attacked. and i was still mad that there wasn't any news about what was happening and he wouldn't know what was going on. then i was somewhere else, riding on a metro (2nd metro dream this week) and i could see the destruction all around. it was strange and terrible and most of it is a blur.

The 5 Dragon Daughter

2011-09-19T21:43:00.002-05:00

If you haven't seen The 5 Dragon Daughter, you really must! Unfortunately it's only available locally (that would be North-East Texas) but perhaps someday... a tour of some kind.

one can hope ;)

for now, view the trailer, visit the5dragondaughter website, join our Facebook Fan Page to stay updated, and well,... enjoy the show! :)

the return

2011-09-09T10:10:00.000-05:00

welcome home. life. crazy. unpack. nonstop. on the run. jetlag. gifts. malaria. fatigue. jump in. catch up. slow down.

sip some chai and breathe.

i cannot believe it's been a week that i've been home already. already the time in India seems like a hazy dream; like my henna tatoo, it's starting to fade. so i cling to the photos taken while there, but it's not enough. it's not the same. i want to hold abigail and aksha. i want to hear tabitha laugh. i want to see jyoti smile. i want to be called auntie and be pulled into the girls room to help fold laundry and i want to watch these amazing children grow. i want to sit and see beautiful women of God supporting one another in laughter and prayer. my emotions are a wreck. i still can't quite identify everything that's going on in my heart. i know it'll take some time to fully process everything.

anyone who says a short term missions trip isn't long enough to make a difference or to form relationships is very mistaken.

it's hard to know where to start, so i'll just start by posting a journal entry and a photo or two and go from there over the next few days or weeks or however long it takes.

Thursday, August 24, 2011

We're here. We made it. I could fall asleep right here, right now, but i wanted to write some initial impressions. Flying into New Delhi i could see an endless mess of buildings and slums. it was dark by the time we drove to the boarding house so we couldn't see anything, but we'll be touring the city tomorrow.
Traffic was insane. the cars are small so 3 lanes fits 4 cars, plus pedestrians, motorcyclists, rickshaws and the occasional cow. i got to ride up front and got the full effect of a stop and go sideways roller coaster.
The small street we are staying on is lined with dirt, bricks and street dogs. It was a surrealistic feeling unpacking our luggage to Indian music playing on a shop radio below. we only got a few stares from local people as we piled out of the car and clumped up the stairs. The house has three levels and a family is staying downstairs. as we walked in, the food she was preparing in the stairwell smelled absolutely AMAZING!
Our room has extremely "firm" bunkbeds, a ceiling fan, balcony and windows to keep "cool". The bathroom sink is practically on another balcony.
The Sounds of people, music, bicycles bells, motors, and barking dogs fills the air. This will truly be an experience to remember.
So tomorrow morning i will take a bucket bath and see what the day brings. Thank you Lord for this opportunity.

down to the wire...

2011-08-19T12:20:00.000-05:00

yikes... when the number of days falls below 5, you KNOW it's close!! flying out in almost exactly 4 days is pure craziness. and the next few days are jam packed, so they will really fly by.

last night we had prayer here at our house and it was awesome, followed by more awesomeness when a special guest arrived (who i am looking forward to getting to know a little bit more tonight) :) today and tomorrow are filled with cleaning the house and cooking freezer meals for dave and the kids. once we get some laundry done tomorrow, the final packing can hapen. and i have about 10% more school prep to get done, so we'll see when that happens. sunday evening will be spent with friends, which i'm just ecstatic about and i'd like to record some short videos for the kids to watch and hopefully hide a few treats around the house for them to find while i'm gone.

breathe. breathe.

and back to work.... laterz! :)

In Two Places at Once

2011-08-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

dave and i had a leadership retreat/training this past saturday, and when sharing our prayer requests i said something like i felt like i was having to prepare to be in two places at once... which is true, that's definitely how i feel, but seeing as how i'm only human, it's pretty much NOT possible. still, in having to prepare the kids school and meals for when i'll be gone, it's means that i'm not really "here" right now, i'm just kinda stepping into the future a bit and missing out on the present moments quite a bit. not to be morbid, but distant trips always make a parent prepare for the worse as well, and i'd hate it if something were to happen while i'm gone and this would actually be my last week with dave and the kids. i hope that gives me fresh perspective on how to spend these next eight days... i of course have to get ready to go, but i want to cherish each moment i have here as well, and not just because i'm traveling across the world and will be gone for 11 days, but because i want my kids to learn to cherish each day and each moment and to surrender each moment to where the Lord directs and not just what we plan. this won't be easy, cause my brain is full and i start to feel anxious about not getting everything done that "needs" to be done... i start to grind my teeth in my sleep and get very tense throughout the day, but my goal is to daily, almost minute by minute, to remind myself to trust God and His plan and to trust that He will help me to walk in it. so off i go...

"Come Reign In Me"

2011-08-10T10:00:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to share a worship song the Lord gave me during prayer last week.

This is all that I desire,
This is now my deepest prayer,
Oh that I could live Your name,
Oh that You would have Your way.

Come and change me, Come and teach
All of your ways for they are true.
Come and move me, come and lead me
Show me how to love like You.
Come and clean me, come and heal me
Come make whole this brokenness
Come and shape me, come revive me,
Come and breathe the breath of Life in me

I want to be more like You
Come reign in me,
I want to be more like You.
Come breath in me
I want to be more like You
Come reign in me
I want to be more like You.

2 weeks!

2011-08-09T16:38:00.002-05:00

well the excitement is rising, two weeks from now we'll be up in the air, flying high... i'm sure i'll already be missing my kids! but i'm filled with peaceful anticipation of what those 10 days will hold. i'm definitely ready to pack (and consequently avoid the other things that need to be done... like meal plans, and planning & scheduling the school year-which dave will be starting when i leave.... isn't he amazing!?!? he's so awesome, i almost can't stand it!)

the Lord has been SO good this whole time. I'm so thankful for those who have been praying with me along the way and truly thankful for those who invested in this trip without being asked... i felt very strongly that i was not to directly ask for money, but to trust that if the Lord moved in someone's heart to give, they would, and if no one did, that it meant we would have the resources needed to make this trip happen-we still had to work and put forth some effort, we didn't just sit by waiting for money to fall from the sky, but he directed our steps and when it looked like our efforts weren't good enough, he surprised us in other ways. i truly believe that God asks us to do only what he has already provided the resources for (we just can't always see them). and he has, he has had perfect timing and he has blessed us to overflowing... even to the smallest detail... like needing closed toe shoes. if you know me, you know i wear invisible shoes, so my feet have gotten accustomed to moving freely, which means most shoes are uncomfortable now, buuuut this weekend i was able to find a perfectly practical, decently priced, comfy pair that are the color of dirt, so i won't feel bad when they are covered in sweat and dirt. =)

must be off for now... gotta do the dishes and get ready for a little birthday fun tonight :) blog ya later!

unstoppable ;)

2011-07-22T01:09:00.000-05:00

well it looks like there's no stopping us now! flights are booked and visas are issued. it's just a matter of weeks before we head out on our 11 day adventure. i can already tell i'm going to miss the kids terribly and will think about them non-stop... after all they consume my everyday routine!! it still feels a little unreal to me though, i'm sure once it's the week before, it'll really hit me.

and by the way, if you'd like a little glimpse into where we'll be serving, you can visit the Asha House website.

Please continue praying with us over all aspects of this trip! we want to be fully prepared for what the Lord would have us do and say!

The 5 Dragon Daughter

2011-07-20T23:50:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I haven't posted about The 5 Dragon Daughter yet!!! It's only consumed our lives for the last few months and if you've seen it then you know.

An amazing creative genius by the name of Matt Black wrote an allegory for the life of Christ that included original artwork, illustrations, narration and music. Basically close to two hours of pure awesomeness!! and me? i got to play the cello for it!!! yes. a HUGE dream of mine has come true... i've managed to squeak out some basic notes on the cello and take part in an amazing production with some of THE most amazing people on this planet.

We've had three performances at our church, with about 300 people each night and still they want more. our next step is working on a better quality recording of the songs and hopefully a DVD of the night and quite possibly more to come... but time will tell and we'll have to see what the Lord wants to do with it since it's His to begin with.

here's a few pics to give you a better idea of what this was all about, though it doesn't really come close.

(my awesome husband is one of the people in this eery "engineer" puppet)

(all of our kids were involved as well and did a fantastic job! so proud of them we are!)

(that cello sillouette is me- i'm giddy as a school girl)

(we also had some great dances for two of the songs)

and here's a video clip of one of the songs and dances!!!

If you're interested in learning more about The 5 Dragon Daughter, join our Facebook fan page and we'll keep you updated on merchandise, website and other future shows/developments.

oh i almost forgot, i also had the opportunity to submit a photograph on canvas for one of the chapter displays. I'm very happy with how it turned out!

all I can say is... this has been one of the most amazing seasons of my life and I am so privileged to have been a part of something so wonderful with such an incredible group of people! :)

56 Days and Counting!

2011-06-29T01:48:00.001-05:00

Just checking in to let y'all know that we are definitely headed for INDIA! there were some bumps along the way, we weren't sure if the trip was even going to happen, but we got a green light and have already booked our flights. next step is applying for a visa and just overall spiritual preparation and the Lord has been providing for every need at every turn in ways we don't always expect.

in other news, Annabelle is turning 6 in just 5 days... which is crazy because i started this blog when she was just a few weeks old. WOW! :)

INDIA

2011-05-23T13:21:00.005-05:00

I’m very excited to be writing this to inform family and friends of a trip I will be taking at the end of August to INDIA!

Last year I was challenged by David Platt’s book Radical to make a handful of commitments, that in some ways were quite simple and in other ways quite… well, radical! One of them focused on “spending time in another context”. As a result of that challenge, over the last 8 months the kids and I have enjoyed serving locally through the meals on wheels program. It’s gotten me out of my comfort zone (the kids certainly don’t have a problem chatting it up with strangers) and into the community as a family. It’s a very small part we play in caring for those who are unable to care for themselves, but it has been a huge blessing to the kids and myself.

After finishing Platt’s second book, Radical Together, I was gently reminded that it was time to get global with my commitment. So, after Dave returned from his trip to Ukraine, I quickly asked him how much vacation time he had left and if I could use some of it for a mission trip. Now, through the Lord’s timing, the Spirit’s leading and much prayer, I will be joining with Adventures in Missions on a 10 day trip to India. Lydia, a dear sweet friend of mine, will also be going, and together with a group of about 15-20, we will be serving at an orphanage in Delhi, ministering to those afflicted with leprosy, going where God leads and doing what He asks.

I’d like to include a small excerpt from Radical Together that I feel communicates perfectly my heart and mind in going.

“We hear many criticisms of short term-missions trips, and some are valid. Short-term missions trips are often nothing more than glorified vacations… and do little to advance the gospel in a reproducible, sustainable way in another culture. Successful short-term missions must be a part of fueling a long-term disciple-making process in another context. Clearly no one is going to make disciples in another country over the span of one week. To expect to make disciples in just a few days is both impractical and unbiblical. However, we can partner with believers in other contexts who are intentionally making disciples, and our time serving alongside them can help move their disciple making processes along in exponential ways. At the same time, successful short-term missions must also be a part of fueling long-term disciple making in the sending church. As we go together into other contexts, we grow together in Christ. Our eyes are opened and our hearts are transformed as we serve in situations that make us uncomfortable.”

Please, join with us in prayer over the next 3 months as we follow God’s leading on this faith journey!

Key Prayer Points:

-Pray for those we will meet at the orphanage, the leper community and throughout India.

-Pray that our Visa into India and all other financial details will be taken care of as needed.

-Pray for safety in travel.

-Pray for opportunities to make meaningful relationships and to share the hope of Christ.

-Pray that God will break our hearts for what breaks His- and will show us how to respond to what we see.

1st official gig... in ten years?

2011-04-15T15:35:00.001-05:00

so today dave and i ventured into our small downtown area and performed some songs for a brown bag lunch concert. it was a little nerve wrecking and a whole lotta fun! the last time we performed was probably right when we first got married and did a "This Side of the Door" reunion concert in speer chapel. so maybe ten years?? i dunno, i honestly don't remember monday morning, let alone 10 years ago.

anyways, we finished strong, and thankfully didn't get blown over... it was EXTREMELY windy, one of the vendors canopies even blew away as they were tearing down. yikes!

i was so thankful for all the friends who came out to support our little time in the ~~spotlight~~ sunlight! and was blown away (pun intended) by all the compliments afterwards. it's funny, cuz you kinda get used to not even wanting compliments about how you sound when singing in church, you don't want it to be about you and your voice or your instrument; you want it to be about providing an environment of worship and not stick out. but today was fun cause i got to try some stuff i wouldn't normally do, so it was a good challenge for me.

of course i'm grateful that i got to be beside my cutie patootie the whole time... rockin' it out on the acoustic bass. oh yeah!!

cool bonus, we've been asked to come back in the fall. so mark your calendars for our second official gig comin' up in just 6 months, give or take. ;)

Zosia's Birthday!

2011-04-05T16:08:00.001-05:00

Zosia Rose. few hours old.

1 year old.

Two years old.

Three years old.

Four years old.

best face in march photo

2011-04-04T09:50:00.001-05:00

here's my entry. go vote for it :) you can vote up to 10 times, voting opens at noon i think. (#292)

this was just a quick snap of myself and the hubby taken while out celebrating a friend's birthday. i don't like to be in pictures, but i just absolutely love this one of the two of us :) love you, dave. :)

i heart faces: sunflare.

2011-03-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

this photo was taken a year and a half ago. our little curly headed zosie was not a fan of the water, so she spent her time digging in the sand and making sandcastles. :)

Best Face in February

2011-03-08T09:27:00.000-06:00

haven't entered one of these in a while, but i just LOVED Annabelle's face here. so mischievous, so full of her fun personality... i thought this would be a good one to enter! :)

view more fabulous february faces at iheartfaces.com!!! :)

the fork

2011-02-02T09:32:00.001-06:00

so i've been trying to cut back on my bread and sugar intake, trying to workout more and all that. no more excuses when my youngest will be four this spring. must get back into a shape that somewhat resembles a human being (without the constant assistance of my "spanx")

and so i wanted to share a little something i discovered this morning.

three of our four have been down with the flu these past few days, which means if i had a pedometer, it would tell you that i have walked at least a marathon's worth by now just walking to and from bedrooms, to and from the kitchen, and to and from washing my hands. it also means that my kitchen has piles of dishes that need to be done and in my sleepless stupor i just haven't had the energy to do yet. so in making my morning cup of chai-which USED to be loaded with sugar, but has tapered down over the last couple of weeks-i went to grab a spoon. but there weren't any clean. gasp.

on a side note, i defeinitly need to buy more teaspoons, there NEVER seems to be any clean. now, back to my story.

so out of sheer laziness, i grabbed a fork. sure it works just fine for stirring, but not so great as a scoop for sugar, unlesssssss... you're trying to cut WAY back on sugar, then i highly recommend using a fork for any and all sugar measuring. ;)

so. ya think i could patent the fork as the next AMAAAAZING diet secret?!?! ;)

yeah didn't think so... but look!! forks apparently make awesome bracelets. i would totally wear this!

i'm thinking... mother's day gift? works great since i have four beautiful kiddos... ;-)

t-shirt fix

2011-01-27T20:01:00.001-06:00

THE PROBLEM:

THE SOLUTION:

THE IN-BETWEEN:

find rocket shape online and print.

use t-shirt scraps to cut out rocket "applique".

pin to t-shirt.

hand stitch (or machine, but with all the corners i thought by hand would be nice)

add some flair.

all done. :)

i know it's crazy

2011-01-21T14:57:00.002-06:00

I know It's Crazy
by dana huber

here is the problem

you don’t know how much

God Loves his children

It’s like a hundred

Million times more than

You could Imagine